Residents of NRI Complex in Navi Mumbai on Sunday said wildlife photographers and enthusiasts gathered in large numbers, in violation of lockdown norms, inside the creek at Talawe wetlands on Sunday to spot the discolouration of water and flamingos. Irked by their movement close to the birds, residents said the flamingo habitat was being disturbed with the migratory birds flying in different directions during low tide.

On most days, there are two to three people, but on Sunday more than 10 people were spotted at the creek. With such disturbance, the birds may not return at all to this feeding ground. And it is also a violation of lockdown orders, said Sunil Agarwal, a resident.

Tanveer Shaikh, senior inspector, NRI Coastal police station, said, Eight media persons had coordinated with us and were issued permissions to take photographs of the birds on Sunday. However, if there were any unauthorised persons there, action will be taken against them.

HT had, on Sunday, reported that following large congregation of flamingos at the site during the lockdown, water at one section of the creek had turned pink, most likely due to algal bloom.

Another resident, Seema Tania, shared images and said there were 12 people, including two foreigners, in the creek on Sunday evening. They had walked into the creek, very close to the birds, to take photographs during low tide using an arterial road, she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 23:21:27|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, May 17 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli patrol fired bullets on Sunday in southeastern Lebanon along the border line, injured a Syrian shepherd, and then kidnapped him to one of its locations in the occupied Shebaa Farms.

A Lebanese military source, who spoke to Xinhua on condition of anonymity, and citizens from the border town of Kfarchouba said that Israeli soldiers opened fire towards Mohamed Nour El-Din Abdel-Azim, while he was grazing a herd of cattle near the Shebaa Farms.

The sources added that an Israeli infantry force later crossed the border and moved the wounded man to the Shebaa Farms.

A Lebanese security source said that the Lebanese army has complained to the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) about the Israeli breach and demanded the return of the wounded Syrian national, while a joint team of the Lebanese army and UNIFIL has started investigations into the incident. Enditem
Chinese, Malaysian defense ministers talk over phone

PLA Daily

Source: China Military Online

Editor: Chen Zhuo

2020-05-17 00:00:39

BEIJING, May 16 -- Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe held phone talks with the Malaysian Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Friday afternoon.

Speaking of China's efforts in dealing with the COVID-19, General Wei said that facing the unexpected epidemic, under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Xi Jinping as the core, China has adopted scientific and accurate policies, and achieved a significant strategic victory after arduous struggle.

China has made tremendous efforts and contributions to the global pandemic prevention and control, which demonstrates the thought of building a community with a shared future for mankind as well as China's sense of responsibility as a major country, Wei said. However, politicians of some countries smeared China over pandemic-related issues, seriously violating international morality and undermining the overall international campaign against the pandemic, Wei continued.

General Wei also declared that China firmly supports Malaysia for its efforts in combating COVID-19 epidemic and is willing to provide assistance within its power. In addition to controlling the epidemic, the two militaries should maintain communication and promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields, jointly protecting regional peace and stability, Wei added.

Sabri expressed admiration and congratulations of the Malaysian side to China's achievements in combating epidemic, and thanked the Chinese government and military for donating epidemic prevention supplies to and sharing experience with Malaysia.

The Malaysian Government attaches great importance to relations with China and is willing to work with the Chinese side to elevate level of cooperation in various fields including defense cooperation, Sabri said.

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Nairobi  Coronavirus deaths in the country rose to 50 on Saturday, after 5 more patients succumbed to the disease within a period of 24 hours.

The deaths were reported even as the number of newly detected COVID-19 cases surged to forty-nine, with seven more patients discharged rising the mumber of recovered patients to 301.

President Uhuru Kenyatta indicated 481 active cases were still under isolation and treatment with the tally of registered cases so far reported at 832.

"It is disturbing to note that close to 30 per cent of these recorded deaths occurred at home. The life of every Kenyan is precious. I together with millions of Kenyans mourn for the lost dreams cut short by this disease," he stated.

Globally, coronavirus has claimed over 300,000 lives and 4.7 million infections recorded.

As part of containment measures, the President extended the nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew until June 6, as well as cessation of movement in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi, Mandera and Kwale counties.

He also ordered the closure of Kenya-Tanzania, Kenya-Somalia borders to all passenger traffic following increased infections in border counties.

President Kenyatta noted that among positive cases registered in the country this week, a total of 43 had originated from neighboring Somalia and Tanzania.

"As of yesterday, the cases across the border were distributed as follows, Wajir 14, Isebania 10, Namanga 16, Lungalunga 2 and Loitoktok 1," he said.

The 832 reported cases are spread in 22 counties with Nairobi leading with 402 cases, Mombasa (269), Kajiado (27), Wajir (15), Mandera (14), Migori (10), Kiambu (10), Kilifi (8), Kitui (4), Kwale (3), Machakos (3), Nakuru (3), Bungoma (2), Busia (2), Homa Bay (2), Siaya (2), Uasin Gishu (2), Bomet (1), Isiolo (1) and Kakamega (1).

To date the Ministry of Health has tested a total of 39,018 samples.
Agra, May 17 : Though relief in restrictions was in store in lockdown-4, but there was little respite for Agra from the scourge of the deadly coronavirus, which so far has claimed 27 lives in the Taj city. With five new cases till late Saturday night, the tally has gone up to 803.

But the good news was that the number of recovered has crossed 500.

District authorities have drawn up a comprehensive strategy for the 44 hotspots. The focus will henceforth be on more tests and more efficient Medicare for people in distress in the containment zones.

Locals are hoping resumption of business outside the hot zones, but district magistrate P.N. Singh said, the state government will release fresh guidelines which would need to be strictly followed. The medical services were being further streamlined and the state of preparedness for any eventuality in the future, was being continuously upped, district health officials claimed on Sunday.

The chief worry, for the moment remains the orderly and human management of the migrant workers passing through Agra. After the Auraiya tragedy on Saturday, authorities restricted the movement of heavy vehicles. Migrants from trains and those walking, were taken into roadways buses to be ferried to their destinations.

Divisional commissioner Anil Kumar has asked the police to ban plying of trucks with migrants. The trucks would not be allowed from midnight to dawn, to ensure those walking on roads remained safe.

Activists providing much needed help to the migrants said it was a shocking spectacle to witness distressed humanity on roads, walking on foot. "In more than 50 days, India has failed to put in place a proper plan of action to transport people back home safely," said social activist Shravan Kumar Singh.

The state government has already announced a fine of Rs 500, for not wearing masks.

Meanwhile, health teams were combing rural areas to screen outsiders who had entered without medical screening. The elderly population, in the villages has been targeted for screening in the early rounds.

The district administration has begun extensive testing and screening in the district and central jails. More than a 100 have been isolated and a dozen homes quarantined, after two recent deaths. In Mainpuri district five new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, all migrants, has caused widespread alarm. The number in Firozabad has gone up to 198.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 16:34:47|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China's Chang'e-4 probe has survived 500 Earth days on the far side of the moon while conducting a scientific exploration of the virgin territory.

The lander and rover of the Chang'e-4 probe have resumed work for the 18th lunar day on the far side of the moon after "sleeping" during the extremely cold night.

The lander woke up at 3:25 a.m. Sunday (Beijing time), and the rover awoke at 11:53 a.m. Saturday. Both are in normal working order, according to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The Chang'e-4 probe, launched on Dec. 8, 2018, made the first-ever soft landing on the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon on Jan. 3, 2019.

A lunar day equals 14 days on Earth, and a lunar night is the same length. The Chang'e-4 probe switches to dormant mode during the lunar night due to the lack of solar power.

The rover Yutu-2, or Jade Rabbit-2, has driven 447.68 meters, and is now 292 meters away from the lander. It has conducted scientific detection on lunar rocks, the lunar soil on its track and some impact craters.

Scientists used the Lunar Penetrating Radar on Yutu-2 to study the geological structure with a depth of 40 meters, unveiling the secrets buried under the surface of the far side of the moon, enriching our understanding about the history of celestial collisions and volcanic activities and shedding new light on the geological evolution on the moon.

Scientists also analyzed the data of the infrared imaging spectrometer on Yutu-2 and revealed the material composition on the moon's far side, verifying that the lunar mantle is rich in olivine, which deepens our understanding of the formation and evolution of the moon.

China plans to launch its first Mars exploration mission Tianwen-1 in July. Due to the modification of the ground communication facilities, the rover and the lander will conduct in-situ detection during the 18th lunar day, said the CNSA.

The scientific tasks of the Chang'e-4 mission include conducting low-frequency radio astronomical observation, surveying the terrain and landforms, detecting the mineral composition and shallow lunar surface structure and measuring neutron radiation and neutral atoms.

The Chang'e-4 mission embodies China's hope to combine wisdom in space exploration with four payloads developed by the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Saudi Arabia. Enditem
Far-right and neo-Nazi groups are spreading racist and false information about a black jogger who was fatally shot in Georgia to promote their agendas on social media platforms, according to organizations that monitor online extremist activity.

The campaigns gained traction after the release this month of a video showing the moments before Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was shot dead in February. Two white men were arrested and charged in the shooting after the video drew widespread attention to the incident.

Some of the online posts, which include racist language, memes and graphics, claim that Arbery was carrying a hammer and wearing boots when he was killed, as the groups try to create false narratives about his death, analysts said.

In the video, Arbery is wearing a white T-shirt, shorts and running shoes. Security footage shows a man in similar clothing who is believed to be Arbery entering a house under construction just before the shooting. The owner of the property has said nothing was stolen from the site.

"The most remarkable finding is that an alternate narrative was created, most notably that Arbery was carrying a hammer and wearing Timberland boots - two claims which CCTV footage and mainstream media reporting does not support," said a senior terrorism analyst for the Middle East Media Research Institute, which is collecting information related to the case. The analyst spoke on the condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

The groups portray the two arrested men, Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, as victims, the analysts said. Both men have been charged with murder and aggravated assault.

Gregory McMichael, a former police detective, told authorities that he believed Arbery was responsible for burglaries in the area.

Members of the far right say the arrests are an example of alleged anti-white bias in the mainstream media and perceived injustice against white people.

"White-nationalist groups have long pushed a narrative that there is an epidemic of black-on-white crime in the U.S. that has gone unreported, and that black men in particular are inherently violent and represent an especial threat to white women," said Cassie Miller, senior research analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center.

"White nationalists are using the murder of Ahmaud Arbery to further prop up this narrative," Miller said.

Some supporters of the groups have also attacked President Donald Trump for calling the killing "horrible" and saying Arbery looked like a "wonderful young guy." A video clip of the president speaking about the incident was posted on a far-right channel with nearly 3,000 users on the messaging app Telegram. Using racist language, the poster said the reaction to the killing was a reminder that the United States "is the Great Satan."

"Although initially we saw white supremacists embrace some of his rhetoric, this particular incident brings to light the criticism they have for his comments condemning this attack. Largely they are concerned that he is not representing the white race," said Joanna Mendelson, associate director of the center on extremism for the Anti-Defamation League.

More expressions of anger toward Trump and conservatives appeared on the same channel after the Justice Department said it would review the case and determine whether federal hate crime charges should be pursued. The post, which includes a story about the announcement, ends by saying that the coronavirus is the plague the United States deserves.

The posts are not limited to users in the United States. A Norwegian neo-Nazi posted a graphic showing a black man whose face is covered by a racist illustration jogging and carrying a hammer. Other neo-Nazis based in Europe have discussed the killing on social media as well, the analysts said.

A private Facebook group called Justice for Gregory and Travis McMichael and several GoFundMe pages created in support of the two men were infiltrated and shut down, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute.

The video of the final moments of Arbery's life show him jogging on a road on Feb. 23 in a neighborhood about two miles from his home in the city of Brunswick. Two armed white men approach in a truck, and the younger man and Arbery struggle. Gunshots can be heard, and Arbery staggers and collapses.
In this COVID-19 phase, the BJP leveraged its pre-eminence again to tip the power scales in its favour and relegate its allies in the National Democratic Alliance to a lesser position.

Radhika Ramaseshan reports.

IMAGE: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi during a video conference meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on COVID-19. Photograph: Kind courtesy @NitishKumar/Twitter

Until April 29, the Janata Dal-United clutched at a straw tossed by Nitin Gadkari, the road transport and highways minister.

The JD-U, which has a coalition government in Bihar with the Bharatiya Janata Party, faced a major predicament in dealing with the plight of the states people, who worked across the country principally as casual labourers but were left high and dry after the national lockdown.

There were also students grounded at academic hubs in Rajasthan and Karnataka.

Uttar Pradesh, Bihars neighbour, got the logistics in place and arranged buses to ferry home its residents, including students.

Nitish Kumar, the Bihar chief minister who refused to open the states borders to the domiciles desperate to return, fumed.

Gadkaris statement sounded reassuring.

In a TV interview, the minister did not endorse UP chief minister Yogi Adityanaths move and said: I feel, at this point, we need to exercise caution. All states should feed and house the migrants to prevent the spread of the virus.

We hope the Centre would listen to Gadkari and restrain Adityanath, a JD-U source said, not realising that by the time Gadkari finished speaking, the Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh chief ministers, the latter a Congressman, followed UPs example and repatriated their students from Rajasthans Kota.

A government source stressed that Adityanath would not have gone ahead without a green light from Amit Shah, the Union home minister.

However, Nitish was intractable.

But he came under pressure from the Bihar BJP that felt the political cost of the CMs obduracy might be too immense to bear in the prelude to the assembly elections, scheduled in October-November this year.

The poor and the well-off from Bihar were equally impacted. We might have lost on both counts, a state BJP office-bearer said.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with chief ministers on April 27, Nitish cited the Disaster Management Act to him and alleged that states had flouted the guidelines by transporting students and migrants from other regions.

He implied that CMs couldnt function arbitrarily.

It isnt clear if he asked the PM to tweak the guidelines.

But after the discussions, Sushil Kumar Modi, Bihars deputy CM from the BJP, tweeted to say a solution was in the offing to resolve the migrant impasse.

On April 30, he tweeted: I appeal the GoI to allow special trains to bring migrants from distant places.

J P Nadda, the BJP president, and Bhupender Yadav, the general secretary minding Bihar, also spoke with Nitish.

On April 29, the home ministry directed the states to institutionalise a protocol for receiving and sending migrant workers, pilgrims, students, and others left in the lurch.

Nitish welcomed the change but a JD-U source admitted: We did not expect the new guideline to come so soon.

On the other hand, a BJP source maintained: The CM was explicitly told that it was coming and he must abide by it.

The modification was the only face-saver the Centre would concede to an unwilling partner, who BJP sources alleged, played politics amidst a pandemic.

By May 1, the government had already started special trains to bring back those stranded to their home states.

In this COVID-19 phase, the BJP leveraged its pre-eminence again to tip the power scales in its favour and relegate its allies in the National Democratic Alliance to a lesser position.

This despite the fact the Shiv Sena, the BJPs oldest ally, and the All Jharkhand Students Union left the ruling coalition, making it a vastly truncated form of its 2014 avatar.

The BJP is very strong vis-a-vis its partners, said the leader of a relatively small constituent who raised his voice on significant issues in the past.

The PM/BJP has not convened an NDA meeting since the virus ravaged India.

In turn, the allies have not asked for one.

The BJP wasnt always sitting pretty.

The allies were not oblivious to the larger connotation of the BJP losing power in Maharashtra after the Sena teamed up with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress or walking into a shaky coalition in Haryana where the fledgeling Jannayak Janta Party had its way and installed its leader, Dushyant Chautala, as deputy CM.

Shortly thereafter, Chautala met Nitish in Patna and talked about working together for Bihar and Haryanas development.

The stated intention was apparently a pretext for forming a clique to contain the BJP.

The Shiromani Akali Dal, the JD-U, and the Lok Janshakti Party slammed the BJP over the Citizenship Amendment Act, though they voted for its passage in Parliament.

Parkash Singh Badal, the SAD patriarch, said: If a government wants to be successful, it must take minorities along.

Nitish passed a resolution in the Bihar assembly against the National Register of Citizens and for the restoration of the 2010 version of the National Population Register.

LJP president and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan termed Februarys north-east Delhi communal violence as a national blot.

The allies sing a different tune now.

Naresh Gujral, the SADs Rajya Sabha MP -- who pinned the responsibility for the Delhi violence to the Centre -- said: Theres a national emergency of gigantic proportions, so other things will take a backseat.

The leader of another constituent said: Old wounds must be covered with a scab. Nows not the time to raise majority-minority matters.
New Delhi/Washington, May 17 : A US federal court has indicted a Pakistani doctor on H1-B visa for his support to the Islamic State (IS) and attempting to carry out a terror plot, raising serious questions about the vetting process in the country's immigration system.

In an official statement, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) said that the federal grand jury for the district of Minnesota on May 15 indicted 28-year-old Muhammad Masood for attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

A licensed medical doctor in Pakistan, Masood was formerly employed as a research coordinator at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota under an H1-B visa.

As per his LinkedIn profile, he has a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from Riphah International University, a General Certificate of Education from the University of Cambridge and a license to practice from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.

The DoJ said that between January and March, Masood made several statements to others, including pledging his allegiance to the IS and its leader, and expressed his desire to travel to Syria to fight for the terror group.

The Pakistani national also wanted to carry out 'lone wolf' terror attacks in the US.

He was initially charged in a criminal complaint on March 19 this year and currently in custody pending further court proceedings.

As per the complaint, Masood was messaging on an encrypted online platform about how sick he had grown of smiling every day at the "passing kuffar" (non-Muslims) and yet he was keeping the pretence "just not to make them suspicios (sic) a I cannot tolerate it anymore".

In his messages, he mentioned that he could not waste the opportunity while being in the US.

"Sometimes I want to (sic) attack enemy when I am behind enemy line (sic) itself," he messaged in January.

"(I) wonder if I will miss the opportunity of attacking the enemy when I was in the middle of it." Masood quit his job at the Mayo Clinic, auctioned off his personal belongings and on February 21, bought a plane ticket from Chicago, Illinois to Amman, Jordan and from there planned to travel to Syria.

But his travel plans changed because on March 16, Jordon closed its borders to incoming travel due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a message Masood revealed: "... there is so much I wanted to do here ... lon wulf (sic) stuff you know ... but I realized I should be on the ground helping brothers sisters kids Inshallah." So he decided to fly from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to meet an individual who he believed would help him with travel via cargo ship to deliver him to the IS territory, the DoJ statement said.

The people whom he was chatting with on the encrypted online messenger were undercover informants for the FBI.

They asked him several times if he was absolutely sure he really wanted to quit his job in the US and join the IS abroad, to which he replied: "I want to kill and get killed ... and kill and get killed ... and again and again. This is what ... Allah wished." Todd Bensman who works for the US-based research group Center for Immigration Studies, said that the Masood case was a cause for reassessing current security vetting protocols in countries not on the travel restriction list, to ensure that hot security threats were not imported among the doctors, engineers, and other skilled professionals who use the H-1B visa to leave countries of national security interest.

The American public, elected leaders, and security professionals, he wrote, should never assume that force fields of credibility immunize doctors from security investigations and thorough vetting.

They don't, as we well learned from Dr. Nidal Hassan's massacre at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009 and from a bizarrely long list of other Hippocratic Oath breakers.
Doctors are voicing their outrage over the government's move to have the militarys Blue Angels and Thunderbirds perform more flyovers to salute healthcare workers at various cities across the country, saying its a waste of millions of dollars.

The Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navys Blue Angels have performed in several cities including Chicago, Detroit, New York, and Nashville in an effort to boost morale and pay tribute to frontline workers.

But an ER doctor, who goes by Dr. Bill, has slammed the federal government for spending an estimated tens of thousands for each flyover instead of providing vital personal protective equipment to hospitals in need.

So far the two squadrons have performed at least 92 flyovers in various cities. If each show lasts an hour and costs $60,000 an hour as reported by the Washington Post, that amounts to over $5.5million spent by the government so far as of Sunday.

'Im Dr. Bill. Im as patriotic as the next guy but I read today theyre going to have the Blue Angels and other Air Force flying wizards flyover many cities for healthcare workers to show their support,' he said in a video clip shared on May 12 following news of a flyover in Chicago.

Viral video has emerged of a medic named Dr. Bill slamming Blue Angels and Thunderbird flyovers for healthcare workers as a waste of money saying, 'Get us equipment. Get us PPE'

The outraged doctor was filmed in a hallway at his hospital, pictured wearing a face mask and a protective lab coat as he slammed the government spending on flyovers instead of hospital needs. 'You want to help healthcare workers? Get us equipment. Get us PPE,' he said

So far the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds have performed over 90 flyovers in dozens of cities. The Blue Angels pictured flying over downtown Nashville, Tennessee on May 14

The outraged doctor was filmed in a hallway at his hospital, pictured wearing a face mask and a protective lab coat as he slammed the government spending on flyovers instead of hospital needs.

He estimated that each flyover cost $450,000 to fund, though that number hasn't been verified.

'You want to help healthcare workers? These are the damn N-95 masks we have to deal with, these are painters masks. Get us equipment. Get us PPE. Get us N-95 that are work anything. Get us tests for everybody. Okay?' he said shaking his mask.

'Dont flyover something so we can see some crap, $450,000, to make the president look good,' he added.

'You want to help healthcare workers, take that same money and feed the people in the inner city who have nothing to eat. Help the food care workers who are working. Help the food industry people. Dont flyover and say oh arent they great? Lets be real,' he said.

On May 12 the Blue Angels raced through the skies of Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis giving daring performances that drew crowds and applause for frontline workers.

The Navy and Air Force say the flyovers come at 'no additional' cost to taxpayers because 'pilots must execute a minimum number of flight hours to maintain proficiency.'

However, the millions spent on the flyovers raises questions to how the sum could have been spent to provide $20,000-ventilators and vital PPE to hospitals.

People sit on a hill while watching the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels preform a flyover on May 2 in Baltimore, Maryland.

People watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform a flyover on May 8, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida in a tribute to healthcare and frontline workers

'This is a tribute to them, to our warriors because theyre equal warriors to those incredible pilots and all of the fighters that we have for the more traditional fights that we win,' President Donald Trump said in April on the flyovers

'This is also our way of showing that we are all in this together and that Americas spirit will prevail,' Air Force Gen. Dave Goldfein said in a news release on the flyovers.

The flyovers are organized by the Department of Defense in a campaign to keep 'American strong' in a 'collaborative salute'.

'This is a tribute to them, to our warriors because theyre equal warriors to those incredible pilots and all of the fighters that we have for the more traditional fights that we win,' President Donald Trump said in April on the flyovers.

Today there are over one million cases of the virus in the country and over 89,000 deaths.

However, hospitals across the country are still suffering from dire shortages of protective personal equipment as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise.

Late last month health care professionals in 10 states filed complaints over a lack of PPE with the Occupation Safety and Health administration and exposure to the virus, according to Newsweek.

Some 6,169 hospitals, healthcare and other facilities including nursing homes made PPE requests through volunteer organization GetUsPPE asking for N95 respirators, surgical masks, gowns and face shields, shedding light on the shortage plaguing health facilities, according to a new Lancet report.

Requests came in from all 50 states.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimated in early March that the US had roughly one percent of the 3.5billion N95 masks needed to manage a full-blown COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawsuit seeks to delay enforcing Noem's new abortion pill ban

Planned Parenthood and ACLU of South Dakota are suing Noem and the Department of Health in enforcing a new abortion pill ban.
Two weeks after inter-state travel resumed, Assam has seen a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases with the tally nearing a hundred.

Since Saturday, seven people including a nine-year-old boy who returned from New Delhi few days ago have tested positive taking Assams total to 98 cases (including one from Nagaland tested and treated in Guwahati).

While 42 people have recovered, two patients have died and 51 are under treatment. Two patients have migrated to West Bengal and Bihar.

According to official figures, till Sunday afternoon 23 people who had returned to Assam by road and rail, since inter-state movement of people resumed on May 4, have tested positive for Covid-19.

Assam recorded its first positive case on March 31 when a 52-year-old cancer patient was found infected with coronavirus. It took another 37 days for the figure to reach 50 on May 7 and just 10 more days to double and near the three-figure mark.

Till Sunday, 20 of the states 33 districts had recorded Covid-19 cases. Of them 14 have active cases at present with Kamrup (Metro), where the states biggest city Guwahati is located, topping the tally with 23 cases.

Significantly, till April 30 - a month since the first infection was detected-Assam had 43 positive cases. After that there was a lull five days when the next case was recorded on May 5, a day after inter-state movement was allowed. Since then, the state has recorded new cases almost daily.

While the inter-state movement of people is believed to be a reason for the spike, one person who used to work in a potato warehouse in Guwahati has been linked to many positive cases in recent days.

The man was tested positive on May 7, turned out to be a super spreader, infecting 17 people he came in contact with. It is not yet known where and how he contracted the virus.

Assam on Thursday released a fresh set of standard operating procedures to be followed while dealing with persons returning to the state from other parts of the country.

The procedures list out how passengers will be dealt with once they enter Assam and get down at various stations. Officials have been asked to follow the rules on transportation, screening, testing and quarantine for the passengers.

Anyone found symptomatic will be segregated and taken to hospitals for tests. Others will be allowed to go to their home districts where they will be placed in institutional quarantine for at least 14 days, health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said on Thursday.

Passengers over 75 years, children below 10 years and their families, pregnant women and persons with disabilities will be allowed to go to their homes where they as well as their family members will have to keep themselves quarantined for 14 days.

Abandoning its earlier plan to turn schools and colleges into quarantine facilities, the government has now decided to requisition hotels, lodges etc. and keep passengers there. The cost of rent and food will be borne by the state government, Sarma said.

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The situation is pretty grim for the thousands of migrants currently making their way home--at times on foot, at times on borrowed bicycles--to villages across the country, all in an attempt to overcome the fact that they are now without jobs, food or shelter.

But in a bid to help those in need, many good Samaritans have joined hands and proved not all hope is lost.

ANI

In another heartwarming gesture, people in Bhopal have joined hands to help migrants with clothes, shoes and other essentials on a footpath they all walk past.

According to an ANI report, a large number of people coming from Maharashtra and heading towards Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, pass through the Bhopal bypass. They pick the items according to their requirement.

PTI

A group of residents has also been providing food and water to the passers-by. One of the volunteers from the group, Abdul Rehman said: "This arrangement is being made by Jamaat-e-Islami. We stay here from 9 am till around 12 am every day and provide food to the needy."

"We are around 15 to 20 people who come here in shifts and provide food to around 15,000 to 20,000 people. People in large numbers pass from this area every day. We are trying to provide at least something to them," he added.

Several NGOs and volunteers have hit the national highway to distribute food, shoes, umbrellas and even financial aid for migrants walking back home.



In Mumbai, an extensive network of kitchens, delivery personnel, grassroots NGOs and local volunteers, are working to help the hungry migrants.



PTI

According to the Indian Express, members of Ankuram which is a Hyderabad-based NGO, spotted migrants from Madhya Pradesh walking on the highway. They moved them to their shelter, where they were offered food and water and convinced to stay.

Association for Urban and Tribal Development (AUTD) in Andhra Pradesh distributed 1,000 packets of food and water to migrant workers from Anakapalle bypass to Anandapuram junction.



All Inputs ANI
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
Parscale and his team have tested positive messages about Trump and did not get the same results, according to people familiar with the campaign tests. But there are some limits to how well some of the attacks might work. After voters in the 17-state RNC survey were provided an onslaught of negative statements about Biden, the Democrat still won by 1 percentage point over Trump, compared with 3 percentage points before they heard the statements, an official familiar with the poll said. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the findings.
The lockdown has impacted peoples mental health in many ways and it is even more difficult for people who are living alone without any social contact with anyone. While we are still finding ways to indulge ourselves into something productive or worthwhile, Netherlandss government has taken it to another level by asking the people living alone to get a sex buddy for themselves.



 Unsplash

Yes, you read that right! Their government is asking them to have a sex buddy amid the lockdown, According to BBC, the National Institute For Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) announced that single people who are seeking feeling contact also need to limit their risk of contracting Coronavirus. So, its suggested to limit physical contact with multiple people amid the outbreak.



 Unsplash

The brainchild behind this is to minimize exposure of single people with multiple partners which will also help them limit the risks of more people catching the virus.



 Reuters

They also asked people to have certain rules while choosing a Sex Buddy. And the rules are mentioned as follows:



 You decide to have sex or come in physical contact with only one person who is your cuddle buddy or sex partner.

 Make sure that you dont have sex with anyone else during that period. It is also advisable to ask them to not come in contact with anyone else for at least fifteen days and then you can get together.

 If any of you has the virus symptoms, such as cold, cough, fever, sneezing, or shortness of breath, dont meet each other. As there are chances that you might have the virus.

 Dont meet each other if you have come in contact with someone who has been tested Covid-19.

 Reuters

The following rules will make the chances of both of you catching Coronavirus less and youll still have someone to spend your time with.


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Xi chairs leadership meeting to discuss draft government work report

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:07, May 16, 2020

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Friday held a meeting to discuss the draft government work report, which will be submitted by the State Council to the third annual session of the 13th National People's Congress for deliberation and approval.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

Despite multiple challenges China faced in its development last year, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has rallied and led Chinese people of all ethnic groups to achieve the major annual targets and lay a decisive foundation for completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the meeting said.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the CPC Central Committee has been regarding epidemic prevention and control as the top priority, the meeting said.

Putting people's lives and health on the top of the priority list, General Secretary Xi Jinping has led the whole Party, army and people of all ethnic groups to fight a war against the epidemic, through personal command and deployment.

Through arduous efforts, decisive results have been achieved in the fight against COVID-19 to protect the hard-hit Hubei Province and its capital city Wuhan, the meeting said, adding that major strategic achievements have been made in curbing the spread of the virus, with positive results in coordinating the epidemic control and economic and social development.

China is facing unprecedented challenges as the global pandemic and economic situations remain grim and complex, the meeting said.

The meeting stressed resolutely expanding domestic consumption, safeguarding economic development and social stability, ensuring the full completion of poverty alleviation targets as well as building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

Going forward, attendees at the meeting called for unremitting efforts in implementing regular epidemic prevention and control measures this year, while striving to deliver a good performance in all areas of economic and social development.

The proactive fiscal policy should be more positive, the prudent monetary policy should be more flexible and appropriate, and the employment priority policy should be further strengthened, according to the meeting.

The country should roll out stronger macro policies to stabilize enterprises' development and ensure employment, and should rely on reforms to stimulate market entities' vitality and foster new growth drivers.

China will advance opening-up to a higher level and stabilize the foreign trade and investment, and strive to achieve this year's economic and social development goals, the meeting said.

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Whether it is UPI or net banking or even a simple ATM card transaction using the trusty old ATM machine -- digital modes of transactions are surely making our lives so much easier and convenient.

Reuters

But one vulnerability can also cause severe damage. And this time, some SBI customers have come right in the crosshairs.



SBI customers have been complaining of their cards getting cloned and transactions being done in their account without their knowledge. The State Bank of India has acknowledged such suspicious transactions and have assured customers that the amount transacted will be refunded back into their account.

SBIs official twitter handle states, "Cases of using cloned #ATMCards have been reported in Delhi. There appears to be a possible compromise at an ATM of another bank. Affected SBI customers are being helped & refunds will be processed as per the procedure."

Twitter

What is ATM Cloning?

In case you didnt know, ATM Card cloning occurs when some ATM machines are rigged in a way to store your card data when you transact from it. This data is then retrieved by fraudsters and used to do transactions online from your funds.

To warn other users from getting duped in a similar way, theyve issued caution and safety measures for customers, advising them to regularly change their ATM pins, always transact from an authorized SBI machine only.

Reuters

It also suggests customers to cover ATM keypad while entering the PIN to prevent people from standing behind from peeping at your digits.

SBI has also specifically warned users to avoid using birthdays or other dates for PINs as theyre easy to crack. Theyve also asked customers to make sure their numbers are linked with their account to get notified about every activity -- whether intentional or malicious -- in real-time.

Were you one of the affected SBI users? What was your experience like? Tell us in the comments below.
In recognition of National Police Week, of those who keep our communities safe, oftentimes at hours and in places where most of us seldom find ourselves, I'd like to thank our police, most certainly including our tribal police, who work hard and in an unheralded, selfless way.

My great uncle Al Mues of Helena was a long-serving highway patrolman turned judge. One of his greatest accomplishments (despite being a Hall of Fame Trap 'n Skeeter, decorated military veteran, professional boxer, and highly effective highway patrolman and judge), according to him, was that he never once, over decades, had to pull his weapon on anyone. Paradoxically, though a sharpshooter and tough Helena Sixth Ward product, he drew the greatest pride from being able to solve incredibly tense and ambiguous moments peaceably. That said, he was also prepared to use force if necessary. But the ontological endpoint he valued was to take, typically, the longer, more complex path in resolving conflict.

Or so he explained to me, in fewer words, in his Poplar Street basement while working over a speed bag in his late 70s next to the baddest gun and ammo locker I've seen beyond the military.

I took up, during this campaign, an invitation to a Deer Lodge Rotary Club meeting at which the chief of police was scheduled to speak. I had the opportunity to ask him about the prevalence of PTSD and other trauma among our police force. He affirmed that it was a real issue.

As we, as a society, grapple with the balance between order and justice, this is an area that federal elected officials could positively influence. We invest, as a government, albeit still inadequately, resources to the mental health of our soldiers. We should do the same for our police and other first responders. They are routinely seeing and being exposed to situations that we can only imagine. And, frankly, to a degree that exceeds that experienced by most military members. The least we can do is comprehensively take care of those who take care of us, daily.

And, it just might help serve as a bridge between our police and certain communities in our nation where a distrust of our police remains.

John Mues is a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Montana. A fourth-generation Montanan, he is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and London Business School, and has served as a four-times-deployed naval officer, Montana rancher and public school teacher, and senior engineer in the business sector.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 21:00:20|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Africa rose from 78,194 on Saturday morning to 81,307 as of Sunday morning, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Sunday.

The continental disease control and prevention agency, which noted that the virus has so far spread into all of the 54 African countries, also disclosed that some 31,078 people who have been infected with the COVID-19 have recovered across the continent as of Sunday morning, marking about 1,585 new recoveries from the center's previous report on Saturday morning.

The death toll due to the COVID-19 pandemic across the African continent also surged from 2,630 on Saturday morning to 2,704 as of Sunday morning, according to the Africa CDC.

The Africa CDC currently estimates fatality rates of COVID-19 cases to be around 3.4 percent of all cases in the continent.

Figures from the Africa CDC also showed that amid the rapid spread of the virus across the continent, the highly COVID-19 affected African countries include South Africa with 14,335 confirmed cases, Egypt with 11,719 confirmed cases, Morocco with 6,741 confirmed cases as well as Algeria with 6,821 confirmed cases.

The Africa CDC also disclosed that the Northern African region is the most affected area across the continent both in terms of positive COVID-19 cases, as well as the number of deaths. Enditem
New Delhi: Hours after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the fifth and final tranche of the stimulus package in New Delhi on Sunday (May 17, 2020), senior Congress leader Anand Sharma questioned the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat package claiming the announcments are worth Rs 3.22 lakh cr and not Rs 20 lakh crore as earlier announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sharma also pointed out that Rs 3.22 lakh crore is only 1.6% of India's GDP not 10% and posed a challenge to the government to disprove him. "I'm questioning finance minister, disputing PM Modi and challenging govt to disprove me on numbers; ready for debate with FM Sitharaman," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Further, he accused the Centre of misleading people of the country. "Govt misleading people of country in name of economic package; PM Modi must walk the talk now," he said.

On the migrant workers situation, Sharma said the government should apologise for abandoning its poor citizens and violating their fundamental and leagal rights. "The Finance Minister should answer, not question; govt has to answer on plight of migrants forced to walk on roads due to lack of planning," the Congress leader said.

Sharma also slammed Sitharaman for her comments on Congress party and its leaders just hours after she called Rahul Gandhi's interaction with migrant workers in Delhi as 'drama'.

"We expect seriousness, gravitas from the finance minister; what she has said against Congress is frivolous," he said.

While announcing the fifth tranche of the Atmanirbhar package she paused to lash out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his impromptu meeting with migrant workers in Delhi on Saturday afternoon, she called Rahul's act as nothing but 'drama'.

"They sat beside migrants who were walking back home and spoke to them. That is dramabaazi. It would have been better if he had walked alongside migrants, holding their children and suitcases," Sitharaman had said at the press breifing.

On Sunday, Rahul was seen talking to a group of 20 migrant workers who were on the way to their village near Jhansi from their worksite near Ambala. The nearly hour-long sit-in took place on the footpath on Mathura road in the national capital
KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Health is a state subject; some states invest double the national average in healthcare while the others do poorly

District hospitals across over 700 districts need more beds and not necessarily cast in stone demarcated facilities

Public health labs are more suited for districts

Over 7,000 blocks may need more patient care lab strengthening

PPP is an option that could be tried

The Indian healthcare sector practitioners have a reason to rejoice with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman picking the sector in her stimulus measures' presentation on Sunday. Sitharaman announced that all districts will have infectious disease blocks and public health labs have been planned to be set up at the block level. While the focus and concern is admirable, the crying need is not really a centrally designed infectious disease handling model, the healthcare experts say. There is a need for finances and resources, they add.

However, these should come with a freedom to decide on which one is best to bridge the gap in healthcare delivery. The reason being that not all states are alike, apart from the fact that health is a state subject. Some states like Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and others have higher spending on healthcare. Some even spend at double the national average. But, these have different gaps to fill when compared with states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and others.

More beds, not silos

Keshav Desiraju, former union health secretary and a veteran health care expert, feels that an ideal situation would be one where funds are transferred to the states with a freedom for them to decide where they would want to invest in healthcare delivery. A majority of states really need more beds at the district level, he says, adding that many may not necessarily need blocks for infectious diseases. They need beds that can be put to use quickly for infectious diseases in times of pandemic. In other words, any district hospital with over 100 or 150 beds will need more beds with an option to deploy them as per the need or otherwise.

Patient-care labs for blocks

Dr Rajib Dasgupta, professor and specialist in the area of epidemiology at the Centre of Social Medicine and Community at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, says that the move by the finance minister on infectious disease block at the district level is a welcome measure.

But, it can't be done overnight as it will require not just facility creation but also right staffing with appropriately trained professionals backed by the necessary equipment. Dr Dasgupta is also a firm believer in the diversity of the healthcare delivery capability across states and districts. So, the measures to bridge the gaps should be best left to the states to decide on where to invest. However, the measures are not quite in favour of public health labs at the block level. These are more suited at a district level and therefore across over 700 districts in the country. This is because, by definition, public health labs undertake epidemiological services, including studying the disease dynamics, as against patient-centric tests that pathological laboratories normally do. So, public health labs, that have supporting infrastructure at the district level with the government hospitals and medical colleges, become more appropriate at the district level.

However, they also need to be backed by a public health cadre to undertake the epidemiology services. At the block level, Dr Dasgupta is more in favour of strengthening the pathological laboratories that are focused on patient care. He also wants them to be backed with an adequately trained staff to man them and provide the required services.

Linkage with ISDP

Some of the experts are also not clear on where does the existing Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (ISDP) under the ministry of health fit in with the announcement by the finance minister. It's for the reason that ISDP, assisted by the World Bank, is aimed in any case at strengthening disease surveillance for infectious diseases. Its stated mission being: "To strengthen the disease surveillance in the country by establishing a decentralized State based surveillance system for epidemic prone diseases to detect the early warning signals, so that timely and effective public health actions can be initiated in response to health challenges in the country at the Districts, State and National level."

Pathology labs are crucial

About 70 per cent of all clinical decisions are based on pathology tests and therefore strengthening lab infrastructure is crucial, says, Dr Arvind Lal, chairman and managing director of Dr Lal Pathlabs. And says, it goes beyond infectious diseases, which are only one side of the problem. "In India, 65 per cent of all deaths in India are today because of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac failures, cancer, liver, kidney and lung diseases apart from stroke and all these need a pathology lab backup."

PPP can hasten up implementation

Infectious diseases are seeming like things people will have to learn to live with, Ranjan Pai, chairman, Manipal Education and Medical Group, says. "Nothing like having a good public health system that can help in early detection so while I have not seen the details, in general, what is being attempted is a good idea provided they are well-staffed and well-run," he also says.

This is important because when you want to do a large expansion in a short period of time, getting good, trained staff may be a challenge. The focus therefore now has to be on how the plans can be executed well. In this, the government could look at a PPP (public-private partnership) model.

Also Read: RBI faces herculean task! Borrowing target Rs 22.69 lakh, savings available Rs 14 lakh crore

Also Read: Coronavirus relief: Here's break-up of Modi govt's Rs 20 lakh crore economic package

Also Read: Coronavirus-related debt excluded from default; will big companies rush to avail benefit?
Kochi: Indian Navy's INS Jalashwa on Sunday (May 17, 2020) evacuated 588 stranded Indian citizens from the Maldives. The Navy ship left Male port in the Maldives on Saturday.

The 588 citizens include - 497 males, 70 women and 21 children. Among the women include six pregnant ladies. Taking to Twitter, India Naby gave the information of the successful evacuation and said, ''Op #SamudraSetu #Phase2 #INSJalashwa arrives #Kochi with 588 Indian citizens embarked from #Male #Maldives.''

Among the returnees include 568 from Kerala and the rest from Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Lakshadweep. This is the second trip of INS Jalashwa, which had earlier come with 698 people on May 12. This is part of Operation Samudra Setu which is the repatriation of Indian nationals from foreign shores by sea.

A total of 1488 Indians from 22 states have been evacuated from the Maldives till date which includes 205 women, 133 pregnant/medical cases & 38 children.

1488 and counting! Glad to share that 1488 Indians fm 22 states evacuated from Maldives; includes 205 women, 133 pregnant/medical cases & 38 children.

Process of evacuation will continue through air to diff cities and ship/s to TN in coming weeks. Details will be shared soon. pic.twitter.com/oOHeJ0eH6q  India in Maldives (@HCIMaldives) May 17, 2020

Those who arrived were screened by health officials and those having any symptoms will be moved to COVID hospitals, while the others will have to be in quarantine at their homes for 2 weeks. Those hailing from other districts will be sent to their home districts in state transport buses.

An evacuation flights from Male' has also been scheduled for Bengaluru on May 22 and Delhi on May 23.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 19:54:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 patients in serious condition in Beijing has dropped to zero, a health official said on Sunday.

And the number of hospitalized cases in Beijing has dropped to six, said Lei Haichao, head of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, at a routine press conference on COVID-19 prevention and control.

To date, a total of 593 COVID-19 cases have been treated in Beijing, according to Lei. Enditem
White House trade advisor Peter Navarro is outraged that Shanghai Disneyland is open. It's the first Disney resort in the world to reopen, and it is taking precautions, operating at 30% capacity, to decrease the chances of a flare up.



"It crossed me that Disneyland in Shanghai is opening this morning, while my own Disneyland in my own homeland in Orange County, in Anaheim, ... That makes me mad," Navarro said.

Why is an economist who has been negotiating with China so outraged about Disneyland opening up? He's advocating for the same thing in America. Is it jealousy?

Although (or perhaps because), I am not a White House advisor, I believe I might have an answer for Navarro. It could be because China has adopted aggressive policies to cut down the spread of coronavirus, and the U.S. hasn't. It could be because China has had less than 5,000 new cases materialize since March 1, while the U.S. has had over 1.4 million cases since then. California, where Disneyland is located, has had over 73,000 cases, almost as many as China has had in the whole country, and Los Angeles has had half of all cases in California.

But the Trump administration and Republican supporters of Trump want to "open up" the economy even though new cases continue to increase by about 20,000 per day. They seem to think they can just bypass the whole part about getting rid of coronavirus first.

Instead of a coordinated response, the U.S. was left with a patchwork of half-measures enacted by states and localities in March and April. The federal government largely relinquished its duty to protect Americans. President Trump said that the government under his management would be the "supplier of last resort," and his son-in-law, whom Trump put in charge of the coronavirus response, said that the federal stockpile of equipment "is not supposed to be states' stockpiles that they used."

Some states have had to rely on China and South Korea to obtain the necessary equipment. Massachusetts, with the help of the New England Patriots' team plane, flew about 2 million N95 masks back from China. Maryland bought 500,000 tests from the South Korean government. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker paid for "secret" flights to China with his own $3 billion fortune in order to avoid his state's medical gear being seized by the federal government. There has been no plan for mass testing, no effort to trace contacts of people who got infected, and those who are infected are not even required to be quarantined.

But despite it all, the half-measures have had some effect. The number of new cases reported in the U.S. hit a plateau in April, and the seven-day average appears to have been decreasing since the last week of April. That means 20,000 new cases per day instead of 30,000 in April. The number of total cases continues to increase.

And yet 38 of the 50 states are already starting to allow closed businesses to reopen. Sixteen of those states have already permitted restaurants to resume service. That's dangerous at a time when coronavirus continues to spread around communities.

One person in South Korea, where coronavirus was mostly wiped out, spread coronavirus to a hundred or so others while club-hopping in Itaewon. Now in America, where the number of infected people is much higher, the chances are even higher that mass spread events will take place. A significant amount, albeit a minority, of Americans even refuse to wear masks.

It won't help the economy, either, to open up too soon. If restaurants start opening, smart people will still stay home; when the virus begins spreading at restaurants, they might have to shut down again.

All of this is to say that Peter Navarro's desire to see Disneyland open in his hometown is irrational. But it's not surprising, coming from someone who has been a strong supporter of the administration's trade war. His idea that it is a problem that America, a wealthy consumption-driven economy, has a trade deficit with a single country is just as irrational. He's been spending the past two years negotiating, and all his team had to show for it was a "deal" that was only a partial return to the status quo.

If he's angry that China is opening up faster than America, then it's no wonder he thinks trade is a zero-sum game. This is not the man who should be making American trade policy. Even less, should anyone listen to him on the issue of coronavirus.

Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Altogether, 266 Malians who were stranded in France for two months in the wake of measures against the coronavirus (COVID-19) returned home Friday on board a special Air France flight, official sources told PANA here Sunday
A car race through the streets of Philadelphia turned into a shooting, and then a police chase, Saturday night.

The race started around 11:30 p.m. near G Street and Hunting Park Avenue before a racer in a gold Crown Victoria with tinted widows opened fire, shooting a man in the head and leaving him in critical condition, Action News 6 ABC is reporting.

As officers investigated the shooting, they saw the gold car and tried to pull it over, but the driver sped away, leading them on chase, reports indicate.

The chase went north on Interstate 95, and the driver exited the highway and crashed on the 4700 block of Oakmont Street, reports indicate.

Three people got out of the crashed car, leaving a pair of shoes behind, according to reports.

Police are now searching for the three suspects.

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Lisa Kudrow has said that while the cast of Friends would not be all-white if the show were made today, the sitcom did other things that she thinks were progressive for the time.

Kudrow, 56, played Phoebe Buffay on the series, which aired from 1994 to 2004, but as Friends prepares to make a comeback for a reunion special, it had been criticized recently for lacking diversity.

The actress admitted in a new interview that the show  also starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc  would be different in 2020, but defended the decisions made in the decade it was on air from the 1990s.

'Oh, it'd be completely different,' Kudrow told British newspaper the Sunday Times. 'Well, it would not be an all-white cast, for sure.'

Lisa Kudrow said Friends 'should be looked at as a time capsule, not for what they did wrong'

With an all-white cast, critics have said the show was not representative of Manhattan from 1994 to 2004. Pictured: (l-r clockwise) Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller

Kudrow's character Phoebe Buffay (right, with Jennifer Aniston's Rachel Green) was the surrogate mother for her brother's twins

Early on in the series David Schwimmer's character Ross Geller (center) must come to terms with the fact his wife (left)  and mother of his child - has realized she's a lesbian

'I'm not sure what else, but, to me, it should be looked at as a time capsule, not for what they did wrong,' she continued.

Early on in the series Schwimmer's character Ross Geller must come to terms with the fact his wife  and mother of his child - has realized she's a lesbian.

Kudrow's character Phoebe was the surrogate mother for her brother's twins.

'This show thought it was very progressive,' Kudrow said. 'There was a guy whose wife discovered she was gay and pregnant, and they raised the child together? We had surrogacy too. It was, at the time, progressive.'

Friends has come back into the spotlight as fans wait for it to air on HBO Max this November - pushed back after the coronavirus pandemic delayed filming with a live audience.

Her comments about the show from creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman, echoed Schwimmer in January.

'I dont care,' Schwimmer told the Guardian. 'That show was groundbreaking in its time for the way in which it handled so casually sex, protected sex, gay marriage and relationships You have to look at it from the point of view of what the show was trying to do at the time.

'Im the first person to say that maybe something was inappropriate or insensitive, but I feel like my barometer was pretty good at that time. I was already really attuned to social issues and issues of equality.'

'Maybe there should be an all-black or an all-Asian Friends,' Schwimmer added to the Guardian. 'But I was well aware of the lack of diversity and I campaigned for years to have Ross date women of color. One of the first girlfriends I had on the show was an Asian American woman, and later I dated African American women. That was a very conscious push on my part.'

Last year, Aisha Tyler (right) - who played Ross Geller's girlfriend on the show - said 'people of color were always aware of it [the lack of diversity]'

But last year, Aisha Tyler - who played Ross Geller's girlfriend on the show  shared a different view to Kudrow and Schwimmer. She said it was apparent at the time that the sitcom wasn't representative of New York living.

Tyler also revealed that they were not looking to be more representative in casting her character Charlie.

'People of color were always aware of it [the lack of diversity],' Tyler told British newspaper The Guardian. 'Even at the time, people were constantly pointing out that Friends wasn't as diverse as the Manhattan of the real world.'

She added: 'My character wasn't written on the page to be a woman of color, and I auditioned against a lot of other women of different ethnic backgrounds, so I like to think they picked me because I was the right person for the role.

'But I knew it was something new for the show, and it was really important because, the fact of the matter was, it was a show set in Manhattan that was almost entirely Caucasian.

'It was an unrealistic representation of what the real world looked like.'

Gabrielle Union (center) was a love interest of both Ross Geller (right), and LeBlanc's character Joey (left)

Union revealed about Friends in March 2018: 'I got in trouble for saying I was the only black person on Friends... they made me change it to '1st African American love interest'

Last Year, Cosimo Fusco, who played the love interest of Aniston's Rachel Green character said about the cast last year: 'Today, one of the six would have to be black, of course.'

He added that he didn't agree with the portrayal of his own character Paolo.

'There was one scene where I was getting a massage, and I had to be this greasy guy who was touching Phoebe's ass. 'I had a problem with how it portrayed me, as if guys from Italy are like that. What they wanted me to do was quite disrespectful. But I remember we were able to find a compromise, so I felt comfortable.'

In March 2018, Lena Waithe - who was the first black woman to win the Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Emmy Award for Master of None - addressed Gabrielle Union being the only black character on Friends.

Union was a love interest of both Ross Geller, and LeBlanc's character Joey.

'You being on that show was a big deal at my crib. I also remember ACCESS HOLLYWOOD covering it,' Waithe tweeted Union.

But Union revealed: 'I got in trouble for saying I was the only black person on Friends... they made me change it to '1st African American love interest.'

Watch every episode of Friends on the soon to be launched HBO Max, or on Stan in Australia.
Three container trucks carrying over 170 migrant workers were seized by police during checking in Uttar Pradesh amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown, an official said on Sunday.

Seventy-eight migrant workers were found holed up inside a container truck in Shamli on Saturday evening, SP Vinit Jaiswal said.

The truck which was on its way to Ludhiana in Punjab was impounded by police and all the migrant workers were sent to a shelter home, he said.

In a similar incident, a container truck was intercepted by police in Muzaffarnagar, the SP said.

During checking, police found 60 migrant labourers sitting inside the vehicle, he said.

Police said arrangements were being made to send these labourers to their native places in West Bengal by special trains.

Forty migrant workers were found travelling in a truck by police in Muzaffarnagar district on Saturday night, Jaiswal said.

The truck was intercepted at the Baghela checkpost, he said.

It is learnt that authorities have sealed all entry points to Muzaffarnagar and Shamli to prevent travelling of migrant workers on foot and in unauthorised vehicles following a series of road accidents.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Schools are particularly vulnerable to possible coronavirus exposure, which is why they were among the first institutions to be shut down early in the virus emergency, he said. Students come from throughout their community, congregate tightly in school and dont social distance responsibly as adults do. Thats especially the case for younger children. When students return home, theyre at considerable risk of being asymptomatic carriers of the virus.

Nebraskas 244 public school districts are home to 329,000 students and 24,000 teachers.

The Department of Education recognizes that the virus situation is changing over weeks and months, and its encouraging that the agency is looking at creative options for the fall. Its top preference, Jespersen said, is a return to traditional in-class instruction: We are truly starting with putting everything on the table and seeing what works. But if virus conditions warrant measures short of a regular reopening, the department is looking at various options, including:

 Delayed start. Depending on the virus situation, districts could delay opening by several weeks. That option presents complications including a hindrance to instructional hours and timelines for different events, Jespersen said.
Another 115 deaths attributed to the coronavirus and 1,239 new positive tests were announced Saturday by Gov. Phil Murphy as state officials said the outbreak shows signs of slowing.

That brought New Jerseys total numbers to at least 10,249 deaths related to COVID-19, with 145,089 total cases since the outbreak began March 4.

But the governor has said the states number of daily new deaths, cases and hospitalizations from COVID-19 have dropped significantly in recent weeks, and he continued to gradually peel back his restrictions with beaches reopening and curbside pickup for nonessential businesses starting up next week.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

Heres a roundup of coronavirus news:

The governor announced on Saturday a new executive order that will allow for-hire fishing vessels and watercraft rental businesses to reopen on Sunday morning.

New Jerseys workers allege their employers havent provided enough protective gear, are making them work near sick colleagues or otherwise are flouting federal regulations meant to stem the spread of the coronavirus, according to an NJ Advance Media review of federal records.

The son of a man who died from complications with the coronavirus at a beleaguered nursing home has filed a class action lawsuit against the facility, alleging rampant negligence caused the mans death, along with at least 80 other residents so far.

New state morality statistics suggest the official figures continue to understate the virus impact  by as much as 22 percent.

Following a fast start for the Jersey Shore summer rental season before bookings slowed or were cancelled amid coronavirus concerns, demand has now spiked to the point that brokers, listing agents and property owners say this could be a banner year for Shore rentals  if not for other Shore businesses still hampered by the virus.

Nerissa Barnes said she always knew her mother was a strong person, but she found out just how strong when the 87-year-old surprised her doctors and survived a bout with the coronavirus.

More than 3,300 people have joined a private Facebook group that facilitates alcohol gift exchanges between strangers. Members share their home addresses, and wait for a surprise delivery from another member. Its called being beerd," and afterward the lucky recipient must return the favor to someone else.

While a Catholic mass on television is nothing new, many individual churches have begun streaming their own Sunday services on social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube.

The money for the states bus and rail system will come from the CARES Act that President Donald Trump signed into law in March to help the nation recover from the pandemic. Murphy said Trumps administration approved the funding Friday.

Before, we spent about 54 cents of every food dollar on food away from home, as opposed to food we bought at the store and ate at home, according to the U.S.D.A. As of April, it effectively flipped, said Heather Garlich, spokeswoman for the Food Marketing Institute, which represents food retailers and wholesalers.

NJ Advance Media staff writers Michael Sol Warren, Brent Johnson, J. Dale Shoemaker, Rodrigo Torrejon, Riley Yates, Steve Strunsky, Rebecca Everett, Avalon Zoppo and Michael Mancuso contributed to this report.

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. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
The state governments can borrow an additional Rs 4.28 lakh crore in 2020-21 as the Centre acceded to their demand for an increased borrowing limit from 3% to 5% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).

As per the earlier limits, the state governments could have borrowed Rs 6.41 lakh crore, and now with the increased borrowings limits the states can now raise up to Rs 10.7 lakh crore.

The new extra borrowing limit though comes with some conditions. While the states can borrow up to 3.5%, or around Rs 7.5 lakh crore without any condition, the next 150 bps of the borrowing limit is subjected to certain conditions.

After 3.5% of the GSDP, the next 100 bps of the borrowing has to be linked to clearly specified, measurable and feasible reform actions. These reforms are -- universalisation of 'One Nation One Ration Card', improvement of ease of doing business, power distribution and urban local body revenues.

The next 50 bps of the borrowing will depend on achievement of three of the four reforms mentioned earlier.

Commenting on the Centre's move, TS Singhdeo, commercial tax and health minister of Chhattisgarh, told Business Today: "This is arm twisting not federal structure. You take away (state') fiscal freedom one after the other -with a major portion subsumed with the GST --and whatever is left, you are taking under the control of the central governments. You are dictating policy to states for allowing them borrowing limits which is not acceptable."

Meanwhile, Union finance minister Nirmal Sitharaman, while announcing the increased borrowing limits, said the states have only availed 14% of the existing borrowing limit of Rs 6.41 lakh crore.

When asked why states have so far availed only 14% of the existing borrowing limit, TS Singhdeo said that this is only the second month of the financial year, the limit is for the whole year, and states would borrow as and when required.

Apart from the government enhancing the states' borrowing limit, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had earlier raised the limits of the Ways and Means Advances (WMA) to states by 60%. The states can borrow an additional Rs 19,335 crore at a much lower rate. Under WMA, states can access short-term funds at a the rate of interest same as repo rate. At present the repo rate is 4.4%.

This is very cheap compared to State Development Loans (SDLs), which have much higher yields.

The average yields on SDLs are around 8-9%. Kerala had in April raised over Rs 6,000 crore through SDLs at 8.96%. TS Singhdeo told Business Today that Chhattisgarh recently borrowed from NABARD at 8.2%, which he says is very high when compared to repo rate of 4.4%. He says that in times like these, government agencies and banks should have a limit on how much interest they charge from states.

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Just last January 4, 2020 about 4000bags of 25kg rice, 2000 cartons of tomatoes were distributed to APC faithfuls and Stakeholders on all the 21LGAs and three Senatorial districts just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2013, he has been offering scholarships to children of APC members and other Anambra indigenes in secondary and tertiary educational institutions and they are still running till date. Once chance avails him, he will immediately come down to distribute his COVID-19 palliative for party members, churches and all segments of Anambra people through his foundation.
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Turkmenistans authoritarian president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, has pardoned 1,402 prisoners.



State media reported following a government cabinet meeting on May 15 that 1,192 citizens and 210 foreign nationals who "sincerely regretted their criminal deeds" would be released from prisons.



The prisoners will reportedly be released ahead of the Night of Power, the holiest Muslim night celebrated this year on May 19.



There was no mention of what basis the list of the pardoned was prepared. The names of the offenders, which articles of the Criminal Code they were sentenced under, and how much of their sentence was served were also not published.



As in previous years, Berdymukhammedov ordered local officials to ensure the pardoned receive employment, although the country is believed to have a rising unemployment rate and slowing economic growth.



Turkmenistan is one of the worlds most isolated and repressive countries.



Its prisons are believed to be filled with hundreds of political prisoners, dozens of whom have been held incommunicado for years under harsh conditions, according to human rights groups.
The entire staff of a police station in Puri district went into quarantine after an accused who was brought to the police station, tested positive for Covid-19.

In Puri town, 30-odd policemen including the inspector of Kumbharpada police station were sent into 28 day institutional quarantine after an arrested accused brought to the police station tested positive for coronavirus. Puri SP Umashankar Dash said swabs of all police personnel will be sent for tests tomorrow.

New staff has been sent to the police station to take over after proper sanitisation.

In coastal Balasore district that now lies in the danger zone of cyclone Amphan, a 42-year-old woman sarpanch of Simulia block tested positive while another person working in a quarantine centre running in a government college tested positive, too. Officials said the sarpanch most likely was infected while going around the quarantine centres.

In Odisha, sarpanch have been declared pointsmen in the governments fight against the pandemic with the government empowering them with the power of collectors while dealing with Covid-19.

Ganjam district continued to be the epicentre of Covid-19 cases as the number of infected rose to 292 followed by Jajpur with 121 and Balasore with 119 cases. The virus has now spread in 22 of the 30 districts in Odisha.

Barring 3, all the 91 who tested positive on Sunday had returned from Gujarat, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. So far, 1.15 lakh people, who were stranded in other states amid lockdown, have returned to Odisha.

In Ganjam district, a 38-year-old Surat returnee who had tested positive, succumbed to diarrhoea. With this, Odisha reported four deaths due to Covid-19.

The Odisha government meanwhile said that over 7,200 under-trial prisoners and convicts have been released from prison on bail and parole in last 40 days to decongest the jails. As many as 7,255 prisoners, including 389 convicts, have been released as a temporary measure to decongest the jails by following a thorough judicial process since the third week of March, said a senior jail official.
Mada Masr says Lina Attalah arrested outside Cairos Tora Prison while interviewing the mother of a jailed activist.

A prominent investigative media outlet in Egypt said security forces have detained its editor-in-chief, the latest arrest amid a wider crackdown on dissent in the North African country.

Mada Masr, one of a shrinking number of independent news websites in Egypt, said Lina Attalah was arrested outside Cairos Tora Prison complex on Sunday where she was interviewing Laila Soueif, the mother of jailed activist Alaa Abdel Fattah.

The prison security guards asked Attallah to show her identification card and later called her in for an investigation that lasted three hours, lawyer Hassan al-Azhari told AFP news agency.

We knew afterwards that she was taken to a police station in Maadi district and that she will appear before the prosecution tomorrow (Monday) morning, he added.

Azhari added that the reason behind the arrest and the charges against Attallah remained unclear.

Mada Masr is one of the hundreds of websites blocked by the Egyptian government in recent years. The outlet has continued to publish through mirror sites. It has produced investigative pieces looking into some of Egypts government institutions, including intelligence agencies, military and the presidency.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged the authorities to immediately release Attalah.

We hold Egyptian authorities directly responsible for Lina Attalahs freedom and Alaa Abdelfattahs health, said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour. Egypt must immediately release Lina and ensure Alaas safety and his lawful legal rights to family visitation and medical treatment in prison.

Last year, Abdel Fattah completed a five-year prison sentence for violating Egypts protest ban. In September, not long after his release, he was arrested again amid a widespread crackdown that followed small protests demanding current President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi step down  although he did not participate in the protests.

He went on a hunger strike over a month ago, and his family has struggled to get him released in recent months amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Soueif was briefly arrested in March along with three others after they staged a protest to demand the release of prisoners amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Crackdown on dissent

Egypt has increasingly targeted journalists in an ongoing crackdown against dissidents since the 2013 military removal of then-president Mohamed Morsi.

The clampdown has swept up thousands of the late Morsis supporters as well as activists, lawyers and academics.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says at least 29 journalists are jailed in Egypt, which ranks 166th out of 180 countries in its 2020 world press freedom index.

Last week security forces arrested Haisam Hasan Mahgoub, a journalist who regularly wrote for the independent daily newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm.

Mahgoub was detained on Wednesday on charges of joining and financing a terrorist group as well as spreading fake news that threatens national security, according to his lawyer.

Egyptian officials have increasingly deployed the vague accusation of fake news to silence and jail critics in the governments sweeping and often indiscriminate crackdown on dissent.

Among dozens of media workers imprisoned in Egypt is Al Jazeeras Mahmoud Hussein, a Doha-based journalist who was arrested in 2016 during a visit to his family in Cairo.

He has been detained without charge for more than 1,200 days, and there are concerns for his health during the coronavirus pandemic.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Saturday for Veritas, one of San Franciscos biggest landlords, to return a $3.6 million Paycheck Protection Program loan that was intended to help small businesses cover expenses and retain workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

PPP loans should be directed first and foremost to the small businesses with the greatest need, particularly minority, women and veteran-owned businesses that are struggling, Pelosi said in a statement. Larger companies like Veritas, one of San Franciscos largest corporate real estate management firms, which has billions in assets and access to liquidity through other sources, were not the intended beneficiaries of PPP loans.

Veritas Investments, which manages more than 250 San Francisco properties and has a $3 billion real estate portfolio, issued a statement Sunday that said it plans to repay the loan within the two years allotted by the federal government.

We are also a business that needed the loan for its intended purpose, to meet our payroll and employ the people responsible for maintaining the buildings that house more than 8,000 San Franciscans, Veritas said in the statement. We understand that some recipients of the loan are applying to make it a grant, however that is not our intention. We will not keep it.

Companies can have loans forgiven if they spend the money on payroll, mortgage interest, rent and/or utilities in the eight weeks after they receive a loan. At least 75% must go to pay employees.

Veritas said the money will allow it to rehire 26 workers who were furloughed due to the coronavirus health crisis. The company had 196 employees before the health order. There are currently 170.

Tenants groups have repeatedly criticized Veritas for using strong-arm tactics to get longtime tenants with rent control to move out, including noisy, disruptive construction and pass-through charges, which allow landlords to jack up rent to cover improvements or maintenance.

We recognize the challenges that all San Franciscans are facing during this time, and have worked hard to help our residents since before the shelter in place was implemented, the Veritas statement said. As COVID-19 emerged, we were the first manager to halt evictions, worked closely with the city to provide emergency housing for survivors of domestic violence and have worked hard to care for our residents. We will continue to develop additional programs for our residential and retail tenants, and will unveil more in the weeks to come.

The company added that investors, not the company itself, own the buildings Veritas manages.

Many assume we are a $3 billion business based on the value of the buildings we manage, the statement said. However, that is far from the truth.

To qualify for a PPP loan, a company must prove that the money is necessary to support the ongoing operations of the applicant, according to the Small Business Administration. Borrowers must take into account their current business activity and their ability to access other sources of liquidity.

The Treasury Department and the SBA, which jointly manage the PPP loan program, said Wednesday that the SBA would review all loans of more than $2 million.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Veritas does not plan to return its loan money, but other large companies, including Shake Shack and Ruths Chris Steak House, have returned PPP loans. More than 180 public companies have received over $670 million in PPP funds and Congress has authorized another $310 billion in funding for a second round.

I join San Franciscans in calling on Veritas to return its PPP loan, Pelosi said.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer J.K. Dineen contributed to this report.

Aidin Vaziri is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avaziri@sfchronicle.com
Casper, Wyoming, May 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Located in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone National Park is set to open on a limited basis on Monday, May 18 at Noon. While there are five entrances into the parkthree in Montana and two in Wyomingthe National Park Service will only open the entrances in Wyoming, specifically the South and East entrances.

Wyomings 14-day quarantine requirement on out-of-state visitors expired on May 8 and the state and its communitiesincluding Casperare preparing to welcome travelers, especially with the Wyoming entrances to Yellowstone National Park openings.

With travel restrictions lifted in Wyoming, travelers are slowly starting to return to the Cowboy State and were working to be as prepared as possible, said Brook Kaufman, CEO of Visit Casper.

For the first phase of the reopening, visitors will be able to access the lower loop of the Grand Loop Road, the parks figure-eight road system including restrooms, self-service gas stations, trails and boardwalks. All visitors to the park are being asked to practice social distancing and follow all park rules and regulations, including staying 100 yards away from bears and wolves and 25 yards away from all other animals, including bison.

For many travelers coming to Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park, Casper is a halfway point. Located in central Wyoming, Casper is a scenic three-and-a-half-hour drive from Cody, Wyoming, which is the closet community to the parks East Entrance.

We want visitors to have the best experience possible when visiting Yellowstone National Park and right now, that is going to look different than usual, added Kaufman. Along with the park and our partners throughout the state, we also want Wyoming to be safe, minimize risks to visitors and residents and allow travelers to enjoy our offerings, while also supporting local and state economies.

While travelers are no longer required to self-quarantine, they are encouraged to practice social distancing and are well-advised to plan to stay overnight outside of the park. For more information on timing related to in-park lodging and other related services, visit Yellowstone National Park Lodges.

In Casper, a variety of lodging accommodations are available, including hotels, motels, rentals, lodges, private campgrounds and RV parks. Visitors will also find 193 restaurants, with many offering social-distance dining, as well as to-go orders and curbside pickup.

Casper also sits on the North Platte River, an area that is known for its blue-ribbon fly-fishing. Previously, there was a suspension on non-resident short-term fishing licenses but that was lifted on Saturday, May 9, and out-of-state residents are now able to purchase fishing licenses and take guided fly-fishing trips with experienced outfitters and guides.

While travel is open in Wyoming, visitors to the park and Wyoming are asked and encouraged to do the following:

-If youre sick, stay home and do not visit Yellowstone National Park or Casper. Instead, plan your visit for later.

-Use of face coverings is voluntary, with visitors being strongly encouraged to wear appropriate face protection.

-Continue to follow social distancing guidelines by physically staying at least 6 feet apart from people you are not traveling with.

-Self-manage and adhere to CDC, state and local health guidelines for social distancing and other best practices, including washing your hands regularly, using hand sanitizer and properly covering coughs and sneezes.

-Be prepared for limited food and lodging services in and around Yellowstone. Plan ahead to purchase food and make reservations for overnight accommodations outside of the park.

The parks three-phased reopening plan is available here, with more information on the National Park Service website.

Information on travel updates, including ways to safely travel, can be found at VisitCasper.com/travel-updates/.

About Visit Casper

Visit Casper is the official destination management organization for Natrona County and is dedicated to enhancing the countys economic base through tourism. Casper is known for world-class fly-fishing on the North Platte River; is the annual host for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR); and has been named one of the top mountain towns in the country by Mens Journal. More information can be found at www.VisitCasper.com.

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Legendary fund manager Li Lu (who Charlie Munger backed) once said, 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility of prices, but whether you will suffer a permanent loss of capital. It's only natural to consider a company's balance sheet when you examine how risky it is, since debt is often involved when a business collapses. We note that Sun Hing Vision Group Holdings Limited (HKG:125) does have debt on its balance sheet. But the more important question is: how much risk is that debt creating?

Why Does Debt Bring Risk?

Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. While that is not too common, we often do see indebted companies permanently diluting shareholders because lenders force them to raise capital at a distressed price. Of course, plenty of companies use debt to fund growth, without any negative consequences. The first step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together.

View our latest analysis for Sun Hing Vision Group Holdings

What Is Sun Hing Vision Group Holdings's Net Debt?

You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that Sun Hing Vision Group Holdings had HK$45.5m of debt in September 2019, down from HK$47.5m, one year before. However, its balance sheet shows it holds HK$328.5m in cash, so it actually has HK$282.9m net cash.

SEHK:125 Historical Debt May 17th 2020

How Healthy Is Sun Hing Vision Group Holdings's Balance Sheet?

Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Sun Hing Vision Group Holdings had liabilities of HK$270.2m due within 12 months and liabilities of HK$25.8m due beyond that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of HK$328.5m as well as receivables valued at HK$245.9m due within 12 months. So it actually has HK$278.4m more liquid assets than total liabilities.

This luscious liquidity implies that Sun Hing Vision Group Holdings's balance sheet is sturdy like a giant sequoia tree. Having regard to this fact, we think its balance sheet is just as strong as misogynists are weak. Simply put, the fact that Sun Hing Vision Group Holdings has more cash than debt is arguably a good indication that it can manage its debt safely.

Story continues

It is just as well that Sun Hing Vision Group Holdings's load is not too heavy, because its EBIT was down 67% over the last year. 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 Sun Hing Vision Group 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, while the tax-man may adore accounting profits, lenders only accept cold hard cash. Sun Hing Vision Group 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, Sun Hing Vision Group Holdings generated free cash flow amounting to a very robust 94% of its EBIT, more than we'd expect. That puts it in a very strong position to pay down debt.

Summing up

While we empathize with investors who find debt concerning, you should keep in mind that Sun Hing Vision Group Holdings has net cash of HK$282.9m, as well as more liquid assets than liabilities. The cherry on top was that in converted 94% of that EBIT to free cash flow, bringing in HK$53m. So is Sun Hing Vision Group Holdings's debt a risk? It doesn't seem so to us. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 5 warning signs with Sun Hing Vision Group Holdings (at least 1 which is potentially serious) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

If you're interested in investing in businesses that can grow profits without the burden of debt, then check out this free list of growing businesses that have net cash on the balance sheet.

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.
Ford said Saturday it will test hourly and salaried employees with suspected COVID-19 symptoms in four metro areas where it has major operations as it prepares to reopen facilities this month.

The automaker is expected to resume production and some operations at its North America facilities May 18. Aside from factory workers, Ford is also bringing back about 12,000 employees whose jobs cannot be done remotely such as vehicle testing and design. The company's parts distribution centers reopened in North America on May 11.

Ford said it will initially use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, which identifies if someone is actively infected. PCR tests are used to detect the presence of viral RNA, not the presence of the antibodies, which are the body's immune response.

The automaker said it has signed contracts with health systems to conduct the testing. Ford will work with Beaumont Health for testing in Southeast Michigan, the University of Louisville Health in Louisville, Liberty Hospital in the Kansas City area and the University of Chicago Medical Center and UChicago Medicine-Ingalls Memorial Hospital in the Chicago area.

Collectively, Ford employs more than 72,000 people in Southeast Michigan, Louisville, Kansas City and Chicago.

The contracts will enable Ford to test employees with suspected symptoms with a goal of getting results back within 24 hours, according to the automaker's medical director Dr. Walter Talamonti.

Testing results will be simultaneously shared with Ford doctors to help identify other employees who might have been in close contact with an infected worker. Those employees will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The company is working on expanding testing, Ford CTO Ken Washington said in a statement. Washington added that Ford is looking into voluntary antibody testing in the future for its employees.

Ford released May 1 a back-to-work playbook that describes the protocols that it will put in place once production at its factories resume. Employees will have to complete a self-certification health check daily and have their temperature scanned upon arrival to any Ford facility. Face masks will also be required. Safety glasses with side shields or face shields will be required when jobs don't allow for social distancing.
P eople across the world have been reporting various issues with conferencing calling app Zoom.

Social media users started complaining of problems with Zoom from 10am on Sunday, according to outage tracker Downdetector.

The conference calling app has soared in popularity as a tool for employees to keep in touch as they work from home during international coronavirus lockdowns.

It has also become an important part of socialising and keeping up with loved ones remotely amid social distancing restrictions.

A spokesperson for app wrote on social media: "We have received reports that Zoom users may be experiencing issues hosting and joining meetings and webinars."

They apologised and directed people to the app's website for updates.

They also said: "Our team is investigating the root cause of issues joining Zoom meetings.

"These issues appear to be limited to a subset of users."

Later the app wrote: "Zoom users impacted by this issue should now be able to host, join & participate in Zoom Meetings & Zoom Video Webinars if they restart their sessions. We continue to assess & monitor. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this might have caused."

However, users were still experiencing issues as of 5pm with journalists unable to join the daily Covid-19 press conference at Downing Street.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma answered questions from the press after reading out queries sent to him from journalists himself.

One user wrote: "Zoom app is facing some issues while hosting and joining meetings today. The astronomy meeting for today stands cancelled. New date and time for the meeting will be communicated soon."

Another said: "There seems to be some issue... While hosting and joining in the meetings via paid accounts... Kindly look into this at the earliest !!"

While a third wrote: "I think youre broken. It took 3 times to be able to see my church. In case youre not aware, worship services need extra IT support. Its one of the few times each week we get to safely SEE so many people. Please fix the bug."
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Ontarios high school teachers have voted in favour of a three-year deal reached last month with the province.

Support staff represented by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation also approved their contract, the union said Saturday.

While the two deals provide more than $85 million in a support for students fund that will allow more special education staff to be hired, the agreements also include the most contentious issues: larger classes and two mandatory online credits for teens.

Members recognize these deals are imperfect but provide needed stability in these trying times, union president said Harvey Bischof in a written statement. While we were able to fend off some of the Ford governments most egregious attacks on education, members will not forget this governments efforts to undermine publicly funded education in Ontario.

Bischof said that without our efforts, things would have been much worse. However, he added, larger classes, mandatory e-learning, and reduced funding for student supports will still be a reality in the provinces schools next September.

The union did not release specifics, but sources said the OSSTF teacher vote  at under 80 per cent  was lower than other unions, which saw approval rates above 90 per cent.

OSSTF support staff approved their deal by about 90 per cent, sources said.

The 60,000-member OSSTF, province and school boards announced the tentative agreement in April, making it the last of the education unions to do so  although the union was also the last to be called back to the bargaining table by a provincial mediator.

It provides a one per cent pay increase each year and a four per cent benefits boost, sets average class size at 23 students  up from last years 22  and also includes two mandatory online courses for all high school students.

The online classes, however, have an easy opt-out policy.

The provincial government had initially wanted to increase average class size to 28, resulting in thousands of lost teaching positions and tens of thousands fewer course options and classes for teens. It had also proposed four mandatory e-learning credits, which is unheard of in North America.

Even at two required online courses, Ontario is an outlier, given only a handful of jurisdictions mandate or strongly recommend one.

Public polling and student surveys indicated little support in the province for bigger classes or online learning.

The union, Bischof added, will continue the fight to reverse these destructive policies.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, negotiations with the teachers unions had led to job action, including bare-bones report cards and rotating strikes. The OSSTF deal was reached after the school shutdown and negotiated electronically because of social distancing rules.

The federation represents permanent and occasional teachers, educational assistants, early childhood educators, school psychologists, speech-language pathologist and social workers.

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association recently ratified a similar deal, as did the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario and the AEFO, which represents the provinces French-board teachers.

The elementary and Catholic teachers unions negotiated about $120 million in total to hire more special education teachers.

The French teachers union also negotiated the creation of a working group to boost the number of Francophone educators.
Neal Moore says he couldnt live with himself if he didnt try again.

Moore, 48, made his way over the Continental Divide near Helena on Saturday toting a canoe filled with his belongings. The two-day trek over MacDonald Pass amid a mid-May winter blast and grizzly bear encounter comes nearly three months after he started his journey from the West Coast  a 7,500-mile adventure he hopes will culminate two years from now when he paddles around the Statue of Liberty in New York.

I had been a traveler for most of my life, he said. When you start traveling internationally, you meet other travelers, and the question is always, Whats next?

Moore is originally from Los Angeles, but has lived overseas in Africa and Taiwan for decades. He considers himself somewhat of a citizen of the world, enjoying returning to his home country to document his adventures as a freelance journalist.

He floated the Mississippi River chronicling the economic downturn in 2009 for CNN and his work has also appeared in the New Yorker and Der Spiegel. Long distance paddling and storytelling are two of his great passions.

It happens to be two things Im good at, he joked. Im not good at a lot of things but I can go long distances in a canoe and I can story tell. The actual physical nature, day-in-day-out nature of it, mixed with the chance to stumble upon stories is sort of challenging, its fun and its a real adventure.

It was on the Mississippi that he befriended fellow paddler Dick Conant of Bozeman. Conant spent years paddling across the country in his canoe and offered invaluable advice.

When I started out on the Mississippi River like a lot of other long distance paddlers, I was going as fast as I possibly could, Moore said. What Dick taught me was to slow down, its not a race and to just enjoy the journey and learn the history of the places youre passing by.

Moores 22 Rivers project is the second attempt at his latest adventure. He paddled up the Columbia and Snake rivers, portaged for about 100 miles, and after crossing the Divide will launch on the Missouri River in a few days. He plans to float the length of the Missouri and Mississippi to New Orleans where he will then connect rivers north to New York and his ultimate goal of the Statue of Liberty.

Moore suspended his first voyage two years ago after paddling and portaging more than 1,700 miles from Oregon to North Dakota. That trip included a potentially life threatening crash on the St. Regis River when a snag caused his canoe to tip and belongings to scatter.

Moore felt he must return to attempt the trip again but debated whether to begin where he left off or depart again from the West Coast. The ability to link the rivers together in one journey proved to be the deciding factor.

I dont think I couldve lived with myself if I didnt try it again. To start over again, and I had friends argue it both ways of whether to continue where I left off or to try again, from the West Coast, he said. It came down to my own thinking and this crazy dream route. The route I selected, it had the chance to be continuous.

Moore holds a degree in English literature  he teaches English in Taiwan  and also learned about filmmaking while at the University of Utah. He shoots videos, writes and photographs his adventures on the website www.22rivers.com and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/riverjournalist/.

Its sort of a personal project and its something that might get picked up by news agencies or not, it might result in a book, but Im not doing it for that reason, he said. The actual thinking is to touch America, to try to come across to see it firsthand and experience the rawness and the transformation.

As with nearly all aspects of life these days, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven a powerful influence on Moores project. Many campgrounds are closed and river angels who offer assistance to long distance paddlers have had to alter the help they can provide.

The river itself offers a sort of solitary confinement that lends itself well to traveling during the pandemic. Where he has stopped to see friends, he has distanced himself by camping in a garage or travel trailer and staying out of homes.

For Moore, COVID-19 is now part of the story he hopes to tell.

My thinking now is its actually still possible to chronicle stories, he said. You meet up with people who are really interesting characters and have something to say. The thinking now is to have this time and to underscore whats working with what people are facing with the virus as well as the economic fallout.

While he understands the hardship many currently face, Moore also hopes to find inspiring stories.

The whole thing with journalism is that its positive journalism as well  to find and highlight the American collective of whats working and to find and highlight these unique and interesting characters, he said.

Reporter Tom Kuglin can be reached at 447-4076 @IR_TomKuglin

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Two jawans of the State Reserve



Police Force (SRPF) and three others tested coronavirus positive in Maharashtra's Amravati district, where the tally of such patients has reached 106 so far, officials said on Sunday.

A statement issued by the district administration said that these five persons tested positive for the infection since Saturday night.

"These two SRPF jawans are 27 and 29 years old. They were among the 56, who had been called back to Amravati after six of their colleagues had tested positive in Malegaon," it said.

Swabs of 17 of the 56 were sent for testing and reports of the duo came positive late Saturday night. Fifteen others have tested negative, but their swabs have been collected again and sent for testing, the statement said.

Of the three others patients, two are women in their fifties. They are from Haiderpura and Masanganj areas of Amravati city. They tested positive at a hospital during the institutional quarantine, it said.

The third one is a 30-year-old man from Masanganj. He tested positive on Sunday evening, the statement said.

Haiderpura has so far reported 11 positive cases, while Masanganj has recorded 10 such cases.

Meanwhile, the health department has quarantined 22 personnel, including an inspector, of Gadgenagar police station, after a constable there tested positive on Saturday.

The constable is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Nagpur. His 24-year-old son also tested positive there on Sunday, sources in the health department said.

Coronavirus has so far claimed 13 lives in the district. At least 62 have been discharged after recovery, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 14:05:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) has dispatched 77 police officers to teach in primary schools in poverty-stricken villages of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The officers from immigration agencies across the country will spend a semester in 37 schools in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, teaching courses including English and physical education, the administration said.

The NIA has spent more than 15 million yuan (around 2.12 million U.S. dollars) on education facilities in the county since the two teamed up in the fight against poverty in 2019.

It has helped more than 1,300 pupils from impoverished families and donated supplies to keep over 13,000 pupils and their families out of the cold, according to the NIA. Enditem
Sure, it might be warm Wednesday, but what about the rest of the week?
Albany

Safety pledges will be required and four-day work weeks are being considered under a reopening plan outlined Saturday by Albany County Executive Dan McCoy.

The Capital Region still has not met all seven of the state's parameters to reopen even as the coronavirus pandemic begins to ebb, but county officials on the Capital Region Region Control Room Team put together a plan for when the moment of reopening comes. The team has county representatives from Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Saratoga, Washington, Warren, Greene and Columbia counties.

Though parts of the state are just into their first phase of reopening, the counties in the Capital Region are slated for that first phase on May 28.

"I feel we've hit our apex (in positive COVID-19 cases) and are going the other way, but you have to remember we are testing more aggressively than any place else in the state of New York," McCoy said.

To reopen, all employees and businesses must sign a pledge saying they understand what is being asked of them and that they are committed to opening in a safe manner, McCoy said. There will also be an online portal so businesses can access guidelines, grants and loans.

Employers should encourage remote working when possible, provide reusable or disposable masks and enforce social distancing, McCoy said. High contact surfaces must disinfect regularly. If someone is sick with symptoms, they need to go home.

Employers also are expected to conduct contact tracing as required by public officials.

More Information Total COVID-19 cases and deaths reported in the Capital Region Albany County: 1,451 cases, 30 hospitalized, 957 recoveries, 68 deaths Rensselaer County: 463 cases, 8 hospitalized, 296 recoveries, 28 deaths Saratoga County: 417 cases, 6 hospitalized, 328 recoveries, 14 deaths Schenectady County: 594 cases, 14 hospitalized, 531 recoveries, 28 deaths Total COVID-19 cases and deaths reported in the Capital Region: Albany County: 1,451 cases, 30 hospitalized, 957 recoveries, 68 deaths Rensselaer County: 463 cases, 8 hospitalized, 296 recoveries, 28 deaths Saratoga County: 417 cases, 6 hospitalized, 328 recoveries, 14 deaths Schenectady County: 594 cases, 14 hospitalized, 531 recoveries, 28 deaths See More Collapse

Industrial protocols may be considered, like a four-day work week and staggered shifts. Restaurants would only be able to be at 50 percent capacity and should consider more reservation-based seatings.

McCoy also mentioned during the briefing that some of the state's numbers of local cases and hospitalizations may be off.

"The state is taking info from 62 counties, so I get it," McCoy said. He said since St. Peter's Health Care and Albany Medical Center are regional hospitals people from outside the area may be counted toward Albany County's numbers, though they are not from the area.

McCoy said he was told in a meeting Friday that localities can submit more accurate numbers.

As of Saturday morning, there are 1,451 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Albany County, an increase of 26 over the last 24 hours.

The most recent death in Albany County was a woman in her 90s with underlying conditions, bringing the county's death toll up to 68.

With 30 people now hospitalized, the hospitalization rate for Albany County stands at 2.06 percent, up slightly from 2.03 percent the day previous. The number of those in intensive care units is now at seven, up one since Friday's briefing.

Rensselaer County officials said there was one new COVID-19 death, a 92-year-old woman living at the Diamond Hill adult care facility in Schaghticoke.

This brings the county death toll to 28 including 19 involving nursing home residents.

The county reported five new COVID-19 cases Saturday and it now has 463 confirmed cases.

In Schenectady County there are 594 positive cases and 14 hospitalizations, which includes all hospitalizations, regardless of county of residence. A total of 176 symptomatic individuals are in isolation and 531 recoveries. Twenty eight people who tested positive for COVID-19 have died.

As Schenectady County prepares for the Phase 1 of the reopening plan, the county will be doing video updates twice a week at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Residents can email questions to meetings.legislature@schenectadycounty.com. Community testing will be available for residents at the Rotterdam Walmart.

Testing is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 to 9 a.m. More information is available on the county website.

Saratoga County has 417 cases with six hospitalizations. Deaths remained at 14 since the outbreak.

State updates

April was a devastating month for New York state's income.

In a report issued late Friday afternoon, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, says the state in April 2019 took in $11.7 billion in tax revenues. Last month's income was only $3.7 billion  a 68.4 percent drop.

That's due to the effect of the coronavirus pandemic and a three-month extension of the state income tax filing deadline, normally April 15, which was extended because of the outbreak.

"New York is facing economic devastation not seen since the Great Depression," DiNapoli said in a statement accompanying the report. "New York and other hard-hit states need the federal government to step up and provide assistance, or the state will have to take draconian actions to balance its budget. We need Washington to set aside the partisan bickering and deliver substantial relief to New Yorkers now."

The agency notes that the $332 million drop in sales tax collections last month from a year ago reflect a significant economic battering.

Many businesses and operations have been closed during the pandemic.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, in his daily briefing, said 2,419 additional coronavirus cases were confirmed in New York state, bringing the statewide total to 348,232.

There were 157 deaths  105 in hospitals and 52 in nursing homes  on Friday, up from 132 the day before but level with Wednesday.

He called on the U.S. Senate to pass the coronavirus relief bill that was passed by the House Friday, which includes $500 billion for states and $375 billion for localities.

Contributing: Tim Blydenburgh
Lawyers for former president Donald Trump had asked the justices to put on hold a unanimous ruling from an appeals court, which rejected his assertions of executive privilege and his request to keep secret roughly 800 pages of his papers.
Armed demonstrators attend a rally in front of the Michigan state capital building to protest the governor's stay-at-home order on May 14, 2020 in Lansing, Michigan. Scott Olson | Getty Images

The Supreme Court is looking eager to weigh in on the Second Amendment weeks after it punted on its first substantial gun rights case in nearly a decade. Ten different guns cases were on the agenda of the justices' private conference on Friday, where they met to decide which cases they will hear in the upcoming term. Each of those cases has been considered at one previous conference, a clear signal that there is "serious interest" in hearing them, according to John Elwood, a leading court observer and a partner at the law firm Arnold & Porter. It is possible the court could announce as soon as Monday that it will hear one or more of the cases. If it does so, a decision would be expected by the end of June 2021. "There's no question that there are a number of justices who are itching to take another gun case soon, and to almost certainly push for a vast expansion of the Second Amendment in a way that has never been countenanced in American history or law before," said Jonathan Lowy, the chief counsel at the anti-gun violence group Brady. "The only question is: How many justices are in that group, when are they going to take that case, and what case are they going to take?" he said. The Friday conference came just a few weeks after the Supreme Court broke its 10-year silence on guns in a case over a since-repealed New York City handgun regulation. The court avoided a substantial ruling in the case for technical reasons. Yet three of the court's conservatives  Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas  wrote they would have sided with the gun owners who were challenging the law. Justice Brett Kavanaugh sided with the court's majority, but urged his colleagues to take up the issue again "soon," noting that there were "several Second Amendment cases" in the pipeline. It only takes four justices from the nine-member panel to vote to hear a case. Given that arithmetic, activists on both sides of the Second Amendment debate are virtually certain that the battle over gun rights will heat up at the Supreme Court when its next term begins in October.

High political stakes

The fight over the reach of the Second Amendment has been a constant battle in U.S. politics for years, but has taken on new significance amid the coronavirus pandemic as heavily armed protesters in Michigan and elsewhere protest stay-at-home orders. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the apparent Democratic presidential nominee, has made fighting gun violence a centerpiece of his campaign against President Donald Trump, who has cultivated close ties with gun rights groups like the National Rifle Association. The gun cases the court could take up involve a smattering of issues including whether individuals have a right to carry handguns outside the home for self defense and if states can ban assault weapons or high-capacity magazines. Federal appeals courts have consistently upheld bans on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, according to the Duke Center for Firearms Law, though they have split on whether states can require individuals to show "good cause" to obtain a public carry permit. Most have said such regulations are permissible. The Supreme Court has largely stayed out of the matter for the past 10 years, last addressing the Second Amendment in a pair of landmark cases in 2008 and 2010. Those cases established that the Second Amendment protected the individual right to keep guns in the home. Since then, the court has refused every Second Amendment appeal that has come to it, with the exception of the New York case it decided in April. Eric Tirschwell, the managing director for Everytown Law, an anti-gun violence group, said that it's most likely that the court will take up one of the cases it's considering about public carry permits. He said he was optimistic that a majority of the court would reject the "extreme" positions taken by the NRA and other gun rights groups. "From what he current justices have written on the Second Amendment, it is far from clear that there is a majority of five votes in favor of this extreme view of the Second Amendment," Tirschwell said. "Chief Justice John Roberts is certainly a big, if not the biggest, question mark." A spokesperson for the National Rifle Association said the group is supporting three of the cases being discussed at Friday's conference, including two over public carry laws and one on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Public carry and assault weapon laws

The two challenges to public carry laws come in response to a New Jersey law that requires individuals to show a "justifiable need" before obtaining a permit to carry a handgun outside the home and a Maryland law that requires a "good and substantial reason" for such a permit. Paul Clement, who served as solicitor general under President George W. Bush, wrote in a filing asking the top court to consider the Maryland law that such regulations are "categorically unconstitutional." "There is no Second Amendment question more pressing than whether the fundamental right that the amendment guarantees is confined to the home," Clement, now a partner at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis, told the justices. The third challenge is against a Massachusetts law that bars "assault weapons" and magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition or more than five shotgun shells. It's not clear how the court will come down on the issues if the justices agree to hear one or more of the cases, though gun rights activists appear to have the upper hand. The top court has a 5-4 majority of Republican appointees. Roberts, the likely swing vote, was in the majority of both of the court's 2008 and 2010 Second Amendment cases.

Partisan battle
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The government will not vary the lifting of coronavirus lockdown by region, despite the R infection rate varying widely in different parts of the UK, the business minister confirmed today.

Speaking at the latest Downing Street press conference, Alok Sharma said the government would be sticking with its national approach to the lockdown.

The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy added that it was 'too soon' to discuss a phased lifting of lockdown by region.

Different parts of the UK have a different R rate, which is used to indicate how fast the virus is spreading.

R rates calculated by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine suggest the East Midlands has the fastest spread of infection, with a rate of between 0.8 and 1.2.

On the other hand, London, which was the hardest hit part of the UK, has a current R rate of 0.5 to 0.8, the lowest in the country.

Coronavirus cases in England and the R infection rate in different parts of the country. The R measures the spread of the virus

The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma says that it is 'too soon' to discuss a phased lifting of lockdown by region

It has led to speculation that different parts of the country could see different forms of lockdown.

However, responding to a member of the public who asked if a phased lifting of lockdown would be better based on the virus reproduction R number regionally, Mr Sharma said it is 'too soon' and the Government is sticking with its national approach.

NHS England national medical director Stephen Powis added: 'There will be variations between different parts of the country, that occurs naturally in epidemics.

'We see that, for instance, in flu season each winter.

'What's important going forward is increasingly we will be able to measure R direct.'

He said the Office for National Statistics this week published its first direct testing of a random sample of the population and over the next few weeks 'we will have much better information of the directly measured R rate rather than R rate that is derived from models and other observations'.

'That I think will give us a clearer picture of exactly how the infection is progressing in different parts of the country', he said.

Earlier today, new data showed that incidences of the virus vary widely across the country.

Cumberland, Durham, Herefordshire and Norfolk now have 12 times as many cases of coronavirus as counties like Devon, Cornwall and Dorset.

It comes after data revealed that different parts of the UK have a different R infection rate which is used to determine how fast coronavirus is spreading

The UK is currently at level four in the government's five level route to easing lockdown restrictions

Different parts of the UK have a different level of R. The rate is worked out using confirmed hospital cases. (Pictured are UK hospital patients with coronavirus by region)

Edge Health, which provides data analysis for NHS England, used confirmed hospital cases to help work our R rates.

George Batchelor, a co-founder of Edge Health, told the Sunday Telegraph: 'As seen in countries like Singapore, the risk of a surge in new cases can happen even when the virus is under control.

'These surges, like the increase in cases in the North West of England, tend to be localised. If they are detected early, they can more easily be brought under some control. This requires a flexible regional response.'

The number of coronavirus cases and the R are both being used by the government to judge whether restrictions need to be eased.

If above 1, restrictions may be kept or even strengthened to try and halt the spread of the virus.

The Government is using both case numbers and 'R' values to judge the effectiveness of its social distancing measures, which were partially relaxed for the first time last week.

The data calculated by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine gives R as a range as pinning the rates down precisely isn't scientifically possible.

There is also real-time lag in cases by about 10 days, which means the latest R rates are from before the easing of restrictions last week.

According to the government's official coronavirus strategy, social distancing measures may be eased in some regions before others.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma (pictured with NHS England Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis) announced a deal between Oxford University and AstraZeneca

The latest official Downing Street statistics showed there had been 170 more coronavirus deaths today - the lowest number recorded since the start of lockdown

The document reads: 'Restrictions may be adjusted by the devolved administrations at a different pace in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland because the level of infection - and therefore the risk - will differ.

'Similarly in England, the government may adjust restrictions in some regions before others: a greater risk in Cornwall should not lead to disproportionate restrictions in Newcastle if the risk is lower.

It adds: 'The government anticipates targeting future restrictions more precisely than at present, where possible, for example relaxing measures in parts of the country that are lower-risk, but continuing them in higher-risk locations when the data suggests this is warranted.'

UK coronavirus death toll rises by 170 - the lowest increase since the start of lockdown Britain has announced a further 170 deaths from coronavirus today on the first Sunday since draconian lockdown measures were eased, taking the UK's total death toll to 34,636. The latest daily figure is the lowest since March 24, however numbers released on Sunday are usually smaller due to a delay in processing over the weekend. Speaking in today's daily Downing Street briefing, Business Secretary Alok Sharma also confirmed that there have been 3,142 more Covid-19 cases. The drop in death toll marks a 36.8 per cent decrease on last Sunday's 269 figure. The numbers follow a tumultuous week for the Government in which approval ratings took a sharp dip after Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out his strategy for lifting lockdown measures. In this evening's briefing, which was delayed by 30 minutes, Mr Sharma has said the clinical trial for a coronavirus vaccine at the University of Oxford is progressing well. Advertisement

During a Downing Street press conference today Mr Sharma also confirmed that Britain would be the first to gain access to the coronavirus vaccine being developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.

The Business Secretary also pledged an additional 84 million to the development of the project which is hoped to produce 30 million vaccines for the UK by September if successful.

Mr Sharma said: 'In order to definitively conquer this disease we need to find a safe, workable vaccine.

'Last month I announced a new vaccine task force to co-ordinate the efforts of Government, academia and industry in the critical mission to find a vaccine.

'I'm very proud of how quickly our scientists and researchers have come together in their efforts developing a vaccine that will combat coronavirus.'

He added: 'The first clinical trial of the Oxford vaccine is progressing well with all phase one participants having received their vaccine dose on schedule earlier this week.

'The speed at which Oxford University has designed and organised these complex trials is genuinely unprecedented.'

However Mr Sharma also said that there were 'no certainties' and there may never be a vaccine developed capable of tackling the virus which has now claimed the lives of 34,636 people in the UK.

As the UK begins to edge out of lockdown, it was revealed that pubs, cafes and restaurants with outdoor spaces could be allowed to reopen in a matter of weeks.

Businesses that hold a licence for outdoor seating will be given government guidance on how to reopen as market-style stalls from June 1, in an effort to get the economy moving and protect the hospitality industry.

Nicholas Boys Smith, the Founding Director of Create Streets, has advised Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on how best to allow businesses to licence outdoor seating, The Telegraph reported.

However as the country looks to ease out of lockdown, today Dr Hans Kluge, director for the World Health Organization's (WHO) European region, announced that Europe would have to prepare for a second deadly wave of the coronavirus in the winter.

Dr Hans Kluge, director for the WHO European region, announced that Europe would have to prepare for a second deadly wave of the coronavirus in the winter

Hand sanitiser is placed on a table at Speedo's Cafe in Bondi Beach, Sydney, after Australia begins to allow up to ten people inside restaurants

The WHO chief described being 'very concerned' that a surge in infections would coincide with other seasonal diseases and added it was time to strengthen health care systems across the continent by increasing bed capacity.

He also cautioned that now was the time for 'preparation, not celebration' across Europe.

Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: 'Singapore and Japan understood early on that this is not a time for celebration, it's a time for preparation.

'That's what Scandinavian countries are doing  they don't exclude a second wave, but they hope it will be localised and they can jump on it quickly.'

It comes as the UK today announced a further 170 deaths from coronavirus.

The latest figures, which come on the first Sunday since the lockdown measures were eased by the government, are the lowest since March 24.

Today the UK announced a further 170 deaths from coronavirus on the first Sunday since the draconian lockdown measures were eased

Sun-seekers have a drink on the Brighton seafront today as a number of beach bars begin to open

As temperatures began to rise, people were seen carrying takeaway drinks from a pub on Broadway Market in east London today

As pubs, cafes and restaurants look to open outdoor spaces, people with takeaway drinks from a pub on Broadway Market in London were spotted taking a stroll along the street


Akshay Kumar is truly a superhero in these difficult times of the pandemic. The actor whos loved by all, is now giving to the society in this trying times. Akshay who has been actively lending his support in gathering relief funds and raising awareness about COVID-19 has come forward for yet another good cause.

Couple of days back, Kumar had donated 1000 smartwatches to the Mumbai Police, which helps to track the symptoms of the fatal virus. Now he has extended his support to the Nashik police force after cases increased in the city. The actor has given 500 wristbands to the cops to keep a check on the spread of the virus. Vishwas Nangre Patil, the Nashik police commissioner, said, "We are grateful to Mr. Kumar for donating 500 smartwatches, which will be utilised by our frontline workers who are above 45 years of age. The data of their body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure will be collected on the COVID dashboard, which is centrally monitored by the police force. The health and wellness dashboards, which records BMI and footsteps will also be tracked constantly."

Now thats truly a generous move by the superstar. These wristbands are being used by the frontliners as of now and will be later provided to the common man. Akshay Kumar initially had donated a huge sum of Rs 25 crores to the PM CARES Relief Funds.
People see us smiling on-screen and think we lead a fabulous life, but thats not true always, rues TV actor Sonal Vengurlekar, who has been awaiting dues running in to Rs 12 lakh from a production house for a show that she did last year, since over eight months. And as work has come to a halt amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it has made the situation worse.

Not keen to reveal the name of the production house, the actor has sought help from Cine And TV Artistes Association (CINTAA). She was, however, so moved when her makeup artist Pankaj Gupta offered Rs 15,000 to help her, that she even appreciated his gesture via social media.

My earnings run my house. My mother is a homemaker, and father is a heart patient. His medicine costs are there. We had bought a house, and we have to pay the EMIs. Since that house is quite far, weve been living on rent so that my work doesnt get affected. Ive to pay that rent, plus daily needs, she lists down her expenses.

Pointing towards how in the TV industry, artistes get paid three months after a show is aired, Vengurlekar says in her case, the show even got over and did well. Yet for over eight months, Ive not received my payments. The production house isnt responding to my calls and messages, and the last payment of Rs 25,000 was received around mid-April, she shares.

Her Shastri Sisters co-actor Neelu Kohli, who is a part of CINTAA, is supporting her in this fight. Abhi toh production house lockdown ka excuse de rahe hain. The last I heard, they would pay a good part by June if their loan gets sanctioned, she says.

Ask her if other cast and crew members  who were a part of the show  are facing similar issues, she adds, Yes, but not everyones keen to speak up. They are scared of losing out on work. We shouldnt think of working with people who have this habit of not paying dues on time.

Vengurlekar, 26, is touched by the support from unexpected quarters  especially from Gupta, whose wife is pregnant and he still wanted to help.

My friends have called, and fans have written to me saying they want to help. Mahesh Pandey, the producer of my upcoming show, for which I could only work for a few days before lockdown was announced, also called and offered help, tells us the actor, who has been in the industry for a decade.

And now, she plans to write an open letter about the payment woes, on social media. Sach bolne mein kaisa darr aur kaisi sharam? If I can talk about my happy moments, then whats wrong in sharing about the difficulties? I just wish everyone comes out in the open and fights for whats right, she ends.

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Theres been an ongoing multiple choice test to determine the future of community colleges in Connecticut:

A) Close some of the 12 schools.

B) Reduce staff.

C) Raise tuition dramatically.

D) Transition the two-year colleges into a single accredited institution by 2023.

There may never be a unanimous agreement that D is the correct answer, but weve offered cautious support since it was unveiled by System President Mark Ojakian three years ago.

The plan may not seem like a priority during the pandemic, but it seems appropriate that it took a significant step forward just days before phase one of reviving Connecticuts economy is launched this week.

The plan may have been prescient. The colleges, which have been struggling, could see an uptick in enrollment with family finances under stress. Students who otherwise would start at more costly four-year institutions might hold off to save money, or because the high-priced offerings are online this fall.

It could be reassuring to the skeptics that the lineup of chief executive officers revealed last week includes several familiar names in this community. The acting president overseeing some 48,000 students will be David Levinson, who recently retired as head of Norwalk Community College.

His team will include William Terry Brown, the new CEO at Gateway Community College in New Haven, who has worked at Housatonic, Norwalk and Naugatuck community colleges; Middlesex CEO Steven Minkler, who has been at the helm on an interim basis; Capital Community College in Hartford CEO G. Duncan Harris, who also graduates from acting status; as well as several new names that should ensure fresh perspectives are included.

The projected $23 million a year in savings would come from the elimination of 117 jobs. Most would be administrative, including the CEO structure replacing individual presidents.

The consolidation, boasted as the largest of its kind in the history of New England, also finally has a name, the Connecticut State Community College.

Ojakian has faced formidable resistance throughout the process, but has maintained that answers A, B and/or C were inevitable without drastic action.

Critics have expressed concerns that campus identities, so vital at community colleges, would be diluted under a monolithic structure.

Such feedback must be welcomed by Ojakians team and the New England Commission of Higher Education, which should continue holding the initiative to high standards.

Meanwhile, faculty senates at five of the community colleges, as well as two state universities, have delivered votes of no confidence in the plan.

Its understandable that replacing one-on-one leadership with a zoned approach feels less personal. But now that the plan is three years old and two years away from students enrolling, its time to notice the train has left the platform.

The new managers should face the same kind of heat a student feels during finals. Challenge them, test them, grade them.

But a passing grade is only assured if everyone involved finally accepts that the answer isnt going to change.
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Market Analysis

The global pacemaker market is predicted to grow at a 6.5% CAGR over the forecast period (2018-2023), states the latest Market Research Future (MRFR) report. A pacemaker, simply put, is a small device that is battery-operated. It senses when the heart beats too slowly or irregularly and sends a signal to the heart, which makes the heart beat at an accurate pace. This device can help to relieve some symptoms of arrhythmia, such as fainting and fatigue. It also assists people with abnormal heart rhythms in resuming an active lifestyle. Physicians generally suggest pacemakers for a couple of reasons of which the most common include heart block, bradycardia, people having heart transplants, and specific forms of congenital heart disease.

Various factors are propelling the pacemaker market share by company growth. Some of these factors, according to the Market Research Future report, include rising incidences of cardiac diseases, rising geriatric population, growing awareness regarding cardiovascular disorders, various technological advancements, and rise in medical expenses. Additional factors pushing market growth include favorable and strong reimbursement policies, cost-effective steps undertaken by the government, advanced diagnostics, and increasing research and development investments for pacemakers.

On the contrary, the high price of pacemakers and complications related to the implant are factors that may restrict the pacemaker market growth over the forecast period.

Market Segmentation

The MRFR report offers a wide segmental analysis of the pacemaker market on the basis of application, product type, implant approach, and end user.

Based on product type, the pacemaker market is segmented into external and implantable. Of these, the implantable segment will lead the market over the forecast period. This is owing to increasing preference for such pacemakers based on their advantages over the external counterparts and rising prevalence of CVDs.

Based on application, the pacemaker market is segmented into syncope, cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic, heart failure, bradycardia, and others. The bradycardia segment is again segmented into AV block and sinus node dysfunction.

Based on implant approach, the pacemaker market is segmented into the epicardial approach and endocardial approach.

Based on end user, the pacemaker market is segmented into research and academic institutes, ambulatory surgical centers, hospitals and clinics, and others. Of these, hospitals and clinics will have the largest share in the market over the forecast period.

Access the full report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/pacemaker-market-1587

Regional Analysis

By region, the pacemaker market report covers the latest trends and growth opportunities across the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East and Africa. Of these, the Americas will spearhead the market over the forecast period. This is owing to technological advancements and the presence of a robust healthcare sector in the region. Moreover, the presence of several medical device manufacturers, rising cases of cardiovascular disorders, and new pacemakers getting approval from the FDA are also pushing market growth.

The pacemaker market in Europe is predicted to have the second-largest share in the market over the forecast period. This is owing to growing support from the government in the form of research and development grants, increasing presence of key players, high healthcare expenditure, and rising incidences of cardiovascular diseases.

The pacemaker market in the APAC region is predicted to grow at the fastest pace over the forecast period. This is owing to increasing healthcare expenditure, rising incidences of atrial fibrillation, and the presence of a large pool of cardiac patients. Moreover, this region has emerged as a medical tourism hub that is also propelling market growth.

The pacemaker market in the Middle East and Africa is predicted to have a sluggish growth over the forecast period. This is owing to less awareness about cardiac medical conditions, lack of technical knowledge, and lack of healthcare infrastructure.

Key Players

Leading players profiled in the pacemaker market report include Vitatron, Cook, Edwards Lifesciences, Sorin Group, Medtronic Plc, Pacetronix, General Electric Company, Boston Scientific Corporation, Biotronik GmbH & Co. KG, St. Jude Medical Inc., MEDICO S.p.A, Cordis, Inc., and ZOLL Medical Corporation.

March 2019: Scientists in China have come up with a pacemaker by bonding piezoelectric layers with a flexible plastic frame that helps in harvesting energy from the beating heart.

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The growth of new coronavirus cases in Russia is stabilising, a top health official said Sunday as the daily tally fell under 10,000 for the third time this week.

The country has the world's second highest number of infections at 281,752, topped only by the United States.

On Sunday, it announced new cases had dropped below 10,000 for the third day this week at 9,709.

"We've moved towards the level of stability that we've all been waiting for," said the head of Russia's public health watchdog, Anna Popova, in a televised interview.

"I would say that of today, we have halted the growth" in numbers of cases, Popova said on Rossiya-1 television.

"For the last 10 or 11 days now, we haven't seen additional growth or it's been very small."

"Stabilisation can be seen over the whole country. All the regions have managed to stabilise the situation," she said.

The state watchdog Rospotrebnadzor announces daily virus numbers and is working to develop a viable vaccine within months at its Vector virus research centre in Siberia.

Popova said it was too early to say if Russians can make plans for summer travel, saying "we need to look at the next two or three weeks".

Russia on Saturday announced the highest daily death rate at 119, while it has confirmed a total of 2,631 deaths, 10 times fewer than Britain, France, Italy and Spain.

Critics have cast doubt on Russia's low official mortality rate, accusing authorities of under-reporting deaths in order to play down the scale of the crisis.

Russian health officials say one of the reasons the count is lower is that only deaths directly caused by the virus are being included.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova denied any manipulation of numbers on Sunday, saying hospitals had a financial interest in identifying coronavirus cases since they get allocated more money to treat such patients.

"From the economic point of view, any hospital should have an interest in diagnosing more "Covid cases," she said in televised comments.

Authorities say that since the virus came later to Russia, the country had more time to prepare hospital beds and launch wide-scale testing to slow its spread.

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A n elderly man who was brought to tears when the Hackney Youth Club showed up on his doorstep with a food delivery, now dresses up in a suit in anticipation of their weekly arrivals.

The director of Gascoyne and Morningside Youth Club (GAMSYC) Nicolette Nixon, said the elderly man is just one example of how important the food initiative by the youth club using deliveries from The Felix Project are to vulnerable people in Hackney.

Nicolette set up the youth club 20 years ago because she saw that there was little else for young people to do on the Gascoyne and Morningside estates.

The club is all about "local people supporting local people" and last summer they had a record 236 kids turn up for the sessions over six weeks.

Nicolette shares how the Evening Standard's Food For London Now appeal partner, The Felix Project, has helped the youth club volunteers deliver food to those who need it most during the coronavirus lockdown.

Nicolette Nixon said food deliveries from The Felix Projcet have been a Godsend / GAMSYC

How and why did you get involved with the Felix Project?

"I run a youth club in Hackney in what is quite a poor ward in a poor borough. We have around 50 to 60 children at each session in Gascoyne and Morningside.

We have a big focus on physical activities and healthy eating. We also have our own business, a youth social enterprise where the kids make their own organic bath products and sell them at Hackney market.

The Felix Project offered us support totally out of the blue last year. They had surplus food because they weren't delivering to schools during the holiday."

How have you seen demand change over the past six weeks?

"We had done some consultation on the estate and people said they wanted more community activities.

Two weeks before the lockdown, The Felix Project phoned me and said we could have a weekly delivery - which has been an absolute Godsend.

It means that we're now giving food to residents to keep them going.

We work with the Tenants' Association and so we just put a notice asking if anyone needed help. We now deliver to about 20 households in Morningside and that includes, elderly people and families - quite at-risk people.

On the Gascoyne estate we deliver to about 25 households.

What I've seen is that there are loads of elderly people who are slipping through the net.

Everyone is claiming there isn't enough technology, but elderly people in Hackney have to fill in forms online for the Government to get food parcels, and if they haven't got access to computers then they can't do this."

The Hackney Youth Club volunteers are delivering to around 50 households on the estates / GAMSYC

Is there a single incident or moment or person who has helped who you think embodies what you have been trying to achieve?

"We're dealing with an elderly guy who has had two heart attacks and strokes, and he wasn't getting any help.

Luckily he saw our notice and asked us if we could buy some food for him. It happened to be on the day that we were getting our food delivery in and we've been going to him ever since.

I don't know what would have happened to him because he said he'd phoned three or four different places and each one had said they couldn't help.

The man was near tears when we made the first delivery. We were the first people to say to him that we could provide food.

It's quite funny because I've noticed he's started to put a suit on and he gets dressed up for the deliveries. He's brilliant.

He also referred a friend who has got terminal cancer and now we're helping him too. Those are just two examples of vulnerable people who have slipped through the net.

I don't know what they would have done without these food supplies."

You're obviously doing a fantastic job but how much more is needed to help those in need?

"I think people are proud and I think there needs to be more flexibility with information sharing.

To say we can't give you information on people because they need to apply online - when people don't have access to online services - it's absolutely ridiculous.

I think many of the vulnerable people are suffering from loneliness too - that's a big problem. I know when we go round to some households it's hard to get away because they love to chat, which of course isn't a problem for us.

We've got some young people who we've brought in as volunteers and they're helping with the deliveries. It's quite humbling for them to see how grateful people are for just a little bit of food."

What would you say to anyone who is thinking of donating to the Food For London Now appeal?

"I would just say do it. After this is over they're going to be needing more than they are now because people are going to lose their jobs.

People are scared to leave their homes and I think there are a lot of at-risk people who slip through the net.

So I think people should give as much as they can. We would have people going hungry if it wasn't for The Felix project."
Terrorist who was going to kill shopkeeper in J&K gunned down

Highly radicalised terrorist arrested in Punjab and not surprisingly link goes back to the UK

Day after Category A terrorist was killed, 2 more gunned down today in J&K

J&K: Army Jawan martyred, 1 terrorist killed in encounter in Doda

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, May 17: One terrorist has been killed and one army jawan martyred in the ongoing encounter in Doda in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, 17 May. The slain terrorist belongs to Hizbul Mujahideen.

The encounter broke out in Doda after security forces had a specific input about the presence of terrorists in the area.

All set for the kill, why Armys hit-list has most terrorists from the Hizbul Mujahideen

A cordon was laid and as the security forces zeroed in on the built up area where terrorists were hiding, the terrorists fired upon them triggering the encounter

A day after Hizbul Mujahideen's chief Riyaz Naikoo was killed in Kashmir, security forces on May 7 arrested an overground worker of the outfit from Doda district. He was identified as Raqib Alam, 22, son of Seeraj Din of Swanda village.
Fashion designer Collette Dinnigan has sold her stunning two-bedroom Paddington cottage in New South Wales for $1.7 million.

According to a report in The Sunday Telegraph this week, the 54-year-old has let go of the Georgian-style charmer after failing to attract bids at auction.

The light-filled cottage was built in the 1850s, with it having undergone a breathtaking transformation.

Sold! Collette Dinnigan, 54, has sold her stunning two-bedroom Paddington cottage for $1.7 million according to a report in the Sunday Telegraph. Here: Sydney, 2015

It features quaint living spaces, a recently remodelled kitchen and a courtyard. It also features a number of marble fireplaces.

The home comes off a laneway near the hustle and bustle of Sydney's inner city and the vibrant Oxford Street.

Collette initially purchased the investment property from her brother, Seamus, back in 2017. Records show he paid $1.08 million for the home in 2015.

Charming: The remodelled Georgian-style cottage is light and airy, with a stunning reception room at the front of the house

The South African born fashion designer has recently been spending time at a farmhouse in Italy, but returned to Australia earlier this week.

The fashion star took to Instagram on Friday to speak about the difficulty of being in Italy during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Collette said while 'lockdown has been difficult in many ways', she remained upbeat about subsistence living.

Location: The home comes off a laneway near the hustle and bustle of the inner city, with it only minutes to the city's vibrant Oxford Street

'It's given us time to work on our property, planting vegetables, repairing the old dry stone walls, painting ....[a] much more sustainable simplistic life.'

She continued: 'Which we have loved and don't want to leave behind when restrictions lift, it's what we have decided to build on.'

Earlier this year, Collette sold another one of her Paddington holdings for a whopping $2.3 million just days after listing it.

Career change: Collette quit the fashion industry after a successful 24 years and decided to turn to real estate with her entrepreneurial husband Bradley Cocks (pictured)

Collette quit the fashion industry after a successful 24 years and decided to turn to real estate with her entrepreneurial husband Bradley Cocks.

In 2018, the loved-up pair bid farewell to their six bedroom Southern Highlands Avoca home, named Springfield Farm, for $7.25 million.

Earlier this year, her weekender in the hamlet of Rosedale, not far from Bateman's Bay, was destroyed by Australia's wild bushfire season.

Selling-up! Earlier this year, Collette sold-up another one of her Paddington holdings for a whopping $2.3 million just days after listing it

'I don't lose money on my houses, although I always seem to go over budget,' Collette has previously told The Weekend Australia.

'But people who buy a house I've renovated do so knowing that it is something that is really good quality and will stand the test of time.'

Collette and Bradley have been spending a lot more time in southern Italy where they have been restoring a 100-year-old farmhouse in Puglia.
New Delhi, May 17 : After Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman alleged that the Congress is playing politics on the issue of migrants, the party hit back saying its "frivolous" and Congress does not need to "learn" from the Finance Minister.

Sitharaman during her press conference on Sunday morning said that the Congress is playing politics over the migrants issue and Sonia Gandhi should have asked her chief ministers to help the migrants and Rahul Gandhi should have walked with them when he met migrants and arranged for their transportation.

Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said, "We expect certain degree of seriousness and gravitas when the Finance Minister is addressing a press conference." "The statement of the Nirmala Sitharaman is frivolous and the Congress president did not need to learn from the finance minister," added Sharma.

He said Congress has stood by the migrants in solidarity as they are citizens of the country and with no food, shelter and money where will the migrants go? The government should apologize to them as their fundamental rights have been violated, Sharma said.

On the issue of Rahul Gandhi meeting migrants in Delhi, Anand Sharma said, "Rahul has right to show his sensitivity. I can understand her frustration, first she damaged the economy, and now...." Finance minister Sitharaman had said that Rahul Gandhi should have picked the belongings of the migrants and walked with them.

Sharma hit back and said, "Did Government of India take and look to their pains who are walking hundreds of kilometres. One way preaching is going on. The government is taking decisions arbitrarily without consulting the opposition on the issue of national security of defence and space." Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday termed the meeting of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with the migrants in Delhi a "dramabaazi" (doing drama) and said the Congress should "be more responsible" and work together with the Centre in the current situation.
Italy will reopen to European tourists from early June and scrap a 14-day mandatory quarantine period, the government said on Saturday, as it quickened the exit from the coronavirus lockdown.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte enforced an economically crippling shutdown in early March to counter a pandemic that has so far killed more than 31,500 people in Italy.

The shutdown halted all holidaymaking in a country heavily dependent on the tourism industry.

Although Italy never formally closed its borders and has allowed people to cross back and forth for work or health reasons, it banned movement for tourism and imposed a two-week isolation period for new arrivals.

In March, the European Union banned foreign nationals from entering its Schengen zone, an open border zone comprising 22 of 27 member states, with exceptions for medical workers and essential travel.

But on Wednesday, the EU set out plans for a phased restart of summer travel, urging member states to reopen its internal borders, while recommending that external borders remain shut for most travel until at least the middle of June.

In a press release, Italys government did not explicitly state which foreign nationals would be allowed to enter, but said its new measures respected the legal order of the European Union.

Beginning on June 3, visitors within the Schengen zone will be allowed to enter Italy with no obligation to self-isolate. Italians will also be able to move between regions, though local authorities can limit travel if infections spike.

Movements to and from abroad can be limited by regional decree in relation to specific states and territories, in accordance with the principles of adequacy and proportionality to the epidemiological risk, the government said.

The latest decree is also a boon to Italys agricultural sector, which relies on roughly 350,000 seasonal workers from abroad.

Farming lobby group Coldiretti said farms were already preparing to organise some 150,000 workers from places including Romania, Poland and Bulgaria.

The peak of Italys contagion passed at the end of March but with experts warning a second wave cannot be ruled out, Conte had been reluctant to lift the lockdown quickly.

His approach frustrated many of Italys regions, with some already allowing businesses to reopen before the restrictions were lifted.

Restaurants, bars and hairdressers are being allowed to reopen on Monday, two weeks earlier than initially planned.

Shops will also open and Italians will finally be able to see friends, as long as they live within their same region.

Church services will begin again but the faithful will have to follow social distancing rules and holy water fonts will be empty. Mosques will also reopen.

Gatherings of large groups are still banned.
A think-tank has warned that an extension to the Brexit bill could cost the UK an eye-watering 378billion, as the country increases planning for no-deal after trade talks with the EU stalled last week.

The figure comes from a report by the the Centre for Brexit Policy, who also conducted a poll that said almost half of Britons believe extending the transition period would leave the country locked into the EU for the foreseeable future.

The poll, conducted by Savanta ComRes, showed that 46 per cent of people thought an extension beyond December 31 with lead to 'further extensions', as reported by the Sunday Telegraph.

The UK left the EU at the end of January but is currently in a transition period until December 31. The transition period was designed to give the two sides time to hammer out the details of their future trading relationship.

After the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, Boris Johnson has been under pressure to extend the transition extension - which can be up to two years - but No10 has been adamant there should be no delay.

The stalled third round of negotiations last week have added fuel to the fire that a deal will not be reached by the end of the year, and the country will crash out with no deal.

David Frost, Britain's chief negotiator, has already warned Cabinet that Brussels talks - that resume again in June - are heading for collapse and said that no deal is looming.

David Frost, Britain's chief negotiator, has already warned Cabinet that Brussels talks - that resume again in June - are heading for collapse and said that no deal is looming

Downing Street is preparing to issue warnings that the UK is heading for an 'Australia-style deal' with the EU  which in reality means No Deal and tariffs on imported and exported goods under terms set by the World Trade Organisation.

The lowered expectations of securing a trading deal with the EU is reflected in some civil servants now being pulled away from coronavirus work, and shifted back onto preparations for a no-deal Brexit, as reported by the Sunday Times.

The no-deal committee, that is chaired by Michael Gove, met twice at the start of May.

Officials have said the XO (exit operations) group will now sit more regularly as trade deals stalled.

The government's XO (exit operations) no-deal planning committee, chaired by Michael Gove, met twice in one week at the start of May and senior officials say it will now sit regularly to prepare for the prospect that no trade deal is struck.

A source told the newspaper: XO is moving to a more regular rhythm over the next week or so,' a source said.

Last week Michel Barnier warned the bloc will not 'bargain away our values for the benefit of the British economy'.

Last week Michel Barnier warned the bloc will not 'bargain away our values for the benefit of the British economy'

The third round of negotiations has concluded but the chances of a deal by the end of the year appear to be slipping after each side blamed the other for a lack of progress on fishing arrangements and whether the UK will have to stick to EU rules.

Mr Barnier said the bloc wants a 'modern' agreement and 'not a narrow one rooted in past precedents and sliced-up sector by sector' as he also told Number 10: 'You cannot have the best of both worlds.'

But Britain insisted Brussels must tear up its current 'ideological approach' if a deal is to be done.

The Centre for Brexit Policy, which was founded by former Tory Cabinet minister Owen Paterson and former director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, warned a two-year delay would cost the UK billions.

The report claims that another 12 month extension would cost the UK up to 378billion - with the country continuing to pay 11billion a year to Brussels.

Mr Longworth said: 'The combination of these eye-watering costs and continued subservience to EU rules would wreck any chance we have of restoring our fortunes as a nation as the pandemic subsides.'

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves today suggested Labour could push for a Brexit transition extension after she urged the Government not to rush trade talks.

Ms Reeves said Labour 'absolutely do not want' the UK to exit the transition period in December without a deal, telling Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: 'I would say to the Government the most important thing is we get a good deal, not any deal, but the best deal we can have.

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves today suggested Labour could push for a Brexit transition extension after she urged the Government not to rush trade talks

'The last thing our country and our economy needs at the moment is a further shock that could put jobs and livelihoods at risk.

'So, don't rush this, all of the attention of government at the moment is on fighting the coronavirus, that is the right thing, don't rush this, take the time that is needed.

'But at the moment the Government is saying we can still do this by the end of the year and we need to hold them to account to getting not just any deal, but the best deal we can, by the end of this year.'

Ms Reeves said the Government must outline a new timetable if it cannot secure a good Brexit trade deal by the end of the year.

She told Sky News: 'We're saying they mustn't rush this and if they are not going to secure a deal, they mustn't crash out without a deal - so that means taking the time that is necessary but it's up to the Government to show they can deliver on the promises they've made to the British people.

'That is getting a good deal and a good deal by the end of this year, and if they're not in a position to do that they need to come back and explain a timetable.'
DXBUY, UAEs B2B e-commerce platform dedicated to the small and medium businesses in retail, unorganised trade and food and beverages (F&B) has announced its official launch.

After being available to select users during the beta phase for nearly six months, DXBUY is now available to all businesses in the UAE to download and self-register, the company said in a release.

The mobile eCommerce app is designed to simplify the buying process by offering convenience, control, and choice, it added.

Co-founded by two experienced entrepreneur brothers, Rizwan and Adnan Zubairi, DXBUYs mobile-first approach is designed to make the everyday buying process faster, smarter, and cheaper for retail buyers. The company helps fill the gaps in supply chain and provides a wide range of products by having multiple vendors and brands on a single platform. Buyers can be assured of getting cost-effective, timely deliveries and could further benefit by reducing their inventories to save on precious real estate space, it said.

The platform leverages data-driven technology to efficiently operate across the high volume, low transaction value categories by optimizing sales and logistics cost. It further supports local manufacturers, wholesalers and brand owners to streamline their operations with greater visibility and insights about their product categories.

Even in this day of technological advancement, the majority of purchase decisions are impulsive. Our application acts as a convenient marketplace and comparison tool for businesses to make rational decisions, while providing visibility on buying patterns to both consumers and vendors, said Adnan Zubairi, CEO  DXBUY.

With the progression of technology and changing consumer preferences, B2B buyers fancy a B2C shopping experience for their every-day business purchase needs. With a sleek app, extensive product range and dynamic pricing, we at DXBUY have thus raised the bar in B2B e-commerce, commented Rizwan Zubairi, COO  DXBUY.

Downloaded by more than 2000 verified businesses during the BETA phase, DXBUY app fulfilled more than 12,000 orders in the first five months. The eCommerce app has since earned the trust of multiple SMBs including groceries, mini-marts, restaurants, cafeterias as well as few laundries, hardware shops, cleaning supply and catering companies, it said.

UAE has the worlds highest mobile penetration and digital commerce was identified as a high government priority in UAEs Vision 2021. We have tapped into a niche where online transactions were barely existent. The response from early users of our app has been overwhelming and we believe the future of digital commerce is now! added Adnan.

With the official launch, the platform now actively serves businesses across Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman. With plans to add new products portfolio to include supplies for offices, schools, salons, spa and wellness centers, the target is to establish presence across the UAE by end 2020. In future, the company envisions to strategically enter other GCC countries.

DXBUY is available for download on both iOS and Android. TradeArabia News Service
Brett Kepley is a lawyer with Land of Lincoln Legal Aid Inc. Send questions to The Law Q&A, 302 N. First St., Champaign, IL 61820.
By Archana Chaudhary and Vrishti Beniwal

India will open up its space facilities, mineral blocks and power distribution to private companies, as it seeks new investments to help shore up an economy hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration will also allow foreign investment up to 74% percent in defense manufacturing to attract investments, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in New Delhi Saturday. The announcements include enabling private companies to use state-run space ports for launching satellites, and the nations atomic energy reactors to produce medical isotopes, she said.

These sectors are going to be the new horizon for growth, she said in her fourth interaction with the media in as many days to provide details of an economic package unveiled by Modi on May 12. We see great potential for more investments which can be drawn with the reforms that we are announcing, Sitharaman said.

For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here

The government on Tuesday pledged a $265 billion package to support the economy headed for its first full-year contraction in more than four decades. Sitharaman announced steps to support migrant workers and farmers earlier this week, including offering cheap credit and food rations to those affected by a nationwide lockdown to contain COVID-19.

She also identified coal mining, aviation and power distribution utilities as sectors ready to be opened up for private participation.

An investment of 500 billion rupees will be made in coal shipment infrastructure, including mechanized transfer of the fuel from mines to railway sidings, she said. That will aid Coal India Ltd.s plan to produce 1 billion tons of the fossil fuel annually by the year ending March 2024.

She also reinforced the nations commitment to opening up commercial coal mining, and said 50 blocks would be auctioned in the first phase. Overall, theres a plan to auction 500 mining blocks of different minerals, she said.

Other measures announced by Sitharaman include:
The Snowbirds morale-boosting coast-to-coast tour turned tragic on Sunday, when one of their planes slammed into the ground in Kamloops, B.C., killing one crew member and seriously injuring another.

The fatal incident, which occurred in a residential area during a nationwide operation by the famed Canadian Forces flying team to lift the spirits of Canadians suffering through the COVID-19 pandemic, occurred less than three weeks after six Forces members died when their helicopter plunged into the sea off the coast of Greece. Its also the second time a Snowbird has crashed in less than a year, leading some to call for a review of the program and its safety risks.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce that one member of the CF Snowbirds team has died and one has sustained serious injuries, the Royal Canadian Air Force said in a message posted to Twitter on Sunday evening. The Air Force said the injuries suffered by the second crew member were not life-threatening.

In a joint statement, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces confirmed the crew member who died was Capt. Jennifer Casey, the Snowbirds public affairs officer. She was originally from Halifax, and joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2014. She began her role with the Snowbirds in November 2018.

The injured crew member was Capt. Richard MacDougall, a pilot and one of the teams coordinators.

According to the statement, the Snowbird fleet has been put on an operational pause, and the teams mission, dubbed Operation Inspiration, has been delayed indefinitely. An RCAF flight safety team was being dispatched form Ottawa to investigate the accident.

I am sending my sincerest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Captain Jenn Casey. I am also wishing a rapid and complete recovery for Captain Richard MacDougall, said Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan in a statement.

Canadians look at the Snowbirds as a source of joy and an exhibition of the incredible feats that our people in uniform are capable of. Operation Inspiration was intended to lift the spirit of Canadians at this difficult time and the Snowbirds accomplished their mission. I know that all Canadians grieve this tragic loss.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted about the crash Sunday, saying his thoughts are with the brave members of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

I would also like to thank the emergency personnel in Kamloops who responded so quickly to this tragic incident, he wrote.

Sajjan also took to Twitter, writing, I am deeply saddened by the news of todays @CFSnowbirds crash & my thoughts are with all those involved.

Video footage taken by witnesses shows the crash occurred seconds after two Snowbirds took off from Kamloops Airport, when one of the jets banked sharply upward before falling to the ground.

Kamloops resident Mike Trafford said he heard the planes taking off and looked out his window to watch. He initially thought one of the pilots was intentionally performing a barrel roll.

My first instinct was, well thats pretty cool, he said.

But then he saw someone eject from the aircraft and the plane basically nosedived straight into the ground.

Trafford said on Saturday the Snowbirds had performed in formation above Kamloops to the delight of many residents.

Everybody was out on their front lawn, waving at each other, happy and watching these Snowbirds, he said.

Theyre out here doing this stuff to sort of lift people up and give people hope  And now today its shocking, its tragic. I dont really know how else to describe it.

Josh Ross, who said his home backs onto a house that was hit by the plane, was in his bedroom when he heard a loud spluttering noise.

He and his parents rushed out to the back balcony, where they saw what appeared to be a pilot ejecting from the aircraft and landing hard on a roof nearby.

The parachute opened, but it didnt catch, it just kind of spiralled, he said.

Paul Sivik, who lives about a block away from the site, said he was watching from his rooftop and saw the planes take off from the airport. All of a sudden, he saw one change course and plummet to the ground.

When he walked over to the crash site, he says it smelled like jet fuel and burning plastic.

I feel sad that it happened  as if we dont have enough sad things happen already, Sivik said, adding that 2020 is a brutal year so far.

Kamloops fire Chief Mike Adams said the crash produced a large amount of debris over the area of three homes. He said two residents of the home damaged by the plane crash were safe, and that they had been given another place to stay.

Braden Capostinsky said he was on his back deck with his mother and girlfriend when the plane hit the house across the street.

It was just like a bomb had hit, he said.

Capostinsky said he saw one person eject from the plane, but didnt think he saw a parachute deploy.

When they ejected it seemed very late. They were already in a downward spiral, so they didnt actually shoot up into the air but instead were propelled horizontally, he said.

He later heard there were two people in the plane, but I did not see the second one, he said.

Retired lieutenant-general Andre Deschamps, who was commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force from 2009 to 2012, said footage of the crash shows that two Snowbirds got off the ground without a problem, and the jets landing gear was retracted in preparation for acceleration.

But as the aircraft reached the end of the runway, the pilot of the trailing plane pulled up rapidly in whats known as a zoom manoeuvre, which pilots typically perform to buy themselves time in the air after their plane experiences a serious malfunction.

The pilot wouldnt do a zoom for any reason other than serious issues inside the airplane, Deschamps said.

The pilot didnt get to a high altitude, forcing an ejection close to the ground. It appeared to Deschamps that two people ejected, but footage hed seen didnt show their parachutes deploying. It was a very low-level ejection, so those are very high risk, he said.

Casey, who was killed in the crash, joined the Canadian Forces in 2014 and was based out of Trenton, Ont., after working in radio as a reporter, anchor and producer in her hometown of Halifax and Belleville, Ont., according to her Royal Canadian Air Force bio.

Casey spent most of 2018 with the CF-18 Demo Team, travelling around North America and the United Kingdom with the NORAD 60 jet. She joined the Snowbirds in November 2018.

Tim Durkin, who worked with Casey at Quinte Broadcasting in Belleville, said they became fast friends when she joined the station in 2013.

She just jumped right into the community and was involved with it, he said. Just somebody that when she walked into a room, she just made you smile. She was a great person and a great friend as well.

Durkin said she loved hockey  particularly the Montreal Canadiens  and they attended the world junior hockey championship together three years ago in Montreal.

Caseys roots were in Nova Scotia  a province thats been ravaged by tragedy in the past month.

The Snowbirds aerobatics team was scheduled to make a trip from Kamloops to Vernon on Sunday as part of Operation Inspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The operation started in Nova Scotia earlier this month and features the teams signature nine-jet formation. It was aimed at lifting spirits as Canadians continue to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team was headed to the Okanagan region on Sunday, but the start of the days flypasts was delayed because of rain and low visibility, according to a message posted on Twitter by the Snowbirds on Sunday morning.

The Snowbirds have performed at air shows across Canada and the U.S. for decades and are considered a key tool for raising awareness about  and recruiting for  the Air Force. Eleven aircraft are used during shows, with nine flying and two kept as spares.

The Air Force obtained the Tutor jets flown by the Snowbirds in 1963 and has used them in air demonstrations since 1971. Prior to Sundays crash, seven pilots and one passenger had been killed and several aircraft had been lost over the course of the Snowbirds history.

In 2007 Capt. Shawn McCaughey, then Snowbird No. 2, fell out of his seat, lost control of his plane and crashed into a Montana Air Force base. An investigation found a seatbelt failure on the plane contributed to his death.

On Oct. 13, 2019, a Snowbird jet crashed before a scheduled show at the Atlanta Speedway in Georgia. Capt. Kevin Domon-Grenier sustained minor injuries when he ejected from the plane, which crashed into a farmers field. No one else was hurt.

Michel Drapeau, a retired army colonel who practises military law after 34 years in the force, said Sundays fatal incident should be a wake-up call about the Snowbird program for the Royal Canadian Air Force, especially as it comes on the heels of the deadly helicopter crash in Greece.

They are the best pilots with the best training; that doesnt reduce to zero the risk of an accident, he said. Especially when we have equipment that is really dated.

Drapeau said even if the jets flown by the Snowbirds were brand new, he would still question the decision to risk lives of Air Force members for the program.

(Casualties) are always risks on missions, he said. But is it worth it? Do we need to do this? For a fleeting moment, even as a spectator, its a 20-second flypast.

But Deschamps, the former RCAF commander, said the Tutor jets the Snowbirds use remain very reliable, despite being more than 50 years old. He said the team is an important symbol of the Canadian Forces and he hopes they will perform again once the cause of Sundays crash is determined and addressed.

The Snowbirds are an embodiment of what we aspire to as a military, he said.

Forty-five years ago, one of the reasons I joined the Air Force is because I saw the Snowbirds and they inspired me.

In addition to the morale-boosting Snowbird mission, Canadian Forces personnel have been deployed on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, helping in long-term-care homes in Ontario and Quebec. Several of those members have since tested positive for the virus.

With files from The Canadian Press

Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering transportation for the Star. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr

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The entire cost of tickets of



migrant labourers travelling out of Maharashtra on Shramik Special trains is borne by the state government, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Sunday and dismissed as "factually incorrect" Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's "claim" that the Centre is footing 85 per cent of the ticket fare.

"I am shocked to find out the claim of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman that the Centre was bearing 85 per cent of the ticket expenses of migrant labourers. It is not factual. The Indian Railway administration has not borne the 85 per cent cost in any way. Her claim is not true," Deshmukh said in an official statement.

He said the Maharashtra government was bearing the entire ticket fare of migrant workers.

"The entire cost of the ticket for every migrant labourer being sent back to their home states is borne by the Maharashtra government. The labourers who went home earlier had to pay for their tickets," Deshmukh said.

He said the migrant labourers lacked money to pay for their tickets since they have lost means of livelihood amidst the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

"It was our humble request to the Railways to allow these people to return to their home states free of cost but it was turned down," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UPDATE: Mya Gebert has been found safe.

KENT COUNTY, MI  A 15-year-old girl from Comstock Park has been missing since early Friday morning.

Mya Gebert was seen getting into a silver Mercury sedan at 6:50 a.m. May 15.

Video surveillance captured the sedan driving away from the home. It is unclear who the car belongs to, Gianna Swanson, an administrator for Missing People in America, told MLive.

Mya Gebert, 15, of Comstock Park, Michigan, was last seen leaving her home early Friday morning, May 15, 2020 in this silver Mercury. She did not have a cell phone with her. (Courtesy photo | Missing Persons in America)

A Facebook post from Missing People in America, states that Mya was wearing black jeans and a maroon Nike hoodie when she left home. She did not have a cell phone with her and was carrying a black Nike backpack when she left.

According to her mother, Bonnie Gebert, Mya had her phone taken away by her parents a few weeks ago after they discovered she had been talking to a few older gentlemen online, some of whom were from out of state.

Before she left, she deleted everything (off her phone), her mother said. She deleted all her pictures. Her social media was wiped clean.

Parents and friends are yet to identify whose vehicle Mya was seen leaving in, she said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kent County Sheriffs office at 616-632-6100.

Also on MLive:

Longtime Grand Rapids police and fire chaplain dies

Father of previously missing 5-day-old baby, arrested after fleeing scene of alleged domestic assault

8-year-old boy rescued from fast-moving river after kayak capsizes
GSEB 12th Science result 2020: Gujarat State Education Board (GSEB) has declared the HSC or class 12th Science results today at gseb.org. Candidates who had appeared for the examination can check their results online by entering their six- digit seat number.

Currently the GSEB 12th Science result booklet is not opening due to heavy server but candidates are advised to keep refreshing the page at certain intervals.

GSEB had conducted the exams between March 5 and 21. However, the announcement of result was delayed due to the coronavirus lockdown.

The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) had on Saturday said in a release that students who appeared for the class 12 board exam held in March could access their results on official website at http://www.gseb.org www.gseb.org, to be uploaded at 8 am on Sunday.

The GSEB would notify the dates for distribution of mark sheets, certificates and revaluation and re-verification to the students later, it said.

Heres the direct link to check GSEB HSC 12th Result 2020
The city blames the state. The states General Land Office says the City of Houston has done so poorly administering its Harvey homeowner assistance program that it has no choice but to take over the $400 million in federal funds.

While they fight, thousands of Houston residents  some still waving the blue tarp distress flag on their roofs  wait for help years over due.

While they fight, while Mayor Sylvester Turner and Land Commissioner George P. Bush exchange barbed correspondence and sound bites, 58-year-old Mark Anthony Rubiois sleeping in what was once his living room.

Shortly after the disaster, he got $3,800 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, most of which he used to elevate his Southeast Houston home. He was then told he qualified for an emergency repair program administered by the state. Contractors showed up, tore up his kitchen and bathroom, he says, but found that the repairs needed would go beyond the $20,000 covered.

Rubio says his GLO case manager told him to instead apply to another program that funded up to $60,000 per home. He was denied, he appealed, and received $1,800. He used most of it for roof repair and was left with a choice: kitchen or bathroom?

He put a blanket over the kitchen door and pulled out the toilet and tub from the debris left by the contractors. That was two years ago. Weary of eating fast food, his health flagging, he moved his stove and refrigerator into the living room. He washes dishes in his tub.

Im going day-by-day, hour-to-hour, but I got closer to God over all this, Rubio told the editorial board. I couldnt count on man.

Where was the city during all of this? As far as he could tell, nowhere.

At least the GLO returned my calls, he said.

City officials readily admit that its program got off to a rough start. With federal funds available by early 2019, things looked promising. By August, the citys Harvey housing recovery chief was gone and only 15 homes had seen any work. Even with a refocused effort, the latest program report shows repairs have begun on 59 homes and 44 homeowners have been reimbursed.

Meanwhile, as of last week, the state can point to completed work on 1,227 homes in 48 counties affected by Harvey outside Harris County and 2,657 approved applications.

It is that disparity that led Harris County to agree to give up its own homeowner assistance program to the GLO, Josh Stuckey, interim director of the countys Community Services Department, told the editorial board.

The county is in worse shape than the city, having started no construction at all  a failure that Stuckey, who began his role in February, attributes to a botched roll out by the contractor originally processing applications and the countys own inability to scale up to meet the programs complex demands.

The GLOs administration of the federal aid program that did some limited repair work on 10,000 homes after Harvey gave it a head start on working with contractors and a large applicant list.

Seeing that momentum and seeing how well they do it, it just makes sense that if theyre wanting to come and do it in Harris County, thats probably the best thing for constituents, Stuckey said.

The city sees it differently.

Tom McCasland, head of the Houston Housing and Community Development Department, said delays are partly the result of the city prioritizing the most vulnerable low-income applicants, many elderly, whose cases take longer to process. Those folks, he says, would lose out on the limited pool of funding if the state took over.

I would gladly step back from this, except for the fact that the folks who were left behind in Ike will be left behind here if the GLO runs this program the way theyve run it in the balance of the state, he told the editorial board Friday.

Not so, says the GLO, whose spokeswoman Brittany Eck points out that the federal government requires 70 percent of all funds to benefit low-to-moderate income individuals, and that so far 80 percent of their applicants fall under that category.

Mayor Turner said the city will take all necessary legal steps to keep control of the funds and railed against what he called a hostile takeover and state threats to wrest away all of Houstons Harvey housing programs.

City officials maintain the GLO  which must approve any application for repair funds as part of its federal contract  has acted in bad faith, in part by forcing Houston to jump through hoops it doesnt require of its own staff.

The GLOs lack of capacity for reviewing our files, their ongoing technical issues, their failure to provide clear and consistent guidance for what they needed up front, and their slow-walking of many of the other documents required for our recovery programs contributed to the delay Commissioner Bush now uses to attempt to strip the city of its funding, Turner said in a statement, calling Bushs decision politics.

GLOs contention that it is only acting in the best interest of Harvey victims is hard to accept given its track record, and how similar its threats track with Gov. Greg Abbotts attacks on local control.

GLO also has a clear advantage as both player and referee in processing and approving applications, making direct comparisons to performance of local agencies unfair.

The federal funding contract with HUD has a completion date of 2024. We believe, given the citys recent progress, it could ramp up to meet its deadline. The question here isnt simply who can help the most Houstonians the fastest, but who will ensure that in our haste, we dont leave the neediest in the dust.

The best way forward is for Houston and the state to work together. The citys delay is flatly unacceptable, but so is the states excessive red tape. Bush and the GLO should let Houston administer funds under clear guidance and the same rules it sets for itself. Going forward, the city should be honest about how many cases it can truly handle.

People should come before any bureaucratic spat or political tit for tat. Figure it out, leaders.

No one  not Bush, not Turner, nor any heavy hand over at the governors office  should ask Houstonians to stay patient when residents such as Rubio are cooking in the living room and bracing for the next storm.
Social distancing presents a unique opportunity for meal-delivery companies. It also highlights the precarious tightrope these businesses are attempting to walk. Shutting in the public has led to higher revenues for delivery companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats. But high marketing costs and razor-thin margins make it as difficult as ever to turn a profit.



Many have long believed that consolidation was the ultimate end game for meal delivery, with the power of scale perhaps the only force strong enough to overcome the industry's many headwinds. Others have argued that such consolidation could be a worrisome development for restaurants and consumers.



For better or worse, Uber might be ready to get the merger party started.



Dealmaking talk is heating up in the meal delivery space, and that's one of 10 things you need to know from the past week:

The takeout game has changed amid a pandemic. (Serhii Sobolevskyi/Getty Images Plus) 1. Delivery deals Reports emerged on Tuesday that Uber is in talks to acquire Grubhub, news that sent Grubhub's share price soaring nearly 30%. A combination of the two would transform the sector by reducing the number of companies fighting for true meal-delivery supremacy in the US from four to two.



During March, DoorDash accounted for 42% of all meal-delivery spending, according to consumer analytics specialist Second Measure. Grubhub checked in with 28% market share, while Uber's Uber Eats arm was at 20% and Postmates at 9%. A combination of Uber Eats and Grubhub, then, would essentially create a duopoly, placing some 90% of the market in the hands of two companies. It could also spur DoorDash and Postmates to join forces in a bid to keep up with the Joneses (or the Khosrowshahis, if you will).



If those two startups do have deal talks, it wouldn't be the first time. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that DoorDash, Postmates and Uber Eats had all discussed merger combinations at various times in 2019.



The four industry powers have traveled different paths over the past several years. Grubhub has been publicly traded since 2014. Uber just went public last year, and both DoorDash and Postmates remain VC-backed. Uber Eats, of course, is also just one part of a much larger corporation. That means the companies have had different degrees of resources, and different motives. Grubhub's responsibility to public shareholders made it difficult to spend at the same level as its younger rivals.



But so far none of those models have resulted in any sort of sustained profitability. Grubhub posted a net loss of $33.4 million in Q1, and Uber Eats lost $313 million in the quarter in terms of adjusted EBITDA.



And business isn't getting any easier. Meal-delivery providers have always spent heavily on marketing, and that has continued during the pandemic. They also now face higher costs in part because of new safety measures for their workers. And these companies still have plenty of critics who complain about the power they wield over labor and restaurants.



Other food delivery companies were also in the news this week. The Information reported that Instacart is raising new funding at a pre-money valuation of between $12 billion and $14 billion. Louis Bordersthe founder of both the Borders bookstore chain and Webvan, the legendary grocery delivery flameout of a prior ageis back with a new delivery startup called, appropriately enough, Home Delivery Service. China's Dingdong Maicai secured $300 million in funding this week for its grocery delivery services, according to Reuters.



But it's in the meal-delivery sector where the most notable drama is unfolding. If Uber and Grubhub go ahead with a deal, it could mark the beginning of a new era in the industryassuming a combination is allowed by antitrust regulators. 2. Self-driving seesaw In a bit of positive news from the autonomous driving sector, Waymo raised $750 million in an extension of the Alphabet subsidiary's latest funding, taking the round's total to $3 billion. On the other side of the coin, there was Cruise, the self-driving unit of General Motors, which this week laid off around 160 workers, according to Bloomberg. 3. Big tech goes shopping On Friday, Facebook announced its acquisition of Giphy from the GIF specialist's VC backers, with reports placing the valuation between $300 million and $400 million. A day earlier, Apple reportedly confirmed its acquisition of NextVR, a virtual reality company specializing in live events that was previously backed by SoftBank, among others. And Microsoft agreed this week to buy Metaswitch Networks, a cloud-based communications company. 4. Buyout optimism So far, at least, early predictions are holding up that the biggest PE firms would still be able to raise massive funds in the face of a pandemic. BDT Capital Partners, a merchant banking firm led by former Goldman Sachs star Byron Trott, has raised nearly $9.1 billion for a new fund, according to a regulatory filing. Bain Capital, meanwhile, is targeting $9 billion for its next buyout fund, and the UK's Hg has raised some $11 billion for a new trio of funds, Bloomberg reported. 5. EDM to ROI Alex Pall and Drew Taggart are best known for crafting electronic-influenced earworms as the Chainsmokers, becoming the highest-paid DJs in the world in 2019, according to Forbes. Now, the musical duo is putting some of that cash to work in VC: The Grammy Award winners have launched a new venture firm called Mantis, with reported plans to invest an initial $50 million.

Alex Pall (left) and Drew Taggart, aka the Chainsmokers, are ready to take the VC stage.

(Bryan Bedder/Getty Images) 6. Andreessen activity Andreessen Horowitz led an investment this week in Clubhouse, valuing the buzzy voice-chat startup at a reported $100 million. The Sand Hill Road stalwart also took part in two other headline-grabbing deals, joining a $50 million investment in DigitalOcean that valued the creator of a cloud-based platform for developers at $1.15 billion and backing fantasy sports startup Sleeper alongside several notable angels, including frequent a16z collaborator Kevin Durant. 7. Hoop dreams Durant's deal with Sleeper wasn't the only instance this week of the NBA crossing over into finance. Bloomberg reported Thursday that the league is in talks with Dyal Capital Partners about launching a new fund that would buy minority stakes in multiple NBA teams, essentially offering an avenue to liquidity to existing owners who might otherwise struggle to find deep-pocketed buyers. I wrote earlier this month about the deepening ties between pro sports and Wall Street. 8. Carlyle in court Does the coronavirus pandemic qualify as legal grounds to walk away from a deal? That's the question at the heart of an ongoing legal dispute between The Carlyle Group and American Express Global Business Travel, a corporate travel specialist in which Carlyle had planned to acquire a 20% stake before calling off the deal this month. A Delaware court's decision on whether Carlyle is allowed to back out could have major implications across the dealmaking landscape. 9. Saving face A group of Chinese state-owned investors invested a reported 1.8 billion yuan (about $253 million) this week in CloudWalk Technology, an AI giant focusing on facial recognition. The deal comes about nine months after Megvii, another Chinese facial recognition company, filed for an IPO in Hong Kong, a listing that's yet to occur. Two months after that filing, the US government placed Megvii on a blacklist due in part to concerns that its technology may have been deployed to surveil the Uighur population in northwest China. 10. Quiz whiz Schools might not get back to normal anytime soon, but that doesn't mean an edtech startup can't turn into a unicorn. Quizlet, which specializes in flashcards and other study tools, raised a $30 million Series C round this week led by General Atlantic, reportedly resulting in an even $1 billion valuation.
The level of coronavirus incidence continues increasing TASS

A coalition of 62 countries supported a joint Australian and European Union push for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak ahead of a crucial World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva. This is reported by ABC.

European nations and Australia have been rallying support for a draft EU motion which calls for an "impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation" of "the WHO-coordinated international health response to COVID-19."

Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom are among those nations that had backed the motion.

The inquiry does not specifically mention China or the city of Wuhan where the outbreak is believed to have begun.

Sources said the language was strong enough to ensure that a proper and thorough investigation took place, although they are still calling this a "first step" towards ensuring transparency.

At this stage, neither China nor the US has backed the motion. EU and Australian diplomats were still working on Sunday to convince both major powers to give their support.

The EU's spokeswoman for foreign affairs, Virginie Battu-Henriksson, said the organization was focused on reaching a consensus for an inquiry.

"Of course, we need to have the support of all the major players, and China is one of them," she told the ABC.

Meanwhile, US diplomats have been pressing for tougher language that specifically calls for a probe into how the virus started in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have both furiously denounced China's initial response to the virus, accusing it of covering up the initial outbreak and allowing it to spread around the world.

But Battu-Henriksson said the EU was focused on "really getting together and finding a solution which is workable for all."

"For us, it is not the moment for us to enter any kind of blame game as we've seen in narratives from one part or another of the world," she said.
Harry Dunn, 19, who was killed when his motorbike was involved in a collision with a car driven by Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence official based at RAF Croughton, in Northamptonshire, in August 2019: Family handout/PA

The mother of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn has urged the British government to stand up to the US amid a continuing diplomatic row.

Donald Trumps administration has refused to extradite suspect Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence official, for prosecution over Mr Dunns death.

The 19-year-old was killed when his motorbike collided with Ms Sacoolass car outside a US military base in what she called an unintentional accident.

Ms Sacoolas, 42, claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash in August and was able to return to the US.

American officials were reportedly furious at the UKs decision to issue an international wanted notice for Ms Sacoolas, who was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December.

Despite the US continued refusal to extradite the suspect, the UK has agreed to send two fugitives across the Atlantic.

Mr Dunns mother, Charlotte Charles, said: We don't want any problems with the US government, but we can see that the US government is behaving like a bully.

It will be a road to ruin if we back down as a country now and we have to stand up to them

An extradition request submitted by the home secretary was rejected by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo in January - a decision the State Department called final.

Ms Charles said the UK should refuse to send anyone to the US until it agrees to play by the rules, starting with sending Anne Sacoolas back.

The Home Office confirmed extradition requests had been approved by Priti Patel for Jabir Motiwala, 53, and Colin Wilkinson, 54, from Hull, last month.

Mr Motiwala is wanted in the US to face charges of extortion, money laundering and conspiracy to import drugs, while Mr Wilkinson faces charges of downloading child sex abuse images in Texas.

The pair are fighting the decisions and have appeals pending in the High Court.

Radd Seiger, a spokesperson for Mr Dunn's parents, said: Arrangements for sending wanted people across the Atlantic are hopelessly weighted in favour of the Americans.

Story continues

As we have seen in the case of Ms Sacoolas, the American government didn't even bother to go through the motions of putting the case through the legal and court system.

Pompeo just said no, it's not happening and that his decision is final.

In my numerous visits to Washington and speaking to leaders there, I sought to impress upon them just how stupid, reckless and short-sighted that stance would be.

No-one would be going in the opposite direction and I have made it clear to leaders in Westminster that no-one is to go the other way until Anne Sacoolas is back.

The Mail on Sunday said Washington officials were furious to learn UK police had put out Interpol red diffusion notice for Ms Sacoolas last week. It has been sent to a selection of countries, including Canada.

(Getty Images)

It reported that US officials confronted their British counterparts over the move, prompting talks last Thursday involving Boris Johnson, foreign secretary Dominic Raab and Ms Patel.

Interpol cannot compel nations to arrest suspects but if she visits another member state she could be detained.

Ms Sacoolas previously refused to return to Britain voluntarily to face prosecution.

A criminal prosecution with a potential penalty of 14 years imprisonment is simply not a proportionate response, her lawyer, Amy Jeffress, said in December.

Anne is devastated by this tragic accident and continues to extend her deepest condolences to the family.

Ms Sacoolas was twice interviewed by Northamptonshire Police, once on the day after the crash and on another occasion by officers who travelled to the US.

Mr Dunns family have also visited the country in an attempt to gain support and Boris Johnson spoke to Donald Trump about the case to make clear that what has happened is not acceptable.

But the US president has publicly defended Ms Sacoolas, saying that driving on the wrong side of the road can happen and adding: It was an accident.

Additional reporting by PA

Read more

Interpol red notice issued for suspect in Harry Dunn case

Harry Dunn lawyer accuses foreign secretary of scandalous cover up

Police investigate near miss outside RAF base where Harry Dunn died
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Linkedin (Xinhua) San Francisco, United States  Sun, May 17, 2020 07:00 613 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd889dff 2 Entertainment Asian-American,series,documentary,Asian-Americans Free

A five-episode documentary series entitled Asian Americans has been released in the United States, with its first two episodes premiering on the Public Broadcasting Service on Monday.

The series delivers "a bold, fresh perspective on a history that matters today, more than ever, as America becomes more diverse and more divided while facing unimaginable challenges", PBS says on its website.

Led by a team of Asian American filmmakers, the series examines the significant role of Asian Americans in shaping US history and identity, from Chinese rail workers' long-forgotten contribution in the 1850s to modern refugee crises in a globally connected world.

At a digital town hall organized by the Center for Asian American Media in connection with the series' premiere, US congresswoman Judy Chu says for many Asian Americans, it's not just the health risks of the coronavirus that are a cause for concern right now, but also "the anti-Asian bigotry that this pandemic has incited".

Chu, the first Chinese American woman elected to US Congress, adds: "There's no better time to reflect on the history of contributions of the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community.

"This is especially true when it comes to addressing anti-Asian hate crimes.

Read also: Harvard denies admission-bias claim in Asian-Americans' suit

"We must continue to push back against the xenophobia every time it rears its ugly head .... Our history has shown us that Asian Americans have often been used as it goes in times of crisis.

"We are seeing this again today, which is why it is more important now than ever that we stand united and make our voices heard."

The rest of the documentary's three episodes aired on Tuesday. The premiere is also a part of the films and performances program of San Francisco's Asia-Pacific American Heritage Month.

May has been celebrated as APA Heritage Month for the past 15 years in San Francisco. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's APA events cannot take place as usual.

San Francisco mayor London Breed calls for fighting against discrimination and hate amid the pandemic while addressing the virtual opening of APA Heritage Month.

"During this global pandemic, the APA communities are facing unfair treatment, prejudice and threats simply because of who they are," she says. "There is no place for discrimination and hate in our city or our country."
The minister disclosed that the ministry was not their host, hence does not have updates on their whereabouts, adding that some of them are Staff of CCECC, and that not all of them were doctors.
PARIS (AP)  French nurses and doctors faced off with President Emmanuel Macron at a leading Paris hospital Friday, demanding better pay and a rethink of a once-renowned public health system that found itself quickly overwhelmed by tens of thousands of virus patients.

We are desperate. We no longer believe in you, said a nurse who confronted Macron at the Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital, saying she's using a long-expired surgical mask. We are the shame of Europe.

That's not true, the president countered  but he could barely get a word in as medics peppered him with grievances. Apparently anticipating such tensions and fearing they could further hurt Macron's image, the president's office didn't allow a single video, photo or radio reporter on the visit.

Macron acknowledged mistakes in reforming the national hospital system, which has faced decades of cost cuts, leaving medical facilities in one of the world's richest countries short of staff, masks and breathing machines needed to fight the virus crisis.

For months I was asking for equipment, and we had only three days to fight against the virus," Martin Hirsch, head of the Paris hospital network, told Macron. France's infections abruptly multiplied over a short period in March.

As the virus raced across France in March and saturated several hospitals, Macron had to deploy the armed forces to build the country's first-ever peacetime field hospital and move patients and doctors around in military transport jets and specially fitted high-speed trains.

The French hospital problems long predate the virus crisis, and emergency room workers held strikes and protests for months last year demanding more hiring and funding after years of job losses.

Macron's government announced a plan last year to address the growing concerns, and pledged bonuses for medical staff when the virus hit. But the president acknowledged Friday: We undoubtedly made a mistake in the strategy.

Story continues

It was a great strategy, but we should have done it 10 years ago, he told frustrated hospital staff.

Macron promised to launch a new investment plan while the virus crisis is still raging, without offering details. Trust will only come if we move fast, he said.

An angry reception met Macron on a visit to the same hospital in February, as the president sought to show he was successfully managing the virus. Leading neurologist Dr. Francois Salachas confronted Macron to describe how the crisis -- which was just barely beginning  had already revealed weaknesses in French hospitals caused by years of budget cuts.

The damaging exchange aggravated public frustration with Macron, and is likely why his office tightly restricted media access to Friday's hospital visit. The Elysee Palace didn't give a reason for the unusual decision.

As Macron sat around a table with top doctors, the reception was firm.

We cannot go back like before, said Thomas Similowski, head of the hospitals medical commission, calling for a rethink of medical training and more flexibility to deal with new threats.

Macron then met with unions, who demanded wage hikes to keep nurses from quitting the profession and further worsening staff shortages.

And then, as the president headed for the exit, irate nurses blocked his way.

That's nice, the bonus ... but what we want is a raise," said the nurse who said she was using an expired mask, who didn't give her name. For a major European country, this is not normal, said another.

French authorities say more than 27,000 people with the virus have died in hospitals and nursing homes, compared to about 7,000 in neighboring Germany, which tested much more widely than France and entered the crisis with six times as many intensive care beds.

___

Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed.

___

Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Donald Trump speaks during the presentation of the US Space Force flag in the Oval Office of the White House: AFP via Getty Images

With the president in Camp David for the weekend and no official engagements on his agenda, he took the opportunity to spend much of the day on Twitter.

After retweeting his several of his followers (and himself) this morning, he also took time to ominously threaten government action to "remedy" the command and control of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google by "the radical left". He also described protesters filmed harassing a reporter as "Great people!"

Meanwhile, Senator Bob Menendez and Representative Eliot Engel have launched an investigation into Trump's late night firing of the Steve Linick, the State Department Inspector General. They have requested that both the White House and State Department preserve and produce all records related to the matter for their respective Senate and House foreign affairs committees.

The president also spent time trying to recruit support for his Obamagate theory, specifically from senior Senate Republicans. Citing an article in The Federalist that predicts the party will lose both the White House and the Senate in November if it doesn't fully address the Russia 'hoax', Trump's tweets were directed at both Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham.
Migrant workers headed on foot towards their native places in different parts of Uttar Pradesh hit a hurdle at Ghazipur near the Delhi-UP border late on Saturday night.

Pinky, one of the migrants said, We have come from Gurugram and we are going to Hardoi in UP. I dont know how well reach home as police is not allowing us to move forward.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

Another worker Ram Babu said I have been walking from Swaroop Nagar and we have been stopped by police here. My landlord verbally abused me and asked us for rent as it was pending for two months. We have no money to get ration, so we felt it was better to leave.

A woman in the group said They are asking us to go back. They are demanding a pass, what should we do?

On Friday, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote to Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories (UTs), directing them to ensure that there is no movement of migrant workers on roads and railway tracks, and facilitate their movement through special buses or Shramik special trains.

In the letter, the Chief Secretary had said that migrant workers should be appropriately counselled and taken to nearby shelters and provided with food and water till such time they are facilitated to board the Sharmik special trains or buses to their native places.

He had said as the movement of migrant workers walking on roads, railway tracks and travelling in trucks is still being noticed in different parts of the country, it is now the responsibility of all states and Union Territories to ensure that movement of stranded migrant workers who are willing to go to their home states is facilitated.

States/UTs should widely disseminate the arrangements for travel in special buses/Shramik special trains amongst the migrant workers and persuade/counsel them that they should not be walking when they can travel in buses/trains, he said in the letter.

Bhalla said that with the cooperation of states/UTs, the Railways Ministry is running more than 100 Shramik special trains per day and is ready to arrange additional trains as per their requirement.
The signs have been there all along. The government has been slowly trying to offer a wider role to the private sector in many areas which were, till now, believed to be the sole domain of public sector enterprises (PSEs). Take coal mining, where the government has finished the historical monopoly of Coal India. Or smaller airports, which have seen rapid passenger growth but have been unable to take advantage of this due to parent Airports Authority of India (AAI) and its constraints. They are now being offered to private operators, with terms which are different from the conditions under which the large ones like Delhi and Mumbai operate.

Even train travel, which has always been seen as a public service with subsidized fares, but is now beginning to witness privatization. The Indian Railways plans to offer some trains to private parties and this would mean only limited fare concession options may be available to passengers.

Does increasing role of private parties necessarily bring in efficiencies of scale, does it improve service standards as a thumb rule and will it be a panacea for the economic crisis engulfing India as the Covid19 pandemic rages on? Also, how successful has this government been in its first term in achieving disinvestment targets and will it be comparatively keener to pursue the targets now onwards?

These were some of the questions which came to mind as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced this morning that the government would be coming out with a Public Sector Enterprises policy. Later, a statement said this policy will include a list of strategic sectors requiring presence of PSEs in public interest. In strategic sectors, at least one enterprise will remain in the public sector but private sector will also be allowed. In other sectors, PSEs will be privatised.

Also, the number of enterprises in strategic sectors will be capped at four and others will be privatised/ merged/ brought under holding companies. So in effect, what the government has outlined today is intent to allow private participation in all sectors.

Privatisation or opening up a sector to private participation has not always lead to bountiful gains. Take the case of telecom and aviation sectors, where the public companies - Air India and BSNL/MTNL - gradually ceded control as multiple private operators entered and prospered over the years. Of course, service standards and the bouquet of services on offer improved, country wide penetration of airline and telecom services also improved vastly because of private enterprise. And the public sector enterprises in both these sectors went from being profitable market leaders to massive loss makers, operating at the margins of the industry.

But today, both telecom and civil aviation sectors are in deep financial trouble (even before Covid hit airline operations) due to skewed tariff policies and some historic baggage. And the abundance of private operators has done little for the viability of either sector. Not just the public sector companies in each, now even some private operators are seeking government concessions.

Not surprisingly, the Opposition criticized the governments move to restrict the role of public sector almost immediately after the FMs announcements, with CPI(M) and the Congress calling into question the governments motives.

CPIMs Sitaram Yechury tweeted: More avenues for loot to his Cronies, foreign & domestic corporates is Modi and his govts best Covid cure! What has whittling down the public sector, even in notified strategic areas, got to do with the Covid crisis? (sic)

And Congress Jairam Ramesh said: The public sector built India. It made India strong and self-reliant. Now in the name of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', Modi-style, the public sector is being taken to the shamshaan ghat.

The public sector may have lost much of its relevance in public discourse over the years but it continues to have a sizeable presence. As per the Public Sector Enterprises Survey 2018-19, 249 central PSEs were operational till March 2019 in five broad sectors. These CPSEs employed over 15 lakh people and paid the government a neat Rs 3.69 lakh crore in various levies in 2018-19. Whats even more surprising is that this amount was higher by nearly Rs 1010 crore compared to the payment in the immediately previous fiscal  so government earnings from CPSEs increased.

This survey noted that CPSEs are key and strategic actors in the nations economy: and hold dominant market share in sectors such as Petroleum, Crude Oil, Coal, Power, Steel and Mining.

Of course, they were also simultaneously and increasingly under competitive pressure. A large number of CPSEs were set up as greenfield projects but some, such as the National Textile Corporation, British India Corporation, Andrew Yule & Company, Coal India etc. came up after private companies were nationalized. And some like Hindustan Zinc, Maruti Udyog, Balco etc. were privatized when private players took over their operations.

Still, many PSE stalwarts remain market leaders. SBI is Indias largest bank; LIC remains the market leader in life insurance; Coal India is the worlds largest coal company and so on. The Indian Railways transports nearly 23 million people every single day across its vast network, among the largest anywhere in the world. So PSEs may have not lost all relevance.

D K Srivastava, Chief Policy Advisor at EY, said that a policy on PSEs should be finalized in consultation with states since there were a large number of state level PSEs.

The choice of sectors earmarked as PSEs would depend on their strategic importance.The policy of limiting the number of PSEs in one sector to a maximum of four may prove to be an uphill task since at present, there are many sectors where the number of CPSEs is quite large. There are 43 CPSEs in technical consultancy services, 36 in heavy and medium engineering sector and 23 in transport and logistics. Other than defence, space and nuclear energy, there may not be any need to continue to have a PSE. But, it is best to let this policy of exiting from PSEs evolve at a gradual pace.

The view that government should exit all except limited number of sectors considered strategic is fine, as long as the exit strategy also makes economic sense. Besides, the handing over to the private sector has not always lead to improvement in parameters. Also, there is the matter of the lakhs employed by PSEs and what to do with such a large workforce, especially after the Covid19 induced unemployment.

Assertions of lessening dependence on PSEs notwithstanding, the government has had limited success at best on the disinvestment front. For 2020-21, the target is an ambitious Rs 2.1 lakh crore, a three-fold increase over the revised estimates for 2019-20 at Rs 65,000 crore. This was against Budget Estimates of 2019-20 of Rs 1.05 lakh crore. The big ticket deals, such as Air India and BPCL disinvestments, anyway appear to be stuck now due to the pandemic and the devastating effect it has had on business sentiment. The government has already gone back on its own assertion of privatizing the loss makers BSNL and MTNL.
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Lockdown weary New Yorkers headed to city parks and boardwalks Sunday - but were warned beaches in the Big Apple will not be open for Memorial Day weekend.

As the weather heats up, more and more residents are flocking to public spaces and familiar haunts for a sense of normalcy after spending most of the last two months cooped up inside.

But pictures show those out and about are not always policing themselves in terms of social distancing, and Mayor Bill de Blasio said opening the city's strands 'is not the right thing to do in the epicenter of this crisis.'

He also pledged to clampdown on people hanging out around bars in the city.

The city's beaches could be closed off completely to public access if people don't follow social distancing rules, de Blasio said Sunday.

Fences being installed at entrances could be rolled out if beaches  meant now only for nearby residents to exercise  get overcrowded or people violate swimming bans, he said.

The mayor did say beaches could open for wider use sometime in the summer, with lifeguard training over the next few weeks for a possible return to duty.

New York City Mounted Police patrol Central Park's Sheep Meadow in New York on Sunday. Lockdown weary New Yorkers headed to city parks and boardwalks Sunday - but were warned beaches in the Big Apple will not be open for Memorial Day

Orchard Beach in the Bronx borough of New York, Sunday: Parks, boardwalks and beaches attracted some crowds this weekend, though city beaches aren't officially open and won't be for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend

People exit Central Park, Manhattan on Sunday: As the weather heats up, more and more residents are flocking to public spaces and familiar haunts for a sense of normalcy after spending most of the last two months cooped up inside

With temperatures rising and 'quarantine fatigue' kicking in, medical experts fear there may be an uptick in COVID-19 cases as people head outdoors more frequently.

Officials are now trying to invent new ways to implement crowd control to stop potential outbreaks. On Sunday law enforcement helped to hand out 7.5 million free face coverings across the five boroughs.

After giving updates about the coronavirus in the city, de Blasio addressed questions about beaches reopening in the city.

'There's obviously a huge interest in the beaches and the state of New York has said that different localities can make different choices and some are deciding in the metropolitan area to open beaches for Memorial Day - the traditional start of the beach season.

'I've said before and I'll say it again. We are not opening our beaches on Memorial Day. It is not safe. It is not the right thing to do in the epicenter of this crisis.'

New York City was declared the epicenter for the virus in the United States mid-March. There are more than 190,000 confirmed cases of the virus with at least 15,888 confirmed deaths and 4,832 probable deaths.

Central Park, Manhattan: eople wearing protective masks walk their bicycles past a social distancing sign reading "KEEP THIS FAR APART" at Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park on Sunday

Orchard Beach in the Bronx borough of New York, Sunday: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city's beaches could be closed off completely to public access if people don't follow social distancing rules

Mayor Bill de Blasio said opening the city's strands 'is not the right thing to do in the epicenter of this crisis'

De Blasio said city officials are going to be 'very smart and careful' about reopening and will continue to watch indicators, which don't 'have us where we need to be yet'.

'After all of the progress we've made fighting back this disease, we're not taking that chance,' he added.

The mayor said he hasn't ruled out beaches reopening later in the summer.

De Blasio said walking on beaches is permitted, but if people start to swim or defy social distancing guidelines then the city will take more drastic measures and put fencing in place to keep people out.

During his Sunday morning press conference, de Blasio also addressed reports of people hanging out around bars in the city.

'The bars are a different matter,' de Blasio said, referring to multiple reports that people were gathering on sidewalks and drinking Saturday night on the Upper East Side.

'I'm not comfortable at all with people congregating outside bars. It's the same rule.

'If you start to form groups of people and then 2, 3, 5 and it becomes 6, it becomes 10, it becomes 15, that violates what we're saying about social distancing and that puts lives in danger.'

'We are not going to tolerate people starting to congregate. It's as simple as that,' de Blasio said, adding that more officers will be sent to the Upper East Side to patrol the area.

On Friday, Gov Andrew Cuomo announced that New York state beaches will be open for Memorial Day Weekend.

Local agencies can decide not to open them, but if they choose to they must meet Cuomo's guidelines.

People adhere to social distancing guidelines in Central Park in New York on Sunday

A security guards asks people to not swim while patrolling at Orchard Beach in the Bronx borough of New York, Sunday

Officials are now trying to invent new ways to implement crowd control to stop potential outbreaks

Brooklyn Bridge Park, Sunday: Law enforcement helped to hand out 7.5 million free face coverings across the five boroughs

The decision was made in coordination with New Jersey and Connecticut, which previously announced May 22 reopenings for their beaches.

He said on Friday that he had to do the same for New York to avoid people from the state flocking to New Jersey or Connecticut's shores and potentially sparking another outbreak.

Half the normal amount of people will be allowed on to the beaches and it will be enforced at parking lots. People must stay 6ft apart and if they are unable to, they must wear masks.

Cuomo has extended the stay-at-home order until June 13 but regions are likely to meet reopening requirements before then.

While the beaches will reopen, concession stands will not be open to avoid people lining up for food and drinks, Cuomo said.

A security guards patrols Orchard Beach, primarily to keep people out of the water, in the Bronx borough of New York, Sunday

Circle of gloom? Sunbathers stay within painted zones in Domino Park, Brooklyn on Sunday

People are seen practising social distancing in white circles in Domino Park, Brooklyn on Sunday

Sun-seekers were expected to stay inside the large circles - dubbed human parking spots - which were sprayed six feet apart

Managers at one New York City park have painted white circles on the grass in a bid to enforce social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On Friday, sun-seekers arrived at Domino Park in Brooklyn to find that they were unable to lay out where ever they wanted.

Instead, they were expected to stay inside the large circles - dubbed human parking spots - which were sprayed six feet apart from one another.

On Sunday Cuomo received a test in order to demonstrate how 'easy' and 'fast' it is to get one done because New Yorkers are not getting tested.

'The new problem is we have more sites and more testing capacity than we're using. We have drive-thru sites that can do about 15,000 [tests] per day. We're doing about 5,000 per day,' Cuomo said.
When you think of American cars, the Ford Mustang is among the first that comes into mind. Its been around since 1964 and went through six generations that spawned all sorts of models and trims. It debuted as an affordable sports car and it quickly evolved into a powerful muscle car. It then became a not-so-powerful compact and switched to turbocharged performance in the 1980s. It rebound as a muscle car in the 1990s and became a full-fledged sports coupe in the 2010s. It comes with an incredibly vast history and its one of Americas greatest automotive legends. But what are the best Mustang models ever built? Lets find out from the 13-model list below.

1964 1/2 Ford Mustang

This first entry is a bit more generic. Its dedicated to the primordial Mustang, the model that started it all. Introduced four months before the normal start of the 1965 model year, the early Mustang featured VIN numbers for 1965, but its known as the 1964 1/2 model. Upon its release, the Mustang gained favorable publicity in almost 3,000 newspapers and went on to become a big hit by the end of 1964. Although Ford projected sales of 100,000 units for the first year, the Mustang was sold in more than 300,000 examples. In 1966, Ford had already built its millionth Mustang. From this standpoint, I think that the primordial Ford Mustang deserves a place at the top of this "best Mustang" list.

1964 1/2 Ford Mustang specifications Engine: 2.8-liter inline-six Horsepower: 101 horsepower Torque: 156 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 13.5 seconds Top speed: 96 mph Units built: 126,500

Ford quickly noticed a demand for higher performance versions of the Mustang so it teamed up with Carroll Shelby to create a lighter, no-frills, and more powerful variant of the Mustang.

Delivered from the San Jose Assembly Plant to Carroll Shelbys shop, the 1965 GT350 featured extensive modifications. Although the exterior wasnt significantly different from the regular Mustang, the special stripes set it apart.

However, the interior came with a rear-seat delete, while the standard 4.7-liter V-8 engine was fitted with a large Holley carburetor to increase power from 271 to 306 horses. All cars produced for the 1965 model year were painted Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue stripes. For 1966, the GT350 was diluted with rear standard rear seats and non-white colors.

1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 specifications Engine: 4.7-liter V-8 Horsepower: 306 horsepower Torque: 329 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 6.8 seconds Top speed: 120 mph Units built: 562

Read our full review on the 1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350

In 1967, Shelby took things up a notch with the GT500. This pony featured a bigger engine in the form of a 7.0-liter V-8, but this wasnt the only feature that set it apart from the GT350. While the GT350 was more of a no-nonsense, track-ready car, the GT500 came with plenty of comfort features. It was far more comfortable for daily driving and it was also heavier. The V-8 was a Police interceptor unit fitted with an aluminum intake and 2x4-barrel Holley carburetors and produced a whopping 355 horsepower. Although it was heavier than the GT350, the GT500 still employed a range of weight-saving features, like fiberglass front fenders and hood, deck lid, quarter panel extension, and side scoops. The GT500 lived on until 1969 and then returned in the modern era on the fifth- and sixth-generation cars.

1967 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 specifications Engine: 7.0-liter V-8 Horsepower: 355 horsepower Torque: 420 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 6.5 seconds Top speed: 120 mph Units built: 2,048

Read our full review on the 1967 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500

1968 Ford Mustang California Special

In 1968 auto dealers from California convinced Ford to create a special version of the Mustang specifically for the sunny state. It was called the California Special and even though it was based on the GT, it had plenty of special features inside and out. A hybrid between the Mustang GT and a Shelby design-wise, the California Special looked sportier that the regular Stang. The CS was developed alongside other Shelby models in 1968 so it featured some fiberglass body components and hood pins, side scoops, and rear spoiler seen on many of Carrolls performance-oriented models.

It was also fitted with rectangular fog lamps up front and Thunderbird taillights in the rear. Ford also added side stripes with "GT/CS" logos, as well as a rear deck lid stripe, both available in either white, black, red, or metallic blue. The California Special was made available in all standard Mustang colors, but red became the popular choice.

These cars are highly sough-after nowadays and can fetch in excess of $200,000 at public auctions.

Ford planned a production run of 5,000 units, but only 4,118 were made, include 251 that were rebranded in Colorado as the High Country Special. Ford offered all engine options available that year, but most CS models were fitted with the 4.7-liter V-8.

1968 Ford Mustang California Special specifications Engine: 4.7-liter V-8 Horsepower: 195 horsepower Torque: 288 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 8.5 seconds Top speed: 115 mph Units built: 4,118

Shelby models were still available in 1969, but Ford rolled out more performance models through the Boss trim. Just like the Shelby GT series, the Boss came in two versions. There was the Boss 302, created to meet Trans Am rules, and the Boss 429, introduced to homologate a new engine for NASCAR use. The latter was fitted with the most powerful engine Ford had built by then. The four-barrel Boss engine displaced 7.0 liters and was capable of 375 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. It was a tad more powerful than the Cobra Jet and almost 100 horses more potent than the smaller 4.9-liter V-8 in the Boss 302. Styling-wise, the Boss 429 was even more aggressive than the Shelby GT500. It featured a big splitter below the front bumper, a massive scoop on the hood, and vents in the rear fenders. Well preserved models can fetch as much as $500,000 nowadays.

1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 specifications Engine: 7.0-liter V-8 Horsepower: 370 horsepower Torque: 450 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 6.5 seconds Top speed: 140 mph Units built: 869

Read our full review on the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429

The Mustang Mach 1 was introduced in 1969, but Im picking the 1971 model because I think that the Mach 1 package looks better on the redesigned version of the first-generation muscle car. The 1971 model year saw a heavy facelift applied to the Mustang, one that introduced a fastback body style, a more angular front end, a more aggressive stance overall, and a longer and wider body. Although Ford reduced the amount of unique features it offered with the Mach 1, this trim still came with body-colored bumpers, stripes on the sides and the front hood, honeycomb grilles, and a sportier suspension.

The Mach 1 was available with four engine options, including the mad 7.0-liter V-8 Cobra Jet. You could even order a Drag Pack to turn the mill into a Super Cobra Jet by means of a solid lifter cam, Holley 780 carbs, and a rotating assembly with forged pistons.

1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 specifications Engine: 7.0-liter V-8 Horsepower: 370 horsepower Torque: 450 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 5.9 seconds Top speed: 152 mph Units built: 36,499

Read our full review on the 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1

1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra

The second-generation Mustang arrived in 1974 as a completely different car, with many changes dictated by the oil crisis. Smaller and significantly less powerful, the Mustang II is now viewed as the least appealing pony car wearing the badge. But it was actually all that bad. Sure, low power was an issue, but the Mustang II was actually pretty popular with yearly sales from 1974 to 1978 having surpasses those from 1969 to 1973. When it comes to the best Mustang trim of this era, Id go with the King Cobra. Unveiled for 1978, the Mustang IIs final year on the market, it looked like a full-fledged muscle car. The big splitter, the rear wing, the bulged hood, and the stripes made it look mean and worthy of the Mustang name. The 4.9-liter V-8 under the hood wasnt exactly inspiring at 133 horsepower, but a 0-to-60 mph sprint of 10 seconds wasnt bad for the era.

1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra specifications Engine: 4.9-liter V-8 Horsepower: 133 horsepower Torque: 243 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 10 seconds Top speed: 104 mph Units built: 4,313

1984 Ford Mustang SVO

The third-generation Mustang was also a victim of times due to emission and performance regulations, but things started to get better in the 1980s. It happened in 1984, when Ford gave the turbocharged four-cylinder engine it was already using in the standard Mustang a makeover for a model called the SVO. It arrived with 175 horsepower on tap, but output increased to 205 horses in 1985. On top of the more powerful engine, the SVO also featured upgraded suspension, brakes, and steering, a limited-slip differential, and a more aerodynamic body. Granted, it was nowhere near as powerful or appealing as a muscle car era Mustang, but it was the best pony you could buy at the time. The SVO paved the way to the SVT Cobra model that Ford launched in the 1990s.

1984 Ford Mustang SVO specifications Engine: turbocharged, 2.3-liter four-cylinder Horsepower: 205 horsepower Torque: 248 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 6.8 seconds Top speed: 144 mph Units built: 9,835

1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R

Production of the third-gen Mustang was scheduled to end after the 1993 model year, but Ford decided to roll out a new performance model to end it all.

Built by the company's newly established SVT division, the Mustang SVT Cobra broke cover in 1992 with a beefed-up 5.0-liter V-8 engine.

The run also included a more aggressive model called the Cobra R. The "R" designation stood for "Race" and deleted various components to make the car lights. The Cobra R didnt have a radio, speakers, wiring and antenna, air conditioner, fog lights, rear seats, and no power options. It also featured bigger brakes, a stiffer chassis, Eibach springs and adjustable Koni shocks and struts. The V-8 engine was rated at 235 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque and pushed the SVT Cobra R from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds. A race-ready coupe, the SVT Cobra R was built in just 107 units, all finished in red.

1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R specifications Engine: 5.0-liter V-8 Horsepower: 235 horsepower Torque: 280 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 5.7 seconds Top speed: 140 mph Units built: 107

The success of the 1993 SVT Cobra prompted Ford to continue production in 1994 when the redesigned, SN-95 Mustang arrived. A new Cobra R was also introduced in 1995. But its the 2000 model that really stands out. The facelifted fourth-generation Mustang looks far more aggressive than the original SN-95 and Ford had updated the drivetrain for this version. Built in just 300 units, the Cobra R came with a 5.4-liter V-8 rated at an impressive 385 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. A race car for public roads, the 2000 Cobra R was fitted with a more aerodynamic body with wider fenders, Bilstein shocks and struts, Brembo brakes, and a hydro-mechanical differential. The Cobra R also included parts from Recaro, Eibach, BF Goodrich, Borla, Tremec, and Dana, all giving the coupe tremendous track capability.

2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R specifications Engine: 5.4-liter V-8 Horsepower: 385 horsepower Torque: 385 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 4.4 seconds Top speed: 177 mph Units built: 300

Read our full review on the 2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R

Steve McQueen turned the Mustang Bullitt into a legend back in the late 1960s.

Ford took advantage of this for the first time in 2008, when it launched a fifth-generation Mustang with features inspired by the car that McQueen drove in the movie. Available in Highland Green or black, the Mustang Bullitt was devoid of the usual GT badges, but also came with a spoiler delete and a unique Bullitt gas cap. The unique pony-less grille, the 18-inch gray wheels, and larger exhaust pipes rounded off the package. The 4.6-liter V-8 engine came from the Mustang GT, but the suspension was stiffer and the rear axle had different ratio. The Bullitt Mustang returned in 2019 on the sixth-generation model, but the 2008 model remains the first authentic tribute car that generated the most hype.

2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt specifications Engine: 4.6-liter V-8 Horsepower: 315 horsepower Torque: 325 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 5.0 seconds Top speed: 140 mph Units built: 5,808

Read our full review on the 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt

2012 saw the return of the iconic Boss 302 badge on the fifth-generation Mustang. The package included a more powerful V-8 engine and various updates for improved performance. The Boss 302 also borrowed the aerodynamic package of the Boss 302R race car, so it looked unique compared to other Stangs from the era. The 302 Laguna Seca was a further upgrade to the Boss 302. Ford basically moved it even closer to the race car by adding Recaro seats, a limited-slip differential, stiffer suspension and a larger rear wing. Ford also removed the rear seats to add an x-brace to increase structural rigidity and added performance tires and racing brake ducts.

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca specifications Engine: 5.0-liter V-8 Horsepower: 440 horsepower Torque: 380 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 4.6 seconds Top speed: 146 mph Units built: 1,500

Read our full review on the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca

The sixth-generation Mustang also deserves a place on this list. After all, its the most modern Mustang available and the fact that Ford ditches the live rear axle makes it the most agile pony to date. Im going with the Shelby GT500 because its basically the ultimate sixth-generation Mustang.

It looks decidedly aggressive thanks to its massive vents and race-inspired side skirts and rear wing, but also because it's powered by an amazing engine.

The supercharged, 5.2-liter V-8 cranks out a whopping 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque, pushing it to 60 mph in around 3.5 seconds and toward a top speed of 180 mph. Production is limited to 5,000 units.

2020 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 specifications Engine: supercharged, 5.2-liter V-8 Horsepower: 760 horsepower Torque: 625 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds Top speed: 180 mph Units built: 5,000

Read our full review on the 2020 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500

Ford Mustang Q&A

Which Mustang is the best Mustang?

Well, thats a tough question because it depending on so many things. Do you like classic or modern? Are you a fan of race-ready or daily drivers? Do you like sleepers or Mustangs that have "performance" written all over them? Ford built a long list of cool Mustang models that can be considered the best. Its actually why I put this 13-model list together. I think these are the best Mustangs ever built. However, if I were to pick just one, Id go with the 1964 1/2 model. Its the car that started it all. We wouldnt be here without that specific Mustang.

What is the best selling Ford Mustang?

The first-generation model is the best-selling Mustang to date. Sold for almost 10 years with various facelifts and upgrades, the first-gen Mustang was immensely popular and Ford moved no fewer than 2.98 million units. The third-gen model comes second with 2.61 million examples sold in 14 years on the market.

No other generation managed to hit the two-million mark. The fourth-gen moved 1.6 million units, while the second-gen sold 1.1 million examples. The fifth-gen Mustang didnt hit one million at around 925,000 units, while the current sixth-gen Mustang was sold in almost 560,000 examples as of May 2020.

What is the best model year of Mustang?

1966 was the best year for the Mustang, when Ford sold no fewer than 607,500 units. Thats more than the sales of the sixth-generation Mustang (2014 to 2020) combined. 1965 was almost as good with 559,500 units delivered. In third place comes 1967 with 472,000 examples. No other model year has hit the 400,000-unit mark since then.

When it comes to best selling years of each generation, the Mustang II hit its peak in 1974 with 386,000 units. The third-gen model sold 370,000 in 1979, its first year on the market. The fourth-generation pony set its record in 2000, when the facelift model moved 215,500 units. The fifth-gen Mustang peaked at 166,500 in 2006, while the sixth-gen model had its best year in 2015 with 122,349 examples sold.

Whats special about the Ford Mustang?

The Mustang is one of the most iconic cars built in America. It hit the market as an affordable, easy-to-maintain vehicle that was also powerful and fast. It quickly evolved into a performance benchmark during the muscle car era and it managed to survive the oil crisis and other automotive challenges from the 1970s and 1980s. Unlike its main rivals, it remained in production continuously and while sales have dropped in recent decades, it remains a desirable car and a symbol of American performance and engineering.

Why do Ford Mustangs always crash?

Well, they dont always crash, but Mustangs have a bad reputation for crashing into curbs or into crowds during car events. But thats only because some Mustang drivers are reckless and tend to show off a bit too much. No Mustang will crash if you handle it properly.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 21:26:45|Editor: huaxia

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TAIPEI, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan has recorded no new novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients for 10 days, the island's epidemic monitoring agency said Sunday.

The total number of COVID-19 cases remained at 440, while 395 of them have recovered with seven deaths, the agency said in a press release.

The agency reiterated the necessity of maintaining social distance, wearing face masks and sterilizing hands properly despite the easing epidemic.

It noted that the authorities are considering resuming the operation of night clubs and pubs, provided that they implement appropriate crowd control and sanitation measures.

Some local authorities have gradually eased epidemic control measures. The ferry service between Penghu County and Kaohsiung will increase from one return trip a week to three a week from June.

Tainan city has allowed one night club to resume business while Taipei will reopen community centers and small gathering spaces holding crowds of less than 50 from May 18.

Earlier this week, Chiayi County also removed the compulsory requirement to wear face masks at schools and public institutions. Enditem
Seen above is headquarters of Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance in Seoul. The company reported the biggest growth in the first-quarter earnings among non-life insurers here. Courtesy of Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance



By Lee Min-hyung



The nation's non-life insurers reported brisker-than-expected earnings in the first quarter despite the global pandemic. But most life insurance firms ended up falling victim to the economic impact from the spread of the virus reporting a steep drop in net profits.



The first-quarter earnings of Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance was most noteworthy, with the company reporting a 107.6 billion won net profit, up 63.6 percent from the previous year. The earnings surprise surpassed the previous market consensus of 72.2 billion won by a huge margin.



Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance also reported 89.6 billion won in the first-quarter net profit, up 16 percent from a year ago. The stock price of the Hyundai affiliate closed at 26,700 won, up 2.1 percent from the previous day Friday.



The earnings growth of major non-life insurers here comes as the pandemic spread improved profitability of their car insurance business, as the virus-induced social distancing campaign kept many people off the roads.



Brokerage houses remained optimistic for non-life insurers' near-term growth due to COVID-19.



"The spread of the coronavirus is speeding up a momentum to improve the firm's loss ratio," Samsung Securities analyst Jeong Min-gi said.



Major non-life insurers here suffered earnings setbacks in 2019, as their core businesses  such as auto insurance  ended up increasing their loss ratios.



Their business outlook in 2020 was murky, as no outstanding breakthrough was expected due to the toughening market environment.



But with COVID-19 escalating into a global pandemic, they became unexpected beneficiaries of the virus-driven economic downturn here.



KB Insurance, one of the nation's top-five non-life insurers, also reported growth in its first-quarter net profit, reporting 77.2 billion won, a gain of 2.5 percent from the previous year. DB Insurance also reported whopping growth of 38.7 percent with a net profit of 137.6 billion won.



But Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance ended up reporting an earnings decline during the same period. The company posted 164 billion won in net profit, down 28.9 percent, due to one-off spending as a result of a large fire at a chemical factory.



Contrary to non-life insurers, most life insurers here were hit hard by the aftermath of the virus shock.



Samsung Life Insurance, the nation's largest, reported a 256.5 billion won first-quarter net profit, a steep decline of 45.4 percent.



This was attributable to widening losses in their variable insurance business, as the coronavirus shock resulted in the collapse of the local stock market.



Shinhan Life Insurance and Orange Life Insurance also released disappointing earnings reports during the first three months of 2020.



The Shinhan affiliate reported 39.7 billion won, down 26.3 percent. Things were similar for Orange Life whose net profit came in at 59.5 billion won, a drop of 25.9 percent. The scale of earnings decline was more serious for KB Life Insurance whose net profit only reached 5.9 billion won, down 35.2 percent from 2019.



But Hanwha Life Insurance and Mirae Asset Life Insurance defended well against virus-related shocks.



The life insurance arm of Hanwha Group reported a 47.8 billion won first-quarter net profit, a slight gain of 2.7 percent from the previous year. This was an outstanding turnaround from the firm's earnings shock in 2019 when its net profit declined by 68 percent year-on-year.



Mirae Asset Life Insurance also succeeded in generating decent a earnings report in the first quarter when the firm chalked up 30.3 billion won in net profit, up 25.3 percent. The company said.



The company's term insurance business  which guarantees high returns  offset operating loss from the coronavirus, the firm said.




In 1997, while investigating what makes a great public high school, I stumbled across an interesting - I would say disturbing - situation on a pleasant cul-de-sac called Summit Avenue in suburban New York. Two nearly identical Dutch colonials sat side by side, yet one was valued at $540,000 and the other $350,000.

Everyone on that block knew why. Anyone who has ever shopped for a home can guess the reason. The two houses shared a prestigious line on their return address stickers: Bronxville, New York 10708. But the lower-priced was in the Tuckahoe school district, where about a quarter of the students were from low-income families. The higher-priced was in the Bronxville school district, with the number of low-income families close to zero.

This situation has not changed much since. The richest communities have the most desirable schools, thus the most valuable real estate. Tim DeRoche's new book "A Fine Line: How Most American Kids Are Kept Out of the Best Public Schools" makes that clear.

But DeRoche and other experts have begun to illuminate ways that those with average or below-average incomes might enroll their children in such prized institutions, if policymakers used their imaginations.

DeRoche cited a 1992 concurring opinion by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in the Freeman v. Pitts desegregation case. Scalia imagined an education system "in which parents are free to disregard neighborhood-school assignment, and to send their children (with transportation paid) to whichever school they choose."

The justice made the suggestion just before the charter school movement began to blossom into what is now 3 million children attending public schools their parents choose. They may have to win a randomized lottery to get into an oversubscribed charter, but DeRoche said that was an improvement over the past. So why not have lotteries for all schools in a district, charter or otherwise?

"All the residents of a district deserve an equal opportunity to enroll in the best schools in the district," DeRoche said. "The results may seem frustrating or even tragic. But a lottery gives every district family a fair chance - an equal opportunity - to enroll their child in a coveted school that could dramatically change her life trajectory."

Such ideas are often unpopular with teachers unions, who oppose nonunion charters. Some school boards see lotteries as hard to administer. Also, DeRoche's idea would not have equalized the two houses on Summit Avenue, since each was in a different district.

DeRoche proposed that states adopt the language of a 1987 California law that ended geographic assignment for one kind of school. It mandated "the unrestricted enrollment and attendance of students in community colleges, thereby providing each resident of the state an equal opportunity to attend the community college of his or her choice."

Richard D. Kahlenberg is a senior fellow at the Century Foundation in Washington and a leading advocate of increasing racial and economic diversity in public schools. He said random lotteries don't do enough to give low-income children more access to good schools.

He favors programs like the system for elementary and middle school choice in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which weights a lottery to provide a more even mix of low-income and middle-class children in each school. He also likes the enrollment system he helped design for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, magnet schools. It seeks a mix of low, medium and high socioeconomic status families on each campus.

An approach that has impressed many advocates of school choice, including me, is the My School D.C. enrollment system, which is used to match family preferences with nearly all public traditional and charter schools in Washington. Thomas Toch, director of FutureEd, an independent think tank at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy, explained in The Washington Post Magazine in 2019 how the system grew from discussions between D.C. schools chancellor Kaya Henderson, D.C. Public Charter School Board Scott Pearson and a Nobel-winning economist named Alvin Roth.

In 1995, Roth wrote a mathematical algorithm that improved the efficiency of the system for matching medical school graduates with hospital residencies. Roth similarly helped New York City rewrite its dysfunctional high school enrollment system. Henderson was rare among school district leaders in supporting charter schools. So she endorsed, along with deputy mayor for education Abigail Smith, throwing both regular and charter schools into a big bowl and letting Roth match family preferences and school slots for nearly everybody.

Toch said he was surprised that the D.C. scramble for seats before Roth got involved vexed charter schools as much as regular ones, and their parents. "Common lotteries greatly reduce the problem," he told me.

Realtors still print colorful brochures noting how many more students attend the Ivy League from one high school compared to others. Big price differences still characterize neighborhoods like Summit Avenue. But the rise of charters, nonselective magnet schools and clever algorithms have scrambled preferences enough to give families more freedom of choice, if the politicians in charge will let them have it.
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has revealed his counterpart in China is not returning his calls amid major trade tensions over beef and barley and has warned Australian businesses may now consider China too risky.

China has threatened to put big tariffs on Australia's barley exports, after an anti-dumping investigation, and has already blocked beef imports from four major abattoirs. China's Ambassador to Australia has warned there could be further problems for the export sector, with Chinese consumers shunning Australian imports if the federal government continues to call for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Birmingham said on ABC Insiders on Sunday morning that the Ambassador's comments were "unhelpful" and the Chinese government has told Australian authorities these are "long-standing issues ... regulatory trade matters".

He said the government had lodged a comprehensive response in Beijing to claims of dumping barley in the Chinese market, backed with more than 10,000 pages of evidence.
belmont park barber shop

Dashiell Bennett/Business Insider

A Kingston, New York barber has tested positive for the coronavirus after giving haircuts while in defiance of the state's PAUSE order over the past few weeks, CNN reported.

The Kingston barbershop had defied New York's statewide closure of nonessential businesses to continue operating, a move Ulster County health commissioner Dr. Carol Smith called "extraordinarily disheartening," according to a public health statement.

While Ulster County and other parts of New York have entered Phase One of the state's reopening plan, barbershops and hair salons are not expected to be allowed to reopen until Phase Two.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A barber in Kingston, New York has tested positive for the coronavirus after their barbershop stayed open over the last few weeks as other non-essential businesses remained closed, CNN reported.

An Ulster County public health notice announced the barber's diagnosis on May 13. The barber, according to the report, had been giving haircuts despite New York's statewide closure of nonessential businesses, including barbershops and hair salons.

Ulster County health commissioner Dr. Carol Smith said in a public health notice that learning of the barbershop's illegal activities while having a COVID-19-positive employee was "extraordinarily disheartening."

"As much as we would all like to go out and get a professional haircut, this kind of direct contact has the potential to dramatically spread this virus throughout our community and beyond," Smith said in the statement.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced an extension of the "New York Pause" order on Friday. New York Pause was originally set to expire on May 28, and now will expire on June 13. The state will continue following a phased reopening strategy. Ulster County is in Phase One of reopening, which allows the reopening of construction, agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and retail limited to curbside or in-store pickup. Barbershops and salons are expected to be allowed to reopen in Phase Two.

If you have received a haircut in a Kingston barbershop in the last three weeks, please contact your doctor for testing or call the Ulster County COVID-19 hotline at (845) 443-8888.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Congress on Sunday accused the government of misleading people in the name of an economic package and said the measures announced by the Centre amounted to only 1.6 per cent of India's GDP, i.e. worth Rs 3.22 lakh crore instead of Rs 20 lakh crore as claimed by the Prime Minister.

IMAGE: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman leaves after announcing the fifth and final tranche of economic stimulus package during a press conference, at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, on Sunday. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo

Congress' senior spokesperson Anand Sharma Sharma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must 'walk the talk' and announce the measures required by giving money in the hands of the poor and small and medium enterprises to help reboot the economy.

He noted that there was a difference between providing stimulus to the economy and merely giving loans and credit to people.

Sharma, a former union minister, challenged the finance minister for a debate on the package while raising questions about the announcements made by the prime minister.

"The government's economic package is only of Rs 3.22 lakh crore and is only 1.6 per cent of India's GDP and is not worth Rs 20 lakh crore as announced by the prime minister," Sharma said while addressing a press conference through video conferencing.

"I am questioning the Finance Minister, disputing the announcement of Prime Minister and challenging the government to disprove me on the numbers given by me and am ready for a debate with the finance minister," he said.

The Congress leader further said the Finance Minister should answer questions and not ask questions instead. He also demanded that the government provide answers to the country on the plight of migrants forced to walk on roads due to lack of planning on the part of the central government.

Sharma hit back at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her attack on the opposition party and termed it as 'frivolous', saying the country expects some seriousness and gravitas from the finance minister.

He also asked the government to apologise to the poor citizens of the country who have been abandoned and their fundamental rights and legal rights violated.

*****

Allocation of additional funds exposes BJP claim about MGNREGA: Cong

With the Centre sanctioning additional funds for job creation under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the Uttar Pradeh Congress on Sunday said the Bharatiya Janata Party has been exposed about its claim regarding the scheme, once dubbed as a 'living monument' of poverty by PM Narendra Modi.

If the scheme was an epitome of corruption', then why is it being implemented now and additional funds allocated, UP Congress spokesperson Ashok Singh asked referring to a PM's statement about the scheme in Parliament in 2015.

"Who was telling lies, and who was misleading the country? It is the schemes envisaged by the Congress on which the country is functioning today," Singh said, claiming that the Congress has always been contributing to nation building.

The BJP has been 'effectively exposed', he said.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Centre on Sunday allocated additional Rs 40,000 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme as part of the 20 lakh crore economic stimulus in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken potshots at the Congress in the Lok Sabha while referring to corruption in the scheme and coal block allocations.

The prime minister had said, "Do you think, I will put an end to the scheme. My political wisdom does not allow me to do it. This is a living monument of your failure to tackle poverty in 60 years."

"With song, dance and drum beat, I will continue with the scheme," he had said.

The Congress leader also took a dig at the UP government on Sunday, saying the scheme once flayed by the PM is now needed for job creation in the state.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on May 12 had asked for the creation of 50 lakh jobs per day under the MGNREGS recently, more than double the current numbers.

The mandate of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household, whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Adityanath had said that in view of the coronavirus outbreak, stranded workers are returning to the state, hence, jobs in large numbers are needed.

Countering the Congress attack, UP BJP media co-convenor Navin Srivastava said, "Schemes are made by the governments, and after periodic reviews, the schemes either continue or are scrapped off. The BJP government has strengthened the MGNREGA. We have also increased for the workers."
Theres a fox that trots by around 7:30 a.m., not every day, but just often enough to have us outside by then, coffee mugs in hand, hoping to catch a glimpse. While it doesnt come into our yard  just skirts it, moving west to east  we can see it through the neighbors fence, and we hear the squirrels jeering loudly from the trees.
Police are monitoring 112 'red alert' stalkers of the Royal Family after the number almost doubled since Prince Andrew's disastrous Jeffrey Epstein interview.

London Metropolitan Police have seen a huge increase on the register of people of interest following a year of headlines including Harry and Meghan's exit from Royal duties.

There are four more names on the category of 'high concern' since last year, taking the total number to nine.

Security experts believe the rise has come because of an increase in 'disregard' for the Royal Family amid revelations about the Duke of Yorks friendship with late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Security experts believe the nearly doubled number of 'red alert' stalkers of the Royal Family has happened because of an increase in 'disregard' for the crown following revelations about Prince Andrew's friendship with the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein after an infamous Newsnight interview

Security expert Richard Aitch, who is projects director at Mobius International, said others were angered by the addition of Meghan to the Royal Family.

He said: 'Many of these people could be described as "cranks" and "nutters" and in many ways, although their risk has to be considered, they would to my mind pose a lesser importance to those threats emanating from terrorism.

'The arrival of Meghan on the scene would, I believe, increase the figures somewhat for various reasons and towards the latter part of 2019 the disclosure of the intent to leave Royal duties and move main residence to Canada would also contribute as a major influencing factor on those figures increasing.

'In addition, the Prince Andrew controversy and the strongly critiqued television interview creates an increase in disregard for the Royal Family, that potentially could have dangerous ramifications.'

Security expert Richard Aitch, who is projects director at Mobius International, said others were angered by the addition of Meghan to the Royal Family

The 122 people on the current list are being monitored by the Mets Fixed Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC) which categorises their risk potential, reported The Express.

It is a joint Metropolitan Police and NHS unit comprised of detectives and mental health professionals.

The unit was established in October 2006 in response to evidence that a significant proportion of fixated people are severely and acutely mentally ill and urgently need professional medical help.

Last year a number of royal stalkers with were being tracked ahead of Harry and Meghan's wedding, with more than half were of moderate or high concern.
UK PM warns new ways to control COVID-19 must be used, such as mass testing and tracing contacts of infected people.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says there might never be a vaccine for COVID-19 despite the huge global effort to develop one.

Johnson, who was hospitalised last month with a serious bout of coronavirus, speculated on Sunday that a vaccine may not be developed at all, despite the huge global effort to produce one.

Johnson wrote in the Mail on Sunday newspaper there remains a very long way to go, and I must be frank that a vaccine might not come to fruition.

We need to find new ways to control the virus, including testing people who have symptoms and tracing contacts of those infected people, he said.

The British government is giving 93 million pounds ($110m) in funding to speed up the opening of the new Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre. Johnson said the UK is also supporting research into drug treatments to help people recover quickly from the virus.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said the UK was home to two of the worlds frontrunners to develop a vaccine.

The projects, at Oxford University and Imperial College London, were making good progress at unprecedented speed, he said. But he warned there are no certainties.

We may never find a successful coronavirus vaccine, he said.

The British government relaxed some restrictions on outdoor activities in England last week and plans to continue easing rules over the next few months.

I know this will not be easy  the first baby steps never are, Johnson said.





Calculated risk

Governments worldwide are struggling to restart economies blindsided by the pandemic. With 36 million newly unemployed in the United States alone, economic pressures are building even as authorities acknowledge that reopening risks setting off new waves of infections and deaths.

Pushed hard by Italys regional leaders and weeks in advance of an earlier timetable, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is allowing restaurants, bars and beach facilities to open from Monday, the same day that church services can resume and shops reopen.

Conte said Italy could not afford to wait until a vaccine was developed. Health experts say the world could be months, if not years, away from having a vaccine available to everyone despite the scientific gold rush now on to create one.

We are facing a calculated risk in the awareness  that the epidemiological curve could go back up, Conte said on Saturday. We are confronting this risk and we need to accept it, otherwise we would never be able to relaunch.

Coronavirus has infected 4.6 million people and killed more than 312,000 worldwide, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University that experts say undercounts the true toll of the pandemic. The US has reported 88,000 dead and Europe has seen at least 160,000 deaths.

Hard to judge

In the US, many states have lifted stay-at home-orders and other restrictions, allowing some types of businesses to reopen.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Sunday a full US economic recovery may require a coronavirus vaccine, which may not happen until the end of 2022.





In the long run and even in the medium run, you wouldnt want to bet against the American economy. This economy will recover, Powell said in an excerpt of an interview to be aired in full on CBS.

It may take a while  It could stretch through the end of next year. We really dont know, he added.

US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declined to criticise local leaders amid images of crowded bars and boardwalks in areas where coronavirus restrictions are being lifted.

Azar told CNN in an interview on Sunday: The president has left it up to states to know their local situation the best, and said it is therefore very hard to judge in any community whether a bar being open, a restaurant, a school is the right thing.

I think in any individual instance youre going to see people doing things that are irresponsible. Thats part of the freedom we have here in America, said Azar.

Explosive spread

Dr Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned coronavirus can spread explosively if lockdown restrictions are lifted too quickly.

Thats why we have to be so careful. Were all tired of waiting at home. We want to get out. I want to get back to the gym. We want to get back to our lives, Frieden said.

In Asia, Chinas commercial hub of Shanghai announced a June 2 restart of classes for younger students amid falling virus cases. People in Thailand streamed on Sunday into shopping malls, which have been closed since March.

Chinas airline regulator reported that flights had returned to 60 percent of pre-outbreak levels, exceeding 10,000 per day for the first time since February 1. No new deaths have been reported in a month in the worlds second-largest economy, where the coronavirus was first detected late last year.

China reported just five new cases on Sunday, while South Korea recorded 13, raising hopes that a new outbreak linked to nightclubs in Seoul may be waning, even though 168 patients have been infected so far.
It took more than 30 hours, but Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker finally turned himself in to the Miramar Police in Florida on Saturday morning.

Baker is being held without bond, pending a hearing.

Heres his mugshot, via the Broward County sheriffs office.

Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker turned himself into Florida police on Saturday.Broward County Sheriff's Office

A warrant was issued for Bakers arrest on Thursday night by the Miramar Police Department, with charges of armed robbery with a firearm (four counts) and aggravated assault with a firearm/intent to commit a felony (four counts) stemming from an alleged incident at a party on Wednesday night. All eight counts are listed as pending trial on the Broward County sheriffs office website.

I want to thank the Miramar Police Department for being professional in regards to surrendering and issues with the case, Bradford Cohen, Bakers attorney, wrote on Instagram. We understand the officers can only base warrants on what was told to them at the time.

We have affidavits from several witnesses that also dispute the allegations and exculpate our client," he continued. "Our investigator has had them for some time. We would have rather presented them to the court at the proper time, rather than in the media, but in this day and age, people rush to judgment. Where some seek publicity, we seek justice. I look forward to moving this case forward to a proper conclusion, as we believe our client is innocent of all charges.

According to the arrest warrant, Baker and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar are being sought for their role in allegedly robbing guests at a party in Miramar on Wednesday night, leaving with more than $12,000 in cash and several expensive watches, including an $18,000 Rolex and a $25,000 Hublot watch. According to the arrest warrant, Baker, Dunbar and a third person fled the scene in expensive cars, including a Lamborgini, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Baker also allegedly ordered a third assailant  wearing a red mask  to shoot an individual walking into the room he was in. He didnt shoot, per the warrant.

According to the warrant, Baker and Dunbar were seen at a party two days earlier where they lost $70,000.

Get Giants text messages from reporters: Cut through the clutter of social media and text directly with the Giants beat writers. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now for a free trial.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Zack Rosenblatt may be reached at zrosenblatt@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
That our leader, Nnamdi Kanu being outside the country does not mean he is a coward, he is there preparing the coming of the new nation and the new nation is about to come and Uwazuruike is there playing to the gallery. That he is registering our Biafra in UNPO, is making jest of himself, IPOB said.
Snowing on Highway 88 View Photo

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for the Mother Lode, the Northern San Joaquin Valley and the Sierra Nevada through this evening.

Some of the thunderstorms that develop today will have intense downpours that will have a chance of producing flash flooding.

The Winter Storm Warning issued for the Sierra Nevada above 6,500 feet, will remain in effect until 5 PM Tuesday.

Additional snow accumulations above the 7,000 foot elevation will range from two to five inches.

The winds will continue to gust as high as forty mph over exposed ridgetops and along the crest of the Sierra.

A Winter Storm Warning means there will be snow covered roads and limited visibilities. Travel is not recommended while the warning is in effect. If you must travel, keep tire chains or cables, an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. You should be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
SPRINGFIELD  Illinois business owners found guilty of violating the governors stay-at-home-orders could land in jail for up to a year under new emergency rules filed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker late Friday, two months into his executive response to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Under executive orders issued by the governor, restaurants havent had dine-in guests since March 16. Pritzker then issued an executive order March 21 closing all businesses to the public that he considered nonessential. The order was extended twice, from April 7 to April 30, and now through the end of May.

Any person who violates the emergency rules, the latest rule filing says, could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor by local authorities, which could lead to up to a year in jail.

On May 11, the Madison County Board of Health, which includes all Madison County Board members, voted 26-2 in favor of a four-stage plan to reopen local businesses and churches. The countys plan calls for moving through recovery stages more quickly than Pritzkers five-stage Restore Illinois plan.

Pritzker has insisted local and state police will enforce his orders, but also emphasized they will educate and seek voluntary compliance. He has also said someone could be charged with reckless conduct for violating his orders and that he has the power to revoke state business licenses and withhold tax money from local governments.

Pritzkers extended executive orders have been challenged in court from multiple individuals and groups as the Legislature has refrained from clearing the ambiguity over whether Pritzkers emergency authority can be extended beyond a 30-day period.

The rules filed Friday add to the states public health laws and include a section called Pandemic or Epidemic Respiratory Disease  Emergency Provisions. It says restaurants cant have dine-in, certain retail can only do curbside sales, gyms must stay closed, and salons and tattoo shops cant operate during a pandemic.

Businesses and establishments located in airports and hospitals are exempt from the requirements of this Section for food and drink businesses, the rules state.

State Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, released a statement saying Pritzker had gone too far and enough is enough.

I find it disgusting this governor will try to lock up mom and pop business owners just trying to feed their families and pay their bills while his family travels around the country and he continues to let rapists and murderers out of jail, Meier said. Who would have thought he was planning on using those cells for people paying taxes?

State Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, who is suing the governor over his extended executive orders, said the timing of the new rules is interesting as more people say the governor has exceeded his authority.

You got states attorneys, you got Illinois sheriffs saying, we are not going to prosecute, we are not going to do this, and I think its his way of trying to get people back under control while his family is still in Wisconsin and Florida and other places not following the orders themselves, Cabello said.

The governor has been criticized for ordering Illinois residents to stay at home while his family has traveled between Pritzker homes in Florida, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Its unfortunate that the administration felt the need to do this because I think it will likely make the situation worse, said Mark Grant, Illinois state director of the National Federation of Independent Business.

Weve seen a variety of communities, businesses, lawmakers and groups such as mine, ask for greater flexibility in the re-opening of parts of Illinois in a responsible way, he said. This act, filing emergency rules, seems to double down on the governors stubbornness to ignore anyone outside of his inner circle.

We would have preferred a measured and fruitful dialogue among government, municipalities and the business community, Grant said.

The Joint Commission on Administrative Rules could block the emergency rules at its upcoming meeting, which is scheduled Wednesday. If the rules arent blocked, theyd be in effect for 150 days.

There also is likely to be court challenges.

Pritzker on Thursday said the state could possibly withhold federal funds to local governments that refuse to enforce his executive orders. He also said local police who do not enforce his order were putting people at risk and making communities unsafe.

On Friday, the Illinois Sheriffs Association pushed back with its president Jim Kaitschuk calling Pritzkers comments insulting.

Illinois sheriffs have been elected by their local citizens to keep their communities safe, a trust that every sheriff and sworn law enforcement officer holds dear, he said in a released statement. It is outrageous that the governor is threatening retaliation against these leaders and the men and women of their offices.

As of Saturday, at least 10 county sheriffs in Illinois had announced they would not use their deputies to enforce Pritzkers stay-at-home orders.
You are the funambulist. You, the person next to you and the political leader at the other end of the world. We are the funambulists who have begun to walk the tight rope of a new time where everything has changed and we are expected to learn how to live outside the norm while human needs remain the same. Today we have emerged from the pitch black night of the weeks when death had the upper hand, although we havent got our life back yet. We are beginning to venture outside, alive but socially mutilated, poisoned by our fear of the others. Getting back the fraternal embrace might be the greatest challenge we are facing.

People are beginning to fill the streets progressively, but on their way out children ask if they should take their coat, having missed the arrival of springtime during their extended screen time break of cake baking and grandparents who have passed away without a farewell. Children and adults who have experienced the loss of someone they loved and couldnt see them out are tasked with a psychological job that they cannot deny to themselves. We, the funambulists, will need to attend to the uptick in mental health issues caused by the trauma of the last few months, when fear of the present and anxiety over the future must have taken a massive toll in terms of our hope reserves, the stuff that drives our lives and fuels our dreams.

We, the funambulists, have seen the world come tumbling down, but we have also witnessed the stuff humans are made of and we would be advised to remember what we have learnt about embracing the future, to quote Gramsci, by combining the pessimism of the intellect and the optimism of the will.

All of us will overcome our traumas by fighting and this applies to everyone. The way we see others has changed and looking inwardly does not mean shutting others out or showing them no solidarity. As Dr Anna Llupia said to Lidia Heredia [in an interview] on Thursday, rather than social distancing we will have to start speaking of solidarity distancing, once the safety nets have been deployed like in any major disaster. More than ever, what matters today is the attitude of the shopkeeper who has made a copy of your backup key at the usual price and hasnt lost any local customers; and the attitude of the Kashmir-born fruit monger who is offering a freebie solidarity bag to those who have lost their job but need the sustenance, nonetheless. Every small decision matters for rebuilding our confidence in the future and softening the blow of the impending social and economic catastrophe. If the economys recovery is not V-shaped, lets make sure it is as close to that as possible.

This is a time for the brave and for those who are able to cooperate, which tend to be one and the same.

Politically, the funambulists that lead us should make decisions considering the next ten years instead of the next ten minutes, for a change. They should learn to negotiate and build a consensus, to set up solidarity safety nets such as basic income, which is not about patronising people but about their dignity, like Daniel Raventos and Julie Wark have argued in Contra la caritat. En defensa de la renda basica [Against Charity. A Defence of Basic Income]. If we continue to do politics without taking responsibility and only passing the buck, this country will slip further down the slope instead of making the most of the current situation to pave the way for a collective leap forward. Ensuring that our welfare system remains financially viable, developing a knowledge-based economy, boosting our education system (and, therefore, our social elevator), must cease to be mere election slogans that politicians go on to disregard.

The funambulist in the EU has also taken some unsteady steps on the tight rope that could result in a fall. The relief packages following the pandemic are a slow, half-hearted attempt that southern European member states do not trust for fear of the attached stigma and the public debt burden they would incur. Europes leaders keep quoting Keynes, but they lack the courage to deliberately stretch their budget like Sweden used to do in the 1930s, and to abandon the orthodoxy like the young economist did when he wrote his general theory demolishing the classic conclusions on demand, production and employment. Likewise, they dare not take example from the 1790 compromise between Thomas Jefferson and James Madison that allowed the federal government to take over and pay the debt of the thirteen states, an event which happened nearly 230 years ago, as The Economist has reminded us. Just like then, taking a step forward towards public debt sharing would be a step towards political construction in Europe.

The scope of this crisis is very broad and we still dont know whether we will have the sort of leaders who can tighten rather than slacken the rope. All of us, funambulists, are walking that rope. As are our political leaders, although they dont know.
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Diehard Eurovision fans will not go entirely without this year. The 2020 song contest was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but its organisers are set to host an alternative television show on Saturday, with video performances from past and present participants.

The two-hour-long, non-competitive show called 'Europe Shine a Light' will be broadcast by 40 public broadcasters across Europe. The makers said they want to "celebrate what Eurovision stands for and create a sense of unity across borders".

The show will include all of this year's entries together, singing "Love Shine a Light" from their respective living rooms by video link. The song by Katrina and the Waves was the winning entry in the 1997 Eurovision contest.

Former winners are also set to appear, including Serbia's Marija Serifovic, who won in 2007. In a teaser clip on Eurovision's Twitter account she can be seen getting ready for a performance in the deserted streets of the capital Belgrade.

The Eurovision Song Contest final is one of the world's biggest television events and had been scheduled to take place in the Dutch city of Rotterdam on May 16.

The contest has been held annually since 1956, and was expected to draw up to 200 million viewers. Eurovision features live musical numbers from each participating country - more than 50 in recent editions - reaching beyond Europe to Israel and Australia.

It is scheduled to take place next year, again in Rotterdam, but participating countries will have to send in new songs, the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the event, has said.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
The Shiromani Akali Dal on Sunday slammed the Congress-led government in Punjab, accusing it of abandoning migrant workers by refusing to distribute ration among them and forcing them to flee the state.

In a statement here, SAD legislature party leader Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said migrant labourers were forced to flee Punjab because the state government did not come to their aid for weeks altogether.

"The state government did not even deem it fit to distribute food material received from the Centre to migrants, leading to one death besides near starvation conditions for thousands, he said.

It is because of this that despite there being need for workers in industrial sector as well as for the paddy transplantation, the migrant labourers are choosing to go back to their homes," alleged Dhillon.

Dhillon said while Chief Minister Amarinder Singh could not escape the responsibility for the misery caused to lakhs of people, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu failed to fulfill his responsibility to feed workers and should be sacked forthwith.

The SAD legislature party leader also asked the chief minister to form district- level committees to help resolve the grievances of migrant workers.

He said even SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal had given this suggestion in an all party meeting to the chief minister but the government did not heed his advice.

"It is not too late even now to form committees at district and even at the city level for Ludhiana city to interact with labourers who have still not left Punjab, so that they can be retained," he said.

He demanded that the government should offer labourers free ration, financial incentives and tie up their employment so that they could make a fresh start.

"This is also necessary if we want to revive our industry besides ensuring availability of workers for paddy transplantation from June 10, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Newser)  Late Friday, President Trump fired the State Department's inspector general. By Saturday, the New York Times reports, Democrats in the House and Senate had started an investigation into Steve Linick's dismissal. In a letter informing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Trump wrote only that he'd lost confidence in Linick, who was charged with rooting out waste and fraud in the State Department. In announcing their investigation, Sen. Bob Menendez and Rep. Eliot Engel said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Trump to remove Linick, per USA Today, "and it is our understanding that he did so because the Inspector General had opened an investigation into wrongdoing by Secretary Pompeo himself." That means the president may have committed "an illegal act of retaliation," they wrote. A White House official, speaking to the Times anonymously, confirmed that it was Pompeo's idea.

story continues below

Linick is the third government inspector general fired by Trump in the past two months, and Democrats say it's an effort to avoid oversight. Pompeo has been accused of putting government staff and money to personal use. A whistleblower reported last year that Pompeo's security staff was running his errands, such as picking up the family dog from a groomer and bringing the secretary carryout food, per CNN. He uses government aircraft to go home to Kansas, and often has taken his wife, Susan, on official trips out of the country. The Democrats asked the administration to preserve any documents concerning Linick's removal and any internal investigations of Pompeo. Sen. Mitt Romney criticized the firings of the inspectors general in a tweet, calling the actions "a threat to accountable democracy." (The pandemic relief watchdog was fired before he'd done anything.)
The central city of Da Nang will likely pilot an urban governance model between 2021 and 2026 in which district- and ward-level peoples councils will be scrapped.

On behalf of the central government, Planning and Investment Minister Nguyen Chi Dung on Saturday introduced to deputies of the lawmaking National Assembly (NA) a draft resolution on piloting an urban governance model in Da Nang.

Under the pilot scheme, the peoples council and the peoples committee apparatuses will only be available at the municipal level.

Meanwhile, urban districts and wards will only have peoples committees whose leaders are appointed by the chairperson of the higher-level peoples committee.

In Vietnam, peoples councils are elected by citizens. Councilors appoint the peoples committee of the corresponding level, which acts as the executive arm of the local government.

The proposed scheme in Da Nang is different from a similar pilot scheme in Hanoi that has already been adopted by the nations legislative body.

The Vietnamese capital city will be organized into a two-tier system consisting of the municipal and district-level peoples councils and peoples committees, while local wards will no longer have peoples councils.

Hoa Vang, a rural district of over 145,000 people in Da Nang, and its communes will be the citys only area left with grassroots-level peoples councils under the scheme.

Hoang Thanh Tung, who leads the NA Legal Committee, said most of his fellow deputies are in favor of the governments proposal.

The lawmaker remarked Da Nang is a centrally managed municipality that covers a modest area of land and has a rapid level of urbanization.

Its population characteristics and terrains are also poised to facilitate the organization of a streamlined urban governance model.

A birds-eye view of Da Nang City in central Vietnam. Once a government resolution gets the green light from the lawmaking National Assembly, the city will be run under an urban governance model on a trial basis. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The citys Party chief Truong Quang Nghia noted that Da Nang did not have peoples councils in urban and rural districts and wards on a trial basis some time in the past.

However, the central government later placed emphasis on the difference between urban and rural governments, especially those at the communal level, according to Nghia.

Hoa Vang has witnessed rapid rates of urbanization and economic restructuring, but it remains a rural region. The area of Hoa Vang District is about five times larger than that of another district [in the urban part of the city], he said.

He revealed city authorities have plans to set up a new urban district but Hoa Vang will still be an exception under the pilot scheme.

In case Da Nang is given the nod to establish another urban district, he proposed the governance of the new district will follow the pilot model.

The NA Standing Committee has endorsed the governments draft resolution which will be tabled for debate at the next sitting of the lawmaking body, slated for next week.

The municipal statistics office said in a report last year that more than 1.13 million people were living in Da Nang as of April 2019, accounting for a mere 1.18 percent of the countrys total population.

As such, the central city took the 39th place population-wise compared with other cities and provinces across the Southeast Asian nation, and was ranked 59th in terms of area.

Data also suggested more than 988,000 people were urban dwellers, making up a staggering 87.2 percent of the citys overall population while the remainder lives in suburban areas. Therefore, Da Nang had the countrys highest proportion of people living in urban areas.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that the death toll in the country could top to 100,000 as the states reopen, according to a recently published article.

100,000 COVID-19 Deaths by June in the United States

The number of COVID-19 is going upwards and has not yet reached its peaked. As the states in the country slowly reopen its economy, it is expected as well that the number of infected cases and the death toll will spike according to the experts.

For as long as there is no vaccine, the contagion will continue. It is for this reason that Trump's administration advised all the state governors not to drastically reopen their economy back again but have an outline on how to strategically reopen their states.

Additionally, it was also said earlier this month by former CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden that this is just the beginning of the devastation of the virus. He also said that he is seeing 30,000 cases a day every month as the states reopen their economy.

Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading disease expert and a key member of Pres. Trump's Task Force against COVID-19, warned also the state governors not to disregard the guidelines set during the state reopening.

Dr. Fauci mentioned during their virtual meeting that if the guidelines will not be followed like the stringent observance of social distancing, disregarding the prohibition of gatherings of more than five or 10 in some states, not to wear face masks, and more the country will experience an uncontrollable outbreak.

CDC Chief Warned a Death Toll of 100,000 by June

CDC Chief Robert Redfield, who is also a key person of Trump's Task Force against COVID-19, warned that he is seeing a death toll of 100,000 in the country at end of June using the different models.

On his official Twitter account, he wrote: "CDC tracks 12 different forecasting models of possible #COVID19 deaths in the US. As of May 11, all forecast an increase in deaths in the coming weeks and a cumulative total exceeding 100,000 by June 1."

The prediction of Dr. Redfield is lower compared to what was warned to the U.S. if certain measures to combat the virus were not implemented. It was predicted that the death toll will reach up to 2 million.

Moreover, Dr. Redfield's prediction came after the states in the country decided to reopen its economy under Phase in the "Opening Up America Again." This is also because the unemployment rate in the country has reached its peak that even surpassed the Great Recession.

Meanwhile, many are also quite skeptical about the number of the COVID-19 death toll in the country. President Donald Trump even urged the CDC to set new guidelines as to who will be included in the tally.

This suggestion came after the death toll in the U.S. has reached more than 80,000 last week. There are instances where some states include those who have COVID-19 bit died due to the pre-existing medical conditions like cancer and chronic diseases.

Read related articles:
United Nations, May 17 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the arrest of one of the most-wanted fugitives of the 1994 Rwandan genocide has proven that alleged criminals cannot evade justice forever and will have to be answerable for their crimes.

Guterres' spokesperson said the UN chief welcomed the arrest of Felicien Kabuga on Saturday in Paris, adding his capture "sends a powerful message that those who are alleged to have committed such crimes cannot evade justice and will eventually be held accountable, even more than a quarter of a century later", reports Efe news.

French police arrested Kabuga, 84, from a rented home outside Paris, according to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT).

As the head of the Comite Provisoire of the Fonds de defense Nationale ("National Defence Fund") from April 1994 to July 1994, Kabuga allegedly helped finance the genocide.

He allegedly imported tens of thousands of the machetes from Kenya that were used in the mass slaughter.

He was also President of the Comite d'Initiative of Radio Television Libre des Milles Collines, whose broadcasts were used by Hutu extremists to incite hatred against Tutsis and identify individuals for subsequent killing.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has charged him with genocide and crimes against humanity after his alleged key role in financing the genocide of hundreds of thousands of minority Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994.

Ethnic Hutu extremists killed at least 800,000 members of the Tutsi community and political opponents.

The arrest culminated a decades-long international hunt across many countries.

"The Secretary-General's thoughts are first and foremost with the victims of Kabuga's alleged crimes, the victims of other serious international crimes, and their families. Ending impunity is essential for peace, security, and justice," his spokesperson said in a statement.

The Secretary-General praised the cooperation between the UN mechanism and the French authorities for the arrest, underlining the responsibility of all states to cooperate with the IRMCT in locating and arresting any fugitives at large.

Guterres recalled that all states must cooperate with the mechanism in the location, arrest, detention, surrender, and transfer of the accused persons still at large.

Kabuga is expected to be transferred to the IRMCT, where he will stand trial.
The Akatsi South District of the Volta Region has recorded its first COVID-19 positive case.



Dr George Nyarko, the Akatsi South District Director of Health Services, who confirmed this to the Ghana News Agency, said the test of a male patient came out positive after his specimen was sent to the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) for testing.



He said the male patient, a tiler who worked with a German national in Accra, came to Akatsi some weeks ago.



Dr Nyarko said the patient came to the Akatsi District Hospital for screening for the novel coronavirus disease after returning from Accra without any severe symptoms.



He said a special team for handling suspected cases of the virus quickly put him in isolation when he reported at the Hospital.



"He is currently quarantined in a family house in Akatsi Tatorme where he would soon be transferred to Ho for further medical attention," he added.



Dr Nyarko said nurses who came into contact with him were being prepared for some "clinical procedures" and that contact tracing would also begin very soon.



He assured the public to remain calm as professionals managed to contain the spread of the virus and asked for strict adherence to all safety protocols.

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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Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, May 17, 2020 18:04 612 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd8ab144 1 National COVID-19-death-toll,COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-korona-indonesia,health-ministry,covid-19-task-force,Achmad-Yurianto Free

After weeks of relatively low official numbers of daily deaths, the Health Ministry announced 59 more COVID-19 deaths on Sunday, the highest one-day spike in over a month.

We have confirmed that [the number of] positive COVID-19 cases has increased by 489 cases to 17,514. The number of recoveries has also increased by 218 cases to 4,129 patients, while deaths have jumped by 59 cases to 1,148, the ministrys disease control and prevention director general, Achmad Yurianto, said in a press conference on Sunday.

The previous highest daily increase in COVID-19 deaths was recorded on April 14, with 60 deaths.

Read also: Govt plans to loosen PSBB regulations, starting with transportation

Many believe the central governments counting method has resulted in the underreporting of deaths, with provincial administrations reporting over 3,000 suspected COVID-19 deaths.

As of Saturday, crowdsourced database KawalCovid-19 had recorded a total of 3,657 deaths of patients suspected to have COVID-19, consisting of 3,560 patients under surveillance (PDP) and 97 people under monitoring (ODP), from the COVID-19 websites of a limited number of the 34 countrys provinces.

The actual number is likely to be much higher, as many provinces have chosen not to report PDP or ODP deaths, including hard-hit areas such as West Java, Bali and South Sumatra.

Yurianto previously told The Jakarta Post that the Health Ministry was tracking the nationwide number of suspected deaths but would not be announcing the number to the public.
A uthor Neil Gaiman is facing an intense backlash after admitting he travelled more than 11,000 miles from New Zealand to Skye in breach of Scotland's coronavirus lockdown rules.

Writing on his blog, the American Gods and Good Omens author said he travelled to his house in Scotland so he could "isolate easily" because he and his wife Amanda agreed they "needed to give each other some space".

He described how he flew "masked and gloved" from Auckland Airport to Los Angeles (LAX) and then on to London. He then borrowed a friend's car and drove north to Skye.

However, he has now been severely criticised on social media for making the journey.

Only essential journeys are permitted under lockdown rules in Scotland, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stressing the message north of the border is "stay at home".

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, who is also the MP for Skye, tweeted: "Can I just remind anyone else thinking of coming to the Highlands this is against the regulations.

Gaiman's novel Good Omens was adapted for screen starring Michael Sheen as the Angel (right) and David Tennant as the Demon / PA

"To come from the other end of the planet is gobsmacking. We will welcome all to the Highlands when it is safe to do so. For now stay away."

In a post on his blog on Thursday, science fiction and fantasy author Gaiman wrote: "Hullo from Scotland, where I am in rural lockdown on my own."

Neil Gaiman who has been criticised after he admitted travelling more than 11,000 miles from New Zealand to his house in Skye in breach of Scotland's lockdown rules / PA

He said he was in New Zealand with his wife and son Ash until two weeks ago, when the country went from level four of lockdown - which it had been on for the previous five weeks - to level three.

Gaiman wrote: "I flew, masked and gloved, from empty Auckland Airport to LAX, an empty international terminal with only one check-in counter open - the one for the BA flight from LAX to London.

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

"Both flights were surreal, especially the flight to London. Empty airports, mostly empty planes. It reminded me of flying a week after 9/11: everything's changed.

"I landed in London about 10 in the morning, got a masked car service to a friend's house. He had a spare car (bought many years ago as a birthday present for his daughter, but she had never learned to drive), with some groceries for me in a box in the back, waiting in the drive, with the key in the lock.

"I drove north, on empty motorways and then on empty roads, and got in about midnight, and I've been here ever since."

He said his family are looking forward to being together again once the world opens up and travel gets easier, and that "Amanda and I are still very much together, even with half a world between us".

But Gaiman has been slammed on social media for travelling across the world.

One person wrote: "It is still lockdown here in Scotland... would love to be able to visit my family and friends... but can't and won't. Sorry but this is not on."

Another person wrote: "Whilst I appreciate you're going through relationships drama, I would have hoped that your common sense wouldn't have eluded you. Scotland is in lockdown, no unnecessary travel."

Gaiman responded: "I'm currently a UK taxpayer and on the Scottish voting rolls. I went home."
WALL, N.J., May 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BIO-key International, Inc. (BKYI), an innovative provider of biometric software and hardware solutions for strong, convenient user authentication and large-scale identity, today reported results for its year ended December 31, 2019 and preliminary results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2020 (Q120). BIO-key will host a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. ET (details below) to review its results and outlook.



Recent Highlights:

BIO-key CEO Michael DePasquale commented, BIO-key navigated a very challenging and disappointing year from a revenue and cash flow standpoint, but laid the foundation for what we believe is the transformation of our company to play a leadership role in biometric multi-factor authentication as well as large scale Civil ID projects that are emerging on an international basis, particularly in Africa. We launched our BIO-key Africa subsidiary in late 2019 and so far this year we have executed agreements totaling over $75M in expected revenue over the next 24 months, and are focused on building on this momentum.

Story continues

We also took prudent steps to ensure our financial strength and made difficult decisions regarding the write-down of software licenses based on their increasingly unlikely monetization, the pivoting away from our lock business and initiated efforts to enhance our suite of multifactor authentication capabilities, while altering our geographic focus to pursue much larger scale opportunities.

At the same time we absorbed the near-term revenue impact of our transition from a software license sales model to a subscription or software as a service (SaaS) model, where customers pay a lower fee to access our software on an annual basis. We believe the subscription model is more favorable for BIO-key as it creates enduring customer relationships and predictable, recurring revenue streams that over the long term are likely to exceed what we would have earned from a conventional software licenses.

Finally, we continue to invest in enhancing our suite of solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers. In particular, we are working to provide a full suite of multi-factor authentication capabilities to allow our customers flexibility in addressing their needs across a wide variety of locations, devices and requirements. We recognize such flexibility is an increasingly important capability and differentiator in the marketplace. By building on our core biometric strengths to put in place a full suite of multi-factor capabilities, we expect to substantially enhance BIO-keys attractiveness in the market.

Outlook

DePasquale continued, Reflecting actions taken in 2019, our Q120 bottom-line performance improved substantially compared to the same period in 2019, and we have a strong outlook for 2020. We expect to commence work on our large African contracts in the coming months and expect to receive upfront deposits to precede our efforts. Given their scale and expected duration, these projects alone position BIO-key for substantial revenue growth and for the full year 2020, and we are confident they will allow us to pursue other large-scale opportunities in Africa and on a global basis. We look to provide more visibility into the timing and expected impact of our Africa business as final planning is completed and the projects are underway.

Growth Initiatives

Fred Corsentino, BIO-keys Chief Revenue Officer, added, We are very pleased with the success of our Channel Alliance Program launched last year to attract a growing base of Managed Service Providers, Security Integrators and Value-Added Resellers to expand our global sales and marketing reach. We achieved early traction in Africa where we added several channel partners in support of our BIO-key Africa subsidiary formed earlier this year.

Biometrics have gained solid support across Africa as an ideal, cost effective solution to large scale identity and authentication challenges for governments, public programs, telecommunications, financial services and other high-value processes vulnerable to fraud or security breaches. Importantly, such initiatives are gaining traction and financial support in both the public and private sectors, including $433 million in World Bank funding for a biometric national ID registration program in Nigeria.

Remote Worker Program

Mr. Corsentino added, In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, BIO-key moved quickly to launch our Remote Worker sales and marketing campaign to communicate how our finger scanners and software solutions help solve the unique and large scale challenges posed by the sudden global transition to working from home. Many companies relied on physical location within a firewall to secure access, but are now forced to operate remotely. BIO-key provides very cost-effective, user-friendly solutions to the increased security and authentication challenges created when workers are outside the protection of enterprise systems and direct oversight. In this context, the use of physical tokens becomes far more challenging, given delays and increased costs when replacements are needed.

Governments and enterprises are now scrambling to solve remote work challenges such as implementing stronger security and access control for video conferencing solutions used to connect disparate teams. We are actively highlighting BIO-key and our unique ability to address these challenges and very excited about the opportunity this provides going forward.

2019 Results

2019 revenues declined to $2.3M from $4.0M in 2018, due principally to lower license fees, including the impact of the Companys transition to the software subscription business model, as well as reduced hardware sales and lower services revenues. In particular, 2019 revenue was impacted by the absence of anticipated software license payments totaling $5.0M. As a result, BIO-key has determined the payments are unlikely to be collected and it took a $7.0M charge in 2019 to fully write down resalable software license rights it had secured as part of a $19M strategic investment completed in 2015.

The decline in hardware sales principally reflects a decrease in lock sales as BIO-key transitioned to an enterprise only model for its SmartlLock technology and exited lower margin U.S. and online retail markets.

2019 operating expenses decreased to $6.4M from $6.7M in 2018, reflecting lower selling general and administrative expense and lower research, development and engineering expense.

The Company also recorded interest expense of $1.1M in 2019 related to interest, amortization of debt discount and issuance costs for a convertible debt financing. In 2018, BIO-key recorded a $1.4M deemed dividend expense resulting from the required repricing of outstanding warrants, most of which have since expired.

BIO-key reported a 2019 net loss of $14.6M, or $1.03 per basic share, compared to a net loss of $8.5M, or $0.73 per basic share, in 2018. The weighted average basic shares outstanding were 14.2M and 11.6M in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Preliminary Q1 2020 Results

BIO-key is providing preliminary financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2020 in todays release as its final financial statements for this period are not yet finalized. Q120 revenues declined to $530,000 from $552,000 in Q119, primarily due to lower hardware revenue related to BIO-keys exit of the retail lock business, and a decrease in maintenance revenue reflecting the transition to software subscription sales, partially offset by a more than $150,000 increase in software license revenue.

Gross margin improved to 67% in Q120 versus a negative gross margin in Q119, primarily reflecting the elimination of $281,000 in non-cash software license amortization expense recorded in Q119 which did not recur in Q120.

Q120 operating expenses declined to $1.7 million from $1.8 million, reflecting the benefit of cost reduction efforts. BIO-keys preliminary first quarter results include $0.5M in non-cash compensation expense that will be allocated to each expense category in the final results filed on form 10-Q.

Reflecting the substantial improvement in gross profit and the decrease in operating expenses, BIO-keys operating loss was reduced to $1.3M in Q120 versus $1.8M in Q119. Weighted average basic shares outstanding were approximately 16,635,606 in Q120 compared to 13,979,318 in the year ago first quarter.

At March 31, 2020, BIO-key had $1.3M of cash and accounts receivable versus $0.7M at December 31, 2019.

To provide added financial liquidity to support operations and the launch of the Africa engagements, in May, BIO-key completed a $2.4M convertible note financing with warrants, generating gross proceeds of $2.1M. The note is convertible at the option of the investor into common stock at an above market conversion price of $1.16 per share and is subject to redemption at any time by BIO-key.

Conference Call Details Date / Time Friday, May 15 at 10 a.m. ET Call Dial In #: 1-877-418-5460 U.S. or 1-412-717-9594 International Live Webcast / Replay: Investor Webcast & Replay  Available for 3 months. Audio Replay: 1-877-344-7529 U.S. or 1-412-317-0088 Intl; code 10143410

About BIO-key International, Inc. ( www.bio-key.com )

BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication with biometric solutions that enable convenient and secure access to devices, information, applications and high-value transactions. BIO-keys software and hardware finger scanning solutions offer secure, user-friendly and attractively priced alternatives to passwords, PINs, tokens and security cards, enabling enterprises and consumers to secure their networks and devices as well as their information in the cloud.

BIO-key Safe Harbor Statement

All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). The words "estimate," "project," "intends," "expects," "anticipates," "believes" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Act. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included within or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, our history of losses and limited revenue; our ability to protect our intellectual property; changes in business conditions; changes in our sales strategy and product development plans; changes in the marketplace; continued services of our executive management team; competition in the biometric technology industry; market acceptance of biometric products generally and our products under development; our ability to expand into Asia, Africa and other foreign markets; delays in the development of products and statements of assumption underlying any of the foregoing; our ability to close the potential private placement transaction on the terms described herein if at all as well as other factors set forth under the caption see "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Additionally, there may be other factors of which the Company is not currently aware that may affect matters discussed in forward-looking statements and may also cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. In particular, the consequences of the coronavirus outbreak to economic conditions and the industry in general and the financial position and operating results of our company in particular have been material, are changing rapidly, and cannot be predicted.

Investor & Media Contacts

William Jones, David Collins

Catalyst IR

212-924-9800

bkyi@catalyst-ir.com





BIO-KEY INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
One terrorist was killed in an encounter between security forces and terrorisys in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday (May 17) morning. Sources said that the operation is still on and heavy firing is on from both the sides.

"In the ongoing encounter which started today morning at Gundna Doda one terrorist is reported killed so far. Operation is on," tweeted Jammu and Kashmir police.

Update. In the ongoing encounter which started today morning at Gundna Doda one terrorist is reported killed so far. Operation is on. https://t.co/b1Ui68ttU3  J&K Police (@JmuKmrPolice) May 17, 2020

A search operation was launched by a joint team of 10 Rashtriya Rifles (Rajput Regiment), CRPF and Doda police on Saturday night after receiving specific inputs about presence of terrorists in the area. Contact with terrorists established this morning when orces zeroed in the area where the terrorists were hiding.

Sources said that two terrorists are trapped in the area and one jawan has also got injured so far.
As in previous years, Citizenship and Immigration Services in fiscal 2020 had counted on fees paid by applicants to cover the lions share of its expenditures: 97 percent of its $4.8 billion budget.

But after applications took a nosedive, the agency, the spokesman said, was seeking a one-time emergency request for funding to ensure we can carry out our mission of administering our nations lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity and protecting the American people.

The agency already had been trying to limit spending to paying salaries and critical expenses to avert a financial crisis, he said, and would have to take further drastic actions, which he did not specify, to keep operating. Those could include staff reductions that would affect the adjudication of citizenship, green cards, asylum and work visas.

The agency has not released data that attests to the decrease in applications. But an officer at the agency, speaking on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to talk to the news media, said that the staff had been notified recently that the agency was severely strapped for cash due to the low number of new applications being filed, adding that overtime, travel and purchases had been scrapped.

Ana Maria Schwartz, an immigration lawyer in Houston, said that half as many clients had retained her to apply for green cards, citizenship and other immigration benefits between March 15 and May 15 compared with the same period in 2019. Thats a seismic shift, even for my tiny firm, she said.

In November last year, the agencys leadership proposed steep increases in fees to file for legal immigration and naturalization. For the first time, the agency would also charge those fleeing persecution and seeking protection in the United States.

Mr. Cuccinelli, the agencys chief, said that the fee hikes would help cover the agencys deficits.

Immigrant advocates balked at the justification, saying that the goal was to reduce the number of immigrants who become citizens before the 2020 presidential election and, more broadly, cut legal immigration by making fees prohibitive for low-income people.
From lessons about never giving up, to baking, to glass blowing and cooking on the grill, elementary students from around the city are highlighting the lessons they have learned from seniors in their lives.

Thats thanks to the city of Albuquerques A Senior I Know essay contest, which is in its 38th year.

Each year, as part of the Older Americans Month celebration, students within the Albuquerque Public Schools district boundaries in grades one to five are invited to submit an essay about a senior in their life. The essays must be written by students and can be up to 300 words.

Kinsey Cooper, the citys senior affairs marketing and communications specialist, said this year they received about 1,100 essays of which 30 were selected as winners. Cooper said some of the most valuable things seniors can offer are wisdom and life lessons.

It can be hard sometimes to recognize the value seniors bring, she said. This contest helps remind young people what they (seniors) bring to their world and how valuable the connection with them is.

At the start of the 20th century, the average life expectancy was 47 years, but today Americans are expected to live approximately 78 years according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That means a robust senior population exists in almost every community. They are an added layer of support for working families and the community. From shuttling children, providing childcare, taking care of the sick, running errands, doing yard work or helping around the house, seniors can make day-to-day life easier.

Ginger Grossetete started the contest in 1982 when she worked for the citys Senior Affairs Department. She got the idea after attending a conference.

Nowadays people dont grow up with grandma and grandpa, she said. Families are spread around the country, so children dont get to have a relationship with seniors. This leads to a lot of misconceptions of what old people are like and sometimes those ideas are negative.

She said seniors can pass on first-person accounts of history to children. She remembers one past essay where the writer interviewed their grandpa and discovered he had been in a concentration camp.

Its a great way for seniors and kids to connect, she said. And the kids get to practice their writing skills.

This years essayists wrote about senior relationships in their lives with grandparents, aunts, uncles and educators.

Third-grader Wesley Carter wrote about his aunt Hellen, whom he said was good at encouraging people and had shown him the art of glassblowing and cooking on the grill. The grandfather of Timothy Daniels inspired the third-grader to become a jet pilot.

My grandpa was in the Navy and he flew F-85, he wrote. He says you have to be good at math, be in good condition and you have to look good.  If you had to go potty on the plane it is tough luck.

Most of the judges, Grossetete said, are retired teachers. She said they evaluate the writing skills, the uniqueness of the story and the emotional appeal. Some, she said, make them laugh and others can make them cry.

The city usually holds a big reception to recognize the children and the seniors they wrote about, but the pandemic has made that impossible this year.

The wisdom and knowledge from our older generations are valuable resources that should be captured and recognized, said Anna Sanchez, Director of Senior Affairs. Our department acknowledges the contributions and impact of our communitys seniors on the lives of those around them  from raising and caring for their family to serving in the military to breakthroughs made in their careers  and we work to highlight those contributions to our youth.
A time-honoured slogan of financial conservatives around the developed world is that Governments should never pick winners with taxpayers money! It is, not surprisingly, observed more in the breach than in reality even by fiscal hawks. Was the more than $13 billion dollars that the Harper government lavished on the auto sector not the definition of picking winners?

But in reality should not the appropriate question really be: Can you ensure that you do not waste taxpayers money on corporations that you know are likely to fail? This is the sharp divide that is making decisions on aid to corporate Canada so hard and so slow. Some conservative pundits attacked the government for making sustainability a checkbox to qualify for the assistance package they released last week.

How improbable would it have been for Ottawa to not link improving sustainability performance for access to public cash? Conservatives denounced it as a plot against the oil and gas sector. However, while it is true that the oil and gas sector have undertaken and will implement very significant emission reductions strategies, they remain huge emitters. So huge that Canada was smacked this week by both the World Economic Forum and the Norwegians sovereign wealth fund as climate laggards. We were ranked at 28 among developed countries.

So what should the rules be for access to taxpayer support? First should be a financial sustainability test. In previous crises, finance and economic development departments did searching tests of who was among the walking dead, and who could make it with an injection of liquidity at the right moment. The Rae government saved Dehavillands airplane manufacturing in Ontario and Algomas specialty steel making. They did not say then, and veterans today will not say now, who did not make the cut or why.

Alberta knows who its oil sector zombies are, B.C. knows who the weakest in the forestry and mining sectors are, and Quebec knows the weak and the flailing among Quebec Inc. players better than any other government. So keep the stress test results confidential, dont further damage the enfeebled, but do apply financial survival tests before anyone gets a dollar.

The second question should surely be, Who matters most? Size does not determine strategic value. A bankrupt retail chain dumping thousands of employees on the street is a tragedy for the families involved. For the future of the economy, not so much. A failure to offer a financial bridge to the future for a small start-up whose success will deliver transformative change in health-care, or technology, or climate change would be a tragedy for the next generation of Canadians.

Finally, the sustainability of the scale and breadth of an assistance program to the public is a crucial question. We are spending money at a rate not seen except in wartime production ramp-ups. The rate and volumes are turning out to be far faster and higher than even left-wing economists would have dreamed possible in the past. But fiscal trees do not grow to the sky.

We do not know when high becomes too high, but we must assume there is a ceiling. This imposes on government decision makers a final test, Can we slowly close the cash tap, without casting whole regions and sectors into chaos, before we get to a level of indebtedness that we know imperils the entire economy and the currency.

One of the difficult elements of corporate and social assistance programs is that they are easy to launch, but they are very painful to dial back, let alone shut down. American conservatives continue to fight Obamacare so improbably in this current crisis because they know there has never been a reversal let alone a cancellation of a social assistance program in American history. They always grow in scale and cost.

So the essential questions are probably these: Is your program ensured, to the extent possible, against backing losers? Does it help sustainability in climate terms, and that of a region or sector of strategic importance in economic terms?

Can it be maintained long enough to ensure we get to the far side of this crisis without bankrupting the government or crushing the currency.

Then there are the social justice tests that many Canadians will also demand. Thats an essential discussion, but sadly for progressives those choices will not come before these broad sustainability tests. Former U.K. Conservative finance minister Nigel Lawson famously declared, To govern is to choose. In a crisis those choices come fraught with great risk.
New Delhi:

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trumps campaign has said that the American public wants to see the thousands of emails deleted by his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton to keep authorities from untangling a corrupt scheme and not her tax returns released by her.



Hillary Clinton has turned over the only records nobody wants to see from her. The American public wants to see the 33,000 emails she deleted to obstruct an FBI investigation, Jason Miller, senior communication advisor of the Trump Campaign said.



The Trump campaign statement came hours after Clinton released the latest tax returns of her and her husband Bill Clinton. According to the returns, in 2015, the Clintons paid an effective federal income tax rate of 34.2 per cent and an effective state and local income tax rate of nine per cent for a combined federal, state, and local effective tax rate of 43.2 per cent.



Trump, the Republican presidential nominee has not released his tax returns. Trump has said that his returns are currently being audited and he would release his returns after it is completed. The Clinton campaign yesterday challenged Trump to release his tax returns.



In stark contrast, Donald Trump is hiding behind fake excuses and backtracking on his previous promises to release his tax returns. He has failed to provide the public with the most basic financial information disclosed by every major candidate in the last 40 years. What is he trying to hide? said Hillary for America communications director Jennifer Palmieri.



The Trump campaign was quick to respond by challenging Clinton on the 33,000 emails of hers as the Secretary of State that has been deleted.



We want to see the Clinton Foundation records showing how the Clintons sold our uranium to Russia, ripped off Haiti and cut deals with oppressive regimes around the world. We want to see the pay-for-play emails that Clintons Chief of Staff, Cheryl Mills, refuses to turn over, Miller said.



We want to see the transcripts of the secret Wall Street speeches Clinton was paid USD 10,000 dollars-a-minute to give. We want to see the records the night of Benghazi that explain why Secretary Clinton didnt send in reinforcements as soon as the attack had begun, he said.



Miller alleged that Clinton is at the center of an international corruption scandal that reveals her use of government authority and influence for personal gain.



The records we need to see are those being hidden, deleted, obstructed and stashed away by Hillary Clinton to keep authorities from untangling this corrupt scheme that reaches into the worlds shady corridors of power, he said.

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Iran's fuel shipment to Venezuela guaranteed by its missile power

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 May 2020 10:29 PM

Iran is shipping tons of gasoline to Venezuela in defiance of US sanctions on both countries in a symbolic move guaranteed by Tehran's missile prowess.

Unconfirmed reports and tanker monitoring groups suggest that at least five Iranian-flaggedtankers are transporting fuel to Venezuela through the Atlantic Ocean despite the US sanctions on both Tehran and Caracas.

Iran has intentionally hoisted its own flag over the huge tankers which are navigating through the Atlantic before the eyes of the US Navy.

Iran is shipping large consignments of gasoline to Venezuela even though the US would try to intercept the shipments and seize the tankers.

There are unconfirmed reports that the US Navy has deployed its USS Detroit (LCS-7), USS Lassen (DDG-82), USS Preble (DDG-88), and USS Farragut (DDG-99) to the Caribbean along with its patrol aircraft Boeing P8-Poseidon for possible encounter with the Iranian vessels.

However, analysts say it is very unlikely that the US makes such a mistake, as it would have serious repercussions for the Trump administration ahead of the November elections.

The US would not dare to seize the Iranian vessels especially after Iran's reaction to a similar move by the United Kingdom, a close ally of Washington.

Iran has also the upper hand thanks to its missile power, which was showed off to the US in the IRGC's retaliatory missile attacks on the Ain al-Assad Airbase in Iraq, which accommodated American troops.

The US was also reminded of the Islamic Republic's missile prowess following the recent successful launch of Nour-1 military satellite, which reached the orbit using the Qased satellite carrier. Some Western analysts claim the satellite achievements are a prelude to Iran's program to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

Confident about its missile capabilities,Iran is going on with the gasoline shipment to its ally in the Latin America, mocking the US sanctionson the oil sectors of both countries.

The US seems to be between the rock and hard place. While it is unlikely for Washington to dare to intercept the tankers, if they reach their destination safe and sound, it maytarnishthe "superpower" forever.

The fuel shipment also shows Iran's success in turning into an exporter of gasoline after years of importing the fuel.

A senior official in US President Donald Trump's administration told Reuters on Thursday that the United States was considering measures against Iran in response to the fuel shipment.

The official said Washington has a "high degree of certainty" that the Venezuelan government is paying Iran in gold for the fuel.

If these claims are confirmed, the "fuel for gold" exchange is also a great achievement for the Islamic Republic amid the US' maximum pressure policy, which deprives the country's economy of billions of dollars' worth of oil revenues.

There are reports that Iran is receiving nine tons of gold in exchange for the fuel its ships to Venezuela. Under the cruel sanctions imposed by the US after its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, nine tons of gold can be a very precious asset for the Iranian economy.

However, we should still wait and see whether the US administration would let the Iranian tankers go and strip Washington of its "superpower" title, or it would dare to intercept the vessels and endanger Donald Trump's campaign ahead of the November elections.

Earlier in the day, Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said Venezuela and Iran are both independent states that have had and will continue to have trade relations with each other.

"We sell goods and buy goods in return. This trade has nothing to do with anyone else. We have to sell our oil and we have ways to do it," Rabiei said in reaction to reports of the fuel shipment to the Latin American country.

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Two of the four final bidders vying to take over Virgin Australia are involved in carriers that have recently collapsed or needed government bailouts, raising concerns about whether they have the financial strength to ensure the airline's long-term future.

It comes after the $800 billion Canadian investment powerhouse Brookfield walked away from the sale because it believed it was too complicated to be finalised by an August deadline unless administrators Deloitte limited the second round of the process to just two bidders.

New York-headquartered investment fund Cyrus Capital, US private equity firm Bain Capital, local fund BGH and American budget airline owner Indigo Partners have moved through to the second round, sources close to the process said.

Deloitte's lead administrator Vaughan Strawbridge would not confirm which parties had proceeded, but said he was "delighted by the strength of each of those on the shortlist".

Cyrus Capital was a surprise addition to the final field, chosen from about eight indicative bids submitted on Friday. The distressed debt specialist has close ties to Virgin Australia co-founder Richard Branson, launching Virgin America together before Alaska Air bought it in 2018.

Cyrus, Virgin Atlantic (51 per cent owned by Mr Branson) and aviation group Stobart Group bought the British regional airline Flybe in February 2019 with a plan to rebrand it Virgin Connect.

However, the directors of the company, including Cyrus founding partner Lucien Farrell, put the airline into administration in March this year after it was unable to secure a 100 million ($188 million) government bailout. The parent company, Connect Airways, also in administration, owes creditors 56 million, including 6.6 million to staff, according to documents filed with the UKs corporate registry.

The Arizona-based budget airline owner Indigo Partners has also been hit hard by the coronavirus, with its US carrier Frontier Airlines participating in a sector-wide bailout by the Trump administration. Another of its carriers, Hungary-based WizzAir, recently received a bailout from the UK government by way of a 300 million soft loan.

Read the full story here.
Hairdressers and beauticians may be allowed to trade as early as next month amid a push from ministers to accelerate reopening.

At present, the phased plan does not envisage so-called higher-risk contact services such as hairdressing, barbers and beauticians being allowed to trade until July 20 as part of phase four of the roadmap.

However, a memo brought to Cabinet last Friday said there would be engagement with certain sectors about how they plan to reopen while adhering to strict public health guidelines.

The memo is said to have specifically referenced personal services such as hairdressing.

Culture Minister Josepha Madigan raised the issue with her ministerial colleagues at the Cabinet meeting, arguing that the reopening of hairdressers, barbers and beauticians could be brought forward into phase three of the plan, which would see them open from June 29.

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Ms Madigan also argued for museums and galleries to be allowed to reopen from June 29 if they can apply social distancing rules. The roadmap for reopening currently states that these should not open until phase four on July 20. Ms Madigan is believed to have argued that museums and galleries have already started to reopen in other countries.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is said to have been open to the proposal, along with other requests from ministers to speed up the process if the spread of the virus remains low. A Cabinet source said ministers were now being "very assertive" in arguing for sectors they are responsible to be allowed to reopen sooner.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education has been instructed to come up with a plan for how to reopen schools. Mr Varadkar asked for the plan after he said last week that reopening schools could be "among the safest things" to do in the coming months.

He was later contradicted by the chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, who does not anticipate schools will return before their scheduled reopening in September.

Ministers are keen to set out a clear plan in order to avoid the debacle over the Leaving Cert which was initially scheduled to begin at the end of July, before being effectively cancelled in favour of a grading system that will be overseen by the department.

Education Minister Joe McHugh has also set up a working group to examine how to expand educational supports to children with disabilities over the summer. The group is looking at extending the so-called 'July Provision' which funds an extra month's education for children with a severe or profound learning disability or children with autism. It is likely the scheme, which benefits around 10,000 children, will be extended to more children and operate over the summer.

Fianna Fail education spokesman Thomas Byrne has written to Ombudsman for Children Niall Muldoon and the Department of Education requesting that Mr Muldoon be formally involved in the discussions on reopening schools as "an independent voice of the child".

In a letter to Mr Muldoon, Mr Byrne said: "You publicly intervened twice at key moments in the controversy surrounding the Leaving Certificate exams. I am concerned about the process the department is using, which reportedly involves high levels of confidentiality among participants, while at the same time leaks appear daily in the press. This leads to confusion and stress."

He added: "One of the key lessons from the debate around the Leaving Certificate has been that young people's interests were not considered to the level necessary from the outset. Instead, the focus was initially on protecting the integrity of the exams.

"While this is obviously important, it could never have trumped issues around the mental health of young people, public health more generally and emerging issues surrounding the digital divide. These issues are also relevant to school reopenings. I believe that we should learn from the experience of the Leaving Certificate and avoid a repeat of the stress and anxiety which was created."

Mr McHugh's spokesman said the minister was engaging with the ombudsman.

Elsewhere, ministers Shane Ross and Brendan Griffin have established an expert group to provide guidance to sporting bodies on how to prepare for a phased return to sporting activity. The group includes representatives from Sport Ireland, the IRFU, the FAI, the GAA and the disability sport organisation CARA.
Each of the 18 books on this list have some kind of Arizona connection. Many of these titles are written by local Tucson authors or are set in Tucson or Arizona. Some explore topics relevant to our region.
Arshad Khan By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The final tranche of Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package to make India a self-reliant economy was announced on Sunday. On the final day, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Team announced reforms in Health and Education sector, increasing allocation in MGNREGA, gave emphasis to make India more business-friendly and spoke about increasing funding to states.

While some Industry players lauded the Center's move to introduce big-ticket reforms in areas such as agriculture, MSMEs and power distribution companies during the last five days, many expressed shock to be left out completely even as their business took a big hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH) said on Sunday that the Indian tourism industry has gone into a state of disbelief and shock.

"Indian tourism travel and hospitality is said to impact 10-12% of Indias employment which is believed to cover almost 5 crore + direct and indirect jobs. The industry has gone numb from a lack of any umbrella direction from the Government or without any fiscal & monetary support," FAITH said.

It added that with no visibility of cash inflows the Indian tourism industry is now looking at large scale bankruptcies, business closures which will lead to job losses across cities, towns and hinterlands of India.

Retail association body CAIT, which has close ties with the ruling party, also expressed its grief. CAIT said that the entire trading community today is extremely upset with the Government for this 'step-motherly' treatment.

"The traders will be landing into great financial crisis on the lifting of lockdown as they will have to pay salary, interest, bank loans, taxes and various other financial obligations. It is expected that nearly 20% traders will have to wind up their business and another 10% traders dependent on these 20% traders will have to close their business. Under such a grim situation the Government has refused to handhold the traders. Its a pity that such an important sector of the economy has been greatly overlooked," the Retail body said.

The Government also decided to overlook suggestions made by prominent industrialists and economists to pay Rs 5,000-7,500 to the most vulnerable section of society over the next three months. This, according to many experts, would have helped in creating demand in the economy. The government, however, decided to increase allocation in MGNREGA. This move was also welcomed by many.

"The increase in MGNREGA outlay by Rs 40,000 cr is quite good as it can potentially cover 2 crore of migrants who can take 100 days employment, provided there are projects," Care Ratings said.

Automobile and aviation are the two other sectors who despite holding numerous meetings with the Government in the recent past did not find any major mentioning in the package. The Telecom sector, whose services remain active in the lockdown period was also sidelined. Similarly, startups and new-age businesses who are facing the risk of going bust due to a tectonic shift in consumption behavior were left out at large in the package.

Chamber body FICCI said that while these measures will surely help the economy in the medium to long term, they are hopeful that the government would consider measures to support battered segments of the industry including tourism, hospitality, aviation and healthcare. "FICCI has requested that a minimum amount of Rs 20,000 crore be allotted for these sectors as they have seen a maximum dip in demand and will also take much longer to recover from the set-back seen," it said.

Even the struggling Real Estate, which had some takeaways in the package, felt major concerns of sector were not answered.

Whilst we understand the constraints of the government, from the real estate sector point of view, the announcements were inadequate in addressing the issues faced by the sector. The announcements have provided for an extension of CLSS scheme and an extension of deadline by six months under RERA for registered projects as a relief to the sector. We also hope that the partial Credit Guarantee to NBFCs and HFCs will enhance liquidity support and to assuage risk concerns of lenders, thereby help the sector to remain positive during this crisis. Overall, we feel disappointed that no direct demand stimulus was announced that could have benefited the beleaguered sector, Shishir Baijal, Chairman & Managing Director, Knight Frank India said.


Weather Alert

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY... * WHAT...Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of one inch with localized higher amounts and ice accumulations of a light glaze. * WHERE...Portions of western Kentucky, generally along and south of a Paducah to Owensboro line, and Massac, Pope, and Hardin counties in southern Illinois. * WHEN...Until 6 AM CST Thursday. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions overnight, potentially into the commute on Thursday morning. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Freezing of residual moisture on roads could also cause icing of roads and walkways. Black ice issues could linger through the early morning hours on Thursday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. &&
China urges US to stop 'unreasonable suppression' of Huawei

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 May 2020 9:10 AM

China has urged the United States to stop the "unreasonable suppression" of Chinese tech giant Huawei as well as other enterprises, as tensions have heightened between the world's two largest economies.

"The Chinese government will firmly uphold Chinese firms' legitimate and legal rights and interests," China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.

"We urge the US side to immediately stop its unreasonable suppression of Huawei and Chinese enterprises."

The Trump administration's actions "destroy global manufacturing, supply and value chains," it added.

The statement came after Washington imposed new restrictions on Huawei, severely limiting its ability to use American technology to design and manufacture semiconductors produced for it abroad.

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Friday that the move aims to prevent Huawei from making a run around existing US sanctions.

The new rule prevents any company from selling to Huawei without a license if the product they are selling has been designed or made using US-produced technology or hardware.

The Commerce Department said in a statement on Friday that the new restrictions would "narrowly and strategically" target Huawei's acquisition of semiconductors that are the direct product of certain US software and technology.

Huawei has not yet responded to requests for comment.

However, China's Global Times reported on Friday that Beijing was ready to put US companies on an "unreliable entity list," as part of countermeasures in response to the new limits on Huawei.

The measures include launching investigations and imposing restrictions on US companies such as Apple Inc, Cisco Systems Inc and Qualcomm Inc, as well as suspending purchases of Boeing Co airplanes, the report said.

Global Times also noted that the new restrictions will cut off Huawei's access to one of its major suppliers, the Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC, which also manufactures chips for Apple and other tech firms.

"It seems the US is ratcheting up efforts to pinch China's high-tech companies," it said, adding that the "US suppression has become the No. 1 challenge to China's development."

The latest restrictions are a new escalation in the US-China battle for global technological dominance. The United States does not want China to dominate 5G mobile networks and is seeking to convince other nations not to use the Chinese firm's equipment for 5G.

Huawei -- considered the world leader in superfast 5G equipment and the world's number two smartphone producer has been under relentless pressure from Washington, which has lobbied allies worldwide to avoid the company's telecom gear over security concerns, in the shadow of a wider US-China trade conflict.

Washington has repeatedly accused the Chinese tech giant of a "decades-long" effort to steal trade secrets from American companies. Huawei has time and again denied the accusations.

US President Donald Trump's administration has blacklisted Huawei to block the company from getting any US telecom equipment contracts and prevent the transfer of American technology to the Chinese firm.

Washington accuses Huawei of providing Beijing with a way to spy on communications from the countries that use its products and services.

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I am a fourth-year medical student at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. I also serve as the vice chair for the American Medical Associations Medical Student Section consisting of more than 50,000 medical students in the country, a position that puts me at the epicenter of medical student, resident and physician initiatives across the country related to COVID-19.

On March 5, I arrived in Washington, D.C., for an AMA Medical Student Advocacy Conference. When I arrived, COVID-19 was a fear but not yet a reality for me. When I left D.C. on March 11, it was no longer an idea or far-off concept; it was real. Each day of the conference wed get new updates about COVID-19  a new case, a positive priest who had served communion, and the expanding state of urgency. When I returned home, there were three cases in New Mexico, but I knew a tide was coming.

I imagined as a fourth-year medical student that my husband and I would be packing up our home getting ready to move across the country for me to begin residency. I imagined having a Match Day ceremony in March where my friends and family would be together to celebrate the next step in our journey, teaching a course in April for medical students starting their clinical rotations, and then the long-awaited graduation day when Id finally be Dr. Bronner.

When I got back to New Mexico, it wasnt the place I had left. There was a dichotomous tone to the conversations I had  those of fear and those of unbelief. In my medical sphere there was a sense of urgency, while in others there was only brushing off of my pleas to stay home.

I reached out to the dean of Medical Student Affairs at the University of New Mexico with the simple request Can we do something to help with childcare? as the news of Albuquerque Public Schools closings left many of our front-line providers without caretakers for their kids. What I expected to find was a couple of medical students who would volunteer to watch some kids, but what I found was an upcoming, dynamic network of faculty and students ready to take action.

It all started with a survey sent out to medical students  would you help with child care, groceries or running errands? This would evolve into a multifaceted survey asking for needs of every kind with precautions in place in light of the ongoing pandemic. This would lead to more than 250 volunteers, both faculty and students, ready to put themselves second in order to serve our community. We would be connected to faculty with groups of students who were already delving into research on COVID-19 transmission, PPE collection and ways to support our community in a time of uncertainty. We would be connected to staff working to educate and involve our students in the response to the pandemic in more ways than I could have imagined.

Its been weeks since we first started what felt like a David vs. Goliath feat of taking on COVID-19 in a state with far less resources than some of our counterparts. Its been constant Zoom calls, emails, texts and calls all because our UNM School of Medicine heard the call and sprung into action. From the first day I contacted officials they have been on our side. The University of New Mexico School of Medicine began the COVID-19 in 2020 block in March and has fostered student efforts and initiatives every step of the way.

It started with a vision  a public health curriculum centering around COVID-19 with service tracks for individuals to engage with the community  but I never envisioned where it would lead. As of today, we have more projects than I am able to keep track of, from bench research to patient experience of care in COVID-19. We have students staffing four separate COVID-19 hotlines in New Mexico, collecting PPE, creating educational materials in English, Spanish and Navajo engineered for adults and specific to children and high school students. Students are creating wellness resources for their overburdened colleagues, getting groceries to those who are unable to get them themselves, and more than anything else, responding to the needs of our beloved community. As Ive engaged in discussions with students all over the country through the AMA, I have seen nothing close to the kind of reciprocal respect and collaboration the faculty at the UNM School of Medicine have had with our medical students. 

Ive been thinking about what graduation might have been like surrounded by friends and family, and how Im honestly not missing anything. I mean, graduation would have been a time to feel validated for the hard work the class of 2020 has put in, but what is more validating than being from an institution where your ideas are valued and acted upon when your community calls? I am so proud to call New Mexico home and to say I hail from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.
One of the easiest methods used by policyholders to save money on insurance is to insure all the vehicles from the household on a family insurance plan, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

A multi-car insurance plan is a policy where multiple cars can be insured under a single policy. This policy is a good option for drivers who own multiple vehicles that are used for different purposes. Multi-car insurance policies are also suitable for households that dont share vehicles, or for households that have at least two cars shared between the drivers.

Owning a family car insurance policy has the following advantages:



Dealing with fewer administrative headaches. One important advantage of this type of policy is having a single point of contact and the same benefits across the whole household. Also, policyholders are not required to alert multiple providers if they trade in a vehicle or have other driver and vehicle changes. Furthermore, policyholders are required to pay a single bill in one place with a household insurance policy.

They are cheaper. Family insurance policies are usually much cheaper than insuring each driver in a household individually. There are several reasons why providers offer these plans. One reason is that they dont have to worry about a single plan for multiple covered individuals, and therefore insurers have lower administrative costs. Fewer employees are required to manage a household account than 3-4 or more individual accounts. Also, these plans are great to build brand loyalty and to attract new customers from new generations of drivers.

Besides advantages, family car insurance plans do have some disadvantages and the most important is the following:

Some drivers are more expensive to insure. When having a family policy, policyholders pay for the good and bad drivers in one bucket. Having several bad drivers in a policy can significantly raise the premium. Young drivers that are under the age of 25 are more expensive to insure. Also, adding drivers with lots of tickets or with DUI convictions on a family policy should be avoided. These types of drivers can significantly raise the premium of a family plan and in most cases, it's cheaper to insure them on individual policies.

In most households, family policies can help policyholders save money. They are cheaper, easier to administrate, and simpler to manage and maintain. However, households that have more than one or two high-risk drivers, are likely to pay more on insurance. In these cases, family policies may no longer be cost-effective.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.
BAY CITY, MI - An impending rainstorm coupled with high winds has led to multiple warnings by the National Weather Service for mid-Michigan and the Thumb region.

A pair of lakeshore flood warnings run from Sunday, May 17 until 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 19 for Sanilac, Huron, and St. Clair counties, as well as Bay and Tuscola counties.

There will be several days of easterly winds on Lake Huron. Wind speeds are expected to hover between 15 and 25 MPH, the warning reads, with some higher possible gusts. The persistence of these winds and very high lake levels will worsen the ongoing long term flooding and erosion situation along the lake.

Some road closures are possible, with motorists advised not to drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth.

This will push the levels of Saginaw Bay at Essexville over 70 inches, per the warning issued for Bay and Tuscola counties, with flooding of homes and other property possible. Flood water is also likely to back up the Saginaw River, leading to possible flooding into Bay City," the weather service said.

The strongest winds along the Saginaw Bay are forecast for Sunday night into Monday, with gusts nearing 40 MPH.

A gale warning goes into effect 8 p.m. Sunday and stretches until 8 p.m. Monday, May 18 for the following areas:

-Lake Huron from Presque Isle Light to Sturgeon Point MI beyond 5 nautical miles off shore

-Lake Huron from Sturgeon Point to Alabaster MI beyond 5 nautical miles off shore

-Outer Saginaw Bay SW of Alabaster to Port Austin MI to Inner Saginaw Bay

-Inner Saginaw Bay SW of Point Au Gres to Bay Port MI

Sustained winds of 24 knots (27 MPH) to 34 knots (39 MPH) are forecast, leading to waves from 10 to 14 feet.

The maximum winds associated with the gale warning are expected around 8 a.m. Monday, with the largest waves two hours earlier.

Strong winds will cause hazardous waves which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility, the gale warning notes. Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe conditions.

A majority of the state is also under a flood watch, with areas north of Interstate 69 including Flint possibly receiving two to three inches of rain and up to four inches in spots including Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City by the end of Monday.

Heavy rain, Gale warnings in forecast, Flood watch issued for big part of Michigan
PARISHe was behind the radio station whose hate-filled invectives turned Rwandan against Rwandan, neighbour against neighbour, even spouse against spouse. He was the man, it was said, who imported the hundreds of thousands of machetes that allowed countless ordinary people to act upon that hatred in one of the last genocides of the past century.

One of the most-wanted fugitives of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Felicien Kabuga, was arrested Saturday morning in a rented home just outside Paris, protected by his children, the French authorities said. The capture of Kabuga, 84, who was living under a false identity, was the culmination of a decades-long international hunt across many countries on at least two continents.

His arrest  considered the most important apprehension by an international tribunal in the past decade  could help bring long-awaited justice for his actions more than a generation after the killing of at least 800,000 and perhaps as many as one million ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus in the small central African nation.

His trial could also help unravel some of the enduring mysteries of the killings, particularly how much planning went into the genocide, which also led to a catastrophic war in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and continues to destabilize much of central Africa today.

Kabuga, one of Rwandas richest men before the genocide, is accused by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda of being the main financier and logistical backer of the political and militia groups that committed the genocide. He had been on the run for 23 years since he was indicted on multiple charges of genocide.

It is historical on many levels, Rwandas justice minister, Johnston Busingye, said in a phone interview from the countrys capital, Kigali. You can run, but you cannot hide. It cant be forever.

A tribunal official said on Saturday that Kabuga had been tracked down in France after investigators followed communications among members of his family who, the official said, had acted as his support network.

Kabuga has always been seen by the victims and survivors as one of the leading figures, Serge Brammertz, the chief prosecutor at the tribunal, said by phone on Saturday from The Hague. For them, after waiting so many years, his arrest is an important step toward justice.

Kabugas capture could be the most important arrest of a figure wanted by an international tribunal since the 2011 apprehension of Gen. Ratko Mladic, the Serbian military leader who was later convicted of having committed genocide during the Bosnian war of the early 1990s, Brammertz said.

The arrest ended a lengthy and often-frustrating search for Kabuga by international investigators across multiple countries.

Stephen Rapp, a former chief prosecutor at the UN Rwanda tribunal, said that immediately after the genocide, Kabuga fled to Switzerland, where he unsuccessfully applied for asylum, and was then seen in other European countries before settling in Kenya for several years. Rapp said the fugitive had used assumed names and several different passports.

Believed to have been one of the most powerful men in Rwanda before the genocide, Kabuga, an ethnic Hutu, made his fortune in trade. Through the marriage of a daughter, he was linked to a former president, Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu, who was killed after his plane was shot down by a missile over the Rwandan capital in 1994.

Extremist Hutus accused Tutsis of carrying out the assassination, eventually triggering 100 days of killings in which tens of thousands of Rwandans, including civilians, militia and the police, participated.

The Rwandan government has tried thousands of people, and the UN Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has tried close to 80, among them senior government figures. After Kabugas capture, at least six senior figures suspected of participating in or orchestrating the genocide remain on an international most wanted list.
PIERRON  Authorities have released the name of a Highland man killed on Interstate 70 near Highland on Friday evening.

According to Illinois State Police, Larry Jones, 62, drove his vehicle into the median on I-70 in the westbound lanes near Milepost 32.3. His vehicle was stuck in mud and, for an unknown reason, Jones exited his vehicle and reportedly walked into the path of a Volvo semi-tractor driven by Dilshod Khalimov, 29, of Philidelphia, Pennsylvania.
Sunday, May 17, 2020 at 8:43AM

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

Bell MTS announces plans to bring fibre internet connections to residents and businesses in Morden, Manitoba. It's part of a broader plan made with a $1 billion to launch fibre network speeds across Manitoba. Once these connections are installed, the promised download speeds can go up to 1.5Gbps.

Construction of the networks is scheduled to start sometime this summer, with first customers getting access in the fall. There are 3,300 homes and businesses in the city, with around 9,000 residents, making it an excellent place to start rolling out fibre connections. Bell also plans to bring these fast speeds to La Salle, Flin Flon, and Churchill in Manitoba this year.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday accused India of attempting to create an opportunity to conduct a false-flag operation against his country by alleging that Islamabad was supporting terrorism in Kashmir.

Khan once again took to Twitter to allege that the Indian government was trying to deprive the Kashmiris of their right of self-determination by "illegal annexation of their territory."



In a series of tweets, Khan alleged that India was trying to show Kashmiris' right to struggle for self-determination guaranteed in UN Security Council Resolutions as terrorism being abetted by Pakistan - to create opportunity for a false flag operation against Pakistan while detracting world attention away from" Kashmir.

Khan's statement came amidst the ongoing war of words between the two countries.

Pakistan on Saturday rejected the Indian army chief Gen MM Naravane's recent allegations of organising and supporting a new terror group in Kashmir, known as The Resistance Front'.

"I would like to emphasise that Indian Army will give proportionate response to all acts of infringement of ceasefire and its (Pakistan's) support to terrorism. The onus remains with Pakistan to bring peace in the region," Gen Naravane said last week.

The ties between India and Pakistan strained following the Pulwama terror attack and the subsequent Balakot airstrikes by the Indian Air Force.

The bilateral relations further nose-dived following the Indian goverment's abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in August last that revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The move angered Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties with India and expelled the Indian High Commissioner.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman on Sunday (May 17) took a break from announcing new reforms in the fifth and the final tranche to lash out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his impromptu meeting with a group of migrant workers in Delhi on Saturday afternoon. The Union Minister called Rahul's act as nothing but a 'drama'.

Nirmala was announcing the fifth and the final tranche of Rs 20 lakh crore economic stimulus package of Centre when she stated, "Rahul Gandhis act of speaking for migrant labourers is drama."

"Why don't Congress-ruled states request for more trains so that more migrants can reach home. They call us dramebaaz. What about yesterday? They sat beside migrants who were walking back home and spoke to them. That is dramabaazi. It would have been better if he had walked alongside migrants, holding their children and suitcases," Sitharaman said.

She also urged the opposition party to work together for migrants and asked Congress party president Sonia Gandhi to join the efforts of the government in handling migrants issue and to deal with them more responsibly. "I want to tell the Opposition party that on the issue to migrants we all must work together. We are working with all states on this issue. With folded hands, I ask Sonia Gandhi ji that we must speak and deal with our migrants more responsibly," she stated during the conference.

On Sunday, Rahul held an hour-long sit-in with a group of 20 migrant workers, including women and children, walking from their worksite near Ambala to their village near Jhansi. The meeting took place as they sat on the footpath on Mathura road in the national capital.

Later, the party claimed that the Delhi Police took some of the migrant workers into preventive custody soon after their meeting with the former Congress president, a charge which was denied by the Delhi Police. The party claimed that the police told them that "they had directions to do so."

The Congress and other Opposition parties have been vocally critical of the government at Centre on the handling of migrants during the coronavirus lockdown.
COVID-19 has killed more than 15,000 in Brazil and reported infections have surpassed those in Italy and Spain. Experts say with a lack of testing, these numbers could be much higher.

But, President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the risks of the disease and pushed to reopen the economy.

Many people, including healthcare workers, feel they are being left on their own to battle the pandemic.

Al Jazeeras Priyanka Gupta reports.
U.S. authorities are not yet seeing spikes in coronavirus cases in places that are reopening but it was still to early to determine such trends, health secretary Alex Azar said on Sunday.

"We are seeing that in places that are opening, we're not seeing this spike in cases," Azar said on CNN's "State of the Union" program. "We still see spikes in some areas that are, in fact, closed."

However, Azar said identifying and reporting new cases takes time. A critical part of reopening will be surveillance of flu-like symptoms in the population and other hospital admissions data, as well as testing of asymptomatic individuals, he said.

"It's still early days," Azar cautioned in an interview with CBS' "Face the Nation." He said data will take some time to come in from states that reopened early such as Georgia and Florida.

Nearly all 50 U.S. states have begun to allow some businesses to reopen and residents to move more freely, but only 14 states have met the federal government's guidelines for lifting measures aimed at fighting the pandemic, according to a Reuters analysis.

The top Democrat in Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said it was impossible to know the trajectory of the virus, which has killed close to 90,000 Americans, without more testing.

"We have no idea the size of this challenge to our country because we have not sufficiently tested," Pelosi said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Legislation passed by the House of Representatives on Friday would provide for the keys to a successful reopening: testing, tracing and treatment, she said. Republicans have called the bill dead on arrival in the Senate.

"We haven't had a plan. Let's go forward in a bipartisan way to have a plan, a plan to test," she said.

The United States has lagged far behind most other industrialized nations in coronavirus testing that public health officials deem critical to preventing further outbreaks.

Azar put the onus on local governments to handle reopening plans, as cooped-up Americans begin to flock to bars, beaches and parks.

"These are very localized determinations. There should not be a one size fits all to reopening but reopen we must because it's not health versus the economy. It's health versus healthy," he said, adding there were serious health consequences to not reopening.

Asked about images being broadcast from some areas of the country showing people gathering near bars and congregating close together, Azar said that was the cost of freedom.

"I think in any individual instance you're going to see people doing things that are irresponsible. That's part of the freedom that we have here in America," he said on CNN.

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Some City bankers may be asked to work from home for the rest of the year, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Sources said a host of City institutions were planning a 'phased' return to the office as the coronavirus lockdown eases.

While some staff would be asked to begin commuting into the City in the coming weeks, others may be asked to keep working at home.

Small steps: Sources said a host of City institutions were planning a 'phased' return to the office as the coronavirus lockdown eases

Asking staff to return in phases would help ease congestion on public transport and social distancing in the workplace.

Senior City sources said it is likely that share traders will be asked to return while administration, operations and 'middle office' staff could be held back for many months.

One source said JP Morgan was among the banks preparing a plan that involved some staff working remotely for the rest of 2020.

A company spokesman declined to comment. Last week, it emerged that Canary Wharf  home to the European headquarters of Barclays, Citigroup and HSBC  had drawn up detailed plans to allow bankers, accountants and lawyers to return to work.

These include limiting lift capacity, daily deep cleaning and one-way footfall flows. Some key executives, such as senior traders, have been working part time from their offices.

But most City workers have been asked to work at home since the crisis began.
Shareholder democracy is as important now as at any other time. That is why Stelios Haji-Ioannou, as founder and biggest shareholder in Easyjet, deserves his day in the sun at the video general meeting summoned for Friday.

The Stelios liking for colourful language  labelling the airline's top team, chairman John Barton and chief executive Johan Lundgren, as 'scoundrels'  has provided a respite from the relentless totting up of Covid-19 deaths and fiscal costs.

But the Easyjet imbroglio directly links into disease narratives. Airlines, airports and travel companies are mired in the front line against coronavirus.

Is the future orange?: Airlines, airports and travel companies are mired in the front line against coronavirus

The EU has parked its reservations about state aid to keep carriers such as Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and Anglo-German holiday giant Tui (owner of Thomson) in the air. EU states have spent up to 6 billion on this exercise. In the US, all six major carriers received an 80 per cent bailout with smaller operators provided with access to 100 per cent of requested assistance.

Stelios argues that this is precisely the wrong moment for Easyjet to plan spending 4.5 billion on 107 new Airbus planes, even though the order has been delayed and scaled back by Easyjet management.

One can understand his anxiety. Easyjet has been a gusher for him and his family, generating up to 620m in dividends over the years. Governance advisory groups (ISS, Glass Lewis and PIRC) have lined up on the side of the Easyjet board. Some 15 per cent of minority investors support the existing team, with Blackrock and M&G, holding a further 7.5 per cent stake, inclined to join.

Yet Stelios is almost certainly right. Committing to an expanded fleet when no one has any clarity on when the skies will clear is unfortunate. But abrogating signed contracts may be trickier than Stelios admits.

The aerospace sector is in deep trouble. Franco-German owned Airbus (in which the UK has a big interest) is seeking assistance. Britain's premier engineering company Rolls-Royce is facing severe problems as demand for its long-haul engines dissipates. Rolls shares (which I hold) have fallen catastrophically and not enjoyed the bounce of other sectors of the FTSE100.

UK satellite champion Inmarsat, sold off to private equity firms Apax and Warburg Pincus last year, finds itself saddled with debt. Its promising product, the provision of in-flight broadband services on civilian airlines, is grounded. It is another case of a stupefying private equity deal betraying the prospects of British technology.

The Easyjet row and Virgin Atlantic's search for a bailout has placed a laser focus on the airline industry. Branson has taken some steps towards self-help and new private equity investor helpers could be on the way. But the UK Shareholder Executive should grab a stake for the taxpayer.

The fate of our airlines impacts directly on aerospace, too much of which is now in the hands of financially-driven ownership.

Neglecting UK-based carriers in their hour of need would not only threaten Britain's role as a trade and services hub but could spill over into aerospace manufacturing and innovation.
More than 180 people who attended a religious service on Mothers Day in Butte County  violating the states shelter-in-place orders  were told to self-quarantine after one attendee tested positive for the coronavirus, county health officials said.

The person received a positive diagnosis last week, shortly after attending the service, and is self-isolating at home, according to the Butte County Public Health Department, which is investigating the incident.

Organizations that hold in-person services or gatherings are putting the health and safety of their congregations, the general public and our local ability to open up at great risk, Butte County Public Health Director Danette York said in a statement.

We all need to do our part to follow the orders and mitigation efforts so that our Reopen Butte County plan can continue to move forward. Moving too quickly through the reopening process can cause a major setback and could require us to revert back to more restrictive measures.

Butte County had 22 coronavirus cases and zero deaths as of Friday, health officials said.

Gatherings of any size have been banned since March 19 under the states shelter-in-place order. The countys second phase for reopening does not allow gatherings, officials said.

The county did not name the church that held the Mothers Day service. But Mike Jacobsen, pastor at Palermo Bible Family Church in the Central Valley, said on Facebook that he held services at the church on that day, May 10, and confirmed an attendee tested positive in the subsequent days.

I would never with knowledge put anyone in harms way, Jacobsen said in a public Facebook post Friday. We love our church and feel very blessed to Pastor a great group of believers. For 7 weeks we have been kept out of our church and away from our church family. I am fully aware that some people may not understand that for our church it is essential to be together in fellowship.

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.

He is among several religious leaders across the U.S. who have violated shelter-in-place orders during the pandemic, arguing church services are a critical aspect of life for many Americans, particularly during a health crisis.

That defiance has come at a cost: In some cases churchgoers and pastors have contracted the virus after participating in religious gatherings. A Virginia pastor who pledged to keep preaching unless Im in jail or in the hospital died last month of COVID-19.

Jacobsens Facebook post has generated nearly 700 comments, with some parishioners defending the pastor and arguing parishioners made a personal choice to attend. Critics blasted the pastor for his actions and doubled down on the need to shelter in place.

Jacobsen did not immediately respond to requests for comment Sunday. He and his wife, Pat, have been pastors of the Pentecostal church for 12 years, according to its website.

Tatiana Sanchez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tatiana.sanchez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez
This communication gap in awareness creation remains one major hurdle in reopening schools. There is also an attitudinal issue and a lack of importance given to awareness on COVID-19 prevention.





by Kusal Perera





Announcing details about reopening schools Education Minister Dulles Alahapperuma told media on 12 May In the new system, it is required to rearrange a class with over 30 students into a minimum of two groups to prevent large concentration of students,













There are 1,486 schools with less than 50 students, 1,560 schools with less than 100 students, 1,138 schools with less than150 students, 977 schools with less than 200 students, 2,690 schools with less than 500 students and 1,375 schools with less than 1,000 students and said it wont be a big task to run these schools under the new system.





It will not be easy for about 868 schools with over 1,000 students he said adding, but we have to do it because our top priority is the safety and welfare of nearly 4.5 million students and approximately 300,000 teachers,





I have stressed this before but will do it again as almost all in the education sector including the Minister and teacher trade union leaders prefer indulging on peripheral issues than getting into core issues.





Children are not the main factor in re-opening schools. Lets clear this principle COVID-19 health issue first. Children are not considered vulnerable as adults. They are at the bottom of the vulnerable list. Latest (May 13) global numbers indicate affected children are less than 02 percent. Larger majority of them are reported from Europe and the USA. Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, professor of paediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine and chair of the committee on infectious diseases at the American Academy of Paediatrics was quoted in Time online as saying, I cant think of another situation in which a respiratory infection only affects adults so severely.





So here we are. Children are not vulnerable to be obsessed with child safety and the Minister Alahapperuma was right in saying they consider safety of 300,000 teachers (and principals) as a top priority. When reopening schools therefore, more stress and attention has to be given to adults who are required to get involved with reopening. That invariably includes modes of transport teachers and students use. Apart from public commuter buses that includes school service vans and 3 wheelers. There are no accurate numbers of school vans operating. From provincial data there were around 30,000 school service vans registered in 2017. There is nevertheless no count of 3Ws that transport school children and teachers.





What is most important for all of them to avoid COVID-19 infection is to adhere to the basic requirements personal hygiene of regularly washing hands and maintaining social distancing. It is an accepted fact that to establish mechanisms to monitor such individual responses are near impossible. Prevention can only be achieved through serious, community awareness programmes that convince individuals to take personal responsibility in all protection measures. Its also about communities taking responsibility in overseeing themselves taking precautions. There is no emphasis and stress on individual responsibility in self-protection in any media, where preventive measures are mere advertisements and often discussed with no clear target audience.





This communication gap in awareness creation remains one major hurdle in reopening schools. There is also an attitudinal issue and a lack of importance given to awareness on COVID-19 prevention. It was evident in how the Minister used numbers in pushing his school reopening programme.





This is how that lapse is exhibited. To keep hands regularly washed needs more than usually adequate water. Thus the first priority in reopening schools should be to ascertain all schools have uninterrupted supply of water. That was not even thought of. It is not known whether even private and international schools have such facilities adequately. It is also not known whether there is any regular inspection of these facilities by any State authority.





Where government schools are concerned, water issue is an insult to the whole education system and to children the minister says is priority. According to the Education Ministrys School Census Report-2017, in Western Province (WP), of the 1,100 plus schools only about 600(54 percent) schools have pipe borne water by municipal or urban councils or from the water board. The remaining 550 schools are dependent on flowing streams, tube wells or normal wells. Even in schools with pipe borne water, there is no guarantee the pipes are in order and in minimum adequate numbers for students to use them without crowding. In WP 04 percent of the schools have no source of water.





That being WP, other provinces fair no better. In CP only 35 percent have pipe borne water and 23 percent have no water. NP have 12 percent schools with pipe borne water while 10 percent have no water. In Sabaragamuwa it is 25 percent with pipe borne water and 19 percent without any water. NW (Wayamba) has only 18 percent with pipe borne water and 25 percent without water. In such context, EP seems comparatively better with 57 percent schools with pipe borne water while 13 percent have no water. Rest of the provinces are no better, or perhaps far worse.





This issue of water leads to a more disgusting situation in government schools that is rarely or never paid attention to. The School Census Report data reveals, of all schools in the island, only 35 percent have pipe borne water. This very clearly suggests that around 6,500 schools are without washrooms and toilets. Even in schools where there is water on tap, there is much doubt many of them have washrooms and toilets that can be tolerated. With COVID-19 spread, these being common facilities, they have to be maintained all through the day as hygienically clean.





It should now be clear that reopening of schools is more complex than numbers the minister provided. Therefore, it is important to focus on what answers could be worked out to reopen schools. The first and the most important condition that must be addressed before schools are reopened is providing a regular, uninterrupted supply of water that can meet the necessities of both students and the teaching staff. That is the most urgent responsibility of the education department under any circumstance.





Thereafter, the other important issues that should be immediately addressed are,

conducting special awareness programmes for teachers and parents on their responsibilities, both in and out of school. These awareness work can be delegated to the 370 MOH offices and staff around the country.

similarly, awareness programmes should be organised for school van owners/drivers and 3W drivers also by MOH offices

school development societies should establish their own monitoring committees, supervised by the MOH office. These committees should be held responsible for maintaining COVID-19 prevention work in schools and also in ensuring supply of water and cleanliness in washrooms/toilets.

Schools with water service can be reopened first under such supervision after MOH certifies they have everything in order, while other schools can be reopened as they get a permanent and a regular water service, also with certification from MOH.





Issue of covering lessons the students lost during the past months as impact of COVID-19, is another important issue, but one that requires a different discussion. It should be stressed and be remembered that needs to be planned without making extra work a burden to both students and teachers. Thus, serious attention should be paid to a new teaching approach where education is not invariably linked to exams.





This is a note that was prepared for a broader discussion on re-organising education this moment and therefore alternate or different ideas and proposals are expected in opening up the discussion.
OTTAWA - Frustration is growing within Canada's veterans' community as many disabled ex-soldiers continue to wait for federal support and benefits even as the government rushes to approve millions of claims for assistance related to COVID-19.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/5/2020 (612 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

People wait to be tested for COVID-19 at a mobile clinic in Montreal, Sunday, May 17, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

OTTAWA - Frustration is growing within Canada's veterans' community as many disabled ex-soldiers continue to wait for federal support and benefits even as the government rushes to approve millions of claims for assistance related to COVID-19.

The growing frustration among veterans comes as Canada passed a new milestone Sunday, with more than half the country's roughly 76,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 now listed as recovered. More than 5,700 people have died from the respiratory illness.

It also coincides with a growing war of words between Jason Kenney and the Chinese consulate in Calgary, after the Alberta premier suggested China will soon face a "great reckoning" for downplaying the dangers posed by the novel coronavirus when it first emerged.

Veterans and their advocates have been calling for Ottawa to automatically approve roughly 44,000 claims that have been sitting in the backlog at Veterans Affairs Canada, a request that the federal government has so far rejected.

Yet many are now questioning why the government is refusing to act following reports federal officials have been told to approve payments through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit even in cases of suspected fraud or abuse.

Frustration is growing within Canada's veterans community as many disabled ex-soldiers continue to wait for federal support and benefits even as the government rushes to approve millions of claims for assistance related to COVID-19. A Canadian flag sits on a members of Canadian forces that are leaving from CFB Trenton, in Trenton, Ont., on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Federal officials have suggested that roughly 200,000 of the estimated eight million CERB payments made so far have been flagged as a concern. The government has said it wanted to get money to Canadians quickly during the pandemic, and will crack down on abusers at a later date.

The purpose and legal requirements around the CERB are different from Veterans Affairs Canada's disability benefits programs, department spokesman Josh Buekert said, adding officials are looking at ways to help process disability claims during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are making it easier for decision makers to use available evidence to reach their decision as quickly as possible," Buekert said in an email. "We are reviewing all processes used during these challenging circumstances and will use them to continue to improve production in the future."

Frustration has been boiling over on social media and elsewhere, however, with numerous veterans demanding to know why the government can fast-track millions of claims for assistance related to COVID-19 but not those injured while serving in uniform.

"Veterans are pissed because we are always put to the back of the bus," said retired master corporal Dave Toy, who has been waiting more than 18 months for his claim for benefits related to post-traumatic stress disorder to be processed. "This is just another reason to be pissed off."

The National Council of Veteran Associations, which represents more than 60 veteran groups, has been leading calls for the government to automatically approve the outstanding applications for disability benefits from injured veterans to help them deal with the COVID-19 crisis.

Not only are approval rates for most categories of injuries  including post-traumatic stress disorder  extremely high, council chairman Brian Forbes said the pandemic has created new hurdles for processing claims because of the need for doctor's assessments and other requirements.

"The government is taking the view  and it's kind of hard to criticize  that to put people through a bureaucratic approval process would be hard to justify," Forbes said of the CERB.

"In these times, the same philosophy should apply to both. We're talking about disabled veterans, people who are in need."

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.

Forbes did suggest the idea of automatic approvals has been gaining some traction within the department, where there have been questions about how to manage payments and the optics of clawing back money from veterans who are later found not to qualify for assistance.

Yet so far, the government has refused to pull the trigger.

"There is some movement in Veterans Affairs on what we're calling a form of automatic entitlement to try to deal with the backlog and the longstanding adjudicated delays," he said. "I'm a little biased, but I don't see disabled veterans quite in the same classification as fraud artists."

NDP veterans affairs critic Rachel Blaney said she has heard the concerns and complaints from veterans about the backlog, and that she hasn't heard any compelling reason why their applications for assistance shouldn't be automatically approved and verified afterward.

"Let's just approve," she said. "This is a group of people that have already served our country. So I would say it's probably not a high-risk group of people trying to trick the system."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2020.
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver was arrested on Saturday night in Montgomery County in Houston, Texas, and charged with driving while intoxicated and unlawfully carrying a weapon.

Video footage of the arrest was posted on the YouTube page of Scott Engle of the Montgomery County Police Reporter. You can watch the video in full at the top of the page.

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Sharing an international report on Sunday morning, Ram Madhav, National General Secretary of the BJP said that China is not revealing the real numbers of the Coronavirus cases. The report claimed that a leaked data from the National University of Defence Technology in the city of Changsha suggests China's total maybe 640,000. However, officially the country has only reported 84,029 cases.

The leaked data reportedly contains 640,000 individual entries taken from at least 230 cities spread across the country. Each entry contains latitude, longitude, and 'confirmed' number of cases at the location on a specific date, which range from early February to late April. The locations include hospitals but also apartment compounds, hotels, supermarkets, railway stations, restaurants, schools and even a branch of KFC. Assuming that each entry contains at least one case, that would mean at least 640,000 cases of the virus which have been recorded, the report says explaining the leaked data.

Madhav shared the study a day after India's coronavirus total crossed China's official figures. As per the latest update by India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has 90,927 Covid cases and 2872 deaths, with 34,109 people having recovered.

READ | Amit Shah meets MHA officials ahead of announcement of lockdown 4.0 guidelines

US blames China

The Trump administration has been blaming China for the spread of the novel coronavirus and for hiding its outbreak from the world. In its latest attack, US President Donald Trump threatened to put a complete end to ties with China over the latter's alleged reluctance in sharing full information regarding COVID-19.

Blaming the World Health Organisation (WHO) for being 'China-centric', Trump administration also halted its funding to the UN body. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier claimed that his country has enough evidence to prove the COVID-19 contagion emerged from a 'laboratory in Wuhan' and that it is 'not natural'.

READ | Defence Sector gets 'Make in India' boost in Centre's fourth tranche of Stimulus 2.0

China's new cases

On Saturday, China reported 21 new COVID-19 infections, including 13 asymptomatic ones, taking the number of cases in the country to 82,941, as per their health authorities. Wuhan city, where the outbreak originated, ramped up efforts for the mass testing of its 11 million residents.

China's National Health Commission (NHC) said that of the eight new confirmed COVID-19 cases reported on Friday, six were imported infections. The other two cases are both domestically transmitted and reported in Jilin Province, which recently went into lockdown mode after reporting a cluster of cases, it said. But the numbers of asymptomatic cases continued to increase as 13 more cases were reported on Friday. The NHC said that 561 asymptomatic cases, including 30 from overseas, were still under medical observation.

READ | Centre Rolls Out Structural Reforms In 8 Indian Sectors In Its Fourth Economic Tranche

By Friday, the death toll from the virus in the province stood at 4,512, including 3,869 in Wuhan. Hubei had so far reported 68,134 confirmed COVID-19 cases in total, including 50,339 in Wuhan. As of Friday, the overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 82,941, including 89 patients who were still being treated, and 78,219 people who had been discharged after recovery, the NHC said. Altogether, 4,633 people have died of the disease, it said.

READ | PM Modi lauds FM Sitharaman's Part 4 of economic package that reforms key sectors
(Adds denial from Elemento's lawyer provided to Reuters after May 13 story was published and specifics relating to the trading activity of some of the firms) By Marianna Parraga, Matt Spetalnick and Ana Isabel Martinez MEXICO CITY/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI is probing several Mexican and European companies allegedly involved in trading Venezuelan oil as it gathers information for a U.S. Treasury Department inquiry into possible sanctions busting, according to four people familiar with the matter. U.S.

(Adds denial from Elemento's lawyer provided to Reuters after May 13 story was published and specifics relating to the trading activity of some of the firms)

By Marianna Parraga, Matt Spetalnick and Ana Isabel Martinez

MEXICO CITY/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI is probing several Mexican and European companies allegedly involved in trading Venezuelan oil as it gathers information for a U.S. Treasury Department inquiry into possible sanctions busting, according to four people familiar with the matter.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and special envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams told reporters late last month the State and Treasury departments were investigating whether several firms were violating sanctions imposed on Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA since January 2019.

The sanctions are part of a campaign by Washington to strangle the revenues of President Nicolas Maduro, which has failed to break his grip on power. U.S. officials say privately that is a source of frustration for President Donald Trump, whose administration has tightened the implementation of sanctions in recent months.

Three of the people who provided information to the FBI - who asked for anonymity to discuss the matter - said the agency was investigating three Mexican companies: Libre Abordo, Schlager Business Group, and Grupo Jomadi Logistics & Cargo.

Reuters could find no record of Venezuelan oil purchases by those companies prior to sanctions.

The three people also said the FBI was gathering information on two Europe-based oil trading companies that do have a track record of dealing in Venezuelan oil or selling fuel to PDVSA: Elemento Ltd and Swissoil Trading SA.

One of the sources familiar with the matter in Washington said any action against the Mexican and European companies could be postponed or cancelled if the firms had already halted trade with Venezuela.

The three others said the probe by the Treasury and the State departments could potentially lead to action in the coming weeks if they discovered a violation of sanctions.

A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice, which handles media enquiries for the FBI, declined to comment, as did a State Department spokesperson. The Treasury Department did not reply to a request for comment.

Emails and phone calls seeking comment from Swissoil went unanswered. Emails sent to an address on Jomadi's website bounced back.

Law firm Holman, Fenwick & Willan (HFW), representing Elemento, said in a letter to Reuters after this story was published on May 13 that its client "is not aware of any investigations into it or its business" by the FBI, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) or any other body.

"Our client does not currently trade oil of Venezuela origin or sell fuel to PDVSA," it said, adding that Elemento does not have any intention of doing so in the future. "Our client goes to great lengths to ensure that its business activities comply with applicable rules, regulations and sanctions, including obtaining legal advice."

Elemento and its lawyers did not respond to requests for comment prior to publication of the May 13 story.

In a lawsuit in January 2020 in a British court, Tansy Shiptrade Inc alleged Elemento had used its name without permission to load a cargo of about 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude in December 2019, according to a judge's ruling refusing Elementos request to be allowed to sell the oil.

The judgement said Elemento had admitted using Tansy's name to receive the cargo but that Elemento had said it had permission to do so and had asserted that Swissoil had acted as its agent in the trade.

According to the judge's ruling, Richard Rothenberg, Elemento's chief financial officer, said in an affidavit that between 2016 and 2019 the firm carried out Venezuela-related trades as part of an agreement with U.S.-based Castleton Commodities International (CCI).

While CCI ceased its involvement due to U.S. sanctions imposed on Venezuela in early 2019, Elemento did 13 more trades on its own after that date, Rothenberg said, according to the ruling. He did not provide dates for the trades.

Reuters was unable to immediately reach Rothenberg for comment. CCI said Elemento was its counterparty on petroleum trades until early 2019, but the U.S. commodities firm said it ceased its trading participation before the January 2019 sanctions on PDVSA.

Reuters could not establish subsequent trading in Venezuelan oil by Elemento and Swissoil following the disputed cargo, aboard Liberia-flagged tanker Respect.

OIL FOR FOOD

Libre Abordo and its affiliate Schlager said in a statement to Reuters, citing legal experts they hired, that two contracts they signed in June 2019 with Venezuela's Corporation for Foreign Trade (Corpovex) to provide food and water trucks in exchange for Venezuelan crude - known as an oil-for-food agreement - were permitted under the sanctions as long as no cash payment reached Maduro's government.

"Neither Libre Abordo nor shipping companies hired to move PDVSA's hydrocarbons are the subject of sanctions," read the statement.

The firms declined to identify the legal experts but provided Reuters with their interpretation of Venezuela sanctions, which the companies said they sent to several shipping firms and other partners.

The undated memorandum said the oil-for-food deal did not contravene U.S. measures because Corpovex was not specifically named on the Treasury Department's list of sanctioned people and entities, unlike PDVSA, and because there were exceptions under the sanctions for humanitarian goods.

Neither Corpovex, PDVSA nor Venezuela's trade ministry responded to requests for comment.

VENEZUELA RELIANT ON SWAP DEALS

The two small Mexican companies have emerged as the largest middlemen for Venezuelan oil in recent months, according to internal PDVSA export documents, reviewed by Reuters.

OPEC member Venezuela has come to rely on trading oil and gold to pay for essential imports using complicated swap agreements because Washington's sanctions bar Maduro's government from using the U.S. financial system.

The PDVSA export documents show that Libre Abordo and Schlager have quickly ramped up trading of Venezuelan oil since receiving a first cargo in December, after a second wave of U.S. sanctions in August 2019 barred non-U.S. oil companies from doing business with PDVSA.

These secondary sanctions blocked the U.S. property of anyone worldwide "materially assisting" Venezuela's government, including PDVSA and other governmental bodies - though it did not specifically name Corpovex. While the measures permitted shipments of food, clothing and medicines, none of the Venezuela-related executive orders issued by Trump specifically allowed oil-for-food agreements.

Whether that ambiguity potentially has created a loophole for companies is a matter of disagreement, some experts said.

Richard Nephew, a senior researcher at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy and a former State Department official dealing with sanctions policy toward Iran, said that while food deals were permitted under sanctions there was no special dispensation for them to be paid for in oil and the involvement of PDVSA could still prompt Treasury to take action.

However, Peter Harrell, an expert on sanctions at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), said that in oil-for-food swaps the companies ultimately supplying the food could be protected from sanctions provided they had no role in physically receiving, transporting or selling the oil.

Harrell added that some U.S. policymakers might be reluctant to impose sanctions on companies involved in a deal to supply basic goods to a nation suffering a humanitarian crisis.

"Policymakers will be concerned that sanctioning an oil for food barter would play into a...narrative that U.S. sanctions are causing humanitarian challenges in Venezuela," Harrell said.

DECISIONS ON SANCTIONS

The third Mexican company, Grupo Jomadi, held talks with PDVSA to swap 5 million barrels of Venezuelan crude for imports of gasoline, according to an unsigned contract dated in March reviewed by Reuters. Venezuela's refineries have long been crippled by outages, and the country has suffered dire shortages of fuels since the sanctions were imposed.

Two sources told Reuters that Jomadi may have reached an agreement on the swap deal as a crude cargo that departed from Venezuela in April appeared to form part of it, according to the initial information collected by U.S. authorities. Neither Jomadi nor PDVSA responded to requests for comment.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm if the swap deal took place.

While the FBI's principal focus is on domestic intelligence and security, its agents also carry out overseas investigations to aid decisions on sanctions by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which often also seeks input from the State and Commerce departments, U.S. embassies and the intelligence community.

Libre Abordo and Schlager's oil-for-food deals with Venezuela obliged them to deliver 1,000 water trucks and 210,000 tonnes of corn to the country, the companies said. While some of the trucks have been delivered, the firms said they have not so far supplied any of the food as low oil prices have affected the original delivery schedule.

In exchange, they have so far received more than 26 million barrels of Venezuelan oil for resale, according to PDVSA's export documents.

In just four months, Libre Abordo and Schlager increased their intake of PDVSA's oil from less than 3% to 39% of the Venezuelan company's total exports, which averaged 850,000 barrels per day in April.

The agreements threw a lifeline to Maduro, whose administration is struggling to afford imports of everything from food to medicine and industrial equipment.

(Reporting by Marianna Parraga, Adriana Barrera and Ana Isabel Martinez in Mexico City, and Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Additional reporting by Sarah Lynch, Daphne Psaledakis, Gary McWilliams and Deisy Buitrago; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Daniel Wallis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Ortega, a former Marxist rebel who first came to power in the 1979 Sandinista revolution and returned to the presidency in 2007, has said the country will have to learn to live with the pandemic. But the government has declined to say how many people have been tested for the coronavirus. Authorities have said the confirmed cases in Nicaragua are all tied to foreign travel, and there has been no community transmission.
Two migrant workers tested



positive for coronavirus in Balod district of Chhattisgarh on Sunday, taking the number of such cases in the state to 69, health officials said.

Samples of the two men, aged 21 and 32, tested positive at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Raipur, where they are being brought for treatment, a public relations officer of the institute said.

The two worked in Mumbai and had returned to Balod from Maharashtra on May 10. They had been quarantined on their return, a health official from Balod told PTI.

Their samples were sent for testing on May 11, he added.

"With this, so far four COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Balod, located around 70 kms from capital Raipur, in the last four days and all of them are migrant workers," he said.

The COVID-19 count in the state is now 69, though the number of active cases is 11 as 58 people have been discharged after recovery, the official said.

Ten patients are undergoing treatment in different hospitals of the state, he added.

Chhattisgarh's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 69; new cases two; deaths zero; discharged 58; active cases 11; people tested so far 32,678.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday (May 17) announced what the government has decided to do in the education sector in view of the coronavirus crisis.

The Finance Minister said, "Extensive use of podcasts and radio. Special e-content for visually and hearing-impaired students. Top 100 universities will be allowed to start online courses by May 30," while elaborating on technology-driven education with equity post-COVID-19.

Technology-driven Systems- Online Education during COVID

-SWAYAM PRABHA DTH channels to support and reach those who do not have access to the internet.

-3 channels were already earmarked for school education; now another 12 channels to be added.

- Provision made for telecast of live interactive sessions on these channels with experts from home through Skype.

- Also tied up with private DTH operators like Tata Sky & Airtel to air educational video content to enhance the reach of these channels.

- Coordination with the States of India to share air time (4 his daily) on the SWAYAM PRABHA channels to telecast their education-related content.

- DIKSHA platform has had 61 crore hits from 24th March till date

- 200 new textbooks added to e-Paathshaala

The Finance Minister further stated:

India is changing and so is our way of education PM eVIDYA - a programme for multi-mode access to digital/online education to be launched immediately; Top 100 universities will be permitted to automatically start online courses by 30th May#AatmaNirbharApnaBharat pic.twitter.com/Xm1oFNTG5f  PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 17, 2020

PM eVidya: A program for multi-mode access to digital education to be launched immediately, consisting of:

- One earmarked TV channel per class from class 1 to class 12

- DIKSHA for school education in states and union territories, e-content and QR coded textbooks for all grades

- Extensive use of radio, community radio and podcasts

- Top 100 universities will be permitted to automatically start online courses by May 30, 2020

- Manodarpan: An initiative for psychological support of students, teachers and families for mental health and emotional well being to be launched immediately
KUUMBA Media online video streaming platform which focuses on African content is giving free online streaming to anyone that signs on to the platform www.watchkuumba.com from now to 17th May.

KUUMBA, a pay-per-view online platform since its official launch on April 30th, 2020 has received thousands of subscribers and viewers.

The vision behind KUUMBA is to create an online hub where Africa can present its narratives, while

marketing and selling local film content to a global audience. Filmmakers can also present online film premieres on the KUUMBA platform.

This is extremely helpful to producers since all cinemas and public gatherings have been shut down due to COVID-19.

Before KUUMBAs recent launch, the KUUMBA brand hosted events in Accra and beyond.

Our event highlights last year were KUUMBA Movie and Vibes, held in New York and Accra Movie in The Park, held at the Page Center in Accra. Two years ago, our company hosted along with Codetrain , 'Accra Media Meetup'featuring local filmmakers and content producers such as Gold Coast Lounge producer and actor,Pascal Aka, founder of Apex Advertising Gh, Ramesh Jai, digital producer at TV3, NII Commey, and many more

According to the CEO Of KUUMBA they are celebrating their launch with free films to watch from anywhere. To get access to KUUMBA,
American High founder Jeremy Garelick is getting recognized in Hollywood for his work with the Central New York film studio.

Garelick, whose credits include The Wedding Ringer, The Break-Up and The Hangover, is featured as an innovator in the latest issue of The Hollywood Reporter, highlighting his purchase of the former A.V. Zogg Middle School in Liverpool to turn it into a movie production company and film school. Garelick told THR that he bought the school in 2017 after learning he could significantly cut below-the-line production costs by shooting multiple high school movies in the same location.

Thats when I googled High schools for sale,'" he told the publication.

The school is now known as the home of Syracuse Studios, where American High has filmed seven movies in CNY over the past two and a half years, including The Ultimate Playlist of Noise"; The Binge starring Vince Vaughn and directed by Garelick; Holly Slept Over; Banana Split; Looks That Kill; Sid is Dead"; and Big Time Adolescence" starring Pete Davidson. All of them, except Holly Slept Over, used the building for high school scenes to revive a genre thats been largely dormant since Brat Pack-era movies like The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and Ferris Buellers Day Off.

Jeremy Garelick is like John Hughes, if the elder statesman of angsty teen dramas had owned his own high school, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Syracuse Studios, which also serves other film productions in the Syracuse area, was scheduled to begin shooting its eighth American High movie in March but production was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. The studio has since kept busy by using 3D printers to make face shields for health care workers fighting Covid-19.

Garelick told THR that American High has been successful because their projects are being shot on budgets between $3 million and $5 million, much less than estimated costs of $12 million to $15 million elsewhere. On top of that, filming in Upstate New York allows him to get a 40% tax rebate on below-the-line production costs.

We use the same crews, we have our own equipment and our own location. So much of what takes time on a normal movie, weve eliminated, he said.

Big Time Adolescence, Holly Slept Over and Banana Split were all released digitally in March. The Binge, starring Vaughn as a high school principal, and The Ultimate Playlist of Noise" are next headed to Hulu.

Honored to be one of The Hollywood Reporter's Hollywood Innovators. Shout out to our American High team for making waves. Posted by American High on Thursday, May 7, 2020

MORE MOVIE NEWS

Liverpool film studio, school names new president; aims to bring more movies to CNY

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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to follow the Namibia example by issuing an order to ban the purchase of new cars by the presidency and ministers.

Recall that some days ago, Namibias president Hage Geingobon reportedly imposed a five-year ban on buying of new cars for top politicians and government officials in order to redirect the funds to fight COVID-19 in his country.

Also Read: Stop Violating Peoples Rights: SERAP Warns Wike

SERAP urged him to use the savings from this ban to support students of tertiary institutions across the country to reduce the impact of COVID-19 and the lockdown on them and their parents.

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The advocacy group also urged President Buhari to encourage lawmakers and state governors to use the savings to pay workers, pensioners and support tertiary students.

See the post below:
Culture Minister Josepha Madigan has hailed the medical workers of the famine who, much like their modern day counterparts, served bravely for the people of Ireland in a national health crisis.

The National Famine Commemoration was due to take place today in Buncrana Co Donegal, but as a result of the restrictions put in place to combat Covid-19, it was held behind closed doors in St Stephen's Green in Dublin city centre instead.

The ceremony, which was not open to the public due to these restrictions, took place at the Edward Delaney Famine Sculpture in St Stephens Green earlier today and included military honours and a wreath laying ceremony in remembrance of all those who suffered or perished during the Famine.

Wreaths were laid by Minister Madigan, who is also Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, on behalf of the Irish people and by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps on behalf of the Diplomatic Community.

The commemoration will now be held in 2021.

The Fine Gael TD said that she looks forward to the even being hosted in Donegal next year instead, as she honoured the medical workers who served selflessly in a national health crisis during the famine, much like the front line workers battling the coronavirus on a daily basis in Ireland today.

"This year the National Famine Commemoration was to have been held in Buncrana," she said.

"However, due to the circumstances in which we find ourselves these plans, like so many others, have had to be put on hold for now. I look forward to Buncrana hosting the Commemoration next year.

"As we confront a pandemic today, let us recall that the Great Famine was a public health emergency in its own right. We think of the many heroes of the Famine years.

"People such as the doctors and nurses of the fever hospitals of who put themselves at risk to care for others will always have our thanks for their sacrifice. As our society has changed and evolved this commitment to helping others has never waivered and we see the same qualities of courage and commitment to others in our healthcare staff today.
A medical worker takes a swab sample from a woman to be tested for the coronavirus next to a street in Wuhan, in China?s central Hubei province on May 16, 2020. AFP




News

Phoenix, Arizona - Governor Doug Ducey ordered flags at all state buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset, Friday, May 15, in recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Arizonas peace officers put their lives on the line to serve others and protect our communities  and some have given their all to carry out their duties, said Governor Ducey. Today is about them. Their names and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Arizona is forever grateful to all these heroesand their familiesfor their service and for giving their all to keep others safe.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low 13F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%..

Tonight

Snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low 13F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad International Airport earlier today handled a Departures Evacuation Flight from Hyderabad to Delhi with 68 passengers to be airlifted to various locations in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA).

"On May 17, 2020, at 6.41 am, the national carrier Air India AI 1840 departed with 68 passengers to Delhi. As per the flight itinerary, from Delhi, these passengers are supposed to be airlifted to various foreign destinations to the UK and USA," the authorities informed.

All departing passengers were serviced through the fully sanitised Interim International Departures Terminal (IIDT) of Hyderabad International Airport as per all safety protocols.
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Pope Francis prayed the Regina Caeli from the Library of the Apostolic Palace. Tomorrow at 7am, he will lead the Mass in St Peter's Basilica, at the altar over the tomb of Pope John Paul II, in a worldwide broadcast. Francis greeted children who had to delay their First Communion because of the pandemic. Laudato Si week began yesterday.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis during todays Regina Caeli prayer in the Library of the Apostolic Palace centred his address on the Holy Spirit that "helps us be free people, people who want and know how to love". He also remembered Pope John Paul II on the centennial of his birth.

This morning the Pope celebrated Mass, centred on today's Gospel (Jn 14:15-21). In his address before the Regina Caeli, he noted that the Gospel "presents two fundamental messages: the observance of the Commandments and the promise of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus asks us to love him, the pontiff said, but explains that this love does not end in a desire for him, or in a feeling. No, it requires being available to follow his path, that is the will of the Father. And this is summed up in the Commandment of mutual love, given by Jesus himself . . . He loves us without asking us for anything in return, and he wants this selfless love of his to become the actual form of life between us. This is his will.

To help the disciples walk along this path, Jesus promised to pray to the Father to send another Advocate (Jn 14:16), that is, a consoler, a defender who will take his place and give them the intelligence to listen and the courage to observe his words. This is the Holy Spirit, which is the Gift of God's love that descends into the heart of Christians.

The Commandments are not given to us as some kind of of mirror to see our miseries and inconsistencies reflected. No! The Word of God is given to us as the Word of life, which transforms, renews, that does not judge in order to condemn, but heals and has forgiveness as its goal. The Word illuminates our footsteps. All this is the work of the Holy Spirit! It is the Gift of God, it is God himself, who helps us to be free people, people who want and know how to love, people who have understood that life is a mission to announce the wonders that the Lord accomplishes in those who trust him.

Right after the Marian prayer, Francis mentioned "with a lot of affection and gratitude" the 100 years since the birth in Wadowice (Poland) of Saint John Paul II. Tomorrow morning, at 7, I shall celebrate Holy Mass, which will be broadcast all over the world, at the altar where his mortal remains rest. From Heaven may he continue to intercede for the People of God and for peace in the world.

In his address, the pontiff welcomed the reopening in several countries, Italy included, of churches to public masses; at the same time, he urged worshippers to follow the directives of the authorities to protect the health of the population.

Francis especially greeted the children who, due to the pandemic, had to delay their First Communion, which usually takes place in May. "Dearest friends I invite you to live this time of waiting as an opportunity to better prepare yourselves: praying, reading the catechism book to deepen the knowledge of Jesus, growing in goodness and in service to others. Have a great journey!

Lastly, the Pope noted that the Laudato Si week is celebrated from 16 to 24 May, to encourage the faithful and others to reflect "for a fairer and more sustainable future.
Midland County added no new coronavirus cases on Sunday, and total remains at 70 cases and eight deaths, according to the daily state report.

Bay County added six new cases, bringing its total to 241 cases and 15 deaths. Saginaw County added 10 cases , bringing its total to 913 cases and 97 deaths.

Gladwin and Isabella counties remained the same at 17 cases and one death and 62 cases and seven deaths, respectively.

The state on Sunday added 638 new cases and 11 deaths. Overall, Michigan is at 51,142 cases and 4,891 deaths.

The average death age is 75.3, according to the state website, mich.gov, with the deceased ranging in age from 5 to 107. The state lists 42% of the deceased as 80-plus and 27% age 70-79. State statistics show 53% of coronavirus deaths are male and 47% are female.

The state lists the total recovered at 28,234 cases, as of May 15, which represents COVID-19 confirmed individuals with an onset date on or prior to April 15, 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 31% Black/African American; 36% Caucasian and 18% unknown, and the top three races in deaths as 40% Black/African American; 50% Caucasian and 4% unknown

The total positive cases are 47% men, 53% women.

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."

spread of disease by following the recommended precautions."

If you think you've been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your health care provider for medical advice. If he/she isn't available call MidMichigan Urgent Care in Midland at 989- 633-1350 or MidMichigan Medical Center's Emergency Department in Midland at 989-839-3100.

MidMichigan Health has a COVID-19 informational hotline with a reminder of CDC guidelines and recommendations. The hotline can be reached toll-free at 800-445-7356 or 989-794-7600. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also has a hotline number for Michigan residents for questions about COVID-19. The number is 1-888-535-6136 and is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also send an e-mail to: COVID19@michigan.gov. E-mails will be answered seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

If you are feeling anxious, stressed, depressed and feel you need to talk to someone, reach out to Community Mental Health for Central Michigan by calling 800-317-0708.
An Aboriginal elder was beaten with sticks as traditional tribal punishment after an 18-year-old mother was allegedly murdered by a teenager in his community.

The body of Bethany* was discovered in a wheelie bin outside Newman Hospital, in a tiny town north of Perth, just four weeks after she gave birth to her second child.

A 17-year-old boy within her community is accused of stoning Bethany and dumping her body at a hospital.

But prior to taking her body to the hospital, the boy allegedly took her to the home of an elder, who later suffered a traditional punishment to achieve 'criminal justice' for her death.

Bethany was a Martu woman whose traditional lands cover 13.6 million hectares in central Western Australia.

Police confirmed people from the indigenous community of Jigalong travelled to the remote mining town of Newman, where Bethany was found.

The woman's body was found outside the Newman Hospital, which is 1,178 kilometres from Perth at 4am on Wednesday

The elder was beaten with a 'traditional stick' and suffered bruising and swelling to his legs, The West Australian reported.

No complaints have been made about the punishment, and tensions have reportedly since eased in the community, police said.

'Police can confirm a respected elder attended a culturally appropriate location, where he underwent his obligations according to cultural traditions,' a police spokeswoman told the Weekend Australian.

The elder was beaten with a 'traditional stick' (similar to the one pictured above)

'To date, police have not received any complaint in relation to this matter, however there has been a noticeable reduction of tension in some sections of the community.'

Police have not officially identified which traditional punishment was used.

According the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia, options included 'spearing', 'physical beating', 'banishment' and' 'repercussions for other family members'.

'There are some cases in which the traditional punishment consisted of a physical 'attack' without spearing while others involved both spearing and some other form of physical punishment,' a document from the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia reads.

'In some cases the offender is required to undergo physical punishment and in addition is then banished from the community for a specified period of time.'

Non-physical punishments can include 'meeting' and 'reprimand'.

'The general purpose of traditional punishment is usually expressed in terms of community healing,' the document explains.

Police will allege the teenage boy killed Bethany, dumped her body in a wheelie bin, then dragged it outside the local hospital at 3.45am on Wednesday May 6.

He is then alleged to have pressed the out-of-hours button and left the scene, before being arrested at a nearby house later.

The boy will appear at Perth Children's Court on May 28.

Rocks were reportedly seized by police during the investigation, after police determined she suffered serious head injuries which contributed to her death.

It is also alleged the boy took the young mother to the house of an elder before taking her to the hospital.

The young mother's body was discovered stuffed into a wheelie bin outside Newman Hospital (pictured)

Bethany, who gave birth to a little boy named Justin only a month ago and was already a mother to toddler Nate, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her relative Mena Tennahleah paid tribute to her 'big sister' on Facebook hours after her death.

'RIP my big sister N Watson good young mother for two kids. Love and miss you my big sister. Watson Breeds For Ever.'

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said Bethany was well known in the community.

'It's a real tragedy in the sense that the community, the woman is known... and there are a couple of kids involved,' Mr Dawson told ABC radio after the incident.

Broken glass and blood were seen on the ground outside a nearby home, with neighbours hearing shouting from the property late on Tuesday night, The West Australian reported.

Homicide detectives from South Hedland Police, located 452km north of the town, have launched a joint investigation into the death with local police.

Alcohol sales were banned in Newman after the attack.

Bottleshop owner Anita Grace said the closure was the right move after the incident.

'I think at this stage with everyone being so raw and upset and trying to work out what is going on the best thing was to stay closed,' she said.

'Everyone was very supportive. It is not that there are any tensions at the moment but there could be tensions. It is just precautionary at the moment.'

Newman, a mining town located 1,186km north of Perth, has a population of just 7,200.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson (pictured) said homicide squad officers were investigating the young mother's death

*Name has been changed
Kerala is witnessing a political spat over MPs and MLAs of the opposition Congress party being quarantined and slapped with cases alleging flouting of social distancing and lockdown norms, while two ministers of the ruling CPM who faced similar allegations were spared.

Follow latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic here

Close on the heels of two MPs and three MLAs of the Congress being asked by the health officials to remain in 14 days home quarantine citing close contact with COVID infected, a similar allegation raised by Congress against Kerala Local Administration Minister A C Moideen was rejected by the health officials.

A couple of weeks back a police case was slapped against Congress MP Adoor Prakash for attending a function to distribute food kits on the rural parts of Thiruvananthapuram. He was accused of flouting social distancing norms. In the meantime, the Congress alleged that Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran attended a function at a school in the rural parts of the district for collecting contributions from students to CMDRF. But no action was initiated against the minister by the authorities maintaining that the minister did not violate the social distance norms.

Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths

These are enough reasons for Congress in Kerala to allege the government of deliberately quarantining Congress MPs and MLAs accusing them of flouting the social distancing and lockdown norms. Congress also stepped up the demand to quarantine Local Administration minister citing that two persons among those interacted by the minister were tested COVID positive.

Chief Minister Pinarayai Vijayan even accused the opposition of staging a political drama by going to border areas where people from other states are coming in. Congress MPs T N Prathapan, V K Sreekandan and Ramya Haridas and MLAs Shafi Parambil and Anil Akkara have visited the Kerala - Tamilnadu border at Walayar in Palakkad.

Meanwhile, in an embarrassment to the CPM, a local leader of the party in Kasargod got infected after he along with his wife, who is a local body representative, went to the Talapady border to collect a person who came from Maharashtra and dropped him at his house. There were even allegations that the person from Maharashtra, who was also later tested COVID-19 positive, did not formally register for returning to the state and the CPM local leader facilitated his entry even as the Kerala government was insisting that only those who make advance registration would be allowed to enter the state in order to ensure proper quarantining. The CPM leader, his wife and two children were infected later.
A 55-year-old man will have an assault charge upgraded to murder on Monday following the death of father Scott Pilton, from Lamb Island in the southern Moreton Bay.

Mr Pilton, 48, died at the Princess Alexandra Hospital early Sunday morning after a serious assault on Lamb Island on May 15.

He was put on life support in intensive care following the alleged bashing.

A 55-year-old Macleay Island man charged with grievous bodily harm and obstructing police appeared at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.

Detectives will upgrade the charge to murder when his case is heard again on Monday.
She once said Australia had an 'optimism' and 'vitality' not seen in her native England, but Miriam Margolyes has changed her tune in the seven years since becoming a naturalised citizen.

The expat British actress, 79, who is best known for playing Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter film series, said on Monday she was horrified by the 'brutality' and 'greed' of her adopted home country.

She recently travelled from coast to coast filming ABC documentary series Almost Australian, and came to the realisation the country was 'much more complicated' than she had first thought when she arrived in the 1980s.

Whingeing Pom: British expat and Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes has described Australia as 'brutal' and 'greedy' - and says that people should be ashamed to live in Surfers Paradise

'We think we know what [Australia is] like, but we don't. It's quite complicated. It's layered. Lots of things happen. I do think I was right that it's harsher than it was. Maybe that's true in the world,' she told TV Tonight.

'There's a harshness about it, which I didn't expect.'

Margolyes lives in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales with her longtime partner, Heather Sutherland, a retired Australian professor of Indonesian studies.

Adopted Aussie: The BAFTA-winning actress became a naturalised citizen in January 2013 after years of dividing her time between London and Australia

She said the most confronting part of the documentary was having to visit Surfers Paradise, a highly developed stretch of coastline on Queensland's Gold Coast popular with holidaymakers.

'There is a brutality there and a greed in Australia, which I don't like,' she said.

'You know, the developers. Those horrible structures along the coast, that people should be ashamed of living in. Surfers Paradise, it's disgusting. I think that actually shocked me because I don't go there. It's not my world and I don't want to go there.'

'Those horrible structures along the coast': She said the most confronting part of filming ABC documentary series Almost Australian was having to visit Surfers Paradise, a highly developed stretch of coastline on Queensland's Gold Coast popular with holidaymakers (pictured)

The BAFTA-winning actress became a citizen in January 2013 after years of dividing her time between London and Australia.

'I don't like class distinction and there is far too much of that in England,' she said after her citizenship ceremony.

'There's an energy here  an optimism, a vitality. I think England doesn't have that anymore. There's an irony and not accepting bulls**t [in Australia] and I love that, that straight-talking stuff.'

Famous role: Margolyes, who is best known for playing Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter film series, lives in the NSW Southern Highlands with her partner. Pictured with (L-R) Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

It comes after Margolyes sparked outrage in Britain last month when she said on Channel 4 show The Last Leg that she had wanted Prime Minister Boris Johnson to die from coronavirus.

Presenter Adam Hills had asked her how she felt the UK government had handled the pandemic so far.

Speaking from her home via video link, she replied: 'Appallingly, of course, appallingly. It's a disgrace, it's a scandal. I had difficulty not wanting Boris Johnson to die. I wanted him to die.

'Then I thought that will reflect badly on me... so then I wanted him to get better.'

Shocking: It comes after Margolyes sparked outrage in Britain last month when she said on The Last Leg that she had wanted Prime Minister Boris Johnson to die from coronavirus

Johnson had been hospitalised with COVID-19 on April 5 and was admitted to intensive care the following day. He has since made a full recovery.

Britain's television watchdog, Ofcom, has received more than 400 complaints since the outburst, and politicians have urged Channel 4 to apologise for allowing the remark to air unchallenged.

Good Morning Britain anchor Piers Morgan blasted Margolyes last week, describing her comments as shameful.

Ordeal: Johnson (pictured) had been hospitalised with COVID-19 on April 5 and was admitted to intensive care the following day. He has since made a full recovery

'Shame on you, Miriam Margolyes. Shame on you,' Morgan said.

'If someone said on this show, "I wished he'd died", I'd have ripped him, but no one said anything [on The Last Leg].

'It's not funny what Boris went through personally on that ICU.'
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said a company in Ibadan South West Local Government Area has been shut down after 30 of its employees tested positive for COVID-19.

Writing on his official twitter handle on Saturday, the governor said the test result of another case from Egbeda LGA also returned positive.

The COVID-19 confirmation tests for thirty-one suspected cases came back positive, the governor said.

Thirty of these cases are members of staff of the same organisation based in Ibadan south west local government area.

The organisation has been shut down and will be decontaminated.

Mr Makinde urged members of the public to remain calm, saying the situation was under control.

Intensified contact tracing has already commenced, he said. We will give an update on any additional measures that may need to be taken.

The total number of confirmed cases in Oyo State as of Saturday night was 107.

While 28 persons have been discharged from the states treatment centre, two persons have died from the infection. The state still has 77 active cases.

Nigeria as of Saturday evening had 5,621 confirmed cases, 1,472 treated and discharged and 176deaths.

Mr Makinde also said the state had introduced the drive through, walk through testing at the Adamasingba Stadium, and urged those with COVID-19 symptoms to register with the emergency centre.

He also said those who believe they could have come in contact with a COVID-19 case in the state should also register.
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The novel coronavirus pandemic has now killed more than 313,000 people worldwide.

More than 4.6 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.

The United States is the worst-affected country, with more than 1.4 million diagnosed cases and at least 89,318 deaths.

PHOTO: A cleaning technician wearing PPE deep cleans the home of a family on May 14, 2020 in Stamford, Connecticut. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Sunday's biggest developments:

US death toll surpasses 88,000 Texas reports single highest daily rate increase of infections 137 cases of NYC children with syndrome associated with COVID-19 NASCAR returns after 10-week hiatus Judge rejects Martin Shkreli's plea for early release

Here's how the news developed on Sunday. All times Eastern.

11:42 p.m.: University of South Carolina to temporarily resume classes

As colleges and universities assess whether to reopen for in-person classes in the fall, the University of South Carolina is taking a preemptive approach for the winter.

The university announced that it will resume in-person classes at the end of the summer -- but only for three months.

In a letter to the university community, the school's president said that in-person classes will begin on Aug. 20, proceed uninterrupted through the school's traditional mid-October fall break, and run through Thanksgiving, at which point the university will return to distance learning due to concerns about a second spike of the virus.

"The recommendation to cancel Fall Break and essentially accelerate in-person instruction for the semester was developed with significant input from faculty, staff and student government leadership," University President Robert Caslen said in the letter. "Our best current modelling predicts a spike in cases of COVID-19 at the beginning of December, which also will likely coincide with traditional flu season."

Story continues

8:22 p.m.: Member of Canadian aerobatic team killed in flyover crash

A member of the Royal Canadian Air Force's flying aerobatic team was killed while training for a flyover to thank front-line COVID-19 workers.

An aircraft with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds crashed near the city of Kamloops, British Columbia, Royal Canadian Air Force officials said. One person in the plane was killed and the other sustained non-life-threatening injuries, said officials.

The aircraft crashed while "preparing to continue Operation Inspiration," the flyovers performed to support front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said.

One person on the ground was also injured in the crash, which occurred in a residential neighborhood, according to Canadian broadcaster CTV.

5:12 p.m.: NASCAR returns after 10-week hiatus

NASCAR started its first race in 10 weeks Sunday afternoon at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.

Precautions due to the coronavirus pandemic meant no fans were allowed in the stands and team rosters were limited to 16 people, including the driver. The starting order for the 400-mile race was also drawn at random based on owner points.

PHOTO: Drivers head through a turn in front of an empty grandstand during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race, May 17, 2020, in Darlington, South Carolina. (Jenna Fryer/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters)

The event was dedicated to health care workers fighting COVID-19.

NASCAR's next race is Wednesday at Darlington Raceway.

3:46 p.m.: California's infection rate continues to climb

The COVID-19 infection rate in California continues to increase.

California has 78,839 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,261 deaths, according to the latest data from the state.

New cases went up 2,046 in a day, while deaths increased by 57. The previous day saw only 1,857 new cases.

The state has been working to increase testing capacity, with more than 1.2 million tests conducted as of May 16 -- up 56,117 from the day before.

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently started to loosen restrictions on his stay-at-home order.

Fewer than half of California's 58 counties -- 23 -- are currently in Stage 2 of a four-stage reopening plan. That stage allows for lower-risk workplaces and child care facilities to reopen.

1:17 p.m.: UK to get Oxford COVID-19 vaccine 1st as part of industry deal

The United Kingdom will have first access to Oxford University's COVID-19 vaccine if it's successful, a U.K. government official said Sunday.

Oxford has signed a global licensing agreement with U.K.-based pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to deliver 100 million doses of Oxford's potential vaccine; the company will work to make up to 30 million of those doses available for the U.K. by September as part of the deal, according to Business Secretary Alok Sharma.

"This deal with AstraZeneca means that if the Oxford University vaccine works, people in the U.K. will get the first access to it, helping to protect thousands of lives," Sharma said in a statement.

Researchers at Oxford and Imperial College of London will also receive 84 million pounds (about $101 million) in government funding toward developing a vaccine, Sharma announced.

Human clinical trials for Oxford's coronavirus vaccine began last month. Imperial's vaccine trial is set to begin in June.

The U.K. has the third-highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and the second-highest number of deaths in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University, with more than 244,000 cases and 34,716 fatalities.

12:20 p.m.: Cuomo urges NYers to get tested, demonstrates swab test

New York has more testing capacity than New Yorkers are using, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday.

Some drive-in sites that can do 50,000 COVID-19 tests daily are only doing about 5,000 a day, the governor said.

To urge those eligible to get the COVID-19 swab test -- often described as unpleasant -- the governor demonstrated getting one live during his daily coronavirus briefing.

PHOTO: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo receives a COVID-19 swab test during his daily briefing, May 17, 2020, in Albany, New York. (Pool via ABC News)

"This test is not an invasive test. There's no pain to this test," Cuomo said before the test. "This is nothing about this test that should intimidate people from not taking this test. It's fast and easy, and so fast and so easy that even the governor can take this test. That's how fast and easy it is."

A doctor wearing personal protective equipment then collected a sample from the governor using a deep nasal swab.

"That is the whole test. I'm not in pain and discomfort," Cuomo said after the seconds-long test was administered. "There's no reason why you should not get the test. You don't even have to be New York tough to take that test."

New York state has more than 700 testing sites and is performing up to 40,000 tests a day, Cuomo said. The state also has formed a partnership with CVS, the governor announced Sunday; more than 60 CVS pharmacies across the state will be able to do 50 or more tests a day.

New Yorkers eligible for the diagnostic test include anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, those who have had contact with someone with a confirmed case, a person in a precautionary or mandatory quarantine, health care workers, first responders, nursing home employees and essential workers. Additionally, those who are returning to work during Phase 1 of the state's reopening, such as construction or manufacturing workers, are now also eligible, the governor announced.

The state also launched a new website Sunday to find testing sites.

11:15 a.m.: 137 cases of NYC children with syndrome associated with COVID-19

There are now 137 cases of children with Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome Associated with COVID-19 in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced during his daily press briefing on Sunday.

Of those cases, 66 have tested positive for the coronavirus or antibodies were detected. There has been one death from the illness.

De Blasio implored parents that if they see their child exhibit any of the symptoms of the syndrome, including persistent fever, rash, abdominal pain and vomiting, to immediately call their health care provider.

"Early detection saves lives of children," the mayor said.

Overall, the number of daily hospitalizations has remained flat since May 14, while ICU admissions and the percentage of people who tested positive for coronavirus were both down, de Blasio said. There were 469 ICU admissions, down from 506 on May 14; and 11% of people tested were positive, down from 13%.

Meanwhile, beaches will remain closed Memorial Day weekend but de Blasio did not rule out the possibility that they will be open later in the summer.

"It's still not safe," the mayor said, adding that walking on the beach is permitted but if officials start to see people congregating and are going against recommendations, they will take further measures.

De Blasio also implored New Yorkers to give blood as the supply in the city has gotten low due to a lack of blood drives because of coronavirus-related social distancing.

The New York Blood Center, which helps supply additional blood to area hospitals, is down to a two-day supply of blood.

"We need to make a comeback quickly," de Blasio said.

Hospitals have their own emergency blood supplies but unless they receive additional blood, some surgeries cannot move forward, the mayor said.

10:30 a.m.: Spain daily death toll under 100 for 1st time in 2 months

For the first time since March 16, Spain's one-day death toll from the novel coronavirus dropped below 100.

Spain reported 87 new deaths on Sunday, bringing the total deaths in the country from the pandemic to 27,650.

The country's Health Ministry reported 652 new cases.

Spain has had 231,350 confirmed COVID-19 cases, which is the fifth most cases globally after the U.S., Russia, the U.K. and Brazil, according to data from Johns Hopkins.

Fernando Simon, chief of emergency response, said the rate of transmission is low, "which makes us think that we are in a favorable situation," but that a second wave is possible.

7:39 a.m.: Eric Trump implies Democrats, Biden using coronavirus as conspiracy to hurt President Trump by 'taking away' MAGA rallies

In an interview on Fox News Saturday night, Eric Trump baselessly accused Democrats and Joe Biden's campaign of trying to use the coronavirus to hurt his father, President Donald Trump, politically by "taking away" his campaign rallies.

Speaking on "Justice with Judge Jeanine," Eric Trump tossed a number of confusing and wild accusations about Democrats, Biden, and the coronavirus pandemic -- appearing to claim that lockdowns around the country were part of a Democratic/Biden manufactured conspiracy to stop the president's campaign rallies and hurt his political prospects, despite the virus death toll now approaching 90,000 in the United States.

The president's son accused Democrats of wanting to "milk [the coronavirus] for everything they can" and seemed to imply that Democrats and the media were blowing the pandemic out of proportion to hurt the president, saying that after Election Day the "coronavirus will magically all of a sudden go away and disappear and everybody will be able to reopen."

Asked how the virus has impacted President Trump politically, Eric Trump blamed Democrats for rallies being put on hold, which he called "Donald Trump's greatest tool":

"Biden can't go on stage without making some horrible blunder. I mean even from his basement he's making awful gaffes every single day, so, his campaign is thrilled that he's not going out there. And they think they're taking away Donald Trump's greatest tool, which is being able to go into an arena and fill it with 50,000 people every single time," Eric Trump said. "So they they will and you watch they'll milk it every single day between now and November 3, and, guess what, after November 3rd, coronavirus will magically all of a sudden go away and disappear and everybody will be able to reopen."

"They're trying to deprive him of his, his greatest asset, which is the fact that the American people love him. The fact that he's relatable. The fact that he can go out there and draw massive crowds. Joe Biden can't get 10 people in a room, my father's getting 50,000 in a room and they want to do everything they can to stop it. So make no mistake, to a lot of them... a lot of them this is a very cognizant strategy that they're trying to employ. It's no different than again the nonsense that they're trying to throw in the Hope Act," he continued. "It's no different than the mail-in voting that they want to do all these places. It is no different than wanting illegal immigrants to vote in our country. It is a cognizant strategy. And it's it's sad and again it's not going to be allowed to happen we're going to win November."

Eric Trump claimed using the coronavirus is a "cognizant strategy" by Democrats and/or Joe Biden and implied they played some role in "taking away Donald Trump's greatest tool" -- which is a confusing and baseless accusation given not only was the decision to stop rallies made by the president's own campaign, it came as many experts said large gatherings like political rallies shouldn't return until as recent as next year.

Also, he's echoing comments President Trump made early on as the virus first spread when he called it a Democratic "hoax" given their response to the virus. But, months later, Eric Trump is now implying the response to the virus is some Democratic conspiracy while experts like Dr. Fauci are warning that reopening the country too soon could lead to "needless suffering and death."

4:48 a.m.: Texas reports single highest daily rate increase of infections

The latest number of of coronavirus cases in Texas jumped by 1,801 in a single day, the highest daily rate since the state started tracking data. The number of cases reported now stands at 46,999, according to the latest figures released by Johns Hopkins University.

There are currently 19,093 active cases statewide with 1,791 patients hospitalized -- which is an increase of 75 from yesterday.

A total of 678,471 people have been tested out of a statewide population of around 29 million people.

The state of Texas has also reported 1,305 fatalities -- an increase of 33 but down from the two day high of 58 and 56 the previous two days.

12:35 a.m.:Federal judge blocks North Carolina governor's restrictions on religious services

A federal judge issued an order on Saturday that allows North Carolina religious leaders to reopen their doors to their congregations in spite of the governor's warning that they risk spreading coronavirus.

Gov. Roy Cooper said he wouldn't appeal the ruling blocking his restrictions on indoor religious services.

A hearing is scheduled May 29 on whether the order will become permanent.

The order prevents Cooper from taking enforcement actions against religious worshipers but also states they should observe recommendations for social distancing and reduce transmission of the virus when possible.

Governor Cooper's spokesperson issued the following statement in response to the order.

"We don't want indoor meetings to become hotspots for the virus and our health experts continue to warn that large groups sitting inside for long periods of time are much more likely to cause the spread of COVID-19. While our office disagrees with the decision, we will not appeal, but instead urge houses of worship and their leaders to voluntarily follow public health guidance to keep their members safe."

7:45 p.m.: 'Pharma Bro' denied release from prison

Martin Shkreli, the former pharmaceutical executive imprisoned for fraud and most infamous for hiking the price of a lifesaving drug, was rejected for release due to COVID-19.

Shkreli, 37, had argued for release in part because of his work in bio pharmaceuticals, which he said could benefit the public. If allowed to research coronavirus, Shkreli said he could bring a cure to market.

MORE: 'Delusional': Feds slam 'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli's attempt to leave prison to find COVID-19 cure

The judge flatly rejected the claim.

"The court does not find that releasing Mr. Shkreli will protect the public, even though Mr. Shkreli seeks to leverage his experience with pharmaceuticals to help develop a cure for COVID-19 that he would purportedly provide at no cost," U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York Kiyo A. Matsumoto wrote.

This report was featured in the Monday, May 18, 2020, episode of Start Here, ABC News daily news podcast.

"Start Here" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes. Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts.

ABC News' Will Steakin, Alexandra Faul, Christine Theodorou, Ahmad Hemingway and Matt Foster contributed to this report.

If Oxford's coronavirus vaccine works, officials say UK will get it first originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
With the news consumed by the COVID-19 pandemic, its important we dont forget past public health tragedies to help prevent their reoccurrence.

This month marks the 20th anniversary of an outbreak of illness due to E. coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter bacteria in Walkerton, Ont.s drinking water. The tragedy took the lives of seven people, including several young children. It sickened over half of the towns 5,000 residents.

By the end of May 2000, the majority of Walkertons population became sick with stomach pains, diarrhea, and nausea. The outbreak was caused by contamination from cattle manure that contained the disease-causing and deadly bacteria.

It was swept into a nearby community well by heavy spring rains and the chlorination of the drinking water was found to be inadequate. Disinfection is one of the most critical barriers in drinking water treatment and chlorine, the most commonly used disinfectant, destroys pathogenic bacteria and viruses, like E. coliand coronaviruses.

The tragic situation in Walkerton reminds us that errors and misinformation costs lives. As illnesses spiked, the utility manager repeatedly stated that the water was safe to drink.

This continued for days, even after receiving test results on May 17 showing high levels of E. coli. It later came to light that the utility workers had not checked chlorine levels in decades. Every daily entry was faked. A boil water notice was not sent until May 21. The first death was on May 22.

As the crisis unfolded, officials first thought the outbreak was foodborne. It took several days to confirm that the cause of illnesses was contaminated drinking water. Walkerton holds the unenviable record for the largest and deadliest recorded waterborne disease outbreak in Canadian history.

In response, the Ontario government launched a public inquiry. It found the utility manager hindered the early investigation and outbreak response, but the utility was not solely to blame.

For example, the inquiry determined that serious problems, like low chlorine levels, were repeatedly identified during Walkerton inspections and that the Ontario Ministry for the Environment never ensured that these problems were fixed. One positive outcome of the inquiry, however, was creation of the Walkerton Clean Water Centre, an agency that has helped trained thousands of water professionals and is dedicated to water safety.

Waterborne disease outbreaks are thankfully rare in Canada, a fact that can make it easy to be complacent about the safety of our drinking water. Pathogens are released every day in human and animal wastes, meaning all sources of drinking water are potentially at some risk of contamination, even groundwater. Therefore, drinking and wastewater (sewage) disinfection should remain a public health priority.

As we emerge from this pandemic with a new appreciation for essential workers and disinfectants, remembering the Walkerton tragedy reminds us that water professionals and chlorine disinfection are essential to our health every day.

Heather Murphy, a Canadian, is an assistant professor in the College of Public Health at Temple University in Philadelphia.
Safely reopening Alabamas schools, universities and workplaces in the coronavirus pandemic means screening everyone who enters their buildings for weeks and possibly months, according to one of the states top scientists.

That could mean nearly 900,000 screens each round for public schools, colleges and universities alone, based on state enrollment figures. And there are another 2 million workers on the job every day in the state, as well. But Dr. Rick Myers of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville says that amount of screening will soon be scientifically possible and even affordable.

Lets call it population screening for the virus, Myers said this week. Youre screening people who dont have any symptoms or reasons to think theyve been infected.

Theres a catch, of course, and its pretty simple to understand.

How do you actually collect that many? Myers said. You have to have a system, an infrastructure in place for collecting the samples and getting the tests done quickly while everyone stays home until they know.

Screening needs to be really fast and really inexpensive, Myers said, because youre not going to screen millions of people if its $150 a test, obviously.

Myers has experience in complex, collaborative science like the fight against the virus. He was on the faculty at the University of California, San Francisco, as well as Stanford University, where he was a key part of sequencing the human genome as part of the Human Genome Project. Today, he runs HudsonAlpha and collaborates with the University of Alabama in Birmingham, where he is an adjunct faculty member.

Even Myers checks his language when discussing the challenges ahead. Hes not talking about medical, clinical tests to confirm the presence of the virus. Theyre good, and there are lots of them, he said.

Hes talking about screening for symptoms that indicate the virus in a way that lets normal life proceed. And hes talking about tracking the results, which helps but is controversial.

Myers said he knows screening procedures now that are accurate, fast and cheap. Some are based on DNA sequencing where samples are labeled with a molecular bar code and pooled in large numbers.

Lets say you pool 10,000 samples and each one of those samples has a little bar code on it that tells you it came from that person. When you pool those and do DNA sequencing, its cheap, Myers said. The sequencing part is really cheap, because instead of one at a time, youre basically doing 10,000 at a time.

This is what scientists call high throughput screening. Five groups at HudsonAlphas Huntsville campus are working on both testing and screening now, Myers said, and two are working on very, very high throughput screening.

The good news, Myers said, is saliva collection is looking like a way to do these screens, rather than having to dig deep into your nasal cavity. That will encourage people to accept the screens.

Myers believes these screening methods will be operational by mid-summer, not just available in pilot programs. We hope we are going to be doing this on a few thousand people within the next month, he said. I dont know. Its hard to say exactly.

Myers also thinks another effort at HudsonAlpha and other scientific centers will help Americans get back to work. That is testing for antibodies in people who have had the virus. Those antibodies could lead to treatments for the virus when you have it, not vaccines to prevent it.

Were not trying to develop any vaccines here, he said. That takes hundreds of millions of dollars. Its very promising that so many groups are trying to do it. Hopefully, well end up with 10 different ones, maybe even a cocktail.

One of HudsonAlphas leading scientists, Dr. Jian Han, is collaborating with Huntsville Hospital to study antibodies from the blood of local COVID-19 survivors. Its a line of study being explored by other scientists around the world, and Myers called it extremely promising.

I dont want to say were close to a treatment, but weve got antibodies that react with the virus, Myers said. Thats the most important first step. Now, does it inactivate the virus and can it be developed as a treatment?

Antibodies are used now to treat breast cancer and other diseases, so Myers is hopeful. Were very excited about this, Myers said. None of us are worried about getting famous or rich on this. We wanted to figure it out, and theres not going to be one hero on this.

While the research and the logistical planning goes on, HudsonAlpha researchers are working in shifts. The institute in Huntsvilles Cummings Research Park has three 2,200-square-foot laboratories on each of its floors allowing researchers to work at a safe distance from others.

When I come into work, my mask is on when I come out of my car and anytime when Im anywhere in the building where there might be other people walking, might be, even if theyre not, Myers said.

Myers also has a ready answer when asked what sources of coronavirus news he follows and recommends. He cited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  not perfect, nobodys perfect, but doing a good job  and the World Health Organization. He called the WHO really, really good and reliable.

Closer to home, Myers recommended HudsonAlphas own science educator Dr. Neil Lamb and his popular series of short videos Shareable Science.

He stands in front of a whiteboard and answers questions like, what is vaccine development? What does it mean to try to develop a treatment? How is that different from a vaccine? How do you put on a mask and take it off? Myers said.

Neil is kind of a superstar, Myers said.
Vote in the #FACupOfFlags

THE Flag Institute has been running a Twitter poll  #FACupOfFlags  a competition to identify the UK Flag Registrys top flags and the next round of voting is today.

Newbury made it through to the final 12 after a flurry of votes on Twitter meant the flag was victorious in a group round on May 4, when it was up against Preston, Calne and Staining.

The competition was picked up by Newburytoday, as well as former Newbury mayor Margo Payne, and with a bit of campaigning, the town triumphed on the day, with more than 50 per cent of the votes.

The Flag Institute tweeted: An incredible end to this town group stage of the #FACupOfFlags with Newbury seemingly down and out racing to the biggest win so far!

Newbury is now vying for a place in the final eight against Wadhurst. Once again, Margo Payne has been leading the charge, tweeting: Ok everyone get ready to vote like mad on the 17th May for #Newbury The power of social media is needed! Dont worry I will keep reminding you!

You can register your vote here

The last match in the #FACupOfFlags Round of 12 is a Southern Skirmish between Newbury and Wadhurst  The Flag Institute (@FlagInstitute) May 17, 2020

Founded in 1971, the Flag Institute is a UK charity working to promote interest in all aspects of flags and flag flying (vexillology), to foster knowledge and understanding and to offer a unique free source of expert advice, information and comment. Membership is open to all.
Because street closures were part of the event, DaBaillie needed the blessing of the village officials, and he got it.

Its the last thing we can do to recognize these kids, said Mayor Jim Cooper. He and the entire village board were 100% behind this, he said.

Just as the mayor and other city administrators planned, the caravan crisscrossed avenues and streets  nearly every street except for Highway 150.

Parent Becky Jungwirth enjoyed a trifecta of celebration. Her son Ryan, 18, along with his good friend Traven Nordstrom, 19, who stayed with the family because his parents had to move out of town, were part of the Sunday celebration.

It was awesome, for us as parents, knowing the whole town is out there supporting these kids, she said. She was delighted for the boys to feel the love of the whole community.

She also was part of a drive-by celebration for her daughter Morgan Jungwirth, 21, who graduated from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
The Delhi BJP will distribute six lakh sanitary napkins under its 'Mission Anivarya' for better health of adolescent girls and women in collaboration with the police.

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari will launch the distribution campaign in association with Delhi Police on Monday.

The campaign will be launched in New Delhi district. Six lakh sanitary napkins will be distributed among teenagers and women living in slums of the city, campaign coordinator and Delhi media co-in charge Neelkant Bakshi said.

"Sanitary napkins will be handed over to women police officers tomorrow to carry forward this campaign," he said.

Bakshi said after distributing sanitary napkins in the initial phase, this campaign will continue at district and division level.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WUHAN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Wuhan-based Zall Foundation in central China's Hubei Province that was hard hit by COVID-19 has donated a batch of medical supplies to France to aid the country's fight against the epidemic.

The donation, worth about 3.1 million yuan (about 436,500 U.S. dollars), included 500,000 disposable medical masks and 10,000 medical protective suits. The supplies are expected to arrive in France next week.

Medical supplies including masks and protective clothing are still in urgent need in France although the epidemic situation there has improved, according to Olivier Guyonvarch, consul general of France in Wuhan, who said the donation was a symbol of the deep friendship between Hubei and France.
China to adjust annual legislative session arrangements

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 12:24, May 16, 2020

China's top legislature will adjust its arrangements for the upcoming annual legislative session to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic and safeguard public health, a senior member of the legislature said Friday.

The third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is scheduled to open in Beijing on May 22, said Zhang Yesui, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the NPC, in an interview with Xinhua.

The duration of the session will be appropriately shortened, Zhang said, adding that the agenda and schedule will need to be approved at meetings before the session.

Some of the Chinese and foreign journalists in Beijing will be invited to cover the session but journalists who are overseas will not be invited to come to Beijing for reporting, Zhang added.

News conferences, briefings and other interview activities will be appropriately streamlined and conducted in innovative forms such as by video link, he said.

Zhang said the session's news center has received applications from more than 3,000 Chinese and foreign reporters to cover the event, expressing his gratitude to their attention to China's economic and social development and the legislative session itself.

He also said when the session holds plenary meetings; foreign envoys will be invited to observe the meetings. Some of the Chinese and foreign journalists in Beijing will be invited to cover the meetings in the Great Hall of the People.

No open-day activities or other group interviews will be held by various delegations, Zhang said. But spokespersons will be appointed by delegations, press liaison officers will assist press interviews, and studios will be set up at the hotels the delegations stay to encourage deputies to be interviewed, he added.

Information as well as main documents in Chinese and foreign languages will be posted on the website of the session's press center in a timely manner, Zhang said.

The session is committed to being open and transparent to provide services to Chinese and foreign journalists for news reporting, he said.

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~Dutch side COVID-19 patient admitted at LCF Hospital on Saturday.~

MARIGOT:--- The Prefecture of St. Martin and St. Barthelemy issued a press release on Sunday addressing the border controls that were lifted by the Dutch authorities even though there are still active COVID 19 cases on both sides of the island.

The release states that even though the French side began its deconfinement measures there is the resurgence of new cases, two of which were confirmed and another two probable cases, therefore, the Prefecture of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthelemy is strengthening its call for utmost vigilance to avoid the resurgence of the epidemic.

Based on the data thus far including the new case brings the cumulative numbers to 40 confirmed cases since the first case including two active cases and two that are hospitalized in the COVID-19 unit that are awaiting results.

A new case was confirmed yesterday (Saturday, May 16th). This new case demonstrates the persistence of sporadic cases on the territory. Another patient from the Dutch side was hospitalized last night (Saturday night) at Louis Constant Fleming Hospital, forcing the hospital to reopen the COVID unit. Two other patients were admitted yesterday to the same unit and are also awaiting results.

The Dutch side has 8 active cases including a new one on May 12, for a total of 77 cumulative cases and 15 deaths, against 40 cumulative and 3 deaths for Saint Martin since the start of the crisis. The French side applied total containment on March 16 and Sint Maarten on April 4.

A deconfinement strategy adaptable according to the health situation.

On April 4, in order to slow the spread of the virus on the two territories and in response to the complete shutdown implemented by the Dutch Government two weeks after the first containment measures on the French side, the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, the President of the Collectivity and the Prefet had jointly decided to limit cross-border crossings. It was agreed that this should continue until complete control of the health situation. Certificates for professional reasons have been issued to maintain the economic activity of the island.

The meeting held Thursday, May 14 with the Government of Sint Maarten, with another meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 20 in order to draw a first health assessment of the internal deconfinement measures put in place on each side. The success of this phase of progressive deconfinement should have been able to lead to the lifting of controls by June 2.

The Government of Sint Maarten has decided today (Sunday) to abolish the controls carried out on its territory, which implies for the French authorities, the greatest vigilance has given the fact there is still active circulation of the virus on the island and in the context of deconfinement on the French side (reopening of primary schools, resumption of economic activity, access to beaches, the opening of restaurants).

The health of the population is the only argument that must guide our decisions. It is for this reason that population movements between the two parts of the island have been limited.

The Prefecture of Saint-Barthelemy and Saint-Martin in a still-fragile health context therefore a decision was taken to maintain strict control between the two parts of the island for the next few days.

Entry into the French part is only possible on presentation of a certificate (C Waiver).

The controls carried out by the gendarmerie and the border police are maintained in Bellevue (after the commercial area on the RN7) and in Quartier d' Orleans. Access by Terres Basses and Baie aux Oysters remains blocked.

Each person must be in possession of a certificate justifying entry into the territory of Saint-Martin:

- certificate issued by the Prefecture (compelling professional, health or family reason)

- Form C issued before May 16 by the Government of Sint Maarten.

The Prefecture of Saint Barthelemy and Saint Martin will quickly propose to the government of Sint Maarten to examine, and in conjunction with the Territorial Collectivity of Saint Martin, the conditions which would make it possible to lift these final checks on movements in the French part, in particular in matters of screening and follow-up of contact cases, as well as in respect of barrier gestures and wearing of masks in public places, public transport, and establishments open to the public.
ALBANY  The Capital Region can begin reopening this week, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Sunday, after the state recalibrated the metrics needed to start reviving the economy.

The region has now met six of the seven requirements to reopen and is working to scale up its contact tracing operations to start phase one of the reopening process, Cuomo said. The region previously fell short of requirements for declining hospitalizations and deaths, but after the state shifted the timeline to hit those metrics, the Capital Region is "now qualified for reopening," the governor said.

There are two caveats: First, the Capital Region must now increase the number of contact tracers in the region to start phase one, and Cuomo said the state government will work with local leaders to quickly ramp up capacity. He said the region can begin reopening as soon as officials hire 166 additional contact tracers, for a total of 383.

"There is still a need to increase tracing, the number of people who are prepared to do tracing, and that is a pure administrative function," Cuomo said.

Second, the Capital Region must hit all seven metrics at once  so if hospitalizations or deaths rise, or if hospital bed capacity decreases, the region's progress could be canceled at any point.

"This is a moment in time," said Cuomo senior adviser Rich Azzopardi. "They still have to hire their contact tracers. ... Currently, these are the numbers, and all seven have to be met at the same time in order to reopen, but this is the current numbers."

Capital Region leaders are confident that phase one of reopening could happen by mid-week.

Western New York is similarly situated to begin phase one, which includes opening construction, manufacturing, agriculture and curbside pickup for retailers, Cuomo said. The region needs to hire 352 additional tracers to hit a required 521, but has met each of the six other metrics. The region, which includes Buffalo, had also previously fallen short on the hospitalization and death metrics.

Source: Office of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo

Jim Malatras, the president of SUNY Empire State College and a member of Cuomo's coronavirus response task force, said the state revisited the hospitalization and death data after the governor's PAUSE order expired on Friday in some parts of the state.

"Just because the PAUSE was lifted for some, we want to look at all that data again," he said.

Previously, regions could satisfy those metrics if the region showed a sustained, 14-day decline in both hospitalizations and deaths on a three-day rolling average basis. Alternatively, if a regions daily net increase in total hospitalizations (also measured on a rolling basis) never exceeded 15, and hospital deaths never exceeded five, the area could also reopen.

The Capital Region had surpassed a three-day average of 15 deaths three times in early April and had also hit six deaths at some point during the pandemic (the state has not released daily death totals by region, as it has for hospitalizations), disqualifying them from hitting the latter metric. There had been confusion among county leaders, as they believed the three-day rolling average referred to the most recent three days of hospitalization and death data.

In the updated timeline, the Capital Regions three-day rolling average of new hospitalizations stands at zero, and hospital deaths at two, satisfying both criteria.

Regions can still fulfill the hospitalization and death requirements if their three-day rolling averages fall for at least 14 days, as is the case in regions like Long Island and New York City, where total hospitalizations and deaths have been higher than upstate regions. County leaders in the Capital Region had argued that their numbers were already so low that a 14-day decline would have been impossible to maintain.

Those same officials cheered on Sunday as Cuomo announced the new progress. The members of the Capital Region's "control room"  the group of local and state officials overseeing the area's reopening strategy  hosted a phone call at 2 p.m., where leaders discussed how they would quickly hire the remaining 166 contact tracers needed.

The state requires regions to have at least 30 contact tracers per 100,000 residents, with some flexibility depending on the region's infection rate.

"We will have more than enough people tomorrow morning," Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said Sunday.

McCoy, alongside Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, had been urging the state for days to re-evaluate its reopening metrics, as they asserted that the state's hospitalization and death tally was incorrect. While the state has not adjusted its daily data collection, McLaughlin said he believes the updated reopening metrics reflect "advocacy by the counties, insisting that we were right."

"Its good news for everybody," he said.
By Trend

Iran has exported two batches of antibody kits to Turkey and Germany, said Hassan Safouri, director general for medical equipment in Iran's Health Ministry.

However, PCR kits are still needed in the country, so they will not be exported for now, he said, Trend reports citing IRNA.

"I am not aware of the precise volume of exports, but there were two batches. The domestic producer of antibody kits has requested for export of 9,000 kits from the Health Ministry," he said.

Safouri went on to add that there are currently three knowledge-based companies that are producing testing kits in Iran and they are expected to provide 1.5 million kits to the Health Ministry in the next one and a half months.

There is one Serologic testing kits producer that can both export its products and meet the domestic demand, he said.

"The production of N95 and three layered masks, shield and other items have been developed. The production of three layered masks has increased four times now to 2.5 million per day, while N95 mask production is 150,000 masks per day that can be used in health care centers and exported," he said.

Safouri noted that Iran imported testing kits from China and Europe at the early stages of Coronavirus spread.

"Importing medical equipment has been slowed down due to the problem in obtaining assigned official foreign currency rate. Hopefully. the Central Bank of Iran will resolve the issue," he added.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
When Gary Saurage and staff closed the doors to Gator Country March 11 amid coronavirus restrictions, a Big Al-sized bite was taken out of his income. March spring break season brings in the second-largest earnings month for Gator Country.

The following month, Saurage said, they had been booked Monday through Friday with group field trips, all of which were canceled along with road shows he had planned.

May 2, Gator Country reopened.

We were so glad to get back open, he said. When you got 500 alligators to feed, trust me, you need customers.

Last Monday, a slow trickle of guests made their way through the grounds, including Kayla Costanzo of Bridge City, who visited Gator Country for the first time with daughters Kenny and Braelynn. The Bridge City family was glad for the opportunity to get out of the house, and she was happy to surprise her children with a long-anticipated first visit to the park.

Interns Jesus Reyes and Blake Mitchell gave them a guided tour of the various alligator ponds, telling them about each of the gators in one large enclosure as they fed raw chicken chunks to the dozen alligators who surrounded the deck at the sounding of a lunch bell.

Next Mitchell took them to the home of Gator Country legend Big Al, stepping inside the enclosure to call the 88-year-old 13-plus-foot gator to the ponds edge using hand and voice signals. Standing just feet away, Mitchell enticed Big Al with more hand signals to open his impressively large mouth. The showing by the behemoth is among the most popular events at the park.

Mitchell then took them to the reptile house, where the girls got to meet Josie, a Colombian red-tailed boa. Kayla took photos as each girl wore Josie the boa like a boa draped round their shoulders.

Mitchell arrived for his internship just as the coronavirus quarantine went into effect and decided to stay through it. Since the restrictions were lifted, he has been able to put the knowledge hes gotten since working with the gators to use with a public audience.

Mitchell was joined by Rick Stalker, who also started working with Saurage at Gator Country as the pandemic took hold in Southeast Texas. The park has been a refuge of sorts for Stalker as well. His lifelong job as a woodworker came to a sudden halt after he was laid off from Fine Touch Refinishing. Initially, the furlough was temporary, but it soon became permanent, Stalker said.

Needing to get out of the house one day, Stalker took his drone out to try and capture on video a large alligator spotted near Smith Road. Hed been shooting drone videos for about a year. The gator search proved unsuccessful, but he recalls thinking, I can turn right and go home, or I can turn left. He turned left, and soon found himself near Gator Country.

The chance decision led to a video partnership between Saurage and Stalker, with Stalker shooting and editing footage of gator rescues and interviews with the parks staff airing on YouTube.

His footage is looped on the screens outside the reptile house and video posts have gotten high view volume.

Stalker is working toward reaching the 1,000-subscriber benchmark to begin monetizing his YouTube channel, turning his video skills into a new career path.

His staff interview segments focus on the psychology behind why Gator Country staff and interns do what they do.

Theres always a reason behind why people do things. Maybe its something they didnt get as a kid growing up, or maybe its something that happened to them. Ive learned a lot about the people here, he said.

The segments have caught the attention of a national media outlet, with whom they have been discussing a possible weekly spot.

Stalker hopes the negotiations work out, but regardless, he is embracing the new turn life has taken amid the upheaval of a global pandemic.

kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com
Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.
A dozen Democratic state lawmakers say the statewide shutdown amid the coronavirus  set to expire Monday  should remain in effect in Massachusetts through June 1.

The lawmakers wrote to Gov. Charlie Baker on Saturday, urging him to extend the stay-at-home advisory and shutdown of nonessential businesses and encouraging him to use the final two weeks of May as an opportunity to build consensus and understanding with regard to the next phase of our collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group said it appreciated Bakers and his administrations work over the past several weeks and acknowledged general improvement in the overall COVID-19 trends.

But they said that lifting the restrictions across the state just a day after the Reopening Advisory Board released guidance is confusing to many of our constituents and businesses and will result in poor public health choices.

We seem to be rushing toward a reopening without having adequately addressed the concerns of people who are incarcerated, people who are experiencing homelessness, undocumented immigrants and other vulnerable groups that are being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, the group wrote.

The lawmakers argued the state lacks the robust testing recommended in the Trump administrations Opening Up America Again" guidelines.

They added that while Massachusetts has neared the World Health Organizations benchmark to ensure sufficient testing is occurring, which is 10 negative tests for every positive, the seven-day average for positive tests in the state is still 12%, exceeding standards set by nations that have effectively contained the virus, like South Korea.

They cited Germany as a reopened country where new cases bubbled up and triggered an emergency brake return to lockdowns in impacted areas.

The lawmakers also feared that businesses did not have a full picture of a reopening plan, with questions lingering about child care for workers, public transportation and personal protective equipment.

The letter was signed by Reps. Mike Connolly; Lindsay Sabadosa; Christine Barber; Michelle DuBois; Nika Elugardo; Jack Lewis; Maria Robinson; Carmine Gentile; Tami Gouveia; Kay Khan; Denise Provost; and Sen. Jamie Eldridge.

Several Republican state representatives last week urged Baker to open the state for business without delay, The Boston Globe reported. The lawmakers, including Reps. Marc Lombardo, Alyson Sullivan and David DeCoste, said they were frustrated that states neighboring Massachusetts were starting to open quicker.

People who think were going too fast are going to say were going too fast, and people who think were going too slow are going to say were going too slow, the governor said Friday.

Baker last week announced a four-phase reopening process involving a series of restrictions and safety standards for workers.

The plan allows a limited number of businesses to resume operations with restrictions in place, followed by a second wave of industries with precautions and capacity limits. The third phase will see industries allowed to open after further guidance from public health officials, and a fourth phase involves a new normal after a vaccine is developed, Baker said.

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A federal judge has rejected a request from Martin Shkreli, the infamous "Pharma Bro" fraudster, for a compassionate release from prison to work on a cure for coronavirus.

U.S. District Court Judge Kiyo Matsumoto issued her ruling on Saturday, siding with federal prosecutors and probation officials who urged her to rebuff the 37-year-old Shkreli's petition, which they described in court documents as the type of "delusional self-aggrandizing behavior that got him a lengthy sentence in the first place.

The court does not find that releasing Mr. Shkreli will protect the public, even though Mr. Shkreli seeks to leverage his experience with pharmaceuticals to help develop a cure for COVID-19 that he would purportedly provide at no cost," Matsumoto wrote.

Matsumoto wrote that the probation department was skeptical of Shkreli's claim that he could develop a cure for COVID-19 that has "so far eluded the best medical and scientific minds in the world working around the clock.

"In any event, Mr. Shkrelis self-described altruistic intentions do not provide a legal basis to grant his motion," Matsumoto wrote.

PHOTO: Former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli pauses while speaking to the press after the jury issued a verdict in his case at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Aug. 4, 2017 in New York City. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images, FILE)

Matsumoto is the same Brooklyn, New York, judge who sentenced Shkreli in 2018 to 84 months in prison and made him forfeit more than $7 million after a jury found him guilty on multiple counts of securities fraud. Shkreli has served less than half of his sentence.

In his request, Shkreli also argued that he is at a higher risk of contracting the virus because as a child he had asthma, although he presented no documented evidence he still suffers from the respiratory disease.

The judge noted that the low-security Allenwood Low Federal Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania currently has no confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Shkreli, according to the judge's decision, "has not proven himself to be at any increased risk of catching COVID-19 at FCI Allenwood Low."

"Second, [the] defendant has not demonstrated that a current medical condition places him at increased risk for significant complications from the virus," Matsumoto wrote, adding that Shkreli only suffers from seasonal allergies.

Story continues

In his petition, Shkreli asked to be released to his fiancee's apartment in New York City, where more than 189,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus and more than 15,000 confirmed deaths have been reported.

MORE: 'Delusional': Feds slam 'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli's attempt to leave prison to find COVID-19 cure

Shkreli initially filed a request for compassionate release in March but was denied by the prison warden. He appealed the decision to the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York.

Shkreli, who first became infamous for hiking the price of a lifesaving HIV drug from $13.50 a pill to $750 a pill, was indicted along with co-defendant Evan Greebel in 2015 on multiple securities fraud charges linked to health care-heavy hedge funds MSMB Capital Management and MSMB Healthcare Management. A superseding indictment in 2016 charged Shkreli and Greebel with additional fraud charges tied to the biopharmaceutical company Retrophin, Inc.

MORE: 'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli sentenced to 7 years after tearfully begging for 'your honor's mercy'

Shkreli and Greebel, prosecutors said, conducted long-running schemes in which they used bogus information that defrauded investors in their hedge funds and looted their biopharmaceutical company of more than $10 million to pay back disgruntled investors. Greebel, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud, was sentenced to 18 months in prison in August 2018 and is now on supervised release.

At the time of Shkreli's sentencing, Matsumoto said the former drug company CEO had minimized his criminal conduct and engaged in an "egregious multitude of lies."

MORE: 'Pharma-bro' Martin Shkreli should forfeit Wu Tang Clan album: Federal prosecutors

In her decision to deny Shkreli's compassionate-release request, Matsumoto recalled that Shkreli's sentence was partly "imposed to afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct."

"A sentence of 84 months was deemed necessary to reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for the law, and deter future criminal conduct, given the defendantsdisregard for the law," Masumoto wrote. "Reducing Mr. Shkrelis sentence by half would not further the goals."

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'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli denied prison release to research cure for COVID-19 originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Over 60 per cent of Delhi's sex workers have returned to their home states due to loss of means of livelihood amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown that pushed many of them to the brink of starvation.

The fear of contracting the deadly pathogen has kept customers away, leaving a debilitating impact on sex workers in the city.

Kusum, who is president of the All India Network of Sex Workers (AINSW) - a group of sex workers that assists others with legal rights, health issues and social security across the country, said over 60 per cent of the sex workers in Delhi have already left for their home states.

"The 60 per cent population accounts for around 3,000 sex workers. According to government figures, a total of registered 5,000 sex workers reside in Delhi," Kusum said.

She said they were forced to leave the city after enduring weeks of struggle for basic facilities like food and medicines.

Shalini, one such worker, moved back to her village in Uttar Pradesh after living for eight years in Delhi.

"I ran away from my abusive home in UP at the age of 18. I wanted to be an actress but got into sex trade to support myself," 26-year-old Shalini told PTI.

"After getting into this business (sex trade), at least I was not struggling for food, I was not on streets. But ever since the coronavirus outbreak and the lockdown, I have zero customers and money is drying up," she said.

Another sex worker Rajni (name changed) said she and her four-year-old son have not eaten properly in the last two months. "When my son fainted out of weakness two weeks back I decided to move back. I have some relatives in UP who do not know what I do here. I will stay with them for some days before figuring out what to do next," she added.

Sharmila (name changed) who grew up as an orphan on the streets of Kanpur became a sex worker in Delhi five years ago to make ends meet.

"But now there is no food, no medicines and no customers. It is impossible to survive any longer in Delhi with the savings that I have. The social distancing is going to hit our business more than anything so there is no point staying here," Sharmila, who is planning to move back to Kanpur, said.

Rajni, Sharmila and Shalini are residents of the Garstin Bastion Road, or more famously G B Road, and now renamed Swami Shradhanand Marg. There are around 100 brothels on the one-kilometre stretch housing approximately 1,500 sex workers.

Activists fear that many of these women who were on medication for different diseases, including HIV-AIDS, will not be able to get proper treatment in their home towns.

"We feel all the work which we did in the past years for HIV and other diseases would be of no use. Many of them who escaped abusive homes can again become victims of domestic violence. There are many concerns but mostly we are worried about their health," Kusum said.

She further said that similar migration of sex workers is taking place in other cities too.

Amit Kumar, the national coordinator for the AINSW, said the GB Road has completely shut down and most of its residents have returned to their home towns.

"We were doing our best to provide dry ration, medicines, masks and sanitiser. We also gave them basic information on HIV treatment," he said.

Kumar said many of the sex workers went to their homes during Holi but they did not return after that.

India is currently under the biggest lockdown with around 1.3 billion people asked to stay home in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The nationwide lockdown was initially imposed from March 25 to April 14, but was later extended till May 17 to contain the spread of the deadly disease.

The virus has so far claimed 2,872 lives and infected over 90,000 people in the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 17-year-old boy who was banished by the Tutukpene community in the Nkwanta South District of the Oti Region has returned to the town.



Andrews Amoah, a primary six pupil of the Tutukpene M.A. Basic School was on April 24, 2020, expelled from the community by the chief and elders over an alleged break-in.



The Police, soon after, demanded the chief to produce the boy in two weeks.



Mr Innocent Komla Agblosu, the Municipal Social Welfare Officer told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the boy was found at Abotoase in the Biakoye District, having journeyed on foot from Tutukpene to Kadjebi before boarding a charcoal hauling truck.



Mr Lawson Lartey, the Nkwanta South Municipal Police Commander confirmed to the Ghana News Agency GNA) that the boy had been found and handed him over to his family.



The chief and his elders took me to a small river with a fresh calabash and ordered me to fetch the water. They prayed over it and asked me to drink. They then told me not to step foot in the community again or I will die.



At Nkwanta I spent four days without food. Only water, until I found a truck loading charcoal to Accra. I helped them and later joined them on their journey. But when we got to Abotoase the driver asked me to get down, gave me GHC 20 and told me to wait for them, the boy, Andrews Amoah told the GNA.



He narrated how he slept in the open at the Abotoase Market, and said he depended on food vendors for meals.



Mr Prosper Amoah, father of the boy expressed gratitude to the Ghana News Agency for stories on the banishment and the police directive, which led to the boy's rescue.

Source: GNA









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Minnesota Model 3.0 projected 46 or so deaths a day through the end of this month when it was released on Thursday. Yesterday the authorities reported 17 new deaths, bringing the total to 700. The new model predicts 1,441 deaths by the end of May. I will withhold further comment on it at this point.

The 17 new deaths came with the age breakdown we have continued to see: six decedents were in their 90s, six were in their 80s, four were in their 70s, and one was in his 40s. Fourteen of the 17 new decedents were residents of long-term care facilities. The share of long-term care decedents among all decedents hovers around 81 percent.

New cases continue to rise and ICU use along with it. They are invoked in support of the campaign of fear that continues to be waged by the authorities and abetted by the media. See, for example, Christopher Snowbecks Star Tribune story Minnesota officials cautious after first week with fewer COVID-19 deaths. For some reason Snowbeck omits any mention of the hospital vacancies amid the panic.

Rather, Snowbeck asserts that hospitalization trends in Minnesota raise a concern that even limited steps to reopen the economy could stress hospital capacity[.] Although Snowbecks article quotes executives from huge local health care systems who imply this is not an issue, Snowbeck undercuts the implication through Pinar Karaca Mandic, a health economist at the University of Minnesotas Carlson School of Management. By contrast with the health system executives Snowbeck quotes, Mandic has no ICU capacity at the Carlson School.

Snowbeck quotes former state epidemiologist Michael Osterholm, now a member of Governor Walzs brain trust at the University of Minnesota: The public just needs to know, for their own decisionmaking, that this is the time weve probably seen the most virus activity in the Twin Cities, right now, since this whole thing began back in January. From that standpoint, people need to make decisions: What are they going to do? The governors not forcing anybody to necessarily be in public.

Governor Walz continues to assert minute control over our daily lives. Osterholm can barely express encouragement for us to take the available information and look out for ourselves. Expressing the notion in such a roundabout way, he makes it sound like a foreign concept.
In early April, the state of California imposed a zero-cash bail policy meant to reduce jail populations to curb the spread of COVID-19 in corrections facilities. A sheriff denounced the mandate and claimed it 'ignores victims and favors criminals' during a Friday interview.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims spoke with Laura Ingraham, host of Fox's The Ingraham Angle, where she compared the zero-bail policy to a get-out-of-jail-free card. She claimed the state government did not take into consideration the efforts the counties had done to prevent a coronavirus outbreak in jails. Mims also said the officials imposed the mandate to put out arraignment dates.

According to the law, individuals who are in law enforcement custody are required to be arraigned within a few hours. The policy allows officers to set the date out. Courts which have been forced to close by the COVID-19 lockdown would need the extra time for arraignments for people who were arrested.

Mims said she believes the zero-dollar bail will cause more harm to the United States' justice system. She cited cases of criminals arrested for auto theft, assault, or abuse were immediately released from jails and were only given a citation to appear.

Over 711 suspected criminals were released on $0 bail as of Thursday. Eighty-seven reportedly ended up back in police custody.

In May, Fremont Police Sergeant Ricardo Cortes said he arrested a 37-year-old man named Marcell Washington for the third time for three separate incidents. Washington was arrested for allegedly punching three strangers in the face for no reason on May 11.

In Alameda, police officers reportedly cuffed Waseen Abuwaidi at least seven times for separate crimes. For his seventh offence, he carjacked an Amazon driver in Dublin.

In Glendora, police arrested a man three times in a span of twelve hours for stealing cars and other property. The first arrest happened after officers received a call about a man allegedly trying to break into vehicles. The man drove off in the stolen vehicle when the police arrived. He was later arrested and was found with stolen property and illegal drugs.

An hour after he was released, the police received a tip about a man who carried a box with stolen items belonging to residents living near the Bennett and Pennsylvania neighborhood. Officers showed up and issued him a second citation.

Later in the evening, police responded to another reported of a stolen vehicle from a parking lot in South Grand Avenue. They chased the driver on the 10 Freeway and caught up to him in Pasadena. He was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle but was later released after being issued a citation.

The United States has over 2.3 million inmates in its 5,000 jails and prisons. According to the justice department, nearly 200,000 people aged 55 and above are still behind bars. As of mid-April, more than 16,000 prisoners were granted an early release due to the virus.

Catch the latest news here:
A 25-year-old Cable Beach man has been charged with the murder of a woman in Broome on Thursday.

Homicide detectives were flown to the Kimberley town on Friday and arrested the man on Saturday.

Police in attendance at a property in Cable Beach. Credit:ABC Kimberley/Sam Tomlin

The woman aged in her 40s was found in her Streeter Avenue unit with serious injuries on May 14.

She was rushed to hospital but later died.
Former San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor will make an excellent college president, and we have no doubts she will make her mark at Rust College in Holly Springs, Miss.

After all, Taylor made her mark here in San Antonio as a community development coordinator with the city and then District 2 city councilwoman before her historic tenure as mayor.

Taylor was the first African American, and second woman, to serve as mayor of San Antonio. She was appointed as interim mayor in 2014 after Julian Castro left the office to serve as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

She was appointed, in part, because she said she would not run for re-election. But she did  a flip-flop that always troubled us  and was elected to the office in 2015.

We had our fair share of disagreements with Taylor. Notably, on her early decision as mayor to kill the modern streetcar project and her vote as a councilwoman in 2013 against the citys nondiscrimination ordinance that extended protections to the LGBTQ community.

But there was also much to admire in her poised and calm leadership. While she voted against the NDO, she enforced and supported it as mayor. She achieved a contract agreement with the San Antonio Police Officers Association, despite bitter attacks against her. In doing so, she settled an acrimonious dispute and made headway on public safety health care costs. She advocated a back-to-basics approach to governance. Her decision to derail the streetcar likely reflected the views of the majority of voters.

Taylor governed with a refreshing lack of partisanship. She enjoyed support from San Antonios East Side and black community but also from North Side conservative voters. As she told Express-News reporter Bruce Selcraig, she didnt want to be boxed in as a leader but rather seen for her own ideas and values.

I didnt like being pigeonholed. I wanted the conversation to go beyond my being black and female, Taylor said. Some people were actually offended when I had my own ideas.

We often saw a mayor who sought to build consensus and was pragmatic about solving problems.

She was a champion of workforce development as a pathway out of poverty  arguments many local leaders are advancing now during this crisis and she launched My Brothers Keeper as a way to mentor young minority men. And, of course, she had an outstanding book club.

Impeccably credentialed with a bachelors degree from Yale and masters degree in regional planning from the University of North Carolina, and soon to be awarded a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, Taylor will make an excellent college president at Rust, a historically black liberal arts college.

She has said she hopes to grow the colleges media program and encourage more black men into the field of teaching, and plans on amplifying social justice history.

When I was that little black girl at Yale, I made friends, she said of her undergraduate experience. But I never really had anyone on the faculty or in the administration who took an interest in me or my future. I want to develop that sort of mentoring environment at Rust.

She will be an outstanding leader and mentor.

Heres to an exciting new chapter for a former mayor whose public service helped make San Antonio a better place.
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Victoria and Abdul star Ali Fazal recently spoke to a local daily and revealed that he has planned to celebrate his impending marriage to actor girlfriend Richa Chadha in a big way, once the global coronavirus pandemic goes away. In the wake of COVID-19, the star couple had to postpone their wedding which was scheduled for April this year. Ali Fazal has said that the wedding has been delayed until further notice and that they want to celebrate with everyone once the world returns to its normal state.

In a statement, the couples spokesperson had said, Given the current scenario and the unfortunate turn of events owing to the COVID-19 pandemic globally, Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha have decided to postpone their wedding functions to the latter half of 2020 tentatively. They wish for everyone to be healthy and safe and at no cost would want their friends, families and well-wishers to be affected.

Read | Ali Fazal's confusing post draws hilarious reactions; Richa Chadha also expresses surprise

Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha who has been in a steady relationship for a few years now are currently away amidst the nationwide lockdown to fight Coronavirus. The actor, in an interview with a leading daily, confessed that the lockdown period would have been easier if he could visit her.

Read | Richa Chadha remembers 'when she could travel' in cute video with beau Ali Fazal, watch

Fazal explained that if one took to the right precautions, people could go and meet their loved ones but currently, it is difficult as there are many restrictions and people aren't following the rules and are spotted without masks on the streets. What's the first thing Fazal would do once this is all was over and quickly comes the reply, 'Visit my mother'. Fazal said he wants to go home and spend time with his mother as half the year has been wasted in this tragic incident.

Read | Richa Chadha reveals she thought her career was over after 'Gangs of Wasseypur'

Fazal said that he always tried to go home during Ramzan, but the situation is inevitable. Mirzapur actor shared that apart from house chores, he has been keeping himself busy with writing and developing some scripts. With quarantining alone at his Bandra home, Fazal has been battling with anxiety and fear, but is happy that his friends, Poorna Jagannathan and Richa Chadha, are keeping his spirits up during these absurd times.

Read | Ali Fazal misses girlfriend Richa Chadha, says, 'Wish could go & meet her'

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New Delhi, May 17 : The retail trade has said that the pressing issues facing the industry have not been addressed in the economic stimulus package.

Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India said that with no with no income and zero support from the government, the industry doesn't have the ability to support employees. This will lead to a massive slowdown in consumption that will further harm the economy and the country, he added.

He said retailers need working capital in their hands to retain employment; lack of support will result in closure of businesses, and jeopardise livelihoods and jobs of 46 million direct employees out of which 20 million work in non-essential retail.

"The Retailers Association of India (RAI) is of the view that the steps taken under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' economic stimulus will help the country in the long term but the emergent issues facing the retail industry have not been addressed", according to a statement.

The retail industry, which contributes around 40% to India's consumption and 10% to India's GDP, is severely stressed. "What retailers needed was wage support; moratorium for payment of principal & interests and support in the form of working capital. This is critical for retail to survive", it added.

Some earlier measures like reduction in TDS rates for payments or 2% reduction each in the EPF contribution of both the employer and employee are minor measures that fail to provide the monetary support needed to keep a business functioning. Even the relief measures offered to MSMEs by the government do not help retailers as retail is not covered under the MSME sector, the association said.
Over 160 Indian citizens from Chicago in the U.S arrived here on Sunday on board an Air India flight, the ninth such service to reach the city since the beginning of the Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate people from the country stranded due to coronavirus lockdown.

The AI 126 flight arrived via Delhi at the international airport here at 4.45 AM, airport sources said.

The passengers were serviced through the fully sanitised international arrivals of the main passenger terminal of the airport, they said.

This is the ninthVande Bharat evacuation flight to land in the city.

To facilitate the arriving passengers and aircraft crew, the airport has kept the international arrivals and the entire stretch right from aerobridge to arrivals ramp fully sanitised and fumigated.

The airport also enforced social distancing among passengers right from the aero-bridge to across the terminal, the sources added.

All arriving passengers and aircraft crew were brought out from the aircraft in a batch of 20-25 people each and screened using the thermal cameras under supervision of the airport health officials as per the directives of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare prior to immigration formalities.

The sources also said the airport handled departure of a repatriation flight from Hyderabad to Delhi carrying 68 passengers bound for foreign countries.

Air India AI 1840 departed at 06.41 AM. As per the flight itinerary, from Delhi, these passengers were supposed to be airlifted to various destinations in the UK and the US.

Petrol, Diesel prices to cost more from Sunday; Odisha Govt hikes VAT

Coronavirus Live Updates: 4,987 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours, highest 1-day jump as India enters lockdown 4.0

Nirmala Sitharaman Press Conference Live Updates: India will emerge stronger from this crisis, says FM

Lockdown 4.0: Home Ministry likely to announce guidelines today; what to expect
Police have been investigating potential breaches of coronavirus guidelines at two republican funerals for nearly six weeks but have yet to send any files to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

The first evidence-gathering operation was launched after scores of people turned out to watch the cortege for former Sinn Fein councillor Francie McNally in Ballinderry, Co Tyrone, on April 8.

The police commander of the Mid Ulster District, Superintendent Mike Beard, and the local priest had spoken to the family about the need for social distancing and were assured it would be relatives only in attendance.

But members of the public followed the horse-drawn hearse to the graveyard, which was flanked by men in republican mourning attire and led by a piper.

Images of the funeral prompted a message from Deputy First Minister and MLA for the constituency, Michelle O'Neill. "The rules are there for a reason. Everybody needs to follow them. Nobody is exempt," she said.

Just over a week later, another republican funeral saw hundreds of people gather outside a house in Turf Lodge in west Belfast, sparking a second police probe.

In both cases pictures and video of the gatherings were shared on social media, with police appealing for information about possible breaches of regulations.

A police spokesperson told Sunday Life inquiries were still ongoing in relation to both events and when files are completed they will be submitted to the PPS for consideration.

However, police did take action over a gathering related to the death of a young man in west Belfast at the end of last month.

Six fines and community resolution notices were handed out after a large crowd gathered to watch a tribute by boy racers to Sean 'Big Bo' Monaghan near his house in Poleglass.
More than 200 miles of the Pecos River, its tributaries and other parts of the upper reaches of the northern New Mexico watershed would be protected from future degradation under a petition being considered by state regulators.

A coalition of farmers, ranchers, environmentalists and local officials filed the petition last month, seeking an Outstanding National Resources Waters designation for the river, nearby streams and surrounding wetlands. The Water Quality Control Commission agreed Tuesday to consider the request and set a public hearing for November.

State officials have described such a designation as the highest level of protection against degradation for a body of water under New Mexicos water quality standards. A number of streams in wilderness and forested areas in the state are classified as outstanding waters.

The move in the Upper Pecos Valley comes as concerns simmer over a proposal that would clear the way for exploratory drilling by a mining company.

Those behind the petition say the Pecos watershed supports agriculture as well as an economy that draws millions each year from hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

They also point to the cultural significance of the area, saying that since the mid-16th century people there have depended on the Pecos River to feed traditional irrigation systems called acequias to grow crops and raise livestock. Many of the canals are still used.

For eight generations, Ralph Vigils family has lived in the Pecos area. An organic farmer and a member of the state acequia association, Vigil is worried about future development  specifically, mining  in the surrounding mountains and the effects on the landscape and water quality.

Mining and milling in the Upper Pecos from the 1880s to the 1930s contaminated soil and water and required remediation. While there are lingering questions among some residents about health problems that followed, Vigil said the community also has concerns that another mining company will come in, make a mess and leave it for taxpayers to clean up.

Right now, were trying to create something better in our community  agritourism, ecotourism, outdoor recreation, he said. We need to preserve those qualities within our watershed in order to create that economic opportunity. I think that is way more sustainable and long-lasting than mining will ever be.

If the water that the community depends on is contaminated, then the community is going to suffer, he said.

Comexico LLC, a subsidiary of Australian-based New World Cobalt, has proposed exploratory drilling on previously identified mineral deposits north of Pecos. If approval is granted, the company will explore the extent of the ore and market the prospects to other investors or companies for development.

The plan calls for using existing roads and drill sites to drill up to 30 core holes on a few acres.

The U.S. Forest Service and state energy and mineral officials are reviewing the proposal.

Federal mining regulations and laws allow for exploration and development on national forest lands, but officials have said that Comexico would have to modify its plans to mitigate any effects on cultural resources important to Native American tribes and species such as the Mexican spotted owl.

If the state were to approve the outstanding waters designation, any new activities that degrade water quality would be prohibited.

The petition is backed by the New Mexico Acequia Association, San Miguel County, the village of Pecos, the Upper Pecos Watershed Association and Vigils company, Molino de la Isla Organics.
Defense committee to probe armed forces' role in coronavirus crisis

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 May 2020 3:52 PM

The House of Commons Defense Select Committee has launched an inquiry into the "nature" of the armed forces' "contribution" to the management of the coronavirus crisis.

Although the official statement uses benign language such as testing the armed forces' "preparedness" and "resilience" during the pandemic, the timing of the inquiry is odd and raises a number of questions.

Indeed such inquiries are often held once a crisis has blown over and a sufficient distance between the event and the post-event assessments has been achieved.

Britain is still in the grip of the coronavirus crisis with the government coming under intense criticism for its mishandling of the pandemic from the outset.

Furthermore, the role of the armed forces has not been entirely transparent. Under Operation Rescript the army was given expansive powers to intervene during the crisis, including potentially deploying troops to the streets of London to maintain law and order.

But the armed forces  and the army in particular  have appeared to use the crisis for propaganda purposes including indulging in expensive vanity projects, notably the Nightingale field hospital in London which was hardly used even at the peak of the crisis.

Earlier this month it was announced that NHS Nightingale would be shut down within a week.

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RTHK: China vows to fight US curbs on Huawei

The Chinese Commerce Ministry says it will take all necessary measures in response to new US restrictions on Chinese tech giant Huaweis ability to use American technology, calling the measures an abuse of state power and a violation of market principles.

A spokesperson quoted in a statement on Sunday on the ministrys website said the regulations also threatened the security of the global industrial and supply chain.

The US uses state power, under the so-called excuse of national security, and abuses export control measures to continuously oppress and contain specific enterprises of other countries, the statement said.

China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, it said.

Under the new rules, foreign semiconductor makers who use American technology must obtain a US license to ship Huawei-designed semiconductors to the Chinese company.

Chip design and manufacturing equipment used in the worlds semiconductor plants is mostly US-made, so the new rule affects foreign producers that sell to Huawei and affiliates including HiSilicon, which makes chips for supercomputers with scientific and military uses.

The US Commerce Department said foreign foundries would be granted a 120-day grace period for chips already in production.

American Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Friday that Washington wants to prevent Huawei from evading sanctions imposed earlier on its use of American technology to design and produce semiconductors abroad.

Chinas first global tech brand and a maker of network equipment and smartphones is at the centre of a Sino-American conflict over Beijings technology ambitions.

American officials say Huawei is a security risk, which the company denies.

It wasn't clear what form China's response would take, but the sides are already deep in conflict over U.S. accusations of copyright theft and unfair trading by firms in China's heavily state-controlled economy.

Canada arrested Huawei's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huaweis founder, in December 2018 in a case that sparked a diplomatic furor among the three countries and complicated high-stakes trade talks. China detained two Canadians in apparent retaliation for Meng's arrest. (AP)

This story has been published on: 2020-05-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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After deliberation in the Council of Ministers' meeting on Friday, May 15, 2020, it was decided that based on the efforts of the government to properly contain the virus, leading to a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases on the both sides, as well as the bonds that exist between the people, it is no longer necessary to maintain the border controls and restrictions of movement between the two sides.





As of Sunday morning, which is a non-movement day, the Dutch Police Force will no longer control the internal borders of St. Maarten. The container which was placed by our police force at the Oyster Pond border to minimize the number of borders requiring control, will also be removed on Sunday. The police force will be refocusing its energy on de-escalation measures, and on ensuring that safety and security is maintained during this process as businesses re-open in phase 2 on Monday morning. Prime Minister Jacobs informed that the police force will continue to maintain the night curfew which will be from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM as of Monday evening.





Just as before the State of Emergency, the Dutch side of the island will no longer require waivers. As one small 37 square mile island, we have tried our utmost to synchronize measures with our northern counterparts to protect the population from the spread of this virus, at times causing some stress to our citizens with family and economic ties on both sides. We see no need for this any longer as the COVID-19 cases are well under control, and it is time to normalize even further. As our businesses reopen, more persons will need to access their business, or place of work, making this extra task unreasonable. stated Prime Minister Jacobs.





Collective Prevention Services (CPS) community outreach testing campaign will continue this weekend and next weekend, however, during the week, normal movement is allowed to allow persons the opportunity to earn a living and get our economy restarted while upholding the guidelines for safety of employees and clients.





After discussions with our French counterparts on Saturday morning, where they were updated of the decision of the Council of Ministers, it has been confirmed by Madame la Prefet Feucher that the French gendarmes will maintain the controls as they require additional time to evaluate whether their containment efforts via community testing have been successful. As this is the case, our French counterparts will continue to require waivers to allow movement to French St. Maarten.





In discussions with President Gibbs and the Collectivite, I have been informed by President Gibbs that he has contacted the Minister of Overseas Territories Annick Girardin and has advised her to also lift the border controls due to the decision taken by the Council of Ministers of St. Maarten in an effort to synchronize the measures on both sides of the island as border control is a competency of the state.





Our population is much more aware of the dangers of the virus and will continue to practice the guidelines to be out in public; wearing a mask at all times, keeping a social distance of 2 meters and practicing proper hand hygiene frequently in order to avoid a second wave. Our behaviour will determine the success of our de-escalation of measures.





There are times, unfortunately, when our different systems cannot synchronize, as such we will continue to meet and discuss best practices moving forward and do our best to foster cooperation as we de-escalate measures and continue to fight the spread of COVID-19. concluded Prime Minister Jacobs.




A Yun-20 transport plane sends PLA medical workers to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, Wuhan, Hubei province, on Feb 17, 2020. [Photo by Wei Lai/For China Daily]



BEIJING -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has shared its experience in fighting COVID-19 with militaries from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa and Ukraine by videoconference seperately in early May.

The videoconferences focused on exchanges in emergency command, epidemic prevention and control, clinical treatment and diagnostic testing.

The militaries from these countries appreciated China's experience sharing and spoke highly of China's major achievements in battling the virus and the PLA's great efforts in epidemic response.

They lauded China for releasing information on COVID-19 promptly and sharing its experience in epidemic control and medical treatment in an open, transparent and responsible manner.

They also expressed willingness to keep in close contact with the Chinese side and strengthen cooperation in epidemic response.




Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan has strongly indicated the government is unlikely to extend its free childcare beyond the end of June as demand for childcare places is rising faster than anticipated with the return of parents to work.

Nationwide demand for childcare has already surged to 60 per cent of normal capacity, forcing the government to consider an early shake-up of the fee-free funding system put in place for the COVID-19 crisis.

But while some childcare operators are pushing for a return to the previous fee-and-subsidy scheme, others warn that a "premature" snap back would be unaffordable for many parents in the harsh economic environment.

Education Minister Dan Tehan says Australia's success in containing COVID-19 has fuelled demand for childcare. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Tehan indicated the reduction in coronavirus cases - resulting in restrictions easing and people going back to work - made it unlikely the government will opt to extend the scheme beyond its expiry date of June 28.


Gal Gadot has urged young people to "trust" themselves.

The 'Wonder Woman' actress gave a moving speech as part of CNN's 'Class of 2020: In This Together' special on Saturday (16.05.20), in which she addressed the American students who are graduating from college this year, but have had their official graduation ceremonies cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And in her message, Gal assured young people that "anything is possible", and urged them to head out into the world to put their dreams into action.

She said: "Hey everyone, I'm Gal Gadot, and I'm so honoured to be able to personally congratulate you, the class of 2020 on your graduation.

"As a child of a teacher and an engineer, I grew up understanding very well the value and the power of education. And now with this moment in your life, when school is done but your next steps are unclear in this somewhat uncertain world, you might feel powerless at times. So I urge you to think of these words: 'Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.' Those words were spoken by Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. She was the first female prime minister for Israel, and these words had a profound influence on many young people like myself growing up in Israel."

Gal, 35, admitted the path may not be "simple" for people, but said "work, drive, and confidence" could have make anything happen.

She continued: "Now the idea seems so simple. But to put it into action isn't always as simple, because it's not always as easy as deciding to be happy or deciding to do what's right. Fanning those flames takes more than desire. It takes even more work, drive, confidence and resources and the ability to go on even when there are those who will tell you it's not possible, you shouldn't, you couldn't."

The star closed her message by reminding graduates they are about to begin their "future", and told them to "create [their] own special story in the world".

She said: "Well I want to tell you, you can. Anything is possible and now is your time to start and create your own special story in the world. I'm telling you there is nothing you cannot do if you put your heart and mind and all that you have learned into it. You know to me, Wonder Woman is a fighter, but it's what she fights for that matters. So fight for your place in this world because you've earned it, you've worked so hard to get to this moment and no matter how unclear our future may seem, your future is bright and it starts today. Congratulations."
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) called on the government of Jordan to provide urgent financial relief to airlines as they struggle to survive the devastating impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

Iata estimates that revenues generated by airlines in the Jordanian market will fall by $700 million (52 per cent) compared to 2019. That puts at risk nearly 34,400 Jordanian jobs and $1.1 billion of Jordans GDP, which is generated by aviation directly as well as by aviation-related tourism.

Jordans leaders have always understood the importance of having a sustainable aviation sector. They have prioritised policies that have encouraged the development of air connectivity that supports travel and tourism. But the Covid-19 crisis is putting that positive progress at risk. Airlines are fighting for survival. Passenger traffic has virtually stopped, and cash flows are almost non-existent. The consequences for the Jordanian economy are severe. Urgent financial support from the government is needed now to keep the sector alive," said Muhammad Albakri, Iatas Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East.

It is essential that the Jordanian government move quickly to minimise the economic damage resulting from the Covid-19 crisis. Government support is urgently required to ensure the liquidity which will allow airlines to survive the coming months and thus protect the jobs generated by the air transport sector. The government should consider the following financial relief measures:

 Direct financial support to passenger and cargo carriers

 Financial relief on air traffic control (ATC) charges and taxes

 Reduction, waiver or deferral of government-imposed taxes and fees

Air transport in Jordan contributes $2.2 billion to the countrys GDP and supports some 70,000 jobs. This includes spending by foreign tourists who travel to Jordan by air which supports $1.3 billion of GDP. In total, 5.7 per cent of the country's GDP is sustained by the input of the air transport sector and foreign tourists arriving by air.

"When the Covid-19 virus is brought under control, a healthy aviation sector will be essential to jump-start the Jordanian, Middle East and global economies. Timely government support is urgently required to ensure the liquidity which will allow airlines to survive the coming months and thus protect the jobs generated by the air transport sector and preserve Jordans tourism industry, said Albakri. - TradeArabia News Service
The third phase of the coronavirus lockdown will come to an end today (May 17). This phase of the lockdown witnessed considerable relaxations in measures with standalone stores lifting shutters, liquor shops opening up and 15 special passenger trains resuming service ever since the Railways suspended operations on March 25.

The fourth phase of the lockdown will commence from Monday and will last till May 31. Prime Minister Narendra, in his address earlier this week, said that this phase of the lockdown will be very different in nature with new rules. Centres guidelines on lockdown 4.0 are likely to be announced today.

Also read: Indias Covid-19 tally crosses 90,000-mark; death toll at 2,872

The fourth phase of lockdown, lockdown 4, will be completely redesigned, with new rules. Based on the suggestions we are getting from the states, information related to Lockdown 4 will also be given to you before 18 May, PM Modi had said during his address to the nation on May 12.

Also Watch l Covid-19: Satyendar Jain on what Delhiites want open during lockdown 4.0

I am confident that by following the rules, we will fight Corona and move forward, he added.

The Centre has introduced Rs 20 lakh crore economic stimulus package to spur growth and infuse vitality in the economic sectors amid the lockdown. The prime minister said that the economic package will help build an Atmanirbhar Bharat - a self-reliant India.

Also read: Curbs relaxed or not, Delhis Chandni Chowk to stay shut till May 31

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, over the past week, announced details of the stimulus package in multiple press briefings. The first phase of her briefing was held on Wednesday and the final tranche was announced today at 11 am. Todays announcements focussed on seven steps taken by the government - MGNREGA, health & education related steps, business & Covid-19, decriminalization of Companies Act, ease of doing business, public sector enterprises, state government resources.
https://www.aish.com/h/sh/t/Perseverance-NASAs-Mars-Project-and-Preparing-for-Shavuot.html

Perseverance is what will bring us to Mars this summer. And it's the crucial trait we need for our spiritual journey as well.

Together with Jews around the world Ive been busy since Passover counting the days. No, I dont mean how long Ive been confined to my home or how many weeks its been since I was able to pray in a synagogue. Ive been fulfilling the mitzvah to count the 49 days between the holiday marking our deliverance from Egypt to the magnificent moment when we received the Torah on Mount Sinai.

The Counting of the Omer is a meaningful way to link the festival of freedom with its ultimate purpose of receiving the Torah on the holiday of Shavuot. The midrash compares it to a bride counting the days from her engagement to the ultimate joy of her wedding. The count expresses our anticipation of our marriage to God under the chuppah of Mount Sinai which miraculously hovered over our heads as we listened to the thunderous voice of the Almighty proclaiming the 10 Commandments.

Interestingly, the name selected by NASA for its next rover headed to Mars expresses the key lesson we need to take to heart as we prepare to receive the Torah.

NASA is the scientific embodiment of the human effort to transcend our earthly limitations. Somehow, from the depths of our souls, we know there must be more than the globe on which we live. The profound quest for probing the mysteries of the universe is testament to our spiritual awareness of a greater universe  and of a Divine creator.

NASAs missions deserve names worthy of their historic significance. In its early years, NASA failed this challenge. The seven landers to survey the surface of the moon between 1966 and 1968 in preparation for the landings of Apollo astronauts were simply the word Surveyor followed by a number. The probes that flew past Mars, Venus and Mercury were Mariner 1 through 10, and Viking 1 and Viking 2 were the rockets that NASA successfully landed on Mars in 1976.

Then NASA had a great idea. Beginning with the Pathfinder mission in 1997, NASA turned to schoolchildren with a naming contest. In 2003, the choices of Sofi Collis, a precocious nine-year-old who was born in Siberia, gave us the emotionally moving names Spirit and Opportunity because, as Sofi wrote, I used to live in an orphanage. At night, I looked up at the sparkly sky and felt better. I dreamed I could fly there. In America, I can make all my dreams come true. Thank you for the Spirit and the Opportunity.

This year as well, as NASA was completing plans for the Mars mission scheduled for the red planet this summer, a contest was held for children ranging from kindergartners to high schoolers. There were 28,000 entries and 155 semifinalists. The winner was a seventh grader from Springfield, Virginia. The winning name? One word: Perseverance.

Alexander Mather, in his winning essay, explained: Curiosity. Insight. Spirit. Opportunity. If you think about it, all of these names of past Mars rovers are qualities we possess as humans. We are always curious and seek opportunity. We have the spirit and insight to explore the moon, Mars and beyond. But, if rovers are to be the qualities of us as a race, we missed the most important thing. Perseverance.

Perseverance is what will allow us to reach beyond our physical limitations  and get closer to God.

Perseverance is what will bring us to Mars this summer. Perseverance is what will permit us to escape our earthly confines. Perseverance is what will allow us to reach beyond our physical limitations  and get closer to God.

It is true for space travel, just as it is true for our spiritual journey as well.

How do we make the trip from Egypt to Sinai, from the confines of physical bondage to the soaring liberation of holiness? It is not easy to reach the top of a mountain. Living up to the demands of Mount Sinai is a harder climb than reaching the top of Mount Everest. It requires commitment. It requires dedication. But most of all it requires perseverance. Benjamin Disraeli summed it up best: Through perseverance people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure.

That is the real meaning of counting the days until Shavuot. It is fascinating that the very name of the holiday commemorating our acceptance of the Torah is a word that does not mention the event of that day but rather the preparation for it in the days preceding. Shavuot means weeks  the weeks of perseverance leading up to it which make our commitment to Torah possible.

How can every one of us achieve the ideal of lives committed to holiness, of lives exemplifying the best and the noblest as defined by God himself? It is by way of the one word, perseverance, that will take us to Mars  and beyond that, to Heaven itself.
After more than seven weeks of living under Gov. Kate Browns stay-at-home order, its hard not to feel hopeful about the governors decision to ease restrictions on residents in 31 of the states 36 counties where coronavirus infections have remained relatively low.

In most areas outside of the Portland metro area, people can dine in restaurants again  albeit, at tables set six feet apart. They can get haircuts from masked stylists and even hit the gym, as long as the facility abides by strict cleaning protocols. Laid-off workers can resume earning a paycheck at businesses that shuttered for the stay-at-home order. And friends and family can once again gather for backyard barbecues, provided theres no more than 25 people and visitors, as always, observe distancing guidelines to limit spread of the coronavirus.

Its not the life we knew at the start of 2020, which already seems like the longest year in history. But its the life that many of us would gladly take at this point, the first step on a long road to some new version of normalcy.

This easing of restrictions, however, comes at the risk of unleashing a surge of new infections. The potentially devastating consequences and the sacrifices Oregonians have already made underscore just how critical it is to get this reopening right. While Oregonians as a whole must do their part, the success of this high-stakes experiment hinges on state leaders ability to relentlessly and diligently police counties efforts, share information publicly and rein in counties quickly if need be. That will require the governor and top officials to both communicate clearly and show a commitment to accountability and transparency that too often eludes them.

Unfortunately, there are already reasons for concern. The state had laid out a list of prerequisites before counties would be eligible forPhase 1 of reopening. One of those requirements was that counties must have 15 workers per 100,000 residents to conduct contact tracing  tracking down and advising those who may have come in contact with a patient who has tested positive for coronavirus. But as The Oregonian/OregonLives Brad Schmidt reported, at least four counties submitted plans that appear to fall short of that requirement. Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen confirmed that the agency didnt consider that ratio a deal-breaker and took into consideration a countys plan for quickly training and adding tracers as well as its number of positive cases. While the agency should evaluate the full picture of a county, the state should not be so quick to abandon their stated requirements on the assumption that counties can pull together needed resources in a pinch.

Another potentially problematic sign: In Thursdays press conference, The Oregonian/OregonLives Ted Sickinger asked how state officials were verifying information shared by county health officials with the state. Dean Sidelinger, the states health officer, responded by emphasizing the collaboration and partnership among state and local health authorities, noting that they share data and can work jointly to create reports or provide resources.

Collaboration among health authorities is key. So is accountability. Unfortunately, Sidelingers response reveals much more of the former than the latter. It is exactly that coziness among colleagues that often results in authorities failing to ask questions or otherwise conduct routine accountability checks. Thats especially worrisome considering how inexplicably deferential the Oregon Health Authority was in the early weeks of the pandemic, allowing county health officials to withhold from the public basic demographic information about coronavirus cases. State health officials must have the stomach to question, verify and follow-up with county health officials to ensure that they are doing their job. And they must be ready to immediately curtail or halt activities in a county or region if infections soar, even if county officials protest.

And while Sidelinger said the state will provide data for the public to track progress in counties, he and others have frequently refused to release such generic information as the number of hospitalizations in a county due to unfounded fears of compromising patient privacy. This we know best attitude does nothing to build support for the painful policy choices the state has made and instead breeds suspicion. Such selective communication will also make it exceedingly difficult if the state must once again shut down the economy.

Browns order itself sends confusing messages to the Portland metro area. While the governor is specifically allowing furniture and other businesses to reopen in Portland and across the state, Portland-area residents are still urged not to make any non-essential trips.

Oregonians have given up so much already in the name of protecting the public. Students have lost months of school instruction, restaurant workers have lost their jobs and loved ones have died alone. Oregonians have held tough even when the state has failed them, such as the ongoing inability of the employment department to issue benefits to laid off workers. There is no room for failure now. State officials must demonstrate with every decision that the publics interest  not counties preferences or colleagues feelings  comes first.

-The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board
EDWARDSVILLE  As the weeks became months, all local businesses have acutely experienced the ill effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

While many restaurants switched to delivery, curbside pick-up and drive-through services, other businesses lacked those options and closed completely.

A few Edwardsville City Council members also own businesses, such as Art Risavy, who runs the Swing City Music locations in Collinsville and on South Buchanan Street here in town. Mayor Hal Patton has his own dental practice. He describes it as one of the many hats he regularly wears.

Business owner, mayor, health care provider and taxpayer, he said. Business owners have resiliency as core values.

Beyond reopening local businesses, Patton said the key is getting customers to return to them to buy their goods and services. He foresees two possible problems with that  calling back employees who make more money from state and federal unemployment than they earn on the job and finding childcare options since the daycares remain closed and schools may not be in session until 2021 at the earliest.

Again, Patton stressed that he is no medical expert and he is not here to lecture anyone, but this is an unprecedented situation. Richard Welle, the citys emergency management coordinator during the pandemic, said there has been a deep concern on the citys part about local businesses.

The science behind this is what has been driving decisions on this, Welle said. How can we safely put our people back to work?

He said Madison County is currently in the second phase of Gov. JB Pritzkers five-phase plan and is projected to reach phase three by May 29 if there are no major changes in the number of cases or other, related data.

Welle said it is a balancing act between protecting public health and finding ways to keep the local economy working.

We have been trying to stay on top of this since the earliest days it was identified, Welle said.

Karlee Hiatt is one of three co-owners of Treo Salon on Route 157 at Club Centre Court. She said their last day in business was March 19 but they excitedly hope to re-open on June 1.

Hiatt said the salon employs 17 people and keeping them all motivated and resilient during the downtime has not been an issue.

We have a super close team of women, she said. We love spending time together. Weve done group workouts on Zoom; weve had virtual house parties and our kids even talk to each other.

She said her vendors and suppliers have stepped up with free online content, e-learning classes to keep their skills sharp and ideas they can try at home before returning to the salon.

It feels like our industry is one that slips through the cracks, she said compared to other local businesses. An added layer of uncertainly stemmed from just before the pandemic hit, when she said a rumor began circulating that Illinois was going to recommend non-licensing for hair salons and stylists. Theres so much uncertainty going on.

She praised Edwardsville as a great community and she and the others cannot wait to reopen. Customers who have been patient with and loyal to the salon have sent supportive messages via social media, and also been morale boosters, she said. Hiatt added that they have male and female clients

South of Treo, Karma on Main is a womens clothing store in Glen Carbon. Owner Erin Groeteka said the last day her store was open was March 13. She hopes to re-open on June 1.

Its been so stressful and unpleasant  financially, emotionally, mentally, she said. She wondered if she will contract the virus and if so, how bad would it be.

While she said her particular type of business does not require a state license to open, she has no plans to follow Madison Countys re-opening plan because she is worried her liability insurance coverage would lapse.

One bright spot is that as a sole proprietor, she has no employees so she didnt have to let anyone go or fret about how she would get them back once the stay-at-home order is rescinded.

Thats been a relief at this time; I dont have anyone depending on me, she said.

For now, she said she is trying to remain positive, paying her bills from her savings and be hopeful about re-opening in a couple of weeks.

I want to be safe and I want my customers to be safe, she said.

Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at (618) 659-5735
Every so often, the world of tennis is thrown into the spotlight for reasons that have littl
Hyderabad, May 18 : Upset over the financial losses he suffered due to the ongoing lockdown, a businessman attempted self-immolation near Telangana chief minister's official residence in the high-security Begumpet area here, police said.

However, alert security personnel stopped the man from taking the extreme step.

According to police, Mohammed Nazeeruddin reached near the CM residence on Sunday and doused himself with petrol. However, security personnel present nearby snatched the matchbox from him and poured water on him.

Nazeeruddin, a footwear businessman from Malakpet area in Hyderabad, told police that he was distressed over his financial losses. "He said he had taken loan but could not repay it as there was no business. He was also finding it difficult to feed his family," Inspector M. Niranjan Reddy said.

Police said the businessman had to pay Rs 20 lakh to a private chit fund company and had recently received a legal notice from the company.
Dozens of nurses and healthcare workers took a Zumba class on Sunday to boost morale before returning to work to treat COVID-19 patients.

Chief Executive Officer of Kenya's Nursing Council Edna Kimaiyo said it was a way to alleviate anxiety and keep fit.

Around 50 healthcare workers wearing masks and observing social distancing regulations danced and prayed for nearly two hours on Sunday morning.

After the class, they headed back to the isolation wards at the Infectious Diseases Unit in Kenya's main hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi.

As of Sunday, Kenya has registered more than 800 confirmed coronavirus cases and 50 fatalities.

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.
The Zoological Survey of India



has posted an updated checklist of Indian amphibians on its website, listing 20 species as critically endangered and 35 as 'endangered', an official said on Sunday.

The 20 'critically endangered' amphibians include some species of frogs found in the Western Ghats of Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka and in some hills of the north east, he said.

The number of amphibian species recorded in the comprehensive checklist, uploaded on the Zoological Survey of India's (ZSI) website on Friday, has gone up from 284 in 2009 to 447 now, Goa-based environmentalist Nirmal U Kulkarni, who was part of the checklist updation exercise, said.

"Among the amphibians listed, 20 species are 'critically endangered' and 35 species as 'endangered', he said.

These includeRaorchestes resplendens, a shrubfrog found in the high altitude region around the south Indian peak of Anamudi in Kerala, Raorchestes kaikatti, also known as the Kaikattibushfrogfound only in the Nelliyampathy hills in the Western Ghats of Kerala and Raorchestes shillongensis species found in Shillong.

Besides, Pseudophilautus amboli, a rare shrub frog species endemic to the Western Ghats atAmboliin Maharashtra and Jog Falls and Kudremukh in Karnataka, has also been termed as critically endangered, Kulkarni said.

The updated comprehensive checklist will help herpetology students, researchers, conservation scientists and policy makers to understand the diversity of Indian amphibians and their up-to-date nomenclature, he said.

The new updated checklist has also highlighted 19 per cent of amphibians as 'data deficient' species and about 39 per cent as 'not assessed', as per red list conservation status of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), he said.

A data deficient species is one which has been categorised by the IUCN as offering insufficient information for a proper assessment of conservation status to be made.

"It is high time to assess the IUCN conservation status for the Indian 'data deficient' 19 per cent, which are 86 species, and 'not assessed 39 per cent, which are 175 species, of amphibians based on species specific field explorations, Kulkarni said.

Since 2009, ZSI scientists in collaboration with other Indian institutes have been updating the Indian amphibian checklist periodically as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), he added.

The checklist has been compiled by research scientists K P Dinesh from ZSI's western regional centre at Pune, C Radhakrishnan from Calicut, B H Channakeshavamurthy from ZSI, Calicut, P Deepak from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru,and Nirmal Kulkarni from the Mhadei Research Centre in Goa.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A logo is pictured on a Huawei NetEngine 8000 Intelligent Metro Router during a 5G event in London, on February 20, 2020.

China's commerce ministry said on Sunday it is firmly opposed to the latest rules by the United States against Huawei and will take all necessary measures to safeguard Chinese firms' rights and interests.

The ministry said in a statement that it urges the United States to immediately stop the wrong actions.

The Trump administration on Friday moved to block global chip supplies to blacklisted telecoms equipment company Huawei Technologies, spurring fears of Chinese retaliation and hammering shares of U.S. producers of chipmaking equipment. The new rule went into effect on Friday but would have a 120-day grace period.

China's state-run newspaper Global Times, citing an unidentified source, reported that Beijing, in response to the new limits on Huawei, was ready to put U.S. companies on an "unreliable entity list" as part of the countermeasures.

Those countermeasures include launching investigations and imposing restrictions on U.S. companies such as Apple Inc, Cisco Systems Inc, and Qualcomm Inc.

"The U.S. has utilized national power and used the so-called national security concern as an excuse, and abused export controls to continue to suppress some particular companies in other countries," China's commerce ministry said in today's statement.
The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, on Sunday swore in four local government caretaker committee chairpersons following the extension of their tenures by the state House of Assembly last week.

Bauchi has 20 local government areas and 16 of the chairpersons have been told to continue in office by the state lawmakers.

The governor said four council bosses had to go through swearing-in protocol because their predecessors had either resigned or were sacked before their tenures expired.

Mr Mohammed disclosed this at the swearing-in of the four caretaker chairpersons for Darazo, Kirfi, Tafawa-Balewa, and Ningi local governments.

He said some of their predecessors were sacked for alleged corrupt acts that involved illegal deforestation and sale of government land.

Governor Mohammed who had earlier promised to conduct local government polls by June said he had to shift the polls due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I did not want to come out for the swearing-in ceremony because I knew I had promised Nigerians that we are going to hold the local government elections very soon, he said.

But here we are faced with the doctrine of necessity which demands that we are going to swear in and get an extension of the tenure of the local government caretaker chairmen from the state assembly in view of the COVID-19 pandemic which prevents us from abiding by the time table set up by the state independent electoral commission.

He said the elections would hold as soon as feasible, stressing that all arrangements had earlier been concluded for the elections.

That is the only way we can deepen democracy in Nigeria. We know that the caretaker system is not democracy  it is unconstitutional, but we have to do that to fill the vacuum.

We as a government are encouraged to open the frontiers of governance and provide opportunities for citizens of Bauchi to exercise their right of universal suffrage.

He said some of the sworn-in chairpersons were newly appointed to replace those that resigned or were sacked.

Those that we have removed are very close to me as a person. But governance is not all about Bala Mohammed; it is not even about you or anybody; It is about trust given to us on behalf of the people, he said.

You know all the circumstances that brought you to the office, I dont want to say anything here lest I insult anybody out of humility and respect. You are not sacrosanct, you are not tin gods.

Some of you were even selling government lands without allocation or approval; that is not acceptable.

He urged the new appointees to cooperate and carry members of their local government areas along, especially as their major task would be the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Mohammed said a local government implementation committee has been formed to carry out the campaigns at the grassroots using templates set up by the state COVID-19 Committee.

Community engagement is very important to stop the pandemic and we are not going to shy away from our responsibility in doing that.

Today we have locked down three local government areas because they have become very pandemic, but some of the other local government to are not also safe.

He said though the state has been able to flatten the COVID-19 graph, the state government has released money for the local government councils to produce face masks ahead of the enforcement of mask-wearing culture that will be ordered at end of the lockdown.

He said the mass production of face masks would be given to only the vulnerable groups in the state, including students and pupils.

But civil servants and traders would be asked to produce their own masks as part of their contributions to the state.

We cannot afford to produce seven million masks, and I dont pretend but we will come with ways and means to ensure everyone gets and wears it.

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B oris Johnson could cause a "fracturing of national unity" by lifting the UK's coronavirus lockdown early, with infection rates higher in some northern regions than in London and the south-east, Andy Burnham has warned.

The Labour mayor of Greater Manchester said that regional leaders were not warned in advance of the measures that Mr Johnson planned to announce in his speech easing restrictions on Sunday. Dropping the "Stay at Home" message felt premature, he added.

Writing in the Observer, Mr Burnham said: On the eve of a new working week, the PM was on TV actively encouraging a return to work. Even though that would clearly put more cars on roads and people on trams, no-one in Government thought it important to tell the cities that would have to cope with that.

The surprisingly permissive package might well be right for the South East, given the fall in cases there. But my gut feeling told me it was too soon for the North.

Andy Burnham has criticised the measures to ease the lockdown / AFP/Getty Images

"Certainly, the abrupt dropping of the clear stay at home message felt premature.

If the Government carries on in the same vein, expect to see an even greater fracturing of national unity. Different places will adopt their own messaging and policies.

Mr Burnham asked the Government on Tuesday to publish the regional coronavirus infection rate - the R number - rather than just a national one, which is believed to be significantly higher now in the north than in London.

And he told BBC Breakfast on Sunday: People do not have the R information at the moment. They can get it, but its not formally published by the Government.

Theres a very different picture in the north, particularly in the north east, where the R is the highest, so I can understand concerns [about lifting lockdown measures].

Lets get back around the table, look at the evidence and have some flexibility in terms of how [children] return to school because it will be different for different places.

Boris Johnson's coronavirus update - the key soundbites

His comments come after teachers unions hit out at Government plans for reopening schools, and the devolved Governments and some local councils have said they will not reopen schools at the start of June.

Meanwhile a new poll has shown that public support for the Government's handling of the coronavirus crisis may be dropping.

Only 39 per cent of Brits approve of the Governments response  down from 48 per cent a week ago  according to an Opinium survey of 2,005 adults on Wednesday and Thursday.

The proportion of those saying they disapprove rose from 36 per cent to 42 per cent.

Mr Johnson has told Brits that their "fortitude" will help them weather the crisis.

British people's "desire to return to the freedoms they hold dear that has allowed us to inch forwards," Mr Johnson wrote in a piece for the Mail on Sunday.

Some lockdown measures have already been lifted / Jeremy Selwyn

His comments come as the Government gave 93 million for a coronavirus vaccine manufacturing centre in Oxford.

If a vaccine is developed, the centre may be able to make enough doses for the entire British population in as little as six months, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said.

The no-for-profit centre will open in summer 2021.
Gardai have arrested a man in connection with a robbery at a convenience store in Dublin yesterday.

At approximately 5.30pm yesterday, a man armed with a knife entered a convenience store on Jamestown Road, Finglas and threatened staff members.

He fled the scene on foot having taken a sum of cash from the till.

A 19-year-old man was arrested a short time later by local Garda units and a knife was recovered.

He was taken to Blanchardstown Garda Station where he is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

No one was injured in the incident and inquiries are ongoing.
Scientists have levelled a flurry of criticism against Professor Neil Ferguson's modelling which warned 500,000 people could die from coronavirus and prompted Britain to go into lockdown.

Modelling from Imperial College London epidemiologist Professor Ferguson, who stepped down from the government's Sage group at the start of May, has been described as 'totally unreliable' by other experts.

The coding that produced the sobering death figures was impossible to read, and therefore cast doubts on its strength, The Telegraph reported. It is also some 13 years old, it said.

When other scientists have tried to replicate the findings using the same model, they have repeatedly failed to do.

Prof Ferguson's model is understood to have single-handedly triggered a dramatic change in the Government's handling of the outbreak, as they moved away from herd immunity to a lockdown.

Competing scientists' research - whose models produced vastly different results - has been largely discarded, they claim.

David Richards, co-founder of British data technology company WANdisco said the model was a 'buggy mess that looks more like a bowl of angel hair pasta than a finely tuned piece of programming'.

He said: 'In our commercial reality we would fire anyone for developing code like this and any business that relied on it to produce software for sale would likely go bust.'

Modelling behind Professor Neil Ferguson's claim that 500,000 Brits could die from Covid-19 has been criticised by scientists

Today marks a week since Boris Johnson addressed the nation and changed England's coronavirus message from Stay Home to Stay Alert, with 34,636 deaths recorded by the Government.

The easing of measures comes almost two months after Britain was placed in lockdown, with government making the decision on, at least in part, the advice of Imperial College London and Prof Ferguson's model outlining the potential harm coronavirus could do to the country.

On March 17, just days before the country was placed into lockdown, Imperial College London published research titled urging a lockdown to be put in place to stop the virus spreading.

Researchers from the university warned 510,000 people could die from the virus if no action was taken.

Had the Government stuck with their strategy of trying to 'mitigate' the spread  allowing it to continue but attempting to slow it down with limited measures such as home isolation for those with symptoms - this number would be roughly halved to 260,000, the report said.

WHAT DID PROFESSOR FERGUSON'S WORK SAY? The scientific paper published by Professor Ferguson and his colleagues on the Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team was credited for persuading Boris Johnson's Government to ramp up their response to the coronavirus. The paper, released on March 17, and titled Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID19 mortality and healthcare demand, predicted that the Government's original plan to 'mitigate' the outbreak instead of trying to stop it could have led to a quarter of a million people dying. Using data from Italy and China, the scientists predicted how different Government measures would have different impacts on the outbreaks. If no action at all had been taken against the coronavirus it would have claimed 510,000 lives, the team's report said. Had the Government stuck with their strategy of trying to 'mitigate' the spread  allowing it to continue but attempting to slow it down  with limited measures such as home isolation for those with symptoms this number would be roughly halved to 260,000. If the strictest possible measures are introduced, the number of deaths over a two-year period will fall below 20,000, the scientists said. Other points in the Imperial College report, titled Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID19 mortality and healthcare demand, included: Lockdown measures could be brought back if the virus resurfaces after this epidemic is over

The coronavirus outbreak is worse than anything the world has seen since the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic

Dramatic measures to suppress an outbreak carry 'enormous social and economic costs which may themselves have significant impact on health and well-being'

Virus transmission happens evenly  one third of cases are caught in the home, one third at work or school, and one third elsewhere in the community

People are thought to be infectious from 12 hours before symptoms start, or from four days after catching the infection if someone doesn't get symptoms

Patients who do get symptoms are thought to be 50 per cent more infectious than those who don't

People are thought to develop at least short-term immunity after catching the virus, meaning they can't catch it again

Approximately 4.4 per cent of patients need hospital care. 30 per cent of those need intensive care, and 50 per cent of intensive care patients can be expected to die, according to data from China

The average length of a hospital stay for a coronavirus patient is 10 days  eight days for those who recover quickly; 16 days for those who need intensive care Advertisement

It showed that mitigation would not be insufficient to prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed by looking at bed capacity.

If the strictest possible measures are introduced  including school closures and mandatory home quarantine  the number of deaths over a two-year period will fall below 20,000, the scientists said.

As a result, the Government announced people should stop travelling, stop socialising and work from home.

But critics have today described the coding used by Imperial as 'totally unreliable'.

John Carmack, an American developer who helped refine the code before the paper was published online, said some parts of the code looked like they were machine translated from Fortran', an old coding language.

After growing pressure, the Imperial team released their code, which simulates homes, offices, schools and people movement, and sceptics were quick to point out it was 13 years old.

Furthermore, when analysing the validity of the staggering death estimates, scientists have claimed that it is almost impossible to reproduce the same results from the same data, using the same code as Imperial, The Telegraph reported.

University of Edinburgh researchers reportedly found bugs when running the model, getting different results when they used different machines, or even the same machines in some cases.

The team reported a 'bug' in the system which was fixed - but specialists in the field remain staggered at how inadequate it is.

Four experienced modellers previously noted the code is 'deeply riddled with bugs', has 'huge blocks of code  bad practice' and is 'quite possibly the worst production code I have ever seen'.

Weeks after the model's grim prediction, the University of Edinburgh's Professor Michael Thursfield criticised Professor Ferguson's record as 'patchy'.

He was referring to Professor Ferguson's predictions in the early 2000s that up to 136,000 people could die from mad cow disease.

The Imperial College teams modelling led to the culling of 6million livestock and was later criticised by epidemiological experts as severely flawed and a tragedy for rural Britain's economy.

The team also predicted 200million could die from bird flu and a further 65,000 from swine flu. The final death toll in each case was in the hundreds.

Dr Konstantin Boudnik, the VP of architecture at WANdisco, told The Telegraph: 'The facts from the early 2000s are just yet another confirmation that their modelling approach was flawed to the core.'

Professor Ferguson defended Imperials foot and mouth work, saying they were doing 'modelling in real time' with limited data. He added: 'I think the broad conclusions reached were still valid.'

Imperial College London published a paper in mid-March on the potential impact of coronavirus. It weighed up options on how a lockdown could reduce demand on hospitals

The true death toll of COVID-19 has far exceeded what was predicted by Imperial under the total lockdown scenario (20,000 over two years).

The Government's total death toll currently stands at 34,466. Using data that collects death certificates, it is more in the region of 39,000.

The Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team came to their predictions with a number of mathematical calculations.

They looked at the most vulnerable people deemed to be 'at the greatest risk of death,' typically elderly people or those with serious underlying health conditions.

The model simulated transport links, population size, healthcare provisions and social networks to predict how the pandemic would spread.

Professor Ferguson and other Imperial College researchers predicted these measures would reduce demand on the healthcare system while protecting those who were most at risk:

Close schools and universities

Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should isolate at home for seven days

Anyone living with someone who has shown symptoms should quarantine for 14 days.

Social distancing: 'a broad policy that aims to reduce overall contracts that people make outside the household, school or workplace by three-quarters'

Speaking at the time of the paper publication, Professor Ferguson said: 'No country in the world this far has seen an epidemic that large [250,000 deaths], this is an early extrapolation of an early epidemic that was suppressed in China.

'But we have no reason to believe that's not what would happen if we frankly did nothing, and even if we did all we could to slow, not reverse, the spread, we'd still be looking at a very large number of deaths and the health system being overwhelmed.

'Initially when we came up with these kid of estimates they were viewed as what's called the reasonable worst case.

'But as information has been gathered in recent weeks, from particularly Italy but other countries, it has become increasingly clear that actually this is not the reasonable worst case  it is the most likely scenario.'

He added: 'It is likely such measures  most notably, large scale social distancing  will need to be in place for many months, perhaps until a vaccine becomes available.'

Professor Ferguson stepped down from his role on Sage, the board of scientists advising the government through coronavirus pandemic, at the start of the month after it was revealed he had broken lockdown rules he helped to inspire. Antonia Staats (pictured) visited Professor Ferguson at his London flat while Britons were being told to stay home

While there was overwhelming praise for the research for triggering a much-needed lockdown, criticism of Professor Ferguson's research was voiced at the time.

WHAT IS THE UK'S DEATH TOLL NOW? Here is a guide to the different ways coronavirus-related deaths are counted and reported: Deaths of people in the UK who have tested positive for Covid-19 Current total (as of 5pm May 16): 34,466 This is the number of deaths announced each day by the Government. It is the number of people in the UK who have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for Covid-19. It is based on the number of deaths reported to the Department of Health & Social Care by the four nations of the UK, regardless of when the deaths took place. The day-on-day change in this number is not a measure of how many deaths have occurred in the previous 24 hours, but instead the number of deaths reported since the previous total was announced. Deaths involving Covid-19 registered in the UK Current total: 38,773 This is the number of deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on death certificate, including suspected cases. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show 35,044 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in England and Wales up to May 1 (and had been registered up to May 9). The latest figures from the National Records of Scotland showed 3,213 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Scotland up to May 10. The latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, also published last week, showed 516 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Northern Ireland up to May 1, including those registered up to and including May 6. Together these figures mean that so far 38,773 Covid-19 deaths have been registered across the UK. Excess deaths in the UK for the period of the pandemic Current total: over 50,000 The latest figures from the ONS show that 108,345 deaths were registered in England and Wales between March 21 and May 1. This was 46,494 more than the average for this period in the previous five years. Of these excess deaths, Covid-19 was responsible for 33,257, or 71.5 per cent. The remainder - excess deaths not linked with Covid-19 - might have been caused by factors connected with wider changes since the lockdown began: a reluctance by some people to visit a doctor or a hospital, for instance, or the result of long-term health conditions being made worse by having to remain at home. Advertisement

Professor John Ashton, a former regional director of public health for North West England, accused No 10 of relying on a little clique of researchers and failing to consult a wider pool of academics.

These guys are being regarded as demigods, he said in April.

Here we are talking about science but this research is being given a kind of religious status, like tablets of stone from the mountain.

When the COVID-19 model was made, it used the best data available at the time - from the outbreaks in China and Italy. Information has largely changed since then.





The model uses a string of assumptions, including that 0.9 per cent of those infected will die.

Research in Germany, the US, Sweden and Finland has since estimated the death toll to be much lower - between 0.19 and 0.79 per cent.

Researchers from Australia settled on an overall estimate of 0.75 per cent after collecting information from 13 global studies.

The figure from the University of Wollongong and James Cook University chimes with data emerging from New York, where random antibody testing last month suggested a quarter of the city of eight million people had been infected with the illness, meaning the 16,000 fatalities equaled a death rate of 0.79.

Other assumptions made by the Imperial team included that children are able to spread infection with equivalent efficiency to adults, although little data exists in this area.

Professor Carl Heneghan and Dr Tom Jefferson at the University of Oxfords Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine questioned the lockdown policy because the virus may already be more widespread than commonly thought.

Modelling by Oxfords Evolutionary Ecology of Infectious Disease group indicates that COVID-19 reached the UK by mid-January at the latest.

The team's research presents a very different view of the epidemic to the modelling at Imperial College London.

It's findings merely a week after Imperial's suggested the coronavirus had already infected far more people in the UK than scientists had previously estimated  perhaps as much as half the population.

The Oxford results would mean the country had already acquired strong herd immunity because COVID-19 had spread for one or two months before a first case was diagnosed.

The herd immunity strategy was abandoned by Government ministers and reversed to a full-scale lockdown due to the model presented by Imperial.

'I am surprised that there has been such unqualified acceptance of the Imperial model,' said Sunetra Gupta, professor of theoretical epidemiology, who led the Oxford study, told the Financial Times.

Since the Oxford study, however, Government-led research has indicated that no-where near half the population have been infected.

Sir Patrick Vallance, Number 10's chief scientific adviser, revealed recently that around four per cent of Britain and 10 per cent of London has developed antibodies against COVID-19.

The estimate - based on data from antibody testing across the home nations carried out a fortnight ago - means only around 2.64million Brits have had the infection.

England's top statisticians estimate that 0.27 per cent of the population has been infected with COVID-19 on any given day over the past fortnight - equal to around 148,000 people and certainly between 94,000 and 222,000

Meanwhile, the current level of infection is estimated to be about 0.27 per cent.

The findings came from the first round of random public testing of households by the Office for National Statistics. A total of 33 positive cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed out of a sample of 10,705 people.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, said at Thursday's Downing Street briefing that the data represented 'really quite a low level of infection' in the community.

Professor Ferguson stepped down from his role on Sage, the board of scientists advising the government through coronavirus pandemic, at the start of the month after it was revealed he had broken lockdown rules he helped to inspire.

It was revealed Professor Ferguson had invited his lover Antonia Staats to his London flat, while the British public was being told to stay home.

A spokesman from the university's Covid-19 response team said: 'The UK government has never relied on a single disease model to inform decision-making.

'As has been repeatedly stated, decision-making around lockdown was based on a consensus view of the scientific evidence, including several modelling studies by different academic groups.

'Multiple groups using different models concluded that the pandemic would overwhelm the NHS and cause unacceptably high mortality in the absence of extreme social distancing measures.

'Within the Imperial research team we use several models of differing levels of complexity, all of which produce consistent results. We are working with a number of legitimate academic groups and technology companies to develop, test and further document the simulation code referred to.

'However, we reject the partisan reviews of a few clearly ideologically motivated commentators.

'Epidemiology is a not a branch of computer science and the conclusions around lockdown rely not on any mathematical model but on the scientific consensus that COVID-19 is a highly transmissible virus with an infection fatality ratio exceeding 0.5% in the UK.'

Neil Ferguson's lockdown lover Antonia Staats is seen out in public for first time since the married mother-of-two cycled across town for secret tryst with government coronavirus adviser

Antonia Staats, 38, pictured returning to 2 million home in South West London

First public outing since her secret trysts with Neil Ferguson were revealed

Visit him twice during lockdown while lecturing the public on social distancing

Imperial College professor has since quit his post on Sage committee

The last time Antonia Staats travelled any distance during lockdown, it was to cycle across London to illegally call on her lover, Professor Neil Ferguson.

But yesterday, seen in public for the first time since their tendresse was revealed, the married mother-of-two was on a decidedly less thrilling mission  to buy pot plants and compost at a garden centre.

At least this time it had the advantage of being state-sanctioned. The German-born campaigner, 38, was pictured  car key in her mouth  on her return to the 2 million home she shares with her academic husband, Dr Christopher Lucas, in South West London.

Antonia Staats, 38, was pictured for the first time since her secret trysts with 'professor lockdown' Neil Ferguson were revealed

Garden centres have become the first businesses allowed to reopen to the public since the Government shut down non-essential shops.

Professor Ferguson, 51, allowed Ms Staats to visit him at home during the lockdown on at least two occasions last month while lecturing the public on the need for strict social distancing.

Flouting lockdown rules can be punished with a fine, or even arrest. However, while Scotland Yard criticised Professor Fergusons behaviour as disappointing, a spokesman said he had taken responsibility by standing down from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, which is advising Ministers on the pandemic.

Professor Neil Ferguson - who led the team that helped to convince ministers to introduce strict rules on social distancing - breached them himself by meeting his married lover

She was seen on her return to the 2 million home she shares with her academic husband, Dr Christopher Lucas, in South West London

Ms Staats grew up in Isny im Allgau in southern Germany, went to university in Berlin and came to London to obtain a masters in Asian politics from the SOAS, where her husband works.

Ms Staats herself works for Avaaz, a global online activist network.

Avaaz  meaning voice in several European, Middle Eastern and Asian languages  says its mission is to close the gap between the world we have and the world most people everywhere want.

Two weeks before Britain was quarantined, she and her colleagues had their own message for the public: Stay at home.

Everyone, the group declared, should avoid unnecessary close contact.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has extended the lockdown till May 31. He also announced that there will no curfew in the state from May 18. Non containment zones will be given maximum possible relaxations.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has announced the replacement of strict curfew with a lockdown till May 31 in the State, while indicating resumption of limited public transport and maximum possible relaxations in non-containment zones from May 18. According to an official statement, Chief Minister Singh disclosed that in his suggestions to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, as sought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The State has recommended that the nationwide lockdown, in a relaxed form, should also be extended to May 31.

The containment zones would be strictly sealed to enable the resumption of shops and small businesses in the non-containment areas, he announced, adding that details of all relaxations would be announced by Monday, taking into account the new guidelines of the Centre for Lockdown 4.0. He, however, made it clear that educational institutes would continue to remain closed in the interest of the safety and security of the children.

The Chief Minister appealed to the people to be cautious and continue to support his government as the State moves into a relaxed lockdown in place of the stringent curfew restrictions of the past 55 days. At the same time, he again urged the opposition not to indulge in petty politics over the grave issue of COVID-19 and cooperate with the State government in this hour of crisis, as they had promised earlier.

From 18th May, curfew will be lifted in Punjab; however, lockdown will be implemented till May 31st. Punjab will follow the strategy of containment and non-containment zones wherein only the affected areas will be sealed. Details will be shared by DCs. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/EHU5UMgG5U  Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) May 16, 2020

Also Read: Security forces deployed in Ranchis Hindpiri area after locals clash with CRPF

Also Read: CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directs officials to come up with standard operating procedure to contain COVID-19 spread

Favouring a simple containment/non-containment zone categorisation instead of the green/orange/red zone classification of the Central government, the Chief Minister said the State had suggested the same to the Centre. He pointed out that at present, the district as a whole is a single zone or at the most, there are two units, that is, municipal corporation area and non-municipal corporation area.

As per the current system, COVID-19 cases in one part of the district can result in classification of the entire district as the red zone, thus putting severe restrictions on industry, shops etc, he noted, underlining the need to scrap this system and go for a Containment-focused strategy.

In a live FB interaction, as part of his #AskCaptain initiative, the Chief Minister said the daily number of new cases in the state had come down during the last four days or so, after the recent upsurge due to the arrival of pilgrims from Nanded, students from Kota, etc. He thanked the people for their cooperation, enabling the state to control the COVID-19 cases, whose doubling rate was now 44 days, as against of several other states, such as Maharashtras 11 days.

However, the numbers could go up as more migrant labourers and NRIs enter Punjab, he warned, adding that 60,000 Punjabis from other States and 20,000 from abroad had registered for return, as of now.

The Chief Minister also made it clear that his government would continue to facilitate, and pay for, migrants who wanted to leave Punjab to go back to their homes. In the interim, no effort would be spared to ensure that no person goes hungry, he declared, agreeing that the over 1 lakh food packets distributed so far were not sufficient and more needed to be done on this count.

Captain Amarinder further shared that the State government, in its recommendations to the Centre, has pitched for the resumption of air, railways and inter-state bus services with reduced capacity, as well as starting of intra-district and inter-district buses, taxis, cabs, rickshaws, auto-rickshaws with adequate COVID preparedness in terms of reduced capacity and a screen between passengers and driver, he disclosed.

Other suggestions of the State government, listed by the Chief Minister, include allowing shops to open in all the market and market complexes (in a staggered manner if they are too crowded), operationalisation of industry and construction in urban areas without any restriction, as well as permission for e-commerce for all the commodities and not only for essential commodities.

Offices, both private and government, may be allowed to open for the entire week during normal office hours, with staggering in office timings to avoid over-crowding, if requirement, as per the State governments suggestions. However, the State is not in favour of the resumption of teaching in educational institutions till May 31.

The Chief Minister further disclosed that the State government wanted no restrictions on the movement of individuals from 5 am to 7 pm, and had suggested that restrictions, if any, may be imposed between 7 pm and 5 am. However, it was in favour of continued prohibition of activities where there would be a sizeable crowd under one roof, as in the case of shopping malls, cinemas, marriage and banquet halls, social, political and cultural gatherings, religious places.

Also Read: FM Nirmala Sitharaman announces hike in FDI limit in defence manufacturing under automatic route to 74 pc from 49 pc

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By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has granted bail for two months to an under-trial man who has tested positive for COVID-19 in Jaipur jail to get treatment.

The court said the man, facing trial in an abetment to suicide case, and the authorities would have to follow all conditions imposed by doctors with respect to COVID-19 patients.

Justices M M Shantanagoudar and R S Reddy were informed by the man's counsel that his client has tested positive for COVID-19 and is undergoing treatment for it.

"We desire to release the petitioner on bail only on the aforementioned ground for a temporary period of two months so as to enable the petitioner to take treatment properly.

We make it clear that we have not considered the matter on merits," the bench said in its May 15 order after hearing the case through a video link.

"After two months he should surrender before the jail authorities," the bench said.

It said after the accused would surrender, it would be open for him to file application for bail afresh before the trial court.

During the arguments, the State of Rajasthan was represented by senior lawyer Manish Singhvi and advocate D K Devesh.

According to police, the man is facing trial in a September 2018 case.

The FIR was lodged against 10 persons on the basis of a suicide note, police said, adding that seven were arrested after investigation and a charge sheet was filed against them.

The trial in the case commenced in April this year.
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La Trobe Financial has effectively reopened Australian debt capital markets with a $1.25bn RMBS raising.

It was the largest securitisation around the world since COVID-19 took hold in March and, according to the group, has confirmed Australian residential mortgages as a global safe harbour investment.

La Trobe not only saw support from Australian institutional investors, but global investment houses in Asia, the United States and Europe.

While the federal governments Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM) was closely involved with the deal, investor demand saw that no AOFM investment was required.

La Trobe chief treasurer and strategy officer Martin Barry said, We welcomed three new investors to our already 46 investor-strong RMBS program and are delighted by the interest we have received both offshore and domestically as we build on our diverse investor base.

We remain good stewards of other peoples capital and this enables us to obtain and maintain the trust of our clients  this is the real asset of the company.

The proceeds of the issue will be used to continue writing home and business loans for Australians at a critical time in the history of the countrys economy.

With this RMBS transaction we achieved competitive pricing, notwithstanding increased levels of market supply and note participation from 15 domestic and seven international investors from Europe, USA and Asia, said Barry.

With $11bn of assets under management, La Trobe Financial has been responsible for over $25bn worth of investment mandates of varying structures since being founded in 1952. La Trobe has now issued $6.17bn of RMBS to a range of Australian and international investors.

The pricing and level of over-subscription reflects a strong endorsement of La Trobe Financials high quality assets, expertise and long, consistent track record as Australias oldest diversified wealth manager, said Richard Parry, La Trobe head of group portfolio management.

With current trend loan originations now at $10+ billion per year, this was a practical step to complement current institutional mandates and our nationally and internationally awarded $5 billion retail Credit Fund. We have built a disciplined investment strategy and continue to deliver outstanding returns for all of our investors.
The government's announcements for civil aviation sector breathe some life into the coronavirus pandemic-hit sector and will provide overall positive sentiment, experts said on Saturday, even as some of them emphasised the need for support for airlines.

On Saturday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced plans for managing airspace efficiently, making the country a MRO (Maintenance Repair and Overhaul) hub, and auctioning of six more airports on PPP model.

GMR Group Chairman GM Rao said India is leading the growth of civil aviation sector globally and is generating significant economic impact.

According to him, rationalising Indian airspace is a significant step that would benefit not only the entire sector but also bring down travel time for passengers.

Privatising six new airports under public-private partnership (PPP) model would generate significant economic effect and would lead to creation of new jobs.

"Likewise, tax incentives for the MRO sector will not only bring foreign investment into India and impact the economics of the airlines but will also open up new opportunities for youth to build careers. The investments being made in airports, privatised in the first two phases, are already leading to enhanced job creation in both aero and non-aero areas," he said.

GMR Group manages two airports- Delhi and Hyderabad - through PPP model.

Welcoming the announcements, GVK Group founder and Chairman G V K Reddy said the move to have PPP model for six more airports would provide the Airports Authority of India (AAI) resources to develop smaller airports across the country.

"The plans to make India a global MRO hub will ensure savings of precious foreign exchange and enable Indian airlines to get their aircraft serviced locally," he said.

GVK Group manages Mumbai airport through PPP model.

Consultancy EY India's Transaction Partner Kuljit Singh said the announcements are good initial first steps and this might be followed by a second phase of reforms package.

"... the second phase may need to have more reforms in taxes on fuel, subvention for airport charges, government guarantees for additional unsecured borrowings of private airlines etc," he noted.

Law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas' Partner Ajay Sawhney said that today's announcement breathe some life into the pandemic-hit civil aviation sector, but no mention of bailouts on an immediate basis may attract mixed response from the industry.

"Though, easing curbs on airspace would certainly bring in long term efficiency, and on an immediate basis some relief to the airlines, but a more meaningful intervention may be required if the aviation sector is not on the recovery path soon," he noted.

Travel portal EaseMyTrip.com Chairman and CEO Nishant Pitti said the announcements would definitely provide positive sentiments for the industry overall.

"In addition for industry to withstand the recovery period, government will need to support the backbone, airlines, in these turbulent times through tax relief or relaxation in multiple charges paid by airlines to reduce their costs," Pitti said.

Vasudevan S, Partner (Infrastructure Government and Healthcare) at consultancy KPMG in India said the aviation sector is the hardest hit because of the global pandemic with an estimated USD 500 billion loss in airline and airport revenues in FY20.

Airport PPP transactions will help unlock value for AAI and state governments, given current investor interest and long-term potential of the Indian market.

"Rationalising the MRO tax structure has been a long pending demand of the industry and it is good to see that happening finally, but more needs to be done to create a level playing field, attract foreign investment and make it profitable," he noted.

Care Ratings Chief Economist Madan Sabnavis said aviation sector has incentives as six airports would have PPP model, but the "question is who will invest now when future of airlines is uncertain".

Consultancy Deloitte India Partner Peeyush Naidu said the initiative for private sector participation for operations, management and development of airports is well-intentioned.
Photo: Photo Prince Albert Police handout Kendrah, 5, is recovering in a Saskatoon hospital and being called "one tough cookie." She was the only survivor of a triple homicide in Prince Albert, Sask., in March.

A five-year-old girl who received life-threatening injuries after her father allegedly tried to kill her, is recovering in a Saskatoon hospital.

Kendrah was in an Edmonton hospital for weeks after she was found by Prince Albert Police in critical condition on March 29. There, police found three people dead including Kendrahs grandparents, Denis Carrier and Sandra Henry, both 56, and her brother Bentlee, 7.

On May 15 Prince Albert Police issued a statement saying Kendrahs mother, Heather, says the little girl has had eight surgeries in the last few weeks and her condition continues to improve.

Heather said Kendrah has been nick named one tough cookie during her hospital stay.

Kendrahs father, Nathaniel Carrier, 28, was charged April 1 with three counts of first-degree murder in connection to the deaths, and the attempted murder of Kendrah.

Prince Albert Police walked into the grisly scene at 315 McArthur Drive when they went to check on the wellbeing of the family at the request of a family member.

Police say they believe the homicides occurred on Saturday, March 28.

Carrier is scheduled to appear in Prince Albert Provincial Court on June 4.
New Delhi:

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has alleged that Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has "taken away" the powers of CM and ministers to appoint even their peons and clerks by issuing an order, the move that comes days after High Court stamped the primacy of the LG in administration of Delhi.

The Lt Governor's office has clarified that the order is in only restricted to the transfer and postings of IAS, DANICS officers and said that Civil Services Board has been constituted by the LG to ensure "transparency" in bureaucratic reshuffle.

The Deputy CM has also requested Jung not to transfer government's two top officials - PWD Secretary Sarvagya Srivastava and Health Secretary Tarun Seem - as they are looking after government's ambitious projects including setting up of mohalla clinics and construction of new school buildings.

"After the LG's order, elected Chief Minister and ministers don't have power to appoint their peons and clerks.

"There is no confusion after the High Court which states that services come under the LG. In today's meeting, I have requested not to remove PWD and Health Secretaries as both officers are engaged in projects like mohalla clinics and construction of new school buildings," Sisodia told reporters here.

In his order dated on August 9, Jung said," All services matters, including transfers/postings of IAS/DANICS officers, with the recommendations of Civil Services Board in case of IAS officers, will be placed through Chief Secretary, Delhi directly before Lt Governor for his consideration and orders."

Sisodia said that mohalla clinics and schools are the best initiatives that they have been undertaking and hence requested LG to let them work.

"Even if we have to beg or request LG, we would do it but we would not let the work stop for the benefit of the national capital. Delhi government has initiated the process of appointing professionals as secretaries which motivated people in these departments," he also said.

"Chief Ministers has also directed all ministers to work even for 48 hours but people's works should not be affected. It doesn't matter if we have been deprived of all powers, we will still continue to work," Sisodia further said.

Rejecting the Deputy's CM claim that ministers don't have power to appoint peons and clerks, the LG office clarified that the Lt Governor constituted 'Civil Services Board' A on August 9 to look into transfers and postings of IAS and (Delhi, Andaman Nicobar Island Civil Services) officers.

"The order to constitute Civil Services Board to be headed by Chief Secretary was also endorsed by the Deputy CM in the August 9 meeting with LG. There is no mention in the order that ministers don't have power to appoint their peons and clerks," an official from the LG office said.
State-owned power producer SJVN Ltd's employees will contribute their one-day salary, totalling Rs 44.5 lakh, in fight against COVID-19.

As a responsible corporate citizen and understanding the seriousness of fight against the COVID-19, the employees of the SJVN Ltd are voluntarily donating their one-day salary to CM (Himachal Pradesh) Relief Fund. Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund amounting to Rs 44,50,000, its chairman and MD Nand Lal Sharma said in a statement.

Earlier, SJVN employees had contributed one-day salary to the PM CARES fund to combat the pandemic.

Sharma also said that in series of steps to support battle against COVID-19, SJVNL has contributed Rs 25 crore towards PM CARES fund.

SJVNL has also provided a financial support of around Rs two crore to the Himachal Pradesh government for procuring ventilators, personal protection equipment (PPEs), food, masks, sanitizers and gloves in various hospitals.

It has also setup 48 quarantine units in its projects.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ST. LOUIS  Crewmen doused a mattress fire on the steamboat White Cloud, moored on the north end of the city's landing. They aired the bedding on deck, then dragged it back into a cabin.

They must have missed an ember. About 10 p.m., flames burst from the passenger deck. Watchmen along the crowded landing clanged bells of alarm. Volunteers of Missouri Fire Co. No. 5, first to the scene, saw fire leaping from the White Cloud onto the adjoining steamboat, the Edward Bates.

A hard wind blew from the northeast across the Mississippi River. It would serve as a bellows for the long, destructive night of May 17-18, 1849 - St. Louis' Great Fire.

The firestorm added misery to the city's worst single disaster, a cholera epidemic that would kill at least 4,317 people. The May 17 newspapers were filled with news of death. The White Cloud was just another steamboat from New Orleans.

The Bates burned free of its mooring on what is today's Laclede's Landing and drifted downriver, spreading fire. Crews on boats without steam cut their lines and tried to escape in the current, but wind pushed them back into the gathering inferno. In 30 minutes, 23 steamboats were ablaze along the riverfront.

Embers fell on hemp, tobacco, wood and other freight stacked upon the landing, which then was made of limestone blocks. Fire jumped Front Street onto shanties along Locust and Vine streets. It spread south and west into the business district, where lawyers and bankers frantically retrieved books and papers. Another fire south of Market Street, sparked by burning boats, roared through wooden homes.

Firefighters and residents retreated while still battling with bucket brigades and weak streams from hoses fed with river water. The fire skipped a few all-brick buildings but consumed almost everything on nine blocks north of Market Street. It moved toward the (Old) Cathedral at Walnut and Third streets.

Firefighters saved the cathedral block with a firebreak by blowing up buildings along Market. A premature blast at Phillips Music Store, Market and Second, killed fire Capt. Thomas Targee. Firefighters protected the Market Building, the city hall at Market and Front, by kicking embers off the roof.

Not until dawn, when the wind finally stilled, could they make headway.

The Great Fire destroyed 418 buildings on 15 blocks. Three people were confirmed dead, but more probably perished on the steamboats. At least one burning boat blew up.

St. Louis rebounded from fire and cholera and rebuilt the river district with brick and iron. Targee became a hero of the St. Louis Fire Department, formed in 1857. The Gateway Arch towers over the heart of the old fire zone.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend

Iran's National Development Fund has allocated 12.8 trillion rials (about $306 million) funds out of 1 billion euros to the Unemployment Insurance Fund of the Social Security Organization of Iran, said Head of the Planning and Budget Organization Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, Trend reports citing IRNA.

According to Nobakht, these funds were allocated to ensure the elimination of economic problems caused by the spread of the coronavirus.

As a result of the spread of the coronavirus in Iran, a number of enterprises have ceased operations. This has resulted in the unemployment of many workers. In this regard, the Iranian government has announced that it will allocate funds to help the Unemployment Fund of the Social Security Organization of Iran. These funds will be paid by the fund to the unemployed.

Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 118,300 people have been infected and 6,937 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 93,100 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 outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.
Members of the Indigenous Guard in Toribio, Cauca. - Mathew Charles /The Telegraph

Deep in the Colombian Andes, Jose Obeymar Tenorio is on sentry duty.

Armed with a simple wooden staff, he belongs to Colombias Indigenous Guard, a two thousand strong force whose job is to protect the Nasa reservation in the countrys southwestern Cauca region (see picture below).

In one of Colombias most violent places, these volunteers are normally the frontline of defence against drug traffickers and insurgents, but now they face the unprecedented challenge of thwarting a global pandemic.

The Indigenous Guard patrols 24 hours a day at hundreds of checkpoints throughout Cauca. The movement of people is restricted and only deliveries of essentials are allowed to pass.

Its our job to keep this virus out, says Mr Obeymar. This is about our survival.

Jose Obeymar Tenorio - Mathew Charles/The Telegraph

Across Latin America, indigenous settlements are isolating themselves from the outside world, concerned the coronavirus poses a serious threat to their existence. In Argentina, members of the Mapuche tribe have set up roadblocks and in Brazil, the Xingu peoples are refusing entry to anyone other than medics. Similar measures have been reported in Guatemala, Chile, Mexico and Nicaragua.

Latin America is home to 42 million indigenous people, according to the World Bank. The extraction industries and deforestation have threatened these communities for many years, but the global pandemic presents potentially disastrous consequences.

The United Nations says indigenous groups are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases. High levels of poverty and malnutrition can severely weaken the immune system. It was the first wave of European colonization in the eighteenth century that introduced diseases like smallpox to Latin America, resulting in millions of deaths among the continents native populations.

History tells us we are vulnerable, said Jhoe (correct spelling) Sauca from the Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca in Colombia. And we have to save ourselves, nobody else will help us.

Story continues

In Peru, indigenous groups submitted a formal complaint to the UN in late April, saying the government had left them to fend for themselves against the coronavirus, risking ethnocide by inaction. And in neighbouring Ecuador, representatives of The Siekopai nation of just 744 people said they feared being wiped out entirely after confirming 15 cases and two deaths within their community.

In the Amazon basin, 180 of the 600 indigenous tribes have reported infections and at least 30 deaths, according to charities working in the rainforest. This week the first cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Vaupes, known as the jewel of the Colombian Amazon, and home to 255 indigenous communities.

This is the biggest threat we have faced for centuries, said Simon Valencia, leader of the departments ancestral authorities. Were taking urgent action to isolate our people and shield our elders in particular.

Territorial control by the indigenous guard of the Ambalo people on the Silvia-Totoro road in Colombia. - Mathew Charles/The Telegraph

Indigenous history is often passed down the generations through storytelling. Traditions and rituals are taught by those who have lived longest.

This could be the end for us, said Mr Valencia. If we lose our elders, we lose our culture. Even if we survive, our way of life may not.

Indigenous groups from the nine countries of the Amazon basin are calling for donations to help protect the three million people, who live under the canopy of the rainforest. The Amazon Emergency Fund is being sponsored by the Rainforest Foundation US. Its chief executive, Suzanne Pelletier, told the Telegraph the aim was to raise three million dollars in two weeks.

Rainforests are critical to combating the climate crisis and science shows that forests that are owned and managed by Indigenous peoples are healthier, she said. This is why supporting and protecting the health of Indigenous peoples is absolutely vital to all the inhabitants of the planet.
A civilian was killed and many others, including Army soldiers, were injured during firing as well as stone-pelting when the armed force team went to a village to catch hold of NSCN (IM) ultras on Saturday in Arunachal Pradesh, a defence release said.

Acting on a specific input about the presence of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) insurgents in Pumao village in Longding district of eastern Arunachal Pradesh, Army troops launched a search operation.



The release said that a gathering of villagers began protesting against the security forces and resorted to stone-pelting. Many soldiers were injured in stone-pelting.





Noticing suspicious movement, troopers started moving towards a house which drew two to three bursts of firing on the Army men.



"The civilians were told to disperse. To safeguard their lives and property, controlled retaliation was resorted to by firing eight single shots. In the melee, the NSCN insurgents managed to escape. However, in the cross-fire, it is believed a few villagers have been hurt and one of them has expired," the release said.



The release said that the Army offers condolences to the family of the deceased villager.
Another correspondent, who had worked in health care administration, said that she was not surprised in the least that the hospitals were trying to discharge their Covid-19 infected patients back to long-term-care facilities because, in her experience, this has been happening for quite some time. It got worse: Agreeing with me about the radical understaffing of nursing homes, she said that it is increasingly common is to discharge high cost and difficult patients to homeless shelters  Yep, you heard me right  HOMELESS SHELTERS.

Not every story was coronavirus-specific. One man told me the story of the fatal neglect of his father  after which the nursing home falsified his fathers records and hid behind state laws that nursing home lobbyists had written.

A former director of nursing at a long-term-care facility said that given her terrible professional experiences, she had refused to put her 78-year-old husband, who was suffering from dementia, anywhere outside her own home. Another clearly frightened woman explained that she had just had a horrible experience with her mother in a nursing home; she even gave me, a complete stranger, her phone number, in the desperate hope that I could raise the alarm about how bad things were.

We need to listen to people like this and act on what they are saying. The pandemic doesnt have many silver linings, but as the number of nursing-home deaths piles up, the news media is being forced to cover a world many of us would prefer to ignore.

It is understandable that we would. Part of the price we pay for living in a death-denying, consumerist, throwaway culture is that we must push these kinds of grim realities to unseen places that afford us plausible deniability. The pandemic forces us to look. If we want to understand the current phase of the coronavirus pandemic, we can no longer look away.

After receiving this waterfall of messages, I expected to fall into despair. But while I do have my bad days, I also have hope. Times like this have produced major cultural changes in our past. If we do take a hard look, we may change more than just the way we treat older Americans. We may, along the way, find a way to push against throwaway culture in all its forms.

Instead of denying the reality of cognitive impairment, aging and death, could our culture begin to embrace it forthrightly in ways which lead us to honor the final years we have with the family members and friends who go before us? To honor the moral and social equality of every human being, regardless of their mental or physical status?

Why not? Many of us are staying home and practicing physical distancing, not primarily for ourselves but for the benefit of our elders and others who find themselves at risk. Let us build on that good and decent impulse by challenging a throwaway culture that, right up until this very moment, has marginalized these populations and made the nursing-home crisis a tragic inevitability.

Charles C. Camosy (@ccamosy) is an associate professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University. His most recent book is Resisting Throwaway Culture.

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Visitors pay their respects to the victims of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement at the National Cemetery for the May 18th Democratic Uprising in Gwangju, Sunday. Yonhap



It is 40 years since Choi Jung-ja saw her husband, who has been missing since South Korea's military dictatorship killed hundreds of people when they crushed the pro-democracy Gwangju Uprising, a scar that burns in the country's political psyche to this day.



On May 18, 1980 demonstrators protesting against dictator Chun Doo-hwan's declaration of martial law confronted his troops and 10 days of violence ensued.



But conservatives in the South still condemn the uprising as a Communist-inspired rebellion backed by the North, while left-leaning President Moon Jae-in wants to enshrine it in the constitution.



Choi's husband was 43 when he left their house in the southern city to buy oil for a heater at the family pub, never to return.



Once the violence was over Choi frantically searched for him, even opening random coffins in the streets covered with blood-stained Korean flags.



"I couldn't continue after opening the third coffin," she told AFP. "The faces were covered with blood  there were no words to describe them. The faces were unrecognisable."



She still takes medication to deal with the trauma, she said, and curses whenever Chun appears on television.



- 'Fuel for the fire' -



There is no agreed toll for Gwangju, with reports of secret burials both on land and at sea. The military remaining in power for another eight years offered ample opportunity to dispose of the evidence.



Official bodies point to around 160 dead  including some soldiers and police  and more than 70 missing. Activists say up to three times as many may have been killed.





Moon pledges support for fact-finding activities on May 18 movement Moon calls for truth finding of massacre during Gwangju movement Moon urges full fact-finding on those responsible for 1980 Gwangju massacre But the search for justice has gone through multiple twists and turns and Gwangju is one of the most politicised historical events in a viciously polarised country.



The South is still technically at war with the nuclear-armed North. At the time of the Gwangju Uprising, Chun's military regime described it as a rebellion led by supporters of then-opposition leader Kim Dae-jung, who comes from nearby Sinan, and pro-Pyongyang agitators.



Kim was arrested, convicted of sedition and sentenced to death. But the penalty was commuted under international pressure and he was granted asylum in the US, before being elected president himself in the 1990s after the restoration of democracy and winning the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize.



Chun was convicted in 1996 of treason over Gwangju and bribery and condemned to hang, but his execution was commuted on appeal and he was released following a presidential pardon. He still denies any direct involvement in the suppression of the uprising.



Today, the South's president Moon  who as a student took part in other anti-dictatorship protests  regularly highlights Gwangju, promising to reopen investigations into it and calling for it to be included in the constitution.



South Korea's opposition seeks to paint Moon as a Pyongyang sympathiser, and Hannes Mosler of the University of Duisburg-Essen said the right sought to use Gwangju to discredit liberals by linking them to the "absolute evil" of the North.



"North Korea lies at the heart of polarisation strategies in South Korea," Mosler told AFP.



"Once a fake narrative is built around the Gwangju Uprising that connects it with North Korea, this provides the fuel for the polarisation fire to burn further and further."



Moon's Democratic Party won a landslide election victory last month largely on the back of the government's successful handling of the coronavirus epidemic in the country.



But while the city of Daegu was at the centre of the outbreak, it is the last stronghold of the right and Moon's party lost every one of the seats there.



- Last wish -



Last year the remains of around 40 people were discovered at the site of a former prison in Gwangju, where 242 relatives of missing people have given DNA samples in the hope of identifying corpses that have yet to come to light.



Among them is Cha Cho-gang, 81, whose son never returned after setting out to sell garlic at a market in the city, aged 19.



"My husband died three years ago," she said. "His last wish was to bury our son's remains before his own funeral.




Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: Reports said that 366 new coronavirus cases were reported in Gujarat on Monday, taking the state's tally to 11,746.

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At the time that Goa was declared a green zone, seven patients undergoing treatment were discharged. Ever since then, 19 new cases have been reported.

The new cases including four persons who had travelled in the Mumbai-Goa train on Sunday and TrueNat tests had given a positive result for them. The samples have been sent for confirmatory tests and 100 passengers who had travelled in the train were tested. On the same day, another train passenger had tested positive for coronavirus.

Declared a green zone last week after it reported no new coronavirus cases and all patients were discharged, Goa now is witnessing a resurgence of infections. The state reported 19 new infections, taking the state's total to 26.

Nine new deaths and 223 confirmed coronavirus cases were reported in Pune district over 24 hours, as of Sunday night. The total positive cases in the district are 4,018, including 206 deaths and 2,014 cured patients.

Three more passengers - a total of seven people - who travelled in Mumbai-Goa train on Sunday tested positive for COVID-19 during TrueNat testing. The total number of active cases in Goa has reached 29.

India reported the highest every daily spike in coronavirus cases since the beginning of the outbreak. 5,242 new cases and 157 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours. The total number of positive cases is 96,160, which includes 56,316 active cases, 3,029 deaths and 36,824 cured cases.

A total of nine passengers who had travelled on board a Mumbai-Goa train have been tested positive for coronavirus through TrueNat testing so far, according to ANI. The esrtwhile green zone Goa now has a total of 31 confirmed cases, including seven recoveries and no deaths.

Six more COVID-19 positive cases were reported in Bihar, ANI reported. The total number of cases in Bihar has risen to 1,326, as per ANI.

Over the last 24 hours, 299 coronavirus cases were reported in Delhi, taking the total in the state to 10,054. The toll stood at 160, with no death being reported in the 24-hour period.

Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, prohibiting the assembly of five or more people, will remain in effect in all districts of Chhattisgarh for the next three months, PTI reported.

OPPO India said in a statement, "As an organisation that places the safety of all our employees and citizens at the forefront, we have suspended all operations at our manufacturing facility in Greater Noida and initiated COVID-19 testing for over 3000 employees, for which results are awaited."

Six employees of OPPO mobile company's factory in Greater Noida have tested positive for COVID-19, ANI reported. The factory, which had resumed operations on 9 May has been completely shut down.

Maharashtra is currently worst affected by coronavirus, with 33,053 cases and 1,198 deaths so far. It was also among the earliest states to extended the lockdown, scheduled to end on 18 May, till 31 May.

1,273 personnel of Maharashtra Police including 131 officers, have contracted COVID-19 so far. Out of the total cases, 291 police personnel have recovered while 11 others succumbed to the infection, according to ANI.

Pravil Mal, DCP (Zone-1) Ahmedabad, said that when police stopped the migrant workers, they pelted stones, went to Vastrapur and vandalised two police vehicles. "They also vandalized the office at a construction site. 250 people have been rounded up and action will be taken against culprits," Mal said.

Migrants workers pelted stones at the police and vandalised two of their vehicles in Ahmedabad allegedly over their demand to go back to home states. A clash then ensured, in which two police personnel were injured.

Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement that states and union territories cannot dilute restrictions imposed as per lockdown guidelines. The ministry, howeverm allows states to make guidelines stricter based on "local level assessment and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare guidelines".

One person each from Jorhat and Nagaon have tested positive, taking the total cases in Assam to 102.

Malakar was undergoing treatment at GMCH, Guwahati. His wife and son have been admitted to Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital, Guwahati to be kept under surveillance for COVID-19 symptoms.

Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that cancer and COVID-19 patient Gopindra Ch Malakar, who had returned from Mumbai, passed away owing to respiratory distress.

According to a Maharashtra Police action report, 240 cops and 38 health workers have faced assault. Moreoever, 85 policemen have also suffered injuries while performing their duty. Over 1.1 lakh offences have been registered under the Section 188 of the IPC and 1317 offences pertaining to illegal transport have been registered.

A truck driver left the body of a migrant workers, along with his three minor daughters, on a roadside in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri, ANI reported. The worker had died in the truck during his journey to Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh.

I have raised concerns and shared my views in an open letter to Honable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji over the scope of the 20 trillion package announced by him in the wake of the coronavirus-led damages. @PMOIndia @narendramodi @nsitharaman @ianuragthakur @FinMinIndia pic.twitter.com/PSDRe95naP

"The package announced will not bring any immediate relief to the distressed farmers. The standing crops have perished due to lockdown causing great losses to the farmers. In turn, they are facing a cash crunch & need immediate support to undertake ensuing Kharif season activities," Sharad Pawar said in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issues guidelines on preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in workplace settings. pic.twitter.com/1uKRYmcKN5

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issues guidelines on preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in workplace settings.

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday said at 73rd World Health Assembly via video conference, "PM Modi personally monitored situation and ensured a preemptive, proactive and graded response, leaving no stones unturned to contain the deadly virus from spreading. India took all necessary steps well in time."

A statement by the CMO said, "As many as 20 trains are leaving Punjab every day, with 15 scheduled for Uttar Pradesh and six for Bihar on Monday. Chief Minister said while more trains were needed for Bihar, the state was not willing to take in people at this stage as their quarantine facilities were full."

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said that so far, more than two lakh migrants of the 11 lakh who had registered on the special portal created by the government have left the state.

The Telangana health department said that 41 more coronavirus cases were reported in the state on Monday. Total number of cases in the state is now at 1,592, including 1,002 cured/discharged, 556 active cases and 34 deaths.

Reports said that 366 new coronavirus cases were reported in Gujarat on Monday, taking the state's tally to 11,746.

"One person had unfortunately died at GMCH prior to detection. Three patients are from Sarusajai quarantine center and rest are related to Aloo Godam case are from Fancy Bazaar containment zone," he said.

Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that seven new coronavirus cases were detected in Guwahati on Monday.

They experimented with 25 different types of antibodies  which target specific protein spikes on viruses  to see if they could prevent cells becoming infected with COVID-19," AFP reported.

Scientists based in Switzerland and the United States previously isolated the antibodies from the patient in 2003, following the SARS outbreak that killed 774 people.

"An antibody from a patient who recovered from SARS has been shown to block COVID-19 infection in a laboratory setting, researchers said Monday in another potential breakthrough in the search for coronavirus treatment.

"Uttar Pradesh government has released fresh guidelines for lockdown 4.0. The lockdown has been extended in the state till May 31. Metro services, schools, colleges, coaching centres, hospitality services (except those used for healthcare workers) cinema halls, gyms, shopping malls, swimming pools, religious/public gatherings to remain banned till 31 May," India Today reported.

"RWAs (Resident Welfare Associations) shall not prevent any person from performing their services and and duties which has been permitted under these guidelines. No passes/e-passes for movement for any permitted activities from any authority shall be required," the statement added.

The Delhi government said, "With a view to ensuring safety in offices and workplaces, employers on best efforts basis should ensure that Aarogya Setu is installed by all employees having compatible mobile phones."

Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: Reports said that 366 new coronavirus cases were reported in Gujarat on Monday, taking the state's tally to 11,746.

"The package announced will not bring any immediate relief to the distressed farmers. The standing crops have perished due to lockdown causing great losses to the farmers. In turn, they are facing a cash crunch & need immediate support to undertake ensuing Kharif season activities," Sharad Pawar said in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Maharashtra health department said that 2,033 more coronavirus cases and 51 deaths were reported in the state on Monday. Total number of cases in the state is now at 35,058, including 25,392 active cases and 1,249 deaths.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray extended the COVID-19 lockdown in the state till 31 May.

He added, "People ask me why are you not lifting lockdown. Imagine if we lift the lockdown, see what happened in US, UK and Brazil. We won't allow that to happen in Maharashtra. This is why no industries will be allowed to open in red zones. Just think, if we allow industries to function and if their workers are found positive, then again we will have to go into a forced lockdown. Why not continue this lockdown only."

"We have to ensure the green zones remain green and are not infected. Also have to ensure red turns into green. We have set up a 1,000-bed hospital in BKC in just 10-12 days. It will be ready for use in 2-3 days," said Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on Monday.

"Gujarat will have containment and non-containment zones. Only essential services to be allowed in containment zones," said Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani on Monday.

"Schools, shopping malls, gyms, swimming pools will remain closed. Beauty parlours and salons allowed to operate in non-containment zones only.

"Restaurants can open but only for home delivery of food. The food delivery agents must have a health card. Restaurants on highways can be open but social distancing to be maintained," he said.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray is reportedly scheduled to address the state at 8 pm on Monday over the coronavirus situation.

Meanwhile, a dedicated COVID-19 health centre was transferred from the MMRDA to BMC on Monday, News18 reported. The facility has 1,000 beds and was transferred in the presence of Thackeray and Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

Tamil Nadu on Monday reported 536 new cases of coronavirus, of which 46 people have travel history to Maharashtra. The total number of cases in Tamil Nadu rose to 11,760.

Reports said that there are currently 56,316 active cases of coronavirus in India.

"So far, a total of 36,824 people have been cured of COVID-19. In the 24 hours a total of 2,715 patients are reported cured and presently the recovery rate is pegged at 38.29 percent," News18 reported.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that while private offices can open at full strength, they should try that most of the staff works from home.

"Markets can open but shops will open on odd-even basis. Sports complexes and stadiums can open but without spectators. Construction activities are allowed in the national capital now but only with labourers who are in Delhi right now," he added.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that 29 new cases of coronavirus were reported in the state on Monday, of which 21 have arrived from abroad. 

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday extended the COVID-19 lockdown in the state till 31 May.

"We will try to arrange for 115 more trains in a few days and the state government will pay the train fare," she added.

The Delhi government reportedly decided not to test samples of deceased patients who were suspected of having coronavirus.

Delhi health secretary Padmini Singla issued the order saying, "No sample for COVID-19 test will be taken of dead body. However, if doctors are satisfied from clinical examination that the cause of death may be COVID-19 infection, the dead body may be released as suspect COVID-19 infected dead body."

"However, even those suspected to have died of coronavirus have to be buried or cremated as ICMR protocols. As reported by The Indian Express, over the past two months, five cremation/burial grounds in the capital have carried out 410 funerals as per the standard operating procedure (SOP) for Covid patients, which is followed for confirmed as well as suspected cases," The Indian Express reported.

According to a Maharashtra Police action report, 240 cops and 38 health workers have faced assault. Moreoever, 85 policemen have also suffered injuries while performing their duty.

Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa announced that people from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu will not be allowed to enter the state till 31 May.

Migrants workers pelted stones at the police and vandalised two of their vehicles in Ahmedabad allegedly over their demand to go back to home states. A clash then ensured, in which two police personnel were injured.

Six employees of OPPO mobile company's factory in Greater Noida have tested positive for COVID-19, ANI reported. The factory, which had resumed operations on 9 May has been completely shut down.

Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code will remain in effect in all districts of Chhattisgarh for the next three months. The state has reported 86 cases so far, of which 59 have recovered and none have died.

The fourth phase of the coronavirus lockdown began on Sunday and will continue till 31 May. Meanwhile, a total of 62 countries, including India, backed a joint effort by Australia and European Union, calling for an independent inquiry into the World Health Organisation's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three more passengers - a total of seven people - who travelled in Mumbai-Goa train on Sunday tested positive for COVID-19 during TrueNat testing. The total number of active cases in Goa has reached 29.

The country is set to enter the fourth phase of the lockdown due to the novel coronavirus on Monday, as the National Disaster Management Authority issued an order to continue the lockdown measures till 31 May.

Subsequently, the home ministry issued a set of guidelines for the fourth phase, in which it directed that air travel, hotels, restaurants and public gatherings will remain prohibited throughout the country.

Earlier in the day, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the fifth and final tranche of the government's stimulus package to revive the coronavirus-hit economy. She said the stimulus package includes the Rs 8.01 lakh crore of liquidity being made available by the RBI.

The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 2,872 and the number of total positive cases climbed to 90,927 Sunday morning, registering an increase of 120 fatalities and a record jump of 4,987 new cases in 24 hours, since 8 AM Saturday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 53,946, while 34,108 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, it said.

Lockdown guidelines

The Union home ministry issued guidelines listing the dos and don''ts during the lockdown 4.0 that has been clamped in the country to cut the chain of coronavirus infection.

The guidelines said all domestic, international air travel of passengers, except domestic air ambulance, will remain prohibited.

Metro rail services, schools, colleges will remain closed till May end, the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said.

Hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, malls, swimming pools, gyms will also remain shut even as all social, political, religious functions, and places of worship will be closed till May 31, it said.

The MHA said inter-state movement of passenger vehicles, buses will be allowed with mutual consent of states involved during the COVID-19 lockdown 4.0.

States and Union Territories have been given the powers for delineation of Red, Green and Orange Zones as per COVID-19 situation, the MHA said.

All shops, except those in containment zones and malls, will be allowed to open from Monday with staggered timings during lockdown 4.0, it said.

Further, state governments and Union Territories have been asked to decide on the demarcation of red, orange and green zones based on the parameters set by the Centre.

Also significantly, the new guidelines permit inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses with the mutual consent of the states or Union Territories.

State-wise cases and deaths

Of the 120 new deaths reported since Saturday morning, 67 were in Maharashtra, 19 in Gujarat, nine in Uttar Pradesh, seven in West Bengal, six in Delhi, four in Madhya Pradesh, three in Tamil Nadu and two in Haryana and one each from Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan

Of the total 2,872 fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 1,135 fatalities, Gujarat comes second with 625 deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 243, West Bengal at 232, Delhi at 129, Rajasthan at 126, Uttar Pradesh at 104,Tamil Nadu at 74 and Andhra Pradesh at 49

The death toll reached 36 in Karnataka, 34 Telangana and 32 in Punjab

Haryana has reported 13 fatalities due to the disease, Jammu and Kashmir has 12 deaths while Bihar has registered seven and Kerala has reported four deaths

Jharkhand, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha have recorded three COVID-19 fatalities each, while Assam has reported two deaths

Meghalaya, Uttarakhand and Puducherry have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry data.

The ministry's website says more than 70 per cent of the deaths are due to comorbidities

According to the health ministry data updated in the morning, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country are from Maharashtra at 30,706, followed by Gujarat at 10,988, Tamil Nadu at 10,585, Delhi at 9,333, Rajasthan at 4,960, Madhya Pradesh at 4,789 and Uttar Pradesh at 4,258

The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 2,576 in West Bengal, 2,355 in Andhra Pradesh and 1,946 in Punjab

It has risen to 1,509 in Telangana, 1,179 in Bihar, 1,121 in Jammu and Kashmir, 1,092 in Karnataka and 887 in Haryana

Odisha has reported 737 coronavirus infection cases so far, while Kerala has 587 cases. A total of 217 people have been infected with the virus in Jharkhand and 191 in Chandigarh

Tripura has reported 167 cases, Assam has 92 cases, Uttarakhand has 88, Himachal Pradesh has 78 cases, Chhattisgarh has 67 and Ladakh has registered 43 cases, so far

Thirty-three COVID-19 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Goa have reported 17 COVID-19 cases, while Meghalaya and Puducherry have registered 13 cases each

Manipur has seven cases. Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Dadar and Nagar Haveli have reported a case each till now.

Sitharaman announces final tranche of economic stimulus

The Centre has announced suspension of new bankruptcy filings on loan defaults for one year and raised the threshold for insolvency as it moved to ease COVID-19 pain for the industry.

It also announced a new policy for companies under state control saying public sector undertakings under the non-strategic sector will be privatised while those in the identified strategic sector would be capped by not more than four by merging some of them.

In the fifth and final tranche of the economic stimulus package, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman raised allocation for employment guarantee scheme by Rs 40,000 crore over and above the Rs 61,000 crore budgeted earlier for MGNREGS, to provide employment to migrant workers moving back to their states.

This, she said, will help generate nearly 300 crore person-days in total.

For industries, she said the minimum threshold to initiate insolvency proceedings will be raised to Rs 1 crore from Rs 1 lakh, which largely insulates micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from bankruptcy on defaulting on loans.

Also, a special insolvency resolution framework for MSMEs under Section 240A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) will be notified soon, she said adding that fresh initiation of insolvency proceedings will be suspended up to one year depending upon the pandemic situation.

Coronavirus-related debt will be excluded from the definition of "default" under the IBC for the purpose of triggering insolvency proceedings, she said adding that the changes will be effected by promulgating an ordinance.

Additionally, minor technical and procedural defaults under the Companies Act such as shortcomings in CSR reporting, inadequacies in board report, filing defaults, and delay in holding AGM will be decriminalised.

Last week, the government pledged a Rs 20 lakh crore (nearly 10 per cent of gross domestic product) package to support the economy headed for its first full-year contraction in more than four decades.

With inputs from PTI
The largest Canadian airline Air Canada said it has decided to reduce the number of employees by up to 60% to save money and distribute the load while reducing traffic soon, News.am reported citing Interfax.

According to company estimates, from 19 thousand to 22.8 thousand employees will suffer. An email was sent to all of them with this news.

The number of Air Canada flights was reduced by 95%. The cuts will begin on June 7.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)said it is in the final stages of talks with Air Canada on mitigation and other issues.

A union that protects the interests of the company's flight attendants will ask them to shorten their working hours, go on vacation for up to two years, or quit with the privilege of flying.

The COVID-19 pandemic actually halted air travel. An unprecedented number of flights has been canceled globally. Airlines have to look for ways to compensate for their losses.
Despite being Hollywood megastars worth millions of dollars, the Hemsworths still appreciate the simpler things in life.

And brothers Chris and Liam were seen enjoying a surf together in Byron Bay on Wednesday.

Joining the family reunion was Liam's new girlfriend, Gabriella Brooks, who cheered on the boys as they caught waves on their boards.

Surf's up! Chris and Liam Hemsworth (right) hit the beach in Byron Bay, NSW, on Wednesday as Liam's bikini-clad model girlfriend Gabriella Brooks (left) watched on

Stunner! Gabriella stripped down to a striped bikini that showcased her washboard abs

Liam, 30, and Gabriella, 23, went public with their romance in January, and have been hunkering down together in Victoria amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In March, the actor was seen hitting the beach at Phillip Island for a solo surf session.

That same month, US Weekly reported that Liam felt more at ease with Gabriella than he did with his ex-wife, pop star Miley Cyrus.

Change of scenery: Liam, 30, and Gabriella, 23, went public in January, and have been hunkering down together in Victoria amid the coronavirus pandemic

What break-up? While fans were concerned the pair had secretly split earlier this month, it appears they are still an item

Going strong: Liam and Gabriella were first spotted together in Byron Bay in mid-December, during a lunch date with his parents, Craig and Leonie. Pictured with Chris Hemsworth

Fans were concerned the pair had secretly split earlier this month when it emerged they weren't following each other on Instagram, but it appears they are still an item.

Indeed, the lovebirds looked stronger than ever while hanging out at the beach.

Liam and Gabriella were first spotted together in Byron Bay in mid-December, during a lunch date with his parents, Craig and Leonie.

Welcome to the family: Chris also appeared to be comfortable around Liam's new girlfriend

Expressive: The trio were seen talking on the shoreline. At one stage, Chris used expressive hand gestures for emphasis

Taking it easy: Liam looked absolutely smitten with his gorgeous girlfriend

Chris, who owns a $20million mega-mansion not far from the coast, frequents Byron Bay beaches to swim and surf.

The Thor: Ragnarok star, 36, was all smiles while chatting to his younger brother.

Chris also appeared comfortable around Liam's new girlfriend, having seemingly welcomed her into the family fold.

The trio were seen talking on the shoreline, and Chris used expressive hand gestures for emphasis at one stage.

He's a local: Chris, who owns a $20million mega-mansion not far from the coast, frequents Byron Bay beaches to swim and surf

He's focused: Chris looked determined as he remained upright on his board

Liam looked absolutely smitten with his gorgeous girlfriend, who laid down her towel on the sand as the brothers tackled the surf.

Before hitting the waves, Chris was seen warming up on the shore as Liam zipped up his black wetsuit.

The brothers took to the ocean together and playfully competed for the same waves.

Having fun: The brothers took to the ocean together and competed for the same waves

Brotherly competition: They were taught by their father from a young age how to surf

Liam's turn! The Hunger Games star steadied himself on his board before riding a large wave

The stars showed off their muscular physiques in the tight wetsuits as they waited for the perfect waves to drop into.

Looking every inch the Norse god, Marvel actor Chris later showed off his strength by carrying two boards under his arms at once.

Liam also flaunted his ripped frame by going shirtless on the beach.

Checking out the conditions: The stars showed off their muscular physiques in tight wetsuits as they surveyed the waves

Anything you can do! The brothers showed off their strength by carrying two boards each under their arms

Looking good! Liam flaunted his ripped figure by going shirtless on the beach

Hunk: Chris made the most of the warmer weather and zipped down the top half of his wetsuit

The Australian actors have their father, Craig, to thank for their surfing skills.

They were taught from a young age how to surf, and clearly have kept it as a joint passion between them.

Liam was known to take to the waves in Malibu when he lived there with Miley, and Chris is seen on a regular basis with his board in Byron Bay.

Working on her tan? Liam's girlfriend reclined on her beach towel as she looked after the group's belongings

Keeping occupied: Gabriella scrolled through her iPhone as the siblings surfed together

In fact, the father-of-three has been seen on multiple occasions at the local beaches teaching his children how to surf.

Meanwhile, Gabriella stripped down to a striped bikini that showcased her washboard abs and trim pins.

She reclined on her beach towel while scrolling through her iPhone as the siblings surfed together.

Keeping her company: Gabriella also played with Chris' dog Sunny, who followed her around the beach

Who's a good boy? The dog got plenty of attention during the outing

Keeping one eye on the ocean, she also played with Chris' dog Sunny, who dutifully followed her around the beach.

While she didn't join in on the surfing session, Gabriella later went for a quick dip and returned to her towel with wet hair.

Sunny got plenty of attention during the outing, with both Gabriella and Liam doting over the adorable pet.

Did Chris catch a big one? Liam and Gabriella looked towards the surf

Passing on the tradition: Chris, a father-of-three, has been seen on multiple occasions at the local beaches teaching his children how to surf

Did you see that? Liam looked excited as he made it to the shore after catching a large wave in

While Sydney's beaches, including Bondi, were closed in March to limit the spread of coronavirus, Byron Bay's beaches remained open to locals.

The Hemsworth brothers chose a quiet strip of the coastal area to surf, and were joined by Chris' longtime friend Luke Zocchi.

Luke is a personal trainer and also runs sessions on Chris' Centr fitness app.

Quiet: The Hemsworth brothers chose a quiet strip of the coastal area to surf, and were joined by Chris' longtime friend Luke Zocchi (right)

Friends: Luke (middle) is a personal trainer and also runs sessions on Chris' Centr fitness app

Staying locally? Liam and Gabriella may be staying at Chris' other property in Suffolk Park

Liam and Gabriella may be staying at nearby Suffolk Park, where Chris and his actress wife, Elsa Pataky, own a separate residence.

Parents Leonie and Craig have reportedly stayed at the Suffolk Park residence while visiting their sons in Byron Bay.

Chris, Elsa and their three children, relocated from Los Angeles to Byron Bay in 2014.

In January, after six years of living in Byron Bay, Elsa told Vogue Australia she felt 'privileged' to enjoy such a beautiful life.
DBS committed to creating and protecting jobs amid pandemic by hiring over 2,000 people in Singapore this year

DBS committed to creating more than 1,000 are new roles, including mix of roles of fresh graduates and more seasoned professionals

Recognising the key role it plays in society, DBS on May 14 announced that notwithstanding the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is committed to hiring over 2,000 people in Singapore this year. Of this, more than 1,000 are new roles comprising a mix of apprenticeships for fresh graduates as well as more specialised roles for seasoned professionals. DBS annual internship programmes also continue unabated.

DBS committed to protecting livelihoods of its 12,000-strong workforce in Singapore

The announcement follows an earlier pledge by the bank that it will protect the livelihoods of its 12,000-strong workforce in Singapore. The bank has reassured staff that there will be no layoffs. All employees, including branch staff who are unable to perform their duties because of temporary branch closures amid Circuit Breaker restrictions, continue to remain on full pay. In addition, employees facing a lull in work activity are encouraged to take the opportunity to upskill themselves through a comprehensive e-learning programme that DBS has in place.

dbs committed

DBS committed to creating more than 1,000 are new roles, including mix of roles of fresh graduates and more seasoned professionals (Image credit: DBS)

Piyush Gupta, CEO, DBS said, Covid-19 has been devastating not only to global health, but also to economies and jobs. Job seekers, including fresh graduates this year, are understandably anxious about the dearth of opportunities available as companies tighten their belts. While DBS is also prudent in our outlook, as a key employer in Singapore, it seemed right to us to not just continue with hiring for business-as-usual activities but also to actively create new jobs where we can, so as to help more people tide through this difficult period. In particular, we want to do our part to avoid having a lost generation of young graduates in Singapore whose career prospects are jeopardised because they are unable to find jobs due to the pandemic.

Story continues

In line with DBS ongoing digitalisation efforts, among the new roles being created, more than one-third or over 360 jobs are for seasoned professionals in growth technology areas. They comprise more than 300 new jobs in the areas of UX/UI, data science, fraud detection compliance, as well as consumer and institutional banking technology. Additionally, DBS is looking to train and hire over 60 people in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, full stack development and data analytics through a range of specialised talent development programmes, namely the Technology in Finance Immersion Programme (TFIP) and the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) Mid-Career Advance, respectively. Both programmes aim to help seasoned professionals kickstart a technology career in financial services, with the TeSA Mid-Career Advance going a step further by reskilling those without a prior background in technology.

In addition, DBS is also recruiting more than 700 young talent in the following areas:

Specialised programmes, which include the banks Graduate Associate programmes, which are designed to groom fresh graduates into future banking leaders; the Applied Wealth Management Track, which is open to students enrolled in Nanyang Business Schools Bachelor of Business programme; DBS Analytics Capability Enhancement Programme and Executive Management Associate Programme, which both cater to promising postgraduates. The more tech-inclined can enrol to join the Skill Enhancement Education and Development (SEED) programme supported by TeSA, which trains those with less than two years of experience so they can ultimately grow careers in roles such as development, DevOps and cybersecurity. In all, DBS expects to hire 200 people into these programmes.

Six to 12-month traineeships, with the possibility of conversion to a permanent role. As one of the pioneer host companies participating in the SGUnited Traineeships Programme, DBS will be also be offering 500 traineeships to recent and upcoming graduates from universities, polytechnics, the Institute of Technical Education and other private educational institutions. These traineeships allow young graduates to develop their skills professionally and gain valuable working experience, giving them a firmer foothold in the job market when the economy recovers.

DBS committed to driving sustainability

Jaslyn Lee interned with DBS in 2019 as an undergraduate with the Nanyang Technological Universitys Nanyang Business School, and was impressed with the banks work culture and commitment to driving sustainability. Wanting to launch her career with DBS, Jaslyn successfully applied for the banks Graduate Associate Programme, and will be joining DBS as a Graduate Associate later in the year after her graduation. My peers and friends are all concerned about the current economic and hiring climate, so Im thankful for the opportunity to build my career with DBS through their Graduate Associate Programme. I feel even more fortunate as DBS is a company I admire. I enjoyed my internship with DBS and was really inspired by the collaborative work environment and what the bank is doing on the sustainability front.

Dawn Lum is currently a trainee in Full Stack Development at DBS. After 14 years as a systems analyst in the telecommunications industry, Dawn wanted to carve a career in new technology areas. The TFIP provided her with such an opportunity. Ive always been excited by how vibrant the technology scene in the banking and finance sector is, and wanted to be part of that story. Im especially delighted to be able to upskill with DBS, with its strong digital DNA and community of technology experts. This gives me a credible foundation for launching a career as a technologist in the banking and finance sector, and I look forward to being able to continue contributing to DBS digital transformation journey.

DBS will also continue to run its internship programmes as part of its commitment to nurturing future generations of banking talent, ensuring that students have the opportunity to put their academic skills to the test in a real-world work environment. DBS expects to offer over 400 internship opportunities in 2020.

Finally, the Bank will continue to hire judiciously for other roles across the bank. It expects to make around 1,000 such hires in Singapore this year. Since the Covid-19 outbreak in Singapore in February, DBS has already made close to 500 hires to fill roles in client advisory, data, digital, technology as well as risk and control.

Job Opportunities Number Available New Roles >1000 Recent Graduates 700 Seasoned Professionals 360 Business as Usual Hiring 1,000 Total Job Opportunities > 2000 Internships 400 Total Job Opportunities + Internships > 2400

The post DBS committed to creating and protecting jobs amid pandemic appeared first on iCompareLoan Resources.
New Delhi: The government on Sunday announced an additional Rs 40,000 crore allocation for the rural employment guarantee scheme to help provide jobs to migrant workers returning home.

Announcing fifth and final tranche of the economic stimulus package, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the allocation for MGNREGS is being increased by Rs 40,000 crore over and above the Rs 61,000 cr budgeted earlier.

To deal with the economic fallout of COVID-19, the Centre increased borrowing limit for states from three to five per cent for 2020-21 only, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Sunday.

The decision comes after requests posed by various state governments, Sitharaman added.

"In view of the unprecedented situation, Centre has decided to increase borrowing limits of states from 3 per cent to 5 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2020-21," Sitharaman said while announcing the last tranche of the economic package announced by the government.

She added that this will give the states extra resources of Rs 4.28 lakh crore.

Sitharaman announced that public expenditure on health will be increased and a dedicated hospital block for treatment of infectious diseases will be set up in each district across the nation.

"The public expenditure on health will be increased. Investment at grass root levels will be ramped up for health and wellness centres, both in rural and urban areas," she added.

In order to provide relief to the companies amid COVID-19 pandemic, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the decriminalisation of Companies Act defaults.

"Decriminalisation of Companies Act defaults; 7 compoundable offences altogether dropped and 5 to be dealt with under alternative framework. The amendment will de-clog the criminal courts and National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)," Sitharaman said while announcing the last tranche of the economic package announced by the government.

Further speaking about changes being made in the Education sector in the wake of COVID-19, the Finance Minister said that the PM eVidya programme for multi-mode access to digital/online education will be launched immediately.

"This will consist of DIKSHA, a one-nation, one-digital platform facility for school education (one nation, one digital platform). One earmarked TV channel for each class (one class, one channel) will also be a part of this. There will be extensive use of radio, community radio stations and podcasts," she said.

The Finance Minister also announced a special e-content for visually and hearing-impaired children which will be made available in the coming days, she also lauded the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development for coming up with this plan.

"Top 100 universities will be permitted to automatically start online courses by May 30, 2020," she said.

She further spoke about 'Manodarpan', an initiative for psychological support of students, teachers and families for mental health and emotional well being to be launched in the next few days.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said around 12 lakh members of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) withdrew Rs 3,360 crore retirement savings during the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

The EPFO, under the Union labour and employment ministry, has settled a total of 12 lakh claims under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) package.

The provision for a special withdrawal from the EPF Scheme to fight the COVID-19 pandemic is part of the PMGKY scheme announced by the government and an urgent notification on the matter was made to introduce a para 68 L (3) of the EPF Scheme on March 28, 2020.

The announcements came after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package for the country to become 'self-reliant' and deal with COVID-19 crisis.

Sitharaman had on Saturday said that the Central government will introduce competition, transparency and private sector participation in the coal sector and will do infrastructure development of Rs 50,000 crore.

Earlier on Friday, Sitharaman announced Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund for farm gate infrastructure for farmers and Rs 10,000 crore scheme for the formalisation of Micro Food Enterprises (MFEs) under the stimulus package.

On Thursday, the Finance Minister announced the 'One Nation One Ration Card', free food grain supply to migrants and creation of affordable rental housing complexes (ARHC) in urban areas for migrant workers and poor under the COVID-19 stimulus package.
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The bulk of the Rs 20-lakh crore package announced by the finance minister (FM) has leant on the credit channel. A cash-strapped New Delhi wants everyone from street vendors to state finance ministers to borrow their way out of distress, with appropriate rewards for good behaviour. But for those at the very the bottom of the pyramid at least, there was one big spending measure  an increase in allocation to the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme by Rs 40,000 crore. The governments proposed overhaul of the public sector is also an excellent measure although the benefits will take some time to trickle in.

The FM had allocated Rs 61,500 crore to MNREGA in Budget 2020-21. That has now been increased to Rs 101,500 crore. It is a good measure that will boost demand at the lowest end of economic strata. But more needs to be done. The government should follow this move with expedited payments for MNREGA work. It should also stand ready to give work to everyone, irrespective of the budget allocation. Remember that in the last five years, the average days of employment per household crossed 50 days in only one year although the government has been progressively increasing the MNREGA budget. The MNREGA calls for giving up to 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year. An efficient MNREGA scheme where payments are quick and people get work easily will do a lot to alleviate the economic distress from COVID-19.

The other big measure is of course the renewed intent on privatisation. This is the first time that this government has openly talked about privatisation as a theme and is applying it to a large swathe of companies. So far, privatisation has been couched in words such as disinvestment or listing of healthy public sector enterprises. Strategic disinvestment in the Indian context has been mostly by existing public sector units buying others. Privatisation of very small or chronic loss-making units has been not very successful. Otherwise, disinvestment proceeds have been mainly through offer for sale, follow on offer or sale to existing PSUs.

Now, the government will split its role in business into strategic and other sectors.

In strategic sectors, a minimum of one and a maximum of four companies will be ordinarily allowed. The rest will be privatised or merged or brought under a single holding company. To illustrate, coal is a strategic sector, under which Coal India is the main entity but it operates through several subsidiaries. Such a structure will be allowed. Which sectors are strategic is the question. Banks, oil and gas and railways are a few sectors which can be called strategic and where there are more than four entities present. They could see some reshuffling take place.

In other sectors, which are not strategic, companies will be privatised but there are no timelines prescribed, and it is likely to depend on feasibility and market conditions. Privatisation has the potential to raise a lot of money for the government if it goes about the same sensibly: foreign investors should be welcomed, there should be no selective exemptions given for strategic sectors (banking is an example that comes to mind). Of course, the implementation wont be easy and there would be opposition from labour unions. The fine print will give an early glimpse of how successful this will be. It will also help answer thorny questions as to what happens when a Chinese firm bids for a company like BHEL?

The third big announcement of the day was relaxing states fiscal deficit targets. They can now borrow 5 percent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) compared to 3 percent earlier. States can now collectively borrow Rs 4.28 lakh crore. This is subject to some riders. For borrowing more than 3.5 percent, states have to meet reform targets such as implementing One Nation One Ration card scheme, ease of doing business rule, power distribution etc.

While states would welcome the extra money, given COVID-19 and the fact that New Delhi owes them GST dues since December 2019, state finance ministers are unlikely to be amused, given these conditions. In any case, if the Centres fiscal deficit target is breached and the states will borrow more, bond yields will feel the pressure.

That apart, the government has also decided to suspend fresh initiation of IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) cases up to one year which can be reviewed depending on how the COVID-19 situation evolves. The central government will be empowered to exclude COVID-19 related debt from the definition of default. Thus, it is not as if it will be automatically excluded but only if the government sees the need to do so. MSMEs get further relaxation. The thrust of the package is clearly on MSMEs.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of todays announcement was on the health sector. The government reiterated the measures already taken (some Rs 15,000 crore announced by the Prime Minister) and announced some measures to improve health infrastructure. These measures appear to speed up the projects already under way and be more prepared for infectious diseases. While the FM said the Centre will increase health expenditure, she did not say by how much. Like most of the package announced so far, the devil will lie in the details.
The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates, Madayn, has said that it continues its intensive efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) and mitigate its effects in the various industrial cities.

Eng Basim Al Zadjali, senior health, safety and environmental health specialist at Madayn, stated that ever since Madayn began its procedures to fight this pandemic, inspection visits to 1855 industrial units have been conducted until last week.

Of these visits, 1456 industrial units were found adhering to the precautionary procedures, while warnings and practice correction notices were issued to 399 industrial units, Al Zadjali informed.

He added that during these inspection visits, Madayn officials aim at disseminating awareness among the workers in the companies and factories on safe and healthy practices at the workplace. The visits also aim at applying penalties on the industrial units that are not committed to the procedures. Such violations include the lack of personal protection tools; absence of physical distance between workers, especially those operating in production lines, and during rest areas; units that have not considered exempting employees with medical conditions and pregnant women; invalidity of temperature measurement devices with inaccurate readings; and insufficient quantities of hand sanitisers at the workplace, Al Zadjali pointed out.

The inspection visits included issuance of violations and closure of industrial units that did not adhere to the precautionary measures as well as closure of units that violated the decisions of the Supreme Committee on Covid-19. Taking these into consideration, 15 industrial units were closed, and violations were filed for 13 units until the end of last week.

Al Zadjali noted that Madayn, in cooperation with Oman Investment and Development Holding Company (Mubadrah), carried out sterilisation and disinfection operations for 197 industrial units in addition to sterilisation operations that included all the administration buildings in the industrial cities, Knowledge Oasis Muscat and Al Mazunah Free Zone.

It should be noted that Madayn Emergency Room has received 959 communications until last week. The emergency room receives coronavirus related enquiries and complaints through 24449685 or via WhatsApp: 92389609. TradeArabia News Service
Batelco, Bahrains leading digital solutions provider, has launched its global software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) service, an end-to-end networking solution that seamlessly blends MPLS, Internet and LTE technologies into a single communication channel and delivers improved visibility, agility, control and cloud integration with greater ease of use.

SD-WAN enables business customers to gain superior visibility of applications with the capability to dynamically route network traffic across the best available links to maximise throughput. Global SD-WAN offers a seamless approach to customers that need to balance their dependency on MPLS and internet connectivity coupled with the demand for cloud computing, mobility and digitization governed by customer defined Service Level Agreements (SLAs), said a statement.

Chief Global Business Officer Adel Al-Daylami said: We are confident that our latest offering will contribute greatly towards an enhanced experience for our enterprise customers, through making sophisticated global networks easier to monitor, manage and become more agile with the support of a dedicated team to configure and maintain their SD-WAN service. As the Kingdoms leading digital solutions provider, we are dedicated to supporting our customers with scaling their networks and business, through providing the optimal platform for digital commerce.

Batelcos Global SD-WAN is based on an orchestrated platform from Nokias Nuage Networks that leverages Batelcos Global Network coverage and partnerships to enable customers to utilize the superior capabilities of SD-WAN whilst defining their own levels of control from a service offering that is fully managed or self-managed model.

Roque Lozano, Vice President of Nokias IP and Optical business in the Middle East and Africa, said: Our SD-WAN 2.0 solution supports Batelcos global requirements by allowing seamless scalability for its global networks and customers. The Nuage Networks SD-WAN service helps to strengthen digital offerings that meet enterprise requirements driven by virtualization and cloud. By leveraging these SD-WAN capabilities, Batelco has the opportunity to expand its portfolio to deliver new age micro-services and IoT-driven business applications to its global enterprise customers. - TradeArabia News Service
Season 5 of Riverdale will jump ahead five years, giving fans a glimpse at the lives of Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse), Archie Andrews (KJ Apa), and Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) after college. Heres why Riverdales showrunners decided to take the five-year leap.

Riverdale  Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, and Cole Sprouse | Dean Buscher/The CW

RELATED: Riverdale Season 5 Will Jump 5 Years Into the Future

Riverdale Season 4 was cut off

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced Riverdale to conclude season 4 earlier than showrunners originally had planned. In March, Variety reported that production had been suspended after someone involved with the show had come in contact with a confirmed coronavirus patient. To prevent the spread and keep everyone involved safe, filming of future episodes was canceled  including the episodes intended to conclude season 4. Because of the pandemic, these episodes are now being worked into season 5.

A jump in time means less need for the adult stars

Since Marisol Nichols and Skeet Ulrich announced their departure from Riverdale, fans have been wondering how the writers would work their leaving into the story.

RELATED: Riverdale: KJ Apa Admits the Cast Did A Terrible Job Keeping Jugheads Death Secret

For Ulrich, the time jump was one of the reasons he wanted to pursue other projects. Creatively, Im just ready to do other things, Ulrich told The Today Show Australia. I know they want to take the show in a little bit [of a] different direction next season, too, and jump five years ahead. It just seemed like the right time to move on.

As one fan pointed out on Twitter, the time jump makes sense in terms of the parents narratives. The parents are leaving because of the time jump, the kids are gonna be adults now, so theres no need to focus on the parents anymore.

Jumping ahead 5 years allows for a better story

Since the students of Riverdale High were seniors at the end of season 4, the following year would put everyone in college. By incorporating a time-lapse into the writing, showrunners will have the freedom to tell a more engaging narrative. Jumping ahead five years will let the writers introduce a new mystery that reunites the teens of Riverdale instead of following each student around during their years at college  something that could get very confusing.

RELATED: Riverdale: Fans Think These Villains Are Behind the Voyeuristic Porch Tapes

A time jump is the best way to do it, one fan shared on Twitter. They cant follow [Betty, Archie, Veronica, and Jughead] to a bunch of different schools. There will be a mystery/problem that brings them all back to Riverdale after college, and the show will continue from there.

Plus, the time jump would align Riverdale with the storyline in Katy Keene, a series in the related universe for five years in the future.

What to expect in Riverdale Season 5

Executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa explained to TV Line how the last three episodes of season 4 will now kick off season 5 of Riverdale. Usually, time jumps happen in between seasons because theres a tease at the very end, Aguirre-Sacasa said. Maybe what well do is start with the last three episodes, which include episodes about senior prom and Riverdale High Schools graduation. So what were doing is picking up right where we left off for the first three episodes, and then doing a time jump after those three episodes.

It will likely be some before fans get season 5 of Riverdale. Madchen Amick  who plays Alice Cooper  told Popsugar everythings up in the air with the schedule for season 5. Of course, the cast and crew are waiting for it to be safe to start filming.


The finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced reforms to kickstart the civil aviation industry which has been grounded due to the lockdown initiated to control the Covid-19 pandemic.

These included the optimal utilization of countrys aerospace which would result in shortening of routes, lower fuel costs apart from lower duration for flights.

The government also said that it will put up six airports for bidding under public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Private players will make additional investments to the tune of Rs 13,000 crore in 12 airports that were awarded to them earlier, while state-owned Airports Authority of India will receive Rs 2,300 crore down payment from the airport privatisation process.

Meanwhile, the government also said that it hopes that India becomes a hub for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) units after the GST rate associated with it was reduced from 18% to 5% by GST council in March.

However, the governments proposals disappointed the aviation industry in the absence of any relief measures for cash-strapped airlines that have been grounded for over a month and a half due to the lockdown. Now we can almost certainly say two or three airlines may not survive the current crisis, said a senior airline official.

What has been announced is simply a case of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, along with perhaps shortening the queueing time for the buffet, while the gaping hole from the iceberg continues to take in water, the official said. Another airline official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the airlines needed direct cash infusion. What the sector actually got from finance minister today are some old announcements repackaged as fresh reforms, the official said. The Indian aviation industry will require funding of up to Rs 35,000 crore till 2022-2023 as profitability may take a hit due to sharp fall in revenues and higher fixed costs, said credit rating agency, ICRA earlier this week.

Indian carriers are estimated to report a 44% decline in revenue in 2020-21.

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May 17, 2020 Gatchalian bats for birthing centers in isolated areas to prepare for future pandemics As the country observes Safe Motherhood Week, Senator Win Gatchalian emphasized the need to establish birthing facilities in isolated and disadvantaged areas to reduce maternal deaths nationwide. While the Department of Health (DOH)'s Department Circular No. 2020-0167 maintained that maternal healthcare services in times of disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic must continue, Gatchalian said that containment measures such as restricted transportation and curfews make it harder for pregnant women in far-flung areas to access birthing facilities. Given the current strain to the country's health care system which jeopardizes the number of available health workers who can attend to pregnant women, the lawmaker said that the increased access to birthing facilities is key to ensuring the safety of mothers and their newborns for future emergencies or pandemics. Citing his Senate Bill No. 882 which was filed last year, Gatchalian has proposed the establishment of birthing centers in far-flung areas. Under the proposed measure, birthing facilities will be built in areas where distance and transportation pose greater risks to a mother and her unborn child. These facilities should be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Available services in these centers will include pre-natal and post-natal care, normal spontaneous delivery for low-risk pregnant women, newborn care, and other related healthcare services. Competent health care practitioners, including DOH-trained birth attendants should give support to the facility's operations. This should come with the creation of a team of barangay health workers who will regularly check on pregnant women in the community. Antenatal check-ups by these health workers must identify at-risk pregnancies or anticipate complications in deliveries, which should directly be referred to clinics or tertiary hospitals with well-equipped facilities. The bill says midwives and trained traditional birth attendants should be allowed to attend to the childbirth to ensure maternal and neonatal safety. The DOH should conduct the necessary training to properly equip them with the skills to provide proper care during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal periods. To make these birthing centers sustainable, the bill establishes a Lay-Away program, where expectant mothers will pay minimal fees in portions for the cost of giving birth. According to the United Nations report Trends in Maternal Mortality: 2000-2017 released last year, the estimated maternal mortality ratio in the Philippines in 2017 was 121 per 100,000 live births. "Dapat napaghahandaan natin ang mga ganitong pandemya para sa kapakanan ng kalusugan ng mga ina, lalo na't mahirap para sa marami sa kanila ang makarating sa mga pasilidad para sa panganganak. Ang pagkakaroon ng sapat na mga pasilidad para sa panganaganak ay hindi lamang mahalagang usapin ngayong mayroon tayong pangkalusugang krisis, mahalaga rin ito para sa mga susunod pang henerasyon ng mga ina at ng magiging anak nila," said Gatchalian.
Photo: Colleen Woelders Kelowna Hair Design is one of many Okanagan salons eager to open on Tuesday.

Barbers, salons and other personal service establishments have formally been given approval to open their businesses Tuesday under new coronavirus guidelines.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issued a notice Friday lifting the closure order on personal service establishments.

In addition to salons and barber shops, the order applies to tattoo parlours, spas, non-RMT massage parlours and other services.

Businesses can start the process of re-opening, Henry said Saturday, adding the business must follow the guidelines released by WorkSafeBC on Friday.

There can be no flexibility on this, she said.

The guidelines include the removal of product testers, spacing work stations two meters apart, wearing masks if physical distances cant be maintained and avoiding large bookings and much more.

This week, the owner of Cabella Hair Design in West Kelowna walked Castanet through how he will be managing the situation at his salon.
Actor Sonu Sood says he is pained by the plight of migrant workers who are unable to go back home amid the nationwide lockdown and he will do everything he can to arrange for transport for them.

On Saturday, Sonu arranged more buses for the migrants after obtaining special permissions from the government of Uttar Pradesh.

The actor had earlier organised multiple bus services for many such workers heading to Gulbarga, Karnataka from Maharastra.

"It has been an extremely emotional journey for me as my heart pains to see these migrants staying away from their homes walking on streets.

"I will continue sending migrants home until the last migrant reunites with his family and loved ones. This is something really close to my heart and I will give it my all," Sood, 46, said in a statement.

As per arrangements, multiple buses left from Wadala and various parts of UP, including Lucknow, Hardoi, Pratapgarh and Siddharthnagar, as well as to states like Jharkhand and Bihar.

The "Happy New Year" actor was present to bid goodbye to these workers who were stranded in the city since the lockdown began on March 25.

Previously, the actor also donated over 1,500 PPE kits to doctors across Punjab and provided his Mumbai hotel for the accommodation of the heathcare workers.

Sood has also been feeding thousands of underprivileged people along with providing meal kits to migrants in the Bhiwandi area during the holy month of Ramzan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Lynn Shelton could relate to the main protagonist of her 2014 comedy, "Laggies", a late bloomer who was trying to make choices that felt right for her.

Shelton had only started filmmaking in her late 30s, inspired by an interview she saw with the French filmmaker Claire Denis.

"I found out that she didn't start making movies till she was 40," Shelton told KPCC's The Frame's John Horn in 2014. "And I was immediately like, 'Oh my God, I still have a few years left to make my first feature and still have a body of work and still have a career.'"

Lynn Shelton (second from left) with "Your Sister's Sister" actors Mark Duplass Rosemarie DeWitt and Emily Blunt. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

Shelton would go on to chart an illustrious career path in film and television over the next two decades before she died Friday night from a blood disorder.

Shelton's partner, the comedian and actor Marc Maron, issued a statement published by IndieWire saying that she had collapsed that morning after being sick for a week with a "previously unknown, underlying condition." He said COVID-19 was not a cause.

Maron via IndieWire: "I loved her very much as I know many of you did as well. It's devastating. I am leveled, heartbroken and in complete shock and don't really know how to move forward in this moment. I needed you all to know. I don't know some of you. Some I do. I'm just trying to let the people who were important to her know.





Shelton's credits were eclectic, ranging from beloved, rumpled comedic indies such as "Hump Day" and "Your Sister's Sister," to sitting in the director's chair on leading TV series such as "GLOW," Little Fires Everywhere" and "Mad Men."

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But even as she became an in-demand TV director, Shelton longed for the improvisational moviemaking that first made her mark.

She returned to her roots with her final feature film, 2019's "Sword of Trust." Shelton told The Frame in 2019 about returning to the "terrifying" experience of moviemaking with a loose script and a super-tight filming budget.

"When there's four-to-eight people per scene, it's a little extra daunting, because you only have two cameras and only so much time," Shelton said.

Shelton never knew what she was going to end up with in the editing room. But she was always assured she would have premium content to work with because of her faith in her casts.

Shelton: "There's a lived-in quality that you can't really get any other way. A freshness, because there's a genuine sense of surprise on set. Each actor doesn't know what the other actor is going to say. What I gave them was a 50-page script. So the plot is really tightly structured, and we know what has to unfold. But for the most part, they're finding their way through the beats of the scene. They're coming up with it all on their own.





"It's just amazing what they'll come up with," Shelton said of her "Sword of Trust" cast, which included Maron and Jillian Bell. "And then I just have to make sure not to not to laugh too hard and ruin every take."

Many of Shelton's collaborators became friends, with whom she would work multiple times. On Saturday, tributes poured in from the film community, full of praise for her films, but also her character and kindness.

Shelton told KPCC in 2014 that she made an effort to make her film sets feel like a "really emotionally safe, creative playground."

"It's really important to me, mostly for the actors, but really, for everybody, because I think everybody's going to do their best work if they don't feel like, 'Oh, if I take this risk, I'm going to be hammered down' ... because making art is inherently risky," Shelton said.

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The number of people visiting A&E departments in England after suffering heart attacks has returned to normal, after numbers plunged to record lows amid the coronvirus outbreak.

Earlier this week, NHS statistics revealed that April was the quietest month ever for A&E departments across England.

Only 916,581 emergency department visits were recorded in the month that Britain's coronavirus crisis peaked - the first time on record the number has dipped below one million.

However, at today's Downing Street press conference, NHS England national medical director Stephen Powis confirmed that numbers of people seeking treatment had now returned to normal levels.

NHS England national medical director Stephen Powis confirmed that numbers of people visiting A&E departments had now returned to normal levels

It comes after figures published earlier this week revealed April was the quietest month in history for A&E departments in England

He said: 'We have been really concerned that a combination of worries about the virus and not wanting to be a burden on NHS staff has meant that some people haven't come forward for care for themselves or their families when they would usually have done so.

'The majority of reduced attendances were for lower-risk conditions so, for example, sprains were down by 80%, alcohol intoxication by just under 60% and finger wounds down by just under 50%.

'But we also worried that within that fall in attendances were people who should have come to A&E and whose health might be put at risk by not doing so.

'Encouragingly, the latest data suggests that since we launched our Help Us Help You campaign, the number of people attending with symptoms of heart attacks, for instance, has increased back towards what we would expect ordinarily.

'And that doesn't mean that more people are having these problems, it means that the 50% drop in people seeking help has now gone back to normal in the past month.

'It shows that the message we've been getting out, use the NHS as normal when you need it, is being heard.

'But there's no room for complacency and so we will continue to remind you that the NHS is there for you when you need it.'

Only 916,581 emergency department visits were recorded in the month that Britain's coronavirus crisis peaked - the first time on record the number has dipped below one million. However, numbers have now recovered to normal levels, according to NHS England national medical director Stephen Powis

During the crisis and subsequent lockdown, people have been avoiding hospitals out of fear of adding extra pressure to the NHS or catching the virus while they're in the hospital, doctors say.

Medics warn the massive change in behaviour is a 'ticking time bomb' which may result in more people ending up seriously ill or dying in the near future because they avoided getting medical help when they needed it.

There are also concerns that people with cancer will be delayed casualties of the crisis, with urgent referrals for treatment for the disease down eight per cent on last year.

NHS England, which published the alarming figures earlier this week, said April's falls were 'likely to be a result of the COVID-19 response'  an indication that people have been staying away from A&E departments because of the coronavirus outbreak.

A&E departments saw fewer visitors than ever in April because people are afraid to go to hospitals in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, doctors said

The number of people being admitted to hospital beds through A&E also fell sharply last month, down 39 per cent from 535,226 in April 2019 to 326,581 in April 2020.

This is the lowest number reported for any calendar month since current records began.

Dr Nick Scriven, of the Society for Acute Medicine, which represents hospital doctors, said the drop in A&E attendances was 'a significant concern' and people's conditions may have worsened as a result.

'This is a ticking timebomb in itself and it will be exacerbated by a myriad of other pressures in the coming weeks,' he said.

'There will be an ongoing need to keep people with coronavirus separate from others to prevent transmission, with segregated wards effectively reducing immediately available beds, so attempting to manage increased demand will be very challenging.'
As Amazon becomes an increasingly important lifeline in the pandemic crisis, it is being hit with a wave of criticism from activists, politicians and others who question the tech giant's growing influence. Amazon has become the most scrutinized company during the health emergency. It has boosted its global workforce to nearly one million and dealt with protests over warehouse safety and reported deaths of several employees. But Amazon has also pledged to spend at least $4 billion in the current quarter -- its entire expected operating profit -- on coronavirus mitigation efforts, including relief contributions and funding research. Amazon's AWS cloud computing unit, which powers big portions of the internet, is also a key element during the crisis with more people and companies working online. Amazon's market value has hovered near record levels around $1.2 trillion dollars as it reported rising revenues and lower profits in the past quarter. "Its sheer size justifies the scrutiny," said Dania Rajendra of the activist group Athena, a coalition which is focused specifically on Amazon's corporate activity and treatment of workers. Athena activists fret that Amazon, which also controls one of the major streaming television services, infiltrates so many aspects of people's lives. Rankling many activists, the rise in Amazon's shares has boosted the wealth of founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos to over $140 billion even as the global economy has been battered by the virus outbreak. Amazon has faced employee walkouts at several facilities over safety and hazard pay and has been accused of firing people for speaking out against the company. "It's a minority going on strike but the sentiment represents thousand if not hundreds of thousands," said Steve Smith of the California Labor Federation. While Amazon has boosted base pay to $15 an hour, above the minimum wage required, and added bonuses during the pandemic, activists say it's insufficient, especially in high-cost states like California. "This company can afford to make these jobs middle class jobs, good jobs," Smith said. - Tensions in Washington - The tensions have spilled over into the US capital Washington and elsewhere. US lawmakers leading antitrust investigations asked Bezos to respond to reports that the company improperly used data from third-party sellers to launch its own products, which the company has denied. New York state Attorney General Letitia James called Amazon "disgraceful" for firing a warehouse employee who led a worker protest over safety. Amazon said the employee refused to quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. In a statement to AFP, Amazon defended its actions on workplace safety, social distancing and noted that it is implementing its own employee testing program. The company also disputed claims it was stifling employee speech. Spokeswoman Lisa Levandowski said the employees in question were dismissed "not for talking publicly about working conditions or safety, but rather, for repeatedly violating internal policies." Levandowski added that Amazon already provides what many unions have been seeking, including a high base wage, health benefits and career opportunities. "She said the company seeks "a great employment experience" along with offering "a world-class customer experience (while) respecting rights to choose a union." - Alternatives? - Analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy said Amazon is getting heightened scrutiny because of its growing global influence and because of the wast wealth of Bezos. Moorhead said Amazon also brought on some of its woes with its highly public search for a second headquarters which highlighted tax breaks for the tech giant. But Moorhead said Amazon is "not profiting" from the coronavirus crisis, and should be credited for some 150 measures taken including the pooling of high-performance computing for researchers. "If you think about the alternative of shutting down Amazon, so many people wouldn't get the supplies that they need. You'd have a tremendous number of people unemployed," he said. Amazon warehouses have been the site of worker protests as the company's role to meet consumer demands during the pandemic has risen The fortune of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has risen with the company's share value, but the company will be using its profits from the current quarter for coronavirus mitigation efforts
The U.S. economy will recover from the coronavirus pandemic, but the process could stretch through until the end of next year and depend on the delivery of a vaccine, said Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

"Assuming there's not a second wave of the coronavirus, I think you'll see the economy recover steadily through the second half of this year," the U.S. central bank chief said in an excerpt of an interview conducted Wednesday and aired on Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" show.

READ ALSO: 'This is horrible': Massive fire erupts on South Padre Island, engulfing condominiums

"For the economy to fully recover people will have to be fully confident, and that may have to await the arrival of a vaccine," he said.

More than 36 million Americans have lost their jobs since February as the economy shuttered to limit virus spread. Countless companies, especially small businesses, are hurtling toward bankruptcy, while states and cities are confronting gaping budget shortfalls that could provoke a massive second wave of layoffs from the public sector.

The Fed chief said people should never "bet" against the American economy, but he took care not to promise a swift, so-called V-shaped rebound.

"This economy will recover. It may take a while," he said. "It could stretch through the end of next year. We really don't know."

Powell's full interview will be broadcast at 7 p.m. EDT on CBS' "60 Minutes."

SURGE IN COVID-19 CASES: Texas reports massive jump in COVID-19 cases in single day

Powell's remarks follow his grave warning Wednesday that the U.S. economy faces lasting harm from the pandemic if the government doesn't step up. The comments add support to calls for more congressional spending as Democrats push for a fresh $3 trillion in virus aid on top of a record $2.2 trillion package agreed in March. On Friday, the House passed the measure, though it has no future in the Republican-led Senate.

Powell can expect questions on the scale and timing of additional fiscal relief when he appears before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday. He'll also be asked to tell Americans what to expect. For all his caution, the Fed chief also had a message of hope.

"I would just say this: In the long run, and even in the medium run, you would not want to bet against the American economy."
A bus flipped over on Saturday, killing six people on board and injuring 20 others in Southwest China's Sichuan province, local authorities said.

The accident happened at 12:36 pm when the vehicle flipped over after crashing into the central guardrail on the highway from Xichang to Chengdu, according to the Sichuan provincial public security department.

Among the 36 people on board, two were killed on the spot and four died after being taken to hospital. All the 20 injured are treated in hospital, including three in severe conditions.

Further investigation of the accident is underway.
Its hard to predict what your first thought will be when you find out youre going to be a father. Will you immediately start planning to remodel your house? Will you start planning how to save some extra cash each month? For actor Dax Shepard, the first immediate thought was Im not driving a minivan I have to get a station wagon.

Shepard was a guest on Jay Lenos Garage, where he and fellow comedian and gearhead Jay Leno discussed their shared love of hefty station wagons, while Shepard showed off his 1994 Buick Roadmaster. While it doesnt sound like much, Shepards has plenty of extra excitement under the hood.

Dax Shepard has always been in love with cars

Dax Shepard on the set of his show Bless This Mess | Rick Rowell/ABC via Getty Images

Shepard has always been open and excited to talk about his love of cars. Having grown up near Detroit, one of the car capitals of the world, Shepard told Leno that his family worked for General Motors. As a teen, Shepard would spend his time running cars back and forth between dealerships.

But his interest in cars came from an even earlier age. He told Motor Trend, I cant actually remember a moment in life when I wasnt into cars. I dont think there was a specific thing. I just immediately loved them.

Shepard stated that his mother once let him drive the family car around an empty parking lot when he was only eight or nine years old. Since then, its been love at first sight with every car hes owned.

Buying a Buick Roadmaster instead of a minivan

Dax Shepard visited the set of Jay Lenos Garage to show off his 1994 Buick Roadmaster. Leno has a Roadmaster of his own, a 1955 model that he has owned since before he was married, and the two cant get enough of discussing how much they love their wagons.

Shepard told Leno that he bought his Roadmaster as soon as he found out that he was going to be a father. He said, If Im going to be a dad, I dont want to be in a minivan. I want to be in something I can drift.

He recalled back to his days moving cars for GM as an 18-year-old in Michigan. We would all fight over these cars, he said, because of how much power they had and how funny it seemed to have that much power in a station wagon. He knew that the Roadmaster was the right car to get when he started his family.

Jay Leno and Dax Shepard love their Buick Roadmasters

Leno and Shepard took a drive in Shepards Roadmaster and the two discussed how much fun they are to drive. Leno asked Shepard if hed ever used it for its intended purpose of hauling the family around and Shepard confirmed.

He said that the most he and his wife, actress Kristen Bell, had packed into the Roadmaster was when they took a road trip to Oregon when his oldest daughter was only one year old. They had the baby, two dogs, and a giant cargo container on the luggage rack on the roof.

Since then, Shepard has shared countless pictures of his Roadmaster on his Instagram, often simply admiring it as one of his favorite cars. And although he may have souped it up to get 700-horsepower, it may not be the fastest Roadmaster out there.

He and Leno actually raced their Roadmasters against each other, and Lenos came out on top. Fans in the YouTube comment section, however, called foul and claimed that Shepard let him win since it was his own show. We may never know which Roadmaster is truly the greatest, but its certain they are both well-loved.
By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute May. 16, 2020 | 09:44 AM | SPRINGFIELD

Main Street views the COVID-19 pandemic very differently than Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.A recent poll of Illinois voters found 75% were ready now for small retail businesses to reopen, as long as they followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.Madison County took action, with the health board allowing businesses to reopen Wednesday as long as they followed the social distancing rules. Ten days earlier, Madison County Chairman Kurt Prenzler asked Pritzker to stop holding small businesses to a different standard than their big-box competitors.Small retailers labeled non-essential look out their front window to see the parking lot in front of Target full with cars and shoppers. Restaurants without drive-through lanes watch their customers buying lunch at Jimmy Johns and McDonalds, while they remain closed, he wrote Pritzker.We believe that we, as a county, can responsibly help these small businesses to re-open.  We are responsible citizens facing economic ruin. We can be trusted to re-open our economy in a responsible and informed way.Pritzker finally responded on the same day Madison County reopened, threatening revocation of state licenses for disobedient businesses, crackdowns by state police and withholding federal aid to struggling communities.Counties that try to reopen in defiance, may not be reimbursed by FEMA for damages they cause because they ignored the law, Pritzker said.Local law enforcement and the Illinois State Police can and will take action.But opposition to Pritzkers order is growing. Small business owners are suing to challenge the governors ability to order them into ruin. Kevin Promenschenkel, owner of Poopys biker bar in Savanna, Illinois, filed suit after his state liquor license was threatened because motorcyclists used his picnic tables  spaced more than 10 feet apart  to eat their curbside orders.Four businesses, basically this last week, just announced theyd be closed permanently in town. A gym, a bar and two hair salons. Thats just this last week. Permanently, he said. Its hard to sit and watch people in tears, and then to sit and think, You know, Im not too far down the road from being those people.Promenschenkels lawyer, Tom DeVore of Greenville, Illinois, is representing 80 small business clients who are suing and defying Pritzkers order to stay closed.Ottawa, Illinois, gym owner Denetta Flamingo is not suing, but she sees the logical problem with allowing one set of rules for big businesses and another for the small guys who produced 60% of Illinois new jobs since the Great Recession.If you walk into a grocery store, they are filthy. There [are] people coming and going all the time. We dont have that. The little studios dont have that. We have the opportunity to clean in between each person. The big stores, yeah, they wipe off a cart. But when you touch a product, who touched that before you? Theyre gonna wash off all their products, too? she said.Mayors in Chicagos collar counties are upset that Pritzkers phased reopening plan lumps them in with Cook County, which by itself has seen more than two-thirds of all COVID-19 cases and deaths in Illinois. McHenry Countys 25 mayors want to be separated from Chicago in the regional plan, as do those in DuPage County.Its reaching a boiling point with our mayors. They are frustrated and exasperated, Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico told WLS-TV on behalf of DuPage County mayors.The big picture is ugly. More than 1 million Illinoisans have filed for unemployment benefits since COVID-19 started ravaging the states economy, creating its own set of human suffering. Added to those out of work before the pandemic, and more than 1 in 5 Illinois workers are out of a job, yet find Pritzker setting vague standards while other states plot detailed reopening strategies.WalletHub ranked Pritzkers response to the pandemic as the third-most strict in the nation, behind Rhode Island and Hawaii. The governor said his plan is science-based.But other Democratic governors  Jared Polis of Colorado and Tim Walz of Minnesota, for example  reopened so-called non-essential businesses weeks ago, with detailed guidelines.Are they anti-science? Of course not. They are using science to guide a commonsense approach to reopening.In Illinois, its hard to find much science in a decision to let scores of people into a 100,000-square-foot retailer, yet force mom and pops shop to stay dark on Main Street.

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Dr Moore-Gilbert (pictured) is reportedly in 'good health' behind bars in Iran

An Australian university lecturer who has spent almost two years in an Iranian prison is in 'good health' despite claims she had tried to end her own life.

Kylie Moore-Gilbert had reportedly attempted suicide multiple times after being left in unbearable conditions in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran.

She was arrested in September 2018 accused of espionage and is understood to be serving a 10 year sentence.

Dr Moore-Gilbert has always maintained her innocence and The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not accept the charges against her.

On Sunday, her family released a statement claiming she remains in 'good health', contradicting claims made she was struggling to adapt to life behind bars.

The family said they had a number of conversations with her in recent weeks.

'She strongly denied reports that she has attempted suicide or that she is being tortured,' they claimed.

'She seems to be in good health considering her situation. We love her and miss her. We ask that you continue to respect both Kylie's and our privacy while we concentrate on getting her home.'

Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert previously wrote to the Prime Minister to plead for her freedom

The university lecturer has been detained in Evin prison (pictured in 2006) since October 2018

Dr Moore-Gilbert had reportedly felt 'abandoned and forgotten' and claimed Iran tried to recruit her as a spy.

DFAT also released a statement on Sunday insisting Dr Moore-Gilbert was still a top priority.

'Dr Moore-Gilbert's case is one of our highest priorities, including for our embassy officials in Tehran,' the statement reads.

'We do not accept the charges upon which Dr Moore-Gilbert was convicted and continue all efforts to have her returned to Australia as soon as possible.'

Dr Moore-Gilbert (pictured) recently lost an appeal against her 10 year sentence

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has repeatedly raised the case with her Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif, a spokeswoman said.

It comes after letters smuggled out of Dr Moore-Gilbert's cell in Evin prison, and seen by The Guardian, showed she begged to leave the restrictive unit where she served periods in solitary confinement.

Dr Moore-Gilbert, who lectured in Islamic studies at the University of Melbourne, was arrested while at an educational conference and later convicted of espionage.

The dual UK-Australian national claims she was shown two sentences, one which was 13 months long and another which said she would remain behind bars for a decade.

Pictured: Inside a corridor of the notorious Evin prison in Tehran as a guard monitors the halls
Former President Barack Obama again criticized the way President Donald Trumps administration has handled the coronavirus pandemic. And this time, he did it in public. Obama issued the rare criticism of a sitting president from one of his predecessors while delivering a brief online commencement address for students graduating from historically black colleges and universities.

More than anything, Obama said, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what theyre doing. A lot of them arent even pretending to be in charge. Obama was the headliner of Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition, which was a two-hour event hosted by comedian Kevin Hart that streamed on social networks.

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The former presidents address lasted less than 10 minutes but quickly made waves as Obama pointedly noted how the pandemic has been disproportionately affecting black communities. And he also tied that in with a reference to the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, the 25-year-old who was shot and killed in Georgia in February. Lets be honesta disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communities have historically had to deal with in this country, Obama said. We see it in the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on our communities, just as we see it when a black man goes for a jog, and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him if he doesnt submit to their questioning.

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Obama recognized that the timing is not ideal to graduate, considering it is in the middle of a devastating pandemic and a terrible recession but at the same time, the leadership void that has become evident during the ongoing crisis shows just how much the country needs the vision of the new graduates. If the worlds going to get better, its going to be up to you, Obama said. With everything suddenly feeling like its up for grabs, this is your time to seize the initiative.

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Although Obama never actually mentioned Trump in his remarks, his address once again suggested how the former president is gearing up to participate in the election season. Last week, Obama made headlines with his harsh criticism of the White Houses anemic and spotty response to the pandemic. It would have been bad even with the best of governments, Obama said on a call with former administration staffers. It has been an absolute chaotic disaster when that mindsetof whats in it for me and to heck with everybody elsewhen that mindset is operationalized in our government.

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Obamas criticism is bound to once again rile the president, who has taken to attacking his predecessor more than usual lately. After Obamas criticism last week, Trump ramped up his efforts to blame his predecessor for the Russia investigation, characterizing it all as a broad effort to impeach him. In a move that is unprecedented in modern times, Trump has used official White House events and publications to accuse Obama of crimes that he has come to characterize as Obamagate, a term many like to repeat but no one seems to quite know what it is. Ned Price, a former CIA analyst who was National Security Council spokesman under Obama, characterized Obamagate as a hashtag in search of a scandal. But that has not stopped Trump, who on Thursday went as far as to write at tweet calling on lawmakers to demand Obama testify about the biggest political crime and scandal in the history of the USA.

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Prayagraj : , May 17 (IANS) In a shocking incident, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan, working as a driver, shot dead his wife and two kids and then committed suicide by hanging himself in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj district. However, a bullet injury was also found at his neck, an official said.

The incident took place on Saturday at CRPF Group Centre in Padila under Tharwai police station.

ADG Prem Prakash said: "Vinod Kumar Yadav (41) was a driver in 224th Battalion of the CRPF. He hailed from Sirsa area of Meja tehsil in Prayagraj and lived in a quarter of the CRPF Group Centre in Padila with his family." "On Saturday, Yadav first shot dead his wife Vimla (36) his 14-year old son Sandeep and 12-year old daughter Simran. He then committed suicide by hanging himself. The door of the house was locked from inside," the ADG added.

Senior police and CRPF officials rushed to the spot on getting the news.

"It is also learnt that Yadav used to get drunk and pass objectionable comments on a woman living in the opposite quarter. The woman, whose husband is posted outside, had reported the matter to senior officials and the Deputy Commandant of centre had summoned Yadav on Friday in this regard," said ADG.

"On Friday night, Yadav started quarrelling in his house. When neighbours tried to intervene, he warned them to stay away.

The bodies were sent for post-mortem and the relatives of Yadav have been informed.
As the Bay Area gradually loosens stay-at-home orders, Salesforce, San Franciscos largest private employer, is getting ready for a new coronavirus reality.

The company has more than 9,000 employees ostensibly assigned to work in three large towers at Salesforce Tower, 50 Fremont St. and 350 Mission St. Before the pandemic, they were high-energy places, with crammed elevators and filled-up desks.

When office workers are allowed to return  city health officials have not given a date  the offices will be different.

There will be temperature scans on every floor, mandatory masks, and 6-foot separations for all workers. Hand sanitizer will be everywhere and cleaners will work throughout the day.

Were taking a very careful, phased approach said Elizabeth Pinkham, Salesforces executive vice president of global real estate. Its going to be more controlled than the pre-coronavirus days.

Work areas and conferences rooms may operate with less than half the normal occupancy. Elevators are a choke point and will be limited to only a few people at a time, and teams will come in at staggered times, Pinkham said.

The elevator challenge is an example of the downsides of density, particularly in the high-rise offices that tech companies have flocked to in the Transbay district, though Pinkham said we remain committed more than ever to San Francisco.

Salesforce is also testing clear glass dividers between desks and touchless key systems, along with looking at copper and brass surfaces that kill many microbes.

A small core team will first reboot the office infrastructure before more workers will be allowed to come back. But not everyone will return this year.

Some Salesforce workers want to work from home for the rest of 2020, which the company is allowing, but there are others who are eager to get back into the office, Pinkham said.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Other tech giants such as Facebook and Google have said most employees can work from home for the remainder of 2020. Twitter went further and said they can work from home forever, unless their tasks require them to be at work.

Its a whole new world. You feel like youre truly reimagining every single aspect, Pinkham said. No one has a clear answer right now. I know were going to learn so much from this.

The clear winner during coronavirus has been the practice of working from home. The Bay Area Council, a business group, surveyed 123 companies last week and found that when offices reopen, nearly 90% expect to have partial remote work, while nearly 18% expect to have all employees working remotely. Two-thirds expect to rotate or alternate schedules so only some workers come in during the week.

Weve been somewhat shocked by how seamless the transition has been to working from home, said Olin McKenzie, a director at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, a global architecture firm.

At the same time, architects believe the office is not obsolete. Its a social engine that allows workers to collaborate more effectively than just being online, said Julia Murphy, a director at SOM.

We believe ever more passionately in the collaborative and social aspect of the office, she said.

Along with safety measures, SOMs clients have renewed focus on upgrading systems like air filtration and allowing in more sunlight, and placing a premium on terraces and rooftops for work.

The very notion of workplace has been disrupted, said Randy Howder, a managing director in San Francisco at Gensler, a major architectural firm. As weve broken work and being in a specific place, I think were going to see more choices, flexibility.

He sees the office of the future more focused on common spaces for collaboration and engagement, and less about individuals focusing on solitary tasks, which could be done at home.

Its a great opportunity for companies to question everything, he said.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

For companies with cafeterias, instead of numerous food stations with shared serving utensils, companies could shift to more hospitality-style meals where food is brought to them, he said.

Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

The coronavirus could push more companies to have dispersed satellite offices, rather than concentrating all workers at a single location, he said. A mega-campus has been popular in Silicon Valley, but many tech giants have grown elsewhere.

Salesforces Pinkham said it isnt clear how the virus will affect the companys expansion.

Allison Arieff, editorial director of Bay Area think tank SPUR, said she believes cubicles will make a comeback.

She also expects offices will remain partially empty for the foreseeable future.

The idea that everybody had to be there at the same time in one huge room seems completely impossible, she said. I think there will be a big re-evaluation with the caveat, I dont think people will never go into an office again.

Arieff said she hopes the crisis will lead to improvements. She would like to see San Francisco allow more flexible uses in empty retail spaces  for example, making them small offices that would help disperse employees.

Weve got to seize this opportunity, she said.

Rather than look at this crisis as the end of something, its really the potential of the beginning of something better, said Howder of Gensler. We can lament the end of an era, but from a design perspective, its more productive to think, what can a better future look like?

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
File image: Indian Army soldiers guarding the border

The Pakistan Army on Sunday opened fire and shelled forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said.

The cross-border firing started in Degwar sector around 8:40 am, drawing retaliation from the Indian Army, the spokesman said.

He said there was no report of any casualty on the Indian side in the Pakistani firing.

They started with small arms firing and later fired mortars around 9:30 am, the spokesman said, adding the cross-border firing between the two sides was going on when last reports came in.

The Pakistani firing ended over a week-long lull along the LoC.

Pakistan last violated the ceasefire in Degwar sector on May 9 and Kirni, Qasba and Shahpur sectors of Poonch two days earlier.
When you know better, you do better. That hopefully goes for movies too, because some classic movies were made in times when they just didnt know any better. It doesnt mean you have to hate them now, but you can appreciate that hopefully the world has become a slightly better place since then.

[Spoiler Alert: This article includes spoilers for the movies on this list.]

Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing | Getty Images

Here are 22 movies that aged poorly, listed in alphabetical order so as not to rank any offense over another one. This is by far not a conclusive list as the history of cinema is fully of many more exfamples. And a Trigger Warning as many of these examples include themes of sexual violence, racism and homophobia.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective  A pre-trans movie

A big twist of this comedy is that a female character is the suspect having undergone a sex change. It was a parody of The Crying Game but the joke being it grosses Ace (Jim Carrey) out. Carrey reconsidered and acknowledged Ace is the jerk in that movie (although the entire police force joins him in barfing at a trans woman).

Sean Young | Getty Images

American Beauty  An uncomfortable movie

It was never okay that Lester (Kevin Spacey) lusted after a 16-year-old. He makes the right choice in the end, but credible allegations that Spacey assaulted Anthony Rapp and others make it hard to watch him fantasize about a teenager now.

Animal House  One of many movies that makes light of consent

Pinto (Tom Hulce) makes the right choice when Clorette (Sarah Holcomb) passes out. Although he debates it, he does not proceed to have no consensual sex with her. Still, she reveals later she is only 13 so he was dating an underage girl regardless.

Tom Hulce and Sarah Holcomb | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Bluto (John Belushi) also peeps on some sorority girls, as do the Porkys guys (they get their comeuppance though.) Revenge of the Nerds (see below) would do far worse. Lets hope the Deltas have matured and learned the error of their ways.

Breakfast at Tiffanys  One of many racialls insensitive movies

Lets be honest, Mickey Rooney as a Japanese neighbor wasnt okay in 1961.

Mickey Rooney | CBS via Getty Images

Chasing Amy  GLAAD things have changed

Kevin Smith took heat from GLAAD when this movie came out in 1997. Holden (Ben Affleck) falls in love with lesbian Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams) and convinces her to date him. The gay community knew this was a dangerous suggestion, that a man could turn a gay woman straight or bi. Hopefully even their straight allies know that now.

L-R: Carmen Llywelyn, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee and Ben Affleck | View Askew Productions/Getty Images

Dirty Dancing  The wrong kind of dirty

Yes, Jennifer Gray was in her 20s when she made this movie, but Baby was 17. Johnny (Patrick Swayze) was romancing a minor.

Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey | Getty Images

RELATED: This Marvel Actor is Married to Dirty Dancings Jennifer Grey

Disclosure  A misguided movie

In the early 90s the idea of a man being sexually harassed seemed novel for a dramatic story. It does happen, but post #MeToo Michael Douglas as the persecuted middle aged man seems tone deaf. Their cutting edge 1994 technology is pretty funny too.

Dumbo  Animated movies arent exempt

The crows in the circus were recognized to be such racial stereotypes that the live-action remake omitted the characters altogether.

Forrest Gump  A devious movie agenda

In 1994 this seemed like a sweet romp through history. Looking back, it seems to champion Forrest (Tom Hanks) for playing sports, going to war and investing in stock. Meanwhile, poor Jenny (Robin Wright) joins the hippies, protests the war, experiments with drugs and dies of AIDS for it. Thats not quite so sweet.

Tom hanks | Sunset Boulevard/Getty Images

RELATED: Why Jenny From Forrest Gump Is One of the Most Misunderstood Characters of All Time

Heathers  Real life became worse than satire

This satire of high school violence loses some of its bite after decades of real school shootings. J.D. (Christian Slater) and Veronica (Winona Ryder) murder the cool kids and make it look like suicide, so suicide becomes cool. A TV adaptation was effectively buried because it was so unpalatable in modern times.

L-R: Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker and Winona Ryder | New World Pictures/Getty Images

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom  Exploiting stereotypes

Portraying Indians as eating monkey brains and baby snakes or leading death cults was already a damaging stereotype in 1984. Its not the only problematic Indy movie either.

The Living Daylights/Rambo III  On the wrong side of history

Both Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) and James Bond (Timothy Dalton) aided the mujahideen in their fight against Soviet Russia. Theyd already become the bad guys in history by the time Rambo III opened, let alone post 9/11.

Timothy Dalton as James Bond | Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

Manhattan  More underage characters

Many Woody Allen movies involved romance between an older man and a younger woman. Mariel Hemingway player a 17-year-old in Manhattan and she was barely 18 herself.

Police Academy  Homophobic humor

Like many 80s comedies, the whole Police Academy series uses unfortunately common gay slurs. Even the innocent billl and ted are guilty of it. In Police Academy, Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg) is mistaken for giving Lassard (George Gaynes) oral sex and its considered a huge embarrassment not for the sex but for being gay. The whole series uses the Blue Oyster gay bar as a punchline, punishing the heel characters by sending them there.

Raiders of the Lost Ark  Do the math

Indy (Harrison Ford) hasnt seen Marion (Karen Allen) for 10 years and shes only in the 20s. When they dated, shed have been a teenager while Indy was in his 20s. She even says I was a child.

Karen Allen and Harrison Ford | CBS via Getty Images

RELATED: Steven Spielberg Chooses New Indiana Jones 5 Director: Who Is James Mangold And Why Is He Perfect For the Job?

Revenge of the Nerds  Dont celebrate this revenge

Unfortunately their revenge on the sorority was far worse than when the sorority were mean to them. A panty raid is one thing but they install surveillance cameras to spy on the naked sorority girls and even sell naked pictures of Betty (Julia Montgomery). Lewis (Robert Carradine) commits actual rape by impersonating her boyfriend and having sex with her by deception. The movie justifies it by saying she enjoys it.

Saturday Night Fever  A raw movie

Although a classic, Saturday Night Fever is very frank about the violence in the world of 70s New York. Tony (John Travolta) attempts to rape his dance partner Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney) and his friends do rape Annette Donna Pescow). Theres also plenty of racist, homophobic and misogynistic language. Paramount even put out a PG version of the film because it was so harsh.

John Travolta | CBS via Getty Images

The Searchers  A historical take on history

John Wayne was not known for being politically correct. In this, one of his seminal movies, hes blatantly anti Native American. His goal is to kill the woman (Natalie Wood) they kidnapped rather than rescue her after shes been with a Commanche. He also played Genghis Khan once.

The Searchers, poster, | LMPC via Getty Images

Short Circuit  Just no

The Short Circuit movies cast Fisher Stevens as an Indian scientist. Stevens is a Caucasian actor. He did brownface in not one but two movies.

Fisher Stevens | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Sixteen Candles  More consent issues

Jake (Michael Schoeffling) offers the Geek (Anthony Michael Hall) his passed out girlfriend Caroline (Haviland Morris). Long Duk Dong (Gedde Watanabe) isnt exactly an evolved portrayal of Asian immigrants either.

Soul Man  Only in the 80s

This wasnt a big hit then but its entirely unacceptable now. A white guy (C. Thomas Howell) cant afford college so he takes pills to darken his skin and apply for financial aid. Isnt blackface hilarious? Those minorities have it so easy with all their financial aid.

The Toy  Even the star didnt approve

A rich white boy makes his dad literally buy Richard Pryor. Even Pryor says he only did it for the money, according to an article in the January 1992 issue of Premiere Magazine.

Tropic Thunder  The most recent movie on this list

The blackface was always satire. Simple Jack might not be, and the idea of going the full R word, well, thats not a word you should use even in comedy.

Many of these examples involved depictions of sexual assault or rape.

How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.
In a middle income country like Ghana where the development of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) is pivotal to socio economic development, the growth and survival of these enterprises becomes very crucial.

SMEs in Ghana represent about 85% businesses, largely within the private sector and contribute about 70% of Ghanas GDP. Although the government of Ghana, in an attempt to combat the negative impact of the pandemic and also cushion the economy, adopted some fiscal and social measures, particular attention has not been given to some SMEs.

Generally speaking, SMEs often thrive on availability of funds, ready market, and swift movement in the supply chain. With disruptions in this line of activities, it is prudent to conclude that COVID19 has posed a greater challenge to the growth and survival of some SMEs in industries like transport & aviation, hospitality etc.

To fully understand the possible effects of VAT on SMEs in this pandemic, lets look at how the performance of some SMEs has been hit by the pandemic.

Disruption in supply chain

The COVID-19 has administered a negative impact on key elements of supply chain such as warehousing and custom operation, especially for businesses connected to external supplies. The intermodal means by which goods and services are supplied within the supply chain is either by air, cargo or land. However due to the pandemic, most economies have placed restrictions on movement of supplies outside the borders of their country. This has made it difficult for SMEs that obtain their raw materials outside the borders of the country to continue production. On the other side, it is a perfect opportunity for some businesses to venture into much more selfsufficient ventures, just like what some SMEs are doing with the locally produced Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs).

Fall In Productivity

Although the lockdown has been lifted, restrictions on social gathering still remain at 25. This has caused many SMEs especially those in the manufacturing and service industries to ration their employees, leaving only the skeletal staff within the organization. Although it is worth mentioning that demand in industries like Agriculture remains high, productivity still remains low thereby having an adverse impact on the supply of most agriculture enterprises. Aside the issue of staff rationing, the restrictions on imports has also affected productivity.

Availability of Funds

In the past, it has always been a challenge for most businesses within the SMEs category to obtain funding due to their vulnerability to market fluctuations. The COVID-19 is no exception to this case, therefore making it even more difficult for most businesses to obtain funds now.

Impact of VAT on some industries

The question with an obvious answer that lingers on most minds in light of the pandemic is the impact that COVID-19 is having on businesses in terms of taxation. On 18th February 2020, the Finance Minister introduced some VAT simplification rules which will raise small businesses to a level playing field, nonetheless, the new scheme will only be applicable from 1 January 2025. In the light of the pandemic, the Ghanaian custom measures still remains the same.

Lets take a look at how SMEs contribute to VAT

According to the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 2018, Act 970, standard rated taxable supplies is subjected to 12.5% input and output VAT. The usual situation is that, supply of goods made by VAT- registered businesses are subjected to the imposition of tax and allied levies (VAT). Therefore, so far as a business is engaged in buying and selling of goods and services that qualifies as taxable supplies, the Ghana Revenue Authority will require them to file for VAT. Although VAT is borne by the final consumer, VAT registered businesses have the administrative obligation to act as VAT collectors.

Now, assuming company A, makes purchases of GH1000.00 for its business input, it will be required to file for an input VAT of 12.5% on the GH1000.00 purchases. Also, for every sale that they make, they will be obliged to charge an output VAT of 12.5%. The difference between the input VAT and the output VAT is what is paid to the Ghana Revenue Authority. This simple scenario gives an understanding of how VAT comes off as a cost to businesses.

With the current uncertainties of the COVID-19 coupled with low demand in some industries, to sustain growth, SMEs can administer their VAT either by cutting down their inputs (employment or the raw materials purchased) or adding VAT to prices. The former is what is evident now in the Ghanaian economy as most businesses, especially those in the hospitality, aviation & transport etc. is undertaking.

Although the agricultural industry has not exactly been operating at the optimum due to limited supply of raw materials, demand has been high. In the state of the nations address on 10th May 2020, President, Nana Akufo-Addo, mentioned the importance of consuming agricultural produce like fruits and vegetables to enhance the immune system. This statement, together with the fact that most workers are currently working remotely from home, has tremendously increased the consumption of farm produce. So for businesses in the agricultural industry, VAT can be added to prices of goods and services as there is a high demand for these produce without necessarily affecting the business adversely.

Pharmaceutical Industries in light of the pandemic

As the focus now remains on the health industry, most SMEs in the pharmaceutical industry are benefiting from the pandemic. As such, they are not negatively affected by VAT. This is because demand for their product is currently high. This makes it easier for these businesses to add VAT to their prices. Aside that, most pharmaceutical industries are obtaining funding from government and other international bodies. Recently, * Tobinco pharmacy received $5 million from Ghana Exim Bank to support the production of hydroxychloroquine. Also, the government of Ghana have administered a COVID-19 trust fund which has particularly been beneficial to businesses which are into the production of PPEs. So one can confidently say that, yes, success has found businesses in the pharmaceutical industry, and with the high demand for pharmaceutical industry, consumers can still bear VAT without necessarily affecting consumption.

In conclusion, most people are tempted to compare the 2008 recession to the COVID-19 pandemic, as some economic indicators suggest that the world might be in a recession territory. I like to think that the impact of the pandemic hasnt been totally negative. Some businesses are still doing well and can afford to pay VAT to the government, which comes off as revenue. We can however hope that things take a turn and the economy bounces back.

BY Clara Adade
Two young women who allegedly used dozens of identities to claim more more than $27,000 in bushfire and JobSeeker payments are facing 10 years in jail if convicted.

The women, aged 24 and 27, were arrested in Port Macquarie on New South Wales' mid-north coast on Thursday after allegedly receiving more than $10,000 from the fraudulent claims.

Police allege the pair made 25 claims for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment set up to help victims of the 2019/20 bushfire season.

They also allegedly made one fraudulent claim for the JobSeeker payment - which has been supplemented by an extra $550 during the coronavirus crisis.

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Two women were arrested on Thursday in Port Macquarie (pictured) after allegedly using dozens of identities to make claims for bushfire and JobSeeker payments

The women have each been charged with eight counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception.

Both were granted bail on the commonwealth charges and are scheduled to appear before Port Macquarie Local Court on 22 July 2020.

'Stealing from the welfare system is not a victimless crime and our government has zero tolerance for those who seek to do so,' Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said in a statement on Sunday.

'The AFP and Services Australia have ramped up their efforts to make sure we come down heavily on people who seek to rip off taxpayer money that was intended to support people whose lives have been turned upside down by the devastating bushfires or COVID-19.'

It comes after the Australian Federal Police alleged a fraudster tried to claim $70,000 worth of bushfire and coronavirus welfare payments.

The western Sydney man is due to face court in July accused of assuming 64 mostly-fake identities to make false claims for government benefits this year.

Pictured: A property burning during the Gospers Mountain fire on December 21. made 25 claims for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment set up to help victims of the recent bushfire season

His main target was allegedly the bushfire disaster recovery payment, which he tried to claim 65 times, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said on Wednesday.

Three claims were made for the dole, including two after March 20, when the payment included the substantial coronavirus supplement.

Federal police alleged the value of the fraudulent payments claimed was approximately $70,550.

People queue up outside a Centrelink office in Melbourne on April 20. Another alleged fraudster is accused of trying to claim $70,000 worth of bushfire and coronavirus welfare payments

Mr Dutton noted it was the 'first arrest on coronavirus welfare fraud'.

The man was arrested on April 30 amid raids at a Campbelltown motel and Bass Hill home, federal police said on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old was bailed on fraud and attempted fraud offences.
Barack Obama has launched a rare attack on the Trump administrations handling of the coronavirus crisis, which he said had revealed the extent of the ineptitudes at the heart of government.

More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what theyre doing, the former president said. A lot of them arent even pretending to be in charge.

The rebuke of his successor came as the 44th US president addressed graduates of historically black colleges and universities, warning them: So, if the world is going to get better, its going to be up to you.

It is the second time in as many weeks that Mr Obama has publicly criticised the current administration, after leaked audio of him calling the White Houses response to Covid-19 an absolute chaotic disaster sent Mr Trump furiously seeking to manufacture a scandal in retaliation using the hashtag #OBAMAGATE.

As the official US death toll passed 80,000 last week, Mr Trump also claimed he was getting great marks for his handling of the pandemic, comparing it to Mr Obamas swine flu disaster, concluding: Poor marks, bad polls  didnt have a clue!

On Saturday, the Democrat lamented that his young audience were tasked with finding their feet in a world devastated by a pandemic and economic recession.

Lets be honest, a disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communities have historically had to deal with in this country, he said. We see it in the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on our communities.

We see it when a black man goes for a jog and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him, if he doesnt submit to their questioning, Mr Obama said, in a nod to Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black man recently pursued and gunned down by a former police officer and his son in Georgia.

The address came hours after Mr Obama gave a separate speech to high school seniors in a virtual commencement ceremony, hosted by LeBron James and featuring Pharrell Williams, Megan Rapinoe and Malala Yousafzai.

The former president offered three quick pieces of advice for the future.

First, dont be afraid, Mr Obama said. Americas gone through tough times before  slavery, civil war, famine, disease, the Great Depression and 9/11 and each time, we came out stronger.

The second appeared to be another backhanded jab at the the current president.

Do what you think is right, he said. Doing what feels good, whats convenient, whats easy  thats how little kids think.

Unfortunately, a lot of so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs, still think that way  which is why things are so screwed up.

Thirdly, he denounced cynicism and fear, calling for young people to build a community, because if were going to save the environment and defeat future pandemics, then were going to have to do it together.

Mr Trump, meanwhile, was active on Twitter, mostly retweeting and writing about Obamagate, the conspiracy he is peddling ahead of the upcoming election, which suggests the former president and his top intelligence chiefs sought to entrap incoming officials in legal controversies to kneecap Mr Trumps presidency from the start.

Earlier this week, Mr Trump had also promoted a claim that Mr Obama was the first ex-president to ever speak against his successor, which was long tradition of decorum and decency.

Several former presidents have made comments criticising the policies of their successors, including George W Bush, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and Theodore Roosevelt.
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Chennai, May 17 : As many as 639 more persons tested positive for coronavirus in Tamil Nadu even as 634 Covid-19 patients were cured and discharged, the state Health Department said on Sunday.

Four Covid-19 patients died, taking the total death toll to 78 in the state.

In a statement issued here, the Health Department said 639 persons tested positive for coronavirus taking to total tally to 11,224.

The new infections include 81 persons who had come to Tamil Nadu from Maharashtra (73 persons), Karnataka (2), Andhra Pradesh (1), Rajasthan (2) and Telangana (3).

The number of Covid-19 patients who were cured and discharged on Sunday was 634 and the total is 4,172.

According to the government, a total of 13,081 samples were tested taking to total over 3.26 lakh till date. Testing of 477 samples are under process.

State capital Chennai continued to see the highest number of infections at 480 taking the total tally to 6,750.

The number of infected children in the age group 0-12 went up to 663.

The total number of active cases in Tamil Nadu stands at 6,971.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The government is providing an additional 84m to accelerate coronavirus vaccine research at Oxford University and Imperial College London and potentially make 30 million doses available in the UK as early as September, business secretary Alok Sharma has announced.

Mr Sharma told the daily Downing Street coronavirus briefing that clinical trials of the Oxford vaccine were progressing well, while the Imperial team aimed to start clinical trials in mid-June and larger scale tests in October.

And he said the new government cash  which comes on top of 47m previously committed to the trials and brings to more than 250m the total state support for Covid-19 vaccine research in Britain  would allow the early mass production of the Oxford vaccine so that inoculations can begin across the UK immediately if the trials are successful.

The business secretary cautioned that an effective vaccine may never be found. He announced that six drugs to treat coronavirus have now entered initial live clinical trials as part of a UK study, and will move on to larger-scale trials if results are positive.

The announcement comes after Mr Sharma today committed 93m to fast-track the construction of a vaccine manufacture centre in Oxfordshire, now due to open 12 months early in summer 2021 with the potential to produce enough doses for the entire UK population in the space of six months, and a further 38m for a rapid deployment facility to allow production at scale from this summer.

Mr Sharma said that a global licensing agreement struck between Oxford and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca would allow 30 million doses of the vaccine to be made available for the UK in September if it proves effective, as part of an eventual 100 million doses.

Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Show all 23 1 /23 Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy holds hands with Nichollette and Ryan as she experiences contractions in a birthing tub Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy Pedroza, 27, who is pregnant, sits next to Ryan Morgan, 30, her partner and father to their unborn child, as they relax at Pedrozas parents house in Forth Worth, Texas, where they currently live, during the coronavirus outbreak Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy Pedroza attends an appointment with her licensed midwives Susan Taylor, 40, who checks her stomach, and Amanda Prouty, 39, in Taylors home office at her house Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy takes a brisk walk to try and speed up her contractions with Ryan and her midwives near Taylors home where Pedroza plans to give birth Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy receives support from Nichollette Jones, her doula Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy experiences contractions Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy is supported by Ryan and Nichollette as she experiences contractions while labouring at the home of Pedrozas licensed midwife, Susan Taylor Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy lies on a bed in front of Ryan as he helps to pump her breastmilk to try and speed up her contractions Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy experiences contractions as Susan lies on a bed Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy embraces Ryan Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy is supported by Ryan as she experiences contractions in a birthing tub Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy experiences contractions Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy in a birthing tub Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy is placed onto an ambulance stretcher to be taken to hospital by paramedics, after her unborn childs heartbeat dropped from 130 beats per minute to 30 Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy is carried on an ambulance stretcher to be taken to hospital by paramedics Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy is carried into an ambulance on a stretcher Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy holds her one-day old newborn son, Kai Rohan Morgan Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy breastfeeds her newborn son at the house of her parents, where they are currently living Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Susan Taylor positions Kai for a photograph at his newborn screening Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Amanda Prouty and Susan Taylor conduct a newborn screening for Kai at Kais maternal grandparents house Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Susan takes two-day old Kais temperature while checking if he has tongue tie, an oral condition that can potentially cause issues with feeding Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Nancy and Ryan clip the fingernails of their two-day old son Reuters Giving birth during the coronavirus outbreak Kai, who is two days old and is experiencing jaundice, is positioned in the sunlight by his mother Nancy Reuters

And he promised: The UK will be first to get access.

Mr Sharma said that the Oxford and Imperial studies were two of the worlds front-runners to develop a vaccine.

He said: The first clinical trial of the Oxford vaccine is progressing well with all Phase One participants having received their vaccine dose on schedule earlier this week. They are now being monitored closely by the clinical trial team.

The speed at which Oxford University has designed and organised these complex trials is genuinely unprecedented.

Imperial College is looking to move into clinical trials by mid-June and larger-scale trials in October.

Mr Sharma said that the AstraZeneca deal for commercialisation and manufacturing of the Oxford vaccine included provisions to ensure that supplies can be made available to developing countries at the lowest possible price.

In total, the government has now committed over a quarter of a billion pounds towards developing a vaccine in the UK, said the business secretary. But there are no certainties. In spite of the tireless efforts of our scientists, it is possible that we may never find a successful coronavirus vaccine.

So we also need to look at other drug treatments and therapeutics for people who get the virus.

Mr Sharma said: Our scientists are working tirelessly to develop vaccines and drug treatments, condensing work that would usually take years into months and even weeks. Their drive and dedication inspires us all and with their help we will overcome coronavirus.
Bihar reported its eighth death due to coronavirus on Sunday with the state capital alone witnessing 57 out of 106 fresh COVID cases, thus making it the number one district in terms of positive cases in the state.

The tally of positive COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,284 in the state while Patna topped the list with positive cases at 163, pushing Munger at the second spot with 125 cases.

This is the second highest single-day spike in the number of cases of 106 after 118 people had tested positive on May 12 on a single day.

A 55-year-old diabetic migrant worker, who fell ill after returning to Bihar from Mumbai and died before his sample was collected and tested positive for the deadly virus, is the state's eighth COVID-19 fatality.

The deceased died in the wee hours of May 15, after suffering "cardio pulmonary arrest", at a hospital in Khagaria district, Health Department's Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar said.

He had come along with wife and a grandson from Mumbai on May 13 by a 'Shramik Special' train that pulled up at Saharsa.

They took a bus ride to reach Khagaria by the evening, but the migrant worker fell ill the next day, following which he was rushed from a quarantine centre by the medical team on duty to a referral hospital.

The deceased's sample, along with that of his wife aged 45 years, were collected after his death, he said.

This is the second instance in Bihar of test report confirming that a person was COVID-19 positive after his death.

Two months ago, a resident of Munger district admitted to AIIMS, Patna for renal failure had his samples collected when he was alive, but he died away on March 21 before his test reports came out and his body was sent back to his native district.

Besides, seven others who have died due to the disease are two from Patna, one each from Rohtas, Munger, Vaishali, East Champaran and Sitamarhi.

The seven COVID-19 positive people, who died during treatment, were suffering from serious illness.

Out of the 73 fresh positive cases, Patna witnessed 57 cases, including 18 women. Majority of them (57) are migrant labourers who have come from Delhi and Gujarat and are living in quarantine centres, a release issued by Patna district administration said.

Of 57 patients, a four-year-old baby girl, 10 years and 15-years-old girl, besides boys of 12 years, 13, 10, 13 and 14 were among 16 people from Barh in Patna district who tested positive for COVID-19.

Besides, 21 people - both men and women - who tested positive were from BMP-14, Khajpura, which constitutes quite a good number of cases in Patna district.

A 38-year-old woman from Agamkuan in the state capital was tested positive, while two women, aged 38 and 17, hailing from RPS More area of Patna were also tested positive.

Another 28-year-old woman from Patel Nagar area of the city tested positive for COVID-19. Twelve people from Athmalgola in Patna district also tested positive.

A total of 14 people, including a six-year-old baby girl, were tested positive from Rohtas district.

Besides, one each patient from Nalanda and Saran tested positive for coronavirus.

Sixteen people from Madhubani, five from Muzaffarpur, three each from East Champaran, Arwal, Buxar, two from Kaimur and one person from Sitamarhi were tested positive, Kumar said.

Majority of these cases from Madhubani and Muzaffarpur are migrant labourers who have come from other states.

Of the total 1,284 positive cases in 38 districts, eight people have died while 475 have recovered, with the state having 801 active cases.

The number of migrants testing positive for COVID-19 stood at 504 out of 1,251 cases, with most of them returning from Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

With 163 cases, Patna topped the list of positive cases for the first time since the state reported its first positive case on March 21 last. Munger, which remained as number one in terms of positive cases for quite long time, now stood second at 125. The other badly affected districts include Rohtas (89), Madhubani (69), Nalanda (66), Buxar (62), Madhubani (69), Begusarai (53), Siwan (45), Khagaria (44). Bhagalpur (40), Nawada (36), Kaimur (36).

The number of samples tested so far, at seven facilities in Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga, was 45,790.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The terrifying reality hit Dr. Matt Willis hard on day 10 of his coronavirus infection, when the nightmarish ordeal of fever and sickness landed him in the hospital.

The top public health officer in Marin County could hardly breathe, oxygen levels in his body had hit rock bottom and, he admitted, he was scared because this is the sickest Ive ever been.

That was the hardest day, because we had been working with the hospitals on the protocols for admitting patients and it was great to see how well they worked, but those protocols say you have to say goodbye to your family, said Willis, who has served as Marins health officer for seven years. My wife drove me there wearing a mask, but once I stepped into the emergency department there was no more family contact.

Worse, the infectious disease specialist was tortured by the knowledge that two of his three children were also infected.

Finding himself vexed by his own rules wasnt the first irony for the former epidemiologist, who once served as director of health care for the Navajo Nation in the Southwest and did outbreak investigation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Although he could have gotten the virus at any one of the hospitals, clinics and skilled nursing facilities he had visited, he believes he contracted the virus at the March 16 press conference in Santa Clara County where the health officers from six Bay Area counties announced the first shelter-in-place order in the nation  a ban, in other words, on the kinds of gatherings they were having right then.

He started feeling sick on March 21, shortly after overseeing the establishment of a drive-through coronavirus testing facility. The next day, I was one of our first clients.

Willis, 54, of San Anselmo survived the illness  as did his children  and he is back at work at the emergency operations center in San Rafael. But the torment he went through changed the way he thinks about the disease, patient care and the importance of a support system for those who get sick.

In our work preparing for this epidemic, we were worried about surges of patients overwhelming hospitals. Thats obviously a huge priority, but thats about 5% of the total people who are affected, Willis said. There are a lot of people who are still at home with a whole spectrum of symptoms. These people are still pretty sick and may need social support.

Willis, who said he was bedridden and totally dependent on his wife for 10 days, now worries about what happens when single mothers and the elderly, disabled or people living alone without a support system contract the coronavirus.

So, he has been trying to incorporate child care and improve social services for people recovering from the disease at home. He also realized, as his wife was taking care of him, that those who are sick are not the only ones impacted by the disease. He said employers need to be aware that spouses and family members will also have to take time off to care for sick relatives.

This can be a two- or three-week interval where not only the infected person but their spouse may be out, Willis said. In the absence of social services, single people will need to be in the hospital just to have their daily needs met.

Willis, who lost 10 pounds during his illness, used a pulse oximeter, a small electric device that measures blood oxygen levels, every day during two weeks of fever and knew, when his level hit 88%, that he had to go to the hospital. Pulse oximeters are now part of the home monitoring kits that Marin County gives to people who test positive for the coronavirus.

This is a giant learning curve for all of us, Willis said. Now I have a visceral appreciation of how unpredictable and powerful it can be.

The strange, fickle nature of COVID-19 was apparent right from the start. His wife, Heather Carlberg, had developed a cough and, since she is a psychiatrist at the MarinHealth Medical Center, decided to get a test to alleviate concerns among patients. It came out negative.

Thats why neither of them were particularly worried when Willis developed a similar cough. They were surprised when his swab test came back positive on March 22.

Willis, who co-founded the RxSafe Marin coalition to fight opioid abuse in Marin, was mostly annoyed at being pulled off duty. He released a video that night telling the public that his symptoms were mild  a low-grade fever, some body aches and a dry cough  and that he expected a quick recovery.

Two days after the diagnosis, the nagging irritation in his throat turned into what felt like pneumonia, and his fever turned into night sweats and chills. That was about the same time his 20-year-daughter began feeling sick. Her illness lasted the same length and included almost the same symptoms.

The thing that really hit were the respiratory symptoms, he said. Its a feeling of heaviness in the chest, like you cant get a full breath of air. If you do want to get a deep breath it triggers a coughing fit, so you almost unconsciously get really shallow breathing.

Willis said he felt pain as his lungs inflated, which was alarming enough, but then his blood oxygen levels began dropping.

I had nausea and diarrhea for a couple of days, numbness in the hands for a couple of days, and then a vasculitis, where my toes changed color  they got purple  and my fingers and toes would get white, like there was no circulation, he said. I kept thinking, well thats curious. It wasnt painful, but it was unusual.

Willis said his vision would occasionally become blurry, too, and he was weaker than he had ever been. His wife reminded him to sit up and force himself to take deep breaths.

I would try and stand up and take a deep breath and hold it and exhale, Willis said. Thats a discipline I tried to develop a few times a day to expand my lungs. I do think it helped.

About a week after the diagnosis, Willis 16-year-old son, a strapping 6-foot-2 water polo player and mountain biker, came down with COVID-19. His symptoms were intense for 48 hours and then he got better.

It was very sudden onset, Carlberg said. He was hallucinating, vomiting all night. It was really scary that night.

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 their worst, father and son reported having the strange sensation of going down stairs, but leaving their bodies behind. One of the weirdest things, she said, was that her normally gabby husband and daughter stopped talking.

Carlberg stayed home for two weeks to take care of her husband and children, who were isolated in three separate rooms.

I likened it to suddenly having three newborns  the most precious people in the world to you  who were incredibly sick, but they were so poisonous I couldnt touch them, said Carlberg, who played a lot of Monopoly with her 10-year-old son and struggled to ease his fears.

Somehow, neither she nor her youngest son got sick, and their antibody tests have come back negative.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Meanwhile, the Marin Health and Human Services Department had to carry on in Willis absence, following the emergency action plan he had implemented.

Sometimes, as physicians, we overestimate our own health. Hes a very fit, healthy gentleman, and it was very humbling to see it affect him as seriously as it did, said Dr. Lisa Santora, who took charge in his absence. His plight gave a personal connection to the pandemic for everyone working on the front lines.

Willis never lost hope, but said the duration, strength and variability of the symptoms surprised and worried him.

Yes, at a certain point I was scared, he said. Im a 54-year-old male, and we know males tend to have worse outcomes.

It was on day 12 after his diagnosis that Willis started feeling better. He returned to work on April 20, but said he is still weak, suffers from lingering tightness in the chest and his fingers occasionally go numb.

I was using my own experience  a study of one  to learn about the disease, he said. So all of these things meant to me that this is a virus that goes so far beyond respiratory illness. Its affecting a lot of different systems.

As a health officer and physician who has experienced the worst of the disease, he is worried that California and other states will relax shelter-in-place orders too soon.

We dont know enough about this virus to act with confidence, Willis said.  I underestimated this for myself and dont want to underestimate it for our community. Its important to approach this with a degree of humility because this is real, its powerful and it is with us.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite
CHALONS-EN-CHAMPAGNE, France, May 17 (Reuters) - Roman Catholics in a town in eastern France were able to attend mass in their cars on Sunday, in the country's first drive-in religious service since the start of a lockdown eight weeks ago aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus.

The mass, held in the town of Chalons-en-Champagne, began with priests in white robes and wearing black face masks holding a procession through the parking lot, as a hymn was played and cars honked their horns.

The local bishop, Francois Touvet, stood on a podium in front of the cars as he led the service. Priests later gave out communion wafers to the faithful as they sat in their cars.

The virus outbreak and government restrictions on all public gatherings, intended to curb the spread of the virus, have forced many people in France and around the world to come up with innovative solutions to continue their activities.

France began cautiously to emerge from its lockdown on May 11, but indoor religious services remain banned until the end of the month as the government seeks to contain the risks of a second wave of infections.

"It (the lockdown) was really a deprivation for Catholics, as it was for other religions, not being able to gather in our places of worship... We very quickly came up with the idea of this formula of a drive-in mass," Bishop Touvet said.

MASKS AND SANITISER

"People are in their cars, they come from the same apartment or the same house, they have alcohol gels and masks. The cars are one metre apart from each other, we give communion, and then we wash our hands," Touvet added.

Worshippers are prohibited from leaving their vehicle, car-pooling is banned and a maximum number of four people from the same household are allowed per vehicle.

France has so far reported 142,291 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 27,625 deaths, among the world's highest fatality rates.

One worshipper, Michelle, was delighted to be able to attend mass again.

Story continues

"There's mass on television but it's not the same as being with the community at a Sunday service," she said.

Similar drive-in masses have taken place in other countries including Poland, where a priest has started taking confessions from the faithful in the parking lot of his church in Warsaw.

In Greece, by contrast, after the easing of a ban on public gatherings, thousands of people returned to church on Sunday after weeks of having to stay away. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Gonzalo Fuentes and Pascal Rossignol Editing by Gareth Jones)
Television actor Zaan Khan has shared a shocking Instagram update about the cast and crew of his Zee TV show Humari Bahu Silk. Zaan says the crew has not been paid by the producers and is now threatening to commit suicide.

Its sad and shocking to know that team #HumariBahuSilk has not been paid till date!! Also, the actors and technicians are threatening to commit suicide!! Why does this happen all the time!! Why cant Broadcasts do something!! #ZeeTV #ZaanKhan @zeetv @zaan001, he captioned a picture of him and his co-star from the show, Chahat Pandey.

In another post, Zaan wrote, I request to all my actor friends & especially my fans PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD I am really sorry to be sharing this, i am someone who doesnt like to talk about negativity, but i just HAD to. This is for me, for my co actors, my fellow technicians, my cameraman, my unit and my make up dada. I have worked with multiple productions in my career like Balaji telefilms , sphereorigin , fourlions , Fireworks , and many more and never have i had to deal with non payment for the entire show. This is what the harsh reality of our industry is. PRODUCERS - @devyanirale ) , @guptajyoti12 , Sudhashu Tripathi wake up and pay all the technicians actors . BOHOT HO GAYA AB ! stop being so inhuman @zeetv @zee5 @zeetvme Please share this as much as you guys can.

The actors fans grew concerned on reading Zaans message. Do not be sad, my eyes. I pray for you in every prayer, Inshaallah. Everything will be fine. We are all with you, spirit, wrote one. Another, who claimed to be a part of the shows wardrobe team wrote, I was part of the show as a designer nd havnt got the money yet ... this is the brutal truth of our industry.

A source told Telly Chakkar, While the world is in lockdown and needs money to survive, the cast and crew of Zee TVs Hamari Bahu Silk are almost begging and pleading to the biggies for their payments to be done. They are only asking for their own money, that the producer owes them, can you understand the frustration level?

You have given your all to a show and for the service, you are not even paid, especially in this lockdown situation. A few character artists along with make-up personals have given up on the situation. They have been crying. It wont be surprising if they resort to suicide as they are in a situation wherein ending their lives must seem easier than surviving and begging for their own money. Trust me, the situation is gross, added the source.

Also read: Robert Downey Jr stood up for Avengers cast after Marvel tried to strong-arm them and they threatened to quit

Humari Bahu Silk started airing in 2019 and wrapped up after just five months. Honestly, I dont know why the show is going off air, as it was raking in decent ratings. It could be because of the time slot, as we are competing with big shows. Its a decision taken by the channel and as an artiste, you dont have much say in it. I am obviously sad and disappointed, as I have worked hard and grown as an artiste during the course of the show. But I am sure that this will materialise into bigger opportunities, Zaan had told The Times of India in October last year.

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Mike Pompeo, U.S. secretary of state, speaks during a Coronavirus Task Force news conference at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, April 8, 2020.

President Donald Trump fired the State Department's inspector general on the recommendation of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a White House official said Saturday.

Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick Friday night, notifying Congress of the decision in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Trump, who has targeted several government agency watchdogs in the past several weeks, told Congress he no longer had full confidence in Linick, but did not provide an explanation as to why.

"Secretary Pompeo recommended the move, and President Trump agreed," a White House official said.

Democratic lawmakers said the inspector general was investigating potential misconduct by Pompeo.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., launched an investigation into Linick's removal Saturday, claiming Pompeo wanted the inspector general removed because the secretary was under investigation. Menendez and Engel have called for the White House to turn over records related to Linick's firing.

"Such an action, transparently designed to protect Secretary Pompeo from personal accountability, would undermine the foundation of our democratic institutions and may be an illegal act of retaliation," the lawmakers said in press release Saturday. "This concern is amplified by the fact that it came only hours after the House of Representatives passed the Heroes Act, which contains additional legal protections for inspectors general."



Linick was looking into whether Pompeo made a staffer run personal errands, such as walking his dog and picking up his dry cleaning, two congressional officials told NBC News.

The firing of Linick was also met with skepticism by some Republican lawmakers. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Trump must provide details to Congress about why Linick was removed.

"As I've said before, Congress requires written reasons justifying an IG's removal," said Grassley, who co-chairs the Whistleblower Protection Caucus "A general lack of confidence simply is not sufficient detail to satisfy Congress."

Linick was appointed to the role by the Obama administration and is being replaced by Stephen Akard, a former career foreign service officer with close ties to Vice President Mike Pence, according to the Associated Press.

Menendez and Engel are also requesting information regarding Akard as part of their investigation.

Linick is the latest inspector general to be fired by Trump.

In April, he removed Glenn Fine, who was appointed the watchdog of the $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill just days before Trump's move. Also in April, Trump fired the intelligence community's inspector general, Michael Atkinson, who had overseen the whistleblower complaint that led to the president's impeachment.

Earlier this month, Trump moved to replace Christi Grimm, the top watchdog at the Health and Human Services Department, a month after he criticized her for a report detailing "severe shortages" of coronavirus testing kits and other serious issues with the U.S. response to the pandemic.
Inside Hook

The corners of history abound with stories of cities that have had to be abandoned for one reason or another. Centralia, Pennsylvania might be the most famous example  a town made uninhabitable by an underground fire. Centralia is far from the only town thats had to face a difficult decision  abandonment or relocation  over the years. But the response of the Swedish town of Kiruna stands out for its comprehensiveness  and for the epic scale on which it took place.

At Metropolis, Molly Butcher writes about a new exhibition tracing the recent history of Kiruna. The short version? Kiruna is a mining town, with an iron mine located nearby. What provided the town with industry wound up having an unpleasant side effect: the mine made the land on which parts of the town stood unstable.
A war of words over Queensland's decision to keep its border closed to NSW has erupted into a major state of origin clash, with rhetorical barbs masking serious concern about the economic losses.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the closed border was "ridiculous" and undermined the Sunshine State's bid for failed airline Virgin. Meanwhile, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet chided the Queensland government for accepting his state's goods and services tax revenue but not its people.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet at the reopened Balmain Hotel on Friday. Credit:Edwina Pickles

In return, Queensland's Deputy Premier Steven Miles vowed his state's borders would stay shut until the health advice changed. "We know Sydney can be dreary but hang in there," he said.

Figures compiled by Tourism Research Australia and provided by Destination NSW showed that 4.5 million visitors from Queenslandspent a total of 17 million nights south of the border last year, worth $3.4 billion or an average of $65 million a week.
US to send oil to Belarus in latest inroad into Russia's orbit

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 May 2020 7:25 AM

The United States says it will dispatch its first oil shipment to Belarus in what seems to be an apparent move to gain further influence in Russia's neighbor and former close ally months after an oil price dispute between Moscow and Minsk.

"This week, the first shipment of US crude oil will depart for Belarus," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a Friday statement.

"This competitive deal, by US energy trader United Energy Trading, with the assistance of US firm Getka and their Polish partner UNIMOT, strengthens Belarusian sovereignty and independence," he added.

The 80,000-ton shipment is due to arrive at the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda in June and from there it would be shipped by rail to Belarus.

Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei confirmed the shipment, describing his country's oil cooperation with the US as "an element of energy security."

The development came more than three months after Pompeo paid an official state visit to Belarus  despite decades of hostilities between Washington and Minsk -- in a bid to "normalize" ties with the traditional Russian ally, seeking to capitalize on persisting tensions between Minsk and Moscow over energy subsidies.

Belarus had long relied on discounted oil from Russia, but most shipments stopped in January after disputes over prices. Belarus later received oil shipments from Norway, Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia.

Russia and Belarus later reached a compromise agreement and Russian state oil company Rosneft declared on Friday that it expected to ship nearly 9 million tons of oil to Belarus this year  about half the amount Belarus had purchased in previous years.

In a telephone conversation with Makei on March 13, Pompeo said US companies were ready to immediately start oil supplies at competitive prices.

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Pakistan violated ceasefire in Degwar sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Sunday (May 17) morning. According to Army sources, at around 0840 hours, Pakistan intiated unprovoked ceasefire violation along LoC in Degwar sector forcing to Indian Army to give a befitting reply to Pakistani troops.

On May 9, Pakistan had violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. At about 7.30 pm, the Pakistan Army had initiated unprovoked firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along LoC in Degwar sector and they stopped only after the Indian Army's strong retaliation.

On May 8, the Indian Army gave a befitting reply in response to the firing by Pakistani forces in the Poonch district. At least 3-4 soldiers of Pakistani forces were reportedly killed and five others were said to have been injured in the retaliatory firing by Indian Army. The Indian troops also inflicted heavy firing on Pakistan Army posts and damaged them.

On May 7, a civilian was injured and two houses suffered damage when the Pakistan Army shelled forward posts and villages along the LoC in three sectors of Poonch, drawing retaliation from the Indian Army, a defence spokesperson said. One civilian, Nisar Ali, a resident of Qasba village, was injured in the shelling by Pakistan and was hospitalised, officials said.
Alisha Hawkins is at high-risk for coronavirus complications, but her immediate fear is that her power will be cut off. She has stacked up about $400 in late payments to Huntsville Utilities since her husband lost his fast food job in March. She says they are still waiting for their stimulus and unemployment checks to arrive.

The past two months, we had to choose what bills to pay or whether to get food, she said.

Theyve relied on food stamps and some help from her grandparents in Tennessee. The couple tries to avoid using power at home, and as the weather warms, they will ration use of their cooling units.

Luckily for Hawkins, Huntsville Utilities says it is not planning to cut off anyones power right now, given the pandemic and the state of emergency. As of May 7, 447,990 Alabamians had filed for unemployment, according to Alabama Department of Labor statistics.

While many states formally paused cutoffs for impacted citizens, Alabama instead created a patchwork response by utilities who are making the call on whether to disconnect service for customers past due on bills.

Many of the states utilities are giving delinquent customers a blanket break during the pandemic, but for some Alabamians in cities across the state, that assurance of relief is ending soon.

Alabama Power, the states largest provider, serves more than 1.4 million customers. The energy company says it has not disconnected any service or charged late fees during the pandemic and has no plans to resume. However customers remain responsible for any balances accruing on their accounts.

We really encourage customers that have difficulty paying our bills to contact us, said Katie Bolton, spokesperson for the utility. Well continue to provide those tailored, customizable solutions."

Alabama Power has not disclosed how many customers have fallen behind.

But across the state, it seems that small utilities are left to make their own decisions on when to resume shutoffs and who to cut off.

In the city of Brundidge in south Alabama, customers were given a few extra weeks to pay, but service disconnections will resume Monday. About eight people have overdue bills, according to Utility Manager Wilma Price. Two people with balances said they were having coronavirus-related financial problems.

Ive tried reaching out to them, and they havent contacted me back, she said of bills due for April and May. It will be hard for them to catch up," she said, if the forbearance continues.

Its a complicated equation for utility providers weighing when is the right time to start cutting off peoples power or water. Some larger utilities in the state say it may come down to a case-by-case analysis. For now, several say they are holding off on cutting service for money owed while they evaluate the situation.

This is a matter we have to approach with sensitivity because the country is hurting and our customers are hurting, said Rick Jackson, Birmingham Water Works spokesman. He says the utility is having an internal conversation about when to resume collections.

About 10,000 customers are behind on payments, up from about 2,000 in February. That represents at least a couple million dollars in losses, according to Jackson.

We want to make sure that we do our due diligence with the fiscal responsibility we have with this utility, he said, adding that continued losses could cause a need to raise rates for all customers.

He says the company will still work with customers behind when disconnects resume.

In Evergreen, the citys utility never suspended disconnections. In other small cities, like Elba and Hartford, city leaders are meeting over what to do. In Athens in north Alabama, service shutoffs for overdue bills will resume June 1st, but late fees are ongoing.

Energy is an absolute, fundamental to human life, and you have to have it, especially when were looking at a mass public health crisis, said Daniel Tait, Chief Operating Officer at the sustainable energy group Energy Alabama.

Tait pushed the state and its utilities to offer forbearance to customers in need in March. He worries about what lies ahead for low-income Alabamians.

What happens when you still have a lot of people out of work? he says about people getting increasingly behind on late bills in a possible economic downturn.

Gov. Kay Ivey's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The National Consumer Law Center estimates that an optimistic scenario for the impact of coronavirus on Alabamians would cause 20 percent of customers, about 445,000, to fall behind for 60 days, representing more than $132 million dollars in delayed payments.

Tait says the state is not collecting data on who is not able to pay their bills, which will make it difficult to find policy solutions.

He points to North Carolina, which has ordered a six month break on disconnections and late fees for impacted customers and is tracking how many people are unable to pay.

Without the (data) reporting, you just have no idea exactly whats happening and what the state is supposed to do about it, he said, adding that, for example, stimulus funds could be allotted to offset utility losses.

The Cullman Electric Cooperative plans to resume its late fees for past due bills on Monday. It will start giving customers notice. In a few weeks, when disconnects resume, Spokesperson Brian Lacy says the company will still work with customers having difficulties.

If theyre in that situation, we dont want them to get cut off, but they have to call us and tell us that they need some help getting that past-due balance paid. He said.

According to Lacy, about 10 percent of their roughly 44,500 customers are behind on bills, which represents a slight increase from normal.

He says decisions to cut off power will be made on a case-by-case basis depending on payment history and circumstances. He says the utility wants an equitable approach.

Rather than changing policy in the middle of a cycle, he said, where some people have been given three monthly bills while others only got a break on two bills, now well focus on giving everyone who needs help time to contact us before any disconnects resume.

Correction: 10,000 Birmingham Water Works customers are behind on payment, not 14,000 as previously reported.
North Penn School Board, parents sound off on photo showing teacher taping mask to child
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Linkedin (Reuters) Tokyo  Sun, May 17, 2020 16:08 612 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd8a433f 2 News business-travelers,travel,coronavirus,COVID-19,China,Japan,South-Korea Free

China and South Korea have consulted Japan about easing border controls on business travelers to help revive business activities, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday without citing sources.

The idea, already implemented between South Korea and China, would allow a fast-track entry of business people if they test negative for the new coronavirus before departure and after arrival, the newspaper said.

But Tokyo is cautious about relaxing border controls at this point due to fears of another spike in infections, as well as a lack of test kits for travelers, according to the report.

Japan's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Read also: The fate of business travel could hang on COVID-19 tracing apps

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday lifted his state of emergency for 39 of Japan's 47 prefectures, easing curbs on 54% of the population. The greater Tokyo area, accounting for one-third of the nation's economy, and other major cities remain under restrictions.

Japan has reported some 16,300 cases of the coronavirus, not counting infections on a cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama port early this year, and 748 deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, according to public broadcaster NHK.

While Japan has avoided the kind of explosive outbreaks seen in the United States and elsewhere, its testing has also been among the lowest.
The Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah has cautioned constituents against apathy and cavalier attitude towards the coronavirus pandemic.



97 more persons tested positive for coronavirus Saturday, May 16, 2020, in Ghana increasing the national tally to 5,735. One more death was also recorded marginally increasing the death toll to 29 while recoveries have jumped significantly to 1,754.



Out of the national case count, Eastern Region has recorded 99 confirmed cases but the Regional Capital Koforidua has not recorded a confirmed case yet.



According to Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah, the increasing number of confirmed cases and fatalities are an indication that the ravaging virus is still spreading hence imperative to sustain concerted efforts to strictly adhere to the preventive protocols to help flatten the curve of the pandemic.



The Lawmaker said this when he donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), quantities of Veronica Hand washing device, Sanitizer, Liquid soap among others to health facilities in the New Juaben South Municipality.



The increasing number of positive cases and the increasing number of deaths indicate that we havent seen the end of the Pandemic so it behoves on us to do our bit in trying to curb the pandemic.



I came to town today to continue the donations in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic. This is the third time we are reaching out to the communities. so today we made donations to the Municipal Health Directorate, the SDA Hospital, National Health Insurance Office, as well as the Municipal Education Office. I thank ADB bank which Im a board member for supporting this exercise with veronica buckets, Dr Assibey-Yeboah said.



The Municipal Health Director, Dr Ekow Kwaitoo said, the MP has relentlessly supported the Health Directorate in the fight against COVID-19 in the Municipality.



He recounted that the MP donated GHC20,000 and some hand sanitizers to the directorate about a month ago which was used to procure some essential medical supplies to health facilities under the jurisdiction.



Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah also inspected some ongoing projects in the health sector being executed through his share of the National Health Insurance Fund.



Additionally, we inspected ongoing projects in the Health Space. We are expanding the Pharmacy Unit, the Laboratory Unit, and a few others at the Polyclinic. They have Promised that by August works should be completed. Additionally, we are building a maternity block at Adweso Health Post.

Source: Starr FM









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A man is expected to be extradited from NSW after he was arrested more than 900 kilometres from a bed and breakfast north of Brisbane where the bodies of his parents were found.

Queensland police were called to the residence at Joyner, 30 kilometres north of Brisbane, about 2pm on Sunday after the discovery of the bodies of the 59-year-old man and woman.

Tributes have begun to appear on social media for Frank Puglia and his wife, Loris, who worked as a telemarketer for Guide Dogs Queensland.

"This is just a tragedy. Loris would have done anything for anyone," one person wrote on Facebook.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 01:55:03|Editor: huaxia

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Iraqi Minister of Health Hassan al-Tamimi (C) visits a medicine warehouse in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 16, 2020. The Iraqi Minister of Health Hassan al-Tamimi on Saturday praised China's instrumental role in supporting Iraq in fighting against the spread of COVID-19, as the health authorities are preparing for a major campaign across the country. (Xinhua)

BAGHDAD, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Minister of Health Hassan al-Tamimi on Saturday praised China's instrumental role in supporting Iraq in fighting against the spread of coronavirus, as the health authorities are preparing for a major campaign across the country.

"The People's Republic of China has played a great role in providing us with medical supplies. We also have cooperation with other countries, but China has a distinctive role in providing large quantities of supplies for diagnosing the disease and our cooperation is continuing with it," al-Tamimi said in a press conference at a medicine warehouse in western Baghdad.

Al-Tamimi's comments came as the Iraqi health ministry has been importing different medical supplies to support the diagnosis capacity in the country.

Al-Tamimi also supervised the distribution of the test kits and other medical supplies to health departments in Baghdad and other provinces with the aim of launching a major campaign to conduct tests to detect infections of COVID-19.

"Today we enter a new stage after the arrival of these laboratory supplies, and tomorrow we will begin a massive campaign in the areas that have witnessed a rise in the number of infections of COVID-19," al-Tamimi added.

Also on Saturday, a ministry statement confirmed 67 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 3,260 in the country.

The new cases were recorded after 3,100 tests were carried out during the past 24 hours across the country, and a total of 146,594 tests since the outbreak of the disease, the ministry said in a statement.

So far, up to 121 people have died from the disease, while 2,126 have recovered, the statement said.

Iraq has been taking measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, including a nationwide curfew.

On April 26, a Chinese team of medical experts left Iraq after a 50-day stay to support Iraq in fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. China has also donated batches of medical supplies to Iraq to help combat the coronavirus.
A 42-year-old man attempted



suicide by immolating himself near the Telangana Chief Minister's official residence complex-cum-camp office here on Sunday allegedly owing to financial problems, but was rescued by police, who foiled his bid and took him into custody.

According to police, the man, who runs a footwear shop at Malakpethere, came on his bike and poured petrol on himself before walking towards Pragathi Bhavan, they said.

The man resorted to the extreme act as he was upset over not being able to feed his family during the last two months, they added.

The man told reporters that he was under huge debts.

He also requested the Chief Minister for financial assistance.

The man's family members were informed and he was being provided counseling, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: As Afghanistan's bitter political rivals, President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing agreement, India welcomed the decision and assured that it has consistently supported inclusive governance in the region.

In a press note, the MEA lauded the agreement signed between the two leaders. It said: "India hopes the Political Agreement and creation of the High Council of National Reconciliation will result in renewed efforts for establishing enduring peace and stability and putting an end to externally sponsored terrorism and violence."

Drawing attention to the global pandemic craeted by the coronavirus, New Delhi urged that the government in Kabul should put an end to the bloodshed in the country and concentrate of the COVID-19 crisis.

"The continuing and enhanced violence and terror in Afghanistan is a matter of deep concern. India calls for an immediate ceasefire and assistance to the people of Afghanistan to deal with the humanitarian situation arising from COVID-19," the statement read.

The deal, which was mutually agreed by both, says Ghani would remain president of the war-torn nation and calls for Abdullah to lead the country's National Reconciliation High Council and some members of Abdullah's team would be included in Ghani's Cabinet. The Reconciliation Council has been given the authority to handle and approve all affairs related to Afghanistan's peace process.

The signing of the agreement between the two leaders comes after both had declared themselves the winner of September 2019 presidential elections. The country's election commission had announced Ghani victorious with more than 50% of the vote. Abdullah had reportedly received more than 39% of the vote but he refused to accept the verdict citing wide spread voting irregularities.

Both Ghani and Abdullah had declared themselves president in parallel inauguration ceremonies in March 2020.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan has more than 6, 400 confirmed infections of about 22,000 people who were tested. While the capital city and others are under lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus.

(With agency inputs)
Europe must prepare for a second deadly wave of the coronavirus in the winter, a top World Health Organisation chief has warned.

Dr Hans Kluge, director for the WHO European region, said he was 'very concerned' a surge in infections would coincide with other seasonal diseases such as the flu.

He said now is the time to strengthen health care systems by increasing bed capacity so that countries are ready to brace more patients.

He also cautioned that now is the time for 'preparation, not celebration' across Europe - even if daily numbers of cases and deaths are dwindling.

Today the UK announced 170 deaths - the lowest since the lockdown was put in place - but the Government is wary this could be reversed if the lockdown is eased too quickly.

Dr Hans Kluge, director for the WHO European region, said he was 'very concerned' a second wave of the coronavirus would coincide with other seasonal diseases such as the flu

Spain, Italy and France, all of which have been severely impacted by the deadly virus, are now showing positive signs of recovery.

Dr Kluge stressed that, as the number of cases of COVID-19 in countries such as the UK, France and Italy was beginning to fall, it did not mean the pandemic was coming to an end.

Speaking exclusively to The Telegraph, he said countries should use this time wisely to learn from the first wave of infection and start to strengthen public health systems.

This could mean building capacity in hospitals, primary care and intensive care units, he said.

'Singapore and Japan understood early on that this is not a time for celebration, it's a time for preparation,' Dr Kluge said.

'That's what Scandinavian countries are doing  they don't exclude a second wave, but they hope it will be localised and they can jump on it quickly.'

Almost all scientists agree the infection is bound to re-emerge in a second wave in the absence of a vaccine or cure for the coronavirus, it's just a case of figuring out when this may be.

Professor Jonathan Van Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, warned at the Government's daily briefing on April 29 that the virus will 'absolutely come back'.

Dr Kluge said: 'Im very concerned about a double wave  in the fall, we could have a second wave of Covid and another one of seasonal flu or measles.'

His comments echo those of other experts who have warned a re-appearance of the virus in the winter - as a result of seasonality or lifting the lockdown - could be disastrous for the NHS.

Robin Shattock of Imperial College says another wave of the disease told The Times: 'The real big danger is if we see the kind of number of cases of Covid-19 that were seeing now next winter  and we also have a seasonal flu. That could be a double whammy for the health service.'

A second peak which overwhelms the NHS is considered the 'biggest threat to life' in the UK. That's according to the Government's 50-page 'roadmap' to ease lockdown.

The document, published last week, detailed how Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to get Britain back to normality while minimising the risk of straining the NHS.

It's not clear yet if the coronavirus is 'endemic', meaning it circulate at equal levels all year round, or seasonal, peaking in colder, winter months.

Other coronaviruses such as the common cold have been found to sharply increase in the winter months.

From the early days of the Covid-19 outbreak, scientists have been haunted by the example of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic - which is estimated to have killed 50million.

The Spanish Influenza is estimated to have killed around 50million people in just under two years

The 1918 epidemic first appeared in spring 1918 before another two more deadly strains reared up again over the next two years

Spanish Flu came in three waves - spring 1918, autumn 1918 and winter 1919.

As troops travelled across the world from numerous countries to fight in the First World War the virus was able to spread quickly across the globe.

The first wave of the virus was particularly deadly to the older generations and the vulnerable.

As the number of cases subsided people began dropping their guard which paved the way for the second wave.

The second wave, in autumn of the same year as the first outbreak, is believed to have been even deadlier than the first as the virus had mutated to a more life-threatening form and this time the virus began to affect young people.

It reappeared again in Australia for the third wave the following winter before again spreading across the world.

Although it was not as severe as the second wave it was still more deadly than the first.

The second wave is believed to have happened after people began dropping their guard

More people died from Spanish influenza than the number of people who died in the First World War

Another minor wave took a hold in spring 1920, affecting isolated areas such as New York City, as well as the UK and some South American islands, but compared to the previous waves the mortality rate was low.

Overall, more people died from Spanish influenza than the number of people who died in the First World War.

When setting out future plans the UK government and Public Health England has taken into account the lessons learned during the Spanish Flu pandemic but views it as an example of the 'reasonable worst case scenario'.

Dr Kluge said the epicentre of the European outbreak is now in the east, with the number of cases rising in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The UK remains among the top 10 countries around the world reporting the highest number of coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, Dr Kluge warned this week.

Some 3-4,000 new cases have been reported every day in Britain in the past few days.

Although 240,161 official diagnoses have been reported by the Government, the real figure will be in the millions when considering the cases which were never formally diagnosed with a test.

Deaths have consistently been falling since the peak of the crisis in mid-April, cumulatively reaching at least 34,636 so far.

But despite the promising figures, scientists have consistently urged caution when lifting lockdowns in order to avoid a second wave of infections.

Scientific advisors to the Government (SAGE) have produced models that suggests that either fully opening schools or relaxing all social distancing measures now, would lead to a resurgence of the virus and a second wave.

It's been a week since Prime Minister Boris Johnson triggered the first steps out of lockdown, which include an allowance on unlimited exercise.

Elsewhere in Europe, beaches in Greece, France and Italy were open on Saturday for the first weekend since the easing of lockdowns.

People sunned themselves as Greece reopened the beaches for the first weekend since lockdown on Saturday

The Champs Elysee running through the centre of Paris was crowded with cars on Monday (left) after millions of people were allowed out of their homes as France begins to relax its coronavirus lockdown (pictured right, the street last week)

People made the most of shops reopening taking to Ermou Street, in Athens, after lockdown was eased

Earlier in the week traffic returned to the Champs Elysee in Paris as non-essential businesses including hairdressers were reopened and people were encouraged to return to work on Monday - provided they do not stray more than 60 miles from home.

Underground passengers were pictured in the French capital standing less than two-metres apart and packing onto busy trains.

Spain also began easing lockdown for around half of its 47million people on Monday, with cafes, restaurants and hotels allowed to open with reduced capacity after more than 12 weeks of enforced closures.

Around half of Spain's population were allowed to relax their lockdown on Monday, with cafe's and restaurants allowed to open outdoor seating areas (pictured, people enjoy a coffee in Palma, Mallorca, on Monday)

Shoppers browse stores on the main shopping street in Brussels, Belgium, after the country allowed non-essential businesses to reopen as it eases its lockdown

Writing on the ground remind students to keep distance as they arrive at a reopen primary school in Cologne, which has reopened as measures have eased

In Germany, despite the country's rising rate of infection, people are now allowed to mix with people outside their homes, as long as they are not in large groups, and students have returned to schools.

Belgium this week allowed shops to reopen under strict conditions in a major step to ease lockdown restrictions.

Shops and other retail businesses were also allowed to reopen in Greece and schools returned on Monday with pupils spaced apart and wearing masks during lessons.
A former tech company CEO in Utah was sentenced to 210 days in jail and given a warning after he was caught having downloaded more than 13,000 images of sexual abuse, rape and beastiality.

Doug Saltsman, the 40-year-old former CEO of a defunct cryptocurrency company known as Saltmine, expressed remorse while in a Salt Lake City court as he faced up to 15 years in prison on convictions for three felonies relating to the seizure.

But Judge Douglas Hogan during Saltsman's sentencing Thursday gave him 210 days and 48 months of probation instead.

Because of time already served, Saltsman also may be out of jail in about two months.

Doug Saltsman, the 40-year-old former CEO of a defunct cryptocurrency company known as Saltmine,

Because of time already served, Saltsman also may be out of jail in about two months. He is pictured addressing a virtual court during his case while wearing a mask covering for protection against the coronavirus outbreak

Hogan gave Saltsman credit for the time he already has spent behind bars since his arrest, and warned the repentant man to avoid a repeat of the crimes, KTVX reports.

'If there are new offenses or if it looks like you are not trying do not expect the court to be merciful when you come back and it looks like you're not trying,' said the judge.

Saltsman recognized he had a problem while addressing a virtual court with a mask covering for protection against the coronavirus. He said he sought help from a psychiatrist, was put on medication and enrolled in therapy.

He promised to make amends for his actions. 'I want to be able to repair the damage that I've done. that I see what I've done. I want to be able to see myself in mirror and I am sorry,' he told the virtual court.

Saltsman originally faced 11 charges after authorities seized more than 13,000 files of graphic child pornography, rape and beastiality when the state's internet crime task force raided his home in Sandy on May 7, 2019.

Saltsman, described as a 'computer genius, had also operated his company Saltmine out of the home.

The raid came after authorities were tipped off by an internet provider address that was sharing child pornography using a peer-to-peer file-sharing program, KUTV reports.

The first file pulled from the home, court documents show, was a compilation video of prepubescent girls under 8 being raped.

Other files found had footage of Saltsman having intercourse with an unconscious women. The woman, Saltsman's attorney explains, was his girlfriend, who has declined to press charges, KTVX reports.

Saltsman originally faced 11 charges after authorities seized more than 13,000 files of graphic child pornography, rape and beastiality when authorities raided his home in Sandy, Utah, on May 7, 2019. Saltsman (pictured) had also operated his company Saltmine out of the home.
Many of the tragedies occurred in the dark, which is when it is cooler to walk, and many people were caught in their sleep.

The combination of no traffic and speeding vehicles has led to havoc, endangering the lives of those who found themselves without work or money in the coronavirus-induced lockdown and were frantic to get home, any which way.

IMAGE: Migrants collect food items, distributed by volunteers while sitting on a truck to reach their native villages in Uttar Pradesh, in Jabalpur, on Sunday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Hit-and-runs, collisions and even a train speeding down the tracks have killed scores of migrants since the lockdown began and injured many more making a perilous journey home along roads that are empty, winding and seemingly endless.

As vehicles careen down deserted roads and lakhs of migrants are on the move -- packed into trucks and tempos, riding rickety cycles or just walking towards their villages, hundreds, maybe thousands, of kilometres away -- the death count from accidents rises inexorably with each day of the lockdown.

The SaveLife Foundation, a non-profit organisation working towards curbing road accidents in the country, has recorded nearly 2,000 road crashes and 368 deaths from March 25 when the lockdown began to May 16 (11 am).

Of these, 139 deaths are of migrants travelling back home, 27 of essential workers and 202 of others, it said.

"Of the total 368 deaths reported, over 100 were recorded from Uttar Pradesh alone. The top five states in this tally include Madhya Pradesh (30), Telangana (22), Maharashtra (19) and Punjab (17). The most common factor for these road crashes was speeding," SaveLife Foundation CEO Piyush Tewari told PTI.

As the numbers spiralled, slowly, steadily and then in what appeared to be a torrent, a pattern emerged.

Many of the tragedies occurred in the dark, which is when it is cooler to walk, and many people were caught in their sleep.

That's what happened on Saturday too, when a trailer rammed into a stationary truck in the pre-dawn darkness around 3.30 am on a highway near Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh, killing at least 24 people and injuring 36.

IMAGE: A migrant family rides a motor cart to reach their native place in Rajasthan, on National Highway 44 in Karnal district, on Sunday. Photograph: PTI Photo

The vehicles, one headed from Delhi to Madhya Pradesh and the other to Rajasthan, were ferrying labourers to their homes.

Some of the workers had stopped for tea and others were possibly sleeping by the roadside or in the vehicles when the crash occurred.

Most of those killed were from Jharkhand and West Bengal, and some from Kushinagar in eastern Uttar Pradesh, officials said as reports suggested that some of the victims may have been crushed under cement bags loaded in one of the vehicles.

A few hours later, tragedy unfolded in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, when five migrant workers going from Maharashtra to Uttar Pradesh were killed when a truck carrying them overturned on the Sagar-Kanpur Road.

The combination of no traffic and speeding vehicles has led to havoc, endangering the lives of those who found themselves without work or money in the coronavirus-induced lockdown and were frantic to get home, any which way.

Over this week alone, there have been multiple accidents reported from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

In Guna, Madhya Pradesh, for instance, as many as 14 migrants were killed and around 60 injured in two different road accidents on Thursday and Friday.

On Friday, six migrant workers were killed and 95 injured in separate road accidents across Uttar Pradesh.

And the day before, six migrant workers walking from Punjab to Bihar were killed in Muzaffarnagar in the state when they were hit by a roadways bus on the Delhi-Saharanpur Highway, officials said.

With no compass to guide them on their treacherous inter-state journey home and perhaps to escape the police, many people also walk along railway tracks. On May 8, it cost 16 lives.

In perhaps the most gruesome of accidents, 16 migrant workers going to Madhya Pradesh were mowed down by freight train when they dozed off on the tracks near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.

In a chilling reflection of the hunger and deprivation that led the group of 20 men working in a steel unit in Jalna -- four of them survived -- the 'rotis' they had packed to see them through the journey lay scattered on the tracks.

The same morning, hundreds of kilometres away, a migrant labourer couple, Krishna Sahu, 45, and his wife Pramila, 40, were run over by an unidentified vehicle on their way from Lucknow to Chhattisgarh.

The couple, on a bicycle, were with their two children, both under five years, who survived the crash.

Reduced to statistics as they undertake their own personal odysseys, challenging the odds but not always triumphing them, there was a back story everywhere.

Some lockdown induced road accidents were reported as early as March 28 when four migrants were run over by a truck on the Maharashtra-Gujarat border.

According to Indian Express, the four, part of a group of seven which wanted to reach their villages in Rajasthan after crossing into Gujarat, had just begun walking after taking some rest when a truck came from behind and rammed into them.

Two days later, 40-year-old labourer Sukh Lal Ahirwar died in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh after a car hit him.

Ahirwar and his wife had walked for two straight days from Delhi towards their home in Tikamgarh in Madhya Pradesh and were resting on a road divider when the accident took place, reported the Hindi daily Nayi Duniya.

IMAGE: Migrants walk along NH 44 to reach their native places in Uttar Pradesh, in Karnal, on Sunday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Those who survive have no option but continue the journey.

Like the group of 20 labourers who left in a tempo from Mumbai to Lucknow on May 10.

The 1,400-km journey had barely begun when the tempo met with an accident, killing their driver.

The driver had spoken to the news channel NDTV just hours earlier.

"There are lots of problems. We don't have anything to eat. We had rations till now, so we were eating that. Now, we are heading out. We will travel somehow in this," one of those in the group told the channel.

There were also reports of a woman and her six-year-old daughter who were part of a group travelling between Maharashtra and Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh in an autorickshaw.

They had travelled almost 1,300 km when the autorickshaw was hit by a truck just short of their destination in Fatehpur.

The Railways has organised 'Shramik Special trains' and ferried at least 12 lakh migrants to their homes since May 1.

"To bring back the workers till date, the Railways has operated 1,034 Shramik Special trains. Out of which 106 were operated yesterday (Friday).

"Uttar Pradesh and Bihar has taken steps positively and 80 per cent of the total Shramik Special trains have been operated by these two states," Union minister Piyush Goyal tweeted on Saturday.

But if the thousands of workers and their families still trudging their way home, however they can, is any indication, it might be too little too late.

India accounts for one of the highest road crashes fatalities in the world with an estimated 1.5 lakh people killed in about five lakh accidents a year.
Modalities to issue temporary travel documents to undocumented workers abroad following proper authentication procedures has been agreed on by the Department of Immigration and Emigration. This follows consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Ministry of Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations and Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). It is intended to facilitate the repatriation of migrant workers, once the Government decides on a timeline for their repatriation.

This was discussed at a meeting convened today (04 May 2020) by the Minister of Foreign Relations, Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations, Dinesh Gunawardena with the relevant line agencies.

The interest expressed through the Contact Sri Lanka portal by migrant workers to return and the amnesties presently declared by Kuwait and Jordan were reviewed. The vulnerability faced by migrant workers particularly in the Maldives and possible measures to address it, was also discussed. The programme by the Foreign Ministry and the SLBFE to provide dry rations to the Sri Lankan migrant communities most affected was also assessed.

Minister Gunawardena briefed those present on the negotiations that have taken place with the foreign governments concerned and efforts being made to be responsive to these governments, while ensuring that any repatriation remains consistent with the ongoing quarantine process.

Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha, Senior Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations Sujeewa Thissera, Controller General of Department of Immigration & Emigration Sarath Rupasiri, Chairman of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Kamal Ratwatte, and other Senior Officials, participated at the meeting.

Ministry of Foreign Relations

Colombo

04 May 2020

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Read more: www.mfa.gov.lk
Chinas ambassador to Israel has been found dead at his home in Tel Aviv on Sunday, Israels Foreign Ministry has said.

Du Wei, 58, was appointed to the role in February and had previously served as Chinas envoy to Ukraine.

The cause of his death has not been reported and Israeli police said it was being investigated.

He is survived by his wife and son, who were not in Israel at the time of his death.

Earlier this week, the Chinese ambassador condemned US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for the comments he made during a one-day trip to Israel.

On Wednesday, Mr Pompeo denounced Chinese investments in Israel and accused China of withholding information about the coronavirus outbreak.
E-commerce companies are likely to resume full services across most parts of the country from Monday under the fourth phase of the lockdown that allows greater relaxations, although industry watchers say they are waiting for states' decision on the matter.

According to the latest Union Home Ministry's order, "all other activities will be permitted, except those which are specifically prohibited" under the fourth phase of the lockdown that ends on May 31.

However, in containment zones, only essential activities will be allowed. States and union territories - based on their assessment of the situation - may prohibit certain other activities in various zones or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary, the order added.

Emails sent to Flipkart and Amazon India did not elicit a response.

Srinivas Mothey, Senior Vice President of Paytm Mall, said the move will help the company deliver to most of the metro cities which were in the red zones.

"We thank the government for taking the decision for allowing the delivery of non-essentials in red zones across the country. This move will help us deliver to most of the metro cities which presently fall in the red zones," he said, adding that the company has received a sizeable number of consumer electronics wishlist orders from metro cities.

"...people have been waiting to buy laptops, mobile phones, as well as other daily use items for the last several weeks now. The government's decision will also help in opening up supplies of consumer electronics from warehouses which are in the red zones," Mothey said.

He added that the company has already had discussions with its merchant and logistics partners, and will start taking orders and delivering from Monday itself.

"We are ensuring that all state and central guidelines are followed to operate in the red zones. In the coming week, we hope for more relaxations in the interstate movement of non-essential goods so that e-commerce activity scales up," he added.

An industry executive, who did not wish to be named, said companies are waiting for more clarity from states before taking a final call on resumption of services in various locations.

A Snapdeal spokesperson said the MHA guidelines pave the way for a broader resumption of economic activities across most parts of India.

"E-commerce has played a crucial role in the last two months by delivering a range of much-needed goods to consumers - within the safety of their homes. Our sellers and delivery partners have worked extensively to meet these requirements while exercising strict safety measures and we applaud their commitment in rising to the occasion," the spokesperson said.

He said the company is "ready and equipped" to now start serving customers all across India - in red, green and orange zones - and added that the development will enable lakhs of medium and small online sellers to start rebuilding their businesses.

In the first two phases of the lockdown (that started from March 25), e-commerce companies were allowed to sell only essential items like grocery, healthcare and pharmaceautical products.

In the third phase (from May 4), these platforms were allowed to sell all items in orange and green zones, but only essential items were allowed to be shipped in red zones that include top e-commerce hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad.

Sales of non-essential items on e-commerce platforms in the first week of May were lower than last year on account of the lockdown, but orders were scaling fast as people bought apparel, smartphones and grooming products among other items.

The industry continues to face the challenge of availability of limited manpower for warehouses and delivery.

Similarly, cab-hailing services like Ola and Uber may also resume services across locations.

The MHA order said inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses with mutual consent of the states and union territories involved.

It added that intra-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses, as decided by the states and union territories.

These activities will be permitted with restrictions, except in the containment zones. Also, standard operating procedures (SOPs) for movement of people will continue to operate.

Ola and Uber did not respond to emailed queries.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Leading retailers have witnessed an increase in number of footfalls along with a significant jump in average purchase value in the third phase of the lockdown.

According to industry players such as Metro Cash & Carry, Lots Wholesale Solutions, Future Group and V-Mart Retail, as restrictions were eased more stores could open thereby increasing customer walk-ins, availability of popular FMCG products and high-value items.

Some of the items that saw increased demand in the third phase of lockdown include dry fruits, frozen non-vegetarian products, personal care products - grooming, cold beverages and premium products.

Supply of these products was disrupted in the previous two phases of the lockdown imposed from March 25 to control the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

"The footfalls have gone up by a third over the previous lockdown as restrictions are getting eased especially in Karnataka, Delhi and Telangana," Metro Cash & Carry India MD & CEO Arvind Mediratta told PTI.

He said there are several factors which impact store walk- ins, operational timings of the store along-with other factors in that particular city that play a role in store footfalls.

Expressing similar views, Lots Wholesale Solutions Managing Director Tanit Chearavanont said as restrictions on movement are being eased, the number of footfalls is increasing in stores along with average purchase value.

"With every passing day and government providing some ease in movement, we have witnessed increased footfall at our stores largely from local kiranas and retailers during the lockdown and overall the average purchase value per customer has gone up," he said.

Value fashion and lifestyle products retailer V-Mart Retail said the number of its operational stores pan-India has gone up, so also the number of customers.

"Earlier, one store has an average visit of around 40-50 customers which now has gone up to 130 to 150 per day. The basket size has also increased as people still have some tendency to hoard," said V-Mart Retail Chairman and MD Lalit Agarwal.

According to him, in May and June, some marriages were scheduled. As restrictions were eased, low profile marriage happened in limited small groups and people have done some shoppings, which has turned the situation favourable.

According to Mediratta, in the third phase availability of popular brands has increased and customers are returning back to them again preferring over the local and private labels.

"A major trend that we witnessed in the second phase was that customers were ready to switch to local brands in the same product category. If their favourite brands were not available, they were happy to transition to a private label brand," he said'



"With the government easing out manufacturing and measures taken to open the economy, consumers have started to pick up brands again with availability improving and are demanding value added categories."



Future Group President Food & FMCG Kamaldeep Singh said that though the situation is still not close to normal but average purchase by a customer has gone up.

"Number of footfalls and shopping trips are still down but the average value of the bill is higher due to lesser number of visits by a customer," he said adding "customers are largely picking staples, food items and personal hygiene products".

However, Singh also added that customers have still not started picking personal care products like deodorant, skin care, vanity and beauty products.

Walmart India, which operates Best Price cash & carry stores, witnessed a spike on demand of staples and hygiene products and expects a pent-up demand in the non-essential categories, which was opened in the third phase of the lockdown.

"With non-essential categories opening up, we expect some pent up demand in small kitchen and home appliances like irons, kettles, pressure cookers, and fans," said Anuj Singh, Chief Merchandising Officer, Best Price Walmart India.

In the coming days retailers are hoping for a further easing of restriction as they continue to face some supply constraints as most of FMCG companies are not operating in full swing.

"We expect the government to ease restrictions in all the zones. The situation should normalise, and the demand & supply should become more consistent," said Chearavanont.

While Mediratta has suggested, the state authorities to work in unison with the central government so there is seamless functioning of businesses across sectors.

"The list of essential items should be further extended and all stores should be allowed to operate without any restrictions on timings," he added.

India is presently going through an unprecedented lockdown from March 25 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus with the third phase ending on Sunday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
More than 27,500 learner drivers have been left in limbo by the prolonged cancellation of driving tests.

Tests were cancelled on March 13 due to the restrictions brought in to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Transport Minister Shane Ross warned that driving tests would not be returning in the short term, with NCT tests also not set to return until "fairly late in the day".

The situation has left thousands of people "in limbo" as learner drivers are not permitted to drive unaccompanied.

With social distancing measures in place on public transport, and some privately-run services curtailed, many of these people do not have access to alternative transport, according to Cork East TD Sean Sherlock. He said the government needs to clearly communicate a plan for the 27,684 applications awaiting a driving test.

"Over 17,000 of these applicants are under the age of 35 and spread across the country may not have access to public transport," Mr Sherlock said.

"As the Government seeks to re-open the economy, these drivers are left in limbo as they cannot drive unaccompanied but may not have family members who can safely travel with them if they require their car for transport to and from work.

"These drivers need to use their cars for travel to and from their place of work and we need to see some measures to relieve pressure and give some latitude with the weeks remaining for testing still quite high pre-Covid.

"We have no clarity from the Minister for Transport on when driving testing centres will reopen again as it would be virtually impossible to conduct a driving test under social distancing. What we do have is over 27,000 applicants left in the dark after obtaining a learner permit and completing Essential Driver Training.

"While emergency services drivers have rightly been given urgent testing there is a whole swathe of essential workers potentially in this applicant category who require their cars for work."

Before the cancellation of tests, wait times for a test varied between three and six weeks, depending on the test centre.

Kerry councillor Jackie Healy-Rae criticised the Government's response as "not good enough", and said many "young nurses" and other workers are "being forced to break the law" by driving unaccompanied.

He suggested adopting motorcycle test protocols for all driving tests. For a motorcycle test, the tester is on a separate vehicle and communicates through a headset with the person completing their test.

Separately, Mattie McGrath TD has said the backlog caused by the total absence of testing could see many people forced to wait until 2021 before they can sit their test.

He said many "essential and frontline workers" have been affected by this.

At the end of 2019, there were 233,025 learner permits in use in Ireland.
Gunmen killed 24 women, children and babies at a maternity hospital in the Afghan capital, leaving the world in shock.

Hours after gunmen on Tuesday stormed a maternity clinic in Kabul and killed two dozen people, including women and babies, Feroza Omar rushed to another hospital where about 20 babies who survived the attack had been transferred.

When she arrived at Ataturk Hospital, the 27-year-old did something many deemed heroic. In a span of three hours, Feroza breastfed four of the orphaned newborns.

I thought to myself that these babies need their mothers, but they were killed in the attack, so I will play the role of a mother, hug them and feed them, she told Al Jazeera.

Feroza was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy at home when she heard about the attack on the maternity section of the Dasht-e-Barchi hospital in Afghanistans capital. She said she felt the urge to do something for those babies to comfort them.

When I hugged them, I didnt feel like they were someone elses babies. I felt I am feeding my own child. The terrorists have not even spared babies of this country who just opened their eyes onto this world, she said.

I salute Feroza Younis Omar, an Afghan mother, breastfeeding 20 babies after gunmen slaughtered new moms, nurses & two newborn babies, even as some gave birth. Ferozas act of love has encouraged other moms to come volunteer breastfeeding these newborns left without mothers. pic.twitter.com/M9qUz2mBIq  Nahanni Fontaine (@NahanniFontaine) May 14, 2020

In 2017, Feroza lost her 33-year-old brother  a father of two  who she said was killed by the Taliban on his birthday.

I know the pain as a victim of this war in Afghanistan; I know how it feels to lose your beloved ones, she said.

Feroza inspired other Afghan women who joined the effort to care for and breastfeed the babies. Aziza Kermani, also based in Kabul, was one of them.

I am ready to adopt one of the babies who have lost their mother or whose families do not have the financial ability to raise them, Kermani told Afghanistan news station, TOLOnews.

Newborns at the Ataturk Childrens Hospital, in Kabul, a day after they were rescued from the deadly attack [Rahmat Gul/AP]

No group has claimed responsibility for the assault that shocked the country. In all, 24 people were killed, including 16 women and two newborns.

In a statement, Frederic Boonot, Doctors Without Borders head of programmes in Afghanistan, described the gruesome details of the attack.

They came to kill the mothers, he said, describing how the attackers ignored other sections of the hospital and deliberately went to the maternity clinic.

They went through the rooms, shooting women in their beds. It was methodical.

At the time of the attack, 26 new mothers and mothers-to-be were in the maternity clinic, according to the charity.

Three women were killed in the delivery room, and eight were killed in their hospital beds. One gave birth as the attack was ongoing.

Its shocking. We know this area has suffered attacks in the past, but no one could believe they would attack a maternity [ward], Bonnet said.





Testing times

Accompanied by her teenage daughter, Ali Yawars wife was also at Dasht-e-Barchi hospital to vaccinate her son, who had been born there a month ago.

When the attack started, Yawars wife held her son and ran to the waiting room to get 16-year-old Amina, but she found her covered in blood.

Amina had been shot dead by the attackers.

The security forces rushed her to a hospital, but she had died on the spot. When I heard about my daughter, it felt like my world had collapsed, Yawar told Al Jazeera.

They attacked a place full of woman and children, what else is left? There is no humanity left in this country. These are testing times for us; we are forced to face this.





The Taliban has denied involvement in Tuesdays attack. On the same day, the ISIL (ISIS) armed group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a funeral in Nangarhar province that killed scores of people.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ordered the military to switch to offensive mode against the Taliban, but US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad blamed ISIL for both attacks, saying on Twitter the group had opposed any peace agreement with the Taliban.

Rather than falling into the ISIS trap and delay peace or create obstacles, Afghans must come together to crush this menace and pursue a historic peace opportunity. No more excuses. Afghans, and the world, deserve better.  U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) May 14, 2020

On February 29, the US and the Taliban signed a deal that called for a phased US troop withdrawal from the country, and for a prisoner exchange between the Afghan government and the Taliban to set the stage for intra-Afghan talks.

The talks, originally scheduled for March 10, have yet to take place because of delays in the prisoner exchange and a political feud between Ghani and rival candidate Abdullah Abdullah over last years disputed presidential election.

But on Friday, Ghanis spokesman Sediqi Sediqqi said a political agreement had been reached and would be signed in the near future.

For Yawar, such political agreements mean little.

Nothing can replace my daughter, he said. This war broke my back, and of many poor people in this country.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 04:33:20|Editor: huaxia

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A pedestrian waits to cross a street in Brussels, Belgium, May 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

-- New single-day COVID-19 deaths continue to drop in France

-- Italy sees fewer COVID-19 patients, number of active infections falls to 70,187

-- New deaths from COVID-19 keep falling in Spain as PM seeks final extension of State of Alarm

-- Deaths from coronavirus top 9,000 in Belgium

BRUSSELS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in European countries.

A man makes a phone call near the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadero Palace, Paris, France, May 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

PARIS -- France had registered 96 new deaths from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, fewer than the previous two 24-hour periods, while the balance of the coronavirus-related hospitalization remains negative, France's Health Ministry said on Saturday.

According to the ministry, the 96 new single-day deaths were lower than 104 registered on Friday and 351 on Thursday. So far, 27,625 people have succumbed to the coronavirus-caused disease across France.

Meanwhile, France is now the world's fourth worst-hit country in terms of human loss caused by COVID-19 after the United States, Britain and Italy.

As of Saturday, the country had recorded 142,291 confirmed cases, a single-day increase of 372, slower than Friday's 563. A total of 61,066 patients had recovered and returned home since early March.

People wait in line outside a cocktail bar in Rome, Italy, May 12, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting)

ROME -- The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and intensive care (ICU) patients dropped in Italy over the past 24 hours, according to the latest tally posted by the Civil Protection Department on Saturday.

Recoveries rose by 2,605 from a day earlier, bringing the total to 122,810.

Nationwide, the number of active infections fell to 70,187, down from 72,070 on Friday.

Of those who tested positive for the new coronavirus, 775 are in intensive care, down by 33 from Friday, and 10,400 are hospitalized with symptoms, down by 392.

The death toll on Saturday was 153, bringing the total to 31,763 since the outbreak was first recorded in Italy's northern Lombardy region in February.

The total number of COVID-19 cases combining infections, fatalities and recoveries has risen to 224,760, up from 223,885 on Friday.

A security guard offers disinfectant gel to a woman at the entrance of a building in Barcelona, Spain, on May 11, 2020. (Photo by Sergi Camara/Xinhua)

MADRID -- The Spanish Ministry of Health, Consumer Affairs and Social Welfare confirmed on Saturday falls in the number of new deaths from COVID-19 as well as new cases.

The total number of deaths in Spain rose to 27,563 after 102 people lost their lives to COVID-19 in the 24-hour period until 21:00 hours local time on Friday.

This was the lowest number of deaths in a 24-hour period since March 16, with 50 of the deaths in the regions of Madrid and Catalonia.

The same period also saw a slight fall in the number of new cases. The Health Ministry reported 539 new infections, down from 549 reported 24 hours earlier, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 230,698.

Also on Saturday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he will seek a fifth and final extension of the State of Alarm, which was imposed on March 15 to control the spread of the coronavirus.

Speaking in a televised speech, Sanchez said the upcoming final State of Alarm, which will come into effect on May 24 if approved, will be "different" from others.

"It is expected to be the last State of Alarm. We are going to request in the Congress of Deputies that it should last for a month," he said. All the previous four extensions have been 15 days.

Few people are seen at the Saint-Hubert Royal Galleries shopping street in Brussels, Belgium, May 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

BRUSSELS -- With an increase of 47 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the novel coronavirus had caused a total of 9,005 deaths in Belgium since the beginning of the epidemic, said the public health institute Sciensano on Saturday.

Of the 9,005 deaths, 48 percent took place in hospitals, 51 percent in nursing homes, and about 0.6 percent elsewhere, according to Sciensano. Deaths in hospitals were all confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of the fatalities in nursing homes, 23 percent were confirmed by test while the other were presumed by symptoms.

Also in the past 24 hours, 345 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, raising the cumulative cases to 54,989 in Belgium.
By ANI

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha government on Sunday urged Central government to suspend Shramik special trains from May 18 for three days due to cyclone Amphan.

"Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Ganjam may be affected due to the cyclonic storm. The Chief Secretary has requested Union Cabinet Secretary to consider suspending 'shramik special' trains from May18 for 3 days in the coastal areas," PK Jena, Special Relief Commissioner, Odisha on the cyclonic storm.

"The Chief Minister has held a review meeting with all concerned officials and district administrations. He has advised pre-positioning of the NDRF, fire service teams, alternate drinking water supply, manpower with equipment for road clearance," he added.

The request was made by the Chief Secretary hours after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) alerted that the cyclonic storm Amphan is very likely to "intensify" into a "severe cyclonic storm" in the next 12 hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm by the morning of May 18.

Also, to avoid any sort of untoward incident, the Odisha government has deployed ten teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur & Mayurbhanj districts of the state.

Seven teams are deployed at third NDRF BN Mundali in Cuttack.
Renowned Journalist and Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has reiterated calls for the government to lock down the epicentres of COVID-19.



The country's Coronavirus case count has risen to 5,735 from 5,638 on Saturday evening.



According to the GHS, there has been another increase in the number of recoveries from 1,460 to 1,754.



The number of deaths now stand at 29.



Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FMs morning show 'Kokrokoo' last Friday, Kwesi Pratt said in order to stop the spread of the virus, the government must lockdown the regions with a high prevalence of the virus.



"Lockdown epicentres now and I am not the only advocating for that..." he said.



Epicentres



The Ministry of Health (MoH) has identified, Accra and Tema in the Greater Accra Region and Kumasi and Obuasi in the Ashanti Region as the epicentres of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana.



We don't believe in lockdown any longer



The Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has said that the government of Ghana does not believe in the effectiveness of a lockdown as a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.



Speaking at a press conference by the Ministry of Information last Thursday, Mr Agyeman-Manu said lessons learnt by government after the imposition of restriction on movements in some parts of the country for a period, indicates that a lockdown is not going to help in the nations fight.





Listen to Kwesi Pratt Jnr. in the video below





Per the GHS statistics, only Savannah, Ahafo and Bono East remain the Regions without a confirmed case of Covid-19.



Regional breakdown



Greater Accra Region - 4,314



Ashanti Region - 818



Central Region - 210



Eastern Region - 99



Western Region - 98



Western North Region - 57



Volta Region - 34



Northern Region - 31



Upper East Region - 26



Oti Region - 24



Upper West Region - 21



North East Region - 2



Bono Region - 1



Savannah Region - 0



Ahafo Region - 0



Bono East Region - 0

Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com









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The components of the worlds first 3D printed engine are on display at the Australian International Airshow at the Avalon Airfield, Melbourne on February 27 2015. (PAUL CROCK/Getty Images)

Australian Recovery to Create Jobs and Become More Self Sufficient

A key member of the Morrison governments co-ordination team through the COVID-19 crisis believes the economic recovery in Australia will open up opportunities, particularly in manufacturing.

But National COVID-19 Co-ordination Commission chair Neville Powell warns some parts of the economy will take longer to recover than others, particularly businesses associated with international travel.

He said the crisis had shown Australia had become very reliant on international supply chains to the detriment of its own industry.

We have an opportunity with a relatively low Australian dollar, disruptive global supply chains and the low cost of capital to do something about that as we come out of the crisis and to generate a lot of jobs for Australians, he told Sky News on May 17.

We can produce more product here and become more self sufficient, then we dont rely as heavily on international supply chains to support our country and provide that sovereign capability that we need.

The commission was set up to help fix supply chains as the pandemic gripped the global economy and secure personal protective equipment for medical workers.

Powell said the commission was now working closely with businesses to help develop plans as to how they can work with the virus and getting them ready to introduce social distancing and personal hygiene in their workplaces, while putting in place response plans should outbreaks develop.

Figures last week showed the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on the economy with nearly 600,000 people losing their jobs in April, by far the biggest one-month fall in employment on record.

The jobless rate rose to a five-year high of 6.2 percent, but Treasury expects it will rise even further to 10 percent in the coming months.

Even so, Powell said some businesses have been able to operate reasonably well during the crisis, and as restrictions lift, hospitality and the arts will also come back  both big employers.

Some of the parts that are going to take longer is anything associated with international travel, thats going to take the longest to come back, he said.

Of the jobs losses in April, over 220,000 were seen in the most populous state of NSW.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said her state was more vulnerable to tourism and international trade disruption because Sydney is a global city.

Its our job now as a government to make sure we replace those jobs and reinvigorate parts of our economy, she told Sky News.

Were looking for opportunities in New South Wales now where we can push the boundaries on the economic side.

By Colin Brinsden
Brody Jenner bared his biceps in a tank top from surf brand The Mad Hueys while grabbing groceries, including a case of Coors Light, at Ralphs in Malibu on Saturday.

The 36-year-old reality star neglected to wear protective gloves or a cloth face mask as recommended by the Center for Disease Control back on April 3.

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti extended the stay-at home order 'beyond May 15' due to the 37,374 confirmed COVID-19 cases in LA County, which has led to 1,793 deaths as of Sunday.

Picking up a case of Coors Light: Brody Jenner bared his biceps in a tank top from surf brand The Mad Hueys while grabbing groceries at Ralphs in Malibu on Saturday

37K confirmed COVID-19 cases in LA: The 36-year-old reality star neglected to wear protective gloves or a cloth face mask as recommended by the CDC back on April 3

Staying at home is the last thing on Jenner's mind as he's been constantly on the beach riding his electronic surfboard and boating amid the coronavirus crisis.

Neither Brody (born Sam) nor his bros seem to have any fear about catching the fast-spreading respiratory illness while chilling on the sand closely together.

LA County only reopened beaches last Wednesday for land and water activities (sitting and sunbathing and group gatherings are still prohibited) and masks are required on all beaches.

The Hills: New Beginnings star last made headlines when his ex 'wife' Kaitlynn Carter - whom he split from August 2 - tagged him in a snap of herself on Thursday.

'Glamping': Staying at home is the last thing on Jenner's mind as he's been constantly on the beach riding his electronic surfboard and boating amid the coronavirus crisis

Tacky: Neither Brody nor his bros seem to have any fear about catching the fast-spreading respiratory illness while chilling on the sand closely together (pictured Friday)

Rule breaker: LA County only reopened beaches last Wednesday for land and water activities (sitting and sunbathing and group gatherings are still prohibited) and masks are required on all beaches (pictured April 24)

But Jenner and the bisexual 31-year-old have been reuniting as far back as January and February when they attended the Indonesian wedding of Chloe Chapman and Paul Nicholas Fisher together.

It was the first time the on/off couple since 2013 returned to Bali since their own June 2, 2018 'wedding' officiated by two Sumbanese priests at the Nihi Sumba resort, which was not legally binding.

Afterwards, Brody openly dated Next Model Josiphene 'Josie' Canseco, Select Model Allison Mason, and Wilhelmina Model Daniella Grace.

In the reflection! The Hills: New Beginnings star last made headlines when his ex 'wife' Kaitlynn Carter - whom he split from August 2 - tagged him in a snap of herself on Thursday

'Will we make it to LA alive?' But Jenner and the bisexual 31-year-old have been reuniting as far back as January and February when they attended the Indonesian wedding of Chloe Chapman and Paul Nicholas Fisher together (pictured February 24)

Fake: It was the first time the on/off couple since 2013 returned to Bali since their own June 2, 2018 'wedding' officiated by two Sumbanese priests at the Nihi Sumba resort, which was not legally binding

The DJ/nightclub host's Hills co-star Spencer Pratt told ET last month that the cast is filming the second season of their MTV reality series without camera crews during quarantine.

Jenner's newly-separated ex-girlfriend Kristin Cavallari is 'excited' to 'make an appearance' and 'go back and see the old gang.'

'It's a whole new production team, so hopefully it's not as manufactured, but we will see,' the 33-year-old mother-of-three told ET in March.

Still filming: Brody's Hills co-star Spencer Pratt (L) told ET last month that the cast is filming the second season of their MTV reality series without camera crews during quarantine

Nepotism: The DJ/nightclub host's first claim to fame was being the son of two-time Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner (L) and Elvis Presley's ex Linda Thompson (R, pictured 2019)

'I'm happy to be a part of an iconic show, Laguna Beach and The Hills. I mean, it's cool and I think it's awesome that people are still so invested in that here we are 10 years later.'

Back in 2006-2010, the Laguna Beach spin-off was frequently criticized for fabricating storylines.

Brody's first claim to fame was being the nepotistically-privileged son of two-time Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner and Elvis Presley's ex-girlfriend Linda Thompson.
Uttar Pradesh minister Shrikant Sharma on Sunday accused the opposition of merely paying lip service to the issue of migrant labourers.

"Instead of coming forward to help the migrant labourers, opposition parties are simply doing lip service," the state power minister told reporters.

He also underlined the various initiatives taken by the Centre to mitigate the hardships of the migrant labourers who have been forced to move to their native villages in the wake of coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown.

Sharma said the central government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing its best for the welfare of people during such times.

He said free LPG cylinders have been given to 8.5 crore families with facility of free ration, without discriminating between a ration card holder and others.

He said the Union government is spending Rs 3,500 crore on free ration of migrant labourers, which would cover their needs for at least two months.

"The government is running 1,034 trains for the safe journey of migrant labourers to their home and already 12 lakh migrants, mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have been sent to their destination," the minister said.

Taking a dig at the Congress, Sharma said the party leaders should acknowledge the slew of people-friendly measures taken by the Centre amid the outbreak of the pandemic.

He also termed the Auraiya accident wherein 25 migrant labourers lost their lives as 'unfortunate'.
For decades, Tony Marzullo has been seen at every major event in town  especially ones that celebrate veterans. And recently, he was the man of the hour as his service to his country and to his community was celebrated by First Selectman Fred Camillo.

By proclamation, Camillo declared May 8, 2020, to be Tony Marzullo Day, honoring the town resident who has passionately served and supported the towns veteran, horticultural, historical and educational nonprofit organizations for more than 60 years.

Marzullo, 91, is a lifelong resident of Cos Cob and his family goes back four generations in town. A veteran of the Army, Marzullo served in Germany during the Korean War as a combat medic and a pharmacist.

And his service didnt end there. He has been an advocate for the rights of veterans and was a founding member of the Cos Cob Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10112 back in 1968.

Marzullo continues to serve as service officer for The Post, which meets monthly and holds ceremonies in the Cos Cob VFW Pocket Park on Strickland Road on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The coronavirus outbreak will prevent the Post from holding its annual Memorial Day ceremony. But the work of the Post is ongoing as it continues to seek new members and help veterans.

Post members will lay a wreath at its memorial in the park at 11:15 a.m. May 25 and hold a moment of silence. The public is not encouraged to attend because of the need for social distancing.

Marzullo said he had not expected the honor and said it came out of the sky as a total surprise to him. He said it was put together by his friend Pam Schaefer in honor of his recent birthday.

I feel great, Marzullo said. I cant believe it.

Camillo also cited Marzullos work designing and maintaining the VFW Park, as well as his work in the Strickland Brook Park at Cos Cob Library. Marzullo also designed the area where six stone monoliths are now displayed at the Montgomery Pinetum Property. Camillo noted that Marzullos award-winning dinner plate dahlia have earned him the title of Cos Cob Dahlia King.

Marzullo was an early supporter of Camillo, who is his cousin, when he first ran for public office. But the decision to honor him went far beyond family connections, Camillo said.

Glenville

Aquarion Water Co. is reminding residents that it will begin work to clean water mains on Monday  and that work could cause temporary discoloration of the water.

The work will take place throughout town for the next 11 weeks. It is scheduled to begin Monday in Glenville, Cos Cob, Old Greenwich, and Riverside. According to Aquarion, the work may cause a temporary disturbance of water flow and stir up naturally occurring minerals inside the water mains.

Customers are asked to store water in their refrigerators for drinking and cooking, and refrain from washing laundry in discolored water. The work is scheduled to shift weekly around town and Aquarion has set up a project page to provide updates at www.aquarionwater.com/alerts-and-outages.

Work will take place Sunday through Thursday, from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. to minimize disruptions. Aquarion Director of Public Relations Peter Fazekas said that no excavation work will be required.

We will have two technicians cleaning water mains each evening, Fazekas said. They will be opening hydrants and blow-offs to remove naturally occurring minerals that settle to the bottom of water mains. Customers may experience temporary discoloration when a hydrant or blow-off is opened in their area. The technicians will keep the hydrant or blow-off flowing until the water is running clear and then move on to the next area.

Central Greenwich

To mark National EMS Week, the Junior League of Greenwich has launched a new social media campaign #JLGThankourheroes.

As part of the campaign, the league is calling on the community to create thank you cards, heart-felt video messages, drawings or simple posts of thanks. The league is also asking residents to post them to their Facebook pages using the #JLGThankourheroes hashtag from May 18 to May 23.

And while this is done as part of National EMS Week, it is not limited to honoring the work Greenwich Emergency Medical Service does as front-line first responders in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Junior League of Greenwich wants to know who your hero has been in the Town of Greenwich over the past couple months, the league said in a statement. It could be an individual person or a group working in a support field.  A virtual collection of all the cards and photos on Facebook can be seen as a united expression of appreciation from the community of Greenwich.

The league wants to celebrate the bravery and ongoing dedication of our Greenwich heroes during the pandemic.

We are so grateful for all those heroes working to make our community safe and secure, league president Hilary Watson said. We can never express enough gratitude for all they are doing. We hope many will join us to say lots of virtual thanks. The JLG encourages residents to recognize as many of their everyday heroes as they can, from doctors, nurses, and teachers, to delivery drivers, and grocery and drug store staff. There have been so many unsung heroes who continue to work each day to support the community of Greenwich by providing essential food, medicine, and services to our citizens during this time.

Greenwich

One result of quarantine life? Wine sales have shot up across the country. Greenwich residents now can experience the best of what vineyards have to offer and help out the Breast Cancer Alliance in the process.

The BCA  a Greenwich based nonprofit that provides funds for surgical fellowships, research grants and services for underserved women  will host an online wine-tasting with Joseph Carr, founder of Josh Cellars and Joseph Carr Wines. Carr has been praised by New York Times writer Eric Asimov for his wines of balance and restraint.

The BCA said Carrs wine-making philosophy is balance, sophistication and approachability; an old-world style producer, but distinctly Californian.

The adults-only wine-tasting will be held via Zoom on Thursday, May 21, and packages ranging from $150 to $1,000 are available for purchase. Orders coming from outside Greenwich or Westchester County must be placed by noon May 18.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, so many events have been postponed, BCA Executive Director Yonni Wattenmaker said. This wine-tasting event seemed like something fun to offer wine lovers who are missing nights out while also raising funding to support the ongoing work of Breast Cancer Alliance.

The event is for adults age 21 and older. More information is available at www.breastcanceralliance.org/events.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
Russian Navy Search-and-rescue forces of the Northern Fleet and the White Sea naval base are supporting the state trials of the Project 955A Borei-A class lead nuclear-powered submarine Knyaz Vladimir, the Russia Defense Ministrys press office said, on May 15, 2020.

Russian Navy Search-and-rescue forces of the Northern Fleet and the White Sea naval base are supporting the state trials of the Project 955A Borei-A class lead nuclear-powered submarine Knyaz Vladimir, the Russia Defense Ministrys press office said, on May 15, 2020.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Russian Navy Borei-A Knyaz Vladimir submarine during sea trials. (Picture source Wikimedia)

The submarine has gone to the White Sea from Severodvinsk in north Russia, the Russian press office added. The current stage of the trials in the White Sea is being supported by the Zvyozdochka rescue tugboat and the Mikhail Rudnitsky rescue vessel.

The sea trials will last several days and take place above water and then underwater. During the trials, work to remove faults detected earlier will be checked and then it will be decided when the submarine can join the Northern Fleet, the press office said.

The major part of the trials, including missile and underwater firing, was completed by the Knyaz Vladimir in late 2019. At that time, the submarine was supported by forces of the Northern Fleets White Sea naval base.

The Borei class, Russian designation Project 955 Borei and Project 955A Borei-A are series of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines being constructed by Sevmash for the Russian Navy. The Borei submarine is approximately 170 meters (560 ft) long, 13 meters (43 ft) in diameter, and have a maximum submerged speed of at least 46 kilometers per hour (25 kn; 29 mph).



Borei-A submarine is equipped with improved communication and detection systems, improved acoustic signature and has major structural changes such as addition of all moving rudders and vertical endplates to the hydroplanes for higher maneuverability, and a different sail geometry. This submarine is also equipped with hydraulic jets and improved screws that allows them to sail at nearly 30 knots while submerged with minimal noise. According to Russian report, the Borei-A is able to carry 20 Bulava SLBM and is armed with 16 SLBMs with 6-10 nuclear warheads atop each, just like the Borei submarines.
Sun Trans first electric bus was put into service Sunday in an effort to help curb harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Itll provide riders with easier accessibility, a quieter ride and thus more comfortable trips while traveling around Tucson, Sun Tran said.

Electric buses offer many benefits, including reducing pollution that disproportionately affects low-income families and contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero in a video announcing the new bus.

The Environmental Protection Agency says nearly 30% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector, which is the largest portion of emissions, according to the EPAs most recent statistics.

The bus was produced by California-based manufacturer Gillig and will be in service for at least the next year as part of a pilot program.

Sun Tran said the electric bus will be used on various routes to test its performance in the transit system and in Arizonas climate.
Vijay Kumar, a jobless factory worker, waited for hours along with his wife and two children under a flyover at Ghazipur, hoping to get a bus to his home town Sitapur after police stopped them at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border on Sunday.

The 28-year-old, who said he was not paid since March by the footwear factory in Tikri, Gurgaon where he was employed, started the 600-km journey to his hometown on Saturday evening, walking with his wife Suman, daughter Arushi (2) and son Sunny (4).

Kumar was among the hundreds of migrant factory workers, daily wagers, street vendors, all rendered jobless due to the coronavirus lockdown, who were heading towards their homes in states like UP and Bihar but were stranded on the Delhi border after the police stopped them from walking on foot for their onward journey.

With worry and despair writ large on their faces, many said there was no reason for them to stay back.

"There was no way but to go back to Sitapur because I was paid nothing since March," said Kumar.

"I thought I will catch a bus on the UP border. But there is no transport here. I just have around Rs 700 and there is little help from anyone. If nothing is available, I will walk with my family to go to Sitapur," said the desperate man.

Anil Soni, a house painter by profession, too tried to cross Delhi-UP border along with his family when the policemen stopped them.

"I lost work because of lockdown and coronavirus, because people do not want any unknown person to enter their homes," he said.

Accompanied by his wife and three children, the youngest just ten months old, Soni hoped to make it to his home in Badayun in UP.

"I will not come back here even if I have to beg at home. This is no life. Can you tell me what am I supposed to do. Policemen do not allow us to go ahead and there are no buses or trains even if one is ready to buy a ticket," he said, the frustration palpable in his voice.

The dirt and filth covered area under the flyover at the border served as a temporary shelter for the stranded migrants as policemen did not allow them to enter Ghaziabad.

"We have been directed to ensure that no person without proper authorisation crosses the border. There is nothing we can do for these people," said a Delhi police officer present on the spot.

Food and water was arranged by some social organisations and members of Youth Congress for the stranded people whose only worry was to reach home.

Among them was a group of eight farm labourers trying to reach Bahraich in UP on their cycles.

I have nothing with me now, because I used Rs 4,000 for purchasing this bicycle. Now the policemen are saying to keep it at the police station and go to a shelter of Delhi government. I am not going anywhere, I will not move from here," said 21-year-old Babloo.

The group worked at a farmhouse in Najfagarh from where they were evicted by the owner after the wheat crop was harvested.

"We have our own fields in Bahraich but we came here to earn some cash. I will not do this ever again, even if I starve at home," said Naresh, one of the eight sharing five bicycles.

Two teenagers walked from Panipat in Haryana, hoping to reach their home in Gorakhpur.

"Can I get a train? We walked from Panipat thinking we will catch a bus or truck. I have heard that government has started trains," said 18-year-old Ankit who ran a food stall in Panipat before the coronavirus lockdown started on March 25.

Shramik special trains are being run since May 1 to take the migrants back to their native states, but a large number of people have not been able to avail the facility.

Buses have also been arranged by some states, still they have been inadequate forcing the migrants to trek for hundreds of kilometres or travel in crowded trucks and other vehicles on long perilous road journeys.

After a collision between a truck and trailer, which were ferrying migrants, left at least 26 dead in Auraiya, the Uttar Pradesh government had directed border districts to not allow any such movement, and to make provision of buses for such stranded people.
Gujarat will be divided into



containment and non-containment zones, and economic activities will be allowed in non-containment zones in the state during the extended lockdown period as the per the Centre's guidelines, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Sunday.

He said a meeting of all district officials will be held for notifying containment zones and the fourth phase of the lockdown will be implemented from Tuesday.

"The Centre has given powers to states to decide on red zones, orange zones and green zones. We have decided to divide the state in containment zones and non-containment zones," Rupani said in a video address.

"All industrial and commercial activities will be allowed in non-containment zones, be it Ahmedabad city or Surat or Vadodara, as per directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs," Rupani said after chairing a high-level meeting with state ministers and officials.

The meeting was held after the Union government issued guidelines for the extended lockdown which will be in force till May 31.

He further said that granting relaxations does not mean that the coronavirus ceases to exist.

"Everybody needs to take utmost precautions when the state is starting economic activities. We have to wear masks and maintain social distance. We must wash our hands regularly to save ourselves," the CM said.

He said people not wearing masks and those spitting in public places will be fined Rs 200 for the violations.

Rupani said that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will be issued on Monday regarding opening of shops, starting of state transport bus service and inter-city bus services.

"Everybody will have to follow SOPs strictly so that spread of COVID-19 is checked. This is a long battle and we need to win it," he said.

Gujarat has reported 11,380 COVID-19 cases and 659 deaths so far.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Taniya Sahni By

Trump is the oaf. Obama is the star. Michelle is the superstar behind the star in the galaxy of the American Presidency. At least, thats the impression you get on Becoming, Nadia Hallgrens rookie documentary centred around the former first ladys 34-city tour for the release of her eponymous memoir, which sold 1.4 million copies in its first week. Barack has only a minor guest appearance, as he says, like Jay-Z coming out at the Beyonce concert. The book tour is just the context.

The focus is on Brand Michelle. Hallgren has crafted a new myth. Michelle was the most powerful and impactful US presidential spouse after Jacqueline Kennedy, though her style quotient didnt please Fox News (until the shimmering thigh high Balenciaga boots did the trick during her book tour chat with Sarah Jessica Parker). The film is an honest account of the becoming of Michelle, from overcoming racism and misogyny to her Princeton days to Pennsylvania Avenue to the post White House time.

Melissa Winter, senior advisor, speaks of Michelles nervousness during presidential campaigns to becoming the darling of liberal America. Hallgren captures the poignant loneliness of the attorney thrust into the harsh limelight of Washingtons power universe: Michelle would call Secret Service agent Allen Taylor her brother. Disappointingly, the film has gone easy on the family front with a few pastiches of light dining table conversations and an old family home visit. Dont miss the wry humour: no sleepover party with friends for her daughter because the Trumps were coming to dinner. As she gets on board Air Force One for the last time, Mrs Obama sobs. It was a release of eight years of trying to do everything perfectly, she said. Goodbye to all that? Only the next four years will tell.

Becoming

Platform: Netflix

Directed by: Nadia Hallgren

Genre: Documentary


Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab held crisis talks last week after a fresh diplomatic storm with the United States over the case of Harry Dunn, The Mail on Sunday has learnt.

The Downing Street meeting came after it emerged British law enforcement officers had put an international wanted notice on former CIA agent Anne Sacoolas, who has been charged with dangerous driving after killing the teenage motorcyclist and then fleeing Britain claiming diplomatic immunity.

The high level talks on Thursday were also attended by Home Secretary Priti Patel and Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill after Washington went berserk that they had not been told about the Interpol request to have Sacoolas arrested if she left the United States.

The Downing Street meeting came after it emerged British law enforcement officers had put an international wanted notice on former CIA agent Anne Sacoolas (pictured in Virginia)

The Mail on Sunday can reveal the order given, initially reported as a Red Notice  the worlds most wanted status sent to all member states of the international crime fighting organisation  was actually a Red Diffusion Notice, that was only sent to certain countries, including Canada.

The US authorities, who are refusing to extradite Sacoolas back to Britain to face justice, were deliberately not told about the plan in the hope she would leave the country and could be arrested and sent to face trial in Britain.

However, Northamptonshire Police are being blamed at the highest levels of Government for revealing the secret ruse drawn up by the Crown Prosecution Service and Britains FBI, the National Crime Agency.

A law enforcement source said: If she had slipped across the border for a Canadian holiday, we would have had her, but thats blown now.

Mrs Sacoolas, 42, is charged in the UK with causing the death the 19-year-old Harry Dunn (pictured) by dangerous driving following a crash in Northamptonshire in August last year

Harry Dunn's parents Tim Dunn (right) and Charlotte Charles (left) appeared on Good Morning Britain with Piers Morgan

News broke of the Red Notice issued by Interpol on the afternoon of May 11. It officially made her a 'fugitive on the run'

Ministers and officials were caught off-guard after the notice was disclosed and were confronted by furious US counterparts, reigniting the bitter diplomatic spat regarding the case.

The Mail on Sunday has also learnt that Northamptonshire Police were pressured to put out a statement distancing themselves from the Red Notice leak, despite emailing Harrys family with news of it last week.

At Thursdays meeting, the senior Ministers also discussed ending the legal loophole that allowed the United States government to insist that Sacoolas was above the law through her husbands work as a diplomat at the US spy base RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire.

A waiver for criminal immunity drawn up in the 1990s for staff working at the base did not specifically mention spouses, leading to US State Department lawyers to pounce on the loophole and spirit Sacoolas out of the country.

Harry Dunn's mother and father Tim Dunn and Charlotte Charles have campaigned tirelessly for justice over the crash

Ms Sacoolas (left) was eventually charged with causing death by dangerous driving of Harry Dunn (right) in December

Mr Raab has called this an anomaly and vowed to update all US treaties relating to Americans working in the UK.

Last night, Government sources said No 10 had taken a renewed interest in the case in the light of revelations by The Mail on Sunday about the botched handling of Mr Dunns tragic death by the police and Foreign Office.

The meeting came just two weeks after Harrys twin brother Niall wrote to Downing Street to demand that Mr Johnson get a grip on the issue.

The CPS said: In December 2019, the CPS authorised Northamptonshire Police to charge Anne Sacoolas with causing death by dangerous driving. Our aim continues to be that Mrs Sacoolas stands trial in this country.

We will continue to do everything we can to seek to ensure that happens. We are unable, however, to give any explanation of what steps may or may not be taken, because to do so may compromise operational effectiveness.
Roman Catholics in a town in eastern France were able to attend mass in their cars on Sunday, in the country's first drive-in religious service since the start of a lockdown eight weeks ago aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus.

The mass, held in the town of Chalons-en-Champagne, began with priests in white robes and wearing black face masks holding a procession through the parking lot, as a hymn was played and cars honked their horns.

The local bishop, Francois Touvet, stood on a podium in front of the cars as he led the service. Priests later gave out communion wafers to the faithful as they sat in their cars.

The virus outbreak and government restrictions on all public gatherings, intended to curb the spread of the virus, have forced many people in France and around the world to come up with innovative solutions to continue their activities.

France began cautiously to emerge from its lockdown on May 11, but indoor religious services remain banned until the end of the month as the government seeks to contain the risks of a second wave of infections.

"It (the lockdown) was really a deprivation for Catholics, as it was for other religions, not being able to gather in our places of worship... We very quickly came up with the idea of this formula of a drive-in mass," Bishop Touvet said.

MASKS AND SANITISER

"People are in their cars, they come from the same apartment or the same house, they have alcohol gels and masks. The cars are one metre apart from each other, we give communion, and then we wash our hands," Touvet added.

Worshippers are prohibited from leaving their vehicle, car-pooling is banned and a maximum number of four people from the same household are allowed per vehicle.

France has so far reported 142,291 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 27,625 deaths, among the world's highest fatality rates.

One worshipper, Michelle, was delighted to be able to attend mass again.

"There's mass on television but it's not the same as being with the community at a Sunday service," she said.

Similar drive-in masses have taken place in other countries including Poland, where a priest has started taking confessions from the faithful in the parking lot of his church in Warsaw.

In Greece, by contrast, after the easing of a ban on public gatherings, thousands of people returned to church on Sunday after weeks of having to stay away.
Shops, restaurants and hair salons prepared to reopen in Italy on Monday as the government further eased one of the worlds strictest coronavirus lockdowns, saying it was taking a calculated risk to put the country back on its feet.

The euro zones third biggest economy is slowly emerging from more than two months of hibernation, with businesses allowed to gradually go back to work as long they can enforce tight sanitary protocols and keep people at least 1 metre apart.

At Milans upscale Rinascente department store, guards will keep count through an app of how many people are in the store at any one time. Clothes tried on in changing rooms will be quarantined for 24 hours and shop assistants will spill perfumes on paper tissues rather than having customers handle testers. Access to restaurants will be strictly limited, with only family members allowed to sit close to each other.

Rinascentes Chief Executive Pierluigi Cocchini said it was difficult to predict what appetite there would be to shop after weeks of isolation. The store is reopening with markdowns of up to 60% as, like most retailers, it needs to clear unsold stocks.

The hope is to take a step towards normality. It wont be business as usual given all the protocols, but this is the new normal for now and we have to accept it, he told Reuters.

Tourists, still absent, would normally generate a third of the stores sales.

Italys fashion industry alone, boasting brands like Armani, Prada and Moncler, accounts for 5% of gross domestic product.

Business association Confcommercio expects consumer spending for clothing, which stood at 60 billion euros ($65 billion) in 2019, to shrink by 20% this year and a quarter of the countrys 115,000 fashion retailers to go bust.

I know that for several sectors of the economy, reopening does not mean recovery, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said late on Saturday as he announced the lifting of the restrictions.

With its economy facing severe recession and public debt expected to spiral to more than 150% of its annual economic output, the government has been desperate to get the country back to work without triggering a second wave of the epidemic.

We have to restart, said Rosy Riente, which runs the Cafe de lAnge in the posh Alpine resort of Courmayeur, even though distancing rules mean that she can now sit a maximum of 35 people at any one time in her bar instead of 100.

So far all we have done is spend money to buy sanitising gels and disinfectants, she said.

Others prefer to wait until European borders reopen on June 3. Tourism contributes 13% to the countrys economic output.

My shop looks like a hospital, with plexiglass screens at the till, sanitisers, face masks and gloves, said Maurizio Di Rienzo, owner of suitcase shop Pellux in central Milan, whose eight employees have been furloughed.

90% of my clients are tourists, most of them Chinese. It doesnt make sense for me to reopen just yet.

($1 = 0.9246 euros)

Italys daily coronavirus death toll and new cases fall

The daily death toll from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy fell to 145 on Sunday, the lowest since March 9, against 153 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, while the daily tally of new cases fell to a March-4 low of 675 from 875 on Saturday.

The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on Feb. 21 now stands at 31,908 the agency said, the third highest in the world after those of the United States and Britain.

The number of confirmed cases amounts to 225,435, the sixth highest global tally behind those of the United States, Spain, Britain, Russia and Brazil.

People registered as currently carrying the illness fell to 68,351 from 70,187 the day before.

There were 762 people in intensive care on Sunday, down from 775 on Saturday, maintaining a long-running decline. Of those originally infected, 125,176 were declared recovered against 122,810 a day earlier.

The agency said a total of 1.933 million people had been tested for the virus as of Sunday, against 1.900 million on Saturday, out of a population of around 60 million.

SOURCE: REUTERS
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday the overall economic stimulus package under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission amounts to Rs 20,97,053 as she gave a summary of the funds issued so far.

According to Nirmala Sitharaman, the first tranche of announcements amounts to Rs 594,550 crore under the economic package talked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She had focused on the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the middle class on Wednesday.

The stimulus provided in the second tranche of the economic package was Rs 310,000 crores and Rs 150,000 crore was announced in the third tranche.

The finance minister had announced the One Nation One Ration Card, free food grain supply to migrants and creation of affordable rental housing complexes (ARHC) in urban areas for migrant workers and poor under the Covid-19 stimulus package on Thursday.

She had announced Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund for farm gate infrastructure for farmers and Rs 10,000 crore scheme for the formalisation of Micro Food Enterprises (MFEs) under the Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package on Friday.

She also proposed amendments to the Essential Commodities Act to enable better price realisation for farmers and said no stock limit should apply to processors or value chain participants.

In the fourth and fifth tranches of the economic package amounts to Rs 48,100 crore, the Union finance minister said.

The finance minister said on Saturday said eight sectors will undergo structural reforms, which include coal, minerals, defence production, airspace managements & airports, MRO, power distribution companies in Union territories, space and atomic energy.

She focussed on MGNREGA, health, education, business, decriminalisation of companies act, ease of doing business, public sector and enterprises and state government and resources related to the state governments on Sunday.

She added that earlier measures, including Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP), amount to Rs 192,800 and measures of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was Rs 801,603.
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York on March 20, 2020. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Calls for Scrutiny of US-Listed Chinese Companies Will Benefit Investors

Commentary

When Chinese beverage brand Luckin Coffee admitted to fraudwiping out $8.3 billion of value from U.S. investors pocketbooksthe scandal highlighted the risks of investing in Chinese companies.

In an interview with Fox Business Network last week, President Donald Trump said his administration is looking at Chinese companies such as Luckin that are listed on U.S. exchanges yet dont always follow U.S. disclosure and accounting guidelines.

Investing bears risks. And investors understand that companies from emerging markets (such as China) bear an even higher risk-reward ratio, due to the less mature economy and less developed markets of their local countries.

But thats not all with Chinese companies. There are additional risks that investors may not be aware of. While being listed on U.S. stock exchanges, Chinese companies such as Luckin arent held to the same accounting and disclosure standards as U.S. companies listed on those same exchanges.

There were 172 Chinese companies listed on U.S. exchanges that were valued at more than $1 trillion as of September last year, according to an annual report issued by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

Theyre not on a level playing field with U.S. companies.

The U.S. stock market is home to companies from a multitude of industries, geographies, and financial positions. Investors ability to determine the fair price of a companys stock is vital to the healthy functioning of the market. A level playing field and the integrity of market participants is paramount. Thats why the Trump administrations investigations into Chinese companies should be a welcome development for investors.

Loopholes

As a starting point, Chinese companies should be bound by the same set of rules and guidelines as other companies listed on U.S. exchanges. But due to certain loopholes that U.S.-listed Chinese companies have exploited, they have more lax requirements compared to their American counterparts.

All U.S. companies are audited, and their auditors are professionally licensed accountants. The auditors work papersthe detailed records of their examination of their clients accountscan be routinely examined by the U.S. accounting industry watchdog, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).

However, Chinese companieseven the U.S.-listed onesare audited by Chinese accounting firms who dont have to answer to the PCAOB or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC has attempted since 2013 to strike a deal with Chinese regulatory authorities to obtain the work papers of Chinese companies, but has been unsuccessful so far. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership views the accounts and financial records of Chinese companies as state secrets.

Following the Enron and WorldCom accounting fraud scandals of the early 2000s, the United States enacted the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to provide additional oversight to publicly traded companies. Among other things, the chief executives and chief financial officers of publicly traded companies must annually attest to the internal controls of their companies, and must certify that they are unaware of fraudulent acts. In certain cases, they can be held criminally liable for fraudulent acts under their watch.

Chinese companies listed on U.S. exchanges arent subject to such oversight.

Additionally, Chinese companies listed in the United States are all considered foreign private issuers. Certain requirements must be met to be considered foreign private issuers (FPIs), but once certified, FPIs enjoy additional advantages compared to their U.S. counterparts.

All U.S.-listed companies must file quarterly financial statements reviewed by their auditors. But the SEC grants FPIs an exemption: the quarterly requirement is waived.

These rules were originally put in place to ease the regulatory and reporting burden of companies that predominantly list their shares on another exchange. For example, a German multinational company that lists its shares primarily on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange must abide by German regulatory standards, and the SEC didnt want to overly burden a company that may have an additional listing in New York.

But no such burden exists for Chinese companies. Most Chinese companies traded in the United States are primarily listed in New York, and have no other regulatory reporting burden. So the FPI rules actually provide Chinese companies a loophole that allows significantly less transparency than their Western counterparts.

While most investors probably dont pay too much attention to filed financial reports or CEO certifications, they play a major role in establishing trust, integrity, and honesty in operations of a company. The U.S. regulatory framework has checks and balances in place, which affords U.S. investors the luxury to not have to pay attention to such details.

Its easy to forget that shareholders are owners, and as owners of these publicly traded companies, they must trust that their companies are functioning properly and executives are acting in good faith. Investors may have taken that for granted, given the long history of U.S. stock markets, but they cant afford to be so blase towards Chinese stocks.

Integrity and trust have defined the U.S. stock markets for a century. Regulators must ensure that they endure for the next century.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
NATO, which stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a political and military alliance of 30 North American and European countries. The purpose of NATO is to guarantee the security and freedom of its member countries through both political and military means. In terms of politics, NATO strives to promote democratic values and enable its members to consult and cooperate on matters related to defense and security in order to solve problems, build trust, and prevent conflict.

Contents:

The NATO Flag

NATO flag.

The NATO flag consists of a white compass rose on a dark blue field, with white lines stretching out from the four points of the compass. The navy blue represents the Atlantic Ocean. The compass rose and the four white lines emanating from its points symbolize the movement towards the path of peace. The dark blue and white colors of the flag represent the shared desire of NATO member states to maintain peace. The basic design of the flag is attributed to a member of the organizations International Staff.

The Concept Of NATO

The whole idea of NATO revolves around the concept of collective security, which is a term used to describe countries coming together in the face of a common threat. After World War II ended, the countries of Western Europe, the United States, and Canada perceived the Soviet Union as a common threat to the basic principles of freedom and democracy that all these countries supposedly stood for. Thus, the leaders of the aforementioned countries decided to create a defensive alliance in order to counter the threat that the Soviet Union and its European satellite states posed to their countries freedom and sovereignty.

The agreement that created NATO is known as the North Atlantic Treaty, hence the organizations acronym. The treaty was signed by NATOs 12 founding members on April 4, 1949, in Washington DC, which is why the agreement is sometimes referred to as the Washington Treaty. The treaty derives its legitimacy and authority from Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which affirms the right of countries to defend themselves both individually and collectively.

A NATO ship during anti-piracy operations.

Under the terms of the Washington Treaty, each member state of NATO commits to assuming the risks, responsibilities, and benefits of the collective defense that the organization provides. The treaty also states that NATOs members form a unique community with common values, which include democracy, individual liberty, human rights, and the rule of law.

NATOs commitment to the collective security of all of its members is best exemplified in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. This article stipulates that if one of the member states is attacked, that attack will be perceived by other member states as an attack on all of NATOs member states. It would be a long time, however, before this article of the treaty would actually be invoked after the first signing of the treaty. Also, Article 5 does not automatically commit NATO members to declare war when one member state is attacked. Rather, it is up to each country to decide how to respond should an attack on a fellow NATO member occur.

The History Of NATO

The idea of countries coming together to counter a common threat is not new. It has existed for about as long as there have been nation-states. History is filled with conflicts in which countries come together to protect themselves against what they perceive to be threats to their security, sovereignty, and values. The idea for the creation of NATO came shortly after WWII came to a close. The leaders of Western Europe were growing worried as they observed the Soviet Union asserting their control over the Eastern European countries that they had occupied during the war. They were concerned that the Soviet Union would soon try to impose its ideology on the rest of Europe. At the same time, the countries of Western Europe were dismantling much of their defense capabilities following the brutality of the Second World War.

In January of 1948, British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin suggested the drafting of a treaty that would create a regionally-based military alliance to provide collective security, based on the principles of the UN Charter. The US was willing to lend military support to Western Europe, but only under the condition that Western Europe was united. The European countries of France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom responded to this stipulation by creating what was known as the Western Union, which was designed to strengthen ties between the five countries and provide a mechanism of mutual defense. This Western Union formed the basis for the negotiations that took place in order to establish what became NATO.

Map of the Iron Curtain from 1945-1991.

For about 40 years, NATOs main objective was to counter the threat posed by the Soviet Union and its satellite states in Eastern Europe, which were united under what could be described as the communist version of NATO, the Warsaw Pact. But in 1989, communism in Europe was coming to an end. The fall of the Berlin Wall represented the fall of the Iron Curtain that had divided Europe between east and west since the end of WWII. Two years later, the Soviet Union, which led the communist bloc, ceased to exist. Thus, NATO was left without an adversary. Indeed, after the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War, some wondered if NATO could endure in the absence of the threat it was made to counter.

NATO did endure. In fact, it was not during the Cold War that military forces under the banner of NATO became active, but after. In 1995, for example, NATO forces were activated in order to implement the Dayton Peace Accord that ended the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1999, the organization took military action to protect ethnic Albanians in the Serbian province of Kosovo.

Two years later, Article 5 of the Washington Treaty was invoked for the first time following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US. This led to NATOs first counterterrorism operation, which involved aircraft patrols in the skies over the US. Another counterterrorism operation was undertaken by NATO in the form of Operation Active Endeavour, which involved NATO forces patrolling the Mediterranean Sea in an effort to prevent terrorist activities that could disrupt one of the worlds busiest trade routes.

In 2003, NATO took command of the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, which was established after the US invasion of the country in response to the 9/11 attacks. Between 2009 and 2016, NATO was involved in counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa. In 2011, following a popular uprising in Libya against its ruler, Moammar Gadhafi, NATO forces took charge of enforcing UN resolutions to protect Libyan civilians. It began by enforcing an arms embargo and a no-fly zone in the country, but eventually undertook air and naval strikes against Libyan military forces.

NATO Expands

As NATOs role in the world has grown, so has its membership. When the organization was founded, it had 12 member states. During the Cold War, three new countries joined the group. Turkey and Greece joined in 1952, and West Germany joined in 1955. In 1982, Spain became a member of the alliance. Thus, when the Cold War came to an end, NATOs membership had grown to 15 members.

By 2020, the number of countries that were part of NATO doubled to 30 countries. This great expansion began in 1999 when three countries that were formally part of the Warsaw Pact were admitted into the alliance. These countries were Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Five years later, seven additional countries from Eastern Europe were allowed to join. Croatia and Albania joined the alliance in 2009. The former Yugoslav republic of Montenegro would become a NATO member in 2017. In 2020, NATO welcomed its newest member, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, now known as North Macedonia.

NATO Today

At the NATO summit in Warsaw, Poland, in 2016.

Far from being a relic of the Cold War, NATO remains active around the world. In fact, the organization has just under 20,000 military personnel involved in NATO activities worldwide. These activities include NATOs leadership of operations in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and the Mediterranean Sea. They also include a training mission in Iraq, in which NATO is helping to develop the capacities of the countrys security forces. NATO also provides support to the African Union in its peacekeeping efforts. One of NATOs latest operations includes air policing in Eastern Europe. According to NATO, this air policing is being done in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014. Indeed, NATO claims to have intercepted a number of Russian aircraft violating the airspace of its allies.

As its operations around the world continue, NATO still strives to expand its membership. The organization even has a unique program designed to help countries that wish to join the alliance, known as the Membership Action Plan (MAP). Ten Eastern European countries were participants in this program before they became NATO members. At present, Bosnia and Herzegovina is participating in this program in the hopes of becoming a full member state of NATO in the future.
Representative image

With the formation of cyclonic storm 'Amphan' likely to impact Odisha from May 18, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday put a target of zero casualty before administration, which is in the midst of a battle against COVID-19.

Considering the gravity of the cyclonic storm, the state government during the day urged the Centre to temporarily suspend 'Shramik Special' trains passing through areas falling in the direction of the cyclone.

Since the sea condition will be rough to very rough over south and adjoining central Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, it warned fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Odisha coast from May 18 onwards.

Similarly, fishermen in West Bengal have also been advised not to venture into north Bay of Bengal along and off West Bengal-Odisha coasts from May 18 to 21, and those who are out in the sea were asked to return to the coasts by May 17.

According to the latest India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin, the deep depression over Southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood remained practically stationary during the past six hours and rapidly intensified into a cyclonic storm 'Amphan' (pronounced as UM-PUN).

It lay centred over the same region at 5.30 pm on Saturday near latitude 10.9N and longitude 86.3E, about 1,040 km south of Paradip (Odisha), 1,200 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1300 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh).

The cyclone is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm by May 18 morning.

It is very likely to move north-northwestwards initially till May 17 and then recurve north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal towards West Bengal and adjoining North Odisha coasts during May 18 to 20, the IMD said.

Patnaik reviewed the state's preparedness to face the cyclone, which according to the IMD will impact the state between May 17 and 20.

"As always, saving lives is our priority. We should put our best efforts to save every precious human life," Patnaik told top officials and collectors of the 12 districts, which are put on alert following the IMDs forecast.

He had a video conference with the district collectors of Ganjam, Gajapti, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda and Nayagarh.

Patnaik also directed the district collectors to prepare an evacuation plan keeping in view the IMD's forecast and shift people living in low-laying area and also from thatched and mud houses in order to save their lives during the possible calamity. In a bid to boost the morale of the district collectors, who are working day in and day out in the COVID-19 management, Patnaik said,"We have in the past faced many very severe cyclones like Phailin, Hudhud, Titli, Fani and Bulbul. We can also handle the challenge now."

The threat of the fresh cyclone, comes a year after cyclone 'Fani' barrelled through vast parts of Odisha on May 3, 2019, claiming at least 64 lives and destroying infrastructure in power, telecom and other vital sectors.

Odisha was also hit by cyclone 'Bulbul' in October, 2019.

With regard to the impact on the Odisha coast, the IMD issued yellow warning (be updated) and forecast squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to commence along and off south Odisha coast from May 18 evening.

The IMD also issued an orange warning (be prepared) for the state, saying squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely along and off the Odisha coast from May 19 morning.

The wind speed will gradually increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 75 to 85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph from May 20 morning along and off north Odisha coast. It will gradually increase thereafter, the IMD cautioned.

Special Relief Commissioner P K Jena said the state government has kept all its apparatus ready to meet the eventuality.

"All fishermen are now out of the sea as we have been preparing for the eventuality for the last two days," he said, adding all the line departments have been kept in readiness. The movement of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Fire Service personnel has already started.

"We are also in constant touch with the Indian Coast Guard, IMD and NDRF for any requirement," Jena said, adding that Chief Secretary A K Tripathy has also apprised the Union Cabinet secretary about the state's preparedness.

During a video conference with Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Odisha chief secretary A K Tripathy made a request to temporarily suspend 'Shramik Special' trains passing through areas in the state that are likely to be affected by the cyclone.

Jena said the impending situation could create problems in receiving the passengers and taking them to quarantine centres as per the COVID-19 guidelines.

He said of the 809 cyclone shelters in the 12 coastal districts, 242 are used as temporary medical camp for the returnees coming from COVID-19 states.

The government has also suspended leave of all government employees in 12 coastal districts.

In West Bengal, Regional Met Director G K Das said, under cyclone impact, the coastal districts of Gangetic West Bengal, including North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, East and West Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly will experience heavy to very heavy rain on May 19 and 20, Das said.
If you were to mix a little bit of flour and water together and let the mixture sit on a counter, bacteria would begin to grow, which creates an acidic environment. But certain kinds of yeast  found naturally in flour, on your hands and in the air  have evolved to withstand that acid, and soon they begin to colonize the goo. In a few hours, you can see evidence of this when the whole concoction slowly starts to bubble.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says the APC-led administrations inability to account for the whereabouts of the Chinese medical t...





The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says the APC-led administrations inability to account for the whereabouts of the Chinese medical team brought into Nigeria, amounts to a direct betrayal of public trust.





The main opposition party expressed concern that the APC-led Federal Government is being economical with the truth, while its officials are playing politics with the lives of Nigerian citizens and health safety of the nation.





The Party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, noted that the situation has heightened fears of conspiracies by certain unpatriotic interests in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to compromise the health architecture of the nation and expose its citizens to danger.





The party, therefore, gave the APC a 48-hour ultimatum to declare the whereabouts of the Chinese medical team who purportedly came to assist in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.

The statement explained that its position is based on the alarming declaration by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire that he cannot account for the whereabouts of the Chinese team, who were brought into the country from the epicenter of the pandemic, despite repeated warnings and disapprovals by Nigerias medical experts and professional bodies.





The PDP said More so, the ministers statement had heightened apprehensions in the public space that the Chinese team, whose identity and activities have been shrouded in secrecy, might have been brought in by a certain cabal for another purpose outside the general public good.





The PDP recalled how officials of the APC-led administration had strongly defended the invitation of the Chinese team and offered them full state protocol upon arrival, only to turn around to disclaim the supposed experts, deny involvement with them and even forbid Nigerians from inquiring about their whereabouts.





The party described as suspicious and weird the notion that the minister of health, who had repeatedly assured that the Chinese were brought to render medical services and training, went personally to receive them at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on April 8, 2020, in a publicized event, can no longer account for the team.





The party said Nigerians can recall how the Federal Government had failed to respond to demands by our party and other well-meaning Nigerians for the particulars of the members of the team, their medical status, scope of operation, detailed itinerary within our country as well as the safety of the equipment they brought into the nation.





The party also expressed worry over reports of escalation of the scourge in certain countries reportedly after the arrival of Chinese medical personnel in those countries and insisted that the APC administration be held responsible should there be any sudden upsurge in COVID-19 infection and deaths in the country, with the arrival of the said Chinese medical team.





The party invited Nigerians to take note of the nations COVID-19 data, stressing that upon the arrival of the Chinese team in April, it stood at 254 confirmed cases with 44 successfully treated by the doctors and 6 deaths, which reportedly had other underlining ailments.





It noted that today, the data stands at no less than 5,450 cases and 171 deaths, saying that the party insists that the PTF on COVID-19 should immediately come out with the truth and provide explanations on the whereabouts of the team in the next 48 hours to douse the tension in the country.





The PDP urged Nigerians to remain vigilant while intensifying personal and public health safety strategies at this critical time.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  How can schools safely operate amid the threat of the coronavirus?

Many countries are instituting dramatic changes in school buildings to keep teachers, kids and communities safe. Theyre taking temperatures quickly with child-size devices, spraying shoes with disinfectant and adding plastic shields to desks.

All offer possible examples for Ohio, which has released a draft plan with very few specifics. Education experts say theyre watching closely, as school districts consider how to fill in the blanks.

In the next four months, I think were going to learn whats working in not working in those re-opening countries, said John Bailey, a visiting fellow for the American Enterprise Institute, a right-leaning think tank in Washington D.C. Thats going to shape whats going to happen here.

Ohios proposal, developed by the Ohio Department of Education in consultation with education groups, incorporates some of the approaches seen in Asian and European countries, like requiring masks, reducing class sizes and requiring hand sanitizer. It leaves many of the particulars for schools to figure out, but emphasizes requirements for cleanliness.

The safeguards arent so much for the students per se, as they are for their families, teachers and other staff. Experts believe young people likely wont develop severe illness from COVID-19, but they can transmit the virus it to others. And the AEI estimates 13,848 of Ohios teachers are 55 or older, putting them at risk for serious illness.

Its the adults in the school who are most vulnerable, and I think thats where there are a lot of concern, said Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association, the states largest teachers union.

Related: Ohio plan envisions masks for students and teachers, at-home temperature checks when schools reopen

Whether Ohioans will accept some of the safety measures seen in other countries is unknown. So is how schools will pay for new safety supplies and whether parents will feel comfortable sending children to school.

Mike Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a conservative education policy think-tank, said parents need to start wrapping their brains around how schools will be different when and if they re-open this fall. For those who are concerned with the safety measures, it may be important for schools to offer virtual learning options, he said.

I think youre going to want to tap into that idea in America, were used to having choices. Were used to having some personal agency, he said. And that may be one way to do it...If people really dont want to wear that mask then fine, you can learn at home. But if you want to come and be in the building, these are the rules that theyre going to lay out.

Temperature checks

A student is scanned for temperature before entering Dinh Cong secondary school in Hanoi, Vietnam Monday, May 4, 2020. Students across Vietnam return to school after three months of studying online due to school closure to contain the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)AP

Ohios draft reopening plan calls for students and staff to check their temperatures at home each day. Tougher safety measures would be imposed if theres an outbreak at the school, including mandatory at-school temperature checks.

Fever is one symptom of the coronavirus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but not everyone suffering from the virus has a fever.

In China, videos depict young students getting checked by what looks like a friendly robot before entering a school.

The robot, called WalkLake, doesnt just check temperatures  it scans faces for signs of illness, Some western doctors have praised the expensive robots, while others have raised privacy concerns, saying the health data could be hacked or misused. But facial-recognition software is more common in China, where the totalitarian government has built an extensive surveillance state.

Frequent hand-washing

Hand sanitizer is available for schoolchildren during the class as part of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the Pierre Ronsard elementary school Tuesday, May 5 2020 in Poissy, outside Paris. Starting from May 11, all French businesses will be allowed to resume activity and schools will start gradually reopening. (Ian Langsdon, Pool via AP)AP

In countries including China and Denmark, many students are required to sanitize their hands on the way into school, and wash them regularly throughout the day.

There is pretty much hourly washing going on, a Danish school official told the BBC, so much so that the new problem is skin irritation and eczema.

The Ohio plan describes requiring schools to provide hand sanitizer, but doesnt mention hand-washing requirements.

Disinfecting shoes

In Taiwan and China, students have been required to disinfect the bottoms of their shoes as they walk into school.

Desk dividers

Senior students study in a classroom with transparent boards placed on each desk to separate each other as a precautionary measure against the spead of COVID-19 at Wuhan No. 23 Middle School on May 6, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China (Photo by Getty Images)Getty Images

Some schools in Taiwan and China have attached plastic or cardboard dividers, sometimes transparent, sometimes not, to school desks or cafeteria tables. The result resembles a cubicle.

Like sneeze guards now seen at some retail check-out lines, they are meant to block how far virus-carrying droplets can travel from talking, coughing or sneezing.

Limited class sizes

A core social distancing tenet is keeping people spaced out at least six feet, the maximum distance that health officials say coronavirus can spread to others in most instances.

So schools in other countries have been spacing out desks. Some have been holding certain classes outside.

But many classrooms, including in Ohio, arent big enough for this to work while maintaining the same class size. So the answer for school officials may be to try to limit students in classrooms.

In Ohio, this may require staggering which days students come to school. Earlier this month, DeWine shared the idea of having two cohorts of students come to school two days a week, with cleaning in between.

I think everyone would like to see schools back in session in August, Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statehouse news briefing. How could they exist in the world where the coronavirus is still here? How could they get the social distancing? Its very difficult."

What about lunchtime?

Students eat during lunch break as the school reopens after the term opening was delayed due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, in Jiashan county, Jiaxing city, in China's eastern Zhejiang province on April 13, 2020. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images

In Taiwan, students have eaten lunch at their desks to avoid congregating in large groups in the school cafeteria. In China and other countries, students have gone to the cafeteria, but had dividers set up between them.

The draft Ohio plan doesnt offer specifics, but currently suggests that schools consider alternative approaches to delivering breakfast and lunch to students.

Face masks

Teacher Frederique Boisyvon wearing a face mask to protect against coronavirus teaches students, in a school, in Chasne sur Illet, western France, Thursday, May 14, 2020. Authorities say over eighty percent of preschools and primary schools are reopening in France this week. (AP Photo/David Vincent)AP

Different countries are handling masks differently. In China and Taiwan, many students and teachers have been required to wear masks. In France, where schools re-opened this week, only teachers are.

Public-health experts say when used properly, masks can help block the spread of spit and mucus that can carry the virus. They also can protect the wearer.

Masks represent limited benefit. But a true and real benefit, said Dr. Scott Frank, a physician and professor who chairs Case Western Reserve Universitys masters of public health program. They may not be meant for everyone though, he said, like those with asthma or anxiety issues.

Some face masks are more invasive than others. In Thailand, a photographer captured students training to be Buddhist monks wearing plastic face shields.

Novice Buddhist monks with protective masks and face shields, seated to maintain social distancing participate in a religious class at Molilokayaram Educational Institute in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 15, 2020. All schools in Thailand were closed earlier than the scheduled school break due to the COVID-19 outbreak but about 200 novice monks remain in the monastic school due to travel restrictions and lockdowns implemented in provinces in Thailand. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)AP

In China, some children have worn less intimidating looking protective face coverings that resemble rain hats with plastic lining hanging from the brim.

We want to make sure kids dont feel scared coming to school, said Bailey with the American Enterprise Institute. I think thats where were going to learn a lot with the face shield experiment going on in China."

How China Went Back To School This is how to going to school is going to be from now on  Posted by Cultura Colectiva + on Friday, May 8, 2020

But can we afford it?

Whether Ohio schools are adequately funded has been a political controversy in Ohio for years. A large portion of school funding comes from local property taxes, meaning wealthier areas have more resources. This is why the Ohio Supreme Court in 1997 declared school funding here unconstitutional. The state provides extra money meant to close the gap, but inequities remain.

And the state is cutting $300 million from schools this spring.

Any of these enhanced safety measures  even simpler ones like hand sanitizer  will require money.

But if teachers or other employees call off sick, or need to be shifted to distance-learning jobs if they are part of a medically vulnerable group, staffing needs will emerge.

We might be looking at a huge need for subs, said Steve Dyer, an education-policy analyst for Innovation Ohio, a progressive think tank in Columbus.

Its brutal, said Petrilli, the president of the Fordham Institute. The big question is if the federal government is going to come to the rescue here.

Frank said hes skeptical that American schools will have the resources to implement some of the higher-tech measures media have covered in East Asia.

Things like hand-washing stations or hand sanitizer, Frank said he can imagine seeing. Things like plexiglass screens, probably not.

If masks are supplied to kids, which would surprise me, I dont think the supply would maintain over time," he said. And the high-tech version of temperature measurement and spraying down shoes and clothing, number one, Im not sure how effective those are. But I would not anticipate the U.S. spending money to do that.

What will Americans accept?

Shannon Rose, left, joined other demonstrators calling for Gov. Gavin Newsom to end the stay-at-home orders during a protest at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Saturday, May 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)AP

It remains to be seen whether the measures will be effective, economically feasible or likely to be accepted by Americans, known for placing great value on individual freedom.

Take masks, for example.

After years of recommending against them, health officials ended up changing their stance on face masks this year, partially in response to a grassroots campaign and apparent success in Austria.

Theyve lately become a cultural flashpoint, increasingly along partisan lines, as some states, including Ohio have considered mandating them in public areas. DeWine considered doing so when he re-opened retail stores earlier this month, but quickly backed away.

Public health is famous for its paternalism, Frank said. That paternalism is altruistic, but people rebel against paternalistic approaches.

But a poll conducted earlier this month by the National Parents Union found broad support for mandatory protective measures in schools, some of which might be considered invasive. Seventy-nine percent supported mandatory temperature checks. Seventy-five percent supported staggering classes to allow more space for desks to be spread out, and 70% supported mandatory masks.

Ill admit I was surprised by this, said Bailey, the researcher with the American Enterprise Institute. Id thought for of the more disruptive interventions, wed see less parental support. But it seems like were seeing parents put safety over convenience in some ways. But that could change. The sense of parental support could look different in August, and thats OK.

East Asia can provide another example too  re-openings could be postponed if there are more COVID-19 outbreaks.

In South Korea, which has been recognized internationally for its aggressive response to the virus, officials had planned to reopen schools last week after confirmed new COVID-19 cases had largely ceased.

But the reopening has been delayed after dozens of people, including teachers, were infected after an outbreak in Seoul at bars and nightclubs. Authorities have traced the outbreak back to a single 29 year-old man who showed no symptoms. Bars in in the city of roughly 10 million people also have been closed.

Our ability to detect those outbreaks and mitigate them is going to decide whether we can have some semblance of normality, said Madhav Bhatta, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Kent State University. Versus are we going to have again an uncontrolled epidemic going forward until we have an effective vaccine.
ATLANTA - More than two months passed before two white men were arrested in the killing of a black man in coastal Georgia. The arrests came after a video of the shooting surfaced online and state investigators took over the case.

Now the father and son, Gregory and Travis McMichael, are charged with aggravated assault and felony murder in the Feb. 23 shooting death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery.

Here are some key developments as the case unfolded based on documents and interviews:

 Feb. 23: Ahmaud Arbery is shot shortly after 1 p.m. and is declared dead at the scene. No arrests are made.

 Feb. 24: Detectives meet with George Barnhill, a district attorney from a neighbouring judicial circuit, because the local district attorney planned to recuse herself because Gregory McMichael previously worked for her. Barnhill tells police he believes the shooting was justifiable and tells them to continue investigating.

 Feb. 27: State Attorney General Chris Carr appoints Barnhill to handle the case after local District Attorney Jackie Johnson recused herself. Carr has said he was unaware that Barnhill had already talked to police and offered an opinion on the case.

 April 1: Glynn County police receive the autopsy results and send them to Barnhill.

 April 3: Barnhill writes a letter to police saying he plans to recuse himself because his son used to work with Gregory McMichael but also reiterates that he believes there is not sufficient probable cause to arrest the McMichaels.

 April 7: Barnhill asks the attorney general to replace him in the case.

 April 13: The attorney general appoints Tom Durden, another district attorney from the region, to take over the case.

 May 5: The video surfaces online and quickly goes viral, prompting a national outcry. Durden puts out a news release saying the case should be presented to a grand jury and asks the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to take over the case.

 May 7: Gregory and Travis McMichael are arrested.

 May 8: On what would have been Arberys 26th birthday, several hundred people gather outside the Glynn County courthouse to protest and sing Happy Birthday in his honour. The McMichaels have their initial court appearances.

 May 10: Georgia attorney general asks the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the handling of the case.

 May 11: Georgia attorney general asks Cobb County District Attorney Joyette Holmes to take over the case, making her the third outside prosecutor appointed to the case. DOJ said it was assessing the case to determine whether federal hate crime charges are warranted and is considering Carrs request to investigate how local police and prosecutors investigated the case.

 May 12: Georgia attorney general asks the GBI to investigate possible prosecutorial misconduct by Waycross DA George Barnhill and Brunswick DA Jackie Johnson.

 May 14: Defence attorneys announce that theyve been hired to defend the McMichaels.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Moved by the plight of stranded migrant labourers, a division bench of the Madras High Court has put out a set of posers for the Union Home Secretary and Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu on their welfare. The bench, comprising justices N Kirubakaran and R Hemalatha, gave the directive on Friday. They were hearing a case about 400-odd migrant workers from Tamil Nadu being allegedly detained in Sangli District of Maharashtra.

Advocate AP Suryaprakasam had sought legal intervention for a direction to the State DGP to resolve the matter. While discussing the matter, the bench observed that while governments had taken care of most sections of the society, to the maximum extent possible, migrant workers and agricultural labourers remain a neglected lot and suffer to the maximum.

Ironically, among people with nothing, the privileged were those who could afford cycles. This group is on way to Odisha | SHIBA PRASAD SAHU

The persons who feed the entire nation are agriculturalists, not those in other occupations. ...without agriculturalists, the world cannot survive. ...though belated, this court would like to know whether coordinated efforts have been taken by all the State governments in consultation with the Centre to address the sufferings of the migrant labourers, the bench said.

One cannot control his/her tears after seeing the pathetic condition of migrant labourers shown in the media for the past one month. It is nothing but a human tragedy, the bench added and suo-motu impleaded the two authorities to answer the questions. Among other things, the bench wanted to know the steps taken by the governments to improve the condition of the migrant workers, by May 22.
Students, professors, faculty and teachers across Southeast Texas have come together in a variety of grassroots collaborations to provide vital personal protective equipment and other necessary items for hospitals and front line workers as they continue to fight the coronavirus.

I originally saw on the news that there was a need for PPE, Joy Schwartz, a computer science teacher at Legacy Christian Academy, told The Enterprise. So I immediately grabbed the 3-D printers and brought them home and started printing different items.

Schwartz then pivoted to including her students, who usually spend the semester experimenting with different levels of 3-D printing, culminating in a prosthetic limb that they donate.

I really wanted my students to have a part in this, she said. And another item of need that nurses and doctors and other team members have is something to relieve the pressure on their ears when they are wearing masks that they are having to wear much longer than they are made for.

The ear protectors are an example of solutions that go beyond just PPE, which officials at Christus Health System, one of the largest healthcare providers in Southeast Texas, say is not in critical shortage at their facilities.

From the national perspective, it is true that all hospitals are after the same PPE, and there is a limited supply out there, Ryan Miller, chief operating officer for Christus told The Enterprise. Being part of a larger health system, we are very fortunate how weve been able to still procure it, but we have to be wise with it and be good stewards to make sure it prolongs.

Miller said that at St. Elizabeth in Beaumont, PPE lines are stable despite a national shortage.

However as the need for masks and protective equipment grows nationwide, the Food and Drug Administration has released guidance to hospitals that includes conservation strategies.

Hospitals are not the only institutions that need PPE.

Amanda Balla, a freshman science and robotics teacher at Vidor Independent School District, donated masks for students at Lamar State College Orange in anticipation of their return to campus as soon as this month.

Balla and her husband made the mask bands at home using their 3-D printer and have donated them, along with plastic shields, to local hospitals, COVID-19 testing sites, nursing homes, and other high-need facilities, according to a release by the college.

Balla and other teachers are using the opportunity to teach their students and encourage innovation.

For Balla, that means assigning students the task of designing assistive devices while they are learning from a distance.

Our students are working hard to get their hours in and finish and anything we can do to help keep our students safe is a blessing right now, LSCO President Tom Johnson said in a written statement.

Schwartz also is thinking of college students. In addition to the ear-savers she worked on with her class, she printed visors to deliver to the Lamar Institute of Technology for students in their dental hygienist program that must return to campus to complete their coursework.

Renee Sandusky, an instructor in that program, said the masks were very hard to find elsewhere.

Elizabeth Whitley, a math teacher from Beaumont Independent School District, delivered handmade masks to Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas earlier this month. And as The Enterprise reported last week, Kirbyville and Sabine Pass school districts partnered to make and deliver 45 masks designed to best-fit the needs of hospital workers and other emergency responders taking part in advanced procedures.

Related: SE Texas students make, donate 3D PPE masks

Those hand-made masks for hospitals and the general public are especially important given how coronavirus spreads, Miller said.

I think as you look at COVID-19  the biggest key to not passing it around is not coughing and sneezing on other people, or being around those who are infected, Miller said. If people were masked and are infected and dont know it, they will be greatly limited in passing it on.

Masks also are effective for people who carry the virus but do not show symptoms.

It seems like a small thing to many people, Miller said. But it is probably one of the biggest single things that people can do to help keep themselves and keep others safe.

The educational collaborations are not limited to K-12 students.

Nathan Rose, a mechanical engineering student at Lamar University, took a leading role in printing out bands similar to those that Legacy donated.

The masks nurses and doctors wear have the straps around their ears, and they are wearing those for extended periods of times, Rose said. Those can wear on the back of the ears and get pretty nasty.

Lamar University ordered additional 3-D printers in order to create those materials, but was unable to receive them on time.

Instead we used polypropylene sheets, a plastic that is very heavy so you can bend and shape it, and we just drew out the sketch, and then cut it out, Rose said.

Rose said seeing the devices being delivered was a good feeling.

Natalie Huynh, a 10th grade student at Legacy, said delivering the masks made her heart happy.

The mask extenders they made had inspirational words printed into them just to give nurses some reassurance and some hope.

We will get through this, Huynh said.

Lauren Ayres, who will be a senior at Legacy next year, shared that sentiment when she delivered devices to multiple hospitals earlier this month.

Even though we didnt get to hug the nurses and stuff because we had to keep our distance, it was nice to see the people who we are giving them too, she said. This is a little part that I can do to help my community, and it was a little wholesome for the day.

Ayres said she saw the need first hand when volunteering at St. Elizabeth at the beginning of the pandemic.

Once I saw it being so catastrophic in New York, I knew that anything I could do to help I wanted too.

Mary Poole, marketing director for Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, said that they have not run into issues with PPE, and that regional partners have contributed to keeping the hospital well stocked.

I have not seen this much outpouring of support in my whole career, Poole said. I have worked in healthcare for a longtime, and it is rewarding to see how these young people have opened up their thoughts and their minds to figure out how they can make an impact and they are, they truly are.

In addition to schools, local industries like ExxonMobil have contributed masks and hand sanitizer to the hospital.

Schwartz said the regional collaboration by schools shows the necessity and potential that 3-D printers provide.

I think probably a lot of times, administrators will look at 3-D printers as just something that students can print a toy on, or for them to see us printing, Schwartz said. For them to see us delivering items that are useful that are very applicable and necessary right now, I think that will have a lot of administrators thinking, oh we need to make sure that is in our budget.

Most local school have at least one 3-D printer, with Lamar University donating devices to 17 area districts at the beginning of the year.

Related: Area teachers gifted with 3-D printers at Lamar STEM event

In their own labs at Lamar, faculty and students are going beyond basic facial protective equipment to solve day-to-day problems in local hospitals.

A number of personal ventilators used at St. Elizabeth were rendered useless when their battery systems stopped holding a charge, and most providers were sold out due to supply-chain interruptions caused by the coronavirus.

Brian Craig, the Dean of the College of Engineering at Lamar, said the hospital reached out to the university to quickly resolve the situation.

They reached out to me, and I put them in touch with the electrical engineering department, Craig told The Enterprise. Within a matter of a couple of weeks, our electrical engineering department had identified a local retailer that  would gut the battery and put in whatever kind of materials these batteries run on.

After finding a short-term solution, the faculty also developed a way to plug the ventilators into the wall so that they would no longer need to run on batteries.

Miller said in a news release that those efforts were vital in ensuring we are protecting our front line associates and giving them the tools they need to safely and effectively care for our patients.

We are thankful for Lamar as a resource during this unprecedented time, and are honored to share a unified commitment to Southeast Texans, Miller said in the release.

Miller said the university met with hospital staff less than 24 hours after they reached out for help.

Other Lamar students struck out without the guidance of faculty, including Morgan Mitcham, who created comfortable masks that still met standards set by the Centers for Disease Control. Ian Kennard printed face-mask components from his home right after the campus closed due to the virus.

Craig, who said he could see the university providing similar services in an ongoing capacity, said the regional effort was a show of Southeast Texas resilience built up over years of flooding, windstorms and recovery.

We are just trying to be good neighbors, Craig said. I think here in Texas, we always seem to pull together to help each other. That is one of the wonderful things about living in this area.

isaac.windes@hearstnp.com

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Missouri hasn't yet thrown open its medical marijuana market, but it's already placing limits on the trade. On Thursday its House of Representatives passed a bill barring the sale of certain edible marijuana products, among other restrictions. It now goes to Governor Mike Parson to be signed into law, a process that is usually a formality.

The lawmakers' fear is that certain forms of edibles might be attractive to children, so the law bars any such product molded into "the shape of a human, animal, or fruit, including realistic, artistic, caricature, or cartoon renderings."

This legislation is at times extremely specific, such as when stipulating what is allowed. "[G]eometric shapes, including, but not limited to, circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles, shall be permitted," it reads.

Other parts of the law include a provision that all packages containing at least 10 milligrams of cannabis product bear the universal marijuana packaging label, and that dispensary operators, employees, and contractors undergo state and federal criminal background checks.

Although Missouri residents passed a law legalizing the sale and consumption of medical cannabis in 2018, the state has still not opened the market. This was supposed to occur this spring, however the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus outbreak has pushed this back to at least the summer.

Missouri is allowing 192 medical marijuana dispensaries to operate. One marijuana company being licensed is Grassroots, which is still pending an acquisition by Curaleaf (OTC:CURLF). Based in neighboring Illinois, Curaleaf operates dispensaries throughout the country, and will significantly strengthen its network when and if the Grassroots deal closes.

On Friday, Curaleaf stock rose by almost 12%, far ahead of the gains of the wider stock market.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: After a gap of seven days, the district reported a fresh Covid case on Sunday. A 25-year-old Lucknow native who arrived from Maldives on the INS Magar on May 12 tested positive for the novel coronavirus after which she was shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital, Kalamassery, sources said. She was under quarantine at a Covid Care Centre here following her arrival.

A total of 202 passengers had arrived in the INS Magar dispatched by the Indian Navy in its second phase of the repatriation mission. Of these, 91 were from Kerala. With this, the total active cases in the district is six. Of them, only two are Ernakulam natives. The last Covid patient was a five-year-old boy who tested positive on May 10.

A Covid positive passenger wont necessarily be a threat to co-passengers provided they had maintained social distancing protocol and other precautionary measures,said a health official. As per officials with the health department, eight people with Covid symptoms were admitted to hospitals in the district on Sunday. With this, the total number of people in hospital isolation is 32.
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San Francisco has opened its first sanctioned camp site that can house 50 homeless residents this week as locals complain of makeshift tents clogging sidewalks.

After years of struggling to support the homeless community in San Francisco, city officials have erected a 'Safe Sleeping Village' in an idle McDonald's parking lot near City Hall amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic, which has uprooted much of the homeless population from shelters, has infected more than 76,000 Californians and killed 3,200. The United States has had more than 1.5million cases and at least 89,563 deaths.

Mayor London Breed first announced the new encampments on May 6, with intentions to place one near the steps of City Hall and eventually expand into other affected areas.

Drone photos of the Safe Sleeping Village show at least five rows of tents inside the parking lot, surrounded by a chainlink fence.

The spaces for the tents are evenly distanced from each other and clearly marked out, to abide by social distancing guidelines brought in to help curb the spread of the virus.

The City of San Francisco has opened its first sanctioned homeless camp this week near City Hall after the number of tent cities and makeshift shelters quickly overwhelmed the area during the coronavirus pandemic

Drone photos show around 50 tents pitched inside a parking lot surrounded by a chainlink fence on Saturday, as Mayor London Breed announced a second location would open in the future

The tents have placed in designated squares and spread apart to adhere to public health guidelines that advocated social distancing amid the pandemic

'While in normal times I would say that we should focus on bringing people inside and not sanctioning tent encampments, we frankly do not have many other options right now,' Mayor Breed said on Twitter.

'Having places with resources serving people in the neighborhood is better than unsanctioned encampment.'

The site houses around 50 tents erected by homeless residents who registered with The City to stay at the encampment. Availability at the Safe Sleeping Village is on a first-come, first-serve basis, according to The San Francisco Examiner.

Those residents are allowed to enter and leave the encampment at any time.

Many locations in the Tenderloin District and other locations in San Francisco are being considered for Safe Sleeping Villages, as well.

Mayor Breed announced that a second site on Stanyan Street. 'So we will be moving 40 tents to the site on Stanyan. Supervisor Dean Preston is working with neighbors on the implementation,' she said.

Mayor Breed: 'While in normal times I would say that we should focus on bringing people inside and not sanctioning tent encampments, we frankly do not have many other options right now'

The Safe Sleeping Village near City Hall has limited capacity and homeless residents who wish to bunker down there are chosen on a first come, first serve basis

Officials have said the Safe Sleeping Village is a temporary alternative for homeless sheltering during the pandemic, in addition to the more than 8,000 hotel rooms The City has obtained for people so far

Pictured: a homeless man staying inside the first Safe Sleeping Village in San Francisco sits near his tent and holds onto a newspaper on Saturday

Before the Safe Sleeping Village, city officials had designated certain hotel rooms, RVs, trailers and shelters as holding places for homeless residents

Supervisor Matt Haney of District 6 supports the Safe Sleeping Village, but fears that the limited capacity could send parts of the homeless population back onto the streets

Pictured: Homeless people congregate inside a new Safe Sleeping Village in San Francisco that opened its doors this week amid the coronavirus pandemic

Homelessness has been a persisting problem in some California cities, but San Francisco has become a hotbed for tent cities and transients.

This month, San Francisco's Tenderloin District saw homeless tents increase by 300 per cent during the coronavirus pandemic. The number of tents and makeshift shelters placed on sidewalks went up by 71 per cent.

Near the first Safe Sleeping Village, there were some 90 tents pitched reportedly outside just a few days ago.

Residents have complained that this has left the streets 'unsanitary, unsafe, and often impassable.'

In fact, locals, businesses and the University of California Hastings College of Law have sued to demand the City of San Francisco clean up needles and human waste littering the streets.

David Faigman, chancellor and dean at UC Hastings, which is heading the case in federal court, says the suit was filed because 'our neighborhood has become a pandemic containment zone,' reports Fox News.

'The city has basically cordoned off our area. Tents are blocking the streets. Tents are blocking doorways. There are needles in the streets. There's open-air drug dealing' Faigman says.

The Tenderloin is home to more children, elderly persons and vulnerable populations per capita than any other neighborhood in the city. Faigman adds that those populations are not being protected due to a lack of public COVID-19 testing.

He says residents fear the 'virus is raging in the neighborhood.'

'There's no other neighborhood in San Francisco that would tolerate that, and they would stand up and be counted. Tenderloin needs to stand up and be counted,' Faigman said.

San Francisco's Tenderloin District saw homeless tents increase by 300 per cent and the number of tents occupying sidewalks up 71 per cent amid the coronavirus pandemic

Pictured: a drone photographs the Safe Sleeping Village camp where a McDonald's restaurant once stood in place

Pictured: A homeless man sleeps on stairs right outside the entrance to a homeless encampment across the street from City Hall in San Francisco, California

But for those homeless residents lucky enough to secure a spot at the Safe Sleeping Village, they are grateful.

'We never had a place to stay where we could actually be safe and have our tents up,' said Roger Boyd, a homeless man who previously stayed in the Civic Center area for years.

Although COVID-19 has ravaged America, Boyd said the pandemic actually helped many in San Francisco's homeless population.

'This whole COVID-19 was almost a godsend for a lot of us. Were used to constantly losing our stuff. I lose my stuff at least once a month, Im talking down to my socks. This has been nice, to have something almost stable,' he said.

Nick, another homeless man who is staying in the camp, echoed a similar statement.

'Its the first time since Ive been homeless that none of my stuff has been stolen. Theres troublemakers, but in general I think people are trying to help each other out, make sure we dont get sick or die,' said Nick.

Most advocates would prefer homeless residents lodge in hotel rooms amid the coronavirus, but officials see the Safe Sleeping Village as a temporary alternative.

Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, said: 'We want to see everyone offered hotel rooms, but since that is moving so slowly, at the very least if The City is going to continue to force people to sleep on sidewalks they should at least have basic sanitation services and be able to sleep in spaces where they are able to social distance.'

The City has transferred nearly 1,000 homeless residents into hotel rooms, as well as 120 people into trailers or RVs. An additional 165 people have been sent to 'congregated beds' or shelters.

Residents, businesses and the University of California Hastings College of Law sued The City of San Francisco to clean up needles and human feces left behind by homeless residents during the pandemic

Nick Boyd said: 'This whole COVID-19 was almost a godsend for a lot of us. Were used to constantly losing our stuff. I lose my stuff at least once a month, Im talking down to my socks. This has been nice, to have something almost stable'

Pictured: A group of homeless people in San Francisco lounge on a sidewalk outside the Safe Sleeping Village in San Francisco on Saturday

Supervisor Matt Haney of District 6, which oversees the the area of the Safe Sleeping Village, supports the latest project but admitted that he'd rather homeless residents be sent to hotel rooms.

'I am not convinced that those safe sleeping sites are easier, let alone cheaper to set up than moving people into hotel rooms,' said Haney.

'The amount of energy, resources, staffing that they are putting into creating a site for 50 people in tents is tremendous.'

In April, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance to obtain 8,250 hotel rooms in place of shelters. 7,000 of those rooms were used to house the homeless and the overall plan cost an estimated $60million per month.

Hayne is also concerned that Safe Sleeping Villages relatively small space, in comparison to a fleet of hotel rooms, will push residents back onto to the streets.

'Theyre going to move 50 people out of that area, likely theyre going to set up on the sidewalk in the Tenderloin,' he said. 'Im concerned that this is more about optics than actually solving the problem.'

Community organizers attempted to create a homeless camp weeks ago, but it was shut down and homeless residents were moved to RVS or trailers.

Officials have stressed that Safe Sleeping Villages are not permanent solutions to the city's ongoing issues with the homeless population.

'The Safe Sleeping Village is a temporary approach and those areas will be returned to their prior uses once shelter in place rules are lifted. The City will continue to work on long-term, safe solutions for those experiencing homelessness,' Jonathan Streeter, city spokesperson, told San Francisco Examiner.

Still, advocates appreciate any effort put forth by city officials to curb tent cities and improve the quality of life for the homeless population.

'We are happy that The City is finally open to having some organized spaces,' said Friedenbach, but 'not as a permanent thing. We do not believe it is adequate housing. We believe everyone should have a safe and decent place to call home, but we do think its a creative alternative measure.'

Pictured: city worker picks up a counterfeit $100 bill, one of many he says have been showing up on the streets near the Safe Sleeping Village in San Francisco

Although homeless advocates are grateful that a designated area has been erected this week, they say this method is not 'adequate housing' and should not be used as a temporary solution to San Francisco's homeless population

Homelessness in the US could increase by 45 percent and reach 800,000 people by the start of summer according to shocking new study as the unemployment rate hits 14.7 percent

Close to 800,000 Americans across the country may wind up homeless by the summer as the coronavirus pandemic forces unemployment figures to resemble numbers not seen since the Great Depression.

An analysis conducted by Dr Brendan O'Flaherty, a professor of economics at Columbia University, shows that homelessness population in the U.S. is expected to increase some 40 to 45 per cent this year over January 2019.

This increase will see an addition of nearly 250,000 people out on American streets, according to the study, published by nonprofit Community Solutions.

An analysis conducted by Dr Brendan O'Flaherty shows that homelessness population in the U.S. is expected to increase some 40 to 45 per cent this year over January 2019

This increase will see an addition of nearly 250,000 people out on American streets

'This is unprecedented,' Dr. O'Flaherty said. 'No one living has seen an increase of 10% of unemployment in a month.'

With COVID-19 crippling the United States economy, unemployment is at a staggering 14.7 per cent - a figure not seen since the height of the Great Depression in 1933.

'This is unprecedented,' Dr. O'Flaherty said. 'No one living has seen an increase of 10% of unemployment in a month'

'If the projections of unemployment being made now turn out to be accurate, and the relationship between unemployment and homelessness follows the historical pattern, and no other major changes occur, that's what we can expect to happen,' Dr. O'Flaherty declared.

Unemployment is expected to reach even higher numbers as the summer continues, reaching figures of upwards of 16 per cent.

The projections are based on a model that used unemployment projections and data on current homelessness to show the correlation between the increase in unemployment and the increase in homelessness.

That information was attained using a standard regression developed by Dr. Kevin Corinth in 'The impact of permanent supportive housing on homeless populations,' published in the Journal of Housing Economics in 2017.

With COVID-19 crippling the United States economy, unemployment is at a staggering 14.7 per cent - a figure not seen since the height of the Great Depression in 1933 (1931 Philadelphia pictured)

Homeless camps in Old Town Portland Oregon on May 14

Members of the New York Police Department rouse passengers sleeping on a train as Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers clean subway cars in the Bronx on May 6

Using data on homelessness and unemployment from 2007 to 2009, the model found that for every one per cent increase in the unemployment rate, homelessness per 10,000 people increased by 0.65.

A report also published by Community Solutions found that 40 per cent of those experiencing homelessness could contract the virus.

An estimated $11.5 billion would be needed to secure an additional 400,000 beds for homeless people across the country.

'The COVID-19 pandemic is creating a severe and emergent health crisis for the homeless population across the United States, a crisis that our shelter and health systems are simply not adequately prepared to meet,' the report states.

People sleep on a subway train in New York City on May 15

Pedestrians walk to the edge of the sidewalk to avoid stepping on people in tents and sleeping bags in the Tenderloin area of San Francisco

Homeless are seen in downtown Brownsville, Texas, on May 15

U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter issued a preliminary injunction requiring relocation of an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 people camping near freeway ramps and under overpasses and bridges in Los Angeles County. He gave officials one week - until May 22 - to come up with a plan for providing 'humane' housing.

'Without adequate access to shelter, hygiene products, and sanitation facilities, individuals experiencing homelessness face a greater risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, and an outbreak in the homeless community would threaten the general public as well,' Carter wrote.

He said those living near freeways are exposed to pollution, including lead, that can shorten their life expectancy by decades. Carter also said the location means the homeless face a greater danger of being struck by a car or injured during an accident or earthquake.

The injunction was issued in a lawsuit filed by the LA Alliance for Human Rights, which accused officials in greater Los Angeles of failing to comprehensively address the homelessness crisis.

U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter issued a preliminary injunction requiring relocation of an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 people camping near freeway ramps and under overpasses and bridges in Los Angeles County.

The injunction was issued in a lawsuit filed by the LA Alliance for Human Rights, which accused officials in greater Los Angeles of failing to comprehensively address the homelessness crisis

'It seems like this order was meant to galvanize action and really compel all parties to start thinking these challenges in a new and innovative way,' said Daniel Conway, policy adviser for the alliance. 'The judge has, frankly, issued a challenge: Lets make this work and lets start saving lives.'

Another 2.98 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

It adds to the 33 million who have sought aid in the two months since the coronavirus first forced millions of businesses to close their doors and shrink their workforces.

The number of first-time applications, however, has now declined for six straight weeks, suggesting that a dwindling number of companies are reducing their payrolls.

By historical standards, though, the latest tally shows that the number of weekly jobless claims remains enormous, reflecting an economy that is sinking into a severe downturn.

Last week's pace of new applications for aid is still four times the record high that prevailed before the coronavirus struck hard in March.

Jobless workers in some states are still reporting difficulty applying for or receiving benefits. These include freelance, gig and self-employed workers, who became newly eligible for jobless aid this year.

Another 2.98 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, the Labor Department said on Thursday, adding to the 33 million who sought aid in the previous seven weeks
Sofia Vergara has been waiting out COVID-19 in her seven-bedroom, Italian-inspired villa located in Beverly Hills.

And on Saturday afternoon, the 47-year-old Modern Family star gave fans a peek at her luxurious lockdown life when she shared photos from her poolside date with husband Joe Manganiello, 43.

'Still at home,' captioned Vergara, who posed with her legs crossed atop a pink pool floaty shaped like a vintage Ford Thunderbird.

Unique experience: Sofia Vergara gave fans a peek at her luxurious lockdown life on Saturday when she shared photos from her poolside date with husband Joe Manganiello

Vergara shared a total of four portraits that featured her shirtless hubby and their beloved chihuahua Bubbles.

Sofia donned a strapless sundress that featured a bright floral pattern that popped against her enviably bronzed skin.

Her golden brown tresses were neatly parted in the middle and flowed down her back.

Vergara flashed a killer smile at the camera lens before turning her head in Joe's direction to watch him play with Bubbles.

Waiting it out: 'Still at home,' captioned Vergara, who posed with her legs crossed atop a pink pool floaty shaped like a vintage Ford Thunderbird

Fur baby: Joe rested the tiny pup on Vergara's spacious pool lounger before lifting him into the air like Rafiki lifts Simba in The Lion King

Joe rested the tiny pup on Vergara's spacious pool lounger before lifting him into the air like Rafiki lifts Simba in The Lion King.

Though the Magic Mike star braved the sun rays sans shirt, he did make sure to protect his eyes with a pair of sunglasses.

Sofia then got out of the pool so she could let Joe and Bubbles enjoy some one-on-one time on the raft.

Eyes for her man: Sofia then got out of the pool so she could let Joe and Bubbles enjoy some one-on-one time on the raft

Swimming lessons: Shorty before posting her poolside portraits, the Colombian actress captured Joe teaching Bubbles how to swim

Shorty before posting her poolside portraits, the Colombian actress captured Joe teaching Bubbles how to swim.

In the short clip, Joe carefully followed Bubbles as he paddled around with his paws.

Joe and Sofia cheered on their pampered pooch once he reached the pool's shallow steps.

Responsible parenting: In the short clip, Joe carefully followed Bubbles as he paddled around with his paws

Hooray: Joe and Sofia cheered on their pampered pooch once he reached the pool's shallow steps

Sofia and her husband of nearly five-years have also been quarantining with Sofia's son Manolo, 27, and her look-alike niece Claudia, 26.

In the final snapshot of her photo series, Vergara captured her niece feasting on a plate of cheese, crackers, and very fancy meats.

Claudia hid her face with a woven sunhat, but showed off her trim and toned physique in flattering white two-piece swimsuit with a blue floral pattern.

Feast: In the final snapshot of her photo series, Vergara captured her niece feasting on a plate of cheese, crackers, and very fancy meats

Only child: On Vergara's Instagram Story, she took a quick pic of her son Manolo spending some time with his chihuahua Baguette atop a bright yellow pool raft

On Vergara's Instagram Story, she took a quick pic of Manolo spending some time with his own chihuahua Baguette atop a bright yellow pool raft.

Sofia shares Manolo with ex husband Joe Gonzalez who she divorced in 1993.

She married Manganiello in 2015 during an over-the-top ceremony that was held in Florida and cost the pair $3million. Sofia and Joe share no children.

Her main guys: Sofia pictured with husband Joe Manganiello (left) and her son Manolo

Aside from documenting her lavish day-to-day quarantine antics, Sofia has also been treating her nearly 19million followers to her 'Throwback Thursday' posts.

For this weeks post, she shared a sultry outtake taken during a photoshoot in 'Miami in the 90s.'

In the old photo, Sofia flashed a seductive look as she sprawled out on the sand, dressed only in green bikini bottoms.
FILE PHOTO: Ceremony to mark the installation of the first robot on the production line for the new electric Fiat 500 BEV at the Mirafiori industrial complex on the 80th birthday of the plant

MILAN (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Saturday that Fiat Chrysler was entitled to apply for Italy's state-backed loans because the automaker employs thousands of people in the country, even though its legal base is located abroad.

The Italian-American group confirmed on Saturday its Italian unit was working with Rome to obtain state guarantees on a 6.3-billion-euro ($6.8 billion) loan facility designed to help Italy's automotive industry, comprised of approximately 10,000 small and medium-size businesses.

The coronavirus outbreak, which has hit Italy especially hard, slammed the brakes on demand for new vehicles and forced automakers to halt most production, burning cash.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA) <FCHA.MI> said in a statement that talks were ongoing with lender Intesa Sanpaolo <ISP.MI> for a three-year credit facility exclusively dedicated to the group's activities in Italy.

Asked whether FCA, which has its legal headquarters in the Netherlands, could get a loan guaranteed by the Italian government, Conte said the group qualified.

"We're not talking about the parent company, we're talking about the group's companies in Italy, which employ thousands of people," the prime minister said.

FCA runs several plants and research and development centres in Italy, directly employing around 55,000 people.

In addition, over 200,000 people work in Italy's 5,500 parts suppliers and 120,000 people in car dealers and service companies, with the automotive industry accounting for 6.2% of Italy's domestic product, FCA said.

News that FCA was asking the Italian government for liquidity support had raised criticism.

The ruling party PD's deputy president, Andrea Orlando, earlier on Saturday said on Twitter that if a company asked the Italian government for sizeable financing, it had to bring back its legal base to Italy.

The scheme is part of emergency measures the Italian government is making available to the country's businesses. It offers more than 400 billion euros' worth of liquidity and bank loans to companies hit by the pandemic.

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FCA said the state-backed credit facility it is seeking will have "the sole purpose of providing operational support for payments to Italian suppliers to support their liquidity and, at the same, supporting the restart of production and investment at Italian plants."

The group has gradually restarted operations in Italy since the end of April.

(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; additional reporting by Angelo Amante; editing by Alexandra Hudson and Leslie Adler)
Astrid Kirchherr, a German photographer whose portraits of the Beatles when the musicians were a scruffy British bar band playing in Hamburg's red-light district captured not only their toughness but also the sensitivity beneath their leather-clad exteriors, died on Tuesday in Hamburg, Germany. She was 81.

The cause was cancer, said Chris Murray, who presented Kirchherr's first American exhibition at the Govinda Gallery in Washington in 1994.

Astrid Kirchherr, with John Lennon and Ringo Starr during the filming of "A Hard Day's Night". Credit:Redferns

Kirchherr was a 22-year-old art and photography student when she met the Beatles in October 1960. The group  then a quintet, with John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison playing guitars; Stuart Sutcliffe on bass; and Pete Best on drums  had been in Hamburg since August and was working at the Kaiserkeller, a club frequented by sailors and by prostitutes looking for customers.

Kirchherr, a demure blonde with a pixieish haircut, discovered the Beatles through her boyfriend at the time, Klaus Voormann, a fellow art student. After a quarrel, Voormann left her house; walking past the Kaiserkeller, he was drawn to the Beatles' high-energy sound.
CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ  Camden County officials are launching a series aimed at educating the public about the coronavirus. The series will cover information about testing, risk of exposure, and other critical public health information related to the coronavirus directly into the community.



The Camden County Department of Health has planned five educational sessions during the month of May:



Monday, May 18

12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Deterdings Supermarket Parking Lot, 506 E. Gibbsboro Road, Lindenwold 08021



Tuesday, May 19

12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Winslow Center, 510 Williamstown Road, Winslow Township 08081



Wednesday, May 20

12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Proprietors Park, S. King Street, Gloucester City 08030



Thursday, May 21

12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Lot Located Next to The Fire House, 22 E. Park Avenue, Merchantville 08109



Friday, May 22

12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Clementon Fire House, 165 Gibbsboro Road, Clementon 08021



New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.



Our most effective weapon in a war against this virus, absent a vaccine or antiviral medication, is widespread public education about how to protect yourself, how to get tested, and how to make sure that if you become ill, you dont spread the disease to others, said Camden County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Department of Health. As we enter the next phase of this pandemic, the Freeholder Board is focused on developing a public education strategy that enables our residents to take advantage of the robust suite of testing and other services available to them. If you have questions about COVID-19, testing, or any related matter, please visit with our experts during one of our scheduled times.



During the educational sessions, members of the Camden County Public Health Education Team will be in the community distributing critical information and answering questions directly from individual residents. Some examples of the types of information being provided include:



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Questions regarding quarantine/isolation;

What to do if you were exposed to or in contact with someone that tests positive for COVID-19;

Where to get tested in Camden County;

When and how to re-enter the workforce after testing positive for COVID-19; and

Where to find mental health or addiction services if quarantining has caused depression or stress.

This series is not intended to replace consultation with a physician or medical provider. Anyone who believes they have symptoms of the coronavirus should contact their primary care provider or doctor immediately. Tests are not being administered during the educational series sessions, but remain available by appointment to Camden County residents at the Freeholder Boards three testing sites in Camden City and Gloucester Township.



For more information, visit camdencounty.com or contact the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 800-999-9045.



See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

This article originally appeared on the Gloucester Township Patch
Eighty-five thousand dollars in jewelry. A 2019 Rolls-Royce Wraith luxury coupe. Forty-thousand dollars in child support payments.

Maurice "Mo" Fayne, a trucking company owner who appears regularly on the reality show "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta," has been charged with using more than $1.5 million in Small Business Administration stimulus funds to enrich himself rather than for paying workers and small business expenses as the program requires.

'LUNATIC': Robert De Niro reignites his feud with Trump

According to the U.S. attorney's office in the Northern District of Georgia, Fayne is the sole owner of a Georgia corporation called Flame Trucking that received a $2 million bank loan through the SBA's relief package for small businesses, the Paycheck Protection Program.

On May 13 Fayne was arrested and then charged with bank fraud. Prosecutors alleged he used more than $1.5 million on unauthorized purchases including the car, jewelry and child support.

"The defendant allegedly took advantage of the emergency lending provisions of the Paycheck Protection Program that were intended to assist employees and small businesses battered by the Coronavirus," said U.S. Attorney Byung J. "BJay" Pak. "We will investigate and charge anyone who inappropriately diverts these critical funds for their own personal gain."

Fayne appeared in federal court on the day of his arrest in front of magistrate judge Justin S. Anand of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Fayne's lawyer, Atlanta attorney Tanya Miller, says he will fight the charges. She issued a statement to The Washington Post saying that she would not try the case through the media and that the government needed to clear up confusion about the stimulus program's rules.

"We will provide the appropriate response in the proper forum once all the information has been provided to us," said Miller in the statement. "There has been considerable confusion among small business owners about PPP guidelines - particularly around the question of whether and how business owners are permitted to pay themselves a salary or owner's draw. This ambiguity and confusion for business owners needs to be addressed immediately as the PPP program is still in its infancy."

Although some PPP applicants have had difficulty navigating the program's rules and some larger employers have decided to return funds, Fayne is charged with using the money for much different purposes than he allegedly stated on his application.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Fayne, 37, stated on a loan application to United Community Bank that his trucking company had 107 employees and a monthly payroll of $1.5 million. He allegedly certified that the loan proceeds would be used to "retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments, as specified under the Paycheck Protection Program Rule."

COVID-19 OUTBREAKS : Texas releases nursing home coronavirus case totals

The FBI assisted with the investigation, along with the SBA's Office of Inspector General. Agents searched Fayne's home in Dacula, outside Atlanta, on May 11 and seized "approximately $80,000 in cash, including $9,400 that Fayne had in his pockets." They also used seizure warrants to take control of approximately $503,000 of remaining PPP funds from three of Fayne's bank accounts, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

"The defendant allegedly egregiously sought personal gain from a program intended to assist hard-working Americans in this challenging time," said Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kupperbusch of the SBA's Office of Inspector General.

Fayne, known as "Arkansas Mo" on the show, is one of the only people to be charged with a crime for misuse of funds from the SBA program.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza have heralded PPP as a success, as more than 4.2 million businesses and nonprofit organizations have received a total of more than $531 billion in funding for the program through May, according to recent data.

The SBA has so far refused to release the names of companies that have received PPP loans. The Washington Post and several other news organizations have filed a lawsuit against the SBA for access to these records.

SBA officials say they rely on the good faith of applicants to self-certify that they are in need of the funds because of uncertainty created by the coronavirus, though officials plan to audit loans of more than $2 million. Loans will be forgiven so long as they are used appropriately.

The ninth season of "Love & Hip Hop" premiered in March. Spokespersons at VH1, which produces the show, did not return a request for comment.
China's ambassador to Israel has been found dead in his home in a Tel Aviv suburb, an Israeli police spokesman has confirmed.

He did not comment on the cause of death of ambassador Du Wei, who was 57 years old and became ambassador to Israel in February, according to the embassy's website.

Mr Du had served in Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more than 30 years and previously served as China's envoy to Ukraine.

As part of the regular procedure, police units are at the scene, the spokesman said on Sunday (local time).

Investigators and officials on the scene at the death. Source: Getty

Investigators said there was no reason to suspect foul play in the death.

Initial indications were that Du died in his sleep of natural causes, Israel's Channel 12 TV, quoting unidentified emergency medical officials, reported.

He is survived by a wife and son, both of whom are not in Israel.

The ambassador's death on Sunday comes just two days after he condemned comments by visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who denounced Chinese investments in Israel and accused China of hiding information about the coronavirus outbreak.

Du Wei was found dead in his home on the weekend. Source: Reuters

China has been investing heavily in Israel in recent years, taking stakes in hundreds of technological start-ups. The situation has caused tension between the traditional allies of Israel and the US.

The Trump Administration has warned the increasingly close ties between China and Israel could cause the US to reduce its intelligence sharing with the Middle Eastern country.

Prior to his death, Mr Du defended the strategic investments by China in a written interview with an Israeli newspaper.

The investment from China has no geopolitical agenda, no political strings, and poses no threat to Israels national security, he said.

 with Reuters

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 17:17:34|Editor: huaxia

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YANGON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities seized over 487,000 stimulants in Rakhine State, according to a release from the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday.

Acting on tip-offs, the anti-narcotic police force stoped and searched a vehicle in Maung Taw Township on Saturday.

A total of 487,500 stimulants were confiscated from the vehicle and one suspect was arrested.

The township police filed a case against the suspect under the country's relevant law, the release said.

According to the latest release issued by the President's Office, a total of 1,102 drug-related cases were registered across Myanmar while 1,689 suspects were charged as of May 9, since the formation of the Drug Activity Special Complaint Department on June 26, 2018. Enditem
A day after scores of residents of a Katsina community blocked a highway to protest incessant attacks by armed bandits, the presidency announced the commencement of a major military operation to sweep bandits and kidnappers out of the state.

Garba Shehu, President Muhammadu Buharis Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, announced in a statement on Sunday that the president has ordered the commencement of the operation.

He said: A major proactive operation by Special Forces, which details are being kept secret, is now in progress to replace the reactive strikes against insurgent camps.

To give a full effect to the exercise, a planning team is already in the state selecting targets and making preparations for the execution of the unprecedented operation.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, who has been measured in issuing official statements on the oncoming exercise, briefed the President on the plan he intends to flag off shortly.

The presidential aide also quoted President Buhari to have expressed sadness over the recent attacks in the state and extended his condolences to the families of those killed as well as prayed for the recovery of the injured.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how hundreds of residents of Yangayya community in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State on Saturday blocked a highway to protest repeated attacks by armed bandits in the community.

Residents said the protest followed an attack in which many residents lost their valuables, many injured and women raped.

The residents said the bandits first attacked the community on Wednesday after iftar (break of fast) when the largely Muslim residents were about to go for their night (Isha) prayer in the mosque. They invaded the community, reportedly using over 70 motorcycles, looted shops and went away with valuables.

The bandits returned on Saturday around 8 a.m. During the attack, they raped and physically assaulted many women, with some of the women later hospitalised, a resident said, asking not to be named for security reasons.
A fresh outbreak of coronavirus in northeastern China is continuing to spread despite lockdowns being imposed on hundreds of villages and multiple cities.

A trickle of new cases in Jilin province had initially been attributed to Chinese nationals returning from across the Russian border, largely centred in Shulan city, where a partial lockdown was swiftly imposed on 600,000 residents last weekend.

But by Saturday, the province had reported a total of 125 locally transmitted cases, including two deaths, state media reported. Some 28 patients are still in hospital, 95 have been discharged and nearly 1,000 close contacts are under observation.

In a bid to prevent the virus from spreading further, the majority of transport to 1,205 villages and their surrounding areas has also been halted, NBC News reported officials as saying, in a likely reference to measures imposed last weekend.

Shulans mayor, Jin Hua, told a press conference on Saturday that fresh measures had been strictly implemented in accordance with the central governments decision-making and the requirements of provinces and cities.

She added: After the local cases appeared in our city, the Shulan Municipal Party Committee and the municipal government acted swiftly, entered a state of war in an all-round way, took the most stringent control measures, and went all out to prevent and control the epidemic.

Nucleic acid tests will be carried out across the entire city, she said, focusing on the residential communities and key areas where new cases have been confirmed. Chinas state-run press agency Xinhua reported 40,000 tests have been carried out so far.

More than 500 medical staff also rushed to neighbouring Jilin City to offer their assistance on Sunday as the alert level was raised from medium to high, state-affiliated media reported.

Cluster infections in the city have seen some 8,000 people quarantined, according to the Global Times, after a partial lockdown was reimposed on the city on Wednesday, with long-distance public transport stopped, mass gatherings banned and indoor public venues closed.

Chinas vice premier Sun Chunlan  who became the face of efforts to manage Wuhans Covid-19 response  visited the province this weekend, demanding local authorities step up their efforts to tackle the new outbreak.

Five officials have been removed from their posts in Jilin City this weekend, including Liu Shijun, deputy director of the citys health commission, according to CGTN. Shulans Communist Party chief Li Pengfei was also ousted on Saturday.

It came as China celebrated a month without any reported coronavirus fatalities on Friday, with plans to further ease pandemic restrictions.

In Shanghai, more students were given the option to return to school on 3 June, although retain the option to attend classes online and forego the strict social distancing and testing regime that comes with physical lessons.

Domestic flights have also resumed to 60 per cent of pre-crisis levels, according to the countrys civil aviation regulator, with numerous tourist sites reopening, such as Beijings Forbidden City and Shanghais Disneyland resort.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports that China and South Korea have both consulted Japan about loosening border controls on some travellers to help revive business activities between the three nations.
The CEO of Bioventix PLC (LON:BVXP) is Peter Harrison. This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. Then we'll look at a snap shot of the business growth. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels.

See our latest analysis for Bioventix

How Does Peter Harrison's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

At the time of writing, our data says that Bioventix PLC has a market cap of UK217m, and reported total annual CEO compensation of UK322k for the year to June 2019. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at UK175k. When we examined a selection of companies with market caps ranging from UK83m to UK330m, we found the median CEO total compensation was UK627k.

Pay mix tells us a lot about how a company functions versus the wider industry, and it's no different in the case of Bioventix. Talking in terms of the sector, salary represented approximately 66% of total compensation out of all the companies we analysed, while other remuneration made up 34% of the pie. Bioventix does not set aside a larger portion of remuneration in the form of salary, maintaining the same rate as the wider market.

Most shareholders would consider it a positive that Peter Harrison takes less total compensation than the CEOs of most similar size companies, leaving more for shareholders. Though positive, it's important we delve into the performance of the actual business. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Bioventix has changed from year to year.

AIM:BVXP CEO Compensation May 17th 2020

Is Bioventix PLC Growing?

Bioventix PLC has seen earnings per share (EPS) move positively by an average of 11% a year, over the last three years (using a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is up 14%.

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This demonstrates that the company has been improving recently. A good result. It's a real positive to see this sort of growth in a single year. That suggests a healthy and growing business. It could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future.

Has Bioventix PLC Been A Good Investment?

I think that the total shareholder return of 137%, over three years, would leave most Bioventix PLC shareholders smiling. As a result, some may believe the CEO should be paid more than is normal for companies of similar size.

In Summary...

It appears that Bioventix PLC remunerates its CEO below most similar sized companies.

Since the business is growing, many would argue this suggests the pay is modest. The strong history of shareholder returns might even have some thinking that Peter Harrison 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. Moving away from CEO compensation for the moment, we've identified 1 warning sign for Bioventix that you should be aware of before investing.

If you want to buy a stock that is better than Bioventix, 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.
1 Killed, 2 Hurt in Gun Battle at Illinois Motel: Officials

Officials said a man shot three people, killing one, inside an Illinois motel on Sunday morning before he was found dead.

Officers swarmed a Super 8 Motel in Rockford at 12:40 a.m. after reports of shots being fired. Officers found a man dead with gunshot wounds and two women injured, Police Chief Dan OShea told WTVO.

The suspect then barricaded himself into one of the hotel rooms, OShea said. A police standoff ended about six hours later, according to the Rockford Police Department.

The identities of the victims and the suspect were not disclosed.

The stand-off at the Super 8 Motel has ended with the suspect found deceased from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A formal release will follow once more details become available.  RockfordILPolice (@RockfordPD) May 17, 2020

Throughout the night we had some exchange of gunfire between police officers and the suspect, OShea told the outlet.

When officers forced themselves into the room, the suspect was found dead, OShea added.

It appears he died from a self-inflicted gunshot, he said.

OShea said the two women who were injured are being treated at a nearby hospital with injuries that do not appear to be life-threatening.

Shooting investigation at Super 8 Motel, on Colosseum, near E. State Street. Avoid the area until further notice.  RockfordILPolice (@RockfordPD) May 17, 2020

The shooting appeared to stem from a domestic incident that happened prior, the police chief added.

None of the officers involved in the standoff were injured.

During the standoff, the SWAT team was called, and the motel was evacuated, authorities told CNN.
(Natural News) In a bombshell story out of Rome, a member of the Italian Parliament named Sara Cunial has called for Bill Gates to be arrested as a vaccine criminal and charged with crimes against humanity.

The story is best covered by GreatGameIndia.com, and we republish most of their story here because of its comprehensive links and coverage, which is among the best in independent media.

Italian Politician Demand Bill Gates Arrest For Crimes Against Humanity

by GreatGameIndia

Days after it was revealed in an intercepted human intelligence report that Bill Gates offered $10 million bribe for a forced Coronavirus vaccination program in Nigeria, now an Italian politician has demanded the arrest of Bill Gates in the Italian parliament. Sara Cunial, the Member of Parliament for Rome denounced Bill Gates as a vaccine criminal and urged the Italian President to hand him over to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. She also exposed Bill Gates agenda in India and Africa, along with the plans to chip the human race through the digital identification program ID2020.

As reported by GreatGameIndia earlier, in 2015 it were the Italians who exposed secret Chinese biological experiments with Coronavirus. The video, which was broadcast in November, 2015, showed how Chinese scientists were doing biological experiments on a SARS connected virus believed to be Coronavirus, derived from bats and mice, asking whether it was worth the risk in order to be able to modify the virus for compatibility with human organisms.

In an extraordinary seven-minute speech met with wide applause, Sara Cunial, the Member of Parliament for Rome said that Italy had been subjected to a Holy Inquisition of false science.

She roundly criticized the unnecessary lockdown imposed on her fellow Italians in the service of a globalist agenda. She urged fellow political leaders to desist in any plans to compel citizens to surrender themselves to compulsory COVID-19 vaccination at the hands of the corrupt elite  whom she identified as the Deep State.

Below is the transcription of the full speech delivered to the Italian Parliament by Sara Cunial, the Member of Parliament for Rome.

Based on intercepted human intelligence report, a controversy has erupted in Nigeria whereby #BillGates is accused of offering Nigerian House of Representatives a $10 million bribe for the speedy passage of a forced vaccination program for #Coronavirus.https://t.co/e1G8PAWhFB  GreatGameIndia (@GreatGameIndia) May 12, 2020

Speech by Sara Cunial, The Member of Parliament for Rome

Speech delivered to the Italian Parliament, May 2020

Hobbes said that absolute power does not come from an imposition from above but by the choice of individuals who feel more protected renouncing to their own freedom and granting it to a third party. With this, you are going on anesthetizing the minds with corrupted Mass Media with Amuchina (a brand of disinfectant promoted by Mass Media) and NLP, with words like regime, to allow and to permit, to the point of allowing you to regulate our emotional ties and feelings and certify our affects.

So, in this way, Phase 2 is nothing else than the persecution/continuation of Phase 1  you just changed the name, as you did with the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). We have understood people, for sure, dont die for the virus alone. So people will be allowed to die and suffer, thanks to you and your laws, for misery and poverty. And, as in the best regimes, the blame will be dropped only on citizens. You take away our freedom and say that we looked for it. Divide et Impera (Divide and Rule).

It is our children who will lose more, who are raped souls, with the help of the so-called guarantor of their rights and of CISMAI (Italian Coordination of Services against Child Abuse). In this way, the right to school will be granted only with a bracelet to get them used to probation, to get them used to slavery  involuntary treatment and to virtual lager. All this in exchange for a push-scooter and a tablet. All to satisfy the appetites of a financial capitalism whose driving force is the conflict of interest, conflict well represented by the WHO, whose main financier is the well-known philanthropist and savior of the world Bill Gates.

We all know it, now. Bill Gates, already in 2018, predicted a pandemic, simulated in October 2019 at the Event 201, together with Davos (Switzerland). For decades, Gates has been working on Depopulation policy and dictatorial control plans on global politics, aiming to obtain the primacy on agriculture, technology and energy.

Gates said, I quote exactly from his speech:

If we do a good job on vaccines, health and reproduction, we can reduce the world population by 10-15%. Only a genocide can save the world.

With his vaccines, Gates managed to sterilize millions of women in Africa. Gates caused a polio epidemic that paralyzed 500,000 children in India and still today with DTP, Gates causes more deaths than the disease itself. And he does the same with GMOs designed by Monsanto and generously donated to needy populations. All this while he is already thinking about distributing the quantum tattoo for vaccination recognition and mRNA vaccines as tools for reprogramming our immune system. In addition, Gates also does business with several multinationals that own 5G facilities in the USA.

MUST READ Bill Gates Agenda In India Exposed By Robert Kennedy Jr  the nephew of former American President John F. Kennedy after RFK's grand-daughter and her son were found dead in suspicious circumstances.https://t.co/3GdabYP4iW  GreatGameIndia (@GreatGameIndia) April 13, 2020

On this table there is the entire Deep State in Italian sauce: Sanofi, together with GlaxoSmithKline are friends of the Ranieri Guerra, Ricciardi, and of the well-known virologist that we pay 2000 Euro every 10 minutes for the presentations on Rai (Italian state TV. Shes probably talking about Burioni). Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline sign agreements with medical societies to indoctrinate future doctors, making fun of their autonomy of judgment and their oath.

Hi-Tech multinationals, like the Roman Engineering which is friend of the noble Mantoan, or Bending Spoons, of Pisano, which are there for control and manage our personal health datas in agreement with the European Agenda ID2020 of electronic identification, which aims to use mass vaccination to obtain a digital platform of digital ID. This is a continuation of the transfer of data started by Renzi to IBM. Renzi, in 2016, gave a plus 30% to Gates Global Fund.

On the Deep State table there are the people of Aspen, like the Saxon Colao, who with his 4-pages reports, paid 800 Euros/hour, with no scientific review, dictates its politics as a Bilderberg general as he is, staying away from the battlefield. The list is long. Very long. In the list there is also Mediatronic, by Arcuri and many more.

The Italian contribution to the International Alliance Against Coronavirus will be of 140 million Euros, of which 120 million Euros will be given to GAVI Alliance, the non-profit by Gates Foundation. They are just a part of the 7.4 billion Euro fund by the EU to find a vaccine against Coronavirus  vaccines which will be used as I said before.

No money, ofcourse for serotherapy, which has the collateral effect of being super cheap. No money for prevention, a real prevention, which includes our lifestyles, our food and our relationship with the environment.

EXCLUSIVE This investigation by @GreatGameIndia uncovers the #DeepState collaborations between American and Chinese biotechs at the forefront of #Coronavirus vaccine development  marketed worldwide by an entity called UNITAID.https://t.co/MnzVnIN9s5  GreatGameIndia (@GreatGameIndia) April 18, 2020

The real goal of all of this is total control. Absolute domination of human beings, transformed into guinea pigs and slaves, violating sovereignty and free will. All this thanks to tricks/hoax disguised as political compromises. While you rip up the Nuremberg code with involuntary treatment, fines and deportation, facial recognition and intimidation, endorsed by dogmatic scientism  protected by our Multi-President of the Republic who is real cultural epidemic of this country.

We, with the people, will multiply the fires of resistance in a way that you wont be able to repress all of us.

I ask you, President, to be the spokesperson and give an advice to our President Conte: Dear Mr. President Conte, next time you receive a phone call from the philanthropist Bill Gates forward it directly to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. If you wont do this, tell us how we should define you, the friend lawyer who takes orders from a criminal.

Thank you.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 23:49:45|Editor: huaxia

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People wait at a bus stop in London, Britain, on May 17, 2020. Another 170 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Saturday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 34,636, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma said Sunday. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

LONDON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Another 170 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Saturday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 34,636, the Department of Health and Social Care said Sunday.

The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.

Chairing Sunday's Downing Street press briefing, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma told reporters that to conquer the disease "we need to find a safe, workable vaccine".

All phase one participants at the University of Oxford clinical trial have received their vaccine dose on schedule and are now being monitored. The Imperial College London vaccine will move into clinical trials by mid-June with larger scale ones planned for October, he said. Enditem
Venezuela is reporting its biggest one-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic hit the South American nation.

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said Saturday that the 45 new cases bring Venezuela's total to 504 illnesses, with 10 resulting in death.

Officials have reported a relatively low number of cases since the first were discovered in mid-March.

While Venezuela has reported relatively few cases so far, health experts say its hospitals are especially vulnerable to being overwhelmed.

Venezuela is in a deep political and economic crisis that has left its health care system in a shamble.

President Nicols Maduro ordered a nationwide lockdown shortly after the first cases, and he recently extended it until mid-June, hoping to contain the virus' spread.

Officials say that 35 of Saturday's cases involved people returning to Venezuela, including several on a flight from Peru.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
France Calls for EU Unity on Border Reopening Amid Coronavirus Fears

Sputnik News

21:46 GMT 16.05.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The French interior minister warned EU nations on Saturday against setting their own schedules for reopening borders as Europe prepares for the summer tourist season.

"We need to be able to have a joint discussion on the European level, especially on the Schengen zone level. It is not what we see today", Christophe Castaner said.

He said Spain's and Italy's unilateral decisions to throw open borders to EU tourists were not taken in the spirit of solidarity. France is yet to announce the reopening date.

Earlier in the day, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a press conference that the government is aware of the risks it faces if the number of COVID-19 cases were to rise, adding that restrictions on movement within one region will be lifted and shops, museums, hair and beauty salons, bars, and restaurants will reopen on Monday.

Italy plans to allow entry to EU citizens without a mandatory 14-day quarantine starting 3 June, while Spain hopes to welcome tourists sometime in early July.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said this week that her country wanted all border controls within the EU's visa-free area to be lifted from 15 June. Germany and Austria plan to fully restore travel on that day.

 Sputnik

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By PTI

WASHINGTON: Joe Biden has longed to win the White House for more than three decades.

If he finally makes it there after November's election, he's already talking about leaving.

In an effort to ease concerns about his age, the 77-year-old presumptive Democratic nominee has said he wouldn't seek reelection if his mental or physical health declined.

He has also referred to himself as a transition candidate," acting as a bridge to a younger generation of leadership.

Biden is rarely known for sticking to a script, and the comments are evidence of his candid style.

But they're also contributing to intense speculation about who is best positioned to lead the party after him.

"We do have a longer bench as Democrats, a younger bench in terms of elected leadership all across the country," said Democratic strategist L. Joy Williams, chairwoman of Higher Heights PAC, which is dedicated to electing more women to national and statewide offices.

Biden has not ruled out running for a second term, in part because such an explicit pledge would immediately render him a lame duck in Washington, where political capital will be needed to manage the coronavirus recovery.

But the question of his long-term prospects looms over his candidacy, especially as he considers his options for vice president.

While someone like Elizabeth Warren could broaden Biden's appeal among progressives, the 70-year-old Massachusetts senator wouldn't be the face of a new generation many in the party are seeking.

That might be an advantage for younger contenders, such as California Sen. Kamala Harris, 55, or Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, 59.

ALSO READ | 'Everyone's watching': Joe Biden's VP audition process begins

It's an awkward dynamic for Biden, whose lead in the Democratic primary coincided with the onset of a pandemic, making it harder to establish himself as the party's unquestioned leader.

He can ill afford chatter about who might succeed him when he still faces a competitive race against President Donald Trump in the fall.

There are few historic precedents for a president opting against reelection.

None has passed up a chance at a second term after just four years in the White House since shortly after Reconstruction.

President Lyndon B. Johnson declined to seek a second, full term in 1968, but was already in office five years by then because of John F. Kennedy's assassination.

There's also no guarantee that Biden's running mate will be the immediate president-in-waiting he envisions.

Biden has pledged to pick a woman, but virtually no one under active consideration is likely to satisfy all Democrats.

That raises the prospect of a primary battle in 2024 if he steps aside.

Republican pollster Chris Wilson said Biden might elevate several younger Democrats to Cabinet positions to deliberately set up "almost a hand-picked primary pool rather than a single candidate he tries to hand things off to."

That, Wilson said, "would still be the kind of legacy-building move he seems to be interested in."

Biden might also change his mind and decide to run for reelection if he unseats Trump.

That still might not insulate him from a progressive primary challenge, though.

"Even if Biden wins and says he's going to run in 2024, he's absolutely going to be challenged from within the party," said Eric Hauser, who was press secretary for Bill Bradley's primary run in 2000 against Al Gore, who had been Bill Clinton's vice president for eight years and was seen by many as his natural successor.

"The left has felt like it got hoodwinked twice, in '16 and now. They feel overlooked."

Gilberto Hinojosa, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, said Biden's choice of running mate will have to fill twin roles.

That person would need to continue to move the country away from the Trump era "if something were to happen while he's still in office, or later, if Biden decides to retire and pass the baton."

"I think the stakes are already really high, no matter how you look at it," Hinojosa said.

Republicans could also face similar tumult.

If Trump secures a second term, Vice President Mike Pence would seem to be a natural successor.

But there are plenty of other Republicans with presidential ambitions who could be more attractive if Trump becomes unpopular at the end of a second term, which often happens to presidents after eight years in office.

George H.W. Bush is the only sitting vice president in modern history to be elected president.

The only other examples are Martin Van Buren in 1836, and Thomas Jefferson and John Adams before that.

"Mike Pence would be inheriting eight years of a tsunami," Hauser said of Trump's legacy.

For all the speculation, if Biden is elected, he could decide to seek another term in 2024 in part because the lure of the White House is one of the greatest forces in politics, especially for someone ambitious enough to be on his third presidential bid since 1988.

"Once you're president, it's very tempting to keep power," said Julian Zelizer, a history and public affairs professor at Princeton University who has written about single-term presidents.

"It could very well be a genuine idea right now. But we just don't see people relinquish power very easily."
Dear Editor,

On May 15, 1948, hours after declaring its independence, Israel was attacked by its neighbors (Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon). The thought for May 15th in the Freeman was a quote by Arthur Schnitzler: Martyrdom has always been a proof of the intensity, never of the correctness, of the belief.

Unfortunately that is apt to describe the Palestinian adherents in the Middle East. What these fanatics [and those of the Boycott/Divestment/Sanctions (BDS) movement] do not realize is that the Palestinians long ago would have enjoyed self-rule had they swallowed their hatred of Jews and stopped murdering Israelis. Instead, the Palestinians have lived in and been supported by the welfare of the United Nations, while some also receive stipends from the Palestinian Authority as a reward for any terrorism they have been involved in.

Palestinians must give up their goal of eliminating the Jewish state, and become a true peace partner in the Middle East.

Susan Puretz

Saugerties, N.Y.
T he Chinese ambassador to Israel was found dead in his home north of Tel Aviv on Sunday, Israels Foreign Ministry said.

No cause of death was given and Israeli police said it was investigating.

Du Wei, 58, was appointed envoy in February in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and previously served as Chinas envoy to Ukraine.

His death comes two days after he condemned comments made by visiting US politician Mike Pompeo.

Red tape blocks the entrance to the residence of Israel's Chinese ambassador as forensic experts walk out / AFP via Getty Images

The Secretary of State denounced Chinese investments in Israel and accused China of hiding information about the coronavirus outbreak.

Mr Wei is survived by a wife and son, both of whom were not in Israel.
New Delhi :

After rising for the first time in 18 months in June, exports shrank again in July, contracting 6.84 per cent due to decline in shipments of engineering goods and petroleum products. Gold imports, which till recently was a matter of concern for the government, more than halved to USD 1.08 billion in the month.

Merchandise exports totalled USD 21.69 billion in July as against USD 23.28 billion in the same month last year.

Declining exports as well as in imports narrowed the trade deficit in July to USD 7.76 billion as against USD 13.09 billion in the year-ago period.

Exports have been falling since December 2014 due to weak global demand and slide in oil prices.

As per the data released by Commerce and Industry Ministry, imports in July were at USD 29.45 billion, down 19.03 per cent from USD 36.37 billion in the same month a year ago.

Gold imports dropped over 64 per cent to USD 1.08 billion, from USD 2.97 billion in July 2015.

Import of the precious metal has been declining sharply due to measures like higher customs duty and gold schemes. Gold used to be the second most imported item in the country after petroleum.

Government data revealed that imports of petroleum, crude and related products were down 28 per cent in July, while that of coal, coke and briquettes shrunk by about 7 per cent.

Cumulative value of merchandise exports for April-July 2016-17 was USD 87 billion as against USD 90.27 billion last year, a decline of 3.62 per cent.

Overall imports in the four month period of the fiscal stood at USD 113.99 billion, down 16.33 per cent year-on-year.

Trade deficit for April-July was estimated at USD 27 billion, lower than USD 46 billion in the corresponding period last fiscal.

The decline in exports reflects the contraction in global trade and leading exporting countries like China also witnessed similar declines, FIEO President S C Ralhan said.

The decline in exports of engineering goods, leather and textiles is a major concern as these are employment intensive sectors of exports, he said.

The net export of services during April-June was USD 16.2 billion, marginally lower than USD 16.49 billion recorded in the corresponding period last year.

Taking merchandise and services together, overall trade deficit for April-July is estimated at USD 10.8 billion, which is 63.38 per cent lower from USD 29.5 billion year-on-year.

For all the Latest Business News, Economy News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 05:33:12|Editor: huaxia

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A screenshot of the latest CNN report about the firing of Steve Linick as the State Department Inspector General. (Xinhua)

In an earlier statement, Engel said that the OIG had opened an investigation into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, noting the removal of Linick "strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation."



WASHINGTON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee on Saturday said that it had launched an investigation into President Donald Trump's firing of the State Department Inspector General Steve Linick on Friday.

The House panel said in a statement that the investigation was launched by its chairman Eliot Engel, and senator Bob Menendez, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

The two Democratic lawmakers requested that administration officials preserve all records related to the firing and turn the information over to the committees by May 22.

A screenshot of Inspector General Steve Linick and his biography on the website of the U.S. Department of State. (Xinhua)

"Chairman Engel and Ranking Member Menendez requested that the administration turn over records and information related to the firing of Mr. Linick, information about Stephen J. Akard, whom the State Department has announced will lead the OIG (Office of the Inspector General), and records of all IG investigations involving the Office of the Secretary that were open, pending, or incomplete at the time of Mr. Linick's firing," said the statement.

The probe was launched after Trump's removal on Friday of Linick who was appointed to the role in 2013 by then-President Barack Obama.

According to media reports, Trump said in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that he "no longer" had the "fullest confidence" in Linick and promised to send the Senate a nominee "who has my confidence and who meets the appropriate qualifications."

A screenshot of the latest tweet posted by Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, to accuse the firing of Steve Linick. (Xinhua)

In an earlier statement, Engel said that the OIG had opened an investigation into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, noting the removal of Linick "strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation."

Citing a Democratic aide, The New York Times reported that Linick was probing whether Pompeo had misused a political appointee at the State Department to perform personal tasks for himself and his wife.

A State Department spokesperson said that Director of the Office of Foreign Missions Stephen Akard would lead the OIG in an acting capacity. Akard previously served as senior foreign affairs advisor to several governors of Indiana, including Mike Pence, according to his profile on the State Department website. 
T he UK and the US are reported embroiled in a diplomatic row over Northamptonshire teenager Harry Dunn.

The 19-year-old died when a car driven by American Anne Sacoolas collied with his motorbike near RAF Croughton in August 2019.

Washington officials were furious to learn UK police had put an international wanted notice out for Ms Sacoolas, 42, The Mail on Sunday said.

The wife of a US intelligence official, she claimed diplomatic immunity after the crash and was able to return to her home country.

RAF Croughton, in Northamptonshire, near where Harry Dunn, 19, died when his motorbike was involved in a head-on collision in August last year / PA

However she was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December, but an extradition request submitted by the Home Office was rejected by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in January, a decision the State Department has since described as final.

The Mail says bilateral tensions have erupted after British police enacted an Interpol Red Diffusion Notice, which was sent to certain countries including Canada, seeking Sacoolass arrest if she left the United States.

Washington was reportedly not notified about the move in hope Sacoolas would leave the country and be arrested.

US officials were said to have been furious on learning of the notices existence and confronted British counterparts, prompting crisis talks last Thursday involving Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, and Home Secretary Priti Patel.

The Mail said Northamptonshire Police are being blamed by the Government for news of the notice emerging.
An eastern seaboard mega-region that better integrates the economies of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane could spur Australias post-pandemic recovery and add hundreds of billions to national income by mid-century.

Creating a more co-ordinated economic corridor stretching from Geelong in Victoria to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, where labour and capital could move at low cost, would deliver extensive economic and social benefits, a new report says.

An integrated mega-region spanning Australia's three largest cities would deliver economic benefits. Credit:Henry Zwartz

Modelling for the study found that a 1 per cent increase in output achieved by improved planning and co-ordination between Australias three biggest cities would deliver a $268 billion lift to gross domestic product by 2050.

The report recommends better planning of land use, more integrated and efficient transportation networks and better aligned laws and regulations along the Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane corridor. It also calls for more co-ordination of infrastructure development across the three cities.
Geneva: The World Health Organisation, which has been at the forefront of the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic but has not managed to escape controversy, is preparing to launch one of its most complex assemblies since the organisation's birth.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation. Credit:Keystone/AP

On Monday representatives of the United Nation's 194 member states will gather for the 73rd Assembly devoted almost entirely to strengthen global co-ordination against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The assembly will last two days and will be held in a virtual format due to restrictions in place to curb the spread of the virus.

The annual meeting comes at a time when the WHO has attracted unprecedented global attention for its co-ordinating and advisory role during the pandemic which affects 4.5 million people worldwide and has caused more 300,000 deaths.
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Right now, every film festival shares the same ambition: Get smarter about how to connect with audiences online. In the coming weeks, Hot Docs, Human Rights Watch, and AFI DOCS will present online lineups; at DOC NYC, where Im the artistic director, we are busily adapting to new realities for our November festival.

Weve also seen online festivals inspire pessimism from some sales agents and programmers  but we dont have time for that kind of thinking. Many filmmakers cant hold back their work until next year, when competition will only increase for premiere slots and buyer attention, and many festivals cant wait because they will cease to exist without revenue. We all need to keep getting smarter, faster.

More from IndieWire

While we all want to get back into theaters, the public is swiftly adapting to watch online content non-stop. Everyone from health care workers to dancers are finding ways to creatively connect; festivals must, too. So whats needed as we move forward?

1. Change of Attitude.

Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar, the Oscar-winning directors of American Factory, planned to launch their new film 9 to 5: The Story of a Movement, about feminist labor organizing, at SXSW and Full Frame. After they were canceled, the filmmakers declined invitations to online festivals; now theyve had a change of heart. We were getting really itchy to just get the film out there, Reichert told me on my weekly online conversation series, Friday Fix. Maybe were all going to be online for a long time. Consulting with their sales agent Submarine and publicists at Cinetic Marketing, theyve accepted an invite to a summer online festival soon to be announced.

Filmmaker Maria Finitzo had a similar path after losing her SXSW premiere for The Dilemma of Desire, which looks at explorations of the clitoris in art and science. We waited about a month and a half in shock before we realized we needed a new plan, said Finitzo, a veteran and award-winning director at Kartemquin Films. Repped by ro*co films, Desire is still seeking distribution but it will reach its first audience online at Hot Docs. It was time to accept the new reality, Finitzo said. Im looking forward to the emotional release that comes when you know more people than your own team will see the film. It becomes a way of saying, I did make this film. It hasnt disappeared.

Story continues

2. Geoblocking and Restricted Viewing. CPH:DOX in Copenhagen opened March 18 and had just one week to convert online. Programmers settled on the platform Shift72, which could present films with three key restrictions: a) they were geoblocked within Denmark; b) ticket purchases were capped, typically between 500 to 1,000; and c) ticket buyers had a window of 30 hours to watch, similar to a VOD rental.

I call this model restricted viewing, and its becoming the dominant approach used by festivals such as Cleveland (restricted to Ohio), Hot Docs (restricted to Ontario), Human Rights Watch and AFI Docs (both restricted to the U.S.). CPH:DOX director Tine Fischer reported that the festivals online edition reached its biggest audience ever, selling over 66,000 tickets (and assumed a home viewership nearly double that).

All of us wanted CPH:DOX to survive, said Sigrid Dyekjaer, the Oscar-nominated producer of The Cave and co-owner of the production company Danish Documentary. Dyekjaer produced two films in the CPH lineup, Eva Mulvads Love Child, about an Iranian family fleeing persecution; and Lauren Greenfields The Kingmaker, about Imelda Marcos.

Dykjaer is brimming with enthusiasm for the CPH experience and her company is now booking Jrgen Leths personal essay on aging, I Walk, at online festivals, including Bolognas Biografilm. Shes also producing a documentary by Oscar-nominated director Guy Davidi (Five Broken Cameras) that she hopes will debut in winter 2021, undaunted by the possibility that its premiere may be online.

In a world where more people are poor, why dont we have a democratic heart beating to make festivals more available at an affordable price? she said. Shes reevaluating her history of traveling to film festivals, reconsidering the time away from her family and the climate impact of frequent flying.

3. Distributors Willing to Engage. The key worry from filmmakers has been whether playing an online festival would hurt their chances for distribution. In March, distributors werent keen on the idea  but the thinking around this evolved quickly. Key distributors like Apple TV+, HBO Docs, National Geographic, and Participant Media are supplying titles to online festivals and in recent weeks buyers at HBO Docs, Hulu, IFC Films, Neon, Magnolia Pictures, Showtime and Sony Pictures Classics told me they planned to scout films at online festivals that put limits on viewership. Other distributors declined to go on record, but no one said that online festivals with restricted viewing would be a dealbreaker. The bottom line is buying is still competitive, and those who tune out risk missing out.

4. Better Media Analysis. While SXSWs partnership with Amazon and the Tribeca-led We Are One festival on YouTube make for good headlines, these consumer-facing projects dont reflect the future of restricted-viewing film festivals. Any confusion is understandable; online festivals are in evolutionary hyperdrive, and our understanding seems to unfold on a daily basis. However, film journalists have the responsibility to keep up in near-real time, and to use their editorial judgment to recognize that each festival will have its own resources, measures of success, and ways to serve filmmakers. Real-world festivals are not monolithic; neither are their online counterparts. (Editors note: Noted.)

5. Foster a Spirit of Discovery. Discovering films at home is my job, and most of those discoveries happened alone in my office watching a link. Thats how I first encountered The Elephant Queen, The Biggest Little Farm, and Maiden before they went on to premiere at TIFF and secure deals with Apple TV+, Neon, and Sony Pictures Classics. If films can cast a spell when Im home alone, then I believe they can for anyone exploring an online festival.

For veteran festivalgoers, their memories of discovering films are inextricably linked to watching in a theater. But in the age of streaming, viewers are making different kinds of discoveries at home. Think of the early viewers who stumbled upon Making a Murderer in 2015, or Tiger King this spring. When those series debuted on Netflix with little fanfare, viewers pressed play without knowing what to expect. They shared their enthusiasm on social media, just as word of mouth spreads at a film festival.

6. New Approaches to the Q&A. Directors Jim Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham have participated in over 20 online talks since their Sundance prize-winning film Crip Camp debuted on Netflix in late March. Its been a game changer for people to not have to travel, said Lebrecht, who uses a wheelchair himself. When we did live screenings, a big concern was, How are we going to get all these people in wheelchairs into theaters? Newnham told me they feel a greater intimacy taking questions on Zoom compared to a theater where youre up on stage and maybe theyre in the back of the room. Online, you can really see their faces and expressions. The filmmakers are now planning a weekly series of webinars to kick off on May 17, framed like a summer camp, to address disability education and activism.

7. Recognize That Each Film Has its Own Community. Festival community can mean the insular club of programmers, buyers, and journalists who travel the circuit  but thats only one community that filmmakers seek. At DOC NYC last November, we also found the Armenian community for I Am Not Alone, an Arab community for Brooklyn Inshallah, a Tibetan community for Ganden: A Joyful Land, a Vietnamese community for Mai Khoi & the Dissidents, and so on for over 100 films.



During this time of disconnection, films and festivals can play a powerful role in restitching our communities. At the start of the quarantine, I was really apprehensive about going online, said Maori Karmael Holmes, artistic director of Philadelphias BlackStar festival. Now Im 97% convinced that well be doing an online festival. We already have submissions and they are owed some kind of presentation. We want to give them as much shine as we can.

8. Industry Connections. Filmmakers covet the face-to-face contact with funders and distributors that festivals bring. This month, Hot Docs made an impressive effort to shift its extensive networking events online. We traditionally arrange 800 meetings when we do the festival in person, said Hot Docs industry programmer Madelaine Russo. This year, we had the same number of meetings by Zoom or other teleconferencing.

Russo oversees the Deal Maker meetings, which match 70 funders and broadcasters with 55 film projects. Her colleague Julian Carrington runs Distribution Rendezvous, which arranged another 700 meetings. Dorota Lech oversees the Forum, where 22 projects representing 19 countries are pitched to approximately 40 funders. Buyers wanted to catch up and not lose sight of anything that was moving forward, said Russo.

Filmmaker Nausheen Dadabhoy participated in the Forum from her parents home in Orange County, Calif., and received a grant commitment from Field of Visions Charlotte Cook for work-in-progress An Act of Worship, which examines the past two decades of Muslim life in America. Our film is on such a quick timeline, we thought it was critical, said Dadabhoy, who wants to get into distribution before next years 20th anniversary of September 11.

Online meetings have advantages of their own. At Hot Docs, meetings were spread across several weeks instead of just three days. And companies like Netflix, Hulu, Participant Media, and Sundance Institute, which typically sent one representative to Toronto, saw multiple representatives take meetings. Going forward, teleconference meetings will be a vital tool at networking events planned for Sheffield Doc Fests MeetMarket, IFP Week, and DOC NYCs Only In New York.

9. Innovation. I take inspiration from John Krasinskis Some Good News and his ability to orchestrate heart-warming surprises that beg for social media sharing. While he has celebrity connections on his side, many of my favorite quarantine videos are amateur efforts, like the Texas family lip syncing in their kitchen to Hold My Hand. Festivals need to tap that playful energy and harness their own networks of personalities to highlight their lineups.

One beacon of online film engagement is the #ArrayNow tweet-a-thon, led by Ava DuVernay and her distribution company. On April 30, she enlisted 60 filmmakers including Guillermo del Toro, Mira Nair, and Roger Ross Wiliams to answer questions on Twitter. The effort resulted in a profusion of interaction that became a trending hashtag in New York and other cities.

For some festivals, innovation will mean exploring new ways to share data and revenue with filmmakers; for others, the art of innovation will mean survival. Festivals are a low-margin business in the best of times and their revenue streams of sponsors and donors are drastically reduced. Many online festivals are cutting normal ticket prices in half and operating with smaller staffs. At the same time, they need to invest in new technology and training on top of the logistical challenges we all face at home.

This is probably the hardest festival Ive put together in 40 years of doing this, said AFI DOCS festival director Michael Lumpkin, who previously ran the International Documentary Association and the LGBT festival Frameline. Its hard because weve had to learn so much. But to get on the other side of this and say, I know how to do a virtual film festival now is amazing.

10. Patience and Compassion. As we negotiate the new future, lets remember that everyone is living with added grief and stress. DOC NYCs executive director Raphaela Neihausen is also my spouse. She produced the film Joes Violin and weve been mourning the recent death of its main subject Joseph Feingold to COVID-19 and the loss of WNYC host

Richard Hake, whose voice introduced our Documentary of the Week for many years. Our professional community was shaken by the death of Matt Holzman, creator of KCRWs podcast The Document, and by the COVID-19 hospitalization of Kartemquins co-founder Gordon Quinn. Thats a lot to process in one month, but we know many others have much worse to bear.

Loira Limbal, a filmmaker and a single mother in the South Bronx, had been planning a Tribeca premiere for her film Through the Night, about childcare workers. Her priorities shifted to cope with the devastation of COVID-19, including her own mother getting sick. My community is being disproportionately affected by this pandemic, she told me on Friday Fix. So the festival thing? Yeah, I know its a thing, but who the hell has the time to grieve that or mourn that when we are surrounded by so much tragedy, so much death at our doorstep?

John Biaggi, director of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, was forced to cancel the festivals London edition the day after its March 12 opening night. We couldnt see waiting a whole year to hold their New York festival, which normally follows their London event in June. So theyve made the switch online with a slate of 11 titles, including Erika Cohns Belly of the Beast, on reproductive rights, as the opening-night film and David Frances Welcome to Chechnya, about LGBT activists in Russia, prior to the films release on HBO. Biaggi said hes excited about expanding the reach across the United States (with a ticket limit of 600). The festival is known for its in-depth Q&A conversations with filmmakers and human rights leaders, and these will be available for free online to unlimited viewers.

The coming months will mean negotiating points of collaboration and compromise. Lets remember that everyone is under extra pressure and, for some, extraordinary pressure. We are having this discussion because film festivals have greatly enriched our lives. They bring us inspiration and connection. I feel very optimistic for their future.

Thom Powers is the artistic director of DOC NYC and hosts its weekly interview show Friday Fix. He is also the documentary programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival and host of the podcasts Pure Nonfiction and WNYC Documentary of the Week.

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Prince has been gone for four years, but the famed musician still might have a big impact on the fight against coronavirus.

Thats because his estate has planned a three-day event that will air on his YouTube channel and all proceeds are slated to go to COVID-19 relief, according to reports.

The event will begin Thursday at 5 p.m. with a question and answer from Revolution drummer Bobby Z. Then, a screen of Prince and the Revolution: Live, which Good Morning America described as a concert film capturing a March 1985 performance at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, is scheduled to air from 6 p.m. that night until 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

During the watch party, according to Good Morning America, viewers will be able to donate to the World Health Organizations COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and Google has, reportedly, pledged to match every dollar donated by fans up to $5 million.

Prince died in 2016 at the age of 57.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: Indian Navys amphibious transport dock INS Jalashwa, which is on an evacuation mission is expected to dock at Kochi port by 10am on Sunday. The ship, on its second trip to evacuate Indians stranded in the Maldives under Operation Samudra Setu, will bring 588 Indians, including 497 men, 70 women and 21 children. According to the Navy, six of the evacuees are pregnant women.

Though the passengers had boarded the ship around 6pm on Friday, after completing the medical check ups and immigration process, the ship could not set sail from Port of Male due to inclement weather. Heavy rain and strong wind had delayed the ships return journey. Finally, the ship started its return journey at 7.30am on Saturday. INS Jalashwa had brought 698 Indians from Maldives on the first phase of evacuation on May 10.
The numbers are striking: 47% of San Francisco restaurant owners laid off all of their employees during shelter-in-place. And among the 73% of restaurants open for takeout, 60% are losing money by doing so.

Those statistics come from a survey of 216 San Francisco restaurant owners  representing 419 locations  conducted by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association. The survey results, obtained exclusively by The Chronicle, reveal the challenges restaurateurs are facing during shelter-in-place as well as their reopening prospects.

Association Executive Director Laurie Thomas has estimated that half of San Francisco restaurants could permanently close because of the coronavirus. While certainly not optimistic, the survey results dont seem as dire  at least for the very near future. Just 9% of respondents believed theyd permanently close their restaurants before the end of shelter-in-place, and 64% planned to reopen regardless of any capacity restrictions.

Still, Thomas admits its an imperfect survey, covering less than 10% of the citys restaurants. The association pushed it out widely, so its possible some restaurant owners from nearby cities such as Oakland answered it as well. And while the association had it translated into Spanish, Chinese and Filipino languages, nearly all of the responses came back in English.

Thomas was most surprised to see 65% of respondents received federal Paycheck Protection Program loans, because anecdotally, it seemed as though few local restaurants got them. That led her to wonder if the survey respondents represented the most well connected and tech-savvy of the citys restaurant owners.

Thats my angst, she said. If I could have everyone answer the survey, I think wed see it skewed toward what we are expecting, which is a higher percentage of failure.

The results come just days after Gov. Gavin Newsom released guidelines for reopening restaurants in California  a 12-page document that detailed sanitation, mask and physical distancing requirements. Counties can add more restrictions on top of those guidelines, and many chefs assume Bay Area officials will make stricter guidelines. An overwhelming majority of the associations survey respondents said they were OK having their employees use masks and gloves, though just 43% were willing to install plastic shields within their restaurants, which is one of the state recommendations.

Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

A big question on operators minds is whether diners will even want to come into their restaurants as shelter-in-place restrictions lift. They have good reason to be concerned, according to a poll conducted by The Chronicle. Out of more than 6,300 votes, about 30% said theyd be sticking to takeout and delivery options for the foreseeable future. Just 25% were comfortable returning to restaurants limited to half capacity.

Thats troubling for the industry, as 87% of the associations survey respondents said they cant survive on just takeout and delivery. Of the restaurants still open, 62% are making less than half the revenue they brought in before the shutdown.

Those numbers sound right to Pete Sittnick, a managing partner of San Francisco restaurants Waterbar and Epic Steak, who said restaurants have too many fixed costs like rent for a takeout-only model to make sense. Waterbar and Epic have stayed closed during shelter-in-place, which Sittnick said was the best move for their large restaurants.

You still have to have the lights on, you still have to have the kitchen equipment fired up, and that basically means your utility bill is going to be the same as if you were open for dine-in business, he said, adding that labor would also be costly. It would still take a core group of people  10 or 20  just to get the restaurant to a point where it could do business.

One of the biggest determinations of restaurants survival is rent. While more than half of respondents got some lease payments deferred, just 28% were offered discounted rent while 41% received no relief from landlords.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

David Nayfeld, who owns San Francisco restaurants Che Fico and Che Fico Alimentari with Matt Brewer, said restaurant operators must be responsible for building strong relationships with trustworthy landlords  but government officials should also step in when necessary to protect small businesses from bad actor landlords.

Without some legislative support from San Francisco or the state, its going to drive a lot of businesses out. Itll probably create a lot more vacancies and a lot more blight, Brewer said.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Many survey respondents said deferred rent isnt helpful when their incomes have dropped so dramatically. They want the city to make some temporary relief efforts permanent, such as its initiative to put a 15% cap on third-party delivery commissions. They worry about the cost of buying so much protective equipment and whether theyll even be able to get the masks, sanitizer and disinfectant wipes theyd need. And liability is a huge concern  79% reported being worried about getting sued by customers or employees if they catch the coronavirus and track it back to the restaurant.

Based on the survey results, the association plans to advocate for more financial aid options  68% said they need less than $100,000 to reopen their restaurants  as well as clear reopening guidelines, help buying protective equipment and the ability to use public outdoor space to boost their seating capacities. The latter already has support from some city leaders.

But perhaps most of all, restaurant owners want to know what to expect  and soon.

We have two or three meetings a week ... and we have five plans, Nayfeld said. One of those plans is just dont open.

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
Out of work and almost broke amid a ranging COVID-19 pandemic, many Indians working as caregivers in Israel have heaved a sigh of relief at the eagerly-awaited announcement that a special Air India flight will operate on May 25 to bring back Indian nationals stranded in the country.

The Indian government launched the 'Vande Bharat Mission' on May 7 to bring back Indians who were stranded in various countries due to coronavirus-related restrictions.

Under the phase one of the mission, the government evacuated a total of 6,527 Indians from the Gulf region and from countries like the US, the UK, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Malaysia and the Maldives.

"Air India has planned a flight on Delhi-Tel Aviv - Delhi sector on May 25 to repatriate Indian nationals stranded in Israel and are willing to meet the conditions set by the government such as an undertaking that they will go for mandatory quarantine. We will also offer Israelis who are currently in India and looking to come back to Israel to take the Delhi-Tel Aviv flight," Air India's country manager, Pankaj Tiwari, said.

The Indian embassy in Tel Aviv, in an announcement on May 15, said that it was looking into the possibility of facilitating the return of interested Indian nationals from Israel, who could not travel earlier due to COVID-19-related international travel restrictions.

"The passenger will have to bear the expenditure of travel and mandatory quarantine for self and family members (if accompanying) at destination", the announcement said.

"Around 140 people have so far contacted them for repatriation, out of which around 90 have provided their details and willingness to pay for ticket and quarantine," the embassy officials said.

With an overwhelming majority of possible passengers looking to go to Kerala, the Ministry of External Affairs is said to be looking at the possibility of arranging a connecting flight to Kochi from Delhi.

Annama Siby, who is from Kerala's Idukki district and came to Israel in 2013 as a caregiver but has been recently cleaning houses in Tel Aviv for a living, said that most of the people looking to go back are those without a job.

"I am without a job for almost four months now. I have no money and no work. I have to pay rent for my room and Israel is such an expensive place. The Israeli government has given us the permission to work but even those who would earlier give us some work are scared because of the coronavirus and we have to sit idle", Siby said.

"I want to go back to be with my husband and two sons, 8 and 13. I have requested the embassy to register me for the flight. I will borrow money from friends now and settle with them once I am back in India", she said.

Her husband, who is a school teacher in Idukki, has been taking care of the children. She had been visiting them once every two years earlier, but now does not plan to return.

Alex D'Souza, a 65-year-old man from Mangalore in Karnataka has been working near Beit Shemesh as a caregiver for 13 years. His employer died on March 17 this year and he has been without work and pay since then.

"I have registered for the flight but do not know how much I have to pay. I hope it is not something ridiculous like I heard of the people evacuated from Abu Dhabi had to pay", he said.

Anusree Sasi, who is from Ernakulam in Kerala, was planning to go back after completing work as per her contract on March 27 to get married and settle down. The COVID-19 lockdown has her stranded here due to lack of international flights and with no income during the past month and a half.

"I have worked in Ashkelon for two and a half years as a caregiver and didn't expect this to happen. I want to go back, get married and have no plans to come back," she said.

There are also several Indian students and researchers who have applied to go back for various reasons.

Akhila Viswan, a postdoctoral fellow at Bar-Ilan University had declined to take an extension and informed her Chemistry department about her plans to leave for India after finishing her one-year term. Her family has been waiting for her to come back and to get married.

"I did not extend my visa which got over in April as I am certain about going back. It has been a good learning experience here in Israel otherwise", she said.

Two of her friends have also registered to be repatriated with one securing a teaching position in India and the other looking to join his wife who is in an advanced stage of pregnancy.

Ministry of External Affairs will be approving the list of the passengers following which the Air India would be reaching out to them for bookings. The passengers would then receive a link for payments as has been the practice during evacuation of Indians from other destinations.

India has been under lockdown since March 25 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, which has claimed 2,872 lives and infected 90,927 people as of Sunday. All scheduled commercial passenger flights have been suspended during the lockdown period.

The deadly coronavirus which originated from China's Wuhan city in December last year has claimed 311,821 lives and infected over 4.6 million people, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
- Du Wei was found dead in his official residence north of Tel Aviv on Sunday morning

- Detectives in Isreal have launched an investigation into the cause of his death

- His death comes a week after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Israel where he castigated China over its handling of the coronavirus

- China hit back at Pompeo and termed his sentiments as absurd and ill-intentioned

Chinese ambassador to Isreal Du Wei has been found dead in his official residence in Tel Aviv.

Wei is believed to have lost his life on the morning of Sunday, May 17, as he rested at his house in Herzliya.

READ ALSO: Wajir: Suspected al-Shabaab militants attack, evict 26 officers from station

Chinese ambassador Du Wei was married and with one son. Photo: CNN.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Miguna calls for resignation of 145 MPs to deny Uhuru-Raila chance to impose BBI on Kenyans

Israel based detectives have commenced investigations into the death of the diplomat.

The Chinese envoy was deployed in Tel Aviv in February 2020 after serving in Ukraine.

READ ALSO: Rais Magufuli afichua mwanawe alipona COVID -19 baada ya kula malimau

Death of Wei, 57, came a week after Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, visited Israel where he castigated China over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Pompeo suggested that China tried to cover up information regarding the virus and claimed that the disease originated from China.

The Chinese Embassy in Israel was, however, quick to refute the sentiments terming them as absurd and ill-intentioned.

"Scientists still havent identified the origin of COVID-19. Historically, the place that first reported a case was often not its origin. Both the Spanish Flu and AIDS illustrate this point. Over the past few months, more and more studies are showing that the coronavirus in different places belongs to different strains, and patients zero of many countries do not even have any contact with China.

China has never covered up the outbreak. COVID-19 is a brand new virus that has never been seen in human history. It was on December 27, 2019, that Chinas local government in Hubei Province first received the report of cases. On December 31, the Chinese government notified the World Health Organisation (WHO) of the above information," the Chinese embassy said in a strongly-worded statement.

As of Sunday, May 17, at least 4,737,926 people had been infected, 313,636 had died while some 1,823,320 had recovered.

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Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has issued stern warning against the US provocative acts through dispatching its naval forces to the Caribbean Sea with the goal of disrupting the course of Iranian tankers carrying fuel for Venezuela, Trend reports citing Press TV.

In a letter to the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Sunday, Zarif described "the illegal, dangerous and provocative US threats [against the Iranian tankers]" as a form of piracy and a big threat to international peace and security.

Iran's foreign minister added that the US must stop acting as a bully at international level and respect teh rule of international laws, in particular the right to free shipping in free waters.

The top Iranian then highlighted the responsibility of "the US administration with regard to the consequences of any illegal move, reiterating Iran's right right to adopt appropriate and necessary measures in the face of such threats.

Following Zarif's letter, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi summoned the Swiss envoy, whose country represents US interests in Tehran, to voice the country's vehement protest at US provocations.

He called on the Swiss diplomat to convey the Islamic Republic's serious warning to the American officials against any possible threat posed by the US to the Iranian oil tankers.

Araqchi noted that Iran and Venezuela enjoy "completely legitimate and legal trade relations," adding that the US recourse to forceful or other forces of bullying measures will be seen as a threat to "free shipping, international trade and the free flow of energy."

Such measures, the Iranian deputy foreign minister said, are blatant examples of piracy and explicit violation of international laws and, as such, contravene the goals and principles enshrined in the UN Charter.

The top Iranian diplomat also warned that any threat against the country's tankers will elicit Iran's immediate and categorical reaction, and the US administration will be responsible for their consequences.

The Swiss envoy, for his part, said he will immediately convey the Islamic Republics message to the US administration and inform the Iranian government of the results as soon as possible.
Editors note: The Journal-Courier has been working with a group of business and community leaders to shine a light on the importance of the sometimes behind-the-scenes work taking place to improve the present and build for the future of our hometown.



Winston Churchill once said, Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.

It is that time of year in which many communities have either gone through or are preparing to go through their local elections. While it can be easy to believe your individual vote has little impact on the national or local outcomes, nothing could be further from the truth. Lets address our votes on the local level. Our local vote not only impacts various issues in your local community, it can determine the direction of your community revitalization and transformation efforts for years to come.

The candidates you elect today can have a huge impact on the direction and future of your community or downtown. The questions you ask of them are critical. Questions such as; Do they understand the power and pull of tourism to the community? Do they understand how important being business friendly is to drawing new and younger entrepreneurs to your community? Do they understand that wishing for new high-paying jobs to show up is usually a fools errand? Do they understand the real importance of having a city led hyper-local movement? Do they even know what a hyper-local movement is?

These and other questions are critical to your community and specifically downtown. Tourism is indeed the one thing that communities can control to an extent. The events they host and the atmosphere they provide are so crucial to bringing outside visitors in to spend their money in your community.

Being business friendly is critical to growth. Communities that make it difficult for start-up or new businesses are simply left behind in todays world. Those entrepreneurs will go to the next town that happens to be more business friendly to open their business there. City officials can create a one-stop business office that helps the potential startups and simplifies the entire process. Send the message to potential startups that your community is business friendly on all fronts.

Understanding the nature of higher-paying jobs that accompany new businesses moving to town is what separates the true candidates from those blowing smoke. Companies relocating or start-ups offering those high-paying jobs are few and far between. Communities must come to the reality that courting those companies is, at best, high stakes poker. Communities that understand the slim odds of winning those few bids will have the upper hand. They have the upper hand because they understand that to improve their odds when competing with other communities in this high-stakes poker game, they must revitalize and transform their downtown. Companies simply dont relocate to cities lacking community vibrancy, heart and soul. It is hard enough to retain workers as it is; they seek quality of life. This is something your community must provide for their employees to be relevant.

Do candidates understand what hyper-local means? Hyper-local efforts must be led by the city. They must promote, encourage and above all, set the example. When cities purchase goods outside of their community, they are sending a message to their residents that hyper-local really isnt that important. That is the nail in the coffin of communities moving forward. With citys budgets being challenged more than ever, every penny that can be kept within the boundaries of the local community is crucial. Those dollars will recirculate over and over again providing additional jobs, sales tax and progress within the city. Cities simply must get this right.

Voters must understand candidates claiming to solve all their community woes are blowing smoke and pandering to those ignorant of the crisis the cities are in. There are very few people that wouldnt want to solve all the woes. The smart candidates must understand the only way to begin solving these woes is to keep as many dollars local as possible and create a vibrant community.

Small and mid-sized cities are in the fight for their economic lives. Many arent aware of the magnitude of the struggle or the size of the mountain they must climb to find success or respite from the economic storm, if respite even exists. These arent the days where a slow meandering approach is prudent; these are the days where the slow and meandering are left as a carcass on the economic road. Vote for bold candidates that understand tourism. Vote for candidates that understand hyper-local. Vote for candidates that are business friendly.

A vote for a candidate with those attributes is a vote for building Main Street, not Wall Street.

.

John A. Newby can be reached at john@360MediaAlliance.net.
Photo: Shutterstock Canadian families receiving the Canada Child Benefit will find an extra $300 in their pockets May 20, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said May 16.

Canadians receiving the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) will see an extra $300 in their bank accounts May 20 with more assistance to come in July as part of pandemic assistance, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said May 16.

Whether its used for groceries, new clothes, or at home activities, this extra support will make things easier on them as they deal with regular everyday expenses and the extra challenges caused by COVID-19, Trudeau said, speaking from Ottawas Rideau Cottage.

Trudeau said the additional tax-free support would assist families with food, clothes, and activities expenses.

The increase will be in place for the 2020-21 benefit year, and will raise the maximum benefit to $6,765 per child under age 6, and $5,708 per child aged 6 through 17.

The increase is in addition to the one-time special CCB payment that Trudeau announced earlier in May.

The program will deliver a further $2 billion in extra support.

The government said examples of what families could expect to see in the 2020-2021 year Examples of payments for the 2020-21 benefit year include:

A single-parent family with one child under 6 and earning $25,000 would receive an additional $126, bringing the new yearly total benefit to $6,765;

A two-parent family with two children aged 4 and 9 and earning $55,000 would receive an additional $174, bringing their new yearly total benefit to $9,329, and;

A two-parent family with two children under the age of 6 and earning $90,000 will receive an additional $136, bringing their new yearly total benefit to $7,322.

We are putting more money in the pockets of Canadian families to help deal with the impacts of COVID-19 and the cost of raising their children, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen said.
The Pasteur Institute in Madagascar is under fire from the Malagasy government after a number of false positives were found in samples submitted for Covid-19 testing. The government had the original samples retested, and only five positive cases were found.

The Institute, which received the samples on 6 May, admitted that samples sent to its laboratory for analysis could have been contaminated. It had originally announced that 67 cases were positive.

The samples were sent to the Charles Merieux Center for Infectious Disease, a research centre in Antananarivo, where only five samples came back positive.

False positives

A sample of an exceptional viral load could contaminate an entire series, according to Andre Spiegel, director of the Institut Pasteur. He says unintentional contamination could have affected the entire chain, from taking samples at the hospital to their arrival at the institute.

Spiegel said that tests are carried out only on samples brought to the centre from the Malagasy Ministry of Health.

He said that the Institut Pasteur conducted an internal investigation, but did not find any issues with the diagnostic process.

The government ministry is also looking in to the matter of contamination.

According to the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Madagascar has 283 positive Covid-19 cases.
New York: New York City residents who flouted social distancing restrictions for a night on the town got the mayor's wrath on Sunday.

Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York, receives a nasal swab during a news conference in Albany, New York, US. Credit:Bloomberg

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio admonished people seen crowding outside bars Saturday night - many with drinks in hand but no masks on their faces - for putting lives in danger. Officials may shut down establishments that break distancing rules, de Blasio said.

City bars and restaurants have been restricted to take-away and delivery since mid-March, when coronavirus cases started to soar, but some in Manhattan were allowing people to dine and drink inside on Saturday.

"We're not going to tolerate people starting to congregate. It's as simple as that," de Blasio said. "If we have to shut places down, we will."
India wont allow most companies to be tipped into bankruptcy for a year as authorities try to contain the economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the plan Sunday as part of her speech to revive economic activity. Also, the minimum threshold to initiate insolvency proceedings have been raised to 10 million rupees ($132,000) from 100,000 rupees previously, and will largely insulate small businesses, she said.

The move risks delaying the clean up of the worlds worst stressed-loan ratio as creditors will be forced into lengthy debt resolution negotiations outside the bankruptcy framework. It may also slow fresh credit thats vital to reverse the course of an economy set for a rare contraction as the pandemic stalls economic activity at jewelers to developers.

The measures will help small business who were reaching a stage of bankruptcy, Sitharaman told reporters in New Delhi. All this had been kept in mind when we are addressing the issues.

Bankruptcies in India are expected to climb as the coronavirus outbreak hits distressed companies harder in Asias third-largest economy. India has been under a strict lockdown since March 25 with some easing on April 20 and then May 4.

It will ultimately hamper the recovery prospects of financial institutions in cases of existing defaults, said Sumant Batra, who heads the insolvency and corporate advisory practice at law firm Kesar Dass B. & Associates. The economic package is believed to provide assistance and incentives to sectors in order to recover from the economic slump, these proposed amendments to IBC will in no way address those issues.

Sitharaman, in her fifth briefing in as many days on measures to support the economy, listed a package totaling about 21 trillion rupees ($277 billion) to help businesses and individuals get back on their feet following a nationwide lockdown to contain Covid-19.
Goldman Sachs company logo

The economic package announced by the Narendra Modi government over the past few days to help economic recovery is unlikely to have an immediate impact on growth, said Goldman Sachs in a report released on Sunday, saying that it now estimates real GDP to fall by 5 percent in fiscal year 2021.

There have been a series of structural reform announcements across several sectors over the past few days. These reforms are more medium-term in nature, and we therefore do not expect these to have an immediate impact on reviving growth. We will continue to monitor their implementation to gauge their effect on the medium-term outlook for the Indian economy, said Goldman Sachs in a report.

It added that the -5 percent growth we forecast for FY21 would be deeper compared to all recessions India has ever experienced, Goldman Sachs said. On May 12, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi announced that Government will unveil Rs 20 lakh crore economic stimulus to help the economy fight the COVID-19 slowdown.

But, going by the details announced by union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the past five days, it shows that the actual stimulus amount was much less.

According to Goldman Sachs, the aggregate discretionary component of fiscal support announced by finance ministry, including Rs 1.7 lakh crore package announced March, stands at 1.3 percent of GDP ($2.7 lakh crore), much smaller than the aggregate figure of 10 percent of GDP (Rs 20 lakh crore) announced by the Prime Minister.

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 weaker economic outlook reflects the extremely poor economic data we have received so far for March and April, and the continued lockdown measures, which are among the most stringent across the world, Goldman Sachs said.

It further said: We expect a strong sequential mechanical rebound in Q3. However, beyond Q3, we expect only a gradual recovery, as the targeted policy support continues to be tepid compared to other emerging economies, and far less than most advanced economies, the report said.

India has been under a lockdown since March 25 with most of the economic activities except essential services came to a halt leading to economic distress and job losses. The government has now extended the lockdown to May 31.
The South Carolina Supreme Courts opinion of May 6, 2020, affirmed the conviction and sentence of Rep. Rick Quinn obtained by Special Prosecutor David Pascoe (1st Circuit solicitor) while refusing to increase the sentence as requested by Pascoe for Quinns guilty plea. This is the fifth consecutive successful prosecution of a Statehouse corruption case by Pascoe since 2014.

But in announcing its opinion, the court picked at Pascoe that: We note the public corruption probe in these matters has extended for more than five years, and we trust that it is drawing to a close.

What the court fails to admit is that the proceedings were dragged out because the attorney general started the investigations in February 2013 and then removed himself from the cases in mid-2014 on grounds of conflict of interest, asking Pascoe to take over as special prosecutor acting with the authority of the attorney general.

Pascoe was not given any additional funding or personnel by the attorney general but struggled forward, bypassing a judge who denied Pascoe use of the State Grand Jury and defeating an appeal by former Speaker Bobby Harrell to the South Carolina Supreme Court seeking to block Pascoes investigations. In the end, Harrell pleaded guilty on Oct. 24, 2014, and agreed to cooperate in exposing other wrong-doers.

Not until late 2015 after prodding reports by The Post and Courier did the attorney general tell Pascoe to again act in his stead and conduct more investigations and prosecutions -- which Pascoe did. Then in early 2016, Wilson suddenly denounced Pascoe as a liar and an incompetent and ordered Pascoe to be replaced as special prosecutor by 5th Circuit Solicitor Dan Johnson, who refused and was convicted of federal corruption crimes and sentenced to prison on June 4, 2019.

Pascoe went to the South Carolina Supreme Count, which decided on July 13, 2016, that Pascoe should continue, although Justice John Few thought Wilson could fire him. Pascoe then convicted on pleas former House Majority Leader Jim Merrill on Aug. 31, 2017, Rep. Rick Quinn on Dec. 13, 2017, Sen. John Courson on June 4, 2018, and convicted Rep. Jim Harrison at trial on Oct. 27, 2018.

Pascoe followed by indicting political mastermind Richard Quinn Sr. on Oct. 18, 2017, on 11 counts of perjury and one count of obstruction. Finally, Pascoe indicted Rep. Tracy Edge on Oct. 24, 2017, for illegal payouts. Both cases are pending.

Pascoe achieved these remarkable results on a shoestring budget by cobbling together prosecutors, loaned to him by two other solicitors, with his own attorneys and by raising funds to finance the prosecutions from five corporations that paid a total of $352,000 under terms of what Pascoe called corporate integrity agreements and thereby avoided the prospect of criminal prosecutions. With few prosecutors and little money Pascoe fought off the long and drawn-out tactics some of the best criminal defense attorneys in the state as well as outstanding lawyers from the attorney generals staff; and Pascoe never lost a case of the five that have proceeded to judgement thus far.

Justice Few in his concurring opinion again trots out his rejected unique opinion that Article V, Section 24 of the South Carolina Constitution gives Wilson the power to fire Pascoe as special prosecutor (and appoint Dan Johnson in his stead, where he could have served as special prosecutor from behind bars.)

Few also ridicules Pascoes public integrity agreements as illegal, parroting the opinion of the Attorney Generals Office, even though Pascoes agreements are very similar to the federal non-prosecution and deferred-prosecution agreements negotiated by top U.S. attorneys in making big unjailable corporations pay for their antics on Wall Street.

Instead of fussing at Special Prosecutor David Pascoe over whether Wilson could have fired him or whether he should have made the suspect corporations pay up, the court should thank Pascoe and his staff and the investigators of SLED for breaking up the worst public corruption scandal in the history of South Carolina, even worse, far worse, than Operation Lost Trust in 1990.

Columbia attorney John V. Crangle is government relations director of the S.C. Progressive Network.

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Eleven firefighters were injured, three of them critically, in downtown Los Angeles when a fire in a commercial smoke shop sparked a major explosion and spread to nearby structures on Saturday evening, officials said. Crews had entered the building to battle what was initially thought to be a minor blaze when they noticed that the smoke pressure was escalating and decided to evacuate, Los Angeles Fire Department chief Ralph Terrazas told reporters. He said the blast occurred as the firefighters were leaving the building from the roof and the ground floor. "A witness account is that our firefighters came down the aerial ladder from the roof with their turnout coats on fire," Terrazas said. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said three firefighters had critical but not life-threatening injuries and another had serious injuries, while the remainder had varying degrees of burns. "There are no symptoms of blast injuries but there's potential evidence of chemical inhalation," Garcetti said. "Good news is, everybody's gonna make it," he added. Terrazas said firefighters saw butane canisters inside the building and outside on the street but it was unclear what caused the blaze. "Everything is under investigation by our arson team, all I can say at this point is that the cause is under investigation," he said. Some 230 responders battled the blaze as it spread to other buildings in the area before it was extinguished around two hours after it began. Fire officials said the building where the blast occurred housed a business -- Smoke Totes Wholesale Distribution -- that sold smoking and vaping paraphernalia and supplied other businesses that make butane honey oil, a highly flammable resin used for inhaling marijuana. Several storefronts in the area were blackened by the force of the blast while one fire truck had a scorched roof and was covered with debris. Thick smoke from the blaze was visible from miles away. Crews had entered the building to battle what was initially thought to be a minor blaze Three firefighters had critical but not life-threatening injuries and another had serious injuries, while seven had varying degrees of burns Fire officials said the building where the blast occurred housed a business -- Smoke Totes Wholesale Distribution -- that sold smoking and vaping paraphernalia
A neighbour who was caught on camera taking a five-year-old girl from a playground and locking her in her flat has been allowed to live back on the same estate as her victim.

Jennifer Ashley May-Cunningham, 33, offered little Evie Beal a cup of tea at a playground in Chale Green o Isle of Wight before leading her away and locking her in her flat.

Naomi Haynes, 24, rushed to her daughter's rescue after her neighbour saw Evie being led away, getting inside the flat with Evie's father, Daniel Beal.

Jennifer Ashley May-Cunningham, 33, offered Evie a cup of tea before leading her back to her flat and locking her inside

Naomi Haynes with her daughter Evie, five, who was abducated from a playground and locked in a neighbour's flat on the Isle of Wight in March

After a trial, May-Cunningham was found guilty of detaining a child and keeping them from a person having lawful control at Isle of Wight Magistrates Court, on April 21.

Despite the conviction, she has been allowed to live back on the same estate as Naomi and her family, leaving Evie, who is staying with her grandmother in London during the lockdown, 'petrified,' and 'hysterical'.

Naomi, a stay-at-home-mother, said: 'My daughter is fully traumatised.

'When she heard that Jennifer was back on the estate where we live she fell to the floor, retching.

'It's heartbreaking for me as her mum to see her so scared.

'I'm livid with the local housing authority, they won't accept responsibility and house her elsewhere.

'The whole neighbourhood is traumatised too, people are scared to let their kids play out on sunny days. I've even had to put my girl in therapy, it's a disgrace.'

Evie, five, was led away from a playground near her home in the hamlet of Chale Green, Isle of Wight and locked inside Jennifer May-Cunningham's flat

Fortunately a neighbour saw Jennifer taking Evie back to her flat and told Evie's parents

May-Cunningham 'lashed out' at police when they arrived at her flat on March 1, she was held in custody for a month before she was convicted of detaining a child, as well as two counts of assaulting a police constable, and use of threatening words or behaviour

On 1st March, single Naomi, was doing chores in her flat with ex-partner, Daniel.

Evie was with a friend on her way back from another friend's house - just yards from home - when Cunningham approached her and invited the five-year-old for a cup of tea.

CCTV captured May-Cunningham leading the girl home, before locking both herself and the child in her own home.

Luckily a neighbour had spotted was watching and immediately alerted parents Daniel and Naomi.

'My neighbour called me, at first I couldn't take in what she was saying," she said.

'It's a very close neighbourhood, where the kids have always been safe to walk between each other's houses, but not anymore.

'As soon as we realised Evie had been taken we just ran out my front door and down to where Jennifer's flat is.

'I was screaming and crying, it was horrible.

'All the worst things were running through my head. I worried I'd never see my little girl again.

'I was making myself hysterical imagining what she might be doing to my poor little girl. Eventually we managed to bash the door open just as the police arrived.

'I grabbed Evie and tried to comfort her, but I've never seen her so upset.. She was scared out of her mind.

Evie, who is staying in London with her grandmother and little brother Jensen, collapsed after seeing her abductor in the street, her mother claims

'As the police were trying to arrest Jennifer she really lashed out and was spitting at them all.

'In the end they had to carry her out of there she was fighting so hard.'

May-Cunningham was released on bail pending a trial, but was recalled to custody on 12th March after breaching the conditions of her bail.

On March 13 she was remanded in custody for one month before a hearing during which she pleaded not guilty.

Just over a month later, on April 21, Isle of Wight Magistrates found her guilty of detaining a child and keeping them from a person having lawful control.

Magistrates gave May-Cunningham a one-month custodial sentence for detaining a child, two counts of assaulting a police constable, and use of threatening words or behaviour.

Daniel Beal helped Naomi get into May-Cunningham's flat after she had locked Evie inside

She was also ordered to pay a surcharge of 122 and court costs of 100.

Having already served a month in custody whilst on remand, May-Cunningham was released after the sentencing.

Stay-at-home-mum Naomi said: 'I got a call from the police to say that she'd been sentenced to a month in prison.

'I was so relieved that I wouldn't have to worry about Evie seeing Jennifer for a month at least.

'But when I got home after going to the shops she was stood there laughing.

'It was like someone punched me in the stomach.

'No one had explained that as she'd already done her time she'd be back on the estate - it was such a shock.'

She added: 'My little girl just couldn't cope with seeing her again, especially the way she was cackling away at us.

'As soon as we got home she collapsed on the floor, she was retching and shaking uncontrollably. The kids are now living with their nanny.

'I'm furious with the housing office for letting her back. It's as if they don't really understand the significance of what's happened - she stole my child.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-16 23:48:24|Editor: huaxia

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A security guard offers disinfectant gel to a woman at the entrance of a building in Barcelona, Spain, on May 11, 2020. (Photo by Sergi Camara/Xinhua)

"The path that we are taking is the only one possible," said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

MADRID, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Saturday he will seek a fifth and final extension to the State of Alarm, which was imposed on March 15 to control the spread of the coronavirus.

Speaking in a televised speech, Sanchez said the upcoming final State of Alarm, which will come into effect on May 24 if approved, will be "different" from others.

"It is expected to be the last State of Alarm. We are going to request in the Congress of Deputies that it should last for a month," he said. All the previous four extensions have been 15 days.

There has been increased opposition in Spain to the State of Alarm, which is the first of three emergency levels a Spanish government can apply under exceptional circumstances. It grants the government special powers to limit the movement of citizens, control the means of production, use private assets if needed, and also use the military to carry out essential logistical and supply jobs.

Sanchez insisted the measures had worked. "The path that we are taking is the only one possible," he said.

People wait to take a subway in Barcelona, Spain, on May 11, 2020. (Photo by Sergi Camara/Xinhua)

On Saturday, Spain's health authorities said 102 new deaths were confirmed in a 24-hour period, the smallest daily increase since the State of Alarm was put into effect.

Sanchez also pointed to the preliminary results from a nationwide coronavirus antibody study, which helped the government gauge the extent of the epidemic.

"Only 5 percent of Spaniards have been infected," he said, explaining that the study made clear that the "herd immunity" approach initially favored in Britain would not have worked. 
Museums, the ultimate storehouses of knowledge, have a long history of being associated with highfalutin culture and intellectual snobbery. Most of us instantly link the word museum with a place you visit only on educational excursions from school and soon after let it pass as a once-in-a-lifetime type memory, locked in a treasure chest somewhere.

Early museums began as the private collections belonging to wealthy individuals or families that often contained rare artefacts or artworks that would then be displayed to the public in what may be termed as wonder rooms in their homes. One of the oldest-known museums is Ennigaldi-Nannas museum, built by Princess Ennigaldi at the end of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, dating back to circa 530 BCE. This museum contained artefacts from earlier Mesopotamian civilizations.

The English term museum originates from the Ancient Greek  (Mouseion), which stands for a place or temple dedicated to the Muses (the patron divinities in Greek mythology of the arts; colloquially meaning the inspiration behind a work of art). The purpose of modern museums is to collect, preserve, and display objects of artistic, cultural, or scientific significance to educate the public.

Even though the idea of museums conjure up a mental image of centuries-old items decorating stuffy galleries, of people maintaining peace probably unbeknownst to them outside the boundaries of the museum building and repeating to yourself that any room you enter might remind you of being the bull in the China shop that everyone must be wary of. However, not all museums are meant to be the vintage-looking, monuments of history and heritage that you can barely ever enjoy at in your real element. A parallel school of thought has always believed that learning is always better with fun in tow. From exhibits celebrating some of our all-time favourite food items, pets, sex, UFOs, dolls and even toilets, theres something for everyone if you set out to look at the right places.

Some of the ideas behind these seemingly odd or mundane objects from daily life also expose the limitless creativity of the human mind. If this was a multiple-choice based questionnaire with 4 or more options available to you, the answer to nearly every type of museum would be: Hey, theres a museum for that!

If youre travelling within India, you can explore a doll museum in Himachal Pradeshs Dharamshala called Losel Doll Museum which boasts of the worlds largest collection of Losel Dolls. Down south, head to the INS Kurusura Submarine Museum in Visakhapatnam, a fish-shaped black submarine, also the first-of-its-kind in Asia.

The Arna Jharna in the blue city, Jodhpur, celebrates the local communities near Jodhpur. Arna Jharna is a tribute to late Komal Kothari, one of Indias leading folklorists and oral historians who was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2004. This museum also showcases over 160 handmade brooms from different parts of Rajasthan.

Around the world, a curious traveller and art and heritage enthusiast can also head to the Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum, Mummy Museum, Plastinarium, various dogs and cat museums (The American Kennel Club and a cat museum in Japan, a dog collar museum in England, to name a few), Houses of Goa Museum - one dedicated to the heritage homes built during the Portuguese reign in Goa which speaks of the states rich history and heritage, some now preserved through painstaking efforts, and also Kimchi Museum, dedicated to the humble Kimchi in Oriental cuisine.

Read on to know about more interesting museums around the world, divided category-wise, even though its definitely possible for one person to have their interests piqued by all categories:

Museum for the literature-lover:

* Roald Dahl Museum: One of the greatest storytellers for children (and adults) of the 20th century, his short stories rank among the worlds best and have the capacity to warm a cold heart. The Roald Dahl museum offers visitors a glimpse into the man and method behind some of the best-loved stories of the 20th century, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG and James and the Giant Peach.

* Shakespeares Birthplace: A restored 16th-century half-timbered house in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, where it is believed that William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and spent his childhood years. This popular visitor attraction has been referred to as a mecca for all lovers of literature.

* Franz Kafka Museum: This dark, immersive gallery displays Franz Kafkas personal belongings, such as journal entries and photographs, set in Kafkaesque settings, giving a glimpse into the brilliant authors mind. Dont miss the famous pissing statue in the front courtyard of the museum.

* Museum A.P Chekhov Melikhovo: Melikhovo is an ancient village located near Moscow which is closely connected with famous writer Anton Chekhov. The years between 1892-1899 are considered the most successful years of his life and work which is preserved in this museum.

For the Art-lover:

There is no dearth of a wonderland for the art-lover. From the iconic British Museum to Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Getty Museum, Met Museum and many more, theres an abundance of history and heritage waiting to be consumed at these centuries-old traditions of preserving human history, so to speak. But did you know there also exists a Museum of Bad Art? The Museum of Bad Art located in Massachusetts, USA aims to celebrate the labour of artists whose work would be displayed and appreciated in no other forum. You know how they say, no talent is ever wasted!

For the Food-lover:

From a museum dedicated to Food and Drink (the museum of food and drink), to the legendary Big Mac to their permanent accompaniment, fries, there are museums dedicated to coffee, tea, chocolate, ice cream, cup noodles and so much more! Read on:

The Big Mac Museum: Celebrating its glorious history since circa 1967 and its birthplace, literally, in the Pittsburgh area, the Big Mac Museum has a Big Mac history wall, vintage McDonalds packages, wrappers, toys, and kids meals, all for the nostalgia effect.

The Frietmuseum: Frietmuseum in Bruges is the only museum dedicated to potato fries. From the history of potatoes, to where the fry came from and the secret recipe of a portion of tasty fries, the museum holds answers to every potato fry-related question.

Museum of Bread Culture: Located in Ulm, Germany, this museum was founded by two entrepreneurs who worked in the bakery industry before opening their exhibition in 1960. Visitors can look out for fascinating displays of baking tools, admire bread-related art and learn about breads importance as a food item.

The Museu De La Xocolata: The Chocolate Museum is located in a historic building with a pre-existing relationship with chocolate. According to the official site, in the eighteenth century the Bourbon army was a big fan of this product, and according to ordinances, chocolate was present in the menus of the military academies of that century: For breakfast of each cadet and company officer will be given an ounce and a half of chocolate with a quart of bread ..., and when the troops were garrisoned in the barracks it was also usually taken chocolate. The body of halberds, the personal guard of the monarch, was called, with envy, the chocolateros, since to the being a pampered and elite body, it took much chocolate. A visit to the chocolate museum consists of a tour of the origins of chocolate, its arrival in Europe, and more.

Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum: The cup noodles museum or Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum delivers a message to the visitors on the importance of inventiveness and discovery by introducing the history of instant noodles, which is a food culture in its own right. In 1958, Momofuku Ando invented the worlds first instant noodles, the Chicken Ramen, after year of research using common tools in a shed he had built in his backyard.

Ice cream Museum: Let your imagination run wild in a world (of ice creams) where anything is possible. Here youll find imaginative, multi-sensory installations that bring delightful dreams like: Taste exclusive scoops at our new Perfectly Pink Ice Cream Parlor, play dress-up in fashionista Diva-Nillas closet, reflect in the Infinity Mirror Room, and of course, make a splash in our iconic Sprinkle Pool - to life.

Avni, a working mom and media professional from Mumbai visited the Ice Cream Museum last winter. She shares her experience saying, Its an amazing space that can be enjoyed by both adults & kids alike. Each room is uniquely designed, with little activities or ice cream tastings along the way. There are also plenty of photo opportunities to keep as family memorabilia. The most fun for us was learning an easy choreography and dancing to it to get more ice cream! As a family of three it was our first performance!

Museum of Pizza: The Museum of Pizza is dedicated to all things cheese and sauce, but theres more to it than meets the tongue, literally. Located on Brooklyns William Vale hotel, the museum is an expansive, one-floor space that houses a wide variety of art, from giant photographs to sculptures to large installations that engulf visitors. An instantly recognizable attribute of the space is the bright colours that are weaved throughout the exhibits - perfect for taking social media-ready pictures.

Fashion and beauty enthusiasts:

Fashions fade, style is eternal.  Yves Saint Laurent

From a museum dedicated to Christian Diors work to the Museum of Fine Arts and Lace (Musee des Beaux-Arts et de la Dentelle), located in France; to Victoria and Albert Museum, London where one can everything from Indian textiles, obscure musical instruments, and painful footwear; to Torontos Bata Shoe Museum, which traces the cultural history of footwear; to fashion historian Doris Langley Moores personal collection of mens and womens clothes at the Fashion Museum, in Bath (erstwhile Costume Museum) and many more museums dedicated to the history and legacy of fashion, every fashion and design aficionado is in for a treat at these knowledge banks of style and trends.

Makeup Museum: Due to open its doors to the public soon, The Makeup Museum celebrates makeup and its glorious history. The museum began its first exhibition online on Instagram Pink Jungle: 1950s Makeup in America by unveiling exclusive interviews and other vignettes including a skincare prescription by Erno Laszlo for actor Marilyn Monroe.

From the kohl-lined eyes of Egyptian Pharoahs, to the rich imagery found in the royal, Indian figurative art, and further to the beginnings of the modern beauty industry - the history of makeup will soon take on the shape of a whole museum.

The Moda Goa Museum & Research Centre: Indias first costume history museum will be housed in a 450-year-old traditional Goan villa named the Casa Dona Maria in Colvale, Goa. Documenting Goan costumes and costumes from Konkan coast, design and lifestyle through the generations, the Moda Goa Museum preserves indigenous cultural heritage through a collection of 800+ artefacts from the 7th century AD till present date. The items of historical and cultural relevance include statues, objects, furniture, photographs, jewellery & accessories.

In a conversation with Mr Jerome Marrel, we sought more information about Indias first costume history museum due to open in December 2020. He says,There will be a lot to learn about the history of Goa and by extension the Konkan coast from Gujarat to Kerala. However it will be a research centre for scholars and students with access to a large library as well as the collection itself of more than 840 artefacts. Access for students and their teachers will be free of charge as Moda Goa Foundation is a charitable trust.

We also wanted to know if there will be special focus on designer Wendell Rodricks efforts towards conserving textiles and reviving the lost treasures? Mr Marrel throws light on these details saying, Gallery 7 is the only Pan India exhibition with all the sarees of India, various types of Khadi and projections on textiles of the country. Gallery 13 will display the revival of the Kunbi saree by Wendell. The museum consists of a total of 15 galleries, with a library coming up in Phase 2 of the Moda Goa Museum.

Love and other adventures:

The Museum of Broken Relationships: The brainchild of two star-crossed Croatian lovers, Olinka Vistica and Drazen Grubisic, The Museum of Broken Relationships in Croatia, contains everyday objects donated by anonymous people. The museum exhibits over 4,000 objects including an axe used to chop up an ex-boyfriends furniture; a letter written by a 13-year-old boy fleeing Sarajevo; and a jar of love incense, with a label reading: doesnt work.

The objects range from comic to dark, are probably mundane but their stories are windows giving a peek into the souls of strangers.

Icelandic Phallological Museum: The Icelandic Phallological Museum is a one-of-its-kind museum in the world that contains a collection of phallic specimens belonging to various types of mammals found in a single country. Phallology is an ancient science which, until recently, received little attention in Iceland, except in history, art, psychology, literature and other artistic fields like music and ballet.

Museum of Sex: The Museum of Sex opened with the intent of preserving the history, evolution, and cultural significance of human sexuality. New York Magazine has described a visit to the museum akin to a Willy Wonka sex dream, where you can treat your inner kid-adult to the outlandish Bouncy Castle of Breasts or admire vintage erotic photography. The museum hosts both temporary exhibitions and a permanent collection of over 15,000 artifacts, works of art, photography, costumes, and historical memorabilia.

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Mothers seventh baby comes out at six kilos plus

A 40-year-old woman in southern Vietnam has given birth to a baby girl weighing 6.1 kilograms (13.45 pounds), twice the average.

A native of Tran De District in Soc Trang Province, the mother was admitted to the provincial Children's Hospital Friday to deliver her seventh child.

She was 40 weeks pregnant and weighed 110 kilos.

As the baby was big, doctors decided to do a C-section, although all her previous children had been vaginal deliveries, each born between 3.6 to 4.8 kilos.

The baby born Friday is the heaviest delivered to date at the Soc Trang hospital.

"Normally, a baby born at full term weighs 2.5-4 kilos on average," said Nguyen Thi My Ha, director of the hospital.

Despite being born heavy, the baby girls health indices were all normal, doctors said.

According to health experts, babies born abnormally heavy could face several problems including respiratory depression and hypoglycemia.

The heaviest baby delivered so far in Vietnam is a boy weighing 7.1 kilos in the northern province of Vinh Phuc in 2017. The second heaviest one is a baby girl in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, born in 2008 weighing almost seven kilos. Two other babies delivered in Da Nang and Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam weighed 6.5 kilos at birth.
Police have seized liquor worth



Rs 76,000 being transported in four trucks without valid permit during the lockdown in Maharashtra's Palghar district, an official said on Sunday.

Five persons have been arrested in this connection, he said.

During patrolling, the Valiv police under Vasai division intercepted four trucks on Friday night and seized the stock of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) from the vehicles, police spokesperson Hemant Katkar said.

Five persons, all residents of Mumbai, were arrested and booked under provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 14:06:56|Editor: huaxia

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KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Eight militants have been confirmed dead as fighting planes targeted a Taliban hideout in Dasht-e-Archi district of the northern Kunduz province on Sunday, district governor Nasrudin Nazari Saadi said.

Acting on tip off the fighting planes of the government forces struck a Taliban gathering in Qarluq area of the restive district at 01:00 a.m. local time, killing eight militants on the spot and wounding two others, the official asserted.

Taliban militants who have intensified activities and are in control of parts of the relatively troubled Kunduz province have yet to make comment.

Following deadly attacks on a hospital in Kabul and funeral ceremony in the eastern Nangarhar province few days ago, which claimed dozens of lives includig women and children, Afghan president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani blamed Taliban outfit for the attacks and ordered his forces to resume offensives on militants. Enditem
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A man and woman were found dead Sunday at a Studio 6 in north Houston, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Deputies found their bodies at the motel at 220 Bammel Westfield Road, just off I-45 and FM 1960, the sheriff tweeted around 12:30 p.m.
Julia Lyons portrayed herself as a busy visiting nurse in Chicago during the great flu pandemic of 1918. But "Slick Julia," as she came to be known, was no Florence Nightingale.

The 23-year-old Julia, "a woman of diamonds and furs, silken ankles, gem-studded fingers and aliases by the dozens," was posing as a "flu nurse," ripping off home-bound patients for cash and jewelry as they suffered and even died, the Chicago Tribune reported in late 1918. "With her rose-lipped smile and pearly teeth," she "performed various miracles at getting ready money."

A century before the coronavirus crisis, the 1918 flu was a killing machine, taking the lives of more than 675,000 people in the United States and 50 million around the world. Just as in the current pandemic, nurses were on the front line caring for the sick. Chicago, like other cities, was desperate for nurses to care for victims in their homes.

Julia Lyons saw an opportunity. Figuring nobody would have time to check her lack of credentials, she signed on at a home-nurse registry under various names. In late 1918, the Tribune chronicled the fake flu nurse's escapades like a dime detective novel.

"While influenza patients died or lived, Julia, clad in nurse's uniform, plundered their homes," the paper reported. After one woman called for a nurse, Julia went to the drug store for her to fill a prescription for oxygen that cost $5 but told her patient it cost $63, equal to $85 and $1,077 today. "Julia tarried briefly, taking when she flew two rings, two lady's suits, a pair of oxfords and a breast pin."

Sometimes she worked with an accomplice. "In comes an M.D. known to the police as a dope seller and narcotic supplier," the Tribune wrote. "He writes a prescription, she hustles out and gets it filled. The family is stung for $25 for what proves to be a dime's worth of Cherryola."

When one elderly man became suspicious, Julia turned on her charm.

"Don't you remember me? Why when I was a little girl l used to hitch on your wagons." The man used to have wagons. He couldn't exactly place her, the Tribune reported, "but it made it mighty easy to touch him $28 for oxygen and $22 for the Cherryola."

When police detectives came calling, the man, "right horrified at the idea that this beautiful, smiling, pearly teethed model nurse might be a crook of the deepest dye," said: "Why I've known her for twenty years. When she was a little girl, she used to hitch on my wagons."

"That night Julia vanished, taking for further good measure a wristwatch, some money and certain other things." The next day, the man told the detective, "By golly, I guess I was wrong."

The cops finally traced Julia via a friend named Eva Jacobs, who lived in a flat with "Suicide Bess" Davis, a con woman. The house was known as a "hangout for thieves," the Tribune wrote.

The police tapped the phone and learned Julia lived nearby. Detectives trailed Julia. One day she set off to marry Charlie the Greek, who ran the Victory Restaurant on West Madison Avenue. Before vows could be exchanged, Julia was in handcuffs.

"How long you known this dame?" said one detective to Charlie at the jail.

"Ten days!" replied Charlie. "That is, I thought I knew her."

That night Julia and Eva slept in adjoining cells. "We thought it was easy money," said Eva - the phone tap revealing they were partners.

The next day in the police station Julia came face to face with the widow of a former patient the fake nurse had abandoned. "You killed my husband! There is no punishment too terrible for you," the woman cried. Julia was arraigned under charges of larceny, running a confidence game and obtaining money under false pretenses.

But "Slick Julia" wasn't done. The next day Deputy Sheriff John Hickey volunteered to take Julia from the county jail to court. One detective on the case advised Hickey: "Keep your eyes peeled. She's pretty slippery. Better put irons on her."

"Oh, she won't get away," Hickey said.

Instead of transporting Julia to the courthouse in a patrol wagon, the deputy sheriff took her on a street car. In court, some 50 victims testified against her. She was held under $13,000 bond, the equivalent of more than $190,000 today.

Deputy Hickey started back to the county jail with Julia in tow. An hour and a half later he called the police and "excitedly" told them she had jumped from a moving street car and hopped into a waiting automobile. Based on the reported location, one official speculated Hickey and his prisoner had been going to cabarets.

Hickey then changed his story to say Julia wanted to go to a bank to withdraw money. While there, he said, "I turned around for just a second - and Julia was gone." That night Hickey was jailed on suspicion of accepting a payoff.

Soon Julia was back at her old tricks. In March 1919, the police traced her through the nurse registry to a home on Fullerton Boulevard. When Julia answered the door, the police nabbed her.

"Flu Julia," who "walked away one November day from former Deputy Sheriff John Hickey, walked back into custody, involuntarily last night," the Tribune reported.

She faced a new charge - her 20th - bigamy. Though already married, Julia had gotten hitched to a young soldier.

"I met him while clerking in a delicatessen on the south side," Julia said. "It was so romantic. We only knew each other four days when I became his bride. We went to papa's farm on our honeymoon."

Finally, in April Julia went on trial for larceny. She testified "she had been the victim of a band of thieves who had forced her to commit acts against her will," the Tribune reported. She even fainted in court to show her distress.

The jury didn't buy it. Before sentencing, Julia pleaded insanity, but physicians testified she wasn't insane. In July, "Slick Julia," the fake flu nurse, was sent to the state penitentiary for one to 10 years.
Days ago, a controversial and highly misplaced video on Facebook, by an Atheist Yanick Aka, the spiritual son of self- proclaimed Prophet-Messenger and Light of the world, outside of whom none can be saved, Prophet Kacou Philippe, surfaced online.

The video saw Yanick Aka, negating the March 21st, 2020 prophecy of Billionaire Prophet, Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin about the gradual receding of the COVID-19 pandemic, that has since been confirmed in many countries.

Read Also: I Saw Abba Kyaris Death, Prayed About It, But Its Gods Will  Prophet Fufeyin

Yanick went on to insult Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin as well as other critically acclaimed Men of God, calling them all sorts of names and making some disturbing accusations.

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Days later, Prophet Gideon Isah, the spiritual son of Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, and Lead Pastor of Household of Mercy and Deliverance Ministry, Lokoja, replied Yanick Aka.

Prophet Gideon Isah reminded the public that the prophecy made by Fufeyin was very precise and had clearly stated that the pandemic would gradually start to end in 38 days, from country to country, batch by batch.

Evidence also clearly shows that this has been the case since late April.

He went on to say that his spiritual father even predicted the coming of the pandemic in 2014 and 2016, respectively.

In the former, he had called it World War III and a time of mass death, unlike anything he had ever experienced; a term that was echoed 6 years later, by US President, Donald Trump. In the latter prophecy, he called it a worldwide disease that would take many lives.

Prophet Gideon Isah also invalidated the baseless claims of Yanick Aka that sought to defame the character of his spiritual father, showing evidence of how Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin has been a true father, provider and spiritual mentor to the flock that God has given him.

He pointed out that Yanick Aka is only a psychopath and a puppet to his spiritual father and sponsor, Kacou Philippe, a highly controversial troublemaker who was convicted and imprisoned in 2016 for his misleading, satanic and mischievous practices, and subsequently banned from preaching in many countries, for 5 years.

The self- proclaimed Prophet- Messenger also has four children by four different women, and still had the nerve to get his puppet to point accusing fingers at other men of Faith, because he himself has been banned from continuing his Antichrist activities.

Prophet Gideon Isah sang the praises of his spiritual father and urged people not to be led astray by the lies of a messenger sent by the enemy of the Body of Christ.

He stated that things such as going to the mountain to pray or dancing to the glory of God, were things done by the Fathers of Faith, in days of old, and were therefore biblical, God-approved practices for men of God to carry out. He condemned Atheist Yanick Aka for trying to demonize the sincere walk of Gods true prophets.

He also said that the wrath of God would be meted out upon these men who tried to distort the word of God in their favor and claim to be demigods on earth as theyre are Worshiped by their follower.

Prophet Gideon Isah called Yanick Aka and his spiritual father out, asking them to show proof of how they have been helping their nation and congregation to survive the COVID-19 Lockdown measures, before pointing accusing fingers at men who are making enormous impact, in this period. He attested to Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin making massive donations and giveaways to the needy, and to assist the Federal Government.
Foreign, defense ministers to keep posts in new Cabinet

ROC Central News Agency

05/16/2020 02:35 PM

Taipei, May 16 (CNA) Foreign Minister Joseph Wu () and Defense Minister Yen De-fa () will retain their posts when President Tsai Ing-wen's () second-term Cabinet takes office on May 20, Cabinet aides said Saturday.

In addition to the high-profile retentions, the aides confirmed that Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chen Ming-tong (), Veterans Affairs Council Minister Feng Shih-kuan () and Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) Minister Lee Chung-wei () will also stay on in their current roles.

Taiwan's government is carrying out a Cabinet reshuffle ahead of Tsai's inauguration to a second term as president on May 20, though a majority of the current ministers have been asked to remain.

The highest profile departure to date is that of Culture Minister Cheng Li-chiun () who announced her resignation on Thursday.

The sources on Saturday also said that Taiwan's representative to Thailand, Tung Chen-yuan (), will replace Wu Hsin-hsing () as head of the Overseas Community Affairs Council.

However, Tung's return to Taiwan will likely be delayed, as Thailand has banned incoming international air travel under a state of emergency which was recently extended through May 31.

Tung is therefore expected to return to Taiwan to take up the new post when international flights are resumed in early June, the sources said.

(By Wen Kuei-hsiang, Wang Cheng-chung and Matthew Mazzetta)

Enditem/cs

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Kasane  Logan Safaris, an echo tour agency in Kasane, has taken the COVID-19 food relief beyond the usual donations.

The company, which specialises in day trips, game drives, boat cruises, Victoria Falls trips and transporting clients both locally and outside the country, has donated firewood to needy residents of Lesoma, Kazungula and Kasane to prepare for the winter season.

In an interview, company owner and managing director, Mr Elias Shongwe explained that the effects of COVID-19 went beyond food hence the need to keep families warm in winter.

Mr Shongwe said the donation was to show compassion for those who were unable to gather firewood.

He also said it would help contain the pandemic by minimising the movement of people from one place to another in search of firewood.

He noted that Lesoma received four truckloads of firewood while Kasane and Kazungula got 10 loads each because of the population of the two villages.

Mr Shongwe also noted that over 50 per cent of the country's rural population depended on firewood for cooking and heating.

The district commissioner, Ms Sekgabo Makgosa thanked the company for its generosity to the senior citizens who were unable to collect firewood.

She said the donation would be handed to the Chobe District Council for distribution to the less privileged.

Source : BOPA
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Two Port Authority (PA) police offers -- both named Nick -- aided a pregnant woman just in the nick of time.

A Rahway, N.J. couple, the expecting parents, were headed to Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) in West Brighton on Friday at about 5:54 p.m. when they called Port Authority Staten Island Bridge Command. They feared their baby would be born before they made it to the hospital, said a Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) spokesperson.

And they were right.

The couple continued driving, but only got to Exit 11 on the Staten Island Expressway. Thats when their baby boy arrived into the world.

Nicolas Pimenta and Nicholas Sorace helped deliver a baby on the Staten Island Expressway on Friday.

The baby had already arrived, cuddled in his mothers lap when PAPD Officer Nicolas Pimenta arrived scene. He was shortly joined by PAPD Officer Nicholas Sorace. The two worked together to clamp the umbilical cord.[They] cleared the babys airway and evaluated moms wellbeing, said the spokesperson.

Soon after, city firefighters and EMS arrived on the scene, took over and made sure the family arrived at the hospital safely.

Mom and baby are doing great, the PAPD spokesperson said.

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Linkedin Farid Fahlevi (The Jakarta Post) Banda Aceh  Sun, May 17, 2020 19:53 612 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd8ab947 1 National Rohingya,Rohingya-Muslims,Malaysia,aceh,fishermen,Fisherman,Andaman-Sea,refugees Free

Security forces and fishermen in Aceh are on alert for two speedboats carrying Rohingya refugees spotted in the Andaman Sea and apparently heading towards Malaysia.

The head of the Aceh Polices water and air policing unit (Ditpolairud), Sr. Comr. Jemmy Rosdiantoro, said he had been alerted of the boats by the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister and had instructed his personnel to be on guard for the possibility that the boats would enter Acehnese waters.

From the air patrols that we have conducted, we have not yet found the boats carrying Rohingya immigrants, he said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com. We will continue air patrols for the next few days.

Fishermen in the area have also been told to be on alert and to coordinate with security forces if they spot boats carrying refugees.

There is still no information regarding their latest location, Miftah Cut, the secretary-general of traditional fishing community Panglima Laot, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

He said that Panglima Laot would provide necessities for the refugees if they encountered Rohingya boats in Indonesian waters.

Acehnese fisherman had previously rescued stranded Rohingya refugees in 2015.

We actually never intended to bring them ashore. But they started swimming in the sea, so we rescued them, Miftah said.

In 2018, five Rohingya stranded at sea for almost three weeks were rescued by Indonesian fishermen but several others died during the ordeal.

Rima Shah Putra, the director of the Geutanyoe Foundation, a local refugee assistance organization, urged all stakeholders to safeguard the rights of refugees, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is still unclear whether the refugees will land in Aceh or Malaysia. However, the government should not use fear about the COVID-19 pandemic to dismiss the asylum seekers, Rima said.

Amnesty International Indonesia and the Risalah Jakarta Forum have also called on the Indonesian government to rescue the refugees.

We urge the government of Indonesia not to refuse or push back boats carrying hundreds of people seeking safety, said Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid said in a statement on Friday.

It is necessary for authorities in the country to allow all boats carrying refugees to safely disembark to avert a humanitarian crisis. We appreciate Indonesias past leadership where the authorities allowed Rohingya people to land in May 2015. This sort of effort should be continued, he added.

When asked whether Indonesia would accept the refugees if they asked to disembark on Indonesian shores, Foreign Minstry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said it was still a hypothetical situation.

Actually, Indonesian policy is to prevent [refugees] from [making the journey] as boat people, right from the beginning. The voyage will jeopardize the safety of anyone on the boats, even more so if there is an element of trafficking in persons, Faizasyah said. (trn)
Parishioners carry the statue of the Virgin Mary near the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway before an outdoor Mass at the Sister Cities Park on Sunday, calling on Archbishop Nelson Perez to restore public Masses. Read more

Parishioners carrying a statue of the Virgin Mary staged a protest outside the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul on Sunday, urging Archbishop Nelson Perez to resume public Masses across the Philadelphia area.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has for 60 days deprived faithful Catholics of crucial nourishment for our souls, the Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania, which hosted the protest, said in an emailed statement. While other U.S. dioceses have begun this restoration, Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez has de facto ceded his authority to do so to Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf.

The archdiocese suspended public Masses on March 18 in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 1,000 lives in the city. The Pennsylvania antiabortion group claims this has deprived the faithful of spiritual sustenance.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia shares the strong desire of the faithful for a return to the public celebration of Mass as soon as possible," Kenneth Gavin, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said in an email. "However, all of us share a responsibility for the preservation of public health. We must do our part to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The decision to suspend the public celebration of Mass was not made lightly. ... While we are eager for the public celebration of Mass to resume once again, it will happen when deemed safe and with due respect for guidelines set forth by government health agencies.

Churches within the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh  which has been hit significantly less than Philadelphia  will gradually reopen and return to public Masses by June 1, with weekend Masses resuming five days later, according to the diocesans leadership.

Services in Philadelphia have been livestreamed since in-person services stopped two months ago.
BENGALURU: Corona cases in Karnataka are zooming with 54 fresh cases getting reported on Sunday taking the tally to 1196.

Fourty out of 54 cases are imported from Maharashtra and one case from Tamilnadu.

Of the 54 cases- 22 are from Mandya, 10 from Kalburgi, 6 from Hassan, 4 from Dharwad, 3 each from Yadagiri and Kolar, 2 each from Shivamogga and Dakshin Kannada and one each from Vijayapura and Udupi.

Also the state recorded one death from Udupi taking the total deaths to 37. The case had a travel history to Mumbai.

Of the 22 cases from Mandya, 19 cases are imported from Mumbai and the remaining three are primary contacts of the infected.

All the 6 cases from Hassan are imported from Mumbai. Six out of ten cases from Kalburgi has travel history to Mumbai, two were primary contacts of the infected, one case is from the containment zone and the health department is yet to trace the source of infection in one case.

While all the three cases from Yadagiri have travel history to Maharashtra, two are from Thane and one from Mumbai.

Dharwad reports two cases with travel history to Maharashtra- one from Mumbai and other from Kolhapur.

Officials have not yet traced the source of infection of the one case from Dakshin Kannada. The other case has travel history to Mumbai.

Kolar which reported three cases includes one with history of SARI, one who have travel history to Chennai and in the other case the source of infection is yet to be traced
'Terrorism continues to be the overwhelming threat to security and stability in the SCO region and therefore Dr Jaishankar strongly pitched for 'collective action',' observes Dr Rajaram Panda.

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, left, with Ambassador Vikas Swarup, Secretary (PCV) at the ministry of external affairs, at the virtual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting. Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr S Jaishankar/Twitter

India's weight in the eight-member China-dominated influential bloc focusing on political security-related issues, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation since it along with Pakistan were admitted as full members in 2017 has been more relevant now than when the organisation came into existence.

Since joining the SCO bloc, India has made constructive contributions to the organisation. In the present difficult times when the world is battling the coronavirus, it is always useful if regional and international organisations coalesce to discuss and seek a long-term solution to this global challenge.

India was an observer at the SCO since 2005 and generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

With this in view, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar took part in an extraordinary meeting, the first-ever virtual conference, of the SCO foreign ninisters on May 13.

It was chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and attended by his counterparts from all SCO countries including China's Wang Yi and Pakistan's Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Dr Jaishankar emphasised on cooperation to fight the deadly COVID-19 including sharing of best practices.

What transpired during the discussion is that the foreign ministers underlined the importance of sharing of information on best practices on containing COVID-19, particularly in the medicine, medical equipment, and pharmaceutical sector.

They agreed on a joint declaration that focused on creating a plan of action that could be adopted at an SCO leaders level summit on collaboration for vaccine development and methods of disease treatment.

Dr Jaishankar expressed India's readiness to share information, expertise and best practices to SCO member States.

The minister also highlighted the initiatives and various decisive steps taken by the Narendra Damodaras Modi government in the wake of the pandemic, including the Rs 20 lakh crore ($266 billion) stimulus package to stimulate economic growth.

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, August 28, 2019. Photograph: Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters

The meeting of the SCO foreign ministers took place days after a BRICS foreign ministers video-conference and discussions in late April centred around the crisis and its impact and the BRICS response.

A subsequent virtual meeting of BRICS health ministers on May 7 took the discussion forward in a focussed and purposeful manner.

The proposal of setting up a BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre that was initiated at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in July 2018 was taken further by the BRICS foreign ministers meeting the BRICS New Development Bank allotting up to $15 billion for loans to BRICS States to boost their economies.

The decision to set up a $15 billion loan instrument was to finance projects for the economic rebuilding of BRICS countries due to the crisis. The decision at the SCO foreign affairs ministers meeting was an extension of such initiative.

This was the first time that the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan were together at a virtual meeting on COVID-19.

While the NAM video conference saw the participation of Prime Minister Modi and Pakistan President Arif Alvi, the SAARC video conference saw Modi, but Pakistan was represented by a junior official.

As an organisation, the SCO covers three-fifths of the Eurasian continent and nearly half of the human population.

With three major economies as part of the grouping, the meeting focussed on containing the spread of the coronavirus.

This meeting took place within two days of the US-led seven nation meeting that included India on containing COVID-19 and economic recovery.

Dr Jaishankar remarked that the crisis has resulted in disruption of production networks and supply chains reverberating across the globe.

It is pertinent therefore for SCO member States to jointly identify and sustain new means of economic growth.

Besides ways to combat COVID-19 and find common ground to cooperate, Dr Jaishankar underlined that the security challenges the world face today are not linked by physical or political boundaries.

Terrorism continues to be the overwhelming threat to security and stability in the SCO region and therefore Dr Jaishankar strongly pitched for 'collective action'. The minister also underscored the need for SCO to work towards economic revival.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who convened the meeting, called for strengthening the SCO's anti-terror mandate and security mechanism.

As is the wont of Pakistan, its foreign minister pushed back against India, saying terrorism-related allegations must not be used as a political tool to malign and victimise any country or religion.

The SCO is scheduled to hold its next summit in St Petersburg in July.

The conference also extensively deliberated on the evolving situation in Afghanistan, holding that the peace process must take into consideration the aspirations of the Afghan people and stakes of the neighbouring countries.

India is keen on deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.

Dr Rajaram Panda, former Senior Fellow at IDSA, was until recently ICCR India Chair at Reitaku University, Japan.

He is currently Lok Sabha Research Fellow, Parliament of India, and Member of Governing Council, Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Saturday, May 16 that over 13,000 Indian nations have returned to the country under the first phase of Vande Bharat Mission. Puri said that on Saturday alone over 800 Indians returned on special Air India flights that came from international cities such as London, Newark, and Dubai, adding that more people are expected to return.

Read: Vande Bharat Mission: 'Touching Lives, Making A Difference' Says Passenger Flying From NY

More than 13,000 people have already returned on various flights under Mission Vande Bharat so far.



Today, 812 citizens have returned on @airindiain & AirIndia Express flights from Newark, London, Dubai & Abu Dhabi.



More flights continue.@PMOIndia @MEAIndia @IndembAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/YMKG5tnywW  Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 16, 2020

Read: MEA Quashes Bengal minister's Allegation, Asserts 'Vande Bharat For All Stranded Indians'

Vande Bharat Mission

Vande Bharat Mission, launched by the Indian government to bring back stranded Indians from foreign soil, is being termed as the biggest evacuation mission to be carried out by a country in modern history.

As per reports, the mission will see the evacuation of over 14,000 Indians by air and sea from 12 different countries. Air India is operating flights from Riyadh, London, San Fransisco, Washington DC, Singapore since May 7. The cost of travel by air is being borne by passengers, the external affairs ministry had said.

Read: 'Can't They Be Included In Vande Bharat Mission?': Akhilesh After Migrants Run Over In UP

The Indian Navy is also running operations as part of the mission to evacuate stranded Indians from foreign shores. The Indian Navy has deployed two warships - INS Jalashwa and INS Magar, which has started making trips to bring stranded Indians back from the Maldives. As per reports, the Indian Navy has already evacuated over 1,400 Indian nationals from the Maldives as part of the operation 'Samundra Setu'.

(Image Credit: PTI)

Read: Vande Bharat Mission: 244 Indian Expats From Washington DC Depart For Delhi


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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
[May 16, 2020] KT announces collaboration on ICT-based Epidemic Preparedness

SEOUL, South Korea, May 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KT Corporation (KRX: 030200; NYSE: KT), South Korea's largest telecommunications company, announced a three-year research study today funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for ICT-based global epidemic response using artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data. The 10-million-dollar project stems from the recognition of South Korea's advanced information and communication technology (ICT) as well as its proven ability to cope with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The three-year research collaboration builds off discussions between the Gates Foundation and KT in 2019 and the research will be conducted in South Korea, which possesses a high mobile phone penetration rate and 5G infrastructure. "With this contribution from the Gates Foundation, KT hopes to enhance our opportunity to lead the global effort toward outbreak prevention and response by taking advantage of AI and Big Data," said Jeon Hongbeom, KT's head of AI/DX Business Unit. "We also expect to contribute further to the Republic of Korea's capabilities for epidemic response and preparedness, which has already been globally recognized." With Gates Foundation grant funding, KT will develop Big Data algorithms to improve early-diagnosis based on AI during an epidemic and prediction of viral infections spread using mobile data. Research expenses will be divided equally between the two organizations. "The use of mobile technology and sensors paired with smart data analysis can help address some of the challenges countries face in timely and effective response to disease outbreaks," said Andrew Trister, deputy director of digital health innovation at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "Knowing where a disease is moving and being able to predict spread can help save time and save lives. We're pleased to be providing co-funding alongside Korea Telecom for this consortium of research partners. These will be valuable learnings for span >South Korea, and applicable to other geographies."



The collaboration between KT and the Gates Foundation on improving global health has its origins at the data innovation working group by the World Economic Forum in 2018. Since then, the organizations have discussed collaboration on innovative epidemic response using ICT. In April 2019, KT introduced its Global Epidemic Prevention Platform (GEPP), which is to prevent the spread of infectious diseases using mobile data, at the ICT forum hosted by Research Investment for Global Health Technology Fund (RIGHT Fund), South Korea's first funding agency dedicated to the Global Health R&D through the partnership between the Korean Government, Life Science companies, and the Gates Foundation, and the RIGHT Fund facilitated the discussions between the parties resulted in this three year partnership. The project calls for KT to first develop a mobile app to automatically input symptoms typically associated with viral infections. An Internet of Things (IoT) body temperature sensor will be among the tools. Symptoms and body temperature will be analyzed with AI to create an algorithm that will calculate the probability of infection.

KT will also use mobile data to examine human mobility patterns and regions with epidemics to determine the direction of the infection spread. At the same time, it will analyze virus trends by region and develop forecasting models to predict seasonal outbreak for each region. KT expects the research will contribute to global management of epidemics and pandemics. Technically, it will sound an alarm when an infectious disease appears to help prevent massive outbreaks and improve chances of treatment and survival through self-testing. On one hand, KT forms a consortium with its domestic partners. Korea University Hospital will be tasked with analyzing pathogen genome sequencing; Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information with forecasting models of viral inflow and proliferation; Mobile Doctor with conducting app-based diagnostic data analysis; and MediBloc with developing a blockchain-based platform for sharing user data. South Korea's advanced ICT infrastructure has made decisive contributions to the tract-tracing of virus infection as well as social distancing through work from home, remote education and teleconferencing. Those who are infected are isolated at home and monitored through a smartphone app for "self-quarantine safety protection." In the wake of the 2015 outbreak of MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), KT developed its GEPP service in collaboration with the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ministry of Science and ICT. The multifunction platform warns of epidemic outbreaks and offers relevant information to travelers while tracing their movement to help stop disease transmission. The global health area, where KT is partnering, aims for better public health in developing countries through development and application of innovative solutions. MEDIA CONTACTS For inquiries, please contact our Global Media Relations Team at [email protected] ABOUT KT CORPORATION (KRX: 030200; NYSE: KT) KT Corp., Korea's largest telecommunications service provider, reestablished in 1981 under the Telecommunications Business Act, is leading the era of innovations in the world's most connected country. The company is leading the 4th industrial revolution with high speed wire/wireless network and new ICT technology. KT launched the world's first nationwide commercial 5G network on April 3, 2019, after successfully showcasing the world's first trial 5G services at the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in February 2018. This is another milestone in KT's continuous efforts to deliver essential products and services as it aspires to be the number one ICT Company and People's Company. For more information, please visit our English website at https://corp.kt.com/eng/ View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kt-announces-collaboration-on-ict-based-epidemic-preparedness-301060000.html SOURCE KT Corp.

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Some additional ailments associated with the coronavirus pandemic include heightened fiscal irresponsibility, delusional cures, cronyism and susceptibility to con men.

President Donald Trump ceded procurement of medical supplies to the states, while the federal government engaged them in bidding wars, driving up prices, blocking efforts to buy things overseas and intervening for political purposes.

For instance, federal officials stopped Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, both Democrats, from buying supplies. Subsequently, Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and Martha McSally, R-Ariz., both in re-election trouble, announced acquiring them.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote Vice President Mike Pence that he was deeply concerned with fraud, asking the administration to take every reasonable effort to ensure the safety and security of our supply-chain so hospitals are not being defrauded or sold fake or faulty PPE.

Fraud was a problem, but so was shortsightedness.

Pences COVID-19 task force dismissed a Feb. 14 memo from Peter Navarro, Trumps director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, who asked, Has the export of N-95 been halted? If not, why not? We are facing shortages of raw materials that suggest a constrained supply. We should not be exporting any more masks.

In fact, the U.S. exported more protective masks in March than in any month during the past decade. A USA Today analysis showed $83.1 million in personal protective equipment exported in March, following $74.3 million to China in February.

Govs. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., and J.B. Pritzker, D-Ill., called the scramble to buy supplies a Wild West Show. Along with Gov. Larry Hogan, R-Md., they circumvented federal restrictions on foreign contacts for PPE and ventilators, sometimes secretly flying them in.

Trump scolded Ford and General Motors on March 27 to START MAKING VENTILATORS, NOW! Neither had ever made one, but would.

Yaron Oren-Pines, a Silicon Valley mobile phone engineer, tweeted in response, We can supply ICU Ventilators, invasive and noninvasive. Have someone call me URGENT.

He never made a ventilator and never would.

New York officials maintain Pences task force recommended Oren-Pines. Three days later, they awarded him $69.1 million upfront in a no-bid contract for 1,450 ventilators  an exorbitantly overpriced at $47,656 per unit. New York has gotten $59 million back.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., cant blame the administration for other problems.

According to BuzzFeed, New York issued contracts for more than $1 million to numerous firms without pertinent medical experience, including one that made hair and wrinkle removal remedies and Chinese iron ore and tool importers.

Newsom also was under attack for contracts made without vetting, notably a nearly $800 million deal for medical masks to a vendor  represented by a high-powered lobbyist  that didnt provide most of the supplies.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Mich., was forced to rescind a no-bid, contact-tracing contract with a software company operated by a Democratic Party consultant.

A March 16 tweet by entrepreneur Elon Musk boosted a Google document posted by lawyer Gregory Rigano, supposedly an adviser to Stanford Universitys School of Medicine, that it had confirmed a French doctors hydroxychloroquine treatment for COVID-19.

Maybe worth considering chloroquine for C19, Musk tweeted.

Dr. Didier Raoult boasted the anti-malaria and arthritis drug cured 973 COVID-19 patients in 10 days. Fox News commentators promoted it more than 100 times. Trump called it a game changer March 19, leading to $50 million in related federal contracts.

Except Raoult never used a control group, Stanford denied ties to Rigano and his claims, and subsequent U.S. studies found patients using hydroxychloroquine or in combination with azithromycin were twice as likely to die.

Meanwhile, the FBI arrested San Diego physician Jennings Staley for selling hydroxychloroquine treatments in family packs for $3,995.

According to ProPublica, more than a quarter of federal COVID-19 response contracts were issued without competitive bidding. The Army paid $415 million to transform buildings like New Yorks Aqueduct Race Track into makeshift hospitals.

The Veterans Administration spent more than $160 million on no-bid medical supplies, ICU beds and ventilators. But it didnt buy 125 million nonexistent respirator masks from Christopher Parris of Georgia who was facing charges of allegedly swindling 1,100 people out of $115 million and now faces an additional one.

Still to come is fraud in the $3 trillion CARES Act and subsequent rescue legislation, which forensic accountant Barry Sziklay estimates will be between $20 billion and $60 billion. Howard Arp, a General Accountability Office inspector, told Vox, Theres always the opportunity for more people to take advantage of a program.

Trump disregarded Congress intent to have an independent inspector general, instead installing White House lawyer Brian Miller, who stonewalled House requests for documents during the impeachment hearings.

That only invites more charges of possible cronyism in a process already as disease infected as the actual pandemic.
Shaheed Al-Hafed, 16 May 2020 (SPS) - The permanent Office of the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front has renewed its demand for the United Nations to assume its responsibility in order to accelerate the release of all Sahrawi civilian prisoners in the Moroccan jails, in a statement concluding its meeting on Friday, chaired by the President of the Republic, Secretary-General the Polisario Front, Mr. Brahim Ghali.



After condemning the unfair sentence against Sahrawi civilian prisoner, Khatri Faraji Dada, the Permanent Office held the Moroccan occupation state fully responsible for the consequences of keeping the Sahrawi civilian prisoners in unjust and arbitrary detention, especially under the widespread of coronavirus disease in the Moroccan prisons.



The Permanent Office congratulated Sahrawi civilian prisoners, Mahfuda Bamba Lafkir, her family and the entire Sahrawi people, on the occasion of her release from the black Moroccan prison cells, with dignity, despite the will of the invading occupiers.



The Permanent Office expressed its strong condemnation of the unjust detention of Sahrawi civilian prisoner Mahfuda Lafkir, her separation from her family, mock trial, unfair sentence, physical and psychological torture and violations of the most basic human rights.



The meeting addressed a number of issues, through briefings and presentations, which touched on various aspects of national affairs, both internally and externally, focusing on the situation resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, particularly the situation in the occupied territory of Western Sahara and southern Morocco. (SPS)



062/SPS/T
Dont Park in a No Standing Zone

By the time Id finished my military career and joined the police service, I was slightly older than most of my colleagues who joined at the same time. On this particular day I was the senior officer and had a young and enthusiastic officer with me patrolling our capital city.

Patrolling on a Quiet Sunday Afternoon

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon, lovely weather and not much to do. Wed started at 2pm and our job was to patrol the city streets in a marked police vehicle and to be available to attend incidents wherever they may have happened.

Casually driving along one of the main thoroughfares, we spotted a large American convertible parked on black & white lines outside a chemist. Black & white lines painted on the gutter meant a No Standing zone and the young officer with me was keen to issue an infringement notice to the driver of this car.

An Out-of-Town Vehicle

Id been around this area for about two years and a motor vehicle like this stood out among the crowd and Id never seen it before so while waiting for the occupants to return, we made a radio call to find out the drivers name and address.

Yes, an out of town vehicle. Shortly thereafter, our radio room called to advise us the owner of the car had an extensive police record for drug offences.

The Itchy Nose Feeling

So what was this vehicle doing in a town 200km away from home? Two men and a young woman emerged from the chemist shop carrying a quantity of vitamin C bottles and we were waiting.

I explained the No Standing zone and found out the driver wasnt the owner, it was his friend and I started to write out an infringement notice which gave me his full details and while I wrote, my young offsider contacted the radio room to see if this younger man had any police record. Turned out he too had a drug offences record.

When the owner and driver could offer no plausible reason for being so far away from home combined with the records which they both admitted to as well as just having purchased several bottles of vitamin C tablets, we decided this was sufficient grounds for us to search the vehicle, a task my young offsider took to with gusto. (Vitamin C, we had been told, was a common requisite for people with a drug addiction).

The Search

He opened the boot and pulled out the toolbox, spare tyre, checked under the bonnet, the glove box, under the dash, under the seats, under the floor mats, virtually everywhere it was thought items could be hidden while I stood on the footpath with the driver to ensure no-one walked away.

Slightly peeved nothing had been found, I then reached across the back seat (convertible with the top down, remember) and lifted a woollen pullover and there it was, hidden in plain sight, what turned out to be over $10,000 (street value) worth of heroin, pills and amphetamines.

The driver was quickly handcuffed to an iron railing, the owner was in no condition to run, he was not up to it and the young woman was confused and crying.

Back-Up

We immediately called for back-up - the motor vehicle was impounded and the three people were taken into custody. While my young offsider wrote out his statement, I was seconded with the drug squad sergeant, a good friend, to interview the owner of the vehicle. An hour or so went by and we were getting nowhere with the owner who denied everything.

State-wide Searches

Unbeknown to me, the drug squad in the town where the owner lived had been advised and a search was undertaken at his home, a very successful search I later found out and in a note pad, contact numbers led to several more searches around the state and each new search turned up even more evidence.

The eventual number and value of illegal drug seizures and of those arrested were never made clear to me, save to say the crackdown had far reaching effects even to interstate dealers. Now back to the vehicle owner in his interview.

The Coffee Break

I was the typist for the record of interview and had hardly typed a thing on over an hour; he had refused to admit any offences and denied knowing the drugs were in the vehicle. The sergeant was patient, cool and calm you might say, but persistent.

Another officer came and offered us a cup of coffee, for which I was most grateful.

All three of us just chatted while we had this break and then started all over again. The conversation was about horses as we two often rode and competed together and the offender had also ridden in earlier days.

The interview went on however, after 15 or 20 minutes, the vehicle owner opened up about his drug syndicate and eventually made admissions which surprised both of us.

Fast forward about a year and the young officer and I were called to state Police HQ and presented a Commissioners Commendation.

I often wondered what was in the coffee late on the Sunday night or if it had been the horse talk which had our man open up and make so many admissions and now, 42 years later, Ive come to the conclusion I will never know.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 17:02:01|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian defense ministry on Sunday called for closer defense cooperation and strategic partnership with the new Iraqi government for regional security, Tasnim news agency reported.

Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami made the call in a video meeting with his new Iraqi counterpart Juma Anad Saadoun.

"We seek to become strategic partners and turn our relations into a successful paradigm of cooperation," Hatami said.

Iran's principled policy is to support a united, independent and powerful Iraq, he noted. Enditem
Singapore on Sunday reported 682 new COVID-19 cases with a vast majority of them being foreign workers living in dormitories, taking the country's total to 28,038, the health ministry said.

A 67-year-old Singaporean man, who had a history of heart disease, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia, died of the coronavirus, the 22nd fatality from the contagion, the ministry said.

It said that the vast majority of the 682 fresh cases are work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories.

Four of them were Singaporeans or permanent residents.

As the number of community cases goes down to single digits, authorities have been easing some "circuit breaker" restrictions, such as allowing more businesses to reopen, according to a Channel Asia report.

Most of Singapore's coronavirus-related deaths are elderly cases, it said.

The youngest patient to die from the disease is a 58-year-old Singaporean woman who was declared free of the virus before her death.

As of Saturday, Singapore has 1,111 coronavirus patients in hospital and 17,881 in isolation, according to the ministry.

A total of 8,342 patients have been discharged from hospitals.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Like everyone else, a sense of uncertainty gripped me as I saw visuals of the impact of COVID-19 across the globe.

When it arrived in India, the situation turned chaotic pretty soon. The greatest lockdown in the history of independent India led to panic in the initial days.

I suddenly realised that I was in the thick of things. I also realised that it was time for me to step up and show the way -- bring people out of the panic mode and take them along to reach our goals.

The moment a collector puts a foot forward, however desperate the situation is, our system is such that our staff and official machinery too start taking steps ahead.

Thus, began our journey of handling the coronavirus crisis in Tiruppur. During this phase, we had our fair share of ups and downs, faced innumerable tough situations and more importantly, took home a lot of hard-won experience.

I would like to share 5 such important takeaways from the current scenario.

Creating a Strong Base

The first and foremost rule for any contingent scenario is getting a strong base. We got our control rooms going -- the COVID-19 control room for people to self-report, get clarifications and follow-ups.

We also had exclusive control rooms for pregnant women and guest workers. We then started working on institutional quarantine facilities and made arrangements for about 3,650 additional beds across the district. Also, we did not have a laboratory then. So we started working on getting our own coronavirus testing facilities as early possible.

Tiruppur being an industrial hub meant that we could reroute resources at hand to manufacture things that were the need of the hour. Masks and PPEs were manufactured in lakhs straightaway and we even started helping out other districts.

We had also put across our available personnel into various segments and teams to deal with the situation. Our personnel and machinery were ready and we were ready for the ultimate challenge.

Testing Times

Initially we had to screen, quarantine and test all international and interstate travellers. We also had to deal with the natural mass apprehension and anxiety and get maximum people to report. For each traveller, we had to track their travel history, get information from airport authorities, police records, etc.; consolidate everything and ensure that they were following strict home quarantine measures.

Soon the positive cases started appearing and that meant we had to trace the contacts effectively - high risk, low risk/primary, and secondary contacts.

A lot of resources and energy had to go into this as this was the most crucial step in curbing the spread of the disease. The numbers were rising quickly, there was very little time and we had to step up further with whatever resources we had on hand.

Containment Matters

As contacts were being traced, epidemiological mapping was done based on the primary/index cases and accordingly, containment zones were created. This meant the disease spread was now contained within these areas.

We ensured that every individual in the containment zones underwent active and passive surveillance, local bodies ensured massive disinfection and police created a virtual fortress along the boundaries.

Incident commanders were appointed for each of the containment zones. Volunteers were deputed to deliver essentials to people in these areas.

Once these activities were done effectively, we knew containment was underway and this reflected in the number of new cases and the fact that there were no cases appearing outside the containment zones.

Hotspot On

There are a total of 41 border points in the district and we had to ensure an efficient perimeter control in those places. Apart from police teams, health and revenue department teams were also put on duty for screening and following up of outstation travellers.

Besides, we tested and screened high-risk people working in hotspot areas in the district, like police personnel, frontline health workers, volunteers and people working in markets.

By now, looking at other places and learning from their experiences, we knew how to identify the hotspots and what to focus on.

Taking People Along

The crisis situation was such that people were an integral part of it and it was imperative to take them along in every step of our battle -- from doorstep delivery of essentials to coming up with social media challenges like the Give up Challenge and Umbrella Distancing Challenge as part of working on social distancing.

We were very determined from the beginning that we had to take our people along with us as much as possible. Massive awareness campaigns were launched -- both online and offline.

We also got together a huge volunteer force called the Tiruppur Corona Fighters who went onto fill crucial gaps in our connection with the public.

These are just some of the lessons that I have learnt over the past few days and all these have given me a wealth of experience which no book could ever teach.

The biggest lesson of all, at this stage, would be that it is far from over and we need to keep up our efforts and work as per plans and protocols.

There are other huge challenges as well with respect to resuming economic activities, restarting industries and taking proper care of and addressing the issues of our guest workers from other states.

Our next sets of plans and strategies have started taking shape and I am sure our teams will go all-out to achieve them. Nobody can chart a definitive way out of this crisis at this point, but I do believe that if we can continue keeping our systems in place and keep relentlessly doing what we are doing, we can put this crisis behind us soon.

On a personal note, I would like look with gratitude at the current scenario where we now have a 100 per cent recovery rate. The job has been done so far against all odds and we need to keep doing it -- All of us.

(As told to Poornima Murali)
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Over 400 people from the Northeast, including at least 87 from Tripura, are stranded in Bangladesh, Russia and Ukraine, and the Centre is taking necessary measures to bring them home, a minister here said.

Addressing a press conference at the civil secretariat, Tripura education minister Ratan Lal Nath said the Ministry of External Affairs, in association with the Home Ministry, was making all efforts to ensure the safe return of the people stuck abroad amid the COVID-19-induced lockdown.

The High Commissioner of India in Dhaka is coordinating with the Union government to arrange for transit of 53 people from Tripura stranded in the neighbouring country, Nath said on Saturday.

A total of 198 people from the northeastern states, including 25 from Tripura, will be brought back from Ukraine, while nine from the state were among the 177 set to fly home from Russia, the minister said.

"Those stuck in Ukraine and Russia would fly down to Guwahati in Assam, while 53 from Dhaka would directly reach Agartala in a bus. Their travel itinerary would be available soon," Nath added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small broke ranks with her New Mexico Democratic colleagues Deb Haaland and Ben Ray Lujan and voted against the $3 trillion HEROES Act  the new coronavirus relief bill that passed the House on Friday night.

I will continue to fight for direct funding for states, local communities, and tribal governments, as well as hazard pay for our essential workers on the front lines. But over $1 trillion of this bill was spent elsewhere, Torres Small said in a statement. Hard times call for strong priorities, and Congress should put aside partisan politics to rebuild through smart infrastructure investments.

Haaland supported the bill, saying in a news release that the legislation included $250 billion in stabilization funds for cities and towns and $20 billion for tribes.

Heroes come in all forms  theyre hospital workers, grocery clerks, teachers, letter carriers and people who stay home to take care of their elders and protect their communities. The HEROES Act provides economic stability so we can begin the long road to economic recovery, she said before the vote.

Lujan said in a statement that the bill would provide urgent support for workers, small businesses and nonprofits, and the tens of millions of Americans who have lost their jobs.

In its current form, the bill is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate.

HEROES stands for Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act.

MORE DAIRY AID? Torres Small is seeking the removal of a $125,000 cap per commodity placed by the Trump administration from a provision in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act meant to help agricultural producers, including dairy farmers.

The funding comes from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which includes $16 billion in direct payments to agricultural producers to offset losses caused by the pandemic. It also has a cap of $250,000 if the farmer or operation has multiple commodities.

The 2nd Congressional District representative said it limits aid to dairy farmers, because most of them produce only one commodity.

She said the aid is enough for small dairy farms in Vermont or other New England states, but it is not enough for large dairy operations in my district.

It does not cover the labor costs, she said in a phone interview with the Journal. It does not cover operational expenses.

Torres Small, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, raised the issue during a roundtable discussion with state agriculture producers and House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn.

NO ICE RESPONSE: When reports that an employee and migrant tested positive for COVID-19 early last month at the Otero County Processing Center, U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Reps. Haaland, Lujan and Torres Small sent a letter on April 10 to Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Matthew Albence voicing concerns that ICE detention centers were not properly prepared to manage the coronavirus outbreak.

Spokespersons in Heinrichs and Udalls offices told the Journal on Thursday that Albence did not respond to the letter. And as of Saturday, the states Department of Health reported there were 42 coronavirus cases at the Otero facility.

Scott Turner: sturner@abqjournal.com
Four men are expected to appear in court on Tuesday after they were caught in possession of protected flora and a rhino horn.

The four - aged 23, 30, 36 and 46 - were arrested on Saturday in Citrusdal in the Western Cape.

Police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut said the arrests were carried out by the Malmesbury Stock Theft Unit, Vredendal Crime Intelligence and members of the Cape Nature Reserve.

"In our pursuit to ensure that offenders of the law are brought to book, our members conducted a clandestine operation yesterday (Saturday) in Citrusdal, which led to the arrest of four men.

"They were apprehended in possession of a variety of protected flora and a rhino horn. The value of the confiscated items is yet to be determined.

"The suspects are due to face charges of dealing in protected flora and the possession of rhino horn in the Citrusdal Magistrate's Court on Tuesday," said Traut.

Source: News24
(Newser)  A New Zealand cafe following her government's guidelines told Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern there was no room for her Saturday. After imposing some of the most restrictive social distancing guidelines in the world, the government began allowing cafes and shopping malls to reopen Thursday. The cafe Ardern went to in Wellington, Olive, has a cap of 100 diners, the Guardian reports. "Were following every one of the rules," the owner said. New Zealand reported that as of Sunday, it had 1,149 confirmed coronavirus cases and just 21 deaths, per Reuters. Ardern's approval ratings are at near-record highs.

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In the end, Ardern was able to have brunch at Olive. A table freed up a few minutes after she left, and the manager chased her down. "She was lovely with all the staff," the owner said, adding that Ardern "she was treated like a normal customer." She'd walked to the cafe with her partner, Clarke Gayford, who took the blame for not making a reservation first. "I have to take responsibility for this," he tweeted, "I didnt get organised and book anywhere." Ardern's press representatives said the restrictions make waiting at cafes likely. "The PM says she just waits like everyone else," they said. (Read more Jacinda Ardern stories.)
It is alarming to many of us that a power group known as the Dakota Leadership PAC with roots in Fargo would buy $48,000 in television advertising and are likely to spend over $100,000 to defeat District 8 Rep. Jeff Delzer. Why is this massive amount of money being spent by a Fargo based group to disrupt the District 8 election?

Mike Jacobs of the Grand Forks Herald, one of the most respected journalists in the state, has written several articles about this onslaught against Jeff Delzer. Delzer is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and has also served as Speaker of the House. You do not hold these positions unless you have the support and trust of your legislative colleagues from across the state.

In my thirty-two years as a state legislator from a rural district I have never seen such a campaign directed against an incumbent legislator by special interests from outside a district.

We are faced with fiscal challenges from the virus, the drop in oil prices, low farm prices, and the destruction of our coal industry. Delzers conservative and responsible leadership is well tested and will be greatly needed in the upcoming session.

The actions of the Dakota Leadership PAC are an affront to the voters of District 8. He is your districts senior member and it would be a travesty to see him removed from representing you because a group from Fargo has an unknown political agenda. Voters of District 8, I ask you to please support Rep. Jeff Delzer in the June primary. It is the right thing to do for District 8 and the state of North Dakota.

Wesley Belter, Fargo

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I was really only sad to leave Berkeley because I didnt get to say a proper goodbye to my friends and I had lost the chance to cram in as many unforgettable memories into my final semester as possible.

When the pandemic hit and I moved back into my childhood home, I didnt feel that much different from when I had moved out barely two years earlier to attend UC Berkeley. I was really only sad to leave Berkeley because I didnt get to say a proper goodbye to my friends and I had lost the chance to cram in as many unforgettable memories into my final semester as possible.

For context, Im a transfer and first-generation student. I had no idea what I was doing when I started down this path. I only knew I had a deep desire to study literature and wanted to have the college experience you often see in movies: forming lifelong friendships, making cherishable memories and the whole part where you become a more realized person by the end of it.

My first semester here was pretty good, but then I shifted all my focus to my studies and extracurriculars, putting the social aspect of college at the bottom of my priorities. At the start of my final semester, I realized I hadnt accomplished everything I set out to, so I decided I would make the best out of the time I had left. I wanted to walk across that graduation stage not just with a degree but with a new sense of self.

Then the semester was cut short due to the coronavirus. I packed up my belongings into cardboard boxes, loaded them into my sisters car and, with unfulfilled college ambitions, headed back home. Im glad California implemented shelter-in-place orders to deal with this health crisis  I just wish I had another semester tucked away in my pocket because, even with graduation on the horizon, I dont feel like a proper Golden Bear.

Imposter syndrome is a hot topic at UC Berkeley; I understand why. I couldnt relate to other peoples stories of their time here: how they loved it, were learning so much about themselves, enjoying their newfound freedom  in other words, coming of age. As for me, I felt old (Im only 22) and frankly stressed about money most of the time. The stories of other students would make me wax nostalgic for community college, where I had the experiences they were talking about and didnt have to worry as much about finances.

Dont get me wrong, UC Berkeley is a great university, and its a huge privilege to go here, but I would be lying if I said I didnt go through most of my college-edition growing pains in community college. I was so young when I started, barely 17, and after simultaneously working and attending school, I was already on the cusp of 21 when I transferred here. It kind of makes sense that community college is where I had done a lot of my initial soul-searching and growing up. I was just the right age for it to be the setting of my typical, post-high school coming-of-age story.

And while UC Berkeley taught me so much academically, most of the life lessons I learned here stemmed from disillusionment. I learned that movies upsell everything; that I have a tendency to let myself get walked all over by roommates and co-workers, then how to assert myself when this happens; that I can be myself and not hide because the people who should be in your life will still love you and all your weird nuances; and that despite being an aspiring career woman, work should never be the only thing I have going for me.

In short, I have grown  just in ways that arent as earth-shattering as a student who came to this university fresh out of high school. If youre in the same boat, there is nothing wrong with that. You still gave this whole college thing the old college try. Moreover, lets not pretend that we all dont have loads more growing to do after we graduate; were all still young and have only dipped our toes into the real world.

And in the end, you still earned your bachelors degree. Not everyone gets this opportunity, so dont discount your time here. Instead, try to see the silver lining and be grateful for those who helped you get this far.

To my mom and dad, thank you for encouraging me to pursue my passions.

To Sabrina, Michael, Justin and Spencer, thank you for putting up with me and my angst.

To Josh, thank you for always rooting for me and helping me see the bright side of things; without you, this column would have been a lot more cynical.

To Cailin, thank you for being my first real friend in Berkeley and for pushing me to apply to the Daily Cal in the first place.

To Lilly, Hanna and Maia, thank you for being there with me through all those long production nights and trips to Menchies.

To everyone at the Daily Cal, thank you for teaching me so much and for being some of the kindest people Ive met.

When the pandemic hit and I moved back into my childhood home, I asked my mom to measure how tall I was, hoping that if I hadnt grown much on the inside, maybe I had on the outside. She told me I had  a mere half an inch. And perhaps thats the real difference: When Im asked for a fun fact about myself, instead of only being able to say Im half an inch taller than the beloved AnnaSophia Robb, I can now say a little bit more.
Face coverings became a concern early in the COVID-19 outbreak because of a shortage of medical personal protective equipment, or PPE  in New Mexico and nationwide. Health officials urged the public not to obtain surgical masks and N95s as a way to ensure supplies for those on the medical front lines. And at times, nurses in New Mexico would have to reuse scarce N95 masks for up to five days.

The administration (of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham) has leapt tall buildings to get PPE, said Deborah Walker, executive director of the New Mexico Nurses Association. And hospitals, including University of New Mexico Hospital and Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, have since promoted disinfecting N95s for reuse.

But that is still a crisis standard, Walker said. And we dont have enough research to know how many times they can be disinfected.

The possible health hazards to nurses and others who wear the disinfected masks are also unknown.

This cant become the new norm, she added.

As we continue, that is not the standard our nurses deserve, said Walker, who said she still receives anecdotal reports from among the 20,000 licensed New Mexico nurses about lack of PPE.

Nowadays, N95 masks are typically used when treating COVID-19 patients.

But Walker said she knows of nurses treating non-COVID-19 patients who are supposed to wear surgical masks for an entire shift, which can last 12 hours. In pre-COVID-19 days, they changed (masks) every time they needed to, she said.

Nurses are trained in infection control, Walker said. But its no longer the nurses judgment as to when they are to change a surgical mask.

She said her association wants to see a supply chain that goes back to pre-COVID standards.

Meanwhile, Sheena Ferguson, a registered nurse with the Medical Reserve Corps, helps screen Albuquerques homeless for the virus, and she volunteers at Roadrunner Food Bank.

She also wears a cloth mask over her surgical mask. That way, she can wash the cloth mask along with her scrubs every night and keep the surgical mask for future use.

Never before would she have thought of reusing a surgical mask, Ferguson told the Journal last week. Its just new territory all the way around.
As Texas reopens the economy, the argument about wearing a face mask in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis seems to heat up and has the probability of becoming violent.

Specifically, on Wednesday, at '99 Cents Only Store in San Antonio, a spectator caught a man not wearing a face mask on camera, turning "loud and confrontational" after another man at the store asked him to wear a mask or leave the store.

The so-called "maskless man" shouted saying, "Just because everyone is doing it," it is not making it legal while spectators were filming his outburst.

As the man ranted, he continued and referenced the order of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that people cannot be charged for not wearing a face mask.

Gov. Abbot's Directive

In relation to the said order, Abbott, late last month said, they strongly recommend wearing a face mask and this recommendation was for everyone. Gov. Abbot gave the recommendation, "in reference to a Harris County Judge" that imposed a fine "over a face mask directive."

It is not a mandate, though, Gov. Abbot said, and added, they would make it clear that no authority could enforce any type of fine or penalty for any individual for not wearing a face mask.

The governor elaborated, "Everyone should be encouraged," although by his executive order, Abbot said, it supersedes local directives pertaining to any type of penalty or fine for any person who does not wear a mask.

The Customer Turning More Violent

Incidentally, the man at the said San Antonio store started to go up to the spectators who were filming him and shoved one of them and provoked an altercation. "Don't record me," he told the man adding, it was an invasion of his privacy.

Meanwhile, police affirmed the occurrence to KSAT.com that officers in San Antonio were deployed to the store after receiving "report of assault" which was then still in progress. The authorities added that there were no arrests made.

KENS 5 reported, a woman saying she was with the "maskless man," posted on her Facebook account specifically saying, they got denied entry to the store after they stated, "they had medical exemption" that was why they were not wearing a mask. More so, the woman added, no one was ever hit.

While Gov. Abbott has already made it clear that everyone should wear masks, but they are not mandated by the state. Ron Nirenberg, Mayor of San Antonio said through KENS 5, that eventually, the store would have the final say.

The mayor also said, "Let's be clear," the store, he pointed out, "has the authority to require" a customer to wear a face mask.

In addition, Nirenberg added, that is constant with the orders of the governor and the orders in San Antonio. Opposing the requirement, according to him, does not confer the right for anyone to invade or trespass. It does not confer the right either, he continued, to interrupt business, neither assault someone.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 17:25:53|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government has deployed troops to combat bandit attacks and related violent activities in the northwest state of Katsina, Aminu Bello Masari, the state governor said on late Saturday.

At a news conference in Katsina city, the state capital, Masari said soldiers have been deployed by the federal government to combat bandit activities in state.

He stressed that security matters were not under his control but handled by the federal government, which is in control of the military and other armed forces.

On Friday, John Enenche, the Nigerian defense spokesman, said troops of the Operation Hadarin Daji, launched to rout out bandits from the northwest region, eliminated 27 bandits and destroyed some of their dwellings along the Nahuta-Doumborou corridor on the border between Katsina and Zamfara states.

Enenche said the operation was executed on Thursday, following credible intelligence reports that revealed that notorious bandits were harbored in a cluster of huts in the area.

He added that the air component dispatched a Nigerian Air Force attack helicopter as well as a ground attack aircraft to engage the location.

The northern part of Nigeria has witnessed a series of attacks by armed groups in recent months. There have also been recurring incidents of livestock rustling and armed banditry in the region. Enditem
As years pass, when Americans and the global community see 2020 referenced as the Year of the Nurse, many will assume the recognition came in response to the heroic, tireless work of nurses to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

They would be mistaken. The World Health Organization (WHO) bestowed this designation (which also officially salutes midwives) in early 2019, months before COVID-19 first surfaced in China and a full year before the full force of its grip on the world was felt.

More than mere coincidence, it appears as an alignment of the stars. What was first noticed only by followers of WHO news is now front and center to the world community. That is just where nurses deserve it to be.

Initially given in recognition of the 200th anniversary of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingales birth, the Year of the Nurse has evolved into a global debt of gratitude. It honors a profession that has always been appreciated, but simultaneously taken for granted.

Nurses have traditionally received widespread attended only in times of crisis, when a mistake is uncovered or during a shortage of qualified health care professionals.

In a sense, thats the highest form of praise. Americans assume their nurses are competent, qualified, diligent and dedicated. They are. It should not take a pandemic, or an official year, for us to tell them so.

Nurses are as diverse in religious faith, gender, color, sexual orientation, age and ethnic background as is society itself. There are registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, travel nurses, nurse practitioners, nurses for intensive care, surgical units or operating rooms, telemetry nurses, clinical nurse specialists, radiology nurses, psychiatric and mental health nurses, dialysis nurses and many, many more.

Lets not forget midwives, as the WHO did not. Home health specialists have been prominent during the COVID-19 crisis. Health care facilities have been closed to all but the most urgent treatment situations, with home visits replacing hospital appointments.

By treating sick patients in COVID-19 cases or others, nurses expose themselves to personal health risks every day. The pressure to perform is tremendous, the physical and mental demands are great and as much or more as in any other field, there is virtually no room for serious error.

Ask nursing school students today if those challenges intimidate them, and theyll answer in the opposite.

Nurses are the infantry forces of health care, and their comments (including those in todays Sunday Republican) reflect a desire to enter the fray, quell the coronavirus pandemic and continue providing health care to a population that depends on it.

Its revealing that the heated debate over American health care is about cost and who pays for it, not about quality of care. Americans expect the best health services available. The expectation is allowed to exist, thanks to the entire network of medical personnel, but it starts with the nations army of nursing professionals.

Just as the profession has evolved, so has our opinion of it. Old Hollywood movies gave us the stereotype: older women who took temperatures, provided medication and left the more serious medical work to the doctors (in those old movies, invariably older men.) Those Hollywood nurses were popular characters for their era, but they didnt take charge, they took orders.

The modern nurse follows the most rigid protocols in the history of medicine, yet they are constantly applying their knowledge and training to crucial decisions.

We are more spoiled in Massachusetts than most. Our hospitals have maintained national and even international reputations, despite immense challenges in maintaining adequate personnel amid spiraling health costs.

For a time, a nursing career appeared to collide with the world view of some in the feminist movement, not so much on its own merits but for its reputation as a womans job. Careers for women in other professions were limited, more so than they are now.

Yet today, with more choices available, many women choose this demanding, pressure-packed career as their contribution to society. So do many men. Its one of the most challenging of occupations. Its also one of the most noble.

The coronavirus pandemic will some day be part of history and not the present tense. The official Year of the Nurse has a life span based on the calendar.

Our appreciation of these skilled and courageous women and men should have no such termination point. The Year of the Nurse will end, but our appreciation of what these health vanguards do for us every single day in each and every year, and what they mean to our society, should not.
New Delhi, May 17 : The Delhi government on Sunday directed that no sample would be drawn for coronavirus test from a dead body. However, it would be disposed as corona case if doctors are satisfied by clinical examination that corona infection caused the death, as per a new SOP issued for the disposal of bodies.

In its order, the Health Department suspended an earlier order on the 'Disposal of Dead Bodies of COVID-19 affected persons' issued on April 3.

"No sample for COVID-19 test will be taken from the dead body. However, if doctors are satisfied from clinical examination that the cause of death may be COVID-19 infection, the dead body may be released as suspect COVID-19 infected body," the order signed by Padmini Singla, Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), said.

It also said the body would be managed in accordance with "COVID-19: Guidelines on Dead Body Management" issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, if the person tested positive before death; person found positive on the basis of the sample taken when he was alive; and person admitted to the hospital with severe symptoms of COVID-19 and doctors categorise him/her as a COVID-19 suspect.

The Health Department, however, issued the new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the disposal of the bodies of COVID-19 patients/suspected patients if the death occurred at hospital or corona positive patient is brought dead; body found at a public place unclaimed or otherwise; or death occurred at home or at a healthcare centre.

As per the SOP, if death occurred at hospital or COVID-19 positive patient is brought dead, the hospital should provide trained healthcare workers to handle and wrap the body.

"Hospital should provide hearse to carry the body to the cremation/burial ground to ensure that no further infection is caused. A properly wrapped body will be handed over to the relatives as per the Centre's guidelines." The SOP said in case no relative is available, the hospital should store the body in the mortuary after ensuring proper disinfection of the body and the body bag as per the guidelines. "Hospital should decide whether to carry out an autopsy or not." The SOP said if the death occurred at a COVID care centre, COVID health centre or COVID testing centre of a positive person, then it will be managed by the linked hospitals as if it has occurred at their hospital.

"The hearse (in this case) will be provided by the area District Magistrate to transport the body to the mortuary of the link COVID hospital and further for cremation/burial." For the death occurring outside the healthcare facility/home, relatives of the deceased patient should immediately inform area District Magistrate's office.

"The District Magistrate shall immediately inform the nearest hospital in the district." The SOP said the District Magistrate shall provide the van to carry the body to the hospital and thereafter to the cremation/burial ground to ensure that no infection is caused.

"Trained healthcare workers shall be provided by the designated hospital to the District Magistrate for the van. They will handle and wrap the body after ensuring proper disinfection as per the guidelines. The body will be brought to the hospital for this purpose," it said.

If an unclaimed or otherwise a dead body is found at a public place and if the death is not falling in any of the categories of COVID-19 infection death, the body would be handled by agencies like Delhi Police and local bodies.

The order directed the DMs, Directors of hospitals and Delhi Police to follow the procedure to ensure protection from spread of coronavirus infection.

So far, about 150 COVID deaths have been reported in the city.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Today in news of the adorable, a pygmy hippo was born in the San Diego Zoo.

And the little hippo is a pretty big deal because pygmy hippos are endangered and this was the zoos first successfully birthed one in 30 years, according to a CNN report.

CNN reported that Mable, a 4-year-old pygmy hippo at the zoo birthed her first calf last month.

The zoo reportedly released a statement saying that Mabel and her calf were doing very well.

It said pygmy hippos reside in rivers and streams in West Africa and that less than 2,500 are through to exist. The baby was reportedly 12 pounds at birth and is now up to 25 pounds.

Pygmy hippos are reportedly only half as tall as regular hippos and weight about a quarter of what a regular hippo does  coming in at between 397 and 606 pounds.
Chinese researchers find three Biomarkers to predict COVID-19 death risk

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/5/16 21:19:18

A research team in Wuhan has built a machine learning model to predict individual mortality in COVID19 patients.

The model has selected three biomarkers: lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), lymphocytes and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) to predict mortality rates and so far the accuracy has surpassed 90 percent, according to a paper published in Nature Machine Intelligence on Thursday.

The prediction model is aimed at distinguishing potentially severe COVID-19 patients and giving them early and immediate medical attention, said the research team.

To identify meaningful markers of mortality risks, Yan Li and her colleagues from Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, analyzed the blood samples of 485 patients collected in Tongji Hospital from Jan 10 to February 18.

The authors input basic information, symptoms, blood samples and the results of laboratory tests, including liver, kidney and coagulation functions along with electrolytes and inflammatory factors, taken from originally general, severe and critical patients, and then associated the inputs with the outcomeseither surviving or dying at the end of the examination period.

It found LDH, hs-CRP and lymphocytes are the most crucial biomarkers in distinguishing patients at imminent risk.

The results are reliable given that there are hundreds of samples being tested, Wang Zhongyuan, a professor of computer science at Wuhan University told the Global Times on Saturday.

"Machine learning studies the statistical relationship between the three biomarkers and the mortality rate. It would be more scientifically valuable to reveal the relationship from the pathological point of view. It is also important to include external intervention such as treatments into the study," he added.

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Banque nationale de Belgique Societe anonyme (EBR:BNB) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in 2 days time. Ex-dividend means that investors that purchase the stock on or after the 20th of May will not receive this dividend, which will be paid on the 22nd of May.

Banque nationale de Belgique Societe anonyme's upcoming dividend is 85.80 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of 138 per share to shareholders. Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that Banque nationale de Belgique Societe anonyme has a trailing yield of 6.8% on the current share price of 2030. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! So we need to check whether the dividend payments are covered, and if earnings are growing.

View our latest analysis for Banque nationale de Belgique Societe anonyme

If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Banque nationale de Belgique Societe anonyme has a low and conservative payout ratio of just 7.4% of its income after tax.

When a company paid out less in dividends than it earned in profit, this generally suggests its dividend is affordable. The lower the % of its profit that it pays out, the greater the margin of safety for the dividend if the business enters a downturn.

Click here to see how much of its profit Banque nationale de Belgique Societe anonyme paid out over the last 12 months.

ENXTBR:BNB Historical Dividend Yield May 16th 2020

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Businesses with shrinking earnings are tricky from a dividend perspective. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. That's why it's vaguely disappointing to see earnings per share declined -4.7% on last year.

Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. In the past ten years, Banque nationale de Belgique Societe anonyme has increased its dividend at approximately 0.9% a year on average.

Story continues

To Sum It Up

Is Banque nationale de Belgique Societe anonyme an attractive dividend stock, or better left on the shelf? Banque nationale de Belgique Societe anonyme's earnings per share have declined over the past 12 months, although we note that it is paying out a low fraction of its earnings. Ordinarily we wouldn't be too concerned about a one-year decline, especially given the payout ratio is low. This makes us wonder if the company is incurring costs by reinvesting in its business. From a dividend perspective we struggle to see value in a company with declining earnings per share, but it's also true that a one-year decline often doesn't mean much. So we wouldn't be too quick to write this one off. We think there are likely better opportunities out there.

So if you want to do more digging on Banque nationale de Belgique Societe anonyme, you'll find it worthwhile knowing the risks that this stock faces. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Banque nationale de Belgique Societe anonyme you should know about.

We wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see, though. Here's a list of interesting dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
The National Famine Commemoration Ceremony will take place in Dublin today.

The St. Stephen's Green event will be closed to the public due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The ceremony will include military honours and Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, will lay a wreath on behalf of the Irish people.

"In her poem Quarantine, the late Eavan Boland movingly evoked the efforts of a loving husband to support his wife with the last of his strength, when she said: 'She was sick with famine fever and could not keep up. / He lifted her and put her on his back.' The heroes of the Famine that we honour today also sought to lift and carry those who fell or could not keep up," Ms Madigan said.

"That same spirit of caring and self-sacrifice that is embedded in the caring professions, is being seen again today as our health workers embrace the challenge of caring for those affected by Covid-19. We honour and respect these modern-day heroes and value their courage.

"Perhaps we can best show our appreciation for their work, and the efforts of their forebears during the Great Famine, by adhering to those small acts of heroism we are called upon to perform in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and to come though these testing times, just as our ancestors once did."

The ceremony was due to be held in Buncrana in Co. Donegal this year, but that has been postponed until next year.

The ceremony will be available to view live on RTE News Now and on the RTE Player.
COVID-19: What you need to know now
Trump: US will beat out Russia and China with 'super duper missile'

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 May 2020 12:28 AM

While unveiling the flag for his new Space Force in the Oval Office in the White House, President Donald Trump has said the United States will beat out military rivals including Russia and China with "'super duper missile."

"We have no choice, we have to do it with the adversaries we have out there. We have, I call it the super duper missile and I heard the other night [it's] 17 times faster than what they have right now," Trump said on Friday.

"That's right," said Trump's defense secretary, Mark Esper, standing to his right.

"You take the fastest missile we have right now," Trump said. "You heard Russia has five times and China's working on five or six times, we have one 17 times and it's just got the go-ahead."

The US Defense Department said in March it had successfully tested an unarmed hypersonic missile, a weapon that could potentially overwhelm other missile defense systems.

According to the Pentagon, the test was conducted successfully in the US state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean.

The test missile flew along the upper atmosphere to a designated impact point at hypersonic speeds, which is over five times the speed of sound, the Pentagon said.

Trump, whose public rhetoric and withdrawal from key arms control treaties have fuelled fears of a new nuclear arms race, seemed to allude to new technology.

Hypersonic weapons can take missile and nuclear warfare to a new and more threatening level since they can travel much faster than current ballistic and cruise missiles, at different altitudes and with the maneuverability that makes them difficult to track and target with current missile defense systems.

Both Russia and China are developing similar military capabilities as they seek to field the technology and erode America's military dominance.

In December, Russia declared it had placed into service their first Avangard hypersonic missile, making it the first country to claim an operable hypersonic weapon. China is also investing significantly in the development of hypersonic glide vehicles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed Russian Avangard missiles can "travel at up to 20 times the speed of sound, like a 'meteorite' or a 'fireball,'" according Bloomberg.

"Not a single country possesses hypersonic weapons, let alone continental-range hypersonic weapons," Putin reportedly told the Russian military in December. "They're trying to catch up with us."

Independent analysts have said that the test of hypersonic missiles by the US military threatens to accelerate an arms race between the US and Russia which would ultimately place the entire world in danger.

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By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 22 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Through today's Joint Declaration of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of its 27 member states, the European Union expressly condemned Turkeys escalating illegal conduct in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean, including the violations of our territorial waters and our airspace. Apart from being an evident act of solidarity, the Joint Declaration is unquestionably a clear and strong message of opposition to the ongoing and flagrant violation of the sovereignty and sovereign rights of Greece and the Republic of Cyprus. It follows the Joint Declaration adopted a few days ago by France, Egypt, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates and our country.

The EU reiterates that respect for the sovereignty and sovereign rights of all states in their maritime zones in the eastern Mediterranean, based on International Law and the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, is binding for all states, without exception.

We also exchanged views on the Middle East peace process in light of the EUs well-known positions and the recent developments in the region. We stressed the importance of EU-Israel cooperation and that we look forward to the continuation of this constructive relationship with the countrys new government, which is expected to take office in the coming days.

In addition to the above, in todays video conference we discussed the Unions initiatives in its wider neigbourhood in response to the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the results of the recent EU-Western Balkans video-conference summit meeting. The decision of the heads of state to provide economic support for the countries of the Western Balkans in response to the pandemic was not only a gesture of solidarity, but also showed this regions strategic importance for and privileged relationship with the Union. Following a joint initiative of Greece and North Macedonia, next week we will be holding a video conference with my colleagues in the Balkans and neighbouring European countries to discuss better coordination for the quickest possible return to socio-economic normalcy, with the assistance of the EU, of course, following an unprecedented period of severe restrictions necessitated by the pandemic.

We also assessed our contribution via the Team Europe programme, the EUs contribution to related international initiatives  such as air transport of European emergency aid to vulnerable countries, with special emphasis on Africa and the Middle East  as well as the ways in which the EU can strengthen its strategic partnerships with the countries of the Southern Neighbourhood.

Finally, I noted the need for operation IRINI to act effectively to support implementation of the Libya arms embargo, which is a major contribution towards creating the necessary conditions for bringing peace to Libya and stability to our region, which is Europes southern neighbourhood.
If youre looking for a podcast and count yourself a fan of The Sopranos, then you cant go wrong with Talking Sopranos, which launched in April 2020. On the show, co-hosts Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and Steve Schirripa (Bobby Baccala) guide listeners through each Sopranos episode, in order.

Over the course of the first seven episodes, fans have learned how Imperioli based his character on a real mafioso, how Schirripa landed the part of Baccala, and how Tony Sirico was more like Paulie Walnuts that you might have thought.

But, more than that, the podcast has worked because Imperioli and Schirripa speak freely and naturally about something that interests them as much as their listeners. And theres rarely a dull moment.

Even as the list of Talking Sopranos sponsors has grown, the show has managed to keep its focus. Schirripa in particular deserves credit on this front. While reading ads, Schirripa doesnt slack in the slightest. And you can see why he played the sincere Bobby Baccala so well.

Steve Schirripa really gives Talking Sopranos ads his all

Michael Imperioli, Steve Schirripa and John Ventimiglia | James Devaney/WireImage

RELATED: The Sopranos: Tony Sirico Made a Memorable Appearance at Robert Ilers Confirmation

For podcast fans, the obligatory word from our sponsors can get tedious. But, early on in Talking Sopranos, listeners didnt have to bother with that because the show only had one. But as more sponsors have jumped on the train its remained a non-issue.

In episode 6, Imperioli and Schirripa introduced a new sponsor that offers postal products at home via their website. After both co-hosts read their section of ad copy convincingly, Schirripa went off-script with some personal anecdotes (as hes wont to do).

Listen, my wife has been using this for years, he said. Its simple. You know, you print out the labels and stuff, uh, on the computer. You just leave the package downstairs, you know, whether it be a box  its really something. Shes been using it for years.

But Schirripa wasnt done. From there, he continued riffing on why now more than ever was a time to avoid going to the post office (the need for masks gloves, etc.). And he approached Baccala-level commentary before he was done.

In a Baccala-esque moment, Schirripa said the crowd at post offices can be funky

Steven R. Schirripa as Bobby Bacala Baccalieri acts in a scene in HBOs hit drama series, The Sopranos. | HBO

While continuing to pump the advantages the sponsor offered Talking Sopranos listeners, Schirripa had a Baccala-esque digression. These days, he pointed out, You dont wanna have to go out and  see these people where you get stamps, go to the post office. You know, the post office is funky anyway.

At that point, Imperioli had to jump in. I dont think its funky, he said, shaking his head. What do you got against the post office? Schirripa said said his opinion came from personal experience. I was a postal worker, Schirripa told Imperioli. I worked at the post office.

As Imperioli broke out laughing, Schirripa described working the graveyard shift at a post office in downtown New York while he attended college. But he held his ground after Imperioli pressed him on the funky comment.

Its a little funky  crowd that goes to the post office, Schirripa said. Its kind of like you go to a DMV. Its the same thing. After calling out the sponsor two more times, Schirripa finally finished the break. Listen to your Uncle Steve, he told listeners. Bobby couldnt have done it better.

RELATED: The Sopranos: Why Paulie Walnuts Always Held His Hands in Front of Himself
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Susan McKinney is the librarian at the St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library. She received her masters in Library Science from the University of Illinois. She came here from Indiana for graduate school and fell in love with the area. She has lived here ever since. She is an avid reader and enjoys mystery, suspense, fantasy and action novels.
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A barber wearing a face mask as a prevention measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus attends to a customer at a hair salon, after they reopened as restrictions to contain the outbreak were relaxed, in Singapore on May 12, 2020. (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP) (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  The Ministry of Health (MOH) has reported 682 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of noon on Sunday (17 May), bringing the total to 28,038.

Of the cases, 673 are foreign workers living in dormitories. There are five cases in the local community, with four of them being Singaporeans.



The ministry added that of the four cases, two are flatmates who had been identified as contacts of an earlier confirmed case, and had been placed on quarantine from 29 April. Upon testing at the end of their quarantine, they were found to be positive for COVID-19. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing for the remaining two cases.

One of the four, a 24-year-old man, works at CDPL Tuas Dormitory, a cluster, and had gone to work after the onset of symptoms on the 10 May. His infection was confirmed on Saturday.



The oldest Singaporean among the four is a 93-year-old woman.

Details of cases on 17 May (Table: Ministry of Health)

A total of 998 more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, the MOH said. In all, 9,340 have fully recovered from the infection.

There are currently 1,210 confirmed cases who are still in hospital. Of these, most are stable or improving, and 16 are in critical condition in the intensive care unit. A total of 17,466 are isolated and cared for at community facilities. These are those who have mild symptoms, or are clinically well but still test positive for COVID-19.

To date, 22 have passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection.

Clusters linked to dorms

One new cluster was announced on Sunday: 9 Sungei Kadut Avenue.

Dozens of clusters linked to foreign worker dorms have been identified thus far, including Singapores largest cluster of over 2,500 cases linked to S11 Dormitory@Punggol, followed by Sungei Tengah Lodge and Tuas View Dormitory.

The three are among the 25 dorms that have been gazetted as isolation areas. Some 400,000 foreign workers live in dorms here in Singapore.

Some 20,000 infected foreign workers are expected to be discharged by end-May, said National Development Minister Lawrence Wong at a press conference on Tuesday.

Story continues

Apart from the 22 who have passed away due to COVID-19 complications, nine patients who tested positive for the virus have died from unrelated causes, including three whose deaths were attributed to a heart attack.

Only cases where the attending doctor or pathologist attributes the primary or underlying cause of death as due to COVID-19 infection will be added to the COVID-19 death count, said the MOH in previous press releases, adding that the method of assessment is consistent with international practices for classifying deaths.

It had also noted that 86 male foreign workers aged 25 to 59 died due to heart disease in Singapore in 2018.

As of 10 May, the ministry has conducted 224,262 swab tests, of which 216,102 were done on unique individuals.

This translates to around 39,300 swabs conducted per 1 million total population, and about 37,900 unique individuals swabbed per 1 million total population.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

More Singapore stories:

COVID-19: No tests for any disease can be completely accurate  MOH official

'No doubt' construction costs will rise with COVID-19 testing for workers ramped up: Lawrence Wong

10% of construction workforce to resume in 'controlled manner' by June: BCA

COVID-19 vaccine may arrive latest by end-2021 under most hopeful forecast: NCID expert
A paraglider broke both his legs after crashing in Berkshire while celebrating the easing of lockdown restrictions.

The pilot crashed only yards away from the 350-year-old hangman's gibbet on Gallows Down in Combe, Berkshire.

He broke both his legs and sustained other injuries and was taken to hospital.

A coastguard helicopter from Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, flew 50 miles inland to help the paraglider.

Fire crews and a coastguard helicopter were called after a paraglider celebrating the easing of lockdown restrictions crashed on Gallow's Down in Combe, Berkshire

The pilot broke both his legs and suffered other injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment

Three fire engines were also called out.

On social media a witness said: 'There were three fire engines, three 4x4 fire cars, one helicopter and one police car.'

The glider managed to avoid the 25ft hangman's gibbet when he crashed.

Tweeting at the time, Newbury Fire Station said: 'JY04P1, JY04P2 and JY05P1 currently at Combe Gibbet with @SCAS999, @TVAirAmb, @TVP and the coastguard helicopter assisting in the rescue of one injured casualty following a paragliding accident #difficultrescue#teamwork@RBFRSofficial.'

The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association said the easing of lockdown measures meant the paraglider was able to take up his hobby again. Pictured: Fire crews from Newbury Fire Station called to the crash site

He narrowly avoided the 25ft 350-year-old hangman's gibbet after crashing into a field of cowslips only yards away

The gibbet was erected in 1676 to hang the bodies of cheating lovers George Broomham and Dorothy Newman, two villagers who were executed for murdering Broomham's wife Martha and their son Robert who had discovered them romping on the hilltop.

The gibbet has been felled by storms and hacksawed by vandals during its lifetime but the community continues to band together and repair it.

The Gallows Down is a popular site for paragliders despite the dangerous updraughts.

The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association said the lockdown measures which were eased on May 13 in England allow for pilots to enjoy their hobby once again.
New Delhi, May 17 : A war of words has broken out between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre and the opposition Congress over former party president Rahul Gandhi's interaction with migrant labourers here on Saturday.

While Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, here on Sunday, called Rahul Gandhi's meeting 'dramabaazi' (gimmick), Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said the government must apologise to migrants for the remark.

The Finance Minister had rubbed salt in the wounds of distressed migrants, he said. "If sharing the pain is crime, we will continue to do that," Surjewala said and recalled the "real drama of Modi washing feet of labourers" sometime back.

The Congress had on Saturday released photographs and video of Rahul Gandhi's interaction near the Sukhdev Vihar flyover on the Mathura Road with the migrants walking from Ambala towards their village near Jhansi, around 700 km away.

Rahul Gandhi sat on the footpath and interacted with a 20-member migrant group, comprising women and children.

Terming it an impromptu interaction, Surjewala said Rahul Gandhi had decided to make a round and see the situation on ground himself after an interaction with the regional media personnel.

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
Pakistan President Arif Alvi has promulgated an order to form a caretaker government as well as to conduct elections in Gilgit-Baltistan province, a move strongly opposed by India.

The presidential promulgation came days after the Pakistan Supreme Court on April 30 allowed the federal government to amend a 2018 administrative order to conduct general elections in the region.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Order of 2018 provided for administrative changes, including authorising the Prime Minister of Pakistan to legislate on an array of subjects.

India has conveyed its strong protest to Islamabad for its efforts to bring "material change" to territories under its "illegal and forcible" occupation after the apex court allowed holding of elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Delhi said a demarche was issued to a senior Pakistani diplomat lodging a strong protest over the court ruling and clearly conveying that the entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India.

According to a notification issued by the federal Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan on Saturday, President Alvi promulgated the "Gilgit-Baltistan Election and Caretaker Amendment Order, 2020" to conduct transparent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly will complete its five-year tenure on June 24.

The presidential order said it was necessary to provide for the adoption of laws to install a caretaker government in Gilgit-Baltistan for conducting a fair and transparent election.

According to a Dawn newspaper report, president of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party president for Gilgit-Baltistan, Syed Jaffar Shah, said there was no provision for forming a caretaker government in the region and this difficulty has been removed after the presidential order.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly polls would be conducted on time and the caretaker government would arrange elections within two months, he said, adding that there is a law to extend the tenure of the caretaker government in special circumstances.

In reply to a question, Shah said the COVID-19 situation would not be a hurdle in the election process. However, special arrangements would be made to conduct elections in these circumstances.

The Pakistan government this week also signed a whopping Rs 442 billion contract with a joint venture of a Chinese state-run firm and a commercial arm of Pakistan's powerful military for construction of the Diamer-Bhasha dam in Gilgit-Baltistan.

India on Thursday took strong note of Pakistan awarding the mega contract to build the dam, saying carrying out of such projects in territories under Pakistan's illegal occupation was not proper.

Image credits: Twitter
New Haven Public Schools CFO Phillip Penn recently bought something he never thought he would have to: a pallet of 20,000 face masks.

He said he is also working on buying electrostatic foggers, which disinfect airborne virus and bacteria particles with electrostatic charges.

New Haven Public Schools, like many districts in Connecticut, is working through how to operate schools come fall while enforcing social distancing. Complicating this logistical task is a recent request from the city government to find a total of $9.8 million in savings, and many other districts are facing similar directives.

Districts created their budgets in a pre-coronavirus world, but governments are reviewing the requested increases through the lens of an economy impacted by COVID-19. Without months of local revenue, and pledges to keep mill rates down, towns are asking school districts to reduce, or completely flatten, their budget increases.

Statewide, many districts  each at a different point in the budgeting process  are facing little to no budget increases for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, according to a Hearst Connecticut Media analysis. And, they are running out of time to figure out how not to spend millions of dollars.

Danbury Public Schools is potentially facing a reduction of $8.75 million to its requested $10 million increase. Stamford Public Schools, Greenwich Public Schools and Wilton Public Schools are facing requests to keep their budgets flat. These districts had initially requested $18 million, $3 million and $1.65 million increases, respectively.

RELATED: Stamford budget may require job losses, loans, service cuts

Penn said he does not fault New Havens board of alders, but the economic situation will catch up with the city, as well as the state, which is incurring debt from lost sales tax revenue, and the nation, which is printing money it does not have.

The CFO said he feels bad for the stressed families, who face circumstances that pull them away from watching the budget process unfold. With $10 million in reductions coming, he said people will be unhappy.

Im not sure that parents are as aware of how much stress this is having on school districts and the potential implications for next year, he said. You want parents to be vocal and involved in the process, but I can appreciate that theyre distracted about other things.

Danbury Public Schools CFO Courtney LeBorious said the task in front of her is daunting.

Aside from the coronavirus, Danbury faces increasing enrollment, particularly among students receiving special education services, free or reduced-price lunch and English-language learning supports, and overcrowded buildings. Previous budgets have not kept pace with that growth, she said.

RELATED: Overcrowded Danbury schools work to add learning spaces

I feel comfortable as a finance director to do my job, she said. But is it easy? No.

While deadlines are approaching to find savings and brace for coronavirus costs, leaders said town and city governments are helping.

All the city boards are working together to try and come up with a solution to a very unusual problem, said Stamford Public Schools CFO Ryan Fealey, who started on the job when schools closed.

Here are some areas that districts say they have been seeing and will be seeing more spending:

Technology

With kids learning at home, many districts had to distribute technology as soon as they could get in shipments of devices. Spending on technology is likely to continue as devices break and schools find students in need.

Fairfield Public Schools Superintendent Mike Cummings said in an email they are considering the possibility of a hybrid at-home, at-school learning model this fall, which means more spending on devices and online programs.

Already, New Haven Public Schools has purchased $700,000 worth of Chromebooks to get devices into the hands of some kids in the district. Some still do not have devices.

The district needs to invest $3 to $4 million in devices so that every child has one, Penn said. New Haven plans to buy those laptops through the $8.5-million relief package the district will get through the federal CARES Act.

Danbury Public Schools spent $1.5 million to buy Chromebooks, and used grant money to get hotspots for families who needed them, LeBorious said.

She said the district could receive $2.2 million in CARES money, which will fund technology and social-emotional supports.

Stamford had to reallocate money in its current budget to buy devices and 1,000 hotspots. The school also received a donation of laptops for high schoolers.

While the district is closer to one device per child, Superintendent Tamu Lucero said, some CARES money will fund technology purchases to finish closing the gap.

The rest of the $2.7 million in aid would benefit summer school and social-emotional supports, she said.

Sanitation

Before the closures, districts paid custodians overtime to clean high-touch points daily and deep clean. Leaders are waiting for more guidance from state health officials, but anticipate sanitation could eat up their budgets.

Danbury bought $100,000 worth of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies and has spent $20,000 on custodial overtime. While the district had to deal with backordered products last month, LeBorious said supplies are shipping on time now.

Stamford is currently spending $50,000 to $75,000 to clean buildings, although they are at limited capacity.

Were assuming that is probably going to double our budget going into next year, Lucero said, adding that it could be $50,000 to $75,000 a month, depending on what the guidelines are for cleaning.

With every district and government vying for supplies, from electrostatic blowers to masks, Penn said he worries about surging prices hurting everyone.

There has to be a better way to approach purchases so that were not driving up prices as we do this, he said.

Sudden savings

The coronavirus has brought unexpected financial relief to many districts that were projected to end the year in the red.

Statewide, district leaders said the closures have saved them a few million dollars that would have gone to utilities, supplies, overtime, healthcare withdrawals, transportation and substitute teachers.

Greenwich had a $1 million overage to the special education budget, which could be closed by coronavirus savings. Similarly, Stamford had a projected deficit of $2.3 million, associated with special education costs.

That seems to be an area that people struggle with, across Fairfield County, the state of Connecticut and the country, Lucero said.

She added that Stamford saved about $12,000 to $15,000 a day for substitute teachers, and ultimately, it is projected to finish the year with $200,000 left, she said.

New Haven had a deficit of $9 million this November, which Penn and his staff have dropped down to $2.6 million. The $1 million that the district has saved from coronavirus closures will go toward closing the remaining gap.

LeBorious and Lucero said their districts are not making as many healthcare payments as staff are not visiting doctors as regularly.

The lower healthcare costs are a one-time blip, LeBorious said. Danbury is setting up a reserve to prepare for an influx in withdrawals when people feel comfortable going to the doctors office again.

jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com
Clwyd South residents to benefit from new legislation aimed at connecting businesses and homes in broadband not-spot areas 

This article is old - Published: Sunday, May 17th, 2020

Local politicians are encouraging their constituents in communities which struggle to get a fast, reliable internet connection to contact BT to check their eligibility for the new Universal Service Obligation for Broadband (USO). 

According to BT, around 91% of premises in Clwyd South can access to superfast broadband (at least 30Mbps) following a number of programmes such as the Welsh Government Superfast Cymru scheme.

BT is now working with Ofcom and the UK Government so more areas can be better connected. 

Member of the Senedd Ken Skates said: There are a number of areas in Clwyd South where people still struggle to get a reliable internet connection.

I have met with people in a number of local communities and discussed this at length. It affects their daily lives hugely. People need broadband to run businesses, do online shopping and keep in touch with family and friends, all of which are more crucial now than ever before. 

Member of Parliament Simon Baynes said: You now have the legal right to request a decent, affordable broadband connection from BT under the new Universal Service Obligation (USO) for Broadband, which is intended to be a safety net for those who currently struggle to get online because they cannot yet access a fast connection.

I would urge people in Clwyd South to check whether they are eligible for an upgrade.

Ofcom says approximately 4.8% of premises in Clwyd South cannot currently receive a fixed-line broadband connection of at least 10Mbps and could potentially benefit. 

However, they may already be able to access decent broadband over an EE 4G mobile signal. This Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service  called BT 4G Hub  is available across most of the constituency, with coverage expected to grow further as BT continues to invest in its 4G network.

If you live within a 4G coverage area, you will be offered this solution if you inquire about the USO and cant already get a sufficient broadband service. 

Glyn Ceiriog councillor Trevor Bates has discussed the issue with both Mr Skates and Mr Baynes. He said: BT will be writing to all those premises in Clwyd South who Ofcoms preliminary analysis has shown may be eligible.

They will be encouraged to contact BT, who will carry out some basic checks to confirm they can access a free upgraded broadband connection.

If you have a broadband speed of less than 10 Mb/s download and 1 Mb/s upload you should contact BT, either online by visiting www.bt.com/uso or by calling 0800783 0223.

For further advice, you can also contact michael.dugine@wrexham.gov.uk (Wrexham Council) or philip.burrows@denbighshire.gov.uk (Denbighshire).


Union home minister Amit Shah said on Sunday the announcements in the economic stimulus package made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will go a long way in realising the idea of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday the fifth and final tranche of the economic stimulus package would focus on MGNREGA, healthcare and education, businesses, de-criminalisation of the companies act, ease of doing business, public sector undertakings, and resources related to state government.

She also gave details on the Rs 20 lakh crore package breaking up the funds issued to deal with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a series of tweets, Amit Shah said the announcements will a game changer.

Todays announcements by Modi govt will go a long way in realising the idea of AtmaNirbhar Bharat. These steps will prove to be a game changer for health, education & business sectors, which will provide employment to crores of poor. I thank PM @narendramodi & FM @nsitharaman, Amit Shah tweeted.

The Union home minister also said the Centres decision to allocate an additional Rs 40,000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) will boost the rural economy and infrastructure.

The government had allocated Rs 61,500 crore for MGNREGS, and the Rs 40,000 crore allocation will be over and above this budget estimate (BE), Nirmala Sitharaman said while speaking to the media on Sunday.

The additional allocation of Rs 40,000 crores under MGNREGS by Modi government will not only help in generating employment for the poor and migrant workers but will also help create durable livelihood assets, which will greatly boost our rural economy and infrastructure, he said.

The announcements regarding the health sector will help India get ready for any crisis in the future.

While Prime Minister @NarendraModis leadership in handling Covid-19 has outshined several developed nations, he has resolved to prepare India for any such pandemic in the future, by strengthening and revamping Indias health sector, he posted.

Modi government has decided to increase Indias health expenditure to create Infectious Diseases Hospital Blocks in every district, strengthening lab network & surveillance and encouraging research. I am sure this foresight will take India way ahead in the medical sector, he added.

The governments decisions on the ease of doing business will fulfil the Prime Ministers vision of self-reliant India, Shah said.

Decision on reimagining the Public Sector Enterprise Policy, focus on further improving Ease of Doing business through IBC related measures, decriminalisation provisions in the Companies Act reflects PM @NarendraModis futuristic vision & commitment towards a self-reliant India, Shah said.

Modi govt has decided to increase borrowing limit of States, which will give them extra resource of 4.28 lakh cr. The centre had previously given: 46,038cr through devolution of taxes in April Revenue Deficit Grants of 12,390 cr SDRF funds to the tune of 11,000 cr, he added.
Chandigarh, May 17 : Police in Yamunanagar town in Haryana cane-charged migrant workers on Sunday who were trying to move towards the border of Uttar Pradesh some 20 km from there.

The labourers were seen running back to the shelter. Some of them left their luggage and cycles at the place and ran away.

Officials told IANS that they were allowing only those migrants to cross over to Uttar Pradesh who have been registered and staying at rescue centres set up by the government especially for them.

"A sudden influx of migrants from neighbouring states (Punjab and Himachal Pradesh) reached here and they were marching towards the Uttar Pradesh border. They were warned not to move towards home in UP, and when they tried to continue their journey, the police caned them," an official said.

He said the migrants who were staying in the government rescue centres were taken in batches in buses after medical screening and following social distance. After crossing Haryana, they were handed over to the Uttar Pradesh authorities for their onward journey.

Uttar Pradesh has banned the entry of migrants on foot.

"We will never return here again. We have been walking from Ludhiana (in Punjab) for the past six days. Instead of helping us, the police are beating us," a labourer said.

Another labourer said they reached Yamunanagar, some 100 km from the state capital Chandigarh, by crossing agricultural fields and the Ghaggar river and rivulets as the police were not allowing their movement on the highways and link roads.

Reacting to the police action, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala asked how much repression did the government yield on the migrants.

"The Khattar government is beating up the migrants by chasing them," Surjewala said in a tweet.

Tagging a video clip of the incident, the Congress spokesperson mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi by saying: "The BJP came to power making promise to these people who wear 'hawai chappals' to fly in 'jahaaz' (aircraft)."
Counting On star Jinger Duggar has become a better version of herself since marrying Jeremy Vuolo  at least, most fans would agree. Over the years, Duggar has proven to be the rebel of the family, but she still had to obey her parents rules when she was young.

Critics of the show recently dug up an old photo of Duggar, and they had one word to describe the image: sad.

Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo | Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Discovery Channel

Jinger Duggar has changed her appearance quite a bit since moving out

When Duggar married Vuolo back in 2016, she was quick to hightail it out of Arkansas. Duggar moved to Laredo, Texas, where Jeremy was working as a pastor at the time. And from there, she started to come into her own. Duggar began wearing pants, and she has since even been spotted wearing shorts. Her clothing became more modern and less frumpy, and she shocked her fans last year when she dyed her hair blonde. And a few months ago, Duggar chopped most of her hair off in a brand new look.

RELATED: Counting On: Jinger Duggar Made it Clear Years Ago That She Was Going to Break All the Duggar Rules

The Duggars were required to follow strict rules as kids

Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar are very faithful to their religion. They want their kids to be as pure as possible, so they raised them with very strict rules. The kids were not allowed to watch television or listen to modern music. They also couldnt dance because it might promote feelings of promiscuity. Plus, the girls had to wear long skirts or dresses (rather than pants, which hug curves) so as to not entice any men.

The Duggars also could not have any kind of intimacy before marriage. They were only allowed to give side-hugs, since front hugs could once again promote promiscuity. All the kids had their first kiss on their wedding day.

Critics think Duggar looked sad as a child

Counting On critics recently uncovered older photos of Jinger Duggar, and they were amazed at how sad she looked. Critics took to Reddit to discuss the photo, and they didnt have great things to say. Pic on the left seems kinda sad. Like a protective anxiety response. She looks tense, one user wrote. I see a little girl growing up in an abusive household.

Other fans agreed. This is probably right around the time of the abuse from Josh. Its actually a really sad photo, someone else commented. Her already awkward puberty phase was made so much worse by the fashion Michelle forced on her, another person wrote.

RELATED: Do Jinger Duggars Siblings Approve of Her Modern Fashion?

Some critics agreed that Duggar was sad but refused to poke fun

Many on the thread clearly felt bad for Duggar, but a number of people also came to her defense, saying that nobody should make fun of a childs looks. She looks a sad little soul as a kid. I cant snark on it, someone wrote. I get that this is a snark sub But holy sh*t making fun of preteens looks is super cringeworthy, another user added.  Making fun of her appearance as a child is pretty low, another person echoed.

Duggar certainly couldnt control her appearance as a child, but fans were more concerned with how empty Duggar looked. The kids have said they wouldnt change a thing about their childhood, but nobody can know for sure.
Her son has been on a hunger strike for more than a month in protest of the conditions in his detention. A blogger and activist, he has been in jail since September, when small groups of anti-government protests erupted in Cairo and other cities. The government has prevented family visits, citing coronavirus restrictions, which in effect has cut off prisoners from the world, activists say.
Marina Wes, World Bank Country Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti said, that the World Bank is mobilising to help Egypt strengthen its pandemic response and health care systems

The World Bank has approved $50 million for Egypt as an emergency response under the World Bank Groups new Fast Track COVID-19 Facility, a global effort to help strengthen the COVID-19 response and shorten the time to recovery, according to the World Bank statement released on Sunday.

The project aims to strengthen the prevention, detection and response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt.

The project will focus on the immediate and critical areas of support identified by the government of Egypts national COVID-19 response plan, according to the statement.

The project funds will support procuring and distributing medical equipment and supplies necessary for the COVID-19 response, health worker training, operations of specifically designated quarantine, isolation and treatment centres; mobilisation of rapid response teams in contact tracing of COVID-19 cases, development of contextualised messaging platforms and tools to improve public awareness of COVID prevention, according to the statement.

In addition, it will support innovative Monitoring and Evaluation of social distancing strategies including community mobilisation.

Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat said that Egypt acknowledges the efforts undertaken by the World Bank Group at the current unprecedented times.

This project supports the preparedness efforts and governance of Egypts healthcare system. Increased coordinated action to expedite healthcare spending and pave the way for an inclusive post-COVID economic recovery is a national priority, she added.

Meanwhile, Marina Wes, World Bank Country Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti, said that the World Bank is quickly mobilising to help Egypt strengthen its pandemic response and health care systems.

This phase of our support aims to protect the poorest and most vulnerable households and help the country implement emergency health operations and strengthen economic resilience, according to Wes.

The Global Fast Track Facility includes $6 billion financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA) in immediate support to assist countries coping with the health and economic impacts of the global outbreak, according the World Bank data.

Egypt has qualified for $50 million in funding, the maximum available for Egypt under the facility based on the criteria of population size, according to the World Bank.

The World Bank and Egypt are continuing discussions on future cooperation and support to lessen the short-term impact of the crisis, including on the poor and most vulnerable, and to accelerate the recovery, according to the statement.

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Phoenix, Arizona - Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Wednesday morning that the Arizona Supreme Court has ruled in his favor and denied relief in a lawsuit that challenged Arizona statutes and constitutional provisions that protect the integrity of the initiative process.

In a 6-1 decision, the Arizona Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction of the case but rejected Plaintiffs' claims on the merits.

Plaintiffs (four special interest groups proposing initiatives) filed a lawsuit last month directly in the Arizona Supreme Court trying to force the State to accept signatures online through E-Qual, the states online signature-gathering platform, because of the COVID-19 health crisis. Plaintiffs challenged Arizona statutes that precluded electronic signature gathering but ignored a provision of Article IV of the Arizona Constitution, which clearly requires signatures on initiative petitions to be signed in the presence of a circulator.

My job is to defend the law and I'm going to continue doing so as long as I'm Attorney General," said AG Brnovich. "A health crisis is not an excuse to ignore the constitution."

Additionally, the challengers could have started collecting signatures in November 2018 to qualify for the November 2020 ballot. This provided the challengers 20 months to obtain the required signatures, but most of the Plaintiffs did not begin circulating petitions until February of this year.

Expanding access to E-Qual for the initiative process is up to Arizona voters or policymakers. As the Arizona Supreme Court has previously explained, if this provision of the Constitution becomes too inconvenient for present-day operation, the remedy is to amend itnot to ignore it. Western Devcor, Inc. v. City of Scottsdale, 168 Ariz. 426, 432 (1991).

Attorney General Brnovich intervened after the Secretary of State declined to defend the challenged laws. This is one of four times so far in 2020 where the Secretary has declined to defend Arizona's election laws. Last week the Ninth Circuit denied a request for an injunction pending appeal in a similar challenge filed in federal court. A federal district court had previously denied relief. Today's decision ends the lawsuit filed in state court. A full opinion will be released by the court at a later date.
Some foreign airlines are allegedly planning to resume flights to Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt airports despite the ban on international commercial flights by the Federal Government in a bid to halt COVID-19 spread.

Although some of the airlines said their plans could change, it was learnt on Saturday that some of the international carriers had already scheduled some flights to Nigeria from June.

But the Federal Ministry of Aviation declared that such plans would not work until the flight ban was lifted.

Also, the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria said no foreign or local carrier could take decision to fly to or within Nigeria if the government had not opened the airspace.



It was learnt on Saturday that Lufthansa Airlines had included Abuja and Port Harcourt among its 20 long-haul routes to begin flight operations in June.

It was learnt that the carrier had made its first batch of flight reservation available in its booking system.

The company plans to resume long-haul flights in June from Frankfurt to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Toronto, Mexico City, Tel Aviv, Riyadh, Bahrain, Johannesburg, Dubai and Mumbai, among others.

Virgin Atlantic recently announced that beginning from May 16, services for its summer schedule flights from March 28, 2021 would be on sale, as it had scheduled flights from London Heathrow to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

But senior Ministry of Aviation officials said although it was nice to hear that airlines were making plans to resume operations, such would not happen until the ban was lifted.

The FG on May 6 extended the suspension of both local and international flights by four weeks.

The government had earlier halted commercial flights by two weeks before it announced the four-week extension.

The Director, Public Affairs, FMA, James Odaudu, said the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had not lifted the ban on commercial flights, whether local or foreign.

He said, They (foreign airlines) cant operate scheduled passenger flights as long as the ban remains. The PTF on COVID-19 has the final say on when flights can resume, based on the level of control of the pandemic.

Of course, we in the sector cant wait for activities to resume at the airports to forestall further loss of jobs and revenue. Aviation has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic and it will be a great relief to have flights resume.

The President, ATSSSAN, Ilitrus Ahmadu, said no airlines could take decisions for Nigeria on when flights would start.

It is not the foreign carriers that will decide for our country. So it is their business and they cannot say they can fly into the country without government opening the airspace.

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Jeff Hays is the immediate past chairman of the Colorado Republican Party. He lives in Monument. Ryan Macoubrie is chair of the El Paso County Young Democrats.
Neither the northern Italian chill nor the unfamiliar language has deterred a young Cuban doctor who for the past two months has been helping in the fight against coronavirus in Europe, thousands of miles from home. Roberto Arias Hernandez, one of Cuba's so-called "Army of White Coats" sent by his country in March to help Italy battle a spiralling epidemic of COVID-19, said he and his colleagues were "simply doctors." "Today it is our turn more than ever to play our role," the 28-year-old internist told AFP on a recent morning, before starting his shift at the Crema Maggiore Hospital in the heart of Lombardy, the region hardest hit by the virus. Arias, who is on his first mission abroad, is part of a group of 51 other doctors and specialists, more than half of whom have experience fighting Ebola in Africa. Their mission began on March 22, a rainy day marked by "abysmal" cold, recalled the Caribbean islander. The group of Cubans was dispatched to the city of Crema, whose 34,000 inhabitants were suffering under a dizzying rise in the number of coronavirus cases and a seemingly relentless number of deaths. In Lombardy, over 15,000 people have died from the virus, nearly half of the 31,610 recorded so far in the entire country, according to latest figures on Saturday. - The fear - "Fear is always felt, because you're going to fight... in the epicentre of the pandemic worldwide," confessed Arias. "You want to do it, but you're also afraid that you won't be up to it," he said, adding that after the initial worries subsided, the team "performed quite well." Working side by side with colleagues from the other side of the world who trained at different universities posed no problems, Arias said. In terms of technical language, "we understand each other perfectly." Moreover, Arias said he appreciated the good humour and warmth of the Italians, even under trying circumstances. "Italian doctors have a personality like the Cubans," Arias said. "They're cheerful, they all greet you, they thank you for being here. Some of them make jokes." Arias, who has been working non-stop since he arrived, begins the day doing rounds, accompanied by an Italian doctor and a nurse, after the complex step of donning protective gear - a gown, mask, glasses, transparent visor and gloves. Getting out of bed is the hardest part of the day. "That's when you feel the fatigue. But you reactivate your neurons and you realise that you came for this and that's what you're fighting for," he said. "You take a shower and tell yourself, 'C'mon, let's do this again.' - Pride of profession - Arias, father of an 11-month-old baby, said he has been filled with "indescribable pride" hearing Italians applauding from their balconies and windows for the doctors, nurses and health workers during the quarantine. He has received hundreds of messages and letters of thanks, many from children. Some people in Crema, hung signs from their windows saying "Thank you Cuba," he said. The head of the Cuban contingent, Carlos Perez Diaz, said the team would stay as long as necessary to fight the coronavirus, which is still circulating even though the number of infections and deaths have been decreasing. "We will return to the homeland with our duty done," he said. Even though most of the Cuban doctors are not religious, one thing Arias would like to do before leaving Italy would be to meet Pope Francis, an Argentinian who has not spared words of praise for doctors fighting the virus. "To be able to stand in front of the principal figure on the global level who professes good, that would be really great." The team of Cuban medics is to stay as long as necessary in Crema to fight the coronavirus The Cuban medics were dispatched to the city of Crema, whose 34,000 inhabitants were suffering under a dizzying rise in the number of coronavirus cases Roberto Arias Hernandez, who is on his first mission abroad, is part of a group of 51 other doctors and specialists from Cuba Arias said he appreciated the good humour and warmth of the Italians, even under trying circumstances
Kenya Moore had a rollercoaster of a ride on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The Bravo star not only feuded with Nene Leakes and Marlo Hampton on camera, but her marriage with Marc Daly also broke apart. In the middle of filming the show, Moore announced she had separated from her babys father. Many accused her of faking her marriage and said it was only for the cameras and to put up a front.

Kenya Moore and Marc Daly | Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF

At the RHOA Season 12 virtual reunion, the former beauty queen produced the receipts. Moore came to the special to clear things up and show her marriage certificate.

I am legally married, Moore said during the first episode of the reunion. So, Andy [Cohen], if you ask me nicely I might produce a receipt that is my marriage certificate. You can see the bride and the groom, the date, the stamp. OK? So theres my marriage certificate to all the haters who care.

Although the couple is not back together completely, they have tried to work out their issues out for the benefit of their daughter Brooklyn.

Were working on it. Were in counseling and Marc has made a complete 360. He just seems like hes fighting for his family and thats all I ever wanted him to do, she said. I had blocked him and then he started to ask to speak with me and send me emails and just become more humble in the relationship and he just basically said he really wants to work on it.

Did Kenya Moore lie about the marriage?

Moores marriage license continued to be a topic of debate on social media. Fans questioned if the Miss USA titleholder faked her marriage license and a little detail might have given it away.

It was the website All About The Tea that noticed the date on the certificate didnt correspond to the date she got married. Moore had produced a certificate before where it stated that she was married on June 10, 2017.

A zoom to the paper that Moore showcased at the reunion had a stamp dated August 2, 2019, thats a difference of 2 whole years.

RHOA fans react to the drama

Fans of RHOA are deeply invested in the drama produced by the Housewives. As the reunion aired, viewers had varying thoughts on Moore and Dalys relationship.

Im sorry but something has always been off in Kenyas relationship, a fan wrote. How the hell has she and the baby not met his parents? Plus Mark stays treating Ken like his real woman is watching. Working on what? Some more BS, its tragic and embarrassing.

Find someone who loves you as much as Kenya loves pretending shes in a relationship, a viewer added.

Imagine kissing the marriage certificate of being married to a man that doesnt care for you like Marc doesnt care for Kenya? a Twitter user questioned.

Just [because] Kenya got a marriage certificate, doesnt mean she [didnt] pay Marc to be with her, another fan commented. They didnt have a prenup, maybe that was the agreement.

Kenya and her phony marriage certificate with the seal in red, another viewer noted. Marriage certificates have gold seals. Where did she download that marriage certificate, Home Depot? Staples?

Part 2 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion airs Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.
The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday hit out at the Centre over the migrant crisis in the country, saying the BJP government is "solely responsible" for their plight.

A large number of migrant workers from major urban industrial centres in the country have been moving with their families towards their home states, often walking and also in cramped trucks and other vehicles, during the nearly two-month-long lockdown due to COVID-19.

"Today, for the first time after 1947, there is a migration of workers across the country. The government of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is solely responsible for the barbaric treatment towards the migrant workers returning to their home states," AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha said.

He urged the BJP-led government to pay heed to the condition of the migrants.

"The BJP arranged luxurious ships and private chartered planes to bring the rich people and the capitalists back to India from abroad. But the BJP did not make any arrangements to send the poor labourers and migrants to their home states," he told reporters.

India has been under lockdown since March 25 to curb the spread of coronavirus, which has infected over 90,000 people and killed more than 2,800 people in the country till now.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia opened their borders to each other at the stroke of midnight on Friday, creating the first travel bubble within the European Union in a bid to jump-start economies broken down by the coronavirus pandemic. Citizens and residents of the three generally sparsely populated Baltic nations will be free to travel within the region, though anyone entering from outside will need to self-isolate for 14 days.

The Baltic Travel Bubble is an opportunity for businesses to reopen, and a glimmer of hope for the people that life is getting back to normal, Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said in a statement, Reuters writes in the article Baltics launch Europe's first pandemic 'travel bubble' as curbs ease. The move by the Baltic neighbours comes as the EU executive seeks to coax the 27 member states to reopen internal borders and restart wider travel, albeit with safety measures such as face masks on airplanes.

New coronavirus infections in the three Baltic republics have now slowed to a trickle with none of the countries reporting more than seven new cases on Wednesday, and authorities have loosened lockdowns since late April. The region as a whole has recorded fewer than 150 deaths from the disease - far below individual larger euro zone countries such as Italy, Spain, France or Germany.

The Baltic states are close partners, have a similar epidemiological situation and their economies are well integrated, so the free movement of people as well as goods is very important for the region, said Arnoldas Pranckevicius, the European Commission representative in Lithuania. Opening the borders is up to the member states, and the European Commission expects them to talk to each other, to coordinate their actions and to not discriminate against nationals of other EU members.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - the three poorest members of the euro zone - expect their economies to shrink by 7-8 percent this year, in line with the rest of the currency union. Lithuania has warned of a double digit drop if economies are not reopened by the summer. Estonia has given an emergency loan 100 million euros ($108 million) to Baltic Sea shipping firm Tallink, badly hit by the regions lockdowns, while Lithuania is setting up a state-run facility to provide loans or assume assets of key companies if they do not survive the crisis.

The Baltic countries were quick to close their borders and impose lockdown measures to slow the spread of the virus. There is no reason to fear that opening the border will cause the spread of the virus, Estonian Interior Minister Mart Helme said.

Travel restrictions were eased between Finland and Estonia, as well as between Poland and Lithuania, this week, but only for those on the move for business or education. But neither Poland nor Finland are rushing join the full travel union with their Baltic neighbours as yet, despite an invitation to do so. At first glance, I think that, for instance, Poland and Finland would be logical and potentially good candidates, Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said. Poland and Finland have also reported relatively low numbers of coronavirus infections and deaths.
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police paid tribute to head constable Mohammad Amin who was killed in a militant attack in Frisal area of Kulgam on Saturday (May 16,2020). Mohammad Amin Bagat, sustained grievous gunshots and succumbed to his injuries during the terror attack in Kulgam district of south Kashmir .

According to details, the head constable of Jammu and Kashmir police was killed after terrorists fired indiscriminately upon a joint Naka party of Police deployed at Main chowk at Frisal area of Yaripora area of Kulgam.

Taking to Twitter, Kashmir Police Zone said, ''IGP Kashmir on behalf of #Police #Parivaar has paid rich #tributes to #martyr HC Mohammad Amin who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty at Frisal #Kulgam. We stand by his family at this critical juncture. May the departed soul rest in peace.''

IGP Kashmir on behalf of #Police #Parivaar has paid rich #tributes to #martyr HC Mohammad Amin who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty at Frisal #Kulgam. We stand by his family at this critical juncture. May the departed soul rest in peace.@JmuKmrPolice  Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) May 16, 2020

The police has registered a case under relevant sections in this regard and an investigation has been launched into the matter. The area has been cordoned off and a search operation has been started to nab the terrorists.
The Akwa Ibom State Government said it has rejected 10 vehicles donated to it by ExxonMobil.

The vehicles, which are coastal buses and SUVs, were meant for use in the COVID-19 contact tracing in the state.

They were handed over to the government on Friday, alongside two ambulances, some hospital beds, and more than 1900 COVID-19 test kits.

The Akwa Ibom government in a statement issued on Sunday said they rejected them because they were "used" vehicles.

"The decision was taken at the State COVID-19 Committee meeting yesterday following an evaluation of the vehicles and other donations to the state by the oil company," the Commissioner for Information in the state, Charles Udoh, said in the statement.

"The vehicles are considered too old and not in good enough operational conditions to withstand the rigours of contact tracing which they were meant to serve.

"However, the state government has accepted the two ambulances and 20 hospital beds also donated by the oil company, despite the fact that the ambulances are converted buses while the beds are below the standard of those currently in secondary healthcare facilities in the state."

PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately reach ExxonMobil for their reaction as the company's spokesperson, Oge Udeagha, did not respond to calls made to his phone line.

A source who is knowledgeable about the donation, however, told PREMIUM TIMES that ExxonMobil had informed the Akwa Ibom government that the vehicles were going to be pulled from their operational fleet.

"I am aware that ExxonMobil told Akwa Ibom government that getting new vehicles may take a while because of the contracting process and because of the lockdown, so they said they were going to get some vehicles from their operational fleet since it was a medical emergency, instead of waiting for things to normalise," the source said.

He said the donated vehicles were supposed to be 15, but that five of them are parked at ExxonMobil facilities in Rivers state, and could not be brought to Akwa Ibom because of the lockdown in Rivers and the ban on interstate travel across the country.

The Akwa Ibom information commissioner, Mr Udoh, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Health, Dominic Ukpong, did not respond to calls and text message from PREMIUM TIMES.

There are 16 cases of the novel coronavirus in Akwa Ibom State as of May 16.

ExxonMobil's operational base, where they produce oil, is in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State.
Four new cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were confirmed by Vietnams Ministry of Health on Saturday afternoon, all of whom were Vietnamese citizens returning from abroad, taking the total number of cases to 318.

Among them is a 35-year-old Vietnamese man who crossed the border from Cambodia illegally through a small trail into the southern province of Tay Ninh, around 100 kilometers northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, at 3:30 pm May 2.

He visited the house of an aunt in Tan Dong Hamlet in Tan Thanh Commune, Tan Chau District in the same province.

The man then reported himself to local police officers and was quarantined at the commune-level police station until the morning of May 3, when he was transferred to a centralized quarantine facility in Tay Ninh.

He tested negative for the novel coronavirus on May 5 but a second test conducted by the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City returned positive on Friday evening.

He is now quarantined and treated at Tay Ninh Province General Hospital.

All 17 people who had close contact with the patient are being quarantined for monitoring at Tan Chau District Medical Center and the provincial infirmary.

Two other cases confirmed on Saturday, a 29-year-old man and a 4-year-old woman, were passengers on a Vietnam Airlines flight from Russia that landed at Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh on Wednesday.

They are now hospitalized at Thai Binh Province General Hospital.

A total of 27 passengers on the flight have now tested positive for the virus.

The fourth patient, a 19-year-old man, returned from the Philippines on Thursday on a Bamboo Airways flight that landed at Can Tho International Airport in the namesake Mekong Delta city.

He is quarantined and treated at Sa Dec General Hospital in neighboring Dong Thap Province.

A total of 9,161 people are being quarantined or monitored across the country.

The country logged no new cases of COVID-19 infection on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, 260 COVID-19 patients in Vietnam have recovered, with no deaths reported to date.
By ANI

GENEVA: A total of 62 countries, including India has backed a joint effort by Australia and European Union, calling for an independent inquiry into the WHO's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a draft resolution proposed for 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting beginning today.

The draft calls for "impartial, independent and comprehensive" probe into the coronavirus crisis. Besides, an inquiry into the actions of the World Health Organization (WHO) and "their timelines pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic."

"Initiate, at the earliest appropriate moment, and in consultation with the Member States a stepwise process of impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation, including using existing Mechanisms, as appropriate, to review experience gained and lessons learned from the WHO-coordinated international health response to COVID-19," the draft report reads.

READ| WHO denies report of pressure from China to withhold coronavirus information

Last month, Australia was the first country to call for an independent inquiry into how the coronavirus started.

European nations and Australia have been gathering support for an "impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation" of "the WHO-coordinated international health response to COVID-19".

Last month, Australia was the first country to call for an independent inquiry into how the coronavirus started.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said allowing the WHO to investigate the outbreak "strikes me as a bit poacher and gamekeeper," ABC reported.

"This is about collaborating to equip the international community to better prevent or counter the next pandemic and keep our citizens safe," Payne was quoted as saying by ABC.

However, the motion has not found the mention of China or the city of Wuhan where the outbreak is believed to have started.

Other major countries named in the EU-backed draft include Japan, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Korea, Brazil, and Canada.
Over the years, the royal family has been surrounded by drama and controversies in their personal lives despite trying to keep things private.

From Prince Charles and Diana's marriage, the feud between the younger generation of the royal family, down to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's resignation as senior members of the British monarchy, it appears that they cannot escape from the prying eyes of the media and the public.

One of the biggest controversies in the royal family is the Prince of Wales' relationship with his now-wife Camilla Parker Bowles.

Royal experts have claimed that the heir to the throne underwent severe emotional turmoil when he found out that Camilla married Andrew Parker-Bowles in 1973.

In a Channel 5 documentary titled "Charles and Camilla: King and Queen in Waiting," royal experts Dickie Arbiter and Katie Nicholl shared how Prince Charles was left heartbroken when he learned about the news involving Camilla.

"Charles was in his 20s and was having to do military service because he would one day go to be commander in chief. He then joined the navy to follow his father, grandfather, and two great grandfathers," Arbiter explained.

"I think it was very important to him to fulfill that role because that was what was expected of him."

In 1973, Prince Charles joined HMS Minerva for a seven-month voyage in the Caribbean as part of his naval service career. The Prince of Wales served in the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976.

Arbiter then explained that Camilla went on with her life after she found out that Charles was busy doing his duties as the future king.

"Like a lot of young ladies, they don't like their men disappearing out of their lives. Prince Charles did disappear out of her life and she married army cavalry officer Andrew Parker Bowles," Arbiter said.

Meanwhile, Nicholl pointed out that Prince Charles felt "crushed" after receiving the devastating news.

"One can only imagine that Charles would have been feeling pretty crushed by this news. He had gone away to serve and hoped that Camilla would wait for him. He certainly thought the relationship had legs, even if his family didn't," she said.

The heir to the throne was in the West Indies when he learned about Camilla's engagement. He immediately wrote to his great uncle Lord Mountbatten and expressed his disappointment that "such a blissful, peaceful and mutually happy relationship" has come to an end.

Princess Diana vs Camilla Parker-Bowles

Although Camilla and Prince Charles eventually ended up together after the couple married on April 9, 2005, they had to endure scandalous and controversial issues along with the late Princess Diana.

To recall, a bombshell biography by Andrew Morton titled "DIANA: Her True Story - In Her Own Words" revealed that prior to Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding in 1981, she was aware of the involvement of Camilla as she once overheard her then-fiance on the phone professing his love to another woman.

Moreover, the People's Princess also referred to Camilla as the "third person" in her marriage.
The World Health Organisation has called for a global effort to understand a rare inflammatory syndrome affecting children and teenagers that may be linked to Covid-19.

The global health body said on Friday there was an urgent need to gather more data from around the world to better understand the syndrome, which can cause multiple organ failures and resembles toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease, a rare inflammation of the blood vessels that typically affects small children.

Children have not been seen as a high-risk group for Covid-19  they accounted for around 2 per cent of confirmed cases in the US and China  but the appeal came as pupils began returning to school in countries such as Denmark, Australia and China, while other countries weighed up the risks of doing the same.

Children infected by Covid-19 have generally displayed milder symptoms than adults and are not thought to be major transmitters of the disease, according to the World Health Organisation, but there is no scientific consensus on how easily children can get infected.

While there have only been a small number of cases of severe inflammatory syndrome so far, the WHO has called for health services around the world to share data about potential cases of what it calls multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

I call on all clinicians worldwide to work with your national authorities and the WHO to be on the alert and better understand this syndrome in children, the bodys director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a briefing Friday.

Symptoms include fever, rash and signs of inflammation on the hands, mouth, or feet; hypotension or shock; gastrointestinal problems and abnormalities in the heart or blood vessels.

Early reports indicate that the syndrome may be linked to Covid-19, but this has not yet been confirmed.

A hospital in Italys Bergamo province  the part of the country worst hit by Covid-19  reported a 30-fold increase in the monthly incidence of a Kawasaki-like disease compared with the past five years.

Story continues

Of the 10 patients diagnosed between February 18 and April 20, eight also tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies.

Another cluster of children with the severe inflammatory syndrome was noted in April by clinicians in the United Kingdom, including one fatality.

All of the eight children infected later tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies, researchers wrote in a letter published in The Lancet this month.

Possible cases have also been reported in France and Spain.

In New York, the US state that has been hardest hit by the virus, health officials are investigating 102 cases where children who may have been infected with the virus are showing symptoms of the inflammatory syndrome.

On Wednesday, the states governor Andrew Cuomo said that three children with the syndrome had died.

The following day, the US Centres for Disease Control issued an alert telling doctors across the country to look out for possible cases.

The WHO said the full spectrum of the disease was not yet clear, and it was not certain whether the geographical distribution in Europe and North America reflects a true pattern, or if the condition has simply not been recognised elsewhere.

Pupils return to school in the Danish capital Copenhagen. Photo: AFP

The discovery of the syndrome is another curveball among many that the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has thrown at doctors and patients, according to Sanjaya Senanayake, an infectious disease specialist and associate professor at the Australian National University.

No one was expecting to see this in children, its an unexpected finding, but we are only about five months into the outbreak  its still relatively early, were still learning about [the virus], he said, noting that other viruses could also play a role.

Senanayake also said the wider risk of infection was likely to determine whether the syndrome would become a factor to consider when it came to reopening schools.

This seems to be a rare condition, if its related to Covid-19, then the reason we are seeing it in the US and Europe is because theres so much Covid there, he said.

In countries with low Covid activity, it would still be reasonable to send kids to school, because we think the proportion of kids who get Covid is very low, he said.

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This article Coronavirus: stay alert for mystery syndrome in children, says World Health Organisation first appeared on South China Morning Post

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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, waves to citizens during his visit to a section of the Fenhe River in Taiyuan, capital city of north China's Shanxi Province, May 12, 2020. Xi inspected Taiyuan on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- While checking the ecological protection work of the Fenhe River in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, on Tuesday during his inspection tour, President Xi Jinping expressed his satisfaction with the tremendous changes made to the ecological environment along the river and stressed the importance of green development.

As the second-largest tributary of the Yellow River, the Fenhe River, which stretches 716 km, passes through six cities and dozens of counties and merges into the Yellow River.

The Fenhe River has nine tributaries in the city of Taiyuan, the provincial capital. However, due to historical reasons, the river, also known as the "mother river" of Shanxi, used to be highly polluted.

This is not the first time that Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, voiced his concern over the environment along the Fenhe River.

Back in June 2017, during an inspection tour in Shanxi, he stressed efforts to increase the amount of water in the Fenhe River, improve its water quality and beautify the scenery.

As a result, Taiyuan launched the comprehensive treatment project for the nine rivers and completed it in 2018. With over 20 kinds of plants for ecological purification, greenbelts emerged on the banks of the nine rivers.

Underscoring the incorporation of environmental protection, energy revolution, green development, and economic transformation, Xi on Tuesday noted that the treatment of the Fenhe River is not only essential to the environmental protection and economic development of Shanxi, but also important to the historical and cultural inheritance of the province.

FOLLOWING A GREEN PATH

With the domestic COVID-19 epidemic waning and China powering ahead in returning to work and resuming business and production, Xi's remarks reaffirmed the country's determination to follow a green development path and implement the national strategy for high-quality development.

It has been a tough but firm choice for China, especially at a time when the world's second-largest economy is struggling to cope with the unprecedented economic challenge brought by the epidemic. But the country stands steadfast in resisting the old way of developing the economy at the cost of the environment.

Xi has always attached great importance to the protection and improvement of the country's water system as well as the balance between economic development and ecological protection.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), visits an ecological wetland of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 20, 2020. Xi visited the wetland to examine the protection and pollution treatment of the lake during an inspection tour to the province. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Visiting a wetland of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, in January, for instance, Xi made a similar emphasis on ecological civilization and green development. Once among the most polluted lakes in China, the Dianchi Lake has seen its ecology greatly improve after years of conservation efforts.

China has stepped up rolling out measures to enhance environmental protection and pursue high-quality development.

In April, the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Finance announced the first batch of 55 pilot counties for water system connectivity and comprehensive improvement of rural water systems, with the central government allocating 2.5 billion yuan (about 353 million U.S. dollars) to these counties to fight rural water pollution.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment released a plan urging local governments to actively resume 114 major ecological projects, which covered water treatment, ecological restoration, and industrial park construction and were selected to boost investment, promote economic growth, and meet the people's demand.

GREEN OUTCOMES

The path of green development is vital to the country's economy and people's wellbeing. Provinces such as Shanxi have been rewarded by the environment as the ecological protection work is taking effect.

Vigorously promoting a greener economy, Shanxi, the coal-rich province, cut 27.45 million tonnes of coal production capacity and saw a GDP growth higher than the country's average level in 2019.

Last year, the province planted about 347,333 hectares of trees, and the groundwater level continued to rise in the Fenhe River valley.

Apart from supporting major environmental projects, China also resorted to having an 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.

Behind the firm commitment to green development is the top leadership's pursuit of achieving a moderately prosperous society in all respects and the foresight of maintaining a strategic focus on improving the ecological environment in the long run.

More should be done to accelerate institutional innovation and strengthen the implementation of institutions to help form a green way of production and living, Xi has stressed.
For years, Andrej Babis wanted to run his country like a business. The coronavirus pandemic finally gave him the chance.

In 2017, the Czech billionaire campaigned on promises to make the government more effective and rid the state of traditional politicians he called incompetent. Even after he swapped running his multi-billion-dollar agrifood business to become prime minister, he kept complaining of lengthy, unproductive meetings that ramble on without a quick decision.

That changed in March. Babis, 65, ordered a strict lockdown before any one had died and more than 10 days ahead of the U.K., which now has the highest number of fatalities in Europe. He made wearing face masks mandatory and closed schools and most stores. The Czech Republic has one of the lowest death tolls from covid-19 in the European Union.

"I finally got to run it like a family firm," Babis told Czech radio station Impuls. "It was effective and concrete. We saw our measures and our decisions taking effect. It was a big difference."

The experience across former communist Europe is one of speedier quarantines, shut borders and a fraction of the cases compared with the west of the continent. Without international metropolises like London, Paris or Madrid, there are obvious geographical reasons. Yet the action of leaders who have been politically at odds with the EU in recent years is bolstering their standing at home at a pivotal time.

As governments elsewhere look weakened, the question is whether the Czechs, Poles and Hungarians can wield more influence in the 27-member EU in the post-virus fallout. The answer will come when the financial reality hits, according to Josef Mlejnek, a political scientist at Charles University in Prague.

"Naturally, there will be a need for the economic help from the EU and when it's time to distribute funds, the divide between the eastern and western parts of the EU will appear again," he said. "Right now, Babis is riding a wave of being successful in curtailing the first wave of pandemic, but his popularity going forward will depend on the extent of the economic impact."

Babis, whose net worth is $1.8 billion based on Bloomberg Billionaires Index valuations, has had his critics. His party's popularity stood at 26% in opinion polls last June as he was investigated for abuse of EU funds and faced the biggest Czech protests since the end of communism three decades ago. In December, the chief prosecutor reopened the case against Babis, who denies all wrongdoing. The party now polls 34%.

His government declared a state of emergency on March 12, more than a week before the country recorded its first death. That enabled Babis to make decisions swiftly without the usual procedure of publishing decrees and rounds of coalition meetings.

After stumbling at news conferences in the first weeks of the pandemic, he empowered others to take the central stage, mainly Roman Prymula, the nation's chief epidemiologist. Regular national addresses showed he remained in charge.

The billionaire has a reputation as a workaholic who arranges his own schedule and directly calls government officials at odd hours with tasks. His agricultural, chemical and media empire still employs nearly 34,000 people and it's hard to fill a grocery basket without a product from that web of companies.

Critics say that some of the lockdown measures were too rushed and showed how Babis is used to doing business and cutting deals. A court ruled early efforts to restrict people's movement and shut stores were illegal before the government revised the plan.

"It was a deliberate political play from the beginning designed to make Babis look like the main crisis manager in the eyes of the public, the man who can in a difficult situation single-handedly manage the entire country as well as a family business," said Jiri Pehe, the director of New York University in Prague.

Still, compared with some of his regional counterparts, Babis has taken a less political approach. In neighboring Poland, the government changed election laws at last minute and delayed a presidential vote from May 10 to a still unknown date. In Hungary, Prime Minster Viktor Orban pushed through legislation that allows him to rule indefinitely by decree.

The next few months will show whether Babis will be able to hang on to his lead in polls as he restarts the export-oriented economy heavily dependent on production of Skodas and other cars.

Gross domestic product may drop as much as a record 8% this year, according to the central bank, followed by a rebound to 4% in 2021. The prime minister has already made it clear the government will be looking for ways to save money, though only after spending to help mitigate the slump.

"I am from the business sector," Babis said. "I know what it means to save money."
The government is looking at tweaking provisions of the Indian Contract Act of 1872 to bring agreements between farmers and companies under its ambit, aiming to prevent exploitation of farm people.

Photograph: Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters

The Centre will use its powers under the Constitutions Seventh Schedule to free up inter-state and intra-state trade in agricultural commodities as it allows agricultural price marketing committees (APMCs) to continue.

The government is looking at tweaking provisions of the Indian Contract Act of 1872 to bring agreements between farmers and companies under its ambit, aiming to prevent exploitation of farm people.

The Seventh Schedule allocates subjects to the Centre and the states. Some subjects are in the Concurrent List where both the Centre and the states can frame laws, but only the law framed by the Union government prevails in the event of clash between the two laws.

The Centre will use Entry 42 of the Union list along with the Entry 33 of the Concurrent List to frame a legislation that will free up the inter-state trade in all agricultural commodities and intra-state trade in specific farm produces.

Entry 42 empowers the Centre to frame laws for inter-state trade, while Entry 26 of the state list empowers states to frame rules and laws to regulate trade within their boundaries.

But, the provisions of Entry 26 are subject to the Entry 33 of the Concurrent List which empowers both the Centre and states to frame rules and laws relating to production, distribution and supply of foodstuffs, including edible oil and oilseeds. As cited above, union law has supremacy over the state legislation in the Concurrent List.

The structure of the existing APMCs wont be changed or altered.

Officials said the Centre planned a sweeping legislation to enable free trade of agriculture produces, but outside the regulated market yards.

The legislation will pave the way for an alternative selling mechanism for the farmers alongside the existing APMCs to ensure a sort of competition between APMCs and private direct trade.

The new law will dismantle the entry barriers that exist between states and within states and will enable direct trade between the farmers and traders outside the APMCs across the country. This law will be passed in Parliament or could be even implemented through an ordinance, a senior official said. The new Act will enable direct purchase by any traders.

For the second piece of legislation, officials said the Union government is exploring the prevailing provisions of the Indian Contract Act for making a legal framework to protect farmers in case of contract farming and also laying down rules for companies which enter into such agreement with farmers.

The Act guides all existing contract arrangements, but farming is not under it. In other words, contract farming is not allowed. The provisions of this Act will be explored to include farming within its ambit.

The proposed amendment to the Essential Commodities Act to deregulate cereals, edible oils, oilseeds, pulses, onions and potato matches the two legislations, officials said. These moves will enable a big processor to purchase directly from farmers anywhere in India without worrying about the legal problems that he might encounter and also store much as he wants without worrying about stock holding limits.

These will bring scale into farming operations, said the official.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 23:37:43|Editor: huaxia

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BANJUL, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The frontline workers in The Gambia, including health and psycho-social officers, are willing to stay away from their families for weeks in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.

The tiny West African country has reported 23 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 1 death and 12 recovery cases, since the outbreak of the pandemic on March 17.

"We are aware of the risk, but this is what we signed up to as medical workers. Everybody in this country is at risk but we're at different levels of risks," Dr. Buba Manjang, acting director of public health services in Gambia told Xinhua, stressing that they are "determined to fight and contain this virus as health workers."

According to him, they're making sure that they implement all the preventive measures so that the virus does not reach deeper into the communities.

"I miss my family a lot, because we spent the night here. You can see the commitment in all these staff," he said, pointing at his subordinates.

"We decided to stay here without visiting our families to avoid the spread of the virus, because the materials we are wearing (Personal Protective Equipment, PPE) probably get the virus on it. I want Gambians to love their frontliners. Let them give us encouragement, because we are not interested in politics," Dr. Manjang stated.

Ebrima Keita, a public health officer found at one of the isolation centres, said he decided to stay, because sometimes, he felt being discriminated by neighbors when going home.

"If I want to greet my neighbours, they would say I shouldn't be close to them, because I'm coming from the centre. So, I feel discriminated against. But I do understand their concern. Sometimes my child would call me to enquire if I am safe, I would say yes," Keita told Xinhua.

Among the frontline team who are dealing with the suspected patients of the virus is Jim Jobe, there is also a psycho-social worker who counsels patients testing positive by giving them hope.

"I am here, because I know that there are people who are picked from homes and they obviously need psycho-social support," he said.

According to him, he prepares the individual psychologically, mentally and physically so that they understand and accept that they have been infected by the coronavirus.

"It's not easy to tell the individual that they have coronavirus. It's very difficult and challenging as well. Everything is based on counselling, because whenever they are quarantined, we have to prepare them," Jobe said.

"We talk to them in a very professional way about how they should feel if they are negative, and how they should react if they are positive. We prepare their minds on that. The ones I dealt with took it in a good fate and that's it. There was no problem, no difficulties at all," Jobe told Xinhua.

Jobe said, as a care giver, the risk he's undertaking is high, but preventable. The only thing that's not preventable is how much he misses his family.

"It's very difficult sometimes, but my family understands that it's a national call for a national duty. Even if it's going to warrant us to stay here for one year, we have to do it to serve our nation," he explained.

The Gambia government declared a state of public emergency and closed schools and worshiping centers more than one month ago in order to implement social distancing. Enditem
analysis

This is a high-level summary of the trending, highest impact, and most active themes and narratives related to social cohesion and division as identified from South African social media conversations on 15 and 16 May 2020.

President Cyril Ramaphosa's consultations with Nedlac to move to level 3 trended 5th by reach on Saturday. An article about the Black Business Council's plan to back government trended 8th by impact.

At 12.56 @JacksonMthembu tweeted that the president had asked Nedlac to advise on the intention to move from level 4 to level 3. The post was retweeted close to 100 times.

The topic of level 3 was the 6th highest trending topic by volume in the Covid-19 conversation. An Eyewitness News story "Black Business Council backs Govt's plans to move lockdown to level 3" was a significant driver. The council hopes the economy will be reopened soon.

In his address earlier in the week, the president explained that parts of the country with high Covid-19 infection rates would remain on level 4, but new regulations would be introduced to relax some level 4 restrictions for business, exercise and e-commerce.

Speaking to 702, Business for South Africa head Martin...
ELUGU  A Ugandan businessman was on Saturday, May 16, 2020, confirmed to have tested positive of coronavirus.

The businessman, who is a resident of Bukedea district, is said to have tested positive after he left his sample at Elegu Border on his way from South Sudan.

He had always mixed with the residents when Ministry of Health officials picked him up on Saturday evening.

Three other people whom he came into contact with have been quarantined.

Dr. Steven Ikodet, the Bukedea district heath officer, said they are still looking for 13 other people he came into contact with.

He went to a hardware shop and also played Omweso with some people so we are really busy trailing them, Dr. Ikodet said.

He added that: This is the time for people to realize that the disease is now near and should then understand that whatever measures government recommended should now be observed.

Mr. Moses Olemukan, the Bukedea district chairman, said the case had shocked the district asking locals to comply and stop the spread of the disease at the district.

He revealed that the suspect has been having three families and was a social person meaning must have mande contact with so many people.

This man has three homes, and has been at the district for the last three homes so those who got in touch should tested. Let all the families and whoever contact he made come up and be tested.

The district chairperson said people in the district should observe social distancing and regard Covid 19 as a serious challenge.

Bukedea Woman MP Ms Anita Among said it was time locals stopped thinking that covid-19 is a distant disease.

When we find a positive case within the district, it means that we can nolonger think it is distant, so we should take measures given seriously to avoid getting the disease, especially washing hands and observing social distancing, Ms Anita said.

Related
- President Uhuru Kenyatta said the measure was aimed at countering increased rates of COVID-19 infections, especially those being imported from Somalia and Tanzania

- The head of state confirmed 49 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the national tally to 830 as five more succumbed to the disease raising the death toll to 50

- The United States (US) recently claimed hospitals in Dar es Salaaam were overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients as it warned its citizens in the country

President Uhuru Kenyatta has closed Kenya's border with Tanzania and Somalia.

Uhuru said the measure was aimed at countering increased rates of COVID-19 infections, especially those being imported from the two countries.

READ ALSO: Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi threatens to lift the lid on Chris Msando's murder

President Uhuru Kenyatta said there would be many thousands of infections and more fatalities across the country if the gov't didnt took measures. Photo: State House.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Ruai night demolitions: Uproar after gov't evicts people during curfew hours

The president who spoke at State House in the afternoon of Saturday, May 16, said only cargo vehicles would be allowed entry into Kenya and the drivers must test negative for the disease.

"In the last week we have unfortunately witnessed an increased number of imported cases among individuals crossing into our countries through our borders; these areas have become a matter of grave concern to us," Uhuru said.

"Forty three cases have recently crossed the border from Somalia and Tanzania. There will be a cessation of movement of persons and any passengers into and out of the territory through Tanzania and Somalia effective midnight today," he added.

The head of state confirmed 49 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the national tally to 830 as five more succumbed to the pandemic raising the death toll to 50.

Over 1200 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Somalia so far with the Horn of Africa country registering 53 deaths, according to Worldometers, a real-time statistics website.

Lorries awaiting clearance at the Kenya - Tanzania border. Photo: The East African.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Wanasiasa wanafanya mikutano usiku kupanga mikakati, Kabogo asema

Tanzania on the other hand had recorded 509 cases but it had not provided updates on the number of infections as of May 16.

The United States (US) recently claimed hospitals in Dar es Salaaam were overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli said business would continue as normal in his country despite the increasing number of COVID-19 infections. Photo: John Magufuli.

Source: Facebook

The US warned its citizens the risk of contracting COVID-19 in Dar es Salaam was "extremely high".

"Despite limited reports, all evidence points to the exponential growth of the epidemic in Dar and other locations in Tanzania.

"The embassy has strongly recommended that the US government has strongly recommended that its personnel and their families remain at home except for essential activities," read the statement by the US embassy.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

My wife pushed me to marry another woman - Pastor Habil Were | Tuko Talks | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Parliament swears in government led by Benjamin Netanyahu and former rival, ending months of political uncertainty.

Israels parliament has sworn in a new government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former rival Benny Gantz, ending the longest political crisis in the countrys history.



After more than 500 days without a stable government and three inconclusive elections, lawmakers in the 120-seat Knesset approved a three-year coalition, with 73 voting for and 49 against. One member was absent.

The new government was set to confront serious crises in its first weeks, including the economic devastation wrought by the coronavirus and a looming battle over Israels possible annexation of large parts of the occupied West Bank.

Addressing the parliament before the vote, Netanyahu said his incoming government should apply Israeli sovereignty over Jewish settlements, which are illegal under international law.



Its time to apply the Israeli law and write another glorious chapter in the history of Zionism, Netanyahu said on the issue of Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.

These territories are where the Jewish nation was born and grew, he said of the settlements.

For his part, Gantz, a former military chief, made no mention of any possible annexation moves in his ensuing speech.

The two former rivals agreed to a three-year coalition government last month, after more than 500 days of political deadlock and three inconclusive elections in less than a year. Under the power-sharing agreement, Netanyahu will serve 18 months as prime minister and then hand over to Gantz.

The agenda of the new government includes a possible declaration of sovereignty over Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank  a de facto annexation.

Such a move will likely cause international uproar and inflame tensions in the West Bank.

Palestinian leaders have threatened to abolish bilateral agreements with Israel if it goes ahead with the plan to annex parts of the West Bank  land they want as part of a future state  as early as July 1.

Jordans King Abdulla II, meanwhile, warned Israel of a massive conflict if it went ahead with the plan, while the European Unions foreign policy chief said the bloc would use all our diplomatic capacities to try to dissuade the new government from going ahead with the move, approved under United States President Donald Trumps so-called Middle East plan.

Israels new government was challenged in the Supreme Court, with opponents arguing Netanyahu was ineligible to rule due to a number of corruption indictments. They also complained that certain provisions in the coalition deal broke the law.

But the court ruled earlier this month that there was no legal reason to prevent the formation of a government led by Netanyahu, who denies the corruption allegations.

It added that by approving the coalition it was not seeking to diminish the severity of the charges against Netanyahu, but concluded that those could be handled in his trial, which is due to begin on May 24.

While Israeli law bars ministers from serving while under indictment, there is no such law for prime ministers.
Governor Cuomo urges New Yorkers to get tested to speed up reopening efforts.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo wants thousands more New Yorkers to get tested for the coronavirus  so much so that he got tested during his live news briefing in Albany on Sunday.

He stood still and closed his eyes as a doctor fully swathed in personal protection equipment inserted a swab deep into his nose. Then the governor sat back down without so much as a sneeze.

That is the whole test, Mr. Cuomo said. Im not in pain, Im not in discomfort. Closing my eyes was a moment of relaxation. There is no reason why you should not get the test.

It was a shift in messaging from what doctors had been telling many New Yorkers with mild or no symptoms through much of this crisis  that they should stay home rather than risk getting sick or infecting others by seeking a test. But with the state increasing its testing capacity, health officials are pushing more residents to get tested to help them trace and contain the virus.
Pakistan resumed domestic flights between major cities for the first time in nearly two months on Saturday with the requirement that face masks be worn and vacant seats left between passengers, officials said.

International flights will remain suspended till May 31.

The first Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flight carrying 84 passengers departed from Karachi for Lahore at 1300 local time (0800 GMT), along with flights for Lahore and Islamabad operated by a private airline, local media reported.

In view of the difficulties faced by passengers in travelling between major cities, the Federal Government has allowed limited domestic flight operations from five major airports, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta with effect from May 16, said a statement issued by the Aviation Division.

Domestic and chartered flight operations will require disinfection of the aircraft prior to boarding, at least one vacant seat between the passengers and compulsory wearing of masks and use of hand sanitizers. No food and beverages will be allowed during domestic flights, the statement added.

On Saturday, the Aviation ministry released pictures of passengers seated with a gap of a seat in the flights.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that the country could not afford an indefinite lockdown and the nation would have to learn to live with the pandemic.

At a press briefing along with some cabinet members, Khan said he wanted to tell the countrys medical community that lifting the lockdown was imperative to provide jobs to 25 million informal labourers and workers.

Pakistan has reported over 38,000 cases of infection from the new coronavirus and 834 deaths.
India's third Covid wave likely to peak on Jan 23, daily cases to stay below 4 lakh: IIT Kanpur scientist

In fresh guidelines, Centre climbs down on 'mandatory' use of Aarogya Setu in offices

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, May 17: The government seems to have eased earlier restrictions it placed on mandatory usage of the Aarogya Setu contact tracing app in office workplaces and within containment zones.

"The Aarogya Setu mobile application is a powerful tool built by Government of India to facilitate quick identification of persons infected by COVID-19, or at risk of being infected, thus acting as a shield for individuals and the community, " th guidelines said.

"With a view to ensure safety in offices and work places, employers on best effort basis should ensure that the Aarogya Setu application is installed by all employees having compatible mobile phones," it added.

Lockdown 4.0: Full list of what is allowed and what is not

"District authorities have been asked to advise individuals to install the Aarogya Setu application on compatible mobile phones and regularly update their health status on the app. This will facilitate timely provision of medical attention to those individuals who are at risk," it further said.

In its guidelines issued on May 1, the ministry stated that the app would be "mandatory for all employees, both private and public" and placed the onus of compliance on the owner of a business or head of the organisation.

"Use of Arogya Setu app shall be made mandatory for all employees, both private and public. It shall be the responsibility of the Head of the respective organizations to ensure 100% coverage of this app among the employees," the MHA guidelines released at the start of this month said.

Though the latest advisory also mentions the name of the COVID-19 tracker, it merely state that relevant district authorities "may advise" individuals to install Aarogya Setu on compatible mobile phone apps.

The term 'mandatory' has been removed from the guidelines. However, the app is still required for air travel, train travel and even for most central government employees.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, May 17, 2020, 22:22 [IST]
Seven weeks after she was supposed to have cancer surgery, Margaret Sadowski finally had her operation on Tuesday.

In early March, she was told that a tumour in her colon would be removed within 28 days. But in mid-March, the surgery was cancelled.

The 60-year-old Etobicoke woman is one of more than 52,000 Ontarians whose surgeries and procedures were cancelled or delayed to free up space for potential COVID-19 patients, according to the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario.

Elective surgeries effectively came to a halt after March 15.

Cancer surgeries, considered time sensitive rather than elective, continued but at a lower rate. Many, like Sadowskis, were cancelled and later rescheduled.

Getting a diagnosis of colorectal cancer in January was devastating, Sadowski said in a recent interview. Getting bumped from her first surgery date heightened her fear.

What if the cancer grows? What if it spreads? she recalls asking herself.

Sadowski had trouble sleeping, dropped 10 pounds and had to go on anti-anxiety medication.

There is no good time to have cancer, but this is the worst time to have cancer given what is happening in hospitals, she said.

Worldwide, the pandemic will likely lead to 28 million surgeries cancelled or postponed over 12 weeks, according to a study published last week in the British Journal of Surgery.

That includes 394,576 surgeries in Canada, 27,390 of them for cancer.

It would take 11 months to clear the Canadian backlog if the number of surgeries performed weekly is increased by 20 per cent compared to the pre-pandemic pace, the study estimates.

Understanding these numbers will help to prepare for post-peak pandemic in order to start a plan for reopening elective surgery in a way that is safe and manageable, said Janet Martin, an associate professor of anesthesia and perioperative medicine at Western Universitys Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. She is part of the CovidSurg Collaborative, an international research network that did the modelling for the study.

Ontarios hospital sector is planning for the gradual resumption of elective surgeries, beginning this week. On Thursday, the province greenlit hospitals to gradually ramp up, so long as they meet certain conditions.

Each of the provinces five regions must reserve at least 15 per cent of acute-care capacity for COVID-19 patients, among other things.

Juggling competing demands is a big ask of Ontarios 141 hospitals, which have been bursting at the seams for years. Ontarios rate of total hospital beds per 1,000 people is among the lowest when compared to nations in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Creating enough surge capacity to get through flu season has become a perennial struggle.

Creating enough capacity to get through a pandemic  with a large and growing surgery backlog  will challenge hospitals like never before.

Our collective challenge will be protecting surge capacity and managing growing occupancy levels while at the same time providing access to elective activity, explained Anthony Dale, president of the Ontario Hospital Association. This is a challenge without parallel in the history of Ontarios health-care system.

Sadowski learned she had a tumour in January following a colonoscopy. A pathology report suggested it was stage 1 or 2. She wouldnt know for sure until after surgery.

Its so stressful, she said, likening the diagnosis to being on the Drop Zone ride at an amusement park. The floor falls out from under you.

The one thing she knew about colorectal cancer was that early diagnosis and treatment are key to a good prognosis.

What made the cancellation of her first surgery date especially difficult was knowing there were unused operating rooms and unused beds in hospitals. They were left vacant so that hospitals could prepare for an expected crush of COVID-19 patients.

I dont feel cancer patients should take a backseat to COVID. Why are they prioritizing COVID patients first? Sadowski asked. Why cant they start cancelling surgeries once they actually get COVID patients? In the meantime people can get their cancer surgeries.

Dale said he empathizes with patients and hopes they appreciate hospitals are trying to do their best during an unprecedented time.

This is a heart-wrenching situation, he said. In this extremely difficult challenge all we can do is ask for peoples understanding in the knowledge that hospitals are doing all they can.

Ontario hospitals were, on average, at 96-per-cent capacity before the pandemic. Some 28 hospitals had average occupancy rates of more than 100 per cent.

In mid-March, after the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, there was concern that hospitals would become overwhelmed like those in New York City and parts of Europe.

By April 13, hospital capacity had fallen to 69 per cent and 11,200 hospital beds were unoccupied, according the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario.

By May 10, hospital capacity had increased to 77 per cent.

Sadowskis surgeon, Dr. Shady Ashamalla, head of the general surgery division at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, said he has never seen so many empty beds.

We didnt know how much capacity we would need and we were afraid we would need a lot, so we scaled way back, he explained.

Never in its history has Sunnybrook been as low. Its never been at 65 to 70 per cent capacity. We created that capacity so we would have a safe buffer, he continued.

Ashamalla helped free up beds by phoning about 50 patients at the end of March to inform them that their surgeries were being postponed. Sadowski was among them.

They were difficult conversations, the surgical oncologist recounted.

I had patients negotiating and begging for any way to get their surgeries done. Its extremely hard to hear patients you care about in a therapeutic relationship be that scared and terrified, he said.

Ashamalla said he likes to help patients by bringing order to the chaos of a cancer diagnosis through the creation of a surgical plan.

It was so unnatural to add to the chaos instead of taking it away, he said.

Sunnybrook usually has 25 operating rooms running, but that number fell to 10 in mid-March. Priority was given to cancer patients whose prognosis was likely to worsen if they did not have surgery within four weeks.

In late March, the number of ORs fell again, this time to four. The triaging system was altered to give priority to patients whose prognosis was likely to change if they did not have surgery within two weeks.

The provinces hospitals were not overrun to the extent feared.

The people of Ontario have done an incredible job of flattening the curve to save our health-care system and now it is the responsibility of that system, which belongs to all of us, to save the people from all of the diseases that have not slowed down during this pandemic, Ashamalla said.

Advising the province on how to juggle surgeries through the pandemic is the Surgical and Procedural Planning Committee, chaired by Kingston cardiologist Dr. Chris Simpson, former president of the Canadian Medical Association.

Simpson said the province has moved past the peak of what is expected to be the first of several pandemic waves. The health system will need to be nimble and agile to deal with flare-ups, he cautioned.

As we prepare to ramp up our scheduled and elective procedures and surgeries, we have to maintain our readiness to ramp back down if needed, he said.

Simpson likened the halting of elective surgeries on March 15 to shutting off a light switch.

But now as we prepare to start up again, it has to be more like a dimmer switch. Different hospitals may be able to turn the dimmer switch more than others. And just as importantly, we need to be able to dim things down quickly if needed, he said.

Hospitals have created surgical and procedural oversight committees to conduct feasibility assessments on the ramping up and down of surgery. Decisions are being made with regional and sub-regional COVID steering committees. Plans are re-evaluated weekly.

Before hospitals can resume elective surgeries, they must have stable supplies of personal protective equipment and medications, adequate staffing, and sufficient bed availability including in intensive care units.

With patients health and lives at stake, Dale said extreme caution must be exercised as the health system continues to grapple with the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a lot like defusing a bomb. A single mistake or misjudgment can have catastrophic consequences, he said.

At Sunnybrook, Ashamalla and his colleagues have been using a complex triaging system to make decisions on delaying and rescheduling surgeries. It involves daily virtual cancer conferences with a team that includes medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, geneticists, nurses and pathologists.

Last week, Sunnybrook began re-opening closed ORs. It now has six running and next week three more will open.

Priority is still being given to patients whose prognosis could change in four weeks.

I truly think we have done a good job with cancers, Dr. Shady Ashamalla said. I can say with a fair bit of confidence that over the course of the last four to six weeks, peoples cancer prognoses did not change at Sunnybrook.

With a growing surgery backlog, the opening of more ORs is coming at just the right time, he said.

I have a sense of urgency because I know my patients are waiting and I know there is going to be a breaking point when prognosis will change. I know we are not there yet and I know we can avoid it, he said.

On Wednesday, the day after her surgery, Sadowski said she would have to wait another couple of weeks to get a better idea of her prognosis. Thats when she will get the pathology results.

Shady was optimistic so I will hang onto that, she said.

It will be behind me only when my lymph nodes are clear and I am officially cancer free. But at least we got it out so that is the largest part of the battle.
Vaccines have helped beat some terrible threats throughout the years and, if we are lucky, they might just pull us out of this whole coronavirus mess.

But, according to a recent Yahoo report, theres a group out there who believes the vaccine is something far more sinister than a means to help us get past this pandemic.

The website reported this week that some evangelicals fear the mark of the beast will come along with the vaccine.

Yahoo spoke to a 70-year-old from North Carolina  Peggy Popham  who said she has a compromised immune system and is worried about COVID-19, but will absolutely not take a vaccine.

Shes not alone there.

According to the report, a Yahoo poll revealed that nearly one in five Americans said they wouldnt take a vaccine. And, while people have different reasons for not wanting to take a vaccine, Popham is part of a group with an interesting and eye-opening reason, according to the report.

The report said she believes theres a political agenda behind the vaccine, and that it will include some sort of human tracking device.

It will keep track of us, she told Yahoo. Kind of like in the end days, as the Bible says, youll be numbered.

And, according to Yahoo, shes not out of the mainstream of the large segment of the American population whose views of current events are informed by the Bible, and who interpret every significant political and social development as a possible harbinger of the return of Jesus Christ.

And that has made for an interesting atmosphere.

According to the article, it has allowed for conspiracy theories to be spread by some evangelical pastors while other Christian scholars have sought to debunk attempts to link the virus and the mark of the beast.

The story makes for an interesting read, and one thing appears certain. Even if a vaccine becomes available in record time, there will still be a segment of the population unwilling to line up for it due to religious reasons.
The Task Force headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, visited Buhari to update him on their progress in containing the pandemic.
Police found the group in Granville Park, Telford. (Telford Police)

Police in Telford broke up a gathering of 70 people in a park on Saturday who were flouting the coronavirus lockdown measures.

Revellers at the rave reportedly said they were sick of social-distancing as officers forced them to disperse.

Telford Police were called to Granville Country Park on the edge of the Shropshire town at about 8pm on Saturday night.

We are attending a mass gathering/rave at the Granville park. I'm told 70 people here! The force tweeted.

Just to clarify. We dont fine unless there is no other action open. We engage and explain. We asked the group to disperse and they did. We would ask anyone who is thinking of organizing one of these events to think of the bigger picture. Please refer to the government guidelines  Telford Cops (@TelfordCops) May 17, 2020

We have worked so hard and sacrificed so much and this group decide it doesn't apply. I'm shocked that people would care so little. #hangYourHeadsInShame.

Under new social-distancing guidelines introduced by the government last week, people in England are allowed to socialise with one other person from outside their household - but they must stay two metres away.

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

Police forces have the power to issue fines of up to issue fines starting at 100 for a first offence - reduced to 50 if paid promptly - and up to a maximum of 3,200 for multiple offenders.

But Telford Police said they had not fined any of the revellers present, urging them instead to think of the bigger picture.

Just to clarify, we dont fine unless there is no other action open - we engage and explain, they later tweeted.

We asked the group to disperse and they did. We would ask anyone who is thinking of organizing one of these events to think of the bigger picture. Please refer to the government guidelines.

Story continues

On Sunday, NHS England announced 90 new deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 24,617.

A total of 13,445 fines have been issued up to Sunday for people breaching lockdown rules in England.

The highest number of offences happened in London, while outside the capital North Yorkshire saw the most lockdown breaches.

Warwickshire is the best behaved part of the country, according to the figures, with only 31 fines issued.

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Gillon McLachlan and Richard Goyder. Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit:

Locking in a June 11 post-pandemic AFL return might have been the most pressing priority for the leagues chief executive Gillon McLachlan but its far from the only thing hes been sorting out. Behind the scenes, AFL officials have been preparing for the arrival of a new wagering partner.

BetEasy has been the leagues official partner, with special advertising rights, since it struck a $50 million deal back in 2014. That agreement was extended in January when BetEasy again beat its larger rival Sportsbet to another five-year contract.

With double the market share of BetEasy, it wasnt that Sportsbet didnt have the cash to scoop the rights. The deciding factor was presumably Sportsbet's poor reputation for crude advertising and bizarre punting products.

Unfortunately for McLachlan and ex-Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder, now the AFL Commissions chairman, BetEasy will soon be no more. Early this month, Sportsbet chief executive Barni Evans confirmed the multibillion-dollar merger of parent companies Flutter Entertainment and The Stars Group would mean the two brands would become one.
- Angel was recently active in expressing her thoughts on the ABS-CBN shutdown issue by making use of her social media accounts

- And once again, she fearlessly hit back at a basher who wrote mean words on her social media account

- In a thread on the actress official Twitter account, a rude netizen threatened Angel to halt the Kapamilya stars social media accounts

- But the actress responded that if something happened to her accounts, she already knew who to blame

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Angel Locsin fearlessly hit back at a basher who commented mean words in a thread on the actress official Twitter account.

The rude netizen also threatened to halt the Kapamilya stars social media accounts where she expresses her thoughts on the ABS-CBN shutdown issue.

On May 8, Angel tweeted her own Instagram post where she addressed fake social media account harassing artists like her.

#LabanKapamilya Sa mga (fake) accounts na hinaharass kami para manahimik, pasensya na po kayo at hindi kami magpapa-bully. Youve created your worst nightmare :) wala kayong power sa amin. Kapamilya, maraming salamat sa pagdamay sa amin sa panahong ito, hindi ko ho malilimutan ang pinakita nyong suporta at pagmamahal, her post reads.

However, just last May 16, the tweet gained a comment which prompted Angel to respond courageously.

Excuse me po? Really? Idol pa naman kita pero ang b*b* mo miss angel. Review your post. B*b* nyo ni kim and coco. Honestly. Pinagyayabang mo kasi that we can't shutdown ur account. Pati accounts neo shutdown na rin in a few days. You will regret it, the basher said.

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Angel Locsin hits back at basher who threatened to shut down her social media accounts

Source: Twitter

Angel replied, Is this a threat? Kasi lagot ka pag pinakita ko ang account mo sa NBI :) Naka-gather na ako ng enough evidence na ikaw ang main suspect pag may nangyari sa account ko.

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In a previous report by KAMI, Angel Locsin slammed a basher of Kim Chius classroom quote by sharing an intellectual explanation from a netizen about the latters viral statement.

Angel Locsin is a popular showbiz personality and philanthropist in the Philippines. She confirmed her engagement to Neil Arce in June 2019.

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"Akala ko nun, malakas pa 'ko. Yun pala, kritikal na po ako." An OFW in Dubai narrates how he ended up bedridden in a critical condition due to COVID-19. At some point, Ruffy Niedo felt he wouldn't make it. Now he shares his story with us. Check out all of the exciting videos on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel!

Source: KAMI.com.gh
So, what is the spectrum of mild symptoms that make people think that they might be infectious, and do we understand that range of symptoms?

In truth, we do not have a great idea of how many people without symptoms are infected because we are not doing that kind of testing. In other words, if I had a mobile testing van where I could drive through a neighborhood and randomly test two people from every household, wed have an idea of what percentage of people without symptoms are infected. We really dont have a great number, but we are getting numbers from places that are doing some testing, and I would bet that we have more cases where people arent showing symptoms than cases where they are.

We also know that people are infectious before they start showing symptoms. The virus is probably present in the nasal pharyngeal and back-of-throat area, and thats not where symptoms are present in those with serious disease. Instead, their symptoms come from lung infection and the immune response, like the aches and fever you experience with the flu. It looks as if there are quite a lot of people who either show no symptoms or have only a mild illness. We do not yet know the variables that make the difference between somebody having mild fever for a few days and someone progressing to major infection.
The nationwide curfew will begin at 5 pm instead of the current 9 pm starting next Sunday through Friday

Egypt will impose stricter measures during the Eid El-Fitr religious holiday, including extending its curfew hours and a full suspension of public transportation to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Sunday.

The nationwide curfew will begin at 5 pm instead of the current 9 pm starting next Sunday  expected to be the first day of Eid  until Friday, Madbouly said in a televised briefing.

All shops, malls, beaches and parks will be completely shut, Madbouly said, adding that public transportation will be suspended throughout the six-day period, which runs until 29 May.

Travel between governorates will also be suspended, the PM announced.

Madbouly said the extension comes under measures to curtail the spread of the virus during Eid Al-Fitr, which he said poses a risk of a surge in infections due to traditions of gatherings during the festive feast.

"Eid El-Fitr is associated with gatherings and public spaces for Egyptians. This is a major change for the spread of the virus; and that's why as a government we implemented such measures to limit the spread of the virus during the feast and after," he said.

The curfew was first introduced in March as part of a series of measures to curtail the spread of the virus, and has been extended twice since. Other measures include suspending air traffic, shuttering schools and universities, closing mosques and churches and banning public gatherings.

The restrictions have taken a toll on the holy month of Ramadan's spiritual reflection, communal prayers and evening social and religious gatherings after the fast is broken at sunset.

Egypt is nearing a total infection toll of 12,000, including over 600 fatalities, since the outbreak of the virus in mid-February.

Despite its imposed restrictions, the infection rate has continued to rise, sparking fears and worries that an ailing medical sector could be overwhelmed as cases among medical staff continue to increase.

Madbouly said that the curfew will be revised again after Eid Al-Fitr to begin at 8 pm to 6 am starting May 30 for two weeks, marking the gradual reopening of a country heavily affected by the pandemic's repercussions.

Malls and shops will be allowed to reopen all week until the beginning of the curfew.

As of mid-June, the state will announce a gradual resumption of several activities, including sporting clubs and youth centers, while following precautionary measures against the virus, he said. This may also include the gradual reopening of places of worship.

The government will also consider the possibility of a gradual return of in-house dining at restaurants with strict measures later in June, he said.

Despite the gradual reopening of the economy and diurnal activities, Madbouly said that wearing face masks will be mandatory starting 30 May in institutions and private and public transportation, he said, adding that there will be tough penalties for violators.

Sunday's decision comes as Egypt appears adamant to gradually re-open the economy to recover main sources of foreign currency, including tourism and remittances from Egyptian expats.

Egypt has signalled in the past few weeks that it is looking to pull back on some of the heavy restrictions introduced in recent months, and has urged people to maintain social distancing and other preventive measures when these changes are made.

In recent weeks, it has resumed a number of governmental services, including licensing vehicles, as well as some court sessions.

Egypt announced last week a three-stage plan that will see life gradually return to normal as the country learns to coexist with the coronavirus.

The first stage, effective now, entails strict measures to prevent a resurgence of the virus, with two other stages, applied when Egypt sees a decline in new cases, seeing medium and relaxed measures.

The parliament is expected to approve this week a newly amended law regulating health precautions to contain the spread of the pandemic, including making wearing facemasks obligatory.

Earlier this month, the government said it was allowing hotels to reopen for domestic tourism on condition they operate at 25 percent capacity from mid-May until the end of the month and put in place a set of health measures for protection against the coronavirus. Starting 1 June, hotels will be allowed to operate with a maximum capacity of 50 percent.

The Egyptian tourism sector, one of the countrys main sources of foreign currency, has continued to suffer huge blows amid the pandemic after it had seen significant recovery in the past few years.

The sector's losses are estimated at $1 billion per month due to an air traffic suspension put in place in March, according to Tourism Minister Khaled Al-Anany.

On Saturday, Egypt said it would provide an EGP 2 billion loan to national carrier EgyptAir to deal with the pandemic's repercussions.

The economic impact of the crisis has pushed Egypt to seek an emergency fund of over $5 billion from the International Monetary Fund through a Stand-By Agreement, after receiving last week $2.772 billion from the fund under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) to meet urgent balance of payments needs.

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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti recently allowed anyone with or without symptoms to be tested for the coronavirus as often as they want but nearly 18,000 tests go unused per week amid a nationwide shortage, according to a new report.

A website to book a test was quickly swamped by residents in the nation's second-largest city who couldn't get tested under more stringent guidelines and were concerned they were infected or could be asymptomatic carriers.

But despite overbooking to compensate for a third of the people who didn't show up, the city still has thousands of tests that aren't being used each week, according to figures provided to The Associated Press by the mayor's office.

Garcetti's vow to not let a test go to waste was the result of a partnership with a start-up company that developed an easy-to-administer test that doesn't rely on scarce supplies.

LA has paid $137 per test to Curative-Korva, a start-up run by Fred Turner, a 25-year-old British wunderkind.

Los Angeles has 75,000 tests available each week to use mainly at eight drive-thru sites open six days a week, though it also tests at homeless shelters, nursing homes and recreation centers.

It has conducted a weekly average of close to 57,000 tests in the two weeks since the mayor expanded testing.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti recently allowed anyone with or without symptoms to be tested for the coronavirus as often as they want but many tests go unused amid a nationwide shortage, according to a new report

Los Angeles has 75,000 tests available each week to use mainly at eight drive-thru sites (pictured on May 2). It has conducted a weekly average of close to 57,000 tests in the two weeks since the mayor expanded testing

The firm was making sepsis tests when a worker there thought he was infected with coronavirus, couldn't get a test and devised one to collect a specimen by swabbing the inside of the mouth after coughing, spokesman Kyle Arteaga said.

The test got emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

'Wasted tests at a time when we still have insufficient testing is really unfortunate,' said Dr Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, a San Diego-based medical research partnership. 'I applaud what they're doing. The more people tested the better.'

'But it was a significant departure from stricter state criteria and guidelines set by the health department the city shares with the county to limit tests to those who need them most.

Los Angeles was not the first big city to offer free tests for everyone. Houston had done so nearly two weeks earlier but on a much smaller scale of 500 to 1,000 tests a day.

It comes at a time when expanded testing is a cornerstone of California's plan to ease its stay-at-home order and as Los Angeles County has become the epicenter of the virus outbreak in the state and lags progress other cities have shown.

While the virus was initially worse in Northern California, LA County, home to a quarter of the state's nearly 40 million residents, now accounts for more than half the state's deaths and a case count growing more rapidly than other major state counties.

California has more than 78,000 confirmed cases as of Sunday morning and at least 3,208 deaths.

Los Angeles has reported more than 37,000 cases and 1,793 deaths.

When Garcetti opened up testing April 30, the county at large had relaxed some guidelines on who could get a test, with priorities going to the sickest and most vulnerable.

There are more than 1.5 million cases in the US with at least 89,563 deaths

It allowed testing some people without symptoms, including health care workers and emergency personnel most at risk of exposure.

From a public health perspective, wider testing could help determine the disease prevalence, though that would require random sampling, not people seeking to be tested, said Karin Michels, an epidemiology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

And testing asymptomatic people comes at the expense of those who can't get a test.

'In a perfect world, you want to test the whole state, you want to test the whole country,' Michels said. 'We don't have enough test kits for everybody right now.'

As the mayor removed limits on who could get tested, appointments filled up.

'I was stunned,' said Sarah Wolf, who reserved a slot online after receiving a text alert. 'There are people on the East Coast I know who can't get tested.'

The test is self-administered in cars and samples are dropped in a collection bucket, removing the need for a healthcare worker to collect the specimen and change gloves, masks and other protective clothing - all of which have been in short supply - with each test.

It also uses a widely available swab, not the scarcely available long nasal swabs that have led to test shortages.

The Curative test, which is being used by the US Air Force and sold to the states of Alaska and Florida, is one of several newer tests gaining attention.

A saliva test developed by Rutgers University was given emergency FDA approval on May 8 for home use.

When Garcetti opened up testing April 30, the county at large had relaxed some guidelines on who could get a test, with priorities going to the sickest and most vulnerable. A volunteer is seen helping with testing at a site in Woodland Hills

A patient unpackages a swab to be used for a self administered coronavirus test at a drive through testing site in a parking lot in the Woodland Hills section of Los Angeles

Anne Wyllie, a Yale University researcher who found in a preliminary study that testing for the presence of the virus in saliva was more effective than deep nasal swab specimens, said the Curative method looked promising because it captures sputum from the lungs, along with saliva and cellular material in the mouth.

'It's like they're covering all their bases. If the virus is present somewhere, they are improving their chances of capturing where that is and detecting it,' Wyllie said.

'It's hard to mess up spitting into a tube really, or swiping the inside of your mouth.'

The day after Garcetti made his announcement, testing tripled to nearly 10,000 in Los Angeles, he said.

In the first nine days after everybody was offered a test, sites averaged 8,900 tests a day, Garcetti's office said.

Testing increased in the past week, bringing the daily average above 9,500, which is below the 10,000 tests Curative-Korva can process daily.

'It's just limited by the demand,' said Dr Jeffrey Klausner, a UCLA professor who is medical director for Curative-Korva.

'Demand limitations on how many can go to a testing site. How many people can go through a testing site in an hour.'
China calls on US to pay its debts to United Nations

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 May 2020 6:47 AM

China has called on the United States to pay its debts to the United Nations, stressing that Washington owes the international body more than $2 billion.

In a statement on Friday, China called on all UN member states to "actively fulfill their financial obligations to the United Nations."

"As of May 14, the total unpaid assessments under the UN regular budget and peacekeeping budget amount to 1.63 billion and 2.14 billion US dollars respectively," the statement said, citing a report from UN Secretary-General's office and a meeting held on Thursday.

It added that "the United States is the largest debtor, owing 1.165 billion and 1.332 billion US dollars respectively," including unpaid contributions that extend back several years.

The US mission to the UN said Beijing was "eager to distract attention from its cover-up and mismanagement of the COVID-19 crisis, and this is yet another example."

The United Nations has an overall annual operating budget of several billion dollars, covering everything from humanitarian work to disarmament.

The payment of contributions for peacekeeping operations has a direct impact on the reimbursements the UN pays to countries that provide troops to the 15 or so missions around the world.

In a report on May 11, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that "there may be significant delays towards the middle of the year, unless the cash position across missions improves significantly."

On Thursday, around 50 of the 193 member states, including China, paid their contributions in full, Beijing said in its statement.

China pays around 12 percent of the UN's running costs and around 15 percent of the peacekeeping budget.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has taken a hard line on UN funding, cutting contributions and pushing for cost-saving reforms. It has reduced financial contributions to other international organizations as well.

On April 14, Trump halted funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing the international body of mishandling the coronavirus pandemic.

In another virulent attack on the UN health agency, the US president claimed the WHO had failed to disclose or respond to "credible" information in December that suggested the virus could spread through human-to-human transmission.

Trump has repeatedly accused the WHO of siding with China and reliance on Chinese data, blaming it for "all sorts of false information about transmission and mortality" that was circulated amid initial reports.

The US contributed $400 million to the WHO last year, roughly 15% of its budget.

Back in April 2017, the Trump administration announced that it would withdraw funding for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which helps millions of women and girls in 155 countries around the world.

The State Department alleged that UNFPA was participating in a program by China that forces its citizens into involuntary abortions and sterilization. UNFPA slammed the allegation as an "erroneous claim."

That was the first of the promised cuts to US contributions to the UN by the Trump administration.

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To invest like Warren Buffett, start with these stocks.

Famed investor and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B) CEO Warren Buffett has become a living legend on Wall Street for his practical value investing style and his tremendously consistent track record throughout the decades. Generations of investors have emulated the "Oracle of Omaha." Buffett started investing at age 11, and over the years turned that $114 investment into about $68 billion. This year has brought some problems for Berkshire's portfolio, which fell by $54.5 billion; while few changes were made to broader holdings, Buffett sold his entire stake in American Airlines (ticker: AAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL), Southwest Airlines (LUV) and United Airlines (UAL). Here's a look at the entire Berkshire portfolio through March 31, 2020.

Amazon.com (AMZN)

By the time Berkshire invested in Amazon for the first time in 2019, the e-commerce and cloud computing giant was nearly 25 years old and valued at more $1 trillion. The company generated 49% of all U.S. e-commerce sales in 2018, capturing 5% of market share in the U.S. retail sector along the way. Amazon is also the parent company of video game streaming platform Twitch, cloud services platform Amazon Web Services and grocery chain Whole Foods. Its Alexa-enabled smart speakers and TVs are becoming ubiquitous as well. AMZN stock is up about 450% in the past five years and 24% year-to-date through early May. Buffett likely wishes he owned more of AMZN, one of the portfolio's standout performers during the pandemic.

Holdings: 537,300 shares

Value of Berkshire's holdings: $1.3 billion

Apple (AAPL)

Best known for its popular MacBooks and iPhones, Apple is one of the largest publicly traded stocks on Wall Street with a market cap of $1.4 trillion after the successful rollout of its iPhone 11. Apple is also a powerhouse in software, digital media and services in support of its popular devices. The California company has a global iPhone installed user base of more than 900 million customers. Despite gaining about 140% over the past five years, Apple still has a decent forward earnings multiple around 20 -- although, at its size, skeptics may wonder if it can justify that.

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Holdings: 250.9 million shares

Value: $76.2 billion

American Express Co. (AXP)

American Express is a global credit card, payments and travel company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1850, American Express has been a Buffett holding since 1991. AXP stock has struggled in the post-pandemic environment, with shares down about 30% year-to-date through early May as consumer spending slumps. That said, it's likely Berkshire holds through the pain: In previous annual letters to Berkshire shareholders, Buffett has remarked American Express is one of Berkshire's core holdings for the long haul. AXP stock trades at a modest forward earnings multiple around 12.

Holdings: 151.6 million shares

Value: $13.2 billion

Axalta Coating Systems (AXTA)

Axalta Coating Systems is the global leader in auto and industrial coatings, generating nearly $5 billion in annual revenue. Axalta is also the fourth-largest producer of coatings in the world. Unfortunately, the famously cyclical auto market has been one of the hardest-hit areas in the pandemic, hitting demand from original equipment manufacturers for AXTA's coatings. Although headquartered in Philadelphia, Axalta's roots go back to Germany in 1866 when Herberts Gmbh began coating carriages before transitioning to automobiles. AXTA stock hasn't been a good performer in 2020, with shares down about 35% through early May.

Holdings: 24.3 million shares

Value: $460 million

Bank of America Corp. (BAC)

With a market cap around $200 billion, Bank of America is the second-largest U.S. bank and is also Buffett's second-largest public stock holding. Buffett acquired his stake in Bank of America in 2011 when he took a $5 billion stake in preferred BAC stock while the bank was struggling with liquidity. After teetering on the brink of collapse during the Great Recession, Bank of America is now a much lower-risk investment given its strong capital base. Shares are down more than 30% in 2020, but the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury's unprecedented willingness to prop up the economy makes BAC a much less risky holding than it would be otherwise.

Holdings: 947.8 million shares

Value: $21.7 billion

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (BK)

Bank of New York Mellon operates in more than 100 global markets. The New York City-based bank has $35.8 trillion in assets under custody and $1.9 trillion in assets under management. Its two primary business lines are investment services and investment management. The company's stock is down about 30% year to date as the pandemic has hit the entire financial sector fairly hard. As with Bank of America, Berkshire owns around 10% of all BK shares, which trade for a forward earnings multiple right around 9. Like most of the other bank stocks Buffett owns, BK stock also pays a respectable dividend of 3.5%.

Holdings: 88.13 million shares

Value: $3.1 billion

Biogen (BIIB)

Biogen is one of the two newest positions in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio, both added in the first quarter. Biogen is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech. It's not exactly an industry Buffett is known for. Although it's a relatively small part of the Berkshire pie, this is likely a starter position that will be prone to grow over time. To be sure, Biogen isn't expected to post blockbuster growth in the coming years, but it does trade at just more than 10 times earnings and boasts an enviable pipeline, with data from 11 midstage to late-stage trial readings expected by the end of next year. Biosimilars have been a bright spot at BIIB, and should continue to exhibit strength going forward.

Holdings: 648,447 shares

Value: $205 million

Charter Communications (CHTR)

Charter Communications is the second-largest cable TV provider in the U.S. and is the best pure-play option for investors who still see value in the traditional TV model. Facing stiff competition from streaming leaders such as Netflix (NFLX), Charter has a customer base of 16 million video subscribers, 26 million internet subscribers and 10.5 million phone subscribers. Charter primarily operates in New York, California, the Carolinas, Florida, Ohio and Texas. Despite fears over cord cutting, CHTR shares have nearly tripled in the past five years.

Holdings: 5.4 million shares

Value: $2.8 billion

Coca-Cola Co. (KO)

Coca-Cola is the largest and most valuable soda brand in the world, capturing half of the global carbonated soft drink market and 43% of the U.S. market. Coca-Cola is a truly global company, generating more than 70% of its profits outside the U.S. Top brands include Coca-Cola Classic, Sprite, Fanta and Minute Maid. Buffett has been a longtime fan of Coca-Cola, first investing in the stock in 1987. Since that time, KO stock is up nearly 2,000%. Today, KO stock pays a 3.5% dividend yield.

Holdings: 400 million shares

Value: $18.4 billion

Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST)

One of the few stocks thriving amid the pandemic, Costco is a global retailer that operates about 785 warehouses worldwide on a membership-based model. The stock's 46% gain in 2019 and subsequent early 2020 gains have driven its forward earnings multiple to more than 34. However, Costco is adding more than 20 new stores per year, its membership is consistently growing and its store traffic had been on the rise before this year's downturn, with same-store sales up more than 6% year over year in January. Costco held its own even in April, with e-commerce up nearly 88% and overall company sales, excluding gasoline, logged just a 0.5% decline year over year.

Holdings: 4.3 million shares

Value: $1.3 billion

DaVita (DVA)

DaVita is the U.S. leader in dialysis, operating more than 2,600 dialysis clinics and serving more than 200,000 patients domestically. In 2019, DaVita completed the sale of its DaVita Medical Group subsidiary to UnitedHealth Group (UNH) for $4.3 billion. DaVita has used the proceeds to pay down debt and aggressively increase share buybacks, leading to an impressive market-beating performance in the last year. Through early May, its one-year gains stood at 54%. Despite that, DVA stock still trades at a forward earnings multiple of less than 13.

Holdings: 38.1 million shares

Value: $3.1 billion

General Motors Co. (GM)

General Motors is one of the world's largest automakers, selling nearly 8 million vehicles per year. GM has a rocky past, and it's almost certain that the current U.S. auto boom has peaked, at least in the near term. Fortunately, GM's last restructuring in 2009 eliminated many of its legacy balance sheet issues, and the company even remained profitable in the extremely difficult first quarter. GM is refocusing its business on trucks and SUVs and is also investing heavily in electric and autonomous vehicle technology, which seems savvy over the longer term. GM stock may well struggle on a shorter-term basis, but Buffett still believes in it -- for now.

Holdings: 75 million shares

Value: $1.8 billion

Globe Life (GL)

Globe Life, which was known as Torchmark until it rebranded last August, is a life and supplemental health insurance company that focuses primarily on the low- to middle-income market. Globe Life is headquartered in McKinney, Texas, and has about 3,100 employees. While total life insurance sales were down slightly in 2018, revenue grew 5% in 2019 and steady growth is expected in 2020 as well. Buffett likely appreciates the company's stable earnings, its solid balance sheet and its free cash flow. In addition, its forward earnings multiple is less than 11.

Holdings: 6.3 million shares

Value: $484 million

Goldman Sachs Group (GS)

Goldman Sachs Group is the second-largest full-service U.S. investment bank, behind only JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM). Goldman is a market leader in mergers and acquisitions, equity underwriting and equity trading. Goldman has a market cap around $65 billion, after GS shares fell roughly 20% year to date through early May. Buffet avoided some of those losses in the first quarter, as Berkshire trimmed its exposure to the bank in a big way in the fourth quarter, selling 34% of its stake. GS stock trades at a forward earnings multiple of just 8.5.

Holdings: 12.4 million shares

Value: $2.3 billion

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Johnson & Johnson is a global health care company that develops and markets pharmaceutical products, medical devices and consumer health products. The company's leading brands include Band-Aid, Neutrogena, Splenda and Tylenol. JNJ stock was pressured in 2018 amid several lawsuits alleging that the company's popular baby powder causes cancer. JNJ settled one of those lawsuits in March 2019, paying $29 million and admitting no wrongdoing. JNJ stock trades at a reasonable 16 times forward earnings multiple. Why Berkshire's exposure to a stock as stable and cash-rich as JNJ is so small is a mystery, but it is: This position makes up 0.01% of the financial giant's stock portfolio.

Holdings: 327,100 shares

Value: $48.7 million

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)

Buffett isn't shy about his love for bank stocks, and JPMorgan is the biggest bank stock of all, boasting a market cap approaching $300 billion. JPM was formed via a merger between Chase Manhattan and J.P. Morgan in 2000. The company is a leader in investment and corporate banking, as well as asset and wealth management. After losing more than 30% of its share value year to date through early May, JPM stock trades at roughly the levels it did three years ago. JPM trades for about 10.4 times forward earnings and has a 4% dividend yield.

Holdings: 60.1 million shares

Value: $5.6 billion

Kraft Heinz Co. (KHC)

Buffett still expresses support for Kraft Heinz, even though the stock's putrid performance has helped push BRK stock below the S&P 500 this year. Last February, Kraft Heinz acknowledged an SEC accounting investigation. The company cut its dividend and took a $15.4 billion write-down for its Kraft and Oscar Mayer brands. Buffett says the company's core operations are still strong. "You can turn any investment into a bad deal by paying too much," he says. KHC stock is down about 10% so far this year.

Holdings: 325.6 million shares

Value: $9.6 billion

Kroger (KR)

Biogen and Kroger are the newest stocks in the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio. Unlike the former, Kroger is certainly the type of boring, low-tech company that Buffett might like to "buy and hold" for the long term. While grocery is indeed an industry experiencing steeper competition and a certain level of disruption, Kroger is well-positioned within the industry and does something Buffett and vice chairman Charlie Munger love: It pays a decent, sustainable dividend with room to grow. In fact, Kroger has a track record of boosting its payout, growing its quarterly dividend annually for the last 11 years.

Holdings: 18.9 million shares

Value: $628 million

Liberty Global (LBTYA, LBTYK)

Liberty Global has multiple share classes and Buffett is invested in both. Liberty is the largest cable TV operator in Europe, operating primarily in the U.K., Belgium and eastern Europe. LBTYA A-class shares have voting rights, but LBTYK C-class shares do not. As a result, the A-class shares trade at a slight premium, although both are down about 3% year to date.

Holdings: 19.8 million shares of LBTYA, 7.3 million shares of LBTYK

Combined value: $586 million

Liberty Latin America (LILA, LILAK)

Liberty Latin America is another member of the Liberty Media family with multiple share classes. Liberty Latin America split off from its parent company in 2018 and is a pure play on the telecommunications business in Latin America and the Caribbean. The spinoff serves 6.4 million homes in the region, has 3.7 million mobile subscribers and generates annual revenue of $3.9 billion. Buffett holds both the A-class voting shares and the C-class nonvoting shares.

Holdings: 2.7 million shares of LILA, 1.3 million shares of LILAK

Combined value: $39.4 million

Liberty Sirius XM Group (LSXMK, LSXMA)

Liberty Sirius XM Group Series C and A are tracking stocks representing Liberty Media's equity stake in Sirius XM Holdings (SIRI). Series A shares have voting rights, whereas Series C shares do not. The tracking stocks represent a 71.2% ownership stake in Sirius XM, but they also hold more than $1 billion in debt of streaming leader Pandora Media and terrestrial radio leader iHeartMedia (IHRT). The tracking stocks trade at a deep discount to the value of their underlying assets, and Sirius XM has been aggressively buying back shares of its stock.

Holdings: 31.1 million shares of LSXMK, 14.9 million shares of LSXMA

Combined value: $1.5 billion

Mastercard (MA)

Along with Visa (V) and American Express, Mastercard rounds out Buffett's exposure to the three dominant forces in the global credit card business. The Mastercard network includes billions of customers and millions of merchants in more than 210 countries. Mastercard operates both the third-largest credit and debit networks by volume, according to The Nilson Report. Mastercard has the highest forward earnings multiple of the three credit card stocks at 31. MA stock has gained around 140% over the past three years, outperforming Visa and American Express by a wide margin.

Holdings: 4.9 million shares

Value: $1.4 billion

Moody's Corp. (MCO)

Moody's is a major U.S. credit rating agency, providing research, analytical tools and financial recommendations for investors worldwide. Moody's was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in New York City. Moody's Investors Services is the company's credit rating agency that rates both the quality of the debt and the credit quality of corporate and government institutions. Moody's Analytics offers a range of services and tools that allow investors to quantify and manage risk in global financial markets. MCO stock is up 29% in the last year, pushing its forward earnings multiple to 26.

Holdings: 24.7 million shares

Value: $6.2 billion

Mondelez International (MDLZ)

Mondelez International is a U.S. food and beverage company headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. Mondelez is composed of the international snack and food brands that once belonged to Kraft Foods prior to its 2012 spinoff of its North American grocery business. Mondelez has several billion-dollar international food brands, including Belvita, Chips Ahoy, Nabisco, Oreo and Ritz. Developing markets account for about 37% of Mondelez's total growth, providing excellent exposure to high-growth international opportunities. MDLZ stock has a 2.3% dividend and a reasonable forward earnings multiple of 18.

Holdings: 578,000 shares

Value: $29.2 million

M&T Bank Corp. (MTB)

M&T Bank is a U.S. regional bank based in Buffalo, New York, that has $120 billion in total assets. M&T is relatively small compared with some of the other banks Buffett owns, barely cracking the Fortune 500 at 462. M&T primarily focuses on commercial and residential real estate, and it was one of only two banks in the S&P 500 not to lower its dividend during the 2008 financial crisis. M&T has just 780 branches and has been hit by the pandemic pretty severely so far this year, with shares down about 40% through early May. Thankfully, this is a relatively small holding for Berkshire.

Holdings: 5.4 million shares

Value: $560 million

Occidental Petroleum (OXY)

The first quarter didn't bring many changes, aside from selling airlines, to BRK's portfolio. But in the fourth quarter, Berkshire increased its stake in Occidental by a higher percentage than any other stock in its portfolio (new positions aside). In terms of shares, Berkshire boosted its stake by 153% in the fourth quarter. Buffett swung a sweetheart deal to finance Occidental's buyout of natural gas giant Anadarko last year, receiving preferred stock with a perpetual 8% coupon as well as OXY stock warrants. Since Occidental shares have been slumping in recent months, it seems Berkshire simply thinks its financing agreement is a win-win.

Holdings: 36.2 million shares

Value: $526 million

Procter & Gamble Co. (PG)

Procter & Gamble is a blue-chip U.S. consumer products company that produces beauty, grooming, health and home care, and baby and family care products. Leading brands include Pampers, Tide, Bounty, Charmin and Gillette. PG stock's forward earnings multiple of 21 isn't particularly impressive, but its 2.8% dividend and relatively recession-proof business make it a popular defensive play. As recently as 2016, Buffett had a $4.3 billion stake in PG stock.

Holdings: 315,400 shares

Value: $36.5 million

PNC Financial Services Group (PNC)

PNC Financial Services is a U.S. regional bank headquartered in Pittsburgh. PNC has $393 billion in assets and is the sixth-largest U.S. bank by deposits. In addition to retail and business banking, the company also offers wealth and asset management services. Like the other bank stocks Buffett loves, PNC has an attractive forward earnings multiple of 11.7 and a generous 4.5% dividend. The regional bank, like many others, has seen shares slide in early 2020 as PNC stock is down more than 30% year to date.

Holdings: 9.8 million shares

Value: $1 billion

Phillips 66 (PSX)

Phillips 66 is an integrated oil refiner with 2.2 million barrels per day of capacity, more than 80% of which is located inside the U.S. Despite the stock's attractive forward earnings multiple around 11 and 4.6% dividend yield, Buffett has been scaling down his position aggressively over recent quarters. As of early 2018, Buffett held more than 45 million shares of PSX stock, but he's down to just 227,000 this year and could be down to zero by the time Berkshire files its next 13-F disclosure form.

Holdings: 227,436 shares

Value: $17.2 million

Restaurant Brands International (QSR)

Restaurant Brands International is based in Ontario, Canada, and is the third-largest restaurant company in the world by total sales. The company's franchises, including Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes, have more than 26,000 global restaurant locations, of which more than 99% are franchised. Burger King is the second-largest quick-serve hamburger chain in the world. The restaurant space has been difficult for investors in recent quarters; QSR stock is down about 20% year to date.

Holdings: 8.4 million shares

Value: $432 million

RH (RH)

Berkshire upped its stake in RH, the home furnishings retailer formerly known as Restoration Hardware. RH looked like an attractive investment as the year began, with analysts expecting explosive growth over the next five years and shares trading at a price-earnings growth ratio of just 1.1. Those prospects seem to have changed in recent months due to RH's status as a cyclical company and the troubled state of U.S. consumers. To give an idea of Berkshire's size, it owns about 9% of RH's entire company, but that position accounts for just 0.14% of Berkshire's portfolio.

Holdings: 1.7 million shares

Value: $268 million

Sirius XM Holdings (SIRI)

In addition to his stake in the Liberty Media Sirius XM tracking stock, Buffett also has a direct investment in Sirius XM. Sirius XM is a satellite radio operator that offers more than 140 channels of music and talk radio throughout the U.S. In early 2019, Sirius XM completed a $3 billion buyout of streaming radio leader Pandora Media, giving the company a large stake in both the streaming and satellite radio markets. Pandora has 70 million monthly active users, and Sirius XM has 36 million paid subscribers. SIRI stock is up about 17% in the past three years.

Holdings: 136.3 million shares

Value: $775 million

StoneCo (STNE)

StoneCo is a Brazilian financial technology company founded in 2012 that specializes in electronic payments. StoneCo claims it already has 5.5% market share in Brazil. StoneCo had an initial public offering in late 2018 and, at its peak, had nearly doubled from its $24 IPO price in October 2018. STNE has been one of the few growth stocks to grab Buffett's attention, but the pandemic's impact has been especially brutal to STNE, especially as the virus spreads in Brazil.

Holdings: 14.2 million shares

Value: $396 million

Store Capital Corp. (STOR)

Store Capital is a real estate investment trust that specializes in the acquisition, investment, ownership and management of single-tenant net-lease real estate. As a REIT, Store Capital is an excellent source of dividend income, yielding 7%. In addition, Store Capital has avoided disruption to its retail tenants by strategically avoiding businesses threatened by e-commerce disruption. Its long-term leases also provide more financial stability than other REITs. The pandemic has threatened STOR's previous occupation rate of 99.7%, even though 75% of its tenants had investment-grade credit quality to start the year. STOR shares are down about 45% year to date.

Holdings: 18.6 million shares

Value: $372 million

Suncor Energy (SU)

Suncor is a Canadian oil exploration and production company that produces more than 700,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Suncor's production primarily comes from oil sands, but it also has a large conventional oil operation. In addition, Suncor has 461,000 barrels per day in Canadian refining capacity. SU shares are down about 50% year to date as the global oil market slump drags on. Although exposure to Suncor is relatively limited as far as the Berkshire portfolio is concerned, SU's swift fall still hasn't been pretty.

Holdings: 15 million shares

Value: $256 million

Synchrony Financial (SYF)

Synchrony Financial is a U.S. online bank based in Stamford, Connecticut, that has $105 billion in total assets. Like M&T, Synchrony is a relatively small bank compared with some of the other banks Buffett owns. Synchrony operates exclusively online with no physical branches. Synchrony specializes in private label credit card partnerships with companies like Amazon and Lowe's (LOW), and it was previously a subsidiary of GE Capital before being spun off in 2014.

Holdings: 20.8 million shares

Value: $383 million

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (TEVA)

After acquiring Allergan's generic drug business back in 2015, Teva Pharmaceuticals is now the largest generic-drugmaker in the world. Teva stock was pounded in August 2017, dropping more than 40% in three days when the company reported a huge earnings miss and cut its guidance and dividend. Since that time, management has been on a cost-cutting spree and has prioritized getting the company's debt levels under control. As a result, Teva's forward earnings multiple is down to just 4.4, and management expects the company to return to modest revenue and operating profit growth in 2020.

Holdings: 43.2 million shares

Value: $498 million

Travelers Companies (TRV)

Berkshire Hathaway wholly owns several private insurance companies, including Geico and Gen Re. However, Buffett also holds stakes in public insurance companies like Travelers Companies. Travelers is based in New York City and is the second-largest writer of commercial property casualty insurance in the U.S. It is also the third-largest writer of personal insurance via independent agents. The company has field agents in each U.S. state and generated $31.6 billion in revenue in the last year. TRV stock is down about 30% year to date, and despite trading at a forward earnings multiple around 9, it's been one of Buffett's least-favorite stocks in the portfolio of recent. In the fourth quarter, Berkshire sold 94% of its holdings in Travelers.

Holdings: 312,379 shares

Value: $30 million

United Parcel Service (UPS)

United Parcel Service provides air, sea, ground and rail logistics, freight and customs services. UPS has 444,000 employees in 220 countries. It operates a fleet of 237 airplanes and 110,000 delivery vehicles that deliver an average of 18 million daily packages. UPS has greatly benefited from the rise of e-commerce in the past 20 years, but investors are becoming increasingly concerned that Amazon's in-house delivery business could soon eat into UPS' volume. UPS stock trades at a forward earnings multiple of 13 and offers a 4.4% dividend.

Holdings: 59,400 shares

Value: $5.6 million

U.S. Bancorp (USB)

U.S. Bancorp is the fifth-largest commercial bank in the U.S., with $460 billion in assets. U.S. Bancorp was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in Minneapolis. USB stock has been more than just a market laggard year to date, shedding about 40% as financials have gotten slaughtered. The stock's forward earnings multiple of 10.8 alongside a dividend yield of 4.9% both look nice, but Buffett will be closely watching the company's financials for weakness given he owns 10% of the company. U.S. Bancorp's recent share repurchases have pushed Berkshire Hathaway's stake to more than 10%.

Holdings: 150.1 million shares

Value: $5.2 billion

Visa (V)

Buffett feels no need to pick a winner if he likes an entire industry. In 2018, Buffett said payments are a "huge deal" worldwide, and Berkshire has stakes in all the major credit card operators, as well as several smaller financial technology companies. Visa operates the largest electronic payments network in the world, including the world's largest credit network by volume and the second-largest global debit network. Visa's forward earnings multiple around 31 isn't particularly impressive, but the credit card giant reported 5% payments volume growth in the difficult March quarter.

Holdings: 10.6 million shares

Value: $2 billion

Verisign (VRSN)

Verisign is a domain-name registration specialist headquartered in Reston, Virginia. Verisign provides internet security services, such as the denial of service protection, iDefense security intelligence services and managed domain name security. With a gaudy forward earnings multiple of 35, VRSN stock isn't the typical Buffett value stock. Buffett has always loved market leaders with strong business execution, two areas in which Verisign excels. VRSN stock is up more than 220% overall in the past five years, including a 10% gain in the past year.

Holdings: 13 million shares

Value: $2.8 billion

Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC)

Wells Fargo is one of the four largest U.S. banks. Headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo has more than $1.9 trillion in assets and services one in three U.S. households. The bank has struggled with a series of legal and public relations issues in recent years stemming from overly aggressive marketing practices. Buffett has generally stuck with Wells Fargo through its dark times, although his patience may be starting to wear thin; in the fourth quarter, Buffett trimmed his stakes in WFC by 14%. Fed restrictions on expansion, as well as what may be a far too conservative allocation for loan losses, has caused shares to crater year to date; WFC is down by more than 50% through early May.

Holdings: 345.7 million shares

Value: $8.8 billion

Berkshire Hathaway's complete portfolio:

-- Amazon.com (AMZN)

-- Apple (AAPL)

-- American Express Co. (AXP)

-- Axalta Coating Systems (AXTA)

-- Bank of America Corp. (BAC)

-- Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (BK)

-- Biogen (BIIB)

-- Charter Communications (CHTR)

-- Coca-Cola Co. (KO)

-- Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST)

-- DaVita (DVA)

-- General Motors Co. (GM)

-- Globe Life (GL)

-- Goldman Sachs Group (GS)

-- Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

-- JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)

-- Kraft Heinz Co. (KHC)

-- Kroger (KR)

-- Liberty Global (LBTYA, LBTYK)

-- Liberty Latin America (LILA, LILAK)

-- Liberty Sirius XM Group (LSXMK, LSXMA)

-- Mastercard (MA)

-- Moody's Corp. (MCO)

-- Mondelez International (MDLZ)

-- M&T Bank Corp. (MTB)

-- Occidental Petroleum (OXY)

-- Procter & Gamble Co. (PG)

-- PNC Financial Services Group (PNC)

-- Phillips 66 (PSX)

-- Restaurant Brands International (QSR)

-- RH (RH)

-- Sirius XM Holdings (SIRI)

-- StoneCo (STNE)

-- Store Capital Corp. (STOR)

-- Suncor Energy (SU)

-- Synchrony Financial (SYF)

-- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (TEVA)

-- Travelers Companies (TRV)

-- United Parcel Service (UPS)

-- U.S. Bancorp (USB)

-- Visa (V)

-- Verisign (VRSN)

-- Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC)





More From US News & World Report


Ms. Higginbotham said the scene was the result of a conversation she had with a funeral home director, one of many authorities shes consulted in creating the series. The director told Ms. Higginbotham that she overheard a lot of conversations about death, but never intervened  unless an adult told a child that a deceased relative was sleeping. This could be a damaging lie, especially if the child then saw the person buried.

The current crisis, in which Covid-19 keeps forcing our mortality into our consciousness, is a chance to learn how to grieve, how to be uncertain, how to find and keep a sense of humor, stay playful, and still take seriously what is very serious, Ms. Higginbotham said.

Her publisher, Dottir Press, created a version of Death Is Stupid as a PDF that anyone can download free during these next months, she said.

Still, it can be hard to know just how far to go when exploring these topics with kids. Sometimes parents think that they have to wait until a child asks a question, said Mary Jo Podgurski, a veteran sex educator and another of Ms. Higginbothams authorities.

But, Dr. Podgurski said, kids are often curious about topics long before they voice that curiosity. What we can do, if were wise, is give them the chance to really see what they need in the moment.

This approach requires relinquishing a certain amount of control. People have to have the courage, Dr. Podgurski said, to admit that their child might want to learn about these topics.

Loretta Ross, a proponent of reproductive rights and visiting associate professor at Smith College, was one of the experts to whom Ms. Higginbotham turned for advice on Not My Idea, her book about white supremacy. Children deserve the truth from their parents, and not the continuation of fairy tales, she said. You may want to tell your kid about Santa Claus, the Easter bunny and the Tooth Fairy. But, she said, you shouldnt deny the realities, like racism, that they can see with their own eyes. (Ms. Higginbotham said that her conversations with Ms. Ross alone caused her to revise at least 20 pages of her manuscript.)
New York Gov Andrew Cuomo was tested for the coronavirus during a press briefing on Sunday as he called on New Yorkers to visit one of the city's more than 700 testing sites to receive a COVID-19 test.

Cuomo received a test in order to demonstrate how 'easy' and 'fast' it is to get one done.

'Some people just don't like to go to the doctor and don't like to get tested. There is a reluctance to go to a doctor's office,' Cuomo said, admitting that even he isn't good at going to the doctor regularly.

'There is no pain to this test. There is nothing about this test that should intimidate people from not taking this test. It is fast. It is easy. It is so fast and easy that even a governor can take this test.

'And for you doubting Thomases, which is what you all are,' Cuomo said, speaking to the reporters in the room, 'I'm going to show you how fast and easy it is to take a test and demonstrate why there should be no reluctance.'

He is then seen rising from his chair as a doctor walks over and prepares to administer the test.

Scroll down for video

New York Gov Andrew Cuomo was tested for the coronavirus during a press briefing on Sunday as he called on New Yorkers to visit one of the city's more than 700 testing sites to receive a COVID-19 test

The doctor is heard telling Cuomo to hold his head back and close his eyes for 'comfort' before she is seen inserting a swab into his nose. 'That's it?' he asks the doctor, who then responds: 'Yea.' Cuomo then turns (pictured) to his audience and says: 'Told you!'

'The new problem is we have more sites and more testing capacity than we're using. We have drive-thru sites that can do about 15,000 [tests] per day. We're doing about 5,000 per day,' Cuomo said

The doctor is heard telling Cuomo to hold his head back and close his eyes for 'comfort' before she is seen inserting a swab into his nose.

'That's it?' he asks the doctor, who then responds: 'Yea.' Cuomo then turns to his audience and says: 'Told you!'

Cuomo said he wanted to demonstrate how easy and fast the testing is because New Yorkers are not getting tested.

'The new problem is we have more sites and more testing capacity than we're using. We have drive-thru sites that can do about 15,000 [tests] per day. We're doing about 5,000 per day,' Cuomo said.

'The more tests, the better for the state, the better for society, the better for your family, the better for you. Who can get a test today? Any individual who thinks they have a COVID symptom.'

Cuomo continued: 'They can't say it's inconvenient because we have 700 sites. They can't say they're not eligible because if you have any symptoms you're eligible.'

All New Yorkers experiencing flu-like symptoms or other signs of coronavirus, such as a dry cough or chest pains, are now eligible to be tested for the disease, along with people who will be returning to work as part of phased reopenings across the state.

In all, the state is testing about 40,000 people per day. An agreement with CVS will allow samples to be collected at more than 60 pharmacies across the state, Cuomo said.

In the seven regions where restrictions have been eased, in central and upstate New York, construction and manufacturing work was allowed to resume, and retail businesses offering curbside pickup or in-store pickup for orders placed ahead were allowed to reopen

Testing in New York City is also being expanded to 123 CityMD walk-in clinics.

Driven by the impact in New York City, the state has accounted for more than one-third of the nearly 90,000 American who have died from COVID-19.

Statewide, the outbreak is ebbing, with coronavirus hospitalizations falling to 6,220, more than a third of the level at the peak one month ago, state data showed.

In the seven regions where restrictions have been eased, in central and upstate New York, construction and manufacturing work was allowed to resume, and retail businesses offering curbside pickup or in-store pickup for orders placed ahead were allowed to reopen.

New York, along with the nearby states of New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware, will partially reopen beaches for the Memorial Day holiday weekend on May 23-25, Cuomo has said.

New York's Watkins Glen International auto race circuit and several horse racing tracks in the state can reopen without fans from June 1, the governor said on Saturday.

Cuomo warned that with an increase in economic activity, New Yorkers should expect an increase in coronavirus cases.

'We don't want to see a spike,' he said. 'It depends on how people react and it depends on their personal behavior.'

Meanwhile, New York City residents who flouted social distancing restrictions for a night on the town got Mayor Bill de Blasio's wrath on Sunday.

Meanwhile, New York City residents who flouted social distancing restrictions for a night on the town got Mayor Bill de Blasio's wrath on Sunday

This photo shows the scene at East 84th Street in Manhattan where dozens of people were seen not wearing masks and hanging out near restaurants and bars

Several people were seen hanging out near Brady's sports bar in Manhattan on Saturday

De Blasio also made it clear that the city's beaches will not open on Memorial Day. A security guard is seen patrolling at Orchard Beach in the Bronx on Sunday

The mayor said the city's beaches could be closed off completely to public access if people don't follow social distancing rules. A security guard is seen telling people not to swim while patrolling at Orchard Beach in the Bronx on Sunday

Fencing is being installed at entrance ways and could be rolled out if beaches get overcrowded or people violate swimming bans, he said. People are seen at Orchard Beach in the Bronx on Sunday

People are seen practicing social distancing in white circles at Domino Park in Brooklyn on Sunday

Families and friends were seen wearing masks as they sat in circles at Domino Park on Sunday

De Blasio admonished people seen crowding outside bars Saturday night, many with drinks in hand but no masks on their faces, for putting lives in danger.

Officials may go so far as to shut down establishments that are violating social distancing rules, de Blasio said, asking residents to call 311, the city's non-emergency hotline, if they see such crowding.

Bars and restaurants in the city have been restricted to takeout and delivery service since mid-March, when coronavirus cases started to soar, but some in Manhattan were allowing people to dine and drink inside on Saturday.

'We're not going to tolerate people starting to congregate. It's as simple as that,' de Blasio said. 'If we have to shut places down, we will.'

Beaches on Long Island and in other parts of the region will be open for the holiday, but de Blasio said opening the city's grand strands for swimming and merriment 'is not safe' and 'is not the right thing to do in the epicenter of this crisis.'

In fact, de Blasio said, the city's beaches could be closed off completely to public access if people don't follow social distancing rules.

Fencing is being installed at entrance ways and could be rolled out if beaches - meant now only for nearby residents to get some exercise - get overcrowded or people violate swimming bans, he said.

De Blasio said beaches could open for wider use sometime in the summer, with lifeguard training over the next few weeks for a possible return to duty.
Police arrest stolen vehicle suspect who fled, entered occupied home

The homeowner was able to get out of the home safely, but Aberdeen police are now negotiating the surrender of the suspect.
S. David Freeman, a folksy but driven green cowboy who worked in energy policy under three presidents, ran some of the nations largest public utilities and pushed for renewable energy, died on Tuesday in Reston, Va. He was 94.

The cause was a heart attack, his son Stan said.

Mr. Freeman combined a deep understanding of energy issues with a passion for renewable energy and conservation. He also had a prescient early focus on reducing global warming.

As an engineer, lawyer and utility official, he brought a unique set of skills, the consumer advocate Ralph Nader said. He was an unparalleled combination of managerial experience, scholarly knowledge and programmatic urgency in confronting the climate crisis, Mr. Nader said in an interview.

Mr. Freeman was a young lawyer at the Tennessee Valley Authority when its general counsel, the New Dealer Joseph C. Swidler, moved to Washington in 1961 to join the Kennedy administrations Federal Power Commission. Mr. Freeman went, too.
(Bloomberg) -- A group of state officials has an idea to expand the availability of ventilators and other equipment hospitals need to treat coronavirus patients: let more medical facilities fix the ones they have.

In a letter to equipment manufacturers, the state treasurers of Pennsylvania, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, and Rhode Island said hospitals sometimes had to wait longer than a week for technicians under their maintenance contracts to fix equipment. Manufacturers have refused to supply parts to anyone who hasnt undergone the expensive company training.

In a global pandemic with this kind of urgency and this kind of devastation, where every second counts, there shouldnt be a single ventilator in any hospital that cant be used because of these restrictions, Pennsylvania State Treasurer Joe Torsella said in an interview.

Torsella led the group calling on manufacturers to release all repair manuals and service keys and to allow hospitals to use technicians of their choice instead of those required under maintenance contracts. The effort also turned a spotlight on an issue that some consumer rights groups are hoping could lead to a more permanent change.

Twenty states are considering legislation that would give consumers more rights to repair, resell and modify products they buy, whether its more access to the software on John Deere farm tractors, going outside Apple Inc.s Genius Bar to fix a broken iPhone, or selling digital books after theyve been read. Some, but not all, also include provisions that would cover medical equipment, which are tightly regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The pandemic may give the movement a boost because of the outcry over reports of broken or unavailable ventilators. In April, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group sent a petition with 43,000 signatures calling on manufacturers to release repair information.

Hundreds of biomedical engineers, also known as biomeds, signed a letter to be released Monday by PIRG that calls for greater access to service materials and for making product-specific training on fair and reasonable terms.

Story continues

As the outbreak spread over the past month, some medical equipment makers such as Medtronic Plc and General Electric Co. agreed to turn over manuals and other information to ensure hospitals have what they need.

The companies, along with Draegerwerk AG, sell medical equipment for as much as $1 million or more for each machine. Draegerwerk, which biomeds said has particularly strict rules, is projecting an increase in sales as hospitals need more devices to treat coronavirus patients. Even more profitable are the required service contracts to keep complicated equipment like ventilators, patient monitors, and MRI machines working.

We provide 24/7 technical support to the hospitals we supply as well as rapid on-site service, said Marion Varec, a spokeswoman for Draegerwerk. In fact, we provide manuals, to the extent consistent with FDA quality standards. We listen to our customers and support their needs.

Legislative proposals have been strongly fought by the industries affected, and the medical device industry has been among the most vocal. Its trying to get Congress to pass legislation that would impose more stringent requirements on hospital and independent biomedical technicians, or biomeds. Instead, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was told to investigate whether there was a difference in the quality of service -- the agency determined in 2018 that there was no fall off in quality of repairs when it was done by in-house hospital technicians or trained independent biomeds.

Among those weighing in on behalf of the biomeds was the Defense Department, which called the profit margins on maintenance astounding and said the markup for parts could be more than 1000%.

Leticia Reynolds, president of the Colorado Association of Biomedical Equipment Technicians and a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, said theres a big difference in what you can do at military hospitals and at civilian ones.

In the military, you can work on pretty much anything, said Reynolds. In the civilian sector, If you havent been to their school, they say We wont help you, or You cant buy parts.

The industry said its employees are held to a higher standard than those working for hospitals or with third-party repair firms, known collectively as independent servicing organizations, and its efforts were to put all technicians on the same level.

Currently, only servicing activities performed by medical device manufacturers are held to any quality, safety, or regulatory requirements by the FDA, said Peter Weems, Director of Policy & Strategy at the Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance. Independent servicing organizations are not required to register with the FDA, report deaths or serious injuries, or adopt quality management systems.

Some hospital officials are critical of the medical equipment industry.

Its not about safety, its about maintaining a business advantage, said Patrick Flaherty, vice president of supplier performance at Pittsburgh-based UPMC, a group of more than 40 hospitals, who called the manufacturers monopolists and cartels. Its absolutely repulsive if you try to cloak it under patient safety.

Hacking Threat

Others say that the additional protections are needed with regard to complicated medical equipment -- especially as more systems become networked and vulnerable to hacking.

This is life-saving and life-sustaining equipment, said Nick Lewis, systems director of environmental safety management and compliance at Baptist Memorial Health Care in Memphis, Tennessee. Having tight controls -- whether that be passwords, or when they update software -- they have to be pretty tight with that stuff or we could potentially put ourselves at risk with cyber issues.

Amid a dire shortage of personal protective gear for doctors, nurses and other first responders through the country when the Covid-19 virus migrated from Asia and Europe, U.S. hospitals also found ventilators in short supply and some delivered from the National Stockpile broken. Hospitals and critical care facilities had to adapt other equipment, such as reconfiguring anesthesia machines and transport ventilators.

Hospitals Prepared

Massachusetts General Hospital sent a team to inspect and repair the entire contingent of ventilators the state received from the National Stockpile, knowing smaller hospitals wouldnt have the trained technicians, said Paul Biddinger, director of emergency preparedness at the Boston hospital.

Early on, as we saw the coronavirus emerging as a threat, we tried very hard to anticipate what the impact on our system could be, Biddinger said.

At the Johnson Memorial Health in Johnson, Indiana, the hospital found powered air-purifying respirators needed by health-care professionals in the Covid unit that were so old there was no way to buy the connector hoses that pump fresh air, said marketing director Jeff Dutton.

Someone knew a small business in Franklin that had a 3D printer and was able to replicate the part perfectly, Dutton said.

Manufacturers initially kept to their long-standing policies when it came to access to manuals, software codes and parts. But as the scope of the crisis grew, many began easing restrictions, posting their closely kept service manuals on their websites, or dropping objections to having them posted on sites such as iFixit.com, which crowd sources manuals.

Its unknown whether they will try to pull them back once the pandemic is over. Jared Wilson, co-founder of Insight HTM LLC, which does repairs and maintenance at ambulatory surgical centers, said he is bizarrely grateful for the pandemic.

Typically were in what was the morgue, the bottommost corner of the hospital, Wilson said. This really has brought to light the issue of maintenance of equipment. Weve been striving for this for so long.

Flaherty said the work being done at hospitals and critical care centers around the world spotlight that some of the rules are unnecessary.

If Covid did not create a learning platform for people, then its a missed opportunity, Flaherty said.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
A solo pilot has died after crashing his home-built amphibious light plane into a backyard in the NSW Hunter region.

Police confirmed the plane crashed short of a runway about 10.15am on Sunday into the yard of a property on Denton Close in Windella. The street is next to the Royal Newcastle Aero Club.

NSW Police said the pilot was removed from the wreckage by witnesses and despite attempts to resuscitate him, he died at the scene.

The man is yet to be formally identified, but in a statement NSW Police said he was believed to be 44 years old.
Dr Norbert Reithofer has been re-elected as the Chairman fo the Supervisory Board of BMW AG at a meeting of the board today.

He was earlier re-elected to the Supervisory Board for a mandate period of five years at todays Annual General Meeting.

Reithofer has been associated with BMW AG for more than three decades. He joined the company in 1987 and was Chairman of the Board of Management between 2006 and 2015. He has been Chairman of the Supervisory Board since 2015.

The Annual General Meeting also newly elected Anke Schaferkordt to the Supervisory Board for a mandate period of five years. The media manager takes over the seat of Prof Renate Kocher, who stepped down early at the end of this years Annual General Meeting in agreement with the Supervisory Board.

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is a leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2019, the BMW Group sold over 2.5 million passenger vehicles and more than 175,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2019 was 7.118 billion on revenues amounting to 104.210 billion. As of 31 December 2019, the BMW Group had a workforce of 126,016 employees. - TradeArabia News Service
Detectives in Boston are investigating the Saturday night fatal shooting of a man in Dorchester.

Police officers responded to a radio call for a person shot just before 8 p.m. Saturday. The shooting was in the area of 45 Bellevue St. in Dorchester.

On arrival, officers observed an adult male victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, police said. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Police continue to investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding the killing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at 617-343-4470.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 05:09:18|Editor: huaxia

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Workers transfer medical supplies from China at Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Egypt on May 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)

--Egypt receives new batch of anti-coronavirus medical aid from China;

--Iraq praises China for supporting its fight against COVID-19;

--Turkey's cases hit 148,067;

--Iran's death toll nears 7,000.

CAIRO, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Egypt on Saturday received a new batch of medical aid from China to help its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Turkey's COVID-19 cases exceeded 148,000 with nearly 4,100 deaths.

The third batch of medical supplies from the Chinese government of over 35 tons, arrived at Cairo international airport as the North African country's tally of COVID-19 cases hit 11,719 with 491 new cases.

"We highly appreciate the Chinese gifts to Egypt," which "embody the strength of ties that connects the two countries," Hany Selim, Egyptian assistant foreign minister for Asian Affairs, told Xinhua on the sidelines of a ceremony held at the Cairo airport.

Egyptian Health Ministry also announced 20 new deaths and 151 more recovered patients, raising the death toll in the country to 612 and the tally of recoveries to 2,950.

On the same day, Iraqi Minister of Health Hassan al-Tamimi praised China's instrumental role in supporting Iraq's fight against the spread of the coronavirus.

"China has played a great role in providing us with medical supplies," al-Tamimi said in a press conference at a medicine warehouse in western Baghdad.

Iraq on Saturday confirmed 67 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections to 3,260, of whom 121 have died and 2,126 recovered.

A worker checks medical supplies at a warehouse in Baghdad, Iraq on May 16, 2020. (Xinhua)

The country has received batches of medical aid from China and the support from a team of Chinese medical experts during their 50-day stay.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, climbed to 148,067 after 1,610 new infections were reported, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted.

The death toll from the coronavirus in the country rose to 4,096 after 41 more fatalities were added in the past 24 hours, he said, adding that a total of 108,137 patients have recovered since the COVID-19 outbreak.

In Iran, the tally of COVID-19 infections surged to 118,392 after 1,757 new cases were registered.

The country also reported 35 new deaths from the virus, raising the death toll to 6,937. A total of 93,147 coronavirus patients have recovered, with 2,716 still in critical condition.

Iranian authorities announced on Saturday that the Muslim Eid al-Fitr prayers, a ceremony marking the end of the Ramadan, will be held across the country as all mosques will be opened in compliance with the health protocols.

People wearing face masks walk on a street in downtown Tehran, Iran, on April 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

Saudi Arabia's coronavirus cases continued the surging trend with 2,840 new cases and 10 more deaths, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 52,016 and the death toll to 302.

The kingdom also reported 1,797 more recovered patients, taking the total recoveries to 23,666.

In Qatar, 1,547 new cases of coronavirus infections were detected, bringing the total number to 30,972, of whom 15 have died and 3,788 recovered.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced 796 new COVID-19 cases and four more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 22,627 and the death toll to 214.

The total number of recoveries from the virus in the UAE increased to 7,931 after 603 more fully recovered.

Israel reported 19 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the tally of coronavirus infections to 16,608.

The deaths from the virus in Israel increased by two to 268 while the recoveries rose to 12,855.

Passengers wait to check in while keeping social distance in Ben Gurion International Airport near central Israeli city of Tel Aviv, on May 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Gil Cohen Magen)

Kuwait reported 942 new cases, bringing the country's total number of infections to 13,802, of whom 107 have died and 3,843 recovered.

Algeria said that 192 new cases of infections were reported in the past 24 hours, taking the tally of infections to 6,821, while the death toll hit 542 and the recoveries reached 3,409.

In Morocco, the tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 6,741 after 89 new cases were added, which included 192 fatalities and 3,487 recoveries.

Oman's Ministry of Health announced 404 new cases of infections, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 5,029, including 20 deaths and 1,436 recoveries.

Tunisia reported three new confirmed cases, taking the tally of infections to 1,035.

In Lebanon, the number of COVID-19 infections increased by 11 to 902, while the death toll remained unchanged at 26.

Jordan also registered 11 more infections, bringing the total coronavirus cases to 607, including nine deaths and 404 recoveries.

Yemen's health authorities on Saturday recorded 16 new COVID-19 infections, raising the tally of confirmed cases in the war-ravaged Arab country to 122, which includes 18 fatalities and one recovery.

Meanwhile, health authorities in the Yemeni Houthi rebel-held capital Sanaa declared two new COVID-19 cases in the areas under their control, taking the total number of infections in northern Yemen to four, including one death.

In addition, one new COVID-19 case was recorded in Libya, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 65, including three deaths and 28 recoveries. 
On February 28, 2019, Desmond Travis Jordan was pulled over for speeding after being observed leaving a home suspected of being a place citizens could buy drugs. A drug dog police K9 was called to the scene. The dogs name is Tank. Tanks handler, Officer Clinton Moore, was called to the scene even before probable cause to search the vehicle was established.

Tank and Moore searched Jordans car for drugs and Moore told the detective who pulled over Jordan, Det. David Allen, Tank had alerted to the presence of drugs in the car  a tiny bit of marijuana. Jordan was subsequently charged and brought to jail.

In court, Jordans defense team called Dr. Mary Cabik as an expert K9 handler witness. Dr. Cabik testified Tanks training did not include enough blind searches. A blind search is when the handler takes Tank to a search area or scene where it is already known no drugs exist. And no double blind searches were ever conducted in Tanks training. A double blind test is when Officer Moore doesnt know how many drugs are present in a test and also doesnt know if the test does NOT include any drugs at all.

From reviewing Det. Allens body camera footage Dr. Cabik concluded Tank simply responded to his handlers own desire (bias) to find drugs and alerted to the potential presence of drugs not actually doing a conclusive trained response whereby the dog may actually stop barking, stay pointed at the general area where drugs are present, and/or lay down among other trained responses.

As a result of Tanks poor training, Moores bias towards accepting a natural response over his trained one, Jordans car was searched and he was found to be in possession of a very small amount of marijuana, a pipe and a firearm. Because he was a felon, he was charged with a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of narcotics.

Fortunately for Jordan, the Utah court concluded Tanks training was so poor there was no way his alert should have been used as probable cause to search his vehicle. The court wrote in its opinion:

Notwithstanding Officer Moores testimony, evidence at the Hearing raised serious questions about the sufficiency and veracity of Tanks training. First, the police training records supported that between July 2018, when Tank was certified, and November 2018, Officer Moore only conducted four narcotics trainings with him. Moreover, from October 20, 2018 through March 1, 2019, a period that enveloped the search of Mr. Jordans vehicle, Officer Moore only performed one narcotic training exercises that involved searching an area that did not contain narcotics, compared to 27 normal exercises where there were narcotics present to be found.

The U.S. appeals court also concluded Utahs police K9 training program is flawed at its core because it did not implement double-blind testing. In fact, Moore knew just how many drugs were present during the test so he could simply wait until Tank demonstrated another appropriate cue until all the suspected drugs were located. The courts ruling was unambiguous to say the least. It reads in part:

[T]he court finds, based on the testimony of Dr. Cablk and the records before it, that Utah POST Training inadequately addresses, and therefore fails to remove the risk of, inadvertent handler bias or cuing. Specifically, Utah POSTs failure to implement double-blind training raises questions as to the independence of its K9s and casts doubt as to whether the K9s are alerting or indicating because they actually detect the odor of narcotics or because they have learned that displaying such action is the best way to please their masters.

The court then called into question all certifications for K9 drug dogs the POST has ever issued. In other words, the court concluded all the dogs certified under POST were held to such a low standard their use cannot be upheld in court.

This doubt is not allayed by Utah POSTs certification process, as the final test that a K9 must pass in order to be certified is not even performed single-blind. As such, the K9s handler in the exam, who is the same officer who has worked with the K9 for months and has a clear interest in having his K9 be certified, knows exactly how many hides will be present in the exam and can therefore continue to search until the K9 finds them all. Such an examination does not reflect a real-world setting and does not, therefore, indicate that a passing K9 can reliably detect, and communicate his detection of, narcotics in the field.

If POSTs training is indicative of national training standards for all K9s across the United States, none of the so-called drug dogs used in police forces can be trusted to do anything more than please their handler so warrantless, lacking in true probable cause, searches can be conducted.

As we previously noted, this ruling in Utah backs up a report by TFTP about a decision from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals which found that drugs or no drugs, police K-9 units will alert to your car nearly every single time. Like this decision, the one in 2015 shows that police dog searches are not legitimate and that they are just used as a pretense for officers to violate the rights of innocent people.

We might add, weed is not a drug, has killed no one ever, and is currently legal in some form in well over half of the United States. Its time to end the mindless drug war which helps only lawyers, courts, and law enforcement agencies make money. Its a plant folks, a healing one, which should be revered and protected not vilified and maligned. The court has since dismissed the case against Mr. Jordan. Maybe he should move to Colorado or Oregon and become a weed refugee.
- A mother and her daughter who were in the same year group have both graduated from medical school

- Beautiful photos from the graduation have been sighted on social media

- Reports indicate that the duo would soon be starting their residency at LSU

- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Drs Cynthia and Jasmine Kudji, mother and daughter respectively, have etched their names in the books of history by becoming the first mom and daughter to graduate medical school in the same year and be matched at the same institution.

The Jasmine attended LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana while her mother Cynthia enrolled at The University of Health and Sciences on the island of St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean.

The duo has shared their story and lovely photos of their big day to motivate people all over the world.

Dr Jasmine Kudji studied General Surgery while her mother Cynthia enrolled in the Family Medicine Programme.

They graduated in March 2020 and would officially begin their residency on July 1, 2020.

READ ALSO: Just In: Adom TV's Nana Yaa Brefo parts ways with Multimedia

Dr. Kudji was born in the village of Kenyasi in Ghana and went to the United States at age two. It was during a trip back to Ghana to visit relatives that she was inspired to become a doctor.

It is reported that the duo has made history as the first mother and daughter to graduate from medical school in the same year and also be matched to the same medical institution to begin their residency.

umhs-sk.org writes that "Dr. Cynthia Kudji, originally from Ghana, West Africa, has come a long way from being a 23-year-old student and pregnant with daughter Jasmine, when she had to put dreams of becoming a doctor on the back burner."

Ghanaian mother Dr. Cynthia Kudji (left) and daughter Dr Jasmine Kudji (right). Source: uhms-sk.org

Source: UGC

Dr Jasmine told physiciansoutlook.com that "My mother is the most inspiring person in my life, and she is one of the only reasons I was able to make it to where I am today. She was born in Ghana, West Africa and is a second-generation college graduate.

At the age of 23, during her senior year of college at Tulane University, she became pregnant with me and had to put her dreams of attending medical school on hold. She had no source of income and was forced to raise her daughter on her own.

As a result, she began working as a Nursing Assistant and soon became a Registered Nurse. Many years later she then became a Nurse Practitioner as well as a faculty member at the LSU School of Nursing in New Orleans."

READ ALSO: Nana Cheddar Bediako shows off customised bulletproof Rezvani Tank worth over GHC2m (video)

Their massive achievement has gone viral and they have received many kind words.

The Facebook page of Ghana Physicians and Surgeons Foundation highlighted the duo's achievements and congratulated them on their page.

The congratulatory message read: "Congratulations to this Ghanaian Mother-Daughter pair who both graduated medical school this year and will starting residency at LSU! These groundbreaking women are the first mother and daughter to attend medical school at the same time and match at the same institution.

As a single parent, Dr. Cynthia Kudji began her healthcare career as a nursing assistant in a nursing home and was soon on an upward trajectory that took her through nursing school to become a hospital RN, and eventually, a nurse practitioner serving rural communities throughout Louisiana and Alabama. A trip back home to Ghana confirmed her desire to become a physician.

@doctor.504 @dr.kudji.sylvester We are so proud of you both! Welcome to the GPSF Family"

In another interesting piece of news, four outstanding Ghanaian scientists have been named as part of Africa's 29 brilliant scientists awarded as future leaders by the African Independent Research (FLAIR) Fellowship.

In a news report sighted by YEN.com.gh on Peacefmonline, the four scientists form part of FLAIR's second cohort and are set to undertake cutting-edge scientific research that will address global challenges facing developing countries such as Ghana.

READ ALSO: Nana Akua Addo glows in expensive dress with matching bag as she flaunts fine legs (photos)

The list of four includes Bismarck Dinko, a scientist at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Edem Mahu & John Kuumuori Ganle, scientists at the University of Ghana (UG), and Philip Antwi-Agyei, of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST).

Exclusive interview with Date Rush contestant, Ignatius Baidoo | #Yencomgh

Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition?

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Colombian Defence Minister Refutes Maduro's Accusations of Preparing Invasion to Venezuela

Sputnik News

00:48 GMT 16.05.2020

MEXICO CITY (Sputnik)  Colombian Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo once again refuted accusations of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro that the Colombian government was involved in preparing the recent invasion of mercenaries to Venezuela.

"This is absolutely false. The Colombian position on Venezuela is clear, I have voiced it at all international forums as a foreign minister", Trujillo told the RCN radio broadcaster on late Friday.

He added that Colombia was using all institutional mechanisms to create conditions for political changes in neighboring Venezuela.

Last week, the Venezuelan Prosecutor-General's Office issued arrest warrants for Jordan Goudreau, CEO of the Silvercorp USA private military company, and 21 other people over their role in the recently attempted invasion in the Latin American country.

On 3 May, Venezuelan Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said an attempted maritime invasion by Colombian militants had been prevented as they tried to approach the northern state of La Guaira on speed boats. Eight militants were killed, and several others were detained in the counter-operation.

One of the detained individuals, US national Luke Denman, an employee of the Silvercorp USA private military company, said during an interrogation that the group's aim was to seize the Caracas airport and control it until Maduro would be flown to the United States. Both Washington and Bogota have denied their role in the incident.

 Sputnik

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RTHK: Trump Administration rails at 'Deep State' plot

The White House hit back on Sunday at fierce criticism over the firing of the State Department's top watchdog, suggesting he was a disloyal member of a "Deep State" conspiracy out to get President Trump.

Trump told the House of Representatives late on Friday he planned to dismiss Steve Linick, the fourth inspector general to be ousted by the president in the last six weeks.

Democratic lawmakers said Linick had apparently opened an investigation into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, one of Trump's most trusted aides.

The president and his allies regularly rail against a "Deep State" of shadowy forces in an otherwise apolitical civil service they see as committed to undermining Trump. There is no evidence that such a movement exists.

Asked by ABC about the latest dismissal, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro criticized "a lot of people" in the bureaucracy who "think they got elected president and not Donald J Trump."

"And we've had tremendous problems with -- some people call it the 'Deep State.' I think that's apt. So I don't mourn the loss of people when they leave this bureaucracy," Navarro said.

He added that officials leaving the administration could always be replaced by someone more "loyal."

"Not to the president necessarily, but to the Trump agenda. That's what's important," Navarro added.

Linick was Trump's fourth dismissal of an official tasked with monitoring government misconduct and abuse since April, and the move drew criticism even from within his own party.

Casualties of the purge include coronavirus response watchdog Glenn Fine and intelligence community inspector general Michael Atkinson, who was involved in the impeachment investigation of Trump.

The president has also ousted health and human services watchdog Christi Grimm, who reported on dire shortages in US hospitals fighting the coronavirus outbreak.

Navarro's comments were immediately countered by top Democrats, who have launched a probe into the late-night dismissal.

"The president has the right to fire any federal employee," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, told CBS.

"But the fact is, if it looks like it is in retaliation for something that the IG, the inspector general, is doing, that could be unlawful."

Democratic senator Bernie Sanders told ABC that Trump believes he is "above the law, he's above criticism."

"And he does not understand that, in the function of government, you have a Congress, you have inspector generals who say, by the way, 'Mr President, what you're doing is wrong, and it may be illegal.'"

By law, the administration must give Congress 30 days' notice of its plans to terminate an inspector general, in theory giving lawmakers time to study the move -- and protest if warranted.

But previous such firings have gone through unimpeded, and those dismissed have been replaced by political allies of the Republican president.

Linick played a small role in Trump's impeachment probe last year, handing to Congress documents from the president's lawyer Rudy Giuliani with unproven claims about Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and Marie Yovanovitch, whom Trump removed as the US ambassador to Ukraine.

Trump repeated the claims to Ukraine's president and pressed him to dig up dirt, while freezing military aid to Kiev, which is battling Russian-backed separatists.

Since his impeachment acquittal earlier this year by the Republican-controlled Senate, Trump has fumed against a "Deep State" he sees as out to get him.

A Democratic congressional aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Linick was probing complaints that Pompeo inappropriately used a political appointee to perform personal tasks for himself and his wife Susan. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-05-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
STIC Investments Chief Operating Officer Kwag Dae-hwan speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his company's head office in Seoul, April 29. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



STIC COO calls for equality between foreign, domestic firms



By Park Jae-hyuk



Domestic private equity firms (PEFs) should make more investments overseas, rather than focusing on attracting foreign capital to Korea, according to a high-ranking executive of one of the nation's oldest homegrown buyout firms.



Kwag Dae-hwan, chief operating officer (COO) and executive managing partner of STIC Investments, told The Korea Times that to better achieve this goal, Korea should abolish discriminatory rules that regulate local PEFs only, without controlling foreign ones.



"Basically, Korea is overflowing with capital, so demands for making profits by exporting capital have grown among domestic institutional investors, including the National Pension Service (NPS)," he said in a recent interview at his office in Seoul.



"When we make investments overseas, however, the government has not lifted regulations applied to our investments in Korea, so it has been difficult to explain requirements for domestic investments to foreign companies in which we sought to invest. They couldn't understand why they should be subject to Korean law."



STIC, which was established in 1999, started chairing a consultative group of 60 local PEFs in October 2019. Since his company began to chair the lobby group, Kwag has represented its members for the sake of the development of the Korean private equity industry.



He noted overseas investments by Korean PEFs can contribute to the entire society, as well as the private equity industry.



"We've helped Korean businesses enter foreign markets and expand their operations," he said. "We've also allowed foreign firms with growth potential to build business relationships with Korea through our investments in them."



STIC has offices in several Asian cities  Shanghai, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta  and an agency it established in India in collaboration with a local firm.



Kwag said his company has sought to contribute to the local community wherever it makes investments.



In this regard, STIC's motto is translated into "Contribution to Society through Investments," according to the COO.



"Most limited partners in Korea are public institutions, so if we return profits from our investments to our limited partners, we can benefit Koreans," Kwag said. "If we nurture a company through our investment, this could be a contribution to the economy. If the company is a Vietnamese firm, we can contribute to the Vietnamese economy as the firm's employees can get a higher income."



Obstacles



However, regulations that are imposed only on Korean PEFs have hindered them from having a competitive edge over their foreign rivals in both domestic and global markets, according to the executive.



The nation's Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act has obligated domestic PEFs to fulfill certain requirements, regardless of the location of the companies in which they invest.



According to the law, Korean PEFs are not allowed to take out loans to raise funds for intervention in the management of companies.



In addition, more than half of such funds should be used for stock investments. Domestic PEFs are also obliged to use these funds to acquire more than 10 percent voting shares in companies in which they invested.



As the rules were not revised in the 20th National Assembly that has less than a month left before its four-year term ends May 29, Kwag said the PEF lobby group that STIC chairs will call for the newly elected lawmakers to revise them.



"The Financial Services Commission told us it would continue to pursue deregulatory measures, so we hope the forthcoming Assembly will revise the law," he said.



The COO also mentioned the size of assets under management of Korean PEFs, which is far below that of global private equity giants.



He indicated that the gap has caused inexperience in risky overseas investments.



"At this moment, we have no choice but to learn through trial and error when we make investments in foreign countries with various risk factors, such as exchange rates, geopolitics, economies and systems," he said. "However, we've made efforts to learn as fast as we can, minimizing mistakes."



Who is Kwag?



Born in 1962, Kwag earned a bachelor's degree in economics at Seoul National University.



He joined STIC in October 2011 as the coordinator of the company's overseas operation, in charge of facilitating communication between the head office and overseas offices, as well as offering support needed for the latters' investment activities.



Before joining STIC, he worked for IBK Securities as the managing director of principal investment, M&As and PEFs.



He also spent six years at the NPS, leading its investment in global markets and enhancing its risk management.



He will represent the consultative group of PEFs until October this year. IMM Private Equity CEO Song In-jun is expected to succeed him..


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For the past 25 years, Russian Hill residents have been picking up their Sunday Chronicle, New York Times or any of 1,500 other newspapers and magazines at Smoke Signals newsstand on Polk Street, but not today.

Ive been ordered to shut down by the police, Smoke Signals owner Fadi Berbery said.

The shutdown notice was delivered personally  and from what we hear, somewhat apologetically  to Berbery by Northern District Police Capt. Joe Engler on Monday.

The closure has stirred up neighborhood residents, who consider the newsstand a vital information center, especially for seniors with limited internet skills and immigrants with limited language skills  Berbery also sells German, Russian, Italian, French, Arabic and Chinese publications.

Customers, like former KTVU General Manager Kevin OBrien, who buys four papers a day at the shop, were stunned.

COVID-19 is the story of the decade, and some county medical officer is prohibiting us old folks  the most susceptible to this monster death virus  from our primary source of information! Huh? What is this dude thinking? OBrien said.

Down the street, the High Trails Cyclery bike shop is doing mind-boggling business with the lines down the street. Great thinking  lets identify biking as essential and prohibit newspapers from those most vulnerable! an outraged OBrien said.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin, whose district includes the news shop, said its shutdown raised questions about how the city is implementing the shelter-in-place order, which has left some small businesses open and others barred from having customers in the store.

In addition to my worries about the First Amendment question, Im confused by the mixed messages that are coming out of City Hall when it comes to small businesses, Peskin said.

Just down the street from Smoke Signals, the William Cross Wine Merchants store is open, with customers coming in and out freely. The shop and wine bar sell marquee cheeses, and because food is considered essential, it is open to customers.

So now this wine shop three doors down from me can start selling newspapers, right? Berbery said.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

One issue is the question of what constitutes an essential business.

Under the shutdown rules that took effect on March 16, newspapers, television, radio and other media services are considered essential and allowed to stay open.

Smoke Signals considers itself a media service because it sells newspapers and news magazines. The city disagrees.

It doesnt cover retail stores, said John Cote, spokesman for the City Attorneys Office.

For Peskin, that doesnt add up.

So The Chronicle is allowed to report the news. The Chronicle is allowed to print the news and distribute the news, but this guy isnt allowed to sell it? I dont get it. Peskin said.

The first sign of trouble came about two weeks into the shutdown, when three police officers showed up at Smoke Signals saying they had received a complaint about the store being open.

The sales clerk showed the police the health order, which included media services as an essential business.

The police issued a warning but didnt close the shop.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

Soon Peskins office was getting email from upset customers. He made some calls and found out the complaint was about Smoke Signals selling cigars and cigarettes, as most newsstands do.

Berbery got rid of the smokes. He allowed at most three customers in the shop at a time, with masks. He also put hand sanitizer and a box of gloves near the door. Still jonesing for a smoke? Stroll seven blocks south to the California Tobacco Center at Polk and California  wide open Saturday afternoon.

All went well until May 4, when police returned, this time taking photos. On Monday, Capt. Engler, acting on orders from above, arrived with a citation for violating the health order.

Engler declined to comment for the story. The Police Department said the matter was reviewed by the city attorney, who informed officers that the county health officer had determined that newsstands are not an essential business.

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.

Peskin disagrees.

Newspapers are essential, he said. They are like food for the mind, and I hope our public health officials will reverse this wrongheaded decision.

Berbery has hired a lawyer to appeal the citation. He has yet to decide whether he will try offering curbside service, which retailers may do starting Monday.

Its better than nothing, Berbery said.

Mask litter: San Francisco has a new problem with its already dirty streets  people tossing their used masks and gloves onto the sidewalks.

We dont keep numbers, but cleanup crews are reporting masks and gloves showing up in all parts of the city, Public Works spokeswoman Rachel Gordon said.

Often we find masks and gloves near the curbsides, which tell us that people are taking them off when they get out of their cars and just tossing them on the ground, she said. They cant even make it inside and toss them in a trash can.

Unlike syringes, which city cleanup crews have long had to deal with, the masks and gloves dont require special disposal equipment, but they do present a hazard.

As a general rule, no one should be touching used masks on the ground, Department of Public Health spokeswoman Veronica Vien said. Masks are not recyclable and should be bagged and disposed of as regular garbage  it may carry viral material from the last wearer.

They may not be everywhere, but San Francisco really doesnt need any more trash  of any kind  on its streets.

To be clear, were not seeing piles of them by any means, Gordon said. Its just been noticeable.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phil Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KGO-TV morning and evening news and can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier
Debenhams staff are to block stock from being removed from the chain's stores and warehouses after workers voted overwhelmingly to strike.

Some 97% voted in favour of strike action in a postal ballot in which 76% of votes were returned by workers and members of the Mandate trade union.

Valerie Conlon, a shop steward with Debenhams in Cork for 24 years, said that stock across the 11 stores nationwide is valued at between 20m and 25m.

"We have to stop the stock from moving," she said. "Debenhams is trying to remove all the stock and keep the profits to keep the English stores open.

"But the liquidated Irish stock and money from Debbenhams.ie should be going into the Irish pot.

"We have creditors here, we have Revenue and staff to pay."

Workers were informed by email in April that the company's 11 Irish stores are to close.

They want the company to pay two weeks redundancy pay per year worked in addition to statutory redundancy.

But it looks like the company's 957 Irish employees may only receive statutory redundancy paid by the Department of Social Protection.

"It's not fair that the State should have to just pay statutory redundancy for 1,000 people on top of all it's Covid-related bills. Debenham's should pay what we're due," Ms Conlon said.

"The directors in England and Ireland don't care about us. The liquidators told TD Mick Barry and Ruth Coppinger that four of the Irish stores were profitable, including Mahon Point in Cork. But they're still being closed."

Ms Conlon said the news has made the Covid-19 lockdown an incredibly stressful time for former Debenhams employees.

"A husband and wife work in one store so they've both lost their jobs, people have mortgages and are trying to put children through college. It's a very worrying time."

Workers have to give seven days notice before blocking the removal of stock so Ms Conlon believes that the blockade can start on Friday when workers will try to stop Debenhams' vehicles from accessing the buildings.
A young pregnant woman and her baby have been killed in a horrific head-on crash in Perth.

The woman, named by Nine News as Maddie Morgan, was a passenger in a Nissan Skyline when it was struck by a Ford Falcon at the intersection of the Great Eastern Highway and Homestead Road in Mahogany Creek about 7.45pm on Friday.

The 21-year-old, who was expecting her first child with boyfriend Jack Bryant, 23, in less than three weeks, later died at Midland Hospital.

Mr Bryant suffered serious head and chest injuries and was released from intensive care but remains in a serious condition.

Maddie Morgan, 21, and boyfriend Jack Bryant, 23, were expecting their first child in less than three weeks. Source: 9News

Like a bomb had gone off

The Skyline split in two when it was hit by the Falcon, smashing debris all over the road.

An off-duty nurse was one of the first on scene and treated the pair.

"It looked like a bomb had gone off, witness John Walker told Nine News.

A friend of the couples told the network the tragedy was "so unfair".

'It looked like a bomb had gone off,' witness John Walker told the Nine Network. Source: 9News

"He was happy to be a dad, and happy to be starting this new stage in his life," he said.

Tributes for Ms Morgan have been posted to Facebook by heartbroken loved ones.

Rest In Peace Maddie. You will be missed by so many. You will forever be in our hearts, one person wrote.

So tragic and for the unborn baby to die too when she only had 3 weeks to go. How sad for everyone, another friend commented.

Jack Bryant suffered serious head and chest injuries and is fighting for life in Royal Perth Hospital. Source: 9News

Rest in Peace Maddie...you will be missed you beautiful girl, a third said.

The 23-year-old male driver of the Ford Falcon and a 19-year-old passenger were taken to Royal Perth Hospital with serious injuries, while another teenage passenger was uninjured.

The Ford driver has been discharged from hospital and will be questioned by police.

With AAP

Anyone with information, including dashcam footage, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report online.

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.
China's top respiratory authorities have cautioned against a possibility of the second wave of COVID-19 infections bringing a bigger challenge than the first. Experts are concerned that the community's lack of immunity still poses a big threat as there has been no vaccine developed for the disease yet.

Dr. Zhong Nanshan, the face of China's battle with the coronavirus diseases, and also the senior medical adviser of the Chinese government told CNN in an exclusive interview that details about the intensity of the early stages of the outbreak were suppressed by local authorities from the Wuhan, where the virus first emerged.

Decreasing cases do not mean the COVID-19 outbreak is over

According to data from China's National Health Commission (NHC), the country has reported more than 4,633 deaths and more than 82,000 cases of COVID-19 since it first emerged. In late January, city-wide lockdowns were imposed as well as travel bans throughout the nation due to the sudden surge in the number of new infections.

The following month, daily new cases of COVID-19 in the country were reaching 3,887 per day. However, the number of cases suddenly dropped by double-digit after a month in China, as other countries suffer a sudden spike in numbers.

As of the moment, life in China is now easing back to normal as the threat of the virus has been largely contained. Some schools and factories have already resumed operations as some of the restrictions have been lifted.

Read also: FACT CHECK: Wearing Face Masks Will Not Cause Carbon Dioxide Poisoning

However, according to Zhong, this is no reason to be complacent. He emphasized that despite the drop in the number of daily infections, the danger of a possible second wave is still imminent. He explained how new cases have emerged across the country in the past weeks in some places across the country including Wuhan and the provinces in the northeastern region of the country, Heilongjiang, and Jilin.

Zhong further added that the majority of the population is susceptible to infection at the moment.

Covering up the early stages of the outbreak

Back in 2003, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrom (SARS), which is also caused by another strain of coronavirus, Zhong was hailed as China's "SARS hero" as he led the battle against the outbreak. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he also headed the country's response especially during the critical stages of the outbreak.

On January 18, Zhong spearheaded a team of experts who were sent by the NHC journeyed to Wuhan in order to investigate the outbreak. According to Zhong, when he arrived in the city, he received calls from some of his former students and doctors who cautioned him that the situation is much more severe that the reports make it out to be.

Zhong stated that local authorities and officials avoided telling the true magnitude of the situation during that time. He noted that they kept being silent about the reality of the outbreak at the beginning which prompted him to think that there is probably a huge number of infected people.

As of the moment the number of new cases in China as gone down to 5 cases a day, but experts say that the world still need to watch out for a second wave of the outbreak. Zhong also noted that in order to mitigate the continued spread of the disease, officials should not hide anything else about the pandemic.

Related article: Immunologist Whistleblower Says US May Face Darkest Winter' As People Starts Going Out Despite COVID-19

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
33 people lost their lives and almost 300 were injured in the Dublin Monaghan bombings 46 years ago today.

However, there will be no ceremony to mark the anniversary due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Four loyalist bombs exploded on the evening of May 17, 1974, three in Dublin City and one at a pub in Monaghan soon afterward.

The attacks were coordinated in the middle of the evening rush hour.

The first of them went off at 28 minutes past 5 on Parnell Street, followed by Talbot Street and South Leinster Street at two-minute intervals.

Around an hour and a half later the fourth bomb exploded at a pub in Monaghan.

Tainiste Simon Coveney has called on the public to pay respects to the victims, their loved ones and survivors,

He said it is unfortunate that we can't stand together at an organised memorial service this year because of Covid-19.

"Today we remember the thirty three people who were killed and the hundreds who were seriously injured in the Dublin & Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974, which saw the largest loss of life on a single day in the Troubles."

Tanaiste @simoncoveney



https://t.co/nstHrlPyH3 pic.twitter.com/RyIBckywtE  Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) May 17, 2020

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan added that Government are committed to exploring every avenue to uncover the truth about the attacks.

Statement by the Minister for Justice & Equality @CharlieFlanagan on the 46th Anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. pic.twitter.com/NK6FZm1NKM  Department of Justice  (@DeptJusticeIRL) May 17, 2020

In a statement, Minister Flannagan said: "Dealing effectively with the legacy of the past will be one way to honour the memory of all those killed and injured in the dark days of the Troubles, including those victims of the Monaghan and Dublin bombings who are foremost in our thoughts today. "

Last year the Government was urged to launch legacy investigations into Troubles killings that took place in its jurisdiction.

Northern Irelands Victims Commissioner Judith Thompson made a number of proposals on the legacies of the Troubles to the Oireachtas committee on the Good Friday Agreement.

Among her recommendations was for Ireland to establish a mechanism similar to the proposed Historical Investigations Unit in Northern Ireland to carry out investigations into incidents that took place in the Republic.
Members of the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a budget for the 2020-21 school year in a online session Monday, all five of them knowing the real budget will look quite different.

Thats because of expected budget deficits at the state level, thanks to the COVID-19 crisis, which impact school districts budgets. The New Mexico legislature is expected to convene in special session before July 1.

We have balanced the budget, Chief of Operations Mike Baker told the board. Its extremely likely we will have to revise the budget.

The $166.3 million budget is not the budget the district will operate under this year, acknowledged Superintendent Sue Cleveland, predicting Major changes  and some reductions.

My heart wishes this was the budget, she added, hoping to keep reductions as far away from the classrooms as we can.

In light of the expected special legislative session, she recommended that board members keep the third Monday in June as a possibility for a meeting; the board is scheduled to meet virtually June 8 and 22, but June 15 could also see them online with budget issues.

The board also approved the purchase of math textbooks for high school students.

Although there may not be students in the classrooms, at least there will be textbooks. District teachers, principals and instructional leaders were on the committee that reviewed and recommended the enVision product.

Director of Secondary Curriculum Elizabeth Jacome told the board these textbooks lead to a deep understanding of how math works and how numbers work together.

A similar process to determine the best math textbooks for the elementary level was used, but the board  knowing the budget deficit  opted to postpone its decision a year, and utilize the textbooks that were used in 2019-20.

The secondary math textbooks will cost $1.25 million, which will be spread over six years. The instructional materials meet the states Common Core standards.

Math is critical for our students, noted Carl Leppelman, chief academic officer. There are no materials in the (high school) classrooms next year.

Cleveland recommended that the board take action because its mandated that until all students have access to computers, which includes having them available at home with internet access, We are required to have printed materials.  Were close (to all-digital), but were not quite there.

In other matters, board members unanimously:

 approved minutes from previous board and finance committee meetings;

 OKd the 2020-21 IDEA B application, which would provide a $3.2 million grant to serve for students with disabilities; and

 approved a Title III local plan and bilingual multicultural program grant application for 2020-21, which helps meet the needs of high-risk students.

The boards next meeting is slated for 5:30 p.m., also online, June 8.
The mastermind behind a baby formula crime syndicate has admitted to shipping hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of milk powder she bought off supermarket thieves and then shipping it to China.

Lie Ke, 50, bought tins of formula for between $16 to $25 depending on the brand that were stolen from supermarkets and chemists in Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle by shoplifting teams operating between November 2017 and August 2018.

Detectives set up a series of cameras under mats in shopping trolleys to watch Ke conduct a range of illegal exchanges with thieves in public areas, including car parks and Bunnings stores.

Ke, who moved to Carlingford in western Sydney from China in 2001, used her connection to sell the tins in China for more than $80 each.

Lie Ke (pictured left outside Burwood Local Court last year) is accused of being the ringleader of a syndicate that stole baby formula and sold it for inflated prices

One thief said she made around $4,000 per week for selling 50 to 100 containers of stolen milk powder per day to the syndicate leader, The Daily Telegraph reported.

A police fact sheet stated that at least ten suppliers were identified by police in the investigation. Six told police they would regularly sell baby formula to Ke.

'One of the offenders would act as a lookout within the store throughout the process,' the fact sheet said.

'The offenders would attend the self-service checkout and distract staff whilst another offender exited the store without paying for the trolley of goods.'

Searches allegedly located more than 4,000 tins of baby formula, large quantities of vitamins, manuka honey and various other items believed to have been stolen

Ke was arrested in October last year and police searched the home of her daughter-in-law on the same street.

Police have not alleged the daughter-in-law was involved in criminal activity.

Those searches located more than 4,000 tins of baby formula, large quantities of vitamins, manuka honey and various other items believed to have been stolen.

Police also found more than $215,000 cash hidden in one of the houses which was seized.

Though prosecutors could not prove all the cash was made from baby formula sales, court documents stated that Ke moved $394,000 into a bank account owned by her partner between November 2018 and August 2018.

The formula, allegedly stolen from Coles and Woolworths supermarkets as well as Chemist Warehouse outlets across the city, was seized along with more than $200,000 cash

Part of that money is believed to be a result of stolen milk powder.

Ke denied knowing that the powder was stolen and said she only bought formula from people who said they bought it cheaply.

Ke and her husband pleaded guilty to recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

They will be sentenced in Parramatta District Court in June.

Crown prosecutors could not prove if she knew the tins were illegally obtained.

The demand for baby powder in China surged after batches were contaminated in 2008, killing six babies.

More than 54,000 babies were hospitalised.

Sellers began stripping Australian supermarket shelves of powder to sell on to Chinese customers, forcing stores to ration customers to two tins each.
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The government was going in the wrong direction and it was highly condemnable that it did not discuss the proposed changes with trade unions and other stakeholders, says BMS, trade union arm of the RSS.

IMAGE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamans plan to increase privatisation in coal, defence manufacturing and six other sectors is against the national interest, said the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the trade union arm of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on Saturday.

Corporatisation and PPP (public private partnership) are the routes for privatisation, and privatisation is the route for foreignisation, said the BMS, which has opposed changes in labour laws announced by some state governments.

The organisation said the privatisation decision was a sad day for the nation and its people and it was taken at a time when the country is batting the coronavirus outbreak.

The government was going in the wrong direction and it was highly condemnable that it did not discuss the proposed changes with trade unions and other stakeholders.

The BMS said the governments plea that it has no option but to privatise sectors like coal, airspace, defence production and others shows a dearth of ideas on economic revival in times of crisis.

BMS general secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said the impact of these changes would affect employees. For employees, privatisation means massive job loss, below quality jobs will be generated, profiteering and exploitation will be the rules in the sector, he said.

Upadhyay accused the government of not engaging in any social dialogue before deciding to bring such big changes, and that it was going in the wrong direction.

Social dialogue is fundamental to democracy. The government becoming shy of consultation and dialogue with trade unions, social representatives and stakeholders shows lack of confidence in their own ideas and is highly condemnable, Upadhyay said.

The BMS, and its sectoral unions, were against corporatisation and privatisation. For our policy makers, structural reforms and competition means privatisation. But we have recently experienced, in time of crisis private players and market were paralysed and public sector played the crucial role, he said.

The BMS has objected to coal sector privatisation, and termed seamless mining, auctioning 500 mining blocks, including bauxite and coal blocks, rationalising stamp duty for that purpose as against national interest.

It also objected to raising the foreign direct investment (FDI) limited in the defence sector from 49 per cent to 74 per cent, privatisation of power distribution companies and auctioning of six airports.

BMS, which claims to be the largest of the dozen central trade unions, said privatisation in the space sector will have serious consequences to Indias security.

We depend on space for many security and surveillance measures which are dangerous to be privatised. Indian start-ups are not so much equipped to take up space challenges. Even atomic energy is being converted to PPP (public private partnership) mode which is a major step towards privatisation.

Upadhyay said after these announcements the government machinery, particularly the finance ministry, will involve itself in working out privatisation and communicating with corporates and will not find time to give attention to social sectors, like labour, agriculture and MSMEs for which the FM has allotted attention for the last three days.

Hence, the BMS strongly objects the announcements on the corporatisation and privatisation in eight sectors taking advantage of the crisis, he said.
Migrant workers in Uttar Pradesh staged protests by blocking a highway in Mathura on Sunday morning after authorities stopped them from walking to their hometown amid the Covid-19 lockdown.

Around 2,500 workers demonstrated by burning tyres and stopping all movement in Farah village, claiming that no facilities were given after they were stopped from walking to their villages by the administration.

After the news of protest reached the district administration, the District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and personnel rushed to the spot and tried to calm the migrants.

SSP Mathura Gaurav Grover said, A large number of migrants came together and blocked the highways. After negotiations, provisions for food and transport were arranged and they left in trucks for their respective destinations.

The incident took place hours after similar protests were seen on the Uttar Pradesh-Madhya Pradesh border in Jhansi. The situation turned violent after police resorted to lathi-charge on the group of migrant workers.

After the Auraiya road accident on Saturday in which 24 migrants were killed and several injured, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed all field officers to ensure that stop migrant workers from unauthorized travelling on the highways.

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi asked people to use the Shramik trains facilities by Uttar Pradesh government instead.

The Chief Minister has directed all police officers to provide migrants with food and water and do routine checks at the borders. They should be screened and then transported to their home in a safe and dignified manner, he said.

Over 200 buses are positioned at the state borders. Additional arrangements have been made in all the districts of the border, the official said.
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Instagrams efforts to curb health misinformation have done little to stem the flow of conspiracy theories and misinformation about vaccines. The app continues to be a hotbed of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, which often spread without the promised fact-checks and are further fueled by Instagrams search and recommendation algorithms.



The problem has only escalated during COVID-19 as the coronavirus pandemic has given rise to a new surge of viral disinformation and conspiracy theories, many of which are widely promoted by the anti-vaccination movement. At the same time, many of Facebook's moderators have been unable to work and review reports of potentially rule-breaking content.

Instagrams rabbit hole problem

Like Facebook, Instagram doesnt ban anti-vaccine content, though the company claims it has attempted to make it less visible to users. The company blocks some hashtags and says it tries to make anti-vaccine content harder to find in public areas of the app, like Explore. Yet accounts promoting conspiracy theories and inaccurate information about vaccines dominate the apps search results.

When you search the word vaccine on Instagram, the app recommends dozens of anti-vaccine accounts in its top results. Accounts with names such as Vaccines_revealed, Vaccinesuncovered, vaccines_kill_ vaccinesaregenocide_ and say_no_to_bill_gates_vaccine are front and center. While some of these accounts are popular, with nearly 100,000 followers, others have only a few hundred. Yet Instagrams algorithm consistently recommends these accounts  and not one verified health organization  as the most relevant accounts for the search term vaccine.

Accounts promoting conspiracy theories and inaccurate information about vaccines dominate search results.

Some of these accounts are meant to sow fear  many are aimed at parents  and post clearly spurious claims like vaccines are causing autism rates to skyrocket. Many have pivoted to posting conspiracy theories about Bill Gates and the coronavirus pandemic.

Story continues

Instagrams recommendation algorithm also pushes users toward accounts spreading conspiracy theories, including those about vaccines and COVID-19.

I made a new Instagram account, searched vaccine, and then followed a few of the top results mentioned above. Within seconds, the app began suggesting I follow more anti-vaccine pages and other accounts peddling conspiracy theories, including QAnon. This isnt a new phenomenon, either. Vice noted last year that Instagrams follow suggestions could easily lead users down an anti-vax rabbit hole. The company said at the time it would look into it, but it doesnt appear much has changed.

Not only do the suggestions still appear, these recommendations are now pushing users toward other fringe conspiracy theories. I only had to follow four anti-vaccine accounts before Instagram began recommending popular QAnon pages, one of which prominently linked to the Plandemic documentary Facebook and others have struggled to successfully banish from their platform. A couple days later, the app sent push notifications recommending I follow two more QAnon pages.

An Instagram spokesperson reiterated that the company aims to make misinformation about vaccines harder to find in public areas of the app.

Searching for specific hashtags can also lead users into a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories.

Searching for #vaccine prompts you to first visit the CDCs website and contains relatively sanitized results, but Instagrams hashtag search recommends other related search terms that are less filtered, including #vaccineinjuryadvocate and #vaccineskillandinjure. (Using the cedilla character instead of a c is a common tactic used by anti-vaccine advocates in order to evade detection, as Coda reported last year.)

"related" hashtags Instagram suggests when you search for #vaccineinjuryadvocate

And when you look at search results for these recommended hashtags, like #vaccineinjuryadvocate, Instagram further suggests more hashtags associated with various other conspiracy theories, including coronavirus conspiracy theories: #plandemic, #governmentconspiracy, #populationcontrol, and #scamdemic. (Instagram has since blocked search results for #plandemic, which had more than 26,000 posts, according to the app.)

Instagram suggests hashtags associated with conspiracy theories when you search for "5G."

Instagram's algorithm recommending hashtags associated with conspiracy theories isnt just limited to vaccines either. Search #5G and the app surfaces related hashtags like #fuckbillgates #billgatesisevil #chemtrails and #coronahoax. Other seemingly innocuous suggestions, like #5Gtowers, also lead to conspiracy theories like #projectbluebeam #markofthebeast #epsteindidntkillhimself.

Misinformation on Instagram

None of these are new issues for Instagram, but the photo-sharing apps misinformation problem has often avoided the same scrutiny thats been applied to Facebook. When company officials testified in front of Congress, they downplayed Instagrams role in spreading Russian disinformation. The Senate Intelligence Committees subsequent report found that Instagram was the most effective tool used by the IRA.

The problem, according to those who study it, is that misinformation on Instagram often takes the form of memes and other images that are harder for the companys systems to detect and can be more difficult for the companys human reviewers to parse. And while Instagram is building out new systems to address this, images can be a much more effective conduit for bad actors, says Paul Barrett, the deputy director of NYU's Stern Center for Business and Human Rights.

Disinformation, which would include anti-vaxxer material, is increasingly a visual game. This is not something that's done exclusively or even primarily anymore via big blasts of text, Barrett said. Visual material makes it easy to digest, and something that's not going to seem threatening or overbearing. And I think as a result that makes Instagram appealing.

Yet Instagram has been much slower to deal with its misinformation problem than Facebook. The photo-sharing app didnt implement any fact-checking efforts until last May  nearly three years after Facebook began debunking posts with outside fact-checkers. And the app has only recently moved to make debunked posts less visible in users feeds.

Instagram labels posts that have been debunked by fact checkers.

And though Instagram, like Facebook, has prioritized coronavirus misinformation it considers harmful, the company doesnt apparently consider anti-vaccine content, which researchers have linked to measles outbreaks and other instances of actual harm, to be as urgent a problem as some coronavirus conspiracies.

We're prioritizing reviewing certain types of content, like child safety, suicide and self injury, terrorism and harmful misinformation related to COVID, to make sure that we're handling the most dangerous issues, Mark Zuckerberg said during a call with reporters to discuss the companys content moderation efforts this week.

When asked whether the company was prioritizing anti-vaccine content given its links to coronavirus misinformation, Facebooks VP of integrity, Guy Rosen, said, Health-related harm is something thats very much top of mind and very much something that we want to prioritize.

An Instagram spokesperson told Engadget the company doesnt bar anti-vaccination content, but noted it has removed some posts with misinformation in response to a deadly measles outbreak in Samoa and a polio resurgence in Pakistan. Officials in both countries have blamed misinformation for rising anti-vaccination sentiment.

In most cases, though, the company doesnt act to remove such content entirely, attempting to make it less visible or adding false information labels when the content has been debunked by fact-checkers.

But fact-checking might not be enough, according to Barrett. Facebook is so outmatched by the scale of the problem, it's almost a little naive to assume that fact-checking is  even if it's done vigorously  that you're going to be able to catch a substantial majority of false information that's being posted on a continuous basis, Barrett says. When you're talking about billions of posts a day, even if you have Facebook's 60 fact-checking organizations around the world, a lot of stuff is going to slip by them.
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 Wind down before bed without technology. In the hours leading up to bedtime, try to avoid viewing any technology with a backlight, "like a phone, a tablet or a computer. Your brain thinks that the light coming from those is daylight and it will suppress the release of a hormone called melatonin which helps put you to sleep." Consider keeping a "worry journal." "If you suffer from stress or anxiety consider keeping a worry journal where can write down your daily concerns," and then set it aside before bedtime. Keep the bed only for sleep and intimacy. "The bed is not for eating or working or reading or pretty much anything else," says Dr. Guralnick. If you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes, get up. "Do something boring, "like a Sudoku, or light reading with a low light. Go back to bed only when you are sleepy, not just bored." Avoid napping. Napping "eats up your 24-hour sleep requirement. If you have to nap, do it early in the day and for no more than 20 minutes." "Try and stay physically active. It will help your body feel tired and help you fall asleep." Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Both can make it difficult to fall asleep. "Even chocolate and orange soda have caffeine," says Dr. Guralnick. "And alcohol can also "fragment" sleep, so try to avoid drinking alcohol before bedtime."To make an in-person or telehealth appointment with a sleep specialist, or for more information, contact Loyola Medicine at 888-584-7888 or visit loyolamedicine.org.About Loyola Medicine and Trinity HealthLoyola Medicine, a member of Trinity Health, is a quaternary care system based in Chicago's western suburbs that includes Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC), Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, MacNeal Hospital and convenient locations offering primary and specialty care services from more than 1,800 physicians throughout Cook, Will and DuPage counties. LUMC is a 547-licensed-bed hospital in Maywood that includes the William G. & Mary A. Ryan Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine, the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, a Level 1 trauma center, Illinois's largest burn center, a certified comprehensive stroke center and a children's hospital. Having delivered compassionate care for more than 50 years, Loyola also trains the next generation of caregivers through its academic affiliation with Loyola University Chicago's Stritch School of Medicine and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.Gottlieb is a 247-licensed-bed community hospital in Melrose Park with 180 physician offices, an adult day care program, the Gottlieb Center for Fitness, the Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care and the Loyola Cancer Care & Research facility at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center.MacNeal Hospital is a 374-licensed-bed teaching hospital in Berwyn with advanced inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and psychiatric services, including acute rehabilitation, an inpatient skilled nursing facility and a 68-bed behavioral health program and community clinics. MacNeal has provided quality, patient-centered care to the near west suburbs since 1919. For more information, visit loyolamedicine.org.Trinity Health is one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation, serving diverse communities that include more than 30 million people across 22 states. Trinity Health includes 92 hospitals, as well as 106 continuing care locations that include PACE programs, senior living facilities, and home care and hospice services. Its continuing care programs provide nearly 2 million visits annually. Based in Livonia, Mich., and with annual operating revenues of $19.3 billion and assets of $27 billion, the organization returns $1.2 billion to its communities annually in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. Trinity Health employs about 129,000 colleagues, including about 7,500 employed physicians and clinicians.Source: Newswise
Iran's supreme leader said Sunday that the United States will be expelled from Iraq and Syria and alleged that even Washington's allies 'abhor' it now.

The US 'will not be staying either in Iraq or Syria and must withdraw and will certainly be expelled', said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to his official website.

Both the US and Iran have weighed into Syria's conflict -- Tehran backing the Damascus regime, while Washington supported the Kurds against the Islamic State group -- and both have been major geopolitical players in Iraq since the toppling of dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.

'Even the leaders of some of America's allies... abhor American statesmen and government, do not trust them and are indifferent towards them,' Khamenei added during a video conference meeting with university students.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hit out at the US on Sunday, saying its citizens 'will not be staying in either Iraq or Syria'

He claimed this was due to what he called the US' 'warmongering, helping notorious governments, training terrorists, unconditional support for the Zionist regime's increasing oppression and their recent awful management of the coronavirus' pandemic.

Both countries have been hit hard by the COVID-19 disease, with the US recording the highest number of fatalities in the world and Iran battling the Middle East's deadliest outbreak.

Protesters hold up an image of Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian commander, during a demonstration following the U.S. airstrike in Iraq which killed him, in Tehran, Iran in January

A soldier stands guard as the U.S.-led coalition against the Daesh/ISIS terror group on Thursday formally handed over to Iraq the Qayyarah airbase in southern Mosul, Iraq in March

Tensions between the arch enemies have escalated since 2018, when US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from a landmark nuclear accord and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran's economy.

They have appeared to come close to direct military confrontation twice since June last year, when Iran shot down a US drone in the Gulf.

On that occasion, Trump cancelled retaliatory air strikes at the last minute.

Trump also opted not to take any military action in January after Iran fired a barrage of missiles at US troops stationed in Iraq.

A man in Tehran holds a portrait of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad earlier this year

Iran launched the missiles after a US drone strike near Baghdad airport killed Qasem Soleimani, the top general who headed the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm, the Quds Force.

Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had instructed the U.S. Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it at sea, but said later he was not changing the militarys rules of engagement.

After Trump's statement, the head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, Major General Hossein Salami, said that the Islamic Republic would destroy U.S. warships if its security is threatened in the Gulf.
In the first case of COVID-19 at a Punjab prison, a 48-year-old woman inmate at the Ludhiana jail has tested positive for coronavirus, officials said on Sunday.

The woman, who tested positive for COVID-19 on May 1, is facing charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. She was brought to the prison by the Sangrur Police on April 28.

The Punjab government has so far released 9,773 inmates from all the jails in order to decongest state prisons in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the officials.

There were around 24,000 prisoners lodged in 24 jails across the state against an authorised capacity of 23,488, they said.

The state government had decided to release convicts on parole and undertrial prisoners on interim bails.

The decision to release prisoners was taken to protect their health and restrict transmission of COVID-19 by decongestion of prisons.

Those convicted or charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Explosives Act and acid attacks were not considered for release, the officials said.

The Punjab government had also announced to turn two jails -- Barnala and Patti prions -- into quarantine centres for new inmates to check the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
File photo shows people walking out of the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Friday held a meeting to discuss the draft government work report, which will be submitted by the State Council to the third annual session of the 13th National People's Congress for deliberation and approval.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

Despite multiple challenges China faced in its development last year, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has rallied and led Chinese people of all ethnic groups to achieve the major annual targets and lay a decisive foundation for completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the meeting said.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the CPC Central Committee has been regarding epidemic prevention and control as the top priority, the meeting said.

Putting people's lives and health on the top of the priority list, General Secretary Xi Jinping has led the whole Party, army and people of all ethnic groups to fight a war against the epidemic, through personal command and deployment.

Through arduous efforts, decisive results have been achieved in the fight against COVID-19 to protect the hard-hit Hubei Province and its capital city Wuhan, the meeting said, adding that major strategic achievements have been made in curbing the spread of the virus, with positive results in coordinating the epidemic control and economic and social development.

China is facing unprecedented challenges as the global pandemic and economic situations remain grim and complex, the meeting said.

The meeting stressed resolutely expanding domestic consumption, safeguarding economic development and social stability, ensuring the full completion of poverty alleviation targets as well as building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

Going forward, attendees at the meeting called for unremitting efforts in implementing regular epidemic prevention and control measures this year, while striving to deliver a good performance in all areas of economic and social development.

The proactive fiscal policy should be more positive, the prudent monetary policy should be more flexible and appropriate, and the employment priority policy should be further strengthened, according to the meeting.

The country should roll out stronger macro policies to stabilize enterprises' development and ensure employment, and should rely on reforms to stimulate market entities' vitality and foster new growth drivers.

China will advance opening-up to a higher level and stabilize the foreign trade and investment, and strive to achieve this year's economic and social development goals, the meeting said.
The Nigerian government has impounded an aircraft owned by a United Kingdom company for operating commercial flights into Nigeria as the country battles coronavirus.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made this known via his verified Twitter handle, @hadisirika, on Sunday.

Mr Sirika said the company, Flair Aviation, was authorised to conduct humanitarian flights into Nigeria but was caught operating commercial flights without approval, thereby compromising measures being implemented to curb coronavirus.

The minister explained that a maximum penalty would be imposed on the company for the contravention of Nigerian governments ban on commercial flights.

As part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, the government said the penalty would be effected in addition to the confiscation of the aircraft.

Flair Aviation, a UK company, was given approval for humanitarian operations but regrettably, we caught them conducting commercial flights, Mr Sirika said in a tweet Sunday.

This is callous! The craft is impounded, the crew being interrogated. There shall be maximum penalty. Wrong time to try our resolve, he added.

Nigeria had shut its airports and airspace in March. According to a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari, the move was part of efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The government placed a ban on commercial flight operations, both for local and international routes. The directive, however, allowed the operation of essential flights including those for medical and evacuation purposes.

These operations are being monitored by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and other relevant agencies.

Earlier in the month, the government said the closure of the airports and airspace had been extended by four weeks after due consultations with experts.

Nigeria says the move is to enable the nation curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Kicked out of his job in Punjab's Ludhiana, Vijay Kumar headed home to Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, often keeping to village roads to avoid police and wading through the Ghaggar river with his wife and 11-year-old daughter.

After repeated efforts, he could not book any of the special Shramik trains.

Kumar says he decided to return home, over 1,000 km away from Ludhiana, when his employer told him to vacate the room where he was staying.

Kumar says he worked in a garment factory and was not paid for over a month.

Since the Punjab Police was not allowing migrant labourers to cross the state border, Kumar says he travelled through villages.

He had to wade through a stretch of the Ghaggar river near the Punjab-Haryana border to reach Ambala on Saturday morning.

Like Kumar, other migrant workers have been forced to make similar journeys to reach their homes in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar after rendered jobless due to the lockdown imposed to check the coronavirus spread.

Another group of migrant workers and their families crossed the same river to enter Ambala district, hoping to find a way home.

A youth who was part of the group said he worked in an industrial unit in Ludhiana.

There has been no work for us since the lockdown. I have exhausted all my savings and the house owner too had been putting pressure for rent for the past over a week. How long could we continue like this. So, we decided to go home, he said.

Ambala Deputy Commissioner Ambala Ashok Sharma said the administration has sent several migrant labourers from Ambala to their destinations in Bihar and UP through buses and trains.

Labourers entering Haryana are kept in relief shelters till arrangements are made for their journey ahead, officials said.

A week ago, the Haryana administration had stepped in, accommodating them in relief shelters.

Officials said migrant workers are being sent to their villages only after they register with the district administration and their home states have given approval to receive them.

Many migrants who entered Haryana had said that not all of them were able to register online. They sought help from the government, saying arrangements should be made for their journey back home.

There have been similar reports recently of migrants, including women and children, of crossing the Yamuna river from the Haryana side to enter Uttar Pradesh.

Yamunanagar Deputy Commissioner Mukul Kumar said this has not come to his notice.

However, on Saturday he led a team of police and civil administration officials to check if any migrant was using the river route.

Since morning, we have been on the round. Our enforcement teams are also on job, but we did not come across any migrant crossing the Yamuna river, he said on Saturday.

In Faridabad district of Haryana, which abuts the national capital, migrant workers, were seen waiting on footpaths late in the night, with many hoping truck drivers will take them to some distance.

Some claimed they had reached the highway from Delhi and Ghaziabad.

A woman with a child on her lap said she was going to Jhansi with her family.

Some said after the imposition of the lockdown, they were left with no work and though the government made food arrangements for them, they still wanted to go home.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
1. Yes. Too many kids are staying home. They need a virtual learning option to keep up.

2. Yes. Teachers are out sick and subs cant handle the load. Online learning is needed.

3. No. Its too late in the school year to make a wholesale switch in teaching platforms.

4.No. Many parents arent in a position to stay home while their kids learn virtually.

5. Unsure. It may seem like a good idea from a health standpoint, but it has shortcomings.

Vote

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In the midst of the ongoing controversy concerning GOD TVs new Hebrew speaking channel in Israel, a larger question has emerged. Is it right for Christians to share their faith with Jews? After all, the Jewish people were chosen by God and have the Torah and their traditions. Why try to convert them to an alien faith, especially in light of centuries of Christian antisemitism? Why not leave the Jewish people with their faith and offer Jesus to the Gentiles?

As attractive and irenic as this sounds, it cannot work for one fundamental reason. If Jesus is who He and His followers claimed Him to be  the Messiah of Israel  then Jewish people around the world should follow Him. All Jews should be Jews for Jesus!

And if He wasnt who He and His followers claimed Him to be  if He was not the Messiah of Israel  then no one should follow Him. There should be no Gentiles for Jesus, no Christians on the planet.

Its either all or nothing at all. The words of Jesus and the words of the rest of the New Testament leave us with no other choice.

Some scholars and religious leaders suggest that, although Jesus was Jewish His mission was to make the God of Israel known to the nations. So, Jews would follow Judaism while Gentiles would follow Christianity, and Jews could express their appreciation for this beautiful faith for the nations.

Christians, for their part, would not try to convince Jews to believe in Jesus, since His message was for the Gentiles, not for His fellow Jews. Everyone could live happily ever after.

But again, thats not what the New Testament says in passage after passage. Instead, from beginning to end, it claims that Yeshua (Jesus) came as Israels Messiah, because of which He was also the Savior of the world.

Consequently, if Yeshua was not the Messiah of Israel, then He was not the Savior of the world. He was a deceiver, not a prophet; a fraud, not a messenger sent by God. And if He did not fulfill the ancient prophecies of Moses and Isaiah and others, then His Jewish people were right in rejecting Him and the nations should not listen to Him. If He was not Israels Messiah, then Christianity is a lie.

To summarize the evidence of the New Covenant (New Testament) writings:

 Yeshua was called King of the Jews at His birth and at His death (Matthew 2:2; 27:37).

 Matthews Gospel introduced Him as Yeshua, the son of Abraham, the son of David (Matthew 1:1).

 He was given the title rabbi, not reverend (John 9:2).

 He said He did not come to abolish the Torah or Prophets but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17-20).

 He wore the fringes on His garments, as prescribed by the Torah (Luke 8:44, ESV, RSV, NASB, TLV).

 He said His first mission was to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6; 15:24)

 He said His message should be declared to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem (Luke 24:45b-47).

 When His first followers discovered Him, they exclaimed, Weve found the One that Moses in the Torah, and also the prophets, wrote about  Yeshua of Natzeret, the son of Joseph! (John 1:45, TLV).

 According to the writers of the Gospels, Yeshuas birth, life, death, and resurrection were all predicted in the Tanakh (read Matthew!).

 After His resurrection, Yeshua said to two of His followers (who had doubted that He would rise), How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? (Luke 24:2526, NIV).

 Not long after that, Yeshua spoke to His eleven core disciples, saying, These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you  everything written concerning Me in the Torah of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44, TLV).

 Several weeks later, speaking to a large crowd in Jerusalem at Shavuot (Pentecost), Peter said, And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days (Acts 3:24).

This is just the small tip of a very large (Jewish) iceberg, leading to one inescapable conclusion: either Yeshua the Jew is the Messiah of Israel or He is the Savior of no one. You cannot have a Jesus for the Gentiles and another Messiah for the Jews. It simply will not work.

That doesnt mean that Christians should try to force their faith on their Jewish friends and co-workers. God forbid. Hopefully, we have learned something from centuries of church-sponsored persecution of the Jewish people.

There should always be respect and love as we share our faith, and we should be quick to listen and slow to speak. At the same time, we must not accept the false dichotomy that Jesus is for the Gentiles and not for the Jews. That would turn the entire New Testament on its head.

To the contrary, the gospel remains the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile (Romans 1:16).

As a Jewish man myself, I am eternally grateful that Christians did not withhold the gospel from me in 1971. There was no greater gift they could have possibly given me in time and eternity.

Let the message go forth!
The guidelines on lockdown 4.0 released by the ministry of home affairs on Sunday, prohibiting movement of individuals between 7 pm and 7 am, has not gone down well with regular walkers in Chandigarh. With the summer turning on the heat day by day, they want a change in timings of relaxation hours.

Many senior citizens claim they wake up early and 7 am is too late for a walk. Brigadier Keshav Chandra (retd) , founding member and former president of Chandigarh senior citizens association, suggested morning timings be revised to coincide with sunrise timings. Retired army officers still wake up at first light which is 30 minutes before sunrise. We used to attend a morning yoga class before the Covid-19 epidemic. The morning timing should be revised to coincide with sunrise which is around 5.30 am till June, he said.

President of senior citizens council of Sector 38, Major (retd) DP Singh said, It is harmful for seniors to be walking outside after 7 am. Shifting the time to 6am or even 5am will be of great relief. The senior citizen bodies will ensure that seniors maintain social distancing and follow all safety norms.

A regular at Sukhna Lake for his evening walk, advocate Ajay Jagga now walks in Sectors 18 and 21 parks in the morning. He said, I see the governments logic in keeping relaxation hours limited. Preventing the spread of Covid is our priority. However, frankly speaking, more relaxation would be nice. The sun is too bright now and even if relaxation is extended to 6 am it would be a relief.

Several youngsters are asking for more relaxation in evening hours so they can go for a workout in parks after sunset, which happens around 7.10 pm these days. An employee with an e-commerce firm, Chirag Puri, said, Youngsters are working from home and work up till 6.30 pm. They dont have the chance to step out before 7 pm. We urge the administration to consider at least a 30-minute extension of relaxation period.

Meanwhile the police continues to register cases under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code against those found outdoors during the night curfew hours. Police have booked more 213 morning and evening walkers since March 24, when the curfew was declared in the city.
Four passengers, who arrived Goa on a train from Mumbai on Sunday, have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total tally of active cases in the coastal state to 26.

State health minister Vishwajit Rane confirmed that out of 100 samples of the passengers from Mumbai-Goa train four have tested positive.

The samples are sent to Goa Medical College and Hospital's virology lab for final confirmation, he said.

With these four cases, the number of COVID-19 cases detected on Sunday has gone up to 13. Overall, there are 26 active cases in the state.

The fresh infection has come from the train that arrived on Sunday from Mumbai.

"All the 26 patients have been admitted to a specially-designated COVID-19 hospital in Margao town," Rane said.

On May 1, Goa was declared as green zone after all the seven COVID-19 patients previously found in the state recovered. However, the coastal state has witnessed a spurt in the number of cases over the last few days.

However, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has claimed that there is no community transmission in the state.

Earlier during the day, six passengers from the Rajdhani Express train that arrived on Saturday have tested positive during last 24 hours.

Three workers, who were brought to Goa from neighbouring states as part of resumption of industrial units, have also tested positive, the official said.

During the day, the state tested 1,097 samples that were drawn on Sunday. Of them, 623 tested negative while 13 were found positive, the official from the state health department said.

The state government swung into action after passengers of the Rajadhani Express, which arrived on Saturday, tested positive.

State health minister Vishwajit Rane said the co- passengers, who travelled with the positive patients, have been taken to institutional quarantine of 14 days.

The state has moved to strengthen its testing facilities by installing additional rapid testing machines at its district hospitals in Margao, Mapusa and sub-district hospital in Ponda.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi government on Sunday issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for handling of dead bodies of COVID-19 patients.

The revised order on Sunday was in addition to an order issued by the AAP government last month on the basis of the guidelines given by the Centre.

The government has issued guidelines for deaths occurring in four scenarios -- death at hospital, death at a COVID care facility or testing centre, death at home or an unclaimed body.

According to the SOP, if the death occurs at a hospital or a COVID-19 patient is brought dead, the hospital will provide trained healthcare worker to handle the body.

"The hospital should provide a hearse van to carry the body to cremation/burial ground to ensure that no further infection is caused. A properly packed body will be handed over to relatives as per the government of India guidelines," it said.

Incase no relative is available, a hospital should store the body in a mortuary after ensuring proper disinfection, the SOP said.

It said a hospital should decide whether to carry out autopsy or not.

"Hearse van used must be brought back to designated area in the district and disinfected as per the protocol before using it again," it said.

Incase death occurs at a COVID care, COVID health centre or COVID testing centre, it will be managed by linked hospitals as if it has occurred at their hospital, except a hearse van will be provided by the district magistrate of the area to transport the body to a mortuary of the link COVID hospital and further for last rites, it aid.

In the third scenario, if a patient succumbs to the deadly virus at home, the relatives of the deceased should immediately inform the office of the district magistrate of their area of jurisdiction.

"The district magistrate shall immediately inform the nearest hospital in the district. The district magistrate of the area shall provide a hearse van to carry the body to the hospital and thereafter to the cremation/burial to ensure that no infection is caused," the SOP said.

A trained healthcare worker shall be provided by the designated hospital to the district magistrate for a hearse van.

"They will handle and pack the body ensuring proper disinfection as per the guidelines. The body will be brought to hospital for needful," it said.

Incase of an unclaimed body found at a public place and if the death is not falling in any of the category of COVID-19 deaths, the body would be handled by the agencies like Delhi Police, local bodies, it said.

Delhi reported 19 fresh coronavirus deaths on Sunday and 422 new infections, taking the total to 148 fatalities and 9,755 cases, the authorities said.

In a bulletin issued on Sunday, the Delhi Health Department said with 19 more fatalities reported, the death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 148.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
All my friends in art school used to run around with this sort of what you call Beatles haircut, Ms. Kirchherr told BBC Radio Merseyside in 1995. And my boyfriend then, Klaus Voormann, had this hairstyle, and Stuart liked it very very much. He was the first one who really got the nerve to get the Brylcreem out of his hair and [ask] me to cut his hair for him.
If you've lived and worked in Japan -- especially as an English teacher in Japanese schools, then you might know that the high-tech image of Japan is still somewhat of an illusion.

While Japanese companies are certainly at the forefront of producing modern technology for individual consumption, many offices are still using old technology like fax machines and many schools have terribly outdated classrooms. For example, some schools still don't have air conditioning in their buildings.

But schools in Tokyo are slowly moving towards modernization, as the Shibuya public school system demonstrates. It's just been announced that they're going to introduce Microsoft Surface Go 2 tablets at all of the public elementary and junior high schools in the ward to help students with their studies.

The Surface Go 2 was chosen as the ideal tablet for students because it not only meets the standard requirements necessary for the Ministry of Education's new Global Innovation and Gateway for All (GIGA) School curriculum, but also has the power to operate digital teaching tools. It also allows writing on the screen with the Surface Pen, has high-definition cameras on both sides, and is most suitable for the use of the GIGA School program package.

12,000 of the new tablets - which come with their own full-sized keyboard - will be introduced in Shibuya's 26 public elementary and junior high schools in September, though these aren't the first tablets the schools have used. Since 2017 the district has been supplying teachers and students with Microsoft tablets to help with their studies, but they've been working hard to be able to provide every student with a tablet. The introduction of the Surface Go 2 is a step towards that goal, as the intention is that every student will get their own Surface Go 2 to use in the classroom and take home.
In the emergency room an hour later, I sat on a hospital bed, alone and terrified, my finger hooked to a pulse-oxygen machine. To my right lay a man who could barely speak but coughed constantly. To my left was an older man who said that he had been sick for a month and had a pacemaker. He kept apologizing to the doctors for making so much trouble, and thanking them for taking such good care of him. I cant stop thinking about him even now.
San Francisco, May 17 : Microsoft is reportedly planning to ship its foldable smartphone Surface Duo this year with Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB RAM and 64GB or 256GB storage options.

According to Windows Central, the device will also feature a single 11MP camera sensor above the right display that will be used for both front and rear-facing photos and videos.

The smartphone houses two equal-sized 5.6-inch AMOLED displays. Each screen offers a 4:3 aspect ratio, 1800 x 1350 pixels resolution and 401ppi pixel density.

Surface Duo's two displays held together with a fully rotating hinge that can be adjusted to any angle and recently patent for this particular hinge mechanism has been published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

The device is loaded with Android 10 OS and is expected to come with apps from Microsoft.

Surface Duo will ship with a 3460mAh battery and will feature USB-C fast charging.

It won't support 5G, maxing out at 4G LTE speeds instead. It is also speculated that the device lacks support for wireless charging and NFC.


Mosaic Records reports that the first release of Paul DesmondThe Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings has sold out. The seven-CD set features the former Dave Brueck Quartet alto saxophonist with his prized Canadian rhythm section of guitarist Ed Bickert, bassist Don Thompson and drummer Jerry Fuller. Mosaics Michael Cuscuna says that he expects the next batch of pressings to be available by the end of May.

When after 17 years together the Brubeck Quartet disbanded, Desmond vacationed in the Caribbean, then retired to enjoy New York City, his home since, and long before, the Brubeck group disbanded. A notable exception was when he teamed with Bickert, Thompson and Fuller for a bit of touring that included engagements at Bourbon Street, the Toronto club whose congenial atmosphere was perfect for Desmonds relaxed approach and the ingenious variations he lavished on standard songs and original compositions including his own Take Five and Wendy. Bassist Thompson applied his audio engineering skills to recording the group at Bourbon Street. As I mention in the album notes, Desmond accepted the Canterino familys offer to play at the Half Note in New York because, as he put it, the club was so near his apartment that he could practically fall out of bed and onto the bandstand. Toronto wasnt so conveniently nearby, but he loved playing Bourbon Street. From an earlier release of some of the tracks, here are Desmond, Bickert, Thompson and Fuller with Wendy.

When the seven CDs of the Mosaic Bourbon Street set are again available, they will be found at: http://www.mosaicrecords.com/prodinfo.asp?number=269-MD-CD. Its good to have them back.
On behalf of myself and all north end residents, we would like to send a thank you out to Mayor Colin Basran for moving the homeless camp into our backyards.

Thank you for helping us realize that we all need to make our home, vehicles and personal belongings more secure against vandalism and theft.

Never, in 25 years of living in the north end, have we seen or heard of the number of vehicle break-ins and property thefts that have been occurring on a regular basis.

I personally invite you to come and see our beloved Knox Mountain Markets new plywood facade. Oh! and when you do, please consider bringing the citys cheque book.

Patti Suarez, Kelowna
Before the Tregidgos arrived in St. Anton on March 8, only China, Iran, South Korea and northern Italy had been declared danger zones by U.S. officials. The family says they checked an official Tyrol website that stated there was no risk of coronavirus. They were unaware that shortly before the barkeepers diagnosis, Icelandic officials had warned Austria of likely transmission within Ischgl. They even called their hotel for final reassurance. They said a receptionist told them the snow was great and everything was all right.
Bay Area counties mostly have been in lockstep in their response to the coronavirus since the first shelter-in-place orders took effect two months ago, but as outbreaks begin to subside, counties are starting down divergent paths, and that parting of ways is causing some confusion and impatience across the region.

Even as Bay Area cases crossed the 10,000 mark last week, variations in how the pandemic has affected the nine counties were thrown into stark relief, especially with regard to a new California directive allowing regions to reopen their economies at their own pace.

Suddenly the three North Bay counties that have been less dramatically affected by the virus than their southern siblings are straining to push ahead toward reopening. And the remaining six counties  the ones that collectively issued the first shelter-in-place orders in the United States on March 16  are lagging behind. And they too are starting to diverge, though less strikingly so.

The health officers across the Bay Area, we are still working in very close coordination. We communicate on a daily basis, even over the weekends, said Dr. Chris Farnitano, the Contra Costa County health officer. It does make sense that rural counties should be able to open up at a faster pace and urban counties need to go slower. We just have to be really careful and really watch our numbers. Were all trying to figure out how to open up and do it in a safe way.

California has been under a blanket shelter-in-place directive for nearly two months. It required 40 million people to stay home unless absolutely necessary, and in much of the state, it kept a smoldering coronavirus outbreak from raging into an uncontrolled conflagration. The state hasnt been spared, but its burden  about 195 cases per 100,000 residents  is far below hard-hit places such as New York, where nearly 1,800 residents of every 100,000 have been infected.

But the case rate has varied dramatically across California too. A handful of counties havent reported a single case. Among the far northern counties, only Humboldt has reported more than 50 cases. But Los Angeles County has more than 36,000 cases  nearly half the states total.

It was those variances, along with mounting pressure from some county-level politicians begging for relief from economic shutdowns, that led Gov. Gavin Newsom to begin steering the state this month down different roads to recovery.

But its already confusing to keep up with whats allowed and whats not across all 58 California counties. Los Angeles public health officials said last week that they expect the county to remain under strict stay-home orders through July. Meanwhile, 22 counties, mostly in rural Northern California or the Sierra, have been granted permission to more fully reopen ahead of the state schedule; in some places, restaurants and shopping centers were opening late last week.

And the Bay Area, though often perceived as a largely homogeneous territory, is seeing the full range of responses in this early phase of reopening.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

Three Bay Area counties  Napa, Sonoma and Solano  were planning to apply to Newsom for a pass to reopen early. The three counties have been least impacted by the coronavirus, with a combined 864 cases and 23 deaths as of Saturday. But none of them meets the strict criteria set by the governor to fast-track reopening. All have said they would ask for waivers anyway.

Five other Bay Area counties are more gradually inching toward reopening. San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties have agreed to allow curbside retail, plus manufacturing and warehouse operations, to resume starting Monday. Contra Costa and Alameda counties expect to issue similar orders on Monday if their case counts remained stable over the weekend.

Only Santa Clara County  hit earliest and hardest of the Bay Area counties  has not publicly discussed plans to budge from strict shelter-in-place restrictions that allow for only essential businesses and some outdoor-only operations.

Sheltering in place needed to happen simultaneously to be the most effective, said Dr. Erica Pan, the Alameda County health officer. Now that were looking at this from the other perspective, we definitely have really different case rates here in Alameda County compared to somewhere like Napa and Sonoma. It makes sense that they could be a little ahead or more aggressive about reopening.

A couple of weeks ago, Marin County Health Officer Matt Willis said during a town hall meeting that the Bay Area counties may end up in a friendly competition to meet certain goals to safely reopen. And in a way, thats how its playing out.

The six counties that had been acting as one with their stay-home orders recently announced indicators they would use to determine when it is safe to reopen. All of the counties are doing well on metrics that show case counts and hospital numbers staying flat or decreasing. But theyre struggling to varying degrees to meet important targets for containing future outbreaks  in particular, testing enough residents and building up teams to investigate cases.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

But San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties have pulled ahead of the others on testing  and those three happen to be the ones that are first to ease restrictions and allow most retailers to open for curbside business.

Beverly Weinkauf, who lives in Marin County but operates a small clothing shop in San Francisco, said she whooped for joy when she heard Wednesday that Mayor London Breed was going to allow businesses like hers to reopen. She planned to spend the weekend readying her Fillmore district store for curbside sales on Monday.

She said that with her business almost entirely shut down, she struggled with not knowing when she might be able to go back to work and what her future might look like. Just having some answers now is a huge relief.

Weve been sitting here on pins and needles, or twiddling our thumbs, baking cookies. Weve been living with uncertainty, she said. And I know there are plenty of books on how to deal with uncertainty, but it gets you a little wonky, to tell you the truth.

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.

Public health experts said they get that  and its on their minds as they try to communicate sometimes confusing, even contradictory orders to their communities. Its especially important as counties set off on different courses, and people start to wonder why an activity is allowed in one place but not another.

We totally understand intervention fatigue, Pan said. Thats why she tries to keep Alameda County residents updated and talk about the next steps toward reopening. Thats the danger we have of not slowly allowing new things to reopen. People get antsy.

For example, even though the North Bay counties may be opening restaurants and similar businesses soon, that doesnt mean San Francisco or East Bay residents should be planning trips to Wine Country. Lake Tahoe-area counties have specifically disinvited visitors as they slowly reopen.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

And just because some shelter-in-place restrictions are relaxing doesnt mean people should stop social distancing, public health officials said.

The most important thing we can do to protect ourselves are still those things that are within our own control. Its the everyday behaviors  covering our face, handwashing, keeping 6 feet apart. Our collective adherence to these things matters, said Willis, the Marin County health officer.

Public health experts said it makes sense that the counties are emerging from shelter-in-place at different paces, depending on a variety of factors beyond just the local burden of disease. Some counties may feel more prepared than others to control the virus in their community, based on their ability to test large numbers of people, and quickly investigate and isolate new cases as theyre reported.

County health officers also may face differing degrees of political pressure to reopen, depending on local circumstances. North Bay business and political leaders in the past week or two have been pushing public health officials to move faster toward economic recovery, in large part because they view the economic burdens of a shutdown increasingly more problematic than the virus.

It can come down to personalities too, said Stephen Shortell, former dean of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Some health officers may simply be less conservative than others  and therefore more interested in testing the waters and easing social restrictions ahead of the pack.

I dont think theres a big danger of this soft opening of a few counties, Shortell said. What we have here is an opportunity to learn quickly from this natural experiment. Lets see what happens in these counties after 14 days. If things are going well, then we can feel safer and encouraged to do the same.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Shwanika Narayan contributed to this report.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday
Chron.com is following the latest headlines on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Houston area.

4:30 p.m.

A mass food distribution event has been slated for Monday, May 18 from 2 p.m to 7 p.m. at NRG Stadium's Yellow lot.

HISD and the Houston Food Bank rescheduled the mass food distribution event after severe weather threatened the Houston area on Saturday.

Event organizers want to remind families to keep social distancing practices in mind when heading to the site.

9:25 a.m.

Starting tomorrow, Monday, May 18, the next phase of business re-openings will launch in Texas, as a part of Governor Greg Abbott's plan. Gyms, nonessential manufacturing and work offices can reopen and operate at 25% capacity with social distancing now in place. Other venues will still be closed including video arcades, water parks, massage establishments, tattoo studios and bowling alleys.

8:05 a.m.

There are now 4,662,534 confirmed cases worldwide, with a global death toll rising to 312,274, according to Johns Hopkins University as of Sunday morning. Texas Health and Human Services reports 46,999 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,305 deaths. There are now 9,126 cases of coronavirus in Harris County.

7:15 a.m.

Yesterday marked the biggest single-day jump in confirmed COVID-19 cases in Texas since the pandemic began, Jeremy Wallace reports.

Texas reported 1,801 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday. More than 700 new cases were reported out of Amarillo on Saturday with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott warning those numbers will continue to climb as the state increases testing in that hot spot.

Officials reported 13,077 cases in the Houston region Saturday, up 140 cases or 1.1 percent from Friday, according to the Chronicle's Stephanie Lamm.
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The global security labels market is driven by factors such as strong growth in the food & beverage industry and rising demand in consumer durables, retail, and pharmaceutical supply industries. Security labels are used to provide authentic protection to merchandise. At the time of receipt when boxes are unpacked, merchandise contain appropriate accession security labels.

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The global security labels market is consists of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). The Asia Pacific region dominates the global security labels market on account of rapid growth in the retail industry. As the retail industry increases, the demand for the security labels increases mainly due to the rising the incidence of theft in the retail industry.

Growing manufacturing activities such as consumer good, also have the positive influence on ther growth of the market. As disposable income increases, the purchase power of the consumer increases which creating a huge opportunity to the global security labels market. China, Indonesia, India, and Japan are the crucial contributor to Asia Pacific market. China accounts for the largest share of the regional market due to the largest demand from the food & beverage, and good consumer industry.

Security labels market, by identification method, is classified into three segments, namely bar codes, radio-frequency identification, and holographic. Bar codes present a cost-effective and reliable method for collecting any kind of necessary data. Bar codes are widely used by industries such as consumer durables, retail, and transportation & logistics for keeping a track of their products, as well as for tracing outgoing shipments and equipment.

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In case of pharmaceuticals, safe labeling is of highest importance. As conventional labeling is less durable, it can mislead the patient and might be dangerous. In 2016, the North America pharmaceutical industry generated around US$ 450 billion. This exhibits that the demand for pharmaceutical drugs is expected to increase during the forecast period. Pharmaceutical industry being one of the major end use industry, the value for global security labels market is also expected to increase during the forecast period.

Some of the top market players are 3M Company, Honeywell International Inc., UPM Raflatac Ltd, Avery Dennison Corporation, CCL Industries Inc., Tesa SE, Security Labels International, Group DC, Colour Data UK Ltd

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After Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Michael battered Florida in successive years, in 2017 and 2018, the federal government sent $7 billion to aid the recoveries. We are all Americans, and people of Florida were innocent victims who needed our help. No one argued it.

But that patriotic reflex is missing now, in New Jerseys hour of need. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is resisting what he calls a blue state bailout. And GOP Sen. Rick Scott, who was governor of Florida during both hurricanes, hit the same note on the Senate floor Wednesday.

We are bailing out liberal politicians who cannot live within their means, said Scott.

I offer this infuriating snapshot to praise Sen. Robert Menendez. He must want to burn down the Senate, but hes choking that down, and instead skillfully maneuvering to gather Republican support for a $500 billion rescue package, sponsoring a bipartisan bill that is sculpted to win the 13 GOP votes needed to overcome a filibuster.

Its a well-constructed bill that could win support from both sides, says Rutgers Professor Ross Baker, a leading scholar of the Senate. Menendez is a serious guy, and in the Senate you develop a reputation as a person people want to partner with. Menendez is a regarded as a heavyweight. Whatever problems hes had in the past, hes managed to overcome. Im impressed.

New Jersey is fighting for its life in Washington. The pandemic will cost us between $20 billion and $30 billion through next year, according to Gov. Phil Murphy, a combination of lost tax revenue and emergency expenses. The states annual budget is about $40 billion.

That math is impossible. McConnells pinched approach would force mass layoffs of public workers at all levels, along with punishing tax hikes that would kneecap our recovery. Thats the future McConnell has in mind for New Jersey. Thanks, Mitch, well remember.

Back to Menendez. His task is a delicate one. Because the bipartisanship we briefly saw in the early days of the crisis has broken down, according to Menendez and several member of New Jerseys House delegation. The first four rescue bills provided $3 trillion in aid, with broad support. But the Democratic House wants to send $3 trillion more, with $1 trillion earmarked for aid to state and local governments.

Menendez knows the Republican Senate will not pass that bill, so his task is to get what he realistically can. He partnered with Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican doctor from Louisiana, one of a handful of hard-hit red states. He focused on aid to state and local governments, and cut the House allotment in half, to $500 billion. He agreed to disperse some of the money based on population to draw support in red states, even though it obviously makes more sense to allot it based on need. Hes making the painful compromises that grown ups have to make in politics.

You should send assistance to where the disaster is, but theres also the reality of getting something done, Menendez says. And the reality is that to get something done, we need 60 votes.

Menendez needs 13 Republican votes, assuming Democrats stick together. He says he has two nailed down, two more very close, and he says as the crisis deepens across a variety of states, hell get more. That will be a natural draw, unfortunately, he says.

Remember this moment, though. Even if Menendez succeeds, well get less than we need and deserve. Instead of help, were getting pompous lectures about how to manage our own affairs.

Scott says blue states put themselves in a bind by spending too much on pensions for public workers and other programs. What nerve.

New Jersey is a donor state, one of the sugar daddies that sends more to Washington than we get back. That cost us $11.5 billion last year, more than double our pensions costs. To put it another way, if we stopped subsidizing Washington, we could solve our pension problem in a snap, and have a giant surplus left over.

McConnells state, Kentucky, is a leading parasite, taking in $45 billion more than it sends to Washington each year. So who really needs to get their house in order, senator? Who is really getting the bailout?

Menendez deserves a raise for putting up with this every day, working to contain the damage. He hasnt been tested for the virus yet, and so has not met his third granddaughter, a newborn. Hes concerned about the debt hes leaving them but says it would be even larger if we let the economy sink into Depression, a real risk if this drags on long enough.

I am conscious of what Im bequeathing them, he said of his grandchildren. But I wont bequeath them anything if we dont get through this.

In my darker moments, I wonder if Abe Lincoln was such a genius after all for holding this country together and barring states from leaving. Maybe its time for blue states to break away, with amnesty for any American who wants to join our side. We could invite in Canada while were at it.

Yes, Im kidding. But next time a hurricane hits Florida, its going to take a special effort to block out this moment and do the right thing. And thats no joke.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
We MUST not let the militant Left use the coronavirus to get what they want.

All the zealots of tight state control and interference, the self-serving unions and the enthusiasts for taxing us until the pips squeak, see this epidemic as an opportunity. Their motto is 'Never let a good crisis go to waste', and they are as good as their word.

But this country last December elected a Conservative Government headed by Boris Johnson. And while that Government has had to react decisively and with unprecedented measures to the spread of Covid-19, it was most definitely not swept into office by people who wanted a more socialist Britain.

Its election was a rejection, across the broadest possible front, of everything that Jeremy Corbyn stood for. That is why seats which had been held by Labour for a century tumbled into Tory hands. People wanted free enterprise, personal liberty, low taxation, Brexit and good government in general.

They still want these things  though they understand very well that immediate and temporary priorities require that some of them should be laid aside for a short while. The key is that the temporary must not become the permanent.

We MUST not let the militant Left use the coronavirus to get what they want, the Mail on Sunday believes (Pictured: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer)

So Mr Johnson must be careful not to allow the national response to be hijacked and diverted by Corbynites, or by Blairites either. There is a conservative, sensible way of handling this, and it is the one he should follow.

One vital point at which this can be demonstrated is in the battle to reopen the schools. As The Mail on Sunday reports in detail today, any serious person must grasp that it is the underprivileged who are suffering most of all from the closure of our education system.

The independent schools make every effort to find room for pupils from poorer homes, but they cannot possibly substitute for the much larger state system.

Yet while the private schools have made tough, well-organised arrangements to ensure serious disciplined home learning continues, many state schools seem to be failing to do anything effective at all.

One parent of children attending one of the most prestigious state schools in the country found that her youngsters had received only two identifiable lessons, and that supervision and proper homework were virtually non-existent.

If this is happening in the best schools, imagine the position in those less favoured. If there is any serious monitoring of state schooling, there is little sign of it. And remember that in the less well-off homes of Britain, children often have no quiet space in which to work. They do not have laptops readily available, or even the good broadband necessary for serious home learning.

This country last December elected a Conservative Government headed by Boris Johnson (pictured). And while that Government has had to react decisively and with unprecedented measures to the spread of Covid-19, it was most definitely not swept into office by people who wanted a more socialist Britain

Pictured: Boris Johnson is joined on the doorstep of Number 10 by his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, to clap for carers on Thursday

It is important to stress here that the damage being done is permanent. A Norwegian study has shown that time lost in schooling can seldom be recovered in later life. Every week of formal schooling lost now reduces the affected children's chances of going to university and lowers their lifetime potential earnings.

Meanwhile, the evidence also suggests that the dangers of coronavirus being passed on by children are tiny, while the dangers to the young are also small.

What person seriously concerned with the welfare of the poor  as the Left claim incessantly to be  cannot see that this is an unanswerable argument for a rapid reopening of the schools?

Yet the main teachers' body, the National Education Union, which has long been a fortress of the Left, is not budging. And it is backed by the British Medical Association, by Liverpool City Council and by other predictably radical luminaries such as Baroness Chakrabarti.

All of them have lined up to help keep the disadvantaged children they claim to care about away from the schooling they so badly need. If this is the Left's true attitude to those it claims to represent, no wonder it is increasingly rejected at the polls.

Interestingly, in SNP-run Scotland, where Left-wing ideas dominate and the Tory party is weak, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has flatly declared 'it is not going to be the case that schools are back to normal in any way, shape or form this side of the summer holidays'.

This is one of many ways in which the devolved administrations of the UK have taken the opportunity of the virus crisis to push for more power at the expense of Westminster, or just to defy Downing Street.

Mr Johnson and his Education Secretary Gavin Williamson are absolutely right to fight against this unattractive alliance of dogma and self-interest, and for the freedom of children in England to get the education they need. But it is not only in the schools that radicals have sought to use the crisis for their own ends.

Pictured: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer holds up a print of a government document detailing coronavirus deaths in the UK and abroad during PMQs last week

London's Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan has managed to complain about reasonable conditions for a 1.6 billion government bailout for the capital's transport system. And admirers of green heroine Greta Thunberg see the lockdown as an opportunity to push for impractical anti-car and anti-flying measures, weirdly assuming that the effects of a national emergency can simply be continued when the country goes back to work.

Then there is the BBC, whose role in the crisis has been to take every opportunity to criticise the Government and to heap sycophantic praise on the new Labour leader and former lawyer Sir Keir Starmer. Do they even now not understand that this is not part of their job?

What did BBC News' political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, think she was doing when she tweeted of a clash between the PM and the Opposition leader that 'the lawyer' was 'beating the showman hands down'? Licence-fee payers do not part with their cash to finance partisan commentary of this kind. What they rightly expect of a BBC political editor is cool, impartial analysis backed by deep knowledge.

Could it be that the exceptional circumstances of the Covid-19 lockdown have caused Ms Kuenssberg and many of her colleagues to forget that the rules still apply? Or do they just think nobody will notice? If so, they badly need to be reminded that the BBC Charter and Agreement remain in place, and firmly require political impartiality from top to bottom.

All these Leftish campaigns must be resisted. But within the Government there is also some fighting to do. There is a danger of being carried away by the sense of urgency, in directions which Conservatives should resist. The extension of the furlough scheme to October announced last week may well have been a step too far in what the country can afford, or in what is wise. The absurd late imposition of quarantine on returning travellers  after weeks of inaction while such a measure might have been some use  could be the last straw for an airline industry which is genuinely on its knees.

In all directions, Boris Johnson needs to seize control of the agenda, not to let the liberal elite hijack the crisis for their own ends, and to ensure that the Britain that emerges from its current problems is, as nearly as it can be, the country which millions voted for last December.
Vuong Thi Ngoc Lan, a specialist at the HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, has brought hope to thousands of infertile couples in Vietnam through a study about the efficiency between the transfer of fresh or frozen embryos in women

without polycystic ovaries for in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Vuong Thi Ngoc Lan performs egg retrieval, a step used for IVF, to show foreign trainees.  Photo courtesy of Vuong Thi Ngoc Lan

It shows that the transfer of frozen embryos yielded similar results to fresh ones, and the research has helped doctors and patients make better choices and increase the chance of success of IVF while reducing complications.

Lan, 49, is among three scientists nominated for the 2020 Ta Quang Buu Award.

Im happy to be nominated for the award because it acknowledges scientists' efforts and successes, she told Viet Nam News.

Her research paper was published by the New England Journal of Medicine in 2018.

The findings were concluded after Lan and her colleagues had randomly studied 782 infertile women without polycystic ovary syndrome who had undergone IVF.

The research proved that it was not necessary to transfer all fresh embryos but freeze them and transfer only one embryo per cycle. The method would reduce the risk of ovarian stimulation as well as multiple pregnancies.

The research suggested frozen embryo transfer shouldnt be used for all IVF cases because it cost more money and lengthened the treatment period.

The transfer of frozen embryos should be applied for women who are at risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome to reach a higher rate of success.

According to Lan, choosing the right method of embryo transfer was a problem that doctors at IVF centres around the world and Vietnam faced every day.

In the past, when performing IVF, the transfer of fresh embryos was used for most patients and many embryos were transferred at the same time, leading to the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation and multiple pregnancies.

Then, in 2011, after the embryo freezing technique was improved, many IVF centres around the world switched to freezing whole embryos and transferring them to patients.

In Vietnam, it is estimated that about 30,000 women seek IVF treatment each year.

The research paper gave doctors and patients clear answers on whether they should transfer fresh embryos or frozen ones for the most effective treatment, according to Lan.

Her whole career has been associated with the development of IVF in Vietnam. In 1997, when she graduated from Pham Ngoc Thach Medical University, Lan volunteered to assist her mother, former director of Tu Du Hospital in HCM City, and pioneer the IVF technique in Vietnam.

To help her mother, she took records and monitored patients.

At that time, a team of experts from France came to Vietnam to support the first IVF cases. Lan was chosen to be one of the first Vietnamese doctors involved in the team to perform IVF thanks to her careful, meticulous and prudent work.

One of the first three babies who was born in 1998 thanks to IVF was named after her and Ho Manh Tuong (also a team member who later become her husband)  Pham Tuong Lan Thy  as thanks from a young couple, Lan recalled.

My colleagues and I are moved to tears whenever we see families bursting with joy as they welcome their children. That is also the motivation for me to continue my efforts and support infertile couples to fulfill their wishes of having children, she said.

In the beginning, facing difficulties and a low rate of pregnancy success (15 per cent), Lan and her colleagues had many sleepless nights.

My heart hurt when I saw couples who had raised their hopes only to be disappointed. Some even broke up after several unsuccessful IVF attempts.

The failures did not put her or the other doctors at Tu Du Hospital down, but encouraged them to try even harder.

There were times that Lan and her husband spent the whole day at the hospital to find the optimal method of IVF to gradually increase the success rate, bringing good news to infertile couples.

Over the past 20 years, they have directly treated more than 20,000 infertile couples. Thus, Lan is called by many people "the mother of thousands of children".

In 1998, she was presented the Kovalevskaya Award for the first IVF project in Vietnam. In 2017, she was voted by Forbes magazine as one of the 50 most influential women in the country.

Sharing her experience, Lan said it took her a year to write, edit the research paper and fulfill the requirements for the journal, adding that it was revised 20 times.

However, she still feels lucky as thousands of articles from around the world are sent to the journal every week, and only 5 per cent of submissions are published.

It's been a long and interesting journey. The most important thing is that my colleagues and I have gained valuable experiences for our next research project, Lan said.

In the Asia Pacific region, Vietnam is among the countries with the lowest fertility rates and highest infertility rates.

A study of more than 14,300 couples aged 15 to 49 in eight provinces and cities by the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Hanoi University of Pharmacy in 2015 showed that the infertility rate in the country stood at 7.7 per cent, while the global rate was 6-12 per cent. VNS

Where life starts blooming Doctor Nguyen Thi Nhas email inbox is full of photos of babies with beaming smiles and heart-touching messages of gratitude.
The Chinese Ambassador to Israel, Du Wei, was found dead in his Herzliya home on Sunday (May 17), Jerusalem Post quoted a Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry official as saying.

It is learnt that police are currently at the envoy's home and probing the incident. The Chinese embassy, however, is yet to confirm the reports of Du's death.

Army Radio claims that the investigators have not found any signs of violence, which means that it is likely that Du passed from a heart attack.

Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Yuval Rotem spoke to China's Deputy Ambassador to Israel Dai Yuming, and expressed his condolences over the death.

Rotem assured that the Israeli government will provide all necessary help to the Chinese government in this matter.

The family of 52-year-old Du was not in Israel when the incident happened. Du took charge as Chinese Ambassador to Israel in February, having served as Chinese ambassador to Ukraine before that.
The United States will donate 200 medical ventilators to Russia after the country saw a spike in new coronavirus cases, Voice of America (VOA) has reported.



The first 50 ventilators will be shipped to Moscow next week with the remaining arriving on May 26, the news agency said on May 16, citing U.S. government communications.



During a call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on May 8, U.S. President Donald Trump offered to send the nation ventilators as it reported record new cases of COVID-19.



Trump later said that Putin accepted the offer.

However, a Kremlin readout of the call made no mention of that. Russia has not confirmed the VOA report.



Russia now has the second-highest total of reported COVID-19 cases after a surge of new infections over the past month. The United States has the largest number of reported cases globally.



Russia in April sent ventilators to the United States as cities like New York faced a shortage. Washington said it had paid for the equipment.

Based on reporting by VOA
[This article appeared earlier in Mainstream, VOL LVIII No 22, New Delhi, May 16, 2020 and is reproduced here for educational and non-commercial use]

by Sobhanlal Datta Gupta*

It was May, 1995, exactly 25 years ago. Hari Vasudevan (Calcutta University), Purabi Roy (Jadavpur University) and I myself (Calcutta University) were in Moscow for two months, working as a team sent by The Asiatic Society, Calcutta in connection with a project of collection of documents from the newly opened Soviet archives on Indo-Russian Relations : 1917-1947. This project was the result of a Protocol signed between The Asiatic Society, Calcutta and Moscowas Institute of Oriental Studies. With extremely limited funding we were expected to prepare catalogues of as many documents as possible and bring home photocopies/microfilms of those documents which we considered most important, depending, of course, upon their accessibility. It was a Herculean job, since we had no idea of the materials we had to handle. Working on hundreds and hundreds of documents, cataloguing and copying them (in many cases because of paucity of funds and since we had no laptop, quite often we had to take down a document by hand) demanded a division of labour. While Purabidi worked in the State Archives of the Russian Federation (GARF), Archives of the Ministry of External Affairs (MID), Russian State Military Historical Archive (RGVIA), Hari and I worked in the former Central Party Archives, Institute of Marxism-Leninism (now known as Russian State Archive for Social and Political History or RGASPI ).

In Moscow Hari and I stayed together in the same apartment. Every morning normally we used to leave for our destination by 9AM so that we could catch the metro on time. I was struck by his culinary skill, since I was a complete novice in the art of cooking. A person of fine taste and a connoisseur of food and drinks , his presence was always so enviable everywhere ! His proficiency in Russian language and his familiarity with Moscow greatly facilitated our stay. Extremely jovial as he was, he had many friends, especially among the journalists in Moscow. He had very good contacts in the Indian Embassy too. This greatly helped us in booking our return flight to India in July, since our open ticket posed a big problem in the summer rush.

Coming to our archival work, both of us decided to work in the Comintern section, since this was the biggest repository of materials on India. Incidentally, it should be mentioned here that Harias primary area of research was pre-revolutionary Russia. But his encounter with the Comintern archives enthused him so much that he now became passionately interested in the activities of the Indian revolutionaries in the Soviet Union. This led him to collect materials on the Ghadar Party, training of Indians in the Communist University of The Toilers of the East (KUTV), the transcripts of the Indian Commission in Comintern, the Soviet Communist Patyas perception of India at the time of independence, as revealed in a conversation between S.A. Dange and Yuri Zhdanov on 16 August, 1947 in Moscow. Our work in the archives was greatly facilitated by the support extended to us by R.B. Rybakov, Director, Institute of Oriental Studies, Moscow, P.M. Shastitko, T. Zagorodnikova, A. Kolesnikov and last, but not the least, M.A. Sidorov. Valuable inputs were provided by Leonid Mirokhin and M.A. Persits, two most distinguished scholars working on the period we covered, when we met them in Moscow. To cut down photocopying costs, Hari collected a vast range of material on microfilm and M.A. Sidorov was a big help in this regard.

On our return, Purabidi and I joined The Asiatic Society in 1996 for a fixed term, taking leave from our respective Universities. Hari remained in the Department of History, Calcutta University, while very actively collaborating with us in the indexing of the documents which we had collected and preparation of two volumes of the archival materials, proposed to be published by The Asiatic Society. This involved editing, translation, providing annotations and biographical notes. Parallel to this work, which was extremely laborious and time-consuming, we had already commenced work on publication of a checklist of the documents we had worked on in the Russian archives. The first volume of this Checklist was published by The Asiatic Society in 1997 under the title Purabi Roy, Hari Vasudevan, Sobhanlal Datta Gupta (Eds), Indo-Russian Relations : 1917-1947. Checklist of Documents. Vol. I (Calcutta : The Asiatic Society, 1997). By going through this Checklist it was now possible for the first time to have a glimpse of the materials on India which the closely guarded Soviet archives contained. The documentation provided the title of each document, its archival location, the folio and file reference. For a researcher this was an invaluable guide to the Soviet archives on Indo-Russian relations 1917-1947.

Thereafter, as we proceeded in our work on the publication of the texts of the documents, we began to face insurmountable resistance, quite surprisingly, from a section of the Left establishment in West Bengal. We were threatened, maligned and discouraged not to proceed with this work any further and ridiculed for our research on documents which were described as afakea and adoctoreda . Eventually, after fighting a relentless battle against this calumny between 1996 and 2000 we could publish two volumes of these documents under the title Purabi Roy, Hari Vasudevan, Sobhanlal Datta Gupta (Eds), Indo-Russian Relations : 1917-1947.Select Documents from the Archives of the Russian Federation. Part I : 1917-1928 ; Part II : 1929-1947 (Calcutta : The Asiatic Society, 1999 and 2000). It needs, however, to be known today that a large part of this documentation was prepared by the three of us clandestinely, at times in Calcutta University and in Purabidias and my house. Quite often, in order to ensure Harias participation, we had to organize these meetings beyond office hours , so that he could join after his classes in the University were over. This took days and months and in each session Harias presence was absolutely indispensable. Purabidi did not have any computer, I had just acquired one and was yet to start off, while Hari had already developed the skill and did most of the typographical work on computer, apart from providing valuable inputs to the organization of the two volumes.

Our findings from the Russian archives, however, evinced hardly any interest in the academic circles of West Bengal. While Hari and I knocked at many doors, the pet reply that we used to get from many established Left intellectuals was that privately they were keen to know about and discuss our research, but publicly they could not proceed in this matter for fear of being ablacklisteda . In the period 1995-2000 only three events could be organized. Immediately after our return, in 1995, on the initiative of Professor Anil Kumar Sarkar, the then General Secretary of The Asiatic Society, who was instrumental in launching the project of Indo-Russian Relations and signing the Protocol with the Russian Federation, a day long seminar was organized at The Asiatic Society where we made our presentations. This was followed (I do not remember the exact year) by a meeting privately organized by the late Professor Buddhadeva Bhattacharyya, a distinguished Marxist intellectual and my senior colleague in the Department of Political Science, Calcutta University, where we shared our findings with a small audience. Thereafter, as we were nearing completion of the two volumes of documents amidst great difficulties, Hari came out with the idea of organizing an exhibition of the select documents which went into the making of these volumes. This was a wonderful idea but our problem was that in Kolkata it was not possible to hold this event for reasons already explained. Hari then single-handedly organized this exhibition in 1999 at the India International Centre, New Delhi, which was supported by The Asiatic Society, braving many hurdles. It was an exhibition of photocopies of select documents from the Soviet archives, accompanied by annotations. Among the many distinguished visitors I still remember the presence of Professor Sumit Sarkar and Tanika Sarkar who so warmly appreciated the exhibition and the efforts of Hari in making this event so successful.

The stock of materials from the Russian archives was so huge that they could not be accommodated in the two volumes published by The Asiatic Society in 1999-2000. We had to set aside a stock of materials, exclusively in Russian, a large part of which had been collected by Hari on microfilm. They had to be accommodated in a separate volume and involved translation costs. Meanwhile our terms in The Asiatic Society were over and there was a change of guard in the Society. In the new situation we submitted a proposal for publication of a third volume, which would complete the project on Indo-Russian Relations 1917-1947. Since we were no longer connected with The Asiatic Society in any official capacity, we stated in our proposal that we would voluntarily lend our expertise to the continuation of the project the only important financial component of which was the engagement of a good translator by the Society. Not to our surprise, the proposal was cold-shouldered and The Asiatic Society project thus remained incomplete.

Thereafter Hari quite often used to discuss with Purabidi and me the idea of bringing out a second Checklist of documents collected from the Russian archives since the publication of the first Checklist in 1997 by The Asiatic Society, as mentioned earlier. Meanwhile Hari and Purabidi had undertaken several trips to Russia and supplemented our first collection with new stock. This was facilitated by Harias joining the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS), Kolkata as Director and Purabidias association with this Institute as Project Fellow. Consequently, in 2012, again on the sole initiative of Hari, it was possible to bring out, under the auspices of MAKAIAS, the second Checklist entitled Purabi Roy, Sobhanlal Datta Gupta and Hari Vasudevan (Eds.), Indo-Russian Relations : 1917-1947. Select Archives of the Former Soviet Union. An Inventory (Delhi : Shipra Publications, 2012). This volume followed the same style of indexing of documents which was adopted in the 1997 publication. These two volumes taken together constitute, till now, the best possible guide to materials on Indo-Russian relations 1917-1947 in the Russian archives. The two volumes cover materials located in the following archives : Russian State Archive for Social and Political History (RGASPI), State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF), State archive of the Russian Economy (GAE), Archives of the Academy of Sciences, Central Archives of the October Revolution, St. Petersburg, Archives of the Ministry of External affairs (MID) and Russian State Military Historical Archive (RGVIA).

Since the opening of the Russian archives, especially after Hari joined the MAKAIAS, he developed a passionate interest in the archives of the former Soviet Union. His untimely death is a lethal blow to archival research on India-Russia relations covering pre-revolutionary, revolutionary and post-revolutionary Russia. In the foreseeable future it will be impossible to fill this void. Harias demise has gripped me with a sense of emptiness. I am trying my best to accept the unacceptable.

* The author is Former Surendra Nath Banerjee Professor of Political Science, University of Calcutta
21:52

Railways on Sunday said only Shramik Specials, other special trains, and parcel and freight services will operate during the fourth phase of lockdown, beginning on May 18.





The national transporter, which has cancelled all its regular passenger services till June 30, said the guidelines issued during Lockdown 3.0 will be in force as far as rail operations are concerned.





While parcel and freight trains were in operation through all the lockdown periods which began on May 25, the Railways began running Shramik Special trains to ferry migrants from May 1 and 15 pairs of special trains on the Rajdhani route for the general public under certain restrictions.





"There is no change in rail operations. It will be same as in Lockdown 3. The Shramik Special trains and the 15 pairs of special trains will continue to run along with our freight and parcel services," railway spokesperson RD Bajpai said.





The fourth phase of lockdown will continue till May 31. -- PTI


Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

He was coughing and complaining of dizziness.

When the man was taken to a hospital, doctors determined he had COVID-19. It was early April, and Gallups sprawling detox center had its first confirmed case of the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.

And officials at the Nanizhoozhi Center Inc. soon learned the patient had come into contact with at least 170 other people, potentially exposing them to the virus. Doctors have told the Journal that 110 of those people have tested positive, although an Indian Health Service official said it was about one-third of the people exposed.

In any case, medical officials say the outbreak contributed to the high number of COVID-19 cases in McKinley County, reverberating throughout the community and surrounding areas, as patients returned to their homes and came into contact with family members before they knew they had been exposed.

In one case, a man who had been exposed at the center returned home to his relatives on the Navajo Nation, infecting four of them with the virus. His mother, a woman in her 70s, died.

Im really upset, the mans cousin, Tammy Arnold, told the Journal. I think my aunt would have still been here.

The New Mexico Department of Health isnt saying how many cases can be tied to the detox center, but McKinley County and surrounding areas have emerged as COVID-19 hot spots. McKinley County now has 1,864 cases of COVID-19  31% of New Mexicos cases  despite only having 3.5% of the states population.

Officials with the Indian Health Service have said the high number of virus cases in McKinley County can be at least partly attributed to the outbreak at the detox center.

At Gallup Indian Medical Center, we saw a large jump because of an unsheltered population being exposed in a congregate situation, Dr. Loretta Christensen, the chief medical officer for the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, said in a phone call with reporters on April 30. A lot of positive cases from that one event really increased Gallups numbers.

Earlier that month, on April 16, when Roselyn Tso, the director of the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, updated the Navajo Nation Councils Naabikiyati Committee on the outbreak, she expressed alarm that only about half of the exposed people had been located, saying they werent the easiest population to find or persuade to take precautions once they are identified.

So that means these individuals could continue to walk around and travel around, Tso said. Not only in the Gallup area, but if any of these individuals live in the communities out on the reservation  now were trying to figure out how do we try to get information back to their families or their children or mothers and fathers and so forth.

At that time, 81 people had been found and 59  more than 70%  tested positive for coronavirus. Since then IHS officials say they found and tested about 90% of the people who had been exposed.

A last celebration

In late March, when bars were closed as a consequence of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams public health emergency order aimed at stemming the spread of coronavirus, the detox center in Gallup had an influx of patients. The 150-bed center, founded in 1992, takes in people who police officers find intoxicated on the streets of Gallup, and it can hold them up to 72 hours.

That day, we had 98 people that came in, said Dr. Kevin Foley, the centers executive director. They wanted to have a last celebration before all the bars started closing.

Foley said the Nanizhoozhi Center  named for the Navajo word for bridge  typically averaged about 75 patients on a normal night, 95% of them Native American. He said that early in the public health crisis, NCI reduced the number of people it would admit each night and started taking everyones temperature when they entered the facility.

But, he said, on April 7 one of the patients was complaining of dizziness and was taken to the hospital. The center soon learned the patient had tested positive for COVID-19.

Foley said the Indian Health Service called NCI and asked for the names of people who had been at the facility in the past seven days. This kicked off weeks of officials trying to track down and test 170 people who had been exposed.

Foley said that one staff member tested positive from the initial outbreak and that others have contracted the virus from spouses, friends or other community members. He said that at one point, he had to close the facility for five days due to understaffing.

A lot of my staff have walked off the job, theyre afraid to come to work, Foley said. Some got tested and were quarantined for 14 days.

He said the man who initially tested positive first has recovered and he has seen him again since.

The NCI detox center is now taking only patients who have COVID-19 or have recovered from the illness, Foley said. All others who are picked up by the police for public intoxication are taken to the emergency rooms instead.

Everybody agreed we didnt want to mix people and potentially have another outbreak, Foley said. Its better to know their status when they come in rather than not knowing their status.

Beloved aunt gone

Tammy Arnold, and four of her family members, can trace their bouts of COVID-19 back to the NCI detox center. Her aunt died of the illness late last month.

In an interview with the Journal, 29-year-old Arnold said that in early April, her cousin spent the night at the center and then returned to his mothers home near Yah-ta-hey, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation.

A couple of days later, he started feeling sick and was taken to the Gallup Indian Medical Center. Then his mother, Arnolds aunt, was also taken in.

Arnold remembers her aunt Edith James great long hugs and the way she would wrap her arms around relatives whenever they returned from a trip or came back to the reservation to visit her. James, who was in her 70s, loved to cook and made delicious frybread and tortillas.

But when she died on April 27, she was all alone. Her siblings  unable to go into her room to hug or touch her  said their goodbyes through the screen of an iPad in the waiting room of the hospital.

That same day, the nurse was looking at my mom and told her she needed to get checked, Arnold said. The next day, my niece and I went to get checked at GIMC and to get tested, and a couple days after that we found out we had the virus.

Arnold and her niece ended up going into quarantine at a local hotel themselves, spending their time watching television and scrolling through Facebook, reading about others who got the virus at NCI. She started to cry thinking about the way the outbreak has affected her family and how it had taken her aunt.

Usually, when we have a family member thats close to dying at the hospital, all of our family is always there, Arnold said, choking up with sobs. Were always there in the room and always praying for them, and we get to say our goodbyes. This was really hurtful. She had to be alone.

This story has been supported by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems.
However, when its batteries run down, the spacecraft will continue indefinitely on its orbit. No estimate of the cost of the project is yet available, but U.S. ad British authorities have indicated they will assist Australia. Senator Henty said: The Australian satellite will be cone-shaped measuring 2 ft. in diameter by about 5ft. in length. Detailed studies and design work are now being undertaken by the Weapons Research Establishment, Salisbury (SA). The main purpose of the launching will be to extend a series of experiments being undertaken by the Weapons Research Establishment and the University of Adelaide to improve our understanding of the effect o the upper atmosphere on climate and weather.

Lift-off  The satellite-topped Redstone rocket is caught at the moment of blast-off by a remote control camera near the launch pad at Woomera. Useful work has already been done using sounding rockets, but these experiments were limited to the few minutes the instruments remain in the upper atmosphere before descent. By contrast, the information which will be provided by the satellite in orbit will be used most extensive in both times and latitudes. Solar Phenomena The experiments planned for the satellite will relate generally to the solar physical phenomena, and particularly to measurements of X-ray and ultra-violet radiations in the outer atmosphere.

This field has not been covered by other scientific satellites launched so far. Senator Henty said the project had the generous support of both the U.S. and Britain. However, it is not known what proportion of the total cost will be shared by these nations. Senator Henty said: The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has undertaken to make available experts who will give us technical assistance in developing the satellite. In addition, NASA will put its worldwide space-tracking and data-acquisition network at our disposal so that maximum benefits can be obtained from the satellite experiments.

The U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency has indicated that a Sparta Redstone rocket can be made available to carry our satellite into orbit. Sparta is a tripartite project between the U.S., Britain and Australia to obtain information on the physical phenomena associated with the reentry of rockets into the atmosphere. Britain, through its partnership with Australia in the joint project at Salisbury and Woomera, will participate in the programme. The Redstone rocket was used to launch Americas first satellite into space in 1958. In 1961 it powered the chimpanzee Ham into orbit and the next year carried astronauts Sheppard and Grissom into space.
The United States lambasted Iran for wanting their 11 detained Iranian nationals back but not sending the plane and stalling the repatriation process. Ken Cuccinelli, Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, lashed out at Irans Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and said the US is ready to deport all of the detained illegal aliens at once if Tehran sends a charter plane.

Cuccinelli said that Washington has been trying for months to return Sirous Asgari, an Iranian professor who accused of stealing trade secrets but was acquitted in November last year. Asgari is still under US custody and Cuccinelli said that Iran has suddenly woke up and the professor back.

(2/x) We have 11 of your citizens who are illegal aliens who we have been trying to return to your country. You suddenly SAY you want them back, so how about you send a charter plane over and well return all 11 at once? If youve been speaking truth these last few weeks...  Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli (@HomelandKen) May 11, 2020

(3/x) ... and you REALLY DO want your citizens back, then stop stalling and send the plane. The world is watching... and expecting the usual outcome, namely, that you will do nothing except keep talking.@JZarif - send the plane!  Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli (@HomelandKen) May 11, 2020

Read: Iranian Frigate Accidentally Opens Fire On Its Own Logistical Ship Konarak

'Stop talking rubbish!'

After the stinging remarks, spokesperson for Irans Foreign Ministry hit back at the US official saying it was Zarif who had put forward universal prisoners swap. Abbas Mousavi accused the United States of risking the lives of Iranian hostages in America and elsewhere even after Zarif urged Washington to act in a responsible manner.

Stop talking rubbish! Since Sep2018, @JZarif has put 'universal prisoners swap' on the table, urgedto act responsibly abt the Iranian HOSTAGES in  & elsewhere. Your regime has reacted callously & risked their lives.is watching your action,not your word. Let our citizens go! pic.twitter.com/xIAeCfI8lG  S.A MOUSAVI (@SAMOUSAVI9) May 11, 2020

In December 2019, Iranian Foreign Minister had said that Tehran is fully ready for a comprehensive prisoner exchange, adding that the ball is in the US' court. On May 10, an Iranian government spokesperson said that the country is ready for a prisoner swap without preconditions with the United States.

Read: Iran Ready To Swap Prisoners With US 'without Preconditions' Amid Pandemic
DOYLESTOWN >> A man and woman will face decades in state prison for the repeated sexual assault of three children under the age of 13, abuse that they also filmed in more than 40 videos of child pornography. Leonard F. Hewitt Sr. 51, and Krystyn Anne Smock, 40, both of Bristol Township, committed the acts for more than four years...
CAIRO - A prominent investigative media outlet in Egypt said security forces detained its editor-in-chief Sunday, the latest arrest amid a wider crackdown on dissent and the media.

Mada Masr, one of a shrinking number of independent news websites in Egypt, said Lina Attalah was arrested outside Cairos Tora prison complex. The outlet said she was conducting an interview with Laila Soueif, the mother of jailed activist Alaa Abdel Fattah.

Attalahs lawyer, Hassan el-Azhari, told The Associated Press his client was accused of filming a military facility without permission  likely referring to Tora prison, which is considered a military facility.

Prosecutors fined Attalah 2,000 Egyptian pounds ($125) and ordered her release, el-Azhari said. She was returned to a police station in southern Cairos Maadi district to finalize the procedures. Late Sunday, Attalah was released from the police station, the outlet said.

Mada Masr had earlier tweeted that officials at the police station said Attalah would be questioned by prosecutors Monday.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissis government has repeatedly harassed Mada Masr and its journalists. In November, security forces raided its offices, briefly detaining Attalah and two other journalists.

The November raid came just a day after Mada Masr said security forces arrested one of its editors, Shady Zalat, from his home in Cairo. Zalat was later released.

Amnesty International called Attalahs detention a shocking development, and called for her to be immediately and unconditionally released.

Abdel Fattah, the activist jailed in Tora prison, previously served a five-year prison sentence for violating Egypts protest ban. In September, not long after his release, he was arrested again amid a widespread crackdown that followed small protests demanding el-Sissi step down  although he did not participate in the protests.

The activist went on hunger strike over a month ago, and his family has been struggling to get him released in recent months amid the coronavirus pandemic. Soueif, his mother, was briefly arrested in March along with three others after they staged a protest to demand the release of prisoners because of the virus outbreak.

Mada Masr is one of the hundreds of websites blocked by the Egyptian government in recent years. The outlet has continued to publish through mirror sites. It has produced investigative pieces looking into some of Egypts most sensitive governmental institutions, including the intelligence agencies, military and presidency.

Attalahs detention is the latest in a widening government crackdown on dissent and media. Earlier this month a local journalist and a freelance photographer were arrested on charges of joining and financing a terrorist group as well as spreading fake news that threatens national security.

In recent years, Egypt has imprisoned dozens of reporters and occasionally expelled foreign journalists. It remains among the worlds worst jailers of journalists, along with Turkey and China, according to the non-profit Committee to Protect Journalists.

El-Sissi, a general-turned-president, has overseen an unprecedented political crackdown, silencing critics and jailing thousands. As defence minister, he led the militarys removal in 2013 of Mohammed Morsi, the countrys first democratically elected president, after Morsis one-year rule proved divisive and sparked massive nationwide protests.
Protesters march after a rally at the Glynn County Courthouse to protest the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery. (AP)

Atlanta: Protesters on Saturday demanded the removal of two district attorneys accused of dragging their feet in arresting two white men suspected in the shooting death of a young black jogger in the Brunswick, Georgia area.

Speeches rang out from the steps of the small coastal communitys courthouse during a rally that drew hundreds outraged by the video of the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, 25. Activists saw his death as the latest U.S. case of white perpetrators killing a black man and going unpunished. The father-and-son suspects were not arrested until weeks after the shooting, and just days after the video surfaced online.

Some of the protesters made a four-hour trek from Atlanta on Saturday morning. They chanted Justice of Ahmaud and I am Ahmaud, and also wore T-shirts memorializing Arbery. Local clergy led prayers for his family members, some of whom attended the rally.

Ahmauds death wont be in vain, his aunt Thea Brooks said on the steps of the Glynn County Courthouse as other family members stood next to her. We are going to fight for Ahmaud. We are going to get answers when it comes down to justice for Ahmaud.

Speakers told the crowd that Jackie Johnson and George Barnhill - the district attorneys for the Brunswick and Waycross judicial circuits - must be removed from office for their handling of the case. It took 74 days after the shooting for the suspects to be arrested and charged.

Racism is real in America and racism is real in Brunswick, Georgia and we come today to send a message to the racists and the supremacist that we will fight you with everything that we have, said Rev. Timothy McDonald, the pastor of First Iconium Baptist Church in Atlanta said.

Atlanta civil rights attorney Mawuli Davis, 51, one of the organizers of the demonstration, said the case reflects a U.S. justice system that is biased in favor of whites.

If it wasnt for the video, this would have been swept under the rug, he said in a Reuters interview on Friday.

The suspects, former police officer Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son Travis, 34, were ultimately arrested and charged on May 7 with aggravated assault and murder, after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation began to probe the case.

Last week, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr asked the U.S. Justice Department to open a probe into how the case was handled by Johnson and Barnhill as well as the Glynn County Police Department.

According to Carr, both prosecutors recused themselves from the investigation. One of them, the Waycross district attorney, had provided police with a written opinion that no arrests should be made in connection with the Feb. 23 shooting.

Both defendants remain in jail without bond and have yet to enter a plea. No court date has been set yet.

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating why charges were not brought sooner and whether to charge the suspects with federal hate crimes.

The elder McMichaels attorneys, Franklin and Laura Hogue, said in a statement there had been a rush to judgment before the full story was known. His sons lawyer, Bob Rubin, said in a news release that Travis has been vilified before his voice could even be heard.
Pastor faces 3 years in jail for defying Myanmar's COVID-19 stay-at-home orders

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A controversial Christian pastor and three others in Myanmar face three years in jail for organizing services in defiance of a ban on large gatherings in the Southeast Asian country due to COVID-19.

Pastor David Lah, who holds a Canadian passport, and three others in Yangon city were charged under the 2013 Natural Disaster Management Law, an offense which is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years and a possible fine, according to the U.S.-based Christian persecution watchdog International Christian Concern.

According to the Yangon Region COVID-19 Control and Emergency Response Committee, Lah and two other pastors held services after a ban on large gatherings was imposed in Yangon on March 13, and the other accused is a member of the congregation, Reuters reported.

In a sermon posted online in late March, Pastor Lah said, If you hear the sermon of God, the virus will never come to you, I declare it with the soul of Jesus Christ.

Weeks later, about 20 people connected to his gatherings tested positive for the novel coronavirus, including Pastor Lah and a famous Myanmar rock star named Myo Gyi.

According to CBC News, on the afternoon of April 7, police say a crowd gathered to listen to Lah. It was more than three weeks after restrictions on mass gatherings were announced in Myanmar, and more than two weeks after Myanmar officially documented its first case of COVID-19, the Canadian news outlet reported.

Because of Lahs action, many Christians in Myanmar face criticism and have sensed hostilities towards them in the Buddhist majority country, ICC said. Christian leaders have appealed to citizens to work together to fight COVID-19 in unity and love as anti-Christian sentiment surges on social media. They also urged people not to post and share fake news, photos and videos on Facebook that may be offensive to religion.

On May 7, Lah was discharged from the hospital and has been quarantined for 21 days in a Yangon hotel.

There are 182 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and six deaths in Myanmar as of Sunday.

According to David Lah Ministries Facebook, he is a Myanmar-born pastor living in Toronto and currently touring around the globe to preach the gospel.

Photos of Henry Van Thio, Myanmars first-ever non-Buddhist vice president, attending a gathering held in February by Lah in the capital city of Naypyidaw appeared on social media in April, according to CBC News.

The Buddhist and ethnic Burman majoritarian military of Myanmar, earlier known as Burma, routinely persecutes Christians due to the various ethnic conflicts in the country, especially along the borders with China, Thailand and India.

Open Doors ranks Myanmar 19th on its 2020 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The group notes that due to ongoing fighting, more than 100,000 Christians have been forced to flee their homes and are living in camps where they have been denied access to food and healthcare.
U.S. immigration authorities said in a court filing late Friday that one of the main reasons detained migrant children were not released this week as part of an order by a federal judge is because their parents did not agree to be separated from them.

In the filing, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement listed several reasons why the agency denied parole to virtually all of the 185 minors in its custody this week. One of them was labeled in spreadsheets as "Parent Does Not Wish to Separate."

Friday's court filing indicates that migrant parents were recently asked, among other questions, whether they wished to be separated from their children, so the minors could be released to relatives or other sponsors.

On Thursday, groups that provide legal services at the three family detention centers ICE oversees in Texas and Pennsylvania said their clients were asked, without their attorneys' knowledge, to choose between staying in detention indefinitely or allowing their children to be released to sponsors  without them.

The advocates accused ICE of presenting parents with this "binary choice," a policy which could lead to family separation and that the administration has reportedly considered in the past to deter families from crossing the border. Prior to Friday's court filings, an ICE spokesperson said the agency had "not implemented what has been referred to as 'binary choice' at this time," and was instead "exploring all options" in response to federal litigation.

In one of the court filings Friday, a top ICE official said officers at the three family detention centers in Texas and Pennsylvania conducted "parole determinations" for all the children in its custody in response to an order late last month by the federal judge overseeing litigation related to the Flores Settlement Agreement, which governs the care of migrant minors in U.S. custody.

Story continues

On April 24, Judge Dolly Gee of the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles found that the government was violating that agreement and ordered it to "make every effort to promptly and safely" release the children in its custody who have suitable sponsors, don't pose a danger to themselves or others and are not flight risks.

ICE's Juvenile Coordinator Deane Dougherty said in Friday's filing that the agency complied with Gee's order by questioning parents about possible sponsors for their children and other factors that would affect a decision to release detainees. Dougherty said officers used parole worksheets in use since 2017 and not any other forms during the review. She also said officers did not ask parents to waive the rights their children have under the Flores agreement.

Spreadsheets included with the filings show the agency only granted parole to five minors at the family detention center in Dilley, Texas. It's unclear if the children granted parole will be released with their parents, since the filings don't specify it.

screen-shot-2020-05-16-at-4-17-03-pm.jpg

Screenshot of Justice Department filing on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The rest of the children were denied parole on the grounds that they were a flight risk, that parents did not wish to be separated from them, that they had orders of deportation and pending decisions from immigration judges or asylum adjudicators. Other reasons included that the children were involved in federal litigation or had "Purposefully evaded U.S. Immigration Controls."

Reached for comment on Friday's filings, an ICE spokesperson said the agency "has not instituted binary choice or separated any parents from their child pursuant to 'binary choice,' and ICE has not implemented any new forms to conduct the new parole determinations as required by the court  any assertion to the contrary is plainly false."

ICE officials said the form used during the custody review was created in the wake of an order from Gee in 2017.

Peter Schey, one of the two attorneys who filed the original lawsuit that prompted the Flores agreement in 1997, said the parole review ICE conducted is not what Gee asked for. He said parents reported that they were given forms that were in English, even though most of them do not read the language.

Even though Flores only covers migrant minors, Schey said ICE has broad discretion to release their parents as well. He said the government should be reviewing whether to release children under the terms of the Flores agreement, not under parole, which U.S. laws say can only be granted in "urgent" humanitarian or public benefit circumstances.

"(Parole) is highly discretionary," Schey said. "Whereas the Flores Settlement, the release is not discretionary. It says, 'shall release' unless the child is a flight risk."

Bridget Cambria, an immigration attorney who represents families held by ICE at the Berks Family Residential Center in Pennsylvania, said parents called her immediately after they were asked whether they would be willing to allow their children to be released without them. "It startled them and they all said no," Cambria said. "They were scared."

"One mother told an officer, 'there's no way you're taking my only child away from me,'" Cambria told CBS News. "Most of the mothers became very emotional and cried most of the day, because even though they said 'no,' there was a fear that it didn't matter what they said."

Cambria said ICE could have avoided alarming parents by advising their lawyers that it would ask them these questions. "For me, to ask a mother, which is what they did in Berks, to give up their one-year-old daughter, to me is unconscionable. I think that's why they need to be at least held to account."

In a separate filing on Friday, the Justice Department lawyer representing ICE asked to file the spreadsheets under seal, citing privacy concerns.

The Flores agreement originally applied only to migrant children classified as unaccompanied. But in 2015, Gee ruled that "accompanied" children were also covered and that they should generally not be held in secure, unlicensed facilities with their families for more than 20 days.

The Trump administration has published a rule it hopes will supersede the Flores settlement and allow it to detain families indefinitely in detention centers that do not need a state license. Gee has so far blocked it from taking effect.

According to spreadsheets submitted Friday, many of the children in ICE custody with their families have been detained for more than 20 days; some since August 2019.

Advocates have been urging ICE to release all migrant families and most adults from detention during the coronavirus pandemic, saying detainees are at increased risk of contracting the virus while in congregate settings. The agency said in its court filings Friday that no staff or detainees at the family detention centers have tested positive for coronavirus. However, more than 980 single adults in ICE custody have tested positive for the virus, according to the agency's latest tally.

Now you can visit the Faroe Islands, virtually

Maintaining pomp under COVID circumstances

Looking back at the Mount St. Helens eruption
GRAND HAVEN, MI  Dozens of beach-goers gathered at Grand Haven State Park in a family friendly protest against Michigans stay-at-home order Saturday, with one message for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: Let MI people go.

The Grand Haven Beach Bash was initially organized in response to the closure of the beachs parking lots on May 3 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Overwhelming crowds ignored social distancing guidelines at the park that weekend.

Protesters were critical of Whitmers handling of the pandemic and want her to reopen the economy like other states.

The bash was one of the more peaceful events protesting the stay-at-home order, which is scheduled to remain in place until May 28. Those attending grilled out and soaked up the warm, summer-like weather together at the state park.

For Bernd Krebs, a St. Joseph resident who traveled to Grand Haven, the event was primarily about urging Whitmer to reopen the state. He expressed frustration over Michigans response to the coronavirus pandemic as Indiana has began to reopen its economy.

We see Indiana opening up and its not happening with any adverse effects, said Krebs, who lives 20 miles from the Indiana border.

Wed like to see (Whitmer) take reasonable steps to open up for small businesses, because we see a lot of small businesses suffering. Let MI people go. Please let us just do our jobs.

Brandon Hall organized the protest. He also led the protest outside Whitmers home in April.

This is real Michiganders; its not a Klan rally, its not a Nazi rally, he said, about their protest in comparison to one held May 5 at the state Capitol in which some protesters were seen with nooses, Confederate flags and swastikas.

You see its families, really real Michiganders. We are all races, weve got Hispanics, African Americans, white people. This is pure Michigan here.

Although beach protesters focused primarily on criticism of Whitmers March closure of all non-essential businesses and stay-home mandate, the event was intended to encourage the reopening of Grand Haven State Parks parking lot.

RELATED: Grand Haven asks public to stay away from beach after crowds ignore social distancing

State park officials have since announced the parking lots would reopen at 8 a.m. Friday, May 22, advising visitors to continue following social distancing guidelines.

Ron Olson, chief of parks and recreation for the state Department of Natural Parks, told MLive the reopening was already planned prior to the protests announcement, but Hall said the opening was no doubt in response to the Beach Bash.

Theres nothing that anyone can do to stop us from coming to our beach,said Hall, a research consultant, who was convicted of election fraud for forging signatures on petitions and sentenced to a month in jail in 2018.

You can make the playground look like a crime scene with police tape on it, and you can shut down the parking lot, but youll never shut us down from using our beach. This is what America is all about, and thats what were going to do. Were going to have a Michigan summer.

A Unity Bridge was parked on S. Harbor Drive adjacent to the beach protest, where a few dozen people rallied for President Donald Trump with signs, flags and a huge bridge with 2020 Trump Unity displayed in large, block letters.

The Unity Bridge rally was planned in conjunction with the protest, Hall said.

Though the protest drew Michiganders from around the state, many Grand Haven residents expressed disapproval of Saturdays event.

Several anti-protest pages were created on Facebook, urging residents to stay home from the Beach Bash.

One group shared a message encouraging residents to create a different narrative about Grand Haven by placing signs that read Peace in Grand Haven throughout the city in protest of the event.

This group does want a show. Lets not give it to them, the neighborhood group posted to Facebook. But we can show, through our signs, that they do NOT represent Grand Haven.

Another event created on Facebook, titled Boycott Grand Haven Beach Bash, urges residents to #obey the government.

Michigan now has a total of 50,504 COVID-19 cases and 4,880 deaths, according to data released by state Department of Health and Human Services. More than 28,000 have recovered from the illness.

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.

Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.

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

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

More on MLive:

West Michigan sheriff to speak at protest against Whitmers stay-home order

Michigan coronavirus recoveries now exceed 28,000

Video: Doll with noose prompts fight at Michigan Capitol protest

Protesters at Michigan Capitol condemn coronavirus stay-at-home orders

Whitmer says protests make it likelier Michiganders will have to stay home longer
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari urging him to use his leadership position to follow the Namibia example by urgently issuing an executive order to ban the purchase of new cars by the presidency, and all ministers for the remainder of the tenure of your administration, that is, until May 2023.

SERAP urged him to use the savings from this ban to support students of tertiary institutions across the country to reduce the impact of COVID-19 and the lockdown on them and their parents, and to improve access to healthcare for all Nigerians. We also urge you to encourage the National Assembly and governors to ban the purchase of new cars and to use the savings to pay workers salaries and pensioners entitlements.

Namibias president Hage Geingobon had last week reportedly imposed a five-year ban on buying of new cars for top politicians and government officials in order to redirect the funds to fight COVID-19 in his country.

In the letter dated 16 May 2020, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the urgent need for high-ranking public officials and politicians to demonstrate the constitutional oaths of absolute loyalty to the public interest and the common good. As trustees of Nigerians public funds, your government, the National Assembly and governors are accountable to the public for the use of those funds.

SERAP said: The expenditure of public funds requires the highest degree of public trust. It is the constitutional duty of every public official to protect and preserve the public interest in public spending.

According to SERAP: Imposing a ban on new cars by the presidency, ministers and encouraging the National Assembly and governors to do the same would serve the public interest, and contribute to cutting the cost of governance.

The letter read, in part: The constitutional oaths of office by public officials include the responsibility to prioritise the well-being of Nigerians.

Copying the Namibia example will also show that public funds will be spent for the benefit of the people, and not as a prerogative for the advantage of the government or the benefit of public officials.

SERAP also urges you to consider banning spending on generators in the presidency, and cutting spending on items like furniture and fittings, refreshments, catering services and purchase of kitchen and household equipment.

As the government prepares to finalise the proposed amendment to the 2020 budget, we urge you to immediately impose ban on the purchase of new cars by the presidency, and to encourage the National Assembly and the 36 state governors to do the same, and to ensure that public funds are used for the benefit of the public.

SERAP remains concerned that several state governments are failing to pay workers salaries, and that the Federal Government is failing to pay pensioners entitlements.

This is a clear violation of the right to work recognized under article 6 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which Nigeria is a state party. The right to work is essential for realizing other human rights and forms an inseparable and inherent part of human dignity.

According to reports, Namibias president Hage Geingobon on Thursday imposed a five-year ban on buying new cars for top politicians and government officials from buying new cars in order to redirect the funds to fight COVID-19 in his country.

This presidential directive is expected to save the country some 200 million Namibian dollars (US$10.7 million), which would then be directed to to urgent priorities, specifically at a time when the country is dealing with the health and economic implications of COVID-19.

We hope that the aspects highlighted will help guide your actions in acting to ensure and promote the public interest and the common good in public spending.

Kolawole Oluwadare

SERAP Deputy Director

17/05/2020

Lagos, Nigeria

Emails: [email protected]; [email protected]

Twitter: @SERAPNigeria

Website: www.serap-nigeria.org

For more information or to request an interview, please contact Kolawole Oluwadare on: +2348160537202
Businessman Derek Chin has said the Government did not ask him to pick up Krissa Bissoon from The Bahamas.
We are witnessing a shocking level of evil as tyrannical leaders inflict maximum harm to citizens trying to survive by reopening their businesses.

As most readers know by now, Karl Manke, the barber in Michigan who defied state orders and opened his business, has since had his business license revoked. The witch of a governor would not tolerate his freedom to work, and one way or another she was determined to put an end to it.

Most recently in Oregon, salon owner Lindsey Graham opened her business in defiance of the lockdown. She soon found herself the object of multiple investigations involving numerous state agencies. She was fined $14,000 and has been threatened with having her business license revoked and the licenses revoked for all the hair stylists who work there (which would make it impossible for them to work anywhere in the state in their profession).

The governments determination to subjugate Graham has been relentless and now involves Child Protective Services. Townhall reports:

"And, if you can possibly believe this, on May 7th, Child Protective Services showed up at my home," she said, taking a deep breath while holding back tears. "They questioned my husband and I. They questioned my child, without me present. They searched our home. And I've never expected such a violent, aggressive, vindictive thing ever could have been done to me or my family because I'm trying to earn a living, because I'm trying to work."

Graham stated it is a completely false claim, noting that CPS is wasting their time while abused children in real need are being denied services.

Despite the onslaught of punishments the state is inflicting upon her, Graham is determined to remain open for as long as she can, despite her fear of potential consequences because there is no choice at this point.

"I've worked my whole life to build the businesses that I've built and they want to take away my entire right to do that," Graham explained. "I feel persecuted by Kate Brown herself because she's governing these agencies. She's allowing them to target me and, if not, requesting them to target me because every agency she has underneath her has come at me at this point," the owner said. [snip] "I believe that if she would let her people work and earn a living and let us do it safely and let us be adults, consenting adults that know how to take of ourselves and take care of each other. We're humans. We have compassion for each other. We're gonna look out for each other. We know how to do that," Graham said. "If she would just allow us to do that  I don't want anyone to get sick. I know you guys don't want anyone to get sick, but I also don't want to go bankrupt and lose everything I've worked for. So let's be active, mature, caring, sensitive to other people. Let's open our business and be conscious. Let's all be able to maintain our livelihood. If she would let us do that there would be no issue."

Its shocking that this is happening all across our country. Its disgusting that any American should have to beg to be able to work, be punished for doing so, or feel grateful because the government allowed them to.

We are all deplorables now and the state means to drive millions of lives into the ground with vindictive, punitive, cruel abuses of power. I no longer recognize my country and fear for our future, which, perhaps is here.

Graphic credit: YouTube screen grab
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 17)  The Department of the Interior and Local Government warns it will close down shopping malls that fail to implement physical distancing protocols, as lockdown measures are eased in Metro Manila.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano said he has instructed the Philippine National Police and all local government units to closely monitor all malls and ensure their observance of minimum health standards and quarantine measures recommended by the inter-agency task force (IATF).

All Chiefs of Police and PCP Commanders should make rounds of all malls prior to opening and during operating hours. If the malls are not able to comply with the minimum health standards, the PNP can close the malls and charge the mall owners with violation of the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, Ano said.

According to the DILG chief, only authorized persons are allowed to go outside of the house, and only one member of the family should be tasked to go out to buy essential goods.

Hindi natin pwedeng ilagay sa panganib ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan kaya we hold our mall owners, mall managements to be responsible and accountable in implementing the required minimum health standards, Ano told CNN Philippines on Sunday.

[Translation: We cannot put the lives of our people at risk, thats why we hold our mall owners, mall managements to be responsible and accountable in implementing the required minimum health standards.]

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Ping Lacson said the IATF should reconsider its decision to allow the reopening of shopping malls.

We haven't gone past the first wave yet, so I'm not sure about a second wave, Lacson said. I think the IATF should reconsider their decision on the opening of the malls and other similar establishments unless strict physical distancing and other protocols are observed.

On Sunday, Department of Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire also voiced her concern about the number of people flocking to the malls.

RELATED: Another total lockdown may be needed if COVID-19 cases surge  DOH

"This is actually a shifting or transitioning para mapababa at mapababa ang community quarantine. Pero kung makikita po natin ito tapos biglang mag-surge ang cases natin, malaki po ang posibilidad na...we need to do another total lockdown, if cases will increase," she said.

[Translation: This is actually a shifting or transitioning so we can ease down the community quarantine. But if we see this, and cases suddenly surge, there is a big possibility thatwe need to do another total lockdown, if cases will increase.]
Siegfried Fischbacher, Illusionist Icon of Siegfried & Roy Duo, Dies at 81

Siegfried Fischbacher died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Las Vegas

Illusionist Siegfried Fischbacher has died just eight months after his stage partner Roy Horn, PEOPLE confirms.

The death of Fischbacher, whose rep said he lose his battle with pancreatic cancer on Wednesday, comes after the May COVID-related death of Horn, whom Fischbacher called his "best friend."

The pair, who rose to fame as the duo Siegfried & Roy, are best known for their Las Vegas show at the Mirage Resort and Casino that ran from 1990 until 2003, but their story together started decades earlier.

In 1957, Horn and Fischbacher met on a cruise ship where the two were both working at the time, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Fischbacher was getting his start as a magician and Horn became his assistant.

As the German-native had worked with animals growing up at the Bremen Zoo, Horn suggested that Fischbacher incorporate a cheetah into his act, which later became a major element in their shows.

RELATED: Siegfried & Roy Illusionist Roy Horn Dies of Complications from the Coronavirus at 75

After teaming up as an act, the duo took their shows to small clubs in Germany and Switzerland, where they continued to hone in their animal magic shows.

Siegfried & Roy got their big break while performing in a Paris casino in 1967 when a producer in the audience invited them to Las Vegas to try out their material, the Las Vegas Sun reported.

Siegfried & Roy/The Mirage via Getty

The duo not only succeeded, but they proved to be so popular in the 1970s that they became headliners of the "Lido de Paris" show at the Stardust and "Beyond Belief" at the Frontier before opening their paramount show "Siegfried & Roy at The Mirage" in February 1990.

They later showed off their work together nationwide  becoming the subject of four specials on ABC and an additional four on CBS.

Story continues

Their run at the Mirage Resort and Casino in Las Vegas ended in October 2003 when Horn was attacked by a 600-lb. tiger named Montecore while on stage with Fischbacher. The mauling took place on the Horn's 59th birthday.

RELATED: Siegfried & Roy: Remembering the Illusionists' Lives and Careers in Photos

Bei/Shutterstock

The incident landed Horn in the hospital with severe blood loss, and he ended up suffering a stroke. Horn appeared on stage with Fischbacher in 2009 for a "final bow" that included an appearance from Montecore.

Following Horn's death, Fischbacher said in a statement that he had lost his "best friend."

"Today, the world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend," Fischbacher said at the time. "From the moment we met, I knew Roy and I, together, would change the world. There could be no Siegfried without Roy, and no Roy without Siegfried."

RELATED: Remembering Roy Horn's 2003 Tiger Mauling After Illusionist's Death from Coronavirus

Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn

"Roy was a fighter his whole life including during these final days," Fischbacher continued. "I give my heartfelt appreciation to the team of doctors, nurses and staff at Mountain View Hospital who worked heroically against this insidious virus that ultimately took Roy's life."
The Winston-Salem Symphony has surpassed its goal of $50,000 for a Musician Impact Fund to help players who are out of work because of the novel coronavirus.

Merritt Vale, president and chief executive of the symphony, sent out a statement last week saying that all 78 musicians under contract will receive support from this pool of funds. The symphony musicians are paid only for each rehearsal and concert that they play. Because of COVID-19, the symphony had to cancel five concerts and postpone one during their 2019-2020 season, resulting in 16 services lost since April 1.

Because the symphony musicians are paid by the service, they often have multiple income streams, such as performances with other ensembles, weddings, church services and teaching gigs, but nearly all of these have also been canceled because of the pandemic.

The symphony also received support from the federal Paycheck Protection Program to pay contracted musicians for the lost services.

Musicians will be able to choose to opt out of the Musician Impact Fund if their financial position hasnt been affected, to help their colleagues who may not be in the same situation.

Help wanted
Sydney, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 17, 2020) - A story in the Australian Financial Review's (AFR) Street Talk section, headlined "Canadian billionaire Robert Friedland takes a sip of Chalice" and initially published online May 17, 2020, contains factual errors.

The story cited incorrect, anonymous information regarding Mr. Friedland and ASX-listed Chalice Gold Mines Limited. Unfortunately, the authors of the article - Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd - made no attempts to contact Mr. Friedland.

Mr. Friedland may, at times, acquire and sell securities as a private investor. The disclosure of these transactions, when necessary, is made in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Information contacts

Media: Matthew Keevil +1.604. 558.1034

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/56032
The student had earlier revealed in a Facebook video that she had been forcibly taken to two 'de-addiction' centres after coming out as bisexual to her family.

Editor's note: The article has been amended in accordance with PCI guidelines after the police confirmed it was a case of suicide.

A 21-year old-student was found dead in Goa on 12 May. A few days prior to the lockdown, the deceased had left for Goa with friends for a week-long trip. They, however, ended up getting stuck in the state on account of the COVID-19 lockdown that ensued. Soon after, she was found dead near her resort. The police has filed a case of unnatural death.

Additionally, a fresh conversation on queer rights has been sparked off after reports of her being sent to 'conversion therapy' on coming out as bisexual surfaced.

A report by The News Minute states that the Kasaragod native had come out to her family some time ago, but they had not been supportive of her orientation. It adds that she was subjected to 'conversion therapy' in an illegal attempt to 'cure' her. The student had earlier revealed in a Facebook video that she had been forcibly taken to two 'de-addiction' centres by her family, and had been physically attacked when she tried to explain to them that there was nothing wrong with her.

She was reportedly in touch with Sahayatrika, a humans rights organisation working for queer people in Kerala. A representative told TNM that they had tried to intervene when she was taken to the de-addiction centres, but the police wasn't very helpful.

Following the news of her death, a Mumbai-based mental health professional implored the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists to "condemn all forms of conversion therapy and chart out guidelines for social justice informed 'affirmative practices' about approaching persons with gender and sexual diversity" in a letter.
Kigali: One of the most wanted fugitives in Rwanda's 1994 genocide, a wealthy businessman accused of supplying machetes to killers and broadcasting propaganda urging mass slaughter, has been arrested outside Paris, authorities said.

Felicien Kabuga, who had a $US5 million ($7.8 million) bounty on his head, had been accused of equipping militias in the genocide that killed more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus who tried to protect them.

The wanted poster for Felicien Kabuga, accused of genocide. Credit:Abaca

The 84-year-old Kabuga was arrested as a result of a joint investigation with the UN's International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals office of the prosecutor, French authorities said.

He had been living in a town north of Paris, Asnieres-Sur-Seine, under an assumed name, the appeals court's prosecutor's office said.
UN discloses new information about two UAE-based companies dispatching soldiers to the North African country.

Western mercenaries linked with two Dubai-based companies arrived in Libya with plans to assist forces loyal to eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar in their year-long offensive to capture the capital, Tripoli, a news report said.

Bloomberg News, citing a confidential UN report, reported the team of 20 soldiers arrived in the North African country in June 2019 before quickly withdrawing to Malta days later, the US publication said on Friday.

The military contractors were affiliated with Lancaster 6 DMCC and Opus Capital Asset Limited FZE, both registered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Libya, a major oil producer, has been engulfed in chaos since 2011 when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in a NATO-backed uprising.

It is now split between two rival administrations: the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, and the House of Representatives allied with Haftars Libyan National Army (LNA).





In addition to Russia and Egypt, the UAE counts among Haftars most important supporters.

William Lawrence, former US diplomat and political science professor at American University, said UAEs support for Haftar is primarily due to their aversion to every kind of Islamism, including political Islam.

They tend to lump together groups like the largest democratic parties in Morocco and Tunisia along with groups in parliament in most of the Arab countries such as Jordan, Kuwait and elsewhere, Lawrence told Al Jazeera.

They tend to loop these groups with others like ISIS [ISIL] and al-Qaeda. [For them], all Islamists are a threat and equally deserving of being sanctioned under international terrorist sanctions and being attacked by any means necessary.

Simply not factual

Bloomberg quoted two diplomats as saying the companies financed and directed an operation to provide Haftars forces with helicopters, drones and cyber capabilities through a complex web of shell companies.

Though uncertain as to the reason behind the teams prompt withdrawal, UN investigators said they were not convinced by the explanation given by lawyers that it was contracted to provide services relating to oil and gas.

A letter from Vince Gordon, the lawyer representing some reportedly involved, said allegations about the unlawful activity of Opus and Lancaster 6 in Libya are simply not factual and spread based on a patchwork of half-truths.

Our clients intend to vigorously defend themselves and their directors and employees against false and misleading allegations, said Gordon.

It was not the first time reports of foreign mercenaries partaking in the battle for Tripoli have emerged.

In September, Russian fighters from the private Wagner group  owned by a close confidant of President Vladimir Putin  were said to have joined Haftars troops on the front lines.

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Thousands more from Sudan were also reported to have assisted the LNA while Syrian mercenaries are present on both sides, including rebels from the opposition Syrian National Army sent by Turkey, the GNAs sole military benefactor.

Shedding Libyan blood

A member of Libyas Presidential Council called for the severing of relations with the UAE amid accusations of the Gulf state backing Haftar.

In a letter to the Libyan government of Prime Minister al-Sarraj, council member Mohamed Amaria Zayed described the UAE as an aggressor and enemy, and urged the Libyan authorities to pursue the UAE at international courts.

It is proven beyond doubt that the UAE is involved in shedding the Libyan blood, violating the countrys sovereignty by occupying part of its land, establishing military bases, violating our airspace and carrying out air strikes with the aim of killing Libyan citizens, he said.

Zayed accused the UAE of providing military, political and financial support to Haftars forces with the aim of toppling the legitimate government.
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With the growing coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world, everyone's had to adjust to a new normal.

But the class of 2020, who's missing their commencement amid stay-at-home orders, had help from a slew of celebs in celebrating during Graduate Together.

The virtual star-studded special took place Saturday, featuring Zendaya, who spoke briefly from her backyard, giving a shoutout to teachers.

Graduation day: Saturday's virtual star-studded Graduate Together special featured Zendaya, who spoke briefly from her backyard, giving a shoutout to teachers

The Euphoria star said: 'My mother is a teacher, so I know how hard all you guys are working.'

She added: 'Being a senior is so much more than just your senior year. It is every moment from the day you were born, leading up until right now. The tiny ones, the life-changing events, they all add up to make you, the class of 2020.'

Dua Lipa appeared against a green screen to perform the single Break My Heart from her new album Future Nostalgia.

The performance began with a high school drumline, as some high school bands, flag teams, dance squads and cheerleaders danced along.

Paying tribute: The Euphoria star said: 'My mother is a teacher, so I know how hard all you guys are working'

Live performance: Dua Lipa appeared against a green screen to perform the single Break My Heart from her new album Future Nostalgia

A little help: The performance began with a high school drumline, as some high school bands, flag teams, dance squads and cheerleaders danced along

Quarantine vibes: The event concluded with a performance by the Jonas Brothers, each broadcasting in front of a green screen from their respective homes

Congratulations! Nick said: 'All of you have accomplished so much so far, and we wish you all the best in everything that's ahead of you'

The event concluded with a performance by the Jonas Brothers, each broadcasting in front of a green screen from their respective homes.

Nick said: 'All of you have accomplished so much so far, and we wish you all the best in everything that's ahead of you.'

Joe added, as the music started: 'Congratulations to all the seniors, and now let's party!'

The trio performed their latest single X, as they were accompanied by Colombian artist Karol G, who's featured on the track.

Just dance: They sang against colorful virtual backdrops, complete with balloons and appearances from dozens of graduates performing a choreographed routine

Collab goals: The trio performed their latest single X, as they were accompanied by Colombian artist Karol G, who's featured on the track

They sang against colorful virtual backdrops, complete with balloons and appearances from dozens of graduates performing a choreographed routine.

Selena Gomez, 27, delivered an important message to the graduating class of 2020 during Friday's Facebook and Instagram's #Graduation2020 event.

Among a star-studded virtual ceremony, which included a commencement speech from Oprah Winfrey, the Rare hitmaker extended her congratulations and comfort.

'When people ask me if theres something that I would tell my younger self, I always said, 'Go ahead and do it," she advised, before applauding students for working 'incredibly hard to get to this point.'

Comforting: Selena Gomez, 27, delivered an important message to the graduating class of 2020 during Friday's Facebook and Instagram's #Graduation2020 event

She added: 'I know its not exactly how youd imagine your graduations would look like, but I want to say its okay not to know what you want to do with the rest of your life. Its a journey to find your direction or your passion.'

Before quoting Oprah, the Texas-born star reminded graduates not to 'get frustrated by the mistakes and setbacks, as they happen to all of us.'

Pulling from 'the amazing Oprah,' Gomez said she really resonated with the talk show host's words of wisdom, who said, 'You dont become what you want, you become what you believe.'

'If you dont believe in yourself, dont expect others to believe in your abilities,' the Boyfriend singer noted.

Gomez concluded: 'Hopefully, you know, when large gatherings are allowed, everybody can get together and celebrate the important achievement but until then stay safe, stay connected with your friends and your loved ones and congratulations for this milestone!'

So many seniors: LeBron James kicked off the one-hour special in a green screen warehouse, plastered from wall to wall with photos of graduating seniors

Change the world: He said: 'Celebrate and be proud. We are all ready for the class of 2020 to change the world. Congratulations'

LeBron James kicked off the one-hour special in a green screen warehouse, plastered from wall to wall with photos of graduating seniors.

He said: 'Celebrate and be proud. We are all ready for the class of 2020 to change the world. Congratulations.'

Kevin Hart gave a short comedic speech: 'As you can probably imagine, I was one of the most popular kids in school. That's a lie! I wasn't, but I was definitely one of the funniest.'

Class clown: Kevin Hart gave a short comedic speech: 'As you can probably imagine, I was one of the most popular kids in school. That's a lie! I wasn't, but I was definitely one of the funniest'

Being of service: Yara Shahidi offered some inspiring words: 'Even though we are amid circumstances that have affected our families, our friends and communities, I'm inspired by how many of you all continue to ask, "How can I be of service?"'

He then recounted his most embarrassing school moment: 'I got caught with sneakers on that were too big. When I was younger, I took my brother's sneakers and wore them to school, and they were a size 10. At the time, I was like a size seven.

'The reason I wore them is because I felt like girls would like guys with big feet. For whatever reason. Use your imagination. I did that, that backfired on me.'

Yara Shahidi offered some inspiring words: 'Even though we are amid circumstances that have affected our families, our friends and communities, I'm inspired by how many of you all continue to ask, "How can I be of service?"'

The Grown-ish star added: 'You've pushed the bounds of what it means to be a hero, and the whole world is witnessing the incredible superpowers of our generation.'

Facing change: She recited a quote by author James Baldwin: 'Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it's faced'

Teacher's pet: Timothee Chalamet gave a shoutout to some of his own past teachers: 'Thank you for your valiant efforts to teach me the art of statistics. Thank you for everything'

Valedictorian: Maren Morris made a remote appearance with Kane Brown to spotlight student speaker Priscilla Arceo from Santa Ana High School in California

Rock the vote: Megan Rapinoe said: 'For many of you, this year will be the first time you cast a ballot. I urge you not to miss the importance of who makes the decisions in times of crisi'

She recited a quote by author James Baldwin: 'Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it's faced.'

Maren Morris made a remote appearance with Kane Brown to spotlight student speaker Priscilla Arceo from Santa Ana High School in California.

Timothee Chalamet gave a shoutout to some of his own past teachers: 'Thank you for your valiant efforts to teach me the art of statistics. Thank you for everything.'

Megan Rapinoe used her speech to encourage grads to vote: 'The cliche would be for me to ask you all to come together. But we aren't together. We are separated in ways we've never experienced and facing a world that will never be the same.

Platt brothers: Ben Platt made an appearance with his brothers Henry and Jonah to perform an acapella number with a virtual chorus

Emotional mashup: They sang a mashup of Maroon 5's Memories, Vitamin C's Graduation (Friends Forever), There Are Places I Remember and In My Life by The Beatles, Wiz Khalifa's See You Again and Green Day's Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)

Achieve your goals: Bad Bunny gave his speech in Spanish: 'Work hard on everything that you set out to do, on all your goals. But remember that it doesn't matter what we achieve'

'So, I'm not gonna ask you to come together. I'm gonna ask you to demand better, together. For many of you, this year will be the first time you cast a ballot. I urge you not to miss the importance of who makes the decisions in times of crisis and in times of triumph.'

Ben Platt made an appearance with his brothers Henry and Jonah to perform an acapella number with a virtual chorus.

They sang a mashup of Maroon 5's Memories, Vitamin C's Graduation (Friends Forever), There Are Places I Remember and In My Life by The Beatles, Wiz Khalifa's See You Again and Green Day's Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life).

Bad Bunny spoke from home in Puerto Rico, giving his speech in Spanish: 'Work hard on everything that you set out to do, on all your goals. But remember that it doesn't matter what we achieve.

Beautiful performance: Alicia Keys then gave a beautiful performance of her song Underdog, playing a piano in a large dark room

For the underdogs: From her upcoming album Alicia, she dropped the song in January to reflect the difficult times of today

'The most important thing is respect for others. It's respect and the values that we put into practice day to day. They are what says who you are. They are what defines us as people.'

Alicia Keys then gave a beautiful performance of her song Underdog, playing a piano in a large dark room.

From her upcoming album Alicia, she dropped the song in January to reflect the difficult times of today.

Kumail Nanjiani gave a speech as an Animal Crossing avatar, which was dressed in full cap and gown.

Gamer grad: Kumail Nanjiani gave a speech as an Animal Crossing avatar, which was dressed in full cap and gown

No pants: He joked: 'Thanks for inviting me to your island. It's the first time I've worn pants in weeks... I'm lying, I'm not wearing any pants under this robe'

Special introduction: Olivia Wilde [left] then introduced female education activist Malala Yousafzai [right]

He joked: 'Thanks for inviting me to your island. It's the first time I've worn pants in weeks... I'm lying, I'm not wearing any pants under this robe.'

The Silicon Valley then revealed all the life lessons he's learned from the video game: 'Try new things, water your plants, learn from those who don't look like you...

'And most importantly, use what the world puts in front of you, especially sticks. Sticks are important.'

Olivia Wilde then introduced female education activist Malala Yousafzai: 'Our next speaker is a Nobel Prize Laureate who has spent her life fighting for everyone's right to an education.

Words of wisdom: Lena Waithe also gave a brief but uplifting speech as she introduced another performance

Mixed mediums: The Chi creator introduced rapper Chika, who performed her song Crown with Bmike against a beautiful animated mural-in-progress

'And we used her name as a codeword in Booksmart, which I'm positive is her least impressive accomplishment. But it means a lot to me.'

Malala revealed she's also missing her graduation this year: 'The class of 2020 won't be defined by what we lost to this virus, but how we responded to it. The world is yours now, and I can't wait to see what you make of it.'

Lena Waithe also gave an uplifting speech: 'I believe a little adversity makes for a very compelling story. So write a good one. Use your voices and talents to be seen and heard.'

She introduced rapper Chika, who performed her song Crown with Bmike against a beautiful animated mural-in-progress.

Soulful song: H.E.R. gave a soulful performance of her song Sometimes

Beautiful view: She played piano against a beautiful cityscape out her window

H.E.R. gave a soulful performance of her song Sometimes, as she played piano against a beautiful cityscape out her window.

Pharrell Williams gave some words of wisdom: 'A great speech, like a great song, comes from the heart. It's only when the words flow from authentic emotions that it can actually really resonate with the many, versus the few.'

President Barack Obama then offered an empowering keynote address, giving some words of wisdom about life during COVID-19.

He said: 'If youd planned on going away for college, getting dropped off at campus in the fall  thats no longer a given. If you were planning to work while going to school, finding that first job is going to be tougher.

From the heart: Pharrell Williams gave some words of wisdom: 'A great speech, like a great song, comes from the heart. It's only when the words flow from authentic emotions that it can actually really resonate with the many, versus the few'

'Even families that are relatively well-off are dealing with massive uncertainty. Those who were struggling before  theyre hanging on by a thread.'

He added: 'Its also pulled the curtain back on another hard truth, something that we all have to eventually accept once our childhood comes to an end. All those adults that you used to think were in charge and knew what they were doing?

'Turns out that they dont have all the answers. A lot of them arent even asking the right questions. So, if the worlds going to get better, it's going to be up to you.'

Obama concluded: 'The truth is, you don't need us to tell you what to do. Because in so many ways, you've already started to lead. Congratulations, class of 2020. Keep making us proud.'
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharman is addressing a press conference on the 5th and last tranche of announcements under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. Today's announcements are about 7 steps taken by the Centre -- MGNREGA, health and education related steps, business and COVID-19, decriminalisation of the Companies Act, ease of doing business, public sector enterprises, and state govt resources. The Finance Minister's tranche four announcements on Saturday include steps structural reform steps in mining of coal, defence and civil aviation. There could also be some announcement on lockdown measures today.

Check out all the latest updates on the Nirmala Sitharman presser on BusinessToday.In Live blog.

Also read: Lockdown 4.0: Home Ministry likely to announce guidelines today; what to expect

12.20 PM: FM talks about support extended to states during COVID crisis

To assist States, which are facing a sharp decline in revenues, Government has taken these measures#AatmaNirbharApnaBharat pic.twitter.com/MP9C2kxLRa PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 17, 2020

12.12 PM: FM announces new Public Sector Enterprise Policy

In strategic sectors, at least one enterprise will remain in the public sector but private sector will also be allowed: FM

A new #AatmanirbharBharat will stand on a new Public Sector Enterprise Policy



In strategic sectors, at least one enterprise will remain in the public sector but private sector will also be allowed



In other sectors, PSEs will be privatized #AatmaNirbharApnaBharat pic.twitter.com/9eYyjaNgZl PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 17, 2020

12.04 AM: More reforms for Ease of Doing Business on the anvil: FM

Further key reforms for Ease of Doing Business are in the pipeline, including direct listing of securities by Indian public companies in permissible foreign jurisdictions: FM.

{Blurb}

12.00 AM: FM elaborates on Companies Act reforms

Government moves to decriminalise Companies Act defaults; 7 compoundable offences altogether dropped and 5 to be dealt with under alternative framework: FM

A new #AatmanirbharBharat will stand on a new Public Sector Enterprise Policy



In strategic sectors, at least one enterprise will remain in the public sector but private sector will also be allowed



In other sectors, PSEs will be privatized #AatmaNirbharApnaBharat pic.twitter.com/9eYyjaNgZl PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 17, 2020

11.57 AM: The FM announces enhancement of Ease of Doing business through IBC related measures

The Center enhances minimum threshold to initiate insolvency proceedings raised to Rs 1 crore from Rs 1 lakh, which largely insulates MSMEs.

Further key reforms for Ease of Doing Business are in the pipeline including direct listing of securities by Indian public companies in permissible foreign jurisdictions#AatmaNirbharApnaBharat pic.twitter.com/aXm86XFNrP PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 17, 2020

11.53 AM: India is changing and so is our way of education: FM

PM eVIDYA - a programme for multi-mode access to digital/online education to be launched immediately; Top 100 universities will be permitted to automatically start online courses by 30th May.

Government moves to decriminalise Companies Act defaults; 7 compoundable offences altogether dropped and 5 to be dealt with under alternative framework#AatmaNirbharApnaBharat pic.twitter.com/AmVtsKM8O9 PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 17, 2020

11.52 AM: FM on health reforms

To prepare India for any future pandemics government will increase public expenditure on health and invest in grass root health institutions.

11.50 AM: Rs 40,000 crore under MGNREGS

To provide a fillip to employment, Government will now allocate an additional Rs 40,000 crore under MGNREGS; move will help generate nearly 300 crore person days in total: FM

11.47 AM: Online education facilities during COVID-19

Government has ensured Education of students does not suffer; SWAYAM PRABHA DTH channels have reached those who do not have access to the internet; DIKSHA platform has had 61 crore hits from 24th March.

With an eye on further enhancement of Ease of Doing Business Government announces suspension of fresh initiation of insolvency proceedings up to one year; decides to exclude COVID 19 related debt from the definition of default under IBC#AatmaNirbharApnaBharat pic.twitter.com/80s6O3EBh4 PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 17, 2020

11.46 AM: Recent corporate law measures

Corporate Law measures for ease of doing business have included timely action during COVID-19 to reduce compliance burden under various provisions of the Companies Act.

India is changing and so is our way of education



PM eVIDYA - a programme for multi-mode access to digital/online education to be launched immediately; Top 100 universities will be permitted to automatically start online courses by 30th May#AatmaNirbharApnaBharat pic.twitter.com/Xm1oFNTG5f PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 17, 2020

11.45 AM: Rs 15,000 crore for health workers

Government has committed Rs 15,000 crore for health related measures so far for containment of COVID-19, which includes Rs 50 lakh insurance per person for health professionals under the PMGKY.

To prepare #India for any future pandemics Government will increase Public Expenditure on Health and invest in grass root health institutions#AatmaNirbharApnaBharat pic.twitter.com/3DQuq8Gfsp PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 17, 2020

11.43 AM: The Centre is working on a mission mode on the next phase of 'ease of doing business' reforms: FM.

11.42 AM: What are today's announces all about?

Today's announcements will be about 7 steps taken by the Centre -- MGNREGA, health and education related steps, business and COVID-19, decriminalisation of the Companies Act, ease of doing business, public sector enterprises, and state govt resources, says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

11.39 AM: FM elaborates on steps taken for heath workers

The government has taken a number of health-related steps for COVID-19 containment. The announced Rs 15,000 crore for states, essential items and testing labs and kits along with rolling out of teleconsultation services, launch of Arogya Setu app and protection to health care workers with adequate PPEs, says the FM.

11.36 AM: FM elaborates on initiatives taken during COVID crisis

20 cr Jan Dhan account holding women got Rs 10,025 crore

2.2 crore construction workers got Rs 3,950 crore

6.81 crore people got free LPG cylinders

12 lakh EPFO holders got online withdrawal of advance

11.33 AM: Initiatives taken during COVID crisis

One-time transfer of Rs 2,000 reached 8.19 crore farmers; total amount Rs 16,394 crore

NSAP beneficiaries got Rs 1,405 crore in first installment & Rs 1,402 crore in second instalment

11.25 AM: Who all are present at the FM's presser today

Devashish Panda, Secretary, Dept of Financial Services

Tuhin Kant Pandey, Secretary, Disinvestment (DIPAM)

Injeti Srinivas, Secretary, MCA

Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Finance Secretary & Revenue Secy

TV Somnathan, Secretary, Expenditure

Tarun Bajaj, Secretary, DEA

11.20 AM: FM talks about previous announcements

The government acted quickly with PM garib Kalyan Package

85% cost of migrants' travel by trains borne by Centre

FCI, NAFED, states provided enough promised grains to migrants

To provide a fillip to employment, Government will now allocate an additional Rs 40,000 crore under MGNREGS; move will help generate nearly 300 crore person days in total #AatmaNirbharApnaBharat pic.twitter.com/W8boBVZaBy PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 17, 2020

11.16 AM: "I want to appreciate FCI, NAFED and state governments for providing grains to migrants," says the FM.

11.15 AM: Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package used technology to do direct benefit transfer to people. We could do what we did because of the initiatives taken during the last few years, says FM.

11.12 AM: Reforms to be focus of 5th and final tranche of eco stimulus package, says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

11.05 PM: "We are turning this crisis into opportunity. Today marks the announcement of last tranche of economic package," says Sitharaman

10.50 AM: Press briefing is about to start shortly
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Ha Long, Vietnam  Sun, May 17, 2020 13:04 612 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd89c533 2 News Vietnam,Hanoi,Halong-Bay,tourism,travel,destination,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

Vietnamese flocked to scenic spots and beaches Saturday, leaping at the chance to travel as the communist government eases restrictions on domestic movement to revive a tourism sector devastated by the coronavirus.

Hundreds waited to get on tourist boats to visit the famed karsts of the UNESCO heritage site of Ha Long Bay with few following social distancing norms.

Most removed face masks as they climbed on board and posed for selfies.

"This is my first time to Ha Long after COVID. I came here because there is so much beautiful scenery... and the COVID pandemic is gone so I feel safe," said Duong Quang Hieu, 21, from the mountainous northern province of Tuyen Quang.

"I'm planning to travel to Danang and other places too."

Vietnam has won plaudits for its fast and aggressive response to the spread of the coronavirus, which has so far kept infections down to 318 with zero deaths despite its long, porous border with China.

Read also: Five must-visit places in Vietnam

But the swift closure of the country came at a cost. The tourism take plummeted to $340 million in the first four months of the year, according to government statistics, down 45 percent year-on-year.

Doors remain closed to foreign travelers, but authorities are turning to the domestic market of millions wearied by long weeks of self-isolation and travel bans to get the tourist economy moving again.

"It's nice to travel at this time. We have a wide range of hotels to choose from," said tourist Phan Van Kien from Hanoi.

Kien said his family would travel domestically for the rest of the year with many international flights cancelled and fears still strong over the spread of the virus.

The French-established Dalat city has also been packed with local holidaymakers since early May.

In 2019, Vietnam received more than 18 million foreign travelers, the majority from Asia.
Clockwise from top left, Ben Sosne, Jennifer Trainer Thompson, Sen. Adam Hinds, Jason Hoch and Jonathan Butler participate in Friday morning's virtual town hall.

Local Officials: Economic Recovery, Public Health Both Priorities

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Reviving the Berkshires' economy will require a balancing act, a panel of experts agreed on Friday morning.

"From the manufacturing sector, some, in fact many of the companies I work with, the tech companies, have been deemed essential, and some have been operating," said Ben Sosne, the executive director of the Berkshire Innovation Center. "One of the things that was said to me early on was: Assume everyone's positive. And they're treating it that way.

"I've heard from numerous people the heartfelt message that, 'Our employees are family.' We work alongside them, we need them to be safe. They're going home to their family, and we're going home to our family. And we need to make sure they're safe."

Sosne joined state Sen. Adam Hinds, Hancock Shaker Village President and CEO Jennifer Trainer Thompson and Williamstown Town Manager Jason Hoch for a virtual town hall hosted by 1Berkshire President and CEO Jonathan Butler.

The topic was "Reopening the Berkshire Economy," but the hour-long session started with some sobering statistics from Hinds. He noted that, nationwide, retail sales plunged 16.4 percent in April, according to the Commerce Department's Friday morning report, and, in Massachusetts, 1 million of the commonwealth's 7 million residents have filed for unemployment.

In Berkshire County, the unemployment rate is 27.8 percent, Hinds said.

"That speaks to the importance of what might happen next week in terms of reopening and trying to be focused like a laser on jobs and access to jobs and income," Hinds said. "UBS just did a report that showed they expect 100,000 retail stores to close in the next five years. In the Great Recession, 20,000 closed.

"We're in the middle of a major shift in our economy, a redistribution of the economy in many ways."

As a legislative observer to Gov. Charlie Baker's advisory board on reopening the state's economy, Hinds has a front row seat to "what might happen next week," when the board's May 18 report is due and the governor's extension of the non-essential business closure is set to expire.

Hinds on Friday reiterated his contention that he believes restrictions could start to ease in Western Massachusetts ahead of the rest of the commonwealth, but he reminded the audience about the priorities that will drive decisions about when and how to relax the rules.

"It's basically been centered around: What are the health indicators that we want to see," Hinds said. "That all paints a picture for when you can consider a reopening phase.  It's a phased approach that's being considered, and there have been two dimensions to this in terms of economic impact and health risk. And you try to find those industries and sectors with low risk but high economic impact. Those in that category would be in the first phases."

Four hours later on the other end of the commonwealth, Baker as he does almost every day, talked about the balance between going too slow and too fast on reopening the state's economy.

"There's a lot of things that have been taken away from all of us because of this," Baker said. "The flip side is we did bend the trend. We did dramatically flatten the curve. We did learn a lot and hopefully make adjustments based on what we've learned about what we can do going forward. I think it's important for everyone to understand that as we go forward, we're going to be balancing the trade-offs that are pretty obvious that are associated with public health and people's ability to work.

"Some people are going to say: It's too slow. And some people are going to say: It's too fast. And I understand and I respect that. But this is our idea of the best shot we have at continuing to make progress and not give the virus a chance to get back out of the barn."

Municipal officials like Williamstown's Hoch hear the arguments for both sides daily.

"None of us want to be in a position  of having to be in an aggressive enforcement stage with any of our businesses, residents or any of our visitors," Hoch said. "Trust me, if you've been spotted in Williamstown not wearing a mask in public, I or one of my staff have probably been notified about it.

"That's the other piece we wrestle with. For all of our interest in re-engaging people, we have an equal, perhaps, constituency that is very concerned about where we are in the whole trajectory of this illness. Sitting in local government, we're kind of the vehicle for both of those sets of people to express their excitement and anger all at the same time.

"Our job is to try to navigate through all of those successfully."

While government attempts to steer between the Scylla of contagion and the Charybdis of economic collapse, there is ample evidence of creative solutions to adapt to the current climate, whether it is a manufacturer adjusting its operations or the county's critically important cultural institutions rethinking their programming.

"Think about Lenco Armored Vehicles," Sosne said. "They get how many boxes a day. So little things about how they're handling shipping and receiving and that process of how they protect their employees. They've been really creative with it.

"Lenco brought in an external shipping container, set it up outside and now has basically two shipping and receiving departments. The external one, the boxes will sit there for 24 hours as they get sprayed down and then sent into their regular shipping and receiving department."

Hancock Shaker Village's Thompson bemoaned the loss of performing arts programs that are a staple of the summer season in the Berkshires but sounded a hopeful note about the collaboration among the county's "culturals."

"I'm inspired by laces like the Clark [Art Institute] and the Mount," Thompson said. "Susan Wissler told me last week she had 500 hikers at the Mount. I'd only gone there to go to the building and performances by Shakespeare & Company. But I hiked there last week, and there's 50 acres of trails.

"So we're starting to focus on our property as an outdoor property as well."

To that end, Hancock Shaker Village is building outdoor pens so that when it reopens to the public, visitors will not have to go inside the historic Round Stone Barn, Thompson said.

She said the region has an opportunity coming through the pandemic to build on an historic reputation as a destination to "soothe the soul."

"We might be an oasis for people," Thompson said. "I think that this is a real opportunity for us to raise the profile of the Berkshires as an outdoor destination. A number of the culturals are meeting about what our offerings might be outdoors -- a lot of drive-ins, drive-bys. How can we reformulate what we've always done in a way that works in this new world and safely?"

Hoch said there are issues to think through with any new plans to change the way visitors enjoy the area.

"We've talked about: How do we close downtown to facilitate more [outdoor] seating for restaurants?" he said. "That leads to, 'Hmm, does anybody have tables for that?'  We're looking at some of our spaces differently and saying, 'Can we do an event in a place we never thought of as an event space?' I think that's where a lot of this creativity is going to be helpful.

"And we're also being sensitive to some of our other locations.  It's great that you can go wander the grounds of some of our cultural facilities in town. It creates engagement, but it doesn't really monetize that. We're sensitive to thinking about that and helping people bridge that."
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Peter Navarro, one of President Donald Trump's top economic advisers, excoriated China's response to the coronavirus outbreak Sunday, accusing the country of hiding the virus from the world and subsequently taking down the American economy.

On ABC's "This Week" Navarro stopped short -- under questioning -- of claiming that it was the Chinese's intention to harm the American economy, but did accuse the country of being unable to contain the outbreak and of misleading other nations about its severity.

"I did not say they deliberately did it, but their China virus -- let's go over the facts here, correct me if I'm wrong -- the virus was spawned in Wuhan Province, patient zero was in November. The Chinese, behind the shield of the World Health Organization for two months, hid the virus from the world, and then sent hundreds of thousands of Chinese on aircraft to Milan, New York and around the world to seed that," Navarro claimed, without offering evidence such travel was directed by the Chinese government.

"They could have kept it in Wuhan, instead, it became a pandemic," he continued. "So that's why I say the Chinese did that to Americans and they are responsible now."

"Yes, I do blame the Chinese," White House adviser Peter Navarro says on economic challenges in U.S. due to COVID-19, claiming that China "behind the shield of the World Health Organization  for two months hid the virus from the world." https://t.co/vTqcX6SuVX pic.twitter.com/6wtvIDI84i  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) May 17, 2020

Navarro, who holds the title of director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, has led the administration's efforts to procure medical supplies and protective equipment during the pandemic.

Story continues

In late January, Navarro was among the first advisers in the White House to sound the alarm about the potential seriousness of the coronavirus, writing a memo in which he noted that "the lack of immune protection or an existing cure or vaccine would leave Americans defenseless," and that an outbreak could evolve into "a full-blown pandemic."

MORE: White House new 'bioterrorism' answer, after Muir pressed Trump on stockpile claim

On "This Week" Sunday, Navarro argued that, despite widespread criticism to the contrary, the Trump administration was engaging with the spreading pandemic throughout the month of February, shortly after he penned that memo, pointing to Trump's decision to halt travel from China -- a move Navarro personally advised.

But given his critiques of China, he was questioned by ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos why, during that same period when the virus was spreading from the country, Trump was complimentary of Chinese President Xi Jinping as he continued to negotiate a trade deal.

"It was President Trump who was praising China all through the month of February, and, you know, there's a lot of evidence that those lost weeks made a difference," Stephanopoulos said.

"First of all, I think it's great that we have a president that can get along with all world leaders," Navarro responded. "But number two, there's no lost weeks. ... We were moving on three vectors of attack in February: vaccine development, development of therapeutics like Remdesivir, and the building up and capacity for things like N95 masks."

"And the work we did throughout February has born beautiful fruit here in this spring," Navarro continued, pointing to the vaccine development push announced Friday, and continued production and distribution of treatments and supplies.

PHOTO: White House Trade and Manufacturing Policy Director Peter Navarro speaks during a briefing on the coronavirus pandemic in the press briefing room of the White House, March 27, 2020, in Washington, DC (Drew Angerer/Getty Images, FILE)

Among those vocal in opposition to the administration's February outlook has been presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. When asked about the former vice president's accusation that the White House "squandered critical time" and is now "play(ing) the China card" to distract from its initial efforts, or lack thereof, to combat the outbreak, Navarro condemned Biden's work during the Obama administration and repeated a misleading claim about his son's business dealings.

"I do think this election is going to be a referendum in many ways on China," he said. "So we'll have Joe Biden, long friend of China. President Donald J. Trump, the only president in modern history to stand up to China."

MORE: Trump promises coronavirus vaccine by end of the year, but his own experts temper expectations

Domestically, in recent days, Navarro has become a figure in the Dr. Rick Bright whistleblower controversy. Bright, the former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, who claims he was pushed out of his position, in part, for raising issues with the Trump administration's pursuit of unproven coronavirus treatments, mentioned Navarro multiple times in his whistleblower complaint, writing that he "shared Dr. Bright's concerns about the potential devastation the United States would face," and spoke out about the nation's preparedness.

MORE: Coronavirus government response updates: Ousted vaccine chief testifies 'Americans deserve the truth'

But the White House declined an invitation for Navarro to appear Thursday at a congressional hearing about Bright's complaints on his behalf, and on "This Week" he continued his recent public criticisms of the doctor's actions.

"It's an American tragedy, George. This guy is quite talented, but he was asked to be the field commander over at NIH to storm the testing hill with a billion dollars behind him. Instead of accepting that mission, he deserted," Navarro said Sunday. "He went into a fox hole, wrote up the complaint, and now he's part of a Capitol Hill partisan circus where he's just become another pawn in the game."

"And the tragedy, George, is this man has talent. He's a smart man," he told Stephanopoulos. "We could have used him on the battlefield. He's not there now. And it was because of the decisions that he made."

MORE: Whistleblower to testify 'window of opportunity is closing' to develop strategy to combat coronavirus

And while he noted the issue was outside of his "lane," Navarro also commented on Trump's firing of the State Department's inspector general Friday -- a controversial move already facing an inquiry led by congressional Democrats said they believe the dismissal could have been retaliatory and potentially illegal.

"There's a bureaucracy out there. And there's a lot of people in that bureaucracy who think that they got elected president, not Donald J. Trump," Navarro said, after first claiming the firing was within the president's "legal authority" on Sunday. "And we've had tremendous problems with, you know, some people call it the 'deep state.' I think that's apt."

"So I don't mourn the loss of people when they leave this bureaucracy," he continued. "There's always going to be somebody better to replace them, somebody more loyal -- not to the president necessarily, but to the Trump agenda. That's what's important."

MORE: House passes $3 trillion relief package, bill 'DOA' in Senate

Navarro also reacted to the fifth economic stimulus bill passed by the House of Representatives on Friday -- which is unlikely to make it through the Republican-controlled Senate and to Trump's desk -- pointing to the earlier "fiscal and monetary stimulus  coursing through the system now" and saying only, "we may need more."

"Fed(eral Reserve) Chairman (Jerome) Powell says we do need more," Stephanopoulos said in response.

"Well, what I'm focused on, George -- and this is the real key to success -- is going to be the structural adjustments we're going to have to make," Navarro responded. "For every service sector job we might loss as we adjust to this  we're going to have replace that with manufacturing jobs, which do have a high multiplier in terms of creating service sector jobs again."

What to know about the coronavirus:

How it started and how to protect yourself: Coronavirus explained

What to do if you have symptoms: Coronavirus symptoms

Tracking the spread in the U.S. and worldwide: Coronavirus map

Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis.

Trump adviser continues focus on China amid criticism of coronavirus response originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
London, May 17 : UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acknowledged frustration over the "complex" easing of England's coronavirus lockdown, the media reported on Sunday.

Johnson wrote in the Mail newspaper on Sunday that he understood people "will feel frustrated with some of the new rules", the BBC reported.

"We are trying to do something that has never had to be done before - moving the country out of a full lockdown, in a way which is safe and does not risk sacrificing all of your hard work." In his article, Johnson said that the government was attempting something that has "never had to be done before".

He said he trusted the "good sense of the British people" to observe the new rules and thanked the public for "sticking with us" so far.

Johnson's article comes amid mounting criticism of the way restrictions have been lifted in England.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham warned the Prime Minister risked a "fracturing of national unity" if he ignores regions.

Writing in the Observer, he warned that without additional support for the regions, there was a danger of a "second spike" of the disease.

The Mayor also told the BBC that "the voice of the English regions isn't being heard at the moment", adding that the government has "lost some goodwill" with local authorities in its handling and communication of the lifting of lockdown measures.

Meanwhile, the opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has blamed Johnson for the way Wales and England have diverged on the easing of lockdown.

He said different approaches across the four UK nations to tackling coronavirus were not going to "help us out of this crisis".

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she did not know what "stay alert" meant.

Johnson's Sunday article also comes as the government's plans to start reopening primary schools in England from June 1have been challenged by local authorities in the north of England and teaching unions.

Liverpool and Hartlepool councils issued statements saying schools will not reopen at the start of next month as coronavirus cases continue to rise locally.

Schools in Wales will not reopen on June 1, while those in Scotland and Northern Ireland may not restart before the summer holidays.
Hong Kong is expected to keep in place most social-distancing measures, including limiting public gatherings to eight people, for another two weeks given the risk posed by a cluster of local coronavirus infections from unknown sources, the Post has learned.

But authorities may allow some minor rule relaxations, such as larger gatherings for religious purposes or karaoke lounges to reopen, provided enough precautions are taken, according to two sources familiar with the situation. Schools would also resume classes in phases beginning next week as scheduled, they said.

The city reported three new imported cases, all returnees from Pakistan, on Sunday, taking the tally to 1,055, as health minister Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee warned people they might have to get used to living with the virus.

As experts suggested that the virus may not be eliminated completely and could become endemic, Hong Kong has to rethink how to embrace the new normal, Chan told a radio programme.

Hong Kong went 23 days without recording a local transmission until last week when a married couple and one of their granddaughters tested positive for Covid-19, triggering a massive round of testing for the immediate community.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch at the Centre for Health Protection, said the first batch of 1,000 saliva tests, including of 970 residents at Lei Muk Shue Estate in Tsuen Wan, where the grandparents lived, and Cheuk Ming Building where their granddaughter lived, came back negative. Some stall owners in Market Street, where the man fixed watches, were also given the all-clear, as were staff at a tutorial centre where the granddaughter visited.

We still have no clue about the source of infections, and we hope more residents  out of the 3,000 [sample] bottles we have given  can return [them]  in the following few days, Chuang said.

The decision to keep most preventive measures in place was decided after government officials met public health advisers, the sources said.

Story continues

It would be better if we are able to trace the sources for extensive testing. But given the unknown we are facing, it might be better to slow down a bit, the source said.

The limit on public gatherings, relaxed to eight people on May 8, would stay in place, and most establishments already allowed to resume business would be required to follow social-distancing measures.

Travellers wait at the coronavirus testing facility at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. Photo: Bloomberg

But some small relaxations were being considered, including allowing meetings for religious purposes, although no drinking or eating would be allowed. The government earlier granted exemptions for funerals and allowed up to 50 people to attend weddings.

Additional establishments might be allowed to reopen if enough precautionary measures were observed. Karaoke lounges could possibly resume business as long as people wore masks while singing and the microphone was sanitised after every use, the source said.

Eight types of business, including cinemas, gyms, mahjong venues and beauty and massage parlours, opened their doors on May 8, subject to certain conditions.

Beachgoers crowd Shek O beach in Hong Kong on Sunday, despite a social-distancing rule against public gatherings of more than eight people still in force. Photo: Sam Tsang

Schools are scheduled to begin teaching physical classes Wednesday next week, with senior secondary students the first to return to campuses, followed by younger secondary and older primary school pupils on June 8.

Chan said Hong Kong had to rethink strategies to combat the disease, including ramping up daily testing capacity  currently at 4,000 to 5,000  to better detect any cases in the community, but she did not mention a specific number.

Authorities would target high-risk groups, including airport staff and workers at elderly care homes with minor or even no respiratory symptoms, Chan said. The government had approved HK$200 million (US$25.8 million) in funding for two local universities to improve their testing labs.

The secretary for food and health also called on the public to be tolerant with the governments suppress and lift strategy, where social-distancing measures are repeatedly relaxed and tightened to cope with changes in the risk level.

I understand that a primary concern for people is when to further relax the measures

Sophia Chan, health minister

I understand that a primary concern for people is when to further relax the measures, she said. But we have to balance economic and public-health considerations before revising our policies.

The three newly imported cases were a 79-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman and her 10-year-old daughter. Not included in the citys tally of local cases is a 29-year-old Hongkonger who tested positive on May 14 and arrived back from Britain on Sunday morning. He was immediately admitted to hospital.

The man had insisted he was getting better, but Chuang warned that people who tested positive could pose a threat to themselves and others on board a flight and should only travel back when they were recovered.

Separately, the government has received seven bids for a one-year campaign to relaunch Hong Kongs public image after a previous attempt failed to find any takers.

We aim to inform target global audiences of Hong Kongs economic recovery and responses to issues of international interest, including the facts surrounding Hong Kongs efforts to address the Covid-19 crisis, and that Hong Kong remains always welcoming and open for business, a government spokesman said. The bidders were being vetted and would soon be invited to present their proposals, he said.

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This article Coronavirus: Hong Kong to keep social-distancing rules for two more weeks, sources say, as health chief warns of new normal first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Now that the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a motion for the rancid case against General Michael Flynn be dismissed, readers of this paper need to see a perspective that the paid help wont provide.

Both the un-serious and ought-to-be serious voices on the left say the same thing  Flynn pled guilty (!!!) Dropping the case is a travesty !!!).

The case was crafted around a perjury trap on General Flynn. A perjury trap is the governments use of its investigatory powers to secure a perjury indictment on materials which are neither material nor germane to a legitimate ongoing investigation.

A Department of Justice memo dated Jan. 30, 2017 stated that The FBI did not believe Flynn was acting as an agent of Russia.

In spite of this, the inquisitors used the perjury trap, coercion by threatening his son with prosecution under an obscure statute and poor legal counsel by his attorneys, the inquisitors secured their ill-gotten scalp.

After retaining Sidney Powell as his counsel, General Flynn found his equilibrium.

Ms. Powells understanding of federal prosecutorial corruption has been illuminated in her two books, the best-selling License to Lie and Conviction Machine.

Her aggressive advocacy led to the dismissal motion which includes the following statement: In the case of Mr. Flynn, the evidence shows his statements were not material to a viable counter-intel investigation  or any investigation for that matter  by the FBI.

After receiving his 30 pieces of silver from CNN, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper proudly proclaimed that President Trump, either knowingly or unwittingly, was a Russian asset.

However, in sworn testimony before the House Intelligence Committee on July 17, 2017, he stated I never saw any direct empirical evidence that the Trump campaign or someone in it was plotting/conspiring with the Russians to meddle with the election.

Recently released transcripts that provided us with that statement include numerous concurring statements from other members of the rogues gallery of Obama-era officials.

Rather curious how that testimony never got lea ked to The New York Times, isnt it?

Esteemed (liberal) law professor Jonathan Turley strongly supports the Motion to Dismiss, writing how It describes an effort former FBI Director James Comey, (former Dept. FBI Director Andrew) McCabe, and others to skip common protocols at any cost on any grounds.

Comey delighted the Presidents detractors by publicly bragging about blowing off agency protocols.

With regards to CNN, Turley wrote CNN never raised that McCabe (who is a senior CNN analyst) was found to have lied by career investigators and referred him for criminal charges.

Some on the left find Mr. Flynns situation serves as some sort of karmic balance for abuses of less privileged, non-white citizens. To this, Ill refer to Mahatma Gandhis axiom of how taking an eye for eye leaves everyone blind.

As this scandal continues to unfold, we can look forward to more flapdoodle from partisan dirt merchants in our legacy media. Weve already gotten a leaked phone call President Obama castigating our current Justice department. NBC has already had to sheepishly admit that its once venerable Meet the Press broadcast a deceptively edited excerpt of a CBS interview with Attorney General Barr. This nonsense isnt going to end.

Much of our media has taken on the veneer of nutroots nation, hoping to see our President and anyone else within his coterie frog-walked out of office into the political gulag. This amounts to a world class case of projectionism by our fourth estate gone rogue.

As time passes, we the people are going to find out about the who, what, when, where and why of this debacle. And, yes, I believe this will make Watergate look positively quaint in comparison. Part of how we move forward afterwards will be how we hold our partisan media accountable for their malfeasance.

Todd Peterson is a resident of Washington Depot.
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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 18 2020

Amid pressure from humanitarian organizations, Indonesia and Australia have moved to follow-up talks under the Bali Process framework to prepare for the possibility of another refugee crisis in the Andaman Sea, where hundreds of asylum seekers died in 2015.

In the past few weeks, hundreds of Rohingya refugees made perilous journeys across the Bay of Bengal seeking refuge in nearby countries, only to be denied entry due to the coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced almost all countries in the region to tighten border controls.

Malaysian and Thai authorities rejected 382 refugees traveling by boats in mid-April, citing coronavirus concerns. The refugees were later rescued by Bangladesh.

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Petroleum major Bharat Petroleum said that one of its outlets on the Agra-Mumbai highway in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh is providing free meals to migrant labourers who are travelling back to their homes.

BP-Guna is a Company Owned Company Operated Outlet (COCO) situated at Patai village on Agra-Mumbai National Highway No. 3 (New NH-46), the company said.

"In the last fortnight, we have observed an increase in traffic at this stretch by 70 per cent and migrant labourers started halting at our outlet in large numbers," it said.

Around 25,000 migrant workers have visited and halted at the outlet in the last 15 days, it said.

On average, 1,800-2,000 of workers have started entering the outlet every day currently, it added.

The outlet during this time of COVID-19 crisis ensures that migrant community is taken care by providing them with wholesome food, facilities for resting, washing and bathing, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The platform can cater to 100 people in a meeting for 24 consecutive hours. It will be regularly updated and provided free to the public nationwide.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Hung said the platform was completed within the 20 days of social distancing and is a useful tool as social gatherings remain limited to prevent COVID-19.

The creation of Zavi proves the rapid advancement of Vietnamese IT staff, he said.

Hung then chaired the first online meeting using Zavi, with the Departments of Information and Communications of Ha Giang and Quang Ninh provinces to discuss the Bluezone application.
Three dozen tests from a Rockhampton nursing home where a nurse continued to work while infected with COVID-19 are yet to come back.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said 235 staff and residents had returned negative results while 37 test results were still outstanding.

"But honestly we are very relieved with the news that we are hearing at the moment," she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said it was very clear no one should be attending work if they were sick, adding, "a nurse should know better."
DEA offers $10 million for the capture of the most wanted Mexican Cartel leader in the U.S. and Mexico Nemesio Oseguera-Cervantes or known as "El Mencho" while a member of his cartel is already at the U.S. custody, according to a recently published article.

DEA Offers $10 Million for the Capture of El Mencho

The capture of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was not the end of his cartel but the rise of a more dangerous cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera-Cervantes or known as "El Mencho" who now leads the Cartel Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Dante Sorianello, the assistant special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in the San Antonio district, said: "He's on DEA's most-wanted list and the CJNG cartel is one of the most ruthless and most dangerous cartels and largest cartels in the world."

Today, the U.S. government firmly believed that El Mencho is the one who is responsible for the entry of a large number of drugs and smuggle it either by land or by sea. Under his leadership, the cartel has expanded its influence around the globe.

El Mencho's cartel is considered as the Mexico's most powerful organized group. Sorianello said: "They operate in 22 of 32 Mexican states and they are engaged in the manufacture distribution of methamphetamine, the manufacture distribution of fentanyl, the distribution of heroin, as well as the distribution of cocaine."

Moreover, he is also widely feared because of the horrendous crimes that are linked to him and his group. Videos showing their weapons even circulated online to threaten the other rival groups and they hang signs everywhere for the terror they create.

Member of the Cartel with Ties to El Mencho is now in the U.S. Custody

Gerardo Gonzalez Valencia is now under the custody of the U.S. government. He was extradited from South America to face drug trafficking charges filed before him in the U.S. He is known as "Lalo" or "Flaco" a Spanish term which means skinny.

He was indicted in 2016 by the federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., and was soon captured in Uruguay. According to the indictment, he was charged for the illegal distribution of five kilograms of cocaine and 500 kilograms of methamphetamine according to a report.

He is the brother-in-law of El Mencho he could also be the key to El Mencho's arrest who have been hiding for years. In 2018, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the charges filed against Valencia, who was 41 years old at that time, and the hunt for El Mencho.

Many believed that El Mencho is still in Mexico and is protected by heavily armed men. Meanwhile, Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, El Mencho's son, was extradited earlier this year and just waiting for his trial in Washinton, D.C.

Additionally, El Mencho's daughter Jessica Johanna Oseguerra Gonzalez was also arrested when she visited her brother in court in February. Both of them were born in the U.S. which means that their citizenship is dual.

Moreover, In December last year, cartel member Jesus Contreras was also extradited from Mexico and was charged with drug trafficking and money laundering Virginia.

Read related articles:
AFL star Jack Stevens is recovering in hospital after an assault on Saturday night.

The Geelong Cats released a statement on Sunday morning confirming the midfielder had been injured in an incident.

It has been reported the 30-year-old was stabbed in the chest.

AFL star Jack Stevens is recovering in hospital after reportedly being stabbed in the chest

'The club is aware that Jack Steven was injured in an incident last night,' the statement reads.

'Jack is in hospital and recovering. The clubs concern is for Jacks health and well being.

'The matter has been referred to police and until their investigations are completed the club will not be in position to offer further comment.'

A Victoria police spokesperson confirmed to Daily Mail Australia a 30-year-old Lorne man was taken to a Melbourne hospital overnight.

'Stonnington Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating after a 30-year-old Lorne man presented at a Melbourne hospital overnight with a non-life-threatening injury,' they said in a release.

'Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and hope to speak to the victim again later today.'

Jack Steven with partner Indiana Beresford at the 2013 Brownlow Medal at Crown Palladium

He is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries.

Former Cats captain Cameron Ling told ABC radio he was shattered to hear of the incident.

'At his best he is a wonderful footballer and he came to the Cats looking for a change of scenery to reinvigorate his love of the game,' Ling said.

'He has battled mental health issues and worked through those and loved being at the beach and close to the coastal lifestyle and all reports from the club were he was training hard through the summer until the season stopped because of coronavirus.

'He was excited about what the season held for him. We dont know many details other than that footy is the furthest thing from his mind and his familys mind. All it is will be his health and wellbeing and recovering from this.'

Stevens in action for the Cats during the AFL Marsh Community Series pre-season match between Geelong and Essendon in Colac in March

Steven moved to the Cats from St Kilda for the 2020 season to be closer to his family after suffering from mental health issues in 2019.

The four-time St Kilda best-and-fairest award winner managed just seven matches last year in his fight with depression and revealed he thought of retiring from the game at his lowest point.

'I love playing, I still wanted to play,' he told AFL.com.au. 'I don't think my footy dies down that quickly, it's just my fitness and getting to happy, healthy state.

'It (having a break) had to happen. Everyone reacts differently to mental health. Some people can deal with it better than others and I just needed to take a break. It was the right thing to do.'

Steven thanked the Saints for their work with him throughout his career and was excited for the new chapter ahead.

'I owe a lot to them,' he said. 'I'm really thankful and I still love the club, but super-stoked to be down here.'
R icky Gervais has called for NHS workers to get New Year's honours in 2021 as a thank you for their work on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis.

The creator of The Office and After Life added that he thinks celebrities should be banned from the honours list next year.

The comedian, 56, told the Christian O'Connell show in Australia: "Give it to someone who gave a kidney to a stranger, not someone who invented a new type of mascara.

"I've seen people given a knighthood for services to fashion. What are you talking about, services to fashion?

Ricky Gervais in season 2 of After Life / Netflix

"Christ, it's not that hard. People are finding cures for cancer and AIDs."

Mr Gervais, who is promoting the second series of his latest show After Life, added that he thinks Brits should never complain about the NHS again.

"We've got to remember we clapped for them and that should always be there..." he said.

"The New Year's Honours list should not go to celebrities this year. It should go to those people."

Ricky Gervais / Getty Images

Mr Gervais said that people should be wary of looking for fame as an end in itself.

He added: People think fame can make them happy. Then they're like, why am I not happy? People don't realise having worth is a huge thing to tick off before you can feel happy. And fame's not the place for it..."

"You've got to learn to love yourself."

Mr Gervais' comments follow a report in the Sun that Netflix has offered him 5 million to write the third series of After Life, as well as several separate comedy specials.
Hao traveled 928 kilometers from his hometown in Dai Tu District in the northern Thai Nguyen Province to Phuoc Son District in Quang Nam to dig gold in 1999. His wife and three children still live in Dai Tu. After a few futile years, he planned to return home but an unfortunate personal event made him decide otherwise.

Following a friends advice, he moved to Que Ninh Commune in Nong Son District, putting up a tent along a ridge from where he started to fish and isolate himself from the outside world.
Washington: Democrats in Congress on Saturday launched an investigation into President Donald Trump's move to oust the State Department's internal watchdog, accusing the President of escalating his fight against any oversight of his administration.

Trump announced the planned removal of Inspector General Steve Linick in a letter to House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi late on Friday night (local time), making Linick the latest government inspector general to be ousted in recent weeks under the Republican president.

US President Donald Trump speaks to the media on the South Lawn of the White House on Friday. Credit:Bloomberg

The top Democrats on the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees questioned the timing and motivation of what they called an "unprecedented removal".

"We unalterably oppose the politically-motivated firing of inspectors general and the Presidents gutting of these critical positions," House panel chairman Eliot Engel and Senator Bob Menendez, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations panel, said in a statement announcing the probe.
Banking on the authority of khaki, a 23-year-old woman from Shamli in Uttar Pradesh (UP) working as bank employee at Lehragaga in Sangrur, became policewoman for a day to appeal to migrant workers not to be overwhelmed by the Covid-19 threat and remain in Punjab to find work in factories other businesses opening up.

After hearing about the plight of migrants from her state, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh who were walking for miles from Punjab to reach their hometowns and villages, Ashu Upadhyay contacted the police saying she wanted to help.

They asked her to wear the uniform, become a policewoman for a day, wield authority and visit various parts of the city to talk to workers insecure about their future.

The workers are finding the going very tough and want to go back home. However, they had left their states to come to Punjab for work, and now that the restrictions are easing and the state has opened factories and other business establishments, I appeal to all of them to stay where they are, said Upadhyay.

After hearing about the plight of migrants from her state, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh who were walking for miles from Punjab to reach their hometowns and villages, Ashu Upadhyay contacted the police saying she wanted to help. (HT PHOTO)

Those who had made up their minds, however, should not walk and instead opt for buses and trains for their own safety and that of their dear ones, she added.

Lehragaga deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Buta Singh said Upadhyay herself wanted to go home, but when she asked the civil administration for help she was asked to wait. That was when she decided to do something about the migrant crisis.

Ashu appealed to the migrants to work in Punjab as the government has opened the economy and there was huge demand of labour in factories, agriculture and other fields. She visited different markets and offices with police personnel to convince migrants to work in the state or leave by buses and trains, and not walk, added Buta Singh.
Representative image

The number of COVID-19 cases in Gujarat crossed the 10,000-mark on Saturday, with 1,057 new patients being found positive for coronavirus including 709 "super spreaders" in Ahmedabad city, a Health official said.

The total cases now stands at 10,989 while the number of fatalities rose to 625 with 19 people succumbing to the viral infection, the official said.

"Ten of the 19 deceased were suffering from comorbidities," said Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi.

"Apart from 348 new cases reported on Saturday, the state health department has added a tally of 709 'super spreaders'," Ravi said explaining the total number of new cases.

A total of 273 patients were discharged, taking the tally of the recovered patients to 4,308, Ravi added.
An investigation has been launched after a sick nurse returned to work at a Queensland aged care home while waiting for her coronavirus test results.

The North Rockhampton Nursing Centre was locked down on May 15 amid fears 115 residents and 180 workers at the state-run facility could be infected.

Initial testing of 193 people has come back negative for the CCP virus, however, health minister Steven Miles says it is possible more people could be infected.

We are taking the risks here very very seriously, he told reporters on May 16.

About 35 low-risk residents have been moved from the home so that residents in the wing where the nurse worked can be spread out to further reduce the risk of infection of COVID-19, the disease caused by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Chief health officer Jeannette Young said it was unfortunate the nurse waited to be tested after developing coronavirus symptoms.

She was not providing hands-on care to the residents, which is a good thing, she said.

The risk to those residents is even less.

Health officials are now tracing the womans movements to track down and test people she came into contact with after becoming infected.

We do not know exactly who has come within 1.5 meters of the nurse so anyone in Rockhampton with any symptoms needs to be immediately tested, she said.

Young said officials were also investigating the circumstances of the nurses testing.

This will include why the woman, who worked in the reception area of the facility, returned to work while waiting for her test results.

Miles said it was unacceptable that the nurse had gone to work while having symptoms of the COVID-19 disease.

To have this happen in a Queensland Health facility is very disappointing, he said.

I have asked the director-general to covey to all 100,000 staff that they need to go above and beyond what the chief health officer has advised.

The infected nurse remains in isolation.
New Delhi, May 17 : In yet another mega investment into Jio Platforms, Reliance Industries on Sunday announced an investment of Rs 6,598.38 crore by General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm.

General Atlantic's investment will translate into a 1.34 per cent equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully diluted basis. With this investment, Jio Platforms has raised Rs 67,194.75 crore from leading technology investors including Facebook, Silver Lake, Vista Equity Partners and General Atlantic in less than four weeks.

The latest investment values Jio Platforms at an equity value of Rs 4.91 lakh crore and an enterprise value of Rs 5.16 lakh crore.

Jio Platforms, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries, is a next-generation technology platform focused on providing high-quality and affordable digital services across India, with more than 388 million subscribers, the company statement said.

"Jio Platforms has made significant investments across its digital ecosystem, powered by leading technologies spanning broadband connectivity, smart devices, cloud and edge computing, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, augmented and mixed reality andblockchain," it said.

General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm with a 40-year track record of investing in the technology, consumer, financial services and healthcare sectors.

As an integrated team operating under a global investment platform across 14 locations, General Atlantic invests behind themes that are driven by innovation and entrepreneurship and supported by long-term secular growth, said the statement.

General Atlantic has a longstanding tradition of backing disruptive entrepreneurs and companies around the world, including Airbnb, Alibaba, Ant Financial, Box, ByteDance, Facebook, Slack, Snapchat, Uber and other global technology leaders.

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, said: "I am thrilled to welcome General Atlantic, a marquee global investor, as a valued partner. I have known General Atlantic for several decades and greatly admired it for its belief in India's huge growth potential." "General Atlantic shares our vision of a Digital Society for India and strongly believes in the transformative power of digitization in enriching the lives of 1.3 billion Indians. We are excited to leverage General Atlantic's proven global expertise and strategic insights across 40 years of technology investing for the benefit of Jio," Ambani said.

Bill Ford, Chief Executive Officer of General Atlantic, said that as long-term backers of global technology leaders and visionary entrepreneurs, the company could not be more excited about investing in Jio.

"We share Mukesh's conviction that digital connectivity has the potential to significantly accelerate the Indian economy and drive growth across the country. General Atlantic has a long track record working alongside founders to scale disruptive businesses, as Jio is doing at the forefront ofthe digital revolution in India." Akash Ambani, Director of Reliance Jio, said that the company is delighted that a renowned global investor like General Atlantic "is partnering with us in our journey to digitally empower India and Indians. Jio is committed to make a digitally inclusive India that will provide immense opportunities to every Indian citizen especially to our highly talented youth".

"General Atlantic's endorsement and partnership energises Jio's young team to set, and achieve, even more ambitious goals in our onward march," he added.

The transaction is subject to regulatory and other customary approvals.
Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar on Sunday alleged that he was detained by police for "helping migrant workers", a charge denied by a senior police official.

"Police came to my home from the New Ashok Nagar police station in the morning today. Police told me that I was being detained but no reason was given for doing so," he said.

Kumar said police kept asking him if he had gone to the Ghazipur border on Saturday.

"The Congress is providing help to the starving migrant workers that's why I went to the Ghazipur border yesterday. People will not spare these governments that are detaining us for helping migrant workers," the Congress leader said.

However, a senior police official said Kumar was only questioned and asked to remain at home.

"We were patrolling in the area when we came to know through some migrants that Anil Kumar had assured them some help in migrating to their native place. So, we requested him to remain at home and not venture out," the official added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Taiwan and Tibet are two test cases of Chinas unjustified territorial claims. with little resistance from rest of the world.





by N.S.Venkataraman





Chinese government considers any country as its number one enemy, which recognizes Taiwan as sovereign nation. Similarly, if anyone country would demand that Tibet should be recognized as a sovereign country, China would protest very strongly. As a matter of fact, China holds vice like grip over Tibet and does not permit any foreigners to visit Tibet to see the conditions for themselves.





People in Taiwan

The ambition of China to annex Taiwan and firmly hold on to its occupation of Tibet is definite proof of Chinas expansionist plans .





There seem to be lot of similarity between the behavior of the present Chinese government and Hitlers Germany before World War II. The present Chinese government and Hitlers Germany have something in common, in their ambitious goal of dominating rest of the world at any cost , with least concern for ethical or moral principles and fairness in dealing with other countries.





Just as many countries in the world are now trying to appease China, then British Prime Minister Chamberlain too visited Germany to appease Hitler before World War II. Churchill called the bluff of Hitler, which is a matter of history.





So far, China could not annex Taiwan , since Taiwan is heavily protected by U S government and China knows that any move to annex Taiwan would lead to a war with USA.





On the other hand, China was emboldened to attack Tibet and aggressively occupy the region and China violently suppressed the Tibetan protestors, since the interest of Tibet was not supported or protected by any country in the world in a meaningful way. China continues to occupy Tibet and the world conscience remain suppressed as various governments want to appease China and keep it in good humour to protect their trade and business interests with China.





China now claims Arunachal Pradesh in India as part of China and continues to occupy thousands of kilometer of Indian territory , which it annexed during the 1962 Indo China war. China now claims ownership of islands in South China Sea and Senkaku island and adopting aggressive postures, inspite of protests from Japan, Phillipines, Vietnam and other countries.





So far, China has not been effectively challenged by any country in the world for its aggressive occupation of Tibet and claims on Indian territory and islands in South China Sea as well as its claim on Taiwan.





Because of the non caring attitude of most countries in the world, China is emboldened to carry on with its adventures to expand its territory and areas of influence.





While voice of Tibetans is not being heard loudly around the world, there are countries which speak in support of Taiwan occasionally.





Taiwan has revealed to the world about the Chinese virus sufficiently earlier but WHO has ignored Taiwans warning, as Taiwan is not a member of WHO. Now, the clamour for including Taiwan as member of WHO is being increasingly heard.





Neither Taiwan nor Tibet is a member of UNO, obviously implying that UNO does not recognize these regions as sovereign countries.





The claim of China on Taiwan and Tibet and other regions indicate the mindset of Chinese government and certainly represents a threat for stability in the world in the long run. With free run that China already has, it is likely that China may further make claims on other countries too in the coming days . The world has to prevent this.





Taiwan and Tibet are two test cases of Chinas unjustified territorial claims. with little resistance from rest of the world.





It is necessary that Taiwan and Tibet should be recognized as sovereign countries , which is a necessary step to curtail and defeat Chinas expansionist ambitions.





United Nations Organisation in its present structure and functioning style, is not in a position to do justice for Taiwan and Tibet.





Today, there is increasing suspicion in the world about Chinas methodologies and practices. The fact that China concealed the information about the Wuhan virus and did not forewarn the world at the right time indicates that China could exhibit irresponsible behavior . Today, the havoc that is happening in the world due to COVID 19 crisis is directly attributed to the Chinas indifferent attitude towards the welfare of the world community.





Certainly, nobody should think or say that China should be destabilized. But, certainly the growing thought is that China should be prevented from destabilizing the world and its aggressive methods of occupying other countries should be resisted.





The starting point to initiate such world wide resistance to Chinas territorial expansion plans is to recognize Taiwan and Tibet as independent and sovereign countries. This will show China its place.




Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday asserted that all migrant labourers who are stranded outside will be brought back to the state.

Kumar assured the migrant labourers not to get panicky, have patience and remain safe as the state government is taking every possible measures at its disposal to bring them to the state, an official release said.

The chief minister directed chief secretary Deepak Kumar to write a letter to the central government that the railways should prepare a protocol for ticket booking so that migrant labourers willing to come to Bihar are able to know the date of their departure journey in advance.

It will create a sense of satisfaction among them (migrant labourers) and will not create any kind of anxiety or apprehension or discontent restlessness with regard to their return to the home state, the chief minister said.

Kumar directed all the departments to work seriously to increase the employment opportunities for migrant labourers.

He asked officials to prepare and keep a proper database of all the relief and assistance being provided to the people in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

People need to understand the seriousness of COVID-19, he said while appealing to people to have patience and maintain social distancing norms.

The chief minister, on earlier occasions, had also asked his officials to make all arrangements to bring back migrant labourers from other states at the earliest.

He had directed them to coordinate with all other states and the railways to take necessary measures to ensure their smooth return.

People, who reach railway station or at the states borders, are being sent to their destinations by trains and buses, he had said while making an appeal to them not to travel on foot to reach their destinations.

Kumar asked them to inform their nearest block or police station so that they can be sent to their destination by vehicles.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After nearly a four-year absence from radio, the Frye Family Band makes their return with the new EP, Things Unseen. The new project is produced by Michael Farren who has written songs for artists such as Laura Daigle, Reba McIntire, and Michael W. Smith, to name a few.



The seven-song EP features four songs co-written by band leader and dad, Tom Frye, along with two songs co-written by daughter Maggie Frye Neal. Additionally, the EP features a cover of the song "Cats in the Cradle," marking the first time the song has been recorded as a duet by a father and son.

Q: Thanks for doing this interview with us. Who is the Frye Family Band?

The Frye Family Band is a band made up mainly of our family, and a couple of friends we've added along the way. Most of us play a variety of instruments, so the sound can change from song to song, but we are acoustic-driven, lyric-focused, and feature family harmonies.

Q: How did you first start singing as a family? Tell us a little about your journey.

I started out as a solo artist and as the ministry grew I added a few band mates. All the while my wife and kids were there with me. When we would perform, the kids would come up and sing a few songs, which was always a highlight for me. What I didn't realize during that season is that my band-mates were not just performing with me, but they were mentoring the kids.

One evening as I was rehearsing, the girls started singing the harmonies they had heard many times. I had them come to the next rehearsal and it worked! A couple of years later, my son Jonny joined us on drums and that was the birth of the Frye Family Band. So, the transition to the Frye Family Band was not as intentional as it was organic and is really just a natural by-product of our parenting philosophy- "Do life together."

Q: How would you describe your style of music? Who would you say influences you musically?

This is one of the most common questions we are asked. We have so many influences from classic rock artists Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Eagles, to folk artists like John Prine, CCM artist including Rich Mullins, Andrew Peterson, Mitch McVicker, and Third Day, country artists such as Willie Nelson, and Zac Brown Band, and contemporary acts including Ed Sheeran, Ben Rector, and Jason Mraz. Each have, in one way or another, contributed to our music.

However, the underlining quality with all of our influences is their ability to craft incredible lyrics. We hear all kind of opinions of our style including Country, Americana, folk, and Acoustic Pop, I think in large part due to our wide range of influences.

Q: Congratulations on your new album "Things Unseen." Why did you entitle it "Things Unseen"?

As we looked over the lyrics of these songs to try to land on a title for the project, the common theme seemed to be trust. Trust in the midst of doubt, fear, loss, pain, and even trust in the face of death. The focal point seemed to land on the chorus of 'Things Unseen,' which was inspired by 2 Corinthians 4:17-18:

I will trust though I cannot see

This road ahead where You are leading me

My wandering heart looks to You my King

I fix my eyes on the things unseen

I fix my eyes on the things unseen

Q: Give us a number of highlights in the making of this new record.

1) Working with Michael Farren was wonderful. He is such a talented songwriter and producer who was able to pull things out of us that we didn't know we had!

2) Making music as a family never gets old.

3) We were able to work with several great writers to help us craft these songs including our producer Michael Farren, as well as Rhyan Shirley, and Jessica Campbell.

4) Covering 'Cats in the Cradle,' and filming the music video with my son.

Q: You have an interesting cover of "Cat's in the Cradle" on the new album. Why did you choose to revive this classic?

Several years ago, Jonathon and I sang Cats in the Cradle as part of our church's Father's Day service. We had really thought this would be nothing more than a song we sang for a special service, but afterward we heard so many positive comments from people who said hearing a father and son sing that song made it even more poignant that we decided to add it to our set list. It has been a mainstay ever since. It is such a timeless and powerful song, and it fits well with the message of "parenting on purpose" that we share during our concerts, worship services, and events.

Q: Another song that caught my attention is "Martyr's Prayer." What's the song about and why you record it?

The inspiration for Martyr's Prayer came from two news reports. On October 1, 2015, a student at Umpqua Community College in Oregon murdered eight students and a professor and wounded several others. I learned in the days following this tragedy that after entering the classroom, he asked the Christians to stand, then proceeded to kill each one.

Around that same time, I also read a report of a Christian woman who had been captured by ISIS. After the terrorists were unsuccessful in convincing her to renounce her faith, they executed her. Her last word was simply to cry out 'Jesus!' I remember thinking what amazing stories of faith these were as each of these people gave their lives rather than deny Christ. This song is simply my effort to honor these ten people and all those who have given their lives for the sake of the Gospel.

Q: In this age of anxiety caused by the coronavirus pandemic, how do your songs encourage us during these difficult times?

The common thread that runs through each of these songs is trusting when we cannot see. Though we can never see what's ahead, normalcy has a way of making us feel as though we are in control and that things will never change. However, this pandemic has heightened our awareness to the truth that control is an illusion and the future is uncertain. My hope is that each of these songs in their own way will encourage people to live in a place of ruthless trust and endless hope.

Tags : Frye Family Band Frye Family Band interview Frye Family Band news Frye Family Band cat's in the cradle Frye Family Band martyr's prayer Frye Family Band things unseen michael farren
Circular issued clarifying policy on Taiwan-funded enterprises

People's Daily Online

(Chinadaily.com.cn) 12:32, May 16, 2020

A circular about promoting the development of Taiwan-funded enterprises and projects in the mainland was jointly issued by 10 central departments on Friday, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

The circular is intended to implement the decisions and arrangements made by the central leadership on coordinating prevention and control of COVID-19 outbreak and economic and social development.

The document, consisting of 11 specific measures, aims at further promoting cross-Straits economic exchanges and deepening the integrated development of the two sides.

The circular requires mainland authorities to ensure Taiwan-funded enterprises are equally entitled to various policies issued by the central and local governments so as to help them cope with the epidemic and resume work and production.

The measures also include helping Taiwan-funded enterprises increase capital and production, encouraging them to participate in the construction of new and traditional infrastructures and giving them policy of tax reduction and financial support.

Taiwan-funded enterprises will be encouraged to participate in the research and development of 5G, industrial internet, artificial intelligence and other new infrastructures on the mainland in various forms, according to the circular.

Businesses that meet requirements may be exempted from collection of social insurance, or see their collections halved.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 15:40:22|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant loss of life, disrupting livelihoods, and threatening the development and prosperity of the world.

As solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to fight the pandemic, China has been boosting international cooperation in an open, transparent and responsible manner since the onset of the unprecedented health crisis.

By upholding the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, China has been providing updates on COVID-19 in a timely manner, unreservedly sharing its experiences in epidemic response and medical treatment with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international community, strengthening cooperation on scientific research, and providing assistance to all parties to the best of its ability.

UNPRECEDENTED, EFFECITVE MOVE

In the face of a ballooning epidemic, the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Jan. 22 ordered Hubei province, the center of the outbreak at the time, to impose comprehensive and strict control over the outbound population flow, an unprecedented but effective move in modern Chinese history.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the serious lockdown measures not only protected the Chinese people, but also prevented the spread of the virus to other countries.

"China has rolled out perhaps the most ambitious, agile and aggressive disease containment effort in history," said a report released in late February by the WHO-China Joint Mission on COVID-19, consisting of 25 experts from eight countries and the WHO itself.

"Because of this strategy, if it weren't for China's efforts, the number of cases outside China would have been very much higher," he said at a WHO Executive Board meeting in Geneva.

After a nine-day field trip in Beijing and other Chinese provinces, the China-WHO expert team concluded that China's unprecedented responses to the COVID-19 outbreak have yielded notable results in blocking human-to-human transmissions of the virus, preventing or at least delaying hundreds of thousands of cases.

The Chinese people stand on the frontline of defense in the fight against the pandemic, and have made huge contributions and sacrifices in order to safeguard the health and safety of people around the world, which deserves the respect of all countries worldwide, said Ivica Dacic, president of the Socialist Party of Serbia.

CHAMPION OF MULTILATERALISM

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his address to the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit in March, proposed that a Group of 20 (G20) health ministers' meeting be convened as soon as possible to improve information-sharing, strengthen cooperation on drugs, vaccines and epidemic control, and cut off cross-border infections.

He also proposed a G20 COVID-19 assistance initiative for better information-sharing and policy and action coordination with the support of the WHO.

In a phone conversation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday, Xi said that China firmly supports the United Nations and the WHO in playing their due roles in international cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the same day, he urged the international community to step up support for Africa's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. There are currently 75,498 cumulative COVID-19 cases in 53 African countries, with 2,561 deaths, according to WHO data.

China, on top of paying its assessed contributions to the WHO on time and in full, has recently donated a total of 50 million U.S. dollars to the WHO to support its response to the pandemic.

Besides, Chinese medical teams have conducted some 400 training sessions in Africa to share its anti-epidemic experiences and have trained 20,000 local medical workers, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday.

As of mid-May, the Chinese government has provided anti-epidemic supplies to more than 150 countries and international organizations, held over 120 video conferences with more than 160 countries and international organizations, and sent 21 teams of medical experts to 19 countries.

TECHNICAL EXCHANGE

Since the beginning of the outbreak, China has not only promptly shared with the world such critical information as the whole genome sequence of the virus, but also its diagnostic and therapeutic experiences.

It has also established close technical-level communication mechanisms with international organizations such as the WHO, the European Union, the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Starting from Jan. 3, China has begun to inform the United States of the novel coronavirus outbreak and response measures on a regular basis. When an expert evaluation team from China's National Health Commission identified a novel coronavirus on Jan. 8, heads of Chinese and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention talked over the phone to discuss technological exchanges and cooperation.

By carrying out timely technical exchanges with the international community, such as the WHO, the United States, and countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America, Chinese scientists and health experts worked with their global peers to share their knowledge about the virus to help countries develop testing kits and adopt response measures.

Chinese scientists and political leaders have made efforts to help the world understand the virus and contain its spread, said Fabrizio Pregliasco, a researcher at the Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health at the University of Milan.

China sets "an excellent example of 'peer to peer' experience-sharing," said Maria van Kerkhove, technical lead for the WHO's Health Emergencies Program, adding that the WHO looks forward to seeing more direct interaction of that kind. Enditem
As the second phase of the Vande Bharat Mission repatriation flights gets underway on Tuesday, 85 Karnataka residents stranded in Malaysia say they have been axed from the Bengaluru-based flight list to make way for non-natives of the state.

According to Indian expatriates in Malaysia, about 120 Karnataka natives stranded in the Southeast Asian country were asked to register for the second phase of the repatriation mission on April 1.

I registered on April 1, and was told that my seat on Air India 1325 back to Bengaluru would be confirmed for May 19, said Deepa Ranganath (name changed), 25, a web developer from Indiranagar, who found herself stranded in Kuala Lumpur after quitting her job on April 2.

The hope dashed on Sunday when the High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur (HCIKL) released a list of 130 passengers for the flight, due to take off on Tuesday. Her name was not on the list.

According to flight manifests from the HCIKL, of the 130 passengers on the list, 70 are not Karnataka residents. Instead, upon arrival in Bengaluru, they will be flown on to Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

'Outrageous decision'

It is outrageous that a repatriation flight to Karnataka will mostly have non-residents of the state, said an expat from the state. Another citizen told DH that he had been informed by the HCIKL staff that many of the 70 of non-state fliers are students and not high-priority individuals such as elderly people and pregnant women. An audio recording appeared to back up this claim.

The High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur, did not respond to an emailed query by the time of publication, but several Karnataka expats also claimed that many of the non-state residents had supplied fraudulent addresses in Bengaluru to qualify for the flight.

There is only one flight to Bengaluru in the entirety of Phase Two. Had they reserved it only for the 120 stranded Karnataka residents, we could have all returned home, said Bhargav Ram, 23, an MBA student from a college in KR Puram, who is in Malaysia since March 13 for a three-month internship.

Hard times

The internship subsequently fell through after that country introduced a lockdown on March 18. Deprived a slot on the flight and with his 30-day tourist visa having run out, Ram said he fears for the future.

We have been struggling to make ends meet. I and the others are down to just one meal a day. We need help, Ram added.

Desperate situation

Puneeth, 35, a Bengaluru techie on a work contract in Malaysia, said he has been awaiting a repatriation flight as his father in Bangarpet requires hospitalisation.

My work contract ended in March and I have been living on my savings, and looking forward to leaving on May 19. Now, my name is not on the list, Puneeth said.

He added: Every day here is like torture. I have told the High Commission that I will put up with any institutional quarantine measures. I just need to get home.


Priscilla C. of Holland Village in Singapore has a bright future ahead of her. The 17-year-old has been accepted to study economics at Stanford University in California. She hopes to begin her studies this autumn.

But Priscilla, who asked VOA not to use her full name, fears the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will have a major effect on her college experience.

She worries about travel restrictions. She also worries about the United States uneven actions taken to fight the disease outbreak. And she wonders whether she will even be able to attend college classes in person in the fall.

Its added a lot of stress and uncertainty to the process, she said. The most exciting thing about deciding to become an international student was attending college in California, and now theres a big possibility that I wont physically be on the campus I was dreaming about.

She said she trusts that schools will do what they feel is best for their students. But even if colleges do re-open in the fall, Priscilla says she will still probably have health and safety concerns. And, she and her friends fear they may miss out on many traditional college experiences and memories.



Other international students with plans to study in America have similar thoughts and concerns. And, experts worry the effects of the pandemic could cause problems for colleges and universities.

The Institute of International Education, or IIE, does a yearly count of Americas international students using State Department data. During the 2018-2019 school year, the IIE found there were over 1,095,000 international students in the U.S. This represents 5.5 percent of the total college student population.

But the number of new, first-time international students studying at American colleges and universities was 7 percent lower than the year before.

The coronavirus crisis is making it more difficult for international students hoping to come to America, observers say.

Philip Altbach is director of the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College. He says international students were already dealing with the rising cost of American higher education before the coronavirus pandemic. And, the belief that the U.S. has become less welcoming to foreigners is widespread.

Because of the pandemic, the U.S. has a travel ban on foreign visitors from China and Europe. About 34 percent of international students that come to the U.S. are from China, the IIE reports.

Christopher Rim is the chief executive officer of Command Education, a New York-based college advising company. He says many of the students his company works with are from places like Hong Kong and Shanghai. He says many of them have been considering other choices for international higher education.

Some U.S. schools have already said they will re-open in the fall. But it is still unclear how classes will operate in many cases.



The possibility remains that that many American colleges and universities will reopen online. That means that international students who remain in their home countries may have to take classes in the middle of the night. It also means they will not get the traditional experiences of living in shared housing and taking part in campus events.

Rim said, Theyre not paying a $70,000 or $80,000 tuition to sit in front of a computer in their bedroom or their living room at home.

Rim noted that a decrease in international students coming to the U.S. would present a serious financial problem for schools and their surrounding communities. International students added over $44 billion to the nations economy in 2018, the U.S. Department of Commerce reports.

But James Hundreiser of the National Association Of College And University Business Officers argues that the threat to American higher education is not so great. He says schools no longer have as much financial dependence on international students tuition as they once did. And the quality of online education is actually very good.

I actually wonder if this will open up the doors tomore international studentsbecause of those who cant afford to necessarily travel overseas, said Hundreiser. We know that affordability is an issue for not only American students, but also international students."

Priscilla C. still plans to study at Stanford, even with her concerns. So do her friends who also have plans to study in America. And even if there is a decrease in the number of international students, Altbach, Rim and Hundreiser all agree that it will not last long.

Students around the world still see the U.S. as one of the best higher education systems in the world, and the American society, even with the current problems that we face, as an attractive place to be, Altbach said.

Im Dorothy Gundy.

And Im Pete Musto.

Pete Musto reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

Quiz - Could Coronavirus Lead to a Decrease in International Students in America? Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

pandemic  n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world

outbreak  n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease

stress  n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life and work

uncertainty  n. the quality or state of feeling unsure about something

exciting  adj. causing feelings of interest and enthusiasm

campus  n. the area and buildings around a university, college, or school

tuition  n. money that is paid to a school for the right to study there

afford  v. to be able to pay for something

society  n. the people of a particular country, area, or time thought of especially as an organized community

attractive  adj. having a feature or quality that people like
One of USs largest Muslim communities prepare food for doctors, nurses and others on the coronavirus front lines.

Since the Islamic holy month of Ramadan began in late April, Muzammil Ahmeds doorbell has been ringing nonstop. Every year for Ramadan, the Muslim community in Dearborn, Michigan  one of the largest in the United States  shifts into cooking and baking mode, donating food to hundreds of people. This year its members have been dropping off food for Ahmed to bring to the medical workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic at Beaumont Wayne Hospital, where he is chief of staff.

Early in the pandemic, Ahmeds hospital was converted to serve only COVID-19 patients due to its large intensive care unit. The group the hospital is a part of has handled about 70 percent of Michigans coronavirus patients.

Ramadan is normally a time for prayer, charity, community and spending time with family, but this year Muslims across the world are celebrating in isolation. For Muslim doctors on the coronavirus front lines, many of whom fast during the month, the isolation can become even more daunting.

Since Michigan locked down on March 24, Ahmed has practised social distancing from his friends and colleagues. Responding to the pandemic has increased his anxiety and stress, and seeing his friends and family would normally help him cope. He talks to them over the phone and Zoom, but it is not the same.

Ramadan has a lot to do with sacrifice, Ahmed said. Weve been deprived of those things for the past month now, and as Ramadan kicks in you realise, wow, in some ways the last month has been a form of Ramadan.

That is why the donations by the community have been welcomed by all.

Dearborn is hosting a Ramadan lights competition in hopes of spreading joy and bringing back some of the holiday spirit during the coronavirus pandemic [Carlos Osorio/AP Photo]

Earlier this month, a woman in her senior year of high school rang his doorbell, placed a box of Ramadan cookies on the small table outside, and stepped back. They chatted about where she wants to go to college, standing about eight feet (2.4 metres) apart.

Its a great way to replace the usual breaking of the fast that we have for Ramadan, Ahmed told Al Jazeera. Its just a great way to say, hey, were thinking of you.'

Started with PPE

The donation of food to hospitals during Ramadan grew out of an earlier effort to deliver personal protective equipment (PPE) to doctors and nurses on the front lines.

When the pandemic began, Dearborn City Council President Susan Dabaja, who is Muslim, posted on Facebook asking if people would be willing to donate masks, gowns and other PPE that hospitals desperately needed. Within minutes, a flood of people contacted her offering to donate.

Initially, when this pandemic started, it was about getting medical supplies that I knew our first responders and medical professionals really needed, to make sure they were safe while treating our loved ones, Dabaja said.

One man had tried to order 100 face shields but only received 40, and wanted to donate them.

The communitys been great, said Ahmer Rehman, a doctor who treats COVID-19 patients in the ICU of two Dearborn hospitals. Theyve been very aware that the government response has been slow and the hospital responses have been slow. Theyve been ordering all kinds of masks from companies and shipping them to the hospitals, dropping them off.

Rehman said the first wave of coronavirus cases hit in late March.

It was nonstop chaos, he told Al Jazeera.

Ramadan has a lot to do with sacrifice. We've been deprived of those things for the past month now, and as Ramadan kicks in you realise, wow, in some ways the last month has been a form of Ramadan. Dr Muzammil Ahmed

Every two-to-three hours they had a new COVID-19 patient who needed a ventilator, he said. They would stabilise one patient and another would arrive. We were OK with ventilators, but we were running short on the sedative medications to keep them in induced comas, he said.

There were not enough beds. At one hospital, we held 25 patients, generally. The other hospital held about 16, and so we had to go up in numbers by about 50 to 100 percent, he said.

There were not enough dialysis machines to treat patients with kidney failure. There were not enough nurses; usually, there is one nurse for every two patients, at the peak of the pandemic, there was one nurse handling four patients, working 18-hour shifts. They were exhausted, Rehman said.

One night, the Beaumont Wayne hospital ran out of clean plastic gowns. Nurses worked all night to clean the reusable gowns with disinfectant wipes.

When I came in, not only were they out of the gowns but they were out of the wipes, Rehman said. The next morning they were able to sterilise enough gowns to keep up with demand.

That is when the Dearborn community stepped in. As Ramadan began, individuals and local restaurants continued the effort by donating food to hospitals for all to enjoy and for those who are fasting to have something for iftar.

All kinds of groups are sending food over, to the point where we have some food thats not being eaten because theres so much coming in at once that it sits around for a while, Rehman said, adding that he is grateful for the food, especially when he is on night shift.

New ways to celebrate Eid

The number of COVID-19 patients has significantly declined in recent and healthcare workers are feeling a weight lifted from their shoulders.

Rehman says hospitals are overstaffed with medical workers now, anticipating that numbers will increase again as Michigan reopens, which may happen later this month. The states stay-at-home order has been extended to May 28.

As people start coming out, they are going to be exposed more to this. And there will be an uptick in cases, but hopefully, not to the level it was before, he said.

Ramadan lights are displayed on a house in Dearborn, Michigan [Carlos Osorio/Reuters]

Its a slower pace now, which is nice during Ramadan because youre always tired, and cant have water or coffee, Ahmed said.

Ahmed, who is also chairman of the Michigan Muslim Community Council, said they are trying to find alternative ways to celebrate Eid. A holiday this big demands more than a Zoom meeting. He is looking forward to seeing Dearborn residents compete in a local contest to see who has the best Ramadan decorations.

The hardest thing is to find ways to have meaningful connections, Ahmed said. Were going to have to ask people to be patient, and I guess this would be one of the sacrifices of Ramadan.
Five months into the global outbreak of COVID-19, the world is racing against time to prepare a vaccine for treating coronavirus patients. Trials are underway in laboratories across the world, with several companies and governments doubling their efforts to find a permanent cure for the deadly virus. World leaders and organisations except the United States have already pledged $8 billion to research, manufacture, and distribute a possible vaccine and treatment for COVID-19 apart from the individual efforts taken by the countries and their pharmaceutical firms. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified top eight candidates for the coronavirus vaccine:

1. CanSino Biological Inc/Beijing Institute of Biotechnology:

The Chinese vaccine has been named as a top contender by WHO. China's CanSino Bio's Adenovirus Type 5 Vector (Ad5-nCoV) is said to be an advanced DNA vaccine candidate at the moment against COVID-19.

The Ad5-nCoV candidate vaccine has been developed using technology from both China and Canada. It is co-developed by the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology (BIB) and CanSino Biologics Inc. The vaccine is developed using a genetically engineered replication-defective adenovirus type 5 vector to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is grown using living cells.

2. Moderna/NIAID

Moderna Inc, one of the leaders among US companies, has created an experimental candidate vaccine called mRNA-1273. Moderna's candidate vaccine has received approval from the US FDA to conduct the Phase-2 clinical trial last week only. The Phase-2 trial will assess the safety and immunogenicity of two mRNA-1273 vaccinations.

Also read: Coronavirus vaccine update: Moderna, Novavax lead race; Chinese firm builds largest vaccine plant

In the phase-2 trial, around 600 healthy volunteers aged 18 years and above will be enrolled for the trial. This will follow the participants for 12 months following the second vaccination. In the second phase trial, volunteers will be given a placebo dose for both vaccinations

The company received funding from the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

3. Wuhan Institute of Biological Products/Sinopharm

Another Chinese vaccine entered the second phase of clinical trials on the WHO list. It is an "inactivated" type of candidate vaccine. This has been developed by the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products under the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm).

Both the first and the second phase of clinical trials of the inactivated vaccine have been approved by the National Medical Products Administration.

Sinopharm said the vaccine may take about a year to complete the clinical trial and finally reach a conclusion on the vaccine's safety and efficacy.

4. Beijing Institute of Biological Products/Sinopharm

Chinese state-owned pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm Group has made progress in developing vaccine candidates for the novel coronavirus. Sinopharm's second inactivated vaccine won clinical trial approval from the National Medical Products Administration. The vaccine is co-developed by a unit under CNBG-Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Inactivated vaccines use non-living viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens that have lost disease-producing capacity to stimulate the immune system to develop an immune response.

5. Sinovac

Sinovac is also working on a formalin-inactivated and alum-adjuvanted candidate vaccine for coronavirus. In the first phase of the trial, the company did an experiment on 144 healthy participants between 18 and 59 years old. They were given "two different dosages" of the vaccine or placebo.

6. University of Oxford

The University of Oxford has reported positive findings of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate involving six rhesus macaque monkeys. Rhesus macaques have similar immune systems to humans.

In this experiment, the monkeys were exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The six animals that were vaccinated had less of the virus in their lungs and airways. Besides, the vaccine appeared to protect the animals against developing pneumonia.

Also read: Oxford's coronavirus vaccine shows promise in animal trials

7. BioNTech/Fosun Pharma/Pfizer

Pfizer and Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) have dosed the first participants of a phase 1/2 trial for their COVID-19 vaccine candidate BNT162 in the US.

In March, the companies co-developed and supplied potential mRNA-based coronavirus vaccines, including BNT162.

The dose level escalation portion, which will be stage 1 of the Phase 1/2 trial in the US, will feature up to 360 healthy subjects in two age groups, between 18-55 and 65-85 years.

8. Inovio Pharmaceuticals

Biotech firm Inovio Pharmaceuticals is currently running a phase 1 clinical trial for INO-4800 (a DNA plasmid vaccine with electroporation). The trial will involve 40 healthy adult volunteers. Each participant will receive two doses of the vaccine four weeks apart. The trial will test the safety of INO-4800, as well as its ability to trigger an immune response in the body.

Also read: Coronavirus vaccine update: British cigarette firm readies vaccine from tobacco leaves
Minister of State with responsibility for Equality, Immigration and Integration, David Stanton TD, today joins the international community in sharing the vision of Breaking the Silence on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 2020.

The Minister said,

Evidence confirms that marginalised groups are increasingly vulnerable during an emergency. During this current global Covid-2019 pandemic, many LGBTI+ people can feel more at risk due to rural isolation, loneliness, separation from peers, anxiety, health issues and domestic violence. It is now more important than ever not to retreat back into silence, but in this time of emergency to allow LGBTI+ voices to be heard, particularly during the planning and implementation of our response to Covid-19.

This reinforces the key messages in our National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021, that LGBTI+ people should be visible and included, treated equally, and feel healthy, safe and supported.

On May 17, the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, we come together globally to ensure that LGBTI+ persons all over the world, who cannot speak up, will hear the sound of hope and solidarity.

We will continue our national and international efforts to sustain the progress made in this area and stand together to break the silence, to ensure the most vulnerable are heard and supported.

My Department will very shortly announce the membership of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy Committee. The Committee will progress the 108 actions outlined in the Strategy, taking into account the issues and needs highlighted during Covid-19 to ensure fundamental changes for the better in the lives of LGBTI+ people.
Niti Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar on Sunday said that the vision for an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' laid down by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been duly supported by the announcements and several reforms announced by the finance minister.

Ina series of tweets, Kumar said that the decision by the government to increase public expenditure on healthcare and investment in grass-root health institutions like health and wellness centres will help prepare India for any future pandemic.

He also said an additional sum of Rs 40,000 crore allocated by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to MGNREGS will help in creating sustainable livelihood assets, which will give a boost to the rural economy and infrastructure.

Sitharaman, whose previous four parts of the stimulus package involved credit line to small businesses and new fund creations to be shouldered by banks and financial institutions with very little extra budget spending, announced a Rs 40,000 crore hike in allocation for the rural employment guarantee scheme to provide jobs to migrant workers.

She also raised the threshold of insolvency proceedings to help the industry deal with COVID-19 pains.

Sitharaman said the five-part stimulus together with the March 26 announcement of free foodgrain and cooking gas to poor and some cash to vulnerable sections for three months and RBI's Rs 8.01 lakh crore worth of liquidity measures swell the size of the COVID-19 economic package to Rs 20.97 lakh crore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pledge of total spending of Rs 20 lakh crore (USD 265 billion) to weather the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic under 'Atma-nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' is about 10 per cent of India's GDP in 2019-20 and ranks behind stimulus provided by Japan, the US, Sweden, Australia and Germany.

In the fifth and final tranche of the economic stimulus package, Sitharaman raised the allocation for the employment guarantee scheme by Rs 40,000 crore over and above the Rs 61,000 crore budgeted for MGNREGS to provide jobs to migrant workers moving back to their states.

This, she said, will help generate nearly 300 crore person-days in total.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan President Arif Alvi has promulgated an order to form a caretaker government as well as to conduct elections in Gilgit-Baltistan province, a move strongly opposed by India.

The presidential promulgation came days after the Pakistan Supreme Court on April 30 allowed the federal government to amend a 2018 administrative order to conduct general elections in the region.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Order of 2018 provided for administrative changes, including authorising the Prime Minister of Pakistan to legislate on an array of subjects.

India has conveyed its strong protest to Islamabad for its efforts to bring "material change" to territories under its "illegal and forcible" occupation after the apex court allowed holding of elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Delhi said a demarche was issued to a senior Pakistani diplomat lodging a strong protest over the court ruling and clearly conveying that the entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India.

According to a notification issued by the federal Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan on Saturday, President Alvi promulgated the "Gilgit-Baltistan Election and Caretaker Amendment Order, 2020" to conduct transparent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly will complete its five-year tenure on June 24.

The presidential order said it was necessary to provide for the adoption of laws to install a caretaker government in Gilgit-Baltistan for conducting a fair and transparent election.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Athens: Thousands of Greeks returned to church on Sunday after weeks of staying away as a ban on mass gatherings to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus was eased.

It was a special moment for those who gathered from early Sunday morning in the courtyard of Ayios Spiridonas Church in Piraeus, where the melodious chants of the Sunday liturgy were broadcast on loudspeakers and heard down at the sea port.

"I was moved," said Vassilis Kitsas, 36, after attending the service in the church, consecrated after a Cypriot-born saint credited, among other feats, of ridding the island of Corfu of the plague after islanders prayed to him.

"I think that when you have something, you don't really appreciate it until it's gone. I think this has made us stronger than what we were," Kitsas told Reuters.

Greeks were not only deprived of weekly congregations but had to spend the highlight of their religious calendar, Easter, which was on April 19, indoors. The lockdown was introduced in mid-March.

Normally adjoining pews were replaced with chairs inside the church and in its courtyard as social distancing rules applied. Chairs were set two metres apart with boundaries in the courtyard marked with red and white masking tape.

Disposable gloves and antiseptic was available at the entrance. Some individuals kissed icons, as is customary in the Greek Orthodox religion. A woman wiped the icon with an antiseptic before the next person approached.

Church warden Petros Anagnostakis, 74, said preparations to reopen the church had been ongoing for about a week. "Today is a great celebration, we are overjoyed and touched, it's a great celebration for us," he said, visibly moved.

In unison, churchgoers recited the Creed, a declaration of faith in God and Jesus.

Greece has recorded a lower number of COVID-19 cases and deaths than other countries. By Saturday evening it had recorded 2,819 cases and 162 deaths.

"I think it's a miracle that Greece didn't have that many deaths or people sick," said Stella Kasimati, 76. "I believe that was help from God."
A 34-year-old Dearborn Heights woman, who discovered May 3 that her credit union debit card account had been breached, said she last used the debit card April 30 at an ice cream shop in Taylor.

The victim, who said she had logged into her account to transfer funds to her sister, saw an unauthorized May 2 transaction, for $247, to Bed, Bath and Beyond.

The womans credit union subsequently closed the account, and issued a new account number and debit card.
The US Embassy found itself barraged with criticism Saturday after putting out a message on Twitter warning Guatemalans about the dangers of sending children as migrants to the United States.

Take care of your children. Don't put them at risk with the illegal #Migracin, the tweet read.

But the message also included a photograph of Felipe Gmez Alonzo, an 8-year-old Guatemalan boy who died in the custody of the US Border Patrol.

That angered many people, and dozens took to social media to complain, with some saying the US message could be interpreted as a threat to migrants.

Hours after it was posted, the tweet was deleted from the official website of the U.S. Embassy.

The boy's death was announced at Christmas 2018. He had been taken to the U.S. by his father, who had heard that it would be easier for him to migrate there if accompanied by a child.

After they were detained, the boy began to have health problems and died while in the Border Patrol's custody.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Deputy Minister of Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh on May 15 suggested ASEAN countries enhance their connectivity with ASEAN+3 nations and other partners to cope with outbreaks of disease.

Deputy Minister of Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh (Photo: VNA)

He made the proposal while chairing the teleconferenced ASEAN Defence Senior Officials Meeting (ADSOM), during which participants discussed the blocs cooperation in COVID-19 prevention and control, shared the experience of ASEAN militaries in the task, devised cooperative measures for dealing with future epidemics, exchanged viewpoints on the global and regional situation amid the coronavirus outbreak and in the post-COVID-19 period, and spoke about directions for ASEAN defence cooperation in the time ahead.

Vinh told the teleconference that he highly values the rapid and timely response from the ASEAN Centre of Military Medicine (ACMM), as it organised an online table-top exercise (TTX) on COVID-19 response that met all member states needs and also attracted attention from partner countries.

It is necessary to encourage ASEAN connectivity with ASEAN nations and other partners in the time to come, increase the sharing of military medicine experience in responding to epidemics, and consider upgrading the ACMM website to a common portal where member nations can exchange experience and good practice, he noted.

He also proposed that Brunei and Australia, which are co-chairing the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus Experts Working Group on Military Medicine between 2020 and 2023, turn the TTX into an annual activity carried out by the working group and the ACMM.

Vietnam is ready to host the first TTX to connect joint efforts by the two co-chairing countries and the ACMM, Vinh stated.

Officials at the meeting shared a view that the online ADSOM was a suitable occasion for member countries to share the experience of defence ministries in contributing to their respective governments actions against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vinh said that when the coronavirus first broke out, Vietnams Ministry of National Defence actively joined Government efforts to prevent and control the disease, such as using military bases as quarantine facilities, disinfecting COVID-19 clusters, developing test kits, and monitoring border areas.

The Ministry has also been actively boosting bilateral cooperation with Laos, Cambodia, China, Russia, Myanmar, and Cuba to exchange experience and assist each other in this regard, he explained.

Participants at the meeting said the COVID-19 pandemic has affected political and diplomatic relations between countries around the world. Given this context, the ADMM Retreat in Hanoi last February issued a joint statement on defence cooperation against disease outbreaks, in which defence ministers expressed their resolve to remain united to overcome the pandemic for the sake of the ASEAN people.

Vinh also pointed out that despite the threats caused by COVID-19, security hotspots keep appearing around the world and risking conflict. Particularly, new and more complex developments have occurred in the East Sea recently. If relevant parties do not remain calm, exercise self-restraint, or enhance cooperation to address disagreements, tensions could escalate and change the nature of disputes, which would not benefit regional peace and stability, he emphasised.

Valuing the efforts of defence ministries to join other sectors to bolster ASEANs collective capability in responding to COVID-19, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN Hoang Anh Tuan expressed his belief that the bloc will keep the region safe in the face of COVID-19 while remaining resilient to factors causing instability./.VNA
People take advantage of the newly opened walking path on the Strand in Manhattan Beach on Friday. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles County public health officials on Sunday reported 694 new coronavirus cases and 29 more related deaths.

To the many people experiencing the profound sadness of losing someone they love to COVID-19, we are deeply sorry, Barbara Ferrer, the public health director, said in a statement.

Long Beach, which has its own public health department, reported an additional 27 cases of the virus, bringing the countys total to 38,001 cases and 1,821 deaths.

The number of lab-confirmed coronavirus patients in L.A. County hospitals held steady at 1,648, with 26% in intensive care and 19% on ventilators.

The metric is one of several that officials are watching closely in order to determine when to relax additional stay-at-home restrictions.

As of Sunday, a total of 309,000 people had been tested for the coronavirus and received their results, with about 11% testing positive. That was up 11,000 from the day before but still suggests the county is falling short of its goal of performing 15,000 tests per day.

Though the overall number of cases continues to rise in L.A. County, the rate at which new cases are reported appears to have plateaued, even as testing has increased. The average number of deaths reported each day has declined slightly. And L.A. has so far avoided a sharp surge in hospitalizations that could risk overwhelming the healthcare system, as seen in other places such as New York.

Officials hope those trends continue to hold as more people venture out to visit recently reopened beaches, parks and hiking trails, as well as retailers that have resumed curbside pickup services.

More people will be out of their homes now that we are in the early stages of our recovery journey, and this means there will be more chances of coming in contact with asymptomatic people who are infected with COVID-19, Ferrer said.

She reminded anyone with an underlying health condition to continue to stay home as much as possible and to contact a healthcare provider immediately if feeling sick.

Its also a good idea to talk to employers and friends and let them know you are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, she said.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Each virus has its unique pattern of spread, and scientists are starting to get a handle on how the novel coronavirus behaves. This understanding is making it possible to rank the risks of different activities from high to low to trivial.

The most informative studies show how the disease is spreading in the real world  a big advance over the various simulations and models that, early on, showed only hypothetical scenarios.

The two drivers of the spread of the disease are close contact and crowding in closed spaces, said Muge Cevik, a virologist at the University of St. Andrews in the U.K. It spread through homeless shelters and nursing and care homes, where people were crowded with many others. It spread through peoples households, and through meat packing plants.

Cevik has been collecting and reviewing papers from around the world on disease transmission. There are some trends emerging, she says. Spending time dining together, being in public transport, might risk spreading the disease, but going to a market briefly, for five minutes or a transient encounter while you walk or run past someone, those are low risks.

The studies come from China, Singapore, Taiwan, and to a lesser extent the U.S. They were all done through contact tracing, which may turn out to be humanitys greatest strategy for fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. Contact tracing can stop chains of transmission, even after a disease is widespread, as physician and former World Bank president Jim Yong Kim explained in The New Yorker. Another major benefit is that it offers clues as to how the disease spreads. Each virus has its unique pattern.

The U.S. has done almost no contact tracing yet. A survey of people coming to hospitals in New York City in May revealed that most of them had been home, and were not working or taking public transport. But why isnt everyone admitted to the hospital being asked about this? Why arent we finding out who they live with, or who visited them, and tracking down where theyve been? The lost opportunities are staggering.

Story continues

Cevik said people often ask her how the disease could be so transmissible if it takes closed environments or close contact to spread. The first part of the answer is that after much speculation of extreme transmissibility, the data show something intermediate, with each infected individual transmitting the virus to between two and three others on average. But the important point, which is often missed, is that this is just an average. In the real world, most people transmit the disease to nobody, or one person, and a minority infect many others in so-called super-spreading events. It's those we must learn how to avoid.

The data show that nine percent of infected people are responsible for 80% of the transmissions, she says. Why? For one thing, the disease is apparently very infectious but only for a short window, and perhaps only in some cases. Contact tracing studies show people are most infectious right around the onset of symptoms, as well as a couple of days before and after. If someone in that stage goes to a party, or church service, or to work in a meat packing plant or nursing home, many other people will probably get sick.

One study in China showed how the virus spread at a business meeting and a restaurant. A contact tracing effort in Singapore revealed big clusters of cases stemmed from a business meeting, a church, and a visit to a shop. Another study, one of the few from the U.S., showed how one infected person in Chicago spread the disease to multiple people at a funeral and later at a birthday party, and one of those infected at the party then spread the disease to others at a church service that lasted more than two hours. Other studies connected outbreaks to crowded offices.

People who eventually developed severe symptoms were more likely to transmit the disease to others than were those who had mild symptoms, Cevik says. While its clear the disease can be spread by people before they have symptoms, its still an open question how many people have no symptoms and whether they are driving much of the spread.

Much of the material in these studies comes as a surprise to people, says Erin Bromage, a biology professor at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, who recently got 11 million views to a blog post he wrote on how the disease is transmitted. People think if you get exposed, you automatically get sick or become infectious, he explains. But even people exposed to sick family members in their homes dont always get sick.

Sharing a home or office does make transmission more likely, since length of exposure matters as much as distance from other people. People passing by you in a supermarket are unlikely to infect you. Outdoor environments appear much safer as well. In one study, which followed hundreds of cases, all but one transmission occurred indoors.

Id like people to stop wasting mental energy on the wrong things, Bromage says. To stop worrying about outdoors and bike riders since its such a low risk.

Bromage doesnt think strict lockdowns have to remain until we get herd immunity or a vaccine. But he would like to see businesses use the data available to start up without fueling major outbreaks. He sees hope for restaurants and hair salons in the new normal, and is advising such businesses in his community on how to minimize exposure.

As Harvard population medicine professor Julia Marcus recalled in a recent piece in The Atlantic, 20th century doctors eventually relented on advice for unpaired people to remain celibate until there was a cure for AIDS. They started talking about safer sex. Now its time to do the same with life under the coronavirus.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Faye Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. She has written for the Economist, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Psychology Today, Science and other publications. She has a degree in geophysics from the California Institute of Technology.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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A Virginia man mailed erectile dysfunction pills to a New Jersey teenager after the two chatted online, officials said.

Elliott Atwell, 30 of Charlottesville, told the then 16-year-old the medication would cause the teen to have erections that would last for hours and would allow him to have sex like a porn star," the U.S. Attorneys Office for Virginias Western District said in a statement last week.

Prosecutors charged Atwell with two counts of dispensing drugs without a valid prescription.

Atwell spent several years cultivating online relationships of a sexual nature with the New Jersey teen as well as other juveniles, according to prosecutors. He then sent the teen pills, authorities said.

The Ocean County teens mother signed for the package on Christmas Eve 2018 and turned into over to police, according to charging documents unsealed in New Jersey earlier this month. The package contained four pills labeled NIZAGARA-100 with warnings to keep out of reach of children and to only be used by medical professionals. The product was shipped from India and is not approve for use in the U.S.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in New Jersey and the FBI are assisting authorities in Virginia in the investigation.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Editor-in-Chief

Find me on Twitter: @mattsainsb





I do like games based in real-world history that actually respect the history, and Paradox Interactive's strategy games have been some of the more respectful out there. Europa Universalis IV is great, for example, but as great as it is, there are a lot of people that swear by Crusader Kings instead, and the good news is that the next Crusader Kings (Crusade Kings III) finally has a release date. The game lands on September 1 via Steam, the Microsoft Store, the Paradox Store, and Xbox Games Pass for PC. Sadly Paradox refuses to release its strategy games on console, but thankfully the requirements for these games are generally modest enough for most current set-ups.From the press release:As a 4X you'll need to handle diplomacy, economics, military and development aspects in your empire, and if Crusader Kings is anything up to the usual standard of Paradox games, the systems that link all this stuff together will be beautifully intricate.There are also not one but two trailers to show off the game's storytelling and gameplay elements. One of the most beautiful things about Paradox games is that they're more than academic exercises - there's some real quality emergent storytelling that comes out of them, and that's part of the reason you can spend hundreds of hours lost in these games.Something to look forward to later this year!
Amid the Manipur Speaker reserving verdict over disqualification of seven Congress MLAs, who sided with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chief Minister N. Biren Singh appointed a "disqualified" former Minister as adviser, triggering criticism.

In a notification, here on Saturday, Chief Secretary J. Suresh Babu said, "The Chief Minister is pleased to appoint Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh as advisor who would enjoy the Cabinet Minister's rank."

Criticising the Chief Minister's move, Congress spokesman Ningombam Bupenda Meitei termed the action "illegal".

After hearing a disqualification petition moved by Congress leaders in March, the Supreme Court had stripped Shyamkumar of his office and barred his entry to the Assembly. At that time Shyamkumar was Minister of Forest & Environment in the BJP-led government.

On March 28, Speaker Y. Khemchand Singh disqualified Shyamkumar as member of the Assembly till the expiry of the House's current term (March 28, 2022).

Shyamkumar had won the 2017 Assembly elections on the Congress ticket. But he switched over to the BJP even before being sworn in as the Assembly member.

In a similar political development, the Speaker on May 8 reserved decision on the disqualification of seven Congress legislators, supporting the BJP-led government.

The Congress had moved the Supreme Court for disqualification of seven MLAs who helped the BJP after the 2017 Assembly polls to form the government. The ruling alliance was short of 10 MLAs for majority in the 60-member House.

"The Speaker is delaying his decision despite the Supreme Court's order to decide on the disqualification at the earliest. If necessary we would again approach the apex court," Congress spokesperson Meitei said.

The Congress had won 28 seats and the BJP 21 in 2017 Assembly elections. But the BJP formed the government with the support of Shyamkumar and the seven other Congress MLAs, apart from the National People's Party (NPP) and the Naga People's Front.

The NPP is headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.

In another political development last month, Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Y. Joykumar Singh was stripped of portfolios after four NPP Ministers were asked to quit the BJP-led alliance government.

The development followed dispute between Biren Singh and Joykumar, a former Manipur DGP, over distribution of Covid-19 and lockdown relief.

The ongoing development in Manipur is likely to have political fallout since several MLAs of the BJP and its allies have been demanding a reshuffle of the Council of Ministers.
The number of COVID-19 cases in



Thane district reached 3,684 after 252 people tested positive for novel coronavirus on Sunday, while the death toll touched 114 after nine people succumbed to the infection, health officials said.

Thane city saw a rise of 88 cases, Navi Mumbai 62 and KDMC 42, an official said.

"The COVID-19 count in Thane city is now 1,178, Navi Mumbai 1,190, KDMC 500, MBMC 330, Thane Rural 177 among others," he said.

Meanwhile, a Shiv Sena MLC who recovered from coronavirus infection recently had to be rushed to hospital for snake bite at his bungalow in Yeoor here, officials said.

TMC chief Vijay Singhal said 10 municipal transport buses would be used as ambulances.

Neighbouring Palghar reported 367 cases, which includes 17 deaths, they added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Israeli government Sunday that now is the time to annex the Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Unlike in previous speeches, Netanyahu didnt mention his intention to annex the Jordan Valley, which makes up 20% of the West Bank.

Why it matters: In the last several days since Secretary of State Mike Pompeos visit to Jerusalem, Trump administration officials have signaled several times that they dont want Israel to move forward on annexation at this moment. The State Department has said annexation should be part of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians on the White House peace plan.

The big picture: The coalition deal that allowed Netanyahu to form the new government says he can bring "the understandings with the Trump administration" on annexation up for a vote in the Cabinet or parliament as early as July 1  but only with the full agreement of the White House.

The swearing-in of the Israeli government ends more than a year of political crisis in which Israel held three consecutive elections with no clear result.

The new power-sharing government includes a rotation in the position of prime minister. In 18 months, Netanyahu is expected to be replaced by Benny Gantz, the leader of the Blue and White party, who will serve until then as the "alternate prime minister" and the minister of defense.

What they're saying: "We warmly welcome the announcement of the formation of a new Government of Israel," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted Sunday. "We are extremely fortunate to have such strong and experienced partners in Jerusalem, and we will work together to advance the security and prosperity of our peoples."
opinion

The ongoing battle for the heart and soul of the MDC is unfortunate, coming at a time Zimbabwe needs a strong, united and focussed opposition to tackle President Emmerson Mnangagwa's incompetent administration, as economic collapse gathers momentum on the back of corruption and ill-thought-out polices.

But it is also an opportunity for the opposition to show its mettle despite facing trials and tribulations, exacerbated by a powerful military-controlled Zanu PF hand operating in the shadows. The opposition should reflect on its troubled past and make a renewed commitment to upholding constitutionalism at all times. This will shut the door on dirty and crafty operators waiting in the wings to pounce on any shortcomings and sow seeds of confusion.

The squabbles in the MDC can be traced back to the party's funding leader and former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai's unconstitutional decision to elevate current MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri to the MDC-T vice-presidency, to join Thokozani Khupe, who was elected at the party's 2014 congress. Cracks further widened when Tsvangirai died in February 2018, resulting in a messy succession battle which ended with Chamisa ascending to the helm of the party in a dramatic manner, albeit without going to an extraordinary congress.

Chamisa proved his popularity in the 2018 general elections where he garnered more than two million votes despite controversially losing to Mnangagwa. Khupe ran as the MDC-T candidate, managing just over 45 500 votes.

The MDC-Alliance congress in May 2019 tightened Chamisa's grip, but a controversial Supreme Court ruling in March, ordering the MDC to revert to 2014 MDC-T structures pending an extraordinary congress, set new battle lines, while putting Khupe in command.

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The court found that Chamisa and Mudzuri were elevated unlawfully, and that Chamisa's rise to the presidency was illegal.In a country where national institutions, including independent commissions and the judiciary, are under the firm control of government, many believe Zanu PF influenced the judgement.

It is, however, clear that in this case, the shadowy Zanu PF hand only operated because of weaknesses in the opposition. The lesson should be that constitutionalism must never be disregarded, lest you open doors to manipulation.

With the economy haemorrhaging, Zimbabwe needs a strong opposition which can hold the government to account, while presenting itself as a viable government in waiting.

In Chamisa, the opposition has a vibrant, eloquent and popular leader. In the likes of David Coltart, Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube, the opposition has some of the best brains in the country. But the major strength lies in the party's massive support base.

The challenge is for the MDC to rise and defy the headwinds. The people are ready for action; they are waiting for a signal.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 16:18:33|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Facing severe challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has been making joint efforts to battle against the disease over the past months, while the United States has been crippling global endeavors to cope with the crisis.

INCOMPETENCE IN COPING WITH PANDEMIC

The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States exceeded 1.46 million with over 88,000 deaths as of Sunday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, making the country the hardest-hit place around the world.

Tardy response, ignorance of science and poor nationwide coordination have been the problematic performance of the U.S. administration on anti-epidemic efforts.

On Dec. 31, 2019, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on its website that Chinese health officials had reported a cluster of cases of acute respiratory illness in Wuhan, Hubei Province, in central China. Since then, Washington has received more and more information on the disease, but did not attach enough importance.

On Jan. 22, U.S. President Donald Trump told CNBC one day after the CDC confirmed the first COVID-19 case in the country that the United States has the situation "totally under control," and "It's going to be just fine."

Although the U.S. government declared a U.S. public health emergency to respond to COVID-19 at the end of January, the Democratic and Republican caucuses were still held in the U.S. state of Iowa in February. The following presidential primaries in many states led to multiple mass gatherings.

At the White House press briefing on Feb. 28, Trump said that some U.S. media are "doing everything they can to instill fear in people and I think it's ridiculous and I think they're very disreputable."

It was not until March 16 that the White House reversed its previously dismissive stance and announced anti-epidemic guidelines.

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that had the guidelines been implemented earlier, a crucial period in the exponential spread of the virus would have been mitigated and American lives saved.

SHIFTING BLAMES & SHIRKING RESPONSIBILITIES

While China appeals for international cooperation in the fight against COVID-19, Washington is busy slandering Beijing to divert attention on its own poor response to the pandemic, said a former Serbian diplomat.

On March 16, Trump tweeted to stigmatize China with malicious accusation, which caused controversy and criticism in the United States. Other Washington politicians also questioned transparency and accused China of violating human rights for taking necessary quarantine measures, and beefed up racist talks.

On May 10, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo agitated for "significant evidence" on the virus' origin from Wuhan. However, he did not specify what the evidence is nor deliver any concrete proof to validate his claims.

Trump also accused the World Health Organization (WHO) of "severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus" in April.

"Your power should be focused on caring for others and marshaling resources for disease prevention -- not on deflecting blame, shoring up approval ratings, settling scores or demonizing people because of ethnicity or nationality," read a signed letter published by The New York Times by more than 70 scholars on public health from the United States and China.

DISRUPTION TO NATIONAL & GLOBAL FIGHT

Instead of coordinating efforts against the common enemy, the U.S. administration has stuck to its own ways against the spread of COVID-19.

At the national level, there is no effort "that has mustered anything like the funding, coordination, or real resources that experts across the political spectrum say is needed to safely reopen the country," said an article published by The Atlantic.

At the international level, Trump announced on April 14 that his administration would halt funding to the WHO. The announcement was then met with strong backlash and criticism across the world.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO regretted the U.S. decision, calling on all nations to be united in the common struggle against the common enemy.

"President Trump's decision to defund WHO is simply this -- a crime against humanity," tweeted Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of The Lancet, adding that "every scientist, every health worker, every citizen must resist and rebel against this appalling betrayal of global solidarity."

"How shortsighted when global coop needed more now than ever," tweeted Lawrence Gostin, director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, referring to the White House's decision. And Washington has "entirely abandoned" U.S. global health leadership.

What the U.S. administration has done has severely harmed international cooperation the world needs to defuse the health crisis.
Postmistress Donna DeWitt carries mail at the tiny post office on Isle Au Haut, Maine. The post office serves the 70 or so year-round island residents. Read more

PHILADELPHIA  For some of the 2,000 or so year-round residents of Deer Isle, Maine, the fraying American flag outside the post office this spring was a reminder of the nations mood.

The flag was in tatters. It twisted in the wind from a single hook. But it was stuck in the up position, so the postmistress hadnt been able to replace it.

I was thinking what a metaphor it is for our country right now, community health director Rene Colson Hudson said. It was really important that the flag be replaced, as a symbol of hope.

Colson Hudson, a former New Jersey pastor who moved to coastal Maine a few years ago, posted an online plea on April 23 that sparked a community thread. Should someone scale the flagpole? Could the local tree-trimmer help? Did they need a bucket truck?

By weeks end, a secret helper had gotten the flag down. Postmistress Stephanie Black soon had the new one flying high.

Colson Hudson, 54, had rarely visited her post office when she lived in suburban New Jersey. But in Deer Isle, people exchange small talk in the lobby, announce school events on the bulletin board and pick up medications and mail-in ballots  while postal workers keep an eye on everyones well-being.

Here," she said, it is the center of community.

A STRUGGLE TO FLOURISH

Many of the nations 630,000 postal employees are facing new risks during the COVID-19 outbreak, as they sort mail or make daily rounds to reach people in far-flung locales. More than 2,000 of them have tested positive for the virus, and a union spokesman says 61 workers have died.

For most Americans, mail deliveries to homes or post boxes are their only routine contact with the federal government. Its a service they seem to appreciate: The agency consistently earns favorability marks that top 90%.

Yet its not popular with one influential American: President Donald Trump, who has threatened to block the U.S. Postal Service from COVID-19 relief funding unless it quadruples the package rates it charges large customers like Amazon, owned by Jeff Bezos. Bezos also owns The Washington Post, whose coverage rankles Trump.

He is willing to sacrifice the U.S. Postal Service and its 630,000 employees because of petty vindictiveness and personal retaliation against Jeff Bezos, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., said last week. That would be a tragic outcome.

Postal Service officials, bracing for steep losses given the nationwide coronavirus shutdown, warn theyll run out of money by September without help. They reported a $4.5 billion loss for the quarter ending March 31  on $17.8 billion in revenue  before the full effects of the shutdown sank in.

Some in Congress want to set aside $25 billion from the nearly $3 trillion relief program to keep the mail flowing. But with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin pushing Trumps priorities, the Postal Service has so far landed just a $10 billion loan.

The Postal Service is a joke, President Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on April 24. Theyre handing out packages for Amazon and other internet companies and every time they bring a package, they lose money on it.

Historically, the Postal Service has operated without public funds, even since a crushing 2006 law required it to pre-fund 75 years of retiree benefits. Its been around longer than the nation itself, with a rich history that includes Benjamin Franklin's tenure as the first postmaster general.

This month, the USPS Board of Directors appointed Republican fundraiser Louis DeJoy to the post. He succeeds Megan Brennan, a career postal worker who is retiring.

The president insists higher package rates could ease the Postal Service's financial troubles. But most financial analysts disagree. They say customers would turn to UPS or FedEx.

Packages typically account for 5 percent of the Postal Services volume but 30 percent of its revenue. And package revenue has actually gone up during the shutdown. Still, it hasnt been enough to restore profitability, battered during the internet age by the decline of first-class mail.

Michael Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union, with 200,000 members, fears the Trump administration wants to destabilize the agency and then sell it off.

With more than 30 million Americans suddenly out of work, he wonders why anyone would put "600,000 good, living-wage jobs at risk. Those Postal Service jobs have moved generations of Americans, especially blacks and minorities, firmly into the middle class.

Yet the president, Dimondstein said, wants to privatize the operation when here you have the post office serving the people of this country in maybe a deeper way than we ever have.

A 55-CENT JOURNEY TO ISLE AU HAUT

On Henrietta Dixons mail route in North Philadelphia, every house has a story. Dixon seems to know them all.

Alvin Fields moved back to his block of two-story row homes after 40 years working for Verizon. Jason Saal, 40, lives in an abandoned factory he bought for an art studio, but now hopes to make industrial-grade masks there.

Sharae Cunningham is also making masks, but the hand-sewn kind, some with African prints she sells for $6.

All said they would miss the Postal Service if it collapsed.

Its nice to have mail delivered by a letter carrier, said Saal, who mailed out two boxes of masks through Dixon one recent morning and gave her several free ones. Its the person that you see, a government worker, every day, Monday to Sunday."

They agreed the neighborhood, one of Philadelphia's poorest, would benefit from the kind of expanded services  such as low-fee check cashing and wifi  that's the norm in Europe and might help U.S. post offices survive.

Thatd be a great service. A lot of people need to cash checks, said Cunningham, 40, who helps care for chronically ill parents, four children and a grandchild.

Dixon, who lives nearby, has been with the post office for nearly 30 years, the last nine on her current route. Fields called her absolutely wonderful.

Her route, in a dense city neighborhood, might be attractive to private companies itching to compete with the Postal Service. But the same 55-cent stamp that takes a letter across town can also get one to the Pacific Northwest, rural Appalachia or islands off the coasts of Alaska, California and Maine. Thats because of the USPS pledge to offer universal service to everyone in the United States, no matter what it takes.

For the American psyche, its one of the last places where we are all equal. We all have the right to a 55-cent letter and mail delivery six days a week, said Evan Kalish, 30, of Queens, New York, a postal enthusiast whos documented thousands of post office visits on his blog, Postlandia.

A few miles south of Deer Isle, Postmistress Donna DeWitt walks down to a boat dock each morning to retrieve her plastic bins from the 7 a.m. mail boat and carts it up to the tiny Isle au Haut Post Office a few hundred feet away.

 FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered.

With no bridge to the mainland and wifi and cell phone service on the island spotty, mail service is essential to the 70 or so year-round residents, who mostly work in the fishing and lobstering trades.

I dont think youd find most of the old-timers, for instance, paying their bills online. They depend on the mail for all of their business transactions, said George Cole, the volunteer president of Isle au Haut Boat Services, a nonprofit that brings the mail over on the 45-minute trip from Stonington.

The ferry service gets most of its revenue from summer tourists, but the small USPS contract helps.

If we lost it, it would be very painful," Cole said. Weve carried the mail for 50 years.

DEATH NOTICES, PLANTS AND PUMPKIN ROLLS

Filmmaker Tom Quinn set out to make a movie about a town that lost its zip code  and its place on the map  in a round of USPS closures in 2011. The film became a study in loneliness.

I started to understand what this is about, said Quinn, speaking of his 2019 film Colewell, set in a fictional small town on the New York-Pennsylvania border.

In places like those, he said, the post office serves as the town's living room  a gathering spot for conversation, for human contact, for community.

When this hub is there, you run into people by accident, said Quinn, who teaches film at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Its the same thing about Zoom and teaching. None of those accidental interactions happen anymore."

In rural Fayette County, West Virginia, Susan Williams fondly recalls postmistresses who left homemade pumpkin roll out for customers, posted a note in the lobby when someone died and kept her mail-order geraniums alive.

If I thought these plants were going to arrive while we were away, she would just open the boxes and water them for us, said Williams, a retired journalist and teacher who lives in Falls View, about 35 miles east of Charleston.

With no home delivery there, she treks two miles to Charlton Heights to get her mail, trying to arrive after it gets put up at 10:30 a.m. and before the post office closes at noon. On a recent day in late April, her box held her mail-in ballot for the presidential primary. She planned to return it the next day.

It means everything, Williams said of the Postal Service.

Back in Maine, Colson Hudson likes to take the mail boat over to Eagle Island in the summer (year-round population 2; seasonal, perhaps 40) to visit friends. She once took a picture of the mail bag, musing about who its contents would connect.

All these people come flocking down at the time the boat comes with the mail, she said. Theres something in that bag that theyre waiting for, that theyre hoping for.

Associated Press reporter Matthew Daly contributed from Washington.
People fill the boardwalk in Ocean City while enjoying the weather and the beach on Saturday May, 16, 2020. Ocean City is one of few beaches doing a dry run to test capacity management this weekend in preparation for Memorial Day. Read more

As Memorial Day gets closer, some New Jersey beaches are testing capacity management to prepare. Folks turned out at the Shore yesterday as beaches have been newly reopened with restrictions during the pandemic. But if you want to stay away from the Shore and you rented a beach house, you might not be able to get your deposit back.

Also, this past week was the 35th anniversary of the 1985 MOVE bombing by Philadelphia police, which killed 11 people. Veteran reporter David Lee Preston was there, and we asked him what it was like to cover it.

 Lauren Aguirre (@laurencaguirre, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

The week ahead

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Behind the story with David Lee Preston

Each week we go behind the scenes with one of our reporters or editors to discuss their work and the challenges they face along the way. This week we chat with David Lee Preston about the 1985 MOVE bombing that destroyed a block on Osage Avenue in Philadelphia.

The day of the bombing in 1985, what did you hear about? What did you know before you went to the scene?

The previous night, I had interviewed a community activist named Novella Williams for a story that ran the morning of the tragedy. She told me that she was one of five negotiators  including Michael Nutter, at the time an aide to City Councilmember Angel Ortiz  trying to head off a confrontation between police and MOVE. She said she had reported to Mayor Goode twice by phone that the groups message was the only way to prevent a confrontation was to release the nine MOVE members imprisoned on murder charges for the 1978 shootout in which a cop was killed. She told me Goodes response was that something had to be done and that a violent confrontation appeared inevitable. On the day of the bombing, my colleague Thomas J. Gibbons Jr. learned a half hour ahead of time that the cops planned to bomb the house, and he advised me of it as I stood on the street. It was the worst feeling in the world. I wanted to tell someone in charge there must be some other solution, but I was powerless, with only a reporters notebook and the trepidation of impending doom.

When you arrived on the block on Osage Avenue, can you describe what you remember? What did it look like? What did it feel like?

We werent permitted onto Osage Avenue after the bombing. I remember running through the alleyways with photographers Larry Price and Ed Hille to try to get a better look. I was on Cobbs Creek Parkway when I saw the cops bring out Birdie Africa.

I want to emphasize that I was not the only reporter on the scene who still works for us. Andrew Maykuth, for one, was out there too.

I will add that the performance by Channel 10 reporter Harvey Clark, broadcasting for hours from a sound truck near the scene, remains the single most impressive example of grace under pressure I have witnessed in journalism.

What has stayed with you from that day as more was learned about what happened?

As the fire spread, and it was shown live on TV around the world in the days before CNN  and news organizations even arrived from Europe to chronicle the catastrophe  I will never forget returning to our newsroom and hearing some colleagues say the city had no choice. Most of The Inquirer reporting staff was involved in the story, for which we were finalists for a Pulitzer, yet its astonishing to think that anyone could have watched that conflagration and had that reaction. Finally, I suppose my biggest contribution to the coverage was in alerting photographer Michael Mally to the burned boy being brought out of the house and into a waiting police van. Mallys photo of Birdie Africa became a memorable image from the tragedy.

In your reporting and observations, how has the bombing impacted the city of Philadelphia over the years?

The catastrophe left a permanent scar, yet it remains unclear whether anything was learned. Even many younger Philadelphians have never heard about it. It should be required in the city schools curriculum. Chalk it up to human nature, but most tour guides would sooner take someone to the Rocky statue than to Osage Avenue.

This was your last week at the Inquirer after four decades in the field. What made you want to become a journalist?

My parents were Holocaust survivors, and I grew up asking why other kids had grandparents. This was my earliest motivation. Then in 1965, when I was 10 years old, a stranger named George Kennedy came to our house in Wilmington and interviewed my father, who had just returned from testifying at the Auschwitz war crimes trials in Frankfurt. The next morning, a story appeared in the Wilmington paper about my father with his photo and the byline of George Kennedy. Many years later, as fate would have it, George Kennedy was my journalism professor at the University of Missouri, and we are still friends.

What are a few pieces of work from your career that youre proud of and why?

My three cover stories about my parents in the old Inquirer Sunday magazine, on Mothers Day 1983, Mothers Day 1995, and a 1985 article about my father that was a finalist for the 1986 Pulitzer in feature writing. I plan to devote myself now to my work on my parents, and anyone interested is invited to follow me and join my mailing list at davidleepreston.com.

Follow David Lee Preston on Twitter at @DavidLeePreston.

Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly

This photo jumped out at me instantly. I love the angles and shadows youve captured here. Thanks for sharing, @paper_strawz!

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and well pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout-out!

What to know about going to the dentist during the pandemic

You can visit a dentist in Pennsylvania, thanks to updated guidance from the commonwealths Department of Health. Before, dentists were only allowed to help with emergencies. Now, as long as procedures can be done safely, that limit has been removed. But an in-office visit depends on several factors and the decision is up to your provider. Its not business as usual.

So far, weve answered more than 100 questions related to the coronavirus and life during a pandemic. Check out our FAQ page to see the answers or ask your own question.

What were

Eating: Tamales from Proyecto Tamal. Its a weekly series that aims to raise money to help restaurant workers by selling fresh tamales.

Reading: Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner. This beach read can bring the ocean to you while were all inside.

Watching: Taylor Swifts City of Lover concert. Its set to broadcast on ABC tonight at 10 p.m. This allegedly will be her only concert for 2020, so be sure to tune in, Swifties.

Listening to: Hayley Williams new solo album, Petals for Armor. You might recognize her voice from when she was the lead singer for the band Paramore, but this album is just her.

Comment of the week

As a vegan, I cant say I would enjoy feasting on the abundance of eggs featured in this article. But kudos to Timi Bauscher for her ingenuity in sparing 80,000+ hens from euthanesia. Please take good care of these hens. Theyre providing happiness to many folks & deserve humane living conditions. Meanwhile, be safe everyone!  tim smith, on How a Berks County woman used Facebook to rescue an egg farmers 80,000 hens amid the coronavirus.

Your Daily Dose of | The UpSide

Dennis Ruhnke had a mask to spare  a medical-grade N95 respirator. He used to wear them to clean out the grain bins on his farm. Now, they are a coveted resource. In March, he sent his spare mask to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, along with a letter asking that the mask be given to a health-care worker. Gov. Cuomo read his letter aloud at a televised news conference. Earlier this month, in honor of his generosity, Ruhnke received an award hes waited decades for: a college degree.
A Vietnamese train-building company is set to deliver a luxury bar car, built by its Vietnamese engineers, to a partner on Monday to serve tourism purposes between Da Nang and the south-central province of Binh Dinh.

The train car, equipped with a bar counter and massage chairs, is built by Di An Train JSC, a train-building firm based in the namesake town in the southern province of Binh Duong Province, which borders Ho Chi Minh City to the south and southwest.

The luxury car has been upgraded from an existing carriage by Di An companys Vietnamese engineers at a total cost of VND2 billion (US$85,700).

The engineers used top-quality materials and an elegant color scheme to modernize the carriage, aiming to satisfy the passengers needs.

The train builder is set to deliver the railcar to its partner on Monday, May 19.

A view inside the bar carriage of Di An Train JSC where massage chairs are set to be placed. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

According to Nguyen Huu Hoan, deputy director of Di An Train JSC, before the luxury carriage, the companys staff had produced over 100 high-quality railway cars that had been put into service by various railway companies.

One official from Saigon Railway Transport JSC told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper the railcar was renovated into a bar carriage to meet the demand of its partner, which provides hospitality services.

The advanced rolling stock is scheduled to enter into service in July 2020.

It will be connected to a local passenger train running between Da Nang City in central Vietnam and Dieu Tri Town in the south-central province of Binh Dinh.

The exterior of a bar carriage of Di An Train JSC. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

A view inside the bar carriage of Di An Train JSC. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

An aisle inside the bar carriage of Di An Train JSC. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

A view inside the bar carriage of Di An Train JSC. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

A bar counter inside an upgraded railway car of Di An Train JSC. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Police Command in Plateau has confirmed the killing of Nandi Drenkat, a lecturer with the University of Jos, by gunmen.

Edward Egbuka, the Commissioner in-charge of the command, confirmed the incident at a news briefing on Sunday in Jos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen stormed the residence of the deceased in the early hours of Saturday, shot him and kidnapped his six-year-old daughter.

According to Mr Egbuka, the police immediately mobilised to the scene and engaged the criminals in a gun duel and arrested one of them.

He also confirmed that the kidnapped daughter of the deceased was also rescued from the abductors.

Yesterday, at about 5:30 a.m., we received a distress call from Road 6, University senior staff quarters, Jos, where some hoodlums entered the house of one Dr Nandi Drenkat, a lecturer with the University of Jos, shot him and kidnapped his six-year-old daughter.

Immediately we received the information, a combined team of conventional policemen, mobile men, the anti-kidnapping unit, vigilantes and hunters were deployed to the hilly areas where the kidnapped victim was suspected to have been kept.

The scene was thoroughly combed and in the process, the kidnappers were sighted on the hills and there was a gun duel between them and the security men.

In the process one of the kidnappers, Ali Mohammed, was shot on his right leg and was arrested with one AK 47 rifle and 29 rounds of live ammunition was recovered.

Consequently, the deceased kidnapped daughter alongside another victim, Chiboze Joseph, were rescued unhurt, he said.

The commissioner said after preliminary interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime, adding that he would be charged to court after investigation.

He said that manhunt for other fleeing members of the gang continued and vowed that the command would not rest on its oars until they are arrested.

The commissioner, however, regretted that one of the hunters was shot during the gun duel and was later confirmed dead.

Mr Egbuka appealed to Plateau residents with useful information that would lead to arrest of the remaining criminals to avail it to the police.

He also called on the residents of the state to promptly report any suspicious movements around their vicinities to the security agencies.

In a separate incident, the Police Command in Benue on Sunday confirmed the abduction of Emmanuel Nwankwo, a businessman, from his residence in Makurdi.

The commands Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Catherine Anene, told the News Agency of Nigeira (NAN) in Makurdi that the owner of Emchony Electricals was abducted by unknown gunmen on Saturday night.

Mr Anene said that investigation into the matter was in progress with the view to rescue the victim and arrest the perpetrators.

Mr Nwankwos neighbour, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that the abductors stormed the victims house at about 8 p.m.

According to him, the gunmen shot sporadically into the air before whisking the businessman away to an unknown destination.

(NAN)
Just as social-distancing requirements have led to an explosion in remote health services for humans, veterinarians have seen a similar shift in their business. Elective procedures have been delayed and clinics have rapidly spun up services to support customers and help pet owners determine  for instance  if their cat has fleas and can be diagnosed by video, or might have a more serious skin disorder that calls for immediate medical help.

"Our goal with telehealth over the next few months and the last few months is to give comfort to pets and pet parents without them needing to leave their homes," said Punjani, 31, in an interview. "We see it as our responsibility to limit traffic throughout the city."

Mo Punjani, one of Bond Vet's three co-founders, said that telehealth appointments are now increasing over 200% a month and that about half are resolved with the prescription of food or medicine. Between 80% and 90% of available slots on the site fill up every day, he said.

That schedule changed dramatically in March, after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the state's stay-at-home order in response to the rapidly spreading coronavirus. Bond Vet quickly set up a system using Google 's video technology to book 20-minute video consultations for $50, limiting clinic visits to emergencies and urgent care.

Bond Vet opened its first veterinary care facility in Brooklyn less than a year ago. Someday, it planned to ramp up a remote health offering to save pet owners time and money.

Pet insurer Pawlicy Advisor set up a Covid-19 page that includes telehealth best practices and lists providers with names like Anipanion , VetNOW , TeleTails and TeleVet . Veterinarians are licensed by state, so to provide telehealth services to a pet owner in New York or Illinois, a platform has to have practitioners licensed to work in those places.

Shane Kelly is the CEO of Destination Pet, a nationwide network of pet care services. He compares veterinarians to pediatricians, who rely heavily on in-person consultations.

"The patient can't communicate, can't speak, which puts certain limitations on primary care with telehealth," said Kelly. Still, he says that the current pandemic is highlighting the importance of remote health and that "telehealth is definitely a growing part of the business all the way around."

At Bond Vet, the plan is to continue growing its physical and digital operations. The company opened its second clinic in December on Manhattan's Upper East Side, followed by its third on the Upper West Side last month, during the pandemic. A fourth clinic in the Chelsea neighborhood on the West Side is scheduled to open this summer. Punjani said the company is looking to open another 10-20 clinics in the next few years, including outside of New York in cities like Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C.

For pets that require emergency services, Bond Vet has a system in place to limit human contact. Pet owners come to a drop-off spot outside, where they meet employees in full personal protective equipment. After the initial consultation, a vet reaches out to the family to discuss the situation, the pet's history and next steps. The pets are tested for Covid-19 if they're showing symptoms of the virus.

"The feedback we've gotten is that clients are resoundingly open to this type of appointment, which maintains safety for everyone involved," said Punjani, who previously worked in private equity and investment banking. He started the company in 2018 with Dr. Zay Satchu, a veterinarian who is also his wife, and Lukas Keindl, Bond Vet's chief product officer.

While business at the clinics dipped after the initial stay-at-home orders were put in place, Punjani said that traffic is starting to pick back up. Rather than replacing in-person services, he sees the telehealth option as a way to keep a large number of clients from making unnecessary trips to the vet.

"What we see today as the city begins to unlock is an uptick back to pre-Covid levels," Punjani said. "We're working with governing bodies for guidance on when to resume elective procedures and elective wellness appointments."

WATCH: Telehealth 'can save some lives' during health crisis
Nicole Kidman broke her ankle while self-isolating at home in Nashville, Tennessee.

After a photo of the Moulin Rouge! star wearing a walking cast - or moon boot - sparked concern among fans over the weekend, her husband, country musician Keith Urban, revealed the cause of the mystery injury.

'She broke her ankle, but she's a trooper,' Keith, 52, told ET on Saturday, one day after Nicole was spotted wearing the cast at his drive-in concert.

'She's a trooper': Keith Urban (centre) revealed on Saturday that his wife, Nicole Kidman (left), had recently broken her ankle while self-isolating at their home in Nashville, Tennessee

Keith added: 'There she was last night among all of the folks, hobbling around on her boot with her mask on.'

Nicole, also 52, was pictured with the large walking cast over her right leg on Friday at Keith's concert for frontline healthcare workers at the Stardust Drive-In movie theatre, about 64 kilometres (40 miles) outside of Nashville.

It was the first time she and her husband had been seen in public for weeks.

'Hobbling around': Keith, 52, spoke out after a photo of Nicole wearing a walking cast - or moon boot - at his drive-in concert for frontline healthcare workers on Friday sparked concern

Fans expressed their concern over the then-mystery injury, after a photo of Nicole was widely shared on Instagram.

'Hope you are not in pain. Get well Nicole,' one fan commented, while another asked: 'What's happened to Nicole's foot?'

'Nicole, did you hurt your foot dancing to the music? Heal quickly,' a third follower wrote on the Keith Urban Central Instagram account.

Nicole shared her own photo from the gig to social media, but cropped out her foot.

Hidden: Nicole shared her own photo from the gig to Instagram, but cropped out her foot

'Hope you are not in pain': Fans expressed their concern over the then-mystery injury, after a photo of Nicole was widely shared on Instagram

It's possible she concealed the injury so as not to distract from Keith's concert for frontline workers helping their community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She wrote in the caption: 'Keith just had to play! Isolating with live music at last night's first #UrbanUnderground drive-in gig for the incredible #frontline workers.'

Keith had invited around 200 people from Tennessee's Vanderbilt University Health to join him for a night of music at the Stardust Drive-In movie theatre on Friday.

Mystery: Nicole wasn't wearing the boot when she was last seen publicly on April 18, during Keith's performance at the One World: Together At Home live-stream benefit concert

He played on a flatbed truck with two other musicians in front of about 125 cars.

'It's like glorified karaoke,' he told The Associated Press of the set-up, which included a band member playing pre-recorded tracks and another guitar and keyboard player.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Keith hadn't played a live show since February. He said it took him and his promoter Live Nation about a month to plan the surprise drive-in concert, as many more are planned throughout America.

'All the cars are tilted forward so they've all got a great view and you've got this freakin' killer video wall behind the stage,' he said.
Maharashtra has reported 587 new deaths due to Covid-19 in the last 13 days, taking the states death toll to 1,135, as of Saturday. The first case in Maharashtra was reported on March 11 and till May 3, the state had reported 12,974 coronavirus cases.

But in the last 13 days, the total deaths rose to 1,135 whereas the Covid-19 cases climbed to 30,706, as of Saturday, according to state health department data.

Whereas in Mumbai, the number of cases and deaths doubled in the last 13 days. From 8,800 cases and 343 deaths (as of May 03), the city reported 18,555 cases and 696 deaths as of Saturday.

Maharashtra on Saturday recorded its highest single-day jump in Covid-19 cases with 1,606 new infections, bringing the case count to 30,706.

Mumbai on the other hand recorded 884 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, whereas Pune recorded 161 new Covid-19 cases, while Thane recorded 114, Navi Mumbai 105 and Aurangabad 93.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra has extended the lockdown till May 31.

The fourth phase of the lockdown, which starts from May 18, is expected to have more relaxations for industries and businesses in districts that fall in the green and the orange zones. For the red zone, the state government is open to allowing further relaxations outside the containment area; a decision is expected after getting clarity from the Central government.

A senior bureaucrat said, We are awaiting Centres directives for lockdown protocol in the red zone. As the PM had indicated in his last address that the next phase would be different, we expect that more activities would be allowed outside containment areas. The sense among decision-makers is that we have to live with Covid-19.

The Centre is yet to issue guidelines for the next phase, following which the Maharashtra government would issue its guidelines.

The state has so far registered 15,181 cases in the third phase of the lockdown, which is higher than the total it recorded in the 19-day lockdown between April 15 and May 3. In the second phase of the lockdown, Maharashtra recorded 11,627 Covid-19 cases.

State health minister Rajesh Tope said that the lockdown has helped restrict the spread of the disease in the state. He added that the doubling rate has also increased during the lockdown period in Mumbai and the overall state.

The doubling rate  the number of days it takes for Covid-19 cases to double  has improved, he said. The states doubling rate is at 11.5 days, while Mumbais stands at 14 days.

The doubling rate has increased to 14 days in Mumbai now. This is a big improvement from the earlier doubling rate of 7 to 8 days. Elsewhere in the state, too, we are trying to contain the spread in hotspots. We are working towards stricter enforcement of lockdown in such containment areas, so that cases reduce, Tope said.

The state health minister has already said that Maharashtra would see the peak of the Covid-19 outbreak by June-end. He said that they are preparing for a projection of over 50,000 cases in Mumbai in three weeks. There are various projects. Some mathematical projections havent been accurate, but we are preparing for the worst. Currently, Mumbai has about 17,500 cases. It could increase three times by around June 20; so it would go over 50,000. We are preparing accordingly, he said.

Over 2.45 lakh migrant labourers have been sent back to their home states by 191 Shramik trains, said the state home minister Anil Deshmukh. He added that the first trains carrying migrant workers to Bihar and West Bengal, which had so far disallowed labourers to come back, departed from Maharashtra on Saturday.

Around 2.45 lakh migrant workers have been sent to their respective home states by running 191 train services till now. We could not send trains to Bihar and West Bengal since these states did not allow it. But [NCP chief] Sharad Pawar and chief minister Thackeray personally spoke to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar over the phone. Today, the first trains carrying migrant workers to West Bengal and Bihar were sent, Deshmukh said in a video message.

The trains are being run from parts of Maharashtra to Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.

Deshmukh also informed that 3,71,310 migrant workers have been kept in 3,884 shelters across the state and the state government has arranged for their food.

Continuing the evacuation of migrants who are desperate to return to their homes, the Maharashtra State Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has, so far, ferried 1.42 lakh migrant workers in 11,380 buses to the states borders.
Heres a recap of the global response to the coronavirus pandemic for Sunday, May 17, 2020.

Over 4.7 million people worldwide have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, and more than 315,000 people have died. Italy will reopen its borders from June 3 in what prime minister Giuseppe Conte has said is a "calculated risk."

In the United States, there have been over 1.4 million confirmed cases and more than 89,000 deaths. Former President Obama criticized the U.S. response while speaking during an online graduation event, saying many officials arent even "pretending to be in charge."

For the latest live updates, click here.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented his new unity government to parliament on Sunday, ending more than a year of political deadlock as he prepares to go on trial in a week for alleged corruption.

His power-sharing agreement with former election rival, centrist Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, opens the way for the right-wing Netanyahu to proceed towards a pledged de facto annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, land Palestinians seek for a state.

Under his accord with Gantz, after three inconclusive elections, Netanyahu will remain prime minister for 18 months before handing over to his new partner. Gantz, a former armed forces chief, will be Netanyahu's defence minister.

"The people wanted unity, and that is what it got," Netanyahu told parliament, citing a desire to avoid a fourth election after three inconclusive ballots since April 2019, and a national battle against the coronavirus crisis.

Israel's longest-serving leader, Netanyahu, now 70, first came to power in 1996 and has served three consecutive terms since 2009. He goes on trial on May 24 on charges of bribery, breach of trust and fraud, which he denies.

With a record 36 ministers, the cabinet will be the largest in Israel's history, a reflection of weeks of deal-making that bolstered Netanyahu's reputation as a political survivor.

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Detroit's auto giants are keen to resume production this week, but there will be unease on assembly lines where social distancing is difficult and worries about the deadly coronavirus persist. Motor City carmakers insist they are taking precautions to protect employees for the ramp-up that marks a key moment in the attempted relaunching of the US economy. But not everyone is convinced. "I am expecting a bumpy ride," said one United Auto Workers official, who asked for anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. The "Big Three," which have the experience of relaunching in Asia, have set their US restart for May 18. That is the same day Tesla has been cleared by local regulators in California to resume full production following a faceoff between public health officials and brash Tesla boss Elon Musk that apparently was resolved with a compromise on enhanced safety measures. Unlike California, Michigan has been the site of armed marches to the state capitol in protest over restrictions imposed by Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Under pressure from the state's automotive suppliers and carmakers, she modified her stay-at-home orders to allow for the resumption of manufacturing with social distancing. After effectively shutting down in March to combat the deadly virus, US carmakers say they are now ready to get back to business. "Above everything else, our top priority has always been to do what is right for our employees," Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley said in a statement this week. "We have worked closely with the unions to establish protocols that will ensure our employees feel safe at work and that every step possible has been taken to protect them." - Safeguarding plants - The monumental tasks at FCA includes sanitizing 57 million square feet of production space and implementing new disinfection schedules to maintain hygiene. Some 4,700 work stations were modified to allow for social distancing. Temperature checks and daily health self-screening are required for all employees and visitors; start times will be staggered; and break and lunch times will be altered to increase social distancing. Everyone will have to wear face masks and safety goggles, FCA officials said. Manley said FCA was using what it has learned from opening plants in China and Italy as it resumes production in the US, Mexico and Canada. General Motors and Ford have described similar measures. Jim Glynn, a vice president for workplace safety at GM, said on a conference call that workers will follow a strict protocol each day beginning with filling out a questionnaire and having a temperature scan. "We have not had one case of person-to-person spread among our employees" when the rules have been followed at GM's plants in Asia and at US plants now making medical equipment, Glynn said. However, none of the companies will test employees regularly. Kiersten Robinson, Ford's chief human resources officer, said during a conference call there is not enough capacity for regular tests. - Good enough? - Lack of testing is an issue for the UAW, which has stopped short of endorsing the industry's return to work model. The union also pressed GM, Ford and FCA to relax their policies on absenteeism so workers will stay home or self-quarantine if they feel ill. "While it is the companies that have the sole contractual right to determine the opening of plants, we have the contractual right to protect our members, and we will do so at all costs," said UAW President Rory Gamble. "We have made it clear in our talks that we are asking for as much testing as possible at the current time." Gamble has praised Whitmer's stay-at-home orders that have sparked gun-toting protests outside the state capitol building Michigan. The state has had about 50,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and nearly 4,800 fatalities. The union's reticence is due in part to the fact more half of GM, Ford and FCA workers are over 50. Also, nearly three dozen auto workers have died from COVID-19, according to the UAW. "I'm personally not ready to return to work and feel they are rushing to get us back into the plant to make a profit at the expense of those working there," said one anonymous worker in a Facebook post, adding that it is "almost impossible" to socially distance at an auto plant facing ambitious production targets. Detroit's 'Big Three' are scheduled to resume manufacturing after shutting plants in March due to the coronavirus Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has faced criticism for strict stay-at-home orders that are beginning to ease on better trends for the coronavirus in Detroit A nearly-empty parking lot at an Illinois Fiat Chrysler Automobiles plant in March after US auto manufacturing effectively shut down due to the coronavirus
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Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, May 17, 2020 19:33 612 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd8ab69d 1 National health-worker,doctors,nurses,COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-korona-indonesia,Twitter,viral,Instagram Free

Social media users are deploying the hashtag #IndonesiaTerserah (#WhateverIndonesia) to express their frustration over the publics apparent disregard for physical distancing measures and the governments inconsistent COVID-19 policies.

The hashtag gained momentum as several photos and videos of health workers clad in protective gear holding signs containing the phrase went viral on Twitter and Instagram.

Prominent social media influencer Tirta Mandira Hudhi, a frontline COVID-19 doctor, popularized the hashtag by posting one such photo on his Instagram account @dr.tirta.

The image depicts a medical worker, who appears to be Tirta himself, in protective gear holding up a sign that reads Indonesia? Whatever! Do whatever you like.

In light of what happened in Sarinah [a few days ago] and at [Soekarno Hatta International Airport], Tirta wrote in the caption.

He was referring to two separate incidents. In the first, hundreds of people gathered in front of a McDonalds restaurant in Sarinah, Central Jakarta, on its closing day. In the second, crowds packed into Soekarno Hatta Terminal 2, in an apparent violation of the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) imposed to stem the spread of COVID-19.

The incidents came a few days after the Transportation Ministry opened air, land and sea transportation services, a move that drew strong criticism from experts.

Read also: Govt plans to loosen PSBB regulations, starting with transportation

Another health worker with the Twitter handle @helwatshlhh posted a picture of herself holding up a similar sign, expressing her frustration over the countrys response to the pandemic.

#indonesiaterserah aku wes pasrah ama kamu indonesia. nyeri kali ati ku pas lg berjuang dikhianatin gt aja  pic.twitter.com/Qq8d53xv9W  Helwa (@helwatshlhh) May 15, 2020

#IndonesiaTerserah Ive given up on you, Indonesia. It hurts my heart that my hard work has been betrayed, she tweeted on Saturday.

Members of the general public have since tweeted #IndonesiaTerserah in solidarity with medical practitioners who have continued risking their lives to treat COVID-19 patients on the front lines.

Twitter user @zaymenthrixkenn parodied PSBB following a series of violations of the policy in recent weeks, along with the hashtag #IndonesiaTerserah.

PSBB: Restrictions that are mere lip-service, he tweeted, alongside cartoon images of health workers, one of which features a sign that reads Stupid [trumps] COVID.

PSBB : Peraturan selalu Basa-Basi

PSBB : Peraturan Sering Banget Berubah

PSBB : Pembatasan Sosial Bercanda Banget#indonesiaterserah pic.twitter.com/F1pCrL0oe2   x  (@zaymenthrixkenn) May 15, 2020

User @icegurlcc re-posted a TikTok video of a health worker holding up a sign featuring the same phrase in an attempt to raise public awareness about the struggles of those working on the front lines.

Kesabaran ada batasnya. Konteksnya adalah orang yg berjuang mempertaruhkan nyawa melihat yg diperjuangkan tidak peduli padanya. #indonesiaterserah pic.twitter.com/iaVuZmspfw  bel (@icegurlcc) May 15, 2020

Theres a limit to patience. The context here is that people who have risked their lives [for the public] realized that [the public] didnt [respect] them, the user wrote in the caption.

Read also: 'I lost him too fast': Families mourn loss of nurses from COVID-19

According to the International Council of Nurses (ICN), at least 90,000 health workers have been infected by the coronavirus disease worldwide and more than 260 nurses have died.

Nationally, Amnesty International Indonesia (AII) revealed that 59 health workers, including 38 doctors and 21 nurses, had succumbed to COVID-19 as of last week.

As of Sunday, Indonesia had confirmed 17,520 COVID-19 cases and 1,148 deaths as a result of the disease.
Like many people, when I exercise it tends to be in a pair of old leggings and a baggy T-shirt that have been relegated from my main wardrobe.

If Im ever in the mood to do a few bicep curls in front of the telly, then I find that a couple of pasta sauce jars from my kitchen cupboard double nicely as weights.

But, if I had money to burn, it could be a set of 3kg monogram dumbbells by fashion house Louis Vuitton that Id be lifting in front of Normal People. Or maybe my 350 Versace kettlebell.

Instead of doing the odd downward dog on an old bath towel, I could be doing it on a 5,000 Chanel yoga mat or, if Id been too slow to snap up one of the limited editions, a 290 Yves Saint Laurent one.

But while I may not be able to afford the bling accessories, I can, for now, take the same classes as the rich and famous.

With gyms unlikely to re-open until the autumn, many places are offering the same top-notch workouts via their website and social media accounts

With gyms unlikely to re-open until the autumn, many places are offering the same top-notch workouts via their website and social media accounts  and all for free.

With my 10 class at my church hall closed, I decided to sample the online offerings by places that Id normally be far too intimidated (and poor) to try for real. Heres what happened when I spent a week sweating like a celebrity 

EQUINOX

Equinox gyms have branches throughout London, but it was at the one in Kensington that Meghan was spotted getting in shape for her wedding.

Membership would set me back 350 a month: luckily for me, the classes on their Instagram TV page are all free (instagram.com/equinox).

The workout: I plump for Mollys 30-minute Firestarter class. She tells me that what is about to happen will be the best part of my day. Somehow, I doubt it.

Equinox gyms have branches throughout London, but it was at the one in Kensington that Meghan (pictured) was spotted getting in shape for her wedding

Before Ive moved an inch, she quick-fires a load of complicated instructions at me. I just hope I can pick things up as we go.

It begins with a light jog (that I can manage) then things start to go badly downhill. Molly is like a toddler who has overdosed on sugar. Shes doing jumping jacks, shes punching the air, shes squatting, shes side lunging. One after the other, in quick succession.

Single, single, double! she shouts, and I dont have a clue what Im meant to be doing.

The squats keep coming. And then shes performing a series of twisting planks. If I even attempt any, then I know I wont walk for a week afterwards.

Im spent  but apparently its still the warm-up! Molly, who has thighs like an Olympic cyclist, tells me to brace myself for the craziness. I try.

Reach your goal! Climb that mountain! she barks. She is so hardcore that I wouldnt be surprised if climbing a mountain is part of the class.

More squats follow; this time sumo ones, taken with very wide legs. Then come the planks again, this time with running legs. Even the cool-down stretches are too tricky for me.

Verdict: Way too hardcore.

MATT ROBERTS EVOLUTION

Personal trainer Matt Roberts has worked with celebs including Mel C and Amanda Holden (below).

He even whipped David Cameron into shape when he was PM. Now he runs his own gym in Londons Mayfair where a session with a trainer costs 130, but not before handing over 300 for an assessment.

The workout: On the companys Instagram page (instagram.com/matt robertsevolution/channel) I find a 20-minute full body workout taken by instructors Roger and Dan. Sadly, Matt doesnt seem to be doing any of the online classes.

Personal trainer Matt Roberts has worked with celebs including Mel C and Amanda Holden (pictured)

Roger says were going to start with something called split squats, which Ive never heard of but they sound thoroughly unpleasant. Its where you put one foot in front of the other as though taking a giant pace and then squat down. I do 15 on each side while Roger times me on his stopwatch.

Next, its press-ups. Even at my fittest Ive never been able to do a proper man press-up, so I opt for the wimpy lady version on my knees.

I then move on to my all-time least favourite exercise: The Plank. I know most exercises for the abs are pretty horrible, but his one takes the biscuit (and if I ate less of those, Id probably need fewer planks.) He wants us to hold for 30 seconds but I collapse after ten.

Roger then introduces a series of alternate arm raises while in plank that I dont even attempt. I know my limits. Its a struggle, but I manage to keep up. Roger wants me to do the whole thing again. It should be easier the second time around, he says.

Next theres a series of side planks where, taking the weight on your forearm, you raise your hips off the floor and hold the pose. I just know I wont be able to do them, so I decide to freestyle and touch my toes a few times instead. Jump squats follow where I have to crouch down and then leap up and turn 180 degrees like an energetic toad.

Next, come Bear Walks and Dead Bugs. It turns out bear walks are where you start in a standing position, bend to put your hands on the floor and then walk them out in front of you. The dead bug sees me lying on my back doing alternate leg and arm extensions. The class ends with 30 seconds of furiously fast running on the spot. Im more of a gentle jog kind of girl and manage just 15 seconds.

Verdict: Exercises are do-able but, dare I say, a little boring.

BARRECORE

Founded in 2011, Barrecore has centres across London, Cheshire and Bristol. Classes start from 28. The aim is to sculpt the body using small, precise movements (like a ballet dancer). Celebrity followers include Darcey Bussell (left), Rita Ora and Emma Stone.

The workout: By registering at barrecore.com, Im able to take a free foundation class, focusing on the thighs, with Martha.

As I dont have a ballet barre in my kitchen, I use the back of a chair instead. Beginning with a series of leg lifts with pointed toes, I soon realise I have the most awful balance. I can barely lift my big toe an inch off the ground before Im stumbling around like a drunk at the office party.

The aim is to sculpt the body using small, precise movements (like a ballet dancer). Celebrity followers include Darcey Bussell (pictured)

Next, with our feet in first position, we lift up onto our toes and go down into a deep squat. My thigh muscles dont know whats hit them and start to shake. This, apparently, is known as the Barrecore shake, but Im not sure its meant to kick in yet.

Every exercise is done in a very slow and controlled manner and Marthas instruction is excellent.

Youre feeling the burn, arent you? says Martha. Dont worry if youre shaking, you should be.

A series of leg raises follow using our core muscles to keep the leg up, then a series of tiny, pulsed movements. We roll the leg in and out again. My thighs feel like someone has set light to them.

Martha then gets on her knees with a ball between her thighs (I use a towel). Next, with hands in prayer position, I lean backwards and move forward very slowly to work my abdominals.

I can do 50 crunches without a problem, but just one of these is killing me. After the class, it takes several minutes for my legs to stop shaking.

Verdict: I loved this class. The instruction was good and the exercises, although challenging, were not impossible.

BARRY'S BOOTCAMP

Legend has it that you can burn 1,000 calories doing a 23 class at Barrys bootcamp, which has outlets in both London and Manchester.

A modern take on circuit training, its a high-intensity workout using several pieces of gym equipment to thumping rock music. Ellie Goulding (left) and Jools Oliver are big Barrys fans.

The workout: Today Im doing a live 30-minute class via Barrys Instagram account (instagram.com/barrysuk)with Emma. Emma is young and so slim that her waist must measure about the same as my upper arm. She tells me that I will need water and a mat. Ive got a feeling I might be needing oxygen as well.

We start off doing squats. The basic ones I can do, but the more challenging ones, on raised toes, I cant manage.

A modern take on circuit training, its a high-intensity workout using several pieces of gym equipment to thumping rock music. Ellie Goulding (pictured) is a Barry's fan

Then we drop on all-fours to perform different types of planks. I can barely manage a regular one, so you can forget the high planks, the rotating planks and the one-armed planks that Emma is performing.

My monitor tells me that 428 of us are taking the class and I wonder if any of the others are quite as old and unfit as I am. But theres no time to dwell as I lie on my back doing the bicycle and reverse crunches. Participants can post messages but how do they have the energy?

I notice ones from Anya popping up every few seconds about how much she is loving the burn. Anya is someone youd never want to be next to in a class. Were holding, were pulsing, shouts Emma as we squat.

With five minutes to go I feel drained: I cant imagine how Id ever handle a 60-minute class. Emma has us working on our glute muscles with a series of lunges before finishing with some energetic burpees.

Youre on fire! shouts Emma. I am. But I doubt shes referring to my menopausal overheating.

At the end of the class there are 395 left, including me  lying in a pool of my own sweat unable to muster the energy to get back up again.

Verdict: Hardcore and intense. Perhaps best left to those who are already as fit as the average Olympic athlete.

Tracy Anderson

From Adele, Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow to Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz, Tracy Anderson (pictured with Gwyneth) is the woman A-listers seek out to sculpt their bodies. Her famous Tracy Anderson Method has netted her a 30 million fortune. Membership to one of her gyms in LA or New York would set me back 9,000 a year.

The workout: Victoria Beckham is a method devotee and its her arm workout, uploaded on Instagram (www.instagram/victoriabeckham), that I did because: a) I have flabby bingo wings and b) Its only 11 minutes long.

After several minutes of Tracy telling me what a beautiful person Victoria is, its time to follow Tracy in a two-minute series of peculiar movements. Theyre not like any other arm exercises Ive ever done. Theres circling, theres air grabbing and weird jerky dance movements that make me look as though Im receiving a series of electric shocks.

From Adele, Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow to Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz, Tracy Anderson (pictured with Gwyneth) is the woman A-listers seek out to sculpt their bodies

Tracy doesnt talk: youre expected to just follow her and copy her actions to the very loud dance music.

She moves on to 3lb weights (out come my pasta jars) and we do a series of bicep curls, shoulder presses and arm raises. This feels a bit more normal.

Then, with a towel pulled tight above my head, I go into a series of squats and side bends and weird little bunny hops before its all over.

Verdict: Im glad I didnt pay 9,000 for this. I need instruction from a teacher.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-18 03:06:55|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Iranian officials on Sunday warned the United States against any attempt to block the fuel delivery by Iranian tankers to Venezuela.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a letter to the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Sunday that "the illegal, dangerous and provocative U.S. threats" against the Iranian tankers is a form of piracy and a big threat to international peace and security.

"The United States must stop acting as a bully at the international level and respect the rule of international laws, in particular the right to free shipping in free waters," he said in his letter.

Zarif noted that the U.S. administration would be responsible for the consequences of any "illegal move" in this regard.

Iran preserves the right to adopt appropriate and necessary measures in the face of such threats, he added.

In the day, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi summoned the Swiss ambassador, whose country represents U.S. interests in Tehran, to voice Iran's strong protest at what he called U.S. "provocations."

Araqchi urged the Swiss ambassador to convey "the Islamic Republic's serious warnings to the American officials against any possible threat posed by the U.S. to the Iranian oil tankers."

Iran and Venezuela enjoy "completely legitimate and legal trade relations," Araqchi said.

Araqchi also said that any threat against his country's tankers will elicit Iran's "immediate and categorical reaction, and the U.S. administration will be responsible for their consequences."

On Saturday, Hamid Hosseini, the spokesman for the Iranian Association of Exports of Crude Products, said that the United States would be practically unable to block shipments of fuel from Iran to Venezuela at a time when the two countries need to cooperate to mitigate the impacts of American sanctions on their energy sectors.

Washington is extremely angry about Iran's delivery of fuel to a location near its borders despite various sanctions it has imposed on Tehran's shipping and energy sectors, Hosseini was quoted as saying by Press TV.

"Gasoline shipment is not one that could be intercepted or attacked," Hosseini said. "It would be a remote possibility for the U.S. to block the gasoline export shipment," he added.

He described Iran's decision to ship large consignments of gasoline to Venezuela as a right move which is meant to help Caracas tackle its fuel shortage.

He also said Iran should continue to export more of such shipments in the future to offset a reduction in domestic demand for the fuel which has come as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, Western media reported that "at least one tanker carrying fuel loaded at an Iranian port has set sail for Venezuela ... which could help ease an acute scarcity of gasoline in the South American country."

Accordingly, the White House announced on Thursday the United States was considering measures it could take in response to Iran's shipment of fuel to crisis-stricken Venezuela.

Earlier, western reports also said that the Venezuelan government officials piled large sum of gold, an amount equal to about 500 million U.S. dollars, on Tehran-bound jets in April as payment for Iran's assistance in reviving Venezuela's gasoline refineries.

On May 11, the Iranian ambassador to Caracas, Hojjatollah Soltani, denied that his country had received gold bars from Venezuela in return for its services to the restoration of Venezuelan gasoline refinery.

The news claiming that Venezuela is raiding its gold vaults and handing tonnes of bars to Iran through recent Mahan Air flights is a "big lie" and "baseless" claims, said Soltani.

In recent days, commercial flights had been made from Iran to Venezuela for the transfer of equipment to reactivate the Paraguana Refinery Complex, Soltani said.

"The Iranian government's cooperation with Venezuela has expanded in the time of novel coronavirus crisis, and our relations, especially in the area of trade cooperation, are stronger than ever," the Iranian ambassador stressed. Enditem
Questions about the future are plentiful while answers are scarce. But when it comes to what we see on TV, there's no need to predict the post-COVID future of politics or the media, because it's already here. Scripted TV and films are, of course, another matter. It may take months if not years for them to catch up to the stranger-than-fiction realities of 2020.
Beijing said that the USS Barry was expelled from their claim in the South China Sea (SCS) when it had a two freedom of navigation operations (FONOPS). But for the most of the operation, the Chinese flip-flopped and kept their distance with any Chinese ship accosting the armed US warship.

Soon after, the Chinese claimed they expelled the American missile-carrying warship that loitered in circles without any incident. Later Chinese rhetoric was a full blast after the Barry left.

The reaction of Beijing was mostly rhetoric without any real teeth as the Chinese Navy was mostly absent or kept a safer distance each time US Ships made a statement by their operations. They claimed that the Chinese territorial water was not theirs but owned by another Asian nation.

People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) made this statement, "The provocative actions of the United States seriously violated relevant international law norms, seriously violated China's sovereignty and security interests, artificially increased regional security risks, and were prone to cause unexpected incidents."

By definition, the word expel is when a contesting US warship goes along its planned navigation route, that is a "straight and unhindered path" that is charted into and sailing out of the Paracel Islands. The Chinese have illegally called it "Xisha", and is considered Chinese territory as it grabs territory while countries fight COVID-19.

The Chinese who sat back said it expelled the US ship, is mistaken because the USS Barry loitered and sail in circles in the Paracel's without any physical opposition from Chinese ships. Furthermore, it sailed in circles, not an in and out, but when the Barry sailed to another mission the Chinese assuaged their position by claiming to expel, not.

Also read: US Warships Challenge People's Liberation Army in South China Sea as Tensions Escalate

Chinese navy statements of provocative, international law norms, sovereignty is not exact.

US FONOPS have been used as a term for years, not like China that has misconstrued statements and wordplay to double down on the meaning to confuse in their claims in the SCS.

Citing International law under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which is more precise than Chinese wordplay and it explains the rules in claiming tacitly.

The Paracels is claimed by China, but it is on a body of water, an island that is formally part of Vietnam. Beijing is claiming territory that belongs to Vietnam rightfully. It cannot claim it or the waters around the Paracels.

Sovereignty is abused by China as the term that it uses when it wants to grab anything they are interested in. It is said that Beijing believes it can bully the world into acknowledging its purloining territories.

When the USS Barry passed through China's illegal straight baselines established in the Paracels, they said, "This is all ours-you need our permission to enter." When the Barry was radioed it went on loitering and challenging the Chinese claims and going on a normal FONOPs as the Chinese were all verbal, with no physical presence at all.

The USS Barry established the needed to stop illegal Chinese activity that is unbalancing the South China Sea. Another ship the USS Bunker Hill did a FONOPS near the Chinese-occupied and claimed feature in the Spratly archipelago further south. There was the same impotent response by the Chinese Navy by sitting back, waiting for the warships to leave.

USS Barry sailed through while the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) stood as the USS warship loitered and left.

Related article: Two US Warships Warned Chinese Navy to Stop Coercing an Unarmed Drilling Ship in Malaysian Waters

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Arunachal Pradesh



government has requested the Centre for a financial package of Rs 1.6 crore in the first phase to cull 4,500 pigs infected with African Swine Fever (AFS) in East Siang and Papum Pare districts of the state, a senior minister said on Sunday.

The ASF outbreak in the state in April has claimed the lives of a few thousand pigs and wild boars, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister Tage Taki said.

"I had placed the demand for financial assistance during a video conference of Union Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries Minister Giriraj Singh with all the state ministers on May 14," Taki told PTI.

More assistance will be sought in subsequent phases, he said.

Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Joint Director Dr Techi Taku put the death toll of pigs in the state due to ASF at 2,253 so far.

"The toll is likely to increase as reports of more deaths of pigs and wild boars are pouring in from various districts and authorities are compiling the data," Dr Taku, also the state nodal officer for animal health, said.

The minister said he had also urged the Centre to approve a Rs 200-crore state government project to develop grazing lands for bovine animals like Mithun and yaks, which are "backbone of the rural economy of the state".

He said the state is facing problems in egg production due to high cost in the procurement of poultry feeds from Odisha and Assam and sought the Centre's assistance in this regard.

He also sought the Centre's help in establishing a research centre for farming of high altitude varieties of fishes found in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Four years before the Oregon Supreme Court suspended Wasco County District Attorney Eric Nisley for lying about targeting a colleague who had accused him of sexual harassment, a top state lawyer repeatedly urged his bosses to launch a criminal investigation into the longtime prosecutor.

The Oregon Justice Department attorney worried that Nisley had exploited the grand jury process in going after his accuser and cautioned that ignoring Nisley would look bad for the department as a politically motivated decision, particularly in the wake of former Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber's ethics scandal.

Nisleys in-laws are prominent Democrats. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, a Democrat, said shed recuse herself from any role in a state investigation of Nisley because she was friends with the family, acknowledging at the time that she had stopped by Nisleys home for a barbecue when she was passing through town.

A full state investigation never happened, despite pleas from Wasco County officials alleging abuse of power.

Nisley had issued a wide-ranging grand jury subpoena for the emails of county employees, including the countys finance director who had previously complained that he had propositioned her for sex at a work-related conference. He then tried to conceal the subpoena.

Nisley is now seeking re-election, though hes not been allowed back in his downtown courthouse office in The Dalles since his law license was suspended earlier this year for lying to the state bar.

The Justice Departments current hardline stance, holding that Nisley had to vacate his elected position because of the suspension, marks an about-face from its lackluster response when the county first raised concerns about Nisley to the state agency.

The Oregonian/OregonLive obtained records of the stalled state inquiry as Nisley's recent tumultuous tenure has converged with his bid for a sixth term since his appointment by Kitzhaber in 1998. The documents detail the concerted push within the Justice Department for an investigation of Nisley yet how little was done.

It was very frustrating that it fell on deaf ears. It was clearly my feeling the DOJ shied away from this, when Mr. Nisley was violating the constitution and the county commissioners constitutional rights, said Brad Timmons, who served as Wasco County counsel for five years through the end of December. Their office failed the citizens of Wasco County.

The Justice Department found insufficient evidence to support an investigation of his grand jury subpoena, according to spokeswoman Kristina Edmunson. She added that the state bar didnt pursue disciplinary action against Nisley for the grand jury subpoena  but for lying to state bar investigators.

Nisley has become a flashpoint in the county of 26,682 along the Columbia River.

His online campaign ads touting his integrity have drawn scorn from some local residents on Facebook yet he has support from local law enforcement and at least two outspoken veteran Oregon district attorneys. Critics and supporters have publicly sparred on social media over whether the 60-day suspension of his law license, which ended April 10, should continue to bar him from his elected post.

Meanwhile, Nisley is filming social media video campaign messages from his wifes home office, saying, I believe I am still the DA.

Nisley stands by the grand jury subpoena he issued and said he did nothing wrong.

If I committed a crime, the state bar would have investigated that, he said.

Of Rosenblum, Nisley said, I would say were friendly. She met my daughter. We had dinner but its not like we regularly go out and do things socially.

He dismissed speculation about any political influence by the attorney general on his behalf.

That is nonsense, he said. Thats absurd.

Secret grand jury subpoena

Nisleys current troubles trace back to Nov. 5, 2014.

Thats when he asked Oregon State Police to investigate allegations that the Wasco County finance director, then Monica Morris, had made illegal loans to an intern in the assessors office.

Two days later, Nisley issued a secret grand jury subpoena under the case name State of Oregon v. John Doe. A clerk from his office served it on Wasco Countys interim director of information technology services even though the director wasnt the official custodian of county records.

The subpoena sought electronic communications among all seated county commissioners, the county administrator, the finance director and the intern. Though it ordered the IT director, Paul Ferguson, to furnish the material to a grand jury, it also said he could provide it directly to the district attorney instead.

Nisley, who at the time also served as the county counsel, told Ferguson that the subpoena was needed to assist in a state Justice Department investigation, Ferguson wrote in a signed affidavit.

Yet no Justice Department inquiry was underway at that time.

Nisley also told Ferguson not to disclose the subpoena to anyone, the IT director wrote in the affidavit.

Among the emails Nisley sought were those from Morris, who had complained to her boss that Nisley while drunk had made inappropriate sexual advances to her during a conference in Eugene in 2011.

Ferguson gave Nisley a CD with emails dating back a year, according to his affidavit. He kept mum about the subpoena and never appeared before a grand jury.

A week after Nisley approached state police, they told him to ask the Justice Department to investigate instead.

A month later, on Dec. 15, 2014, Nisley asked the departments Criminal Justice Division to look into alleged misconduct by Morris, saying his office had a conflict of interest in the case.

The division opened a criminal inquiry. Justice Department investigator Robert Culley conducted interviews and analyzed county records over several months but found no criminal misconduct.

Morris had received the approval of her superiors to make two cash loans totaling $360 to an intern, representing an advance on gross wages earned but not yet paid. The intern paid back the sum. The unions collective bargaining agreement allowed it, Culley found. The intern said she needed the money because she was worried she couldnt support her child or pay her phone bill.

Culley also learned during his investigation that Morris years earlier had complained to her boss, the county administrator, that Nisley had propositioned her for sex and she rebuffed him in a hotel lounge during the 2011 annual conference of the Association for Oregon Counties.

Morris feared if she pursued a formal complaint against Nisley, she would face retaliation, according to Justice Department records. At the time, the county administrator confronted Nisley and Nisley apologized to Morris. Nothing else came of it.

In February 2015, Senior Assistant Attorney General Colin D. Benson contacted Nisley to report no criminal charges were warranted against Morris.

Nisley then shared for the first time that he had additional evidence for the state to consider. In a letter that month to the Justice Department, Nisley wrote that he had subpoenaed all email communication between Morris, the intern and the county administrator to avoid destruction or loss of such evidence.

Benson was stunned to learn Nisley was sitting on emails he had subpoenaed in the case three months earlier while claiming a conflict of interest.

To be blunt, it came as a surprise that a Grand Jury had been convened in this case and has issued a subpoena for what must have been a great deal of material, Benson wrote to Nisley in a Feb. 20, 2015, email.

And then the only records from the subpoena that Nisley turned over to the state were two brief email strings between county employees, Benson noted, adding it was odd that Nisley only shared that scant amount of evidence.

By early March, Nisley still hadnt turned over any other emails he received from the subpoena and the state Justice Department stood by its conclusion, finding no criminal wrongdoing by Morris.

Dissatisfied, Nisley sent an email to the Justice Department on March 6, 2015. Under the subject line Re: Investigation of Monica Morris, Nisley thanked the state agency for helping his office but said he was taking back the inquiry.

In this case, I have reached the conclusion that it will be more appropriate to complete this investigation locally, he wrote.

Stephanie Tuttle, who was the Justice Departments deputy chief counsel then, replied that the state would respect his decision and agreed to forward him copies of the departments investigative file, even while noting Nisleys conflict of interest.

After the Oregon Department of Justice found no criminal wrongdoing by the Wasco County finance director, Wasco County DA Eric Nisley said he wanted to "complete the investigation locally.'' The subject line is "Investigation of Monica Morris,'' though Nisley later told the state bar multiple times that Morris wasn't the target of the investigation.

This week, the Justice Department explained that it would never order a district attorney not to pursue a case.

Nisley told The Oregonian/OregonLive that he had a duty to examine the allegations after two county officials alerted him to the pay out.

I had an absolute duty to look out for the tax dollars of Wasco County, as the only independently elected official in the county, he said. I wasnt out to get Ms. Morris.

While he obtained emails between county officials through the grand jury subpoena, he said he didnt present any to a grand jury or provide the bulk of them to the Justice Department beyond one or two because there was nothing in there relevant to the investigation.

I recommend we investigate

Soon after Nisley took back the case, a Justice Department attorney turned his attention to Nisley himself.

Darin Tweedt, chief counsel of the Criminal Services Division at the time, said Nisleys actions warranted a separate criminal investigation. Wasco Countys counsel also was pushing for it.

Tweedt outlined his concerns in an April 14, 2015, email to the deputy attorney general, arguing that Nisleys grand jury subpoena was breathtakingly broad.

The county communications that Nisley sought had no subject or date limitation. They also had been handed directly to Nisley and never to a grand jury in what appeared to be a violation of law that could rise to official misconduct, Tweedt wrote.

Nisley vigorously pressed for a criminal investigation of a woman who had rejected his sexual advances, Tweedt noted, and Nisley had concealed from investigators until the last minute that he had ever issued a grand jury subpoena and most of the emails he obtained from it.

This is a case I recommend we investigate, Tweedt wrote.

The deputy attorney general forwarded Tweedts email to Rosenblum, who responded that night to her deputy by email.

She said she wanted to discuss some things before deciding whether we should open a criminal investigation into this sitting DA.

A week later after not getting a response, Tweedt followed up with another email.

I am very concerned about public perception should we decline to investigate because I understand the AG may have been hosted by District Attorney or his wife at some private dinner or function, he wrote.

Choosing to take no action would look very bad...if that is true, Tweedt wrote. Even if it is not true I am concerned about perception following our experience in the Kitzhaber investigation and given the climate relating to allegations of abuse of grand jury.

Rosenblum had been criticized in early 2015 for not having moved faster to launch an investigation into allegations of public corruption against Kitzhaber and first lady Cylvia Hayes.

The next afternoon, on April 22, 2015, the attorney general told her office that she would step aside from the Nisley case.

In light of Darins concern that I could appear to be biased due to having had burgers at the Nisley home on my way home from a visit to central Oregon I will recuse myself from consideration ays (sic) to whether to investigate this matter, Rosenblum wrote in an email.

Rosenblum directed her deputy, Frederick Boss, to make the decision.

Weeks passed with no word.

Rosenblum writes to her deputy that she will recuse herself from deciding whether to investigate Wasco County District Attorney Eric Nisley.

Unstated pressure

Frustrated by the silence, Wasco County counsel Timmons filed a complaint against Nisley with the Oregon State Bar on May 20, 2015, alleging he abused the grand jury process to retaliate against a county employee.

Then that June, another lawyer in Timmons firm, Kristen Campbell , told the Justice Department that if it didnt investigate Nisley, the county would go to the FBI by the end of the month.

Again, it is our position that Mr. Nisleys actions constitute an alarming abuse of his position and the criminal justice system under the color of the State of Oregon, Campbell wrote. That the Oregon Department of Justice appears unresponsive to this conduct and the impact on its citizens is perplexing.

Justice Department chief investigator David Kirby tried for the first time to interview Nisley in June, but Nisley by July 2015 had hired a lawyer and declined to be interviewed until after the state bar complaint was resolved.

The Justice Department didnt pursue any other interviews or review of documents as Tweedt had recommended in writing.

When the Justice Departments inquiry came to a halt, attorneys representing Wasco Countys counsel sent their complaints about Nisley to the FBI.

On Aug. 24, 2015, Tweedt asked his bosses if he could share the departments investigative file on Morris with the FBI.

Again, Rosenblum recused herself from responding to Tweedts request, writing to her deputy that afternoon: As you know, due to concerns that Darin had because I had attended a barbecue at DA Nisleys home (on my way to eastern Oregon) about a year or two ago, I am not participating in any decision-making in the matters we are involved in that pertain to DA Nisley. I will add this to that since it involves him as well. Thanks. (I should add that I have no actual bias whatsoever regarding these matters.)

The attorney general declines to decide whether to share with the FBI any Justice Department documents regarding Nisley and the Wasco County review of his complaint about a county finance director.

The FBI ultimately found the matter was one of state, not federal, jurisdiction.

Tweedt and other Justice Department investigators expressed exasperation to their bosses.

I havent heard anything back on this so I thought I would check in, Tweedt emailed Boss on Oct. 15, 2015. Does the AG want us to proceed with an investigation?

Kirby, now retired from the department, said the inquiry died when Nisley refused to talk to him and got a lawyer.

There just didnt seem to be interest there. Culley and I and Darin certainly felt an investigation needed to be done, he said.

Rosenblum made the right call to recuse herself because of her ties to Nisley, Kirby said.

But clearly her ties had a chilling effect on enthusiasm for the investigation, he said. When that type of thing happens, he said, theres always going to be pressure - even if its unstated.

On Dec. 11, 2015, in response to a Wasco County motion, Wasco County Circuit Judge Karen Ostrye quashed Nisleys subpoena, finding it was improperly issued and improperly served. Though Nisley told the judge a grand jury had been convened, none was ever seated in the case. The judge said the grand jury subpoena was invalid and violated the state constitutions separation of executive and judicial powers.

False statements to state bar

Wasco Countys counsel kept pushing the Justice Department to take notice.

In 2017, the counsel alerted the department to the judges ruling on Nisleys grand jury subpoena, as well as false statements Nisley had made to the state bar in response to the countys bar complaint.

The Justice Department declined to pursue Nisley further. On May 25, 2017, Rosenblums special counsel Michael Kron wrote to Campbell that the state didnt have evidence to support criminal charges against Nisley.

Kron also noted that it would be difficult to go after Nisley when lawyers in the Justice Departments appellate unit had previously defended, at least in one case, that prosecutors can issue subpoenas on the grand jurys behalf without requiring the grand jurys prior approval. In that case, however, a judge didnt rule on the prosecutors authority to unilaterally issue a grand jury subpoena.

It took three years from the original filing for the countys bar complaint to reach a conclusion.

A trial panel of the state bars disciplinary board found Nisley lied once during its investigation and issued a 30-day suspension of his law license in June 2018.

Nisley appealed the discipline to the Oregon Supreme Court. Last December, the Supreme Court issued its ruling, finding the state bars actions didnt go far enough.

One of Wasco County DA Eric Nisley's emails to the Oregon Dept. of Justice, inquiring about the status of their investigation into then-Wasco County Finance Director Monica Morris.

The high court found Nisley had lied to the state bar four separate times, each time outright denying that Morris was the focus of the questionable loan inquiry.

On the first page of its ruling, the court highlighted the sexual harassment allegation. Then, it doubled the penalty for Nisley, ordering his law license suspended for 60 days.

Nisley served out the suspension earlier this year from home. A Justice Department lawyer took his place and continues to run the Wasco County DAs office.

Nisley said hes disturbed that the subpoena dispute keeps dogging him.

Being a DA in a small town is pretty thankless, he said. Its frustrating to have this brought up again and again and again. Im still going to get back up and keep fighting.

-- 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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Deerfield, N.Y.  A 6-year-old girl was taken to a hospital after police said she was hit by a car Saturday morning.

The girl was walking with a friend east on Cosby Manor Road, just northeast of Utica, around 11:10 a.m. when she turned and ran north into the roadway and into the path of a passing vehicle.

The driver, also headed east on Cosby Manor Road, swerved in an attempt to avoid hitting her, but was unable to do so.

The girl, a resident of Deerfield, was taken to St. Elizabeths Hospital in Utica by Kunkel Ambulance with what state police described as non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the 2008 Jeep involved in the crash, identified by state police as 24-year-old Timothy V. Flihan, of Utica, tested negative at the scene for drugs and alcohol.

He was not ticketed.

The cause of the crash appears to be pedestrian error, police said.
The Bachelor's Sophie Tieman revealed she was diagnosed with viral meningitis after being admitted to hospital earlier this week.

And on Sunday, the 27-year-old reality star appeared to be looking much healthier as as she shared a photo of herself enjoying the outdoors.

'Almost two weeks later, I left the house for a couple of hours today!' she wrote.

'I left the house for a couple of hours today!' On Sunday, The Bachelor's Sophie Tieman (pictured) appeared to be on the mend after SHOCKING viral meningitis diagnosis

In the Instagram post, Sophie is seen smiling for the camera, while she gripped onto a coffee cup.

Dressed up for the outing, the blonde kept warm in an orange puffer jacket over a grey top, which was paired with white cropped trousers.

On Saturday, Sophie told Daily Mail Australia she was left 'scared' and 'alone' after it was initially suspected she had contracted COVID-19.

Unwell: On Tuesday, Sophie shared a shocking image of herself lying in a hospital bed wearing a gown and face mask, with a tube inserted into her nose

'I was treated like a COVID-19 patient for 24 hours until my swabs came back negative,' she said.

She was placed into a 'red zone' within the hospital where she was unable to have contact with her partner Joe.

Medical staff tending to her wore extra personal protective equipment to protect themselves from catching the virus.

'I was treated like a COVID-19 patient for 24 hours': Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Saturday, Sophie said she was left 'scared' after it was initially suspected she had COVID-19

'I understand why they need to treat you like this during this period, and totally respect it, but it's quite scary being in the red zone and unable to have any support people with you,' she said.

Sophie confirmed she is now 'on the mend' and being looked after by her boyfriend at home.

Sophie rose to fame after she failed to match with Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummings on the 2018 season of The Bachelor.
Matthew McConaughey is continuing to spread encouragement and inspiration in his second commencement speech for the graduating class of 2020.

The actor addressed the seniors of Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management in New York during a speech was broadcast on Good Morning America on Friday.

This comes after the Dallas Buyer's Club actor, 50, gave a similar speech to the class of 2020 as part of the star-studded virtual #Graduation2020 on Facebook Watch on the same day.

The man himself: Matthew McConaughey is continuing to spread inspiration in his second commencement speech for the graduating class of 2020, this time directed at the seniors of Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management in New York

The Oscar winner also recently released an inspiring public service announcement, titled It's About US, focusing on the unity required in this country to beat the coronavirus pandemic and a call to end political partisan infighting and finger-pointing.

Dressed in a tuxedo jacket and white dress shirt open at the collar, a bespectacled McConaughey began his message to the students on Friday by stating the obvious.

'To you I say congratulations. Number one: You just graduated. You got no prom. You got no real ceremony.

'But don't feel bad,' he continued. 'At least you're originals. You are the one and onlys. You're going to have a whole lot of fun for the rest of your life knowing that. Sing it from the rooftops: We are the class of 2020! We got a virtual graduation. We got a drive-by and we got McConaughey to do our commencement.

Getting his message out: The the Dallas Buyer's Club actor's speech was broadcast on Good Morning America on Friday, and comes after he gave a similar speech on the same day

'Put it on T-shirts, make a rap song out of it. Wear it as a badge of honor because it is yours, and yours only, forever,' Matthew added.

The Dazed And Confused star also focused on the career choice of this graduating class in particular, as emergency management trackers.

'We all have a role to play in making this world a better place, and you chose to do something with real and necessary purpose,' McConaughey said. 'Your vocation is a necessity, it's not a luxury. It's a brave job that takes true courage and commitment.'

He also emphasized the unique position that graduating classes around the world find themselves in this year.

Dressed in a tuxedo jacket, a bespectacled McConaughey said: 'You just graduated. You got no prom. You got no real ceremony. But don't feel bad, at least you're originals'

'Some of you are going to college and many of you are going straight to the front line. You'll be entering the workforce during a crisis, this one we're in right now, and you will have no internships, no emergency ride-alongs, no auditions, no warm-ups.'

'Support your 2020 graduate brothers and sisters, become a fraternity,' the Wedding Planner actor later added. 'You know, a special class like no other. Take pride in your position and embrace the challenge. You're giving back. You're adding value to your community.'

Toward the end, the Texas-born actor made sure not to sugarcoat things, reminding students that 'lifes hard, even without a damn pandemic. You realize that now, and youll enjoy your life a whole lot more later.'

Inspiring: A recent graduate watches Matthew McConaughey speak during a virtual graduation ceremony held by Facebook Watch from his laptop on Friday in New York City

But ever sure to end things on a lighter note, he also recommended that they 'have as much fun as you can, when you can' and 'above all, just keep living!'

'Not only is that what we're all here to do, that's what you and your job allow us to do. Thank you,' he concluded.

McConaughey filmed both of his recent commencement speeches from his home in Texas, where he has been isolating with mom Kay, 80, wife Camila Alves, 38, sons Levi, 11, Livingston, seven, and daughter Vida, 10.

His first speech: McConaughey filmed both of his recent commencement speeches from his home in Texas
Luxembourg's secondary schools partially reopened for final year pupils on 4 May. All other students headed back to school on 11 May when the second phase of the country's exit strategy kicked off. We had a chat with fifth-year pupils (3eA*) at Robert Schuman secondary school about some of the perks and pitfalls of education in these turbulent times.

Returning to school - a mixed bag of emotions

The reopening of Luxembourg's schools remains a controversial case both in political and social circles. Final year pupils flocked back to their desks on 4 May while all other classes returned to the classrooms when the second phase of Luxembourg's gradual exit plan came into effect on 11 May. Entering a school makes it abundantly clear that virus fears have, rightly so, not yet drifted into oblivion as unprecedented precautionary measures continue to dominate the every-day life of pupils and teaching staff. Classes are for instance split into two groups, pupils' chairs are separated, and teachers as well as pupils wear masks to stem the spread of the novel virus.

We head to Robert Schuman secondary school in Limpertsberg to find out a bit more about how fifth-year pupils who specialised in languages, literature, and new media (more on this later) experience the much-debated reopening of Luxembourg's schools. For many of them, the return to in-person learning comes as a double-edged sword.

Aurelie for instance explains that the reopening of schools was somewhat marred by virus fears. "I qualify as an at-risk person and my grandparents also live with us. I nevertheless also didn't want to miss out on actual teaching rather than just exclusively rely on online communication."

Disinfectant provided at school entrance. The photos published on this site are subject to copyright and may not be copied, modified, or sold without the prior permission of the owner of the site in question.

While sharing some concern about health safety, other pupils show themselves relieved to be back in the classroom. According to Jovana, it was not easy to be confined at home. "Social media made it even harder. When you browse Instagram and see all those amazing pictures it really makes it even more saddening to be stuck at home."

Laetitia similarly stresses that "it feels good to have a structure in our daily life again" while Lara explains that family life has improved again with the reopening of schools. "It is nice to spend time with the family but not THAT much time. Now that schools are open again the atmosphere seems to be better at home, we have more social interaction again and my mindset has just generally become more positive."

A modern 3eme A in tune with the time - sweeping away the dust of tradition with enhanced coverage of new media

Pupils in Luxembourg's "classic" secondary schools are required to pick a specialisation in their fifth year, known as 3eme. The specialisations include modern languages ("section A"), mathematics-computing, natural sciences, economic sciences-mathematics, plastic arts, music, human and social sciences.

The 3eA* we visit at Robert Schuman secondary school is slightly different from the language specialisation cycle offered in other schools. Classes not only focus on languages and literature but also on new media and comparative studies. According to German teacher Marc Erang, the goal of the modernised classes is to introduce "contemporary literature classes that pivot around comparative studies. Pupils learn to think internationally, to find interrelations across disciplines and to bring traditional art forms into a dialogue with new media."

The pupils show themselves eager to be a part of this revolutionary process in Luxembourg's education system. "It's just more modern and in tune with the times," Theo for instance explains. "In Luc Wildanger and Tom Hermes's media classes we for instance learn how to pitch ideas, how to carry out interviews, or do podcasts. This gives us more options for our later academic career and we learn to be more open." Comparative studies, communication, journalism and new media, the pupils seem to agree, are perhaps more relevant than ever.

The new media-language section was off to a rocky start. Shortly before the pandemic hit Luxembourg, unknown suspects broke into the school's editing room and stole hard-discs of several computers. 80% of computers were destroyed. The second set-back came with the closing of schools and the cancellation of Robert Schuman's open days - an opportunity that students, teachers, principal Michele Remakel and vice-principal Mariette Wildgen had hoped to use to promote the new media classes. As Marc Erang explains, the restrictions have also made it difficult to work in teams or to engage in media projects after school. A number of media competitions and workshops that teachers had put long hours of preparation in with external partners such as the SNJ or Youth4Planet had to to be cancelled.

A blessing in disguise for young minds?

The closing of schools nevertheless also held unexpected advantages, the pupils explain. "We learned to be more autonomous and the health crisis allowed us to start a number of video and journalism projects, which is one of the goals of this new media section anyway," according to media-language section (3eA*) pupil Lara. "Our background in comparative studies came in handy as we immediately looked for historical parallels with other pandemics," she adds.

Other pupils similarly explain that they were eager to draw political comparisons between the approaches of different countries to lockdown measures, testing, and the wider pandemic rhetoric. It's key to be critical, to dissect official narratives and to compare them to other sources, Joana explains. "I have a penchant for conspiracy theories anyway; I think we always need to ask questions."

According to Lara and Laetitia, the pandemic could also influence both artists and critics. "Many readers will revisit texts like Camus's The Plague and approach them from a more modern perspective. The pandemic may even lead to a new sensibility in art and literature that is worth examining."

What's next for the budding media students?

The pupils explain that they are working on a number of projects, ranging from video diaries to a chronicle of the school year and artistic takes on the pandemic. "We hope that we can relaunch our workshops when the pandemic is over and maybe get media outlets on board in a next step. It's important that the pupils gain hands on experience and have the possibility to talk to experts in the various fields. We'll see what the future brings," Marc Erang concludes.
People in Northern Ireland should wear face coverings to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, a team of experts has said.

Professor Sian Griffiths, who co-chaired the Hong Kong government's inquiry into the 2003 SARS outbreak, made the recommendation at the Stormont health committee during the week.

She was one of a panel of global experts in public health invited to give their assessment on the Covid-19 pandemic and was asked whether people should be encouraged to wear face masks. "I think they may contribute to protecting other people who come into close contact with you," said Prof Griffiths.

"In general, there is a recommendation to wear face coverings that can be cloth and can be washed at 60 degrees.

"Mask wearing in Asia is absolutely common for anyone who has an upper respiratory infection."

Professor Martin McKee, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said he agreed with Prof Griffiths as they interrupt the flow of droplets.

However, he said it is important that people use simple fabric to cover their faces. "No one is talking about taking surgical masks from health and social care workers," he added.

There has been concern that people using face coverings when out and about will result in shortages of personal protective equipment for healthcare staff.

But earlier this month, Health Minister Robin Swann recommended that the public use face coverings while shopping, such as at supermarkets, as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

The UUP MLA said the measure is not compulsory and has stressed that the use of face coverings by members of the public will in no way reduce the need for social distancing or regular handwashing.
According to minister, four state-guaranteed packages are currently approved

Head of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine Maksym Stepanov said that the state fully covers the cost of treating Covid-19 patients in an inpatient setting. May 17, he said this at a briefing, as the Coronavirus.info telegram channel of the Ministry of Health reported.

According to him, four packages guaranteed by the state have been approved: inpatient treatment, emergency medical care, mobile teams, inpatient care for patients in April in hospitals that were not included in the list of supporting medical facilities for the treatment of patients with coronavirus infection.

As we reported before, Ukraine became part of the European Union Health Committee.

"We received a letter from the European Commission, Ukraine was approved to the European Union Health Committee as an observer," Stepanov said.

Also, over the past day, another 433 cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus were recorded in Ukraine; in total, 18,291 people were infected during the pandemic in the country.

According to the Center for Public Health, as of May 17, 514 deaths were also recorded in Ukraine, 5,116 patients recovered.
Beating the virus may just be the start of the battle for many COVID-19 patients.

According to a Bloomberg report, those who recover from the disease could be dealing with complications for years. That includes poorer functioning in their lungs, heart and liver.

And, it said, the issues dont stop there as we are finding that the virus can affect every part of the body from the eyeballs to the toes, the gut to the kidneys.

Considering that, and looking at study done around SARS  which is in the same family of viruses  that showed those who had the disease and recovered were sick more often than others over the 12 years that followed, provides an ominous outlook for those who do get coronavirus.

And early returns seem to point to a SARS-like life post-recovery for coronavirus patients. According to the story, Hong Kongs hospital authority has been monitoring a group of 20 COVID-19 patients for as long as two months after release, and theyve found that about half had below normal lung function. A similar study in Wuhan, reportedly found that 25 recovered patients hadnt returned to normal lung function.

And then theres CT scans.

According to the report, another study in Wuhan looked at CTs for 70 discharged patients over a month after release. And, it said, 66 still showed mild to substantial residual lung abnormalities.

So, if coronavirus does leave lingering issues for survivors similar to that of SARS, indication are they could experience higher than average lung infections and colds. The report also says the patients had higher cholesterol levels.

Bloomberg reports that, if this is the case, the impacts of the virus will have long-term impacts on our healthcare system and economy. But, it said, there is some hope. The report said early intervention could play a role in longer-term outcomes of coronavirus patients.
Residents line up for coronavirus tests after six new cases were discovered in Wuhan, China, May 15, 2020.

Aly Song/Reuters

At least six countries have had to restart their coronavirus lockdowns weeks after loosening them.

China, Germany, Iran, South Korea, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia all reimposed partial new measures after discovering a spike in infections.

The renewed lockdowns are often limited to various districts where the virus has spiked, or limited to particular aspects such as travel restrictions or a curfew.

The decision to ease lockdown measures may not have been dictated solely by public health: many of these six countries have been under political or economic pressure to reopen.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Governments around the world have been eyeing how to bring their populations out of lockdown, with several starting to ease their strict measures.

But at least six countries have had to reimpose restrictions in recent weeks, mainly due to a spike in new infections. Many of these countries had also been under economic and political pressure to reopen.

The renewed lockdowns  some of them total, others partial  are yet to show their effects. But in the coming weeks, they may well give crucial clues about which measures work best as the rest of the world reopens.

Residents line up for nucleic acid testings at a residential compound in Wuhan on May 15, 2020.

Aly Song/Reuters

China has had a piecemeal reopening

China  where the first coronavirus case was discovered, and the first to impose a lockdown  has had a stop-start reopening the country.

It first closed the city of Wuhan in late January, and gradually shut other regions until around half the country's population was under some form of restriction by mid-February.

By early March, new reported cases of the coronavirus had slowed to 200 per day or fewer. At the end of the month, the country rolled out a series of reopenings. As of Thursday, the country has seen no more than 36 new cases per day in an entire month.

But reopening has not been a simple process, with authorities in several cities and regions abruptly reversing their decisions at various moments.

Story continues

On March 23, cinemas were allowed to reopen nationwide, but three days later, they were ordered to close again.

Wuhan residents were told on March 28, after months of lockdown, that they could leave their homes, only for the decision to be reversed five days later.

On Monday, Wuhan reported six new cases, breaking a 35-day streak of zero daily new cases. The government has not reimposed a lockdown but is testing all 11 million residents.

Medical personnel gesturing as employees of meat marketer Westfleisch wait in line to get tested for the coronavirus at a provisional testing center in Hamm, Germany, on May 10, 2020.

Peter Graff

Germany focuses on districts with flare-ups

Germany is gradually reopening, but has had to quickly clamp down on districts that have seen sudden spikes of new cases.

Some shops and schools have reopened, and according to Reuters, the country intends to relax border controls on Saturday.

However, on May 8, local governments had to activate emergency measures in three districts that have seen flare-ups of the virus.

All the spikes were associated with local meatpacking centers in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein, according to Deutsche Welle.

The emergency measures activated in those districts  all relatively small areas  included limiting public movements and mandating coronavirus testing for all plant workers.

Indeed, while announcing the lifting of lockdown measures on May 6, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had said she stood ready to pull an "emergency brake" on newfound freedoms if necessary.

The country is seeing an overall decline in new cases and has for several days kept the R rate  which notes how many people the average person can infect with COVID-19  below one.

People walk on an empty street in Itaewon in Seoul, South Korea, after bars and clubs were re-closed, May 14, 2020.

Cha Sangmi/Reuters

South Korea clamps down after a club-district outbreak

Throughout its outbreak, South Korea has been admired for its mass-testing and tracing capabilities. On Monday, it ramped up those programs again when it discovered a new outbreak.

Daily new cases, which had lingered at around ten or below for weeks, jumped to 34 on May 9. Many of the cases can be traced to a single nightclub district, Itaewon, in Seoul.

Thirty-four daily new cases is a small figure compared to global averages, but was enough to alarm South Korea, which had considered itself as having a good handle on the outbreak.

Bars and clubs in Seoul have since been shuttered again, and the reopening of schools and some businesses have also been delayed, according to the Straits Times.

The new lockdown came less than a week after officials had removed social-distancing restrictions and told the country to get ready for the start of "a new everyday life with the coronavirus," The Post reported.

Employees of a brokerage firm monitor stock prices in Tehran, Iran, on May 12, 2020.

Ali Khara/West Asia News Agency via Reuters

Iran locks one province to continue reopening

Iran, which was one of the earliest coronavirus hotspots, imposed a new lockdown on the southwestern province of Khuzestan on Monday, while continuing to reopen schools elsewhere, Al Jazeera reported, citing the local Tasmin News Agency.

Iran's cases had been on the decline until May 2, when they reached around 800. After that, however, they steadily began to climb again. On Monday, the new case count was back up to about 1,700.

Khuzestan Governor Gholamreza Shariati blamed this on that lax social distancing in recent days.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tokyo, Japan, in December 2019.

Associated Press

Iran began its nationwide lockdown in late February by closing schools, universities, and cultural centers in 14 provinces. In mid-March, it expanded the lockdown by shuttering shops and public spaces.

The lockdown has severely hit Iran's economy, with people unable to go out during the Iranian New Year  usually a time where a lot of money is spent  and the country continues to suffer under US sanctions.

Iran's economy shrunk by about 15% during the lockdown, Foreign Policy reported.

Under intense economic pressure, President Hassan Rouhani began to partially ease the lockdown on April 20, even though the country was still recording some 1,300 new cases per day.

As of Friday, the country has recorded 114,533 cases and 6,854 deaths from the virus.

A waiter takes an order at the outdoor terrace of a restaurant in Beirut, Lebanon, on May 11, 2020, after the country's reopening.

Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

Lebanon locks down for just four days

On Wednesday night, days after lifting its weekslong lockdown, Lebanon imposed a new, four-day lockdown due to a spike in new cases.

Since mid-April, the country had been reporting fewer than ten new cases per day. But on May 7, daily new cases spiked to 34.

Around this time, the country had been just one week into reopening bars, restaurants, hairdressers, places of worship, and some outdoor work sites.

While announcing the new measures, Prime Minister Hassan Diab blamed people who did not follow guidelines, according to Agence France-Presse.

The country has mostly avoided a mass outbreak, reporting just 886 cases and 26 deaths as of Thursday.

Regardless, it imposed a strict nationwide on March 21 and even forbade outdoor exercise, according to the Independent.

The renewed lockdown has primarily been imposed for more testing to take place, Diab said. The country will allow pharmacies and supermarkets to operate.

The country's borders remain closed.

A man passes through a self-sterilization gate at an entrance of the Kaaba and the Grand Mosque, Mecca, on May 8, 2020, when only a few worshippers were allowed.

STR/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia has lifted lockdown for Ramadan

Saudi Arabia has loosened its lockdown for the holy month of Ramadan, and plans to tighten it when it's over.

The country entered lockdown on March 29, closing offices, sterilizing streets, and imposing a curfew with an $800 fine for non-compliance, according to Reuters. The Grand Mosque in Mecca was closed to all but a few visitors, according to Al-Jazeera.

Lockdown loosened on April 24, CBS reported, just before Ramadan, a highly sociable time in which families and friends gather to eat together after fasting during daylight hours.

People were allowed out between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and some shops and malls reopened, according to Agence France-Presse.

On May 3, new cases jumped up to around 1,600, and have risen ever since. And on Thursday, the country recorded some 2,000 new cases  its highest ever count. The country has so far seen more than 46,000 cases.

The country plans to impose a new five-day curfew from May 23, when Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Whether it will help stem new cases is yet to be seen.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Model Rebecca Harding and comedian boyfriend Andy Lee have sparked speculation they are engaged.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Andy shared a snap of the beauty celebrating her 30th birthday at their Melbourne home.

However, despite large balloons and a delicious meal in view, fans focused in on Rebecca's potential attempt at concealing a would-be ring.

'Did he propose?' Model Rebecca Harding and comedian Andy Lee have sparked engagement rumours as she 'hid her left hand' in a photograph to celebrate her 30th birthday

'Is there a ring she's hiding with her left sleeve?' one eagle-eyed fan wrote, keen to see if the pair were about to share exciting news.

Another fan also questioned the pair, after noticing the suspicious positioning of the jumper over Rebecca hand.

'What's under the jumper.... (on the left hand area that is) happy birthday!'

'Just propose already,' another fan joked about the cute long-term couple.

Ready to wed? 'Is there a ring she's hiding with her left sleeve?' one eagle-eyed fan wrote of the couple, who have been together for the past five years

Andy chose not to address the speculation, with the Melbourne comedian instead wishing the model beauty a happy birthday in his caption.

'It wasn't the HUGE 30th bash she'd planned but we celebrated her birthday weekend in style with a 4.30am finish,' Andy captioned the photo.

When referencing 'we', Andy and Rebecca could be seen with two other friends in their apartment when looking at the window's reflection.

Milestone! Andy wrote lovingly about Bec's birthday: 'It wasn't the HUGE 30th bash she'd planned but we celebrated her birthday weekend in style.'

'[But] It seems Rebecca can still go big even though she's nearly THIRTY!!'

The couple were celebrating her birthday 'weekend', with the beauty cradling her face while sitting at the dining table.

The long-time couple's relationship has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years, and they have been isolating together in recent weeks.

Brief split! The couple briefly split for six-months back in 2016, before reconciling with Rebecca recently speaking about it on The Lady Brunch last month

Confession: 'I was struggling in the newfound interest in my personal life,' Rebecca said during the show, commenting on the spotlight their relationship garnered

The couple briefly split for six-months back in 2016.

Rebecca recently spoke about their separation on The Lady Brunch last month.

'I was struggling in the newfound interest in my personal life,' she said during the show, commenting on the spotlight their relationship garnered.

'I was 24 when I met Andy, so still at uni and it was very different to my previous life,' she continued. 'But anyway I got over that and now we are as happy as ever.'

Andy and Rebecca met in 2015 at a Melbourne cafe where she was working as a waitress. He left his email address for her on a napkin.
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If youve been following Apple for a while, you probably know about every product the company has made. You are probably familiar with the iPod, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch, iMac, and MacBooks. However, the company has experimented with products in the past that are extremely rare that doesnt include any of the products mentioned before. I recently visited a museum dedicated to Apple in Prague and learned about some of these products that I never got to see in person. I also got to learn about products that even the museum couldn't get access to. So here are the rarest Apple products you probably didnt know about:

1. Apple QuickTake 200 (1994)

 MensXP/Akshay Bhalla

The QuickTake 200 was made by Apple in partnership with Kodak and Fujifilm between 1994 and 1997 and was one of the first digital camera lines. There were plenty of models produced by the QuickTake 200 that resemble a traditional camera that had a max resolution of 640 X 480 pixels. The camera was bundled with a 2MB flashRAM (SSFDC) and an Apple-branded 4MB card that could be bought separately. It was capable of holding 20 high-quality images on the 2MB card and up to 40 standard-quality images.

2. Apple Graphics Tablet (1979)

 MensXP/Akshay Bhalla

The Apple Graphics Tablet was sold as an accessory for the Apple II way back in 1979. The tablet was manufactured by Summagraphics and used wires made of a special alloy that was stretchable. This would enable the pad to accurately locate the tip of the stylus on the surface of the tablet. This technology is better known as magnetostriction.

3. Apple PDAs (1993)

 MensXP/Akshay Bhalla

The Apple MessagePad was the first personal digital assistant device developed by Apple and manufactured by the Sharp Corporation in Japan. The MessagePad devices had the ability to recognise handwriting and had a virtual pop-up QWERTY keyboard. The handwriting recognition feature wasnt really great and was the first instance of autocorrect problems. In fact, the MessagePad was even featured in a The Simpsons episode called Lisa on Ice".

4. Apple Sneakers

 Wikipedia-Commons

We all know Apple has made T-shirts in the past and we can still see the company selling them in their stores today. However, not many people know that Apple also made sneakers that resembled the design of Nikes Air Force One". It came with Apples rainbow logo and was only meant for Apple employees at the time. They are probably the rarest Apple product on the list as it was never really sold to the public.
It turned day to night, order to chaos and amusement to shock and terror. In hours an expanse of thick forest became a drab wasteland of ash, mud and fallen trees. Some said it transformed a heaven on earth into an ugly hell.

When the top of Mount St. Helens blew off with the fury of an atom bomb, it blasted into our lives.

As the eyes of the nation turned to Southwest Washington in the week that followed, the magnitude of a tragic and unforgettable Sunday sank in. Its emotional aftermath came to be written in faces and voices and actions. A woman cried over the mudhole where her riverside house once stood; a father's hands shook with frustration as he prepared to backpack into the devastated area to search for his missing son; an eerie silence engulfed a caravan of 80 cars and trucks of Toutle and Silver Lake residents briefly visiting their homes Tuesday afternoon to retrieve valuables.

May 18, 1980, began like any warm, spring Sunday. People slept in, went out for breakfast, got ready for church, drank coffee and read the morning paper. Four babies were born in Longview that day, including one at 8:41a.m.

By that time of morning a dark gray cloud was silently billowing, rapidly growing on the horizon.

And by that time, although nobody but its unfortunate witnesses realized it, a horrendous explosion had ripped off the top 1,300 feet off what was once considered the most symmetrically attractive mountain in the Northwest. Geologists later pieced together what had happened.

The explosion occurred at 8:32 a.m. Although tree planters working just south of the peak didn't hear it, the blast rattled windows as far north as Bellingham. The sound  an irregular series of blasts  took 12 minutes to travel 145 miles to Port Angeles.

Three cubic kilometers, about one-eighth of the mountain, blew away from its north face.

At 8:34, a shock wave knocked down trees up to 12 miles away. The energy force led a huge mass of volcanic debris. One geologist said the blast was equivalent of between 10 million and 50 million tons of TNT. If it were at the high end of the scale, it would match the largest nuclear bomb ever exploded.

The first bodies recovered from the area indicated death was instantaneous, a National Guard spokesman said. Some of the dead had their arms folded, their faces gazing toward the fatal mountain.

Lightning storms began at 8:35 a.m. as the eruption generated static electricity. Lightning bolts touched off fires, many of which were later smothered by falling ash. A pyroclastic flow  a fiery avalanche of volcanic materials and gases  headed from Mount St. Helens north toward Spirit Lake.

Tremendous clouds of ash billowed east from the crater. Lt would bring darkness in daytime to Eastern Washington. Heavy ash fall would continue for 15 hours, crippling air and road traffic and stranding thousands.

Deadly mud flows

At 11:15, mud flows swept down both forks of the Toutle River, killing motorists, snapping a dozen or more bridges and sweeping away homes and property.

Nancy Althof, stunned and shaken Monday after she lost her family's three-bedroom home by the Toutle River, described what she witnessed after fleeing to a hill: "We watched the mud rise. We didn't think we'd ever see it hit the top of the bank, but it came maybe 20 feet above that. It a happened very fast. Mud was (flowing) very fast and full of debris and logs. Cars and trucks were floating by like toys. Then it was like the house was crushed. It crashed and that's all there was. It took maybe five minutes.

"We watched the houses of 10 neighbors go. It was awful."

Logjams hit the Cowlitz River at 1:30 p.m. as mud flows and flooding continued.

Ash fall continued Monday. At 5:09 p.m., airborne observers sighted a pyroclastic flow. At 5:14, they saw a massive flow of mud, ash and debris, called a dam for simplicity's sake, blocking huge volumes of water from the flow. It was thought to be up to 17 miles long and two miles thick in places.

The shoreline of the new Spirit Lake was reported 150 feet higher than before.

On Monday, scientists worried that the mass of material in the Toutle's north fork would slosh free and begin a destructive tumble down the river valley. Their warnings triggered more evacuations downstream. The huge dam would "break itself, possibly in a matter of hours," Joe Rosenbaum of the U.S. Geological Survey said Monday morning. "It will happen soon."

But as the days wore on, the geologists fears subsided. At week's end, they would not say the dam was unsafe  but they said that didn't mean it was safe, either.

The uncertainty reiterated the caution that had punctuated the scientists' statements since the beginning of the eruptions. They admitted that Sunday's blast caught them by surprise.

It was a type of eruption that happens only once in 10,000 years, a scientist said.

Religious experience

An observer in Cougar on Sunday said that viewing the huge steam and ash cloud with its streaks of lightning was like a "biblical experience." Consequences of the ash fall and mud flows did indeed seem as if the maker of Mount St. Helens had triggered plagues of an Old Testament scale.

"You can't escape it, a Morton resident said of the blizzard-like volcanic fallout. "Ash is seeping in under the door and through cracks in the window. It's just horrible."

If its physical effects were staggering, so was the turmoil it caused in the lives of thousands of persons. Seventeen deaths had been confirmed by Friday, with the toll sure to rise. At week's end, 179 persons had been reported missing, although authorities believed many of those were not lost on the mountain.

More than 1,000 persons had Ieft their homes  temporarily or permanently  along the Toutle River, in Castle Rock and in low-lying lands along the Cowlitz River. Law enforcement officers, search and rescue teams and disaster relief agencies whipped into action. Men and women who would work for days with little sleep fanned out, searching for survivors and helping the homeless.

At various headquarters, they gobbled aspirin and drank gallons of coffee and cola in a resolute drive to deal with a disaster such as they had never experienced.

"EVAC, EVAC, EVAC," a Cowlitz County sheriff's deputy had scrawled in marking pen on a plastic sheet over a map of the evacuated Mount St. Helens area. .

Among those most deeply affected were persons with friends or relatives of the missing and dead. In a scene repeated too often, Sallie Nichols of Longview recalled the last time she saw her son, 21-year-old Terry Crall, who was missing along with his girlfriend, Karen Varner. Mrs. Nichols said through tears, "I was going to Seattle, and Terry told me to have a good time and I told him to have a good time. That was the last thing he told me." Four survivors from the party Crall and Miss Varner were camping with said they believed the couple were in a tent that was buried by falling trees.

Lodge owner Truman

Among the missing and almost certainly dead was Harry Truman, the 84-year-old Mount St. Helens Lodge owner who gained national attention when he refused to leave his home of 54 years near the shore of Spirit Lake. A curmudgeon who stood up to the volcano like an unarmed knight against a dragon, Harry talked to visitors on the day before the eruption. He said with a hint of awe: "It's uncanny seeing the mountain over there. You know, you can't really see how big it is."

Observers said his lodge was under about 30 feet of material. Truman evidently went down with the landscape he loved.

And there was David Johnston.

It had been the personable, 30-year-old geologist's turn to watch the mountain from a camp a few miles away. On March 27, the day the mountain emitted its first puffs of smoke, Johnston stood by the road at the base of the mountain and told reporters, "It is extremely dangerous where we are standing. If it exploded, we would die. It is like standing next to a dynamite keg with the fuse lit  only we don't know how long the fuse is."

In his last transmission to his U.S. Geological Survey colleagues in Vancouver, be radioed, "Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!" And the line went silent.

There were also stories of survival. A Tacoma couple camping near the peak, Ronald Reitan, 19, and Venus Dergan, 20, were swept into the raging South Fork of the Toutle River. They managed to hang onto a log on a terrifying journey downstream of about three-quarters of a mile, and eventually were rescued by helicopter.

Mike and Lu Moore and their two young children lived through the blast, which seemed to hop over the valley where they intended to camp. A helicopter also lifted the Moores to safety.

The search for the living had its emotional lows as well as its highs. Toward week's end an Army unit from Fort Lewis was helping with the airborne search for survivors  and bodies. Helicopter pilot Steve Brooks wearily voiced his frustration.

"God, I wish we could find just one person alive."

President visits

A much-needed boost to local spirits, judging from a sampling of opinions after the event, was President Carter's visit Wednesday. He flew over the devastated area of 150 square miles, then stopped to visit victims at a Red Cross evacuation center at Cascade Middle School.

Before he left for Spokane to see the aftermath of the ash fallout, Carter described the "horrible looking sight.

"It is the worst thing I have ever seen," he told reporters.

Like a Hollywood spectacular, there was even some comic relief amid the disaster.

An imposter who apparently had stolen a National Guard uniform and identification pulled off an impersonation of a "paramedic." He was given medical supplies at St. John's Hospital in Longview and went to Cascade Middle School, where he treated a number of evacuees.

His ruse ended after a hospital worker became suspicious and called the school. The 29-year-old man wound up undergoing psychiatric evaluation back where the act started, at St. John's.

On Day Six of the eruption aftermath came new word that the sudden melting of the volcano's snowpack had sent 110,000 cubic feet of water into Swift Reservoir  on the south side of the peak, where it was earlier thought the effects were minimal. The huge flow, which washed out bridges on the Little Muddy River, was double the historic record flood flow.

Some local residents still were being urged to conserve water as the week ended, since mud still clogged water intakes. Officials were estimating damage and deciding what could be done first. A federal disaster aid center was set up in a Kelso school.

As the initial shock subsided in communities around the mountain, some ventured to predict the post-eruption future. President Carter said the cleanup would take decades.

The U.S. Forest Service began preparations for millions of tourists this summer.

Geologists made an educated guess that the mountain would eventually restore its dome with lava flows.

And some residents who would have to dig out from the volcano said it wouldn't keep them down.

Karen and Jerry Cripe, newlyweds whose home was shoved 20 feet from its foundation by a mud flow in Castle Rock's Green Acres subdivision, were determined to start their lives anew.

"We did it once," said Karen, 38, as she and daughter Brenda, 19, packed their belongings. "We'll do it again."
GSEB Result 2020 toppers list | The Gujarat state education board declared the GSEB Class 12 science stream examination results today (17 May) at 8 am on its official website gseb.org

GSEB Result 2020 pass percentage | The Gujarat state education board declared the GSEB Class 12 science stream examination results today (17 May) at 8 am on its official website gseb.org.

The overall pass percentage is 71.34 percent, with the figure at 70.85 percent for girls and 71.69 percent for boys.

The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board State Education Board (GSHSEB or GSEB) had conducted the between 5 and 21 March, but announcement of results has been delayed due to

the nationwide coronavirus-induced lockdown imposed after 24 March.

In 2019, GSEB had declared the Class 12 science stream results on 9 May on its official website. The pass percentage in 2019 was 71.90 percent for science stream.

In the event that the GSEB website is down after the results are released or if students face issues logging in, they can access alternative options to check their scores.

Websites like examresults.net, results.nic.in and indiaresults.com will also display the GSEB HSC results.

On Saturday, the GSEB said in a release that students who appeared for the class 12 board exam held in March could access their results on official website, to be uploaded at 8 am on Sunday.

The Board would notify the dates for distribution of mark sheets, certificates and revaluation and re-verification to the students later, it said.

Students can check the GSEB HSC Result 2019 by following these steps:

Step 1: Go to the official website  gseb.org

Step 2: Click on the result tab at the bottom

Step 3: Click on HSC result 2019

Step 4: Login using required details

Step 5: Click on the Submit button

Step 6: Download or take a print out for future reference

GSEB is a board of school education in the state of Gujarat. It was formed on the basis of The Gujarat Secondary Education Act 1972.

The primary function of the board is to prepare academic programmes and organise examination for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC).
India may impose anti-dumping duty on imports of a certain type of industrial pigment, used as coating material to give shining effect, as the commerce ministry has initiated a probe for alleged dumping of the product from China.

The probe is initiated after a complaint by domestic manufacturer Sudarshan Chemical Industries, which claimed that it is the sole producer of 'natural mica based pearl industrial pigments excluding cosmetic grade' in India.

The company has filed an application before the ministry's Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) for initiation of the anti-dumping investigations on imports of the product from China.

The manufacturer has alleged that due to dumped imports from the neighbouring country, it is being impacted.

DGTR in a notification has said that on the basis of the prima facie evidence submitted by the domestic firm, "the authority, hereby, initiates an investigation to determine the existence, degree and effect of any alleged dumping" of the product from China.

In its probe, if the directorate would concluded that there is a dumping of the product, it would recommend imposition of the duty. The revenue department takes the final decision to impose the levy.

In international trade parlance, dumping happens when a country or a firm exports an item at a price lower than the price in its domestic market.

Dumping impacts price of that product in the importing country, hitting margins and profits of manufacturing firms.

According to global trade norms, a country is allowed to impose tariffs on such dumped products to provide a level-playing field to domestic manufacturers. The duty is imposed only after a thorough investigation by a quasi-judicial body, such as DGTR, in India.

Imposition of anti-dumping duty is permissible under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime. India and China are members of this Geneva-based organisation, which deals with global trade norms.

The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 20:17:42|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe recorded two new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing to 44 the total number of confirmed positive cases in the country.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care said Sunday that the two cases are both female residents of Harare who returned from the United Kingdom on May 4, 2020.

Recoveries have increased to 17 from 13 while deaths remain at four.

The country has done a total of 27,059 COVID-19 tests.

Zimbabwe has been under lockdown since March 30, although some restrictive measures have been eased to allow formal business and commercial activity. Enditem
TDT | Manama

Bahrain has distributed coronavirus (COVID-19) care packages filled with essential goods and medical supplies to citizens studying abroad, amidst the ongoing global health crisis. The parcels offer supplies at a time when many supermarkets and pharmacies around the world are experiencing stock shortages.

The boxes  sent out directly by local embassies in the UK and US  include long shelf-life essential items such as pasta, canned food, teabags and olive oil. Masks, gloves, hand-sanitisers and basic medicine such as paracetamol tablets have also been distributed as part of the initiative.

Each box is accompanied by a letter advising citizens of the importance of taking additional precautionary measures during this temporary period, for the safety and protection of everyone.

It adds: In case local markets witness food shortages, this package consists of some essential food items that have a long shelflife that should be kept in case of emergencies. Bahrain has facilitated the return of thousands of nationals from countries across the globe including the UK, US, UAE and Jordan.

The Kingdoms embassy in Washington, DC has contacted 136 universities in North America to assist students, in addition to publishing weekly reports offering information on the crisis. Consular officials have handled thousands of calls on a dedicated emergency hotline number and purchased 71 tickets home for Bahraini nationals facing difficult circumstances.

As global lockdowns begin to lift, Bahrain  one of the first countries in the world to loosen restrictions on movement  is taking a series of steps to prepare for the next phase of the crisis.

Last month, Bahrain  which is fifth in the world for testing rates  launched a dedicated tracking app for confirmed cases, with those isolating required to wear tamper-proof bracelets monitoring their location.

A quarter of the country has now downloaded the BeAware app, which automatically alerts users if they come into contact with an active case. Other initiatives include converting public buses into mobile testing units and rapidly building field hospitals for the treatment of cases.

Bahrain made a series of early interventions on COVID-19 including screenings at entry points, travel restrictions on high-risk areas, as well as swift isolation and testing of suspected cases.

On March 19, Bahrain became the first Arab country to join the World Health Organisations Solidarity Trial, aiming to pool resources to produce a treatment for the disease.

Three weeks later, the Kingdoms malls were re-opened as part of a phased approach, with citizens and residents able to take a voluntary COVID-19 test in many of the locations.
The test report of a 55-year-old migrant worker, who fell ill upon return to Bihar from Mumbai and died before his sample was collected, came COVID-19 positive, taking the death toll in the state to eight, a top official said here on Sunday.

Principal Secretary, Health, Sanjay Kumar, said the migrant workers, who was diabetic, had breathed his last early on May 15 after suffering 'cardiopulmonary arrest' at a hospital in Khagaria district, where he was admitted upon developing respiratory problems.

"Soon after his death, his sample along with that of his wife was collected and both tested positive on Saturday. He goes into records as the eighth COVID 19 death in Bihar," Kumar said.

The man had come, along with wife and a grandson, from Mumbai on May 13 by a 'Shramik Special' train that pulled up at Saharsa. They then took a bus ride to reach Khagaria by evening.

The 55-year-old, however, fell ill the very next day upon which he was rushed to a referral hospital from a quarantine centre by a medical team on duty.

"By night, he began to show signs of recovery. But the following day, at around 4.30 am, he died," the principal secretary of the health department said.

This is the second instance in Bihar, where the test report confirming that a person had contracted the viral disease arrived after his death.

Two months ago, a resident of Munger district, admitted to AIIMS in Patna for renal failure, had his samples collected while he was alive but died before test reports came confirming that he had the disease.

Other than Munger and Khagaria, two COVID-19 deaths have been reported so far from Patna, and one each from East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Vaishali and Rohtas districts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Last week, I spoke with a community college administrator. I asked him a couple of questions:

First, when do you want to re-open the campus? He said the sooner, the better.

Second, are you afraid of lawsuits? Darn right, he said. Then he added that many colleges are scared to death of a class action lawsuit.

My guess is that a lot of businessmen and school administrators know exactly what my friend was saying.

This is why we need litigation protection, as this editorial from the Las Vegas Review-Journal is indicating:

As states lift their coronavirus lockdowns, businesses face a host of obstacles, including reluctant customers, cautious workers and disrupted supply chains. But there's another gremlin lurking in the shadows that has gone largely unnoticed: the trial lawyers. "Plaintiffs lawyers are massing to loot medical providers and employers in response to the coronavirus," read a headline in The Wall Street Journal last month. The issue is nationwide. In Nevada, Randi Thompson, state director for the National Federation of Independent Businesses, told the Review-Journal that business owners worry they will be held liable if an employee contracts COVID-19 upon returning to work. The federation conducted a poll which found that 68 percent of small business owners are very or moderately concerned about prospective lawsuits related to the virus. "If Congress wants America to recover with any speed from this epidemic," the Journal noted, "we can't have a lawsuit epidemic, too." Indeed. If employers are intimidated by the threat of litigation, the destruction will only worsen.

Indeed it will. This is why Congress needs to pass legislation that protects employers and school districts from lawsuit madness. Otherwise, important sectors of the economy may not open at all.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
It is apparent in this pre-World War II setting that racial tensions are part of the driving force that will set the conflict in motion. The first episode starts with a mother praying to Santa Muerte to protect her sons, a police detective and an activist.

Chilean actress Lorena Izzo introduced the show as "Natalie Dormer plays a devilish shape-shifting goddess who preys on the human race" in an article.She added, as an afterthought, "I play her sister, Santa Muerte, a less evil goddess."

Broodier Santa Muerte

There have been criticisms about the series as soon as the premiere aired. Rather than bridging the distance between the white and the Latinx audience, City of Angels instead is said to be divisive despite its awareness of the "white gaze".

In particular, the aim of the criticism was at the depiction of Nuestra Senora de la Santa Muerte, the Mexican folk saint of death.

In most portrayals of Santisima, she is bathed in light with a shining halo, almost like a crown. She wears prayer shawls around her neck as she "frees" souls from the land of the living. In City of Angels, she is darker and more melancholic, not at all as evangelical as the revered Lady of Holy Death.

Magic was used as part of the narrative structure, but it would be better off used as a meta device to show the much more nuanced struggle between the cultures of the Caucasians and the Hispanics. Portrayal of historical and worshipful figures is important in mass media, and so to understand the characters, the cast and crew must understand the culture behind it as well.

Santa Muerte is so revered in Mexican culture that she has her own temple and cult despite condemnation of the Catholic church. More than just a deity for death, she also represents eternity and maternal love for all souls.

Nonetheless, people are excited about the direction the series is taking with the folklore so far. Perhaps in the later episodes, Santa Muerte will be shown in a less broody light.

Check these out!

Santa Muerte actress excited to star in the show with a largely Latin cast

The opportunity fell into her lap when the director himself called her team and asked her to play the role of Santa Muerte. At the time, she was on hold for an Amazon pilot lead. "I got released from the pilot and I got a call from my team and I couldn't believe it."

"To be a Latina and work with a mainly Latin cast," she said, calling the series a big production, "It's so unprecedented and wildly important."

Izzo explained that the spin-off series offered her a new experience in the film industry. Santa Muerte was easily one of the most recognized figures in Mexico's culture, and so the pressure was on Izzo to add her own idiosyncrasies to the character.

In an interview with Rose and Ivy Journal, she said her costume for the role was intricately prepared for about a year. According to her, a lot of research was done to ensure that the costume respectfully embodied the culture behind the legend.

She added that John Logan was directing the cast with a self-awareness and mindfulness of how to transform the script into the screen. Izzo called his writing "masterful", and she felt special becoming a part of the success of the production.
Killing Eve's Jodie Comer has revealed that her death stares are part-inspired from her mother.

Jodie, 27, who plays psychopath Villanelle in the BBC drama, told The Mirror that some of the 'outrageous' faces she pulls are from her mother.

She said: 'Some of the faces I pull are outrageous but my mum is like, ''Definitely seen that one before''.

Like mother like daughter: Killing Eve's Jodie Comer has revealed that her death stares are inspired from her mother (pictured together)

'But I'm also like, ''Mum, I get half of them from you''.'

The Liverpudlian actor, who still lives with her parents Jimmy and Donna, also admitted to having a softer side and even apologises to the actors she kills on screen in case she hurt them.

She said: 'It is always so tense when you go to the scene and say, ''I'm sorry is this sore? Am I hurting you?''.'

Jodie reminisced about a particularly funny scene where Villanelle clamped a man's groin but said that everyone on set was able to have a 'giggle about it'.

Keeping it in the family: Jodie, 27, who plays psychopath Villanelle in the BBC drama told The Mirror that some of the 'outrageous' faces she pulls are from her mother

She said: 'Some of the faces I pull are outrageous but my mum is like, ''Definitely seen that one before''

The actor won an Emmy in 2019 for the role which she plays alongside Sandra Oh, Fiona Shaw and Harriet Walter.

And after the latest episode of the dark comedy, fans took to social media to say they were certain she had won herself another of award for her performance.

Fans watched in awe as Villanelle silently battled with her emotions after she killed her mother (Evgenia Dodina) in the kitchen and set fire to the family's Russian farmhouse before fleeing the scene.

Dozens of viewers took to Twitter to call for Jodie to be given her second Emmy off the back of the stunning performance. The British actress won the 2019 award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in the series last year.

'Emmy award winning': Fans watched in awe as Villanelle silently battled with her emotions after she killed her mother (Evgenia Dodina) in the kitchen

Psychopath: Villanelle set fire to her family's farmhouse in Russia, pictured, after killing her mother

Loyal fans: Dozens of viewers took to Twitter to call for Comer to be given her second Emmy off the back of the stunning performance

One posted: 'Give Jodie Comer that Emmy right now (!!!!!!!) for the last scene in that episode!! #KillingEve.'

Another tweeted: 'That last scene on the train was just incredible. i think we've all had that moment when you are breaking apart but still have to keep it in together. even w/o words you have done it justice, message conveyed. well done Jodie, you deserve another Emmy #KillingEve.'

A third added: 'The last scene of today episode... Jodie will get that Best Actress again on next Emmys. #KillingEve.'

The fifth episode, which aired in the US on Sunday night and was released on BBC iPlayer this morning for UK viewers, focused solely on Villanelle as she returned to Russia and reconnected with her mother and brother Pyotr (Rob Feldman).

High praise: Fans were quick to praise Comer for her ability to portray her character's emotional turmoil

She also discovered she now had an extended family including stepfather and stepbrothers and grew close to the youngest, Bor'ka (Temi Blaev).

The drama came to a head when Villanelle confronted her mother over how she was abandoned in an orphanage as a girl, saying 'don't pretend you were a mother'.

Hitting back, her mother insisted Villanelle was marked as evil from birth because she 'did not cry as a baby'.

She added Villanelle had 'ruined' her life and had taken her husband from her because he was afraid of Villanelle's 'darkness'. 'He thought you would do something to us,' the mother revealed, 'to me'.

Villanelle explained she wasn't angry at her mother for abandoning her, or for not coming back, but because she was unable to admit that she had darkness inside her.

'Get out of my house,' her mother replied. To which Villanelle responded: 'I think I will have to kill you.'

Matricide: After confronting her mother over how she was raised, Villanelle told her simply: 'I think I have to kill you'

However unlike other deaths on the show, the murder itself was not shown. Instead the episode cut straight to Villanelle preparing to set the house on fire and a shot of the mother lying dead on the kitchen floor.

The final moments of the episode showed Villanelle silently coming to terms with what she had done.

Speaking to Variety about the episode, Comer said: 'You can see the regret that she is already feeling but feels she has to go through with it  because I think she feels its the only way she feels she can fully kill her past and the woman that she was.'

Writer Suzanne Heathcote added that she wanted an episode that revealed an emotional depth to Villanelle that had not yet been seen.

She said: 'Villanelle reveals a version of herself  she shows a version of herself to the world  and thats all the audience has seen up to this point.

'But this particular area of vulnerability for her is one that is so specific and so unique, it needed its own moment.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 22:26:22|Editor: huaxia

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DAKAR, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Senegal on Sunday reported 51 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 2,480 since the outbreak of the pandemic on March 2.

The spokesperson of the health ministry Alyose Waly Diouf said the country had carried out 816 tests in the past 24 hours, among which 51 came back positive.

A total of 47 follow-up contact cases were reported, along with four community-transmission ones, he said.

According to him, 24 more patients have recovered, while nine patients remain in intensive care across the country.

So far, Senegal has reported 2,480 confirmed cases, including 973 recovery cases and 25 deaths.

Among the 2,480 confirmed cases reported so far, 2,182 were follow-up contact cases, 86 imported ones and 212 community-transmission ones.

On Monday, President Macky Sall announced the easing of some of the COVID-19 restrictions, but said the government is preparing for the virus to circulate in the country "until August, or even September."

From Tuesday, the curfew hours, originally from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., were shortened to between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

All markets and other businesses were allowed to resume their normal opening hours, except one day per week when they have to be closed for disinfection and sanitizing.

Senegal has since March 20 suspended all international flights till at least May 31. President Sall extended the state of emergency and dusk-to-dawn curfew, which was declared on March 24, to June 2. Enditem
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Govt to decriminalise minor violations of companies act: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday the government will decriminalise most of the sections of the companies act as she gave details of the last tranche of the economic stimulus package. Read more

2 feared dead, 4 rescued in J-Ks Ramban; Kashmir highway blocked

Two people were feared dead and four others rescued after a slope of a hillock came crashing down on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday evening, officials said on Sunday. Read more

Highest single day spike as Gujarat crosses 10,000 mark, amid slow response

Gujarat became on Saturday the third Indian state to record 10,000 Covid-19 infections, reaching the milestone in 58 days. According to state health department data, 350 cases on an average have been reported every day in May as compared with 143 infections a day in April. Read more

Two Parma players test positive for Covid-19

Two players from the Italian Serie A club Parma have tested positive for coronavirus, the club said. The development comes amid talks of a resumption of group training in the country from Monday after the government gave the green light. Read more

Unemployed actor Manmeet Grewal commits suicide, neighbours refuse to help fearing he had Covid-19

TV actor Manmeet Grewal, who was seen in shows such as Aadat Se Majboor and Kuldeepak, committed suicide at his residence in Navi Mumbai on Friday night, as reported by Mid-Day. The actor was burdened by debt and couldnt find any work due to lockdown. Read more

World Hypertension Day: Use Ayurveda to get rid of stress, lifestyle disorders. Heres how

Its a fact that modern man is over-dependent on technology and is perpetually stressed to get more out of life. The truth is, in todays fast-paced world, its not possible to avoid stress unless we live a life of seclusion. Read more

Mumma bear shows cub how to climb a tree. Video makes people go wow

Its often said that when we see something, we learn it faster. Seems like this bear mom knows that the way her baby is going to learn how to climb a tree if she shows the little one herself. Read more
Two friends behind a linen bedding range beloved by celebrities including Matt Damon and Chris Hemsworth have reported a 113 per cent increase in sales of their luxury sheets since the coronavirus lockdown began.

Georgie Cavanagh and Carlotta Casals, from Sydney, said people have been rushing to snap up their French-inspired eco-friendly and sustainable bedding range, Carlotta and Gee, in their thousands since the brand launched in 2018, but never more so than in isolation.

'It seems like people are really wanting to live the slower life and invest in their home to create a happy and safe haven,' Georgie told FEMAIL.

'Because we can't travel, it's these creature comforts or hotel luxury items that you would get when travelling that people are wanting to bring into their home.'

Two friends behind a linen bedding range have reported a 113 per cent increase in sales of their luxury sheets since the coroanvirus lockdown began (Georgie Cavanagh and Carlotta Casals pictured)

Georgie and Carlotta, from Sydney, said people have been rushing to snap up their French-inspired eco-friendly and sustainable bedding range (pictured) in their thousands since she launched the brand in 2018, but never more so than in isolation

Carlotta and Gee offers a range of luxury linen bedding, including duvet covers, sheets, pillows and robes.

Prices start from around $240 for a duvet cover, and their range comes in 17 colours and is made from 100 per cent flax linen, which is an antiperspirant.

'Linen has so many health benefits, which people seem to thinking about more during COVID-19,' Georgie said.

'We've had some majorly high-profile names sleep in C+G, including Matt Damon and Chris Hemsworth.'

The bedding has a host of celebrity fans including Matt Damon and Chris Hemsworth (pictured)

Linen is a natural temperature regulator, meaning it keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer (the linen bedding pictured)

When it comes to the benefits of linen, they are myriad.

Linen is a natural temperature regulator, meaning it keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer.

The fabric also doesn't crease as much as regular bedding, and unlike other fabrics, it becomes softer with age.

'All our linen is derived from a natural fibre called flax - harvested from the flax plant,' Georgie said.

'Flax can be grown all over the world, but we source ours from Normandy, France, where optimal climactic conditions ensure the plants are grown naturally and ecologically, without the need for pesticides or dangerous chemicals.'

Carlotta and Gee also wash their linen before it is sold 'in volcanic stones from Malaysia for four hours', as this accelerates the softening of the flax and makes for a more comfortable sleeping experience.

What are the benefits of linen bedding? Linen is also twice as durable as other fabrics and retains its shape well (Georgie and Carlotta pictured) * Linen retains its shape thanks to its natural elasticity, and compared to wool and cotton, linen is twice as durable. * Linen is temperature-regulating, anti-static, anti-bacterial and acts as a natural insulator. It also helps to keep you cool in the summer months. * Linen is moisture-wicking and this is an effective anti-perspirant. * The fabric also doesn't crease as much as regular bedding, and unlike other fabrics, it becomes softer with age. Advertisement

'All our linen is derived from a natural fibre called flax - harvested from the flax plant,' Georgie said; they grow theirs in Normandy in France (Georgie and Carlotta pictured)

Reviews online for the Australian company are glowing, where the sheets boast a five-star rating and people have described them as 'amazing' (pictured: the sheets)

Reviews online for the Australian company are glowing, where the sheets boast a five-star rating and people have described them as 'amazing' and the 'secret to the perfect night's sleep'.

'I'm so happy with the gorgeous clean linen sheets I bought from here. The linen is so soft and comfortable to sleep in,' one reviewer posted.

'I have purchased linen sheets from other countries, but these are even softer,' another added.

A third wrote: 'These sheets are fabulous - and almost silky in their texture.'

For more information about Carlotta and Gee, please click here.


Daghestans top health official has said more than 40 doctors have died from either the coronavirus or "community-acquired pneumonia" as many raise questions about the accuracy of Russias reported cases and deaths from COVID-19.



Daghestan Health Minister Dzhamaludin Gadzhiibragimov, in an interview with a local blogger on May 16, also said that more than 13,000 people in the impoverished North Caucasus republic are currently suffering from COVID-19 or pneumonia.



The republics coronavirus center had reported just 3,280 cases of COVID-19 as of May 16 and only 29 deaths. Gadzhiibragimov said that more than 657 people have died of community-acquired pneumonia.



However, a severe case of COVID-19 can lead to pneumonia, opening the possibility for a case of the coronavirus to be diagnosed as pneumonia.



Russia has been accused of lowering its COVID-19 mortality rates by ascribing deaths to pneumonia.

The country has more than 272,000 registered cases of COVID-19 but only 2,537 deaths, which is one of the lowest death rates.



In the United States, COVID-19 is listed as the cause of death for anyone who perishes while infected with the disease.

Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax
World Health Organization (WHO) chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan believes schools should reopen. (Getty)

The World Health Organizations chief scientist believes children are at a 'very low risk' of being infected with coronavirus if schools reopen in the UK.

Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Dr Soumya Swaminathan said she believes "society has to restart" but that there will be a new normal.

Dr Swaminathan added that schools should be allowed to reopen providing adequate social distancing measures are in place.

Children dont seem to be getting severely ill from this infection, she said, Children are capable of getting the infection but theres less data on how they are able to spread it.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has defended the government's decision to send some children back to school on June 1. (Getty)

What we have seen in countries where schools have remained open is that there have not been big outbreaks in schools.

And where there have been its been associated with events where a lot of people gather, not in regular classrooms. And its often been associated with an adult who has had the infection.

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

So it does seem from what we know now that children are less capable of spreading it even if they get the infection and certainly are at very low risk from getting ill from the disease.

Dr Swaminathan said that the WHO has been analysing data in countries where schools had already been reopened or had remained open throughout the crisis.

She said the data about infection rates has been fairly reassuring and said there are several measures teachers and governments can take to make sure schools are safe.

In classrooms you can rearrange the tables and chairs so children have at least one metre between them, she suggested.

It comes as the British Medical Association (BMA) said it was completely aligned with teachers unions that are concerned coronavirus infection rates are currently too high.

The move puts the BMA in opposition to the government which plans to welcome children in reception, Year 1 and Year 6 back on June 1.

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The BMA said education unions were absolutely right to be cautious and evidence was unclear whether children carried Covid-19.

But education secretary Gavin Williamson said getting children back to school was vital for their educational development.

He said minimising contact and mixing is a "key element" of what needs to be done, adding: "That is why we have gone in this initial stage of much-reduced sizes down to a maximum of 15.

"We have looked all across Europe to see how this best works. We have seen some good examples in nations such as Denmark where it seems to have worked very well."

He added: "We are creating a protective bubble around them, reducing the amount of mixing and making sure that those small groups stay together almost like a family within a classroom."

He suggested that by cutting the amount of contact they have with other teachers and children, it is hoped that the risk of potential infection is "dramatically" reduced.

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People in Stockholm on April 22.

TT News Agency/Anders Wiklund via Reuters

Sweden is unlikely to avoid the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, even as it has avoided an official lockdown, analysts told the Financial Times.

While bars, restaurants, and shops are still open, people have been asked to voluntarily practice social distancing and work from home if possible.

One business owner told the Financial Times that when people started becoming aware of the virus, he quickly lost 30% of his business.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Even though Sweden has chosen to avoid an official lockdown, keeping bars and restaurants open  and suffering a higher death toll than in neighboring countries  the country is unlikely to avoid the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, analysts told the Financial Times.

"It is too early to say that we would do better than others," Christina Nyman, a former official at Riksbank, Sweden's national bank, told the Financial Times. "In the end, we think Sweden will end up more or less the same."

David Oxley, a senior economist at Capital Economics, told the newspaper that economic "activity in Sweden is grim, maybe not as grim as elsewhere, but it is still unprecedented declines."

Sweden has reported more than 3,500 deaths from the coronavirus. That number pales in comparison to the tens of thousands of deaths in the US, but Sweden's smaller population of just over 10 million makes the country's death rate one of the highest.

While companies in Sweden, like the automotive manufacturer Volvo, have been hit hard as their global supply chains are disrupted, the economic impact of the pandemic in Sweden, with its robust welfare system, will likely look differently than in countries like the US.

Sweden's lead epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell, said last week that he didn't anticipate the high death rate.

Story continues

"We never really calculated with a high death toll initially, I must say," he said. "We calculated on more people being sick, but the death toll really came as a surprise to us."

The owner of a record shop in Stockholm told the Financial Times that while his store remained open, business dropped quickly by 30%. "For a couple of months, it will work. But after that it will be very, very tough," the owner, Micke Englund, told the paper.

Read the full report over at the Financial Times.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Mumbai Police has shared yet another witty, and absolutely creative, post to take on fake news. In an appeal to people, the department quirkily used a meme from Amazon Prime series Paatal Lok to show from where the fake news peddlers get all their exclusive information.

When fake news peddlers are asked - where did you get this exclusive news from? the department tweeted and shared the meme. They also used the hashtags #NewsFromPaatalLok and #ExposeFakeNews in their advisory tweet.

When fake news peddlers are asked - where did you get this exclusive news from?#NewsFromPaatalLok #ExposeFakeNews pic.twitter.com/SvHSgp4oJR  Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) May 17, 2020

Since being shared a few hours ago, the tweet has sparked a laughter fest among tweeple. Also, there were many who praised the people handling Mumbai Polices Twitter handle.

Brilliant meme, wrote a Twitter user. This does not at all look a handle of a police force!! You guys are just brilliant, expressed another. WhatsApp University needs to be close, tweeted a third. Well...someone from your team or the entire team is quite brilliant to pick lines from new-age web series. So appropriate, wrote a fourth.

Some people also used GIFs to express their reactions:

A few days ago, Mumbai Police took on fake news with another meme from the film Avengers: Infinity War and its hilarious.

What do you think of the Pataal Lok meme tweet by the department?
Liquor makers have urged the Kerala government to not impose additional sales taxes on the Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) which already attracts steep levies of up to 240 per cent in the state.

In a letter to the Kerala government, the Federation of Alcohol Beverage Producers (India) has noted that IMFL is paying high taxes of up to 240 per cent in Kerala in comparison to imported liquor which is taxed at 88 per cent.

"As a result, a product of same quality sells at Rs 2,600 if made in India compared to Rs 1,600 if imported," said the association in a letter to the state government.

The association further said that the state government is expected to impose an additional sales tax of 35 per cent on IMFL, and not on imported liquor.

This is in our view is taking the matter to bizarre proportions. Just to give you a reference after this the tax difference between the two will go to an incredible 189 per cent. Instead of rectifying the error, the Government is further compounding it, the association's Director-General Vinod Giri said.

Recently, several state governments imposed additional taxes on liquor while allowing sales in the third phase of the lockdown. Liquor sales remained suspended for more than 40 days in the first two phases of the lockdown to contain coronavirus panedmic, hitting state revenue.

"We reiterate our earnest request to review the Excise Policy of Kerala and issue necessary amendments to remove blatant discrimination in favour of imported products, the association said.

Earlier, alcoholic beverages industry bodies had said that levy of additional taxes on liquor by several state governments, as high as 75 per cent, will be counterproductive in the long run.

States like Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and West Bengal have imposed 75 per cent, 70 per cent and 40 per cent additional levy respectively on liquor, which resumed window sales from May 4 after a gap of almost 40 days in during the ongoing lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A think-tank has said there should be no return to austerity once Chancellor Rishi Sunak's spending boost to beat coronavirus is over - as a top economist says slashing public expenditure is 'not a done deal.'

The UK-based centre-right think tank Policy Exchange, previously supported measures to slash expenditure following the financial crash in 2008.

But the group has backed Mr Sunak's plans for sustained increases to public spending following the pandemic, as reported by The Guardian.

It comes as the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) chairman Robert Chote said reported Government debt of more than 300 billion did not necessarily have to mean years of slashing public expenditure.

Mr Chote also said the UK economy should be over 'the worst of it' in terms of the economic hit from the lockdown, and is now entering a recovery phase as the public health restrictions are gradually relaxed.

The economist told the BBC's Andrew Marr show: 'We're certainly going to see - temporarily - a higher amount of Government borrowing.

'The fact that the level of debt goes up on its own doesn't necessarily mean you have to have the sort of austerity that followed the financial crisis.'

The right-wing pro-business group backed Mr Sunak's public spending increases during the coronavirus pandemic

Just days ago the Office for National Statistics released figures showing the UK economy contracted by 2 per cent in the first quarter of 2020.

The first quarter fall was the worst since the end of 2008 at the height of the financial crisis, while the March monthly drop marked a record tumble as it plunged by 5.8 per cent.

But with the lockdown only coming into place on March 23, the second quarter will show the full hit on the economy after the UK ground to a standstill.

Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician for economic statistics at the Office for National Statistics (ONS), told BBC's Today programme there could be worse to come in the second quarter.

He said: 'The Bank of England have put out a scenario saying perhaps there might be a 25% fall in GDP in the second quarter, that would be nine or TEN times the record level of fall we've seen.

'In terms of scale, in terms of speed, this is really, really unprecedented.'

Ministers are bracing themselves for the worst as Mr Sunak last week admitted the country is facing a 'significant recession'.

One of the most significant increases in public spending will come from the Chancellor's much lauded furlough scheme which has paid employers to send 7 million people home.

But it will mean the public spending deficit will rise by more than 15 per cent of GDP, leading to speculation austerity measures could some come in force.

However Boris Johnson has already made clear to Tory backbenchers there is 'no question' of a return to previous Chancellor George Osborne's swinging cuts to public spending, that lasted for ten years.

The Prime Minister was responding to a leaked treasury note reported by The Daily Telegraph, that plans were being put into place to curb public spending.

But in a call to members of the 1922 committee Mr Johnson made clear that there would be no return to austerity, and that planned infrastructure spending would go ahead.

A graph released by the ONS shows widespread contractions across a number of sectors in the UK economy

Warwick Lightfoot, chief economist at Policy Exchange, told The Guardian: 'I don't think anyone is arguing for a relaunch of austerity. Even an austerity hawk believes it is different this time.

'The last thing you want to do is amplify the prospects of a full-blown depression.'

Policy Exchange was founded in 2002 by Michael Gove, Tory peer Francis Maude, former MP Nick Boles and businessman Archie Norman.

Tom Clougherty, head of tax at the Centre for Policy Studies, told the newspaper: 'I'd usually be wary of big public investment schemes In the current circumstances, though, with borrowing costs very low and little prospect of crowding out private investment, I think the pros outweigh the cons.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 15:33:26|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- More than 1 million Australians have been tested for COVID-19, medical authorities said.

As of Sunday afternoon, there had been 7,044 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia.

"There have been over 1 million tests for COVID-19 carried out in Australia, to be exact 1,015,652 tests conducted right across the country," Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said on Saturday afternoon.

Kidd said that despite Australia's success in preventing the spread of the virus, health experts were concerned about the mental health toll that the virus was having.

"We recognize that many people are experiencing anxiety and stress and fear as a result of the pandemic," he said.

"Many people are experiencing very significant financial stress due to job losses. Many people are feeling very lonely and isolated, separated from family members and loved ones in other parts of the country, or overseas."

States and territories have begun allowing cafes and restaurants to gradually re-open for the first time since March, but Kidd said that Australians must remain vigilant and continue to follow physical distancing guidelines.

"With restrictions being relaxed a little across each of the states and territories over the past week, we still need to remain vigilant, we still all need to be doing our part to ensure that we don't experience a resurgence of cases in Australia," he said. Enditem
The governor of Mudug, a region in Somalia's semi-autonomous state of Puntland, was killed with three of his bodyguards in a suicide car bombing on Sunday that was claimed by Islamist group al Shabaab, police said.

"A suicide car bomb hit the governor's car. Governor Ahmed Muse Nur and three of his bodyguards died," police captain Mohamed Osman told Reuters.

Al Shabaab has been fighting for years to topple Somalia's western-backed central government and frequently carries out bombings in Somalia and elsewhere in the region. The group wants to establish its own rule in the Horn of Africa country, based on its own strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law.

"We are behind the explosion. It was a suicide car bomb. We killed Mudug region governor and his three bodyguards," al Shabaab's military operations spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters.

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Its always terrible to lose a filmmaker, but its especially tragic when the creator in question is just starting to hit her stride. When I say that about director Lynn Shelton, its not meant to diminish the work shed done  nine features, ranging from Humpday to Laggies, and more than 40 TV episodes, including the first half of Little Fires Everywhere  but only to suggest the best was yet to come. That much was certain, since her style was clearly evolving as she went.

Over the span of little more than a decade, Shelton had gone from being a Sundance outsider to one of the indie worlds most interesting voices. Strangely enough, what made her voice so vital was the generous way she gave her actors the chance to use theirs, while shaping their contributions  script ideas, character insights and sometimes fully improvised performances  within the framework of a story that was undeniably her own.

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In 2009s Humpday, she deconstructed homophobia by observing two straight male best friends wrestle with the dare to shoot an amateur gay porn video. Two years later, in the superficially familiar sex farce My Sisters Sister, she brought in a pair of bona-fide movie stars, Rosemarie DeWitt and Emily Blunt, relying less on improvisation while still managing to bring out a kind of disarming realism in the process. The same goes for Touchy Feely, which brought her back to Sundance in 2013 and demonstrated how her instinct for authenticity translated to a more traditionally scripted dramedy.

As titles go, Touch Feely was a play on the massage therapy milieu where the film takes place, but it could just as easily have been Sheltons brand: Her movies didnt shy away from embarrassing emotions, but steered straight into awkward territory in an effort to expose and understand modern relationships. She wasnt alone in that pursuit, but her instincts helped determine the shape comedy would take in the 21st century, dovetailing with  and raising the bar for  creators like Judd Apatow and Paul Feig (who had a much bigger megaphone, but a kindred sensibility).

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Shelton was most often identified with the so-called mumblecore movement, whose moniker no one involved seems to appreciate. Still, the lo-fi revolution these DIY filmmakers inspired remains undeniable, and Sheltons contributions were among their most popular. Her career was absolutely a product of a very specific moment in film history, when an unprecedented spirit of teamwork combined with access to relatively affordable digital cameras made it possible for a generation of independent filmmakers to break in. Based in Seattle, she made friends with the likes of Joe Swanberg and Mark Duplass, meeting the latter on a film called True Adolescents, for which she was working as the unit photographer.

Unlike many of her peers, Shelton hadnt gone to film school, not in the conventional sense at least. Shed taken a more high-brow track at New Yorks School of Visual Arts, but felt herself drawn to the more populist realm of cinema  though she never sold out, sticking to personal, down-to-earth stories about characters that felt like they couldve been close friends of the director. (Shelton was actually brought in a few times by Marvel to talk about working on Black Widow, but dont read too much into that. The studio famously interviews a wide range of helmers for its projects, many of them far-from-obvious choices.)

Shelton directed three features that hardly anyone has seen prior to making Humpday, including Spirit Award nominee My Effortless Brilliance and a Christopher Guest-style mockumentary called What the Funny. Whats clear from those early practice runs was her instinct for naturalism and a willingness to work off-script. When it came to Humpday, she drew up a 10-page outline and enlisted Duplass and The Blair Witch Project veteran Joshua Leonard to play the two boundary-testing dudes, shooting the feature on two cameras in just 12 days.

The project caught the attention of Mad Men producer Matthew Weiner, who invited her to shoot an episode of the show  her first foray into professional television, where shed really started to make an impact. Mad Men was a famously male-centric series, reexamining the 1960s roots of much of the power games and sexual misbehavior that would launch the #MeToo movement a few years later, and Sheltons episode, Hands and Knees, was no cakewalk  memorable for being the one where Joan discovers that shes pregnant by way of her boss, leading to a tricky scene in which she weighs the decision whether to abort in the doctors waiting room.

These days, directors who break out at festivals like Sundance and SXSW regularly find work directing television, but Shelton got a head start, proving just as funny as her peers in her handling of shows such as New Girl, The Mindy Project and Master of None. Even at the low-budget end (where Shelton largely remained), filmmaking is an expensive task, making it virtually impossible for directors to practice their craft between projects. But in Sheltons case, TV offered her that opportunity, and the technical aspects of her features seemed to improve by leaps and bounds  though none quite recaptured that very particular chemistry of Humpday.

Still, she was on her way up. With 2017s Outside In, she collaborated with the other Duplass brother, Jay, on a raw broken-person portrait entitled Outside In, doubling down on her commitment to character and nuanced human connections. Relationships mattered to Shelton, on screen and off. That film marked the fifth time shed worked with actor Alycia Delmore  a sign of mutual loyalty  while in her private life, she struck up a relationship with comedian Marc Maron, directing several of his specials and casting him in last years decidedly weird Sword of Trust. Thats not a great film, but it shows growth and a scope that none of her earlier movies had yet attempted, underscoring the potential cut short by her untimely death, at age 54.

Its impossible to know what insights into ourselves well miss out on now that Sheltons storytelling days are done. GLOW and Little Fires Everywhere pointed at more mainstream possibilities still, and yet, it was her comedic sensibility that seemed so central to what we might call the Shelton touch. She was capable of orchestrating a very specific, perfectly calibrated kind of audience discomfort  that squirmy, not-sure-how-to-feel sensation you get from shows like The Office  while making her performers feel safe. They trusted her, and so did we, while she used laughter to access our sensitive spots and reveal our boundaries.

As an artist, Sheltons goal was to keep us honest, a sentiment thats as true for her actors as it is for her audience.

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Ever since the COVID-19 disease caused by the new coronavirus knocked on the door of our country, Greece, with the announcement of the first confirmed case, our daily life has radically changed.

We have acquired new habits, we have even distanced ourselves from our loved ones, we are wearing face masks, we have filled our pockets with antiseptic wipes and sprays and  most importantly  we have learned to Stay Home.

But this does not apply to everyone. There are some citizens who do leave their homes, risking their health so that the rest of us stay healthy and remain safely inside; people whose profession, conscience and sense of responsibility do not let them stay confined within the security that their houses provide  people like intensive care professor George Dimopoulos and cardiologist Dimitris Konstantonis, who refuse to be defeated by the pandemic. They fight alongside nurses such as Taiba Riaz, Maria Tsamouri and Ioanna Moskofi every day at the Attikon Reference Hospital to help patients overcome COVID-19.

Hospital catering assistant Eleni Griva describes mealtime as the happiest moment of the day for patients, because they feel that they are not alone  that someone cares for them.

Konstantina Papachristodoulou, an emergency worker for the National Centre for Emergency Assistance, rejects the hero label that is often appended to those in her profession. She simply does what she loves the most: her job.

Trolleybus driver George Koufopoulos felt incredibly lonely on Easter Sunday when he made two consecutive trips without any passengers in a deserted Athens. As he drove through the empty streets of the Hellenic capital, he was internally begging for someone to hop on and break the deafening silence.

Giannis Mentzos, a cameraman for the state broadcaster, made a conscious decision not to abuse the special-purpose permit he had been given so he could fulfil his mission of informing the public.

Like them, there are countless pharmacists, police officers, bakers, supermarket staff, municipal cleaners, metro drivers and delivery workers who stepped outside their abodes and plunged themselves into the frightening outdoors to do their jobs.
A parliamentary revolt has been led by opposition MPs against Boris Johnson's plans to avoid an extension to the Brexit transition period.

The SNP leader at Westminster Ian Blackford and the acting Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey signed a letter to Michel Barner supporting more time for discussions after the coronavirus pandemic.

Europe's chief Brexit negotiator was told there is 'significant opposition' to the UK Government's refusal to consider any delay.

The rebels hope talks can be abandoned until 'the efforts of national governments and the European Union will not be engaged solely with dealing with the dreadful Covid-19 epidemic', they said.

They've requested a two-year extension to the deadline to avoid a 'devastating no-deal'.

The Brexit transition period is due to finish on December 31, 2020, but there are growing calls for an extension due to coronavirus disruption

With the UK having formally quit the European Union, the talks between the UK and EU will determine key areas such as future trading relationships.

The transition period, during which the UK must abide by EU rules, was designed to allow the two sides time to hammer out the terms of their future relationship.

But with the transition period due to expire at the end of this year, there are fears the UK may be forced into a no-deal scenario if an agreement cannot be reached.

The letter to Mr Barnier has also been signed by Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts, Green MP Caroline Lucas, Stephen Farry, MP from the Alliance Party, as well as fellow Northern Ireland MP Colum Eastwood of the Social Democratic and Labour Party.

They contacted Mr Barnier to highlight the 'significant opposition to the UK Government's extreme position amongst the business community, the general public and elected representatives'.

The SNP leader at Westminster Ian Blackford (pictured) and the acting Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey signed a letter to Michel Barner supporting more time for discussions after the coronavirus pandemic

The opposition MPs noted the Scottish and Welsh governments both backed an extension of the transition period, along with 'the majority of political parties in the Northern Ireland Executive'.

The MPs said: 'A consensus is taking shape and we hope the UK Government will soon recognise reality.

'It is now in all of our common interests to agree and secure an extension to the transition period.

'This will enable these detailed and defining negotiations to be conducted at a time when, we hope, the efforts of national governments and the European Union will not be engaged solely with dealing with the dreadful Covid-19 epidemic.'

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said they had written to Mr Barnier because 'time is running out until we hit the hard Brexit deadline'.

He insisted: 'It is vital that the Tory government does the only responsible thing and accepts a two-year extension to the transition period.'

The SNP MP continued: 'Crashing out with a bad deal or no deal in the middle of the coronavirus crisis, would deal a double hammer blow to the economy just when we will need all the help we can get to save jobs, businesses and living standards.'

But he claimed: 'It increasingly appears the Tory government is intent on taking Scotland and the UK down the path of a devastating no-deal. That would be beyond reckless.

'The coronavirus economic crash is the worst in living memory. People and businesses are already struggling to get by. The Tory government must put its responsibilities to the economy ahead of its Brexit obsession.

'Polls consistently show that the overwhelming majority of people in Scotland and across the UK want to see an extension to the Brexit transition period - and there is growing consensus across political parties. It's time for the UK Government to act.'

A UK Government spokesman said: 'The Government was elected on a manifesto which made clear the transition period would end on December 31, 2020. That is enshrined in primary legislation and it remains our policy.

'We will not ask to extend the transition period, and if the EU asks we will say no.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said they had written to Mr Barnier (pictured) because 'time is running out until we hit the hard Brexit deadline'

'Extending the transition period would simply increase uncertainty and prolong the negotiations, whilst also leaving us bound by EU legislation and obliged to make further payments into the EU budget.'

Senior EU figures said they did not believe the current transition period was long enough to get everything done even before the coronavirus outbreak.

But Number 10 is refusing to budge on its insistence that the December 31 deadline must be stuck to.

Holyrood's Constitution Secretary Mike Russell said pushing back the deadline for trade talks to conclude beyond the end of this year is necessary because of the global pandemic.

He said delaying the end of the 'standstill' transition period would allow both Britain and the bloc to focus on fighting the deadly disease together.

The terms of the Brexit divorce deal which took the UK out of the EU on January 31 allow the length of the transition period to be increased - but only if both sides agree to such a course of action by the end of June this year.

The Scottish government's Constitution Secretary Mike Russell has urged Downing Street to seek a two year extension to Brexit trade talks - the maximum allowed under the terms of the Brexit divorce deal

The divorce accord also states that the extension can be up to two years in length but no longer.

Mr Russell has today called for a joint meeting involving ministers from the four Home Nations to discuss the UK government's approach to Brexit talks.

He said: 'Instead of its reckless decision to pursue a hard Brexit in the middle of this unprecedented crisis, the UK government should today be asking the EU for the maximum two year extension to the transition period.

'The benefits of co-ordinated European action have never been clearer. An extended transition will keep the UK as close as possible to the EU and provide an opportunity to rethink the future relationship.'
A man suspected of claiming he had coronavirus while spitting on a rail worker who later died of the virus was questioned today by police.

Belly Mujinga, 47, was on the concourse at London Victoria station, where she worked in the ticket office, when the man, who said he had the virus, spat and coughed over her and a female colleague in March.

Both women fell ill within days of the incident and Mujinga, who had underlying respiratory problems, was taken to hospital and put on a ventilator.

A man, who said he had coronavirus, spat and coughed over Belly Mujinga, 47, in March and 14 days later she died of the virus

Both women fell ill within days of the incident and Mujinga (picture above with her husband Lusamba) , who had underlying respiratory problems, was taken to hospital and put on a ventilator

She died on April 5, 14 days after the assault at the busy rail station.

British Transport Police said detectives had now identified a 57-year-old man in connection with the incident.

A spokewoman said he was interviewed under caution today at a London police station.

'Detectives will continue to collate evidence and investigate the circumstances behind the incident.

Police said detectives are not looking to identify anyone else in relation to the assault at London Victoria station

'They are not looking to identify anyone further in relation to the incident.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told parliament on Wednesday that the death of Mujinga, who had an 11-year-old daughter, was tragic.

'The fact she was abused for doing her job is utterly appalling,' he said.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said around 12 lakh members of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) withdrew Rs 3,360 crore retirement savings during the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

Earlier, on March 28, the EPFO allowed formal sector workers to withdraw a non-refundable advance from their retirement savings to deal with the hardships due to the lockdown.

The government on March 25 imposed a nationwide lockdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Unveiling the fifth and final tranche of the Rs 20-lakh crore economic package, Sitharaman on Sunday said 12 lakh members of the EPFO have withdrawn as non-refundable advance of Rs 3,360 crore during the past two months.

The EPFO, under the Union labour and employment ministry, has settled a total of 12 lakh claims under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) package.

The provision for a special withdrawal from the EPF Scheme to fight the COVID-19 pandemic is part of the PMGKY scheme announced by the government and an urgent notification on the matter was made to introduce a para 68 L (3) of the EPF Scheme on March 28, 2020.

Under this provision non-refundable withdrawal to the extent of the basic wages and dearness allowances for three months or up to 75 per cent of the amount standing to member''s credit in the EPF account, whichever is less, is provided.

Sitharaman also told that 2.2 crore building and construction workers got Rs 3950 crore under the PMGKY to sustain in lockdown.

Earlier in March, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar had asked all state chief ministers to provide financial aid to over 3.5 crore construction workers from Rs 52,000-crore construction cess available with them amid Covid-19 outbreak.

An advisory was issued on March 24, by Gangwar to all chief ministers, Lieutenant Governors of all the states/union territories.

In the letters, the minister had said: "Under Section 60 of the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act, 1996, all states/UTs have been advised to transfer funds in the account of construction workers through DBT (direct benefit transfer) mode from the cess fund collected by the Labour Welfare Boards under the BOCW cess Act."



It was mentioned in the letter that about Rs 52,000 crore is available as cess fund collected by states and UTs, and about 3.5 crore construction workers are registered with these construction welfare boards.

The minister had stated in the letter that in this challenging situation, it is imperative that we devise probable mechanism to support unorganised workers, who sustain their livelihood on daily wages.

The minister had also said that state building and construction workers welfare boards have collected sufficient funds.

The cess has been levied and is being collected at 1 per cent of the cost of construction as notified by the central government in its official gazette.

The BOCW Welfare Cess, 1996, provides for levy and collection of cess at such rate not exceeding 2 per cent, but not less than 1 per cent of the cost of construction as the central government may notify.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sir Lenny Henry has revealed girls would not dance with him as a young man because he was black.

Opening up about the racism he faced growing up in the West Midlands, the comedian and actor, 61, recalled women openly telling him they would reject him because of his skin colour.

The TV veteran, who has been dating theatre producer Lisa Makin since 2012, said: 'I would ask anyone to dance, I didn't want to be left out and my friends would be dancing. Some girls wouldn't dance with me because I was a black guy.'

'I didn't want to be left out': Sir Lenny Henry has revealed girls would not dance with him as a young man because he was black

Speaking on Louis Theroux's Grounded podcast, the media personality reflected on his experience with dating as a young man from an ethnic minority.

Lenry, the son of Jamaican immigrants, shared: 'If you wanted to meet members of the opposite sex you've got to go to a place where they might be and where they might be was St Thomas' disco next to the church.

'You would spend nearly all evening ignoring them and then in the last five minutes, there would be this rush to the dance floor to try and slow dance with a girl.'

Candid: The comedian and actor, 61, recalled women openly telling him they would reject him because of his skin colour (pictured in 1978)

The Magicians star said the boys would 'try to cram the whole dancing with the girl thing' into the last minutes of the night, hoping they would 'get a snog'.

Sir Lenny added: 'I would ask anyone to dance, I didn't want to be left out and my friends would be dancing. Some girls wouldn't dance with me because I was a black guy.'

When asked by Theroux how he knew, the TV star confessed: 'They would say.'

The comic also discussed initially keeping his interest in impressions a secret from his family while at home.

He said his hobby was 'something I did with my white friends' and that his parents had 'no idea'  adding that 'my mum was the main funny person [in] our house'.

Lenny, who is one of the founders of charity Comic Relief, claimed making 'wise jokes' as a child prompted 'a slap round the head'.

The Doctor Who actor explained: 'There was no wise-cracking from a child in our house because that was seen as being cheeky and overstepping the mark.

'So, if you cracked wise jokes in earshot of your parents, you would get a slap round the head or something... in our house, my mum was the funny one, end of story... it was like a little secret I held in my heart for quite a long time.'

'It was seen as overstepping the mark': Lenny, one of the founders of charity Comic Relief, claimed making 'wise jokes' as a child prompted 'a slap round the head' (pictured in 1975)

The Broadchurch star was married to fellow comedian Dawn French for 25 years but they divorced in 2010. They have a daughter Billie, 29.

After his split from Dawn, 62, with whom he shares Billie, 29, Lenny began a relationship with his current girlfriend, Lisa.

The BBC star recently opened up about the bullying he received at school in his book Who Am I, Again? which he released last year.

In December, he told ITV's This Morning there was a period at school where he was 'bullied every day' by a boy who 'hit me all the time'.
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Britain will get first access to a coronavirus vaccine being developed by Oxford University with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca poised to make 30 million for the UK by September - if it works.

Alok Sharma, the Business Secretary, today announced a deal has been done between the university and the company to manufacture the vaccine which is currently in clinical trials.

He pledged an additional 84 million to accelerate the development of the vaccine - on top of a previous 47 million pot of cash - so that mass production can start as soon as possible if it is proved to be effective.

Mr Sharma said the Oxford project is 'progressing well' and that another vaccine effort by Imperial College London is 'also making good progress'.

However, he cautioned that despite the growing optimism there are 'no certainties' and there may never be a vaccine developed capable of tackling the deadly disease.

Mr Sharma also revealed that six drugs designed to treat coronavirus have now entered initial live clinical trials. The world is yet to identify a drug clinically proven to treat the disease.

The vaccine announcement came as Mr Sharma said the UK Covid-19 death toll had now reached 34,636 after a further 170 deaths today. That is the smallest increase since the start of lockdown.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma today announced a deal between Oxford University and AstraZeneca which could see millions of vaccines available in the UK by September

The latest official Downing Street statistics showed there had been 170 more coronavirus deaths today - the lowest number recorded since the start of lockdown

A total of just over 700 people ere admitted to hospitals in England with coronavirus today

The Government administered 91,206 tests as of May 17, slightly below Matt Hancock's 100,000 daily target

The Oxford vaccine is now in its first clinical trial and all phase one participants have now received their vaccine dose and are being monitored by the clinical trial team (pictured: Data showing more than 10,000 people in hospital with Covid-19)

UK coronavirus death toll rises by 170 - the lowest increase since the start of lockdown Britain has announced a further 170 deaths from coronavirus today on the first Sunday since draconian lockdown measures were eased, taking the UK's total death toll to 34,636. The latest daily figure is the lowest since March 24, however numbers released on Sunday are usually smaller due to a delay in processing over the weekend. Speaking in today's daily Downing Street briefing, Business Secretary Alok Sharma also confirmed that there have been 3,142 more Covid-19 cases. The drop in death toll marks a 36.8 per cent decrease on last Sunday's 269 figure. The numbers follow a tumultuous week for the Government in which approval ratings took a sharp dip after Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out his strategy for lifting lockdown measures. In this evening's briefing, which was delayed by 30 minutes, Mr Sharma has said the clinical trial for a coronavirus vaccine at the University of Oxford is progressing well. Advertisement

The vaccine announcement made by Mr Sharma came as:

Michael Gove initially guaranteed that teachers would be safe at reopening schools before swiftly backtracking and admitting there will be a 'risk'.

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the World Health Organisation, said world data on the return of schools is 'very reassuring'.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said she supported councils which are not planning to reopen schools to all pupils on June 1 for safety reasons.

Mr Gove has said there are 'big lessons' to be learned from the treatment of care homes during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office revealed 17,000 contact tracers have now been recruited, putting the Government on track to hit its 18,000 target.

Mr Johnson told Tory MPs he wants to return to 'near-normality' in July.

Mr Johnson and Sir Mark Sedwill, the UK's top civil servant, were said to have had a 'tense' stand off over who is responsible for implementing the lockdown exit strategy.

Britons flocked to parks and beaches as temperatures moved towards 70F in the nation's first Sunday since lockdown measures were loosened.

The COVID-19 trials are taking place at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford and started on April 23. A second vaccine from Imperial College London is also hoped to face human trials in June.

A working vaccine is viewed as likely the only surefire way for the world to go back to something resembling normal life.

Mr Sharma last month announced the creation of a new vaccine task force to bring together the Government, universities and industry in the hope that the UK could lead the way in developing a vaccine.

The Business Secretary said he was 'very proud' of how quickly different sectors had united for the 'critical mission' with the Oxford and Imperial programmes emerging as 'two of the worlds frontrunners'.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VACCINES CREATED BY OXFORD AND IMPERIAL COLLEGE? The science behind both vaccine attempts hinges on recreating the 'spike' proteins that are found all over the outside of the COVID-19 viruses. Both will attempt to recreate or mimic these spikes inside the body. The difference between the two is how they achieve this effect. Imperial College London will try to deliver genetic material (RNA) from the coronavirus which programs cells inside the patient's body to recreate the spike proteins. It will transport the RNA inside liquid droplets injected into the bloodstream. The team at the University of Oxford, on the other hand, will genetically engineer a virus to look like the coronavirus - to have the same spike proteins on the outside - but be unable to cause any infection inside a person. This virus, weakened by genetic engineering, is a type of virus called an adenovirus, the same as those which cause common colds, that has been taken from chimpanzees. If the vaccines can successfully mimic the spikes inside a person's bloodstream, and stimulate the immune system to create special antibodies to attack it, this could train the body to destroy the real coronavirus if they get infected with it in future. The same process is thought to happen in people who catch COVID-19 for real, but this is far more dangerous - a vaccine will have the same end-point but without causing illness in the process. Advertisement

The Oxford vaccine is now in its first clinical trial and all phase one participants have now received their vaccine dose and are being monitored by the clinical trial team.

Mr Sharma said: 'The speed with which Oxford University has designed and organised these complex trials is genuinely unprecedented.

Imperial College are also making good progress and will be looking to move into clinical trials by mid-June with larger scale trials planned to begin in October.

So far the Government has invested 47 million in the Oxford and Imperial vaccine programmes.

But today I can announce an additional 84 million of new Government funding to help accelerate their work.

This new money will help mass produce the Oxford vaccine so that if current trials are successful we have dosages to start vaccinating the UK population straight away.

The funding will also allow Imperial to launch phase three clinical trials for its vaccine later this year.

I can also confirm that with Government support Oxford University has finalised a global licensing agreement with AstraZeneca for the commercialisation and manufacturing of the Oxford vaccine.

This means that if the vaccine is successful, AstraZeneca will work to make 30 million doses available by September for the UK as part of an agreement to deliver 100 million doses in total.

The UK will be first to get access and we can also ensure that in addition to supporting people here in the UK we are able to make the vaccine available to developing countries at the lowest possible cost.

The fact that a deal has already been done between Oxford University and AstraZeneca will boost hopes that its vaccine has a good chance at success.

But Mr Sharma urged the nation to remain cautiously hopeful as he said ultimately both projects could fail.

He told the daily Downing Street press conference: In total the Government has now committed a quarter of a billion pounds towards developing a vaccine in the UK.

Michael Gove today initially guaranteed the safety of returning teachers before then admitting that there will be some 'risk'

But there are no certainties. In spite of the tireless efforts of our scientists it is possible that we may never find a successful coronavirus vaccine.

Boris Johnson and Sir Mark Sedwill clash over lockdown exit plan Boris Johnson and the UK's top civil servant Sir Mark Sedwill clashed over who is responsible for rolling out the Government's lockdown exit strategy, it was claimed today. The Prime Minister and Sir Mark are said to have had a 'tense' standoff when the plans to ease restrictions were being discussed at a meeting last week. Mr Johnson apparently asked the room who was responsible for actually implementing the measures contained within the blueprint. He asked Sir Mark if it was him, but the head of the Civil Service replied it was up to the PM to make sure things happen. The claims came amid reports of growing splits between ministers and senior civil servants. Mandarins fear they are being lined as coronavirus 'fall guys' ahead of an inevitable public inquiry into the Government's handling of the crisis. Meanwhile, a plan to quarantine travellers returning to the UK has prompted a Cabinet split over who it should apply to with aides concerned it is rapidly becoming a 'sh**show'. Advertisement

Mr Sharma also revealed work is progressing on efforts to produce drugs which effectively treat coronavirus.

He said: 'Whilst there are currently no drugs in the world that have been clinically proven to treat coronavirus, the Government is working with our scientists and medical experts to identify promising candidates.

'This collaborative UK programme known as Accord aims to get an early indication of drug treatments' effectiveness in treating coronavirus.

'Today I can report that six drugs have now entered initial live clinical trials.

'If positive results are seen they will advance into larger scale trials.'

Mr Sharma's comments at the daily press conference came after his Cabinet colleague Michael Gove initially guaranteed teachers will be safe when schools reopen before swiftly backtracking to insist 'you can never eliminate risk'.

The Government is locked in a furious row with councils and teaching unions over its plans to begin the phased reopening of primary schools in England from June 1 as the coronavirus lockdown is eased.

Some teaching unions are blocking the move and have said they will only budge once they are persuaded it is totally safe for teachers and children to go back to the classroom.

But others have said they will recommend reopening after talks with Government experts.

Michael Gove reveals more than 17,000 contact tracers have now been recruited Michael Gove today revealed the Government has recruited more than 17,000 coronavirus contact tracers putting ministers on track to hit their 18,000 target. The staff will play a key role in efforts to prevent a second wave of the deadly disease as they are tasked with figuring out where people who test positive have been and who they may have come into contact with. Mr Gove's announcement came just days after his fellow Cabinet minister Brandon Lewis said the Government had only managed to recruit people for 1,500 of the roles. However, there are concerns about the long term future of the 'test, track and trace' programme after it was claimed staff are only being hired on initial three month contracts. Health experts believe such a scheme will need to be in place for as long as 18 months. Advertisement

Meanwhile, a number of local authorities have said they will not comply with Boris Johnson's lockdown strategy and will exercise caution when it comes to reopening schools.

Mr Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, was asked this morning during an appearance on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show if teachers should be safe when returning to work.

He replied: 'Yes, teachers will be safe in schools. The programme that has been outlined is a staged and careful return with children in reception, year one and year six of primary coming back to school we hope in the week beginning June 1.

'It is the case that some of the best leaders in current education have said that it is absolutely safe for children to return, absolutely safe for teachers and other staff to return as well.'

Asked if he could guarantee that teachers will be safe, he said: 'Yes. It is the case, as I say, I talked to the chief scientific adviser yesterday for the government Patrick Vallance and running through the figures, the R number, the rate of infection in the community overall, we are confident that children and teachers will be safe.'

However, when asked directly if he could guarantee that no returning teacher will catch coronavirus at school, Mr Gove said: 'The only way ever to ensure that you never catch coronavirus is to stay at home completely.

A new survey conducted by Opinium found more people now disapprove of the Government's handling of the crisis than approve for the first time since the outbreak started

Britons woke up bright and early to hit parks and beaches across the country before temperatures soar to 70F in another scorching weekend. Pictured: Sunday revellers enjoy Branksome beach, Dorset

Paths in Hampstead Heath, London, were bustling with people who took to the outdoors on the first weekend since lockdown measures were lifted

Although pubs are yet to reopen, many revellers found their way around the rules as they headed out in the sunshine today to enjoy drinks at beach bars in Brighton (pictured)

'There is always, always, always in any loosening of these restrictions a risk of people catching the coronavirus.'

He continued: 'The key thing is that we can make these workplaces safe. You can never eliminate risk but as we know, as we have heard, it is the case that it is extremely unlikely that any school is likely to be the source of a Covid outbreak and if for any reason there are risks then we can take steps to mitigate them.'

It came as the Government saw its approval rating take a sharp dip in the week after the Prime Minister set out his strategy for lifting lockdown measures.

A new Opinium survey showed that disapproval for the PM's response to the outbreak is now higher than approval for the very first time.

Some 39 per cent of the nation are supportive of the Government's handling of the crisis, down nine points on the 48 per cent recorded last week, while disapproval rose from 36 per cent to 42 per cent.

WHAT IS THE OXFORD VACCINE AND WHO CAN GET ONE? What type of vaccine is it? The vaccine is called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) from chimpanzees that has been genetically changed so it is impossible for it to grow in humans. The intellectual rights to its vaccine are owned by the University of Oxford and a spin-out company called Vaccitech. Clinical teams at the Oxford University's Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group began developing the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in January. It's a type of immunisation known as a recombinant viral vector vaccine. Researchers place genetic material from the coronavirus into another virus thats been modified. They will then inject the virus into a human, hoping to produce an immune response against SARS-CoV-2. This virus, weakened by genetic engineering, is a type of virus called an adenovirus, the same as those which cause common colds, that has been taken from chimpanzees. If the vaccines can successfully mimic the spikes inside a person's bloodstream, and stimulate the immune system to create special antibodies to attack it, this could train the body to destroy the real coronavirus if they get infected with it in future. It was developed so rapidly by Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology, and her team because they already had a base vaccine for similar coronaviruses. The team have gone through stages of vaccine development that usually take five years in just four months. However, Professor Gilbert said that none of the normal safety steps had been missed out. What stage of testing is it at? The Oxford vaccine trial started testing its ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine on humans on April 23. The Phase I clinical trial will study safety and efficacy in healthy volunteers aged 18 to 55 years, across five trial centres in Southern England. It has recruited 1,100 people, half of whom will receive the vaccine and the other half (the control group) receiving a widely available meningitis vaccine. This is technically known as phase two of a vaccine trial, where the scientists test the vaccine against a placebo and work out the correct dosage. The first phase, which is a safety run where a small number of people are given the dose to see how the body reacts, is being run at the same time. If this work is successful, it will move forward into studies to see if the vaccine works against the real virus spreading in the community. Normally phase three - the final stage of testing - involves hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people across multiple sites for a long period of time. So far 'several hundred' people have been vaccinated in the study, Professor Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at Oxford University told BBC Radio 4. Who has had it? A family who are taking part in the trial have revealed what it was like to get the vaccine. Mother-of-four Katie, 46, took part in the groundbreaking trial with her husband Tony, 53, and daughter Rhiannon Viney, 19. All three have not reported any reactions since having the jab. None of them know whether they have received the coronavirus vaccine or the placebo meningitis one. But time will tell if it will protect them from catching the virus from someone. A family from Oxford who are taking part in the first coronavirus vaccine trial have said it was their duty to take part Katie told The Express: 'I don't think any of us feels like we have done anything remarkable - we just wanted to do something to help, anything. I just thought of all the children at my school who are missing their friends and are desperate to return to some sort of normality.' She added: 'We didn't hesitate to participate. We have done our bit for Britain and we are proud.' Tony said: 'When you think that at any one time there are four billion people in lockdown around the world it is trials like this that could help.' Katie said she was not worried about any health risks from taking part in the trial because she believes the team have done everything they could to make it safe. She added: 'Lots of people are being very negative about it, but it is going to be safe, they are not going to take the risk with people's lives.' Will it be successful? Professor Gilbert has been vocal about her confidence in the vaccine. She acknowledged nobody can be 'completely certain' that it is possible to find a vaccine for Covid-19, but the prospects are 'very good'. In an interview with The Times before trials began, Professor Gilbert told the paper she is '80 per cent' confident of its success, 'based on other things that we have done with this type of vaccine'. University of Oxford scientists are confident they can get the jab for the incurable virus rolled out for millions to use by autumn. But Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific advisor to the Government, has said expectations for a vaccine need to be tempered. Writing in The Guardian ahead of the Oxford trials, Sir Patrick wrote: 'All new vaccines that come into development are long shots; only some end up being successful, and the whole process requires experimentation. This will take time, and we should be clear it is not a certainty.' The University of Oxford's experimental jab has shown to strengthen the immune system in six rhesus macaques without causing any side effects, it was revealed last week. Within 28 days of being vaccinated, all of the animals had COVID-19 antibodies - produced by the body to give it some immunity from the virus. Some had developed antibodies in two weeks. Researchers said the primates were able to fight off the virus before it penetrated deep into their lungs, where it can become deadly. They found a single vaccination dose was also effective in preventing damage to the lungs in the study on monkeys and mice. Stephen Evans, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the results were 'very definitely' good news. They have not been published in a scientific journal yet. What obstacles will the team face? Some obstacles are expected to emerge while searching for a vaccine. For example, if transmission levels of COVID-19 levels drop in the community, it could hamper the Oxford study. Professor Gilbert has said they may have to continue their trials in other countries where more of the virus is circulating in the community. In this case, it could be at least six months before researchers know if the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine works. If transmission remains high in the UK, the team could get data within a couple of months. Andrew Pollard, who is part of the Oxford team, said there may be hurdles when testing the vaccine on older people. 'For most vaccines the immune system in older adults, particularly those over 70, doesn't make such good responses,' he said. 'If we did see weaker responses in older adults we also have in our plan that we would look at giving additional doses in that age group to try and improve the immune response.' Professor Gilbert had previously said her team needed help manufacturing the jabs, warning the UK did not have the facilities to do it alone, before a deal was struck with AstraZeneca. How does it compare to other vaccines? According to the World Health Organisation, 118 COVID-19 vaccines are in development worldwide as of May 15.. But the UK now joins only the United States and China in beginning human trials. Eight vaccine candidates are now in preclinical trials. The other British vaccine contender was designed by Imperial College London. Volunteers for clinical trials will be recruited to start the study in June. Robin Shattock, a professor of mucosal infection, said the early volunteers would be given low doses of the vaccine to test its safety. Imperial's vaccine uses a different approach to that of Oxford. It will try to deliver genetic material (RNA) from the coronavirus which programs cells inside the patient's body to recreate the spike proteins. It will transport the RNA inside liquid droplets injected into the bloodstream. Advertisement

Computer code for Prof Lockdown's model which predicted 500,000 would die from Covid-19 and inspired Britain's 'Stay Home' plan is a 'mess which would get you fired in private industry' say data experts

BY VANESSA CHALMERS HEALTH REPORTER and LUKE MAY FOR MAILONLINE

Scientists have levelled a flurry of criticism against Professor Neil Ferguson's modelling which warned 500,000 people could die from coronavirus and prompted Britain to go into lockdown.

Modelling from Imperial College London epidemiologist Professor Ferguson, who stepped down from the government's Sage group at the start of May, has been described as 'totally unreliable' by other experts.

The coding that produced the sobering death figures was impossible to read, and therefore cast doubts on its strength, The Telegraph reported. It is also some 13 years old, it said.

When other scientists have tried to replicate the findings using the same model, they have repeatedly failed to do.

Prof Ferguson's model is understood to have single-handedly triggered a dramatic change in the Government's handling of the outbreak, as they moved away from herd immunity to a lockdown.

Competing scientists' research - whose models produced vastly different results - has been largely discarded, they claim.

Modelling behind Professor Neil Ferguson's claim that 500,000 Brits could die from Covid-19 has been criticised by scientists

David Richards, co-founder of British data technology company WANdisco said the model was a 'buggy mess that looks more like a bowl of angel hair pasta than a finely tuned piece of programming'.

He said: 'In our commercial reality we would fire anyone for developing code like this and any business that relied on it to produce software for sale would likely go bust.'

WHAT DID PROFESSOR FERGUSON'S WORK SAY? The scientific paper published by Professor Ferguson and his colleagues on the Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team was credited for persuading Boris Johnson's Government to ramp up their response to the coronavirus. The paper, released on March 17, and titled Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID19 mortality and healthcare demand, predicted that the Government's original plan to 'mitigate' the outbreak instead of trying to stop it could have led to a quarter of a million people dying. Using data from Italy and China, the scientists predicted how different Government measures would have different impacts on the outbreaks. If no action at all had been taken against the coronavirus it would have claimed 510,000 lives, the team's report said. Had the Government stuck with their strategy of trying to 'mitigate' the spread  allowing it to continue but attempting to slow it down  with limited measures such as home isolation for those with symptoms this number would be roughly halved to 260,000. If the strictest possible measures are introduced, the number of deaths over a two-year period will fall below 20,000, the scientists said. Other points in the Imperial College report, titled Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID19 mortality and healthcare demand, included: Lockdown measures could be brought back if the virus resurfaces after this epidemic is over

The coronavirus outbreak is worse than anything the world has seen since the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic

Dramatic measures to suppress an outbreak carry 'enormous social and economic costs which may themselves have significant impact on health and well-being'

Virus transmission happens evenly  one third of cases are caught in the home, one third at work or school, and one third elsewhere in the community

People are thought to be infectious from 12 hours before symptoms start, or from four days after catching the infection if someone doesn't get symptoms

Patients who do get symptoms are thought to be 50 per cent more infectious than those who don't

People are thought to develop at least short-term immunity after catching the virus, meaning they can't catch it again

Approximately 4.4 per cent of patients need hospital care. 30 per cent of those need intensive care, and 50 per cent of intensive care patients can be expected to die, according to data from China

The average length of a hospital stay for a coronavirus patient is 10 days  eight days for those who recover quickly; 16 days for those who need intensive care Advertisement

Today marks a week since Boris Johnson addressed the nation and changed England's coronavirus message from Stay Home to Stay Alert, with 34,636 deaths recorded by the Government.

The easing of measures comes almost two months after Britain was placed in lockdown, with government making the decision on, at least in part, the advice of Imperial College London and Prof Ferguson's model outlining the potential harm coronavirus could do to the country.

On March 17, just days before the country was placed into lockdown, Imperial College London published research titled urging a lockdown to be put in place to stop the virus spreading.

Researchers from the university warned 510,000 people could die from the virus if no action was taken.

Had the Government stuck with their strategy of trying to 'mitigate' the spread  allowing it to continue but attempting to slow it down with limited measures such as home isolation for those with symptoms - this number would be roughly halved to 260,000, the report said.

It showed that mitigation would not be insufficient to prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed by looking at bed capacity.

If the strictest possible measures are introduced  including school closures and mandatory home quarantine  the number of deaths over a two-year period will fall below 20,000, the scientists said.

As a result, the Government announced people should stop travelling, stop socialising and work from home.

But critics have today described the coding used by Imperial as 'totally unreliable'.

John Carmack, an American developer who helped refine the code before the paper was published online, said some parts of the code looked like they were machine translated from Fortran', an old coding language.

After growing pressure, the Imperial team released their code, which simulates homes, offices, schools and people movement, and sceptics were quick to point out it was 13 years old.

Furthermore, when analysing the validity of the staggering death estimates, scientists have claimed that it is almost impossible to reproduce the same results from the same data, using the same code as Imperial, The Telegraph reported.

University of Edinburgh researchers reportedly found bugs when running the model, getting different results when they used different machines, or even the same machines in some cases.

The team reported a 'bug' in the system which was fixed - but specialists in the field remain staggered at how inadequate it is.

Four experienced modellers previously noted the code is 'deeply riddled with bugs', has 'huge blocks of code  bad practice' and is 'quite possibly the worst production code I have ever seen'.

Weeks after the model's grim prediction, the University of Edinburgh's Professor Michael Thursfield criticised Professor Ferguson's record as 'patchy'.

He was referring to Professor Ferguson's predictions in the early 2000s that up to 136,000 people could die from mad cow disease.

The Imperial College teams modelling led to the culling of 6million livestock and was later criticised by epidemiological experts as severely flawed and a tragedy for rural Britain's economy.

Professor Ferguson stepped down from his role on Sage, the board of scientists advising the government through coronavirus pandemic, at the start of the month after it was revealed he had broken lockdown rules he helped to inspire. Antonia Staats (pictured) visited Professor Ferguson at his London flat while Britons were being told to stay home

The team also predicted 200million could die from bird flu and a further 65,000 from swine flu. The final death toll in each case was in the hundreds.

Dr Konstantin Boudnik, the VP of architecture at WANdisco, told The Telegraph: 'The facts from the early 2000s are just yet another confirmation that their modelling approach was flawed to the core.'

Professor Ferguson defended Imperials foot and mouth work, saying they were doing 'modelling in real time' with limited data. He added: 'I think the broad conclusions reached were still valid.'

The true death toll of COVID-19 has far exceeded what was predicted by Imperial under the total lockdown scenario (20,000 over two years).

The Government's total death toll currently stands at 34,466. Using data that collects death certificates, it is more in the region of 39,000.

The Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team came to their predictions with a number of mathematical calculations.

They looked at the most vulnerable people deemed to be 'at the greatest risk of death,' typically elderly people or those with serious underlying health conditions.

The model simulated transport links, population size, healthcare provisions and social networks to predict how the pandemic would spread.

Professor Ferguson and other Imperial College researchers predicted these measures would reduce demand on the healthcare system while protecting those who were most at risk:

Close schools and universities

Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should isolate at home for seven days

Anyone living with someone who has shown symptoms should quarantine for 14 days.

Social distancing: 'a broad policy that aims to reduce overall contracts that people make outside the household, school or workplace by three-quarters'

Speaking at the time of the paper publication, Professor Ferguson said: 'No country in the world this far has seen an epidemic that large [250,000 deaths], this is an early extrapolation of an early epidemic that was suppressed in China.

'But we have no reason to believe that's not what would happen if we frankly did nothing, and even if we did all we could to slow, not reverse, the spread, we'd still be looking at a very large number of deaths and the health system being overwhelmed.

'Initially when we came up with these kid of estimates they were viewed as what's called the reasonable worst case.

'But as information has been gathered in recent weeks, from particularly Italy but other countries, it has become increasingly clear that actually this is not the reasonable worst case  it is the most likely scenario.'

He added: 'It is likely such measures  most notably, large scale social distancing  will need to be in place for many months, perhaps until a vaccine becomes available.'

While there was overwhelming praise for the research for triggering a much-needed lockdown, criticism of Professor Ferguson's research was voiced at the time.

Professor John Ashton, a former regional director of public health for North West England, accused No 10 of relying on a little clique of researchers and failing to consult a wider pool of academics.

These guys are being regarded as demigods, he said in April.

Here we are talking about science but this research is being given a kind of religious status, like tablets of stone from the mountain.

When the COVID-19 model was made, it used the best data available at the time - from the outbreaks in China and Italy. Information has largely changed since then.

The model uses a string of assumptions, including that 0.9 per cent of those infected will die.

Research in Germany, the US, Sweden and Finland has since estimated the death toll to be much lower - between 0.19 and 0.79 per cent.

Researchers from Australia settled on an overall estimate of 0.75 per cent after collecting information from 13 global studies.

The figure from the University of Wollongong and James Cook University chimes with data emerging from New York, where random antibody testing last month suggested a quarter of the city of eight million people had been infected with the illness, meaning the 16,000 fatalities equaled a death rate of 0.79.

Other assumptions made by the Imperial team included that children are able to spread infection with equivalent efficiency to adults, although little data exists in this area.

Professor Carl Heneghan and Dr Tom Jefferson at the University of Oxfords Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine questioned the lockdown policy because the virus may already be more widespread than commonly thought.

Modelling by Oxfords Evolutionary Ecology of Infectious Disease group indicates that COVID-19 reached the UK by mid-January at the latest.

The team's research presents a very different view of the epidemic to the modelling at Imperial College London.

It's findings merely a week after Imperial's suggested the coronavirus had already infected far more people in the UK than scientists had previously estimated  perhaps as much as half the population.

The Oxford results would mean the country had already acquired strong herd immunity because COVID-19 had spread for one or two months before a first case was diagnosed.

The herd immunity strategy was abandoned by Government ministers and reversed to a full-scale lockdown due to the model presented by Imperial.

'I am surprised that there has been such unqualified acceptance of the Imperial model,' said Sunetra Gupta, professor of theoretical epidemiology, who led the Oxford study, told the Financial Times.

Since the Oxford study, however, Government-led research has indicated that no-where near half the population have been infected.

Sir Patrick Vallance, Number 10's chief scientific adviser, revealed recently that around four per cent of Britain and 10 per cent of London has developed antibodies against COVID-19.

The estimate - based on data from antibody testing across the home nations carried out a fortnight ago - means only around 2.64million Brits have had the infection.

Meanwhile, the current level of infection is estimated to be about 0.27 per cent.

The findings came from the first round of random public testing of households by the Office for National Statistics. A total of 33 positive cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed out of a sample of 10,705 people.

England's top statisticians estimate that 0.27 per cent of the population has been infected with COVID-19 on any given day over the past fortnight - equal to around 148,000 people and certainly between 94,000 and 222,000

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, said at Thursday's Downing Street briefing that the data represented 'really quite a low level of infection' in the community.

Professor Ferguson stepped down from his role on Sage, the board of scientists advising the government through coronavirus pandemic, at the start of the month after it was revealed he had broken lockdown rules he helped to inspire.

It was revealed Professor Ferguson had invited his lover Antonia Staats to his London flat, while the British public was being told to stay home.

A spokesman from the university's Covid-19 response team said: 'The UK government has never relied on a single disease model to inform decision-making.

'As has been repeatedly stated, decision-making around lockdown was based on a consensus view of the scientific evidence, including several modelling studies by different academic groups.

'Multiple groups using different models concluded that the pandemic would overwhelm the NHS and cause unacceptably high mortality in the absence of extreme social distancing measures.

'Within the Imperial research team we use several models of differing levels of complexity, all of which produce consistent results. We are working with a number of legitimate academic groups and technology companies to develop, test and further document the simulation code referred to.

'However, we reject the partisan reviews of a few clearly ideologically motivated commentators.

'Epidemiology is a not a branch of computer science and the conclusions around lockdown rely not on any mathematical model but on the scientific consensus that COVID-19 is a highly transmissible virus with an infection fatality ratio exceeding 0.5% in the UK.'
This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab.
The Congress on Sunday accused the government of misleading people with its "trickery, fakery, quackery" and said the economic measures announced by the Centre amounted to only 1.6 per cent of India's GDP, i.e. worth Rs 3.22 lakh crore instead of Rs 20 lakh crore as claimed by the Prime Minister.

Congress' senior spokesperson Anand Sharma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must "walk the talk" and announce the required measures by giving money in the hands of the poor and small and medium enterprises to help reboot the economy.

He noted that there was a difference between providing stimulus to the economy and merely giving loans and credit to people.

Sharma, a former union minister, challenged the finance minister for a debate on the economic package while raising questions about the announcements made by the prime minister.

"The government's economic package is only of Rs 3.22 lakh crore and is only 1.6 per cent of India's GDP and is not worth Rs 20 lakh crore as announced by the prime minister," Sharma said while addressing a press conference through video conferencing.

"I am questioning the Finance Minister, disputing the announcement of Prime Minister and challenging the government to disprove me on the numbers given by me and am ready for a debate with the finance minister," he said.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram said the Additional Borrowing and Additional Expenditure (over and above the Expenditure Budget of Rs 30,42,230 crore) will be the true measure of the fiscal stimulus.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted, "20LakhCrorePackage of PM-FM is Anti-Poor, Anti-Farmer, Anti-Labour, Anti-Shopkeepers, Anti-Salaried Class, Anti-MSMEs & Anti-India. India gets Trickery, Fakery, Quackery. No wonder, 20LakhCrore=0000000000000 (Only Thirteen Zeros)."



Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also took to Twitter saying, "Fiscal cost of the grand '10 pc of GDP' package is ONLY approx. 1 pc of GDP. Modi govt obstinately focuses on medium-term supply side measures while ignoring: Massive demand slump. Immediate relief for COVID19 Crisis. Maximum Lies, Minimum Stimulus."



Sharma said the Congress wants to convey that there is a huge difference between, what is wage support, income support, financial support and stimulus to the economy as compared to the borrowing, credit and additional loan.

The former union minister said the debt has to be monetized with any deficit and the government should be prepared so that adequate provisions are made and help reaches the poor as well as adequate emergency transfer of funds is made to the states.

He noted that to tell the states that the Centre is increasing the time limit of their borrowing from 14 days to 21 days is no support to the states, adding that there should be an actual transfer of emergency funds as per the states' requirements which has not been made.

The Congress leader also questioned the government on decisions taken to open up sensitive sectors, including the nuclear sector, to private players and entities because their partners would be foreigners.

"Our sensitive nuclear data, India's data concerning space, the data which is available with the ISRO, is highly classified data," Sharma said.

The opposition leader said amid the coronavirus pandemic, the National Disaster Management Act has not empowered the government to embark upon a "grand clearance sale" of India's national assets. "These issues will have to be discussed, revisited and corrected."



He raised concerns over Parliament not been convened and government not allowing meetings of Parliamentary committees through online video meetings, as is happening in other countries.

"We would like to remind the Government of India, irrespective of the lockdown, with a main parliamentary democracy, during the lockdown period the Government does not have any authorization to take an arbitrary decision. There are national consensuses and Parliamentary approval would be required. Other parliaments are meeting. Parliamentary committees are meeting, whether in America, it is the US House Committee, Senate Committee, which is approving all the packages," he said.

Sharma said in the UK, the Prime Minister and other ministers are present in parliamentary meetings and other shadow organs and all other members are connected during the emergency situation.

So is the case in 23 countries as their parliaments have met through virtual sessions and they continued to meet, he said.

"What is happening in India? We are the largest democracy. We are taking ordinance route arbitrarily. These issues that have far reaching implications to India's national security are involved, also what we have as our national assets, those have been assiduously built since independence, all our PSUs, which this Government now threatens through disinvestment, were to sell off," he alleged.

The Congress leader further said the Finance Minister should answer questions and not ask questions instead. He also demanded that the government provide answers to the country on the plight of migrants forced to walk on roads due to lack of planning on the part of the central government.

Saying that the country expects some "gravitas" from the finance minister, Sharma also asked the government to apologise to the poor citizens of the country who have been abandoned and their fundamental rights and legal rights violated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Israel's parliament swore in a new unity government on Sunday led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former rival Benny Gantz, ending the longest political crisis in the nation's history. After more than 500 days without a stable government and three inconclusive elections, lawmakers in the 120-seat parliament approved a three-year coalition, with 73 voting for and 46 against. One member was absent. The new government was set to confront serious crises in its first weeks, including the economic devastation wrought by the coronavirus and a looming battle over Israel's possible annexation of large parts of the occupied West Bank. Addressing the parliament, or Knesset, before the vote, Netanyahu said his incoming government should apply Israeli sovereignty over Jewish West Bank settlements. "It's time to apply the Israeli law and write another glorious chapter in the history of Zionism," Netanyahu said. Such a move is seen as likely to cause international uproar and inflame tensions in the West Bank, home to nearly three million Palestinians and some 400,000 Israelis living in settlements considered illegal under international law. Netanyahu told the chamber that annexation "won't distance us from peace, it will bring us closer". The coalition government was agreed last month between veteran right-wing leader Netanyahu and the centrist Gantz, a former army chief. Plans had been set for an inauguration last Thursday, but Netanyahu asked for three more days to decide on cabinet assignments among his Likud party loyalists. - West Bank annexations? - Under the coalition deal, Netanyahu will serve as prime minister for the coming 18 months -- a major victory for a leader due to stand trial in a week on corruption charges, which he denies. Gantz will be alternate prime minister, a new position in Israeli governance, for the first half of the deal. He and Netanyahu will swap roles on November 17, 2021. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Israel on its new government, saying he hoped for a continued "policy of strengthening friendly ties and mutually beneficial cooperation" between the countries. US top diplomat Mike Pompeo welcomed the swearing-in announcement in a tweet. "We are extremely fortunate to have such strong and experienced partners in Jerusalem," he said. The Netanyahu-Gantz deal says the government can from July 1 initiate moves to implement US President Donald Trump's controversial peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The plan, rejected by the Palestinians, gives the green light from Washington for Israel to annex Jewish settlements and other territory in the West Bank. Some experts warn that Jordan may back away from its historic 1994 peace deal with Israel if the Jewish state tries to annex the strategically crucial Jordan Valley border region. Speaking to German magazine Der Spiegel days ago, Jordan's King Abdullah II said: "If Israel really annexes the West Bank in July, it would lead to a massive conflict with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan." - 'Bloated and wasteful' - The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Friday that the bloc would use "all our diplomatic capacities" to try to dissuade Israel's incoming government from going ahead with annexations. Gantz and incoming Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi are both known to have reservations about annexation and the international backlash. Gantz did not mention the issue in his Knesset speech on Sunday. He addressed criticism of his decision to join forces with Netanyahu, which split his Blue and White coalition, arguing that Israel needed unity after a year of bitter division. "My friends and I chose unity to defend Israeli citizens, not just from the challenges from outside our borders but also from the hatred eating away at us from within and harming our resilience," he said. The 35th government since Israel's creation in 1948 includes representatives from across the political spectrum, with a record 34 to 36 cabinet seats. Cabinet posts have been assigned to the left-wing Labour party, Blue and White, Likud and leaders from conservative ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties. The large cabinet and additional funds for the new position of alternate prime minister have prompted criticism as Israel seeks to address the economic fallout from coronavirus, which has infected more than 16,500 Israelis and caused more than 260 deaths, according to official figures. Unemployment has soared from 3.4 percent before the crisis to 27 percent. New opposition leader Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid party, an ex-Blue and White head who broke with Gantz over his decision to seek an alliance with Netanyahu, condemned the government as "the most expensive in the history of Israel". "Israelis deserve better," he told the Knesset on Sunday. A picture provided by the Israeli Knesset shows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking ahead of the swearing-in of a unity government Palestinian protestor confront Israeli forces during a demonstration against Israeli settlements on May 15 The coalition government was agreed last month between veteran right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and his centrist rival-turned-ally Benny Gantz, a former army chief A Palestinian man takes part in a demonstration in the West Bank on May 16 A woman wearing a face mask due to the coronavirus pandemic stands with a protest sign outside parliament on May 14 during a rally against the incoming Israeli government
At least 1,413 migrants arrived to UK since January, compared to 1,850 in 2019

At least 331 migrants have been caught in the English Channel trying to get into Britain in the last 10 days, including 35 today.

Yesterday Border Force officers have intercepted six boats carrying 90 migrants, including three toddlers and a baby, in just one day after 14 migrants reached Dover, Kent, on Friday.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, at least 227 migrants made it to the UK, including a record of 145 migrants on VE Day.

This included 51 people packed on board a single inflatable boat.

Boats arrived in Dover yesterday and in the first incident a Border Force coastal patrol vessel intercepted a boat which was carrying a group of 10 males who presented themselves as Sudanese and Libyan.

A second boat with 12 men on board who said they were Syrian and Iranian was then picked up.

Seven boats carrying migrants made it to the UK yesterday after leaving from Calais, France. Six boats made it into Dover (one pictured) and one other boat made it to Winchelsea Beach, East Sussex

The number of migrants who have made it to the UK since the coronavirus lockdown began was last recorded to be at more than 850

In the third incident a boat with 14 males who presented themselves as Syrian, Iranian, Senegalese, Iraqi and Yemeni was intercepted.

A fourth vessel carrying a group of 21 males and four females who presented themselves as Iraqi and Iranian.

And lastly a Border Force coastal patrol vessel intercepted a boat which was carrying a group of 11 males and three females who presented themselves as Eritrean, Iranian and Afghan.

The toddlers were seen being escorted from the dinghies, wearing blankets wrapped around their shoulders.

A baby was also carried in a blanket from the Border Force dinghy by officials, who wore face masks and gloves. Border Force vessels Searcher and Hunter were involved.

Officials carry a baby from the Border Force dinghy wearing face masks and gloves after boats were intercepted in the English Channel

All individuals were brought to Dover and, in line with established processes, are being assessed to establish whether there are any medical requirements.

The cases of all those found will be dealt with in line with the immigration rules, including detention where appropriate.

A surge in migrant crossings took place over the first two days of last week's bank holiday weekend, with at least 227 making it to the UK.

The Home Office confirmed on May 9 that a record 145 migrants were brought to Dover on VE Day after making the journey across the channel.

At least 1,413 migrants have made it to the UK since January - closing in on the 1,850 who arrived throughout the whole of 2019.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'Border Force is currently dealing with a number of ongoing small boat incident off the Kent coast.'

Migrants, including a baby and three toddlers, were intercepted in the Channel by Border Force Officials in dinghies in Dover yesterday. Pictured, the toddlers being taken from dinghies

Asylum seekers and illegal migrants will face an automatic two week quarantine on entering the UK as part of the government's plan to tackle coronavirus

Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp said: 'We are all working night and day to dismantle and arrest the criminal gangs who trade in people smuggling.

'This week, the Home Secretary spoke to her French Counterpart Interior Minister, Christophe Castaner who reaffirmed the commitment to carry out more returns at sea to stop these illegal crossings.

'This illegal and criminal activity is already subject to heavy law enforcement activity by Border Force, the National Crime Agency, Immigration Enforcement and French law enforcement and we will continue to take whatever action is necessary to stop this criminal trade, including changes to the law.

'Already over 1,100 migrants were arrested in France in the first quarter of this year and in 2019 Immigration Enforcement made 418 arrests, leading to 203 convictions for a total of 437 years.

'But the recent increase in crossings is totally unacceptable which is why we are stepping up action to stop the crossings, going after the criminals perpetrating these heinous crimes and prosecuting them for their criminal activity.'

More than 1,200 migrants are believed to have been intercepted while making the perilous crossing and brought to Dover since the start of the year

A man thought to be a migrant is processed by Border Force officers wearing face masks on May 9, pictured, after being brought to shore after crossing the English Channel

Clare Moseley founder of migrant charity Care4Calais said: 'It's little wonder people living in France's refugee camps are desperate to make this dangerous crossing, given the awful conditions they face there.

'Coronavirus has made a bad situation life-threateningly worse. People are squeezed into tiny areas, they can't social distance, and the support they relied on for survival is drastically reduced.

The Home Office confirmed a record 145 migrants were brought to Dover on VE day, including 51 people packed on board a single inflatable boat

'The French travel ban makes it impossible for them to leave, but still they face forced sometimes violent evictions almost every day.

'These people are fleeing terrifying situations in some of the most dangerous parts of the world. They aim for the UK because they want to be safe. Many have family or other connections, and others know our language and want to integrate and contribute.

'Now more than ever, we need to give them a safe and humane way to have their requests for asylum fairly heard, that's the way to end chaotic and dangerous channel crossings once and for all.'

Care4Calais has launched an emergency appeal to provide food aid to people living in France's refugee camps.

Asylum seekers and illegal migrants will face an automatic two week quarantine on entering the UK as part of the government's plan to tackle coronavirus, the MailOnline revealed earlier this week.

Home Office chiefs say Boris Johnson's fortnight quarantine rule for travellers entering Britain will extend to those caught trying to cross the country's borders illegally.

Those suspected of being involved in criminal activity or ineligible for asylum will be isolated in special areas within detention centres, while legitimate asylum seekers will be isolated in specialised accommodation, the Home Office has confirmed.

None of the migrants intercepted in the Channel and brought to Britain this year have been tested for coronavirus, the MailOnline previously revealed.
The Odisha government on Sunday revised the COVID-19 death toll in the state from five to four, saying one person who died the previous day tested negative to the highly infectious virus.

The state reported 91 new cases taking the total number of COVID-19 cases to 828. As many as 24 people have recovered from the disease, an official in the health and family welfare department said.

The department, in its official website, earlier in the day mentioned, Very sorry to inform that 2 Covid patient in Ganjam passed away. It, however, revised the death figure later.

The second death from Ganjam district on Saturday was a suspected COVID-19 case. The test report received now is negative, the department said in its latest Twitter post.

Hence, the total number of coronavirus deaths of Odisha stands at four, the health department tweeted.

The first two COVID-19 death cases were reported from Bhubaneswar and the third case had come from Ganjam.

Now, according to the revised statement, the fourth Case had also come from Ganjam.

This is the second instance when the state government has refused to recognise the death as a COVID-19 fatality.

Earlier on April 21, the health department had refused to recognise the death of a 70-year-old man from West Bengal as a case of COVID-19 fatality in Odisha.

The government had claimed that the man had recovered from COVID-19 and cause of his death was cancer. The man from Midnapore in West Bengal was brought to Bhubaneswar in an ambulance and admitted to a private hospital where he tested positive for novel coronavirus in April.

Since the man had recovered from the highly infectious disease by testing negative twice, his demise will not be considered as COVID-19 death, state government's COVID-19 spokesperson Subroto Bagchi had told reporters.

Meanwhile, the state reported 91 fresh COVID-19 cases. Of the 91 cases, 87 were from quarantine centres and four others comprised one contact case, a sarpanch and two others.

Sources said the sarpanch (village head) was the person who was looking after the temporary medical centre where returnees from other states are quarantined.

The new cases were reported from Bhadrak (28), followed by Balasore-17, Ganjam -15, Cuttack-12, Puri-7, Keonjhar-4, Khurda-3, Bolangir-2 and one each from Kendrapara, Sundergarg and Sambalpur.

With Sambalpur reporting its first case, the number of districts so far reported for COVID-19 cases increased to 22 out of the total 30 districts.

As many as 24 persons recovered from the disease on the day taking the total number of cured cases to 220. While 19 people from Ganjam got cured of COVID-19, three persons belonged to Jajpur and two other from Balasore.

As many as 5,083 samples were examined for COVID-19 on Saturday. The total number of samples tested so far in Odisha stands at 91,223.

Meanwhile, the department said IISER, Berhampur has been accorded necessary approval by AIIMS, Bhubaneswar for conducting COVID-19 testing. Of the state's total 828 positive cases, 604 cases are active, while 220 people have recovered and four are dead.

The highest 292 cases are from Ganjam district, followed by 121 in Jajpur, 119 from Balasore, 74 from Bhadrak, 59 from Khurda, 27 each from Sundergarh and Kendrapara, 35 from Puri, 22 from Cuttack, 15 from Angul, 11 from Mayurbhanj, eight from Keonjhar, six from Nayagarh, five from Jagatsinhpur, four each from Boudh and Bolangir, two each from Kalahandi, Jharsuguda and Deogarh, and one each from Sambalpur, Koraput and Dhenkanal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday extended an assurance to all migrant workers stuck in Delhi that his government was fully committed to their care whether they desired to stay back in the capital or leave for their home states.

Kejriwal said the government was arranging for as many special Shramik trains to ferry them to their homes as may be required for the purpose.

The migrant labourers living in Delhi are our responsibility. We will take full care of them if they want to stay back and if they want to return to their villages, then trains are being arranged to transport them. Under no circumstance will they be left on their own, the CM tweeted highlighting another tweet by his deputy Manish Sisodia, who noted that approximately 47,000 migrant labourers from the national capital had been sent home in special Shramik specials as of Sunday.

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Delhi houses hundreds of thousands of migrant labourers, who had come out on the streets after losing their livelihoods post the imposition of a nationwide lockdown on March 25. They had to be put up in special relief camps with arrangement for food and medicines till the union government decided to allow movement of the migrant workforce. However, several desperate migrant workers can still be seen hitchhiking rides to reach home, while several others have lost their lives in both rail and road accidents while trying to cover massive distances on foot.

The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19

Kejriwal tweeted a notice issued by the Delhi government directing all concerned authorities including the Delhi Police to ensure that migrant workers are not allowed to walk along highways and railway tracks in an attempt to cover the long-distance home on foot or by unauthorised transport. The letter says the workers have to be mandatorily put up in relief centres while the arrangement is made to transport them through Shramik special train services or state-organized busses.

Delhi government is running several such camps to provide shelter and food to the poor.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has lauded President Cyril Ramaphosa as a consultative leader in the country's ongoing battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the funeral of Dr Clarence Mini in Fourways on Sunday, Mkhize told mourners that Ramaphosa had been leading from the front during the crisis and was always ready to listen.

"He wants to know the scientific basis of this issue. There are people concerned about whether there is science behind the decisions we are taking - there can only be one thing. There can only be science about it because we work with a whole group of medical experts who have various views, but at the end of the day we remain confident that the approaches we have taken are the best," Mkhize said.

The minister's remarks come after experts advising the government voiced criticism over the implementation of certain lockdown regulations and the phased approach to easing the restrictions.

New24 reported on Saturday that Dr Glenda Gray, the head of the South African Medical Research Council and chairperson of the MAC (ministerial advisory committee) subcommittee on research, had criticised the phased lifting of the lockdown as "unscientific".

She said that certain regulations, such as restrictions on the sale of some clothing items, were "nonsensical" and not based on evidence.

Her comment prompted a swift backlash.

On Sunday, Mkhize said that, if there was any message to be taken from the death of Mini, it was that the people of South Africa must work together, unite, and try to hold each other's hands to see the outbreak through.

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Mini, who was affectionately nicknamed Bizzah, was the chairperson of the Council of Medical Schemes (CMS). He died in Johannesburg last week after being hospitalised for more than a month with Covid-19-related complications.

"This infection has really changed the country; it has really changed the world.

"Bizzah's message is that we need to take this seriously. We need to accept that anyone of us can get it and will get it; we need to accept it and that the whole world is going through a difficult challenge," Mkhize told mourners.

Patriot and a revolutionary

The minister, who met Mini as young doctor in Harare, Zimbabwe, described him as a patriot who really loved South Africa.

"We are sending you to all our heroes - you've also been a hero. You've been a revolutionary, a patriot and a people's doctor," Mkhize concluded.

Mini is survived by his wife, Nancy, and children, Yandi and Nomhle.

Source: News24
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 10:52:53|Editor: huaxia

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"BRI will emerge stronger out of the crisis. It is via such a massive integration mechanism and investments platform that the world economy can be relaunched," said George Tzogopoulos, an expert on Chinese affairs with the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Israel's Bar Ilan University.

by Keren Setton, Chen Wenxian

JERUSALEM, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Israeli experts have applauded the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for its role in pushing forward world economic development amid challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the world economy is gradually recovering after weeks of lockdown due to COVID-19, the BRI has also regained its vitality in economic cooperation between China and its BRI partners.

"It is vital and it will continue despite the ongoing pandemic. China's policies are based on continuity and this is also the case for the BRI," said George Tzogopoulos, an expert on Chinese affairs with the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Israel's Bar Ilan University, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

He believes that China will continue to implement the vision.

Israel, known as a "start-up nation," is a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and also a major country along the Belt and Road.

With the development of the BRI, an increasing number of Chinese companies have joined hands with Israeli partners, leading to the rise of mutual investment between the two nations and the improvement of infrastructure in Israel.

"China has the best infrastructure system in the world," Yuri Pines, a professor with the Asian Studies Department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told Xinhua.

"Many of the countries within the BRI do need infrastructure projects and many of them will turn to China sooner or later," Pines added.

An explosion-proof light rail train undergoes a test in CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd. in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, July 25, 2019. The train, manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd., will be used for the red line of the light rail system in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. (Xinhua/Wang Haofei)

Since the establishment of the innovative comprehensive partnership between China and Israel in March 2017, economic and trade cooperation between both sides has been augmenting.

At present, China has become Israel's second largest trade partner in the world, and the huge potential in the Chinese market has greatly stimulated the enthusiasm of Israeli businesses to seek cooperation.

As many countries affected by the COVID-19 economic fallout are hoping to get back to normal as soon as possible, China is strengthening collaboration with others through the BRI mechanism to combat the pandemic and resume economic growth.

Despite the shockwaves caused by the pandemic, some infrastructure projects being built by Chinese companies in Israel are steadily progressing, such as the Red Line of Tel Aviv Light Rail, so as to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Israeli medical experts attend a video meeting on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 with Chinese medical experts in Wuhan, in the central Israeli city of Ashdod on March 23, 2020. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

"The Chinese system is not a system of radical changes but it is a system of adaptability. BRI can be adapted to different circumstances and different conditions," Pines said.

Additionally, the BRI is also about strengthening digital connectivity and health governance, Tzogopoulos said.

China's leadership in the application of artificial intelligence in digital health and the ability to supply such technologies at affordable prices could be important and helpful for other countries to tackle COVID-19, he said.

"BRI will emerge stronger out of the crisis. It is via such a massive integration mechanism and investments platform that the world economy can be relaunched," Tzogopoulos said. 
WALWORTH  Big Foots William Russell Volmar III is on the verge of receiving one of the most prestigious academic titles a high school student can earn.

The senior is a semifinalist for the U.S. Presidential Scholar Program, an award that is annually given to no more than 161 students nationwide.

Volmars teachers and the schools principal praise him for his educational accolades, and his extensive involvement in extracurricular activities.

Will has perseverance like Ive never seen in a kid before. Will just never ever gives up, Big Foot teacher Nicole Raskin said. He always wants to do the best he can possibly do.

This year, more than 5,600 students applied for the scholar program, and in Wisconsin only 10 students advanced to the semifinals.

Volmar said he is grateful to have been chosen as a semifinalist, and he is eager to hear the results in late May or June.

Im very fortunate for the opportunity and glad to be nominated, he said.

In eighth grade, Volmar tested out of his grade-level classes, landing him in advanced courses throughout high school. During his tenure at Big Foot, Volmar enrolled in college courses at Beloit Junior College and George Williams College.

Big Foot principal Dan Dowden said no Big Foot student in recent memory, if ever, has been selected as a presidential scholar.

Weve challenged him as much as we can and weve sent him in the direction to be challenged at an even higher level, he said.

With Volmar taking advantage of the enrichment programs at Big Foot, Dowden said Volmars story demonstrates that students can be educated at the highest levels if they are willing to work for it.

Volmar is a member of the National Honors Society, and he has served as president for both the Student Council and Students for Good Choices Club.

Raskin said Volmar is the only student in recent memory to be elected student council president for two consecutive years. Volmar is also classically trained in piano and ballet.

The road to success for Volmar has not always been an easy one. In an interview, Volmar described a troubled home life, which eventually forced him to move out his parents home. He moved into a friends home to find stability.

Volmar credits the teachers, staff and his peers at Big Foot for helping him through the tumultuous time.

It was nice to have the support from Big Foot, the teachers and students that I was lacking at home, he said.

Volmar believes his drive for success originated in middle school. At that time, when his home life was challenging, he focused on music and academics.

My academics, my extracurricular, my music, was mine and I could control it, he said.

Volmar anticipates attending the University of Wisconsin Madison, where he has a full-ride scholarship, in the fall. He plans on majoring in music education and minoring in a foreign language. The universitys music school has also offered him $20,000 over four years to finance books, school supplies and other college expenses.

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The original Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the ensuing enhancements are among the radical measures by the federal government of Canada. CERB aims to provide economic support to Canadians affected by COVID-19.

According to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the number of applications has reached 11 million. The CRA has paid out almost $30 billion so far. Eligible Canadians are receiving $2,000 monthly for up to four months.

But as more people feel the financial fallout from the pandemic, many groups are clamouring to make CERB a universal basic income. 50 senate members sent letter requests to the prime minister, deputy prime ministers, and finance minister.

The call is for government leaders to consider further evolution of the CERB, so there could be an implementation of a minimum basic income.

Burning issue

Transforming CERB into a universal basic income is now a burning issue. Amid criticisms, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is rejecting the proposal. He argues that the temporary boost is for the millions who need financial help. He adds that other Canadians do not need help.

The proponents countered by saying there should be no marginalized Canadians. If CERB is a universal benefit, any Canadian in financial distress due to the coronavirus will qualify.

Trudeau is aware that the government-assistance programs are not reaching everyone who needs help. However, he maintains that the situation is complicated. While a universal basic income would ensure greater economic and social equity, the Canadian government is not ready to embrace the idea.

Resilient industry in the pandemic

The aging population in Canada is most vulnerable to COVID-19, including all others with mobility problems. But one enterprise that is showing resiliency is Savaria (TSX:SIS). Mobility product needs are unchanging, and this $575.33 million company will ensure it will meet those needs.

Savaria is one of the global leaders in the accessibility industry. In 2019, the company reported $374 million in revenue, which is a 30.9% growth from 2018. Adjusted net earnings came out to $26.8 million, or a 37.4% improvement from the previous year.

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The company will be presenting its first-quarter 2020 financial results on May 13, 2020. Savarias president and CEO, Marcel Bourassa, know that COVID-19 will affect the business somehow. Still, he sees organic growth to continue in 2020 and the coming years.

From an investment standpoint, you can include Savaria in your watch list. As of May 8, 2020, the stock price is $11.37, while the dividend yield is 4.02%. You have a growth stock in the making.

Future CERB review

There are merits as well as drawbacks in the proposal to make CERB a universal basic income. Expect the debate to be intense, as the push to make the impermanent taxable benefit permanent intensifies.

Once the pandemic is over, the government might find the time to review CERB and put in more changes. There was a basic income pilot introduced in 2017 that ended prematurely. But if CERB becomes universal today, it should be free from exploitation and not encourage dependence, sloth, and avarice among Canadians.

The post $2,000/Month CRA CERB: Will it Become Universal Basic Income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Christopher Liew has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Savaria.

The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020
The Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) has said it is currently reviewing the USD 155 billion target for Indian electronics and software exports from India for 2020-21, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

ESC, which has been mandated to promote India's exports of electronics, telecom, computer software and IT-enabled services, also expressed optimism of a flat or positive growth, a statement said.

"Keeping in mind the demand and supply disruptions caused by COVID-19 both in India and in the main export markets, uncertainty related to the impact of the virus and how long the virus will be with us, we are carefully looking at the target set to reflect ground-level situation," ESC Chairman Sandeep Narula said.

He added that riding on the back of strength of India and support from the government, "there may not be much downside, rather could see flat or a positive growth".

Although the pandemic will have an adverse impact on India's ICT exports in the short run, the sector is expected not only to make up for the losses but also grow in the long run due to the possible uptrend in investment by those global companies considering moving out of China, Narula said.

Narula, who has recently taken over as chairman of the 33-year old organisation, welcomed the government's Rs 20-lakh crore financial package, as well as the focus on the MSME sector.

He said the small and mid-sized companies in the ICT sector would benefit from the booster package.

Narula noted that India's export of software may be under strain in the short run, particularly affecting small and medium enterprises mainly due to disruptions in airline, hospitality, banking and other related sectors in the US and Europe.

He said these are traditionally strong software markets for Indian companies and many Indian companies have ongoing contracts with the overseas companies belonging to this sector.

While ICT companies have been able to function by asking the employees to work from home that has helped meet some of the obligations, the demand may drop going ahead, resulting in short-term losses, he said.

Once these segments are back on track, the Indian software sector will be in a position to cater to their business needs, he added.

Narula said the decision of some of the state governments to proactively reform labour laws for new units to be set up has the potential to attract a large number of multinational corporations looking for relocation from China.

"Our knowledge is that many technology and electronics majors are seriously considering shifting to India driven by commitment of the union government to make India an attractive investment destination," he added.

He further said the policy framework has to be fine tuned to promote backward integration as currently, companies are migrating from CKDs (completely knocked down) to SKDs (semi-knocked down) assemblers.

"Promoting backward integration will help us to move in the value chain and in creating a large number of employment, besides accelerating exports," he added.

Narula said India can emerge as an important centre for IoT (internet of things) development hub by taking advantage of its inherent strengths in the software sector.

With the IoT global market estimated to grow to about USD 800 billion by 2025, India is poised to rapidly grow its export. ESC has already commissioned a study to assess the potential of IoT solutions in export markets.

"ESC will be playing a very active role by providing various online and offline platforms like IoT show to make India a top player in the segment, like it has played in the software sector," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Investing in stocks inevitably means buying into some companies that perform poorly. But the last three years have been particularly tough on longer term Dagestan Energy Supply Company, Public Joint-Stock Company (MCX:DASB) shareholders. Unfortunately, they have held through a 51% decline in the share price in that time. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 15% in the last three months. Of course, this share price action may well have been influenced by the 18% decline in the broader market, throughout the period.

Check out our latest analysis for Dagestan Energy Supply Company

Dagestan Energy Supply Company isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

In the last three years, Dagestan Energy Supply Company saw its revenue grow by 8.0% per year, compound. That's a pretty good rate of top-line growth. So some shareholders would be frustrated with the compound loss of 21% per year. To be frank we're surprised to see revenue growth and share price growth diverge so strongly. So this is one stock that might be worth investigating further, or even adding to your watchlist.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

MISX:DASB Income Statement May 17th 2020

This free interactive report on Dagestan Energy Supply Company's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 5.0% in the last year, Dagestan Energy Supply Company shareholders lost 8.7%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 4.2% 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 Dagestan Energy Supply Company better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 5 warning signs for Dagestan Energy Supply Company (3 are a bit unpleasant!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

Story continues

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on RU 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.
KAMPALA  President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday, May 16, 2020 directed that only truck drivers with negative test results will be allowed to enter Uganda.

This was revealed by Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the minister of Health.

According to Dr Aceng, the Ministry of Health met representatives of the Truck Owners and National Logistics Platform and resolved to mobilize, counsel and test all truck drivers from Uganda.

We will adopt a Truck Driver Journey Management System using a mobile application to monitor truck drivers on transit.



The above actions will start with immediate effect. These among other strategies are aimed at minimizing evident risks for spread is COVID19 amongst Ugandans, she said.

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Uganda on Saturday reached 226 after more 24 truck drivers tested positive.

Several Ugandans have been blaming the government for not devising means to control the truck drivers

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ANN ARBOR, MI  Fredda Clisham had a motto in the last year of her life: Not at the top, but climbing.

Clishams eldest daughter Jo Ellen Ivacko said the motto came from Ivackos high school graduating class motto.

She loved saying it to anyone and everyone who would ask her, How are you, Fredda? Ivacko said. She couldnt wait to say, Not at the top, but climbing. She is now at the top.

Clisham, a lifelong Ann Arborite and well-known Burns Park community figure, died Sunday, May 10. She was 100.

Clisham was well-known in the Burns Park neighborhood for her positive attitude and humor.

She was personality plus, longtime friend Bob Galardi said. She acted very unassuming, but she was in her own way, very much in charge in the space around her. Some of that had to do with her age and experience, but her personality too. She was willing to speak out, pipe up, say things.

Clisham died in her sleep from a respiratory illness unrelated to the novel coronavirus, her family said.

Clisham was born Oct. 7, 1919, according to her self-written obituary. She attended Ann Arbor High School and married Patrick Clisham soon after graduation, staying in Ann Arbor to raise their five children. Throughout her life she took classes at Washtenaw Community College and audited University of Michigan classes while also working part-time jobs in secretarial and administrative work in Ann Arbor.

She retired from Michigan Medicines womens health center as the health systems oldest employee on her 95th birthday.

At 95, U-M Health Systems oldest employee Fredda Clisham is leaving for her next adventure

Friends think Clishams long life can be attributed to her years of walking and vegetarianism.

For years, she could be seen walking two miles nearly every day to her job at the medical campus or riding her tricycle around the neighborhood. When someone would pull up and ask if she wanted a ride, she always declined, Galardi said.

Ann Arbor resident Fredda Clisham, 85, has a snowy walk home from her job at the Women's Health Resource Center at University of Michigan Hospital Friday, February 25, 2005. Clisham walks to and from work everyday except in freezing rain. (MLive file photo)BPN

She took care of herself in a way that most of us dont, Galardi said. "We go to the gym; she didnt need to. The world was her gym.

100-year-old actress brings laughs, inspiration in Ann Arbor community theatre production

Clisham was especially known for her sense of humor. Friends and family said dry wit and comedic timing made her notable. She joined community theater group Burns Park Players when she was in her 80s and she made appearances in every show.

There was nothing that I liked more than to be able to make her spontaneously giggle like a child, Debbi Smith, Clishams friend and boss at Michigan Medicine, said. That was one of the great accomplishments that I felt if I could pull that one off.

In recent years, Clisham began to work up a stand-up comedy routine. Colleagues in Burns Park Players say her set at her 100th birthday party last fall cracked up the whole room.

She was always looking for something new, Galardi said. The idea that she could accomplish other things was in her mind, and her stand-up comic routine  I mean I was getting ready to try to package it up to send it out to Ellen DeGeneres. She has timing, she has all the things to do that kind of thing, and she wrote a lot of her own material.

Friends and family also recall an equally notable commitment to social justice and current events. Grandson Tom Ivacko said Clisham was active in the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements in Ann Arbor. But she still valued listening to others opinions and was always willing to respectfully disagree.

I think this town just fit her and she fit it, Tom Ivacko said.

MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:

Ann Arbor resale bookstores seek community support to survive coronavirus pandemic closure

Racial intimidation is not a game. Hackers yell slurs, depict lynching during Ypsilanti Twp. Zoom meeting

MMA gym reopens despite shutdown, food delivery robots work overtime: Ann Arbor top headlines May 10-15

Business, not as usual: Washtenaw County plans for a reopened and retooled economy
A woman migrant worker on



Sunday gave birth to a girl on board a Shramik special train that was coming to Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, health officials said.

The woman, Ishwari Yadav (23), delivered the baby around 1.50 am with help of some women passengers on the train before it reached Nagpur railway station in Maharashtra, her husband Rajendra Yadav told PTI over phone.

"She went into labour at midnight, following which I called the railway on the helpline number. The helpline staff said doctors will reach after the train arrives at the nearest station, which was far from there," he said.

"Then I started asking other women passengers travelling on the train if they could help me, to which they agreed," he said.

Thanks to those women, the delivery happened safely, Yadav added.

When the train reached Nagpur station around 4 am, a railway medical team came and provided assistance. They removed the umbilical cord and clamped it. Doctors also gave some medicines to my wife, and the journey resumed after that, he said.

"After arriving at Bilaspur railway station at 10.55 am, the mother and the newborn were rushed to Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) Bilaspur in an ambulance," Public Relations Officer of the institute, Dr Aarti Pandey, said.

Both of them have been kept in the isolation ward and they are fine. The rapid testing of the woman for coronavirus came out negative. However, her sample has been sent for RTPCR testing for final confirmation, she said.

Yadav, a native of Dharampura village in Mungeli, said he had gone to Bhopal after the Holi festival in March to work as a construction labourer along with his pregnant wife and a one-and-a-half year daughter.

"Unfortunately, only three-four days after I startedworking, lockdown came in force. It was very difficult to arrange for food and other essentials for two months. I borrowed money from my contractor and others. Sometimes we had to manage with just water as there was no food," he said.

"The horrific experience of lockdown will continue to haunt me," he added.

"As my wife's delivery date was nearing, I tried many times to return home on goods vehicles, but it could not be materialised," he said.

Finally I boarded the special train at Habibganj station with the help of other labourers of my area who were also there, and finally reached here, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When the Commons Speaker on Wednesday said: I now call SIR Keir Starmer  with a heavy emphasis on the Sir  his deference surprised many Labour MPs.

For the Opposition are keen to play down the fact their new leader is a knight of the realm.

Not only is it not very socialist but its a reminder that it was a reward for his controversial tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions.

In 2019 he had become the Rt Hon  happy to add Privy Council status but still not the knighthood. Not surprisingly, lefties at the BBC are happy to pander to this titular sensitivity, describing him as plain Keir

When newbie MPs start at the Commons, they are asked how they wish to be addressed.

In 2015, Hansard identified the new MP for Holborn and St Pancras as Sir Keir Starmer.

Whats the view of the Queen, whose son Charles knighted Starmer in 2014, as pictured

But eight days later, when he made his maiden speech, official Commons records have our liege down as plain old Keir Starmer.

In 2019 he had become the Rt Hon  happy to add Privy Council status but still not the knighthood.

Not surprisingly, lefties at the BBC are happy to pander to this titular sensitivity, describing him as plain Keir.

But whats the view of the Queen, whose son Charles knighted Starmer in 2014, as pictured, right?

Perhaps he might never have got the gong if it had been known, as he later admitted: I never liked titles.

Civil service panjandrums behave grandly at the best of times, but I hear Department for International Trade Permanent Secretary Antonia Romeo has outdone her fellow Whitehall chiefs.

The exuberant official has appointed her own personal press secretary in a break from bureaucratic convention.

It is now six months since border cops seized 70,000 in bundles of cash from the luggage of the Rt Hon Dr Denzil Douglas, the former Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, as he left Gatwick Airport. The police were given a deadline  which expires this week  to investigate the source of the money.

So hopefully soon well learn the truth. But life blithely goes on for Douglas, as he puts himself forward once again to be leader of the tiny Caribbean paradise.

It is now six months since border cops seized 70,000 in bundles of cash from the luggage of the Rt Hon Dr Denzil Douglas, the former Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, as he left Gatwick Airport

British boffins are furious Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Roche was given approval to produce a coronavirus antibody test when firms in this country making equally accurate kits have been rebuffed.

Was it because Roches chief lobbyist, Sara Argent, worked for Boris Johnson when he was London Mayor? Certainly, Public Health England (PHE) is being blamed.

My man in a white coat says: PHE screwed up testing in Phase One. Now they want to control everything. It seems very odd they are shunning companies on our doorstep.

With the head of the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association also on the warpath, this row wont end nicely.

Just when you assumed he might be busy weeding his allotment, I hear Jeremy Corbyn is looking to pen a tell-all book about his brilliant success as Labour leader.

How hypocritical, though, for a man who despises red-top newspapers, to be looking for a tabloid hack to ghostwrite it for him.

MPs on top of their briefs

Anyone who thinks the Government falls short in its response to Covid-19 would do well to look at some Ministers Instagram posts. Johnny Mercer, left, and Guy Opperman both revealed that they addressed the Commons remotely last week while formally dressed only from the waist up.

Their hairy legs were out, but happily kept from view...
Although COVID-19 restrictions are forcing high school seniors around the country to pick a college sight unseen, Helena-area graduates have two great options they already know and trust right here in our own community.

Carroll College offers four-year degree programs in everything from anthrozoology to engineering, nursing and business. It has the highest retention and graduation rates of any college in Montana and has been ranked as the best regional college in the West by U.S. News & World Report nine years in a row. Although the total cost of tuition, fees, and room and board at Carroll College comes out to about $47,00 per year, the average financial aid package is just over $28,000, bringing the total cost in line with Montana's major universities.

Helena College is a University of Montana affiliate that offers more than 30 two-year degree and certification options, including many high-demand skilled trades and technology programs. Full-time resident students can expect to pay about $3,400 for tuition and fees and another $1,300 for books and supplies per academic year, making Helena College one of the most cost-effective options in Montana.

Both local colleges are also great launching points for degrees from bigger schools.

Carroll Colleges accelerated learning programs allow students to earn a masters degree in public administration or a Juris Doctorate from UM, or a bachelors degree in math or a masters degree in engineering from Montana State University. Helena College has a program that lets students earn a four-year elementary education degree from UM without leaving Helena, and all 15 other schools in the Montana University System will accept general election core credits earned there.

In addition, both local colleges give Helena students the opportunity to pursue their higher education close to home. This is particularly important in the time of coronavirus.

Carroll College allows dependent students to live at home without losing scholarships, and Helena College doesnt have residence halls to begin with. Both also offer a variety of social-distance-friendly online classes, including English composition, literature, history and mathematics courses at Carroll College and the full business and accounting programs at Helena College.

Although Montana has started easing its coronavirus restrictions, theres no telling how things will look three or four months from now. Students around the country were forced to complete the last semester online, and theres a possibility that students who do enroll in out-of-town schools may end up distance learning to some degree anyway this fall.

Even if in-person classes are able to resume, students can help prevent another spike in coronavirus cases by spending their first year closer to home. Fortunately, Carroll College and Helena College make it easy for many members of Helenas class of 2020 to do just that.

Everyones situation is different, and we know Carroll College and Helena College are not feasible options for all. But we hope students wont overlook the benefits of attending these great local schools, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic.

This is the opinion of the Independent Record editorial board.
President Moon Jae-in speaks at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday, during an interview with local broadcaster MBC to mark the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju pro-democracy movement. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae



By Jung Da-min



President Moon Jae-in has called for a fact-finding investigation into the use of military force against residents of Gwangju during the city's pro-democracy movement in 1980.



"It has yet to be revealed who ordered the shooting and who is liable for it," Moon said during an interview with local broadcaster MBC aired Sunday, a day before the 40th anniversary of the Gwangju May 18 Democratic Uprising. The interview was conducted at Cheong Wa Dae, May 12.



"We should identify all the victims of the massacre, and find out how the military fired machine-guns from helicopters and how the distortion and cover-up maneuvering were carried out," he said. "The purpose of the investigation is not to punish the responsible people, but to seek reconciliation and unity based on truth."






Donald Trump demanded Sunday morning that former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden face jail time for involvement in the Michael Flynn case  and the president followed up with a tweet insisting he was elected due to his predecessor's 'corrupt' administration.

'It was the greatest political crime in the history of our country,' Trump said of Obama and Biden, the presumed Democratic nominee.

'If I were a Democrat instead of a Republican, I think everybody would have been in jail a long time ago, and I'm talking with 50 year sentences,' the president continued in an interview with Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo that aired Sunday. 'It is a disgrace what's happened this is the greatest political scam, hoax in the history of our country. And people should be going to jail for this stuff and hopefully, a lot of people are going to have to pay.'

Biden and Obama reportedly knew about the FBI seeking an investigation into the incoming National Security adviser, and then-administration purportedly requested to 'unmask' the identity of Flynn.

Trump lauded the case being dropped against General Flynn, who had already pleaded guilty under oath, and the president called him a 'hero' for dealing with the charges.

Donald Trump asserted Sunday morning that Barack Obama and Joe Biden should face jail time  at least 50 years  for their involvement in the Michael Flynn case. 'This was all Obama. This was all Biden. These people were corrupt  the whole thing was corrupt,' Trump said

The president joined Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo (right) for a pre-recorded interview that aired during Sunday Morning Futures where he issued his sharp criticism of his predecessor and his presumed Democratic competitor

Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon, hours after the interview aired, claiming that he was elected in 2016 because Americans were fed up with Obama's 'corrupt' administration

'This was all Obama. This was all Biden. These people were corrupt  the whole thing was corrupt, and we caught them,' Trump said.

Sunday afternoon, Trump followed up with a tweet claiming he was elected because Ameircans wanted something different than Obama and Biden's administration.

'The Obama Administration is turning out to be one of the most corrupt and incompetent in U.S. history,' Trump asserted on Twitter. 'Remember, he and Sleepy Joe are the reasons I am in the White House!!!'

Trump's remarks came as Obama lashed out at the president again on Saturday during a virtual commencement speech for graduating high school students.

Obama has remained largely silent in the past on Trump's actions as president, only issuing veiled indications of disapproval.

In the hour-long televised special, Obama panned 'so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs' who do 'what feels good, what's convenient, what's easy.'

'That's how little kids think, which is why things are so screwed up,' the 44th President continued, and while he did not mention Trump by name, there was no mistaking who he meant.

But Trump insisted as he returned to the White House from a working weekend at Camp David that he had not heard the comments from Obama's commencement address.

'What about Obama's comment? Obama's comment at the graduation ceremony,' a reporter asked of Trump as he disembarked Marine One on the South Lawn.

'I didn't hear it,' Trump said.

When the reporter tried to describe what the comments were, Trump dismissed Obama as 'incompetent.'

'Look, he was an incompetent president That's all I can say. Grossly incompetent,' he asserted.

During a wide-range interview with Sunday Morning Futures, Trump also said he watched Biden's response to the allegations that he knew about the investigation and intent to prosecute during his interview with ABC News' George Stephenopoulos.

'I watched Biden yesterday  could barely speak,' Trump criticized of his presumed 2020 Democratic opponent. 'And he said he didn't know anything about it and now, it just gets released right after he said that  it gets released he was one of the unmaskers meaning he knew everything about it.'

'So he lied to your friend George Stephanopoulos,' the president charged.

morning, where he admitted the FBI briefed him and Obama in early January 2017  before Trump was sworn in that they were seeking an investigation into Flynn.

Biden asserted, however, that he didn't know anything else about the case, including that they intended to prosecute Flynn.

'I was aware that there was  that they asked for an investigation, but that's all I know about it,' Biden said Tuesday morning. 'And I don't think anything else  look, think about this: Can you image any other President of the United States focusing on this at the moment when a country is just absolutely concerned about their health?'

'This is all about diverting attention,' he insisted. 'Focus on what's in front of us. Get us out of this, Mr. President.'

The answer came after Biden had initially denied to interviewer George Stephanopoulos knowing about Flynn.

'I know nothing about those moves to investigate Michael Flynn, number one. Number two, this is all about diversion,' Biden initially said. 'This is a game this guy plays all the time.'

But Stephanopolous said 'I want to push you' to Biden and noted that as vice president he was present at a meeting at which intelligence chiefs discussed Flynn having a call with Russia's ambassador Sergei Kisylak and informed Barack Obama about it.

That prompted Biden's admission that he knew about the investigation.

Trump's comments were aired after Barack Obama took a veiled hit at his successor during a televised commencement ceremony for high school graduates of the class of 2020. He bashed 'so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs' who do 'what feels good, what's convenient, what's easy,' obviously speaking of Trump

Trump mentioned the meeting where he insisted Obama brought up 'unmasking' Flynn  or revealing his identity and the probe into his actions.

'There was a meeting and oh, by the way, Joe Biden were you asleep in this meeting, as well when you actually were there?' Trump said in the interview with Bartiromo. 'And you actually made a request for unmasking?'

'This is the problem we're seeing is people are waking up to the real fact there was an attempt to take out a candidate and then a president before he could get going, and the American people should be demanding why every news outlet is not covering this the way you have for the last three years,' Trump said, praising one of his favorite members of the meda, and one of the only 46 people he follows on Twitter.

'Many of us have been screaming at the top of our lungs, there was basically a coup attempt at the highest level,' the president said.

Trump also spoke a lot about the federal response to coronavirus with Bartiromo, and was adamant that shutting down the country in the midst of the outbreak has caused deaths on top of those perishing from the disease.

'People are dying this way too,' the president asserted in an interview with Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo.

'They're dying with this closure, with this shutdown of the country,' Trump said of the American people. 'In their house, in their apartment. Some people are too tough on it. They can't leave their house.'

The president made these comments during a pre-recorded interview with Bartiromo, who hosts Sunday Morning Futures on Fox Business Network.

Among the coronavirus pandemic, there have been major spikes in the U.S. in calls to suicide hotlines and there has been a rise in domestic violence as several jobs have gone fully remote or work-from-home.

As of Sunday morning, there are more than 1.5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. and nearly 90,000 have died from the disease.

Most states across the country are well into the third month of nation-wide shutdowns and stay-at-home orders  and more widespread loosening of restrictions began last week.
Sudhir Suryawanshi By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Sunday decided to extend the lockdown still May 31 with guidelines that were enforced earlier.

Issuing an order for the same, chief secretary Ajoy Mehta informed that the state government has decided to extend the lockdown still May 31, 2020.

As per the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 and the disaster management act, the state government has empowered to exercise the right of imposing the lockdown and extending it. Government has taken measures to contain the spread of coronavirus and expedite the work, the lockdown has been extended in Maharashtra, stated the order further adding that the lockdown order will be strictly implemented.

Earlier state chief secretary Ajoy Mehta issued the order of putting umbrella, raincoat, and plastic sheet covers as part of the essential goods list till September 30, 2020.

Maharashtra is leading in the country with the highest number of coronavirus cases and virus-related deaths. The number of cases and deaths is 30706 and 1135 respectively.

The Mumbai metropolitan region that includes Thane, Kalyan, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Pune, and Nasik is the epicenter of COVID 19 positive patients.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said that they are committed to bringing all red and orange zones into the green zones. He also said that they are allowing industries to function in the orange and green zone.

In his video conference with prime minister Narendra Modi, CM Uddhav Thackeray had said that his government had planned to extend the lockdown as the situation is nowhere close to normalcy in major cities.

Meanwhile, the state government has allowed the migrants to return to their native places either by train or truck and tempo unofficially. The rough estimate is that more than 25 lakh migrant workers have left Maharashtra due to panic and fear of COVID 19.
Silence and a lack of community engagement has bred concern. Leaders of two neighborhood groups where RH Land Management has bought multiple properties said they have not been contacted by the company or Sherwood and have not been consulted about what should happen there. They said they were not even aware of most of the acquisitions until a World-Herald reporter told them.

Tanya Cooper, president of the OIC Neighborhood Association north of Lake Street, said RH Land Management and Sherwood need to be talking to the community about what they want and not just coming in and doing whatever they want to do.

People have lives, and they have stuff that is already going on down here, she said. And Im just going to be frank with you. ... White people need to stop coming into a black community and making it all about what they want to see for us. ... We are not the children, and they need to start bringing us to the table at the beginning instead of trying to put us in the seat that they have made for us on the tail end of things.

Juanita Johnson, president of the Long School Neighborhood Association, home to about 500 people southwest of 24th and Lake Streets, also said she wants more engagement with nonprofit groups and others who want to develop her neighborhood.
T he number of people who have died with coronavirus in the UK has risen by 170 - the lowest since the day after lockdown began.

It brings the total number of Covid-19 fatalities in care homes, the community and hospitals to 34,636 as of 5pm on Saturday, according to the Department of Health

The latest daily increase is the lowest since since 24 March, when 149 deaths were reported.

And while numbers reported are usually lower on Sundays, the figure is almost 100 fewer than the 268 reported a week ago.

UK returns to work as Coronavirus restrictions are eased - In pictures 1 /38 UK returns to work as Coronavirus restrictions are eased - In pictures Londoners returning to work near London Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Emergency as Lockdown is slowly lifted at Victoria Station Nigel Howard Cyclists travel in central London AFP via Getty Images Emergency as Lockdown is slowly lifted at Victoria Station Nigel Howard Alan Price on his Penny Farthing this morning on Battersea Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Delivery men are seen outside a reopened McDonald's with take-out only deliveries in Dalston Reuters Jubilee Line tube commuters as lockdown eases Nigel Howard Worlds End Nurseries in Chelsea opens for business. Customer Nika Kucifer is shown flowers by Janson Lotery Nigel Howard Londoners going back to work at Waterloo Jeremy Selwyn People ride bicycles in a cycle lane in Chelsea PA Jubilee Line tube commuters as lockdown eases Nigel Howard Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Jubilee Line tube commuters as lockdown eases Nigel Howard Jubilee Line tube commuters as lockdown eases. Nigel Howard Matt Writtle Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Vehicles are seen on the M56 motorway near Manchester, Reuters Londoners going back to work at Waterloo Jeremy Selwyn Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Monty's first day back. West Highland Terrier Monty commutes to work on his bike on his first day back with owner Darragh McElroy. Monty, who's Instagram account is @monty_whitehall_westie, works at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall with his owner Darragh who is Deputy Director of Coronavirus Communications at the Cabinet Office Matt Writtle Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn A commuter wears a mask at Canning Town station Reuters Rush hour on the M6 at the junction for Birmingham/Walsall on the first morning of the eased Coronavirus lockdown PA Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Commuters, some wearing masks are seen on a London Underground tube, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease Reuters Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Commuters, some wearing masks are seen at Stratford station, Reuters Cyclists in Chelsea today. Nigel Howard

In the 24-hour period up to 9am on Sunday, 91,206 tests were carried out, with 3,142 testing positive.

A total of 243,303 people have tested positive for the virus in the UK from a total of 2,580,769 tests.

Northern Irish case figures were not included for technical reasons.

The official UK coronavirus death toll has risen to 34,636 / PA

The Government figures differ from hospital figures released earlier in the day by individual devolved authorities.

NHS England said that a further 90 people had died in hospitals after contracting the virus, bringing the total in England to 24,617.

Of the deaths announced in England today, 33 took place on Saturday, 46 on Friday and the remaining 11 happened earlier this week.

The number of people who have died with coronavirus in Scotland rose by nine, according to statistics from the Scottish Government. Fatalities in Scotland reached 2,103.

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Confirmed coronavirus cases in Scotland went up by 90 to 14,537.

The number of people who have died after contracting coronavirus in Northern Ireland rose to 476 after the Department of Health reported three more deaths.

In Wales a further 12 people have died after catching coronavirus. The number of coronavirus-linked deaths in the country rose to 1,203. Confirmed cases of the virus reached 12,304 after a further 162 people tested positive.

Dr Robin Howe, from Public Health Wales, said: Public Health Wales welcomes the announcement yesterday by the health minister of the extension of coronavirus testing to all care home residents and staff.

In conjunction with the Welsh Governments test, trace, protect strategy published last week, Public Health Wales will continue to work in partnership with our communities, the Welsh Government, the wider NHS and local government in Wales to focus on protecting the health of the people of Wales as we support the implementation of the strategy.

The figures announced by the devolved authorities can include deaths that took place several days or even weeks ago. This is because of the time it takes for deaths to be confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19, for post-mortem examinations to be processed and for data from the tests to be validated.
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Letter to Readers - May 16, 2020  Lockdown Edition no8

While the fourth tranche of economic relief package has been announced by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Capital today, a day after her announcement of the thirdd tranche focusing on agriculture and allied activities, the Supreme Court of India declined to entertain a PIL seeking directions that district magistrates (DMs) identify, shelter, feed the migrant workers and provide free transport to them, as well as for those on the move among them, asserting that it was for the respective States to take action in this regard. The Supreme Court judges wondered how the Apex Court could stop the migrants from walking, asking: How can anybody stop them when they sleep on the railway tracks?. The petitioner lawyer had referred to the incident of 16 migrant workers being run over by a goods train when they were sleeping on the railway track on May 8; he further pointed to the death of 8 migrant workers in a road accident near Guna in Madhya Pradesh. Let the States decide in the matter, one of the judges in the Apex Court panel told the advocate petitioner. This was a clear manifestation of the Apex Courts attitude on such a major issue.

The severe national lockdown lasting over 50 days due to Covid 19 pandemic, has caused immense economic distress to Indias economically poorer strata of citizens mostly labourers in factories and migrant casual workers in small businesses and services economy who are now jobless but the callousness of political elites and decision makers in addressing the practical hardships (needs of food, housing and transport), mocks at the idea of equal citizenship rights and national solidarity.

The disruption due to the lockdown has further weakened the economy which was already faltering in the past years causing unemployment and pushing more and more people into the sub-contracted, outsourced lowly paid jobs in the gig economy outside the purview of legally recognised formal sector with provisions for pensions, social security coverage and health insurance - accident compensations etc.

Now with factories and businesses being allowed to re-open operations, eight State governments i.e. Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar and Punjab have taken advantage of the lockdown situation and have increased the legal daily working hours from eight hours to twelve hours through an executive order in violation of the Factories Act.

The near-total suspension of labour laws for a period of three years in all officially registered factories and businesses in UP is a shocking demonstration of how class drives state policy in a country whose Constitution still swears by equality and socialism. Who gave the idea to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh to drop all constitutionally valid Central and State legislation protecting labour rights at a time when the labouring poor are in deep waters. The Allahabad High Court in response to a petition filed on May 15, has nullified the UP Govt notification which had annulled all labour laws and extended the workday from 8 hrs to 12 hrs. The Allahabad High Court has restored the 8 hr workday in the formal sector for now.

A joint platform of Central Trade Unions has called for a nationwide protest day against the anti-worker and anti-people policies of the government on May 22 2020.

o o

A few days ago the Prime Minister, in his national televised address spoke of the need for India to be self-reliant . Who will want to contest that? Yes, self-reliance is definitely a desirable goal. It is pretty embarrassing that India, which supplies doctors and nurses to the hospitals of the world and has been supplying medical equipment and medicines, has had to import elementary personal protection equipment such as gloves and masks for health workers. It is also importing the test-kits. Twenty years ago India used to produce most of its active pharmaceutical ingredients, but now it is dependent on imports, largely from China, and its big pharma industry makes a large range of generic drugs. In the post-1990 liberalisation phase, India has been dismantling, selling off many of its public sector vaccine and drug factories, and now 80 per cent of Indias requirement of vaccines is met by private firms that sell 10 times the price of public sector producers which produced very cheap drugs. This pandemic is the time to build a public health infrastructure. Public health activists in India have been campaigning for years for the state to expand public health spending.

Scientists and scholars are now convinced of the spread of diseases globally and its link with Deforestation - ecological destruction and emergence of massive mono-cultures. We have been seeing environmental destruction across our country for the past decades, the rivers are polluted, the air is unbreathable, the forests are being cleared and the mountains being cut for more motorised roads. The wildlife is fleeing where it can. But these are issues that are taken up by ecologists only. Unfortunately public health is not seen as directly connected with our environment and our food and water supply etc. Progressive movements must learn to connect the dots. Studies show the patterns of deforestation associated with the recent outbreaks of other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV [1] and MERS-CoV [2], as well as other animal-borne diseases, including Ebola, dengue fever. There is much evidence to suggest that this current COVID19 pandemic is part of a larger global trend. . . . Militarised security is not going to get us out of the problem, a socially conscious society concerned about health and ecology must put pressure on policymakers and political parties to help stop the destruction of the environment that is connected with the spread of diseases.

o o

We offer our sincere homage to several notable personalities whom we have lost in the last few days, they include the noted expert in Indo Russian relations Professor Hari Vasudevan of Calcutta University, eminent sociologist Professor Yogendra Singh of the JNU, New Delhi, distinguished scholar, freedom fighter, literary figure Professor Anisuzzaman from Bangladesh, and a prominent writer and novelist Debesh Roy of West Bengal.

May 16, 2020 The Editor
Q: When operating a motor vehicle in New York State you must be wearing a seat belt, cannot be using a hand held mobile device or be wearing more than one headphone. However, there is no restriction on driving with a dog sitting on your lap. Why is that?

Don Whitehead, Watervliet

A: According to James Kleinbaum, a Chatham-based attorney who specializes in traffic law, Theres no specific prohibition for driving with a dog on your lap the same way theres no legal prohibition for driving while eating a sandwich.

If a driver with a dog on his lap were in an accident, Kleinbaum said, a court could see it as part of the totality of the circumstances adding up to a reckless driving charge.

Although driving with a dog on your lap is not specifically prohibited, animal rights groups and the Department of Motor Vehicles alike advise against it.

The New York State DMVs drivers manual states, Properly secure pets in a pet carrier or portable kennel, in the chapter on defensive driving.

The American Veterinary Medical Association points out that, in addition to distracting drivers, pets loose in cars are at much greater risk in the event of an accident. Even large dogs can be injured by an expanding airbag, and small dogs could even be killed.

The Humane Society of the United States advises that the safest way for dogs to travel by car is in a crate that has been anchored to the vehicle and says that pets should be kept out of the front seat.

There are no bills pending in the state Assembly Transportation Committee on this issue, and the issue has not been brought before the committee, according to Diana Abdella, communications coordinator for committee chairman Assemblyman William Magnarelli.

Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy of Albany wrote that it seems very specific to create a law around this without a compelling/significant problem.

Assemblyman Phil Steck of Colonie said that he would support legislation disallowing this practice. Both Fahy and Steck sit on the Assembly's Transportation Committee.

Sitterly Road: The towns of Clifton Park and Halfmoon will begin work on the Sitterly Road Traffic Improvement Project on Monday, May 18. Substantial completion of the project is scheduled for November.

The current configuration includes two traffic signals, spaced only 480 feet apart on Sitterly Road, which operate independently from each other. Delays are common during peak traffic as a result of the unsynchronized timing of the lights, along with the lack of turn lanes.

The project will connect the two traffic lights and add new turn lanes onto Crossing Boulevard and Woodin Road. The construction also includes pedestrian improvements, including two interactive crosswalks at those two intersections and a new sidewalk on the north side of Sitterly Road.

There will be no cost to either Clifton Park or Halfmoon for this project thanks to federal aid and the states Marchiselli program. The Marschiselli program helps offset costs that arent paid for by the federal government for projects that are located within an existing highway right-of-way.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Oslo, Norway  Sun, May 17, 2020 08:09 613 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd88b3b6 2 News Norway,staycation,travel,coronavirus,COVID-19,summer Free

Norway on Friday extended its advisory against non-essential travel throughout the summer, telling its citizens to holiday in the Scandinavian country this year.

"For those who want as much predictability as possible, the recommendation is to plan your holidays in Norway," Prime Minister Erna Solberg told reporters.

"Take advantage of these summer holidays to get even better acquainted with the fantastic holiday destination that Norway is," she said.

The country advised against all non-essential travel on March 14, which on Friday it extended until August 20.

However, Norway plans to review the possibility for leisure travel to other Nordic countries by June 15, and for travel to other nearby countries such as Germany and the Baltic states by July 20.

Asking Norwegians, who are normally avid travelers, to holiday at home is also a way for the government to boost the economy, which has been doubly hit by the health crisis and the weak price of oil, which the country exports.

On Wednesday, the European Union urged its members to reopen their borders in a bid to save the tourism sector. Norway is not a member of the EU but does belong to the passport-free Schengen zone.

Norway appears to have the coronavirus epidemic until control, with a small number of hospitalizations and deaths in recent weeks.

It has reported a total of 8,197 cases and 232 deaths.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted Saturday that the company will move its headquarters and future programs to Texas or Nevada from California immediately.

Musk said quote: "Frankly, this is the final straw. Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately. If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependent on how Tesla is treated in the future."

Alameda County's health department had said the electric carmaker must not reopen its Fremont factory until the end of May with only essential businesses allowed to reopen.

Musk, on Thursday, told employees that limited production would restart at Fremont Friday afternoon as state orders eased.

Musk, in another tweet, said Tesla would file a lawsuit against Alameda County immediately and said quote: "The unelected & ignorant "Interim Health Officer" of Alameda is acting contrary to the Governor, the President, our Constitutional freedoms & just plain common sense!"

In March, Musk sparred with California officials over whether his company had to halt production in Fremont - home to Tesla's only U.S. vehicle factory.

A county official on Friday said that its health department has had many discussions with Tesla and recommended it wait at least another week to monitor infection rates and discuss safe ways to resume production.
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.




Israel's parliament swore in a new unity government on Sunday led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former rival Benny Gantz, ending the longest political crisis in the nation's history. After more than 500 days without a stable government and three inconclusive elections, lawmakers in the 120-seat parliament approved a three-year coalition, with 73 voting for and 46 against. One member was absent. The new government was set to confront serious crises in its first weeks, including the economic devastation wrought by the coronavirus and a looming battle over Israel's possible annexation of large parts of the occupied West Bank. Addressing the parliament, or Knesset, before the vote, Netanyahu said his incoming government should apply Israeli sovereignty over Jewish West Bank settlements. "It's time to apply the Israeli law and write another glorious chapter in the history of Zionism," Netanyahu said. Such a move is seen as likely to cause international uproar and inflame tensions in the West Bank, home to nearly three million Palestinians and some 400,000 Israelis living in settlements considered illegal under international law. Netanyahu told the chamber that annexation "won't distance us from peace, it will bring us closer". The coalition government was agreed last month between veteran right-wing leader Netanyahu and the centrist Gantz, a former army chief. Plans had been set for an inauguration last Thursday, but Netanyahu asked for three more days to decide on cabinet assignments among his Likud party loyalists. - West Bank annexations? - Under the coalition deal, Netanyahu will serve as prime minister for the coming 18 months -- a major victory for a leader due to stand trial in a week on corruption charges, which he denies. Gantz will be alternate prime minister, a new position in Israeli governance, for the first half of the deal. He and Netanyahu will swap roles on November 17, 2021. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Israel on its new government, saying he hoped for a continued "policy of strengthening friendly ties and mutually beneficial cooperation" between the countries. US top diplomat Mike Pompeo welcomed the swearing-in announcement in a tweet. "We are extremely fortunate to have such strong and experienced partners in Jerusalem," he said. The Netanyahu-Gantz deal says the government can from July 1 initiate moves to implement US President Donald Trump's controversial peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The plan, rejected by the Palestinians, gives the green light from Washington for Israel to annex Jewish settlements and other territory in the West Bank. Some experts warn that Jordan may back away from its historic 1994 peace deal with Israel if the Jewish state tries to annex the strategically crucial Jordan Valley border region. Speaking to German magazine Der Spiegel days ago, Jordan's King Abdullah II said: "If Israel really annexes the West Bank in July, it would lead to a massive conflict with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan." - 'Bloated and wasteful' - The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Friday that the bloc would use "all our diplomatic capacities" to try to dissuade Israel's incoming government from going ahead with annexations. Gantz and incoming Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi are both known to have reservations about annexation and the international backlash. Gantz did not mention the issue in his Knesset speech on Sunday. He addressed criticism of his decision to join forces with Netanyahu, which split his Blue and White coalition, arguing that Israel needed unity after a year of bitter division. "My friends and I chose unity to defend Israeli citizens, not just from the challenges from outside our borders but also from the hatred eating away at us from within and harming our resilience," he said. The 35th government since Israel's creation in 1948 includes representatives from across the political spectrum, with a record 34 to 36 cabinet seats. Cabinet posts have been assigned to the left-wing Labour party, Blue and White, Likud and leaders from conservative ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties. The large cabinet and additional funds for the new position of alternate prime minister have prompted criticism as Israel seeks to address the economic fallout from coronavirus, which has infected more than 16,500 Israelis and caused more than 260 deaths, according to official figures. Unemployment has soared from 3.4 percent before the crisis to 27 percent. New opposition leader Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid party, an ex-Blue and White head who broke with Gantz over his decision to seek an alliance with Netanyahu, condemned the government as "the most expensive in the history of Israel". "Israelis deserve better," he told the Knesset on Sunday.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

May. 15, 2020 | PADUCAH

By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 15, 2020 | 04:49 PM | PADUCAH

Starting on Monday, Baptist Health Paducah is easing visitor restrictions to allow one visitor at a time for most patients.



In March, the hospital began limiting visitation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then suspended visitation last month in accordance with state recommendations. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has now eased those guidelines to allow for some visitation.



The hospital will allow one visitor for the following:



-Surgical patients



-Inpatients (those admitted or currently in a hospital room): Visitation hours are 6 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 9 p.m., seven days a week.



-Critical Care: One visitor may visit for a limited time, as determined by administration and the clinical house supervisor.



-Emergency Department: One person may accompany the patient, but must wait in the care until the provider requests assistance for patient assessment or agrees the visitor may wait in the room with the patient.



-Maternity Services: One spouse or partner may accompany the laboring mother to Labor & Delivery and the postpartum unit.



Exceptions will be made for the NICU, which will allow one or both parents, and end-of-life patients, who can receive one to two visitors with approval.



Visitors will not be allowed in the Ray & Kay Eckstein Regional Cancer Care Center, including infusion, radiation therapy and outpatient oncology clinics, based on the infection risk of oncology patients.



"We know our patients look forward to visits from their loved ones while they are in the hospital, and we want to facilitate that, while still taking appropriate precautions to protect our patients and staff," said Chris Roty, Baptist Health Paducah president. "We appreciate the community's continued understanding and cooperation."



Visitor restrictions are part of the infection control measures taken by Baptist Health for the protection of patients and staff. Anyone who enters a Baptist Health facility must wear a mask at all times, and be subject to a COVID-19 screening, including having a temperature taken.



Visitors must:



-Wash their hands before and after a visit



-Wear a mask at all times



-Stay two hours or less when visiting a patient room



-Use the designated entrances and exits: Primary Entrance  Larry Barton Atrium, first floor, Medical Park 2, Emergency department and the Ray & Kay Eckstein Regional Cancer Care Center (patients only).



Those with fever, runny nose, body aches, or respiratory symptoms should not visit. Those under age 16 may not visit at this time.



A single companion is only allowed for:



-Patients under age 18



-Those who are physically dependent or vulnerable and require assistance



-Hospice or end-of-life patients



Baptist Health Virtual Care, which includes urgent care video visits, scheduled video appointments with your primary care or specialty provider, and e-visits comprised of an online symptom-specific questionnaire, may be options for care for those who don't feel comfortable coming into a medical office. You must have a MyChart account, our secure, online patient portal, to access Virtual Care.



To sign up for MyChart, visit MyChart.BaptistHealth.com. For more information on Virtual Care, go to BaptistHealthVirtualCare.com.
Anthea Turner has revealed she's postponed her wedding until next year.

In this week's HELLO! magazine, the host, 59, posed alongside fiance Mark Armstrong in their first joint photoshoot together as she shared the couple's wedding was set to take place in Italy this September, but their plans have now been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The former Blue Peter presenter also shed light on becoming engaged just after a two-month romance, turning 60, and feeling 'blessed' to spend the UK coronavirus lockdown with the tycoon, 55.

Change of plans: Anthea Turner has revealed she's postponed her wedding until next year as she posed alongside fiance Mark Armstrong in their first joint photoshoot together

'Mark and I had planned to go out and look at venues in March and then set a date for September', Anthea told the publication.

On looking forward to eventually tying the knot in an intimate ceremony, the blonde added: 'Mark is from Italy, his family are from Milan, so it seemed the perfect place for us.

'It will be next year now. I am not even in any angst about it. When we do it, it will be small and cute, just with our close friends and family.'

The TV veteran was previously married to ex-husband Grant Bovey for 13 years, but the couple split after he cheated on her with a woman half her age in 2013.

'Something tells you this is so right, you just know': The former Blue Peter presenter, 59, also shed light on becoming engaged just after a two-month romance in a new interview

Moving on: The TV veteran was previously married to ex-husband Grant Bovey for 13 years, but the couple split after he cheated on her in 2013 (pictured in 2012)

Anthea's first marriage was to her manager, former DJ Peter Powell, in 1990, with the couple splitting up eight years later.

On finally finding The One, the media personality gushed about her man of 11 months, who planned a trip to Rome for her birthday later this month: 'Mark is the absolute love of my life, we adore each other.

'He makes me smile every day and we are excited about our life together. Sometimes, when you are a bit older and you have lived, something tells you this is so right, you just know.

'People might say why do you have to get married, or why would you want to. It is because I do believe in marriage, and I cant think of a nicer person to be with for the rest of my life.

'I think 60 is more of a milestone birthday than turning 50': The news anchor also detailed her thoughts about entering a new decade

'Ive always said I would get married again, I knew I would meet someone, that I would not be on my own. I definitely never put up the shutters to finding love again, with "keep away" tattooed on my forehead.'

Available: Read the full article in Hello! magazine out now

The news anchor also detailed her thoughts about entering a new decade, insisting: 'I think 60 is more of a milestone birthday than turning 50. Wed like to think its not as we live in an ageless society, but it truly is. Do I feel any different?

'No, I dont feel any different to when I was 50, not at all. Im not a big one for raking over the past, I absolutely live for now. I never wish I could go back to a time in my past.'

Elsewhere in the interview, the TV star said she's thinking of her close pal Kate Garraway, 55, whose husband Derek Draper, 52, is fighting for his life as he continues to battle coronavirus after seven weeks in ICU.

'I am blessed to be with Mark but I am mindful of all those in hospital and others who have lost jobs', Anthea shared.

'I am not sure what "normal" is going to be when we all come back from this, but it wont be a big fanfare, I think we will all find pleasure in just a quiet supper with friends.'

Read the full article in Hello! magazine out now.
A Fistful of Dollars, Rush, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

Need something to watch today? Choose from dog-themed family dramas, devious detectives and riveting racing rivalries as TopFilmTip brings you the best films on TV today: Sunday, 17 May.

Self-educated infant inflicts poetic punishment upon abusive adults in Roald Dahls magical marvelous merriment Matilda 11:30am Comedy Central

Breakfast time-drinking, drunken gunslinger frees town from drunken outlaws in John Waynes penultimate western Rooster Cogburn 2:05pm ITV4

Newlywed journos learn life lessons from long lived loveable Labrador in heartfelt, bittersweet, tear-jerking dog drama Marley & Me 3:40pm Channel 5

Would heart-song-less penguin Elijah Wood tap dance to win true love? Elijah Wood would in top Antarctic kids fun Happy Feet 4:05pm ITV2

Socially astute strong-willed teen seduces emotionally abused hunk of dancing beefcake amid empowering sexual awakening in Dirty Dancing 6:00pm Channel 5

Read more: Film released early to streaming

Escaping fog of existential ennui, ex-villain discovers ex-twin and endeavours to extract extraordinary gem from 80s ex-child star with help of ex-con compadres in Despicable Me 3 6:10pm ITV2

Monochrome genocide survivor rallies furious furry five to defeated panda persecuting peacock in canon-blasting fun Kung Fu Panda 2 7:10pm E4

On mission of discovery, astronauts work together against hostility of new world in perfectly realised space odyssey Europa Report 7:15pm Film 4

Hedgehog-munching detective duo and gypsy woman hunt warmongering genius in anachronistic adventure Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows 8:00pm ITV2

After discovering kidnapped girl, five highland hikers must help her escape cruelty of her pursuing captors A Lonely Place to Die 9:00pm Horror Channel

Four moustached gunmen pit wits and wiles against murderous cowboy gang in quick-drawing, bullet blasting, character quipping fun Tombstone 8:00pm Sony Movies Action

Clint Eastwood in a publicity portrait for A Fistful of Dollars, 1964. (Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

Desert drifter plays rival gangs off each other and gives harsh hand-gunning tutorial in corpse kidnapping classic A Fistful of Dollars 9:00pm ITV4

Story continues

Desk-driving doctor/marine must ruin nurse kicking Ruskie's plot for economic war in bath murdering reboot Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit 9:00pm Film 4

Disillusioned prof's teaching of ambitious working class woman causes her familial friction in Pygmalion reimagining Educating Rita 10:30pm BBC One

Amoral gangster brutalises his way round the geordie underworld on mission of vengeance in shotgun shouting bleak treat Get Carter (1971) 11:05pm ITV4

Get Carter, poster, British poster, Michael Caine, 1971. (Photo by LMPC via Getty Images)

Egos clash as pukey playboy and meticulous misanthrope's mutual enmity reaches fever pitch in death defying racing rivalry Rush 11:05pm Film 4

Just out of prison The Rock evades drug-withdrawn Cop and philosophical killer whilst making good on his personal kill-list Faster 11:20pm Sony Movies

Stoic, sociopathic, scorpionesque stuntman lets his heels and wheels do the talking in romantic, skull crushing, synthwave scored neon-noir Drive 1:15am Sony Movies

Breaking under strain of ethically ambiguous CIA missions, drone pilot's life falls apart in morally grey dry drama Good Kill 1:25am Film 4

Trapped in hurricane house with ravenous tiger, browbeaten bereft pyjama clad woman must protect autistic brother Burning Bright 2:45am Horror Channel

Follow TopFilmTip on Twitter for daily film recommendations.

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
The nationwide lockdown had ensured this years Ramzan was going to be like no other in living memory -- no iftaar parties, no meeting with friends, no late night shopping, no prayers at mosques. But many devout Muslims are appreciative the lockdown has helped them stay true to the spirit of the holy month. Three weeks into fasting, many Muslims feel the coronavirus-forced lockdown has a silver lining. It has left them with plenty of time to read the Quran, attend virtual Quran classes and focus on prayers.

After all, Ramzan is a time for self-discipline and introspection, they point out.

Tanvir Parvez, a lawyer from Ghaziabad, was among those bracing himself for a Ramzan devoid of its usual charms of special prayers in mosques (Taraweeh), sitting with his friends and family to break the fast at iftaar time and gatherings to discuss the teachings of Prophet Mohammad.

Parvez, who has never missed the Taraweeh during Ramzan, said he was gutted to learn that this year prayers would not be allowed in mosques due to the coronavirus lockdown.

I was mentally preparing for a bad Razman experience with so many restrictions in place, but it has turned out to be a very special one as staying at home with family, discussing religion and reading the Quran with English translation has given me a new perspective on life, the 63-year-old told PTI.

The special prayers, iftaar congregations and spiritual gatherings are being missed, but the benefits have also made it a special special Razman this year.

Earlier Ramzans were just about racing against time from the courts to reach home for iftaar, but now I am involved in making iftaar with my wife and though the spread is very simple, it brings the family closer as everyone is involved, he said.

People are also relishing the time they are getting to introspect and learn more about Islam with no distractions such as grand iftaar parties and shopping sprees.

Hasan Askari, an agriculturist based in Ghaziabad, said the month usually raced by with a string of iftaar parties and endless shopping trips, but not this time.

The lockdown is proving to be a boon with distractions like shopping and endless iftaar parties not there, allowing me to read books on Islamic teachings which my brother-in-law gets from Jeddah and watching Islamic sermons online, Askari told PTI.

Prominent Muslim body Jamiat Ulema-e-Hinds president Maulana Arshad Madani said it is heartening to see Muslims finding positivity in these difficult times and using the lockdown downtime to learn more about Islamic teachings and Quran.

Another significant trend witnessed this year is that seeing the sufferings of migrant labourers and the needy, Muslims have undertaken charity at a scale not seen before, Madani told PTI.

Even though everyones economic future is uncertain, Muslims are helping the poor with money and food in a massive way to realise the true meaning of Ramzan, he said.

Another popular trend this Ramzan has been Muslims watching religious programmes and taking up Quran classes online.

Professor Salim Engineer, vice president of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said his organisation is webcasting many religious programmes on its YouTube channel to explain the meaning of Quranic verses and important Islamic issues.

We are also webcasting programmes for non-Muslims. Recently, we shot one with religious leaders from different religions discussing the importance of fasting. In mosques, 1,000-1,500 people would listen to the discussions. This year, many thousands are watching these programmes online during Ramzan, he told PTI.

Iftaar food, normally an elaborate feast with kebabs, kormas and much more, have also become simpler.

Sultana Siddiqui, a homemaker from Lucknow, would spend most of her day preparing the meals. Not this time though.

Making non-vegetarian delicacies during Ramzan takes up a lot of time. But this year with most meat shops closed and lockdown in place, the iftaar menu is very modest and allows plenty of free time to devote to Islamic learning and preaching, Siddiqui said.

I have enrolled for online Quranic classes to fine tune my Arabic pronunciation and also to enhance my understanding of the Quran. It has been a life-changing experience, she said.

There are also those missing the festive fervour of iftaar parties and sehri (pre-dawn meal at the start of a fasting day) at old Delhis famous eateries.

Ramzan is a time when family and friends come together -- praying, fasting and feasting. With many family members stranded in different parts, the festive feel is missing this time, said Qazi Aamir Ali, a corporate employee working in Gurgaon.

Also, the going is not easy for everyone. While middle and upper class homes are finding positivity during the holy month, the poor and the needy are struggling to make ends meet.

We are fasting through the day and there is hardly anything to eat around sehri. Organisations and people are reaching out, so iftaar is sorted, but we begin our fast just by drinking water, said Shaheen Bano, an out of work house maid and mother of six.

We pray to Allah and fast that these difficult days will pass, I will go back to work and see smiles on my kids faces, she said.

Ramzan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar during which Muslims worldwide refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk and end their fast in the evening. The month is in its fourth week now and Eid will be celebrated on May 24 or 25, depending on the sighting of the moon.

For Muslims, this Ramzan is also about hope that their prayers will be answered and a new dawn will emerge in post-pandemic times.
A certain twitter user with username @dr_kay_umar has shared a touching story about life as an almajiri in kano state, the true but ...





A certain twitter user with username @dr_kay_umar has shared a touching story about life as an almajiri in kano state, the true but sad story was initially shared by Blogger Japheth Prosper



It tells the story of an Almajiri, named Abubakar who, together with his friend Ali, secretly left the Almajiri system (or Almajirci) in Kano under the tutorship of one Mallam Ladan.





Abubakar revealed what made them take the daring decision, how a trailer driver, and then a famiy from another tribe became their destiny helpers and how they rose to become great Nigerian citizens.





Read full story below:





Life as an almajiri in Kano was very tough. I could still remember how we went about in tens begging for alms and food. Its really not a life anyone should live. I lived it years ago and could still tell exactly how it hurts; the memory of it and the hellish experiences we had to bear.





Almajiri life isnt a life. Its like being dead-alive. I lived that life. I was ten when I decided to remove the cloak of destitution and face life squarely. It still remains the turning point in my life and the wisest decision Id ever taken.





I could still remember vividly what led me to take such a decision one afternoon. It was at Sabon Titi Kano. We were nine in number. We had trekked all the way from Bida Road. Ali, my best friend was saying something about how very unfair it was that girls were not allowed to wander about begging as boys did. He said something about girls being lucky and fortunate because they were not subjected to the demeaning life that we lived.





But you dont have to think that way, I said. You know that if you lived a good life here on earth, you surely would enjoy in heaven when you die. Ali had always thought differently. He was thirteen years old. Several times he would tell me that we should elope.





He said he didnt like the way the Mallami treated us. According to him, we were treated as slaves and it was very unfair. Ali was the first ever almajiri I had seen who did not like his being a poor beggar. He always compared himself with the children of the rich.





Do you think Mallam Ladan will ever allow his own children to move about aimlessly in the streets begging as we do? he often asked me. He will never do a thing like that. His children eat good food and go to the white mans school but we dont. And every day, we take money that we make from begging to him. That is not fair.No one hated Mallam Ladan as much as Ali did at that time. Mallam Ladan had always said that Ali was rebellious and that he behaved like an infidel.





One day, and according to him, all infidels would never gain paradise where there were lots of merriments. I remembered one day Ali had asked a question during our usual group recitation of the holy book and Mallam Ladan, red with indignation ordered that Ali should be whipped.





According to him, Ali had asked a blasphemous question. Since then, Ali expressed his displeasure and irritation about the Mallam secretly to me. So, the day I finally made up my mind to quit almajarinci was at Sabon Titi.





We gathered around a very busy canteen owned by a woman from Lafia whom everybody referred to as Mama Nassarawa. She had a very large open space with huge patronage. Most often when any of her many customers ate to their fill and there was leftover, we would swing into action.





It was usually like warfare. Our survival-of-the-fittest lives were hugely dependent on the miserable remnant from the food Mama Nassarawas customers left in their plates.





Keenly, we watched from a close distance as the customers ate. Our eagle eyes moved from customer to customer and hand to hand. Contrary to what people think, the almajiri usually had more than enough to eat but we ate like swine; unhealthy and without control.





There was a very beefy fellow eating a fat meal. He had so many pieces of meat in his soup which attracted some of us; I especially had had the rare opportunity of eating meat and fish many a time. This would happen when some people barely touched their food before passing it to us. I had often wondered then why some people would eat only little food and be satisfied. Ali had also wondered too. He had told me once that he had never had a full stomach.





He would emphasize further that until his hand got tired of conveying the food from the plate to his mouth, he would always continue to eat.





The beefy fellow at Mama Nassarawa made me have a rethink that day. He was eating pounded yam. Ali and I fixed our eyes on him. Suddenly, I noticed something rather strange. This fat customer was drooling like a toddler.





Saliva dropped from his mouth into his soup as if there was a burst tap in his throat. We were supposed to take a dive for the leftover of that food! Mere looking at him made me sick.





Ali, can you see what is happening? I muffled. Can you see the way that mans saliva fall freely into his soup? Ali smiled. Abubakar, I am really shocked at what you are saying. Do you mean to tell me that you havent seen something like this before?





I can swear by my life that most of these people there are sick. And because we eat what they leave behind, we are very likely to share in their misfortune since most illnesses are contagious. Abu, we are walking corpses.





His response gave me goose pimples. That was the day Ali and I made up our minds to go out there and change our stories and destinies. In life, Allah gives us all equal opportunities. He gives us same air to breath and same time; twenty four hours daily to live in.





No one has more time than others. What we do with the time and how we choose to breath is dependent on the choices we make. Some make good choices and others dont.





Ali, I muttered coldly, may Allay forbid that I eat the leftover food from that man. For the first time since we became friends, Ali hugged me. Abu, you have said a noble thing. If you mean what you have said then we must elope. We must leave now. Theres nothing as sweet as freedom.





We both separated from the other boys that day and threw our beggarly bowls away. That night, we found a Dangote trailer which was about leaving for Lagos. It had just the driver and his conductors. Ali and I sneaked into it when no one was watching and in no time, our journey out of Kano began. It was not until we got to Suleja that the driver and his conductor found us in their vehicle. They had stopped along the Abuja-Kaduna Road to refuel and eat. It was past ten. The conductor pointed his torch and saw us sleeping in a corner.





Subanalahi! he exclaimed rather surprisingly. Ahmadu come and see these miserable elements sleeping in our vehicle. The driver climbed up and found Ali and me in the truck. I was shocked when he asked if we had eaten.





Ali and I replied in unison that we had not eaten. He ordered us to climb down the truck. We followed them to a food vendors place where he bought us good food. It was the very first time that we would be having such good meals without begging for it.





After we had told him our story, he advised that we find a mosque in Suleja to spend the night. If you go to Lagos, you will suffer. The people there will not help you. They will tell you to go to your parents.

File photo shows some Almajirai reciting the holy book under the guidance of a mallam (C) Getty Images via BBC



You are still in the north. People here will understand why you are out of school at this age. This is why you should be here and not in Lagos. I will advise that you get shoe shining kits and begin to render services to people.





Whatever you make could feed you and you will have a little to save for school.He gave us two hundred naira each and reiterated that we must use it wisely. The money at that time was big. How Ahmadu understood us and promptly decided to come to our aid still baffles me to this day. When their vehicle left, we spent the night at Kaduna Road on a plank beside a parked lorry.





At dawn, we went to a nearby stream and bathed. It really felt so good that day because it seemed we were no longer under anyone who would dictate for us. That day, we found some cobblers and they told us how to go about getting all the kits and how to do the job. In three days, we were already dexterous shoe shiners. Days later, we were brilliant cobblers.





On our twelfth day on the job, an Igbo trader whom we went to his house to polish his shoes  nineteen pieces in all  took pity on Ali and me and ask a few questions.

You people are too young to do this job you are doing, he said. Dont you have plans to go to school? Ali and I told him that we had already bought all our note books. Its our uniforms that are left for us to buy, I told him.





He was leaning on his car and from the way he kept nodding; it was obvious that he was impressed with what wed told him. He insisted we show him the books we had bought. Ali quickly ran to the shop where we had already paid for the books but were yet to be supplied to fetch them





In no time, he was back with them. That day after we had finished polishing his shoes, Mr. Okafor gave us money to buy our uniforms. He said he would have taken us and given us a place to stay but that we were too young and he could be accused of abduction.





Come here when your uniforms are ready, he told us. That was how Allah used Mr. Okafor to change our story in 1992. He took us to a public primary school and registered us.





Some people are angels and when you are lucky to meet them, they dont care what your tribe or religion is before they choose to help you. Mr. Okafor was such a person. Ali and I began to sleep in one of his warehouses at night





with some of his workers  mostly Hausas who help to offload his goods. His wife treated us like her own children. She would give us food and some of her childrens old clothes. Tragedy struck in the year2004 when Ali and I were at ABU Zaria.





Mr. Okafor had an accident on his way to his village and died. I thought this would affect us but Obinna, his eldest son took over his fabric business and still carried on as if nothing had happened.





The relationship we had with the family blossomed. When we returned from school, we would work in one of their warehouses until the holiday was over. There was never a time we called Obinna and told him we needed money and he didnt respond.





After my service in 2010, I joined the custom service while Ali through one of his friends whom he met in school became a politician. He is a lawmaker in his state house of assembly. He is doing great. We are both doing great and still good friends.





And we are still very close to the Okafors. Ours is a relationship that would last until the day Allah calls us. Our story has taught me that the saying man is the architect of his own fortune, is very true.





And also, when theres a will, there surely will be a way. Dont let anyone deceive you, there is light of every dark tunnel for everyone. We only remain in the darkness of the tunnel because we are just too scared to approach the light. if we make a move, we surely would be out of the tunnel. I got married in 2015 and Obinna and his mother attended the wedding. They were also in Alis wedding too a year before.





When we fight over tribe or religion, we do so because we are largely ignorant of our existence and how Allah can use us as angels to help one another. Humanity should always count because we are all one and the same.





It is needless for us to keep pointing guns and raising daggers at one another. THE ALMAJIRI by Japheth Prosper.(a true story)




Creating problems

The letter Law and justice (May 13) reveals the lazy thought process possessing many in the state today.

The writer essentially asks why the state closed churches and left abortion clinics open. He has somehow concluded, as many other lazy thinkers have, that closing establishments in the face of a deadly pandemic has some element of moral judgment to it. It doesnt. Nobody is being punished. No type of business or church is being singled out. Its all about the number of people gathering in one spot  thats all. The stay-at-home order that is now being eased was just to try to keep large numbers of people from gathering in one place, thus spreading the disease to many other people. Is that truly so hard to understand?

Do 10 people attend a single abortion? I think thats very unlikely.

It may be that the state erred in closing one or two categories of gathering place, but yelling religious persecution does nothing but get public officials hackles up. No public official is going to say, Oh, youre right, we were persecuting your church, never mind.
The Moto G8 Power Lite launched last month globally and features a large 5,000mAh battery and a 6.5-inch display along with triple rear cameras. The launch date of the smartphone was confirmed by Flipkart via its website.

Motorola is lining up a slew of launches in India. The Lenovo-owned smartphone brands plans to launch the Moto Edge+ in India on May 19 and just a few days after, the company will launch the Moto G8 Power Lite. The launch date of the latter was confirmed by Flipkart via its website.

The Moto G8 Power Lite launched last month globally and features a large 5,000mAh battery and a 6.5-inch display along with triple rear cameras. Its expected to be positioned as a budget smartphone in India.

Motorola Moto G8 Power Lite specs and features

The Motorola G8 Power Lite is part of the famous G-series from Moto and offers a 6.5-inch LCD panel with 20:9 aspect ratio. The phone will come with a waterdrop notch housing the front camera.

Motorola has confirmed the smartphone is splash resistant and runs on the MediaTek Helio P35 SoC paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. Theres also an option to increase the storage via a dedicated microSD card slot.

On the back are three cameras that includes a 16MP primary shooter with f/2.0 aperture, a 2MP macro lens and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, theres an 8MP camera for selfies.

The Moto G8 Power Lite will house a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W charging. The phone will run on stock Android 9 Pie and will have a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Motorola Moto G8 Power Lite: Expected price in India

The Moto G8 Power Lite is priced globally at EUR 169 which roughly converts to Rs 13,870 in India. The phone will be sold via Flipkart. More details regarding the smartphone will be revealed on May 21. The Moto G8 Power Lite will be available in Arctic Blue and Royal Blue colour variants.
Iraqi army, police launch anti-Daesh operation in Diyala province

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 May 2020 5:47 PM

Iraqi army troops and police forces of Diyala province have launched a joint counterterrorism operation in the eastern parts of the country.

In a statement, carried by the Arabic-language al-Masdar news agency, security forces said on Saturday that they had commenced "part of the Diyala Operations Command represented by the 5th Infantry Division of the Iraqi Army and the Diyala Police Directorate are conducting raids in southern Bahriz."

Bahriz is a town in the eastern province of Diyala located about ten kilometers south of Baqubah, the provincial capital, and 40 kilometers north of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

The statement added that the goal of the operation is to implement "orders to arrest the wanted and prosecute the remnants" of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, "as well as strengthening security and stability there."

It further said the details of the operation would be announced later.

Earlier in the day, Iraq's pro-government Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), known in Arabic as Hashd al-Sha'abi, also announced that four members of the 23rd Brigade had been killed when repelling an attack by Daesh terrorist in the same province.

Separately on Saturday, Burhan al-Maamouri, a legislator representing the province, warned about the imminent danger in Diyala, after Daesh escalated its attacks inside the volatile province.

The terror group has already lost all of the urban strongholds it once held in the Arab country, thanks to continued anti-terror operations by the Iraqi army and its allied fighters from Hashd al Sha'abi. However, the Daesh remnants every so often attack civilians and soldiers alike.

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A medical worker takes a swab sample from a man to be tested for the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in a neighborhood in Wuhan. (AFP)

Beijing: China still faces an enormous challenge of a potential second wave of COVID-19 infections, with a lack of immunity among a major threat, a top medical advisor of the country has warned.

Doctor Zhong Nanshan, senior medical advisor of the Chinese government on Saturday was quoted in an exclusive CNN report as saying: "The majority of ... Chinese at the moment are still susceptible to the Covid-19 infection, because (of) a lack of immunity."

"We are facing (a) big challenge, it's not better than the foreign countries I think at the moment."

Dr Zhong is a well-known figure in China who in the year 2003 was known as the "SARS hero" for fighting the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic. Even now, Zhong's contribution is considered pivotal in the country's coronavirus response.

Moreover, it was Dr Zhong who confirmed in January this year on state broadcaster CCTV that the COVID-19 can be transmitted between humans.

"At the very beginning they kept silent, and then I said probably we have (a larger) number of people being infected," Zhong said. "I didn't believe that result, so I (kept) asking and then, you have to give me the real number."

Coronavirus, which was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan has so far reported 82,000 COVID-19 cases in the country, with 4,633 fatalities, according to data from the country's National Health Commission (NHC).

The Chinese mainland reported six new imported cases of the coronavirus disease on Saturday, which brought the total number of imported cases to 1,698.

Earlier in the day, a health official stressed the need to improve further testing capabilities in China. According to the Xinhua news agency, China is able to conduct 1.5 million nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 infections every day.

The National Health Commission has called on all qualified and registered medical institutions across the country to conduct nucleic acid testing since the end of January to deal with the rapid growth of COVID-19 cases, said Guo Yanhong, an official with the commission.

The next step is to step up the building and management of laboratories, biosafety management and the training of medical personnel, the official added.
A round 500 Covid-19 patients will undergo blood transfusions from Monday to see if sharing survivors' antibodies will help fight off the strain.

The experimental treatment will be trialled in around a dozen hospitals in the UK with each participant receiving two units of plasma after 994 units were collected.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said if successful the procedure will be rolled out to more hospitals.

While transfusions have begun, the effectiveness of plasma treatment will not be known until the trial ends, with results expected in the late summer.

Nicola Green, 45, from Widnes, donated convalescent plasma at Liverpool Donor Centre on Friday.

She had spent two days in hospital with Covid-19 after experiencing a fever and severe headaches, followed by a cough and fatigue.

Covid-19 survivors have donated plasma / PA

She said: Its amazing to feel I am helping because I wouldnt want anyone to go through what I went through or even worse.

Nearly 200 people have been recruited to collect the plasma, which will also be picked up from temporary donation spaces in six regional operations centres and three new community venues in London.

Professor David Roberts, NHSBT associate medical director for blood donation, said: We thank everyone who is donating convalescent plasma.

We know many people who can donate will have been through a difficult experience and we are grateful for their help in reaching this milestone.

There is still much more to do. We can reassure people that convalescent plasma donation is safe and easy.

Youll also be taking part in groundbreaking research. If you get the call, please donate.
Over 175 years ago, France and Mexico engaged in a culinary-inspired war sparked by a dispute over baked goods. The historic battle raged on from 1838 - 1839 and was named "the Pastry War."

In 1838, Mexico was still striving to gain its foothold after it declared freedom from Spain in 1821. The first 20 years of independence saw a tumultuous government that led Mexico to become a lawless land during the 1828 campaign between presidential candidates Manuel Gomez Pedraza and Vicente Guerrero Saldana. The chaotic situation had many French nationals to suffer constant harassment from Mexican soldiers.

Repaying Debts

Remontel was a French pastry chef on the outskirts of the town of Tacubaya. He was renowned for his cream puffs and other delectable goods. While the locals praised Monsieur Remontel's baked products, the Mexican officers constantly harassed the pastry maker. In 1832, his bakery was allegedly destroyed by drunken army forces.

The Mexican government ignored his attempt at requesting payment for the damage caused by the troops. The angry baker bypassed the French diplomatic corps and went directly to King Louise Philippe of France to ask for assistance. The French government, who had already received many complaints from other French nationals, demanded a compensation of 600,000 pesos-60,000 of which will go to Monsieur Remontel.

Mexico, who then owed a debt to other European nations, rejected the request. In spring of 1838, the French government sent out a naval fleet. It blockaded vital docks along the Gulf of Mexico and the Rio Grande. The navy bombarded the island fortress of San Juan de Ulua in Veracruz on November 27, 1838, forcing the Mexican government to declare war.

The Pastry War

Former military general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna lived near the Mexican fortress in Veracruz during the attack. The government called upon him to lead over 3,200 soldiers to fight the French at Veracruz. Santa Anna immediately organized a makeshift army aimed to drive the French troops back to their ships.

Learning of the plans of the Mexican army, the opposition responded by landing 1,500 troops led by the French King's third son, 20-year-old Prince Francois de Joinville. The prince caught the Mexican army off guard when they launched an attack on a military compound. Sensing defeat, Santa Anna fled to a monastery that served as army barracks.

The Mexican army regrouped and attacked the French soldiers but was defeated by the amount of artillery fire that came from the French fleet. Grapeshot fired from one of the cannons severely injured one of Santa Anna's legs. He and his army evacuated Veracruz. The doctors amputated the general's limb, which he buried at his hacienda.

The British government offered their assistance to help mediate and end the violence on both sides. They dispatched a squadron and an ambassador to the Gulf of Mexico. Richard Pakenham, the British mediator, used his connections within the Mexican political circle to broker a peace agreement between the warring countries.

On March 9, 1839, Mexico paid France the hefty sum of 600,000 pesos while France withdrew its army forces from the country. Monsieur Remontel was compensated and allowed to continue selling his pastries to his Mexican customers.

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Elon Musk is known around the world for being the genius who revolutionized the automotive industry. The founder and CEO of Tesla used a combination of technology and innovative design to create the first all-electric car that was able to drive over 200 miles on a single charge.

Not only is Musk dominating the automotive market, but since 2002, he has also made great accomplishments with space exploration. In addition to vehicles and space exploration, Musk is rumored to expand his already impressive resume to include film production as well.

Recently, rumors surfaced that suggested that Musk will soon be filming a movie from space. And not only will his company, Space X leave the planet to make a movie, but they will be taking Tom Cruise with them.

So, is Tom Cruise really planning on making a movie from space? Here is what we know.

Elon Musk is a science superstar

Crew Dragon at the Cape undergoing final preparations ahead of first flight to the @Space_Station with @NASA astronauts onboard pic.twitter.com/uMpmroFDD6  SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 1, 2020

RELATED: Why Grimes and Elon Musks Baby Wont Have a Gender

Musk is a South African-born billionaire who created several multi-million-dollar businesses. Growing up, Musk was always interested in computers. When he was just 12 years old, he created his first computer game called Blastar.

When he was 17 years old, Musk moved to Canada with his mother where he obtained his Canadian citizenship. After graduating from high school, he moved to America to attend the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated with a degree in economics and physics.

In 1995, Musk created his first online business called Zip2, which was basically an online city directory. A few years later, he sold that business for $307 million. He then used that money to create another company called X.com (which later became PayPal) that he ended up selling for an impressive 1$.5 billion.

In 2002, Musk launched his third company called Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, also known as Space X. According to the Space X website, Musk created this company with the hopes of enabling humans to become a spacefaring civilization and a multi-planet species by building a self-sustaining city on Mars.

In 2008, Space X created the first privately-owned rocket, called Falcon 1, that was able to successfully orbit the Earth. Soon, Musk was signing a contract with NASA that allowed Space X vehicles to transport supplies to the International Space Station. For the next few years, Space X continued to create different rockets for various space exploration missions.

Tom Cruise is a Hollywood superstar

RELATED: Fans Cant Unsee the Major Quirk in Tom Cruises Smile

Cruise started acting when he was just a teenager. He starred in his first film, entitled Endless Love in 1981 and almost instantly, became a teen heartthrob. His career really took off in 1983 when he starred in the iconic movie Risky Business, and for the next three decades, his popularity has continued to grow.

In 1996, he became known around the world as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, when he starred in the hit action film series Mission Impossible. After starring in five different Mission Impossible sequels, this arguably became one of his most iconic roles. To date, there are six movies in the series and a seventh an eighth installment are expected to come out sometime in 2021 and 2022.

Is Tom Cruise planning on filming a movie in space with Space X?

Tom Cruise | Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Page Six reports Cruise is planning on teaming up with Musks company, Space X, and NASA to film a narrative movie from space. Production is currently in the very early stages and so far, they have not signed with any studios yet.

However, if this movie does eventually go into production, it will be the first feature film that has ever been produced in space, which means that this will be a history-making career move for both Musk and Cruise.

NASA has since confirmed the rumors. A NASA official said Cruise wants to film a movie onboard the International Space Station. NASA is excited to work with @TomCruise on a film aboard the @Space_Station! wrote NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make @NASAs ambitious plans a reality.
Sharjah, May 17 : Separated from her mother for two months, an Indian minor in Sharjah has made a desperate appeal for help for them to reunite, a media report said.

Nine-year-old Rashi has written an emotional letter describing her plight. A pencil sketch alongside depicts a happy family reunion with her mother Poonam, said the Gulf News report on Saturday.

Poonam was visiting India to see her ailing mother but got stranded because of COVID-19 flight suspensions.

"Please help me in uniting with my mother. I am missing her very much. I haven't seen her since 59 days. We have been struggling a lot...," Rashi, a class five student at Indian High School (HIS) Dubai said in the handwritten letter, which has now been shared on Twitter by her father, Haresh Karamchandani.

Haresh, who works for an electrical company, told Gulf News that Poonam had gone to Mumbai on March 18 to see her ailing mother who passed away 10 days later.

"Poonam was due to fly back in early April but got stuck in India because of the coronavirus pandemic situation," said Haresh, who has since been looking after Rashi and 15-year-old son Krish.
Following the recent wave of gruesome attacks on innocent villagers in several communities at Ruma and Batsari Local Government Areas (LGAs), in Katsina State, the District Head of Batsari, Tukur Muazu, said his subjects will prefer to die from coronavirus than being killed by rampaging bandits.

Mr Muazu, who stated this in a short video, obtained by PRNigeria, noted that the rising insecurity in Katsina is worse than the threat of COVID-19.

The district head, who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Ruma Katsina said: My people will prefer to die from coronavirus infection. Not from these senseless killings orchestrated by bandits. So far, the deadly pandemic has not claimed any life in Batsari and other neighbouring local government areas (LGAs), but the bandits have killed scores of harmless villagers and residents. So, what are we saying?

On the recent attacks launched by bandits at old and new Ruma, the district head, while speaking to PRNigeria during a phone chat, said the marauding criminals after invading over 10 communities, killed and maimed several lives.

He said several cattle and other livestock animals were also looted by the bandits.

Said Mr Muazu: The thing is, the bandits always scatter themselves when going on operations at our villages. Hence, security personnel find it difficult sometimes to easily contain the bandits attacks. However, we are still calling on the federal government to deploy more soldiers, mobile policemen and fighter helicopters to Katsina. Let them comb all the forests in our state, and eliminate these bandits.

Also, speaking on the floor of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Mustapha Jibiya, said the irresponsibility and insensitivity of relevant stakeholders was responsible for growing insecurity in the state.

It is very disturbing that from eight local government areas, we now have about 12 local governments that are ravaged by the criminally-minded bandits. This is as a result of the insensitivity of both the state and federal government, he said.

Mr Jibiya, while speaking further in Hausa during the plenary session, warned that the precarious situation will snowball to a dangerous level, if no concrete action is taken by the government to stem the tide of the bloody attacks.

He said: If the relevant authorities and government fail to act now, the situation will soon get out of hand, and it will be difficult for us to then handle.

The lawmaker, who firmly insisted that both the federal and Katsina State Government have failed to provide security for citizens, disclosed that his constituents now prefer to call on the Nigerien security forces for help when in distress.

My constituents are quick to seek the assistance of the Nigerien troops immediately they are under attack. They feel at home with them. And this is because the Nigerien troops will swiftly come to their rescue. It is unfortunate that our people are been killed, yet Mr. President and Governor of Katsina State have remained docile. They have refused to tackle the insecurity conundrum in our dear State headlong. What is wrong with this kind of leadership? After Maiduguri, Kastina is the next slaughter slab in the country, Mr Jibiya said.
The epidemic has brought great opportunities to businesses with powerful financial capability to hunt for attractive projects and take them over.

Analysts said a lot of businesses became famous for their success during a crisis. After the 2009-2012 recession, Novaland, Hung Thinh and Dat Xanh became powerful after taking over a series of pending projects in HCM City.



The same scenario may repeat in the current Covid-19 crisis.



Phan Xuan Can, president of Sohovietnam, a consultancy firm, said he has received an email from an investor who showed an intention to buy hotel projects in Vietnam. Tens of clients said they are seeking to buy other kinds of properties.



Can revealed that the investor represents a group of investors with $1 billion worth of capital who want to buy valuable properties. They are in Vietnam to see the projects on site.

The epidemic has brought great opportunities to businesses with powerful financial capability to hunt for attractive projects and take them over.

The properties Sohovietnams clients want to buy include four-star hotels with 100 or more rooms in HCM City, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Da Nang, valued at VND400-500 billion for each hotel.



Another client is seeking to buy hotels or offices in HCM City, or buy land with the value of VND1.2-1.3 trillion.



Nomura Real Estate is well known for many M&A deals. The company acquired 24 percent of shares in Sun Wah Tower in district 1, HCM City, took over Zen Plaza building, and cooperated with Phu My Hung to develop Midtown high-end complex.



Under its medium- and long-term business plan until 2028, Nomura Real Estate will invest 300 billion yen, or VND63.6 trillion, in foreign enterprises, with the emphasis on expanding business in the real estate sector in Vietnam.



Su Ngoc Khuong from Savills Vietnam commented that now is a difficult time for many domestic and foreign investors, but a good time for powerful companies to take over valuable properties.

He revealed that some M&A deals are under negotiation with the consultancy from Savills Vietnam, worth over $500 million.



A pandemic will affect the flexibility of the market and it could be a reason for many large-scale asset assignment deals. Covid-19 is likely to accelerate M&A resort real estate affairs as buyers and sellers are ready to negotiate for more reasonable prices.



Offices and project land for apartments and commercial services are believed to be segments that most attract investors. As for hotels, the ones in advantageous positions will still catch attention, but the prices wont be high if they are offered now.

Tran Thuy

VN real estate not hit hard by Covid-19 The Ministry of Construction (MOC) said though the epidemic has affected the real estate market, causing a decline in supply and the number of transactions, real estate prices in some localities are still on the rise.
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Although he is the incumbent, Trump hopes to run against those authorities, too, as the outsider, the victim of the deep state, the voice of the aggrieved. It may seem preposterous that, after so thoroughly botching the response to the novel coronavirus, he would present himself as the champion of those whom his failure has most harmed. But he will try  even if it means putting the nation at further risk.
Readying the special graduation event came with challenges, Leech said.

It was more difficult, obviously, with all the restrictions and a lot of the hoops we had to jump through to be able to have graduation today, he said. Everybody really pulled together to help out. The city gave us clearance, and the governor and the commissioner of education. A lot of people wanted to make sure the seniors in Grand Island got a celebration.

Leech said he was proud of how his students have impacted the community positively amid the pandemic, including a food drive that collected 10,000 items and raised $11,000 for local backpack programs.

Instead of focusing on what was taken away from them, they came together and focused on how they can help their community, he said, whether that be the little things they did individually or coming together with the food drive to help the community in a large way.

He added, Ive just been impressed with them as Christian leaders throughout.

Leech is hopeful some normalcy will be restored for the coming school year.

As science progresses on fighting this thing, and as we learn a little more about how to treat it and how to take care of ourselves, he said, we dont know about the fall, but were definitely hopeful at next year this time well be celebrating as normal across the city.

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Baghdad, May 17 : Six Islamic State (IS) militants and a policeman were killed in two attacks in the provinces of Salahudin and Diyala, security sources said.

In Salahudin province, the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi artillery pounded IS positions in al-Zarga area, in east of the provincial capital Tikrit, some 170 km north of Baghdad, leaving six IS militants killed, the Hashd Shaabi said in a statement on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

In the eastern province of Diyala, a policeman was killed and an officer wounded when IS militants opened fire on their police checkpoint in al-Abbara area in northeast of the provincial capital Baquba, located some 65 km northeast of Baghdad, Ahmed al-Shimmary from the provincial police said.

The attacks came as the extremist IS militants intensified their attacks on the security forces, including Hashd Shaabi forces, and civilians in the Sunni provinces which once were under the control of IS militants, since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, resulting in the killing and wounding of dozens of people.

Earlier in the day, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said that the Iraqi forces will launch a major offensive to eradicate IS militants, and that the Hashd Shaabi forces will be at the forefront of the security forces in the upcoming offensive.

The security situation in Iraq has been improving since Iraqi security forces fully defeated the IS militants across the country late in 2017.

However, despite repeated military operations against the IS remnants, IS militants are still hiding in deserts, rugged areas as well as in Himreen mountain range which extends in the provinces of Diyala, Salahudin and Kirkuk. They are capable of carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.
Like much else in life, pandemics arent fair. They take a larger toll on some cohorts of society than on others. Hardest hit, it will be news to no one, are typically those not favoured by fate or good fortune in the first place.

The COVID-19 crisis has shone a stark light on social inequities in the worlds richest countries. As the Star reported this week, research shows that Ontarians testing positive for COVID-19 are more likely to live in neighbourhoods characterized by precarious housing, lower incomes and greater concentration of immigrants and visible minorities.

For those most vulnerable to the virus, the question is seldom whether or not to go to the cottage, but instead on stresses and risks that are far more fundamental. Is there enough to pay the rent? For groceries? Is it safe to go to work?

The dreadful double-whammy of the coronavirus crisis has been that those organizations devoted to levelling our social imbalances are among the biggest victims.

For charities across Canada, for the entire non-profit sector, for those agencies that stand as the consciences of our communities, the age of COVID-19 has been a particularly dire time.

Even as demand surges, the wherewithal to meet it has evaporated. Revenue dries up as fund-raising events  the galas, the walk-a-thons, the concerts and music festivals, the bake, book and rummage sales  are cancelled.

Donations have dwindled. Empty churches  many already struggling financially  dont feed collection plates. Food bank shelves have emptied.

Dr. Samantha Nutt, founder of War Child Canada, has called it a brutal irony that resources have disappeared even as the need of those bearing the biggest brunt of COVID-19 has increased.

David Morley, CEO of UNICEF Canada, has called the non-profit sector  which employs more than a million Canadians and accounts for more than eight per cent of the economy  an incredible social structure vital to the life of the country.

Last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the Emergency Community Support Fund of $350 million for charities struggling for survival during the pandemic. The money is to flow through three national groups  the United Way, the Red Cross and Community Foundations Canada  to the countrys 86,000 registered charities.

It was a good first step, as some estimates suggest donations will decline by $15 billion or more and about 200,000 workers from the sector could be laid off.

I think anyone looking for a quick return to normal will be badly disappointed, said Bruce MacDonald, president and CEO of Imagine Canada.

Whatever the new normal is, one thing is clear  more than ever, communities in recovery are going to need vibrant charities and non-profits of all types.

To their credit, some people have risen to the challenge in impressive ways.

For instance, as the Star reported, Mark Carey, 45, of Toronto plans to run 135 kilometres around the perimeter of the city on May 30 to raise money for the Red Crosss COVID-19 relief efforts. Others are taking on long portages or organizing bike-a-thons on stationary equipment.

So the challenge abides. Come up with a virus-beating idea to help raise money for those vital organizations and agencies battered by COVID-19. Donate to your usual charities, whether or not they are holding events. Donate online.

After all, lets be frank. A lot of folks comfortably ensconced on the economic ladder, people inconvenienced, perhaps, but largely unscathed by the lockdown, have remarked, with no small satisfaction, how little theyve been spending during the past two months.

Anne Frank said that no one has ever become poor by giving. Maya Angelou said she found that giving liberates the soul of the giver.

Experience suggests theyre both right.
Chinese state media said Hong Kong schools have become lawless as controversy builds over a history question in a school exam, rekindling tensions over academic freedoms in the semi-autonomous city.

Beijing and some Hong Kong officials have frequently flagged the education system as a potential breeding ground for the large-scale, often-violent pro-democracy protests which roiled the city in the second half of last year.

The latest row was sparked over a question on a Diploma of Secondary Education test, which asked students to argue whether Japan had done more good than harm to China during the period between 1900 and 1945.

A Xinhua commentary published late Friday said Hong Kong schools had failed to decolonise and the territorys education system had not developed in line with the one country, two systems rule.

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under an agreement with former colonial master Britain that the city would have a high degree of autonomy and enjoy some freedoms unavailable in the mainland.

The schools seem to have become a lawless place that can unscrupulously promote heresies, attack the one country, two systems and discredit the nation state, Xinhua wrote on its website.

Some immature students have been tricked into use by the anti-China forces and have become pawns to disrupt Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Education Secretary Kevin Yeung has asked the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) to investigate why the question was part of the history exam, sat by 5,200 students, and asked for it to be invalidated.

The question seriously hurt the feelings and dignity of the Chinese people who suffered great pain during the Japanese invasion of China, Yeung said on Friday.

Public broadcaster RTHK reported on Saturday, citing unnamed sources, that two officials from the HKEAA had resigned following the controversy.

In an interview with pro-Beijing publication Ta Kung Pao, Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam said last week the government would examine the future structure of the subject, which is part of the university entrance exams curriculum.

An attempt by the government to introduce national education in Hong Kong in 2012 to instill patriotism and promote appreciation of mainland China was met with large protests and scrapped.
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.
A Missouri woman has been accused of killing her newborn son after authorities say she gave birth in a toilet at a meat processing plant and allowed the baby to drown.

Makuya Stephanie Kambamba, 28, of Kirksville, was arrested on Friday and charged with first and second-degree murder, according to court documents filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP).

Kambamba gave birth to her baby in the restroom at the Smithfield Foods plant in Milan, where she works, on May 6.

Investigators say she then knowingly allowed the baby to drown in the toilet.

Makuya Stephanie Kambamba, 28, was charged with murder on Friday in Milan, Missouri. Investigators say she gave birth in a restroom at a meat processing plant and knowingly allowed the baby to drown in the toilet

Kambamba works at the Smithfield Food plant in Milan (above) where she gave birth on May 6

Court documents state that Kambamba told police officers that she saw the newborn moving as he was face down in the toilet water.

Kambamba said she then sat back down on the toilet because she was still having labor contractions, and never checked on him until about 30 minutes later when a Smithfield nurse entered the restroom.

An autopsy on the child showed evidence consistent with drowning.

Kambamba is facing charges for first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree involuntary manslaughter, and abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death

Kambamba's arrest late Friday afternoon was executed by MHSP, the Kirksville Police Department and the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office.

In addition to the murder charges, the 28-year-old is facing charges for first-degree involuntary manslaughter, second-degree involuntary manslaughter and abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death.

She was processed at the sheriff's office in Milan before being transported to the Daviess/DeKalb Regional Jail in Pattonsburg, where she is being held without bond.

Smithfield Foods - the largest pork producer in the world - has made headlines in recent weeks due to coronavirus outbreaks at its plants across the US

Smithfield Foods - the largest pork producer in the world - has been making headlines in recent weeks due to coronavirus outbreaks at its plants across the US.

While the plant in Milan only has one confirmed case, all of its workers have been offered COVID-19 tests after possible exposure to the person infected.

Sullivan County, where the plant is located, recorded 11 new cases over the weekend after the large-scale testing began.

It's unclear how many of those cases may have stemmed from the plant.

Earlier this month employees at the Milan plant filed a lawsuit accusing Smithfield of not doing enough to protect workers from coronavirus.

A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit on May 6, ruling that oversight of how the plant adheres to guidance aimed at slowing the spread of the virus falls to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, not the courts.

Another Smithfield plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was at one point America's largest source of COVID-19 cases after an outbreak sickened at least 800 workers.
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Since March 26, Operation Lifeline Udan has carried 885 tonnes of critical medical supplies and essential cargo over 500,000 km through 546 flights to the remotest destinations in the country. Under the Vande Bharat Mission, as the first schedule dovetails into the second schedule of flights, the Government of India (GoI) plans to bring 50,000 stranded Indians back to the country by the end of May. These are some of the responsibilities that the GoI has been engaged in as a response to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis, even as we contemplate reopening domestic aviation. But what has the Opposition been engaged in during this critical time?

A credible Opposition is imperative for democratic functioning. This becomes even more important in times of crises. The challenges of governance to deal with the pandemic are setting a new template. The changing stances of the Opposition that seek to use this humanitarian crisis as an opportunity to reclaim their lost political relevance will be scrutinised with the same care that the governments activities will be subjected to.

India was among the first to wake up to the threat of the pandemic by screening passengers, stopping flights and enforcing a nationwide lockdown. When the nation emerged as a prescient and responsible nation globally in having taken pre-emptive measures to stop the spread of the virus, the Opposition called the lockdown sudden, harsh and unilateral. If it was not for the lockdown, we would have found ourselves in the same boat as many of the more developed nations where more than thousands have been dying every day.

Even as GoI initiated immediate support to farmers, construction workers, poor women, elderly, labourers, low-salaried workers and other vulnerable sections under the ~1.7-lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan package, the Opposition suggested that the government doesnt care for the poor. Several facts such as the approval of 6.3 million loans worth ~86,600 crore in agriculture between March 1 to April 30, and an additional allocation of ~40,000 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme as compared to last year, to benefit wage seekers fly in the face of such falsehood.

The Oppositions response to the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-reliant India Campaign) has been particularly surprising. Before the announcement, the Opposition talked of improving liquidity and extending support to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

When the details of the ambitious and holistic package extending several innovative measures for MSMEs, at the cost of over ~6 lakh crore were announced, prominent members of the Opposition changed the goalpost, suggesting that no measures had been taken for migrant workers. In their zeal to criticise, they were perhaps blind to the fact that most migrant workers are in fact employed in MSMEs, and these steps would benefit them.

The next day, when specific measures to assist our migrant workers by giving them one-nation, one-ration card for access to Public Distribution Scheme (PDS), affordable rental housing through public-private partnership, interest subvention for the Mudra Shishu Loans and credit for street vendors were announced, some Opposition members tried to belittle them by suggesting that street vendors do not go to banks for credit and take loans at 1% per day.

Through the several initiatives over the past six years such as the Jan Dhan Yojna, direct benefit transfer, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Yojana and Ujjwala Yojana, the Centre has used technology to provide the benefits of governance to the most vulnerable sections. The government will partner with non-banking financial companies, microfinance institutions and banks to extend working capital loans to street vendors, and interest subvention scheme under the Deendayal Antoyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission will be worked out to reward vendors for good repayment behaviour and upscale their entitlement for bigger loans. Under the one-nation, one-ration card initiative, 670 million beneficiaries in 23 states, covering 83% of PDS population, will be covered by national portability by August.

Changing track, some Opposition members have held that easy loans for MSMEs do not constitute a stimulus as a loan is normal banking practice and only fiscal measures count. But people understand that a stimulus is anything that helps people, especially getting their businesses back on their feet. By giving credit guarantees, the government is trying to stop companies from going bankrupt and improving liquidity to MSMEs will help them to restart activities quickly. If this is not a stimulus, what is?

Similar intellectual ineptitude has been shown in response to the prime ministers call to undertake far-reaching land, labour, liquidity and legal reforms to make India self-reliant by leveraging demand in the country. Even though the prime minister specified that the approach is to be self-reliant by participating and leading the global value chains without being self-centred or inward-looking, the Opposition resorted to scaremongering about multinational corporations being shown the door when the exact opposite is being attempted by the government.

As more steps are announced for the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan , the Opposition will be further exposed. In a democracy, when the main Opposition party fails to win even 10% of the seats in the Lok Sabha, a certain level of desperation is understandable. But, if it loses its ability to engage in constructive criticism in this haste to weave false narratives, it further compromises its relevance in the political system.

Hardeep Puri is a Union minister

The views expressed are personal
In Crimea, suburban rail service will be restored on May 18, the coronavirus restrictions are lifted, the press service of the Southern Suburban Passenger Company informs.

From May 18, in accordance with the decree of the head of the Republic of Crimea released on May 15, 2020, suburban railway communication will resume. The restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemics are lifted, the company reports.
A Roman Catholic priest in the US has taken to squirting holy water at his parishioners with a water gun to maintain social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.

The St Ambrose Church in Detroit posted photos posted on social media showing the Reverand Tim Pelc shooting water into a car window as it stopped by the steps of the church on Easter.

Rev. Pelc wore a mask, face shield and rubber gloves as further precautions against spreading Covid-19.

The photos of the priest at the church in Grosse Pointe Park has now inspired memes and jokes across the internet.

One shows the 70-year-old priest amid the fires of hell directing the squirt gun at devil-like figures.

Rev. Pelc told BuzzFeed News over the weekend that he was a little concerned about how the Vatican might react when the photos of him squirting holy water began circulating widely on the internet.

But, he said, "I haven't heard anything yet."

The idea was to find a way to continue a tradition of blessing Easter baskets despite the pandemic.

One photo shows Rev. Pelc standing behind a car with its hatchback door up, shooting water at a basket flowers.

The church and surrounding communities have taken the pandemic seriously, he said.

Parishioners have tied blue ribbons on trees at the church for each person who has died of COVID-19 in Michigan.

That number is now approaching 5,000.
The mother of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn has urged the British government to stand up to the US amid a continuing diplomatic row.

Donald Trumps administration has refused to extradite suspect Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence official, for prosecution over Mr Dunns death.

The 19-year-old was killed when his motorbike collided with Ms Sacoolass car outside a US military base in what she called an unintentional accident.

Ms Sacoolas, 42, claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash in August and was able to return to the US.

American officials were reportedly furious at the UKs decision to issue an international wanted notice for Ms Sacoolas, who was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December.

Despite the US continued refusal to extradite the suspect, the UK has agreed to send two fugitives across the Atlantic.

Mr Dunns mother, Charlotte Charles, said: We don't want any problems with the US government, but we can see that the US government is behaving like a bully.

It will be a road to ruin if we back down as a country now and we have to stand up to them

An extradition request submitted by the home secretary was rejected by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo in January - a decision the State Department called final.

Ms Charles said the UK should refuse to send anyone to the US until it agrees to play by the rules, starting with sending Anne Sacoolas back.

The Home Office confirmed extradition requests had been approved by Priti Patel for Jabir Motiwala, 53, and Colin Wilkinson, 54, from Hull, last month.

 Harry Dunn's family hail huge step as US suspect charged over his death

Mr Motiwala is wanted in the US to face charges of extortion, money laundering and conspiracy to import drugs, while Mr Wilkinson faces charges of downloading child sex abuse images in Texas.

The pair are fighting the decisions and have appeals pending in the High Court.

Radd Seiger, a spokesperson for Mr Dunn's parents, said: Arrangements for sending wanted people across the Atlantic are hopelessly weighted in favour of the Americans.

As we have seen in the case of Ms Sacoolas, the American government didn't even bother to go through the motions of putting the case through the legal and court system.

Pompeo just said no, it's not happening and that his decision is final.

In my numerous visits to Washington and speaking to leaders there, I sought to impress upon them just how stupid, reckless and short-sighted that stance would be.

No-one would be going in the opposite direction and I have made it clear to leaders in Westminster that no-one is to go the other way until Anne Sacoolas is back.

The Mail on Sunday said Washington officials were furious to learn UK police had put out Interpol red diffusion notice for Ms Sacoolas last week. It has been sent to a selection of countries, including Canada.

(Getty Images (Getty Images)

It reported that US officials confronted their British counterparts over the move, prompting talks last Thursday involving Boris Johnson, foreign secretary Dominic Raab and Ms Patel.

Interpol cannot compel nations to arrest suspects but if she visits another member state she could be detained.

Ms Sacoolas previously refused to return to Britain voluntarily to face prosecution.

A criminal prosecution with a potential penalty of 14 years imprisonment is simply not a proportionate response, her lawyer, Amy Jeffress, said in December.

Anne is devastated by this tragic accident and continues to extend her deepest condolences to the family.

Ms Sacoolas was twice interviewed by Northamptonshire Police, once on the day after the crash and on another occasion by officers who travelled to the US.

Mr Dunns family have also visited the country in an attempt to gain support and Boris Johnson spoke to Donald Trump about the case to make clear that what has happened is not acceptable.

But the US president has publicly defended Ms Sacoolas, saying that driving on the wrong side of the road can happen and adding: It was an accident.

Additional reporting by PA
European Union flags in front of the EU Parliament building in Brussels, Belgium, on Jan. 27, 2015. (VanderWolf-Images/iStock)

European Politicians Urge EU to Back Taiwans Participation in WHO

A group of more than 100 members of the European Parliament and one national parliament submitted an urgent open letter on May 13 that calls on 27 EU health ministers to demand that the World Health Organization (WHO) reinstates Taiwans participation as an observer in the U.N. agency.

The signatories also say that Taiwan should be invited to the session of WHOs highest decision-making body being held in Geneva this week.

The letter initiated by Urmas Paet, a member of the European Parliament (MEP) and a former minister of foreign affairs of Estonia, was co-signed by 107 EU parliamentarians and five members of Germanys Parliament, who represent a range of political groups. The letter calls on EU health ministers to request Taiwans participation in all WHO meetings, mechanisms, and activities.

Taiwan held observer status at the WHO between 2009 and 2016.

The Taiwanese government has successfully managed to curb the spread of the virus in spite of Taiwans geographic proximity to the virus origin, the letter says. Taiwan is only 80 miles from China.

Taiwan needs to be invited to the meeting in Geneva to share with the world its successful approach to curbing the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, as Taiwans information and expertise can help the world combat the pandemic, the letter explains.

The CCP virus originated in China last year and spread around the world, infecting more than 4.6 million people and killing almost 314,000, as of May 17. As of May 17, Taiwana nation of more than 23 millionhas 440 confirmed COVID-19 cases and only seven deaths, according to the Taiwanese Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Taiwans Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-Chung gestures during a press conference at the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Taipei, Taiwan, on March 11, 2020. (Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images)

The signatories of the letter specifically ask that Taiwans Minister of Health and Welfare, Chen Shih Chung, be invited to attend this years virtual [World Health Assembly] videoconference, as an observer, to share with us Taiwans successful experience in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the decision-making body of the WHO. It is attended by delegations from all WHO member states and is held annually in Geneva, according to its website. This years session will take place on May 18-19.

The signatories also request that the WHO facilitate appropriate and feasible arrangements for Taiwan to participate in all WHO meetings, mechanisms, and activities.

In a statement in response to the support letter from the European legislators, Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, We hoped the WHO would listen to the publics voice in Europe instead of subjecting itself to political maneuvers from a certain WHO member.

The ministry said that WHO has two ways for inviting WHA observersthrough a resolution passed by the WHA or an invitation issued by the WHO director-general, as it did from 2009-2016.

The WHO director-general can only issue an invitation when there is clear support from WHO members, which isnt the case this year, according to Focus Taiwan, which cited WHO principal legal officer Steven Solomon on May 11.

The logo of the World Health Organization (WHO) at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 30, 2020. (Denis Balibouse/Reuters)

Support for Taiwans Participation in WHO

The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have already officially expressed their support for the return of Taiwan to its former status as a WHO observer.

President Donald Trump signed in March legislation called Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act, also known as TAIPEI Act, which requires the State Department to advocate for Taiwan to be granted observer status in appropriate international organizations.

The U.S. government will assist Taiwan in having its appropriate role in every organization that has a content  related to whats taking place inside of Taiwan, including the WHO, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at a press briefing on March 30.

According to the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 205 bipartisan members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter on May 14 to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calling for Taiwans participation as an observer at the WHO meeting in Geneva.

Seventy-one legislators from 10 countries in Central and South America have sent individual letters to Tedros urging him to consider Taiwans participation in the global health system, according to Focus Taiwan.

Taiwans Response to CCP Virus Spread

Commuters pack a metro train in downtown Taipei, Taiwan on March 16, 2020. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Community spread of the CCP virus hasnt occurred among Taiwans population, leaving life on the island largely uninterruptedwithout widespread restrictions such as those adopted in the United States and Europe.

On Dec. 31 last year, when Wuhan authorities publicly acknowledged that there was an outbreak of a mysterious pneumonia-like illness, Taiwan introduced border quarantine measures that include assessing airline passengers arriving from Wuhan for fever and pneumonia symptoms.

On Jan. 5, Taiwanese authorities urged people who had traveled to Wuhan to be tested for COVID-19, especially if they showed fever or respiratory symptoms. On Jan. 25, Taiwan suspended all tours to China, and on Feb. 6, the island banned entry to all mainland Chinese visitors.

On Jan. 24, the Taiwanese government banned the export of surgical masks while boosting local production of masks to 10 million per day.

Another key factor in Taiwans success was that the islands government was able to build up public trust, said Wu Ming-tsang, distinguished professor at the public health department of Taiwans Kaohsiung Medical University.

Beijing didnt concede that the CCP virus could be spread between people until Jan. 20.

The WHO disregarded a warning received on Dec. 31 from Taiwanese authorities about the risk of human-to-human transmission of the CCP virus, and waited until Jan. 30 to declare a public health emergency.

On Jan. 27, the WHO acknowledged in a report (pdf) that it had wrongfully assessed the risk of the virus.

Frank Fang contributed to this report.
The $130 billion JobKeeper program is a windfall for low and medium income earners, especially couples and single parents.

The Grattan Institute has found couples who had a joint income of $75,000 or less before the pandemic are financially better off if they both get the JobKeeper payment of $1500 a fortnight. The income boost is greatest for couples with children.

Student Nadia Homem, who is living at home and working part-time, is getting an extra $200 a fortnight on JobKeeper. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Singles with no children are typically better off on JobKeeper if they earned $25,000 or less before the crisis, but JobKeeper is a pay rise for single parents who normally earn $50,000.

Brendan Coates, Grattan's household finances program director, said JobKeeper was shielding ordinary Australians from the worst of the downturn.
T he mother of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn has said Britain will be on the road to ruin if it backs down in its diplomatic row with the bully US government.

Charlotte Charles said we have to stand up to them as it emerged the United States refused to hand over suspect Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence worker.

Washington officials are reportedly furious that UK police have issued an international wanted notice for Sacoolas, who was charged with causing the 19-year-olds death by dangerous driving in December.

Mr Dunn was killed when his motorbike collided with a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27.

Harry Dunn died aged 19 in a hit and run in August, and Anne Sacoolas is believed to be the driver / PA

Sacoolas, 42, claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to her home country.

An extradition request submitted by the Home Office for her was rejected by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo in January  a decision the State Department has said is final.

Mr Dunns mother said: We dont want any problems with the US Government. But we can see that the US Government is behaving like a bully.

It will be a road to ruin if we back down as a country now and we have to stand up to them.

I agree with calls that no-one should be extradited until the US Government agrees to play by the rules, starting with sending Anne Sacoolas back.

She did not have diplomatic immunity.

In contrast the UK has agreed to extradite two fugitives to the United States. The Home Office confirmed extradition requests had been approved by Home Secretary Priti Patel for Jabir Motiwala, 53, and Colin Wilkinson, 54, from Hull, last month.

Motiwala is wanted in the US to face charges of extortion, money laundering and conspiracy to import drugs while Wilkinson faces charges of downloading child sex abuse images in Texas, the Daily Express reported.

Harry Dunn's family have been campaigning for Anne Sacoolas to be returned to theUK / AP

The pair are fighting the decisions and have appeals pending in the High Court.

Acting on behalf of Mr Dunns parents, spokesman Radd Seiger added: Arrangements for sending wanted people across the Atlantic are hopelessly weighted in favour of the Americans.

As we have seen in the case of Anne Sacoolas, the American Government didnt even bother to go through the motions of putting the case through the legal and court system.

Pompeo just said no, its not happening and that his decision is final.

In my numerous visits to Washington and speaking to leaders there, I sought to impress upon them just how stupid, reckless and short-sighted that stance would be.

No-one would be going in the opposite direction and I have made it clear to leaders in Westminster that no-one is to go the other way until Anne Sacoolas is back.

Meanwhile the Mail on Sunday reported that diplomatic tensions are boiling after British police enacted an Interpol Red Diffusion Notice, which was sent to countries including Canada, seeking Sacoolass arrest if she left the United States.

Washington was reportedly not notified about the move, in the hope Sacoolas would leave the country and be arrested.

US officials were said to have been furious and confronted British counterparts, prompting crisis talks last Thursday involving Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, and Ms Patel, the paper reported.
Thus, Stafford County became the birthplace of aviation.

In June 1897, Langley penned an article for the popular and widely-read McClures Magazine. I have thus far had only a purely scientific interest in the results of these labors, he wrote.

Perhaps it could have been foreseen at the outset how much labor there was to be, how much of life would be given to it, and how much care, I might have hesitated to enter upon it at all. And now reward must be looked for, if reward there be, in the knowledge that I have done the best I could in a difficult task, with results which it may be hoped will be useful to others.

I have brought to a close the portion of the work which seemed to be specially minethe demonstration of the practicability of mechanical flightand for the next stage, which is the commercial and practical development of the idea, it is probable that the world may look to others.

The world, indeed, will be supine if it does not realize that a new possibility has come to it, and that the great universal highway overhead is now soon to be opened.
At the end of his 60-day law license suspension, Eric J. Nisley declared in an April 22 Facebook post: Today I returned to my role as Wasco County District Attorney  I remain in office.

But the state Department of Justice had another idea.

Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said Nisley vacated his elected office on Feb. 10, the first day of his suspension.

The Justice Department took charge of the office then. The departments deputy chief counsel, Stephanie Tuttle, is serving as the countys top prosecutor until the governor appoints someone or is elected.

Rosenblum, once challenged, has now turned to the Oregon Supreme Court to resolve the dispute.

The question: How did Nisleys law license suspension affect his ability to serve as the elected district attorney?

Both the Justice Department and Nisley want the issue settled for different reasons.

Nisley, who is seeking re-election, said the Justice Departments takeover is based on egregious flawed legal reasoning that oversteps legislative authority and sets a bad precedent. His lawyers argue that Rosenblum has misinterpreted state law and doesnt have the power to unilaterally remove him from office.

Rosenblum worries, she said in a petition to the Supreme Court, that the dispute could cast a cloud of legal uncertainty over all Wasco County prosecutions and convictions until it is resolved.

In other words, people could challenge both the Justice Departments standing in the county or Nisleys if the matter remains in limbo.

According to the attorney generals reading of state law, district attorneys must be members of the state bar at the time of their election. If someone in public office loses a qualification required for election, that office becomes vacant, Rosenblums office argues.

Because Nisley lost his bar membership, even if just temporarily when he was suspended, he no longer had the necessary qualifications to hold the district attorneys office, Deputy Solicitor General Paul L. Smith wrote in a memo to the Supreme Court.

But Nisleys lawyers, William Gary, Sharon A. Rudnick and Susan Marmaduke, have urged the court to pay close attention to the wording of state law, which says, (a) person elected district attorney must, at the time of election, have been admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Oregon.

They argued in their response that a district attorney, at the time of election, doesnt have to be an active member of the state bar and could be a retired lawyer, zeroing in on the state laws wording have been admitted to practice. So, theres no requirement that a district attorney, or even an attorney general, be an active member of the bar throughout their tenure, they said.

Therefore, Nisleys temporary suspension from the active practice of law wouldnt require that he vacate his office, they argued.

Nisleys lawyers unsuccessfully asked the attorney general to follow past practice from the late 1990s when Clackamas County District Attorney Terry Gustafson was suspended from practicing law for six months after she was accused of threatening a defense attorney in a sex abuse case. During the suspension, Gustafson was allowed to show up to work daily and handled administrative but not legal matters. Once her license was reinstated, she remained in office and resumed all her work.

Veteran Clackamas County District Attorney John Foote, a longtime friend of Nisley, said what the attorney general did stripping Nisley of his office was wrong. Days before Nisleys law license suspension took effect, the Attorney Generals office wrote Nisley a letter, saying he was being removed from the district attorneys office and cutting off his pay, Foote said.

"The attorney general had no power to remove an elected official. I have never seen such a naked assault on the independence of an elected official, he said. The idea that the DOJ can unilaterally remove someone from duly elected office is stunning to me.

The Supreme Court hasnt said when it will take up the question. In any case, its not likely to be resolved before Tuesday, when Oregon holds its primary election and Nisley faces challenger Matthew Ellis, a criminal defense lawyer in Hood River.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

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Lakhs of students who had taken the Bihar Board class 10th examination are anxiously waiting for their BSEB Bihar 10th Result. The result was scheduled to be declared by the end of March but it has been delayed due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Bihar Board class 10 exam answer sheets evaluation is completed. The marks of students are being compiled and fed in the computer . The BSEB Bihar 10th result 2020 will be declared after May 20.

A BSEB official said that BSEB Matric Result 2020 would be declared in the next week. Evaluation of pending answersheets is completed in all districts. Compilation of result is on. After preparation of toppers list, the board will finish other formalities including verification of toppers copies and interview of toppers through video call, an official told HT.

Top ten highest scoring students are soon expected to be called for physical verification. Bihar School Examination Board does physical verification of top 10 rank holders. In this process, a panel of subject experts is constituted who checks the answersheets of these toppers once again. They are then called for an interview, during which experts ask them questions from their subjects to be assured that they have not got the marks by using any unfair means .

This process is expected to be completed in the coming few days.

Bihar board started the process of physical verification of toppers in 2017 after the infamous merit list scandal in which a student who topped the state board exams was not even able to answer the most basic questions from her/his subject.

This year, more than 15 lakh students appeared in Bihar Board Class 10th exam held across 1368 exam centres, which was conducted from February 17 to February 24. Last year, matric results were declared on April 6 with overall pass percentage 80.73%.

This year class 12 board exams toppers were interviewed by video calls due to the lockdown. The class 10th toppers will also be interviewed on video calls only in order to maintain social distancing.

The BSEB class 12th results for all streams were declared on March 24.

Check full coverage of Bihar Board 10th Result 2020 here
The three-day exhibition displays 13 oil paintings portraying President Ho at work and in his daily life. The exhibits were selected from more than 100 pieces by 65-year-old painter Thai Hoa over the past five years.

This was the first solo exhibition of Hanoi-based painter Thai Hoa, a graduate from the Surikov Art Institute in Moscow, Russia.

Also, on the occasion of the President Hos 130th birthday, the Ho Chi Minh City Publishing House released a three-volume book entitled Researching Ho Chi Minh  Selected research works.

Authored by Assoc. Prof., Dr. Bui Dinh Phong, the book includes dozens of articles discussing President Ho Chi Minhs ideology on various fields of colonialism and national liberation revolution, socialism and the path toward socialism in Vietnam, culture, and social issues.
By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Hamid Shalizi

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing deal to end a months-long political stalemate, Ghani's spokesman said on Sunday, a step that could smooth efforts to end the country's long-running war.

Abdullah had disputed the results of an election in September and announced the formation of a parallel government earlier this year, undermining Ghani's administration at a time when the United States was trying to advance a peace process with the Taliban to end the 19-year Afghan war.

"Today is a historic day for our dear Afghanistan. Afghans have proven that they are committed to their national interests with common thinking," Ghani said during the signing ceremony.

"In the coming days, we hope that with unity and cooperation, we will be able to provide the ground for a ceasefire and lasting peace," he added.

Discussions over the final sticking points including the allocation of some key posts had been underway throughout the day, three sources said.

Abdullah had wanted to control a major portfolio such as finance or foreign affairs, and while Ghani has not agreed to this, he could offer control of the interior ministry, sources said shortly before the deal was signed.

It was not immediately clear which ministries each camp controlled after the agreement was struck.

Washington has been frustrated by the growing impasse between the two men, even after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo travelled to Kabul in March to mediate. It had announced a plan to cut $1 billion in aid because the men could not agree.

Pompeo welcomed the agreement but chided Ghani and Abdullah for taking so long. He said the United States looked forward to prompt intra-Afghan talks and a political settlement.

"Secretary Pompeo noted that he regretted the time lost during the political impasse," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

Story continues

It was not clear whether Sunday's agreement would result in the aid commitment being reinstated. Afghanistan is facing growing fiscal pressures, with tax revenues falling and foreign aid pledges due this year expected to shrink.

"Please reconsider your potential $1 billion aid cut. In fact, since we have the COVID-19 pandemic, add more to it. Thank you," Shamroz Khan Masjidi, a spokesman for the ministry of finance said on Twitter, tagging the Secretary of State.

The State Department did not immediately comment on the aid cut.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed the deal and called on the Taliban to reduce violence and for all sides to work towards peace.

Officials say a deal between Ghani and Abdullah is crucial to launching peace talks, as Abdullah's camp represents much of the country's north-west.

But the talks face a number of stark challenges, as violence in the country increases. An attack on a Kabul maternity ward this week prompted Ghani to switch the military to an "offensive" stance against insurgent groups.

The Taliban has denied involvement in the attack, but the government has remained sceptical and angry at ongoing Taliban attacks against the Afghan military, fraying the momentum for peace talks, which were due to start in March.

U.S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said on Friday that a new date for intra-Afghan peace talks was under discussion, and that he would soon travel to the region and try to encourage a reduction in violence.

(Reporting by Hamid Shalizi and Abdul Qadir Sediqi; Additional reporting by Orooj Hakimi and Hameed Farzad, Doina Chiacu in Washington; Writing by Euan Rocha and Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Frances Kerry, Jan Harvey and Lisa Shumaker)
Over 140 Afghan nationals, stranded



in Pune due the lockdown, were flown back to Kabul in a special flight on Sunday, an official said.

The flight took off from the Pune airport in the afternoon, the official said.

"A special flight of KAM Airlines arrivedwith nine Indian citizens at the Lohegaon-based airport on Sunday afternoon andleft for Kabul with 143 Afghan nationals," a senior airport official said.

According to the district administration, none of the outgoing passengers showed symptoms of COVID-19.

"The nine Indian passengers, who arrived in the special flight, were quarantined after being screened at the airport," the official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Akwa Ibom State Government said it has rejected 10 vehicles donated to it by ExxonMobil.

The vehicles, which are coastal buses and SUVs, were meant for use in the COVID-19 contact tracing in the state.

They were handed over to the government on Friday, alongside two ambulances, some hospital beds, and more than 1900 COVID-19 test kits.

The Akwa Ibom government in a statement issued on Sunday said they rejected them because they were used vehicles.

The decision was taken at the State COVID-19 Committee meeting yesterday following an evaluation of the vehicles and other donations to the state by the oil company, the Commissioner for Information in the state, Charles Udoh, said in the statement.

The vehicles are considered too old and not in good enough operational conditions to withstand the rigours of contact tracing which they were meant to serve.

However, the state government has accepted the two ambulances and 20 hospital beds also donated by the oil company, despite the fact that the ambulances are converted buses while the beds are below the standard of those currently in secondary healthcare facilities in the state.

PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately reach ExxonMobil for their reaction as the companys spokesperson, Oge Udeagha, did not respond to calls made to his phone line.

A source who is knowledgeable about the donation, however, told PREMIUM TIMES that ExxonMobil had informed the Akwa Ibom government that the vehicles were going to be pulled from their operational fleet.

I am aware that ExxonMobil told Akwa Ibom government that getting new vehicles may take a while because of the contracting process and because of the lockdown, so they said they were going to get some vehicles from their operational fleet since it was a medical emergency, instead of waiting for things to normalise, the source said.

He said the donated vehicles were supposed to be 15, but that five of them are parked at ExxonMobil facilities in Rivers state, and could not be brought to Akwa Ibom because of the lockdown in Rivers and the ban on interstate travel across the country.

The Akwa Ibom information commissioner, Mr Udoh, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Health, Dominic Ukpong, did not respond to calls and text message from PREMIUM TIMES.

There are 16 cases of the novel coronavirus in Akwa Ibom State as of May 16.

ExxonMobils operational base, where they produce oil, is in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State.
Actor Tara Reid is in talks to star as Carole Baskin in the upcoming live-action movie adaptation of "Tiger King", the Netflix documentary series.

"Tiger King" is a true crime docu-series revolves around the life of Oklahoma zookeeper Joseph Exotic and the events that culminated in an alleged murder-for-hire plot against Baskin, the animal rights activist.

According to her manager and business partner, Philippe Ashfield, the "Sharknado" star is in touch with the producers of the anticipated film.

"We are in talks with the producers and she is being considered, that is all I can say at the moment as casting is on hold.

"Tara loves 'Tiger King' and found the documentary extremely interesting. She feels she could get into the character of Carole Baskin very well and she has a similar look to (Baskin)," Ashfield said in a statement to The Post.

There are currently several scripted "Tiger King" productions in the works - including a series starring Nicolas Cage as Exotic and another with Kate McKinnon as Baskin.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Philippines' ambassador to the UK has called for health workers to be 'properly protected' after it was claimed Filipinos accounted for the highest death rate of staff across the NHS and care services.

As of May 16, 173 frontline health and care workers with Covid-19 have died, reports the PA news agency.

Of those, 23  approximately 13%  were of Filipino heritage.

There are calls for better protection of Filipino workers after it was claimed they account for the highest death rate of staff across the NHS and care services. Among those who have died, are top row: Leilani Dayrit, Linnette Cruz, Ruben Munoz, Larni Zuniga; and bottom row: Julius Sana, Kenneth Lambatan, Elma Cavalida and Eleuterio Gibela

Among those were two who died this week  Norman Austria, a healthcare assistant at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, and Jun Terre, a nurse at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire.

Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo said: 'I urge the NHS to ensure that those heroes who put their lives on the line for all of us are properly protected and equipped as they do their job.'

The Philippines' ambassador to the UK Antonio Lagdameo, pictured here during a private audience with Her Majesty, has called for health workers to be 'properly protected' after 23 NHS staff from Filipino backgrounds have died

His call for action comes in the wake of recent statistics that show black and other ethnic minority (BAME) staff were found to be up to four times as likely to die from the virus.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the risk of dying was 4.2 times higher for black men and 4.3 times for black women compared with white people of a similar age.

Leilani Dayrit, a nurse at St Cross Hospital in Rugby, died aftrer contracting Covid-19

Bangladeshi or Pakistani men were 3.6 times as likely to die and Bangladeshi or Pakistani women 3.5 times, the data showed.

The risk was 2.7 times higher for Indian men and 2.4 times for Indian women, although statisticians said the figures for all groups were partly due to socio-economic deprivation.

Francis Fernando, a nurse and officer for the Filipino Nurses Association UK, said he believes more of his compatriots have died working in the UK health and care system during the crisis than in the Phillippines.

While a lack of reliable data makes it difficult to prove definitively, Mr Fernando believes the community has suffered more deaths in Britain's health and care sector than any other ethnic group.

Care home worker Larni Zuniga, who received his British citizenship in February, died on April 24 aged 54, at St Thomas' Hospital in central London

Official figures indicate that around 18,500 Filipinos worked in the NHS in England as of March 2019, roughly 1.5% of an estimated 1.2 million total workforce.

The vast majority of those workers were in nursing or clinical support positions, with the Philippines providing more staff in these roles than any other country outside the UK.

'There must be something in our culture that prevents us from speaking out or we feel that we just have to follow the manager's requests, that we cannot say no,' Mr Fernando told PA.

'That's true to the new Filipinos who have arrived here in the UK. Twenty years ago I was like them,' he said, adding that he knew nothing about union representatives or how to effectively raise concerns with management when he first joined the health service.

Mr Fernando, who worked for 19 years in the NHS before moving to a private care home in London, added that the Filipino Nurses Association had heard 'a lot of anecdotal stories about BAME staff being hand-picked to work in Covid wards, again without adequate protection'.

'Few of the BAME staff will say no. It's our job, we have a duty of care to our patients as nurses and professionals. So, unfortunately, they are being put in harm's way,' he said.

Eleuterio  or 'Boy'  Gibela, 68, had worked at Blackpool Victoria Hospital as a cleaner since 2003, following his wife Deborah, who had already moved from the Philippines to work there.

He died in the same hospital on March 2 after contracting Covid-19.

Mr Gibela had continued going in despite suffering diabetes and chest problems, both of which would put him at greater risk if he caught the virus.

Julius Sana, 40, fell ill with Covid-19 while working at a hospital in Newport, South Wales

Mr Gibela's youngest daughter Kristiana told PA: 'My dad would never complain about anything. I know he was a really hard-working man.

'They would ask him to do overtime and cover for someone; my dad would never say no. He was that kind of man.'

Her elder sister Louella said she believes he contracted the virus on his last shift, during which his ward was treating 'a lot of Covid patients'.

She said her mother had tried to make arrangements for him to be transferred or sent home, but 'he was a very stubborn man' and wanted to finish his day of work.

Louella also echoed the ambassador's calls for more to be done to protect workers, adding that the Government 'could have found better PPE' for staff.

There have been calls for a public inquiry into the number of deaths among black and minority ethnic (BAME) workers from Covid-19, after official statistics showed people from some minority backgrounds were at greater risk of dying after contracting the virus.

Cardiology research nurse Kenneth Lambatan was just 33-years-old when he died in April

The NHS has introduced risk assessments for all BAME staff in the wake of the concerns, and is working with organisations such as Mr Fernando's to allay fears among staff.

However, he still believes that many are not putting official guidance in to effect, with the group informed of several cases of vulnerable workers being put in high-risk situations by their managers.

In one case, Mr Fernando said he had spoken with a worker in an oncology ward near Covid patients, who had been told to continue working despite being almost seven months pregnant.

He added that it was even more difficult to ensure proper practice in private care homes, citing another example of a nurse with cancer who was told she would be unpaid if she stopped working.

'If she does end up with Covid-19 she'll die, no questions about that,' he said.
Police have interviewed a man in connection with the death of a woman who worked at Londons Victoria railway station.

Belly Mujinga died a fortnight after allegedly being spat at by a man who claimed he had coronavirus.

A spokesperson for British Transport Police confirmed a 57-year-old man from London had been identified over the incident.

He was interviewed under caution today at a London police station, she said on Sunday.

Detectives will continue to collate evidence and investigate the circumstances behind the incident. They are not looking to identify anyone further in relation to the incident.

Ms Mujinga was approached by a man who said he was infected with Covid-19 as she worked on the concourse at Victoria on 21 March.

She subsequently fell ill with coronavirus and died in Barnet hospital on 5 April.

Ms Mujinga, who worked for Govia Thameslink Railway, had an 11-year-old daughter and well-wishers have donated almost 40,000 to a fundraising page for her family.

The attack on Ms Mujinga, who had underlying respiratory problems, was widely condemned amid a wave of spitting and coughing assaults on police, transport staff and other key workers.

Speaking during Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday, Boris Johnson described her death as tragic.

He said: The fact that she was abused for doing her job is utterly appalling.

Her death sparked renewed calls for railway workers to be given personal protective equipment (PPE) as staff said they feared for their safety.

Belly Mujinga, who died aged 47 after contracting the coronavirus (PA)

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) said many of its members were fearful for their safety.

Victor Bangura, a gate worker at Victoria, told the PA news agency: Imagine you see someone now like me and the next time they are dead.

My whole body went into shock. I was very, very emotional. We are all vulnerable, in the same station, it could happen to any one of us.

Another railway worker at Victoria station said Wednesday was the first day staff had been given masks to wear, as a relaxation of lockdown rules saw greater numbers of people travelling to work in London.

Govia Thameslink Railway said it had issued PPE to staff after updated government advice urged people to wear masks on public transport.

A spokesperson said: Previously, the official government advice was that PPE for our staff was not required.

We have regularly briefed our people to keep washing their hands and to socially distance as far as possible while working, and continue to do so.
A father and son have been convicted of killing a former policeman before cooking parts of his remains.

Maxim, 42, and Yaroslav Kostyukov, 21, had been drinking with Yevgeny Zhenya Petrov, 45, in Ukraine when the trio got into a fight over the conflict between Kyivs forces and pro-Moscow rebels in the eastern part of the country.

A court heard the son then held Petrov from behind while his father stabbed him twice in the chest.

Yaroslav Kostyukov then severed the ex-policemans head and cut out flesh from the corpse, as well as his heart, kidneys, liver and other internal organs.

Maxim Kostyukov, 42 (left) and Yaroslav Kostyukov, 21 (right) at one of the latest court hearings. Source: East2West News/Australscope

He confessed to cooking the meat, which was served when the father and son hosted a homeless man called Yura.

Yaroslav later he changed his testimony and denied being the cook, also claiming he hardly ate the human broth.

He was sick as soon as he took the first bite, he said.

He claimed the homeless man had feasted most of it.

But law enforcement said there was clear evidence the father and son were cannibals and had cooked and eaten their victim.

They could be seen smirking as they appeared in court.

Prosecutor Oksana Karnaukh said there is no such crime as cannibalism listed in the Criminal Code of Ukraine so it could not be included into the charges in court.

We charged them with murder and aggravating circumstances committed by a group of persons, and illegal possession of arms, Karnaukh said.

The headless corpse was found dumped near a cellar doorway close to an apartment block in Saltivka, near Kharkiv.

The ex-wife of the murdered man identified him from his severed head.

She is claiming compensation for insomnia after the trauma, it was reported.

Maxim and Yaroslav will serve sentences of 15 years.

Australscope

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Total COVID-19 cases:

350,121 in New York state, including 28,232 deaths. 60,796 recovered. 1,378,717 total tested.

1,480,873 in U.S., including 89,318 deaths. 268,376 recovered. 11,077,179 total tested.

4,690,873 worldwide, including 314,096 deaths. 1,721,884 recovered.

Note: The figures include presumed COVID-19 deaths. The number of positive confirmed cases is cumulative and includes people who have recovered as well as those who died.

Additional resources:

Sunday updates:

7:17 p.m.: Total COVID-19 cases and deaths reported in the Capital Region

Albany County: 1425 cases, 29 hospitalized, 936 recovered, 67 deaths

Columbia County: 339 cases, 16 hospitalized, 150 recovered, 25 deaths

Greene County: 238 cases, 4 hospitalized, 174 recovered, 15 deaths

Rensselaer County: 458 cases, 5 hospitalized, 289 recovered, 27 deaths

Saratoga County: 414 cases, 6 hospitalized, 328 recovered, 14 deaths

Schenectady County: 591 cases, 16 hospitalized, 520 recovered, 28 deaths

Warren County: 219 cases, 3 hospitalized, 136 recovered, 28 deaths

Washington County: 191 cases, 133 recovered, 13 deaths

___

No new COVID-19 deaths in Rensselaer County

There are four new positive cases of COVID-19 in Rensselaer County, ranging in age from 34 to 75. The total number of confirmed cases in the county is now 467. Ten of those with coronavirus are hospitalized. However there are no new county deaths due to COVID-19, with the total number of victims to the virus remaining at 28.

___

Schenectady County has no COVID-19 deaths since May 2

Schenectady County's running streak of no new COVID-19 deaths continues, with the total number of victims to the virus staying at 28. The number of recoveries in the county has increased by almost 20 from Saturday, with a total of 539 people recovered. The county has five new confirmed cases of COVID-19, at 596 total, and a total of 10 people hospitalized, down six from Saturday.

___

Reopening could start this week for Capital Region

The Capital Region can begin reopening this week, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Sunday, after the state recalibrated the metrics needed to start reviving the economy.

The region has now met six of the seven requirements to reopen and is working to scale up its contact tracing operations to start phase one of the reopening process, Cuomo said. The region previously fell short of requirements for declining hospitalizations and deaths, but after the state shifted the timeline to hit those metrics, the Capital Region is "now qualified for reopening," the governor said.

The Capital Region must now increase the number of contact tracers in the region to start phase one, and Cuomo said the state government will work with local leaders to quickly ramp up capacity.

___

No COVID-19 deaths overnight in Albany County

During Albany County Executive Dan McCoy's daily presser Sunday morning, he mentioned no deaths overnight, and said hospitalizations dropped by one to 29 people in the hospital. Also, total positive COVID-19 tests only went up by four from Saturday, to 1,455 positive tests since the pandemic testing began in March.

___

Saratoga County has no new deaths

Saratoga County reached 423 positive cases of COVID-19, but has no increase in deaths (14) or hospitalizations (six) due to the disease.

___

Siena online commencement Sunday morning

At 10 a.m. Sunday, Siena College will honor 2020 graduates during a live Facebook feed. The broadcast can be found at https://www.facebook.com/sienacollege/

The broadcast is only about 15 minutes. It is being held in person on the walkway between Siena and Kiernan halls, and is featuring Margaret Madden, interim president; Charles Seifert, interim vice president for academic affairs, and Fr. Mark Reamer, vice president for mission and guardian of the Siena friary.

___

Saturday: UAlbany graduation goes virtual

The University at Albany graduation for the class of 2020 is online as the university honored its newest graduates during the coronavirus pandemic. Watch here.

___

Saturday: Rensselaer County reports 28th death

Rensselaer County officials said there was one new COVID-19 death, a 92-year-old woman who resided at the Diamond Hill adult care facility in Schaghticoke. This brings the county death toll to 28 including 19 involving nursing home residents.

The county reported five new COVID-19 cases Saturday. The county has 463 confirmed cases. Eight residents are hospitalized, with none in ICU. The hospitalizations include four at Samaritan, one at Ellis, one at St. Peter's, one at Albany Medical Center and one at the Veteran's Administration hospitals.

There are more than 650 residents in monitor quarantine. There have been 5,699 tests administered to county residents. The county announced seven cases as cleared for recovery, bringing the total cases cleared to 296.

___

Saturday: Horse racing tracks, Watkins Glen can open June 1 without fans

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said horse racing tracks across the state and Watkins Glen International Racetrack will be allowed to open without fans as of June 1. The state will issue guidance on how they can open safely reopen in the coming week. Read more Cuomo also announced Westchester and Suffolk Counties are now eligible to resume elective surgeries and ambulatory care. ___

Saturday: Comptroller: State sees drastic tax revenue declines

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said monthly tax income for April fell $7.9 billion from April 2019, a massive 68.4 percent drop as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the three-month extension of the state income tax filing deadline, which was also related to the outbreak. All governmental funds monthly tax receipts totaled just $3.7 billion, he said.

See the monthly cash report released Friday.

___

Saturday: Total COVID-19 cases and deaths reported in the Capital Region

Albany County: 1,451 cases, 30 hospitalized, 957 recoveries, 68 deaths

Rensselaer County: 463 cases, 8 hospitalized, 296 recoveries, 28 deaths

Saratoga County: 417 cases, 6 hospitalized, 328 recoveries, 14 deaths

Schenectady County: 594 cases, 14 hospitalized, 531 recoveries, 28 deaths

___

Read more updates from Saturday
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex left their royal duties earlier this year and while there has been some speculation that they could return, one royal expert believes that wont happen. Have Prince Harry and Meghan moved on for good?

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry | Samir Hussein/WireImage

Meghan and Prince Harry exited the family

In January, Prince Harry and Meghan stunned the world when they announced their plans to step back from their royal duties. Queen Elizabeth supported their decision and made arrangements for the couple to officially end their royal duties on March 31.

In a speech he delivered following the queens statement of support, Prince Harry shared how their decision was a necessary one, noting how they felt they had no other option.

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, he said to guests at a dinner for supporters of Sentebale.

RELATED: Prince Harry and Meghan Markles Exit Is Sad for the Queen and a Letdown for the British People, Says Expert

Will Prince Harry and Meghan return?

The Sussexes first resided in Canada before making their move to Los Angeles after their exit, but many have wondered if they would eventually return to the royal family after some time away.

Royal expert Marlene Koenig explained to Express why she believes they are gone for good, despite the queens one-year trial agreement. When asked if, at the end of the year, the Sussexes might return, Koenig said, Absolutely not, not going to happen. They have made their decision and the Queen has accepted it.

The Sussexes decision was necessary for the couple to escape the harsh criticism they endured from the media, so its unlikely that they would want to return to that spotlight again.

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge have taken on more

In the Sussexes absence, Prince William and Kate have been more active, with Koenig believing Prince Harry and Meghan arent needed.

I do see, for example, the Cambridges certainly stepping up, taking on more, the expert explained, adding, Obviously not right now, once weve passed COVID-19 and people are able to go out again and live far more normal lives.

She shared, I also certainly think Sophie will be taking more as well. I dont think theyre needed.

Theres no going back

The Sussexes may not be working in a royal capacity, but they continue to stay in touch with the charities they supported as they move forward with their own organization, Archwell.

They will keep in touch with their charities and the system will be reviewed after a year, Koenig shared. By that time I think theyll be on a financial foothold for themselves, and they will have made more decisions on where they are going to live and what their new non-profit will be.

Koenig doesnt believe theres any chance at that point that the Sussexes will return. But I think theyve made their decision and I dont think theres any going back, Koenig noted.
GRAYLING, MI  A 31-year-old Saginaw man died and another person was injured after an off-road vehicle crash early Sunday morning in Crawford County.

Deputies with the Crawford County Sheriffs Office were called out on Sunday, May 17 for an ORV crash that had taken place on North Higgins Lake Drive in Beaver Creek Township.

The Saginaw man died as a result of injuries suffered in the crash, police said.

A second man on the ORV was airlifted to Munson Traverse City hospital with serious injuries.

Their names have not been released.

Excessive speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash, police said, although the crash remains under investigation.

Michigan State Police, Grayling Police Department, Roscommon County Sheriffs Office, Beaver Creek Township Fire Department, and Mobile Medical Response ambulance service assisted the Crawford County deputies at the scene.
Natalia Cooper went for a relaxing stroll with her baby son Ezra in the Sydney beachside suburb of Coogee on Sunday.

The former Today show weather girl was all smiles as she carted the animated one-year-old in a baby carrier as they made their way down a leafy street.

The 36-year-old dressed down in black tights and a matching singlet, taking advantage of the sunny weather.

Out and about: Natalia Cooper went for a relaxing stroll with her baby son Ezra in the Sydney beach side suburb of Coogee on Sunday. Both pictured

She wore her ash blonde hair pulled off her face in a low ponytail and covered her face in dark sunglasses.

A pair of well-worn white sneakers completed the ensemble and the new mum carried a phone in her hand.

Ezra meanwhile looked to be enjoying the ride in his animal print onesie while sucking on a blue dummy and carrying his matching cap in his little hand.

Sweet: The former Today show weather girl, 36, was all smiles as she carted the animated one-year-old in a baby carrier as they made their way down a leafy street

The Perth-born journalist welcomed her son Ezra on January 28 last year.

In April last year, Natalia told Stellar magazine that her son was born with fluid in his lungs and required special care immediately after birth.

'It was really hard to see my baby in that situation. It was tough,' she said.

Ordeal: In April last year, Natalia revealed that her son was born with fluid in his lungs and required special care immediately after birth. Pictured with her husband Carl Fox (left)

Difficult: 'It was really hard to see my baby in that situation. It was tough,' she said

'When you get back from [from the delivery suite], and you don't have your baby with you, it wasn't what we expected.'

Thankfully, Natalia and her musician husband Carl Fox were reunited with their child four days later.

In February, a Nine spokesperson confirmed that Natalia would not be resuming her job as Today's weather presenter upon her return to the network, however she is currently a Nine News presenter.
More snow on the way in Pennsylvania; here's how much to expect
Islamabad, May 17 : Two teenage girls were killed in the name of 'honour' allegedly by a family member in a village located on the border of Pakistan's North and South Waziristan tribal districts after a short mobile video of them with a young man surfaced on social media, police said.

The Razmak police station in North Waziristan, in whose jurisdiction the murders were reported, on Friday registered an FIR of the incident with the state as the complainant and started an investigation, Dawn news said in a report on Sunday.

According to the FIR, the incident took place on May 14 at the border village of Shaam Plain Garyom.

"A confirmed report was received that two girls aged 16 and 18 were killed in the name of honour by their paternal cousin, whose name and address is not known, in Shaam Plain Garyom," the FIR said.

It said the reason behind the killings was believed to be a video which shows a young man recording himself with three young girls in a secluded area outdoors.

A senior police officer in Waziristan told Dawn newsthat two of the three girls seen in the 52-second mobile clip have been killed.

He said police were collecting information about the third girl and the man seen in the video.

According to the police official, it appeared that the video in question was shot nearly a year ago and most probably went viral on social media only a few weeks ago.

The area where the incident took place is far-flung and considered risky in terms of security, the police official said, adding: "At the moment, our topmost priority is to secure the life of the third girl and the man before taking any action." The incident comes nearly eight years after the 2012 Kohistan video scandal, in which three women were killed for honour after a grainy video showing them singing and clapping while two boys danced had gone viral in the ultra-conservative and remote district.
A 31-year-old migrant worker



died after being bitten by a snake at a quarantine centre in Chhattisgarh's Mungeli district on Sunday morning, officials said.

The incident took place in Kirna village under Kotwali police station limits, Mungeli Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Chitrakant Chali Thakur said.

"Migrants workers Yogesh Verma had returned from Pune in Maharashtra on Saturday. He was kept at a quarantine facility in a government school in the village. He was sleeping on the floor in the verandah outside his room when he was bitten by a snake. He died during treatment in a nearby hospital," the SDM said.

The kin of the deceased was given immediate assistance of Rs 10,000 and a compensation of Rs 4 lakh will be paid out after completing necessary formalities, he added.

"The panchayat staff have been told to make sure no one sleeps outside their rooms in quarantine facilities," the official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Superpower rivalry could wreak havoc on Korea



U.S. President Donald Trump seemed to have gone too far in dealing with China by threatening to sever ties with the world's second-largest economy. His rhetoric toward Beijing has been becoming harsher and harsher since he started playing a blame game with the Asian giant over the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic early this year.



In an interview with Fox Business News last Thursday, Trump said, "There are many things we could do  We could cut off the whole relationship." He even added, "You'd save $500 billion if you cut off the whole relationship." The sum he mentioned is equivalent to the total annual imports to the U.S. from China. He seems to regard the cost of imports as a loss to America.



Trump's remarks sounded not only like a threat, but also a kind of bullying of the U.S. rival. They are, however, not surprising given his inexorable and relentless rhetoric based on his self-serving attitude and "America first" mindset. The real-estate-mogul-turned-president once again proved that his sees everything  from diplomacy to trade and public health  only from the narrow-minded perspective of making a profit.



His threat certainly reflects worries that Beijing might not fully implement the Phase 1 trade deal signed by the G2 countries in January. The deal faces the risk of falling apart due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its crippling impact on the global economy. The accord calls for China to buy $200 billion more in U.S. products over the next two years than it did in 2017. But China purchased 3 percent less American goods in the first four months of this year compared with the same period of 2019. This could bode ill for Trump's efforts to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with China.



Nevertheless, it is wrong for Trump to threaten to break off relations with Beijing. He should realize that growing U.S.-China tensions over trade and pandemic issues will only do harm to both countries as well as the world. All will become losers if a new trade war takes place between the two superpowers. A looming "coronavirus Cold War" could lead to catastrophic consequences.



What Trump has done so far since the outbreak of the coronavirus is to blame China while failing to respond to the virus quickly and properly. He has just tried to shirk his responsibility for the failure by calling COVID-19 the "Plague from China" or the "Wuhan virus." The more he tries to blame others and justify his blunders, the less chance he stands of being re-elected.



In response to Trump's dangerous remarks, Beijing has called on Washington for compromise and to step up cooperation in fighting the pandemic. As China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Friday, the two countries should maintain good relations to serve the interests of both the American and Chinese people, and contribute to world peace and stability.



The superpowers' rivalry could wreak havoc on South Korea as the U.S. and China are our top trading partners. It reminds us of China's economic retaliation against us for allowing the U.S. to deploy an anti-missile battery here in 2017. It could also negatively affect the stalled denuclearization talks between the U.S. and North Korea as well as the tense defense cost-sharing talks between Seoul and Washington. Seoul should work out measures to better cope with the new Cold War.


On May 12, two babies and 12 mothers and nurses were brutally killed in a militant attack on a hospital in the Afghan capital Kabul. There were 15 people, including children, who were injured in the attack by several gunmen. In Nangarhar, located in the east of Afghan, a bombing at a funeral killed 24 people.

President Ashraf Ghani said that he was ordering the resumption of offensive operations against the Taliban and other groups. He then accused the militants of ignoring repeated calls for a reduction in violence.

According to reports, the Islamic State or IS group was behind the attack on a police commander's funeral in Nangarhar, but it is still not clear who was behind the attack at the hospital, and the notorious group, the Taliban, denied any involvement on the incident.

The maternity ward in the hospital is run by the international medical charity Medecins sans Frontieres or MSF and some of those working there are foreigners. Mike Pompeo, the U.S Secretary of State, called the attack on the hospitals an "unconscionable assaults" and "sheer evil". In a statement, Pompeo urged the Afghan government and the Taliban to co-operate to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Also Read: Study Shows Coronavirus Would Plummet If 80% of Americans Wore Mask

What happened at the hospital?

The attack at the maternity ward began on the morning of May 12 and the locals said that they heard two blasts then gunfire. One doctor who fled during the assault said that 140 people were in the hospital when the gunmen attacked. Another doctor told the AFP news agency that panic took hold as the attack happened.

The vendor who saw the whole thing transpire, Ramazan Ali, told Reuters that the attackers were shooting at anyone at the hospital without any reason. It is a government hospital which means a lot of people bring in their women and their children for treatment.

An official told BBC that Afghan special forces rescued 100 women and children, including three foreigners. The attackers, who had gained access by dressing up as police officers, were all killed by security personnel after a gunfire exchange that lasted for hours. A lot of foreign staff live in a guesthouse behind the Dasht-e-Barchi Hospital and a doctor who fled the building said that he saw an explosion too.

Similar attacks

There were similar attacks in the past, and most have been attributed to IS. The leader of the group in South Asia and the Far East was arrested in Kabul with two other high profile members, according to Afghan intelligence. In 2017, IS gunmen disguised as medical staff attacked the main military hospital in Kabul and killed 50 people.

The attack prompted widespread anger and shock and raised questions about security. However, the Taliban also attack hospitals. In 2019, 20 people died after a truck packed with explosives was detonated by militants from the group outside a hospital in Zabul.

President Ghani said that in order to provide security for public places and to thwart attacks and threats from the Taliban and other terrorist groups. he ordered Afghan security forces to switch from an active defense mode to an offensive one and to resume operations against the enemies.

Related Article: Europe Promises to Reopen Just in Time for Summer Despite Coronavirus Pandemic

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Woori Financial Group Chairman Son Tae-seung, center in the rear row, poses with executives and young employees while celebrating the establishment of a "digital innovation committee," at its headquarters in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Woori Financial Group





By Lee Min-hyung







Woori Financial Group has established what it calls a "digital innovation committee," in its bid to place a digital drive at the center of the post-virus management strategy, the company said Sunday.







Announcing its digital vision of "Digital for Better Life," the financial holding company formed the digital control tower co-headed by Woori Financial Group Chairman Son Tae-seung and Woori Bank Kwon Kwong-seok on Friday.







"The rise of the contactless trend has become the new normal after the COVID-19 pandemic," Son said. "Now is the golden time for digital innovation."







The Woori chief also presented "Digital First, Change Everything" as the group's new management slogan for the post-coronavirus world.







The announcement comes at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has changed shopping patterns of the public and created a new wave of contactless transactions in every corner of the economy.







While holding a meeting with top executives of Woori's key subsidiaries, Son also stressed the need to embrace digital technologies  such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data  to come up with its super-customized marketing strategies. The company also picked 10 digital innovation tasks  including establishment of group-wide mobile platforms during the meeting, according to the firm.







Toward the end, Son also shared his vision to actively engage in mergers and acquisitions of fintech companies and sign more proactive digital partnerships with other companies.







Woori also plans to introduce a series of manpower education programs in partnership with information and communication technology companies.







Son will become the leader of the committee, with Kwon taking on the role of general manager. The committee has both top-down and bottom-up management styles by establishing a "blue team" which will consist of young and innovative employees. They will be allowed to freely express their ideas on digital innovation regardless of their position, according to the company.







Local financial companies are going all-out to embrace digital innovation in line with the rise of online transactions.







KB Financial Group, the nation's second largest financial holding company by market capitalization, is particularly cited as the leader in the digital drive among local financial players.







KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo has in recent years underlined the importance of embracing digitization in the banking industry.







KB also runs its own digital innovation division headed by KB Kookmin Bank CEO Hur Yin. The digital unit of the company is also divided into three teams: IT, digital innovation and data management.


Two terrorists were killed in an encounter in Gundna in Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district while a soldier lost his life in the operation on Sunday, police said.

The two terrorists were from the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.

The gun battle between the security forces and terrorists began in the morning.

One of the slain ultras has been identified as Tahir alias Uqaab of Pulwama. He was said to be involved in the killing of RSS leader Chandrakant Sharma in Kishtwar last year.

On a specific police input, an operation was launched late last night in Doda district. The encounter began in the morning, police spokesperson and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manoj Sheeri said.

There has been a spurt in terror activities across Jammu and Kashmir amid the coronavirus pandemic. Jammus Doda region comprising Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts which had been declared militancy free - have also witnessed terror attacks and related activities amid the lockdown.

A day after Hizbul Mujahideens chief Riyaz Naikoo was killed in Kashmir, security forces on May 7 arrested an overground worker of the outfit from Doda district. He was identified as Raqib Alam, 22, son of Seeraj Din of Swanda village.

Security forces on April 17 eliminated two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, who had hacked a special police officer (SPO) to death with an axe and critically injured another on April 13 in Dachhan area of Kishtwar district.

Meanwhile, Pakistan violated ceasefire in Malti and Digwar areas of Poonch district on Sunday morning prompting Indian Army to retaliate in equal measure.
MEXICO CITY - State officials in northern Mexico say gunmen killed the owner of a newspaper and one of the policemen who had been assigned to protect him following earlier threats.

Sonora state prosecutor office said Jorge Miguel Armenta Avalos was attacked while leaving a restaurant Saturday afternoon in downtown Ciudad Obregon. Municipal police officer Orlando Antonio Ruvalcaba Flores also was killed and a fellow officer was wounded.

Armenta was the director of Medios Obson and El Tiempo, which publish both in print and online.

State prosecutor Claudia Indira Contreras vowed to pursue all possible angles, but there were apparently no suspects.

Armenta is at least the third journalist slain in Mexico this year. More than 140 have been killed over the past 20 years.

We cant speculate about the motives for which the businessman Jorge Armenta Avalos was killed. What we can say is that were dealing with one more journalist who is killed in broad daylight and in a rising atmosphere of violence, said Rafael Caro Franco, president of the National Forum of Journalists and Communicators.
Uganda High Court Rules Police Halting Bobi Wine Concerts Illegal

By Halima Athumani May 16, 2020

Robert Kyagulanyi, a member of Uganda's National Assembly popularly known as Bobi Wine says he is not excited about a court ruling that declared police orders to halt his concerts in the country illegal. Obiga Kania, Uganda's internal affairs minister, says as long as the law says they can halt his shows, they will continue doing so. Wine last held a concert in Uganda three years ago.

The High Court of Kampala nullified Uganda Police Force orders barring popular legislator and musician Wine from staging concerts in the country.

Justice Esta Nambayo said it was illegal for the police to stop event managers from organizing what they dubbed Kyarenga extra concerts, after one of his songs, which were to be held at Wine's One Leave Beach among other venues in Uganda.

After a court battle lasting a year, Nambayo said the order was illegal and issued an order to allow all his future concerts to be held. Wine told VOA the ruling doesn't change anything because the police, whom he describes as militarized personalized police working for President Yoweri Museveni, will not allow him to hold a concert.

"There's nothing to excite me at all because it's not the first time that the court rules something, but again, the police act otherwise. With or without the court ruling, I had the right to work. So, I will still attempt to work within the law. I know that until there is a rule of law, until the courts can be respected, still, the same thing are going to be happening," Wine said.

Kania, the internal affairs minister, said the court ruling will not stop the police from implementing public order management laws that govern any public gathering.

"Police is not out to frustrate Kyagulanyi as a person or to frustrate assemblies for the sake of it. No. If the law says, the police should not be anywhere, where Kyagulanyi is holding meetings, then the police will not be. The Police Act itself still gives the police powers to manage assemblies, then they will still continue," Kania said.

Erias Lukwago, Wine's lawyer said the only challenge they are bound to face is police impunity. Otherwise he says, the court order was explicit.

"He is free to hold any concert, anywhere in the country, without even seeking for the permission of police. Without even seeking for any clearance. Court did not stop at making a declaration. They went ahead to issue an injunctive order against police. They said police is stopped from interfering with any musical concert organized by Honorable Kyagulanyi," Lukwago said.

Wine held an online concert last weekend, attracting hundreds, but it is not clear whether this can be turned into a live concert in the country without police interference.

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Coronavirus has forced many victims of violence to be locked in with their abusers, with nowhere to go to for respite.

Stay home, stay safe, save lives. This is the motto being used by the United Kingdoms government to make us do our bit to get through the lockdown.

But what if staying at home wasnt safe and was potentially a far worse outcome for you than contracting COVID-19?

For many, lockdown came as a relief. It was a necessary measure taken to protect us and to try and control the spread of this pandemic. For a significant number of people, however, the lockdown has brought more misery to their lives.

In the UK, calls to national domestic abuse helplines have risen by 49 percent in the last six weeks. This has been mirrored across Europe; France showed a 30 percent increase, and Spain saw an 18 percent increase in calls during the first two weeks of lockdown. In Wuhan, China a police station reported a 300 percent increase in calls during the height of the crisis there. This is alarming.

As a general practitioner (GP), I see many cases of domestic abuse. It is never stated as the reason a patient comes in to see me, of course, but rather something I tease out during a consultation.

Often patients will attend with a common ailment and it is only when I have gone to examine them that I find evidence suggestive of abuse.

Signs to look out for are bruises, being more withdrawn, having no financial freedom, not being able to leave the house without their abuser, or admitting to having all their technology monitored, such as calls, messages and social media.

Domestic abuse is not just physical  it includes coercive control and gaslighting, economic abuse, online abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse.

Victims of domestic abuse are highly vulnerable and often rely on opportunistic recognition of the issue by somebody else, be it a friend, neighbour, colleague or doctor. Being able to read the verbal and non-verbal cues from victims is essential, as well as giving them space and support to make decisions about how they wish to proceed.

During lockdown, people have been forced into spending more time indoors with their families and have nowhere to go to for respite.

Stress levels are at an all-time high as peoples mental health progressively deteriorates as the weeks go by. In the context of domestic abuse, the perpetrators may no longer need to worry about their victims bruises being seen by others as they are in isolation.

The result of this is a spike in the number of cases of abuse.

In the UK, as school closures were announced, the first measure taken was to keep schools open for vulnerable children in order to keep them safe. The government identified these children as those on the child protection or social care registers, as well as those with special learning needs. We know, however, that not all children at risk of abuse during this time will be in these groups, and worryingly, only five percent of these eligible children have actually attended school.

Due to social distancing, our medical clinics have all turned to offering consultations predominantly via phone and videoconferencing. We are therefore missing those physical windows of opportunity in which to speak in confidence to our patients.

This means a caller who is a victim of abuse may not be able to open up because the consultation could be being monitored and controlled by the perpetrator of the abuse. We cannot examine them, which means we are likely missing all the cues we would normally pick up on in person.

Refuge, the UKs largest domestic abuse charity, reported a phenomenal 700 percent increase in calls to its helpline in a single day following the start of the lockdown. The number of victims who have died from domestic abuse has also increased significantly in comparison to years before.

It is important to bear in mind that it is not just women and children who are at risk of domestic abuse. Male victims of abuse have also been calling for help in greater numbers, with the Mens Advice Line in the UK seeing calls rise 35 percent in the first week of lockdown.

Some elderly people who are very vulnerable, or those with disabilities, may also be in lockdown with carers who are abusive.

A new development in recent weeks has been from teenagers lashing out at parents because they want to go out. Parents of children with disabilities and learning needs are also facing high levels of pressure and abuse at home as some children can become aggressive at times.

The UK government is increasing funding to support helplines and online services and has also called for more safe spaces to be rolled out where victims can access help.

One of the UKs largest pharmacies, Boots, has just opened these spaces up and offered a place where victims can contact specialist services for support and advice, no questions asked. This is a great intervention as pharmacies work closely with GP practices so this will help in keeping the channels of communication open between patients and their doctors.

This lockdown is a testing time for everyone, and frustration levels are high, but none of this can excuse causing harm to another person.

We must be able to feel safe in our personal spaces and it is the duty of all to help bring this to an end for the victims.

If you know anyone who is suffering, or if you are suffering yourself, please seek help by checking who your local support services are.

For information and support on domestic violence, consult:
New Delhi:

Latest research suggests that ancient Venus may have been habitable. The research, by NASA, reveals that the planet had a shallow liquid-water ocean and cooler surface temperatures for up to 2 billion years of its early history.



The findings were obtained with a computer model of the planets ancient climate, similar to the type used to predict future climate change on Earth. The research appears in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. These results show ancient Venus may have been a very different place than it is today, said Michael Way, a researcher at NASAs Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York.



Venus today has a carbon dioxide atmosphere 90 times as thick as Earths. There is almost no water vapour. Temperatures reach 462 degrees Celsius at its surface, researchers said.



Scientists long have theorised that Venus formed out of ingredients similar to Earths, but followed a different evolutionary path. Measurements by NASAs Pioneer mission to Venus in the 1980s first suggested Venus originally may have had an ocean.



However, since Venus is closer to the Sun than Earth and receives far more sunlight, the planets ocean evaporated, water-vapour molecules were broken apart by ultraviolet radiation, and hydrogen escaped to space.



With no water left on the surface, carbon dioxide built up in the atmosphere, leading to a so-called runaway greenhouse effect that created present conditions.



Until recently, it was assumed that a thick atmosphere like that of modern Venus was required for the planet to have todays slow rotation rate. However, newer research has shown that a thin atmosphere like that of modern Earth could have produced the same result. That means an ancient Venus with an Earth-like atmosphere could have had the same rotation rate it has today.



The GISS team postulated ancient Venus had more dry land overall than Earth, especially in the tropics. That limits the amount of water evaporated from the oceans and, as a result, the greenhouse effect by water vapour.



This type of surface appears ideal for making a planet habitable; there seems to have been enough water to support abundant life, with sufficient land to reduce the planets sensitivity to changes from incoming sunlight.



Researchers simulated conditions of a hypothetical early Venus with an atmosphere similar to Earths, a day as long as Venus current day, and a shallow ocean consistent with early data from the Pioneer spacecraft. 'Venus' slow spin exposes its dayside to the Sun for almost two months at a time, co-author and fellow GISS scientist Anthony Del Genio said.



This warms the surface and produces rain that creates a thick layer of clouds, which acts like an umbrella to shield the surface from much of the solar heating, Del Genio said. The result is mean climate temperatures that are actually a few degrees cooler than Earths today, he said.

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing deal on Sunday, ending a bitter months-long feud that plunged the country into political crisis.

The breakthrough, which sees Abdullah heading peace talks with the Taliban, comes as Afghanistan battles a rapid spread of the deadly coronavirus and surging militant violence that saw dozens killed in brutal attacks last week.

The United States and NATO welcomed the agreement, with both calling for a renewed peace push in the war-wracked country.

"Doctor Abdullah will lead the National Reconciliation High Commission and members of his team will be included in the cabinet," Ghani spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter.

Abdullah's spokesman, Fraidoon Khawzoon, told AFP the agreement ensures that Abdullah's group will get 50 percent of cabinet positions and other provincial governors' posts.

Ghani hailed a "historic day" for Afghanistan, noting that the agreement was reached without any international mediation.

"We will share the burden and our shoulders, God willing, will be lighter," he said, addressing Abdullah at the signing ceremony broadcast on a state-run television channel.

"In the days ahead, we hope that with unity and cooperation, we would be able to first pave the ground for a ceasefire and then lasting peace."

Abdullah said the deal commits to forming a "more inclusive, accountable and competent administration".

"It's meant to ensure a path to peace, improve governance, protect rights, respect laws and values," he said on Twitter after signing the deal.

The agreement says that Ghani will make Abdul Rashid Dostum, his former vice president turned ally of Abdullah, a marshal of the armed forces.

Dostum, a notorious former warlord, is accused of ordering the torture and rape of a political rival in 2016.

- Political settlement a US 'priority' -

The United States, which wants to salvage the peace process and end its involvement in what has become its longest war, expressed hope that talks could now move forward.

Story continues

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Ghani and Abdullah "that the priority for the United States remains a political settlement to end the conflict," his spokeswoman said in a statement.

NATO, which maintains a training mission in Afghanistan, issued a similar message.

"We call on the Taliban to live up to their commitments, reduce violence now, take part in intra-Afghan negotiations, and make real compromise for lasting peace," NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement.

- US pressure on rivals -

Pictures released by the presidential palace showed Abdullah and Ghani sitting side-by-side for the signing ceremony, while leading Afghan figures including former president Hamid Karzai looked on.

Abdullah had previously served as Afghanistan's "chief executive" under an earlier power-sharing arrangement, but lost that post after he was defeated in a presidential election that incumbent Ghani -- a former World Bank economist -- won in September amid claims of fraud.

Abdullah, an ophthalmologist, declared himself president and held his own swearing-in ceremony on March 9, the day Ghani was re-installed as president.

Experts feel Sunday's deal could help pull Afghanistan out of political crisis.

In February, the Taliban signed a landmark accord with Washington to clear the way for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, but intra-Afghan talks have stalled.

"It is now expected that these leaders resolve the problems that Afghanistan faces such as the coronavirus and peace talks with the Taliban," Kabul-based political analyst Sayed Nasir Musawi told AFP.

He said "immense pressure" from the United States pushed the rivals to agree to the deal.

Abdullah and Ghani also contested the 2014 presidential election, with both claiming victory.

To avert a full-blown conflict, then-US secretary of state John Kerry brokered a deal between the two that left Abdullah as the country's chief executive.

But after a similar impasse in March, an exasperated Pompeo lashed out at their failure to reach an agreement, and announced a $1 billion cut in aid to Afghanistan.

With the impoverished country's GDP just $20 billion, the cut was a devastating blow to its donor-dependent economy.

- 'Genuine peace' -

Several residents in the capital Kabul expressed scepticism at the deal.

"If they really want to work for the country ... they have to bring genuine peace to the country -- that is the only thing the majority of Afghans want," said Rashed Hashemi, an employee at a private company.

US President Donald Trump has made leaving Afghanistan a priority.

The February deal stipulates that the US and its foreign allies will withdraw all forces by early 2021. In return, the Taliban agreed not to attack foreign troops.

But fighting between the Taliban and Afghan forces rages on, with both sides threatening to go on the offensive after two attacks last week that left dozens dead, including mothers and infants slain at a hospital in Kabul.

The Taliban have denied responsibility for the maternity ward attack, which the US blamed on the Islamic State group.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has described as unfortunate and condemnable, the continued obstruction of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) by the governments of Kogi and Cross River State.

This impedance is despite the lofty provisions in the NCDC Establishment Act (2018) which empower the organization to prevent, detect, monitor and control activities and programs for the national response against infectious diseases epidemics and other public health emergencies; and also to lead, develop, coordinate, the NMA said in a Saturday statement signed by its President, Francis Faduyile.

Governments in both states, which are the only two yet to confirm any case of the virus, have been at loggerheads with the NCDC and federal authorities for discouraging COVID-19 testing and not adhering to the national response strategy.

Authorities in Kogi and Cross Rivers believe there is a plot to compulsorily report COVID-19 cases in the states but medical experts and federal officials said the low number of test samples turned in from the states is making it difficult to ascertain if they are actually coronavirus-free.

The statement by the NMA followed an earlier one in which it urged the federal government to direct through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) an investigation into the COVID-19 free status of Kogi and Cross Rivers.

The doctors said an investigation into the status and response to the coronavirus by the two states governments is in the interest of safeguarding Nigerias public health, and to recommend appropriate remedial intervention if necessary, to President Muhammadu Buhari.

In Saturdays release, Mr Faduyile said the situation requires urgent intervention by the president.

Despite being surrounded by states with confirmed cases of the virus, the government in Kogi has at least once scuttled efforts by the NCDC to coordinate COVID-19 testing.

Last Thursday, a delegation comprising officials of NCDC and the Department of Hospital Services of the Federal Ministry of Health had to flee the state for fear of being quarantined by the Kogi State Government.

The NMA chapter in the North-central state had expressed concern over the stance of the Kogi government, warning that the consequences of not testing people for the COVID-19 may be too enormous to deal with.

As of Sunday morning, Nigeria has recorded 5, 621 infections from over 32,000 tests conducted in a country of nearly 200 million populace since the emergence of the pneumonia-like disease in late February.

Health experts say the true spread of the disease is vastly understated due to under-testing as the country is besieged with multiple testing challenges, including delays in the collection of samples, and submission of results with many states not working in sync with the national response strategy.

READ ALSO:

Meanwhile, authorities in Kogi remained firm in their resolve to independently coordinate the containment measures, insisting that the state is free from the virus.

According to a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, all tests for COVID-19 in the state returned negative, the Vanguard Newspaper reported.

Kogi State got testing kits independently but followed NCDC guidelines. One hundred and eleven COVID-19 rapid tests were conducted in Kogi State yesterday and all results came out negative, Mr Fanwo said.

We brought in about 5,000 testing kits. Testing centers are located in three places. You can do it at the ministry of health.

Saturdays statement by the NMA also delved into other developments around Nigerias response to the outbreak.

The following are the observations and proffered solutions by the NMA.

The acceptance of the herbal remedy from Madagascar

On the acceptance of the herbal remedy from Madagascar Covid Organics by the Federal Government, (it) is an act of pulling all stops in search of remedial interventions in protecting the lives of our citizens. We appreciate the concerns of our colleagues in the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and bemoan the situation where Nigeria appears to be lagging and not leading the Black races response against the pandemic. NMA insists that the herbal mixture undergoes due diligence based on scientific methods before authorizing its use in the polity while urging the government to leapfrog the revitalization of research and production activities of our pharmaceutical industries.

Home Treatment

The Association is carefully studying the overall impact of the newly approved WHOs home treatment policy for COVID-19 patients. While accepting the noticeable acute shortage of bed spaces available at the designated centres, NMA cautions that the peculiarities in Nigeria should be taken into consideration and therefore urges FG to adapt this new regulation. Nigeria has an average of six (6) persons per household; and consequently, wholesale adoption of this guideline may not be applicable here. We risk an explosive regime of community transmission if we adopt the guidelines completely without modifications, especially in situations of poor housing and overcrowding.

Preparing PHCs for Response

Following from (3) above, NMA is of the firm conviction that revamping our abandoned General Hospitals and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) will mitigate the challenges with home treatment and acute shortage of bed spaces. We still maintain that Isolation and Treatment centres should stand alone to avoid the nosocomial spread of this infection especially in settings of poor hygiene practices.

COVID-19 Testing

While the NCDC has carried out only 29,400 tests, as at 14th May 2020, we appreciate the reasons advanced for the smart testing option by the NCDC. However, it has become apparent that this method has not revealed the real incidence of COVID-19 in Nigeria. NMA, therefore, advocates fast-tracking of testing using innovative specimen collection and transport modalities to ameliorate this deficit in technique.

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NMA appreciates quite immensely the Coalition against COVID-19 (CA-COVID) which is a coalition of corporate Nigeria mobilizing resources to mitigate the embarrassing infrastructural deficiencies in the health sector for the management of the outbreak. We appeal that they extend their humanitarian and patriotic gesture outside Abuja to other parts of the Federation as promised, especially the States with high incidence. NMA also calls on the Coalition not to abandon healthcare delivery to the government alone post-COVID as the current pandemic has exposed several deficiencies in the system.
Walt Harris prepares for his heavyweight bout against Alistair Overeem during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on May 16, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Walt Harris was on the verge of a victory in the main event of a UFC show at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, that would have been the most significant of his career. It wouldnt be right to call it a storybook finish, because this man was attempting to return to work after his 19-year-old stepdaughter was brutally murdered.

No victory would make this a happy ending.

But at the very least, a win over Alistair Overeem would have been some small measure of comfort for Harris, who said that his daughter, Aniah Blanchard, had encouraged him to keep going throughout all of the low moments during his fighting career.

He landed a right-left combination that dropped Overeem early in the first round and was delivering significant punishment, as referee Dan Miragliotta moved his weight onto his front foot to check on Overeem.

But Overeem was the wrong opponent to face on this night and in this situation, because hes not a guy to give up easily. And with 20 years of experience, if there is one thing he knows, its how to survive.

When Overeem finally got up, an anxious Harris threw a kick. Overeem blocked it and Harris stumbled down. From that point on, it was a one-sided fight. Overeem spent the remainder of the first round pummeling Harris. In the second, he landed a kick to the head and then a hard left that dropped Harris.

Overeem finished him at 3:00 of Round 2 and Harris dream of dedicating his most significant win to his late daughter was crushed. As Harris stayed still on all fours letting what had happened sink in, Overeem walked over, kneeled down and embraced him.

Humble in victory and defeat.



What a showing by these two men tonight  #UFCFL pic.twitter.com/gJloA8flhF  UFC (@ufc) May 17, 2020

It was the kind of human emotion that everyone was feeling all week as soon as Harris arrived in Jacksonville. But it was difficult for Overeem, who knew that virtually everyone watching other than his family, friends and teams would be rooting for Harris.

Story continues

Overeem did his job but when it ended, he, too, was rooting for Harris.

He said he knew that by mixing up his shots he could create an opening for himself.

I had landed a low kick and so I knew his attention would be low, on the leg, Overeem said. I landed a high kick and then finish up on top [with a left hand]. I was able to land some ground and pound. He was tough. He didnt want to give up.

Harris showed remarkable composure through fight week and spoke of Aniah in all of his interviews in a strong voice. Theyd bonded early in his fight career when he was making next to no money and so his wife was working double shifts. Aniah helped him raise his son.

And when he would doubt himself or his ability to be successful in this most difficult of sports, Aniah would be the positive voice he needed.

After the fight, he was typically classy. He thanked the UFC and his team for everything theyd done for him and apologized to the fans for not pulling out the victory.

To all my fans watching back home, Im sorry I didnt get the W for you, said Harris, who had no reason to apologize. Ill be back better. You havent seen the last of The Big Ticket. Im going to heal emotionally and physically and I promise Ill be back better.

He came into the fight off back-to-back first-round knockout wins, and would have been on a four-fight winning streak had a victory over Andrei Arlovski not been changed to a no-contest because hed had a tainted supplement in his system. Overeem, though, was the best fighter he faced and a guy who is a survivor. Overeem was badly hurt, but he remained calm, protected himself as best he could on the ground and worked his way back to his feet.

Once he did, the fight was essentially over. Harris may have been overly emotional and got overanxious after Overeem got up. Well never know.

What we do know is that he fought well and bravely under unimaginable circumstances and made more fans with the way he carried himself prior to this fight and after it than he had in his entire career.

Hes a classy, compassionate, easy-going guy who packs a punch in that left hand of his. Hes still got a lot of fights left in him and has the opportunity to once again move up the rankings.

The heart-warming victory eluded him, but Walt Harris left the Octagon on Saturday very much a winner.

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Golden Bridge, a popular destination in central Da Nang city (Photo: VNA)

The recovery was mainly thanks to the increasing demand of local travellers, according to insiders who added that the most searched destinations over the past month were Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Da Lat, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Hue and Quy Nhon.

An increasing number of people are looking for sea and island tourism places such as Vung Tau, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon and Ha Long Bay, as well as national parks like Phong Nha-Ke Bang, Ba Vi, Cuc Phuong, and Son Doong cave.

Some airlines and travel companies such as Bamboo Airways, Philippine Airlines, and Traveloka have launched preferential programmes to lure visitors.

Hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnams tourism sector is likely to be one of the first to recover strongly after the pandemic is brought under control, according to an expert from Savills Vietnam.

Mauro Gasparotti, Director of Savills Hotels Asia Pacific, said local travelers, which accounted for 82.5 percent of all tourists last year, are expected to rise in number within a short period of time, while international visitors will return at a slower but steady rate, especially those from China and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

The number of foreign arrivals to Vietnam fell 18 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, while the number of domestic travelers was down 6 percent. The sectors revenue declined 11 percent compared to the same period of 2019.
United States President Donald Trump on Saturday attacked China over the issue of latter's funding to Global bodies like WHO, UN and the WTO. He questioned that despite having a population bigger than the United States, why is China paying a "tiny fraction of $'s" to the World Health Organization, The United Nations and the World Trade Organization.

'A so-called developing country...'

Trump alleged that in the World Trade Organization, China is considered a "so-called developing country" and is therefore given massive advantages over the US and everyone else. He added that prior to the plague floating in from China, the United States economy was "blowing everybody away, the best of any country, EVER," and America will be there again soon.

Why is it that China, for decades, and with a population much bigger than ours, is paying a tiny fraction of $s to The World Health Organization, The United Nations and, worst of all, The World Trade Organization, where they are considered a so-called developing country and...  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2020

'We will be there again, and soon!'

.....are therefore given massive advantages over The United States, and everyone else? Prior to the Plague floating in from China, our Economy was blowing everybody away, the best of any country, EVER. We will be there again, and soon!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2020

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has also said that he does not want to talk to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping right now, expressing his displeasure at Beijing's handling of the coronavirus outbreak which has spread across the world, killing over 300,000 people. The US has expressed disappointment over China's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed 87,530 lives in America. President Trump on Thursday threatened to "cut off the whole relationship" with China.

READ | Ivanka Trump defends Donald Trump for not wearing a mask, explains why he doesn't need it

'We will see what happens...'

Trump has been pressing China to agree for an inquiry into the origin of the virus, including the allegation that it emerged from a lab in Wuhan. "Just don't want to talk to him right now. We will see what happens over the next little while," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday, when asked why he did not want to not speak to Xi.

China, as per the trade deal inked earlier this year, is buying a lot more of American goods than last year. "They are spending a lot on the trade deal, but the trade deal I don't know somehow I lost a little flavour for it, you can understand," Trump said.

READ | COVID-19: 'Vaccine or no vaccine,' Donald Trump unveils plan to reopen US

Earlier on Friday, Trump said he did not want to talk about the trade deal with China. "I don't want to talk about it. I can say China is buying a lot of our products. But the trade deal - the ink was barely dry - when this (Coronavirus) came in from China. So, it's not like we're thrilled," he said.

READ | Donald Trump mulls payment of 10% of earlier limit to WHO, says 'no final decision made'

"This should have never happened. This came from China. It should have been stopped in China before it got out to the world. 186 countries are affected," he added.

READ | 'More power to India-US friendship': PM Modi thanks Donald Trump for donating ventilators

(With PTI inputs)
Classroom Incident Deepens Tensions Between China, Taiwan

By Joyce Huang May 16, 2020

Independence-minded Taiwan residents and politicians are in an uproar after officials at a university forced a professor to apologize to his class for saying he is from the ROC (Republic of China), using Taiwan's official name.

It was the second apology demanded of the professor, who earlier had been required to apologize to a Chinese student for remarks he made about the outbreak of COVID-19 on the mainland.

The seemingly minor classroom tiff has fueled deep-rooted hostility between citizens of Taiwan and China, according to Yen Chien-fa, vice president of Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.

Deepening resentment

It has also exacerbated tensions between those in Taiwan who favor closer relations with China and those who favor independence for the island, while drawing attention to the growing reliance of Taiwan universities on tuition fees from well-heeled mainland Chinese students.

"In face of a declining birthrate in Taiwan, some schools may have to turn to mainland students [for tuition incomes], which allows these [Chinese] students to ride the high horse," Yen told VOA. "But I think the clash will only worsen private-sector relations across the Strait and deepen resentment against each other."

Yen said it remains to be seen if Taiwan-China relations will be affected. Gai Xiaokang, a student from China's Jiangsu province, set off the dispute when he complained to officials at Chung Yuan Christian University in Taoyuan about a pre-recorded lecture delivered by Chao Ming-wei, an associate professor of biotechnology.

'Attacked and discriminated'

In the lecture, recorded in March, Chao had commented on a Chinese milk powder scandal that hospitalized more than 50,000 babies in 2008, and had questioned China's reported death toll from what he called the "Wuhan pneumonia."

Chao  a recognized expert on toxicology with a Ph.D. from Rutgers University in the United States  turned to the camera at one point during his lecture and teased, "I was referring to you all from across the Strait."

In his complaint, Gai described the remarks as "racist" and said he felt he was "being attacked and discriminated" against.

The university sided with the mainland student and asked Chao to publicly apologize.

But matters only worsened when Chao delivered his first apology in early April, telling the class that as "a professor from the ROC," he only looks at science and facts  regardless of politics, religion, nationality or race.

A video recording shows he also said he would never discriminate against any student, especially in Taiwan's inclusive and democratic society.

'Smart, but unwise'

Gai took offense at the mention of "ROC," given that mainland officials maintain there is only one China, with its capital in Beijing.

The new complaint prompted two university officials to reprimand Chao, calling him "smart, but unwise." "Do you want all mainland students to get out?" one official yelled in an audio recording that has become public, and Chao was directed to extend yet another apology.

Chao told a press conference this week that, while he accepts criticism from students, he was disappointed with the university's response. He said the school has failed to respect academic freedom, speech freedom, students' right to education and teachers' right to work. He also defended having said the coronavirus came from the Chinese city of Wuhan and having expressed doubts about the death tolls released by Chinese authorities.

Divided reaction

Taiwan politicians and netizens quickly drew up sides in the dispute.

Mark Ho, a legislator with the independence-minded Democratic Progressive Party, accused the university of "having trampled on Taiwan's dignity and Chao's personal integrity" by criticizing his use of the name Republic of China.

"Also, it's really devastating [to] Taiwan's democracy, too. I believe that Professor Chao, he is not the first one to be treated like this. I hope he's going to be the last one," Ho told VOA. He said the university's demand for two apologies was "beyond ridiculous and out of proportion."

But members of the pro-China Kuomintang (KMT) party disagreed. Local media cited KMT legislator Chen Yu-jen as saying that Chao used speech freedom and national identity to hide some of his "inappropriate" remarks.

On Facebook, some netizens questioned why Chao had to be "so sarcastic about mainland students" and said his behavior was "a shame." Others agreed that Chao's remarks were "mostly fact-based" and demanded an apology from the student and the university.

Some of Chao's class also posted comments, accusing Gai of being the bigger bully. Students said Gai was touchy whenever they made negative comments about China.

Denying any wrongdoing, the university said it reserves the right to legal recourse against Chao.

Taiwan's education ministry has said it will launch an investigation into the controversy. The ministry said no university teacher in Taiwan needs to apologize for stating in class that they are from the ROC, and Taiwan should not be demeaned during academic exchanges.

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Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Like other new art galleries in Santa Fe, Hecho a Mano has hit a bump in the road due to the state-mandated shutdown because of the coronavirus.

Frank Rose opened his gallery at 830 Canyon Road in March after working for form & concept and Manitou Gallery.

Rose isnt giving up on his dream, though. Hes moving to boost his online profile and waiting out the pandemic.

Songs for My Muse, a show of new works on paper by Santa Clara Pueblo Tewa artist Jason Garcia/Okuu Pin, was due to be held at the gallery from March 27 until April 19 before Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued her stay-at-home order on March 23.

Rose has extended the shows date until May 25 and reopened his gallery on Saturday, May 16, after the governor loosened restrictions on retail.

In the meantime, you can see examples of Garcias drawing and printmaking at Roses site, hechoamano.org.

Works in the exhibition include pieces inspired by Garcias recent National Parks Arts Foundation artist-in-residence experience at Chaco Culture National Historial Park in northern New Mexico.

I use the ancestral past to influence my work today, Garcia said in a statement. When you visit Chaco, its hard to get a sense of the people who lived there. My works based on this experience put the humanity back into what appears to be an empty village.

Garcia is the son of well-known Santa Clara Pueblo potters John and Gloria Garcia, and the great grandson of famous Santa Clara potter Severa Tafoya.

Jason Garcia said he has been an artist all his life. I really dont know much else, he said.

In 2002, when Garcia created his first graphic tile, he began expanding the norms of contemporary Pueblo art. Since then, Garcias work has blended ancient Pueblo designs with images taken from Western popular culture. In Grand Theft Auto  Santa Clara Pueblo, Garcia replaced illustrations from the cover of the popular video game with scenes from Pueblo life.

Rose of Hecho a Mano said, I think what makes Jasons work so compelling is that it challenges this notion that Native culture and Native people exist in the past. It pokes fun at romanticized imagery, while centering tradition as something contemporary.

Using traditional materials and traditional Pueblo pottery techniques, I feel that it is important to keep alive the ceramic traditions that have been passed down to me since time immemorial, Garcia said. I feel that these materials and techniques connect me to my ancestral past and landscape. Printmaking media is just another way of creating and teaching these stories and traditions to a wider audience.
In 2013 Miriam Margolyes was naturalised as Australian.

The star from the Harry Potter franchise, Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries & Call the Midwife has a home in the NSW Southern Highlands she shares with her partner, Heather.

But when Southern Pictures approached her with the idea of a documentary, Almost Australian, she jumped at the chance to learn about the contrasts within our nation.

I dont know rural Australia

We all live in our own little bubble and we rarely have the opportunity to get outside it, and thats what I wanted to do. I did say to them I want to see the things I dont know. And I dont know rural Australia. I dont know Aboriginals. I dont know farming communities. I dont know little towns. I dont know anything about the drought. And I dont know anything about migrants, she tells TV Tonight.

So they took me to the places that were outside my comfort zone.

In her three part series she embarks on a 10,000 km journey across NSW, Victoria, and Queensland in her fully-equipped motorhome.

From grey nomads, to home ownership, farming, Aussie Rules, car rallies and Aboriginal elders, Margolyes injects her experience with humour, inquisitiveness and a touch of politics.

Amongst those she meets is former Afghanistan refugee Moj, whom she encountered working in a St. Vinnies op shop. Sharing his life story turned Miriam to tears

His story just broke my heart, she admits.

Im still in touch with him and I just ache for him. Ive had such an easy life and he has not.

You know how people try to characterise, migrants saying, They just come for a handout, hes the absolute opposite of that.

Who is this little Pommy person, who thinks she can swan in and make judgments?

But not every meeting went so smoothly when she aired her views.

Aboriginal farmer Frank didnt like me. Its always harder to work with people that dont like. I mean, he wasnt nasty. Not very nasty. He was a proud independent man and he obviously thought Who is this little Pommy person, who thinks she can swan in and make judgments? And I could completely understand that. I thought he was incredibly impressive.

Frank also described Australia as the most racist country of all.

That really shocked me and surprised me, Margolyes recalls, so its obviously his perception. But then I went to this little town Nhill (in western Victoria) that was dying because the factory was closing and it was saved by a group of immigrants from another world. They love them. The people opened to them, they enjoy their presence. They made friends and it was heartwarming to see that.

I have to tell you the way I see it

Margolyes is also unapologetic for her political views, which is a frequent theme of her documentaries.

Im very political, and people take offence. And I think Well stuff it. If you do, you do. I have to tell you the way I see it, she insists.

I place huge stress on the fact that I only tell the truth. I will not soften anything.

I would like to just do programs about politics thats how strongly I feel about politics. But I try quite deliberately in myself to moderate how I feel about that. Because otherwise Im interposing myself between the story that people have, and the audience. I hope that I let the people tell their stories. Thats what you have to do.

So how has the road trip and documentary changed her view of Australia?

Australia is so much more complicated than I thought. We think we know what its like. But we dont. Its quite complicated. Its layered. Lots of things happen. I do think I was right that its harsher than it was. Maybe thats true in the world.

Theres a theres a harshness about it, which I didnt expect. Because when I first came in the 80s it was very surreal. I think that politically its hardened up. But the world has.

Surfers Paradise, its disgusting

Indeed, she does not hold back on her views of high density living in Queensland.

There is a brutality there and a greed in Australia, which I dont like. You know, the developers. Those horrible structures along the coast, that people should be ashamed of living in. Surfers Paradise, its disgusting. I think that actually shocked me because I dont go there. Its not my world and I dont want to go there.

My world is the world of show business, theatre and television and I was really out of my world.

The poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world

But Margolyes hopes her storytelling skills give others a perspective on the country that they too, dont usually see.

We who are the artists, as Shelley said, The poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world. We have a serious responsibility, a serious job. I dont think being an actress is a trivial thing. I think its a serious thing, she explains.

Television can be a serious thing. But sometimes you have to dress it up a bit. I take my work really seriously -not myself- Im just an old lady. It comes out on the 19th of May and I will be 79 on the 18th of May and Im very proud of that.

I love it and I want it to be better. Thats what I say. I love Australia and I want it to be better.

Miriam Margolyes: Almost Australian airs 8:30pm Tuesday on ABC.
Women have joined forces to create uplifting cards that can be sent to show support to struggling mothers for mental health awareness week.

Women from across the UK lent their creative talents to design the greeting cards, which reflect the empowering, life-affirming and difficult world of motherhood.

The cards, designed in collaboration with card app TouchNote, are all based around the theme of 'kindness' and mark mental health awareness week, which starts on Monday. All profits go to the Mental Health Foundation.

Each card was created by women who experienced who struggled with low mental health issues in their lives, or found motherhood too much to bear, and coped with the help of loved ones or other mother who supported them through tough time.

All cards can be personalised and posted through the app, without the need to leave the house.

'I struggled to cope after the birth of my baby'

Eleanor King, a mother-of-three, took part in the initiative, and said she was struggling to cope after the birth of her first baby, but got back on her feet thanks to a local breastfeeding group

Eleanor's card pays homage to the friends she made at her local breastfeeding group, as well as a project she launched since, helping hundreds of new mother cope with breastfeeding around the UK

Eleanor King, a mother-of-three from Southend-on-Sea, took part in the initiative, and said she had struggled to cope after the birth of her first baby. Finding breastfeeding particularly painful, she got in touch with a local breastfeeding group.

'After a long labour with my first baby, I vividly remember being up at 3am in the morning, in floods of silent tears from breastfeeding being so painful, trying not to wake up my husband,' she said.

'What kept me going was the knowledge that there was a local breastfeeding group, just down the road, where I knew that I would be welcomed.

'I knew that there would be other people there who understood, who had been there too, and that I would be listened to.'

Eleanor said she made good friends at the group and was lucky it had been nearby.

She went on to complete the breastfeeding peer supporter training, and later helped other mothers at the Children's Centre. This led her to complete more breastfeeding training with UNICEF, before creating her own project.

'Since we started, the project has gone from strength to strength. This year we have supported 300 families, and I have provided training for over 20 volunteers who were also keen to help other mums too,' she explained.

'There are so many expectations from society on women, particularly on new mums. When people can connect together, and share experiences honestly, kindly and with care, a lot of healing can take place.'

'I felt isolated after giving birth overseas'

Lucy Parson, a mother of two children aged 11 and 13 from Cheltenham, said she felt isolated during her second pregnancy after moving to Germany with her husband, who worked long hours, and started to feel better thanks to other mothers who supported her

Lucy said it's through her exchanges with other mothers that she realised there was no such a thing as a perfect mother. She drew flowers on her cards in honour of her mother

Lucy Parson, a mother of two children aged 11 and 13, from Cheltenham, said she felt isolated during her second pregnancy after moving to Germany with her husband, who worked long hours.

'I also had a constant feeling that I should be coping. This was what women went through and looking after two young children should come naturally surely? I met some other mums through an International playgroup and that did help,' she said.

'I still felt very isolated and alone, terrified and panicked when the children were ill and every day outings seemed like a huge challenge. Sometimes it seems like the rest of the world is striving forward and you feel Iike the only one who is ten steps behind.

'Later, when we moved back to England, it was the other Mums at the school who helped me realise that none of us are perfect and were not meant to be,' she went on.

'So much of being a Mum is finding your own way. There is no training. Following your own heart and asking for help when you need it is part of the journey. We are all just trying our best. Whatever that looks like!'

'I put on a brave face while battling demons inside'

Sarah Simonds, a mother-of-two from East Molesey, Surrey, said she was a 'coper,' who would put on a brave face while struggling and sinking deeper into distress

After years of struggling to find professional help for her depression, Sarah said she learned to cope better with her mental health issues, and infused a message of positivity in her cards

One of Sarah's card, titled 'I'm here for you, always' shows that one single person can keep mothers' grounded when they feel they can't cope

Sarah Simonds, a mother-of-two from East Molesey, Surrey, said she was a 'coper,' who would put on a brave face while struggling and sinking deeper into distress.

'I portrayed an external facade that said everything was fine. I never asked for help, it just felt easier do things by myself,' she explained.

What the cards mean Dan Ziv, TouchNote's CEO, said: 'Over the past few weeks we have all shared feelings of distress and yet seen utter kindness too. We couldnt be more proud of this collection of beautiful cards and their inspiring messages to help support mums, and others, who find themselves under huge pressure. 'We hope that the Art of Kindness helps people to share love and hope during these difficult times.' Mark Rowland, CEO of The Mental Health Foundations said: 'We are delighted to be partnering with TouchNote. 'The funds raised from sales of the Art of Kindness range will help us to protect and improve the lives of millions of people in the UK and beyond. Weve been working to support young mums, and new parents for a number of years. 'This is a key time for the mental health of everyone in the family and its lovely to see this range of cards developed by parents, in the way they most feel would help others,' he added. Advertisement

With her two sons being born 13 months apart, Sarah said she decided to give up work, which subjected her to feeling isolated and overwhelmed.

'I had no idea I was struggling at the time, I genuinely thought I was coping and this was my new normal,' she said.

'But looking back I often found myself crying inconsolably over the slightest thing and getting angry over petty stuff. I still kept going but the world around me was closing in.'

Sarah explained she stopped seeing people and later realise she was suffering from depression and was prescribed sleeping pills by one GP and anti-depressants by another.

She managed to get some counselling for her mental health issues and go better with the help of a psychotherapist and art therapy.

'My message to anyone who is struggling after childbirth is simply dont be embarrassed to seek help, dont give up trying to get help if it is not offered, do make sure you find people who will listen, as it might not be your partner or your family you can turn to you may have to reach out further,' she said.

'I wish there was more help offered more openly and freely wen I was going through this at the beginning, there wasnt. Things have improved hugely over the years and mental health now is not considered such a stigma.'
The first time I walked into a store with a cloth mask on, I felt like a middle school student who missed the memo that Spirit Week was canceled. My bright green handkerchief, wrapped around my face bank-robber style, stuck out like a sore thumb. All around, I saw unguarded noses and mouths, and (I imagined) suspicious eyes.

That was my first chore of the day, and Im ashamed to admit that the social anxiety I felt in that store led me to forgo a mask at my second shopping stop (after I staked out the parking lot for a few minutes, trying to see if anyone walking in and out of the store was wearing a mask -- they werent).

This was only a day or two after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started recommending the practice of wearing cloth masks in public, and as a copy editor whose job it is to read all of the news, I suppose at that time, I was ahead of most people on this new directive. After all, before the CDC came out with this advice, the public kept being told not to wear a mask.

Today, I see many more people wearing masks out and about, and I feel much more comfortable in some more fashionable and official-looking cloth masks I received from a friends mom. To be honest, however, Im disappointed in many of my fellow community members. Im still seeing way too many naked noses and mouths out there.

Deciding not to wear a mask in a public setting (especially a highly trafficked one where social distancing is difficult at times, such as a grocery store) is a selfish act. Ive seen a particular attitude on social media that only people who are paranoid wear masks, but wearing a mask is meant to protect others more than oneself, according to the CDC.

I could be infected with the coronavirus -- Im a young person with no preexisting conditions, so Im likely not to exhibit symptoms. The CDC says studies have shown asymptomatic people can spread the disease.

Given that there are only upsides to wearing a cloth mask, I cant understand why the ratio I typically see around Bismarck is (at best) 50-50. We dont have as many cases or deaths as many states, but that shouldnt breed complacency.

When I was complaining about this particular problem to a friend who lives in Rhode Island, my home state, he was shocked.

If youre not wearing a mask here, youre the weird one, he said. He described a scene he had witnessed in a pharmacy when a man walked in to find himself the only patron without a mask. Everyone was staring, my friend said. Luckily, an employee quickly came over to hand the man a makeshift face covering.

Rhode Island is smaller than some North Dakota counties but is home to about 1 million people. Its relatively close to areas with scary rates of COVID-19, such as Massachusetts and New York. Rhode Island has about 12,000 cases.

So I get it -- comparing North Dakotans attitudes toward masks with Rhode Islanders' might not seem fair. Rhode Islanders are surely pressed up against each other all the time in disease-ridden urban streets, right? As opposed to here, where were famous for our social distancing.

But the everyday activities and settings arent so different. Yes, my hometown of 10,000 is considered small and rural (which is laughable to North Dakotans), but its everyday goings on and community spaces are pretty similar to Bismarck, Grand Forks or Fargo. Just because we're surrounded by farmland doesnt mean the disease is less likely to spread here. That goes for the small towns Ive worked in in North Dakota, too -- I know how much you all like to gather and gossip at the local cafe. The coronavirus can get you there, too.

So please, wear a mask, even if you feel uncomfortable or silly. Gov. Doug Burgum has begun opening up our state again in some ways, but that doesnt mean we all get to pretend nothings changed. This virus remains a real threat, and those lucky enough to be going back to work and leisure activities need to stay vigilant.

A mask is a way to credibly help stem the spread of germs while also serving as a visual reminder to yourself and others that we need to look out for one another. Some local businesses have begun requiring patrons to wear masks, which I applaud.

North Dakota is nowhere near the coronavirus numbers of my home state. Lets keep it that way.

Newsroom Notebook is a periodic column written by members of the Tribune newsroom that focuses on our community and everyday life.

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Public support for the Government's handling of the coronavirus outbreak has dipped sharply in the last week after Boris Johnson set out his plan to ease lockdown.

The Prime Minister faced accusations from critics of confusing the nation with his three step plan to reopen Britain and of bungling a shift away from the Government's 'stay at home' message.

A new Opinium survey suggests there has been a backlash among the public with disapproval for the PM's response to the outbreak now higher than approval for the first time.

The poll found some 39 per cent of the nation are supportive of the Government's handling of the coronavirus crisis, down nine points on the 48 per cent recorded a week ago.

Meanwhile, those saying they disapproved of the Government rose from 36 per cent last week to 42 per cent.

Boris Johnson, pictured in Downing Street on May 14, is under pressure over the handling of his lockdown exit strategy announcement

A new survey conducted by Opinium found more people now disapprove of the Government's handling of the crisis than approve for the first time since the outbreak started

Mr Johnson used an address to the nation last Sunday to set out how he intends to get the UK out of lockdown.

He 'actively encouraged' people who cannot work from home to return to work as he said primary schools could reopen in June with some hospitality services potentially following in July.

But he was heavily criticised over the plan for England as the other three Home Nations took more cautious approaches to lockdown.

He also replaced the Government's 'stay at home' slogan with a more nuanced 'stay alert' message which many opponents condemned as meaningless.

Adam Drummond, the head of political polling at Opinium, said: 'In part this was likely inevitable as the relatively simple and almost unanimous decision to lockdown has given way to much more contestable decisions about how and when to open up.

'We have gone from a very simple and clearly understood message to a more nuanced situation with more confused messaging and a sense that the Government don't have as firm a grip on the situation as voters would like.'

The new poll found that 53 per cent of people in England do not believe the 'stay alert' slogan is clear while less than a third (31 per cent) were able to identify where the UK is on the Government's coronavirus alert scale - Level Four.

Mr Johnson has urged people not to use public transport if they are able to travel to and from work another way in order to alleviate pressure on train and bus services.

The survey suggests it will take some people a long time to feel safe travelling on public transport.

Mr Johnson's personal approval rating has also taken a hit since he announced his plan to ease restrictions

Confidence in the Government's ability to handle the coronavirus situation has also fallen

Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of people are confident they will use common sense when it comes to meeting relatives - but they are sceptical of the British public at large

Only one in seven people said they would feel comfortable travelling by train or bus in the current climate.

As well as pressure over his lockdown exit plan, Mr Johnson is also facing growing pressure from his rival, the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

More than a third of people (35 per cent) said they approved of Sir Keir's response to the crisis as opposed to 20 per cent who disapproved.

The overwhelming majority of people (87 per cent) are confident they will use 'common sense' when deciding whether to meet relatives outside in the coming weeks.

But they are much more sceptical of the British public at large, with 61 per cent saying they are not confident the nation will act is a wise manner.

Opinium conducted the survey of 2,005 UK adults online between May 13 and 14.
Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: Rajasthan on Sunday recorded the highest single day spike of 242 new cases and five more fatalities, officials said. The number of cases in the state stands at 5,202 and fatalities at 131.

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As many as 1,257 persons tested positive for coronavirus have been cured, of which 952 were discharged on Saturday, the Punjab government announced. Most of these patients were Sikh pilgrims who had returned from Maharashtra's Nanded. The state has reported 1,946 cases so far.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to address a press conference at 11 am today to speak on the roadmap laid out to move towards an 'Aatmanirbhar' India. Sitharaman on Saturday said that the Central government will introduce competition, transparency and private sector participation in the coal sector and infrastructure development of Rs 50,000 crore.

Nirmala Sitharam while announcing the final tranche of the economic stimulus package said, "Health-related steps that have been taken: Rs 15,000 crore was released by the prime minister, insurance cover of Rs 50 lakhs per person for health professionals was announced, made sure telemedicine comes into play, capacity building exercises have been taken up, for protection of health care workers, amendment of Epidemic Diseases Act was required which was undertaken."

The finance minister noted that online education has been taken up in a big way in India. She said, "SWAYAM PRABHA DTH channels to support and reach those who do not have access to the internet. Provision made for the telecast of live interactive sessions."

In first of the seven steps to be announced by the finance minister, Nirmala Sitharam said that a budget estimate for MNREGS is now at Rs 61,000 crore. "Government will now allocate an additional Rs 40,000 crore under the scheme. This will generate Rs 300 crore more person-days of work and will address the need for work for returning migrants." she said

While the first step of the final tranche of the stimulus package, Nirmala Sitharaman said, "Health reforms and initiatives put in place. Public expenditure on health will be increased. Investments at grassroots for health and wellness centers both at rural and urban levels will be ramped up. All districts will have infectious disease hospital blocks. Public health labs to be set up at block levels."

In relation to IBC related matters, Nirmala Sitharaman said that debts related to COVID-19 shall be excluded from defaults under IBC. "No fresh insolvency proceeding will be initiated up to 1 year. At the moment MCA has extended this by 6 months, we intend to extend this by another 6 months. For MSMEs a special insolvency framework will be notified under section 240-A of IBC. The minimum threshold to initiate insolvency proceedings raised to Rs 1 crore from the earlier Rs 1 lakh, which largely insulates MSMEs."

Speaking of public enterprise policy, the finance minister said, "All sectors will be opened to private sectors also. Public sectors will continue to play an important role in defined areas. We shall defined the areas or categories. The strategic sectors in which public-private sector enterprises will be present will be notified. Not more than four enterprises will be present in each sector."

Nirmala Sitharaman said, "Part of the borrowing by states will be linked to specific reforms. From 3-3.5%, the 0.5% will be an unconditional increase. Next 1% to be released in 4 tranches of 0.25%, with each tranche linked to clearly specified, measurable, and feasible reform actions. Further 0.5% will be given if milestones are achieved in at least three out of the four reform areas."

Speaking on the support which has been extended to state governments, Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said, "Like the Centre, the state is also witnessing a sharp drop in revenues. Over Rs 46,038 crore were devolved as tax revenue to states. Over Rs 12,000 crore were also dispensed on time. The Health Ministry has also released over Rs 14,000 crore. The RBI in a very timely step has increased ways of advancing limits for states by 60%. The number of days a state can be in an overdraft situation in a quarter has been raised."

I want to tell the Opposition party that on the issue of migrants we all must work together. We are working with all states on this issue. With folded hands, I ask Sonia Gandhi ji that we must speak and deal with our migrants more responsibly, said Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

On the question on when the country can we expect GST dues to be given to the states, the finance minister said, "We are periodically talking about it. GST dues are clearly explained in the GST Council. All states' GST dues are due which we recognise for December, January, February, March. It has not been paid."

The fourth phase of lockdown, lockdown 4, will be completely redesigned, with new rules. Based on the suggestions we are getting from the states, information related to Lockdown 4 will also be given to you before 18 May, Modi had said during his address.

India will enter into the fourth phase of lockdown from 18 May but with a different set of rules and guidelines as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to the nation on 11 May. The new guidelines for lockdown 4.0 will be based on the suggestions made by chief ministers of all the states to the home ministry last week and are expected to be announced on Sunday evening, reports NDTV.

Of the new cases during the past 24 hours ending 9 AM on Sunday, five were linked to the Koyambedu market in Chennai, which has become a hotspot, according to a bulletin issued by the department. Of the total positive cases, 150 were from other states.

Over 160 Indian citizens from Chicago in the US arrived in Hyderabad on Sunday on board an Air India flight, the ninth such service to reach the city since the beginning of the Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate people from the country stranded due to coronavirus lockdown.

"The Congress is providing help to the starving migrant workers that's why I went to the Ghazipur border yesterday. People will not spare these governments that are detaining us for helping migrant workers," the Congress leader said.

"Police came to my home from the New Ashok Nagar police station in the morning today. Police told me that I was being detained but no reason was given for doing so," he said. Kumar said police kept asking him if he had gone to the Ghazipur border on Saturday.

The test report of a 55-year-old migrant worker, who fell ill upon return to Bihar from Mumbai and died before his sample was collected, came COVID-19 positive, taking the death toll in the state to eight, reports PTI.Principal Secretary, Health, Sanjay Kumar, said the migrant workers, who was diabetic, had breathed his last early on 15 May after suffering 'cardiopulmonary arrest' at a hospital in Khagaria district, where he was admitted upon developing respiratory problems. "Soon after his death, his sample along with that of his wife was collected and both tested positive on Saturday. He goes into records as the eighth COVID 19 death in Bihar," Kumar said.

The Union Health Ministry on Sunday listed parameters such as active COVID-19 cases, doubling and fatality rates and cases per lakh population, for the states and UTs to follow while categorising areas into red, orange or green zones. It also issued guidelines for delineation of coronavirus containment and buffer zones and outlined the actions that have to be implemented in those areas to break the chain of transmission. In a letter to the states and Union Territories, Health Secretary Preeti Sudan said states may categorise districts or municipal corporations into hotspots, red, orange and green zones. They, however, may also choose to categorise sub-division, ward or any other appropriate administrative unit into the colour-coded zones after detailed analysis at their end, duly taking into consideration the geographical spread of cases, contacts and their zone of influence in terms of disease spread, the ministry said.

Gujarat will be divided into containment and non-containment zones, and economic activities will be allowed in non-containment zones in the state during the extended lockdown period as the per the Centre's guidelines, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Sunday. He said a meeting of all district officials will be held for notifying containment zones and the fourth phase of the lockdown will be implemented from Tuesday."All industrial and commercial activities will be allowed in non-containment zones, be it Ahmedabad city or Surat or Vadodara, as per directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs," Rupani said after chairing a high-level meeting with state ministers and officials.

With extension of lockdown up to 31 May, new guidelines issued by MHA will be applicable based on risk profiling of districts into Red/Green&Orange zones with restrictions imposed, said an order issued by the Himachal Pradesh government. Curfew hours will be notified by District Magistrates from time to time, it further added.

On May 1, Goa had been declared as green zone after all the seven COVID-19 patients previously found in the state recovered. However, the coastal state has witnessed a spurt in the number of cases over the last few days.

The tally of COVID-19 patients in Goa reached 22 after nine such cases were reported on Sunday, PTI quotes a health department official as saying. Six of the total number of patients are passengers of the Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram Express train, who tested positive in the last 24 hours, the official said. "All the 22 patients have been admitted to a specially-designated COVID-19 hospital in Margao town," he said..

The Puri district administration on Sunday vacated the Kumbharpada police station after a person arrested in a snatching case tested positive for COVID-19, officials told PTI. The police station was sanitised and about 30 personnel, including the inspector in-charge, were lodged at a hotel as a precautionary measure, they said. The administration said COVID-19 test of all the personnel posted at the police station will be conducted.

On Jhansi-Shivpuri border, police stopped trucks and other private vehicles ferrying migrants on Saturday night leading to protests. Senior officials reached the spot and at 2 AM it was decided that the people will be allowed to proceed further after undergoing screening for coronavirus symptoms, according to Divisional Commissioner, Jhansi divison, Subhash Chandra Sharma.

Hundreds of migrants were stopped on Sunday by police in border districts of Uttar Pradesh from travelling to their native places by unauthorised vehicles and on foot during the ongoing coronavirus lockdown, leading to protests in some areas, reports PTI.Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had on Saturday directed district authorities not to allow migrants to travel by unsafe means and to ensure that they are transported in buses after 26 workers who were returning to their homes died in a truck-trailer collision in Auraiya.

A Rajasthan cabinet minister on Sunday claimed that the state government had kept 500 private buses ready to ferry migrant workers to Uttar Pradesh but they were not allowed to enter by the Yogi Adityanath government. Vishvendra Singh, Minister for Tourism and Devasthan, Rajasthan said the buses were stopped at Bahej village on the Uttar Pradesh-Rajasthan border for almost the entire day. Later, the buses were asked to return to Rajasthan. We had been waiting for permission from the UP government to enter cross the border for nearly seven hours, Singh alleged. Around 1000 private buses to facilitate the movement of migrants have been arranged on the directives of Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as she was moved by their plight, Singh said.

Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: Rajasthan on Sunday recorded the highest single day spike of 242 new cases and five more fatalities, officials said. The number of cases in the state stands at 5,202 and fatalities at 131.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba during a video conference requested states to cooperate in running more Shramik Special trains to facilitate the movement of migrant workers.

Gujarat will be divided into containment and non-containment zones, and economic activities will be allowed in non-containment zones in the state during the extended lockdown period as the per the Centre's guidelines, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Sunday.

Gujarat on Sunday recorded 391 new COVID-19 cases and 34 deaths, taking the total case count to 11,380 and the number of fatalities to 659, a Health official said.

According to the BMC's figures released on Sunday evening, 1,571 COVID-19 cases and 38 deaths were reported in Mumbai on Sunday. The total number of cases in the city is now at 19967, including 5012 recovered/discharged and 734 deaths.

Maharashtra COVID-19 tally rises to 33,053 after 2,347 new cases recorded; toll climbs to 1,198 after death of 63 patients.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the nationwide lockdown till 31 May and issued fresh guidelines. According to the guidelines, all international and domestic flights will continue to be banned except for medical and emergency purposes.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended nationwide lockdown till 31 May and allowed states, Union Territories to impose restrictions as deemed necessary by them.

The NDMA in exercise of powers of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 directs Centre and State government to continue the lockdown measures up to 31 May to contain the spread of COVID-19. It has also asked the NEC to issue modified guidelines keeping in mind the resumption of economic activities.

Karnataka has extended lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the state to 19 May, according to reports. The existing lockdown guidelines shall remain applicable during this period.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that 14 more persons had tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Kerala, taking the number of active cases to 101.

The test report of a 55-year-old migrant worker, who fell ill upon return to Bihar from Mumbai and died before his sample was collected, came COVID-19 positive, taking the death toll in the state to eight, reports PTI.

Two migrant workers who returned to Chhattisgarh's Balod district from Mumbai tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, taking the number of such cases in the state to 69.

Lockdown in Tamil Nadu extended till 31 May with more relaxations, announces chief minister E Palaniswami. He also announced new relaxations such as resumption of public transportation in 25 districts after a hiatus of nearly two months.

In the first case of COVID-19 in a Punjab prison, a woman inmate at Ludhiana jail tested positive. Meanwhile, the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus was extended in Punjab till 31 May.

Delhi reported 19 coronavirus deaths on Sunday and 422 new infections, taking the total to 148 fatalities and 9,755 cases, the authorities said. The new guidelines for lockdown 4.0 will be based on the suggestions made by chief ministers of all the states to the home ministry last week and are expected to be announced on Sunday evening, reports NDTV. Maharashtra, with the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country, has decided to extend the lockdown till 31 May, reports PTI. The state has registered 30,706 cases and 1,135 deaths. After Punjab, Mizoram and Telangana, Maharashtra has become the latest state to extend restrictions. The finance minister slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his meeting with migrants in the National Capital on Saturday and asked 'why to politicise the issue'. 'She said, 'I want to tell the Opposition party that on the issue of migrants we all must work together.' Speaking of public enterprise policy, the finance minister said, 'All sectors will be opened to private sectors also. Public sectors will continue to play an important role in defined areas. ' In view of the unprecedented situation, the Centre has decided to accede to the request of states and increase the borrowing limits of states from 3% to 5% for 2020-21 only. 'This will give states extra resources of Rs 4.28 lakh crore,' she said. Now, Indian public companies can list their securities directly in foreign jurisdictions, announced Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. 'Private companies which list Non-Convertible Debentures on stock exchanges will not be regarded as listed companies, she said "Debts related to COVID-19 shall be excluded from defaults under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board," says Nirmala Sitharman. "No fresh insolvency proceeding will be initiated up to one year." Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says the first of seven steps is allocating an additional Rs 40,000 crore for the MGNREGA scheme. Sitharaman said it would address returning migrants' need for work. Nirmala Sitharam said that she would be announcing seven steps in the final tranche of the stimulus package. 'Today I have 7 such steps to tell you, the order is: MGNREGS, Health (rural and urban) and Education related, businesses and COVID-19, decriminalization of Companies Act, Ease of Doing Business, Public Sector Enterprises- related steps and state governments and related resources,' she said. Need to now build an Aatma Nirbhar Bharat', said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, while addressing a press conference on the final tranche of the economic package, revisits Narendra Modi's speech on Tuesday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to address a press conference at 11 am today to speak on the roadmap laid out to move towards an 'Aatmanirbhar' India. Sitharaman on Saturday said that the Central government will introduce competition, transparency and private sector participation in the coal sector and infrastructure development of Rs 50,000 crore. India reported the highest ever spike of 4,987 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, a woman, who travelled to Goa in Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani train on Saturday, has tested positive for coronavirus, taking the new infections in the state to 10. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will address a press conference at 11 am today to talk on the roadmap laid out to move towards an 'Aatmanirbhar' India. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases stood at 90,927 on Sunday. India crossed the 85,000 mark in number of COVID-19 cases on Saturday, becoming the 11th worst-affected country in the world. The Union Health Ministry reported a rise of 3,970 infections and 103 deaths due to the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours since Friday 8 am. The total number of cases has climbed to 85,940 while number of deaths due to COVID-19 has risen to 2,752, the ministry said. With 53,035 active cases, India is the eighth largest in terms of active cases after the US, Russia, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain and Peru. More than 30,000 patients have recovered so far, data showed.

However, a PTI tally of figures announced by states and Union territories, as of 9.15 pm put the total number of confirmed cases in the country at 90,326, deaths at 2,790 and recoveries at over 33,500. Globally, more than 45.6 lakh people are reported to have been infected by the novel coronavirus while 3,06,221 have died, according to a Reuters tally. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019. COVID-19 cases from states In India, Maharashtra remained the worst affected state with its COVID-19 tally crossing the 30,000-mark on Saturday with 1,606 new cases and 67 more fatalities taking its death toll to 1,135. Gujarat, the second worst-affected state, crossed the 10,000-mark on Saturday with 1,057 new patients being found positive for coronavirus including 709 "super spreaders" in Ahmedabad. Gujarat now has 10,989 cases with 625 deaths, while Tamil Nadu's overall tally has risen to 10,585. The major worry, however, is a new phase of coronavirus infections in states like Kerala and Goa, which had become virtually free of new infections, have begun reporting new cases while the numbers have started rising rapidly in places like Odisha, Bihar and Assam too in the last few days. Click here to follow LIVE Updates on coronavirus Most of the new cases across states are being linked to the influx of people from other states or other countries in special trains, flights and buses. In Odisha, 65 people tested positive during the day, taking its total to 737, and officials said most of these cases are among people who had returned from other states. Ganjam in south Odisha now accounts for the highest number of cases in the state at 277 and most of these people have returned from Gujarat and other states. In Kerala, 11 people tested positive for COVID-19, including four from Thrissur district, three from Kozhikode and two each from Palakkad and Malappuram. All of them had come from outside the state -- seven from abroad and two each from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Nearly 57,000 people are under observation in the state at present, out of which about 3,000 came to the state through airports, nearly 800 from sea ports, over 1,000 through train and over 50,320 via road. In Tripura also, 11 people, including seven BSF jawans, tested positive on Saturday. Bihar recorded 46 new cases, including in Patna which now has 105 cases. The number of cases in Bihar has risen sharply since the beginning of the month, mainly because of migrants returning to their native places in large numbers by special trains in addition to other modes of transport. According to the state health department, 427 of returnees since 4 May have tested positive for COVID-9. Most of them had come from Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Five cities account for over 50% COVID-19 cases The high concentration of COVID-19 in urban clusters is another major cause of worry with five cities -- Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Pune -- as of Saturday accounting for over 50 percent of total infections with close to 46,000 cases. These five also account for over half of the nationwide death toll of close to nearly 2,800 so far. On Saturday, Delhi reported 438 new cases, taking its tally to 9,333, while its death toll rose to 129. Delhi is the third worst hit among the major urban centres after Mumbai and Ahmedabad, which reported 884 and 973 new cases, respectively. The COVID-19 case count in Ahmedabad has now risen to 8,144, while its toll has grown to 493. Mumbai's tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen to 18,396, while its death toll due to the pandemic is now 696 with 41 new deaths. Chennai also saw its tally rising to 6,261. Among other major urban centres, Pune, Surat and Indore have also been reporting large numbers of cases. 35 migrants killed in road accidents At least 35 migrant workers were killed and many more were injured in road accidents during the day in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh while trying to return to their native places. Most of them had hitched rides in trucks while a couple was in an autorickshaw for a journey running into hundreds of kilometers. Lakhs of migrant workers in different parts of the country had begun walking back to their native places after being rendered jobless, and many of them homeless too, due to the nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 March. While special trains are being run now by the government and some states have also arranged for buses to take them back to their homes, not all places are said to be connected by these trains and large numbers of people remain on roads. FM announces fourth tranche of measures; Opposition slams it The government in the meantime unveiled a slew of structural reforms in eight sectors -- coal, minerals, defence production, civil aviation sector, power distribution companies in Union Territories, space sector and atomic energy sector -- in the fourth tranche of the Rs 20-lakh-crore economic stimulus package with an aim to boost growth and create jobs. Some of the measures, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, included opening of space sector for private players, commercial mining of coal, raising FDI limit in defence sector through automatic route from 49 percent to 74 percent, privatisation of power discoms in the Union Territories, offering more airports on a PPP model as well as boosting private sector investment in social infrastructure projects through revamped viability gap funding scheme of Rs 8,100 crore. Modi said the measures announced by Sitharaman will create many business opportunities and contribute to the country's economic transformation. Leading industry body Assocham said these measures would give "new wings to India" and demonopolise core sectors. Left parties, however, accused the government of using the COVID-19 pandemic to "impose the agenda of the rich" and privatise public assets. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said cash assistance should be given to the poor and vulnerable sections who are in dire need of money due to the lockdown. The third phase of the nationwide lockdown is scheduled to end on Sunday and there are expectations that the fourth phase beginning Monday may give significant relaxations for various economic activities even as a complete exit is unlikely given the continuous rise in the number of COVID-19 cases. Several states have already said they want the lockdown restrictions to continue further. However, on Saturday Punjab become the first to extend it till 31 May but without curfew restrictions. Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala supported restarting of domestic flights as well as opening of schools and universities, as he stressed on resumption of normal life while dealing with COVID-19. His state reported 33 new cases, including 14 in Gurgaon on the outskirts of the national capital. With inputs from PTI
Actor Rannvijay Singha believes that his army upbringing has made tackling the lockdown relatively easier for him. Holed up inside his Mumbai house with his wife Priyanka, and three-year-old daughter Kainaat, he says, You cant take away that most army kids are the most adaptable. I changed nine schools, and every time there would be a new class and playground and new people. I remember the time we were in Samba in Jammu and Kashmir then, where there would be a curfew after 5:30 or 6, and you couldnt switch on the light.

Singha adds that this lockdown reminds him of that curfew in J&K, but the longevity of the current situation is something no one has been through in the last 100 years probably.

The actor stresses on how we still have all the comforts needed these days, compared to how his last lockdown-like situation as a young boy.

Back then, we couldnt even light a candle, my dad was actually in an operation area. It would just be me, mom and my brother, we were young and didnt know whats happening. It was a time of high uncertainty, with no connection. I actually feel blessed and grateful that I can talk to you, watch movies, do video calls to my [parents, my Australian maasi to my parents, my college and school friends there are positive ways to look at the situation, adds the 37-year-old.

Singha, 37, reveals that his task-based reality show Roadies is among his affected projects in this lockdown. He realised early that he needed to be with his family and return home from the shoot soon.

I was on the shows journey, when we had to cut in the middle, he tells us, adding, It was important for everybody to reach their homes, we had so many people in the crew. It was important that we get back before things shut down and not panic, to take care of our families. We did this on March 16, and then the Janata Curfew happened on March 22. I havent moved out of my house since March 17.

Talking more about being in a privileged position, the actor feels theres no reason any one of us should complain about the crisis.

We are trying to go through this, and blessed that we as a family are together. Its a strange time, tough for those people who dont even have a home, so we have nothing to complain about. I keep thinking about people who work and earn on a daily basis, its not easy. For us to be complaining and saying mushkil hai is not even fair. We should always count our blessings, he ends.
Actor Amitabh Bachchan took a trip down memory lane of Sunday, thinking about the days when he suffered a horrible accident on the sets of his film Coolie in 1982. Amitabh had to undergo tracheostomy and was unable to speak for days.

The skin and face ages .. the scars of surgical relevance show up deeper .. that line on the nostril .. a reminder of the days spent in the ICU at Breach Candy Hospital after the Coolie accident .. the pipes, well some of the many that were then inserted for survival , would be pulled out by me in my stupor and semi coma condition .. it irritated me .. so they found a permanent solution .. they stitched it to my nostril , so I could not pull it out .. and it, the scar has remained .. that scar below on the neck...the tracheostomy .. in those days the neck was cut and the life saving apparatus was inserted there .. the machine connected to it breathed for you .. you lost your voice till it was there .. if and when I was in a condition to say something, I had to either gesture or seek a paper to just about be able to write a few shaky scratchy words, he wrote in his blog.

Amitabh also mentioned that he would write notes to his wife and actor Jaya Bachchan in broken Bengali, asking her for water and other things. Mostly surreptitiously to Jaya in broken Bengali, asking her to give me a sip of water - forbidden by the doctors .. so the nurses and doctors would not understand .. it never worked .. they would find out, he wrote.

During the filming of a fight scene in Coolie, also featuring Puneet Issar at the Bangalore University campus, Amitabh was grievously hurt. The actor was rushed to a Mumbai hospital and underwent multiple surgeries. The actor had once written on his blog about how he was declared clinically dead for a few minutes before being put on the ventilator.

Also read: Robert Downey Jr stood up for Avengers cast after Marvel tried to strong-arm them and they threatened to quit

Looks like Amitabh is missing his wife a lot who is in Delhi due to the lockdown, away from her family in Mumbai. On her birthday in April, Amitabh wrote in his blog that he missed her. Jayas birthday today and the distance where she is stuck, reduced by the inventions of the day in virtual technology .. she was in Delhi at Parliament when the lockdown happened and she could not come back home, in Mumbai, he wrote. However, he was grateful that Jaya Bachchan is safe. She is at home in Delhi, within controlled conditions and of course the entire day never passes without Facetimes and sharing of conversations which make it seem as though we are all together, he wrote.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- City officials are calling on all able-bodied New Yorkers to donate blood in an effort to fill a growing need at area hospitals.

This is an appropriate reason to leave home for sure, de Blasio said Sunday at his daily press conference. Youll be helping your fellow New Yorkers and helping keep people safe.

The New York City Blood Center has "only a few days of supply, forcing delays for some non-life-saving surgeries unless the supply increases, the mayor said.

The shortage is due in large part to a disruption of routine blood drives across the city in the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Blood donations are available by appointment only, by visiting the New York Blood Centers website, or calling 800-933-2566.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***
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Linkedin Gita Putri Damayana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, May 17, 2020 11:34 612 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd895679 3 Opinion COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,pandemic,coronavirus,Terawan-Agus-Putranto Free

Ravio Patra is a researcher who was accused by the police of circulating WhatsApp messages to incite a riot on April 30, which he denies while claiming his Whats-App account had been hijacked. Later, he was released after being apprehended for 33 hours with no charges against him.

Students in Malang, East Java, were also arrested on charges of vandalism while attendants of a meeting on food aid distribution in Yogyakarta were harshly dispersed by the police. These cases are alarming in the time of a pandemic.

The historian Yuval Noah Harari in The Financial Times on March 20 wrote an article called The world after the virus, on how policies such as bio-tracking suspected virus carriers will affect citizens when the pandemic passes.

Hararis message resonates with Darren Acemoglu and James A. Robinsons book The Narrow Corridor. They wrote about the importance of societys power and capabilities to balance state capacity in order not to fall out of the corridor.

The corridor is defined as two parallel lines representing the despotic state and the absent one. The wider the corridor, the better for citizens because it gives them room to navigate and challenge all the negative norms in society with the support of the state. An absent Leviathan is referred to as a non-functioning state, unable to provide the basic service and needs to its citizens. A despotic Leviathan, meanwhile, is a too powerful authoritarian state.

Recent measures by law enforcement agencies and regulations in Indonesia bring to mind the provoking issues raised separately by the above writers. In particular, they lend insight into the dynamics of regulation-making and law enforcement, along with the society they interact with.

On the onset of COVID-19 in February, Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said a study from a Harvard questioning zero numbers of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia was insulting. The government also had a Rp 72 billion (US$4.87 million) plan to hire influencers to promote the travel industry.

Things fell apart in March. The government issued regulations to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Article 6 of Government Regulation No. 21/2020 on large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) states that all provinces, regencies and municipalities need approval from the Health Ministry before issuing a local PSBB.

Local governments should provide data showing evidence of local transmission and a rapid spike in positive cases with their requests. Initially four provinces and 22 regencies applied PSBB measures, according to the national COVID-19 taskforce, out of 514 provinces, regions and municipalities in the country.

Read also: Govt exploring option of reopening economy in five regions

Meanwhile, public officials have been sending confusing signals between easing and tightening the PSBB.

While layers of bureaucracy are the path chosen by the central government before implementing large-scale social restrictions, it is slightly a different case with the police. In their March 19 directive, the police announced they will take aggressive security measures against those gathering at any kind of event during the pandemic.

On April 4, National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis circulated an internal message, reports said, ordering the start of cyberpatrols to monitor the development of the situation and opinion in cyberspace during the pandemic. It also stated that those who spread false information relating to government policies in handling the pandemic would be subject to the Criminal Code.

Indonesias civil society responded strongly. On March 17, a large coalition of civils society organizations (CSO), including the Indonesia Center for Law and Policy Studies (PSHK), where I work, urged President Joko Jokowi Widodo to dismiss Health Minister Terawan for his absence of sensitive, responsive and effective leadership in handing the pandemic.

A coalition of CSOs had earlier emerged to demand a clear explanation on Ravios case to prevent similar occurrences.

Harari warns us that measures taken by authorities in a pandemic could last long after the crisis is over. Approaches intended as temporary are meant to stay. An empowered society should be able to resist such measures.

Acemoglu and Robinson referred to the Red Queen character in Lewis Carrols childrens classic Through The Looking Glass. The Red Queen challenges the protagonist Alice for a race.

But Alice never makes it to the finish line. Confused, she asks the Red Queen why everything seems to be still in the same place despite her running. The Red Queen explains that in her kingdom, it takes all the running someone can manage to stay in the same place.

In The Narrow Corridor, the state and society are racing against each other to maintain the balance between them. If society is organized enough, they will be able to keep up with the states growing power and the state would not turn into a despotic leviathan.

But the state should also be strong enough to resolve conflicts and provide basic rights to avoid becoming the then - absent leviathan.

The state, or the Indonesian leviathan, seems to have two faces of the pandemic policy. The first shows the inconsistency of responses and bureaucratic procedures created by public officials. The second reveals excessive security measures from law enforcers. Different approaches during the pandemic will confuse society. It will create distrust in the government and law enforcers.

CSOs should intensify their role in this situation. They must be mobilized, agile and flexible enough keep their wheels running and to push the state to set a clear, swift and consistent policy in terms of handling the pandemic by prioritizing public health.

Conversely, CSOs should be able to make law enforcers retreat if they dismiss the rule of law while supposedly upholding it. It is never an easy task to balance the Leviathan  which raises the urgency of a broader coalition of CSOs to prevent Indonesia from becoming a despotic leviathan.

If there is no organized society to balance the state, all it takes is just one turn to turn a democratic state into a despotic one that does not really care for its own citizens.

***

Executive director of Indonesia Center for Law and Policy Studies (PSHK) and lecturer at Indonesia Jentera School of Law. The views expressed are personal.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
Warsaw, May 17 : Polands Archbishop Wojciech Polak has urged the Vatican to investigate allegations of child sex abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in the country reported in a documentary released on YouTube.

The "Hide and Seek" documentary broadcast on YouTube on Saturday alleges the abuse of children by Catholic clerics in Poland, reports Efe news.

"As a high representative of the Episcopal Conference, I ask the Holy See to launch proceedings," Archbishop Polak, said in a statement, according to Polish television channel tvn24.

The documentary film is the second by brothers Marek and Tomasz Sekielski and has already racked up over 1.9 million views.

"The film... shows that protection standards for children and adolescents in the Church were not respected," Archbishop Polak said in a video aired by the Catholic news agency KAI.

"I ask priests, nuns, parents and educators to not be led by the false logic of shielding the Church, effectively hiding sexual abusers," he said.

"We do not allow for the hiding of these crimes." The Sekielski brothers have already addressed concerns of abuse within the Polish Catholic Church with their first documentary broadcast in May 2019.

In it, the filmmakers highlighted what they called the "systematic sins of paedophilia" of clerics.

The first film of the series titled "Tell No One" has been viewed 23 million times and triggered a political reaction from the country's ultra-conservative Law party and Justice (PiS), which has close links to the church.

The Polish government said it would double prison terms for paedophiles as a result and made a commitment to creating a commission to investigate the alleged abuse, but this is yet to happen.

In the second documentary of the series, the filmmakers focus on three brothers, all minors and victims of sexual abuse by the same priest.

The documentary alleges a senior Bishop was aware of the abuse but failed to do anything about it.

According to the Sekielski brothers, these are not isolated cases but rather an example of widespread abuse within the Polish Catholic Church.

They were now working on another two films about Saint John Paul II, who was Pope between 1978 and 2005 and venerated in his home country of Poland.
Florida is set to begin easing its ban on vacation rentals in the coming days but state Governor Ron DeSantis says lot owners can only start taking bookings again under a special condition: no New Yorkers allowed.

Since March 27, hotels across Florida have been allowed to operate without restrictions, but rental properties across the sunshine state have been forced to keep their doors locked to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The controversial decision sparked fierce pushbacks from property owners, management companies and some local officials, especially in the panhandle.

But on Friday, DeSantis provided a much welcomed update, announcing that vacation rentals could be able to roll out the welcome mats once more as early as Monday, pending final approval from county and state officials.

However, there is a catch. DeSantis insisted the reopening will not be extended to holidaymakers from the Big Apple, the country's coronavirus epicentre.

'If you tell me you're going to rent them out to people from New York City, I'm probably not going to approve that, OK?' the governor said Friday.

'If you're saying that you're going to rent it out to people in other parts of Florida or something that would be manageable, if there's ways in there that clearly you have an eye to safety, then I'm fine.'

Gov. DeSantis said Friday that vacation rentals will soon be able to roll out the welcome mats once again across the state, pending final approval from county and state officials

Since March 27, hotels across Florida have been allowed to operate without restrictions, but rentals across the sunshine state have been forced to keep their doors locked to stop the spread of COVID-19

Starting Monday, vacation rentals will be allowed to host guests again if DeSantis' administration gives the stamp of approval, the governor said during a news conference in Jacksonville, announcing additional steps in his first phase of reopening the state's economy.

Counties will be able to submit vacation-rental reopening plans to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which will have to sign off on the proposals.

The ban caused widespread outrage among property owners and management companies that accused DeSantis of arbitrarily targeting the vacation-rental industry, which generates around $27 billion for the state each year.

At the time, DeSantis said he specifically banned vacation rentals to discourage visitors from COVID-19 hotspots  such as New York, Louisiana and Massachusetts  from bringing the virus into Florida.

The Governor later extended the ban, while allowing hotels, motels and inns to continue operations uninhibited, with no orders limiting capacity or encouraging social distancing.

During Friday's press conference, DeSantis said hotels needed to stay open to house National Guard troops throughout the pandemic, who had been deployed to increase testing efforts.

As of Sunday, confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Florida reached 42,404, with 1,827 recorded deaths.

Florida, a state that relies heavily on tourism, has been hit hard economically by the coronavirus outbreak. Between March 1 and May 9, hotel revenue alone had plummeted $2.9 billion between the same time period last year

As of Sunday, confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Florida reached 42,404, with 1,827 recorded deaths

DeSantis insisted that any such reopening will not be extended to holidaymakers from the Big Apple, the country's coronavirus epicentre

Florida, a state that relies heavily on tourism, has been hit hard economically by the coronavirus outbreak. Between March 1 and May 9, hotel revenue alone had plummeted $2.9 billion in comparison with the same time period last year.

While the specific impact of the vacation-rental industry  with its 275,000 listings statewide  is unknown, experts believe the toll has been devastating.

Tom Martinelli, Airbnb's Florida policy director, called DeSantis' announcement 'a good start.'

'We're glad that the governor has listened to the many voices who have called for the reopening of vacation rentals in Florida. As conveyed, vacation rentals are an important part of Florida's economic recovery as they remain a key source of income for thousands of hosts, small businesses and local governments across the state,' Martinelli said in a statement.

But Denis Hanks, the executive director of the Florida Vacation Rental Management Association, warned that it could take weeks for county and state officials to approve the rental reopening plans.

'The relief for places like the Panhandle and others that are contingent upon the Memorial Day weekend and being open, it could really take them out of the whole picture,' Hanks told the Bradenton Herald.
The Rajasthan High Court on Sunday directed the state government to conduct a COVID-19 test for anyone being sent to judicial or policy custody, making sure that only those who are free of the disease are put behind bars.

A bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Ashok Gaur gave this direction, taking suo moto cognisance the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 in Jaipur district jail, where 130 prisoners along and the jail superintendent have been found infected.

The bench directed that an accused will have to be tested by local medical authorities for coronavirus.

It added that only an accused found negative will be remanded to judicial or police custody.

If found negative, only then allow such accused persons to be remanded to jail custody/police custody, the order said.

The order did not spell out the exact protocol to be followed if an accused person tests positive.

Jail authorities in the state presently keep new jail entrants in isolated wards, separate from the general wards for prison inmates, for 14 to 21 days.

The bench also directed jail authorities to ensure that prior to shifting prisoners from the isolated wards to general ones, they must be tested again for the infection to rule out any chance of the coronavirus spread among prisoners.

Once such clearance is obtained from the medical authorities, the jail authority may shift such prisoners or under-trials to the general ward, the order by the bench said.

The bench said the jail authorities who are in direct contact with isolated prisoners are also required to be paid special attention to ensure that they or their family members do not contract infection.

It asked authorities to ensure test of jail staffers and their family members on a regular and random basis, at least fortnightly.

The bench also directed medical officers of each district to regularly inspect isolation wards in jails and suggest jail authorities to take all requisite steps for maintaining cleanliness and sanitization there.

Jail doctors must be made available for checking prisoners in isolation wards on day-to-day basis, the bench said.

The jail doctors shall ensure visit to isolation wards and checkup of prisoners there everyday and record the same, the order said.

The aforesaid directions are being made to the state of Rajasthan in order to incorporate these directions in their SOP for jails for the purpose of the present COVID pandemic, says the order.

In Rajasthan, there are nearly 20,000 prisoners in various jails against the capacity of 22,000.
A man and woman have been found dead inside a home near Brisbane.

Officers were called to the property in Joyner, north of Brisbane about 2pm on Sunday afternoon.

A relative of the duo reportedly found the bodies and called emergency services, 9News reported.

Once they arrived, police declared a crime scene and are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Detectives are considering the possibility of a double murder, the publication reported.

Police declared a crime scene and are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths

A spokeswoman for Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia the investigation is ongoing.

Forensic teams and detectives were all on the scene on Sunday afternoon.

Anyone with further information is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444.

More to come.

Officers were called to a home in Joyner, north of Brisbane about 2pm on Sunday afternoon
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.

When the stay-at-home order went into effect in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, C. realized her plan to leave her abusive husband had just been sped up. Her two teenage children would suddenly be home to witness the violence.

"My kids were home from school and they were going to see this," said C., who asked that her full name not be used to protect her privacy. "They knew how controlling he was, but knowing that they would be home  we didn't make it two weeks into our stay-at-home order."

The family walked on eggshells during the order, she said. "What I wore to the way I did my hair  anything would set him off."

C. knew she was going to leave, but didn't know when or how. When an argument over what television channel to watch began to escalate one night, she'd had enough.

She told her husband she was leaving, she said. He threatened to throw her down the stairs.

C. and her kids stayed in a hotel that night, while her husband emptied her bank account, freezing her financial options. At the bank the next morning, which was open for drive-through service only, she explained what happened to the teller. The teller said she'd once been in a similar situation and gave C. the phone number for the local domestic violence organization, Safe House for Women, saying they could help her.

Within hours, after a call to Safe House, C. and her children were in a hotel room with a kitchenette, where they've been for the last five weeks. She's among many women who have fled domestic violence during stay-at-home orders who have ended up in hotels for long-term stays because shelter capacity has been dramatically reduced to limit the potential spread of COVID-19.

Domestic violence organizations around the country have overhauled how they operate in the last two months due to coronavirus, working to support isolated victims who are suddenly harder to reach and help than ever. It's an unprecedented challenge for domestic violence groups, which provide victims with everything from shelter to legal support, mental health counseling, relocation assistance, and even rape crisis response.

Story continues

Thirty-five local domestic violence organizations in 19 states shared with NBC News how their work has changed since the start of the crisis. Most saw major disruptions in requests for services. Hotline calls became shorter and callers more frantic. In some areas, calls more than doubled, in others, lines went eerily silent as victims trapped at home with abusers had limited privacy to call. Several providers said that while reports of abuse went down under their local stay-at-home orders, those that did come in described more violent incidents.

The pandemic has forced domestic violence groups to figure out how to file protection orders remotely, how to provide emergency shelter that doesn't create unnecessary exposure to the coronavirus, and how to reach victims who can't make phone calls. Many have implemented innovative solutions, such as working with local courts to set up e-filing for protection orders, partnering with hotels to increase shelter capacity and rapidly setting up text-message hotlines.

Yet all that costs money, and funding for these organizations, which often already operate on shoestring budgets, is suddenly far less stable. Many have lost significant income in the past two months and are bracing for future budget cuts at a time when experts say domestic violence is on the rise. A number of city law enforcement agencies previously confirmed to NBC News that they saw an uptick in calls about domestic violence during the first few weeks of stay-at-home orders.

Image: A new glass barrier in the conference room where Rise-NY advocates work with non-residential clients to file family offense petitions since the local family court is closed to everything but e-filing. (Courtesy of Rise-NY)

"These crimes are rooted in power and control," explained Beth Larsen, the executive director of Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence in Western Michigan. She, like all the providers who spoke to NBC News, expects a rush of people seeking assistance as restrictions lift.

"Any threat to an abuser's feelings of vulnerability almost always escalates violence toward other individuals  who are often intimate partners or family members," she said. A pandemic is just that kind of threat.

Not safe to talk

Under normal circumstances, victims reach out to domestic violence shelters, families, or co-workers when their abuser isn't home, according to shelter directors around the country. But under a stay-at-home order, they may never have a chance to place a call because their abuser is always present.

"Abusers thrive off isolation. With the pandemic, it is a perfect storm for domestic violence," said Kristin Shrimplin, president of Women Helping Women, which provides domestic violence services in greater Cincinnati. "Survivors are telling us that it is not safe for them to talk."

Organizations that run hotlines reported varying changes in calls to NBC News. A majority of groups saw shorter call durations after shelter-in-place orders went into effect. Some saw call volume and website traffic rise. Others experienced the opposite. One group in Texas saw both its highest and lowest daily call volumes ever in the same month.

There are many factors that could affect trends in call volume and duration, said Ruth Glenn, the executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. "What are the stay at home directives? Are they rural or urban or suburban? What is the social economic area that you're in? How many domestic violence resources are available?"

Overall, said Glenn, "We probably saw a decrease when we first went into COVID crisis, survivors adjusted to their temporary normal  they figured that part out  and now they're figuring out how to be safer.

The increase in frantic calls and severe abuse reports led the Domestic Violence Action Center in Honolulu to provide additional mental health resources for staff members as it worked to expand services.

"We had to be more creative in our outreach to better protect survivors and our own staff," said CEO Nanci Kreidman. When it became "impossible for us to make a phone call," she said her nonprofit rushed to build a 24/7 text message service.

While the national domestic violence hotline has been providing online live chat and text messaging for more than a decade, local hotlines often only have the capacity to take calls. Some, like Kreidman's, have pushed to add texting or website live chat services in the last two months. Others said more victims are contacting them through Facebook messages.

Around the country, organizations are coming up with innovative solutions to other challenges created by social distancing. Advocates who can no longer accompany survivors during sexual assault exams at emergency rooms now participate through video conferencing. Providers are filing protection orders online and hosting virtual support groups and therapy sessions. An organization in Ohio is supplying more covert aid by hiding money in food deliveries.

The pandemic's unprecedented unemployment numbers only further discourage victims from leaving their abusers, said Shrimplin.The vast majority of the people her organization assists have a family income below $50,000. "Many women that we serve are financially dependent on their abuser and more often than not, have one or multiple kids," Shrimplin said. "It's even worse that more and more are losing the jobs they barely had."

Sojourner House in Providence, R.I., has seen more clients reaching out to its transitional housing program for rental assistance than ever before. "We used to receive a few requests for rental assistance a month, but in the month of April we received 50 such requests in one week," said executive director Vanessa Volz.

'We didn't want to turn anyone away'

What happens when victims make the leap and reach the shelters? Unfortunately, traditional shelter design doesn't lend itself to social distancing.

Most domestic violence shelters were designed for short, emergency stays: they were set up dormitory-style, with shared bathrooms, kitchens and other common spaces. In recent years, many have shifted toward more small rooms of just a few residents or single families, with residents staying sometimes weeks while they regain a sense of safety and independence.

To keep residents safe and comply with public health guidelines, shelters around the country have reduced capacity. Many have limited the number of staff on site at any given time, asked residents to stay in their rooms when possible, and placed six-foot markers in shared areas. Some have created quarantine space out of a room with a private bathroom, in case anyone requesting assistance shows symptoms or is awaiting a coronavirus test result.

Image: Shelter crisis advocate Karissa Hobbs prepares to complete daily temperature checks of shelter residents at Safe House for Women in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. (Courtesy of Safe House for Women)

"As a domestic violence services provider, we used to strive to provide trauma-informed, victim-centered care," said Nicole Barren, executive director of Rise-NY, located near Binghamton, N.Y. "Much of this practice has had to be abandoned to keep staff and residents safe."

When the New York stay-at-home order took effect, Barren's team made the difficult decision to temporarily close their 20-bed shelter for nearly three weeks to properly prepare it to be a safe environment. They worked to get a hold of sanitizing supplies and masks for staff and residents, instituted daily temperature checks, and fitted their transport van with plastic sheeting between the driver and passenger area.

"We now have grab and go meals," said Jeannine Lisitski, the executive director of Women Against Abuse in Philadelphia, which operates two 100-bed shelters in the city. "Everyone is wearing masks, we're taking temperatures from everyone."

With capacity reduced in many places, organizations are turning to hotels to insure they can provide housing to those in need. Hotels with unfilled rooms are offering many shelters discounts, but housing victims in them brings additional challenges, keeping them isolated and more difficult for service providers to be in regular contact with.

Domestic violence groups have long used hotels for short, temporary housing when necessary, but the pandemic has led many to start using them for long-term stays. The biggest challenge is food, as few hotel rooms have kitchenettes, and many victims seek housing with their families.

Other options have similar challenges. Resilience in Western Michigan is currently housing more families at an unnamed alternative location than at its shelter. While the second location has greatly expanded capacity, the organization has taken on the task of coordinating daily food deliveries for all residents there.

Image: April Hopkins, shelter manager for Rise-NY, with a face shield made by a shelter maintenance worker. (Courtesy of Rise-NY)

The need for safe housing in compliance with social distancing has strained resources for Safe House for Women, the Missouri group that has been helping C., despite a swell of community support.

"We received a grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks for $10,000 to help us with our hotel placements, but in the month of April we spent $13,000," said executive director Jessica Hill. "At one point, we had 20 people in the shelter and 20 people in the hotel. We didn't want to turn anyone away."

While more isolated than a shelter, the freedom of the hotel has been "amazing," C. said. Away from her husband, she is taking steps to build a life for her family somewhere new.

"I've had a lot of people ask me, 'Why didn't you leave before?' And it's that he had that much control over me," she said.

Now, she makes her own decisions. "I took my kids fishing for the first time in ages on Mother's Day, because that's what I wanted to do. And we had the best time."

Uncertain future

Helping families like C.'s takes time and money. Yet since the start of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., more than half of the 35 organizations NBC News spoke to have lost significant funding. Before the pandemic, many were already facing funding cuts from government grants, in some places the cuts were upwards of 20 percent.

"Our income has gone down but our expenses have not," said Sandy Nadeau, communications director at Anna Marie's Alliance in St. Cloud, MN. "Will businesses rebound and donate? Will people hold on to funds and not donate?"

SafeHaven of Tarrant County in Texas spent $35,000 on technology alone to move to partial remote work. The YWCA of Dayton, Ohio had to cancel its largest annual fundraiser, which usually sees 900 people attend and brings in more than $200,000. The Safe House for Women in Missouri lost almost two months of income from its thrift store, which typically provides 30 percent of the organization's operating budget, when it had to temporarily close its doors.

Image: Tape on the floor and plexiglass barriers in the newly reopened thrift store run by Safe House for Women of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Before the coronavirus, the thrift store provided 30 percent of the domestic violence nonprofit's operating budget (Courtesy of Safe House for Women)

The new financial strains have forced some domestic violence organizations to consider cutting their services and hours.

Glenn, of the national coalition, said programs around the country expect to see a significant increase in calls and a rise in reports of domestic violence as restrictions ease in the coming months and more people are able to share their stories from isolation. "All of us in the domestic violence field of work are bracing ourselves," she said.

The worst case scenario is turning away people in need. "Supply won't be able to meet demand, and the thought of having to turn away survivors who have been hurt is terrifying," said Kreidman in Honolulu.

"It's going to cost us and it's going to cost survivors."

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
President Trump and Atty. Gen. William Barr. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)

To the editor: I read UC Berkeley School of Law dean Erwin Chemerinsky's op-ed article and concluded that if the U.S. Supreme Court finds that President Trump is indeed above the law and has immunity from investigation while in office, the court must be enlarged in order to handcuff the current conservative majority.

We the people cannot sit idly by and give these justices a pass if they provide this president a degree of protection to which he is not entitled. Common sense tells us that if no one else is above the law, why should he be?

Enlarging or shrinking any federal court is for Congress and the president to decide, so this is not a constitutional question. It does mean, however, that former Vice President Joe Biden must be elected in November so this much-needed house cleaning can get underway.

Some may blanch at such blatant nerve to pack the court, but I have learned from the very best: Mitch McConnell. The Senate majority leader has packed the federal courts with Trump appointees, some of them rated as unqualified, and refused even to give President Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland the benefit of a hearing.

A note to McConnell: What goes around, comes around.

Muriel Schuerman, Downey

..

To the editor: As a retired lawyer, I am pained by writing what follows: It is apparent that Trump doesn't believe the law applies to him.

And why should he? His handpicked Roy Cohn, Atty. Gen. William Barr, is apparently working for him, as demonstrated by his interference in the Michael Flynn plea deal and Roger Stone's sentencing. Barr misrepresented the findings in former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's report to the American people.

Furthermore, members of the conservative Federalist Society now make up the majority on the Supreme Court. It's no wonder that Trump conducts himself without regard for the Constitution or the rule of law.

Denis Robinson, Winnetka




Sharjah: Separated from her mother for two months, an Indian minor in Sharjah has made a desperate appeal for help for them to reunite, a media report said.



Nine-year-old Rashi has written an emotional letter describing her plight. A pencil sketch alongside depicts a happy family reunion with her mother Poonam, said the Gulf News report on Saturday.





Poonam was visiting India to see her ailing mother but got stranded because of COVID-19 flight suspensions.



"Please help me in uniting with my mother. I am missing her very much. I haven't seen her since 59 days. We have been struggling a lot...," Rashi, a class five student at Indian High School, Dubai said in the handwritten letter, which has now been shared on Twitter by her father, Haresh Karamchandani.



Haresh, who works for an electrical company, told Gulf News that Poonam had gone to Mumbai on March 18 to see her ailing mother who passed away 10 days later.



"Poonam was due to fly back in early April but got stuck in India because of the coronavirus pandemic situation," said Haresh, who has since been looking after Rashi and 15-year-old son Krish.
C Shivakumar By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Special Investment Promotion Task Force, formed to attract foreign investors who want to relocate manufacturing bases post Covid-19 outbreak, held its first meeting to formulate a strategy. The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary K Shanmugam.

CM Edappadi K Palaniswami had recently said that some industries from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and the United States were planning to shift their operations. Sources said that the State had initiated this process six months ago, when Palaniswami was planning a visit to the US and other countries. It is learnt that following meetings with several trade and industry captains, special desks have been set up in the US and UAE.

More such special desks will be created soon, sources added. The Special Investment Promotion Task Force is expected to submit its first report within a month and the focus is on auto, electronics, pharma, petrochemicals, textile machinery, and hygiene products.

Representatives from the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited, United States India Business Council, Hyundai Motors India Ltd, Enterprise Singapore, Taiwan External Trade Development Council, Mahindra World City, XOHO, Flextronics, Foxconn and Lincoln Electric Holdings, and other officials took part in the meeting, organised by the State Guidance Bureau along with the PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Sligo University Hospital, along with other hospitals within the Saolta Group, have started working on plans to resume some of the hospital services which were put on hold in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As part of the national public health measures introduced in March, people were advised to stay at home and hospital appointments and procedures were paused so that hospitals had the best chance of dealing with an anticipated but unknown increase in patients presenting with Covid-19.

Hospitals are now seeing a reduction in the number of patients being admitted with Covid-19 and a reduction in the number of patients in the ICUs who are Covid-19 positive. The hospitals are now planning to resume services incrementally while also protecting patients and staff by using virtual clinics where possible and appropriate, pre-screening patients before attending the hospital and ensuring social distancing and hand hygiene is practised.

As part of a national agreement, the HSE has entered into an arrangement with the private hospital sector for three months within the option to extend for up to five months by agreement. It is aimed at supporting access to specialist services such as cancer and cardiovascular surgeries, outpatient appointments, day cases and diagnostics.

Within the Saolta Group, patients are being treated at Kingsbridge Private Hospital Sligo and in the Galway Clinic and Bon Secours Hospital in Galway. All patients treated under the arrangement are deemed public and are therefore not liable to private charges.

Grainne McCann, General Manager at Sligo University Hospital explains, In terms of the activity that will resume in our hospital in the coming weeks, outpatients will continue to be undertaken with virtual clinics held by phone or via other technology solutions for the majority of patients. However those who require face to face outpatient consultations will be advised of this and required to attend either SUH or Kingsbridge Hospital.

Our Emergency Department (ED) has remained open throughout the pandemic and in the last few weeks we have seen an increase in non Covid-19 activity. We have separated our ED into two areas for patients with Covid-19 symptoms and those without and all the necessary precautions in relation to wearing of PPE are being taken to protect patients and staff. It is important that people experiencing symptoms such as chest pain or stroke do not delay seeking treatment. The HSE has commenced a radio ad campaign this week to remind people that the EDs are open and not to delay seeking treatment.

Similarly, if patients are worried about a possible sign of cancer, it is important to make contact with their GP to discuss. This could be a new or changing lump, abnormal bleeding, a skin change, losing weight unintentionally or feeling constantly tired. Although the national screening programmes have been paused, patients who are in-between screening appointments or waiting rescheduled appointments should be aware of and act on any symptoms associated with the conditions being screened for and contact their GP immediately.

"The National Screening Service is developing separate roadmaps for the recommencement of the four programmes (BreastCheck, BowelScreen, CervicalCheck and Diabetic RetinaScreen). The restarting of screening will be based on HSE and Department of Health guidance on Covid-19 as measures to prevent Covid-19 are amended by Government.

In these uncertain times the one constant has been the commitment and hard work demonstrated by all the staff in our hospital at all levels. We have had to radically change the way we care for and interact with patients and each other and this often involves wearing uncomfortable but essential PPE for hours at a time. Physical distancing means that the direct contact that staff would have had with patients is no longer there and yet every day our staff are delivering safe, compassionate care and going above and beyond to make our patients hospital experience as comfortable as possible.
A Delhi court on Sunday sent AAP legislator Prakash Jarwal, arrested in connection with a case of alleged suicide of a doctor in south Delhi last month, to judicial custody for 14 days, said his lawyer.

The court sent Jarwal and co-accused Kapil Nagar to judicial custody after deciding that their police custody was no longer required for investigation, said the AAP leader's lawyer Mohd Irshad.

It had sent them to police custody and later extended it, saying a lot of investigative work remained to be done and information still needed to be ferreted out.

Rajendra Singh, 52, allegedly committed suicide in Durga Vihar in south Delhi on April 18. In his suicide note, the doctor held Jarwal responsible for his death.

Like Jarwal, Singh was also involved in the business of water supply with the Delhi Jal Board since 2007, and police alleged that the MLA and his associates were extorting money from other water-tanker owners, including the doctor.

Jarwal, who represents the Deoli assembly constituency, and his aide Nagar were arrested on May 9, after a case of extortion and abetment to suicide was filed against them and others based on a police complaint by the doctor's son -- Hemant.

The FIR says Singh had been threatened and intimidated by Jarwal and Nagar.

Police claimed both the accused did not cooperate during interrogation and hid facts vital to the investigation.

"During investigation it was found that there was a big nexus between water-tanker owners and the accused persons," the police said in the remand application.

Police said their investigation showed the money extorted from water-tanker owners was routed through the MLA's brother Anil Jarwal and invested in several properties and farm-houses in Delhi, Gurugram (Haryana) and Jaipur (Rajasthan).

They also claimed that Jarwal had got allotted many water borewells in his constituency by influencing the Jal Board and one water borewell was illegally given after taking Rs 10 lakh as "gratification money".

Police said complaints against the accused were filed to various authorities but action was never taken.

They said they have found a WhatsApp group in the name of tanker-owners whose administrator is Nagar and Jarwal is one of its members.

The chat details clearly show the direct involvement of both the accused in running the tanker mafia in Sangam Vihar and Tigri.

The AAP leader's lawyer has said the politician had been falsely implicated in the case and was willing to cooperate in the investigation as and when required.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An assistant commissioner of



police tested positive for novel coronavirus in Thane city and his residential complex has been sealed and his kin and contacts quarantined, a health official said on Sunday.

As on Saturday night, Thane district had 3,432 COVID- 19 cases, with both Thane and Navi Mumbai municipal corporation limits having more than 1,000 patients each.

Officials pointed out that 1,117 people have so far recovered from the infection in the district, which was 33 per cent of the total number of admissions.

A district administration release said the recovery rate in Thane city was 26 per cent, in KDMC it was 39 per cent, it was 33 per cent in Navi Mumbai and 65 per cent in MBMC so far.

The district has also witnessed 105 deaths as on Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Washington Redskins defensive end Dexter Manley tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, two of his children told The Washington Post on Saturday.

Manley, 61, has been in a Washington-area hospital since Friday morning and is receiving oxygen.

Manleys daughter, Dalis, told The Washington Post that he was feeling very weak, worn down and discouraged after dealing with a fever and shortness of breath for about two weeks. He had not been placed on a ventilator as of Saturday afternoon, however.

He hasnt gotten worse, but theyre worried about his breathing, Manleys son, Dexter Manley II, said, via the Washington Post.

Manley had been wearing a mask regularly and was diligent about washing his hands, but told his daughter he thinks he contracted the virus one day when he stopped at a gas station but didnt have his mask with him.

[ Coronavirus: How the sports world is responding to the pandemic ]

He tested positive on May 2, and has had a consistent temperature between 101 and 104 degrees. A person close to his family told The Washington Post that he is stable, resting comfortably and is not in imminent danger.

Manley played for the Redskins from 1981-89, where he won two Super Bowls and is their all-time sacks leader with 91. The former Oklahoma State standout spent one season with both the Phoenix Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before he retired after the 1991 season.

Manley underwent more than 10 hours of brain surgery to remove an enlarged colloid cyst that was putting pressure on his brain in 2006 too, per The Washington Post, but later fully recovered.

There were more than 1.4 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States as of Saturday night, according to The New York Times, and more than 88,500 deaths attributed to it.

Dexter Manley of the Washington Redskins celebrates at Super Bowl 22 against the Denver Broncos at Jack Murphy Stadium on January 31, 1988. (Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images)

More from Yahoo Sports:
LONDON, May 16 (Reuters/WNM/Laurie Goering) - Around the world, countries and individuals are isolating themselves to try to stem the spread of COVID-19. But to find a solution to the crisis - particularly a vaccine - global cooperation will be crucial, say a growing number of leaders. "We will not be able to get out of this health crisis by simply boarding ourselves in," former U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres told an online event this week. Creating, distributing and administering an affordable, ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
A scandal continues in Armenia related to the military past of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans grandfather. See VK: Fascist or Red Army? Debate about Pashinyans grandfather overwhelmed the Caucasus. Now this debate has gone beyond the South Caucasus  several Russian media have devoted their publications to the problem at once.

So, News.ru, in the article What is Hiding Nikol Pashinyan with the subtitle The Armenian Prime Minister is accused of collaborating with the SS and the grandson is silent, writes that shortly before the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, Nikol Pashinyan told about his grandfather ( they are full of namesakes) and posted on Facebook his photo, emphasizing that he was proud to bear his name. According to the Armenian Prime Minister, his ancestor died as a fighter of the Red Army in battles with the Nazis.

These words attracted the attention of political opponents of the ruling party and journalists who immediately decided to verify the truth of the prime ministers statement .. According to the Memorial, a certain Nikolai Pashinyan participated in the Great Patriotic War, but not on the Soviet side ... Pashinyans opponents, indicating possible grandfathers cooperation with not the fact itself but the words of the prime minister about the heroic death of his ancestor and his subsequent silence. And until Pashinyan makes an official statement on this situation, he will remain a target for his opponents of all stripes and ranks.

The story of Pashinyans grandfather takes on a negative connotation along with other actions of the Armenian authorities. The leadership of the republic has repeatedly shown poorly concealed sympathy for Nazi accomplices. The Armenian legion of the Wehrmacht remains a sad page in the history of the republic ....

If earlier Pashinyans position regarding the preservation of Nzhdehs monuments in the country was considered simply an elementary respect for the public opinion of the Armenian population, now, against the background of a contradictory story with the prime ministers grandfather, it takes on different shades. If the prime minister regularly finds historical arguments to reinforce his position on Nzhdeh (and even somehow compared him to a Soviet political figure, foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov, who signed the German-Soviet treaty of friendship and border in 1939), then why is he allowed ambiguity about his grandfather? After all, the prime minister definitely has all the possibilities to request a sufficient amount of archival information.

Other facts are added to this. So, for example, this month, deputies from the ruling Armenian bloc My Step refused to include on the agenda of the meeting a bill to increase monthly honorary payments to veterans of the Great Patriotic War. In early May, this news went virtually unnoticed, but now it cannot be missed.

In an article entitled "Grandfather Nikola Pashinyan was accused of collaborating with the Nazis," the Free Press writes that, in general, Armenians were never considered accomplices of the Nazis and more than 70 thousand Armenian citizens were awarded orders and medals for participating in the Great Patriotic War, 103 people were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. But the history of the Wehrmacht Armenian Legion led by Drastamat Kanayan (General "Dro") also entered history. The initial number of the legion was about eight thousand people, later it was increased to 30 thousand. The main part of the unit included Red Army soldiers who went over to the side of the enemy - most of them prisoners of war. The training was supervised by SS officers.

Armenian soldiers were not convenient for the Nazis, often they again switched to the Soviet side. Therefore, the attitude of the German command towards them was extremely suspicious and strict.

The story with Nikol Pashinyans grandfather is of particular relevance against the backdrop of the attitude of the Armenian authorities towards the history of the Second World War. The republics leadership has repeatedly shown sympathy for Nazi accomplices, in particular, in 2016 a bronze monument to Garegin Nzhdeh was opened in the center of Yerevan, which provoked an angry reaction from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Garegin Nzhdeh in modern Armenia is considered one of the founders of statehood, turning a blind eye to his nationalist ideas and cooperation with Nazi Germany. There is evidence that since 1940 Nzhdeh contributed to the formation of Armenian battalions as part of the Wehrmacht, then he joined the Armenian National Council, formed in Berlin. After the war, he was arrested and ended his days in Vladimir Prison in 1955.

Moskovsky Komsomolets, in its skeleton in Nikol Pashinyans family closet, writes that many are now wondering how the current scandal will affect the prime ministers positions. On the one hand, the actions of the ancestor, all the more erroneous, should not influence the political future of his descendants. On the other hand, silencing the situation by the prime minister, or even generally rewriting history, is not good for politics. Some Armenian media even began to accuse the authorities of trying to make changes to the archive data ... According to some analysts, now the Armenian authorities and the reputation of its Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan could be saved by a review of the position of the previous Armenian authorities on the role of Garegin Nzhdeh and other steps that distance country from the acts of Nazi minions.
Reliance Jio, the telecom unit of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), has sold a 1.34 per cent to New-York headquartered private equity firm General Atlantic for Rs 6598.38 crore, making it the fourth such stake sale in the last four weeks.

Jio Platforms has raised  67,194.75 crore from leading technology investors including Facebook, Silver Lake Partners, Vista Equity Partners and General Atlantic in the last month.

Bill Ford, Chief Executive Officer of General Atlantic, said the company is a long-term backer of global technology leaders and visionary entrepreneurs, and could not be more excited about investing in Jio.

"We share Mukesh Ambanis (RIL Chairman) conviction that digital connectivity has the potential to significantly accelerate the Indian economy and drive growth across the country. General Atlantic has a long track record working alongside founders to scale disruptive businesses, as Jio is doing at the forefront of the digital revolution in India," he said.

Investments by leading global growth investors will help enable Jio to scale its ecosystem towards building a Digital Society in India, said RIL in a release.

This investment continues to reaffirm Jio as a next generation software product and platform company, and is also an endorsement of Jios tech capabilities and the potential of the business model in this Covid-19 world and beyond, the company said.

This reemphasises Jios continuing attraction among global investors for its deep understanding of the Indian markets, the rapid digitisation opportunity post-COVID and its capabilities to bring cutting-edge technologies and tools such as AI, Blockchain, AR/VR, Big data into play for all Indians, the release further said.
India on Sunday welcomed the power-sharing deal between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah after months of a bitter dispute over the results of last year's presidential election that pushed the country into a political crisis.

In its reaction, India hoped the political agreement and creation of a council for national reconciliation will result in renewed efforts for establishing enduring peace and stability, and putting an end to externally sponsored terrorism and violence in Afghanistan.

"India welcomes the political agreement concluded by the political leadership in Kabul today," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

It said India is concerned over continuing violence and terror attacks in Afghanistan and called for an immediate ceasefire as well as assistance to people reeling under the coronavirus pandemic.

As per the deal, Ghani will stay as the president while Abdullah will helm the High Council of National Reconciliation (HCNR) with executive authority and his team will have a 50 per cent share in the cabinet, according to Afghan media reports.

The HCNR has been mandated to lead future peace talks including with the Taliban. Abdullah served as the chief executive in the previous government led by Ghani.

Following the presidential elections, Ghani was declared the winner by Afghanistan's Election Commission in September last year but his challenger Abdullah refused to accept the results and proclaimed victory for himself.

After months of political uncertainty, Ghani was sworn in as the Afghan president for a second term on March 9, but Abdullah also declared himself as the president by holding his own oath-taking ceremony the same day.

"India has consistently supported inclusive governance, national unity, strong institutions, constitutional order, rights of all sections of society and the territorial integrity of Afghanistan," the MEA said.

"The continuing and enhanced violence and terror in Afghanistan is a matter of deep concern. India calls for an immediate ceasefire and assistance to the people of Afghanistan to deal with the humanitarian situation arising from COVID-19," it added.

The power-sharing agreement between Ghani and Abdullah came over two-and-half months after the US inked a peace deal with the Taliban, providing for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and effectively drawing curtains to Washington's 18-year war in the country.

The US has lost over 2,400 soldiers in Afghanistan since late 2001.

India has been a key stakeholder in the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. It has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan controlled.

India has also been maintaining that care should be taken to ensure that any such process does not lead to any "ungoverned spaces" where terrorists and their proxies can relocate.

India has been calling upon all sections of the political spectrum in Afghanistan to work together to meet the aspirations of all people in that country, including those from the minority community, for a prosperous and safe future.

There have been global concerns over Pakistan's support to Taliban and other terror groups operating in Afghanistan.

Days before inking of the peace deal between the US and Taliban, India conveyed to the Trump administration that pressure on Pakistan to crack down on terror networks operating from its soil must be kept up.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Centre on Sunday said that state governments may allow the operation of public buses, auto-rickshaws and private cabs during the fourth phase of the nationwide lockdown till May 31. However Metro services will remain shut, as per the guidelines to the states issued by the Union home ministry on Sunday.

The Delhi government will come up with an exhaustive list of what is allowed and what is not, based on the Centres guidelines, on Monday.

As per the MHA guidelines, the states may also allow inter-state passenger vehicles and buses, provided the governments concerned agree upon it. This could help thousands of migrant workers, who were stuck in the national Capital despite trying to reach their home towns over the last few weeks, and those who have not been able to cross the borders.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

Inter-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses, with mutual consent of the state/UT (Union Territory) involved will be allowed. Intra-state movement of passenger vehicles and buses will also be permitted, as decided by the states and UT, the order issued by the union ministry of home affairs read.

Delhis transport minister Kailash Gahlot said that the Delhi government had, in its list of recommendations to the Centre, said that they were prepared to resume public transport services in the city, with safety precautions in place to protect against the Covid-19 infection.

Also Read: Lockdown 4.0: Delhi can now define its own red zones

The Delhi government will issue orders in this regard on Monday. However, I have had a detailed meeting with the top government officials and transport infrastructure experts to discuss a standard operation procedure (SOP) for safe operations. We are completely ready to resume operations, Gahlot said.

The Delhi government is yet to issue an order detailing how the Centres guidelines will be implemented in the city.

Officials of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said that they will abide by the government directions.

In light of the extension of lockdown issued by the government, Metro services will remain closed for commuters till May 31. Our helpline service 155370 shall also not be available, the DMRC said in a statement on Sunday.

While the Centre issued these relaxations, it has also allowed state governments to impose stricter lockdown rules at their discretion. This means that the public buses will ply in the city, but with passenger restrictions, Delhi government officials said.

Also Read: 550 districts in India have Covid-19 cases; many in rural areas

We are waiting for a final order from the state government, but buses are all set to be allowed to ply with not more than 20 passengers at a time. There will also be marshals deployed at the entry and exit of buses to ensure that there is no crowding inside the buses, a senior DTC official said.

The Delhi government, in its list of recommendations to the Centre on Friday, had also suggested passenger limitations in cabs and auto-rickshaws. In private cabs, including app-based cab aggregator services such as Ola and Uber, only two passengers besides the driver are allowed, and auto-rickshaw drivers were allowed to ply with only one passenger.

Delhis cab driver associations, welcoming the possible relaxations, said the government must also ensure a mechanism to ensure passengers are not symptomatic. There should be some mechanism like a health certificate that the passenger needs to show before he/she is allowed to board a cab. The health of the drivers is also at stake, said Sanjay Samrat, Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Soumya Pillai Soumya Pillai covers environment and traffic in Delhi. A journalist for three years, she has grown up in and with Delhi, which is often reflected in the stories she does about life in the city. She also enjoys writing on social innovations. ...view detail
VANCOUVERShayoni Mehta has only set foot outside of her residence in Pune, India, twice since March 23. Once for groceries and once for a doctors appointment.

The 32-year-old sociology assistant professor was on a visit home from Canada, where she was granted permanent residency last year, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke. Stuck inside, with special permits needed to go out, Mehta said she looks forward to the end of lockdown measures and hopes to make it to Toronto in August.

The outcome of the lockdown on most people is very, very harsh, Mehta said. Every week we have new rules coming in.

As some Canadians complain of lockdown conditions here, people across the country are still visiting parks, grocery stores, taking long walks or picking up takeout food. But different measures have been implemented around the world, some far more strict than those in than Canada.

The Star spoke to four people from around the globe about what lockdown looks like for them.

Shayoni Mehta  India

In India, where Worldometer reports there are nearly 81,000 cases confirmed as of May 14, Mehta said the lockdown rules are changing so often its hard to know what to expect. Sometimes people can go out for essentials, sometimes they cannot.

One week the grocery stores are open, the next only milk delivery is permitted. To leave the house, she said you sometimes need a special permit texted to your phone by authorities.

Mehta spoke to the Star on May 1, a day Indians dubbed lockdown 3.0 because it was the third time the government had extended the measures, which include sealed areas that people are not allowed to leave because of high COVID-19 case numbers.

The measures were initially supposed to end on April 14. Now they are extended until Monday.

Already, a lot of black markets have started for alcohol and smokes, she said. I dont understand why alcohol shops are shut during the lockdown, in fact that would be a way to keep people in the cities.

But while Mehta sweats it out at home, she cant help thinking about the thousands of migrant labourers in the country who werent given enough time to prepare for the lockdown. They are travelling hundreds of miles during the sweltering Indian summer trying to get to their homes.

As many as 600,000 people were migrating on foot throughout the country without shelter, some without food or water. The government did not give nearly enough time for the public to prepare for lockdown measures, Mehta said.

The entire nation had four hours to prepare for a lockdown, which is seemingly going on indefinitely, she said. People did not have time to buy food. People did not have time to buy medicines.

In the meantime, as the lockdown continues, Mehta says a sense of disheartenment seems to be permeating those she knows in India.

Samuel Sudhof  Germany

Its a less concerning scene in Mockmuhl, Germany, where aerospace engineer Samuel Sudhofs main complaint had been not being able to take his regular swim at a local pool.

Germany had more than 174,000 COVID-19 cases on May 14. Unlike India, lockdown measures there do not prohibit Sudhof from freely purchasing groceries, though he said masks are mandatory in the store.

Sudhof already works from home, he said, so professionally not much changed for him. But the lockdown cost him a trip to make a presentation in his field in Hawaii in mid April.

He said though others in the country are wearing masks in stores as requested and social distancing, there are grumblings about reopening the country.

For many people, its very problematic that the schools are closed, so they have to work from home and they have to suffer their children, which parents tell me is a terrible fate, he said. Thats basically right now the loudest group of people who are asking for things to be reopened again.

He doubts Germany will open anytime soon, as people fear that reopening will bring a resurgence in infections. So, in the meantime, Sudhof is trying to endure by learning at least one new skill.

Just the cliche. I started to sourdough. Its not doing too well, he laughed, referring to the culture used to make the bread.

I think it died yesterday.

Krishilla Devi Thivyakumar  Malaysia

Back in Asia, Krishilla Devi Thivyakumar is a teacher in Malaysia and has been spending most of her time in the same room since the pandemic began.

Classes arent cancelled at the international school where she works and Thivyakumar has been teaching online from home, following the regular school timetable and sticking to the class syllabus. She said theres very little difference aside from the online aspect.

We were given training just before this lockdown started, she said. We have all these apps involved.

Malaysia, with 6,819 cases, has some strict measures in place. Essential workers are issued passes to be out on the street. Some areas with higher numbers of confirmed cases have been declared red zone areas and people are not permitted to leave, with police and military enforcing the order.

While Thivyakumar misses pleasures such as jogging and visiting with friends, shes worried the affect on children may be worse, as many of them are not leaving their homes at all, even to go grocery shopping.

She said theres been a noticeable void in human camaraderie since the lockdown began.

I havent seen anyone except for my parents in more than a month, she said. Its been hard, I think, because Malaysians are very community-type people.

She said the virtual daily contact with her students has been difficult. Teaching kids helps her feel connected she said, and online teaching doesnt have the same feeling.

In Malaysia, some respite arrived recently, with many restaurants and shops reopening and some other restrictions being lifted. But Thivyakumar said she worries this will only bring a swift return of the virus.

For some countries, especially those with developing economies, the effects of COVID-19 have more dire consequences. Some worry the harsh societal and economic impacts could be harder for those countries to overcome than for western nations.

Axel NZI  Ivory Coast

In Abidjan, Ivory Coast Axel NZI says restaurants, bars and hotels are all closed, but many people are still working from home if they can. NZI works in management at a food plant and said he still goes in to work.

The country has 1,912 cases and due to the lockdown, he said everything from tourism to show business has also been shut down.

The city is essentially closed and people are not allowed to leave, he said.

But 70 per cent if not more of everything is happening here, NZI said. Government is here, most of the businesses are here, port, main airport ... etc.

Its ominous not knowing how long the lockdown will last, he said, and in the meantime, he fears a potential spike in crime as people struggle to make ends meet. Many small businesses in the country are being hammered by a lack of income.

NZI said he fears similar spikes in crime will occur around the world as people try to meet their basic needs.

Around the world, the number of COVID-19 cases as of May 14 has surpassed 4.5 million with more than 300,000 deaths.

With files from The Associated Press

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Chinas ambassador to Israel Du Wei was found dead at his home in a Tel Aviv suburb on Sunday, according to media reports.

Israels foreign ministry and the police spokesman have confirmed the death of the 57-year-old diplomat, but have not commented on the cause of death.

As part of the regular procedure, police units are at the scene, a police spokesman told Reuters.

Israels Channel 12 TV, quoting unidentified emergency medical officials, said initial indications were that Du died in his sleep of natural causes.

Du was assigned to the post in February in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, following a three-year spell as the ambassador to Ukraine.

He has been with the Chinese foreign ministry for 31 years and was married with a son, according to the embassy website.

The death has not yet been confirmed by the Chinese embassy.

His death came three days after Chinese diplomats lashed out at US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after he blamed China for the Covid-19 outbreak.

In a response published in The Jerusalem Post on May 14, the Chinese embassy said the US should take the responsibility for the situation in its own country.

Currently, the United States is the epicentre of the pandemic ... But, the current situation in the US is not caused by China, rather the inaction of a few American politicians who missed the window of opportunity to bring the virus under control.

From this perspective, the tragedy in the US is not only a natural disaster but also a result of mismanagement, the embassy said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, pictured at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warned his hosts against Chinese investments. Photo: DPA

The embassy also criticised Pompeo for warning Israel that investments from China could pose a security risk.

At the end of 2018, Chinas investment in Israel only accounted for 0.4 per cent of Chinas investment across the world and 3 per cent of the foreign investment flow into Israel, the embassy said.

We trust that our Jewish friends are not only able to defeat the coronavirus but also the political virus, and choose the course of action that best serves its interests, the statement concluded.

Story continues

China has been trying to step up cooperation with Israel, a key US ally, particularly on the technology front, but has recountered resistance from both the Israeli government and academia.

The latest incident came on Wednesday last week when Israel said it would review a Hong Kong-based companys involvement in a US$1.5 billion Sorek B desalination plant, which is expected to be the biggest of its kind in the world but which will be built near the military base of Palmachim.

In October Israel set up a committee to review foreign investments into sensitive sectors, partly to address longstanding US concerns about Chinese investment in projects that could have both civilian and military purposes.

Du Wei is the second ambassador to die in an overseas post in the diplomatic history of the Peoples Republic.

Xu Huang, the ambassador to Peru, died in March 1981 because of illness, three years after he took the job.

Additional reporting from Reuters

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This article Chinas ambassador to Israel found dead in his Tel Aviv home first appeared on South China Morning Post

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The number of COVID-19 cases in Chhattisgarh rose to 86 on Sunday with 19 more people testing positive for the viral infection, Health officials said.

While nine new cases were reported from Balod district, six cases were reported from Balodabazar, two from Kabirdham and one each from Gariaband and Janjgir-Champa, they said.

"Earlier in the afternoon, samples of two migrant workers from Balod tested positive, following which they were admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences," a Public Relations Officer of the institute told PTI.

"Later, samples of 16 more people, including two women, came out positive in AIIMS," he said, adding that most of them are migrant labourers who have returned from different parts of the country recently, or their close contacts.

A COVID-19 patient from Durg district was discharged from AIIMS in evening after recovering from the infection, he said.

"The COVID-19 count in the state now stands at 86 but the number of active cases is 27 while 59 others have been discharged after recovery," the official said.

Chhattisgarh's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 86, new cases 17, deaths zero, discharged people 59, active cases 27, people tested so far 34,633.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A YOUNG man who fled the jurisdiction after he was caught carrying a significant quantity of cocaine has been warned he will go to jail if he reoffends.

Jonathan OBrien, 28, who has an address at Hazlewood Drive, Ballyspillane, Killarney, County Kerry, pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs, worth 2,031, for the purpose of sale or supply.

Judge Marian OLeary was told the drugs were seized after the defendant was stopped and searched by gardai while walking at Mulgrave Street, Limerick on July 25, 2015.

Following his arrest, Mr OBrien travelled to the UK. He was extradited earlier this year after a European Arrest Warrant was executed.

Solicitor Bernard Cunnane told Limerick District Court his client has suffered from long-term addiction problems and that he is seeking to enter residential treatment.

This is his last chance, he said adding that his client accepts he needs to address his dependence on drugs as a priority.

His problems stem from addiction, residential treatment could have a very positive effect on him, he said.

Judge Marian OLeary was told while the defendant has more than 60 previous convictions, he has none for drugs offences.

Mr Cunnane said Mr OBrien, who is currently serving a prison sentence for separate road traffic offences, recently got married and is anxious to start on a new path when he released from custody in the summer.

A hand-written letter of apology was submitted to the court and Judge OLeary was told he has not come to the attention of gardai since the incident.

While accepting the defendant has no previous convictions for drugs offences, Judge OLeary commented the quantity of cocaine seized was very large.

In the circumstances, she imposed a six month prison sentence, which she suspended in its entirety for two years.

Mr OBrien is due to be released in August.
The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) has said that it has no intention to mobilize prospective corps members anytime soon, especially as the country is still grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.

The Director-General of the scheme, Ibrahim Shuaibu, who made this known in an interview with the Economic Confidential, said they dont know when they will mobilise corps members again.

Mr Shuaibu, a brigadier-general, said the management will only organise fresh orientation exercise the moment the coast becomes clear, and they receive the green light from relevant authorities.

He noted that the Batch A, Stream 1 corps members who were already camping, but had to be hurriedly dismissed due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, will be recalled back to their various orientation camps to complete the remaining part of the training.

We dont know when we are going to start mobilising our corps members. You know our training is also structured like that of the military and paramilitary. You can see that the Nigerian Navy recently suspended its training for its freshly recruited cadets.

So, the moment the coast is clear, we are going to key into the way others will conduct their exercise, so that our corps members can be called back soonest.

Mr Shuaibu expressed delight over the success story of the Schemes Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme and the plan to generate revenue from the creative ingenuity and productivity of corps members.

He said: The SAED programme has recorded tremendous successes, which can even be seen from the activities of our corps members in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Our corps members, nationwide, produced face masks, sanitizers, disinfectant tools, and automatic sanitizing machines. They are also involved in the sensitization and distribution of palliatives of some of these items to communities.

On the plan to commercialise some activities in the scheme for internally generated revenue, the NYSC boss disclosed that when he realised that many people saw NYSC as a burden, the management rejigged the schemes ventures to find ways to generate and bring something to the table.

We now have NYSC bread and Table Water Company in Kubwa. We want to see how we can replicate same in the states. So that during orientation exercises we can get these items from our production plants, and feed our corps members in camps.

Some of our corpers are into fish and snail farming in NYSC farms. We want to embark in commercial farming of rice. We want to key into the Federal Governments policy on local content on agric business. This is because we dont want to be a burden on government. Therefore, we must continue to look for ways to internally generate our revenue.

Read the full interview here.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 20:47:59|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented his new power-sharing government to the parliament on Sunday, breaking one and a half year of political stalemate.

Under the power-sharing deal agreed in April, the right-wing leader will remain prime minister for 18 months before being replaced by his former rival Benny Gantz, leader of the centrist Blue and White party.

During the 18 months, Gantz, Israel's former military chief, will serve as defense minister and alternate prime minister, a title that has never existed before in Israeli politics.

"This is a national unity and emergency government," Netanyahu told parliament during his speech, citing the COVID-19 crisis and its economic impact.

"The public wants unity, and that is what it got," Netanyahu said, referring to widespread calls to avoid a fourth election after three rounds of inconclusive ones in about a year.

Reiterating his campaign promise to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, he said the Israeli law should be imposed on the West Bank, an area seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and where the Palestinians wish to build their future state.

The new unity deal opens the way for Netanyahu to proceed with his annexation plan, which is almost certain to irk the Palestinians as well as most of Israel's European allies.

It is worth noting that the government's swearing-in comes just a week before Netanyahu's criminal trial over his suspected corruption.

Speaking after Netanyahu, Gantz said the inauguration of the government ends the "worst political crisis in its history."

Repeatedly interrupted by his former allies, now in the opposition, Gantz warned that the alternative to the government was "the brink of civil war."

With 36 ministers and 16 deputy ones, the new power-sharing government will be the largest one in Israel's history, a result of weeks of negotiation in an effort to please Netanyahu's coalition partners.

Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist party of Yesh Atid and leader of the opposition, slammed the size of the government, labelling the ongoing coronavirus epidemic "an excuse for a corrupt party at the expense of the taxpayers."

"There are fewer than 50 coronavirus patients on ventilators in Israel, but we have more ministers and deputy ministers than patients on life support," Lapid, Gantz's alley during the elections, told the parliament.

Netanyahu, 70, is Israel's longest-serving leader. He was first elected as prime minister in 1996 and has served three consecutive terms since 2009.

Netanyahu's trial on charges of bribery, breach of trust and fraud will start on May 27, but he denies any wrong-doing, slamming the allegations as part of "a witch hunt." Enditem
Recent  and not-so-recent  events are reminders that literacy must be encouraged and protected.

Well start with the recent.

In late April, the school board in Palmer, Alaska, voted to remove five famous  but allegedly controversial  books from district classrooms: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. These titles were all taken off an approved list of works that teachers in the Mat-Su Borough School District may use for instruction.

The boards vice president, Jim Hart, told NBC News the books contain content that could potentially harm students.

Caged Bird, an autobiography, was derided for anti-white messaging. The other books are novels removed for assorted reasons  Gatsby and Things for sexual references, Invisible Man for bad language and Catch-22 for violence, according to the school district.

However, the vote inadvertently renewed local interest in the excluded works. (Many of which, lets admit, a lot of people have never read.)

In news to warm the hearts of book fans everywhere, Mary Ann Cockle, owner of Fireside Books in Palmer, about a mile from district headquarters, said her store ran out of copies of the books within hours of the boards action.

People who had read the books years ago are buying them to read again and to give away, Cockle said. Our biggest outpouring of support are people buying the books and donating them or leaving them to us to distribute for free.

Once this made national news, members of the Grammy-winning rock group Portugal. The Man stepped into the controversy in their Alaska hometown by offering to buy copies of the books for students and families.

As you can imagine, the school board members were inundated with comments and heard three hours of testimony from community members on a proposal to reverse the ban. A new vote is set for Wednesday.

It may seem difficult to imagine in 2020, but books are constantly under threat of censorship. Even beloved yuletide classics.

The Alaska school board had also considered banning A Christmas Carol, arguing it could be interpreted as advocating for socialism. So haunting your former business partner is OK, but paying a living wage and helping the poor is not?

The not-so-recent event was in the Kenosha News on May 10 as part of Today in History on Page A2: On May 10, 1933, the Nazis staged massive public book burnings in Germany.

People sometimes forget the Nazis reign of terror included wiping out books. Because with books and reading comes knowledge, and knowledge is power and leads to dangerous activities like thinking for yourself. Savor the beauty and, yes, power of reading. Its precious.

Lizs Book Club

While we celebrate literacy, this is also a great time to remind readers to send in their picks for the 12th annual edition of Lizs Book Club.

Each summer, Kenosha News readers join this club, which shares favorite titles through your local newspaper. Our list covers all sorts of books, from the latest thrillers by David Baldacci to classics like Don Quixote, which made the best-seller lists way back in 1605.

To become a club member, just tell us about a great book (fiction or non-fiction)  or several books  youve read. Besides getting tons of great reading suggestions, you could also win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble. Well draw a name at random from all the entries.

How are you coping with the coronavirus shutdown? Email Liz at esnyder@kenoshanews.com or call her at 262-656-6271.

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The destruction of foreign state flags, including that of the European Union, and the denigration of national anthems are punishable by a fine and up to three years in prison, in a move by the German government to protect the symbols of other nations.

The vote in Germanys parliament was passed just before midnight on Thursday and was in response to a 2017 anti-Israel rally held on the streets of Berlin, the German capital, where police watched as protesters burned Israeli flags.

No Israeli flags may burn in Germany, said Social Democratic member of parliament Johannes Fechner, who was part of chancellor Angela Merkels coalition government, which brought the amendment to the floor.

Seated at a safe social distance, lawmakers voted for an amendment to protect foreign state flags, as well as the EUs (burning the German flag is punishable by up to five years). German law had already protected foreign flags when displayed by embassies, or in some other ceremonial capacities such as at sporting events.

The burning of flags in public has nothing to do with peaceful protest, Christine Lambrecht, the countrys justice minister, said in a statement.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Burning flags hurt the feelings of many people, she said.

The amendment is expected to pass Germanys upper house in June before being signed by the president and written into the federal criminal code.

Japan and Denmark have had laws protecting foreign flags for decades, although in Denmark, the Danish national flag  known as the Danneborg  is not protected. Norway overturned a ban on burning foreign flags in 2008.

While some critics see the German amendment as a heavy-handed move against freedom of opinion, the right-wing Eurosceptic party Alternative for Germany, known by its German initials AfD, has objected to the inclusion of the EU flag in the amendment. It says the law symbolically raises the blocs flag to same level of importance as the German state flag.

After the United States declared its intention to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017, about 1,000 protesters took to the streets of Berlin, in what was described as a pro-Palestine protest. Although 300 police officers accompanied the march, they were unable to prevent a group of protesters from burning a homemade Israeli flag. Protesters also burned an Israeli flag in front of the Brandenburg Gate, a Berlin landmark.

Those images spread around the country, drawing outrage.

It was unbearable that the police could not intervene when Israeli flags were burned outside the Brandenburg Gate in 2017, said Josef Schuster, the head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, when the amendment was first proposed this year.

On Tuesday, Germany celebrated 55 years of relations with the state of Israel, a bilateral relationship celebrated there like few others. After the horrors of the Holocaust, Israels right to exist is seen as one of the fundamental tenets of the modern German state.

But not everyone agreed that the flag issue was the domain of a federal law.

We of the left are of the opinion that not every instance of bad taste and not every offensive behaviour belongs in our criminal law  and that includes denigration of flags and symbols, a Bundestag member from The Left party , Niema Movassat, said before the vote.

On the other side of the house, the AfD member Fabian Jacobi denounced the inclusion of the EU flag in the measure as a criminal provision against criticism of the EU.

The New York Times
 Flash

Morocco recently received a medical donation from the China Development Bank (CDB) to help the North African country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDB said.

The donation including respirators and medical protective masks, arrived on Thursday night in Morocco's Casablanca airport by a flight of Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc from China's capital Beijing, the CDB said on Friday.

Through this kind of initiative, the CDB intends to support the cooperation between Morocco and China in fight against the pandemic and also in bilateral economic and social fields, the CDB said.




Former Iraqi minister: Iran to remain key energy source despite US pressure

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 May 2020 9:32 AM

Iraq's former electricity minister says neighboring Iran will remain a key source of energy to the Arab country for years to come until suitable alternatives materialize.

Luay al-Khatteeb made the remarks in an interview with Abbas Kadhim, the director of the Atlantic Council's Iraq Initiative.

"The only available option we have at the moment right now is Iranand let's be frank," Khatteeb said.

The US has been enlisting its companies and allies such as Saudi Arabia to replace Iran as Iraq's source of energy.

Khatteeb said, "I couldn't care less as a client from the receiving end about whether this molecule of gas comes from Iran or Saudi Arabia. What really matters to me is that this gas is competitive pricewise, can be delivered as soon as possible, and meets my volume demands."

The former Iraqi electricity minister emphasized that his country requires three or four years to become self-reliant for its gas needs.

"We've made it clear to the US that we need three or four years to achieve self-sufficiency in gas; this includes field development, pipelines, processing facilities, compressors, and other infrastructure," he said,

Iran is currently exporting around 1,200 megawatts of electricity per day, and 40 million cubic meters (mcm) of natural gas to Iraq. One megawatt can power about 1,000 homes.

Over the past months, Washington has been pressing Baghdad to stop buying natural gas and electricity from Tehran as part of its "maximum pressure" campaign mainly aimed at bringing Iran's oil exports to zero.

Iran has been under the "toughest ever" American sanctions since May 2018, when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear deal.

The US had granted Iraq a series of 120-, 90- and 45-day waivers exempting it from sanctions to buy energy from Iran.

In late April, however, the US shortened the previous 120-day waivers, and issued thirty-day exemption for Iraq, dialing up pressure on Baghdad to cut back its ties with Tehran, and turn up economic pressure on Iran.

Asked about the shortened waivers, he said, "The US wanted to test our capabilities, and we did well."

"Every time the waiver is about to expire, it's like a checklist, a procedure. They keep asking the same question, and we keep repeating the same answer," he added.

Early this month, Iraqi officials said the United States had given a 120-day waiver for Iraq to continue importing electricity from Iran.

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Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE's integrated railway network, has begun construction of the second phase of the rail network - linking Al Guwaifat on the Saudi border to Fujairah and Khor Fakkan on the emirate's eastern coast running 605 km long, said a top official.

Contracts worth Dh18 billion ($4.9 billion) have been awarded in this phase, said Mohammed Rashid Al Marzouqi, the Executive Director of Relations at Etihad Rail, in an exclusive interview to the Emirates news agency Wam.

Al Marzouqi said Etihad Rail was manufacturing a new fleet of locomotives, increasing its fleet size to 45, as well as establishing a major operations and maintenance centre in Al Fayah, Abu Dhabi, confirming that the company is moving quickly to complete one of the largest and most important projects in the country.

He also pointed out that Etihad Rails key project will affect many sectors, including the economy, society, the environment and tourism.

It will help establish a new transport sector in the UAE, and achieve a milestone in the shopping and logistical services sector, remarked Al Marzouqi.

In January, Etihad Rail began the second phase of the national railway network, which runs 605 km long with Stage A extending 139 km to link Ruwais with Al Ghuwaifat at the Saudi border, Stage B extending 216 km from Tarif to Seeh Shuaib, Stage C running 94 km from Jebel Ali to Sharjah and Stage D being 145 km from Sharjah to the ports of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan.

The project will see the construction of further stages to complete the network, he addded.

Etihad Rail is constructing its central operations and maintenance centre in Al Fayah, which is managed by a coalition led by the French company, Vinci Construction, as part of its future goal to create a railway network that supports the long-term growth of the nations economy.

The company is also building stations in Al Ruwais, ICAD, Khalifa Port, Dubai Industrial City, Jebel Ali Port, Al Ghail, Siji, and the ports of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, to handle the loading and unloading of trains, as well as for container storage and maintenance.
Key Highlights

Government seems more concerned about fiscal deficit target and ratings downgrade by international agencies.

Actual cash outgo less than 1% of GDP

Until government is willing to go beyond the available fiscal, scope of transferring direct cash to the needy remains limited

India's fiscal deficit for FY21 is pegged at 3.5% but most economists expect it to rise to 5% in the wake of sharp fall in revenue

The fineprint of the Rs 20 lakh crore economic relief package is finally out and it seems the government is more concerned about fiscal deficit target and ratings downgrade by international agencies over putting money into the hands of people suffering due to coronavirus lockdown.

The actual cash outgo from Centre's coffers on account of government's Atma Nirbhar Bharat package will be less than 1% of GDP.

"The government seems to be more concerned about fiscal deficit. The question is why are they being so conservative. The answer one could think of is that the government is bothered about sovereign rating by international rating agencies," said R Nagraj, professor of Economics at Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research.

"For rating agencies, crossing the fiscal deficit target is seen as very negative. So, if they downgrade India's rating, borrowing for India in future will be costlier. Therefore, India's ability to attract investment will go down," he added.

Also Read: Stimulus package: States need funds to bridge healthcare gaps, not infectious disease model

India's fiscal deficit for FY21 is pegged at 3.5% but most economists expect it to rise to 5% in wake of sharp fall in revenue in the current fiscal. Announcing fifth and the final tranche of stimulus package, Finance Minister on Sunday said that a total of Rs 8.01 lakh crore worth of support has been provided through monetary measures announced by RBI. The remaining support is in the form of government guarantee for loans, free ration and non-monetary measures among others.

British brokerage firm Barclays Research has estimated that the actual fiscal impact of 'Atma Nirbhar' economic stimulus package on the budget will be only Rs 1.5 lakh crore (0.75% of GDP).

While addressing the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 12 had announced Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus to pull the economy out of the crisis. The stimulus, he had said, was to the tune of Rs 20 lakh crore which would make India self-reliant.

Speaking to BusinessToday.In, a noted economist on condition of anonymity said that government was still addressing the supply side issues while focussing not much on consumption demand. Further, fiscal stimulus does not compensate for the output loss in the last two months and hence businesses would find it difficult to re-start.

Also Read: Coronavirus stimulus: How effective will Rs 20.9 lakh crore COVID-19 package be?

"Until government is willing to go beyond the available fiscal we would get only this kind of stimulus and problems would continue to be there," he said.

Being fair to the government, once money tap is opened it becomes very difficult to close it. For example, if government starts giving cash support or free ration everyone's happy but if the same is stopped, it creates resentment.

As part of the final tranche of fiscal support, Finance Minister Sitharaman announced an additional outlay of Rs 40,000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). In March, soon after the announcement of nationwide lockdown, Sitharaman had announced Rs 1.7 lakh crore package targeted at farmers, poor households and vulnerable section of society.
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP)  Justice for Ahmaud Arbery, a black man killed during a pursuit by a white man and his son in Georgia, isn't just prison time for his killers  it's changes in a local justice system that never charged them with a crime, rallygoers said Saturday.

Hundreds of people came to the Glynn County courthouse demanding accountability for a case in which charges weren't filed until state officials stepped in after a leaked video sparked national outrage.

READ ALSO: Reality star charged with fraud for misusing $1.5M PPP pandemic loan

Arbery, 25, was killed Feb. 23 just outside the port city of Brunswick. Gregory McMichael, 64, told police he and his son, Travis McMichael, 34, pursued Arbery because they believed he was responsible for recent break-ins in the neighborhood.

The McMichaels weren't arrested and charged with murder until May 7, after a video of the shooting was publicly released to a local radio station and less than 48 hours after state agents took over the case.

Justice for Ahmaud is more than just the arrests of his killers, said John Perry, president of the Brunswick NAACP chapter at the Saturday rally. Justice is saying that weve got to clean up the house of Glynn County.

Speakers at the rally demanded the resignation of Jackie Johnson, the district attorney for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit who recused herself from the investigation, and George Barnhill, the Waycross circuit district attorney who took over the case and declined to press charges. Gregory McMichael was an investigator in Johnsons office before retiring last May. Both Johnson and Barnhill have denied wrongdoing.

Organizers of the rally said around 250 vehicles drove more than four hours from Atlanta for the rally, bringing historically black fraternities and sororities, civil rights organizations and black-led gun rights groups, who said if Arbery had armed himself, he might be alive today.

Attorney Mawuli Davis came from his suburban Atlanta home because he wanted to make it clear how many people are not satisfied with how the Arbery case has been handled.

COVID-19 OUTBREAKS : Texas releases nursing home coronavirus case totals

Georgians are just not safe when you allow an injustice like this to take place, said Davis, who is an organizer with the Black Man Lab in Decatur, Georgia.

The case has brought reminders of several other black people killed in confrontations with white police officers or others and the names of Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland and others were mentioned during the rally.

Were going to keep on marching. Were going to stand in solidarity. We're going to keep on protesting. Were going to keep on raising our voices because Ahmaud Arbery will get justice," said Triana Arnold James, president of the Georgia chapter of the National Organization for Women.

Organizers asked the crowd to wear masks and stay a safe distance apart because of COVID-19. There were plenty of masks  some with Arbery's picture  but many in the crowd were shoulder to shoulder for the rally and marched with arms locked after it was over.

Arberys attorneys have said hes the person recorded inside a house under construction right before he was killed. Gregory McMichael told police he suspected Arbery was responsible for recent break-ins and he also said Arbery attacked his son before he was shot.

Arberys mother has said she believes her son was merely out jogging. The video of the confrontation shows the McMichaels' truck in front of Arbery as he runs toward it.

The attorney of the owner of the house under construction said she thinks Arbery was getting water. A man in similar clothes appeared in videos from the home at least twice, lawyer J. Elizabeth Graddy said.

The homeowner, Larry English, lives hours away and set up motion-activated security cameras that send him a text when they start filming.

English called the Glynn County Police after one notification Dec. 17. No one was arrested, but a detective sent English a text message three days later giving him Gregory McMichael's phone number and identifying him as a retired law enforcement officer, adding he said please call him day or night when you get action on your camera, according to the Dec. 20 text shared by Graddy.

English never read the text until Graddy's firm started reviewing his phone days ago.

He never called Gregory McMichael. He never took him up on that offer, Graddy said.

The text message was first reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Arbery's family ended Saturday's rally thanking the crowd for their support and saying "we are all running for Ahmaud.

The crowd then marched away from the courthouse, taking a knee in silence and blocking traffic for more than 60 seconds to symbolize the days it took for arrests in the case.

Then they chanted: When black lives are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back."

___

Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.
In days before the first stage of Massachusetts reopening plan, many faith leaders remained unsure about what to expect.

A letter was signed by 250 religious leaders to Gov. Charlie Baker to allow churches to reopen during the first phases of Massachusetts reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, it asked a clergy member be added to the states Reopening Advisory Board.

As we look at the date of May 18th, when your order banning gatherings of more than ten people is set to expire, we understand there is a Reopening Advisory Board. We note with disappointment that, despite the 8,000 churches in the Bay State and the millions who worship in and are served by them, they have no representation on that board. We, therefore, hope that you will hear directly from us now, the joint letter read.

Pastor James Hopkins of the Lutheran Church of the Way in Raynham was one of the signatures of the letter and told MassLive that he has yet to hear a response. He is waiting for more information to answer questions from his congregation.

The four-phase reopening first will allow a limited number of businesses to resume operations with severe restrictions in place, followed by a second wave of industries reopening with restrictions and capacity limits. The third wave of industries will be allowed to reopen with public health guidance. In the fourth phase, Massachusetts will try to return to a new normal after a vaccine is developed.

The governor last week made an announcement about the four-phases, but he didnt put the dates on it. Also, there wasnt any information around what does that mean for the 10 people or less [order for places of worship], said President of the Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts Mohammed Dastigir. [Baker] is taking really good steps and measures and has been proactive and I truly appreciate that. Now with that being said the reality is this, if you look at the trends and you take a look at whats happening in the rest of the world, you take a look at the cases resurging when economies have opened up. The sad reality is that we are far from over this [pandemic].

President of the Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts Mohammed Dastigir stands in the almost empty prayer hall. During the pandemic all places of worship are capped at 10 people inside the building. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

When Baker announced the plan on Monday, he did not attach specific dates to the phases, but he said he could see the states approach mirror those of other states that have spaced out phases four weeks apart if the state sees a sustained positive trend.

On April 28, Baker announced the formation of the Reopening Advisory Board, which will be Co-Chaired by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. The Board includes representatives from the business community, public health officials, and municipal leaders from across the Commonwealth.

The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization and faith leaders from across the Commonwealth met with the Reopening Advisory Board on Tuesday to address matters of religious institutions reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The infrastructure and services provided by faith communities and our institutions are part of the backbone of our Commonwealth, said Jeremy Burton, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston in a statement. As we work with, place our trust in, and follow the guidance of our elected leadership, we are also telling them that faith institutions and our contributions will be essential to any successful re-opening and recovery for Massachusetts.

At the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Rev. Tim Schenck has tried to be proactive by setting up his task force to discuss what a reopening will be like not only for his church but the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.

Schenck told MassLive that the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts has also released guidelines that his church draws from. The Episcopal Diocese bishop said that there will be no in-person worship before July 1.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

We've been trying to just do this faithfully and with our eyes wide open from the start and we're going to continue that, said Schenck. I mean even when the state may well say, okay, it's safe for groups of X number of people to go [back to church]. Well, if we don't think it's safe, were going to push that back a little bit further.

Church leaders are looking for ways to give sermons but also observe the restrictions set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the state.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., announced it will allow outdoor Masses for up to 50 worshipers in parish parking lots and other sites as that state begins to shed COVID-19 restrictions.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield said such Masses may be a possibility here with further direction from Baker, who recently announced a four-phase approach to reopening tentatively beginning May 18. Massachusetts has been in lockdown since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parking lot Masses may be an option once we have a defined direction from the governor and his task force on what will be allowed at the various re-opening stages he outlined earlier this week, said Mark Dupont, diocesan spokesman. We are hoping he allows us to re-open under a percentage capacity much like has been the case for essential retail businesses.

Adams Square Baptist Church Pastor Kristopher Casey did not comment after the April 29 service.

Pastor Kristopher Casey at the Adams Square Baptist Church in Worcester, one of the roughly 250 faith leaders that signed the letter to the governor, feels that religious centers are an essential business and had a criminal complaint filed in Worcester District Court on May 7 after it held its third service in defiance of a ban on large groups amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal court documents indicate Casey has filed a lawsuit against Baker, Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. and Worcester Police Chief Steven Sargent over the fines his church has received.

Many religious leaders agree that face to face services are important but also see that during this emergency there needs to be an awareness of safety. This has led to innovation and services that are different than pre-pandemic.

I do not accept theological premise that you cant reach people other than in person, said Rev. Michael McSherry at Edwards Church in Northampton. I will acknowledge that its not as satisfying on a personal or interpersonal level, that the human is a social animal and we like being together. Theres something chemical and spiritual about sharing physical space. That having been said, any student of scripture I think has to acknowledge that the spirit moves where it will and does not and is not limited to the merely physical experience.

Wearing a mask, Rev. Michael McSherry sits on the steps of the Edward's Church in Northampton. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Chancellor for the Worcester Diocese Ray Delisle told MassLive that this isnt a new way of passing the message. Some people have been homebound and can only attend mass from their beds.

We're not creating services for broadcast. We're actually having a real liturgy and then we are broadcast. But because all of us in Massachusetts have been carrying mass on TV for years or decades, as well as on the internet for those who are homebound, said Delisle. Some people have been restricted from being able to come to church for many, many years.

Places of worship are not immune to the effect the pandemic has had on the economy. Some have had to rely on the Payment Protection Program to pay staff.

A lot of the social service agencies that operate on behalf of the Catholic church and other churches have certainly been able to apply [for PPP], said Delisle. Some churches dont have staff, so it depends on the circumstance but a lot of them did get grants and understand that those are stopgap measures, they make up for the shortfall in the immediate time frame.

Delisle told MassLive that in the long term this will not have much impact and the church will have to look at more realistic options. At the moment Delisle said that his diocese is still trying to work out how much of a financial loss the church has had.

People have been very generous, and a lot of people have been continuing to make their donations available. {Giving] online donations, mailing them in, etc., Delisle added. Weve had a number of people who have who have been very good. But that being said its still down and were trying to evaluate right now.

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RED CROSS, TELERADYO COLLABORATE FOR A PUBLIC-ORIENTED SHOW THAT TARGETS TO HELP THE PUBLIC AMID THE PANDEMIC

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), in partnership with TeleRadyo of ABS-CBN Corporation, is launching a weekly program entitled, "Lingkod Aksyon Para sa Kapamilya", to be hosted by PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Senator Richard J. Gordon and journalist Henry Omaga-Diaz.

The program aims to inform the public of the current events and engage them in discussing significant issues that affect the people, to provide assistance to those who are in need and give them hope amid the pandemic that has affected many Filipinos.

"The Philippine Red Cross is always first, always ready, always there to help the needy especially during crises. Through 'Lingkod Aksyon', we wish to reach the most vulnerable, make them aware of different happenings across the country and be a channel in providing assistance during these difficult times," said Gordon.

Among the segments is the 'Red Cross in Action' that will showcase various accomplishments of the PRC such as its response to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), its efforts during disasters and calamities like the Taal volcano eruption and earthquakes, and its blood donation program.

'Lingkod Aksyon' will be aired every Sunday at 9 o'clock in the morning via TVplus channel 5, Sky Cable channel 26 and Sky Direct channel 6, among other cable channels.

It can also be viewed via livestreaming at iWant.ph, DZMM Teleradyo and ABS-CBN News Facebook pages, and ABS-CBN News YouTube channel.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-16 20:01:16|Editor: huaxia

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Migrant workers carry luggage as they leave for their hometown during the coronavirus lockdown from Bangalore, India, May 16, 2020. (Str/Xinhua)

by Pankaj Yadav

NEW DELHI, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The number of migrant laborers who died in accidents while heading home during the current COVID-19 lockdown has risen to 59 over the past nine days, after 24 more died in a road mishap in northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday.

The road mishap occurred in the state's Auraiya district when two trucks carrying migrant laborers collided with each other. While one truck, carrying around 20 migrant laborers, was parked by the road side, another truck carrying around 50 migrant laborers rammed into it from behind.

While 24 died on the spot, around 35 were admitted to various hospitals. Fifteen of the injured are said to be serious, a local senior cop Surendranath Yadav told Xinhua over phone.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives due to the road accident. "The road accident in Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh, is very sad. State government is involved in rescue work. I express my condolences to the family members of the dead, and wish speedy recovery of the injured," tweeted Modi.

State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a monetary compensation of 200,000 Indian Rupees (around 2667 U.S. dollars) to the families of those who died and 50,000 Indian Rupees (around 667 U.S. dollars) for the injured.

He also suspended two senior cops for dereliction of duty.

According to media reports, all the deceased and victims were migrant laborers who were riding one of the trucks and going to their respective homes in eastern states of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal amid the ongoing lockdown imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic spread. Most of them were coming from western state of Rajasthan.

They had boarded the ill-fated trucks, as all regular transport like buses and trains have been suspended during the current lockdown.

"Twenty-four dead bodies have been recovered from the spot, and more than 35 injured have been admitted in various hospitals," confirmed a senior district administration official to Xinhua over phone.

Confirming the mishap, a senior police official said that rescue work was still going on, and all senior administration and police officials had rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.

On Wednesday, as many as 14 migrant laborers died and more than 50 injured in two separate road mishaps. In the first accident, at least 8 persons died and 48 injured when the truck they were travelling in collided with a bus in central state of Madhya Pradesh. In a second mishap on the same day, as many as 6 migrant laborers died and 4 others injured when a speeding bus mowed them down in northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The mishap occurred in the state's Muzaffarnagar district.

On May 8, as many as 16 migrant laborers had died and 4 others injured in south-western state of Maharashtra when an oil train-tanker moved over them while they were sleeping over the railway tracks. Hailing from Madhya Pradesh, they were on their way home and walking down the railway tracks. They decided to sleep when they got exhausted, thinking trains were not allowed to run during the lockdown.

Two days later on May 10, at least five migrant laborers had died and over 10 injured in Madhya Pradesh when the truck they were travelling in overturned. The mishap had occurred near Narsinghpur city in the state on National Highway No. 44.
Update 8.20pm: Gardai say the scrapyard fire on Dublin's northside this afternoon is not being investigated as a crime at this stage.

The fire that spread to around forty scrap cars is thought to have started accidentally around 1pm, at a yard near Sillogue Green in Ballymun.

Around 30 firefighters from Dublin Fire Brigade fought the blaze for hours as a huge plume of thick black smoke rose from the scene.

Local Social Democrats councillor Mary Callaghan says it was a scary experience this afternoon.

She said: The fire service, the gardai did a great job and they really got it under control very quickly.

ut from a safety point of view and an environmental point of view, we really need to do a lot better.

Earlier: Blaze near Ballymun visible across Dublin city extinguished

Dublin Fire Brigade has extinguished a large blaze in the north of Dublin city.

About 40 cars caught fire earlier this afternoon, at Sillogue Green in Ballymun.

The inferno released a plume of toxic smoke that was visible across the county.

We've finished on scene at the #Ballymun fire. 6 units attended at the height of the fire.



 A single car fire releases megawatts of heat energy.

 A fire involving multiple cars densely packed is particularly challenging to fight#Dublin #fire pic.twitter.com/0I8BkwBq1X  Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) May 16, 2020

It led to multiple members of the public calling the emergency services at around 1.20pm.

Around 30 Firefighters, five fire engines and a water tanker were deployed to the scene.

Earlier: Scrap cars on fire near Ballymun in blaze visible across Dublin city

Around 40 scrap cars are on fire just off Junction 4 of the M50 at Ballymun in Dublin.

Picture: Dublin Fire Brigade

The blaze can be seen across the city, which has lead to multiple emergency calls.

Dublin Fire Brigade are at the scene with five engines and a water tanker.

People who live nearby are advised to close their windows.

Dublin Fire Brigade said they are "making good progress" in tackling the fire and that "the incident has been scaled back from 6 units to 4.'

They added: "We're still advising to keep windows closed as a precaution if you live nearby."
She has been isolating with Tom Ackerlay in Los Angeles.

Yet Margot Robbie headed out for some air on Saturday as she was seen stepping out with her husband.

The Australian actress, 29, looked radiant in a floral co-ord that showcased her tanned and toned figure.

Blooming lovely! Yet Margot Robbie headed out for some air on Saturday as she was seen stepping out with her husband. The Australian actress, 29, looked radiant in a floral co-ord

Margot put her taut stomach on display in a cream bralet that featured ruffled detailing on the sleeves.

She teamed the garment with a matching rose print midi skirt in a blush pink that complemented her tanned complexion.

The Birds Of Prey star completed the look by fastening a navy bandanna around her face to act as a makeshift mask amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Top of the crops: Margot put her taut stomach on display in a cream bralet that featured ruffled detailing on the sleeves. She teamed the garment with a matching rose print midi skirt

Despite being in lockdown for weeks, Margot previously revealed she was keeping her mind active by making lists, which she finds therapeutic.

'I have lists for things I need to do that day, long term, short term, fun stuff, not fun stuff,' she said.

'It gets it out of my mind and on paper and if I don't get through my list that day I don't stress about it, I just pick up where I left off the next day.'

Margot then encouraged fans to think about what puts their mind at ease and to use those methods on a daily basis during lockdown.

'I think it is worth just to take a second to think about the things that do help put your mind at ease and give yourself the time to implement it into your day,' she said.

Despite taking some time off, Margot has still been entertaining fans, and recently featured in an all-female action movie-inspired viral video.

Margot starred alongside other Hollywood A-listers, including Scarlett Johansson and Cameron Diaz, in the Boss B***h Fight Challenge clip.


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Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 22:06:13|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Three COVID-19 vaccines have entered phase II clinical trials in Beijing, said a municipal health official on Sunday.

Xu Qiang, head of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, said that Beijing has arranged 21 science and technology projects in response to the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Five innovative drugs have been approved for clinical trials, and all of them have entered phase II clinical studies, he said at a routine press conference on COVID-19 prevention and control.

According to a three-year action plan on strengthening the emergency management system for public health security in the capital (2020-2022), Xu said Beijing will establish a linkage mechanism for prevention, clinical practice, scientific research, treatment and project emergency approval.

Beijing will accelerate the research and development of diagnostic reagents, drugs, vaccines and medical equipment, and support pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturers in expanding their capacity to meet demands.

Beijing will improve the layout of biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) labs.

Xu said that Beijing will strengthen the supportive role of new technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, 5G and the Internet of Things in epidemic monitoring and analysis, virus tracing, prevention, control and treatment. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-16 23:24:39|Editor: huaxia

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PARIS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- After 26 years on the run, Felicien Kabuga, alleged to have been a leading figure in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, has been arrested in Paris, France's public prosecutor's office and the police announced on Saturday in a joint statement.

Kabuga, now aged 84, once one of Rwanda's richest men and accused of financing the genocide, has been living under a false identity in a flat in Asnieres-Sur-Seine on Paris suburbs, said the statement.

Kabuga was indicted by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 1997 on seven counts of genocide, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, attempt to commit genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, persecution and extermination, all in relation to crimes committed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

The United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) hailed the arrest. Its Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz stated that "the arrest of Felicien Kabuga today is a reminder that those responsible for genocide can be brought to account, even twenty-six years after their crimes."

Following the completion of appropriate procedures under French law, Kabuga is expected to be transferred to the custody of the Mechanism, where he will stand trial, said The Hague-based IRMCT. Enditem

Rwandan genocide suspect arrested in France
GREENVILLE, S.C. - In March and April, as the coronavirus pandemic grew in South Carolina, Kay Wades telephone kept ringing.

For about two weeks, every phone call was people calling to get their money back, said Wade, who owns and operates Jocassee Lake Tours in Salem, SC with her husband, Brooks.

Since mid-March, the pandemic has forced dozens of customers to cancel their tours, resulting in a loss of $50,000 in sales, Brooks Wade estimated.

Their story is not unique in Pickens and Oconee counties where small businesses and restaurant owners struggle to remain afloat as tourists and Clemson University visitors have disappeared because of the pandemic.

In Oconee County, tourism generates about $10 million a year in economic impact and supports about 500 jobs, according to Oconee Countys 2020 budget documents. In Pickens County, tourism is one of the top industries and generates more $50,000 in tax revenue for the county each year, according to budget documents.

On Lake Jocassee, Brooks Wade estimates about a dozen tourism outfits lost all of their business because state parks were closed, effectively closing access to the lake. Devils Fork State Park offers the only points of access to the lake other than private property.

We couldnt even get a canoe on the water for weeks, Kay Wade said.

Since state parks reopened on May 1 and the Wades received a Payroll Protection Program loan from the third round of federal coronavirus stimulus funding, business has improved.

But social distancing restrictions mean they can run their lake tours at only 50% of capacity.

So, its like were doing twice the work for half the pay, Kay Wade said.

CARES ACT AND FUNDING TROUBLES

It took two months for the Wades and many of the small businesses they work with on Lake Jocassee to secure the federal loans, Wade Brooks said.

The process was long, confusing and frustrating, requiring hours of research and phone calls every day. Ive had to become scholarly about it, Wade Brooks said.

And although small businesses have received millions more in federal loans after the third round of CARES Act funding, the organizations that support the small businesses  trade associations, chambers of commerce and tourism boards  have been cut out of funding thus far.

Nonprofits designated as a 501 C (6) organization by the Internal Revenue Service did not qualify for Payroll Protection Program loans during the first three rounds of federal funding, Clemson Chamber of Commerce President Susan Cohen said.

A lot of us are quite nervous about that, Cohen said of the prospect of not receiving any federal aid.

Those organizations typically provide support for small businesses, industries and local economies by providing resources, marketing and networking opportunities.

One of those organizations is Visit Oconee SC, whose executive director Ken Sloan, who said companies around the region are struggling with reopening costs ahead of the summer tourist season while trying to secure a Payroll Protection Program loan and adjusting to social distancing guidelines.

He has massive outreach. They just do everything for us and others who are in the same boat, Brooks Wade said of Sloans work through Visit Oconee SC.

And while Sloan said Visit Oconee SC can get by without a PPP loan since hotel accommodation taxes  the organizations primary funding source  are up this year, other groups, like the Clemson Area Chamber of Commerce, are in need of the federal assistance.

But after two months of waiting, a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives that would fold organizations like the Clemson Area Chamber into the PPP list of qualifying organizations  Cohen said she and her peers are cautiously optimistic the bill will pass.

Even if funding becomes available, local chambers and trade associations may face budget shortfalls if their revenue streams dry up.

Like many chambers and tourism boards, the Clemson Area Chamber of Commerce is primarily funded through accommodation tax revenue and membership fees, Cohen said.

While Cohen knows her budget will see a hit from a decline in hotel stays over the past few months, shes not sure how the chamber will be impacted if members  many of whom are small businesses  are struggling through the pandemic.

So if you dont have enough money to pay your rent or your insurance or your employees, are you going to be able to and willing to pay your chambers? Cohen asked.

Organizations like the Clemson Chamber of Commerce and Visit Oconee SC are vital to helping local economies market themselves, especially as the state begins the process of reopening amidst the pandemic, according to State Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Duane Parrish.

To get us back on our financial feet, if you will, as an industry... it takes marketing funds, Parrish said.

Before the pandemic changed life in South Carolina, Brooks and Kay Wade were looking forward to a busy spring and summer.

Sloan helped the two get a feature ad in Atlanta Magazine, a lifestyle publication that helped the small business owners reach thousands more potential customers than they could do on their own.

We advertise in a three-county range and (Visit Oconee SC) advertises in a three-state range, Brooks Wade said. When Ken (Sloan) gets hurt  it hurts us directly.

CRAWL, WALK, RUN BACK TO NORMAL

Sloan said businesses like the Wades lake tour company are vital to the countys ecotourism success, especially as people are looking to get safely outside after two months of self-isolation.

Theyre promoting social distancing on their boats, moving forward, thats gonna be paramount to success, Sloan said.

In Clemson, Cohen said Visit Clemson is looking at promoting tourism packages much different than the Clemson University-centric packages they typically promote.

Were trying to to look at several niches and put together some suggested packages... one package might be related to agritourism and you would go to the wineries, the tea plantation, the pick-your-own type of farms, she said.

Other businesses, like rafting and zipline company Wild Water in Oconee County, are implementing more protective measures, like wearing face masks for lifejacket safety checks and using online safety waivers instead of pen and paper, Trey Barnett said.

No matter what route companies and organizations take to draw in more tourists, State Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Duane Parrish said its going to be a slow one with phased plans, like the allowance of outdoor dining a week before indoor dining at restaurants.

It is a crawl, walk, run process, he said.

Kay Wade also foresees a long, gradual return to normalcy, even as the companys calendar begins to fill back up with reservations.

This is a hold on year. We gotta pay our bills, feed the dog and make sure we dont have to start selling equipment, she said.
MINSK, Belarus (AP)  The United States has dispatched a shipment of oil to Belarus, which is seeking to diversify its supplies after a price dispute with Russia, the Belarusian government said Friday.

The 80,000-ton shipment is expected to arrive at the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda in June and from there will sent by rail to Belarus.

Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said cooperation with the U.S. on oil is "an element of energy security.

Tensions between Belarus and Russia have been heightened in recent months by stalled negotiations over deeper integration of their economies. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko accused the Kremlin of using oil supplies as leverage to push for an eventual merger of the two countries.

Belarus had long relied on discounted oil from Russia, but most shipments from there halted in January after disagreement over prices. Belarus subsequently received oil shipments from Norway, Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia.

Russia and Belarus later reached a compromise agreement and Russian state oil company Rosneft said Friday it expected to ship about 9 million tons to Belarus this year  about half the amount Belarus had bought in previous years.
The body of a COVID-19 victim



was lying unattended at a bus station in Ahmedabad's Danilimda locality and the deceased's kin have blamed the hospital staff and police for the shocking incident.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani directed former principal secretary (health) JP Gupta to lead a probe and submit a report within 24 hours, a government release said.

Chhagan Makwana (67) was admitted in the COVID-19 facility in the district hospital and he tested positive for the infection on May 13, after which his family was placed under quarantine.

"His body was found lying unattended at the BRTS bus station early Friday morning by security staff who alerted police. The police took his body to another hospital for post mortem. They alerted us only after a piece of paper was found in the deceased's pocket containing his son's number. This too only after the post mortem was conducted," said Makwana's brother Govind.

"We were quarantined but hospital authorities did not bother to inform us about our brother and dumped his body at a bus station. Police also did not care for inquest before taking away his body for post mortem," he added.

Local BJP leader Girish Parmar said he requested the Chief Minister to order an investigation into the matter.

"Hospital authorities failed to inform his family members about his condition, while they were kept under home quarantine. Police also did not conduct inquest. I wrote a mail to the Chief Minister requesting him to constitute a SIT investigation into the matter," Parmar said.

Meanwhile, officer on special duty for COVID at Civil Hospital, MM Prabhakar, said, "We found his case fit for home isolation, and asked him to go back home after explaining him everything. We can't say how he ended up there because he left the hospital for his home on a city bus."



Assistant Commissioner of Police (K Division) ML Patel said an accidental death case has been registered at Danilimda police station and a probe was on to piece together the chain of events that ended with the deceased's body lying unattended as a bus stop.

He said hospital authorities are being questioned in this connection.

The incident comes on the heels of a similar shocker where kin of a cancer patient said they were not informed about the his death for eight days after admission in the COVID-19 facility at civil hospital.

His body was traced to the morgue of the hospital after Congress leaders intervened..

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Five more Covid-19 patients recovered in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, bringing down the tally of active cases to 31

Two patients are from Chamba; two from Mandi and one from Kangra, special secretary (health) Nipun Jindal said.

The two patients from Chamba were tested positive on May 6. Later, four contacts of one of the patients including his two-year-old daughter also tested positive for the virus.

The third patient from Jogindernagar in Mandi district had returned from Delhi on April 28 and tested positive for Covid-19 on May 4.

While the fourth patient, a 48-year-old woman from Sarkaghat of Mandi district, was admitted at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla. She was the primary contact of her 21-year-old son who died of the disease on May 5 at IGMC.

She accompanied her son, who was also suffering from a kidney ailment, to Shimla and was tested positive on May 7two days her sons death.

The fifth patient is a 43-year-old man from Jamanabad village near Kangra town. He had a travel history to Dubai and returned to his village on April 27 from Delhi. He was tested positive on May 6.

Jindal said that cured patients will be kept in 14-day institutional quarantine. They will be sent home once they test negative at the completion of the observation period.

With the recovery of five patients, the active cases in the state have come down to 31 from 36.

Himachal witnessed a spurt in coronavirus cases since May 4, with 38 people testing positive. Two people have died due to the virus during the corresponding period.

To date, the state has recorded a total of 78 cases, including three fatalities. So far, 40 people have recovered in state.

Kangra is the worst-hit district with 20 cases followed by Una with 18 cases and Chamba with 12 cases.

Nine cases have been reported in Solan, eight in Hamirpur, four each in Sirmaur and Bilaspur, and three in Mandi. To date, 17,431 people have been tested for Covid-19 in the state and over 21,000 are under active surveillance.

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The British government has turned down India's request for the extradition of Tiger Hanif, an alleged aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim wanted in India in connection with two bomb blasts in Surat in 1993, the UK Home Office has confirmed.

Hanif, whose full name is Mohammed Hanif Umerji Patel, was traced to a grocery store in Bolton, Greater Manchester, and arrested by Scotland Yard on an extradition warrant in February 2010.

The 57-year-old since lost a number of legal bids to stay in Britain, claiming that he will be tortured in India.

However, his final bid to then Home Secretary Sajid Javid succeeded as the Pakistani-origin minister refused the request last year.

We can confirm that the extradition request for Hanif Patel was refused by the then Home Secretary and Mr Patel was discharged by the court in August 2019, a UK Home Office source said on Sunday.

Hanif's extradition to India was first ordered by then Home Secretary Theresa May in June 2012. During an appeal at the High Court in London in April 2013, Justice Kenneth Parker noted the information provided in India's request described how, following the Babri Masjid demolition in December 1992, internecine hostilities broke out between the Muslim and Hindu communities in Gujarat.

The requesting state's case is that the appellant was part of a Muslim group which obtained explosives, guns and other weapons and then carried out revenge terrorist attacks on the Hindu community, including two explosions which resulted in loss of life, injury and damage, the judge noted.

The first explosion was in January 1993 in a market on the Varacha Road in Surat, which killed an eight-year-old girl and the second explosion was in April 1993 at Surat railway station.

Arguments made on behalf of Hanif claimed there was a real risk of torture if Hanif was extradited to India.

There is nothing to suggest that the appellant [Hanif[ is now no longer able to recall the events in question, or that the court in India would be unwilling or unable to consider the extent, if any, of any prejudice to the fairness of the criminal trial by reason of the passage of time, the judge had ruled, clearing Hanif's extradition.

Under the India-UK Extradition Treaty, India is category two country, which means the Home Secretary has final sign-off on any extradition request, which in this case was turned down.

Similarly, the Indian government's request for the extradition of liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya in the fraud and money laundering case involving loans to his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines is with UK Home Secretary Priti Patel for a formal certification, after he lost a last-ditch attempt seeking leave to appeal in the UK Supreme Court last Thursday.

The 64-year-old businessman, who remains on bail, can also make representations to the minister, though his legal avenues now remain limited and may only involve a temporary reprieve due to the coronavirus crisis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A scene from immersive play "I Was Not in Gwangju" staged at the Asia Culture Center / Courtesy of Asia Culture Center



By Kwon Mee-yoo



Forty years ago today, residents of Gwangju gathered and protested against martial law imposed by Chun Doo-hwan's military junta. The 10-day Gwangju Uprising played a significant role in helping move forward the democratization in Korea.



The Asia Culture Center (ACC) in Gwangju offers a variety of events to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the pivotal moment in modern history as Korea made its way to true democracy.



The immersive play "I Was Not in Gwangju," which runs from May 12 to 18, literally invites audiences to the historic 10 days from the front gate of the Chonnam National University and Gwangju Station to the South Jeolla Provincial Office building, which is now part of the ACC.



Award-winning director Koh Sun-woong of Playfactory Mabangzen helmed the production.



As the title hints, the play is for those who weren't part of the Gwangju Pro-democracy Movement. Koh aims to give the audience an experience of the atmosphere in a grass roots' demonstration, showing how the people of Gwangju (and other cities) fought for democracy.



There is no boundary between the stage and the seats and the immersive setting brings the audience into the heated moments of the 10-day uprising.



Upon entering, audiences are ushered to take seats in four zones, each represents different districts of Gwangju and become part of the civil uprising, chanting slogans and running around to dodge the clubs of the soldiers imposing martial law.



The play begins with a young girl waiting for her older brother who did not come home in 1980 and portrays the uprising in chronological order, showing how ordinary residents of Gwangju fought for democracy.





A scene from immersive play "I Was Not in Gwangju" staged at the Asia Culture Center / Courtesy of Asia Culture Center



With an earsplitting boom, military forces take over Gwangju and control the residents without explanation. As innocent people, including a hearing-impaired shoeshine boy, fall victim to the martial law forces, people join in efforts to strike a blow against military oppression.



The demonstrators hand out bulletins reading "This is not indiscreet destruction. This is not indiscreet violence" and the audience chants the slogan together, joining the residents' militia.



Director Koh, who has a knack of adding a humorous twist even in serious moments, used popular songs "A Woman in the Rain" and "Southbound Train" this time as a popular actress sings the songs in Gwangju dialect with her colleagues to lift the people's spirits.



Next, the audience become residents of each district, supporting the militia with food, drink and medicine.









The famous rally in which thousands of people gathered in front of the fountain of the provincial office is also reenacted during the play and each participant shares their reason for joining the uprising from a high school student to a shop owner. The director opened up an opportunity for the audience to come up and share their own story of the Gwangju Uprising as well.



The protest reaches its peak as citizens gather at the provincial office building for the last stand, after the military forces blocked all routes and communications leading into and out of Gwangju, isolating the citizen militias.



The girl in the beginning returns near the end of the play, visiting her brother's grave and lamenting that she barely remembers his face with the course of time.



Koh cleverly uses the variable black box theater, opening up the big door and taking performers and audience members to an open-air space in the finale, as if consoling the victims of the uprising with Korean traditional music.



The ACC plans to develop "I Was Not in Gwangju" further, aiming for staging it overseas.



Koh has shown interest in the Gwangju Uprising for years, staging plays such as "On an Azure Day."



"Sometimes, a play is more truthful than a fact. We believe that we can show the light of truth through fiction. I hope this play would become a place of discourse to understanding the truth and significance of the Gwangju Uprising," director Koh said.



Koh is currently working on another theatrical adaptation of the Gwangju Uprising, a musical titled "Gwangju," slated for September opening in Gwangju and Seoul. The musical will revolve around "pyeonuidae," or the soldiers disguised as citizens who aggravated violent protest.





Visitors take a look around "Plaza: Beyond the Movement" exhibition at the Asia Culture Center. Courtesy of Asia Culture Center
Investigators Find a Personal Item in Search for Missing Colorado Woman

The search for a missing Colorado woman who disappeared on Mothers Day has turned up a personal item, according to authorities over the weekend.

Suzanne Morphew, 49, of Maysville, went to ride her bike on May 10 and has not been seen since, prompting a multi-agency search.

Local, state, and federal investigators searched steep and rugged terrain in an effort to attempt to locate additional items of Ms. Morphew after investigators believed to have found a personal item of the missing woman on Thursday, Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze said in a statement on May 15.

Spezze did not say what the personal item was or where it was found.

It came after 90 investigators searched a several-mile area near County Road 225 and Highway 50 in Chaffee County.

Investigators spoke with a neighbor who told them that Morphew went on a bike ride and never came back. Her family members said her husband was away at the time, CBS Denver reported.

Its, its the hardest thing, her nephew, Trevor Noel, told the CBS affiliate. Shes a beloved member of her family and the sweetest person that youve ever met.

Noel added that Morphews bike was found. Spezze told the station that animals probably [were] not responsible for her disappearance.

Spezze said Morphews husband has been cooperative with the investigation.

Were certainly hopeful that she is [alive]. Obviously as time goes by that gives us concern, but were searching as though shes alive and we do believe she could still be alive, Spezze said.

There is a $200,000 reward for information on her whereabouts, including $100,000 from Morphews husband, the report said.

The Chaffee County Sheriffs Office urges any information about her whereabouts to call (719) 312-7530.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Mostly clear skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Snow may mix in late. Low 34F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Snow may mix in late. Low 34F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
In yet another incident of negligence in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, a 67-year old coronavirus infected person was found dead at a bus stand in Ahmedabad, few hours after he was discharged from civil hospital. His body lying unattended at the bus stand in the wee hours of Friday, located few metres from his house, was first spotted by the security guard of the bus stand who informed the police which sent the body to a government-run hospital for post-mortem.

Within few hours of the post-mortem, the body, wrapped in a plastic sheet, was handed over to his family for final rites. As the reports of this incident surfaced, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani ordered an inquiry into the incident. Rupani has assigned former principal secretary, health, J P Gupta to probe and submit the report in 24 hours.

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According to police, Ganpat Makwana, a resident of Danilimbda, was found dead at a bus stand close to his house at around 3 am on Friday. The CCTV footage, police said, showed him entering the stand at around 12 am. According to police, the security guard informed the authorities and they took him to VS Hospital.

At the hospital, a note was found in his pocket that had a phone number. The hospital officials dialed the number and asked the receiver to come to the hospital. Police said that Makwana's relatives came to the hospital and identified him. They told hospital officials that Makwana was had been admitted to Asarwa civil hospital on May 13 after he had developed some symptoms.

When contacted, MM Prabhakar, officer on special duty for COVID-19 at civil hospital, told DH, "He was tested positive and had mild symptoms. That's why we sent him for home quarantine as per new guidelines and protocols. He was taken in a city bus along with three or four other patients. He asked to be dropped near his house and that he would walk from there. We don't know what happened afterwards."

Ganpat's 45-year-old son Kirit said, "I was asked to come to VS hospital where I found my father dead. I had no idea how he reached there. I was not informed by civil hospital, Asarwa, where he had been admitted. I was told by the hospital staff to bring plastic sheets to wrap him for cremation." He added that he bought plastic sheets worth Rs 1,500 and the hospital authorities handed over the body wrapped in the sheet for cremation.

This is not the first case of alleged negligence in handling the pandemic that has created controversy at the hospital. Earlier on May 14, the family of another COVID-19 patient got a rude shock when they were informed that their relative passed away eight days ago on May 6.

"We are in shock. A police team came with certificates informing us that my maternal uncle Mahesh Solanki, 59, had passed away and that too eight days ago while we kept thinking all these days that he was alive and would be discharged. We haven't got any explanation from the hospital behind this negligence. Whenever we went to the hospital to check on his health, the hospital staff always said that he was doing fine," said Mukesh Rathod.

In another incident, the body of a cancer patient went missing from the same hospital where a patient had gone for COVID-19 testing, The body was finally found on May 13 in the morgue.
Gujarat police arrested 25 labourers in Rajkot and also booked around 200 of them for allegedly damaging vehicles and hurling stones on police and a local journalist on Sunday.

Deputy inspector general (DIG), Rajkot range, Sandeep Singh said the incident took place around 7.30 am in Shapar industrial area which falls on the highway between Rajkot city and Gondal.

Some cops and a local journalist got injured in the incident. However, the injuries were minor in nature, police said.

Three Shramik trains scheduled for today were supposed to leave for Bihar and Uttar Pradesh but they were postponed yesterday night and a message was delivered to the migrants. But many of them feared the trains may leave without them and gathered at the Shapar area. As the crowd swelled, some anti-social elements took advantage of the situation and instigated the crowd after which a journalist, who was recording the incident, was attacked with stones and his camera was snatched, said DIG Singh.

He said the policemen were pelted with stones when they tried to control the situation. The crowd also damaged a bus parked nearby.

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In order to control the situation, police had to use mild force. Within 20 minutes the situation was brought under control. The migrants were assured that very soon the trains will be arranged, said Rajkot range DIG.

The accused were booked under section 307 (attempt to murder), 332 (voluntarily hurting public servant), 143 (unlawful assembly) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The investigation of this case has been handed over to a deputy superintendent of police rank officer.

Singh said that hours before the departure of a Shramik train, the migrants are called at one place for screening and recording of details before they are taken to the railway station in busses following social distancing.
An angry Harbhajan Singh called Shahid Afridi unworthy of his friendship, while Yuvraj Singh regretted his call for assistance to the Pakistani player's charity, both former India players expressing disappointment at his anti-India comments.

Last month, Harbhajan and Yuvraj had posted videos in support of 'Shahid Afridi Foundation' which was raising funds for the underprivileged affected by COVID-19 pandemic.

"It was Afridi who requested me and Yuvi to do a video in support of his foundation as spread of pandemic doesn't see religion or borders. But then he would time and again make anti-India comments," Harbhajan told PTI on Sunday.

"I feel terrible that I even called him a friend. He is not a worthy human being who can be called a friend. I am done with calling Afridi a friend," he added.

Yuvraj echoed the sentiment in a tweet.

"Really disappointed by @SAfridiOfficial's comments on our Hon'b PM



@narendramodi ji. As a responsible Indian who has played for the country, I will never accept such words. I made an appeal on your behest for the sake of humanity. But never again," he said.

Afridi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of committing religious atrocities in India in a video that has gone viral on social media.

Does he feel that supporting Afridi's NGO was an error of judgement considering the sensititive nature of Indo-Pak relationship, Harbhajan replied: "The intention was to support a good cause. But then I hear him make unsavoury statements about my country. Here I try to support you despite being viciously trolled and then you show our class."



Asked if the trolling affected him, Harbbhajan said "No, I won't say it affected me because these are people who don't matter in my life. I know the kind of person I am. I don't need to prove my love for my country.""Yes, I understand one point. Had this been a charity for Wasim Akram and had I posted a video supporting him, I wouldn't have been criticised or trolled. Because, Akram never insulted my country.

"So no one would have bothered. But here is a person, who asked for support for a cause and then lectures us on our country speaks more about him than me."



Does he want Afridi to know his opinion on the recent comments, Harbhajan said: "Jis gali jaana hi nahin uske bare mein sochna hi kyun (if I am not going to tread that path, why should I even bother thinking about it).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Residents of Madrids upscale Salamanca neighborhood have been making headlines since Sunday with a series of street protests against the government over its handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Demonstrators have been using the words dictatorial and oppression to describe their situation under the ongoing lockdown. Madrid, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, is still in the early stages of a national deescalation plan that is expected to end in late June, if there are no new spikes in transmission.

The protests reflect a view, held by some in Spain, that the state of alarm introduced in mid-March to combat the coronavirus pandemic is really an excuse for the central government to grab extra powers. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, of the Socialist Party (PSOE), heads a minority government and he has been facing growing difficulty to secure enough congressional support for back-to-back extensions to the state of alarm.

We are in a dictatorial system, and I know what Im talking about Magdalena, lawyer and protester

The sentiment mirrors similar feelings elsewhere in Europe, where protesters from across the political spectrum are beginning to demonstrate against prolonged confinement measures (see box below). A recent report by Spains Civil Guard underscores the risk of social unrest in Spain if confinement measures are prolonged.

On Wednesday, around 100 locals banged on pots and pans on Nunez de Balboa street, without respecting social distancing rules. There were couples, families and people with dogs. Some marched with face masks that had tiny Spanish flags embroidered on them; others waved enormous flags instead. The demonstrators called for the government to resign.

I pay my taxes and we have a government that is doing nothing, said Maria Jesus, 56, who was out with her husband Rafael, 60, and their son Pelayo, 16. That is why I am walking and protesting. You see these gloves? I paid for them myself. And this face mask? Ive paid for it, too.

Weve even had to pay for our own [coronavirus] test, added her husband. It cost me 80

Wealthiest 1%

The Salamanca district is named after a 19th-century marquis who was instrumental in the areas development. It is home to more than 150,000 people, including the wealthiest 1% in all of Spain and the wealthiest 3% in the Madrid region. Household income here is an average 50,376, compared with 33,000 in the region and 28,417 in Spain.

Asun (I wont tell you my surname, and you never ask a woman about her age) is a civil servant who has been protesting every day since Monday. Youd think we were criminals with so many police around. There is no freedom. You should publish that [Pablo] Echenique and several other podemitas live around here,eh? she said, alluding to leading members of the leftist Unidas Podemos group, which is the junior partner in Spains coalition government.

We are in a dictatorial system, and I know what Im talking about, said Magdalena, a local resident who works as a lawyer. They are applying a decree that bans our freedom.

The demonstrations began on Sunday night. Several residents say that a collective protest sprung up after several dozen youths gathered under the balcony of an apartment that was blaring out loud music. Minutes later, a police van showed up and handed out fines to 12 members of the public for violating the lockdown rules. Several residents criticized the police presence, crying out Freedom!

By Thursday, however, the street protests had all but disappeared, with just a few scattered people marching and chatting with reporters. One of them was Laura Dominguez, 39, whose dog Barri wore a Spanish flag as a cape. I am here because I am sick and tired, said Dominguez, wearing a face mask and holding a cigarette. Theyre creating a country of idlers. And now they want to take everything away from me.

Barri the dog wearing a Spanish flag. Manuel Viejo Gonzalez

On Nunez de Balboa street, nearly 50% of residents voted for the conservative Popular Party (PP) at the last general election, held in November 2019, followed by the far-right Vox with 23%, the center-right Ciudadanos with 6.7%, and the Socialist Party (PSOE) with 5.4%. The leftist Mas Pais and Unidas Podemos attracted less than 1% of the vote.

The regional premier of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuso of the PP, has been encouraging these street demonstrations. Just wait until people really go out on the street  the events of Nunez de Balboa are going to seem like a joke then, she recently said. Meanwhile, Madrid Mayor Jose Luis Martinez Almeida, also of the PP, said this week that as long as [safety] conditions are maintained, everyone is free to voice their opinion.

Vox leader Santiago Abascal has been pushing for anti-government demonstrations and challenging authorities to ban them, arguing that this would prove that fundamental freedoms are being violated. At a recent session of Congress to extend the state of alarm, Abascal said that his party would apply for permission to hold demonstrations against the government on the streets of Spains main cities, but that in order to respect social-distancing measures, the protests would be held inside vehicles rather than on foot.

United against a common enemy Ana Carbajosa, Berlin They are united against a common enemy. They are a motley, angry multitude of people who share the feeling of being the victims of the global elites. These elites, in their view, are using the new virus as an excuse to get rich and curtail the freedoms of the people. Thousands of individuals have been demonstrating in German cities against the corona-dictatorship. They form an ideological amalgam that cuts across left-right divisions. They represent a small minority, but they are making enough noise that it is already cause for concern within the walls of the Bundestag. It could pave the way for a new kind of populist movement that shuns traditional parties. Meanwhile, the far right sees this popular unrest as a unique political opportunity that it plans to make the most of.

English version by Susana Urra.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-18 02:43:10|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian official on Sunday said that Israeli plan of annexing parts of the West Bank makes achieving peace impossible.

"Annexation means one thing: peace will not be possible between Israelis and Palestinians and cannot be done between Israel and the Arab countries," Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization Saeb Erekat said in a press statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented his new power-sharing government to the parliament on Sunday, breaking one and a half year of political stalemate.

Reiterating his campaign promise to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, he said the Israeli law should be imposed on the West Bank, an area seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and where the Palestinians wish to build their future state. Enditem
(Newser)  The Chinese ambassador to Israel was found dead in his home north of Tel Aviv on Sunday, Israels Foreign Ministry said. No cause of death was given and Israeli police said it was investigating, though Israeli media were reporting that Du Wei appeared to have died of natural causes in his sleep, per the BBC. Du, 58, was appointed envoy in February in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and the BBC notes that he had to self-isolate for two weeks upon arrival.

story continues below

The ambassador's death comes just two days after he condemned comments by visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who denounced Chinese investments in Israel and accused China of hiding information about the coronavirus outbreak. Du categorized Pompeo's attacks as "absurd comments" in a response in the Jerusalem Post. Du previously served as Chinas envoy to Ukraine. He is survived by a wife and son, both of whom were not in Israel. Israel enjoys good relations with China, reports the AP.

(Read more China ambassador stories.)
Playgrounds in Beaver Dam are back open as the city figures out when and how to reopen its facilities after the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the governors stay-at-home order.

Parks supervisor John Neumann said the department has been removing the caution tape placed on the playgrounds since the order was lifted. Park restrooms are also being opened and park shelters are expected to follow next week.

Restrooms will be cleaned and sanitized once per day and we hope folks will follow distancing and hand washing guidelines set forth by the CDC, Neumann said.

Mayor Becky Glewen said the city is in the internal process of putting together plans for reopening. Meanwhile, the city urges any businesses that reopen to follow health guidelines over social distancing and sanitizing.

The Beaver Dam Community Library has its own board that sets policy and is working on a plan to reopen the library that prioritizes the safety of the community and library staff, the library said in a statement.
By late March, nearly every country in Europe had closed schools and businesses, restricted travel and ordered citizens to stay home. But one country stood out for its decision to stay open: Sweden.

The countrys moderated response to the coronavirus outbreak has drawn praise from some U.S. politicians, who see Sweden as a possible model for the United States as it begins to reopen.

We need to observe with an open mind what went on in Sweden, where the kids kept going to school, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a Republican, said at a hearing Tuesday.

But while Sweden has avoided the devastating tolls of outbreaks in Italy, Spain and Britain, it also has seen an extraordinary increase in deaths, mortality data show.

In Stockholm, where the virus spread through migrant communities, more than twice the usual number of people died last month. That increase far surpasses the rise in deaths in U.S. cities like Boston and Chicago, and approaches the increase seen in Paris.

Across Sweden, almost 30% more people died during the epidemic than is normal during this time of year, an increase similar to that of the United States and far higher than the small increases seen in its neighboring countries. While Sweden is the largest country in Scandinavia, all have strong public health care systems and low health inequality across the population.

Its not a very flattering comparison for Sweden, which has such a great public health system, said Andrew Noymer, a demographer at the University of California, Irvine. Theres no reason Sweden should be doing worse than Norway, Denmark and Finland.

No two countries are exactly alike, making comparisons inexact. Luck, travel patterns and personal actions play a role, not just government policy.

Swedish officials chose not to implement a nationwide lockdown, trusting that people would do their part to stay safe. Schools, restaurants, gyms and bars remained open, with social distancing rules enforced, while gatherings were restricted to 50 people.

Two months later, it has not been the worst-case scenario that many envisioned. COVID-19 deaths have disproportionately hit the elderly and those in nursing homes, as is the case in most countries, but hospitals have not been overwhelmed. As with the rest of the world, it will be months, or even years, before the full picture of mortality emerges.

It is clear that mortality in Stockholm has been a lot higher than you would expect from a normal year, said Martin Kolk, a demographer at Stockholm University. But we will have to wait and see what happens. Its a very big difference if we continue to see excess mortality for six more months, or if it will be back to normal levels in a few weeks.

The New York Times measured the impact of the pandemic in Sweden by comparing the total number of people who have died in recent months against the average over the past several years. The totals include deaths from COVID-19, as well as those from other causes, including people who could not be treated or decided not to seek treatment.

While no measure is perfect, the increase in deaths offers the most complete picture of the pandemics toll, demographers say.

Swedish public health officials have defended their strategy, while acknowledging that the country has failed to protect the elderly. The goal is to limit the spread of the infection without having to lock everything down, they said.

Once you get into a lockdown, its difficult to get out of it, said Swedens state epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell. How do you reopen? When?

Instead of imposing strict lockdowns, public health officials said that Swedes could be relied on to go out less and follow sanitation guidelines. That proved to be true: As a whole, Swedes visited restaurants, retail shops and other recreation spots almost as little as residents of neighboring countries, according to Google mobility figures.

But there is reason to believe that Swedens approach may not work as well elsewhere.

Swedens low density overall and high share of single-person households  factors it shares with its Scandinavian neighbors  set it apart from other Western European countries. In Italy, the virus tore through multigenerational households, where it easily spread from young people to their older relatives.

And although Sweden is not a particularly young country in comparison with its Western European peers, it has a high life expectancy and low levels of chronic diseases, like diabetes and obesity, that make the virus more lethal.

Even without a full lockdown, Swedens economy has not been unscathed. Preliminary evidence shows Sweden has suffered similar economic effects as its neighbors: The Swedish Central Bank projects the countrys GDP will contract by 7 to 10% this year, an estimate on par with the rest of Europe. (The European Commission projects the EU economy will contract by 7.5%.)

That could change. But the countrys high death toll offers a warning, demographers say.

Sweden will be judged at the finish line, Noymer said. But its a very high-stakes risk, and the consequences are peoples lives.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The rate at which New Yorkers are dying from coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to slow, along with the number of patients hospitalized on Staten Island.

Citywide, 15,888 residents were confirmed to have died from the virus as of Saturday evening, while an additional 4,832 deaths are listed as probable cases  bringing the total to 20,720.

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.

The total number of deaths rose by 144 from Friday to Saturday, after an increase of 388 from Thursday to Friday, city Department of Health data shows.

A Health Department source said the figures reflect totals as of when they are reported to the agency and not when the deaths occur.

CASES

As of Saturday, 190,408 New York City residents had tested positive for COVID-19, which represents an increase of 1,377 from a day prior.

One week ago, 460 new cases were reported from a day prior, then the daily increases tripled throughout the week as more testing has been made available across the city.

On Staten Island, 12,937 residents had tested positive as of Saturday evening, which represents an increase of 70 from Friday to Saturday.

DEATHS ON STATEN ISLAND

There were 930 deaths reported on Staten Island, as of Saturday evening, including 764 patients who tested positive for the virus and 166 who were probable" cases.

That represents an increase of eight and one, respectively, from a day prior.

The city Health Department said of the patients citywide who died after testing positive for the virus, 12,571 had known underlying conditions, 96 had no underlying conditions and the conditions of 3,221 others were unknown.

Underlying conditions could include diabetes, lung disease, cancer, immunodeficiency, heart disease, hypertension, asthma, kidney disease and gastro-intestinal/liver disease, officials have said.

HOSPITALIZATIONS

The number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations throughout Staten Islands two hospital systems decreased by seven from Saturday to Sunday, after dropping by 12 from Friday to Saturday.

A spokesman for Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) in West Brighton reported 44 patients being treated Sunday morning, after reporting the same figure Saturday.

Staff at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, were treating 111 patients Sunday, while the patient count had dropped to five at the Princes Bay location, according to an SIUH spokeswoman.

RUMC so far has treated and released 1,024 patients who had tested positive for the virus.

The hospitals latest figure includes both inpatients and outpatients, said RUMC Spokesman Alex Lutz.

Before Friday, RUMC had only been releasing the number of inpatients treated and discharged.

SIUH so far has treated and released 1,812 patients who tested positive for the virus, which includes more than a dozen discharges from Saturday to Sunday.
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, who are the most admired people in America?

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Ahli Bank has extended financial support, for the seventh year in a row, to the Fak Kurba initiative implemented by the Oman Lawyers Association (OLA) in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development and the Council of Administrative Affairs for the Judiciary.

Ahli Banks support to the initiative comes in line with its commitment to lend a helping hand to similar initiatives in the Sultanate. The bank contributed RO10,000 ($25,982) to the initiative to complete the release formalities of those detained in jail for civil issues in various governorates of Oman.

Commenting on the support, Abdullah Al Jabri, Deputy CEO for Support Services, Ahli Bank, said: We, at Ahli Bank, are pleased to continue our social cohesion by supporting Fak Kurba initiative for the seventh year in a row.

This humanitarian initiative has over the years facilitated a number of people to rebuild their lives and has also brought joy to their families during the Holy Month of Ramadan. We believe in creating real change in the society. -- Tradearabia News Service
No matter if the next Hampden and Hampshire 2nd District senator is a moderate Democrat or a fiscally-conservative Republican, both candidates have vowed to work with members of both parties to fight for their constituents.

The Tuesday, May 19, special election pits three-term state Rep. John Velis, D-Westfield, against John Cain, of Southwick, a political newcomer and Republican, who runs a family-owned business.

The special election occurring in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic has been surreal and difficult for candidates who have spent the past two months trying to reach out to voters on video, by mail and by phone calls instead of the most traditional way of face-to-face conversations by knocking on peoples doors and chatting in diners and other gathering spots.

The election was called after state Sen. Donald Humason left the seat mid-term to become the mayor of Westfield. It was originally scheduled for March 31 but postponed for two months. Many voters will cast mail-in ballots and those who do go the polls will be asked to wear face masks and will be greeted by bottles of hand sanitizer and voting booths spaced far apart.

The seat represents voters from a diverse district of 11 cities and towns  Westfield, Holyoke, Agawam, Easthampton, Southampton, Southwick, Tolland, Granville, Russell, Montgomery and four precincts in Chicopee. The seat has been held by a Republican for the past 25 years.

But Velis, a moderate Democrat whose political role models include his uncle, retired judge Peter Velis who held the seat as a Republican in the 1970s, said he can work with anyone and has crossed party lines in the past, most recently to oppose the gasoline tax.

I dont do this partisan nonsense. Its not in my DNA, I categorically reject it, Velis said. When I have a meeting with colleagues I just say Im sitting down with a bunch of fellow human beings and Im saying lets solve this problem.

From the time he was elected to the House of Representatives, Velis said he never took a vote without asking the question of what is the best thing for Western Massachusetts.

Currently, there are just four Republicans in the state senate, but Cain said he has talked to the partys leadership and members are anxious to have him join the senate and said they respect his life experience, which includes working on a ship all over the world.

I think we need to bring our ideas and collaborate on issues that do not sacrifice our moral or ethical drive or convictions, Cain said.

Its not to say we will be up there ramming through bills like the Democrats can but we will be up there to work collaborative to slow down the process on bills we have a real problem with and also work to advance some our agenda in a way that it benefits all people of Massachusetts, Cain said.

Before he suspended door-to-door campaigning, Cain said he had a lot of good feedback from residents, even those who he identified as hard Democrats by the Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren signs on their front lawns, although he is a Trump supporter.

Im someone who supports the president of the United States and he is part of the party that I identify with and I also agree with a lot of the values he expresses to people," Cain said. "He wants people to work hard. He wants Americans to be treated right and to be taken care of because we have been getting the short end of the stick on a lot of things internationally, which a lot of politicians were afraid to bring light to.

Although he hears complaints about Trumps failure to act presidential, Cain said a lot of blue-collar workers that he sees daily in his business argue that he talks like they do.

I speak to them as a person, a working man who has been around the community and who knows a lot of things that are going on and not as a politician, he said of his discussions while going door-to-door.

Cain grew up in Southwick, but attended Cathedral High School and his family is from Holyoke and Westfield so he said he has a good understanding of the struggles residents of rural towns and larger cities are facing. After high school, he graduated from the United States Marine Merchant Academy at Kings Point with a bachelors of science degree in marine engineering system. He then spent years working on multiple merchant vessels and served eight years in the U.S. Navy Reserves, honorably discharged when he was a lieutenant.

In between spending months on ships, Cain said he would return to his hometown to work with his father at the family business, Cain Mechanicals, LLC, which repairs all types of equipment. Tired of being away from his young daughter often, Cain eventually decided to return to his hometown and take over the Agawam business, which now has five employees.

As a business owner, Cain said he is concerned about regulations and taxes that hamper small business owners who cant reinvest in their businesses.

He used Holyoke as an example, saying people he has talked to are frustrated to see businesses leaving the city.

I know what gets people excited to bring a business in the area, he said, promising to create and support legislation that would create opportunities for businesses that would make them more accessible to Holyoke and other communities.

He said he would also try to maximize technical education to create a skilled workforce that he and many business owners need and cant find. Cain said he will work to pus through a bill now in the legislature that would allow technical high schools to offer evening and night classes for adults so a place such as Westfield Technical High School could be maximized and at the same time offer opportunities to residents.

Cain has been endorsed by Gov. Charlie Baker, who said, "John has the dedication to his community, professional experience, integrity and leadership we need on Beacon Hill.

Velis is an attorney and a major in the U.S. Army Reserve. He was first elected to the House in 2014 and serves as vice chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. He has been most vocal in the House on issues involving veterans and lately about the coronavirus crisis at the Holyoke Soldiers Home, which he calls Gods gift to earth.

The Holyoke Soldiers Home is a gem, Velis said. That place is needed and we will fight tooth and nail for it.

He said he is proud his Stolen Valor Act bill, which makes it a crime to fake military service for financial gain, passed in 2015 and said one of his hardest bills was one he filed on behalf of a Westfield firefighter that added Parkinsons Disease to the list of presumptive workplace illnesses that can affect firefighters and make them eligible for benefits.

Im on so many bills. The governors dangerousness bill is something you hear a lot about around here that I happen to be a big proponent of, he said.

If passed the bill gives prosecutors the ability to appeal bail set by judges for repeat violent offenders, he said.

Why am I running? For me its very simple, its public service, he said his grandfather taught him the lesson of serving others when he was very young.

Velis said some say he is too focused on Westfield, but he argues that is the district he now covers. Still, he knows plenty about the rest of the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District and knocked on thousands of doors before the statewide shutdowns, talking to people across the district from Granville and Southwick to Easthampton and Agawam.

With so many senior Western Massachusetts legislators leaving this year, he said his experience will be important to ensuring the needs of constituents throughout the region are met.

I found on some fundamental level most people want the same things: They want roads, they want education for their kids and they want public safety on some level, he said. Most human beings are decent and must human beings want the same things, we all differ in our approach in how to get there.

And that is why he said he works hard to collaborate with Republicans and Democrats alike. Velis and Cain do strongly disagree about the proposal to bring in east-west rail to tie Western Massachusetts with the Boston area.

Im a big proponent, Velis said, calling a Department of Transportation study that estimated the cost of the project between $2 and $25 billion flawed and insulting. One of its deficits is it did not examine how rail it would affect the economy on both sides of the state.

I want to talk more about folks from Eastern Mass coming to live here, building up our jobs here, he said pointing to the thriving advanced manufacturing industry in Western Massachusetts.

But Cain said he disagrees with the concept saying he believes the cost could skyrocket 250 to 300%. He questioned if it would have a large enough ridership to see a return on the capital expense.

He talked about the technology that is developing self-driving cars, saying it would be more cost efficient to create a few highway lanes for those cars than create rail. As an engineer, Cain also questioned the environmental costs of using diesel locomotives.

We are talking about green energy and green cars and electric batteries, he said. But when it comes to the state we are going to run diesel locomotives back and forth because theres no other options.

The two candidates do agree on their opposition to the proposal to raise the gas tax by about 15 cents a gallon to address the states transportation woes. Both said it unfairly charges Western Massachustts residents who have little access to public transportation so they drive more.

I have a serious problem with the gas tax, Velis said. I am sick of tired of Western Mass folks wallets, purses, savings going to Eastern Mass Projects. The MBTA, as far as Im concerned, is Big Dig 2.0 and Im absolutely done with it.

He said he believes the only to discuss a tax increase of any kind is to first talk about policy and how the money will be used before raising revenue. That way people know exactly how their money is being spent.

Cain said he is strongly opposed to any tax increase. He argued officials want to cut ridership costs on the MBTA but then charge those in Western Massachusetts more when they have no other options but to drive.

He said there are other ways to make infrastructure improvements, adding the cost of government projects is always more than private-sector ones, partly due to the prevailing wage law.

Ive looked at our state budget and I know we have a massing spending problem, he said. I dont think revenue is the issue and I dont think taxing people here in Western Mass  is the right way to do it.
Who could have predicted, when the economy was temporarily put into suspended animation while the Government dealt with the Covid-19 outbreak, that nobody would want to go back to work when the crisis began to ease?

That's an exaggeration obviously. Not everyone is against resetting their alarm clocks for early starts again, but the Taoiseach did admit on radio last week that he was hearing evidence that "there are in fact people making more on the Covid payments than they were working part-time and some employers are actually telling us that it's hard to get people to go back to work because of that".

As we move into phase one of easing the lockdown from tomorrow, that reluctance may get more intense, which could be why the Government is taking it slowly for now, giving the green light to a limited number of businesses to reopen, as well as sending up to 100,000 construction workers back on to building sites to start the path to recovery.

It may even be that the Government was a victim of its own success in hammering home its message. Initial projections for the spread of infection and death were so dire that few people expected life to revert to normal in the short or medium term. Even now, a new survey says only 28pc of people in Ireland expect life to be normal again by the end of the year. It shows, according to the generous interpretation of Dr Cameron Belton of the ESRI's Behavioural Research Unit, that people are "willing to make sacrifices now for a better outcome in the long-run". But what if the suspension of ordinary life has ceased to be a sacrifice at all, and become a source of comfort and consolation instead?

Sky News carried a report last week about a family of 14 in lockdown in England. The father admitted life right now was actually "easier than normal". Three hours a day were no longer devoted to ferrying the children to different schools. They weren't spending as much money.

Many people seem to be having similar mixed feelings, partly because the moribund state of the economy hasn't really impacted them so far. Research in Ireland is limited, but YouGov has been asking people in the UK to rate their experiences in lockdown and the results are striking. Over half said spending more time at home has had a positive effect. Only 11pc say it's been a negative experience.

Likewise, only a quarter say their income and savings have been negatively impacted. More than 20pc say they have improved. Add that to the 50pc who say their finances are unchanged by Covid-19, and you have almost three in four workers who have little incentive beyond a feeling of public spiritedness to get back to work soon.

Modern life is not only stressful, but expensive. To be in work at all involves significant outlay on travel, not to mention all the other little daily purchases which are essential to a healthy local economy but nibble away at your purse. For many, being furloughed means they are notably better off financially.

Most of all, working parents at home are no longer having to pay for childcare. Once the Government ends the furlough scheme, the reality of the impact the lockdown has had on the economy will hit home all at once. It has been said, chillingly, many of those currently furloughed are actually unemployed. They just haven't realised it yet.

The resistance to returning to work hasn't been as intense in Ireland as in other places, because the deadline for many is still further out. Unions are not actively agitating against a return to work in the way unions in Britain appear to be doing. That may change as their time comes to leave the house again without a vaccine or a cure. The WHO has warned that an effective vaccine may never be found for Covid-19.

That means finding a way to live with the threat from Covid-19, not least because the economic burden is growing at an alarming rate. A week ago, the deficit this year was expected to be 23bn. Now that's gone up to 30bn, and barely anyone batted an eyelid when the new figure was announced last week.

The myriad other risks to public health also need to be taken into account. Cancers are being missed in the lockdown, heart attacks untreated.

Even those most resistant to easing restrictions accept this cocktail of potential disasters cannot go on, but that is still a hard message for politicians to get across without being accused of recklessness.

Perhaps what's needed next is a direct appeal to people's social conscience. One positive effect of this weird time has been to make everyone realise anew that they are part of a society, interdependent on each other, rather than merely individuals looking after their own interests. If that's to mean anything, it must involve sharing the burden which Covid-19 has disproportionately placed on certain shoulders so far.

There's a class element to this which shouldn't be overlooked. Those in middle class or public sector employment have the luxury of debating when they should go back to work. Others in lower paid, less secure jobs know they cannot stay cocooned indefinitely until all risk is eliminated, even if such a thing was possible, because they won't have jobs waiting for them on the other side of this crisis.

The clusters of infection which have broken out in meat processing plants in Co Offaly and Co Tipperary are stark evidence of that class divide. Those demanding the right to stay at home indefinitely, and who criticise anybody who says it's time they went back to work, still expect food to be on their plates each dinner time. They are essentially relying on other workers, such as those in meat processing plants - up to 90pc of whom are migrants living in crowded accommodation with no job security - to keep working while insisting on their own right to stay safe at home. Likewise, they expect supermarkets to stay open and gas, electricity and water workers to keep getting up each morning and heading to work. What would happen if they too decided the risks were too great and downed tools?

Last Friday's news from the Mater Hospital that 300 nurses there alone have tested positive is an even more sobering reminder of the risks being faced by some workers.

No one is suggesting the lockdown should be ended in one fell swoop, but throughout this crisis the mantra has been that we're all in it together. If there is now to be a gradual return to normal, then surely we must all share the risks equally, not ask certain groups of workers to bear them unilaterally?

To do otherwise would be the very definition of self-congratulatory privilege.
The Puri district



administration on Sunday vacated the Kumbharpada police station after a person arrested in a snatching case tested positive for COVID-19, officials said.

The police station was sanitised and about 30 personnel, including the inspector in-charge, were lodged at a hotel as a precautionary measure, they said.

The administration said COVID-19 test of all the personnel posted at the police station will be conducted.

We will decide on Monday after contact tracing on whom to sent on quarantine, Superintendent of Police U S Dash said.

The person arrested in connection with a snatching case was brought to the police station four days ago, officials said.

He later tested positive for COVID-19, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A senior Iranian official has defended shipping fuel to Venezuela, saying two independent countries are free to conduct trade and it is no ones business.

Reports emerged May 14 that at least one Iranian tanker was loaded with fuel and sailing towards Venezuela. Both countries are under U.S. sanctions and Washington has said it is monitoring the situation.

Ali Rabiei who is President Hassan Rouhanis chief of staff told a gathering of government executives on Saturday that Iran has trade relations with many countries including Venezuela, and this is not anyone else's concern, the official news agency IRNA reported.

In April, Iran's Mahan airlines conducted many flights to Venezuela in what was said to be shipping equipment and material to revive the country's refineries that are in disrepair to the long political turmoil gripping the government of Nicholas Maduro.

Later, U.S. envoy Elliot Abrams told a Spanish-language publication that Venezuela has shipped $500 million of gold to Iran in compensation for the assistance it receives.

"Our assumption is that those planes that come from Iran are bringing things for the oil industry, and they return full of gold as a form of payment," El Politico quoted Abrams as saying.

Now with the shipment of fuel, thought to be gasoline, the possibility emerges that Iran is actually selling refined oil products to the Maduro government, which is hard pressed by lack of transportation fuel.

Rabiei referring to "rumor mongering" said Iran and Venezuela exchange goods as two independent countries. He added that the two countries do not sit idle amid U.S. sanctions and try to sell their oil.
A heartbroken mum has urged the Government to "stop gambling with peoples' lives" after her eight-month-old baby died in her arms from Covid-19-related Kawasaki disease.

Alexander Parsons is believed to be the youngest victim of the condition which inflames blood vessels and could be triggered by a reaction to coronavirus.

Kathryn Rowlands, 29, said the Government needs to explore the link between the two illnesses and inform the public.

Around 100 children in the UK have been affected by Kawasaki disease, with a 14-year-old boy with no underlying health conditions thought to be the first Brit to die from the syndrome.

The stay at home mum though Alex had a viral infection after he developed a rash, high temperature and swollen glands.

She called 111 who believed it could be mumps, but when he started vomiting he was taken the hospital on April 6.

Alex was diagnosed the next day with Kawasaki disease and when his condition worsened he was transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

Alex died the day after being diagnosed with Kawasaki disease / JustGiving

A scan on his heart found enlarged arteries, fluid and multiple coronary aneurysms. He died the following night.

"He was my greatest achievement. He could have gone on to do whatever he wanted with his life. Now hell only ever be eight months old," Ms Rowlands told the Mirror.

The Government needs to explore the link between Covid and Kawasaki and get the information out there instead of keeping it quiet.

Kawasaki disease usually affects children under five, but there have been more than 200 potential cases in children up to 14 across Europe.

On Friday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said there are around 230 suspected cases on the continent.

Alex's family have set up a JustGiving page to raise awareness and help pay for funeral costs.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-18 00:49:32|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on May 18, 2020 shows a logo in front of AstraZeneca's building in Luton, Britain. The Oxford University has confirmed a global licensing agreement with AstraZeneca, which will make 30 million vaccine doses available to Britain by September if the trials are successful, as part of an agreement for 100 million doses in total, said British Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

LONDON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Another 170 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Saturday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 34,636, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma said Sunday.

The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.

Chairing Sunday's Downing Street press briefing, Sharma told reporters that to conquer the disease "we need to find a safe, workable vaccine".

All phase one participants at the University of Oxford clinical trial have received their vaccine dose on schedule and are now being monitored. The Imperial College London vaccine will move into clinical trials by mid-June with larger scale ones planned for October, he said.

The government will invest an extra 84-million-pound (101.7-million-U.S.-dollar) funding to help accelerate their work, said Sharma.

He said this money will be used to start mass producing the Oxford vaccine if the trials prove successful.

The Oxford University has confirmed a global licensing agreement with AstraZeneca, which will make 30 million vaccine doses available to Britain by September if the trials are successful, as part of an agreement for 100 million doses in total, said the secretary.

He also announced that the government is investing a further 93-million-pound (112.6-million-dollar) in the Vaccines Manufacturing Innovation Centre at Harwell in Oxfordshire, ensuring it opens in summer 2021 ahead of schedule.

Also on Sunday, the British government announced that it has launched the "UK Biobank study" to further track the extent of the novel coronavirus spread across the country.

Up to 20,000 people are being asked to take part in the study for at least six months. The participants will be chosen from existing, consented UK Biobank volunteers, as well as their adult children and grandchildren, according to the government.

Each month, participants will be asked to provide a sample of blood using a finger-prick device, and to complete a short questionnaire about any relevant symptoms they may have experienced. The de-identified samples will be returned to the UK Biobank for processing before being sent for validated antibody testing at the University of Oxford.

The first results from initial participants are expected to be available in early June, said the government.

"This UK Biobank study will build our understanding of the rate of COVID-19 infection in the general population and, importantly, it will add to our knowledge about the risk factors that mean the virus can affect individuals differently," said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

"Alongside the ongoing ONS (Office for National Statistics) and Imperial College research, the results of this study will assist our virus modelling and inform future plans for managing the pandemic," he added.
Egypt's Education Minister Tarek Shawki said on Sunday that the final dates of the secondary school final year exams (the thanaweya amma) will be announced within 48 hours.

The government has postponed them for two weeks to start on 21 June instead of 7 June, he also said.

A total of 653,000 students and 186,000 invigilators will be involved in the exams.

According to the minister, pupils will be distributed in 56,000 exam centres; each will accommodate only 14 students to keep enough distance between them.

The rooms will be sterilised daily before the start of exams.

Exams will start at 10am but students should arrive earlier than that to undergo some preventative measures, Shawki added, noting that any pupil arriving after 9am will not be allowed to join exam-takers and will be considered absent.

Test-takers will queue two metres apart before entering the exam room and will be handed masks and have their temperatures measured.

Invigilators will be tasked with making sure all students have their hands sterilised and are wearing masks properly.

If any student has a high temperature, they will be transferred to a hospital via ambulance and their exams will be postponed.

Any student will not be able to take exams on 21 June due to any circumstance like being quarantined or infected will be enabled to participate in second round of exams.

Parents are afraid for their children, or pupils themselves who are afraid, and dont wish to attend the exams this year, are allowed to postpone their exams to next year.

Around 400,000 final-year university students in Egypt will take their exams on 1 July, said Higher Education Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar.

He added that every university and educational institute will be entitled to specify the suitable schedules.

Egypt had cancelled final oral and written exams and replaced them with either a research paper or online exams for all university students except those in the final year.

Egypt closed all schools and universities on 15 March to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

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Rajat Chaudhuri By

There is an element of hope embedded in the act of conjuring up the post-coronavirus world. The exercise itself seems to hint that the catastrophe is nearing its end. Putting on our futurists glasses we begin to peer through the curtains of time. But before we do this, we need to turn our attention to the present. Most of what we see around us are surface changesadaptations, planned or unplanned, to tide over the crisis. Sanitiser stations at shopping malls and clampdowns on non-essential commerce are all symptomatic of this superficiality. But unless there is what we will call deep change, no one can guarantee that the next disaster will not take us by surprise.

Right now economies the world over have taken a severe beating and we are in the grip of what IMF calls the Great Lockdown recession. In India and many developing nations, unemployment has soared, inequities have multiplied and the danger of social strife is proximate. Meanwhile, industry has been demanding and obtaining flexibilities, which usually translates to reduced protections for labour.

What is more worrying and which plays directly into the contradictions between the pursuit of endless growth within a neo-liberal economic order and sustainability of ecosystems are the surreptitious inroads being made by disaster capitalismfast-tracking of major projects under the fog of a raging pandemic. This is more cause for concern, now that the links between zoonotic disease outbreaks, biodiversity loss and unsustainable production and consumption have been revealed.

Nature has been sending warning signals through climate change, species extinction and disease that unsustainable production and consumption has been doing irreversible damage. The key here is sustainability. Sustainability entails deep change, which would mean overhauling our economic engines and consumption habits to focus on essentials, quality of life and protection of the environment. A cutback on infrastructure projects especially in biodiversity hotspot areas not only decreases emissions, it also reduces the risk of spillover events where viruses from the wild can infect humans. The Covid-19 lockdowns by stopping non-essential purchases have given us one indication of what is flawed and redundant in our system. It is as if Nature has become its own advocate.

Today, from different corners of the world we are hearing whispers of nationalisation (and delays in divestment plans) of key sectors, which provide essential public services such as transport or health. Still it is unlikely that politicians, vote-seeking or otherwise, will facilitate deep change in the long run. The push for such transformations must come from civil society through a twin process of mass awareness-building and pressure on institutions supporting the status quo. It is expected that the post-Covid world will experience more organised mass movements in support of the planet. The fellow-feeling and kinship that the novel coronavirus has kindled might very well seed the climate change movements, strengthening their common and overlapping goals of equity, social justice and sustainability.

Whether this will blossom into deep change depends on factors like the discovery of a vaccine or cure, extent of social strife, number of deaths and the ability of civil society to effectively communicate the message of sustainability. Ironically, a near-horizon vaccine discovery while saving billions of lives could breed complacency and dilute the focus on humankinds impact on the planet.

The ecological economist Robert Costanza projected four visions of the future predicated on the development or absence of game-changing technologies with or without a role for big government. Repurposing and modifying Costanzas framework for the post-Covid scenario, a vaccine for each outbreak would be the most desirable technological advance followed by paradigm-shifting developments in renewable energy among other things, which will allow the pursuit of moderately high levels of growth and equity with reduced emissions. This is one highly unlikely version of utopia.

If science does not deliver us quickly to that promised land, we see three different worlds emerging. The first is a deep-change scenario with strong governments instituting pro-people and pro-planet policy reforms (like nationalisation) but with worsening privacy and individual freedoms. The next deep change alternative is a Gandhian model where the role of civil society, community cooperation and sharing economies comes to the fore alongside ecological tax reform and existing renewable technologies. This is much like the solarpunk futures of fiction. A final alternative is a dystopian descent into chaos and darkness. The future is expected to be a patchwork of all three but its colours will be determined by our actions today, tomorrow and the day after.Twitter @rajatchaudhuri
The ex-ambassador of Armenia to the Vatican, Mikael Minasyan, recently announced that a whole plane of smuggled cigarettes has been supposedly taken out of Armenia to Afghanistan, but sales in Russia were envisaged, said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, News.am reports.

His remarks came during his Saturday big press conference.

I want to say that the State Revenue Committee has not committed any lawlessness on the issue of exporting cigarettes, as exporters are the culprits. They should have taken everything to another country, but decided to sell it in another state, said Pashinyan.

At the same time, the PM did not comment on the words of Minasyan that this smuggling scheme was managed by members of PM's family, including his wifes brother, My Step ruling bloc MP Hrachya Hakobyan.

I am aware of the episode concerning my wifes brother, Hrachya filed a lawsuit. And I will not answer this question, everything will be presented publicly: what is true and what is not, the PM noted.
A Columbia University political science professor told a Republican college student to 'drop dead' and called him a 'neo-nazi enabler' for supporting President Trump's coronavirus efforts during an argument on social media.

Gabriel Montalvo, 21, took to Twitter on April 6 to reveal screenshots of an argument that he had with Columbia professor Jeffrey Lax on Facebook.

Montalvo, a CUNY Queensborough Community College student, told the New York Post that the argument started when he commented on a political cartoon that one of his high school teachers had posted on Facebook.

Trump-supporting student Gabriel Montalvo, 21 (left), got into a heated Facebook argument with Columbia University professor Jeffrey Lax (right) over a political cartoon

Montalvo commented on this cartoon by Michael de Adder, defending Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. His statement wound up drawing Lax's ire

According to a screengrab posted on Campus Reform, the Michael de Adder cartoon that Montalvo commented on shows President Trump pointing to his cell phone and proclaiming, 'Look everybody, I'm number one on Facebook,' while surrounded by healthcare workers in full-personal protective equipment tending to presumably coronavirus patients.

Montalvo, the New York State Vice Chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, told the newspaper that his response to the cartoon 'defended President Trump on how he's handled the pandemic.'

'People choose what they want to see and everyone has an opinion,' Montalvo wrote on Facebook, according to the screenshot he tweeted out. 'Doesn't help that it's constant bash POTUS with a side of Italian hospital footage.'

In early April, CBS admitted to 'mistakenly' using footage from an Italian hospital to illustrate a New York City coronavirus story about overflowing hospital wards.

A few minutes after Montalvo posted the comments, however, Lax - deputy chair of Columbia's political science department - replied with a string of comments.

Montalvo tweeted screengrabs of his argument with Lax. In the grabs, the two sling insults at each other, with Lax telling Montalvo to 'drop dead' and calling him a 'neo-nazi enabler'

Montalvo (pictured) said that he had never met Lax before. He expressed surprise that Lax would call him a 'Nazi' since he's a US soldier

Montalvo said he filed a formal complaint against Lax with Columbia University (pictured), who said they would look into the incident

'bash the president murdering his own people through lies and actively horrible choices? that cartoon is horribly inaccurate though!!! He's actually confiscating the equipment they need for the surgery after states had to bid to get it in the first place. Etc,' Lax wrote.

'How stupid or racist or evil do you have to be to defend POTUS at this point...'

Montalvo then responded by writing, 'I didn't know he was murdering his own people like you claim,' and referenced Lunar New Year celebrations, Trump donating his salary to research, Trump mentioning 'measures being taken' during his recent State of the Union speech and Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripping up that speech.

Lax's response: 'woah - are you claiming Trump didn't lie and cover up? You're claiming Pelosi ended some policies of Trump as opposed to ripping up his racist bulls**t speech? And you don't know how he's cashing in on the presidency? why don't you just drop dead you neo-nazi enabler.'

Trump pledged to donate his $400,000 annual presidential salary if elected. He has been donating his salary to the Department of Health and Human Services recently.

Critics have said that this donation is a 'meaningless gimmick,' as Trump's refusal to 'divest his business have netted him $434million in personal revenue in 2018 alone,' Robert Maguire, research director for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington tweeted according to USA Today. He noted that 'That's a thousand times more than his presidential salary.'

Lax and Montalvo then proceeded to sling insults and argue with each other on Facebook.

Montalvo said Lax was 'the most educated person on this thread and also the most incompetent' and added he hoped Lax's students 'get a refund,' with Lax responding Montalvo is a 'Neo-nazi murderer lover.'

Montalvo, a specialist in the New York Army National Guard, told the New York Post that he had never met Lax before, but that the professor 'responded very belligerently' on Facebook.

When tweeting out screengrabs of the social media argument on Twitter, Montalvo wrote: 'Libel or stupidity? @Columbia is this behavior reflective of the colleges views? A Deputy Chair at your university is telling a supporter of @realDonaldTrump to go die over a difference of opinion? He then has the gall to call a U.S. Soldier a Nazi!?

'does this violate your guidelines? I can only hope the #1A is upheld in the classroom. Professors and higher education establishments should be examples of the exchange of civil discussion, not cyber harassment & perverting a historic tragedy to push an agenda.'

Montalvo told Campus Reform that he lodged a formal complaint with Columbia via email on May 12, waiting a month due to 'the various difficulties that the pandemic has placed' on him.

He told the New York Post that a representative for Columbia President Lee Bollinger said they would review the incident, but also noted that he hadn't heard back yet.

Neither Lax nor Columbia have publicly commented about the incident yet.
In early May, a recently completed dam in Uzbekistans eastern region of Sirdaryo burst. Four people died and thousands were evacuated as water spilled across the region and into neighboring Kazakhstan. As The Diplomat writes, the Uzbek government vowed to investigate the dams failure, which given its recent completion  2017  is suspected to be rooted either in design or construction flaws.

Current President Shavkat Miriyoyev was prime minister during the dams construction. Today, RFE/RLs Uzbek Service reported about the connections between a wealthy Uzbek senator, Abdughani Sanginov, the president, and the dam project.

Sanginov, the report notes, is closely connected to the project: Documents show that the contract to build the dam was put to a tender in 2010 by the UzSuvEnergo association, which reports to the Uzbek Water Resources Ministry. But there appears to have been no public announcement to say that a lucrative contract was on offer to potential bidders. Official documents say Sanginov was the head of UzSuvEnergo at the time. He was in charge of the association from 2008 until 2017, when it was converted into a joint-stock company called UzbekHydroEnergo. Sanginov is now the chairman of UzbekHydroEnergos board.

The report goes on to outline that the contract was awarded to the Topalang Water Construction Company, which sources indicated was owned by Sanginov. RFE/RL is careful to note that the connection cannot be confirmed, but the allegation is worrying considering that Sanginov has been named to a special government commission responsible for investigating the dams collapse.

Although the RFE/RL report doesnt use the term, the situation appears to be a classic example of a conflict of interest. If a company Sanginov owns, or has connections to, is potentially implicated in the dams collapse  and arguably any company involved in the construction falls into that category at this stage  his involvement in oversight or investigatory work of the collapse should be scrutinized. As summarized by an article on the topic in Fraud Magazine, a conflict of interest exists when someone could abuse his or her official position for private gain.

This is, in part, about perception. The existence of a conflict of interest isnt in of itself corruption, its what happens after such a conflict arises that matters. If a conflict of interest exists when an individual could abuse their office, corruption exists when they do abuse their position for private gain.

If Sanginov has a financial connection to the construction of the dam, he shouldnt be on the commission probing its collapse.

This is far from the first instance or example of a potential conflict of interest, ignored and possibly feeding corruption. Kristian Lasslett detailed serious concerns about conflicts of interests related to the Tashkent City development in the Uzbek capital in January 2019 for openDemocracy. Lasslett argues:

This is not only a matter of public integrity and fairness, as important as these virtues are. Investors, of the type President Mirziyoyev evidently wants to court, are not going to dip their foot in the economic waters of Uzbekistan unless they are confident there is a transparent and impartial public administration, led by those who are not sporting conflicts of interest, complemented by an independent judiciary with a track record of open and fair decision-making.

How the Uzbek government handles the investigation of the dam collapse matters, not just in the interest of getting to the bottom of the issue but as proof of progress on thorny issues like transparency and anticorruption. If Uzbek officials sweep the collapse under the rug, blaming severe storms and waves alone for the collapse, and dont take efforts to demonstrate an impartial investigation concluding that fact (or impede journalists who will invariably attempt to investigate), Tashkent will be set back in its quest for a rebranding after an era marred by grand corruption scandalsan era during which the dam was constructed.
New mothers are being locked out of accessing the State's Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme until a new government is formed.

Women looking to return to work after maternity leave in recent weeks are being excluded from the temporary wage subsidy scheme (TWSS) because they were not on their employer's payroll in January or February. These women are instead being forced onto the pandemic unemployment payment.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has indicated the issue cannot be addressed without legislative change but that has been disputed by Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who wrote to the Taoiseach and party leaders last Friday seeking urgent action.

The Government has been referred to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission by the National Women's Council (NWCI), which says it was "discriminatory".

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With the TWSS set to be extended for several months, hundreds if not thousands of women may be unable to have their wages subsidised by the State in situations where their employer is unable to pay them due to a collapse in revenues caused by the Covid-19 restrictions. It is estimated around 20,000 women a year claim maternity benefit.

Mr Donohoe has said the scheme cannot be adapted to meet the particular circumstances of individual employers or employees. Both the Green Party and Fianna Fail, who are in talks with Fine Gael to form a government, have said the issue needs to be addressed as a priority.

However, any amendments to the emergency legislation which brought in the wage subsidy scheme cannot be made because there is no new government and consequently no fully constituted Seanad to pass laws.

The NWCI said women with newborn babies are now being forced into unemployment. Director Orla O'Connor said: "This is both discriminatory in my view and goes against the tide of the response to the Covid crisis and the need to maintain a link to employment to avoid future long-term unemployment.

"Women are contacting NWCI very anxious and worried about losing money in an already very difficult time for families and urgent action is needed by the Government to address this issue."

In her letter to the Taoiseach and party leaders, Ms McDonald pointed out Mr Donohoe had been able to instruct Revenue to increase the wage subsidy from 70pc to 85pc on an administrative basis "pending the necessary legislative amendment". She said the same could be done in respect of women returning from maternity leave to allow them to access the TWSS.

The Department of Finance did not say whether the minister would seek such changes, while Revenue said it was a matter for the minister. In a lengthy reply to queries, the department insisted the scheme is "being administered in a manner that is fully compliant with all relevant legislation and that no discriminatory treatment of workers arises".

It said employers are obliged to honour their obligations to employees and employment rights legislation.

Meanwhile, a row broke out between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael yesterday after it emerged that logistical planning to hold elections and referendums during the Covid-19 crisis has started.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy confirmed his department officials were preparing for referendums, possible by-elections and a possible general election that may need to happen while public health restrictions are in place.

Senior Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen, who is a member of the party's negotiating team, said that the emergence of the plan "smacks of bad faith, selfishness and putting party before country".

"No doubt they will say they had to have an alternative plan, whether that is credible or not is another thing altogether," Mr Cowen said, adding that officials' time was being wasted given any changes in how elections or referendums are run would require new laws.

Other Fianna Fail TDs reacted furiously, with Thomas Byrne branding the suggestion of polling in nursing homes being prioritised while the State is grappling with the Covid-19 crisis in homes as "utterly sick".

Tanaiste and Fine Gael deputy leader Simon Coveney and Fianna Fail deputy leader Dara Calleary spoke yesterday morning in a bid to de-escalate the row.

Fine Gael has insisted it is committed to forming a government, while a senior Fianna Fail source said talks would resume tomorrow.

Mr Murphy said his department "must prepare for every scenario" and insisted the plans were separate to the government formation process.

He said: "Covid-19 is potentially here until 2021 or longer and it is our duty to be prepared for referendums, possible by-elections and even a general election.

"This is completely separate to the government formation process under way which we are absolutely committed to. If we don't prepare, we risk far greater damage to our electoral process."

Mr Cowen said it was time for politicians to get on with the efforts to form a government.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 07:43:05|Editor: huaxia

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Geng Huimin (2nd R) teaches disabled apprentices the making techniques of white porcelain at Beiyang Village of Neiqiu County in Xingtai City, north China's Hebei Province, May 16, 2020. Geng Huimin is a local of the village, who became deaf-mute due to a high fever not long after his birth in 1981. Though deaf and mute, Geng didn't give in to his unlucky fate. He gradually reignited confidence to life under his family's encouragement and help. In 2014, Geng started to put his heart into studying the traditional firing techniques of white porcelain, which came from an ancient well-known kiln found in Xingtai. Geng's dexterity and persistence paid off. He succeeded in mastering the firing techniques, and now becomes a little famous. Geng understood how difficult for the disabled to find a job. So he acted to teach disabled people the white porcelain firing techniques, helping them build confidence to life and to get a job. "I want to inspire more disabled people like me. We can be self-reliant by our hard efforts. We can do something for the society." said Geng. Now, Geng's white porcelain products are not only best-selling at home, but also exported abroad to countries like South Korea, Japan and Spain. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)
A judge has rejected a request by disgraced pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli to be released from prison amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Shkreli, known as the "Parma Bro", is serving a seven-year sentence after being convicted in 2017 for lying to investors about the performance of two hedge funds he was running, as well as defrauding investors in a drug company.

His lawyers had argued that if released from a low-security prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, he would be about to research a treatment for the coronavirus, which has infected 1.4 million Americans and killed more than 88,000.

However the claim was dismissed by probation officials as being the kind of "delusional self-aggrandising behaviour" that had led to his conviction.

US district judge Kiyo Matsumoto released a nine-page ruling denying Shkreli's request to be freed, saying the 37-year-old had failed to demonstrate extraordinary and compelling factors that would require his release.

Benjamin Brafman, Shkreli's attorney, said the decision was "disappointing but not unexpected".

In a research proposal posted online, Shkreli said the pharmaceutical industry's response to the pandemic was "inadequate" and said researchers at every drug company "should be put to work until Covid-19 is no more".

He said his background "as a successful two-time biopharma entrepreneur, having purchased multiple companies, invented multiple new drug candidates" would make him a valuable asset.

However, the judge noted the concerns of probation officials that Shkreli's claim that he could develop a cure for coronavirus that "so far eluded the best medical and scientific minds in the world working around the clock" is "delusional self-aggrandising behaviour".

Shkreli first gained notoriety by buying the rights to a drug used to treat an infection that occurs in some Aids, malaria and cancer patients and raising the price from $13.50 to $750 per pill. He is also known for attacking critics on social media and offering a bounty to anyone who could give him one of Hillary Clinton's hairs.

A number of high profile prisoners have been released due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hip-hop star Tekashi 6ix9ine, who was serving two years for gang-related activity, was released into home confinement, as was Paul Manafort, Donald Trump's former campaign manager who was serving seven and a half years for tax evasion and unregistered lobbying.

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, jailed for 23 years for sex attacks, was reported in March to have contracted Covid-19, although his spokesman later said his client no longer had any symptoms.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
Animal Rescue New Orleans and Zeus Rescues will distribute dog and cat food Saturday (May 16) and Monday (May 18) to help struggling pet owners feed their pets during the coronavirus crisis.

No proof of income or other paperwork is required. The free food will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Volunteers will be on hand at both locations to distribute food while supplies last.

ARNO will hold its distribution from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the ARNO shelter, 271 Plauche St., Harahan.

Zeus Rescues will be distributing pet food from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at 2520 Napoleon Ave., New Orleans.

Both food distribution drives are possible thanks to a donation from the Bissell Pet Foundation.

________________

Traci D. Howerton is the volunteer coordinator for Animal Rescue New Orleans. Email animalrescuecolumn@gmail.com.

Get help with food and supplies for your pet through the Louisiana SPCA's free pantry Times are tough right now, but no one should go without food or necessary supplies due to the coronavirus pandemic, including those for their pets.

For most of us, there's no need to test our pets for coronavirus The Louisiana SPCA is spreading the word that pets should not be tested for COVID-19. In response to two cats in New York testing positive for
Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - Governor Doug Ducey announced Friday $300,000 in funding from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund has been allocated to organizations across the state that support senior citizens, the homebound and those who are medically fragile.

The funding will support organizations that have provided much needed aid to vulnerable populations impacted by COVID-19, by assisting with grocery shopping, meal deliveries, transportation to medical appointments, emergency errands and social interaction during a time of physical distancing.

Arizona continues to focus on protecting public health, especially for those most at-risk like seniors and those medically vulnerable, said Governor Ducey. Volunteer and community organizations across the state are working day and night to provide support for those in their care through additional food deliveries, transportation and other services  and were proud to support their efforts. Thank you to everyone who has donated to the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund so we can protect at-risk Arizonans, and to everyone who has stepped up to help others.



Recipients of the funding include:

Foundation for Senior Living (statewide)

Benevilla

Aster Aging

"We are so appreciative of this generous donation," said Tom Egan, President and CEO of Foundation for Senior Living. "Our team has been working diligently to shift many of our programs to meal and food bag deliveries to seniors and adults with chronic health issues or disabilities. So far, we have seen our expenses increase by 25 percent and we're anticipating the community will continue to need help throughout the summer. This donation will help offset our expenses and allow us to serve those in need. We are so grateful to Governor Ducey and the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund!"



We believe we are strongest when we work together, says Joanne Thomson, President and CEO of Benevilla. The support from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund Now will help provide much needed services to the most vulnerable population in our community. Working together we are able to help seniors with grocery shopping, emergency errands and more, we are able to provide support and friendship to caregivers who might feel overwhelmed and alone and continue to support families in our community during this time.



The support that Aster Aging has received from the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund is truly making the difference for vulnerable older adults in the East Valley, said Deborah Schaus, CEO of Aster Aging. Requests for Meals on Wheels and our other basic need services have continued to grow as we strive to keep seniors safe during the pandemic.
U.S President Donald Trump revealed the official flag for the new U.S Space Force on May 15. It is the first military branch created in seven decades. The president also touted the development underway of what he called a "super-duper missile" that could undo foreign adversaries.

President Trump said that the Space Force flag will be displayed at the White House. The flag was shown to him in the Oval Office, where he also signed the 2020 Armed Forces Day Proclamation.

Space Force flag

According to President Trump, space is going to be the future both in terms of defense and offense and other things. He added that the United States is now the leader in space. He said that the country is building "incredible military equipment at a level that nobody's ever seen before" and he described the missile that is currently being made as to the "fastest in the world" and will beat the missiles of Russia and China.

President Trump also said that they call it the "super-duper missile" and that it is 17 times faster than the missile that they have right now. Allegedly Russia has five times the faster missile, and China is working on a missile that is five or six times, while the U.S has one that is 17 times.

Kayleigh McEnany, the Press Secretary, would not comment further with specifics of the "super-duper missile" that President Trump talked about when he was asked at a White House press briefing. However, a Department of Defense official later said on Twitter that the United States is developing a range of hypersonic missiles.

Also Read: Vietnam Will Reopen After Two Months of Lockdown, What Will Life Be Like?

What is the Space Force?

The Space Force was introduced late 2019 by the administration and it is said to protect the assets of the United States in space. President Trump has talked about threats from Russia and China and the nation's reliance on satellites for defense operations as the reason for establishing the sixth military branch.

President Trump said that U.S adversaries are targeting Earth's orbits with new technology and are targeting American satellites. He also first revealed the Space Force logo in January 2020, and the media immediately compared it to the insignia that represents the fictional Starfleet Command in the "Stark Trek" movie franchise. The logo of Space Force is a modified version of a pre-existing Air Force Space Command logo.

Jay Raymond, the Space Force chief of space operations, said that delta in the middle is the symbol that the space communities used for years. The North Star signifies its core value, their guiding light. The orbit around the globe signifies the space capabilities that fuel the American way of life and the American way of war.

In simple terms, the U.S. Armed Forces are made up of the six military branches: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and, most recently, Space Force.

There are three general categories of military people: active duty or the full-time soldiers and sailors, reserve & guard forces or those who usually work a civilian job, but can be called to full-time military duty, and veterans and retirees or the past members of the military. And of course, there are the millions of family members and friends of military members, past and present.

Related Article: Study Shows Coronavirus Would Plummet If 80% of Americans Wore Mask

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Around half a dozen workers on COVID-19 duty at a quarantine centre in Noida on Sunday allegedly threatened to jump off the terrace of the building and kill themselves over non-payment of their salaries.

IMAGE: Medics working on ad hoc basis shout slogans during a protest against the state government, demanding permanent jobs at Guru Nanak Dev hospital, in Amritsar, on May 15, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo



The protesting workers were later pacified and brought down after some time, the police said, even as the district administration took note of the matter and an inquiry has been initiated, according to officials.

A video of the incident shot on a mobile phone also surfaced on the internet, purportedly showing a male and two female workers sitting on the railing on the terrace of the new district hospital building in Sector 39, while two other male colleagues stood next to them.

"We are not getting our payment and nobody is listening to us. Whoever we approach for the payment redirects us to somebody else and asks us not bother them. Who do we go to," one of the women is heard saying in the video.

When asked why they did not seek police's help, the male worker sitting on the railing said, "We have approached the police also but nobody has helped us till now. The policemen also keep watching."

The man shooting the video is then heard urging help from the administration.

"It's a request to the administration, please help them otherwise they are prepared to go to any level and are not ready to get down," he said.

The incident took place around 1 pm and later the protesting workers were pacified and brought down from the terrace of the building, the police said.

Meanwhile, the district administration said in a statement that it has taken note of the incident and payment of salaries to all workers will be ensured.

"An inquiry has been initiated and Chief Development Officer Anil Kumar Singh and Additional Chief Medical Officer Amit Vikram will carry it out. Payment of valid salaries to all workers will be ensured," Chief Medical Officer Deepak Ohri said.

Earlier on April 30, around a dozen sanitation workers had 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 DM Suhas L Y who later said that the matter was being looked into and assured that the workers will be provided with safety kits.
On the island of Hirado, off the north-west coast of Japans Kyushu Island, a revered samurai lay dying from a debilitating illness. He summoned his colleagues to his bedside and began to dictate his will.

It was May 1620 and Miura Anjin, whose warrior status bestowed on him the right to carry two razor-sharp curved swords wherever he went, had a large country estate to leave his family, and 500  around 66,000 today.

But Anjins family, wife Oyuki and their two children, were only to receive half his fortune. For Anjin had another family whom he had not seen for 20 years. They lived nearly 6,000 miles away and belonged to his former life, when Miura Anjin had been William Adams, a sailor from Limehouse, East London.

It was May 1620 and Miura Anjin (illustrated), whose warrior status bestowed on him the right to carry two razor-sharp curved swords wherever he went, had a large country estate to leave his family, and 500  around 66,000 today

The swashbuckling story of the blue-eyed samurai  one that takes in a devastating shipwreck, fierce combat and a terrifying Japanese warlord  was fictionalised by James Clavell in his 1975 novel Shogun, which became a hugely popular television series in the 1980s, starring Richard Chamberlain as John Blackthorne, the character based on Adams.

But it is only now, in a timely twist on the 400th anniversary of Adams death, that we finally know the concluding chapter of the Limehouse Samurais epic story.

When the real Adams died, aged 56, he was buried on Hirado where, since the exact location of his body was lost to history, a memorial stone has born his name for centuries. But last week, researchers from the University of Tokyo, who were studying an urn found on an excavated hill, used advanced genetic sequence techniques to identify Adams bones  even though just five per cent of his skeleton still remained.

The skeletal remains ... are completely consistent with the known characteristics of Adams himself, in terms of sex, country of ancestral origin, age at death, and year of death, said Professor Richard Irving, a member of the Tokyo-based William Adams Club, dedicated to preserving the unlikely samurais memory.

But how did this Londoner become the first Englishman to set foot in Japan in 1600, and how did he become Samurai William, one of the most important men in Japan?

As Giles Milton relates in his biography, Samurai William: The Adventurer who Unlocked Japan, Adamss desire to explore the world was established at a young age.

William Adams's remains were formally identified on the 400th anniversary of the sailor's death in 1620. They were discovered in 2019 after excavation work (pictured)

Although he was born in Gillingham, Kent in 1564, when Adams was 12 he was apprenticed to a master shipbuilder in Limehouse, where he became bewitched by the exploits of far-flung sailors passing through.

Fast-forward 14 years and he had become one of them, commanding a supply ship for the English fleet against the Spanish Armada, evading the pirates who terrorised the North African coast.

Adams was bold and ambitious, so when in 1598 he heard of a Dutch expedition heading for the famed Spice Islands of the East Indies (in todays Indonesia), he left behind his wife Mary, whom he had married ten years earlier, and their young daughter, and set sail as the pilot of the fleets flagship, the Liefde, hoping to return in a few years as a wealthy man.

But the voyage was beset by problems from the start. The commander was overly generous with the rations and by the time they had crossed the Atlantic, the sailors were reduced to eating the leather that clad the ships ropes. Soon the men were dying by the dozen from starvation and dysentery, but whenever they tried to land to buy provisions, they were attacked: one landing party was torn limb from limb.

Another, which included Adamss brother Thomas, was ambushed and massacred. With their plans in tatters, the Liefde decided to head to the kingdom of fabled riches  Japan  hoping it would prove a lucrative market for their cargo of woollen cloth.

The story was fictionalised by James Clavell in his 1975 novel Shogun, which became a hugely popular television series in the 1980s, starring Richard Chamberlain (pictured) as John Blackthorne, the character based on Adams

But finding Japan proved almost impossible and by April 1600, after 20 months at sea, only 24 of the 100-strong crew were still alive, and only six of them, including the tough, resilient Adams, were strong enough to stand.

Death seemed inevitable when, with delirious relief, Adams spotted land. They had reached the Japanese island of Kyushu. They were saved. Or were they? Ieyasu, the powerful shogun  warlord  of the city of Osaka, soon heard of their arrival and, curious to learn more about other lands, summoned Adams for an audience.

Portuguese Jesuit priests had arrived in Japan 50 years earlier, determined to spread Catholicism, and one of them acted as Ieyasus interpreter. No doubt Adams knew the meeting could be the difference between life and death. And the odds were not encouraging. Ieyasu was renowned for being mercilessly ruthless.

Indeed, when an allied clan demanded proof of his loyalty some years before Adams arrived, Ieyasu took it upon himself to execute his wife and demand his son commit suicide.

Fortunately for Adams, the warlord was impressed by his navigational skills, and fascinated by the Englishmans confident manner and his information about European trade, politics and religion.

But fearing the possibility of being displaced, the jealous Jesuit secretly told Ieyasu that Adams and his sailors were actually pirates and demanded they pay the penalty for piracy: crucifixion while being slowly speared to death. Ieyasu agreed and Adams was thrown into a filthy cell.

This Londoner became the first Englishman to set foot in Japan in 1600 (illustrated), and he become Samurai William, one of the most important men in Japan

But, miraculously, Ieyasu had a change of heart. Recognising that Adams might be useful, the warlord told him that he and his men could go free, but they must remain in Japan and build him a ship like the Liefde.

Adams had never built an entire ship, but with their lives depending on success, he managed to construct a replica of the Liefde. Utterly bowled over, Ieyasu immediately commissioned another. And so Adams soon became the Shoguns trusted adviser and confidante, replacing the Jesuits.

The Shogun, who had now become the ruler of all of Japan, rewarded him with a salary, gifts of silver and a large estate with 90 slaves. He had come a long way from Limehouse.

He was soon rewarded with the courtly title of hamamoto, making him an honorary samurai with the right to carry two swords. Such an honour was extremely rare. Traditionally, you could only be born into the samurai ruling class, where you trained to become a master swordsman from childhood.

Resigning himself to remaining in Japan, Adams became fluent in the language, took the name, Miura Anjin  Mr Pilot  and adopted the samurai custom of Bushido  the way of the warrior. He also remarried, and his wife bore him two children, Joseph and Susanna.

Then in 1613, an English ship arrived in the harbour, keen to start trading on behalf of the East India Company. Hearing that an Englishman was in favour with the Shogun, they sought out Adams to plead their cause. But when they found him, they were shocked to see him wearing a kimono and speaking Japanese as if he is a naturalised Japanner.

Archaeologists were said to have stumbled across Adams' bones when excavating a graveyard on the island of Hirado in the Nagasaki prefecture

For his part, Adams was appalled by the behaviour of his unwashed, uncouth countrymen  especially the ships captain, John Saris, an avid pornography collector who filled his cabin with erotic carvings.

Nonetheless, he lobbied the Shogun on their behalf and he duly granted the English trading rights.

He even gave Adams permission to return to England with Saris.

Adams was delighted, but then it dawned on him that returning would mean he would have to exchange his wealth and status as a samurai for the life of an ordinary sailor.

Instead he agreed to remain in Japan as a salaried agent of the East India Company. For the next few years, Adams led several trading expeditions to South-east Asia on behalf of the Company.

But he remained aloof from his fellow English traders who spent much of their time drinking, whoring and boasting to each other of their sexual escapades with prostitutes, and concubines.

Although Adams had a mistress and an illegitimate child, he was rather more discreet.

But when Ieyasu died in 1616, Adams and the English lost their powerful patron. And soon after, Adams himself became terribly ill  probably with malaria  and died in 1620.

Without the patronage of a local, the East India Company immediately recalled its traders.

It was just as well. For in 1637, the new Shogun, wary of the colonial influence on his country, expelled all foreigners from Japan and for the next two centuries Japan became sakoku  a closed country.

When Englishmen eventually returned to Japan, they were amazed to discover that Samurai William was still revered and remembered.

There were monuments to him and his admirers made an annual pilgrimage to say prayers for his soul in the temple in Tokyo, where he used to worship.

Even today, a district of Tokyo is still called Anjin-cho in his honour and there is an annual Anjin festival.

And so the Limehouse lad who sailed in search of riches attained something else altogether: immortality.
An 18-year-old who is accused of stabbing a state corrections officer to death following an argument earlier this month has been released from jail while he awaits trial.

Zachary Latham, of Vineland, allegedly stabbed his neighbor, William T. Durham Sr., 51, multiple times on May 4 after a dispute turned violent on Thornhill Road, according to Cumberland County prosecutors. He is charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, two second-degree counts of aggravated assault and various weapons offenses.

As part of his release, Latham cannot be in the vicinity Thornhill Road, where the crime occurred and where his grandparents live, according to the courts order. He also cannot possess a firearm or dangerous weapon, use alcohol or narcotics and must maintain employment.

The court does not find clear and convincing evidence that pre-trial detention is necessary to reasonably assure the defendants appearance in court when required, the protection of the safety of any other person or the community, and that the defendant will not obstruct of attempt to obstruct the criminal justice process, Superior Court Judge William Ziegler ruled at Lathams May 14 detention hearing.

Lathams release displeased those close to Durham, including family friend Mike Gallagher, who is also vice president of the union, PBA Local 105, that represented Durham. Gallagher watched the live-streamed hearing last week, and said he was flabbergasted by the ruling.

He wants to see the decision appealed.

I couldnt comprehend how the judge was releasing (Latham) without any electronic monitoring and only having to check in once a month, said Gallagher, who knew Durham for 19 years. The decision to release Zachary Latham has the whole law enforcement community questioning it.

William T. Durham Sr., a correctional officer at South Woods State Prison, was stabbed to death in a fight with a neighbor.

The killing was sparked by an argument that began in front of the Durham home involving Latham, his wife, and Durham and his wife, Catherine T. Durham, according to authorities.

Latham told police he left that location, the Durhams following behind, and drove to his nearby house, where he retrieved a knife and stun gun and confronted the family when they arrived.

Latham said he fought with Durham Sr. and his two sons. Two of Lathams friends also joined the battle, he said. During the fight, Latham used the stun gun on Durham Sr. and stabbed him in the back and left underarm, according to investigators.

Lathams dispute with the Durham family started weeks ago, when Catherine Durham told Latham to slow down after he sped down their street one day, Gallagher said. Latham allegedly cursed at the woman, then began harassing the family online.

On May 4, Latham was driving down the street when he swerved toward one of the Durhams sons, according to Gallagher. Catherine Durham yelled at Latham and he then punched her, Gallagher said.

Catherine Durham, 49, was also charged, with fourth-degree criminal trespass and simple assault charges for allegedly punching Lathams wife, according to court documents. The Durhams sons were each charged with third-degree aggravated assault and fourth-degree criminal trespass.

PBA Local 105 provided Durhams family with a check for $10,000 and launched a GoFundMe drive that has raised more than $28,000 as of Sunday afternoon.

Lathams next court appearance is on June 11.

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Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo.
On the Frontline Against China, the US Coast Guard Is Taking on Missions the US Navy Can't Do

Competition with China has drawn more Pentagon resources to the Pacific, but the most visible U.S. military presence there...
This is the moment a 'real life Lord of the Flies' castaway returned to the island 50 years after he was shipwrecked there as a teenager for 15 months.

Spanish explorer Alvaro Cerezo became obsessed as a youngster with the story of six Tongan schoolboys who, in 1965, stole a boat and attempted to sail to Australia before washing up on Ata, a tiny and remote island 100 nautical miles away, after reading a book about their incredible experience.

In 2014 the Malagan documentary maker, who travels the world discovering 'Robinson Crusoes' who live on uninhabited islands, flew to Tonga in an attempt to track down and speak to the castaways.

Scroll down for video

Tongan-born Kolo Fekitoa was just a teenager when he was shipwrecked on the island of Ata for 15 months in 1965, before being rescued and finally returned to the island 50 years on

There, he befriended Kolo Fekitoa, the only one of the boys to remain on Tonga, who was by now a man in his sixties with terminal bowel cancer - and his dying wish was to return to the island.

After months of preparations, in February 2015 the pair eventually made the 24-hour journey back to Ata in a fishing boat, marooning themselves for 10 days with only limited food, water and supplies, surviving in the same way Kolo and his schoolfriends had done five decades before.

Kolo with Spanish explorer Alvaro Cerezo, who helped him to return to the island of Ata

The pair made their way out to the remote island some 50 years after Kolo first went there

Cerezo was fascinated by the incredible story of six Tongan schoolboys shipwrecked on Ata

Kolo's dying wish was to return to the island where he spent 15 months with five others in 1965

The tiny island of Ata is located some 100 nautical miles away from the boys' home in Tonga

Ata has been unihabited since 1863, when the inhabitants were taken by slave traders to Peru

Married father-of-one Kolo died in 2017 aged 71 and Alvaro is now sharing his story after a new retelling of the boys' original survival - dubbed 'the real Lord of the Flies' - went viral this month.

Alvaro, 39, said: 'Kolo was one of the last real castaways alive, and Ata is one of the only few real desert islands remaining on the planet.

The pair stayed on the island for 10 days, where they survived on rainwater and coconuts

One of the pots left behind on the island, which was used by the teenage castaways in 1965

'When I found Kolo, he was surprised I had come all the way from Europe to see him.

'I was equally shocked people in Tonga hardly knew about his adventure. Even his neighbours and his own daughter didn't know he was a real life castaway.

'But as soon as I met him, I realised he longed to return to Ata.

'For him, being shipwrecked had been the most beautiful adventure of his life.

'He really missed the island, and wanted to fulfil his dream to return. He had never been back since he was stranded there as a boy.

'I knew Kolo's only and last chance to go back to and survive on Ata once more was with me.

Australian captain Peter Warner rescued the six boys from the island after they were stranded there for 15 months abd later employed them on his boat

Kolo pictured after his rescue from the island of Ata in 1965

The boys managed to survive and live in peace on the island for more than a year

'He was so happy when we got to the island. During those 10 days, he became a boy again.

'Ata had hardly been touched by anyone else in the five decades since the boys had lived there, and during the days we spent there I could feel exactly how those six castaways must have felt.

'Before he died, I promised Kolo I would one day tell his beautiful story so his daughter could know how amazing he was.'

Despite its unforgiving landscape, inaccessible shores and limited fresh water supply, Ata, part of the remote archipelago of Tonga, had been inhabited by Pacific Islanders for generations.

The boys' incredible ordeal made headline news when they finally returned home in 1966

But the inhabitants of the tiny and remote island were kidnapped by slave traders in June 1863, and taken to Peru against their will, with Ata left empty ever since.

In 1965, the boys, who all attended a prestigious boarding school in Nuku'alofa', Tonga's capital, launched their fateful expedition because they didn't like their school dinners, but soon were caught in a storm.

After eight or nine days drifting at sea, they washed onto Ata's shores, spending the first three months drinking seabird's egg's yolks on the beach to survive before braving the climb up the island's steep cliffs when they realised no boat was coming to rescue them.

On the plateau above, they discovered signs of the civilisation which had been there before - a plantation which they weeded and maintained, banana and coconut trees, and chickens.

The boys - Sione, Stephen, Kolo, David, Luke and Mano, all aged between 13 and 16 - lived in peace on the island for more than a year, playing games, making musical instruments and devising exercises to keep themselves fit.

In the meantime their families eventually gave up searching for them and held funerals, assuming they had been lost at sea.

After 15 months they were spotted and rescued by Peter Warner, an Australian sea captain exploring the waters for a new fishing spot and returned to Tonga, with a film made about their miraculous exploits.

Their story rose to prominence again recently as proof William Golding's seminal text did not represent the true human condition, and that chaos and darkness would not necessarily prevail.

When Alvaro and Kolo returned to the island in 2015 they lived in the same way as the boys had done - eating fish and seabirds and getting their daily liquid from coconuts and rainwater which they collected in the holes of trees.

Alvaro spent months negotiating with the Tongan government for permission to make the trip and several thousand dollars finding a fisherman brave enough to drop them on the island's treacherously rocky coast, where many seafarers' lives had already been lost.

Alvaro and Kolo say farewell after their 10-day adventure staying on the island of Ata

But he considered abandoning the plan many times due to his childhood hero's declining health, which already meant some days he struggled to walk.

All the pair brought with them on their journey was one tent, Kolo's medicines and other first aid supplies, and a few gallons of water which they left at the entrance to the island.

Kolo's health remained intact during the trip, with him only becoming weak due to his health problems a few times, at which points Alvaro tended to him from the shelter they had created.

Alvaro says of the island that despite being 'dangerous and inhospitable' it was also 'paradise'

The 37-year-old, who is soon to release a book about the castaways' 15-month ordeal, said: 'When we returned, Kolo and I made a guitar from driftwood the same way he did in 1965, and played the same songs he composed on the island, about where the boys were, and whether they would ever see their families again.

'There are so many comparisons that can be made between the boys' story and Lord of the Flies.

'In my opinion, the bitterness which prevailed in the novel could easily have happened in real life.

'I know a dozen other true castaway stories where people killed each other for a sip of water.

'But the castaways of Ata had an amazing relationship, because they never had a shortage of food, water or space to separate from each other when needed.'

Alvaro's company Docastaway abandons brave holidaymakers on far-flung desert islands to survive alone for days or weeks at a time.

But he said he will never offer Ata as a place for his clients to experience, because he wants to keep it untouched.

Alvaro said: 'Kolo asked me why I was investing so much in fulfilling his dream.

'He told me I was wasting my time, as he would never recover, and told me to abandon the plan.

'But what he didn't realise was that his dream was also mine.

'For me, the idea of being with one of the last real castaways alive, on his own desert island, was unbeatable, something I would never have the chance to do again.

'I have been the biggest lover of castaway stories since I was a kid, and my trip to Ata with Kolo became the most beautiful adventure of my life.

'Ata was one of the most amazing desert islands I have ever survived on, despite its dangerous and inhospitable conditions, for me it was a real paradise.'

Click here to read more of Alvaro's castaway stories.
In a grim first, Maharashtra on Sunday recorded more than 2,000 Covid-19 cases with 2,347 new infections, taking the tally to 33,053. Sundays numbers come more than two months after the state started rolling out restrictions to curb the virus spread and on the last day of the third phase of the lockdown.

The worst-ravaged Indian city, Mumbai, too, registered its highest single-day jump in virus cases with 1,595 new patients, bringing its count past 20,000 to 20,150.

The state saw 63 Covid-19 deaths, of which 38 were in Mumbai, nine in Pune, six in Aurangabad, three each in Solapur city and Raigad, one each in Thane rural, Panvel, Latur and Amravati. Thirty-four of the patients who died on Sunday were above 60 years of age, while 22 were in the age group of 40 to 59 years and the remaining seven were below the age of 40 years. Forty-one of them had high-risk comorbidities, including diabetes, hypertension and heart ailments.

Hours before the Centre announced it officially on Sunday evening, the Maharashtra government extended the ongoing lockdown by two weeks till May 31. The state government is expected to soon issue its own notification, extending some relaxations for commercial-industrial activities and bringing clarity on the delineation of the zones (red, orange and green).

Although the state government cannot dilute the restrictions imposed by the Centre, it has been given powers to prepare buffer/micro zones. This may increase the number of containment zones, but actual area will decrease, leaving room for activities in the remaining area. Also, the state had not relaxed some restrictions, even though the Centre had allowed them, in the last notification. For instance, the relaxations to allow more employees in government and private offices, or operating non-essential shops in a staggered manner even in red zones, were not implemented in cities like Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nashik. The state can now go ahead with the opening of few more shops and increasing attendance in offices, said a senior government official.

The state, in the past two days, allowed manufacturers of umbrella, raincoats and plastic sheets to operate their units and retailers to sell them by putting them in the list of essential services. Similarly, the government has allowed employees of regional transport offices and sub-registrars to be at their workplaces, so at to ensure registration of vehicles and flats.

The notification issued on Sunday by the Centre will help us restructure containment zones by shrinking them. Commercial and other activities outside containment zones would thus be allowed. This is a very important step towards reviving the economy. At the same time, lockdown restrictions in containment zones will have to be followed strictly, said public works department minister and former chief minister Ashok Chavan. He said that the nod for public transport between states may come as a respite for migrant workers, who have been risking their lives to reach their home states.

The state saw 10,682 cases in just seven days, while the deaths reported in this period were 366. Of them, in Mumbai, 6,441 cases and 226 deaths were during the past week. The month of May saw 21,616 cases and 739 deaths in Maharashtra, which included 13,119 cases and 444 deaths in Mumbai. This means 31.76% cases and 38.31% deaths in the state have come in the past 17 days. The first case of Covid-19 in the state was on March 9.

After having crossed 25,000 cases on May 13, the next 5,000 in the state were reported in just three days. On May 9, the state tally had touched 20,220. The state took 53 days for its first 10,000 cases.

The number of tests in the state touched 2,73,239 on Sunday. 24,0186 of them were negative, which means 20.48% tested positive.

Maharashtras mortality rate has dropped to 3.70% against national rate of 3.16%, while the doubling rate in Maharashtra is little more than 10 days.

A total of 3,48,508 people are currently under home quarantine, while 17,638 are under institutional quarantine. 14,972 teams of health workers have screened 63.83 lakh people for suspected infection, after they came in contact with patients. 7,688 patients, including 600 on Sunday, have fully recovered from various hospitals, after testing positive in the past nine weeks.

The state has 1,688 containment zones. In Mumbai, the municipal corporation has broken the zones into smaller ones for better monitoring.

State health minister Rajesh Tope said that owing to the change in discharge policy by the Centre, the recovery rate among the patients in the state has improved. Of the 7,688 patients who have been discharged after recovery so far, 50% or 3,700 are in the past one week, he said.

Chief secretary Ajoy Mehta, who issued orders on Sunday afternoon, using powers conferred under the Disaster Management Act, also had a meeting with the Union cabinet secretary late on Sunday. The state has also clarified that guidelines on relaxations in the ongoing lockdown will be issued in due course.

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had hinted at the extension of the lockdown and had also demanded that the Centre allows operations of suburban trains in Mumbai, but only for essential services. The Central notification is, however, silent on the demand.

Activities in green zones will be fully permitted by keeping district boundaries sealed. It will be applicable to orange zones, excluding containment zones said an official.

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Five Iranian tankers likely carrying at least $45.5 million worth of gasoline and similar products are now sailing to Venezuela, part of a wider deal between the two U.S.-sanctioned nations amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.

The tankers' voyage come after Venezuela's socialist leader Nicols Maduro already turned to Iran for help in flying in chemicals needed at an aging refinery amid a gasoline shortage, a symptom of the wider economic and political chaos gripping Latin America's one-time largest oil producer.

For Iran, the tankers represent a way to bring money into its cash-starved Shiite theocracy and put its own pressure on the U.S., which under President Donald Trump has pursued maximalist campaigns against both nations.

But the strategy invites the chance of a renewed confrontation between the Islamic Republic and America both in the Persian Gulf, which saw a series of escalating incidents often involving the oil industry last year, and wider afield.

This is like a new one for everyone, said Capt. Ranjith Raja, an analyst who tracks oil shipments by sea at the data firm Refinitiv, of the gasoline shipments. We haven't seen anything like this before.

All the vessels involved belong to Iranian state-owned or state-linked companies, flying under the Iranian flag. Since a pressure campaign on Iranian vessels began, notably with the temporary seizure of an Iranian tanker last year by Gibraltar, the country's ships have been unable to fly flags of convenience of other nations, a common practice in international shipping.

The ships all appear to have been loaded from the Persian Gulf Star Refinery near Bandar Abbas, Iran, which makes gasoline, Raja said. The ships then traveled around the Arabian Peninsula and through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea, according to data collected from the ship's Automatic Identification System, or AIS, which acts as a tracking beacon.

One of the vessels, the Clavel, listed its AIS destination as Caracas beginning May 12, according to log data from ship-tracking website MarineTraffic.com.

The vessel later changed its destination as TO ORDER two days later, though the ship remains on a route that will see it leave the Mediterranean Sea and be in position to sail onto Venezuela.

Another tanker, the Forest, changed its AIS destination to S. AMERICA TO ORDER on May 14.

Three others, the Faxon, the Fortune and the Petunia, all appear on routes that could take them to Venezuela. Given the crushing U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran, also-sanctioned Venezuela appears to be the country that would have nothing to lose from accepting the shipments. Raja said Refinitiv had no data on any Iranian gasoline shipment ever going to South America before.

TankerTrackers.com, a website focused on the oil trade at sea, first reported the ships likely were heading to Venezuela.

The capacity of the five ships is some 175,000 metric tons. On the open market, the gasoline and product carried within them would be worth at least $45.5 million, though Iran likely reached a discounted, non-cash deal with Caracas given the circumstances the two nations face, Raja said.

As about the tankers grew, an Iranian agency called Nour, believed to have ties to the country's Supreme National Security Council, published an item on its website early Saturday trying to link a U.S. military exercise in the Caribbean to the tankers.

That council includes members of Iran's civilian government, its military and its paramilitary, hard-line Revolutionary Guard.

If the United States, like pirates, intends to create insecurity on international highways, it will take a dangerous risk that will certainly not go unnoticed, the agency warned in its brief report.

The Nour item, later picked up by other semiofficial agencies in Iran, follows a pattern by Tehran of issuing veiled threats through such reports even as officials don't directly acknowledge them.

Quoted by a website affiliated to Iranian state television, Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei on Saturday said he did not have any information on the ships.

We have to sell our oil and we have access to its paths, Rabiei said. Iran and Venezuela are two independent nations that have had trade with each other and they will in the future.

But that all changed late Sunday, when Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying the U.S. piracy threatened the disruption of Iran's fuel transmission to Venezuela."



Abbas Araghchi, Iran's deputy foreign minister, issued a similar warning to the Swiss ambassador in Tehran, who looks out for American interests there.

It remains unclear how the U.S. will respond to the tankers. On Thursday, the U.S. Treasury, State Department and Coast Guard issued an advisory warning the maritime industry of illegal shipping and sanctions-dodging tactics by countries including Iran.

The advisory repeated an earlier promise of up to $15 million for information disrupting the Guard's finances. It also warned anyone knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport or marketing of petroleum faced U.S. sanctions.

The U.S. State Department and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-16 23:33:28|Editor: huaxia

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MAPUTO, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Health of Mozambique (MISAU) said on Saturday that the cumulative number of people infected with COVID-19 has risen to 129, as ten more cases tested positive in the past 24 hours.

Public Health Director Rosa Marlene said when briefing the press in Maputo that 5,735 suspected cases had already been tested in the country, of which 374 were done in the last 24 hours.

Nine of the new cases, which show mild or even no symptoms at all, are Mozambican nationals and one is of Portuguese nationality, said the director.

She said that among the 129 confirmed cases, 109 are locally transmitted and 20 are imported ones.

Marlene underlined that one of the infected is a bank employee, calling for strict observance of hygiene measures and social distancing, as well as the regulations decreed for the State of Emergency due to the pandemic. Enditem
By IANS

NEW DELHI: The Indian Army headquarters Sena Bhawan, in the heart of national capital, was partly closed on Friday after a soldier tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.

"Affected area of Sena Bhawan closed for sanitation and disinfection. Actions as per protocol such as contact tracing and quarantine are in progress," the Indian Army said in a statement.

Earlier on May 4, the Indian Army Hospital was sanitised and disinfected after 24 patients, including serving and retired armed forces personnel, tested COVID-19 positive. The Indian Army's Research and Referral hospital in Delhi was disinfected.

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"The 24 patients were undergoing treatment at the hospital in the Oncology Department were tested Covid positive," a senior Indian Army officer had said. The patients were shifted to the Base Hospital in Delhi's Cantonment area.

Apart from this, 74 persons, which includes serving, ex-servicemen and dependents, from all armed forces were admitted for COVID-19 treatment.

A total of 42 have been discharged after successful treatment. Out of the 74 admitted, 60 were serving personnel.

The officer explained that after a patient is tested positive, a detailed contact tracing is carried out, including the family members which are then categorised into High-Risk Group, and etc.

"Quarantine protocol and testing of those in high risk group is carried out and all this can take upto 48 hours," the officer explained.

Earlier Indian Army Chief General M.M Naravane had said that the first COVID-19 positive solider in the force has joined back.

In the meantime, Indian Navy had stated that a total 38 COVID-19 positive cases were reported in the naval unit in Mumbai. Out of which, 12 have already been discharged from hospital while 26 are undergoing treatment.

The force had stressed that there have been no positive case on any of our warships and submarines.
Twenty-year-old Chandan Rajwar



wanted to be a lawyer but he quit college and joined a marble factory in Rajasthan to support his family, while Ajit Mahato, his 50-year-old colleague, was saving money to marry off his daughter.

The two had left the western state for their villages in Purulia district of West Bengal during the ongoing lockdown, but their families are now waiting for their bodies.

Chandan and Ajit are among the 24 migrant workers who were killed when a trailer truck collided with another truck in the early hours of Saturday near Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh. Both the vehicles were carrying passengers.

Two other men from Purulia also lost their lives in the same accident.

Purulia Zilla Sabhadhupati Sujoy Bandyopadhyay visited their modest houses at Dumdumi and Uparbatri villages on Sunday and assured the families the administration's help in bringing back the mortal remains of their dear departed.

"My son wanted to come back when the lockdown started. But no transport was available then. The money he had started reducing as days passed by," said Bhiksakar Rajwar, Chandan's father.

Rajwar, a mason, said he heard from Chandan for the last time on Thursday evening informing him that he would board a vehicle which will take him to Purulia along with some labourers from Jharkhand.

"Chandan had wanted to study and got admitted to a local degree college. However, there were livelihood issues. He quit studies and went to Rajasthan before the Durga Puja last year to work in a marble unit in Rajasthan," Rajwar said.

The wife of Ajit Mahato said he was saving money to get his second daughter married off. Their elder daughter got married sometime back.

The woman said, "He had called me on Thursday informing me that he would be back on Saturday. He asked me not to call him up frequently and not to worry. He had said he would update me about his arrival time. But."



Bandyopadhyay also visited the families of two more persons - Milan Badyakar and Ganesh Rajwar - who were killed in the accident.

The West Bengal government on Saturday announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each for the next of kin of those from the state who lost their lives in the collision.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
View of Brooklyn office of NYS Department of Labor as unemployment claims soar during Covid-19 pandemic, with sign on the doors asking people to apply for unemployment online. Lev Radin | Pacific Press | LightRocket via Getty Images

The startling 14.7% unemployment figure released last Friday bears even more sobering news for Latino workers: Among Hispanics, the unemployment rate stands significantly higher, at 18.9%. In part, that's because a greater share of Latinos work in some of the hardest-hit industries, such as hospitality, dining, and retail. Many others are small business owners, sole proprietors, or independent contractors also at greater risk for loss of income. If you've recently been laid off, or are concerned about the prospect, it's important you understand the rights and resources available to you.

Unemployment, PPP loans, and other wage replacement

For most workers, unemployment benefits are the first line of defense in the event of lost wages due to layoffs. Benefits.gov provides a comprehensive unemployment assistance page in both English and Spanish to help laid-off workers identify unemployment resources in their state. In addition to the coronavirus stimulus relief checks most taxpayers have received in recent weeks, the recently-passed CARES Act also buttresses state unemployment funds, and provides an extra $600 per week in unemployment benefits for most workers. Independent contractors and gig workers now also qualify for unemployment benefits, based on their most recent tax return filings. For sole proprietors, it may make more sense to apply for a PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loan from the Small Business Administration, which will cover up to 250% of your monthly payroll cost for eight weeks. The maximum yearly pay covered is $100,000, so obtaining PPP funds may provide more relief than unemployment insurance for higher-earning sole proprietors or independent contractors. Keep in mind, you can't apply for both a PPP loan and unemployment insurance, so choose wisely. The needs of Dreamers and other undocumented workers aren't addressed by the above programs, since both require a valid Social Security number and legal status. However, several immigrant rights' groups have created excellent resource pages which list local and state resources for refugees or undocumented workers, such as cash assistance and grant programs, rent relief, food banks, medical assistance, and support with renewing DACA status or other legal aid.

Health insurance options

If you lose your job, you'll typically qualify for COBRA continuation of your existing insurance for up to 18 months, including any coverage for your children or spouse. Still, many now-jobless workers may find the cost of COBRA continuation too expensive, so you should understand your other options, as well. Being laid-off or otherwise losing your job is a qualifying event that enables you to purchase health insurance through the ACA online marketplace. You may qualify for subsidies based on your income, thus making health insurance more realistic during a time of unemployment. Plans offered on the ACA marketplace must cover pre-existing conditions and are generally of good quality. A third option involves buying private insurance outside of the ACA marketplaces. Temporary or catastrophic plans may seem like suitable options, but read the fine print carefully: Some don't cover pre-existing conditions or may have very high out-of-pocket costs, low coverage limits, or other limitations which may make the plans less desirable, depending upon your circumstances  especially if you or a family member on the plan becomes acutely ill. Finally, know that under the CARES Act, Covid-19 testing is free, even for the uninsured. You also cannot be denied emergency care at a hospital due to a lack of insurance, though it is strongly recommended you carry some form of insurance at all times.

Vacation pay, severance, and back pay

Depending on your state and company, you may be entitled to a pay-out of any unused vacation pay or PTO. Check with your HR department to see if this applies in your case. You will also be entitled to compensation for back pay. Some employers may choose to offer severance for long-term employees, though this is not required by law, and varies by company and employee. Under the Older Workers' Benefit Protection Act, workers over 40 have 21 days to review and decide on any severance package; if you're facing mass layoffs, that period is even longer, so take your time to assess your severance package and determine whether anything can be negotiated with your employer. HSAs, life, and disability insurance Any balance in a Health Savings Account is portable and yours to keep when parting with an employer, and the funds can be used to pay for COBRA health coverage continuation, telemedicine, or other health-care costs post-employment separation. You can also withdraw funds to compensate yourself for past out-of-pocket expenses. Depending upon your employer and insurance plans, some forms of life and disability insurance may also be portable, especially if these are supplementary, or "add-on" plans that you've purchased beyond your standard employer offerings, Consult with your HR department to determine the portability of these plans, or any other options available to you.

401(k) plans and pensions
The Department of Health has announced that it has now recorded 15,515 cases of COVID-19 in South Africa.

This is an increase of 1,160 cases from the 14,355 cases reported yesterday.

The Department of Health also said that three more deaths have been attributed to the coronavirus, bringing the total of COVID-19-related deaths to 264 in South Africa.

The department expressed its condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thanked health care workers who cared for them.

It also said that the number of recoveries in the country now stands at 7,006.

We remain concerned about the developments in the Western Cape, comprising 76% of the new cases from the past 24-hour cycle, the department said.

The total number of tests conducted in the country is 460,873, with 21,314 completed in the last 24-hour cycle.

The table below details the total number of confirmed cases in each province, as well as the number of deaths.

Province Case Numbers Deaths Western Cape 9,294 149 Gauteng 2,329 25 Eastern Cape 1,936 35 KwaZulu-Natal 1,543 45 Free State 158 6 Limpopo 77 3 North West 70 1 Mpumalanga 71 0 Northern Cape 37 0

Push for schools in hotspots to stay closed

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has stated that it wants South African schools in the areas worst affected by COVID-19 to stay shut next month.

This is according to a report by the Sunday Times, which said that Education Minister Angie Motshekga will unveil this proposal on Monday when she briefs the media on schools reopening.

According to the report, the DBE want schools in high-risk municipalities to be treated as if they are in lockdown level 5.

Teachers unions have been critical of the DBE throughout the return-to-school planning process, and have claimed that it is not being straightforward with them.

The manner in which the department is conducting itself on the consultations is causing a trust deficit with the unions and this must be addressed, said five teachers unions in a joint statement.

They said the DBE had not addressed its concerns regarding how substitute teachers would be appointed to replace those who have medical conditions.

The unions said the DBE had also committed to addressing their concerns regarding how comorbidities would be treated. However, at the meeting they were expecting to be briefed, no such information was provided.
RTHK: Australia wants China to address trade row

Australia urged China on Sunday to respond to its requests to discuss easing tensions between the two trading partners after Canberra called for an international enquiry into the origins of the novel coronavirus.

China, accusing Australia of playing "petty tricks", has recently suspended beef imports from four of Australia's largest meat processors and is considering imposing hefty tariffs on imports of barley.

Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has requested discussions on the trade issues with his Chinese counterpart, he said in a television interview on the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

"That request has not been met with a call being accommodated at this stage," he said on the ABC's 'Insiders' programme. "We are open to have that discussion, even where there are difficult issues to be discussed."

Birmingham said Australia reserved its rights to bring a case against China at the World Trade Organisation if Beijing imposed the tariffs on Australian barley.

Relations between Beijing and Canberra have been strained amid Australian accusations of Chinese meddling in domestic affairs and concern about what Australia sees as China's growing influence in the Pacific region.

The call for the probe into the coronavirus' origins came amid rising criticism of China's handling of the outbreak by US President Donald Trump, who has said that Beijing should face consequences if it was "knowingly responsible" for the pandemic.

Canberra has insisted the call for the enquiry into the pandemic, which it says most likely originated in a wildlife market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, was not politically targeted at Beijing.

Australia is set to join other countries in pushing for the probe when the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organisation, gathers this week in Switzerland for its first annual meeting since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Australia has so far succeeded in containing the pandemic with swift and strict, albeit economically very costly, social-distancing measures and aggressive testing.

The country, with a population of 25 million, has recorded 7,036 Covid-19 cases and 98 deaths, significantly below the levels reported in North America and Europe. As of Saturday, the government has reported testing more than 1 million people for the virus.

With new daily cases falling, Australia has begun easing its social-distancing restrictions with most states allowing for public gatherings and some allowing pubs, malls, parks and beaches to reopen after weeks of lockdown. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2020-05-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Imperial Valley News Center

NIH begins clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin to treat COVID-19

Washington, DC - A clinical trial has begun to evaluate whether the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, given together with the antibiotic azithromycin, can prevent hospitalization and death from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, is sponsoring the trial, which is being conducted by the NIAID-funded AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG). Teva Pharmaceuticals is donating medications for the study.

The Phase 2b trial will enroll approximately 2,000 adults at participating ACTG sites across the United States. Study participants must have confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and be experiencing fever, cough and/or shortness of breath. The investigators anticipate that many of those enrolled will be 60 years of age or older or have a comorbidity associated with developing serious complications from COVID-19, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive short-term treatment with either hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin or matching placebos. People living with HIV and pregnant and breastfeeding women also are eligible to participate in the study. The first participant enrolled today in San Diego, California.

We urgently need a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19. Repurposing existing drugs is an attractive option because these medications have undergone extensive testing, allowing them to move quickly into clinical trials and accelerating their potential approval for COVID-19 treatment, said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. Although there is anecdotal evidence that hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin may benefit people with COVID-19, we need solid data from a large randomized, controlled clinical trial to determine whether this experimental treatment is safe and can improve clinical outcomes.

As of May 13, the World Health Organization (WHO)(link is external) has reported 4.17 million cases of and 287,399 deaths from COVID-19 worldwide. In the United States, 1.36 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and 82,246 deaths have been reported as of May 13, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Currently, there are no specific therapeutics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat people with COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine is FDA-approved to prevent and treat malaria, as well as to treat the autoimmune diseases rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Some preliminary reports have suggested that hydroxychloroquine, alone or in combination with the FDA-approved antibiotic azithromycin, may benefit people with COVID-19. Numerous clinical trials are planned or underway, including a recently launched study supported by NIHs National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute evaluating the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for treatment of adults hospitalized with COVID-19. On March 28, FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization(link is external) (EUA) to allow hydroxychloroquine and medical-grade chloroquine to be distributed from the Strategic National Stockpile and prescribed by doctors to hospitalized adolescents and adults with COVID-19, as appropriate, when a clinical trial is not available or feasible.

Participants in the ACTG study, called A5395, will receive oral medications to take at home. Those randomly assigned to the experimental treatment group will take 400 milligrams (mg) of hydroxychloroquine twice on the first day and 200 mg twice daily for an additional six days. They also will take 500 mg of azithromycin on the first day and 250 mg daily for an additional four days. The control group will receive equivalent numbers of placebo pills. Neither the participants nor the study team will know who received experimental treatment or placebo until the end of the trial.

Participants will record their symptoms, adherence to treatment, and major events such as hospitalizations in a diary for 20 days. Study staff will follow up with participants by telephone during this period. When possible, participants will come to the clinical research site for an in-person visit at day 20. Additional follow-ups will be conducted by telephone three and six months after treatment starts.

The main objective of the study is to determine whether hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin can prevent hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. Additionally, investigators will evaluate the safety and tolerability of the experimental treatment for people with SARS-CoV-2 infection. While hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin are both considered safe in most people, they can cause side effects ranging from headache and nausea to, rarely, heart rhythm problems that can be life-threatening. Because of the risk of heart problems when hydroxychloroquine is used alone or combined with azithromycin, FDA cautions that use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 should be limited to clinical trials or for treating certain hospitalized patients under EUA(link is external) so clinicians can monitor patients for adverse effects.

This study will provide key data to aid responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, said ACTG Chair Judith Currier, M.D., of the University of California, Los Angeles. We are pleased to be able to leverage ACTGs existing infrastructure for HIV treatment clinical trials to quickly implement this important study.

The study team is led by Protocol Chair Davey Smith, M.D., of the University of California, San Diego. David Wohl, M.D., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Kara W. Chew, M.D., and Eric S. Daar, M.D., both of the University of California, Los Angeles, serve as protocol vice-chairs. The trial is expected to enroll quickly given the high incidence of COVID-19, and initial results may be available later this year.

For more information about A5395, visit ClinicalTrials.gov and search identifier NCT04358068. Adults interested in participating in the study should email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (link sends e-mail).

NIAID conducts and supports researchat NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwideto study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website.
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Masked diplomacy: Officials pose in front of a shipment of medical supplies worth about Rp 10 billion (US$672.115) sent by the Belt and Road Research Institute (Shenzhen) for International Cooperation and Development (BRRI) in China. The supplies arrived in Jakarta on Saturday. (Courtesy of BRRI)

Various parties in China are continually sending batches of medical supplies to Indonesia, which is still struggling to lower the rate of COVID-19 infection in the country.

The latest shipment was sent by the Belt and Road Research Institute (Shenzhen) for International Cooperation and Development (BRRI), the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister confirmed on Saturday.

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The mother of a six-year-old autistic boy has appealed to the public to be mindful of the videos they post on TikTok following the emergence of a disturbing trend of people completing challenges that make fun of individuals on the spectrum.

Nicole Duggan, of Glanmire, Co Cork, who is mother to six-year-old Riley, said she is angry about the cruel development.

"Recently we have been posting TikToks to get us through the lockdown. Riley loves TikToks. He loves taking part in them. He loves scrolling through TikTok and laughing at the videos," Nicole said.

"We have really enjoyed it. I have now been aware of a challenge or trend that is going around TikTok where people are challenging each other to make fun or mock someone who has a disability, specifically autism.

"I have been sent videos of parents doing it with their kids, I have been sent videos of young adults doing it on their own. Posting it on the internet and thinking that they are absolutely hilarious and mocking people who have a disability. This has become a trend."

Nicole says that it is an "absolute disgrace" that people think it is acceptable to post videos of this nature online.

If you are the type of person who wants to make a video to mock someone who is a vulnerable person in our society and wants to mock somebody who cannot possibly defend themselves well it says a lot about you. I feel sorry for you.

"There is a misconception when it comes to social media that people have the right to say whatever they want.

"Nobody has the right to mock a person with a disability and think they can get away with it. Nobody has the right to make fun of somebody because of their speech, because of their stims, because of their hand gestures or the way they walk and talk. I will not put up with somebody making fun of people like him (Riley)."

Nicole says the videos are "disgusting and disgraceful."

"A few months ago 'be kind' went viral on the internet and now this starts."

In a statement, the website asiam.ie, which advocates for the autism community in Ireland, says that origins of the TikTok trend are unclear.

However, the challenge appears to consist of videos portraying insensitive impressions of autistic traits such as head-rocking, flapping and other stims.

"Many autistic people who have experience of bullying will likely have experience of people imitating autistic traits. The utlimate effect is further stigma on autistic behaviors.

"TikTok appears to have acted against the challenge, with very few of the videos from the original challenge still being visible on the website."

However, asiam.ie urges autistic people or parents likely to be upset by this content to adjust their social media preferences to mute unwanted words.

"In the interest of balance, TikTok users such as Paige Layle or Chloe Hayden are good examples of informative and entertaining autistic content."
A senior officer at the Armys secret psychological warfare unit has been ticked off after losing a dozen of his business cards in the street  and then using military police to pressure the veteran who raised the alert.

Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Burridge, a commander in 77th Brigade which is leading efforts to counter Covid-19 disinformation, dropped a pile of cards carrying his office and mobile telephone numbers and his email address earlier this month.

They were spotted on a street in Cottesmore, Rutland, by an Army veteran. Fearing a possible security breach, he picked them up and contacted Alfie Usher, a former soldier who runs the respected military Facebook group Fill Your Boots.

Using the number on the card, Mr Usher contacted Lt Col Burridge and was surprised when the officer initially denied losing the cards and claimed it was a case of mistaken identity.

Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Burridge, a commander in 77th Brigade which is leading efforts to counter Covid-19 disinformation, dropped a pile of cards carrying his office and mobile telephone numbers and his email address earlier this month

He relented only when the email address and phone numbers were read out to him but then angrily said he was busy fixing Covid before abruptly ending the call. Mr Usher then received a number of mysterious phone calls from military police officers demanding to know who found the cards.

When Mr Usher asked for an official case reference number, they refused to provide one.

Given the shadowy nature of 77th Brigades work, Army chiefs are said to have expressed disappointment about how Lt Col Burridge handled the incident, not least because Mr Usher subsequently posted a three-minute video on Fill Your Boots detailing his experience. It has been watched more than 50,000 times.

Mr Usher last night declined to comment, but says in his video: Hes [Lt Col Burridge] embarrassed himself. I tried to do him a favour my letting him know.

Instead he said, How dare you speak to a lieutenant colonel like that, and hung up on me. Then he got the RMPs to call my office when they dont have jurisdiction over civilians.

It only takes one officer to display such a lack of humility to let down all the others. He only had to be civil and say thanks.

Given the shadowy nature of 77th Brigades work, Army chiefs are said to have expressed disappointment about how Lt Col Burridge handled the incident, not least because Mr Usher subsequently posted a three-minute video on Fill Your Boots detailing his experience. Pictured: the 77th Brigade symbol

General Sir Nick Carter, the Chief of the General Staff, last month revealed that 77th Brigade was being used to combat disinformation about the spread of the virus. The unit is understood to have teamed up with the security services to thwart Chinese and Russian online propaganda.

Formed in 2015, 77th Brigade is based at Denison Barracks in Berkshire. It specialises in psychological warfare, including using Twitter and Facebook to challenge false claims about UK Government policy.

The Mail on Sunday revealed in December 2018 how 77th Brigade had been targeted by Russian state journalists who were questioned and photographed by Army soldiers for loitering near the base and filming through its barbed wire perimeter fences.

Last night an Army spokesman said: We are aware of an incident regarding some lost business cards which has been resolved appropriately.

We are not prepared to comment further on an individuals personal information.
We kept waiting and waiting for them to do something, and they never did, said Diane Crowley, who worked at the front desk at the nursing home, wiping her hands with a cloth soaked in bleach that she said she kept in a plastic bag in her pocket. She eventually quit. I was literally surrounded by covid, she said. I just told my kids, Please never put me in one of those places. These people live their whole lives  there are teachers, poets and everything else  and this is what theyre ending their lives with? 
Kabul, May 17 : Over 120 Afghan civilians were killed and 350 others injured in Taliban attacks over the past three weeks, said a spokesman for the Office of National Security Council (ONSC).

"The attacks launched by the Taliban and their supporters show a 33 per cent increase compared with the second week of the holy month of Ramzan," TOLO News quoted ONSC spokesman Jawed Faisal as saying on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry said that the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF) have returned to "offence mode" following an order by President Ashraf Ghani.

"Over the past few days we managed to conduct a series of powerful attacks on the enemy position and dealt major human fatalities on them," said Ministry spokesman Rohullah Ahmadzai.

Ghani on Wednesday ordered the ANDSF to return to "offence mode" against the insurgents due to the increasing number of attacks.

Ghani made the statement in the wake of Tuesday's deadly attacks in Kabul and Nangarhar.

At least 24 people, among them two newborn babies, were killed in an attack on the Dash-e-Barchi 100-bed hospital, which is home to a maternity clinic run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

On Friday, Ghani defended his new military stance against the insurgents, saying that his administration will never oppose efforts for peace and reconciliation, but warned that the Afghan armed forces had the right to defend the nation against threats.

Nevertheless, a number of political commentators and former Taliban members have said that both the Afghan government and the militant should swiftly end the hostilities and engage in dialogue, TOLO News reported.

"Both sides (Taliban and the Afghan govt) should agree on an Islamic solution and move forward," said Sayed Akbar Agha, a former Taliban commander.

The Taliban have also claimed to have inflicted massive human casualties on the ANDSF.

The Afghan government insists on military supremacy at a time when foreign parties have warned that Kabul's harsher military action could pose devastating blows to the country's peace process.

However, the peace deal between the US and the Taliban in Doha had raised some new hopes among the Afghan people and their international partners that this time more concrete steps for a negotiated settlement between the Taliban and the Afghan factions too, will be taken.

But with the passage of time, attacks increased and both the Afghan government and the Taliban have accused each other of attempts to sabotage the peace process.

On April 25, ONSC figures provided indicated that the Taliban had conducted an average of 55 attacks per day since the signing of the peace deal with the US in Doha on February 29.

It said that the Taliban conducted 2,804 attacks from the beginning of March to April 19, adding the group "does not remain committed to the reconciliation process that will help the country to end decades of war".


By James M. Dorsey





The Trump administration's decision to withdraw Patriot anti-missile defense batteries from Saudi Arabia is likely to fuel an already brewing arms race as the kingdom attempts to catch up with Iran's nuclear development as well as its space, ballistic missile, and drone capabilities.



In 2019, the U.S. sent Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia to bolster its defenses in the wake of alleged Iranian watershed attacks on Saudi oil facilities (Sebastian Apel-U.S. Department of Defense, via AP)



One thing is certain, the recent U.S. military pullback from Saudi Arabia will fuel a brewing arms race in the Middle East at a time when the region, struggling with the public health and devastating economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, can least afford it.



Saudi Arabia is likely to see the withdrawal, despite a seemingly reassuring phone call between Saudi King Salman and President Donald J. Trump, as further evidence that it cannot fully rely, for its defense, on the United States.



The drawdown involves two U.S. Patriot surface-to-air missile launching systems that were sent to the kingdom last year to bolster its defenses in the wake of alleged Iranian watershed attacks on Saudi oil facilities and oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.



The withdrawal came on the heels of the successful launch of Iran's first military reconnaissance satellite that not only catapulted the Islamic Republic into an elite group of about a dozen countries capable of orbital launches but also signaled its capabilities despite crippling U.S. economic sanctions and a public healthcare crisis.



The satellite "will play a role in identification missions and in providing strategic assistance to the armed forces in identification, communication, and navigation missions  We must use these satellites and provide services to the armed forces," said Iranian General Ali Jafarabadi, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' space division.



Iran hawks in the United States and Israel worry that the satellite will enhance the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile capability, a pillar of its defense strategy, as well as the ability of Hezbollah, the pro-Iranian Shiite militia in Lebanon, to convert its rocket and GPS-guided weapons stockpile into smart munitions.



The Trump administration's drawdown decision was announced amid estimates that Iran's gradual backing away from a 2015 international agreement  that curbed its nuclear program in response to a U.S. withdrawal from the accord in 2018  had cut in half the time it would need to produce enough weapons-grade fuel to build a nuclear weapon.



The risk of an arms race was explicit in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's warning at the time that Trump was gearing up to withdraw from the nuclear agreement that "without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible."



A recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) suggested that talks with the kingdom on U.S. help to create a Saudi civil nuclear program had stalled because of Saudi reluctance to agree to enrichment and reprocessing restrictions and signing of an Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which would allow IAEA to obtain expanded information about Saudi nuclear activities and grant it access to facilities.



The development of a local defense industry is a pillar of Prince Mohammed's troubled Vision 2030 plan.



The development of a local defense industry is a pillar of Prince Mohammed's troubled Vision 2030 plan designed to streamline and diversify the Saudi economy that has been thrown into doubt by the global economic depression. The kingdom last week tripled sales taxes from 5 to 15 percent and suspended cost-of-living allowances for government employees to cope with a fiscal crunch.



Anthony Cordesman, a Washington-based Gulf military analyst, warned that the Saudi plan to build a defense industry was not the best way to diversify the kingdom's economy even if it would create some jobs and boost its technology sector.



There is "virtually no way to waste money more effectively than trying to create an effective technology base or fund a weapons assembly effort in an area of industry and technology which is so demanding, offers so few real-world benefits in job creation, and where there often is so little ability to use the technology needed for specific weapons or purposes  particularly civilian ones," Cordesman said.



"Such an effort would involve other problems  the domestic needs for such weapons is limited and Saudi Arabia would likely be unable to compete in selling these weapons on the international market," Cordesman went on to say.



Iran's satellite launch is the latest building block in an arms race that Iran, like the UAE, is ironically better placed than Saudi Arabia to compete in given its already existing defense industry and more diversified industrial base.



Ballistic missiles and drones are other building blocks. Satellite images revealed last year that Saudi Arabia had a facility designed to test and possibly manufacture ballistic missiles.



Satellite images revealed last year that Saudi Arabia had a facility deep in the desert designed to test and possibly manufacture ballistic missiles that potentially would be capable of delivering nuclear warheads to targets thousands of kilometers from their launch point. The facility is believed to be intended to counter Iran's far advanced ballistic missile program.



The kingdom is similarly set to begin next year producing military drones that would match Iran's bomb-carrying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that reportedly have a range of 1,500 kilometers.



China agreed in 2017 to build a facility in Saudi Arabia to produce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), the People's Republic's first overseas military manufacturing site.



"The Middle East has become a drone warfare theater," said Alessandro Arduino, a drone warfare researcher at Singapore's Middle East Institute. "Their deployment has ushered in a new era of post-coronavirus deterrence and turned conventional military doctrine on its head. From Yemen to Libya and Syria, warring parties resist calls for a truce, emboldened by the role of armed UAVs."



The reality on the ground, however, is neither of these countries can presently afford the extraordinary financial and technological cost of such militaristic endeavors when their economies are battered by a far-reaching global depression, a collapse of oil prices, and a health pandemic. Iran, moreover, is struggling to grope with U.S. sanctions while Saudi Arabia faces painful fiscal problems and structural reforms.





Dr. James M. Dorsey (jmd@jmdonline.org) is an award-winning journalist and a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. He is also an adjunct senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore's Middle East Institute and co-director of the University of Wuerzburg's Institute of Fan Culture in Germany.






Is it possible for Islam to undermine and replace the core values of Western civilization? By core values, I'm referring to deeply held principles such as inalienable rights, religious and personal freedom, equality of the sexes, free speech, and the separation of religion and state.

According to some, even posing this question places you in the company of conspiracy theorists and "Islamophobes." Perhaps that accusation would be true if we assumed that all Muslims are engaged in an effort to bring North America and Europe under Muslim rule. But, Islam is not a monolithic faith and many Muslims who live in the West have internalized Western values. Some have even championed the cause of human rights within Islam.

There is, however, a substantial minority of Muslims in our midst who adhere closely to the teachings of traditional Islam (albeit with some modern adaptations) and believe that every nation must submit to Allah's rule. They seek to do this by gradually implementing some form of sharia in society, one precept at a time, blurring the line between mosque and state. In their view, the only legitimate form of government is an Islamic theocracy ruled by a caliph- -that is, a successor to Muhammad. These Muslims are often referred to as "Islamists." Based on an analysis of surveys conducted by Pew Research, globally, over two-thirds of Muslims are Islamists.

But, how many Islamists are there in North America, and do they really pose a threat? There are no direct polling numbers for measuring Islamism, but using responses to individual questions from different polls, we can approximate the number of Islamists. According to a 2017 poll by Pew Research, 31% of U.S. Muslims believe there is only one true way to interpret their religion and 38% believe that traditional understandings of Islam are all they need. A 2015 Canadian poll showed more dramatic results: 42% of Canadian Muslims said that Islam is "irreconcilable" with the West.

Even more telling, is a 2012 poll by Wenzel Strategies.1 In that poll, 73% of American Muslims said that if the Constitution and sharia law conflict in any way, a Muslim should follow the Constitution (20% were not sure). But, when asked if sharia should be the supreme law of the land, 32% agreed. The Wentzel poll also revealed that, 58% of Muslim-Americans believe that criticism of Islam or Muhammad should not be permitted under the First Amendment, and 46% say that those who engage in such criticism should face criminal charges.

Since specific questions relating to sharia and free speech are a more reliable gauge for identifying Islamist behavior than broad philosophical questions which are open to multiple interpretations, we can conclude, based on the Wenzel poll, that 32% to 58% of American Muslims are Islamists (assuming this poll is reliable). This aligns with the 42% of Canadian Muslims who said that Islam is "irreconcilable" with the West, and with the 38% of Muslims, identified in the Pew poll, who believe that traditional understandings of Islam are all they need.

What this means is rendered academic: Take nearly any mosque, any Muslim neighborhood, or any Muslim demographic group, and it is virtually certain that a percentage of the sample population will work towards the implementation of sharia law in society and, in rare cases, even commit violent acts in the name of Islam.

"But," someone will object, "there were only 3.45 million Muslims in the U.S. in 2017, comprising 1.1% of the population. Even if half of U.S. Muslims are Islamists, we are talking about a population group numbering less than 2 million out of 326 million. Such a small population of Muslims, no matter how determined, would have little chance of making headway against the prevailing culture."

The mistaken assumption behind this objection is that a group's influence is proportional to its numbers. Yet, consider the dramatic, legal and social gains made by gays and lesbians who comprise, at most, 4.5% of the population. Same-sex marriage, unthinkable 20 years ago, is now the law of the land. Though transgenders, made up only 0.6% of the population in 2016, their cause is highlighted in the media everyday and their participation in society has garnered substantial popular and legal support in the last few years.

The same is true for Islamists. Their small numbers belie their influence. In my book, Can Islam Transform the West?, I present several lines of evidence to support this, including the Islamist impact on free speech, their antisemitism, their propagation of hate, and their influence on Congress and American universities. In this article, we will consider only one of these elements: Free speech.

Free speech is a right guaranteed under the First Amendment. Traditional Islam does not have such a right. In fact, Islamic blasphemy laws prescribe severe punishment and even execution for those who criticize Islam or Muhammad. A substantial number American Muslims have been influenced by these blasphemy laws. According to the 2012 Wentzel poll, mentioned above, though 90% of Muslims in America agree with the First Amendment, 58% also believe that criticism of Islam or Muhammad should not be permitted under the First Amendment, 46% agree that those who criticize or parody Islam in the U.S. should face criminal charges (17% not sure), and 12% agree that those who criticize or parody Islam should be put to death (9% not sure). The poll also revealed that 43% of Muslim-Americans believe that U.S. citizens do not have a right to evangelize Muslims (28% not sure).

Though most Muslims do not engage in terrorism, a number of terrorist threats and attacks on Western targets have been provoked by words or pictures which some Muslims found offensive. The most infamous of these confrontations is the Charlie Hebdo massacre of 2015 in which 12 staff members of the French magazine were gunned down in retaliation for publishing satirical images of the Prophet Muhammad. That same year, two terrorists were killed in an attempted attack at an exhibit in Garland, Texas which featured cartoon images of Muhammad.

Islamists have come to realize that they don't need to change one jot or tittle of the U.S. Constitution or European human rights laws to suppress criticism of Islam, they only have to render those rights ineffective. Their plan is working. Following the Charlie Hebdo attack, 42% of the French people wanted the press to avoid publishing cartoons that would upset the Muslim community.

Overall, the mainstream, Western media, both in Europe and the U.S., have responded to such attacks with fear and self-censorship. You will find little, if any, serious criticism of Muslims and Islamic beliefs in these sources, much less cartoons or satire about Muhammad. Unwittingly, nearly every major media outlet and publisher- -both electronic and print, both popular and academic- -are acting in dutiful compliance to traditional Islam's blasphemy laws.

The impact of Islamism on free speech goes beyond the media. Islamists have aligned themselves with Progressives in Europe and America to suppress criticism of Islam by labeling nearly all criticism, even reasoned criticism, as "Islamophobic, racist, and bigoted."

Forsaking the time-honored tradition of free speech in the West, hate speech laws in Europe and Canada, along with speech codes on social media, and in businesses and universities here in the U.S., have made it more difficult or virtually impossible to criticize Islam without incurring considerable social, financial, and even legal consequences (e.g., legal harassment, fines). Facebook and YouTube now routinely ban, financially punish, or suspend critics of Islamism including prominent ex-Muslims like Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

In our society there is a collective punishment for those who criticize Islam. Critics risk being defamed, labeled as bigots, boycotted, harassed, threatened, and even physically attacked. This is how Islamic blasphemy laws are entering the West through the back door. Free speech rights are suffering the death of a thousand cuts.

To repeat the question I posed at the outset: Is it possible for Islam to eventually undermine and replace the core values of Western civilization? The answer, based on the evidence presented here, is that it is not only possible, but it is happening in plain sight. And, it will continue as long as we empower Islamists by our ignorance, indifference, and lack of courage.

William DiPuccio, Ph.D. is the author of Can Islam Transform the West? The Evidence Considered, Director of the Muslim Global Demographic Project, and the producer of What a Billion Muslims Believe. You can find his publications and videos at Science Et. Cetera.

1 Unlike political views which change frequently, religious beliefs tend to remain stable over time. Consequently, using a 2012 poll is appropriate. Moreover, data from this poll aligns with more recent polls as indicated above. In a recent course on Islam, offered by Pew Research, most of the data was derived from global surveys conducted between 2008 and 2012.
Authorities are asking for the publics help finding a missing 62-year-old woman.

Barbara Williams was last seen about 2 p.m. Saturday in the 4200 block of Jackson Street. She was wearing cheetah print pants and shirt, a red scarf and pink house slippers, said Birmingham police Sgt. Rod Mauldin.

Family told police Williams suffered a previous brain injury that has resulted in memory loss. She could be in Tarrant.

Williams is 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Birmingham police at 205-297-8434 or 911.
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Sunday alleged that West Bengal and Bihar are not issuing required clearances to run trains at a number desired by the state government, saying they are "very slow" in responding.

He also said a total of 20 lakh migrants, most of them from Bihar and West Bengal, have registered themselves with the Maharashtra government so far for travelling back to their native states in special trains.

Deshmukh's statement came close on the heels of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal accusing some Opposition-ruled states, including West Bengal, of reluctance to requisition trains for migrants settled in other states.

"The state Home department has received an enrolment of some 20 lakh people, most of them to Bihar and West Bengal, who have expressed their wish to return to their home states," Deshmukh told reporters.

"However, the problem is that states like West Bengal and Bihar are not issuing required clearance for running the trains," he said.

Deshmukh further said that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar had already spoken to CMs of Bihar and West Bengal, "but they are very slow in responding".

The senior NCP leader said the minimum requirement of trains for Maharashtra alone is around 800.

"If all the migrant labourers to be sent back, we would need more than 1,000 trains," the home minister said.

"Going by the current speed at which migrants are enrolling themselves (to travel back), daily 50 trains will have to be run from all the major stations. At least ten trains have to be run daily to Bihar and West Bengal," he said.

However, the governments of West Bengal and Bihar are not giving permissions to run trains at a number desired by the Maharashra government.

"When we informed the governments of West Bengal and Bihar that the registered number of migrant labourers in Maharashtra can fill up to 25 trains each, we got the permission to run one or two trains only. It is sad to see the plight of the migrant labourers," he said.

Deshmukh said the state Home department has been in touch with various governments seeking their approvals for repatriation of migrants in special trains.

He said the state government has been footing the train fare of migrants and also providing them food and water for journey.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Taoiseach spoke with European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen this afternoon by telephone.

Leo Varadkar briefed her on the gradual steps Ireland is taking to reopen its economy.

He also expressed his support for a coordinated approach at EU level to lifting restrictions on travel.

President von der Leyen talked about how the European Union's budget can support sectors and regions affected by the crisis to build a greener, more resilient economy.

The Taoiseach stressed the vital role the agriculture sector can play in this and the importance of a properly funded Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

From tomorrow the first phase of Ireland's lockdown exit begins.

As the restrictions begin to lift, the public has been urged to wear face coverings when using busy public transport or in an enclosed indoor public area.
Speaking on the effectiveness of the tonic in a recent interview with France 24, Rajoelina said: COVID-Organics is a preventive and curative remedy against COVID-19. It works really well and it is as a result of the research carried out by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research which has the status of an original research centre.
New Delhi, May 17 : To mitigate the economic fallout of COVID-19 outbreak, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced a mega stimulus push for education, health and rural employment along with a roadmap for a massive privatisation and merger drive of public sector undertakings in certain areas.

Accordingly, on the fifth and the final day of detailing the mega Rs 20 lakh-crore economic package under the Centre's 'Self-Reliant India Movement', the minister also eased regulatory norms on insolvency norms and listing norms.

The minister also gave a monetary break-up of all the measures she announced during the last 5-days. These are cumulatively worth Rs 20,97,053 crore announced under the mega stimulus package which also includes RBI measures and steps announced under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyana Package (PMGKP).

On Sunday, she announced additional allocation of Rs 40,000 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (MGNREGS).

In the Union Budget 2020-21, the government had allocated Rs 61,500 crore for MGNREGS, and the additional Rs 40,000 crore will be over and above this budget estimate (BE), she said.

This additional amount is expected to generate nearly 300 person days of employment in total.

Significantly, the decision will aide scores of migrant workers who have left for their villages find employment.

But the biggest annnouncement was on the new Public Sector Enterprise Policy, and opening up of all sectors to private players.

Sitharaman said that under the new policy, a list of strategic sectors requiring presence of PSEs in public interest will be notified and in these sectors, at least one enterprise will remain in the public sector and private sector will also be allowed to operate.

Notably, Sitharman announced that in the other, non-strategic sectors, all public sector units will be privatised. The timing of the privatisation will depend on feasibility and other factors, she added.

Furthermore, the minister gave a major relief for businesses by easing insolvency norms.

The minister announced that no fresh insolvency case will be admitted for the next one year. The Centre had earlier suspended any fresh admission for six months.

Similarly, Centre will also set up a special insolvency framework for MSMEs. The threshold for insolvency will also be raised to Rs 1 crore from the current Rs 1 lakh which will be supportive for the MSME sector.

In another set of reform measures announced on Sunday minor technical and procedural defaults under the Companies Act were decriminalized.

The decriminalised violations include shortcomings in CSR reporting, inadequacies in board report, filing defaults, delay in holding of annual general meetings.

Besides, seven compoundable offences will be dropped, while five offences will be dealt with under alternative framework.

In terms of the monetary break-up, she listed measures worth Rs 20,97,053 crore including RBI measures and steps announced under PMGKP.

Under the break-up, on the first day announcements with allocations worth Rs 5,94,550 crore were made, while on the second day steps on agriculture, housing, rural sectors worth Rs 3,10,000 crore were made.

Another Rs 1,50,000 crore were allocated for several schemes to revive agriculture and allied sectors amongst others on the third day.

On the fourth and the fifth day, the FM gave a mega push to boost mining, defence, civil aviation and power distribution sectors via structural reforms and stimulus worth Rs 48,100 crore.

Consequently, these steps come to a total of Rs 11,02,650 crore.

The package also include earlier announcements under PMGKP worth Rs 1,92,800 crore and RBI measures including Rs 8,01,603 crore which come to Rs 9,94,403 crore.

These announcements were made under Prime Minister's mega stimulus package a mounting to 10 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
The Centre on Sunday announced plans to privatise PSUs in non-strategic sectors and suspend loan default-triggered bankruptcy filings for one year in the fifth and final tranche of its economic stimulus package that together with RBI's liquidity measures totalled to about Rs 21 lakh crore but entailed less than 10 per cent cash outgo from government coffers.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, whose previous four parts of the stimulus package involved credit line to small businesses and new fund creations to be shouldered by banks and financial institutions with very little extra budget spending, announced a Rs 40,000 crore hike in allocation for the rural employment guarantee scheme to provide jobs to migrant workers.

She also raised the threshold of insolvency proceedings to help the industry deal with COVID-19 pains.

The government also announced a new policy for companies under state control, saying PSUs in non-strategic sectors will be privatised while those in the identified strategic sector would be capped at four, with the rest to be merged or sold.

Sitharaman said the five-part stimulus together with the March 26 announcement of free foodgrain and cooking gas to poor and some cash to vulnerable sections for three months and RBI's Rs 8.01 lakh crore worth of liquidity measures swell the size of the COVID-19 economic package to Rs 20.97 lakh crore.

While she refused to say what would be the extra spending by the government, analysts pegged it at no more than Rs 2.10 lakh crore after considering the March 26 announcement, free foodgrains to migrant workers, increased allocation for MGNREGS, tax relief to certain sections and Rs 15,000 crore allocated to the healthcare sector to deal with the pandemic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pledge of total spending of Rs 20 lakh crore (USD 265 billion) to weather the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic under 'Atma-nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' is about 10 per cent of India's GDP in 2019-20 and ranks behind stimulus provided by Japan, the US, Sweden, Australia and Germany.

With global lockdowns imposed to check the spread of COVID-19 causing economic turmoil that is touted to be worst since the 1930s, nations have announced what came to be known as 'coronavirus stimulus packages'. The US has committed to the largest rescue package by any country in pure dollar terms at USD 2.7 trillion.

In the fifth and final tranche of the economic stimulus package, Sitharaman raised the allocation for the employment guarantee scheme by Rs 40,000 crore over and above the Rs 61,000 crore budgeted for MGNREGS to provide jobs to migrant workers moving back to their states.

This, she said, will help generate nearly 300 crore person-days in total. For industries, she said the minimum threshold to initiate insolvency proceedings will be raised to Rs 1 crore from Rs 1 lakh, which largely insulates MSMEs from bankruptcy on defaulting on loans.

Also, a special insolvency resolution framework for MSMEs under Section 240A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) will be notified soon, she said, adding fresh initiation of insolvency proceedings will be suspended for up to one year depending upon the pandemic situation.

COVID-19 related debt will be excluded from the definition of "default" under the IBC for the purpose of triggering insolvency proceedings, she said, adding the changes will be effected by promulgating an ordinance.

Additionally, minor technical and procedural defaults under the Companies Act, such as shortcomings in CSR reporting, inadequacies in board reports, filing defaults and delay in holding AGMs, will be decriminalised.

Sitharaman said companies will be permitted to directly list securities in permissible foreign jurisdictions. Private companies that list non-convertible debentures (NCDs) on stock exchanges will not be regarded as listed companies.

There will be lower penalties for all defaults for small companies, one-person companies, producer companies, and start-ups, she said, adding the required changes in the Companies Act would also be done via an ordinance.

Announcing a new public sector enterprises (PSEs) policy, she said a list of strategic sectors requiring the presence of PSUs in the public interest will be notified.

In strategic sectors, at least one enterprise will remain in the public sector but the private sector will also be allowed.

In other sectors, PSUs will be privatised, she said, adding the timing would be based on feasibility.

"To minimise wasteful administrative costs, the number of enterprises in strategic sectors will ordinarily be only one to four. Others will be privatised/ merged/ brought under holding companies," she said.

For states, she said the Centre has acceded to their request and increased borrowing limit from 3 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) to 5 per cent for 2020-21 only, giving them extra resources of Rs 4.28 lakh crore.

But the increased borrowing limit would be linked to specific reforms such as one-nation-one-ration-card, ease of doing business, power distribution and urban local body revenues.

Sitharaman's previous measures included a variety of steps for small businesses, street vendors, farmers and poor migrants as well as shadow banks and electricity distributors, but they have largely been either credit guarantee schemes or new fund creations to be shouldered by banks and financial institutions.

On Saturday, the government announced a hike foreign investment limit in defence manufacturing and opened up the space sector while giving a new push to old reforms of commercial coal mining, mineral block auction and privatisation of power distribution as it sought new investments to help shore up the coronavirus-hit economy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Saudi Arabia registered on Sunday 2,736 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the total infections to 54,752 in the kingdom, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

The death toll rose to 312 with 10 more fatalities, the Saudi health ministry tweeted.

It also highlighted the rising of recovered cases to 25,722, with the registration of 2,056 new recoveries.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Tawfiq Al Rabiah affirmed that due to medical care, his country sees one of the lowest coronavirus mortality rates in the world, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The minister attributed the ongoing rise in cases to the increase in the number of tests and improvement of the capacity of laboratories in the kingdom.
A bar owner in Maryland said her employees won't come back to work because they make more money from coronavirus relief aid.

In the days leading up to Maryland's reopening, Melony Wagner hoped to unlock the doors to Charles Village Pub and Patio in Baltimore.

But she told WBFF her staffers who are collecting unemployment aid aren't eager to come back to work.

'They don't want to because it's less money. I'm not even angry or upset, I understand,' said Wagner.

'Why would you want to come back and actually work and make half as much money and you're working as you can get to stay home?'

The owner of Charles Village Pub said her employees don't want to come back to work because they make more money from coronaivirus stimulus checks

Melony Wagner (pictured): 'Why would you want to come back and actually work and make half as much money and you're working as you can get to stay home?'

Under the $2.2trillion coronavirus stimulus package passed as part of the CARES Act, unemployed residents receive an additional $600 a week.

The provision is set to end in July, but Democrats in Senate have pushed forward a second coronavirus stimulus package worth $3trillion that would last through January. It was approved by the House on Friday, but is unlikely to pass the senate in its current form.

Economist Anirban Basu admitted that federal aid has made it hard for businesses in the private sector hoping to bring back staffers.

Like other states, the coronavirus pandemic temporarily shuttered businesses in Maryland during lockdown orders. Pictured: Health care workers accompany a patient as he leaves The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore

'Because the federal government's unemployment benefits are reasonably generous, $600 a week on top of ones state unemployment insurance benefits there might be some folks who decide I'm not really going to go back to work until August,' he said.

Basu anticipates more employees will be willing to return to work once federal aid runs dry.

Wagner hopes that her employees choose to come back.

Wagner (pictured); 'know everybody loves the extra $600 a week it's really had the opposite effect of what I think they were hoping it would have'

'It's a very difficult position to be put in right now honestly. I know everybody loves the extra $600 a week it's really had the opposite effect of what I think they were hoping it would have,' she said.

As of Saturday evening, Charles Village Pub and Patio's Facebook page revealed the bar was performing take out carryout orders this week.

It's unclear how many staffers returned to their post at the pub after Gov. Larry Hogan allowed Maryland to reopen on Friday.

Although each jurisdiction can choose when they reopen, Baltimore County, where Charles Village Pub is located, began Phase One with this week.

Businesses can reopen under certain restrictions, including that retailers use curbside pickup instead of in-person meetings.

Meanwhile, nearly 2.98 million Americans have filed new unemployment claims last week, according to the Labor Department.

It adds to the 33 million who have sought aid in the two months since the coronavirus first forced millions of businesses to close their doors and shrink their workforces.

Another 2.98 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, the Labor Department said on Thursday, adding to the 33 million who sought aid in the previous seven weeks

The waves of layoffs caused by the coronavirus pandemic continue with nearly 36.5 million Americans now thrown out of work in a US economy still paralyzed by business shutdowns

The number of first-time applications, however, has now declined for six straight weeks, suggesting that a dwindling number of companies are reducing their payrolls.

By historical standards, though, the latest tally shows that the number of weekly jobless claims remains enormous, reflecting an economy that is sinking into a severe downturn.

Jobless workers in some states are still reporting difficulty applying for or receiving benefits. These include freelance, gig and self-employed workers, who became newly eligible for jobless aid this year.

The latest jobless claims follow a devastating jobs report last week when the government said the unemployment rate soared to 14.7% in April, the highest rate since the Great Depression, and employers shed a stunning 20.5 million jobs

The Labor Department's closely watched monthly employment report released last week showed the unemployment rate spiked to 14.7 percent last month

Last week's pace of new applications for aid is still four times the record high that prevailed before the coronavirus struck hard in March.

The government said the unemployment rate soared to 14.7% in April, the highest rate since the Great Depression, and employers shed a stunning 20.5 million jobs.

Treasury secretary Steve Munich told Fox News that 'the reported numbers are probably going to get worse before they get better.'

'This is no fault of American business, this is no fault of American workers, this is a result of a virus,' he added.

At the same time, a new report found that homelessness in the US could rise by 45 per cent and affect 800,000 by the beginning of summer.

Homelessness in the US could increase by 45 percent and reach 800,000 people by the start of summer according to shocking new study as the unemployment rate hits 14.7 percent

Close to 800,000 Americans across the country may wind up homeless by the summer as the coronavirus pandemic forces unemployment figures to resemble numbers not seen since the Great Depression.

An analysis conducted by Dr Brendan O'Flaherty, a professor of economics at Columbia University, shows that homelessness population in the U.S. is expected to increase some 40 to 45 per cent this year over January 2019.

This increase will see an addition of nearly 250,000 people out on American streets, according to the study, published by nonprofit Community Solutions.

An analysis conducted by Dr Brendan O'Flaherty shows that homelessness population in the U.S. is expected to increase some 40 to 45 per cent this year over January 2019

This increase will see an addition of nearly 250,000 people out on American streets

'This is unprecedented,' Dr. O'Flaherty said. 'No one living has seen an increase of 10% of unemployment in a month.'

With COVID-19 crippling the United States economy, unemployment is at a staggering 14.7 per cent - a figure not seen since the height of the Great Depression in 1933.

'This is unprecedented,' Dr. O'Flaherty said. 'No one living has seen an increase of 10% of unemployment in a month'

'If the projections of unemployment being made now turn out to be accurate, and the relationship between unemployment and homelessness follows the historical pattern, and no other major changes occur, that's what we can expect to happen,' Dr. O'Flaherty declared.

Unemployment is expected to reach even higher numbers as the summer continues, reaching figures of upwards of 16 per cent.

The projections are based on a model that used unemployment projections and data on current homelessness to show the correlation between the increase in unemployment and the increase in homelessness.

That information was attained using a standard regression developed by Dr. Kevin Corinth in 'The impact of permanent supportive housing on homeless populations,' published in the Journal of Housing Economics in 2017.

With COVID-19 crippling the United States economy, unemployment is at a staggering 14.7 per cent - a figure not seen since the height of the Great Depression in 1933 (1931 Philadelphia pictured)

Homeless camps in Old Town Portland Oregon on May 14

Members of the New York Police Department rouse passengers sleeping on a train as Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers clean subway cars in the Bronx on May 6

Using data on homelessness and unemployment from 2007 to 2009, the model found that for every one per cent increase in the unemployment rate, homelessness per 10,000 people increased by 0.65.

A report also published by Community Solutions found that 40 per cent of those experiencing homelessness could contract the virus.

An estimated $11.5 billion would be needed to secure an additional 400,000 beds for homeless people across the country.

'The COVID-19 pandemic is creating a severe and emergent health crisis for the homeless population across the United States, a crisis that our shelter and health systems are simply not adequately prepared to meet,' the report states.

People sleep on a subway train in New York City on May 15

Pedestrians walk to the edge of the sidewalk to avoid stepping on people in tents and sleeping bags in the Tenderloin area of San Francisco

Homeless are seen in downtown Brownsville, Texas, on May 15

U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter issued a preliminary injunction requiring relocation of an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 people camping near freeway ramps and under overpasses and bridges in Los Angeles County. He gave officials one week - until May 22 - to come up with a plan for providing 'humane' housing.

'Without adequate access to shelter, hygiene products, and sanitation facilities, individuals experiencing homelessness face a greater risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, and an outbreak in the homeless community would threaten the general public as well,' Carter wrote.

He said those living near freeways are exposed to pollution, including lead, that can shorten their life expectancy by decades. Carter also said the location means the homeless face a greater danger of being struck by a car or injured during an accident or earthquake.

The injunction was issued in a lawsuit filed by the LA Alliance for Human Rights, which accused officials in greater Los Angeles of failing to comprehensively address the homelessness crisis.

U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter issued a preliminary injunction requiring relocation of an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 people camping near freeway ramps and under overpasses and bridges in Los Angeles County.

The injunction was issued in a lawsuit filed by the LA Alliance for Human Rights, which accused officials in greater Los Angeles of failing to comprehensively address the homelessness crisis

'It seems like this order was meant to galvanize action and really compel all parties to start thinking these challenges in a new and innovative way,' said Daniel Conway, policy adviser for the alliance. 'The judge has, frankly, issued a challenge: Lets make this work and lets start saving lives.'

Another 2.98 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

It adds to the 33 million who have sought aid in the two months since the coronavirus first forced millions of businesses to close their doors and shrink their workforces.

The number of first-time applications, however, has now declined for six straight weeks, suggesting that a dwindling number of companies are reducing their payrolls.

By historical standards, though, the latest tally shows that the number of weekly jobless claims remains enormous, reflecting an economy that is sinking into a severe downturn.

Last week's pace of new applications for aid is still four times the record high that prevailed before the coronavirus struck hard in March.

Jobless workers in some states are still reporting difficulty applying for or receiving benefits. These include freelance, gig and self-employed workers, who became newly eligible for jobless aid this year.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to address the media at 11 am on Sunday (May 17) in the fifth and final phase of announcements on Rs 20 lakh crore package economic package to boost the coronavirus COVID-19-hit economy.

On Saturday (May 16), Sitharaman addressed a press conference and unveiled the fourth tranche of government's economic package to provide relief to various segments of the country battered by the coronavirus lockdown.

During the press conference, Sitharaman announced reforms for eight sectors, namely coal, minerals, defence production, airspace/airport management, aircraft MRO (maintenance-repair-overall), power distribution in union territories, space, and atomic energy.

The Union Finance Minister announced that the government has decided to deregulate the coal mining sector and nearly 50 blocks along with coal-based methane gas reserves will be offered immediately for auction.

The government will also incentivise coal gasification or liquefaction through rebate in the revenue share. It would significantly lower environmental impact and also help India switch to a gas-based economy, she added.

The Finance Minister announced major reforms in the mining of minerals through a seamless composite exploration-cum-production regime. She said 500 blocks of minerals will be auctioned in a composite exploration-cum-mining-cum-production regime. Also, a joint auction of bauxite and coal blocks would be done to enhance the aluminium industry's competitiveness.

During the press conference, Sitharaman also said that restrictions on Indian air space will be eased to save cost and passengers will also spend less time while travelling. She also announced that six airports have been identified for immediate bidding to private players. Also, an additional investment of Rs 13,000 crore would be made by private players in 12 airports auctioned in two previous rounds of bidding.

The government announced to give privavte sector a role in India's space programme, including in satellites, launches and space-based services. The Centre will also provide a predictable policy and regulatory environment to private players, announced Sitharaman. The private sector will be allowed to use ISRO facilities and other relevant assets to improve their capacities.

Sitharaman on Saturday said electricity distribution companies in Union Territories (UTs) will be privatised. A tariff policy that does not burden consumers with distribution companies' inefficiencies will be guaranteed.

In a bid to boost 'Make in India' in defence production, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that some weapons and platforms will be banned for imports. Items banned for imports can only be purchased from within the country, she said presenting the fourth tranche of the economic stimulus package. She also announced that the FDI limit in defence manufacturing will be hiked to 74 per cent from 49 per cent.

The Union Finance Minister also announced a hike in viability gap funding (VGF) for development of social infrastructure. In her fourth tranche of economic stimulus, she said Rs 8,100 crore will be provided as viability gap funding for development of social infrastructure.

Research reactors will be set up in PPP formats for the production of medical isotopes to promote affordable treatment for cancer and other diseases. The Centre will also establish facilities in PPP mode to use irradiation of technology for food preservation.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Centre has increased borrowing limits for states to 5 percent from 3 percent for FY21.

She added that states were already allowed to borrow 75 percent of their authorised limit from March itself, of which only 14 percent has been borrowed. States net borrowing ceiling for FY21 is Rs 6.41 lakh crore, based on 3 percent of gross state domestic product (GSDP).

Of this, 86 percent of authorised borrowing remains unutilised. Nevertheless, states have been asking for special increase in borrowing to 5 percent from 3 percent and we have allowed it only for FY21, she stated.

In view of the unprecedented situation, the Centre has decided to accede to the request. This will provide states extra resources of Rs 4.28 lakh crore, she added.

She specified that the borrowings will be linked to specific reforms, which will include Finance Commission recommendations.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

This is to ensure sustainability of the additional debt through higher future gross state domestic product (GSDP) growth and lower deficits; promote welfare of immigrants and reduce leakage in food distribution; increase job creation through investment safeguard the interests of farmers while making the power sector sustainable; and promote urban development, health and sanitation, she enumerated.

The reform linkage will be in four areas  universalisation of 'One Nation One Ration card, Ease of Doing Business, power distribution and urban local body revenues.

A specific scheme will be notified by Department of Expenditure for this, she added.

The Finance Minister explained that the first 0.50 percent (i.e 3.5 percent) will be given unconditional. After which, subsequent 1 percent (i.e. 4 percent) will be released in four tranches of 0.25 percent, each linked to clear, specific, measurable and feasible reforms.

And a further 0.50 (4.5 percent) percent if milestones in at least three out of four reforms are achieved.

Follow our LIVE coverage of the FM's presser

Finance Minister Sitharaman on May 17 announced the fifth tranche and final tranche of the Rs 20 lakh crore financial package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 12. The fifth tranche focuses on seven steps:

- Health & education- Business and COVID-19- De-criminalisation of Companies Act- Ease of Doing Business- Public sector enterprise related matters- State governments and resources related to states
Babajimi Benson is the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence. In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Benson who represents Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State speaks on poor welfare of Nigerian soldiers in the war front, as well as other legislative and national issues.

Excerpts:

PT: Nigerians, including the House of Reps, have called for the sack of the service chiefs and nothing has been done yet. This is coupled with the fact that killings and insecurity have persisted across the country. Are you not worried?

Benson: The buck stops at Mr Presidents table for sacking of service chiefs. Members whose constituencies have been victims of Boko Haram have come to the floor to do their job, to bring out the cries of their constituents to the parliament.

The parliament has heard them, the parliament unanimously sent a resolution on what should be done on those matters to Mr President. However, our resolutions are advisory so it is up to Mr President to decide to take it wholeheartedly or to use his military strategy because he is a general, he knows where the shoes pinch. As a general, he knows who should be the driver of his security architecture. In the fullness of time, I know he will do the appropriate thing, but for now, I think he has left them maybe for strategic reasons.

PT: Many believe that the legislature is ineffective because most of its resolutions are not being implemented. Do you agree with that?

Benson: I do not agree with that because the legislature, if you look at the constitution, is the number one organ of government. The legislature, we are are a lawmaking body and we also drive policy of government. So the legislature is extremely important.

Maybe what you want to say is that having a bi-camera legislature is expensive but I believe that the House of Representatives has held their heads very high and we are the most effective of any arm of government we have in Nigeria today.

PT: Are you in support of unicameral legislation?

Benson: Yes because it makes things cheaper, the House of Reps already covers 360 federal constituencies in Nigeria so if the House looks into that and they put it up to vote, I may be in support of a unicameral parliament.

PT: When you say the sacking of the service chiefs for instance stops at the doorsteps of the President, does that mean some of the resolutions passed by the House are not necessarily important because we have a couple of them like that?

Benson: We have a couple of resolutions that have not been implemented and we have a couple that have been implemented so at times, because it has to do with national security and the president is a general, he sees a lot more than we see so he has his strategic reasons for keeping them.

PT: What would you say about the personnel deployed for the fight against insecurity? There have been complaints about their welfare not being taken care of.

Benson: I visited the Lafiya Dole theatre and I saw what theyve done with so little and I believe the welfare can be better. I believe the people fighting and putting themselves in the forefront for Nigeria to be safe deserve to get premium welfare and its part of what my committee is looking at to ensure that their welfare is up-scaled and the money gets to the troops as and when due. Its part of the reason we went to the theatre itself. Our report is still being deliberated upon, we saw a lot as well and in the fullness of time, the report will come out and state what our fact-finding mission has been able to unearth.

PT: Defence has got the largest bulk of allocation and we are still advocating for more support. How much of attention have you given to that which has been allocated initially?

Benson: Very good question. If you look at the budget, you will see over 800 billion dollars was devoted to the Defence industry. If you take a critical look at that you will see that 80 per cent of that amount is devoted to welfare, which leaves 20 per cent that is devoted to purchase of critical infrastructure to spice the war to protect Nigeria. If you now critically look, you will also know that government does not fund its budget 100 per cent, they fund 40 or 50 per cent or maybe 60 per cent at best. If you are devoting 20 per cent to the military to purchase hardware infrastructure and you are not paying 100 per cent, you only pay a percentage of it because of the envelop system of budgeting that we do. If you benchmark that 40,50 or 60 per cent against other countries, because we all need to do a comparative analysis to know how far we are behind in having critical infrastructure to defend our country.

Babajimi Benson, Chaiman House of Representatives Committee on defense during an interview with PREMIUM TIMES. Babajimi Benson, Chaiman House of Representatives Committee on defense during an interview with PREMIUM TIMES.

We had a retreat the other day and there is a saying that I saw a nation cannot have economic growth without security and cannot have security without a a vibrant economy. The price and premium we should pay on securing ourselves should be huge. If you look at prosperous countries of the world; China, America and UK, you will be amazed at how much they devote to their security budget because once there is security, economy will thrive. We dont spend as much as we should be spending on critical infrastructure and Nigerians just look at that amount allocated in the budget. There is a difference between appropriating money for defence and releases. We should ask ourselves how much has been released, not appropriated. If we find out how much has been released, we would have more empathy, more sympathy for our armed forces who go to the line and put their lives down.

PT: Are you not bothered that a critical sector like the defence is also suffering from lack of funds after appropriation?

Benson: We are looking at it, that is why we are having all hands on deck to ensure that releases are more promptly executed and released, and also looking for other ways.

Like in other countries, it is probably only in Nigeria that we fund military on the budget. In other countries, there are different ways of funding their military because it is very critical to have the military in place and it is very critical to have your territorial integrity defended and having internal security appropriate, it has a nexus on how developed you would be.

PT: Talking about the military support fund you recently sponsored in the House, many Nigerians have described it as another way of siphoning money from the public. What do you think of this perception?

Benson: I want to plead with Nigerians to understand the predicaments we are in. When you look at the budget and look at the amount, only a small fraction of that budget is devoted to purchase of equipment and to safeguard that public opinion perception that the money would be siphoned, we proposed that the board of that fund should be structured, we deliberately brought in the private sector to be part of it to complement the military. It is not a military affair only, we said that the MD of the sovereign wealth fund should be included. If you recall the $300 billion Abacha loot, the American government insisted they must go through a sovereign wealth fund which is a very structured organisation we have in Nigeria. We deliberately brought that agency and put it in the board. We said that a Nigerian that is Forbes magazine-rated should also be appointed, we said that the chairman of the oil and gas companies (IOCs) should also be on the board because we have maritime issues when you are doing oil and gas and we also have militants issue. We said that chairman of the telecommunications companies should also be on the board. We also said a retired CBN Governor should also be put on the board, so these are people who will add value and integrity on that board.

PT: If you are talking about security, wont it be a futile effort if we are not paying so much attention to education because most of these criminals, they recruit people who are not educated? Why are we not paying that much attention to education?

Benson: I agree with that, you cannot use security and law enforcement agencies to kill poverty. One of the things we always hammer on is that governors in those areas should also live up to expectations, they should provide jobs and upscale their educational facilities. Last week we had a one-day session on how to give the Almajiri kids a better life but it is part of the holistic package we are trying to do, to ensure that our kids are well-educated. I believe that there are some already established interventions for education, UBEC etc. they should be more critically supervised and enhanced so that we can really see the dividends of democracy in that area

Babajimi Benson, Chaiman House of Representatives Committee on defense during an interview with PREMIUM TIMES.

PT: How long does it take for next of kins of fallen heroes to get their benefits?

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Benson: I had this discussion with the chairman of the military pension, they said that before they pay, they meet the specific agency concerned (ie Airforce, Navy or Army) to be able to send the file and evidence of death to them, once they get that, they pay as soon as possible or immediately. But it is that bureaucratic process that at times stalls the prompt payments.

PT: But some still dont get paid despite completing all the processes

Benson: Are you sure they submitted to the appropriate channel? What we like to do is that if it is brought to our attention by way of a petition, we will go to the appropriate channel to find out why there is a delay, it could be a process delay. But they should not be delayed in getting emoluments or the payments due to the deceased family.

PT: Should the bulk of people waiting all bring a petition to the House of Representatives before they get their benefits?

Benson: Im saying that some people who have those kinds of petitions approach me. Ive dealt with petitions like this in the past, they do act on them and we get results.

PT: How would you say the 9th assembly has impacted on Nigerians?

Benson: I think the ninth assembly, being an assembly that has adopted the name nation building, a joint task, to the best of our ability, have done our best and stood in for Nigerians. So far so good, we have spent close to nine months and we have tried to fight the cause of the common man, you can see that in our bills and motions.

PT: Legislators are believed to be a group of high-earning government officials. This proves to be true because when you compare an average Nigerian leader with an average Nigerian on the street, the difference is always clear. What would you say about that?

Benson: I would say unfortunately so, we earn more than is right. But again, I will give myself as an example. I earn a lot; but that a lot goes back to my federal constituency. I have six local governments in my federal constituency.

Lets use a hypothetical example: I spend 50,000 a day  which is a drop in the ocean  in one of these local governments. Thats 300,000 in the six local governments.

Lets assume I do that for 30 days in a month, thats 9 million. So little but when you aggregate it, it eats up a lot of money. And I dont even earn that amount in a month.

Yes, so many representatives earn so much but have responsibilities so so so so so much. Legislators get deserving requests daily.

Babajimi Benson, Chaiman House of Representatives Committee on defense during an interview with PREMIUM TIMES.

PT: But this is not your function as a lawmaker?

Benson: Its easier said than done. Your job (as a lawmaker) is also to represent. That representation means a lot to the constituents. As a representative, I cannot close my eyes to people who are in need. We have a lot of people who are in need. You see a first-class who cannot pay school fee, students who cant buy JAMB form.

More so, I inherited a salary and allowance that I know that from that, I can be able to help the less-privileged. Because people dont have access to facilities and amenities, we have to interject as politicians.

PT: In one sentence, sir, how much do you earn?

Benson: My salary? How much do we earn? (beckoning to another lawmaker sitting close) 600,000 or so.

PT: Asides your salary, dont you think the reason your constituents are demanding so much from you is because they know that the allowances you get are so huge? Yet they, and even the press, still struggle to know how much it is.

Benson: I was giving somebody an analogy the other day. In Lagos, we have 24 representatives. Each rep, because we are 24, gets less than 50 million. When you remove taxes, VAT and so on, it is reduced. We also know that the budget releases are not 100 per cent.

Only 40 or 50 per cent gets released for me to execute a constituency project that is domiciled in a federal ministry I have no control over. All I have to do is to nominate a project and say locate it here. So I get 15 to 20 million out of what is due to me, and I have six local governments.

But the perception out there is that that money for constituency projects they put in the representatives pockets. So everyone wants a piece of the cake.

It is domiciled in a ministry; the ministry writes a letter of award to the contractor; they pay the contractor as and when due based on milestone; the contractor has a performance bond that he domiciles at the office of the ministry.

Its a perception thing that the National Orientation Agency and everybody needs to come on board to understand the role of a parliamentarian.

PT: Both houses of the National Assembly have bills on regional development commissions at different legislative stages. Some believe this would balkanise Nigeria. Do you believe this too?

Benson: As the ninth Assembly, the constitutional review committee, which would start work soon, has a very strong role to play in ensuring that this country is restructured. Because what those zones want is that they want a better take, arrangement, benefits from this entity called Nigeria.

If the constitutional review committee can do their job efficiently, Im sure all these demands for development commissions would fizzle out.

PT: Suspicions are rife on the intention of the House in keeping its budget a secret. Why hasnt the National Assembly opened its budget?

Benson: Part of what we agreed upon as the ninth Assembly is to be as open as possible. I think there were efforts to open the budget but I dont know how far they have gone into doing it. I know that in the fullness of time that would be done.

PT: How did the House arrive at the decision to buy 2020 Toyota Camry cars for its 360 members against made in Nigeria?

Benson: Its numbers. The Toyota Camry cars were more readily available. I subscribe to the Innoson idea but I dont think you can get that number (400) in the shortest possible time.

It is something the House is looking at, that going forward, we should start building the capacity of our local industries. Innoson for me is a fantastic, brilliant idea but they need to ramp up in terms of capacity so that Nigerians and MDAs would be able to patronise them.

PT: It is believed that those vehicles are given to lawmakers as loans. How do you pay back?

Benson: They deduct it monthly from our salaries.

PT: If a member comes in halfway, how is the deduction made?

Benson: That would be better explained to you by the House Services Committee. Id be the wrong person to give you a brief on car issues. You know we work in committees.

PT: How would you rate the leadership of the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila?

Benson: Mr Joint Task? He has done very well. He carries everyone along. I like the way he gives the first timers to learn very quickly. He gives them second chance to perfect their breach. Hes done very well. Hes been able to steer the ship appropriately.

PT: He (the Speaker) recently celebrated his mums birthday in Dubai. Although he claimed it wasnt funded by public funds. He is your friend and compatriot, do you think that excuse is genuine in a country with one of the highest population of poor people in the world?

Benson: Whether hes number four citizen or not, his mum would still have elected to do her party in Lome or Benin Republic. The woman is 90. So she may have a reason to throw her party outside of Nigeria. She was the first chairman of Surulere Local Government and she is also a woman of means.

You may question that. But I dont think its the Speaker that took a choice to hold the party outside of Nigeria. I think its a choice thing by the mum. Truthfully, members of the parliament were not invited. I also understand the feelings among Nigerians that the number four citizen should have encouraged his mum to hold her party in Nigeria but I dont think he was the one who instructed his mum (to do so). In terms of hierarchy, amongst his mums kids, he is number four. Would it be fair to say as the number four citizens mum, dont have your party in Dubai? Although I understand what Nigerians feel about it.

PT: Each time Im in the gallery, Im always curious why we often have too many empty seats. Granted, the seats are more than the House members and some are often out on committee assignments, but this is not to say some dont come at all.

Benson: In America, for instance, legislators only come to the Congress when they have issues to discuss. Congress in session is Congress in exhibition while Congress in the committee room is Congress at work. So the work of the parliament is in the committees.

Secondly, Im aware that infrastructure that would enable members to sign in electronically are currently being put in place and very soon would be deployed. Tracking attendance in an automated way would come up in this ninth Assembly so constituents would be able to monitor how often their members come to the plenary. But, like I said, the major work lies in the committees.

PT: This interview will not be complete if we dont talk about your party, APC. The PDP has said it would take Lagos away from the APC. You might say this wont happen. But the APC Lagos is currently facing crisis. Do you think the APC still stands a chance in that state?

Benson: PDPs claim is laughable. They should first win a ward in Lagos before they talk about winning the general election. Political parties would always have crisis, disputes, differences. Most importantly, what matters is conflict management resolution. I think that has kicked in.

In the fullness of time, a stronger, more vibrant, more nimble political party would emerge. We are going to emerge stronger. This is same for the national APC. Like George Bush said, you impose peace with a war. The disputes have come, it would come out more peaceful and stronger.
LOS ANGELES  The firefighters realized something was wrong inside the building in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas said at a news conference that the heat and smoke pressure were both escalating.

Some firefighters entered on the ground level while others climbed a ladder to try to ventilate the roof.

There was a rumbling, high-pitched sound, and a call was made for everyone to evacuate.

Then came an explosion that shot flames and smoke into the sky and set multiple buildings ablaze.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 03:44:51|Editor: huaxia

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a ceremony for the installation of the last steel block of 318-meter towers of the Canakkale 1915 Bridge via videoconference in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 16, 2020. The construction of a bridge which will connect Asia and Europe in northwestern Turkey advanced to a next phase on Saturday with the completion of its towers. (Xinhua)

ISTANBUL, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The construction of a bridge which will connect Asia and Europe in northwestern Turkey advanced to a next phase on Saturday with the completion of its towers.

A ceremony was held for the installation of the last steel block of 318-meter towers of the Canakkale 1915 Bridge in the Canakkale province.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the ceremony via videoconference from Istanbul.

Erdogan said his country's strong transportation infrastructure would be its biggest advantage in a world that would be reshaped politically and economically after COVID-19.

At a tweet posted on his Twitter account, Erdogan also noted that Turkey prepares to be a regional transportation hub thanks to the many projects.

The suspension bridge will have the largest central span in the world when completed on March 18, 2022, according to press reports.
Rumor has it that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has been keeping a diary for the entirety of her tenure both before and after Megxit. This fact, though unconfirmed, has fans absolutely thrilled about their upcoming tell-all biography, Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family.

But those followers who expect to hear deep revelations from Meghan in the upcoming memoir are bound to be disappointed. Though there are rumors that the book was written in close collaboration with the couple, so far, that fact is still unconfirmed. This is not an authorized biography, most reports claim.

Anyone who thinks Prince Harry and Meghans book will include all their deep, dark secrets is bound to be disappointed.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Rosa Woods  Pool/Getty Images

RELATED: Prince Harry Once Said Meghan Markle Will Be Unbelievably Good At Being a Royal  So What Happened?

What we know about the Finding Freedom so far

Not a lot of details are known about Finding Freedom but we can assume it will provide unknown truths behind Harry and Meghans motivations for stepping down as senior members of the royal family. Thats because the books publication date was delayed so it could include those extra pages at the end.

Well-known British royal commentator Omid Scoobie wrote the book along with fellow journalist Carolyn Durand. According to Harper Collins, Finding Freedom goes beyond the headlines to reveal unknown details of Harry and Meghans life together, dispelling the many rumors and misconceptions that plague the couple on both sides of the pond.

Will Meghan Markles diary entries be part of the book?

Meghan Markle | Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Related: Meghan Markle Believed the Media Favored Kate Middleton More Than Her, According to Her Friend

Whether Meghan kept a diary or not is probably irrelevant, because even if she and Harry did collaborate on the book, shes unlikely to have included personal revelations from her secret diary. She and Harry treasure their privacy way too much for that.

The Meghan stories seem to get more far-fetched by the day, an insider told Vanity Fair. I wasnt aware that Meghan kept a diary, but even if she was chronicling that period, she is not going to be publishing a kiss-and-tell. That isnt on the agenda for her or Harry.

Meghan and Harry will be setting the record straight on what happened

Theres no question that Prince Harry and Meghan are unhappy with their treatment in the media and want to get their side of the story out in the open. But theyre going to be strategic with how they go about it. Royal followers speculate that their personal convictions could be revealed through an interview or a documentary.

If the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were going to speak to anyone, Scoobie would be a good candidate  the couple is sure to notice theyve been sympathetic to them all along and he wasnt targeted in the lawsuit against the press. But that doesnt mean the couple is ready to tell their story just yet.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex | Simon Dawson  WPA Pool/Getty Images

RELATED: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are No Longer Senior Members of the Royal Family but They Still Have to Follow a Lot of Rules

Fans might be disappointed with the tell-all book

If Harry and Meghan did not participate in interviews for Finding Freedom and dont contribute their personal thoughts, fans are going to be upset. But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are also trying to be respectful of Queen Elizabeths feelings and not burn bridges in the royal family, either.

Well find out more about whats happening in the book after its release in August. Royally approved or not, the biography is bound to be a best-seller.
Srinagar:

Crippling curfew in Kashmir Valley entered 36th day today even as the death toll in the ongoing unrest climbed to 56 with the death of a youth injured in firing. Curfew continues to be in force in entire Srinagar district and Anantnag town to thwart the separatists plan to stage a two-day sit-in in the city centre.

Curfew has been imposed in entire Srinagar district to foil the plans of some elements to stage a sit-in for two days in the Lal Chowk city centre, a police official said.

He said curfew also remained in force in Anantnag town in south Kashmir.

The separatist camp, headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, had asked the people to hold a referendum march at Lal Chowk today and tomorrow.

The separatist camp is spearheading the protests in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last month.

The death toll in the ongoing unrest went up to 56 as a youth, Suhail Ahmad Wani, who was injured in firing by a policeman last week, succumbed to injuries at a hospital here today, the official said.

Wani had suffered a bullet injury in the head on August 2 at Lethpora in Pulwama district on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.Normal life remained affected in the Valley for the 36th consecutive day due to the curbs imposed by the authorities and separatist sponsored strike against the killing of civilians in the security forces action.

Schools, colleges, business establishments, petrol pumps and private offices remained closed while public transport remained off the roads.

The attendance in government offices and banks was also thin, the official said.

Mobile Internet services continued to remain snapped in the entire Valley.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
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Washington, DC - Vice Mike President Pence Friday announced five new individuals to the White House Coronavirus Task Force. The announcement comes as the Task Force enters a new phase, which is focused on getting Americans back to work and allowing businesses to re-open.

Thanks to President Trumps leadership and the efforts of the American people, weve saved lives, Slowed the Spread, and states are Opening Up Again, said Vice President Pence. The new members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force will add expertise in the fields of vaccines and therapeutics as well as worker safety as the Task Force renews its focus on getting Americans back to work.

The following individuals have been added to the White House Coronavirus Task Force:

Sonny Perdue, Secretary of Agriculture

Gene Scalia, Secretary of Labor

Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health

Dr. Peter Marks, FDA Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research

Thomas Engels, Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration

The Task Force continues to review data that indicates positive signs that Americans efforts helped slow the spread of COVID-19. The New Orleans, New York City, and Detroit Metropolitan areas all experienced between 70  90 percent reductions in confirmed cases (on a 7-day rolling average basis).

The response has been phased and deliberate. In the first two phases of the Task Forces response effort to COVID-19, President Trump and Vice President Pence focused on delaying the arrival of the virus, testing, supply allocation and distribution, and mitigating the spread of the disease.

Early in the response effort, the White House focused on containing the virus. The White House acted early when President Trump issued an Executive Order restricting travel from China. As a result, countless American lives were saved.

Since Vice President Pence was tapped by President Trump to lead the White House response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Task Force focused their efforts on expanding testing, supplying PPE, and mitigation efforts.Key accomplishments from the White House response in phase two include, but are not limited to:

Expanding testing from 80,000 tests in March to more than 10 million tests in May;

Allocating billions of PPE to every state and territory:
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian is urging the other Australian states to open their borders to kickstart the tourism industry and allow interstate travel.

NSW leaders want to see the state borders re-open so domestic travel can begin again as there is a serious concern for economic losses.

'I've been quietly having a jibe at all my state colleagues who have their borders shut,' Ms Berejiklian told Sky News on Sunday morning.

'NSW didn't, Victoria didn't. We appreciate the key to our economic success will be to improve our supply chains and our manufacturing base among Australia.'

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian is urging Queensland to open its borders to kickstart the tourism industry and allow interstate travel

A group of women dressed up to celebrate a birthday with a picnic spread in New Farm Park in Brisbane (pictured on Saturday) as restrictions were lifted over the weekend

NSW leaders want to see the state borders re-open so domestic travel can begin again as there is a serious concern for economic losses (A deserted Sydney Airport pictured)

The premier said that with tourism being a leading industry in the country, Australians need to be pushed to travel domestically as less people are coming from overseas.

Ms Berejiklian is urging for the borders to come down as soon as possible, saying there is 'enormous potential' in having Australians explore their homeland.

'Imagine if we had more of our 25 million population visiting places around Australia? That is enormous potential,' she said.

'The sooner we can do that the better, in a safe way. The sooner the borders come down the better and I'm certainly looking forward to that.

'I don't want to be able to say to people I am allowed to go to Auckland before I can go to Brisbane and before I can go to Perth ... just that trade and commerce and flexible workforce across the states will boost our economy no end.

'I would really like to see those borders come down.'

Other NSW leaders have had a jab at Queensland's decision to leave the state closed off from the rest of the country.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro dubbed the decision as 'ridiculous' while Treasurer Dominic Perrottet slammed the state for not accepting NSW residents.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles retaliated to the criticism and said the borders were going to remain closed until health advice changed.

'We know Sydney can be dreary but hang in there,' Mr Miles said.

Alex Whitehead (pictured, left), Willem Stewart (centre) and Jack Keegan (right) are seen playing a game in New Farm Park in Brisbane on Saturday

Fitness fans in Brisbane on Saturday (pictured) after restrictions were lifted, but widespread testing it still underway

NSW is relying on tourism, trade and business activity from Queenslanders to stimulate growth in the economy, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Last year Queenslanders spent a total of 17,000 nights in NSW and provided the state with $3.4billion, according to figures compiled by Tourism Research Australia.

CORONAVIRUS IN AUSTRALIA: LATEST STATS * Australia has recorded 7,037 cases, but only 674 remain active, while South Australia has reached a milestone of no active cases * The national death toll is 98 - 47 in NSW, 18 in Victoria, 13 in Tasmania, nine in Westeern Australia, Six in Queensland, four in South Australia and three in ACT (Two QLD residents who died in NSW have been included in both state's counts) * Two clusters in Victoria, at McDonalds and Cedar Meats, continue to push the state's infections higher with 11 new cases on Saturday * About 5.7 million of an estimated 16 million people have registered for the federal government's COVIDSafe tracing app since April 26 Advertisement

NSW Treasurer Mr Perrottet said he is looking forward to the day 'the people of NSW can move as freely across the border with Queensland as our GST dollars do'.

'As restrictions lift, and hopefully in the not too distant future interstate travel returns, that will bring economic benefits to both states,' he said.

Mr Barilaro took aim at Queensland Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for her bid to buy collapsed airline Virgin yet saying no to domestic travel.

'Queensland, they're beating their chest about putting in a bid for Virgin, yet they've got their border closed. It's ridiculous. The virus numbers are down, the border should be open,' he said.

'Victoria and NSW never closed their borders. This idea that borders should be shut doesn't even make sense.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison also said there was billions of dollars worth in domestic tourism 'up for grabs' as Australians cannot currently travel overseas.

On last week's ABC QandA Ms Palaszczuk said the state plans to review the border closures at the end of each month.

'It depends very much on how community transmission goes in Victoria and NSW, because, unfortunately, there's more community transmission down there, and we don't want to see that happening here in Queensland,' she said.

On last week's ABC QandA Ms Palaszczuk said the state plans to review the border closures at the end of each month

Hand sanitiser was set up at a nail bar in Brisbane on Saturday (pictured) as they reopened

Both NSW and Queensland enjoyed relaxed restrictions over the weekend, with people flocking to restaurants and cafes to sit down for a feed.

Eateries and coffee houses in NSW opened their doors early to punters, though were only allowed to let ten people at a time inside with social distancing in place.

In Sydney, locals braved a cold, wet morning to catch up with friends and family as cafes, restaurants and bars opened under the proviso they limit patrons to 10 at any one time.

People in Queensland also lapped up their first day of eased restrictions with many flocking to reopened restaurants and bars.

Bookings must be made to eat at the establishments and people still need to remain 1.5metres apart but can now dine out with family and friends.

Diners stared out towards the beach as cafes reopened this weekend (pictured, Surfers Paradise on Saturday)
S Lalitha By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The massive second phase of Vande Bharat Mission, which kicked off on Saturday with the dispatch of three flights to the Middle East, will repatriate Indians stranded in 40 countries by June 3.

The Karnataka leg of the operations by Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express will begin on May 18 with the first flight from Dubai to Mangaluru with 177 passengers.

Airport sources said over 3,800 passengers will be brought to Karnataka in 17 flights from 14 countries over 19 days. The countries include the UAE, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, USA, Qatar, Indonesia, Australia, Canada, Philippines, Ireland, Canada, France, and Germany. Seven flights will terminate at Bengaluru. The remaining nine flights will have stopover at KIA and move to Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Hyderabad.

As many as 745 passengers will be flown to Bengaluru from the US - San Francisco (May 19), New York (May 25) and Washington DC (May 28). A minimum of 137 passengers to a maximum of 323 per flight will be allowed, an airport official said. Air India Express will operate 36 flights, one from Kuala Lumpur and the rest from Middle Eastern countries. This includes three to Karnataka with a total capacity of 540 passengers.

According to data released by Air India, 675 passengers were brought to Bengaluru on six flights from May 11 to May 15 in phase-I. Meanwhile, another passenger train from New Delhi arrived in the city on Saturday morning with 503 passengers. All the passengers were quarantined within a few hours of reaching the station without any problems.
Fans were wondering if everything was OK between Megan Fox and her husband Brian Green after she was seen without her wedding ring earlier in May. But now theyre really convinced that something is up after the Transformers actress was spotted out with Machine Gun Kelly. The pair was recently seen driving around and getting food, fueling rumors that Fox has split from Green and moved on with the Wild Boy rapper.

(L-R) Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly | Steve Granitz/WireImage; Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Megan Foxs latest outing with Machine Gun Kelly

On May 16, TMZ published photos of the entertainers riding around Los Angeles in Machine Gun Kellys car and stopping for a meal.

The pair seem happy and relaxed in the pictures. Fox is seen laughing and smiling inside the car while Machine Gun Kelly sits back comfortably in his seat. After the stop, the pair reportedly headed back to Foxs home in Calabasas, California, according to TMZ sources.

See photos from the outing at the TMZ link above.

Megan Foxs relationship with Brian Green

Fox married Green in 2010 after a six-year relationship. Fox said in an old interview that she instantly fell for Green when she met him while filming ABCs Hope and Faith (2003-2006).

Everyone was sort of gathered around the monitors watching playback from his scene, and he accidentally grazed my leg with his hand. I felt an electric shocks go through my body, so I figured that meant something, she said (via Us Weekly).

They welcomed two children over the years  sons Noah (2012) and Bodhi (2014)  before announcing their split in August 2015. However, the separation didnt last long. Just months into it, the couple announced they were expecting a third child and later got back together. They welcomed another son, Journey River, in August 2016.

Following their reconciliation, Green spoke about their marriage in a September 2017 episode of his  with Brian Austin Green podcast.

Marriage is hard. Its work, I think for anyone, he explained. I think when you get to the point like we have, where you have kids and youve been married for a while and weve been together for a long time, its  you just take it day by day.

I have no problem with something not working, I really hold no expectations, he continued. I try to live day by day Some people look at divorce or things not working as, like, a disappointment and its not. The fact that it worked at all is a positive.

The pair showed signs of trouble in paradise again in April when they were seen exchanging their children. The moment came amid reports that the couple was living separately and just before they were seen without their wedding rings.

As of writing, neither of them has addressed the reports. But Foxs latest outing has fans convinced that they have indeed split.

Machine Gun Kellys dating history

As for his romantic life, it seems that Machine Gun Kelly has never really had a serious relationship during his time in the spotlight. He has been linked to lots of ladies, including Noah Cyrus, Halsey, and Amber Rose. But nothing has gone past a few months.

He has a daughter, Casie, 11, from a pre-fame relationship with a woman named Emma Cannon.
Chandigarh, May 17 : Four Punjab legislators, led by Kanwar Sandhu, here on Sunday, raised questions over the state's tweaked mining policy in the wake of coronavirus pandemic alleging the state was staring at huge losses.

Kanwar Sandhu, Jagdev Singh Kamalu, Pirmal Singh Khalsa and Jagtar Singh Hissowal are rebel AAP legislators.

"If the interim policy, announced on May 12 for the next one month, is any indication, the state is set to suffer over Rs 150 crore loss, besides causing environment disaster," Sandhu said.

As per the policy, in June 2019 Punjab auctioned 196 quarries across seven blocks for Rs 306 crore annually, roughly Rs 25 crore per month.

"The people want to know how much money has accrued to the state from mining since then," they said in a statement.

As per the latest communication from the Secretary-cum-Director, only 16 sites are being operationalised for one month against which a paltry sum of Rs 4.85 crore would accrue to the government.

Sandhu said the reason given for not operationalising other quarries is that the mandatory environmental clearance had not been received. Also, while the government was being denied royalty and revenue on the plea of no EC clearance, most quarries were operating illegally, they said.

Sandhu alleged, the Rs 10-50 lakh "gunda tax" per day was being collected from each of these quarries by unscrupulous elements who enjoyed political patronage.

The AAP MLAs also questioned Advocate General Atul Nanda's April 24 opinion, which has recommended opening up more mining sites to contractors without the tendering process.

Sandhu said quoting natural calamities and emergencies declared by the governments, Nanda had stated that "there need not be a tendering process and contracts may be awarded by private negotiation".

In doing so the Advocate General had reversed his own October 3 opinion wherein he had said "awarding of such contracts without tendering process would not be sustainable," he said.
The Centre has asked officials from 30 municipal areas spread across 12 states, which contribute to 79% of Indias coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, to maintain high vigil and closely monitor areas of old cities, slums, migrant labourer camps and other high-density pockets.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

These areas are in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. Maharashtra.

The selected municipal areas are Brihanmumbai or Greater Mumbai, Greater Chennai, Ahmedabad, Thane, Delhi, Indore, Pune, Kolkata, Jaipur, Nashik, Jodhpur, Agra, Tiruvallur, Aurangabad, Cuddalore, Greater Hyderabad, Surat, Chengalpattu, Ariyalur, Howrah, Kurnool, Bhopal, Amritsar, Villupuram, Vadodara, Udaipur, Palghar, Berhampur, Solapur and Meerut.

These areas should have the maximum restrictions under the home ministrys lockdown 4.0 ground rules, the health ministry has told the government.

There is no word on the extent of the restrictions that would be imposed during the fourth phase of the lockdown. The ground rules for the next round would be made public on Sunday.

The third phase of the lockdown, first imposed form March 25, is due to end on Sunday night.

Preeti Sudan, Union health secretary, and Rajesh Bhushan, the officer on special duty in the health ministry, along with other senior officers, held the high-level review meeting on Saturday with the principal health secretaries, municipal commissioners, districts magistrates and other officials from these 30 municipal areas.

It was stressed during the meeting that timely tracing of patients to improve recovery percentage and influenza-like illness (ILI)/severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) surveillance is important.

A health ministry statement said the measures taken by the officials and the staff of the municipal corporations for the management of Covid-19 cases were reviewed during the meeting and they were informed about fresh guidelines on the management of the disease in urban settlements.

A presentation was made on the present status of Covid-19 infections in the districts while highlighting the high-risk factors, indices such as confirmation rate, fatality rate, doubling rate, tests per million etc.

The municipal officials were briefed about the factors to be considered while mapping the containment and buffer zones, the activities mandated in containment zone like perimeter control, active search for cases through house to house surveillance, contact tracing, testing protocol, clinical management of the active cases, surveillance activities in the buffer zone like monitoring of SARI/ILI cases, ensuring social distancing and promoting hand hygiene etc.

It was highlighted that in general the geographic area of containment zones is to be defined based on factors like mapping of cases and contacts, geographical dispersion of cases and contacts, area with well-demarcated perimeter and enforceability, the statement said.

Municipal Corporations, residential colony/mohallas/municipal wards or police-station area/municipal zones/towns etc, can be designated as containment zones, as appropriate, it said.

The officials were advised the area should be appropriately defined by the district administration or local urban body with technical inputs from the local level. Along with the containment zones, the buffer zone around the containment zone also must be demarcated to break the chain of transmission.

Regarding management of indicators like high doubling rate, high case fatality rate and high confirmation percentages seen in the containment zones, the officials were informed about the possible root causes and recommendations were offered on possible actions that could be taken.

It was also highlighted that especially in the densely populated urban areas further challenges need to be considered like poor socio-economic conditions, limited health infrastructure, lack of social distancing, issues faced by women, among other factors.

The health secretary emphasised that along with the containment and management of the coronavirus disease cases, the issue of continuing all essential non-Covid-19 health services in the urban localities like reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCH+A), cancer treatment, tuberculosis surveillance, immunisation efforts, vector control measures in view of the ensuing monsoon, etc, need to be ensured.

The municipal areas were asked to focus on effective risk communication in order to build trust and confidence.

The officials were requested to engage with community leaders and local opinion leaders, who could accompany local surveillance teams to encourage cooperation from the local communities, in finding solutions, building trust, and for a positive influence on the health workers.

All health service providers need to be provided with adequate protective gear and communication must focus against the stigmatisation of these frontline workers.

(With agency inputs)
Thirteen people have been shot at an impromptu memorial service for a man who was murdered earlier this month, authorities said.

No one was killed, but one man was in critical condition after the Saturday 9.15pm shooting in Bogalusa, Louisiana - a city of about 12,000 people 70 miles northeast of New Orleans.

An 'extremely large' crowd was gathered in a vacant lot on Martin Luther King Drive at East 4th Street to remember Dominique James, 29, investigators said.

James was last heard from heading to an unknown location to pick up an all-terrain vehicle on May 2, police said.

Dominique James (left and right), 29 was found shot dead in the woods earlier this month

He was reported missing May 6 and found dead May 8 inside his vehicle in woods by officers in a helicopter.

James' family had asked Bogalusa officials if they could have a regular memorial service for James, but were turned down because of stay-at-home orders with COVID-19, Bogalusa Police Maj. Troy Tervalon told The Associated Press.

The gathering of at least 150 people Saturday night were mostly friends, Tervalon said.

Officers responded to the scene after receiving several calls about subjects shot.

'The best we can tell is a car drove by and shots were fired and it was pure chaos from there,' Bogalusa Police Maj. Troy Tervalon told The Associated Press.

They attempted to secure the scene and requested assistance from other police agencies, fire agencies and EMS.

On Saturday, 13 people were shot as 150 gathered on Martin Luther King Drive at East 4th Street in Bosaluga, Louisiana (pictured) to remember James

'All the law enforcement in Washington Parish responded to that. It was a horrible, unfortunate thing. I dont understand it,' Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal told NOLA.com.

Police haven't had a witness come forward to give them a better description of the shooting and have made no arrests, Tervalon said.

The scene was so chaotic, with wounded people being taken to several different hospitals that investigators haven't been able to find and interview all the wounded people, Tervalon said.

James' death is considered a homicide, but Tervalon said he didn't want to release any additional details. No arrests have been made in that case.

'It is very unusual  it would be unusual for any town,' Tervalon told NOLA.com.

Anyone with information about the shooting can call police on 985-732-3611 or the detectives unit at on 985-732-6240.
An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) expert of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmirs Doda on Sunday.

However, a soldier of 10 RR was martyred in the five-hour encounter in the Gundana area of the district.

Following the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideens operational chief of J&K, Riyaz Naikoo, the terror outfit received a major jolt as security forces gunned down its IED expert on Sunday.

Doda district police chief, Mumtaz Ahmad, however, didnt confirm the elimination of another terrorist, he said, We suspect two terrorists have been killed but cannot confirm till entire debris is removed.

Acting on a specific input about the presence of a top Hizb commander Tahir Ahmed Bhat in Doda, the security forces launched an operation. A cordon was laid and as the security forces zeroed in on the built-up area where terrorists were hiding, the terrorists fired upon them triggering the encounter, said inspector general of police Mukesh Singh.

In the encounter that followed, Tahir Ahmed Bhat was killed and an AK 47 rifle and magazine were recovered.

Tahir Ahmed Bhat joined the terror outfit early last year. His name had figured in the fabrication of IED which exploded near a CRPF convoy at Banihal in March 2019. He had subsequently visited Chenab Valley and was given the task of recruiting youth and reviving Hizb activities in the Chenab valley, the IGP added.

He was also part of a group of Hizb terrorists who killed RSS activist Chanderkant Sharma and his PSO in April 2019.

The same AK 47 rifle which was taken away that time has been recovered after the encounter today, said the IGP.

With this operation, an attempt of the terror outfit to revive activities in Doda has been nipped. The designs of the Hizb to target security forces convoy and camps have also been thwarted. Tahir Bhat was a close associate of the present operational commander of Saifullah alias Dr Saif and was assigned the task of revival of terrorism in Chenab Valley comprising Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts by recruiting more youth from there, said the IGP.

Chenab valley was declared militancy free in the late 1990s.

The slain terrorist was directed by his mentors to target security forces and carry out some sensitive and sensational attacks in Chenab Valley to create insecurity among the people and to disturb the peaceful atmosphere. He was complicit in several terror crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities.

Singh said that his killing will create a huge deterrence to the revival of militancy in Chenab Valley.

A day after Hizb chief Riyaz Naikoo was killed in Kashmir, security forces on May 7 arrested an overground worker of the outfit from Doda district.

He was identified as Raqib Alam, 22, son of Seeraj Din, a resident of Swanda village.

There has been a spurt in terror activities across J&K amid Covid 19 pandemic.

Jammu regions Doda area comprising Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts, which have been declared militancy free, have also witnessed terror attacks and related activities amid the lockdown.

Security forces on April 17 eliminated two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists, who had hacked a special police officer (SPO) to death with an axe and critically injured another on April 13 in Dachhan area of Kishtwar district.

The National Investigation Agency on Friday filed a chargesheet against six people, including three slain Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists and three arrested overground workers of the terror group for providing support to Pakistan-based terrorists to kill BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet Parihar in Jammus Kishtwar.

The chargesheet has been filed in the special NIA Court, Jammu against the six accused.
Australia and the European Union are urging more countries to support a key vote calling for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic as they grow increasingly confident of securing the votes needed.

More than 60 nations - including Russia, India, Japan, Britain, Canada, Brazil and all 27 European Union member states - have come together to back Australia's call for an independent review.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says his phone calls to his Chinese counterpart should be returned. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said there was "positive support for an independent review into the pandemic to help the world learn the lessons necessary to protect global health".

"This is about collaborating to equip the international community to better prevent or counter the next pandemic and keep our citizens safe," she said.
: Four people died of COVID-19 in



Tamil Nadu on Sunday, while the number of cases crossed the 11,000 mark with 639 testing positive, the health department said.

Those who died included two men and two women.

With this, the death toll in the state has risen to 78, the department said in its bulletin.

After a marginal dip in the number of fresh cases below the 500 mark for the past two days, the state recorded 639 new cases on Sunday, which included people who had arrived from other states.

Chennai continued to constitute the majority of positive cases at 480, taking the total cases till date to 6,750.

With the latest cases, the cumulative tally in the state has breached the 11,000 mark to touch 11,224.

Eighty one of the 639 new cases included people who had arrived from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the bulletin said.

A total of 634 people were discharged on Sunday, taking the total to 4,172 till date, it said.

On Saturday 939 people were discharged.

Tamil Nadu had reported 477 positive cases on Saturday and 434 on May 15.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Construction work resumed on a home at Bancroft and Reed Streets in South Philadelphia on May 1 without mandated face coverings. Gov. Tom Wolf had banned most construction in Pennsylvania in March to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Read more

James Johnson Strauss co-owns Hivemind Construction in West Philadelphia. His wife, Jess, works as a nurse at Pennsylvania Hospital.

In the early days of the pandemic, communities asked construction workers to donate N95 masks  long used to protect them against harmful fumes and contaminated dust  to health-care workers caring for COVID-19 patients.

"There were reports coming in that hospitals werent gonna have enough [personal protective equipment], and I was getting more and more worried, Johnson Strauss, 47, said.

A couple of days before Gov. Tom Wolf shut down the Philadelphia region in March, Johnson Strauss saw N95 masks available at lumberyards. But the yards limited orders to one or two boxes. So he asked the eight fellow co-owners of his small carpentry cooperative to buy, too. All told, they donated a couple hundred masks to the hospital.

In retrospect, Johnson Strauss said, "I wish Id saved a couple.

On May 1, the governor allowed construction sites throughout Pennsylvania to reopen. But some area construction companies are finding it hard to provide workers with the N95 masks that national safety standards have required for protection from harmful airborne particles while performing certain types of work. That includes sanding building materials, drilling concrete, installing insulation, and disturbing lead paint.

A lot of builders donated masks they had on hand in the spirit of public citizenship, said Jerry Howard, chief executive officer of the National Association of Home Builders. "We are hearing from various locations that there is a shortage of the masks.

Before the pandemic, hardware stores large and small sold N95s to contractors and homeowners tackling weekend projects. Now, Howard said, masks generally are less available in higher population areas harder hit by the pandemic, like the Philadelphia region. And the need for masks will increase as construction ramps up. Many sites that have reopened arent yet at peak personnel.

To combat supply shortages, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has temporarily adjusted some of its requirements for both health-care and construction workers, including allowing them to wear N95 respirator masks for longer than their intended use  normally a day or two for construction workers  and to use other types of respirators, such as KN95s shipped from China.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus quiets the boom of Philly construction

Underperforming masks

But like health-care workers, some construction workers dont feel safe using anything other than masks federal regulators have always required. Temple hospital workers say their KN95 masks are falling apart.

Will Giesey, president of the Delaware and Chester County chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, said members are doing what they can, but N95 respirators are scarce.

Theres lots of masks theyre making available," but "they really wont help you if youre working in dangerous dust conditions, said Giesey, founder and general manager of Philadelphia-based Bellweather Construction, a design-build company. "We have all sorts of masks that are underperforming that were making do with.

 READ MORE: Pa. construction sites can reopen May 1. What will that look like?

OSHA is advising employers to reduce the need for N95 masks at jobsites any way they can, a Department of Labor spokesperson said. The National Association of Home Builders advises those who cant find masks to minimize dust by vacuuming and wet cutting.

Giesey said he doesnt generally stockpile protective equipment, and his mask supplier has run out of the N95s he distributes to trade workers and his nine employees. Online retailers have canceled orders for lack of product.

Some contractors are trying to intercept deliveries at stores. I have heard if you happen to be there when theyre delivered, they have a very limited supply and you can get lucky, he said. "But thats very inefficient.

He also said hes seen prices two or three times what masks usually cost.

Jim Gallagher, a construction industry consultant at Resolution Management Consultants, based in Marlton, N.J., said that he hasnt heard about a shortage of N95 masks but that the masks might cost more than some companies want to pay in uncertain economic times, especially when added to the new costs of doing business during the pandemic, including handwashing stations and limits on crews that will prolong projects.

Larger companies that can buy in bulk tend to get equipment before smaller businesses, Gallagher said.

Hivemind Construction has 12 employees. Ashley Arnwine, a co-owner, said she doesnt feel comfortable restarting carpentry work without N95s.

"Were basically going to miss out on opportunities to have income, because we dont want to put ourselves or our employees at risk, because we dont have the proper masks, said Arnwine, 34. "We want to start working again, too. Im just not about to do it if it means putting someones life in danger.

A supplier told the company it might have masks in mid-June at the earliest.

 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.

Masks for some

Amy Novak, project executive at the construction management company Torcon, based in Red Bank, N.J., said the company is not having trouble getting protective gear for its roughly 150 field employees. Novak said the companys ability to keep working on pharmaceutical and health-care projects during the shutdown helped it work out how to get equipment. Still, the company had to look around for masks, she said.

"It was a matter of being on top of it and getting your order in early, Novak said.

At health-care related projects, the supply of N95 masks was immediately turned over at the request of the clients, she said. Then [we] had to back fill with something less protective than the N95s but protective enough for the [construction] workers vs. the frontline health-care workers.

One of the companys first big shipments of masks were KN95s from China. It is reserving its supply of respirators for work involving fumes and particles and following OSHAs new guidelines for reusing masks.

"That way we can protect the resources we have, Novak said.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia will allow construction to resume Friday  with some limitations

John J. Dougherty, head of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, said members are happy to be back to work and have the protection they need. The union got masks from wherever we could, he said.

Our No. 1 priority is keeping our people employed safely, he said. "I havent had one person call me with a concern.

The union donated 100,000 masks  mostly N95s  and more than $80,000 worth of protective equipment to area hospitals, he said.

For others, scrambling for masks

Ben Connors, president and chief executive officer of the General Building Contractors Association, based in Philadelphia, said N95 respirators have been in short supply because manufacturers have rightfully focused their inventories to health-care workers and first responders.

Johnson Strauss and Arnwine of Hivemind Construction said they shouldnt have to compete with health-care workers for N95s.

 READ MORE: On the coronavirus front lines, Philly nurses also battle supply shortages and tension with employers

Arnwine knows of a local demolition crew that plans to work until its supply of masks runs out. She has seen construction workers without respirators doing work that requires them.

She said she wanted to speak up for the workers without proper masks who may not feel comfortable saying anything for fear of losing their jobs. They dont want to raise a fuss, so theyre just going to do [the work] even though its really unfairly putting their lives at risk," she said.

Christopher Johnson, 29, said he and his fellow workers had to provide their own protective equipment while he worked for a Philadelphia general contracting company from November until he was laid off in March. Before the pandemic, masks were very much in abundance" at hardware stores and lumberyards. A box of masks was maybe $20. The last time he checked before he was laid off, a box of 10 N95 masks was $40, which is just wild, he said. Store workers told him they adjusted prices based on how much the store had to pay.

Johnson knows workers who had to scramble to find just a few masks to use. He gave some to the partner of a coworker at his part-time administrative job. The construction worker hadnt been able to get masks and was using the same one for several eight-hour shifts.

"I know that is a very common experience where people are reusing the same mask, he said.
Eight more sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive again for the coronavirus, raising to 13 the number who appear to have become infected a second time while serving aboard the sidelined aircraft carrier.

All the sailors had previously tested positive for the virus and had gone through at least two weeks of isolation. Before they were allowed to go back to the ship, all had to test negative twice in a row, with the tests separated by at least a day or two.

On Saturday, a Navy official confirmed eight additional sailors had tested positive again.

A day earlier the Navy had said in a statement that five had tested positive a second time. The Navy official was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

That some crew were testing positive again has puzzled officials and raised questions about reintegrating troops into the military if a second infection were possible.

All the sailors from the USS Roosevelt who have now tested positive again had previously tested positive for the virus and had gone through at least two weeks of isolation

Also questioned was the accuracy of testing itself. In some cases infection can be at such a low level that it is not detected by the test, which could mean there were no relapses. Also, people could be cleared because their virus levels were too low for detection.

News of the second potential outbreak comes just two months after about 1,100 crew members on the ship tested positive for the virus. One crew member has died.

More than 4,000 crew members went ashore last month after the ship was diverted to Guam.

While more than 2,000 are back on board, at least 1,000 are still testing positive for the virus and remain on land.

And the close to 700 crew members who had been protecting and running the Roosevelt and systems aboard have now moved into hotels and other facilities on the island for their quarantine.

When its time to return to the ship, boarding takes place in slow, meticulous waves. Wearing gloves and masks, the crew members climb onto sterile buses only after theyve had two negative tests for the virus.

They are screened and checked when they get on the bus and again before they board the ship. And even a simple sniffle can get them turned back.

Those who had stayed on the ship did deep cleaning four times a day.

The first outbreak led to the firing of Capt Brett Crozier. He was relieved of his duties on April 2 after a letter he wrote to superiors urging them to respond more quickly to the coronavirus outbreak on board the aircraft carrier leaked to the press at the end of March.

The first outbreak led to the firing of Capt Brett Crozier (pictured in December). He was relieved of his duties on April 2 after a letter he wrote to superiors urging them to respond more quickly to the coronavirus outbreak on board leaked to the press at the end of March

The outbreak was the most severe in the US military, which is seeking to balance a need to protect troops while also maintaining US defenses. Sailors are seen returning to the ship on April 29

Thomas Modly, who was the acting Navy secretary at the time, flew aboard the carrier and delivered a profanity-laced speech criticizing both the crew and Crozier. Within days, Modly resigned.

While questions still loom over whether Crozier will be reinstated as Roosevelt's captain, he has taken up a temporary staff job with Naval Air Forces in San Diego, spokesperson Cmdr Ron Flanders confirmed Tuesday.

According to Flanders, Crozier will serve as special assistant to the Naval Air Forces Chief of Staff, Capt Max McCoy.

Late last month, the Navy revealed that officials will conduct a wider investigation of circumstances surrounding the spread of the coronavirus aboard the Roosevelt, a move that delayed the decision on whether to reinstate Crozier.

The investigation was announced by James E. McPherson, the acting Navy secretary, who said in a brief written statement that 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 outbreak was the most severe in the US military, which is seeking to balance a need to protect troops while also maintaining US defenses.

The broader probe is to examine communication and leadership actions in the Navy chain of command in the Pacific, to include events before the initial virus outbreak in late March, officials said.

The announcement of the investigation came days after Secretary of Defense Mark Esper declined to immediately endorse the Navy's original investigation into the issue, which included a recommendation to reinstate Crozier.
By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA, May 17 (Reuters) - Canadian firms are showing less interest than expected in a government wage subsidy program to help them survive the coronavirus crisis because the application process is complex, a government minister said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on March 30 that businesses able to show their revenues had dropped by 30% because of the outbreak could apply for the subsidy to help retain their workers amid massive shutdowns.

Although the Liberal government budgeted C$73 billion on the subsidy - just under half the C$152 billion in total direct spending on measures to dull the pain of the crisis - official data last week showed only C$3.4 billion had been dispensed.

"(The pickup) has been slower than expected," Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough told CTV.

"I think businesses are having to put a lot of time and effort into their applications because you have to dig in to your payrolls - who earned what and when?" she said in an interview broadcast on Sunday.

Officials are looking at ways to streamline the process of providing data, she added.

Trudeau said on Friday the subsidy would be extended by 12 weeks until the end of August and suggested the threshold for revenue loss might be dropped to below 30% to encourage more firms to apply.

Air Canada said on Friday it would cut its workforce by up to 60%. Asked why the firm had not used the wage subsidy instead of issuing layoffs, a representative said normal traffic levels would not be returning anytime soon.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau declined to say how much more Ottawa has budgeted to cover the extension.

"I think the uptake is going to pick up. I don't think that there's a programmatic problem ... it's more a challenge to provide the data to the government," said Qualtrough.

Ottawa is also promising unemployed Canadians up to C$2,000 a month under a separate program.

Most of Canada's 10 provinces have slowly started reopening their economies as public health agency data show the outbreak is slowing significantly.

The total death toll edged up by 1.9% to 5,702 on Sunday, one of the smallest day-on-day increases. (Reporting by David Ljunggren Editing by Nick Zieminski)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 06:10:56|Editor: huaxia

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BUENOS AIRES, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Children and adolescents from across Argentina's capital Buenos Aires returned to the city streets on Saturday on the first day of recreational outings permitted by authorities after almost two months in quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Children under 16 years of age are currently only allowed out on weekends, for no longer than one hour, and no more than 500 meters from their homes.

"All minors must be in the company of an adult whose identity document determines the day they may go out. If it ends in an even number, they can go out today, because it is an even Saturday on the 16th, and if the document ends in an odd number, they will be able to go out tomorrow, which is Sunday the 17th," spokesmen for the Buenos Aires city government told Xinhua.

The neighborhoods of Villa Urquiza, Belgrano, and Villa Pueyrredon in the north of the capital saw hundreds of children on the city streets, once again able to enjoy the fresh air.

"They are happy to be outdoors again. It was almost 60 days of total confinement for them," Laura, a mother of two, told Xinhua.

Despite being allowed outside, children must still observe social distancing measures and avoid playing in groups.

"I was bored at home, unable to go to school or see my friends. Now at least I'm walking around the neighborhood," said teenager Anna, accompanied by her mother, Veronica.

"It has been almost two months since my son has gone out. It was a difficult situation for the whole family, but now we are taking advantage of these five blocks to take a walk and be in the sun," said Florencia, accompanied by her son, Tomas.

Neighborhood sidewalks, quiet for weeks, were once again the site of heavy bicycle, skateboard, and baby carriage traffic.

The vice president of the Latin American Society of Pediatric Infectology, Roberto Debbag, told local press that "parents should chat with children so that they know it is a recreational outing, to be together outdoors at a certain time, but that they will not be in contact with other children or with other adults."

Buenos Aires city's Minister of Health, Fernan Quiros, stated that recreational outings should not affect the contagion curve if the established guidelines are followed.

Argentina, which will continue to be under quarantine until May 24, has registered 7,479 cases of COVID-19, with 2,833 of the cases reported in Buenos Aires. Enditem
Taiwan on Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of legalising same-sex marriage, as gay couples and rights groups called for full recognition of unions involving foreigners. The island is at the vanguard of the burgeoning gay rights movement in Asia and became the first place in the region to legalise same-sex marriage after a bruising political fight. But the gay marriage law still contains restrictions not faced by heterosexual couples. Same-sex couples can only wed foreigners from countries where gay marriage is also recognised, and can only adopt their partners' biological children. Activists say the coronavirus pandemic has made it more urgent to allow all foreign marriages, as many international same-sex couples have been separated due to border controls and lockdowns in many countries. "Last year we watched other couples get married but we couldn't," said Cho Yen-chun, 44, whose partner of three years is Hong Konger. "It's depressing enough, and now we can't even meet because of the coronavirus." Around 3,600 couples have wed since the first legal gay weddings were held a week after the law was enacted last year. On Sunday, gay couples posted notes, photos and airline ticket stubs on "Lennon Walls" set up near President Tsai Ing-wen's office in Taipei to appeal for more inclusiveness. "I hope President Tsai's government can amend the law as soon as possible," Cho said. Tsai won a landslide victory in January when her party also retained a majority in parliament. Her presidency is popular among Taiwan's youth who are more supportive of her reform agenda. Rights groups estimated at least 1,000 international same-sex couples are waiting for their unions to be recognised in Taiwan. "There is no legal protection for us if we can't get married," said Malaysian Tan Bee Guat, 39, who has been staying in Taiwan on a student visa to be with her partner. "I can't be a student forever." Taiwan is home to a thriving LGBT community and its capital, Taipei, is due to host Asia's Gay Games next year. Last year a record 200,000 people attended a pride march in Taipei to celebrate the legalisation of same-sex marriages. "Marriage equality should not be restricted due to nationalities," said Chien Chih-chieh, secretary-general of Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights. "We hope the government can make it complete soon." People paste notes on a 'Lennon Wall' in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei calling for a same-sex marriage law to be expanded to include more foreign nations A man poses for photos in front of a 'Lennon Wall' next to the Presidential Office in Taipei
Bryan Adams is not racist, but he screwed up, May 13

If a wealthy person stumbled up to me and offered a million dollars to name even a single Bryan Adams ballad or whatever he is famous for singing, I would be s-it out of luck. I love popular music and have some suspicion that he favours T-shirts made with fine cottons and he may have performed intimately some tunes with Tina Turner whose music I do like and am familiar with.

But a fella that I intend no harm has made my daily strolls even more dangerous.

I am a proud person originally from The Middle Kingdom (China), who walks with a cane due to head trauma suffered when I was in my teens and am now comfortably in the back nine of my life. I reside in a community in Toronto that is home to more than a few shelters, and, more profoundly, CAMH.

Lately, I have experienced a significant increase in glares and even threatening gestures from pedestrians who do not have the same complexion or ethnicity as I do.

Sadly, I only have one speed, so I just keep walking slowly and try to hold my ground. I have switched over to a much heavier cane, feeling happy that I have never stopped working out those muscles that still respond to aggressive daily stimulus.
Clare Smyth and her two daughters Hannah and Bethany who were involved in a tragic quad bike accident at their home in Ballycastle

A community came together on Sunday morning to remember Clare and Bethany Smyth, a mother and daughter who died last week in a terrible accident near their family farm in Co Antrim.

In line with restrictions, ten mourners were allowed inside Ballycastle Presbyterian Church, but others gathered outside for the service led by the Rev John Stanbridge.

Following the processional music, Be thou my vision', Rev Stanbridge told the mourners that the Smyth family carried with them into the church every Sunday "joy and happiness, purity and love in abundance."

Mrs Smyth, 35, and three-year-old Bethany died after the quad bike they were travelling on was in a collision with a tractor last Tuesday near their farm on the Whitepark Road.

Five-year-old Hannah was seriously injured, but is reported to be making "small but significant steps" at Belfasts Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children, where father Ryan has been a constant presence.

In his eulogy, Rev Stanbridge said: "We bring you our thanks for Clare and Bethany, for the people they have been, and still are in your presence, for all they have meant to us in so many ways.

"We thank you for the warmth of their love, their combined enthusiasm and zest for life, their courage and cheerfulness, their talents and their abilities and inabilities to challenge and cheer us and teach us to love more dearly.

"We thank you for the convictions Clare held to throughout her life, those things she believed in and worked for."

During the Service of Thanksgiving, those attending sung My God is a great big God, Bethanys favourite worship song, and The Lords my Shepherd, Clares favourite.

Burial was due to take place after the service in the graveyard on the grounds of the church.
Week 20 brought us a new leader in our trending chart as Samsung's newly announced Galaxy A Quantum shot straight to the top. The phone is going to be available with a single Korean carrier, but we guess the naming alone helped it turn more heads than any other phone this week.

The Poco F2 Pro had to settle for second in the week of its announcement as the third and fourth spots went to phones that are yet to become official - the Redmi Note 10 and the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Redmi Note 9S slipped to fifth, while the Samsung Galaxy A51 retained its sixth position.

Yet another rumored phone takes seventh - the elusive Nokia 9.3 PureView. Redmi Note 8 Pro is down in eight, and the vanilla Note 8 is tenth as the Xiaomi affordable brand achieves a rear feat - three different generations of the same lineup make the top 10.

The final phone on the chart is the iPhone SE (2020), which had to settle for ninth after a lengthy spell on the podium. Will it be able to mount a comeback? We'll find out in the following weeks.

The members of the week 19 top 10 to lose out this time are the Redmi Note 9 Pro, the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite and the Samsung Galaxy S8.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 15:46:37|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China's Chang'e-4 probe has survived 500 Earth days on the far side of the moon while conducting a scientific exploration of the virgin territory.

The lander and rover of the Chang'e-4 probe have resumed work for the 18th lunar day on the far side of the moon after "sleeping" during the extremely cold night.

The lander woke up at 3:25 a.m. Sunday (Beijing time), and the rover awoke at 11:53 a.m. Saturday. Both are in normal working order, according to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The Chang'e-4 probe, launched on Dec. 8, 2018, made the first-ever soft landing on the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon on Jan. 3, 2019.

A lunar day equals 14 days on Earth, and a lunar night is the same length. The Chang'e-4 probe switches to dormant mode during the lunar night due to the lack of solar power. Enditem
Ahead of the Centre releasing guidelines for phase 4 of the Covid-19 lockdown, Maharashtra on Sunday decided to extend the lockdown till May 31.

Maharashtra Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta has issued an order notifying extension of the lockdown, an official said. "The calibrated phase-wise relaxation/lifting of lockdown orders will be notified in due course," the order said.

The present lockdown was valid from May 2 to 17. "Lockdown 3.0 ends today. Lockdown 4.0 will come into effect on Monday and will be valid till May 31. There will be some relaxations in the fourth phase," he said.

"The green and orange zones will get more relaxations, in terms of starting more services. As of now only essential services are operational, he said.

The decision is on expected lines as the state has reported the highest number of cases and deaths in the country so far. The state has so far reported 30,706 cases and 1175 deaths.

A senior minister earlier said it was unanimously agreed upon that the lockdown has to be extended in certain parts of the state, especially in red zones such as the Mumbai and Pune metropolitan regions, Malegaon and Solapur.

Following Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu also extended the lockdown the the end of this month and said no further relaxations will be given in 12 districts, including Chennai. However, 25 districts including Coimbatore, Salem and Erode will see certain relaxations in lockdown 4.0.

On Saturday, over 30 municipal areas were identified in 12 states where maximum restrictions are likely to be imposed as India registered nearly 91,000 Covid-19 cases, leaving behind China where the pandemic emerged.

The selected municipal areas are: Brihanmumbai or Greater Mumbai, Greater Chennai, Ahmedabad, Thane, Delhi, Indore, Pune, Kolkata, Jaipur, Nashik, Jodhpur, Agra, Tiruvallur, Aurangabad, Cuddalore, Greater Hyderabad, Surat, Chengalpattu, Ariyalur, Howrah, Kurnool, Bhopal, Amritsar, Villupuram, Vadodara, Udaipur, Palghar, Berhampur, Solapur and Meerut.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on Monday, had said that the lockdown 4.0 will have a "completely different form", with new rules. "No state wants complete withdrawal of lockdown but all want gradual resumption of economic activities," the official said

Gradual and need-based operations of the railways and domestic airlines are likely to be allowed from next week but full-fledged opening of the two sectors is unlikely to take place immediately.

Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka were among some states which were not in favour of complete resumption of train and air services, at least till May-end, the official said.

Lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 for 21 days in a bid to combat the coronavirus pandemic. It was first extended till May 3 and again till May 17.
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) on May 17 said growth equity firm General Atlantic Partners will invest Rs 6,598.38 crore in Jio Platforms, the fourth major deal in a little less than four weeks from leading global tech investors that will infuse a total Rs 67,194.75 crore in the digital unit of Indias largest private enterprise.

General Atlantic is buying a 1.34 percent stake in Jio Platforms, the unit that houses Reliances telecom venture Jio Infocomm, Mumbai-headquartered Reliance said in a statement. The investment gives Jio Platforms Rs 4.91 lakh crore and an enterprise value of Rs 5.16 lakh crore, the company said.

The deal comes after RIL secured an investment of Rs 43,574 crore from Facebook for a 9.99 percent stake in Jio Platforms on April 22, and just days after it bagged Rs 5,655.75 crore from private equity firm Silver Lake.

Soon after, Vista Equity Partners, a US-based private equity firm that runs the worlds largest exclusively tech-focused fund, said it will pick up a 2.32 percent stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 11,367 crore.

The investment in Jio by General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm with a 40-year track record of investing in the technology, consumer, financial services and healthcare sectors, is its largest in Asia. As an integrated team operating under a global investment platform across 14 locations, General Atlantic invests behind themes that are driven by innovation and entrepreneurship and supported by long-term secular growth, RIL said in the statement.

Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, said he was thrilled to welcome General Atlantic, a marquee global investor, as a valued partner. }I have known General Atlantic for several decades and greatly admired it for its belief in Indias huge growth potential. General Atlantic shares our vision of a Digital Society for India and strongly believes in the transformative power of digitization in enriching the lives of 1.3 billion Indians. We are excited to leverage General Atlantics proven global expertise and strategic insights across 40 years of technology investing for the benefit of Jio.

Bill Ford, Chief Executive Officer of General Atlantic, said, As long-term backers of global technology leaders and visionary entrepreneurs, we could not be more excited about investing in Jio. We share Mukeshs conviction that digital connectivity has the potential to significantly accelerate the Indian economy and drive growth across the country. General Atlantic has a long track record working alongside founders to scale disruptive businesses, as Jio is doing at the forefront of the digital revolution in India.

The fourth investment by a marquee investor is also an endorsement of Jios tech capabilities and the potential of the business model in this COVID-19 world and beyond. It reemphasises Jios continuing attraction among global investors for its deep understanding of the Indian markets, the rapid digitisation opportunity post-COVID and its capabilities to bring cutting-edge technologies and tools such as AI, blockchain, AR/VR, Big Data into play for all Indians.

Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd)
VIENNA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy has called on the international community to work together with a common response to minimize the impact of "politicizing factors" in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

Wang Qun, Chinese envoy to the United Nations (UN) and other International Organizations in Vienna, made the call here on Thursday at an online meeting with officials from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies led by Russia, known as OPEC+.

The global economic recovery and energy re-balancing process is not just subject to the pandemic per se but also subject to "mounting man-made politicizing factors," said Wang.

As he saw, these factors include policies against globalization, attempts of stigmatization, and the stepped-up unilateral sanctions against Russia, Iran and Venezuela.

These acts have provoked trade frictions and disputes, led to greater fluctuations on the global oil market, and disrupted and undermined international efforts and cooperation against the pandemic, he added, urging to do away with the politicizing factors detrimental to the global energy security.

The envoy called on the international community to uphold multilateralism with a more intensified cooperation, especially by opposing "decoupling" and stigmatization, supporting the World Health Organization and upholding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 14:52:00|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday welcomed the arrest of Felicien Kabuga, who is alleged to be a leading figure in the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

As head of the "National Defense Fund" from April to July 1994, Kabuga allegedly helped finance the genocide, the UN news service reported.

He was also president of the "initiative committee" of Radio Television Libre des Milles Collines, whose broadcasts were used by Hutu extremists to incite hatred against Tutsis and identify individuals for subsequent killing, the UN reported.

"Mr. Kabuga's apprehension sends a powerful message that those who are alleged to have committed such crimes cannot evade justice and will eventually be held accountable, even more than a quarter of a century later," Guterres' spokesperson said in a statement.

"The secretary-general's thoughts today are first and foremost with the victims of Mr. Kabuga's alleged crimes, the victims of other serious international crimes, and their families. Ending impunity is essential for peace, security and justice," it said.

As a result of a joint investigation with the UN's International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), Kabuga was apprehended in Paris by French authorities in a "sophisticated, coordinated operation with simultaneous searches across a number of locations," the UN reported.

He was indicted by the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 1997 on seven counts of genocide and crimes against humanity, and had been wanted by the IRMCT since 2013.

The UN chief praised the cooperation between the UN mechanism and the French authorities in the arrest, underlining the responsibility of all states to cooperate with the IRMCT in locating and arresting any fugitives at large.

Kabuga is expected to be transferred to the IRMCT, where he will stand trial. Enditem
President Ilham Aliyev made a phone call to Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to congratulate him on the occasion of his birthday, presidential website reported on May 17.

During the conversation, the presidents also exchanged views on the measures taken to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Pointing to the recent Summit of the Turkic Council held through videoconferencing, the heads of state hailed the importance of the event in terms of strengthening cooperation and consolidating solidarity between the countries.

President Ilham Aliyev and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed prospects for successfully developing bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields.

___

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I just started running down the street. And I got there maybe a minute after it crashed and there was a couple of residents that had their hoses out and they were trying to put the flames out because it hit a house, he said. It looked like most of it landed in the front yard, but maybe a wing or something went through the roof perhaps.
NASA photo of the eruption of Klyuchevsky volcano on 30 September, 1994, the volcano's largest explosion in 40 years. The large

Background:

Kliuchevskoi is Kamchatka's highest and most active volcano. Since its origin about 6000 years ago, the beautifully symmetrical, 4835-m-high basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. Kliuchevskoi rises above a saddle NE of sharp-peaked Kamen volcano and lies SE of the broad Ushkovsky massif. More than 100 flank eruptions have occurred at Kliuchevskoi during the past roughly 3000 years, with most lateral craters and cones occurring along radial fissures between the unconfined NE-to-SE flanks of the conical volcano between 500 m and 3600 m elevation. The morphology of its 700-m-wide summit crater has been frequently modified by historical eruptions, which have been recorded since the late-17th century. Historical eruptions have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have also included numerous major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters.

---

Source: Klyuchevsky information by the GVP (Smithsonian Institution)
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said GST compensation is due to all the states for the four-month period of December-March.

"We are periodically talking about it. GST dues are very clearly explained in the GST Council. It is not for selective states....All states' GST dues which we recognise for December, January, February, March have not been paid," Sitharaman told reporters here.

Under GST law, states are guaranteed to be paid for any loss of revenue in the first five years of the GST implementation from July 1, 2017. The shortfall is calculated assuming a 14 per cent annual growth in GST collections by states over the base year of 2015-16.

ALSO READ| Finance Minister announces last tranche of Rs 20 lakh crore economic package

Under the GST structure, taxes are levied under 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent slabs. On top of the highest tax slab, a cess is levied on luxury, sin and demerit goods and the proceeds from the same are used to compensate states for any revenue loss.

There were no differences between the Centre and states with regard to compensation payment in 2017-18, 2018-19 and in the first four months (April-July) of the previous fiscal (2019-20). However, with revenue mop-up from compensation cess falling, the Centre held back fund transfer to states beginning August.

Following this, states raised the issue with the Centre and in December 2019, Rs 35,298 crore was released as compensation for August-September, while Rs 34,053 crore was released in two instalments in February and April as compensation for October-November.

ALSO READ| FM's final tranche: Boost for MNREGA, states allowed to borrow more, little relief for salaried

The Centre has, so far, released over Rs 2.45 lakh crore as GST compensation to states since the implementation of the new indirect tax regime on July 1, 2017. During July 2017-March 2018, Rs 48,785 crore was released, while between April 2018-March 2019, Rs 81,141 crore was paid to states.

For April-May and June-July last year, Rs 17,789 crore and Rs 27,956 crore were released. Further, Rs 35,298 crore was paid to states as compensation for August-September and Rs 34,053 crore for October-November 2019.
It was a good primary election for legislative incumbents.

Only Andrew LaGrone trailed, but he was just 630 votes behind Jen Day.

LaGrone is an appointee of Gov. Pete Ricketts, and he can expect to receive considerable gubernatorial and Republican Party campaign support heading into November, so call that race against Day, a Democrat, a tossup.

Carol Blood, Lynne Walz and Dan Quick, all still potential Republican Party targets, looked strong this month.

And Tom Brewer and Julie Slama dominated in the first round of their particularly interesting races.

Slama is a Ricketts appointee, the youngest member of the Legislature and on the ballot for the first time.

Brewer is the Legislature's first and only Native state senator, and the challenge to his reelection touches on issues like wind energy in the Sandhills and the drama at Whiteclay.

In Lincoln, incumbent Sens. Anna Wishart, Mike Hilgers and Suzanne Geist ran strong.

And Omaha voters may be sending another Cavanaugh on the way to Lincoln.

John Cavanaugh, brother of Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, ran out front in District 9.

Their father, John Cavanaugh, served in the Legislature from 1973 to 1977, and then in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 to 1981 before he decided to leave Washington and return home.

Primary election results pointed toward the early possibility of a net Republican gain of one seat in the nonpartisan Legislature, and perhaps two if LaGrone recovers. But all that is tenuous.

Jacob Campbell, a Republican, ran out front in Lincoln's District 29, now represented by Sen. Kate Bolz, and former Sen. Rich Pahls, a Republican, led the pack in Omaha's District 31, now represented by Sen. Rick Kolowski.

Both of those districts  represented by senators who are Democrats  remain highly competitive based on primary results.

And there's still a potential Republican pickup in District 45, now represented by Sen. Sue Crawford, a Democrat. Susan Hester, a Democrat, held a slight edge over Rita Sanders, a Republican, in the primary results.

Last Tuesday essentially was a mail-in primary that turned into a great success story in terms of voter participation.

November certainly has the potential to be another biggie, although who knows where we will be at a point six months deeper into this pandemic, hopefully within reach of a vaccine rather than entering "the darkest winter in modern history" as whistleblower Rick Bright has warned.

The ramifications of that election will be huge with President Donald Trump on the ballot seeking another four years in office; his reelection bid will galvanize voters on both sides. Or, at least, it certainly should.

And Nebraska voters might have the opportunity to make some big decisions on special issues if supporters of proposed ballot initiatives, presumably wearing face masks, can acquire sufficient signatures to gain access to the ballot at a time when social distancing and crowd size limits are in effect.

That could be a more difficult challenge now.

Property tax relief proponents already have abandoned their effort, but legalization of casino gambling at race tracks, redistricting reform and legalization of marijuana are still in play.

* * *

Finishing up:

* Bob Krist's endorsement of Rep. Don Bacon is a reminder that party shouldn't matter. Vote for the man or the woman who's the candidate, not for the R or the D.

* Bacon vs. Kara Eastman has got to be November's premier race in Nebraska, with Trump vs. Joe Biden for Nebraska's 2nd District presidential electoral vote an accompanying feature.

* Meanwhile, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry vs. Kate Bolz looks increasingly intriguing, although a Republican incumbent with $2 million in the bank in a district that hasn't elected a Democrat in more than 50 years obviously begins the contest heavily advantaged.

* Out of sight now over the hill is a wide-open 2022 gubernatorial race that is likely to begin shortly after this year's votes are counted  and maybe even before 2021 begins. A reminder of the 1998 election, when Lincoln Mayor Mike Johanns was elected governor following a campaign of more than two years that found him standing at the gate shaking hands with county fair-goers in western Nebraska in the summer of 1996.

* The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has announced that it will begin to accept applications for benefits under Nebraska's new Medicaid expansion plan on Aug. 1 with benefits beginning on Oct. 1.

* Matt Innis won eight western Nebraska counties in his Republican primary challenge to Sen. Ben Sasse.

* Endangered species in Washington: Whistleblowers and inspector generals, who are there to look out for our interests.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-18 02:03:46|Editor: huaxia

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CHICAGO, May 17 (Xinhua) -- In the summer of 2016, six-year-old Joy He Zhiya and her elder brother left their home in New York for the mountain area of Longlin County in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, to experience a different life.

They lived at a host family, ate and worked together with the family members. They found that many local children wanted to learn English in order to be able to communicate with them, but there was no English teacher.

The pair returned to Mowo Village in Longlin County during the summer vacation the next year, and gave their first, as well as the first English class at Mowo Hope Primary School.

To sustain their voluntary English teaching after returning to the United States, Joy started her English class online. In four years, her students have increased from several in Mowo Village to hundreds in Guangxi, and further to tens of thousands of children from 12 countries including China, Japan, Singapore, Germany and Mexico.

Her teaching videos have been played more than 10 million times.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in school classes being suspended. Joy, along with her brother, launched "JoyLand School" online English study program, and established a JoyLand Foundation. In two months, the foundation received donations totalling 26,000 U.S. dollars.

From her four-year online teaching experience, Joy has noticed some major challenges that Chinese children have in learning English, including difficulties in pronunciation and listening comprehension, accurate expression in simple words, and first language interference.

She took these problems to her English teacher. With help, Joy borrowed heaps of English learning books from the library, made various teaching aids, and initiated a teaching method of her own.

Joy then turned to her mother, a linguistics professor at the State University of New York, as well as the latter's colleagues and friends, for a scientific and systematic teaching plan. A second language acquisition professor worked out a curriculum while a linguist and an expert on children's emotional cognition designed a "10-minute effective shadowing."

"JoyLand School" now has three courses. They are daily shadowing, including everyday conversation; hobbies English, including learning English through drawing and DIY; and scene English, including visits to schools, survival in the wild and making cookies. The courses have covered 500 core words, 800 local expressions and more than 300 scene dialogues.

The 10-year-old Chinese American girl is now determined to spread her English study program even wider. Enditem
Former CIA director John Brennan and former director of national intelligence James Clapper arrive at a closed hearing before the Senate intelligence committee on May 16, 2018. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Obama White House Kept Key Officials in Dark About Brennans Russia Intel

President Barack Obamas White House kept three key officials in the dark about bombshell Russia intelligence received in early August 2016 from CIA Director John Brennan until after the presidential election in November of that year.

The three officials held the top roles focusing on Russia, cybersecurity, and intelligence programs at the National Security Council. Their exclusion is likely to raise new questions about the Obama administrations involvement in the origins of the investigation of the Trump campaign that evolved into the probe by special counsel Robert Mueller.

While the Obama administration coordinated a series of so-called small group meetings in response to Brennans information, three officials were excluded who would usually be involved in high-profile work on the topics: White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Michael Daniel, Senior Director for Russia and Eurasia Celeste Wallander, and Senior Director for Intelligence Programs Brett Holmgren.

The exclusion of the officials was first documented in the third volume (pdf) of the Russia report by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which noted that several NSC officials who would normally be included in discussions of importance  were neither included in the discussions nor exposed to the sensitive intelligence until after the election.

Holmgren told the Senate intelligence committee that he was excluded due to the sensitivity of the intelligence reporting. He said the reports were briefed verbally, oftentimes by Director Brennan. So I didnt get access to a lot of those reports until the November or December time frame.

According to the Senate panels report, the Obama administration wasnt concerned with interference in the 2016 presidential election until Brennan provided a series of secretive briefings. The intelligence Brennan relayed purportedly served as the wake-up call, triggering a series of high-level meetings to coordinate a response.

Little is known about the content of Brennans briefings. In public testimony, he said the content was similar to the findings in the Intelligence Community Assessment that was released to the public on Jan. 5, 2017.

The substance of those briefings was entirely consistent with the main judgments contained in the January classified and unclassified assessments, namely, that Russias goals were to undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton and harm her electability and potential presidency, and help President Trumps election chances, Brennan told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on May 23, 2017.

After the briefings at the White House, Brennan shared the information with members of the congressional Gang of Eight in a series of one-on-one meetings. Brennan briefed three of the Democrats before informing any Republicans; the sequence and format of the briefings were a departure from typical Gang of Eight procedure, in which all eight members receive the information at the same time.

Public knowledge of the finer details of the briefings is limited to anonymously sourced media reports, which claim that the intelligence came from a highly-placed CIA source within the Kremlin. One of the media articles included reporting that questioned the credibility of the source, including raising suspicions that he was a double agent for Russia.
Adam Walsh/CBC

Have you ever stopped to take a good look in your fridge?

Not a glance, but a full-on gaze at the fruits and vegetables you've got stocked inside  and the little stickers that tell you where things are from.

After a recent grocery day, I stopped and examined the contents of my fridge and I had a few questions.

With COVID-19 hotspots popping up the world over, I wondered this: what's life like back where the produce came from?

Further, what could it mean for us here in Newfoundland and Labrador?

With stickers in hand, Google and a lot of phone calls, I took a brief North American tour of the start of our supply lines.

Hello, California

"On a daily basis we were wondering if we were just going to go out of business because we couldn't find a way to move all the crop," said Backus Nahas from his office in southern California.

Nahas works at Success Valley Produce, a family-run operation that grows strawberries.

If you've ever bought strawberries at a Dominion store, there's a good chance you've eaten berries from Success Valley Produce.

Peter Gullage/CBC

Nahas said the trouble for strawberry growers started back when the pandemic was in full flight and panic buying was escalating.

People weren't buying strawberries in a panic, mind you. It was other things.

While toilet paper and essentials were flying off the shelves, Nahas said stores were swamped trying to keep up with that demand. Highly perishable products were put on the back burner.

All that business is gone. It's nil. - Backus Nahas

Unable to move his crop, a surplus built up as overseas buyers  and many local ones  stopped buying.

"I've lost all my school business, I've lost all my business to restaurants, people that we sell to that are going to large corporate offices, government buildings  all that business is gone. It's nil," he said.

Nahas said Success Valley Produce used to sell to 80 different customers. The list is down to eight.

Story continues

One of them is Loblaws, which owns the Dominion brand and numerous other stores across Canada. He credits the chain for helping keep the family business afloat.

Looking ahead, Nahas thinks that as long as companies like Success Valley Produce can come close to breaking even they will survive. Others though, he said, will not.

"In some areas like in northern California, where there's been a historic oversupply, I think you'll see people lose a lot of money. Like millions and millions."

Chelan Fresh/Submitted by Adam Walsh

Sharp taste, sour markets

If you head up north from California, you eventually hit Washington State, which is where Chelan Fresh grows its green, sharp-tasting Granny Smith apples.

Sales manager Tim Evans said the industry was already in a three-year downturn when the pandemic hit.

"A lot of growers are going to probably not be in business next year," he said. "It's a very, very difficult proposition that we're dealing with right now."

While Chelan Fresh should weather the storm  it's a gigantic company that ships apples all over the world  it's taken a big hit.

Evans said his company's exports are down close to 20 per cent when compared to last year.

"That's a pretty significant number when you have 138 million bushels of apples to sell in a year. It's very impactful," he said.

Hill B. Photography/Submitted by Chelan Fresh

Orange you glad I called?

Florida oranges have helped keep the province dosed with vitamin C for years, and that's not expected to change.

After calling growers all over the state who said they were busy out tending their crops, I got in touch with the Florida Department of Citrus. Yes, oranges are so important to Florida's economy, there's a state agency responsible for the crop.

In a statement, it said Canada is the biggest export market for Florida oranges, and that status is expected to continue.

We have had no interruptions to supply due to the pandemic and expect Canada to continue receiving Florida citrus in the coming year," the statement said.

Less planting in Ontario

The last stop of my fridge-back-to-farm tour was in Ontario.

In this case, I was curious to know what will be in my fridge in the future  hopefully, that is.

Bill George chairs the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association that represents 3,500 families.

Robert Short/CBC

George said because migrant labour was late arriving due to the pandemic, farmers are planting less this year.

That means there could be certain vegetables that won't be on the shelves in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Not only that, but what is there come harvest time could cost more.

"By no means am I trying to press any panic buttons that we're not going to have a food supply but it may lead to some challenges in getting your fresh fruits and vegetables that you're used to getting on a daily basis," he said.

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
Toronto allowed Sidewalk Labs soil to be poisoned, Cohn, May 9

The exit of Sidewalk Labs is a missed opportunity to be sure.

Toronto likes its pilot projects and this was a pilot project writ larger than most. Among its many ambitions was the climate-friendly use of mass wood structures and with an overall form that was not another wall of towers. That was something to look forward to.

And yet, far too many locals came out with metaphorical pitchforks and torches and ran them out of town.

They talked as if Sidewalk labs was about to take over the city, subjecting the population to a digital servitude while siphoning off our identities to that global hegemon, with a name out of Brave New World  Alphabet.

Im disappointed in my fellow Torontonians that simple curiosity could not trump their fears. In fact, Sidewalk Labs was to develop only a tiny fraction of Toronto, and on its periphery.

I was eager to see what new ways of thinking, given relatively free reign, could do, by introducing a host of new technologies and fresh ideas about city building, all in a manageable, contained space.

If somehow the result is impossibly unacceptable, then pull the plug. Meanwhile, if you were in fear of your data being put to nefarious purposes by Alphabet, then just dont go there. Simple as that.

Canada is in danger of being seen as a graveyard for great ambitions.

Ken Straiton, Toronto

Sidewalk Labs quits Quayside project, May 8

There are likely two basic reasons why Google-Sidewalk Labs walked.

The first is that, as a vast private company with a vast hard-to-fully-penetrate set of proposals, they encountered, and, eventually, werent up to, an unexpected and very tough accountability test with Waterfront Toronto and with Torontos governance structure more generally.

That may be valid but is likely the lesser reason. The second and greater reason may have simply been the real-estate market prospects for Quayside at this point.

The uncertainties of the coronavirus may not have been as crushing to Sidewalk Labs as the fact that huge density is already being built in the east waterfront vicinity.

Even in normal times, if the competition is fierce, with other new development well ahead of it, a given development has to await its turn.

The latest predicted wait time, especially when affordable housing is a key component, may have simply been too long for Google on the Toronto Waterfront.

Lets hope Toronto can pick up the pieces and now do another, hopefully largely wood-built, version of the St. Lawrence community.

Dale Taylor, Richmond Hill

What sort of distorted sense of righteousness leads Julie Beddoes of #BlockSidewalk to rejoice at the loss of good jobs and development due to Sidewalk Labs pulling out of Toronto?

Jobs are jobs, whether they come from big tech or little tech. I would take my chances with big tech as a developer over the shoddy development we have in much of Toronto.

The really sad thing is that the withdrawal of Sidewalk Labs is the canary in the mine pointing to demise of the Toronto economy.

Why express joy as companies such as Google withdraw from Toronto s future? Jobs seem less important than sticking it to Google.

Tony De Carlo, Toronto

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A renowned mining company, Industrias Penoles, announced on Saturday its plans to indefinitely suspend zinc mining operations in central Mexico. The company claims the decision was made due to difficult mining conditions and low market prices.

Industrias Penoles revealed it was laying off more than 500 unionized workers who were employed in the Madero Mining Unit-an operation located 20 kilometers from the nation's capital. The company did not specify whether they were also letting go of some of the staff of the contractor companies that they collaborated with on the project. According to their statement, other workers and contractors might be reassigned to other units.

According to a local news site, the National Metallurgical Mining Union signed an agreement with the mining company to settle over 400 unionized people. A vast majority of them were also offered a plant position in the Fresnillo company which is a subsidiary of Penoles.

The other 105 non-union employees were reportedly relocated in different operating units. Contractors were also provided with job options in the mining company and its subsidiary.

The company declared the temporary suspension of the mine after the high cost of operation was met with an abrupt drop in the price of the precious metal. Difficult mining conditions also played a part in making the mining unit "no longer feasible." The indefinite pause in operations would reportedly not affect the production of refined zinc.

Industrias Penoles said the first-quarter saw a severe decline in the prices of industrial metals when compared to the same period from the previous year. According to their reports, the value of zinc suffered a 21.3 percent drop.

The Francisco I. Madero mine in the Zacatecas state began its operations nearly a decade ago. In 2019, the mining company reportedly ground and processed more than 2.3 million tons of ore, over 41,500 tons of zinc, and nearly 9,000 tons of lead.

Zinc is a precious metal that was discovered during the 13th century C.E. The malleable metal is often used to plate iron to prevent corrosion. It is also found in batteries, tires, cement, paint, plastics, soap, fluorescent lights, T.V. screens and other material products. Zinc can also be found in most coins. The U.S.penny is mostly made of zinc with a bronze plating.

Zinc mining began in the 18th century after miners discovered that zinc sulfide could be smelt and processed. There are over 50 zinc mines all over the world, with the largest one being the Red Dog Mine in Alaska. The zinc operations in the Red Dog Mine reportedly contributes to 4.2 percent of the world's zinc production.

Canada, Australia, China, Peru, and the U.S. are among the world's largest producers of zinc. In 2019, global zinc mine production was estimated to have reached more than 13 million tonnes. Meanwhile, several zinc mines in Canada, Australia, Ireland and Namibia are set to close within the coming years due to depletion of the resources.

Catch the latest news here:
Moscow  Russia has criticized the Financial Times and The New York Times over their recent stories suggesting the country's death rate from COVID-19 could be much higher than officially reported, defending its methodology behind the official mortality numbers.

The publications pointed at open data showing increased mortality in Moscow and St. Petersburg last month compared to previous Aprils.

The Russian Foreign Ministry attacked the newspapers on Thursday, accusing them of "disinformation," and demanding retractions. Russian lawmaker Vasily Piskaryov also demanded the publications be stripped of their press accreditation.

Virus Outbreak Russia Media

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on January 17, 2020 in Moscow, Russia. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

Vice president for communications for The New York Times, Danielle Rhoades Ha, said in a statement obtained by CBS News that the newspaper's report was accurate because it was based on "publicly available government records and interviews with experts from government-run institutions."

Russia has the second highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world after the United States, with more than 262,000 confirmed cases reported as of Friday. The country's official death toll, however, remains lower compared to other hard-hit countries: 2,418 COVID-19 deaths have been reported by Russian officials.

According to government data, Moscow registered over 1,700 more deaths overall last month compared to its April average over the past five years. The New York Times pointed out that that total is much higher than Russia's official coronavirus death count of 642 in Moscow for April.

The Financial Times reported a similar spike in total deaths reported in St. Petersburg in April, suggesting that the country could have 70% more coronavirus deaths than officially stated.

Neither publications have met the foreign ministry's demand for a retraction.

Story continues

Moscow's Health Department reacted to the press reports on Wednesday with a statement saying that more than 60% of deaths among the city's coronavirus patients are not being included in the official virus death toll because their deaths resulted from underlying causes. Officials said autopsies are being conducted in all suspected coronavirus deaths, and defended their methodology as "exceptionally precise."

Russian officials have also claimed that the large scope of testing contributed to low mortality, allowing the detection of infections at early stages. According to the Russian healthcare watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, 6.4 million COVID-19 tests have been done as of Friday.

Great-grandmother gets to embrace family through "hug time" device

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Why you may be seeing higher prices at the grocery store
>>> Hanoi eligible to announce the end of COVID-19



>>> Vietnamese expatriates in Philippines return home

The passengers were mostly children under the age of 18, the elderly, sick people, pregnant women, graduate students, stranded tourists and people whose visas had expired but could not leave the countries.

The flight stopped at Frankfurt International Airport in Germany and Madrid Barajas International Airport in Spain for the passengers to board.

The embassies of Vietnam in European countries had closely cooperated with local authorities to help the Vietnamese nationals complete all required procedures and safely make their journey home.

Landing at Da Nang International Airport in the central city of Da Nang on May 16, the passengers and cabin crew members were provided with medical checkups and sent to state-designated facilities for compulsory quarantine for 14 days.

Vietnam will continue to arrange flights to bring back its citizens home in the coming time, depending on the pandemic's situation, the countrys quarantine capacity and the demand of Vietnamese citizens living overseas.
In this file photo taken on April 22, 2020, people walk past a Huawei shop in Beijing. The U.S. government said on May 15 that it would restrict the ability of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, which it considers a national security risk, to develop semiconductors abroad with U.S. technology. AFP




https://www.aish.com/jw/mo/Does-Media-Bias-Against-Israel-Still-Matter.html

The slanted headlines and stories by The New York Times are important not because they turn most Americans against Israel, but because they influence Jewish opinion.

For many years, supporters of Israel have feared the impact of media bias. Ever since the first Lebanon War in 1982  the historical turning point when the media's embrace of a false narrative in which the Palestinians became "David" and Israel became "Goliath" became the norm  there has been an expectation that the avalanche of unfair coverage would someday lead to most Americans demanding the end of the US alliance with the Jewish state.

But after the last 38 years in which the bias of most leading print and broadcast outlets against Israel has become entrenched, that nightmare has not come to pass.

Polls consistently show that American support for Israel has not diminished, and instead has actually grown stronger in the past few decades. Though Republicans are far more likely to back Israel than Democrats, the overall figures demonstrate that a biased national media has seemingly had no impact on the views of most Americans.

If that is so, why then should anyone care about media bias?

This came into focus again last week due to two outrageous examples from The New York Times. In a piece that first appeared online on May 7, a story about the way the Israeli defense establishment has devoted its resources to fighting the coronavirus pandemic began with the following: "The Israeli Defense Ministry's research-and-development arm is best known for pioneering cutting-edge ways to kill people and blow things up, with stealth tanks and sniper drones among its more lethal recent projects. But its latest mission is lifesaving."

As Ron Dermer, Israel's ambassador to the United States, tweeted back: "The @nytimes, which buried the Holocaust, is best known for pioneering ways to libel and demonizing the Jewish state. Now it is doing the same."

The diplomat wasn't the only person complaining. David Harris, CEO of the liberal-leaning American Jewish Committee, called the Times's phrasing "vile." As numerous others responded, the goal of the Israel Defense Forces has actually always been to save lives by protecting Israeli citizens from terrorists and foes that sought to extinguish the sole Jewish state on the planet.

Nor was this an isolated example. Two days later, the paper published an article about the refusal of the Palestinian Authority to cease its "pay for slay" policies in which it provides terrorists who assault, wound or kill Israelis with salaries and pensions for their families. The story focused on an attempt to stop Palestinian banks in the West Bank from processing the payments.

The headline for the Times's story though, put it this way: "Israel Cracks Down on Banks Over Payments to Palestinian Inmates." A subhead further describes the issue as one about "payments the Palestinian Authority distributes to the families of Palestinians who have spent time in Israeli jails."

Phrased that way, it makes the effort sound like a way to punish poor souls who have had the bad luck to fall under the power of the Israeli military and whose families are being prevented from getting the help they need from a benevolent Palestinian Authority. The text of the article, which vastly overestimated the number of Palestinians who have been imprisoned by Israel over the last half-century, adopted the frame of reference of those who regard the terrorists as freedom fighters and "martyrs," and depicted those benefiting from "pay to slay" as victims of injustice. Nor did it detail the sliding scale of compensation offered by the PA in which the murderers of Jews get more money than those who merely wound or unsuccessfully attack their victims.

If media bias like this doesn't impact American public opinion about Israel, should anyone bother protesting it?

In the first place, it is vital that a newspaper like the Times, which calls itself the nation's "paper of record" and which does devote more resources to reporting foreign news than any other outlet, not get away with biased coverage.

Media bias may not have turned Americans against Israel, but it has been doing a bang-up job of turning Jews against each other for decades.

Straight news reporting without a heaping serving of bias is a thing of the past at the Times. Their animus against the Trump administration has, whether or not you agree with them about the president, led the paper and other mainstream outlets to discard even the pretense of objective reporting with editorializing in headlines and in the text of articles becoming so routine as to be hardly worth protesting anymore.

Still, that doesn't absolve those of us who still care about ethics in journalism from the duty to point out such egregious practices.

It's true that most Americans couldn't care less what the Times, CNN or other legacy media outfits say about any topic. But when it comes to one particular group, what the media, and in particular, The New York Times, says about Israel, matters a great deal.

While support for Israel among Americans, in general, has risen in the past decades, it has declined among Jews with a growing split between their views and those of Israelis. There are a number of reasons for this, including assimilation and the resultant shifting demography. Some of it also has to do with politics, as many in a group that overwhelmingly votes Democratic has followed the rest of their party on this issue.

But there's more at play here than just that.

We know that praise for Israel's underdog victories in its struggles for survival and positive events like the 1976 Entebbe rescue made Jews everywhere feel better about themselves and more connected to Israel.

The opposite is also true.

While some Jews are outraged by biased coverage that unfairly depicts Israel as a villain, others internalize the calumnies and distance themselves from the Jewish state. An average consumer of news may not be influenced by the Times. But a not-insignificant portion of American Jewry still regards the newspaper with the sort of veneration that observant Jews have for religious texts. The Times has been assaulting the Jewish community with the prejudices of its publishers, editors and reporters since the days when, as Dermer rightly notes, it "buried" the story of the Holocaust.

Media bias may not have turned Americans against Israel, but it has been doing a bang-up job of turning Jews against each other for decades.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
Hyderabad, May 17 : Air India special flight with 168 evacuees from Chicago landed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here on Sunday, officials.

Air India AI 126 flight from Chicago (the US) via Delhi landed at 4.45 a.m., an airport spokesman said.

All passengers were serviced through the fully sanitized International Arrivals of the Main Passenger Terminal.

To facilitate the arriving passengers and aircraft crew, the airport kept the international arrivals and the entire stretch right from the aerobridge to the arrivals ramp fully sanitized and fumigated. It also enforced the social distancing among the passengers right from the aerobridge to across the terminal.

Airport officials said all arriving passengers and aircraft crew were brought out from the aircraft in a batch of 20-25 persons each. Every passenger and crew member was screened by the Thermal Cameras positioned at the aerobridge exit under supervision of the Airport Health officials (APHO) as per the directives of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare prior to the immigration formalities.

After the health screening of passengers, the CISF personnel in their protective gear escorted the group of passengers to immigration clearance.

Glass shields were provided at each manned immigration counter to avoid any personal contact between the passengers and immigration officers.

Every baggage was sanitized by the disinfection tunnel integrated to the baggage belt as arranged by the airport.

As per the government's norm the passengers were taken for mandatory 14 day quarantine at the designated locations in the city.

This was the ninth flight to land at the Hyderabad Airport under the Vande Bharat Mission, the biggest ever evacuation exercise undertaken by India to evacuate the Indian nationals stranded in various countries due to Covid-19 lockdown.

The airport, through these nine flights, has received nearly 1,500 evacuees from countries like the US, Kuwait, the UK, the UAE, Philippines and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the airport also handled a departure repatriation flight from Hyderabad to Delhi on Sunday. Air India AI 1840 departed at 6.41 a.m. with 68 passengers to Delhi. From Delhi, these passengers are scheduled to be airlifted to various foreign destinations in the UK and the US.

All departing passengers were serviced through the fully sanitized Interim International Departures Terminal (IIDT) as per all safety protocol in place.

Special screening and safety measures were in place during the flight's handling to protect against the Covid-19 threat, including thermal screening prior to terminal entry, mandatory social distancing enforced through special queuing arrangements at all passenger processing points.

With this the Hyderabad Airport also handed 13 departure flights serving over 1,000 foreign nationals who were repatriated to countries like the US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya and Germany.
Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker met before a judge in Broward County in Florida on Sunday morning seeking bond for crimes allegedly committed on the night of May 13 in Miramar.

The judge determined that Baker is being released on a $200,000 bond. He also has to submit any firearms to police within 48 hours. Baker was ordered not to leave the state. The bail hearing at the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida 1st Appearance Court was conducted via Zoom and broadcast live on YouTube.

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The state prosecutor asked for Baker to be held without bond.

Baker  who signed a four-year, $10.5 million contract with the Giants last year as a first-round pick  was charged with four counts of armed robbery and four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm/intent to commit a felony. Bakers bond was $25,000 per count charged. He turned himself to Miramar police on Saturday morning more than 30 hours after the initial warrant warrant was issued.

According to the arrest warrant, Baker and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar were being sought for their role in allegedly robbing guests at a party in Miramar on Wednesday night, leaving with more than $12,000 in cash and several expensive watches, including an $18,000 Rolex and a $25,000 Hublot watch. According to the arrest warrant, Baker, Dunbar and a third person fled the scene in expensive cars, including a Lamborgini, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Dunbar was released on a $100,000 bond and ordered to submit any firearms in his possession within 48 hours.

Per the warrant, Baker also allegedly ordered a third assailant  wearing a red mask  to shoot an individual walking into the room he was in. He didnt shoot, per the warrant.

The man in the red mask, per the state prosecutor, hasnt yet been identified.

According to the warrant, Baker and Dunbar were seen at a party two days earlier where they lost $70,000.

Bradford Cohen, Bakers attorney, pointed to signed affidavits from witnesses of the alleged crimes  submitted to the court  that, he said, call into question the events described in the arrest warrant. Cohen also pointed to the fact that Baker has no criminal history and that this was his first time in handcuffs.

Bakers lawyer presented one affidavit from a witness who said that Baker didnt point a gun at anyone.

Cohen also indicated he has more affidavits than he provided to the state for strategic defense if the case moves forward to trial.

Dunbars attorney submitted affidavits from four victims and an independent witness, which the judge read (to himself) during the hearing.

During Dunbars prosecutor called into question why the witnesses would submit those affidavits to Dunbars attorney after their initial statements at the scene of the alleged crime, and pointed to the possibility of intimidation or bribery needing to be considered.

Here is Bakers mugshot from when he was booked on Saturday:

Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker turned himself into Florida police on Saturday.Broward County Sheriff's Office

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Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Zack Rosenblatt may be reached at zrosenblatt@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Donald Trump Jr posted a meme on his social media page which referred to Joe Biden as a pedophile while his younger brother Eric suggested that the coronavirus pandemic was a hoax perpetrated by Democrats to prevent his father from holding election rallies.

The presidents two eldest sons sparked outrage with their comments on Saturday as the nationwide death toll from COVID-19 nears 90,000 and more than 1.5 million Americans have been confirmed to be infected.

Don Jr on Saturday posted an Instagram meme showing two photos stacked on top of one another  one showed Biden and the other showed an alligator.

The caption near Biden read See you later, alligator! while the caption next to the alligator read In a while, pedophile!

President Trump's two eldest sons caused a stir on Saturday. Eric Trump (left), 36, accused Democrats of 'milking' the COVID-19 pandemic to damage his father's re-election prospects. Donald Trump Jr (right), 42, posted a meme calling Joe Biden a pedophile

Don Jr on Saturday posted an Instagram meme showing two photos stacked on top of one another  one showed Biden and the other showed an alligator. The caption near Biden read See you later, alligator! while the caption next to the alligator read In a while, pedophile!

After a New York Times reporter posted the meme, Don Jr replied that he was joking. He then added: If the media doesnt want people mocking and making jokes about how creepy Joe is, then maybe he should stop the unwanted touching and keep his hands to himself? Don Jrs post included several photographs showing Biden affectionately touching young children

After a New York Times reporter posted the meme, Don Jr replied that he was joking.

The 3 [laughing] emojis in the caption should indicate to anyone with a scintilla of common sense that Im joking around, Don Jr wrote on his Twitter account.

He then added: If the media doesnt want people mocking and making jokes about how creepy Joe is, then maybe he should stop the unwanted touching and keep his hands to himself?

Don Jrs post included several photographs showing Biden affectionately touching young children.

On Sunday, 42-year-old Don Jr posted a video on Twitter showing Biden as vice president presiding over the swearing-in of members of Congress.

Don Jr on Sunday sarcastically remaked that there's 'NOTHING CREEPY at all about how Biden interacts with the kids'

Don Jr posted another video showing Biden being affectionate with children

'Does anyone really think this is normal behavior from Joe!???' Don Jr tweeted on Sunday

The 2:20-long clip shows Biden touching and kissing the young children of members of Congress. In some segments of the clip, the video is slowed down to make Biden appear somewhat predatory.

A New York Times reporter who had posted Don Jrs Instagram meme suggesting Biden was a pedophile slammed the presidents eldest son for misleading the public with the clip.

Trumps eldest son is doing this to insinuate that [Biden] (a friend to many of the lawmakers hes swearing in) is committing a vile crime, the reporter, Jonathan Martin, tweeted.

This is how the sitting president is running for re-election in a pandemic w 36M unemployed.

Don Jr tweeted on Sunday: I'm not sure what's misleading about this video?

Yes, it's from Biden swearing in Senators, no one is saying otherwise, despite your straw man tweet.

I know NYT likes to control what people see, but people have eyes, and normal people find the contents of this vid disturbing!

Don Jr then posted another video showing Biden stroking young girls hair and affectionately touching them on the shoulders.

Heres the second part of the video so that no one can say that Im trying to change my story after the fact. Ive been nothing but consistent...

Just like the New York Times is when theyre doing damage control for the DNC.

In recent days, the Trump campaign has unleashed a torrent of ads on Facebook calling into question Bidens cognitive fitness.

In recent days, the Trump campaign has unleashed a torrent of ads on Facebook calling into question Bidens cognitive fitness while accusing him of being senile

Joe Biden too old? asks one ad in which Biden is depicted in an old age home as a nursing attendant feeds him.

Geriatric mental health is no laughing matter, another ad reads.

Another ad reads: Joe Biden  old and out of it.

Don Jr's younger brother, Eric, 36, ignited outrage when he suggested that the coronavirus was engineered by Democrats to sabotage his father's re-election prospects.

'They think they are taking away Donald Trump's greatest tool, which is being able to go into an arena and fill it with 50,000 people every single time,' Eric Trump said of Democrats during an interview which aired on Fox News on Saturday.

'You watch, they'll milk it every single day between now and November 3.

'And guess what, after November 3 coronavirus will magically all of a sudden go away and disappear and everybody will be able to reopen.'

In February, President Trump called criticism of the White House response to the coronavirus outbreak a 'new Democrat hoax'.

At the time, there were only dozens of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the US and just a few deaths.

Since that time, however, there are more than 1.5 million confirmed cases and the national death toll is expected to exceed 100,000 in the next few weeks.

During his Fox News appearance on Saturday, Eric Trump told Judge Jeanine that the criticism of his father's administration over its preparedness for the pandemic was a political tactic used by Democrats and their 'propaganda arm' - the news media.

'They're doing it for one reason: They want to hurt Trump,' Eric Trump said.

'They tried to do it with the Russia thing, they tried to do it with the Ukraine scandal, they tried to do it with impeachment,' he said.

'Now they're trying to do it with coronavirus.'

Trump was accused by Democrats of conspiring with Russia during the 2016 election to defeat Hillary Clinton.

Trump, his campaign, and the Russian government have denied the charge.

An investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller found that there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against Trump or any of his associates for any alleged illegal activities involving Russia during the campaign.

Trump last year was impeached by the Democrat-led House of Representatives after it was alleged he used aid to Ukraine as leverage to get the government in Kyiv to investigate Biden and his son, Hunter.

The president was eventually acquitted by the Republican-led Senate.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

The amphitheater at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, off Louisiana SE, is normally full on Memorial Day with as many as 2,000 people with a flag procession and patriotic music to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

It will be empty this year on the holiday Monday, with perhaps a few people and a roadrunner family milling about the park because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The threat of coronavirus forced the cancellation of the annual ceremony.

A big part of our constituency here is vulnerable to the virus, said Bernie Lambe, who is president of both the New Mexico United Veterans Council and the New Mexico Veterans Memorial Foundation. We want to ensure the safety of the veterans who would have attended. We determined it wasnt worth the risk of anybodys life.

Lambe said the decision was made before Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham extended the public health order against gatherings of more than five until at least early June. He said a decision was made after a virtual meeting in early May with both groups he leads.

Weve been working on this event for five months, he said.  Kirtland (Air Force Base) and the New Mexico National Guard were both on board to help out, but who knows, noting that both could have been called away for missions concerning the pandemic.

Other alternatives were explored, including having a virtual ceremony.

Even if a virtual ceremony was out here being filmed, we couldnt guarantee really dedicated people wouldnt try to sneak in to see it in person, he said. I didnt want to have an issue of having to eject people.

The memorial park remains open to the public, although the museum at the memorial is closed.

Lambe said the veterans council and memorial foundation have been focusing instead on supporting projects that are helping veterans and their families through the pandemic, including shopping for veterans who cant go out because of the virus and a veterans hospice program involving airmen from Kirtland.

Other activities are being considered to honor those who served as restrictions are being lifted, including showing patriotic movies with a drive-in format in the parking lot of the memorial. He said having an event on the Fourth of July has been considered, but there are concerns about fireworks having an effect on veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Lambe said other activities could be planned as a buildup to the Veterans Day ceremony held at the memorial amphitheater in November.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Sunday called on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to commission an independent public inquiry into the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the British capital's black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

The impact on these communities has become increasingly clear in recent weeks with statistics from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing clear disproportionality.

The ONS figures earlier this month showed that black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die from the coronavirus than white men and women, and South Asian communities were also at higher risk from the disease, after taking into account age and socio-demographic factors.

It is shocking that Londoners of different ethnicities are being impacted by COVID-19 in such disproportionate ways. It has exposed the major inequalities in our society and simply cannot be ignored, said Khan.

The UK government had initiated a Public Health England (PHE) led review into the factors behind this disparity, but the Opposition Labour Party mayor demanded a much wider inquiry.

He said: This pandemic must be a wake-up call for our country and the government's current review is not enough. We need a wide-ranging independent public inquiry that will get to the root of these problems. A public inquiry is crucial to ensure that communities are properly involved and to help build trust and confidence in its findings.

Every Londoner, regardless of background or ethnicity, deserves the opportunity to live and work in safety, and only by asking the difficult questions can we move towards fundamental and lasting change.

Khan has joined with hundreds of community leaders, academics and activists in signing the call by African diaspora's Ubele Initiative for an independent public inquiry to investigate the level of exposure to COVID-19 across all Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) key workers; the way BAME communities were factored into the preparedness and emergency planning; an examination of funding levels across communities; and the impact of the COVID-19 emergency powers and social distancing policy on these communities.

The devastating impact of COVID-19 on London's BAME communities is deeply disturbing but not in the least surprising. The government's handling of its biggest disaster since the World War II has left communities reeling throughout the country.

We welcome the Mayor of London's decision to support the growing call for an independent public inquiry. It is important that community led action continues to be supported, and that BAME communities are at the heart of solutions moving forward. We have to bring the government to account for this catastrophic systemic failure, said Yvonne Field, CEO of The Ubele Initiative.

Previously, Khan has also raised serious concerns about the impact of the virus on BAME communities and called for ethnicity data to be added to death certificates.

This week the Mayor convened a meeting of experts from transport, business, health, academia and the voluntary and community sectors, as well as trade union representatives to discuss this further.

His City Hall office is also analysing available data to improve the understanding of this disproportionate impact, looking into the social and economic factors behind infections and deaths, and its impact in other ways, including education, employment and welfare.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Six healthcare workers of the Hindu Rao Hospital have tested positive for coronavirus after coming in contact with a infected person, officials said on Sunday.

These workers, along with 63 others, were quarantined after a dialysis patient at the North Delhi Municipal Corporation-run hospital had tested positive for the disease, they said.

North Delhi mayor Avtar Singh had inspected the hospital on Wednesday.

Ten healthcare workers, including seven doctors, of the Hindu Rao Hospital, the largest civic facility in Delhi, have tested positive for COVID-19 till date, officials earlier said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Taylor R. Bennett, 34, of 341 E. Chambers St. was arrested at 8:51 a.m. Saturday on a charge of criminal trespassing after she was accused of going into Circle K at 238 E. Morton Ave. despite not being allowed there.

She was also charged with resisting or obstructing a peace officer after police said she refused to comply with their commands.

 Nichole A. Sowell, 36, of 1021 N. Church St. was arrested at 7:34 p.m. Friday on a battery charge after being accused of hitting another resident during a dispute.

OTHER REPORTS

 A man was found unconscious and unresponsive at 10:03 p.m. Friday in the 800 block of Bibbs Street. Officers gave him Narcan and he was taken to Passavant Area Hospital for treatment.

Compiled by David C.L. Bauer
Remember Martin Shkreli? The 37-year-old who infamously became known as Pharma Bro and was sentenced in March 2018 to seven years behind bars after he was convicted of securities fraud for lying to investors is back in the news. This time its because a judge roundly rejected his request to be released from prison early so that he could work on a cure for the coronavirus. The court does not find that releasing Mr. Shkreli will protect the public, even though Mr. Shkreli seeks to leverage his experience with pharmaceuticals to help develop a cure for COVID-19 that he would purportedly provide at no cost, District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto wrote. In any event, Mr. Shkrelis self-described altruistic intentions do not provide a legal basis to grant his motion.

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Shkreli had requested to be released from prison for three months to work on a cure for the coronavirus. Defense attorney Benjamin Brafman filed a motion calling for the release of Shkreli to home detention at his fiancees New York City apartment, saying he would potentially help others find a potential cure for COVID-19. Shkreli posted a research proposal online in which he characterized the current response to the pandemic as inadequate and that his background as a successful two-time biopharma entrepreneur, having purchased multiple companies, invented multiple new drug candidates would put him in a good position to aid current efforts. I have always said that if focused and left in a lab, Martin could help cure cancer, Brafman said in a statement. Maybe he can help the scientific community better understand this terrible virus.

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In denying the request, Matsumoto pointed to the way probation officials characterized Shkrelis claim that he could help to find a COVID-19 cure just the type of delusional self-aggrandizing behavior that contributed to his conviction. Shkreli has no formal scientific training and no experience working [in] a laboratory setting, and he does not explain why he cannot continue to develop and discuss any ideas he may have about COVID-19 from prison, as he has, prosecutors wrote to the judge. And even if he were to somehow find a cure, theres no evidence to suggest he would not use it to enrich himself to the maximum extent possible, including by concealing his work or declining to provide such a cure to others unless he were paid an exorbitant sum.

The judge also rejected the idea that Shkrelis childhood asthma somehow puts him at particular risk for catching the coronavirus in the low-security Pennsylvania prison where he is being detained that has not reported any cases. Not surprised but very disappointed, Brafman, said of the decision. Notorious defendant never catches a break even when well deserved and in the best interest of the country.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend

As many as 1,806 people tested positive for 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 the ministry.

According to Jahanpur, more 51 people have died from the coronavirus over the past day.

Jahanpur added that the condition of 2,705 people is serious and critical.

So far, more than 686,000 tests have been conducted in Iran for the diagnosis of coronavirus.

Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 120,100 people were infected and 6,988 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 94,400 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 outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.
Australian housing prices could be set to increase as a wave of Chinese investors take advantage of a slump in the market from the coronavirus pandemic.

Housing prices in Australia have fallen in the wake of COVID-19, with high unemployment and closed borders and businesses leaving local buyers strapped to move into the market and buy an affordable home.

Interest from Chinese investors has remained steady throughout the uncertain period, with property experts fearing Australian buyers could become out-priced from the real estate sector in the face of keen international investors.

Australia's handling of the coronavirus crisis has been appealing to Chinese buyers with many swarming to snare a bargain during a slump in the market. Pictured: Newly-sold property in Cronulla

Georg Chmiel, the chairman of China's biggest overseas property sales company Juwai IQI, told A Current Affair investors were excited to enter the Australian market on the back of the coronavirus pandemic.

'China is back in business much earlier than the rest of the world,' he said.

'Australia was already appealing as a safe country where your investments are protected.

'Now, the country seems to have managed the pandemic well. That makes it even more appealing to foreign buyers.'

Juwai IQI data found a 40 per cent drop in interest from Australian buyers in properties in the first quarter of 2020, while Chinese searches dropped just 14 per cent.

Standen Estate Agents sales executive Emma Vadas told news.com.au Chinese queries have taken over her business with investment proposals.

'We've seen about 90 per cent of enquiries at the moment coming from Chinese buyers,' she said.

'It's interesting to note these are not new people, these are not random people I have never dealt with, these are people who bought and sold from me two (to) four years ago and have just come back into the market.

'There certainly is a perception of value at the moment.'

Economists surveyed by Finder forecast Sydney house prices would fall 10.2 per cent by next year, Melbourne by 9.2 per cent and as all other capital cities suffered declines of at least eight per cent.

Apartments in central Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane were also expected to suffer from sharp price drops, as border closures cut off international students and deprived landlords of potential tenants, NAB and SQM Research predicted.

Standen Estate Agents sales executive Emma Vadas said 90 per cemt of her inquiries are coming from Chinese investors.

But such big drops would not happen if a large number of foreign buyers swooped in to capitalise on a temporarily depressed market - a situation that didn't happen during Australia's early 1990s recession.

Real estate industry adviser Robert Klaric feared this would occur.

'A lot of the mainland Chinese are seeing this as an opportunity to exploit a great deal. That's what they're going to see in the property market in the next six months,' he said.

How COVID-19 has affected house prices Melbourne: DOWN 0.4 per cent to $818,806 Sydney: UP 0.3 per cent to $1,026,418 Brisbane: UP 0.3 per cent to $558,372 Adelaide: UP 0.4 per cent to $476,249 Perth: UP 0.3 per cent to $465,521 Hobart: DOWN 0.2 per cent to $512,688 Darwin: UP 1.1 per cent to $473,984 Canberra: UP 0.1 per cent to $702,861 Source: CoreLogic Home Value Index for April based on median house price changes Advertisement

'What we'll see is the wealthy mainland Chinese will look towards Australia now to secure their wealth, and secure their health.'

Mr Chmiel said Australia's avoidance of large numbers of COVID-19 deaths had created an image of it being a healthy place to live, which is also appealing to foreign buyers looking to move and not just invest.

'That makes it even more appealing to foreign buyers,' he said. 'Marketers in China are already using Australia's good performance to persuade parents of children who have been studying in the US and the UK to look at Australia instead.'

Melbourne is regarded as the most popular city in Australia for Asian buyers, followed by Sydney and Brisbane, with Australia considered a stable place to invest money.

Mr Chmiel said Chinese buyers particularly liked places close to schools and universities that weren't particularly expensive by Australian capital city standards.

'In general, Chinese buyers like the ease that comes with newly constructed units or houses,' he said.

'They prefer homes near good schools and universities and convenient to services, transit and shopping.

Chinese buyers particularly liked places close to schools and universities that weren't particularly expensive by Australian capital city standards. Pictured: people attending an auction prior to coronavirus social distancing restrictions

'At least three-quarters of Chinese buyers are looking for property valued less than $1million, and the median inquiry price comes in quite low, at around $610,000.'

Michael Pallier from Sotheby's International Realty in Sydney's eastern suburbs said he had also experiences an uptake in interest from Asian buyers.

'They can't get enough of it. Clean air, clean food, great education, safe environment  it's paradise for them,' he said.

'There is always demand and the Chinese people will always like Australia,' Mr Pallier's wife, Lulu, said.

The Australian dollar, which has also taken a hit during the pandemic, is also enticing to international buyers, who can factor that into their budgets.

The survey of 25 economists by financial comparison website Finder predicted sharp drops in every state and territory, with a majority of the experts declaring now was not the time to buy property and those seeking a home should wait for the market to reach its bottom next year.

Georg Chmiel, who chairs Juwai IQI, said Australia was regarded as a safe place to invest. Pictured is a man looking at screens at the Australia Securities Exchange in Sydney

National Australia Bank expected apartment prices to fall at a faster pace than houses by 2021 as landlords struggled to find tenants, with border closures stopping international students from coming to Australia.

NAB forecast a 12.8 per cent plunge in Sydney's median unit price and a 14 per cent plummet in Melbourne by next year.

SQM Research data showed a record surge in vacancies of inner-city apartments.

In Sydney's city centre, 13.8 per cent of units are empty, with 13 per cent vacant in central Melbourne.

SQM Research chief executive Louis Christopher said the loss of hospitality jobs, from the COVID-19 shutdowns, and international students was devastating for landlords.

'The blow out in rental vacancy rates for the major CBDs suggests a mass exodus of tenants occurred over the course of March and April,' he said.

'This might be attributed to the significant loss in employment in our CBDs plus the drop off in international students.

'We are well aware of a surge in short term accommodation now being advertised for long term leasing.'
Mudug governor among at least four killed in car bombing in semi-autonomous state of Puntland.

The governor of the Mudug region in Somalias Puntland has been killed along with three of his bodyguards in a suicide car bombing claimed by armed group al-Shabab, according to the police and a security official.

A suicide car bomb hit the governors car. Governor Ahmed Muse Nur and three of his bodyguards died, police captain Mohamed Osman told the Reuters news agency on Sunday.

Security official Muse Ahmed confirmed the death toll. There are other casualties but the details are still being investigated, he told AFP news agency.

In late March, the governor of Puntland was killed in similar circumstances.

Al-Shabab has been fighting for years to topple Somalias internationally-recognised central government and frequently carries out bombings in Somalia and elsewhere in the region. The group wants to establish its own rule in the Horn of Africa country, based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

{articleGUID}

On Sunday, the armed group posted a statement on a pro-Shabab website that said: The governor of the apostate administration in the Mudug region was killed in a martyrdom operation in Galkayo today.

Galkayo lies about 600km (375 miles) north of Somalias capital Mogadishu.

Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, was driven out of Mogadishu in 2011 and lost most of its strongholds, but still controls vast swathes of the countryside.

Its members have promised to overthrow the government in Mogadishu and have carried out numerous attacks in the capital.
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A man was shot thrice Sunday afternoon during an attempted robbery at a Pizza Hut in Spring, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

The shooting occurred around 1 p.m. at the pizza shop at 18539 Kuykendahl Road, after two men entered the store and attempted to rob the restaurant at gunpoint. An employee confronted the would-be robbers, who shot at the man with a handgun, said Thomas Gilliland, a Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman.
Coronavirus-linked rare disease kills 9-year-old in France, UK deaths at nearly 34,000

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:25, May 16, 2020

The following are the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in European countries.

LONDON --Another 348 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Thursday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 33,998, the Department of Health and Social Care said Friday.

The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.

As of Friday morning, 236,711 have tested positive for the virus, said the department.

ROME -- Italy registered 242 new coronavirus fatalities on Friday, bringing the country's death toll to 31,610, out of total infection cases of 223,885, according to the latest data provided by the country's Civil Protection Department.

The number of recoveries rose to 120,205, with an increase of 4,917 compared to Thursday. Nationwide, the number of active infections fell by 4,370 to 72,070, according to the Civil Protection Department.

Of those who tested positive for the coronavirus, 808 are being treated in intensive care, down by 47 compared to Thursday, and 10,792 are hospitalized with symptoms, a decrease of 661 patients over the past 24 hours.

PARIS -- A nine-year-old boy died in Marseille last Friday from Kawasaki-like disease and tests have shown that he was infected with coronavirus, his doctors told French media on Friday.

A medical team from La Timone University Hospital in Marseille in southern France said he was the first victim of the disease in France and the second in Europe after the death of a boy in the United Kingdom.

"The child presented symptoms that resembled Kawasaki disease and his serology indicated that he had been in contact with the coronavirus without developing symptoms in the previous weeks," said Professor Fabrice Michel, head of the hospital's pediatric resuscitation service.

BERLIN -- Fifty-five percent of Germans wanted borders between countries of the European Union (EU) to be fully open again, according to a Politbarometer survey published by the German public broadcaster ZDF on Friday.

At the same time, 41 percent of German citizens were against opening the EU borders completely again soon and only four percent were undecided about this matter, according to the survey among more than 1,200 German voters.

The Ministry of the Interior announced on Wednesday that controls at the border with Luxembourg would end on Friday. Starting Saturday, controls at German borders with three neighboring countries -- France, Switzerland and Austria -- will be relaxed, but not yet fully discontinued.

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Eric Trump suggested on Fox News Saturday that Democrats are "milking" coronavirus lockdowns in order to "deprive" President Trump of campaign rallies and hurt him in November's election.

What he's saying: "They think they are taking away Donald Trump's greatest tool, which is being able to go into an arena and fill it with 50,000 people every single time. You watch, they'll milk it every single day between now and Nov. 3. And guess what, after Nov. 3 coronavirus will magically all of a sudden go away and disappear and everybody will be able to reopen."

The big picture: Eric Trump's comments echo claims made by the president at a campaign rally in February, in which he called Democrats' criticism of the administration's coronavirus response "their new hoax."

Eric Trump accused the media of acting as a "propaganda arm" of the Democratic Party, telling Fox News' Jeanine Pirro, "They're doing it for one reason: They want to hurt Trump."

"They tried to do it with the Russia thing, they tried to do it with the Ukraine scandal, they tried to do it with impeachment. Now they're trying to do it with coronavirus."

By the numbers: As of Sunday morning, the U.S. has reported more than 1.4 million confirmed cases of coronavirus and more than 88,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins.

The other side: Biden campaign spokesperson Kate Bedingfield said in a statement, "We're in the middle of the biggest public health emergency in a century, with almost 90,000 Americans dead, 1.5 million infected, and 36 million workers newly jobless, so for Eric Trump to claim that the coronavirus is a political hoax that will magically disappear is absolutely stunning and unbelievably reckless."
Warning signs are posted on an empty beach on Oahu's North Shore near Haleiwa, Hawaii, Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

Caleb Jones/AP

A New York City man was arrested in Hawaii for violating the state's mandatory quarantine and documenting the breach on Instagram, authorities said.

Tarique Peters, a 23-year-old from the Bronx, arrived in O'ahu on May 11, according to the statement. While on the island, he left his hotel room and traveled on public transportation to tan, hit the beach with a surfboard, and explore Waikiki at night, authorities said in a statement released by the governor's office.

Agents confirmed Peters' moves with employees at his hotel in addition to finding pictures of his activities on his Instagram page before he was arrested, according to the statement.

Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors said in a statement that officials were grateful to local people who spotted and flagged Peters' "flagrant" behavior in violation against the lockdown, which is aimed at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"We appreciate the assistance of local people who spot flagrant violations of our emergency rules on various social media sites and report them to the appropriate authorities," Connors said in a press release.

The charges against Peters were pending as of May 16 and his bail was set at $4,000, authorities said.

Story continues

As of May 16, Peters' Instagram account had 511 followers and a bio that said he is a "frequent flyer." Alongside other travel photos and pictures of Peters around New York City, his five most recent photos appear to have been posted from his time in Waikiki and have been flooded with critical comments slamming him for brushing off quarantine orders.

Hawaii currently has 638 reported cases of the novel coronavirus.

Officials announced a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine order for incoming travelers on March 26. The Hawaii Department of Transportation announced in late April that all incoming passengers would have their temperature taken and signing a legal document that acknowledges they understand violating self-quarantine is a criminal offense that is "subject to a $5,000 fine and/or a year imprisonment."

and the vacation destination has since seen a sharp decrease in arrivals.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that of the "about 858 passengers" that arrived in Hawaii on May 14, 318 were returning residents and 252 were visitors.

A report from the Hawaii Tourism Authority said that "while most visitors said they were arriving for business or to see family or friends, 12 of them said they came just for a vacation," the outlet reported. This number pales in comparison to this time last year, when "nearly 30,000 passengers  visitors and residents  arrived in Hawaii daily."

Read the original article on Insider
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5 + 1 group was implemented only by Iran, said Chairman of the Iranian parliament's national security and foreign policy committee Mojtaba Zonnour, Trend reports citing Mehr news agency.

According to Zonnour, one of the important goals of the JCPOA was Iran's commitments and the commitments of the other side. However, the other side did not fulfill its commitments.

Zonnour added that another important goal of the agreement was the lifting of sanctions against Iran.

The MP said that at present, sanctions are imposed on Iran.

"Currently, Iran has reduced its obligations and suspended the implementation of some of them, as the other side has not taken steps within the framework of the agreement," he said.

Zonnour said that in general, it can be concluded that there is nothing left of the JCPOA.

In January 2016, JCPOA was launched between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, UK, France and Germany) in connection with Iran's nuclear program. In May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and imposed sanctions against Iran in November of the same year.

In order to preserve the agreements reached as part of the JCPOA, the European signatories of the deal stated in January 2019 that a financial mechanism for maintaining trade with Iran called INSTEX was formed.

On May 8, 2019, Iran announced that it had ceased fulfilling its commitments regarding the sale of over 300 kilograms of uranium, as stated in the deal, basing its decision on the other signatories having not fulfilled their obligations. On July 7, Iran announced that it will not be fulfilling its commitments regarding the enrichment of uranium at 3.67 percent and the reconstruction of the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility as stated in the deal.

On Sept. 5, Iran announced that it will enrich uranium using next-generation centrifuges and will not mix it with the enriched uranium residues as part of the third step of reducing commitments in JCPOA.

On Nov. 5, 2019, Iran announced that it took the fourth step in connection with reducing its commitments to the nuclear agreement. So, uranium gas is being pumped to the centrifuges at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.

Iran took the last fifth step in reducing the number of its commitments within JCPOA. Iran no longer faces any restrictions on its nuclear program.

The US imposed new sanctions on Iran in November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports, more than 700 banks, companies and individuals.
Lifting the prohibition on interstate movement of cars and buses after nearly two months, the Centre on Sunday said their movement will now be allowed, as it eased restrictions for the next phase of the lockdown.

However, all domestic and international passenger flights, regular passenger trains and Metro services will remain suspended till May 31.

The home ministry, in its guidelines for Lockdown 4.0, added that the interstate movement of vehicles will be allowed with the mutual consent of the states and union territories concerned. The interstate movement of all vehicles, except those transporting essential services and goods, had been suspended since March 25 when the lockdown was first imposed.

The interstate movement of vehicles and buses has been allowed with the mutual consent of the States/ UTs concerned, the guidelines said.

Also Read: Centres relaxations set to awaken Delhi from its two-month slumber

A standard operating procedure (SOP) for bus operations may also be issued by the Centre, a senior official of the home ministry said.

Cycle rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, taxis and cab aggregators such as Ola and Uber can also begin to operate, provided the states concerned permit them to do so.

The Centre has also put the onus on states to decide the various activities to be allowed across red, orange and green zones. However, strict perimeter control has to be maintained, and no movement of persons can be allowed across containment zones, except for medical emergencies and to maintain the supply of essential goods and services, the order clarified.

While the prohibition on air travel continues, there will be exemptions for air transport for domestic medical services, domestic air ambulances, security purposes or purposes as permitted by the home ministry and cargo transport. The director-general of civil aviation (DGCA) also said that foreign and domestic airlines will be suitably informed about the opening of their operations, whether international to/from India or domestic respectively in due course.

Also Read: Buses, autos and cabs likely to resume; Metro shut till May 31

National carrier Air India on Sunday also reiterated that flight bookings for domestic travel will resume only after proper instructions from the Union government. Keeping in mind the prevailing situation due to Covid-19, it is informed that all domestic scheduled flights stand cancelled till 31st May 2020 excepting the flights operating as Charter and Evacuation Flights [sic], it said in an internal communication.

The railways ministry also clarified there will be no change in railway services from that of the third lockdown. There is no change in rail service. It will be the same as in Lockdown 3.0, only Shramik Special trains and special passenger trains will continue to run apart from goods and parcel trains, a ministry official said.

The movement of passengers in trains had been permitted earlier by the MHA through an order dated May 11, allowing 15 premium trains to resume operations. The Centre had also said that bookings made for regular trains before and during the lockdown for journeys till June 30 stood cancelled and affected passengers will receive full refunds.

Till Sunday, 348,634 passengers had booked tickets worth Rs 69.33 crore for the premium trains, according to the railways ministry.

Also Read: Economic package will have multiplier effect: Nirmala Sitharaman

In order to facilitate the movement of persons, various modes of transport have already been opened up. Further, the evacuation of foreign nationals from India, the return of stranded Indian nationals from abroad, the sign-on and sign-off of Indian seafarers, and the intra- and interstate movement of stranded persons by bus and train will continue to be allowed, the home ministry said.

India has launched a concerted repatriation programme, by sea and air, to bring back stranded citizens stuck in various parts of the world, but with a strict set of preconditions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). More than 13,000 stranded Indians have returned on various flights under the Vande Bharat mission, union civil aviation minister Hardeep Puri tweeted.

Airports had begun preparing for the resumption of services following the governments nod. The Airports Authority of India has also issued guidelines for the resumption of flights in a graded manner asking passengers to wear a mask and other protective gear and maintain at least four-feet physical distance from co-passengers. Puri has confirmed airport operations are likely to open only in a graded manner with nearly 25-30% of its capacity initially. They will be scaled up to their original level in a gradual manner, according to the governments plan.

According to officials in the know, SOPs for the resumption of the Metro rail have also been prepared by the Centre.
T Pumpy Concept Limited, developers of T Pumpy Estates, Guzape, Lugbe and Karsana in Abuja, is currently offering residents of Abuja, its environs and Nigerians at large the opportunity to own a plot of land at N1.75 million, after a 50% slash in price.

The promo, the company said, was done to encourage Nigerians to own their houses due to the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the livelihoods of many Nigerians.

Although, T Pumpy has 22 housing estates spread across Kyami, Kasana, Kuje, Lugbe, Gwagwalada and other places in the nations capital, the ongoing promo is, however, exclusive to their property along the Airport Road.

They are government approved estate plots which are suitable for: 4 or 5 bedroom duplex, 4 or 5 bedroom penthouse and 3-bedroom bungalow.

The land and building plans are approved, authentic and highly verifiable.

Speaking on the development, the MD/CEO of the company, Akintayo Adaralegbe, said the slash in price became imperative following the economic effects of COVID-19 globally of which Nigeria is not insulated.

Imagine owning a standard 600sqm plot of a duplex, a penthouse or a bungalow for as low as N1.75m. We are doing this because of the economic effects of the coronavirus on the people.

It is every mans dream to own a house and that is why T Pumpy Concept Limited wants to make sure make actualize that dream for them.

The market worth of the land is N3.5m but we are giving it out at this price just to encourage Nigerians at this critical time. Our lands are verifiable and authentic; they are government-approved. This promo will end on June 30.

We sell and develop all types of estate lands for residential, educational, commercial and recreational purposes. There are lands for bungalows, penthouses, duplexes, with corresponding land sizes and amount. Creches/nursery school plots are also available.

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Our expertise in building to the highest quality standards is evident throughout our complete line of estates. Our Estates are constructed in a factory environment and our building materials are never exposed to the elements and every aspect of the building process is closely monitored to ensure high-quality standards.

We also undertake feasibility and viability studies of real estate development projects.

T. Pumpy Concept Limited is a progressive property developer that prides itself on its proven track records, passion and commitment to deliver superior value in design, quality and services in our developments to our customers.

T. Pumpy Concept is a registered company that deals majorly in the sales of lands and estate plots.

The company has been in existence since 2009, and its totally committed to making its utmost contribution in the development process of our environment in the aforementioned area, for the betterment of all Nigerians.

The T-Pumpy Concept team has decades of providing industry-acclaimed off-site home design and construction. Whether youre interested in a manufactured home or an innovative modular design, the T-Pumpy Concept team continues to deliver what home buyers are looking for in their new homes along with the quality construction they expect and deserve.

Call us today:

Corporate Office address: No. 12, Monrovia Street, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II district, Abuja

Annex House 23, (F) Road, Beside RCCG Resurrection Parish, FHA Lugbe, Abuja.

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This week, the Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners should authorize Chief Executive Dave Palmer to sign the consent decree so that the cleanup of the Butte Hill may continue apace.

We applaud the progress the agreement represents.

We wish the agreement also included provision for a restored creek in the first mile of Upper Silver Bow Creek, in the heart of the city.

Let us not delude ourselves about the importance and the feasibility of this.

Never in our experience has a body of water been subjected to more slander than has poor Silver Bow Creek. Ruined more than a century ago, it has been disrespected more than ever by those with various axes to grind in recent weeks as the public discussion of the agreement has heightened. We have heard the following:

It never existed. It was a swamp. It doesnt matter anymore. It cant be restored. There is no water. It shouldnt be restored. The money would be better spent elsewhere  anywhere else. It is nothing but a ditch to gather polluted storm water, on the surface, and polluted groundwater, underneath. Even money specifically allocated to restore the Clark Fork watercourse should be spent anywhere else, including on ranches far from the river. It will never be clean no matter what we do. A judges ruling about the status of the creek doesnt mean what the judge himself says it means. An EPA-funded feasibility study that showed the creek is entirely feasible and relatively inexpensive is wrong and should not be considered.

None of the above negative comments should be taken at face value. Silver Bow Creek did not rise magically from the ground somewhere south of George Street. Upper Silver Bow Creek was a real body of water, flowing off the East Ridge as surely and naturally as melted snow runs downhill. Many of our variously conflicted or cross-interested naysayers know this. None wants to publicly acknowledge it, or acknowledge that Butte deserves a full and complete restoration.

Thats right. Butte, which has given so much to so many for so long, deserves it.

There is no reason, for instance, to pit the restoration of Blacktail Creek against that of Upper Silver Bow Creek. Both are important, and good for Butte. Both are possible, and neither is prohibitively expensive.

Dishearteningly, it has seemingly become fashionable to cast the restoration of Upper Silver Bow Creek as the sentimental pursuit of a few old people.

How insulting, and how untrue.

Over the past five years, the Butte community has participated wholeheartedly and in great number with the Restore Our Creek Coalitions earnest effort to gather community input about what to do with the upper creek corridor. Many of those participants are young and idealistic (in addition to those of us who are merely idealistic).

The consent decree should be signed. Work should commence. Importantly, more money will then flow from the responsible parties to the people of Butte.

But the restoration of Upper Silver Bow Creek should be completed, and as a first step, a lined creek should be constructed. Many people support this; many have donated time, money and energy to trying to make it happen. Their sincere and effective efforts should not be denigrated or forgotten. This has nothing to do with sentiment. It has everything to do with environmental justice, recompense for what Butte is owed, an improvement in the heart of Butte, and the success of future economic development efforts.

There is absolutely no reason why the signing of the consent decree should obviate, prevent or replace the completion of the creek. And we will continue to hold our local leaders, our state and federal governments and the legally responsible parties accountable until it is done.

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Television

American Idol: The singing competition that has, like so much of TV, had to pivot to remote taping, concludes with an extended season-ender that features the top 5, and Americas vote for the winner. (8 p.m. ABC)

Beverly Hills Dog Show: The event, which was held in late February, features hosts John OHurley and David Frei (who lives in Cannon Beach), and a bunch of distinguished dogs. (8 p.m. Sunday, NBC)

Hightown: A Marine Fisheries officer whos struggling with addictions gets involved in a murder investigation after a body is found washed onshore in the town of Provincetown, Massachusetts, in this new drama. (8 p.m. Sunday, Starz)

Snowpiercer: The long-in-the-works science fiction series inspired by Bong Joon Hos movie is now getting a sooner-than-planned premiere. Originally scheduled to premiere on May 31, the post-apocalyptic drama starring Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs star in the post-apocalyptic drama. (9 p.m. Sunday, TNT)

Taylor Swift City of Lover Concert: A concert special filmed in Paris, featuring Taylor Swift performing songs from her album, Lover. (10 p.m. ABC)

The Wonderful World of Disney: The primetime showcase kicks off by airing the animated feature, Moana. (8 p.m. Wednesday, ABC)

At Home With Amy Sedaris: Were all spending time at home, so Season 3 of this surreal spin on domesticity may be just the ticket. (10 p.m. Wednesday, truTV)

Celebrity Escape Room: The Red Nose Day Special: The annual event to raise money for charity this year begins its evenings worth of programming with Adam Scott, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Ben Stiller competing in an escape room challenge, presided over by Jack Black. (8 p.m. Thursday, NBC)

Streaming

Patton Oswalt: I Love Everything: The comedian stars in a new stand-up special. (Available to stream beginning Tuesday, Netflix)

Already streaming

The Great: Elle Fanning stars as Catherine the Great, of Russia, in a historical series that looks to have more of the outrageous tone of The Favourite than more convention period pieces. Nicholas Hoult costars. (Available to stream beginning Friday, Hulu)

More of our coverage:

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
A sign in March alerts drivers that provincial health department workers will stop traffic crossing the Confederation Bridge in New Brunswick, Canada. (Andrew Vaughan / Associated Press)

While parts of the United States rush to open restaurants, stores and public places, Canada  fearful of the high coronavirus contamination rates to the south  is rushing to keep the 5,525-mile border closed for nearly six more weeks.

Under a likely agreement between the two countries, Canada and the U.S. will continue to permit a portion of the trade that ordinarily accounts for more than $1 million a minute and supports nearly 1.2 million jobs in California. But since border restrictions were put in place, the traffic that in normal times accounts for 200,000 border crossings a day has ground to a virtual halt; 24 of the top 25 border gateways to Canada, for example, had no wait times for automobiles Wednesday.

Canada, which for more than a dozen years has been Californias second-largest outside market, accounted for more than $16.6 billion in exports in 2019. At the same time, according to the California Chamber of Commerce, the state imported $26.8 billion from Canada last year.

The U.S. and Canada began their border restrictions nearly eight weeks ago and then extended them until next week. But concerns about American rates of COVID-19 cases prompted Ottawas desire to keep the frontier closed until June 21.

As we control our domestic situation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday, we are vulnerable to international travelers.

Though President Trump is eager to restore commercial activity, Washington is not likely to balk at the Canadian effort to extend the border restrictions.

The Trudeau government is concerned that virus cells in states bordering Canada, especially Washington, Michigan and New York, pose a danger to its citizens.

Indeed, there are fewer coronavirus cases in the entire province of Ontario, Canadas most populous, than in Detroit, which is linked culturally and economically with Windsor, Ontario, its sister city across the 7,500-foot-long Ambassador Bridge and the 5,100-foot-long Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. Ordinarily the two cities share cultural events, a joint fireworks display around the time of Independence Day and Canadas July 1 national day, and family visits. Last weekend, Windsor residents with relatives across the Detroit River went to the waterfront to wave to relatives across the border.

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Windsor and Detroit share an integrated economy and community, connected by the Ford Windsor Engine Plant on the Ontario side and visits to the Somerset Collection mall in Troy on the Michigan side. Ontario nurses now are assisting coronavirus patients on the Michigan side.

This is part of our history and our DNA," Brian Masse, a member of the left-leaning New Democratic Party who represents the Windsor area in Parliament, said in an interview. But it doesnt help for us to be further exposed. Border Canadian communities have higher rates of infection than other places in Canada. There is amazing, hard nursing work going on in Detroit, but we cant help our friends in America if we get infected at the rates you are getting infected."

Three-quarters of Canadian exports go to the United States, while about a fifth of American exports are to Canada. Nearly 1.8 million people visit California from Canada, spending nearly $2 billion annually.

Trudeau said Wednesday he was looking at stronger measures to make sure that were following up appropriately with people who come over, adding that his priority was in preventing transmission from outside of Canada into Canada once we have controlled the spread within Canada," and explaining that he wanted to ensure that we don't fall back into a second wave.

Canadas eagerness to prevent a flood of Americans across the border comes in the context of increasing distaste for the Trump presidency and wonder at, if not contempt for, the American response to the virus threat.

Any hope of economic recovery in Canada from the novel coronavirus pandemic hinges on the American economy recovering first," John Ibbitson wrote this week in the Globe and Mail newspaper. This is the worst possible news. For the United States is self-immolating.

That view, widely held, feeds into a latent resentment in Canadian culture of the American giant at its doorstep.

People tend to forget that historically the relationship has been very tense," said Soren I. Fanning, a historian at Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pa. The Canadian experience is like living above a relatively good-natured neighbor who has a tendency to throw wild parties and occasionally go on a bender. The entire Trump presidency has been like a bender in Canada, where people are grimacing, closing the windows and waiting for the hangover to go away.

Among the looming casualties of the most recent move to extend border restrictions: tourism in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, ordinarily strong in June; and fishing expeditions, affecting American outdoor enthusiasts as well as commercial outfitters, in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia that usually serve waves of Americans in May and June. Even if the border were opened, strict Canadian 14-day quarantine requirements  with few exemptions beyond truck drivers (and fines of up to $532,050)  render tourism unrealistic.

Even business leaders in Canada express caution.

Any reopening of the border to nonessential travel should be done cautiously and only when public health authorities deem it safe to do so, said Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada. Given the size and importance of the U.S.-Canada trade relationship, it is critical that trade remain uninterrupted to support the eventual economic recovery. At the same time, the health and safety of people on both sides of the border must continue to be our top priority."

Tom Creary, managing director of WestbridgeOne Consulting of Montreal and founder of the Quebec chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, said governmental efforts to keep commerce flowing have substantial hidden costs.

Ive got clients who are shipping across the border and there have been no problems, said Creary, who nonetheless is frustrated that executives of a Montreal company seeking to sell a software system for call-center operators in the U.S. have been unable to meet with potential customers. These restrictions damage the building of ties across the border for business development. People have to have a degree of confidence in whom they deal with. Its the personal relationships that matter."

Trudeau said he would resist opening the border until he had assurance that we have the mechanisms and the materials in place to deal with any further spreads or spikes in COVID-19.

Moreover, the virus has strained Canadas ability to regulate migration across the border, according to Geoffrey Hale, a political scientist at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, a province that shares historic pioneer roots with the American Upper Midwest and that did $77.7 billion in trade across the border in 2018, making the U.S. by far Albertas largest trading partner.

Right now the approach to phased reopening requires a capacity to move in a very measured fashion with the capacity to tighten up domestically," Hale said. There are significant concerns in the major borderlands regions. And we are not in a public health position to manage long volumes of cross border traffic at the major border crossings."
By Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning of the increasing vulnerability of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people during the COVID-19 pandemic on the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

The U.N. chief said in a message marking Sundays commemoration that the day comes at a time of great challenge when the world needs to protect the LGBTI community.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

Guterres said many LGBTI people who already face bias, attacks and murder simply for who they are or whom they love ... are experiencing heightened stigma as a result of the virus, as well as new obstacles when seeking health care.

He said: There are also reports of COVID-19 directives being misused by police to target LGBTI individuals and organizations.

As the pandemic unfolds, the United Nations will continue to highlight these and other injustices, as well as the need for everyone to be protected and included in the response to the crisis, the secretary-general said. Together, let us stand united against discrimination and for the right of all to live free and equal in dignity and rights.

The International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia is observed on May 17 to commemorate the U.N. World Health Organizations decision to remove homosexuality from the international list of diseases on that date in 1990. The founders urge countries around to world to take actions to raise awareness of LGBT rights and violations.
Madagascar has registered its first coronavirus death, two months after its index case, the national COVID-19 taskforce said on Sunday, according to news site Reuters.

The taskforce spokeswoman, Hanta Vololontiana, was quoted by Reuters to have said in a televised statement that the man had died on Saturday night.

A man died from COVID-19 in Madagascar  he is 57 years old and a member of the medical staff, she said.

The first casualty of the island on the east coast of Africa was said to be a 57-year-old medical worker who suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure.

PREMIUM TIMES had about a fortnight ago did a rundown of countries with a clean death slate. This included Vietnam, Rwanda, Faroe Islands, Madagascar, Cambodia, Nepal, Uganda, Central African Republic, and Mozambique, according to data from online coronavirus tracker Worldometer.

As of Sunday afternoon, however, Nepal with three deaths, and now Madagascar with its first, have been chalked off the list.

Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina had been in the news since April when his country launched an indigenous herbal remedy named Covid-Organics, which he said could cure COVID-19.

The beverage, developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research, was produced from artemisia, a plant with proven antidote against malaria.

All trials and tests have been conducted, President Rajoelina said in April, and its effectiveness in reducing the elimination of symptoms have been proven for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 in Madagascar.

Tanzania, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, have since either placed orders for, or have received consignments of, the medication.

This week, Nigeria received its share of what state authorities said is a brotherly love from the Malagasy government to all African countries.

The medical consignment has since been sent to Nigerias food and drug certification agency, NAFDAC, for clinical tests.

The World Health Organisation has also called for caution in the use of the touted COVID-19 cure as its efficacy and side effects have not been specifically proven.

Madagascar, as of Sunday afternoon, has 283 confirmed cases, 114 of whom have been discharged, according to Worldometer.
New York-based private equity fund General Atlantic Partners will invest Rs 6,598.38 crore for a 1.34 percent stake in Jio Platforms, the digital unit of Reliance Industries (RIL).

General Atlantic is buying a 1.34 percent stake in Jio Platforms, the unit that houses Reliances telecom venture Jio Infocomm, Mumbai-headquartered Reliance said in a statement.

Bill Ford, Chief Executive Officer of General Atlantic, said, As long-term backers of global technology leaders and visionary entrepreneurs, we could not be more excited about investing in Jio. We share Mukeshs conviction that digital connectivity has the potential to significantly accelerate the Indian economy and drive growth across the country. General Atlantic has a long track record working alongside founders to scale disruptive businesses, as Jio is doing at the forefront of the digital revolution in India.

Also Read: Jio bags 4th big investment in 4 weeks: General Atlantic to invest Rs 6,600 crore in RIL digital unit

General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm with a 40-year track record of investing in the Technology, Consumer, Financial Services and Healthcare sectors.

The firm has approximately $34 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2020.

It has more than 150 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Greenwich, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Munich, Palo Alto, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore.

General Atlantic has a $3 billion stake in India. Some of its holdings include NoBroker, edtech giants Unacademy and Byjus, payments processor BillDesk, and National Stock Exchange of India.

Other major firms in its portfolio include Airbnb, Alibaba, Ant Financial, Box, ByteDance, Facebook, Slack, Snapchat, Uber among others.

Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd)
Hyderabad, May 17 : With the Centre on Sunday announcing guidelines for the fourth phase of the countrywide lockdown, the Telangana Cabinet will meet on Monday to discuss the same and decide the strategy to be implemented in the state.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao will chair the meeting at his official residence Pragathi Bhavan at 5 pm.

As the centre has left it to the states to colour-code the coronavirus-affected zones according to the number of cases and thereby take a final decision on the activities to be allowed in a particular area, the Cabinet meeting is being considered crucial.

The state government on May 5 had announced extension of the lockdown till May 27. As the Centre on Sunday extended the lockdown till May 31, the state cabinet is expected to decide whether to extend the lockdown in the state by another four days or beyond.

The state government is expected to allow relaxations in the lockdown in tune with the fresh guidelines issued by the Centre. It may allow resumption of many activities outside the containment zones in Hyderabad and two adjacent districts.

The Chief Minister dropped indications to this effect during the last few days. He had told a meeting on Friday that no one should be scared of coronavirus. "We don't know how long this virus will be with us. Hence, we have to adapt a strategy to live with it and we have no option," Rao had said.

He also stated that except in four zones in Hyderabad, there are no active cases of coronavirus in the state.

From Saturday, the government allowed re-opening of shops selling air conditioners, automobile showrooms and shops selling automobile spare parts across the state.

The government has already permitted construction activity, including in the red zones, while some economic activity has already resumed in orange and green zone districts.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant



Soren on Sunday announced Rs four lakh compensation to each of the families of 11 migrant labourers of the state who had died in a mishap near Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh.

The 11 persons were among the 24 migrant workers who were killed when a trailer rammed into a stationary truck on a highway near Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh in the early hours of Saturday. Thirty-six labourers were also injured.

Taking to Twitter, Soren also announced assistance of Rs 50,000 for the injured who belong to Jharkhand, and directed the administration to arrange necessary treatment for them.

A government statement said that the chief minister was informed through a video clip that the bodies were being ferried in a truck to Chaas in Jharkhands Bokaro district.

The bodies had decomposed due to the melting of ice, it said.

Expressing shock at the "inhuman and insensitive" transportation of the bodies in a truck, Soren urged the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar governments to arrange a better transport system up to the Jharkhand border from where the state government would make a dignified arrangement to take the bodies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The ubiquitous glass ceiling for women has taken some hits lately. It was deeply perforated as Dominique Anglade, 46, became not only the first woman leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec and therefore, Leader of the Official Opposition, but also the first Black leader in the province.

Anglade, an engineer with a masters degree in business administration, is a former minister of the economy, science and innovation.

In her victory statement, she noted that she was proud to be the leader of a party that has always pushed for social and economic progress. Her words were timely.

While women continue to celebrate inspiring firsts, we are equally cognizant that our gender is struggling under both the social and economic weight of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The social consequences of the pandemic are painfully visible. Adding to the agony faced by front line workers and caregivers, many of whom are female, the trauma and torment of femicide has again reared its cruel head.

When male violence lurks in the shadows, sheltering safely at home is not an option for women. Recent reports that the horrific murders in Nova Scotia included incidences of domestic violence, which were known to authorities, are devastating. With each male assault or murder of a woman, Canadian women relive the slaughter of young women at Ecole Polytechnique and remember the lost lives of missing, murdered and Indigenous women.

If social scars are clear, economic scars are messy  and far reaching. Just as developing countries were making headway on education for girls and women, schools were shuttered, placing future careers on hold. Women in the global labour force have either lost jobs, or left jobs, to care for children or sick family members. We cannot afford to narrow the pipeline for female opportunity, therefore retraining and retaining women in the workplace must be a global priority.

Yet in our haste to reopen the economy, we should take the opportunity to recreate a fairer world order  one that is based on equity. A recent Oxfam report estimates the global value of womens unpaid domestic labour at $10.9 trillion. A company worth that much would dominate the world economy, yet women perform that work for free.

Underpaid work for women does not fare better. Prof. Jennifer Robson of Carleton University noted last week that during the pandemic, it has been sectors that traditionally employ more women  health care, long-term care, and personal support workers, social service agencies and grocery store clerks  that have been most critical in navigating our way through the crisis ... yet women havent enjoyed the same prosperity in income or wealth as men ... its long past time to rethink that foundation.

Unfortunately, that foundation is true for businesswomen as well, who have had their own battles for equal access to venture capital, not to mention seats on corporate boards.

A report entitled Falling through the Cracks by the Canadian Womens Chamber of Commerce and Dream Legacy Foundation demonstrate alarming statistics for businesswomen: 53 per cent of women entrepreneurs have experienced an additional burden of child care as opposed to only 12 per cent of male entrepreneurs. Sixty-one per cent of women-owned businesses reported loss of contracts, customer and clients. In contrast, 34 per cent of businesses across Canada report cancellation of contracts.

Attempting to create a level playing field for prosperity is urgent. Recent progress needs to be safeguarded, shared and developed if it is not to be risked. Governments can only do so much. The private sector and civil society must also step up with innovative and creative ideas.

Fortunately, Canada has no end of intrepid visionaries, one of which is Pamela Jeffery, the founder of the Womens Executive Network and Canadian Board Diversity Council. Jeffrey has focused her formidable talents toward building an inclusive new pan-Canadian not-for-profit, which will be announced this week. The organization will explicitly link prosperity and women and identifies the pandemic as a significant off-ramp for women, with the potential to erase the progress already made.

The present circumstances are unprecedented but women are resilient fighters, who have battled over centuries for equality. This time, our equality must also include prosperity.
Ottawa, May 17 : Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he plans to keep working with airlines hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic but wouldn't address whether a bailout of the beleaguered industry was on the table.

"We're going to continue to work with sectors and industries to try and support them as they get through this pandemic," CBC Canada quoted Trudeau as saying on Saturday, referencing the federal government's offer of bridge financing for large employers to keep workers on the payroll.

"It is not a bailout, it is a loan that is going to help (businesses)... But we are still working with companies to see who is taking that up and how the format of it will be worked out." Trudeau acknowledged that the crisis was particularly difficult for companies tied to the travel and tourism industries.

"I think we all know that this pandemic has hit extremely hard on travel industries and on the airlines particularly," he said.

"That's why we're going to keep working with airlines, including Air Canada, to see how we can help even more than we have with the wage subsidy." His comments came a day after flag carrier Air Canada revealed it was preparing to slash its workforce by at least half, CBC Canada reported.

In a memo sent to staff Friday, the country's largest airline said it expects to lay off "approximately 50 to 60 per cent" of the company's 38,000 employees in an effort to rebuild after the crisis.

"COVID-19 has forced us to reduce our schedule by 95 per cent and, based on every indicator we have, our normal traffic levels will not be returning anytime soon," the company said in the memo.

"Our current workforce supports an operation transporting 51 million customers a year with 1,500 flights a day and 258 aircraft. With current realities, this is simply not sustainable going forward."




Haiti - Diplomacy : Haiti supports the presence of Taiwan in the World Health Assembly





In a note, Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe supports the Government of Haiti in Taiwan (Republic of China), so that Taiwan can participate as an observer in the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly (WHA), which for the first time since the creation of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will be held by videoconference on May 18 and 19.



"I have the honor to present my thanks to the Republic of China (Taiwan) on behalf of the Haitian people for maintaining their cooperation in helping other countries during the crisis, especially in Haiti.



My Government continues to believe that, with the disproportionate spread of Covid-19 around the world, it is high time that all countries on the planet come together to effectively stop the virus.



The participation by videoconference of Taiwan as an observer in the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly, could thus greatly contribute to 'forge better vigilance and a strengthening of the world health system'



To this end, Haiti strongly supports the participation of Taiwan in this session and renews the assurances of its highest consideration."



Learn more about WHA :

The World Health Assembly is the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), which generally meets annually in May, in Geneva (Switzerland). Delegations from 194 Member States of WHO participate. WHA is an opportunity for Member States to review the activities of the World Health Organization, to define its objectives, to entrust it with new tasks and to appoint its Director General (every five years), and to control its financial and budgetary policy.



This year the WHA will be held virtually and will take place exclusively in plenary session. The agenda for this meeting will be reduced to two days, before we can consider a resumption of session later in the year.



Note that The agenda of the 73rd World Health Assembly is entirely dedicated to the Covid-19 pandemic, apart from the administrative decisions necessary for the continuity of the work of WHO.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 10:33:15|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Indiscriminate shelling on Saturday hit a shelter for displaced civilians and killed six people, said a local official.

The bomb hit an accommodation on a university campus in Al-Farnaj area (in Tripoli), which is used to shelter displaced civilians, and the six victims were all civilians, Amin Hashemi, an information advisor to the health ministry, told Xinhua.

The UN-backed government forces accused the east-based army of the deadly shelling.

The east-based army and the UN-backed government have been fighting for control of the capital city of Tripoli since April 2019, and the conflicts have killed and injured hundreds of civilians and displaced more than 150,000 others. Enditem
Even as India relaxed restrictions for the next phase of the lockdown, two separate, but related, data points point to a new challenge in Indias battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

On May 17, 550 of Indias 736 districts had Covid-19 positives cases, an addition of around 180 districts in the last fortnight, according to data on the disease compiled from different states.

Among the states, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh witnessed the maximum increase in number of districts affected by Covid -19 since May 1.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

What explains the spike, and what explains the spike in these states?

Government officials largely attribute the increase to the return of hundreds of thousands of migrant workers to rural areas in these states, with weak health infrastructure. Since May 1, when the Central government started special Shramik trains, migrant workers  facing an acute shortage of cash and food  have returned home, even as thousands of others continue to walk hundreds of kilometres to return to their villages.

As of Saturday, rural districts accounted for only 21% of total number of cases in India, according to health ministry reported  but the numbers are increasing. Officials said in many of the rural districts, Covid-19 cases are in single digits and the infected persons have been isolated in quarantine centers. The exceptions were districts such as Ganjam in Odisha, which has 292 cases, and Munger in Bihar, which reported 195 cases.

Also Read: NREGA outlay, cap on state borrowing hiked in fifth round

However, state government officials are worried that many of the migrants, who have returned, are asymptomatic and may infect many more persons. Also, so far, only a fraction of workers have returned.

Only about 20% of the workers have returned and all the districts in my state are infected with Covid-19, said a senior bureaucrat in Bihar, familiar with the thinking in the government. Imagine the scene when even half of the workers come back. Keeping all of them in quarantine centers would be a daunting task, he said.

A Jharkhand government official said about 80,000 of the 6.5 lakh registered with the state helpline have returned. In Odisha, 1,10,000 of the seven lakh migrant workers registered have returned, officials said.

All 36 districts in Bihar; two-third of 30 districts in Odisha; 80% of 55 districts in Madhya Pradesh; more than half of Jharkhands 24, Rajasthans 33 and one-third of Chhattisgarhs 28 districts already have Covid-19 patients.

Also Read: AAP says Centre responsible for plight of migrants, BJP hits back

There have been several incidents of migrant workers jumping from quarantine centers in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal, though most of them were brought back. Workers in Bihar and Odisha have complained of poor quality food and facilities in the government run quarantine centers, a charge denied by the local authorities.

Most of the Covid-19 free districts in these states are the remote tribal and poorest districts of India, where not enough tests have been done.

As ICMR has said that only symptomatic persons should be tested, we have not tested many people from some of the tribal districts from where no persons have reported Covid symptoms, said a Jharkhand government official, who was not willing to be named.

Officials in Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha said that there was no possibility of easing of lockdown norms from May 18 because a large number of migrant workers are expected to return in the next fortnight. We are not going to ease the norms for the time-being, said Sanjay Kumar, Bihar principal secretary (health).

Apart from states receiving large number of migrant workers, Covid-19 has also spread to new districts in Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Karnataka. In Tamil Nadu, all 38 districts and Haryana, all 22 districts have cases. In Tamil Nadu, the Koyambedu vegetable market in Chennai was said to have contributed to 30% of over 10,000 cases in the state. In Haryana, the return of locals from red zones in Delhi and nearby areas was said to be the reason for the spread of the infection. In Karnataka, 23 of the 30 districts have Covid-19 cases.

On Saturday, the Centre asked officials from 30 municipal areas spread across 12 states, which contribute 79% of Indias Covid-19 cases, to maintain high vigil and closely monitor areas of old cities, slums, migrant labourer camps and other high-density pockets.

These areas are in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. Maharashtra. The selected municipal areas are Brihanmumbai or Greater Mumbai, Greater Chennai, Ahmedabad, Thane, Delhi, Indore, Pune, Kolkata, Jaipur, Nashik, Jodhpur, Agra, Tiruvallur, Aurangabad, Cuddalore, Greater Hyderabad, Surat, Chengalpattu, Ariyalur, Howrah, Kurnool, Bhopal, Amritsar, Villupuram, Vadodara, Udaipur, Palghar, Berhampur, Solapur and Meerut.

The health ministry said that these areas should have the maximum restrictions under the home ministrys lockdown 4.0 ground rules, the health ministry has told the government.

(With inputs from state bureaus)

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F ormer US president Barack Obama has criticised some of the leaders overseeing the country's coronavirus response, telling college graduates that the pandemic shows many "arent even pretending to be in charge".

Mr Obama spoke on Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition, a two-hour livestreaming event for historically black colleges and universities broadcast on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

His remarks touched on current events beyond the virus and its social and economic impacts.

More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what theyre doing, he said.

California during Coronavirus lockdown 1 /29 California during Coronavirus lockdown A cyclist wearing his facemask rides past closed shopfront at the Grand Central Market in Los Angeles AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Reuters AP AP AFP via Getty Images AP AP AFP via Getty Images AP AP REUTERS AP Getty Images Getty Images AP AFP via Getty Images People gather on Santa Monica beach Getty Images A shopper walks past a Pier 1 Imports store as going out of business signs are posted amid the coronavirus pandemic in Santa Clarita, California AP A pedestrian wearing a facemask walks past a sign for food pick-up outside a restaurant in Los Angeles, California AFP via Getty Images A shopper walks past a Pier 1 Imports store as going out of business signs are posted amid the coronavirus pandemic AP

A lot them arent even pretending to be in charge.

Mr Obama did not name President Donald Trump or any other federal or state officials.

As he congratulated graduates and commiserated over the difficult world they face, the former president noted the February shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, 25, who was killed while jogging on a residential street in Georgia.

Lets be honest: A disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communicates have historically had to deal with in this country, Mr Obama said.

We see it in the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on our communities, just as we see it when a black man goes for a jog and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him if he doesnt submit to their questioning.

Mr Obama will also deliver a televised prime-time commencement address for the high school Class of 2020 during an hour-long event that will also feature LeBron James, Malala Yousafzai and Ben Platt, among others.

President Donald Trump said the US will move to ease lockdown restrictions regardless of whether a vaccine is found / REUTERS

It comes as Mr Trump reiterated that he wants to see states move forward and ease lockdown restrictions to boost economies.

Although he is hopeful a coronavirus vaccine will be found by the end of the year, he said the US will be reopening either way.

Moncef Slaoui, a former pharmaceutical executive appointed as a virus tsar by Mr Trump, said that early trial data suggests that a few hundred million doses of vaccine will be delivered by late 2020.
The team will use the period of quiet on Mount Everest to measure its height (Purbu Zhaxi/Xinhua via AP)

A Chinese government-backed team plans to climb to the summit of a deserted Mount Everest this week to measure the worlds highest peak.

Everest has been closed to commercial climbers following the outbreak of coronavirus, with China and Nepal worried about Covid-19 spreading among expedition teams.

Bad weather forced the team charged with measuring the mountains current height to return to base camp, but they have since taken up their former position, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Depending on the weather, the team expects to reach the summit on Friday morning, Wang Yongfeng, deputy director of the mountaineering administrative centre of the General Administration of Sport, told Xinhua.

Expand Close The team hope to reach the summit by Friday (Purbu Zhaxi/Xinhua via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp The team hope to reach the summit by Friday (Purbu Zhaxi/Xinhua via AP)

Chinas network of Beidou satellites, a rival to the United States Global Positioning System, is being used to survey the mountains current height and natural resources.

Data on snow depth, weather and wind speed is also being measured to monitor the deterioration of glaciers and other ecological impacts of climate change.

China has conducted six major surveys of the mountain locally known as Qomolangma, registering its height at 8,848.13 meters (29,029 feet) in 1975 and 8,844.43 meters (29,017 feet) in 2005.

China has also taken advantage of the lack of climbers to collect rubbish from Everest and other popular climbing peaks.
Emergency services at the scene of an arson attack in the Downhill Avenue area of south Belfast on May 17th 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Emergency services at the scene of an arson attack in the Downhill Avenue area of south Belfast on May 17th 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Emergency services at the scene of an arson attack in the Downhill Avenue area of south Belfast on May 17th 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

A petrol bomb has been thrown at a house in an early-morning attack in the Belvoir area of south Belfast.

Police were called to the scene of a fire on Downhill Avenue shortly after 1.43am on Sunday.

Officers attended along with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service to extinguish the blaze.

Detective Sergeant O'Flaherty said: "Significant damage has been caused to the front door of the porch. A man and woman, who were inside the property at the time, were fortunately uninjured.

"We are treating this as arson," the statement added.

"And had the fire not been extinguished so quickly, the consequences could have been devastating.

"I am appealing to anyone with information, or who noticed any suspicious activity in the area, to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 163 of 17/05/20."
By Trend

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5 + 1 group was implemented only by Iran, said Chairman of the Iranian parliament's national security and foreign policy committee Mojtaba Zonnour, Trend reports citing Mehr news agency.

According to Zonnour, one of the important goals of the JCPOA was Iran's commitments and the commitments of the other side. However, the other side did not fulfill its commitments.

Zonnour added that another important goal of the agreement was the lifting of sanctions against Iran.

The MP said that at present, sanctions are imposed on Iran.

"Currently, Iran has reduced its obligations and suspended the implementation of some of them, as the other side has not taken steps within the framework of the agreement," he said.

Zonnour said that in general, it can be concluded that there is nothing left of the JCPOA.

In January 2016, JCPOA was launched between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, UK, France and Germany) in connection with Iran's nuclear program. In May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and imposed sanctions against Iran in November of the same year.

In order to preserve the agreements reached as part of the JCPOA, the European signatories of the deal stated in January 2019 that a financial mechanism for maintaining trade with Iran called INSTEX was formed.

On May 8, 2019, Iran announced that it had ceased fulfilling its commitments regarding the sale of over 300 kilograms of uranium, as stated in the deal, basing its decision on the other signatories having not fulfilled their obligations. On July 7, Iran announced that it will not be fulfilling its commitments regarding the enrichment of uranium at 3.67 percent and the reconstruction of the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility as stated in the deal.

On Sept. 5, Iran announced that it will enrich uranium using next-generation centrifuges and will not mix it with the enriched uranium residues as part of the third step of reducing commitments in JCPOA.

On Nov. 5, 2019, Iran announced that it took the fourth step in connection with reducing its commitments to the nuclear agreement. So, uranium gas is being pumped to the centrifuges at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.

Iran took the last fifth step in reducing the number of its commitments within JCPOA. Iran no longer faces any restrictions on its nuclear program.

The US imposed new sanctions on Iran in November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports, more than 700 banks, companies and individuals.

---

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-16 23:23:48|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday closed the country's borders with Somalia and Tanzania effective midnight as part of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Kenyatta banned the movement of persons and passengers in and out of Kenya through the Tanzania and Somalia borders for 21 days following the rise of cross-border COVID-19 transmission.

"In the last week, we have witnessed increased imported cases among individuals crossing into the country through our borders. These areas have become areas of grave concern," Kenyatta told the nation in a televised news conference in Nairobi.

He said all drivers of the cargo vehicles shall be subjected to mandatory COVID-19 disease testing and will only be granted entry into the Kenyan territory if they test negative.

The president said a total of 43 cases recorded in the country over the past week had been imported from the neighboring Somalia and Tanzania.

"These 43 cases represent almost a quarter of the 166 confirmed infections during this last week," said Kenyatta.

He said that 78 truck drivers who were foreign nationals tested positive for COVID-19 and were denied entry into Kenya at different border crossings.

"If we had not undertaken this intervention, the imported cases through our borders would have today accounted for more than 50 percent of the week's infections," he said.

The East African nation has so far recorded 830 cases, 50 deaths and 301 recoveries.

He said about 30 percent of the 50 recorded deaths occurred at home and expressed concern about the spike in the number of imported COVID-19 cases from neighboring countries.

"I want to thank the dedicated and skilled Kenyans who are working around the clock to keep our infections relatively low so far. I also want to thank the tens of millions of Kenyans who are adhering to the health, hygiene, and social distancing measures," said Kenyatta.

In a bid to contain the spread of the respiratory disease, Kenyatta extended the nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew by 21 more days.

He also extended the ban on movement in and out of Nairobi, Mandera and three counties in the coastal region by three weeks to help restrict the movements of persons.

"The cessation of movement into and out of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area and the counties of Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa and Mandera that is currently in force be extended up to and until the 6th June 2020," said Kenyatta. Enditem
The Peoples Court of the southernmost province of Ca Mau has sentenced a company director to 13 years in prison and a fine of 100 million VND (4,280 USD) for organising trafficking of rare and endangered wildlife.

Illustrative image (Photo: Save Vietnam's Wildlife)

The offender, Tran Quy, is director of Hai Dang Ltd Co., which was licensed to carry out an investment project including tourism services and a wildlife park on the province's Hon Khoai Island.

However, police investigations found that the company did not develop any tourism activities but raised wildlife for sale.



The investigation was conducted following the detection in January 2018 of 114 Javan pagolins and over 300kg of pangolin scales by local border guards. The animals were found on an unregistered boat in waters around Ca Mau.



Agencies examined and inspected the operations of the Hai Dang Ltd. Co., revealing the illegal wildlife trade and trafficking operation.



Quy was a key part of a ring that trafficked wildlife from other countries to Vietnam. Some sources revealed that wildlife traffickers usually chose Hon Khoai island to store the wildlife after they are transported by boats to Vietnam.



Three other offenders involved in this case were also given sentences ranging from two years to 12 years in prison and fines of 50 million VND./. VNA
The Punjab government will run buses for migrant labourers wanting to go home in Uttar Pradesh, an official said on Sunday.

The buses will be run free of cost daily from Jalandhar and take migrant workers to 10 UP districts, Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said in a release here.

The UP districts to which the buses will ply are Gautam Buddh Nagar, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Saharanpur, Mathura and Hapur.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Babita Kler and Assistant Commissioner Randeep Singh Gill will tie up with district magistrates of the 10 districts and get details about the place where the buses are to be sent, he said.

The Jalandhar DC said the Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, will ensure the availability of buses and decide a tentative schedule for their departure.

The Deputy Commissioner said the civil surgeon will depute teams for medical screening of the migrants.

The migrants will be told to reach the bus stand four hours before the scheduled departure.

The DC said only 30 passengers will be allowed in one bus.

Arrangements will be made for food and water, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The onslaught of the global health pandemic COVID-19 has brought out the best in many of us and the worst in others. It has also exposed the ugly truths of racism, white privilege and white supremacy.

As our nations leader continues to espouse divisive rhetoric that emboldens people to act out in aggressive ways, some Americans have sunk to a new low. Xenophobia against Asian Americans is on the rise. Health care disparities among African Americans have worsened during the pandemic due to systemic racism. Black and brown people are being disproportionately arrested for not properly following social distancing guidelines.

On May 1, when hundreds of white protesters, many of them armed with assault rifles, descended on Michigans state capitol to oppose stay-at-home rules, President Donald Trump referred to them as very good people  reminiscent of his comments when violent white supremacists marched in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.

Yet, when unarmed Black Lives Matter protesters marched in response to police brutality, we were called thugs. We were told black people would not be killed if they would just comply with police orders. We were told that the victims were suspects in crimes, and this justified their murders, without being afforded a constitutional right to a fair trial. We were told that armed officers feared for their lives while pursuing their unarmed victims.

Police have been caught on camera in gut-wrenching videos punching unarmed women and children in the face. In early May, Indianapolis police were recorded killing a young black man named Sean Reed (who appeared to be unarmed), and then laughing about it. In February, a father and son duo in Georgia were captured on video murdering Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed man who was simply out for a jog. A transgender woman was killed in Missouri on May 3 in what the Human Rights Campaign has called a toxic mix of transphobia, racism and misogyny.

My heart is heavy from watching my people be murdered in cold blood. I cannot bring myself to watch some of the videos. Sometimes, I cannot even bring myself to cry, because it happens so often that I am starting to become numb to the pain.

The list of unarmed black men, women and children senselessly killed for no other reason than pure hatred for the color of their skin goes on and on: Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed, Nina Pop, Botham Jean, Philando Castile, Sandra Bland, Freddie Gray, Rekia Boyd, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Oscar Grant, Jordan Davis, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, the Charleston Nine and countless others.

I have marched, I have cried, I have protested. I have been angry, raised my voice, held a candlelight vigil, organized a community forum, hosted radio talk shows, and written articles, essays and papers.

And I am tired. Tired of the criminalization of brown skin. Tired of dirty looks because we wear our hair a certain way. Tired of being followed around in stores. Tired of people claiming that being against police brutality means being anti-police. Tired of people pretending that personal and systemic racism does not exist. Tired of white victimhood.

I am tired, too, of the black community being economically and politically disenfranchised. Tired of people being complacent and complicit with racism. Tired of this country claiming liberty and justice for all in words rather than in actions. Tired of hearing the word n. And I am tired of black lives not mattering.

The modern-day lynching of African Americans will not be endured without a fight. So long as injustice exists, the fight for justice will ensue. We will not give up until the systematic destruction of black lives is eradicated.

Linda Wiggins-Chavis is a writer, activist, theologian and biochemist currently teaching middle school science. This column was produced for the Progressive Media Project, which is run by The Progressive magazine, and distributed by Tribune News Service.
New Delhi, May 17 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday called the mega stimulus push announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman a game changer in health, education and business sectors.

Expressing his views in a series of tweets, Shah said: "Today's announcements by the Modi government will go a long way in realizing the idea of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. These steps will prove to be a game changer for health, education & business sectors, which will provide employment to crores of poor. I thank PM Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman." Shah said the additional allocation of Rs 40,000 crore under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (MGNREGS) by the Modi government will not only help in generating employment for the poor and migrant workers but will also help create durable livelihood assets, which will greatly boost rural economy and infrastructure.

He said Prime Minister Modi's leadership in handling Covid-19 has outshone several developed nations.

The Minister said the Modi government has decided to increase India's health expenditure to facilitate creation of infectious diseases hospital blocks in every district, strengthening lab networks and surveillance and encouraging research. "I am sure this foresight will take India way ahead in the medical sector," Shah said.

"The decision on reimagining the Public Sector Enterprise Policy, focus on further improving ease of doing business through IBC-related measures and decriminalisation provisions in the Companies Act reflect PM's futuristic vision and commitment towards a self-reliant India." The government has decided to increase borrowing limit of states, which will give them extra resource of Rs 4.28 lakh crore, Shah said. He mentioned that the centre had previously given Rs 46,038 crore through devolution of taxes in April, revenue deficit grants of Rs 12,390 crore, and State Disaster Relief Funds (SDRF) to the tune of Rs 11,000 crore.

To mitigate the economic fallout of COVID-19 outbreak, Sitharaman on Sunday announced a mega stimulus push for education, health and rural employment along with a roadmap for a massive privatisation and merger drive of public sector undertakings in certain areas. Accordingly, on the final day of detailing the mega Rs 20 lakh-crore economic package under the Centre's 'Self-Reliant India Movement', the minister also eased regulatory norms on insolvency norms and listing norms.

The FM also gave a monetary break-up of all the measures she announced during the last 5-days. These are cumulatively worth Rs 20,97,053 crore announced under the mega stimulus package which also includes RBI measures and steps announced under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyana Package (PMGKP).
'My idea was to bring the macaron back to India with me, and see if people would love it as much as I did,' says Le15's Pooja Dhingra

It was the second week of November 2016. I had recently relocated to Mumbai for a new job, a move followed briskly by the declaration of demonetisation. It should have probably been the least of my priorities but by virtue of being a film writer, I was at Regal Cinema to catch the latest movie.

A single-screen theatre, the ticket-seller at Regal demanded cash and refused to accept my brand-new Rs 2,000 note. So there I was, minutes before the movie was scheduled to start, waiting in an endless queue outside a nearby ATM. A smiling woman approached me and asked if I was hungry. Before I could even nod, she handed over a Nutella brownie (crowned with a tiny red heart) and moved on to the next person in the queue. The paper napkin on which the brownie was served read "Le15 Cafe".

Le15 was a quaint cafe situated in the lane between Regal Cinema and Colaba Causeway, mere metres away from The Taj Mahal Palace hotel and Gateway of India. The cafe staff had taken to the streets, offering snacks as a respite from the long queues and the sultry Mumbai "winter", to those waiting for their turn at the ATM.

At a personal level, Le15 was exactly that  a refuge to unwind after a chaotic day. The "chaotic" could be many things  the occasional ATM queue, the long-drawn shopping spree at Colaba Causeway, scrambling for a hard-earned seat at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival screenings at Regal, or most recently, the protest rallies at Gateway of India against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

A break from the day-long protest was my last visit at the cafe, accompanied by a colleague. The combination of a savoury quiche and a mocha would allow us to divest our journalistic duties, and for just 15 minutes, be only two people hopelessly in love with food.

So it was with a mild sense of shock and loss that I read an article by Le15's founder Pooja Dhingra, announcing she was closing down the Colaba cafe.

"The decision to close was a commercial one given the pandemic we are living through, and the changes the restaurant industry will go through over the next six to 12 months. At our core, we are a patisserie business, which accounts for 70 percent of our revenue, and it's time to focus on that," Pooja told me in an interview after that announcement.

Incidentally, it was to expand her popular Le15 Patisserie that the idea of a dining space suggested itself. "My dream as a teenager was to open a cafe and have a space where people can come in, enjoy the food and spend a lot of their time in," she said. "I started the business with the patisserie but somewhere always knew that a cafe was part of this picture."

Pooja's cafe is one among many casualties of the coronavirus pandemic and resultant lockdown. Her neighbours in Colaba, from Regal Cinema (which was already contemplating permanently shutting down because of mounting losses) to the vendors who lined the Causeway, are also struggling to keep their heads above water.

"My heart goes out to all businesses at the moment. Every business will go through changes as the economy changes. Honestly, I feel like each business will have to find a way to adjust to the ''new normal.' My advice is to do the best thing you can that's suited to your business and your goals," Pooja said. And even though she's felt more helpless this time with her own business hit hard, Pooja and her team have worked on several fundraisers to help raise money for daily wage workers and small businesses on whom the impact of the crisis has been most brutal.

Pooja Dhingra

Incidentally, Pooja's cafe recorded its highest sales last year. The exorbitant commercial rent in South Mumbai, however, is what made continuing unfeasible. Now, Pooja has diverted all her energies towards her new endeavour  an e-cookbook, that details all the recipes of the dishes served at the cafe.

Having recently shared a quote by her idol Oprah Winfrey  "Doing the best in this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment"  Pooja agreed that it best summed up her current mood: "We're going through unprecedented times, and every day brings new changes and information. The best thing for me right now has been to just take it a day or a moment at a time."

The e-cookbook is also a token of gratitude to the thousands of people across the world who visited her cafe over the years. "I wanted everyone who ever visited the cafe, and enjoyed a meal with us, to own a part of our legacy. It's definitely a 'thank you' to the loyalists, and also something that keeps the memories alive," she said.

In our interview, she recounted memories of her own: of living in Paris as a 20-year-old and discovering new dining experiences. Of tasting her first macaron. Of walking into the Pierre Herme store for the first time, and being in awe of everything  the desserts, the layout, the design. "It felt like art. My idea was to bring the macaron back to India with me, and see if people would love it as much as I did. And thankfully they did! What gave me the confidence was, I knew if I liked them, my parents liked them, my friends liked them  then most people would," she said.

Pooja's goal for 2020 "is to make sure the patisserie continues to grow and innovate, and we accelerate all our plans for that part of our business". While she will continue to wield her culinary influence through the patisserie, online sales, and cookbooks, what will remain glaringly absent is the charming cafe that was a rite of passage for many like me who frequented that corner of Mumbai.

Also read: As Indian restaurant industry eyes post-lockdown reopening, introspection aplenty on what it will take to succeed
Apex sectoral body Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) on Sunday said the Indian tourism industry is deeply taken aback as none of its concerns have been addressed by the government in its economic stimulus package.

"Indian tourism industry has gone into a state of disbelief and shock. It was looking forward to deep set of survival measures for tourism from the Rs 20 lakh crore package announced over 5 days, which however were not addressed," FAITH said in a statement.

The Indian tourism, travel and hospitality industry is believed to impact almost 10 per cent of GDP directly and indirectly. It has already seen over a quarter of accumulated losses that began from February onwards, the statement added.

"The Indian tourism, travel and hospitality industry is deeply taken aback at not being addressed in the stimulus package, which raised the immediate question of survival of each entity," FAITH Consulting CEO Aashish Gupta said.

There is no cash inflow expected for many quarters in 2020-21 as the key segments of the Indian tourism economy will be down, the statement said.

"The international inbound tourists, inbound and VFR -- (visiting friends and relatives) and the outbound travel will remain mostly non-performing due to international flight restrictions and tragic impact in most key markets tourism markets of India," it added.

Domestic travel and corporate travel within the country may slightly ease up post lockdown but will be highly restricted due to fear of travel among elders and children, the new social distancing norms, corporate travel freeze and the closure of the holiday season which will impacting all leisure, adventure, heritage, spiritual, cruise and niche tourism segments, the statement said.

"Consequently, all tourism service providers, the hotels, travel agents, tour operators tourist transporters, restaurants, guides will be compromised and the tourism industry of India will be operating with extreme under capacities making most tourism businesses unviable on a cash operating basis," the statement said.

To prevent this and to ensure survival of the sector, the Federation had proposed a dedicated interest- and collateral-free long-term fund for paying salaries and operating costs, and for a minimum of 12 months of complete waiver of fixed central and state statutory and banking liabilities without any penal or compounding interest which have not been addressed, it added.

"With no visibility of cash inflows the Indian tourism industry is now looking at large scale bankruptcies, business closures which will lead to job losses across cities, towns and hinterlands of India," FAITH said. This has the potential to set back the Indian tourism, travel and hospitality industry by many years, it added.

Sharing the disappointment, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) Vice-President Gurbaxish Singh Kohli said, "We are in a state of shock because of the insensitivity shown by the government. As always, the hospitality industry has been completely ignored. It's almost as if our existence or imminent doom does not matter at all."



The hospitality industry pledges its hotel rooms to the government for accommodating the quarantined, it prepares and distributes lakhs of free meals to lakhs of people and supports the government whenever called but unfortunately it does not even figure in their list of sectors that are in desperate need of help, he added.

The FHRAI calls for the government to pay immediate attention to hospitality and tourism which contributes almost 10 per cent to the GDP, Singh said.

In similar vein, the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) also said in a statement that the industry needs support so that it gets a chance to fight and not die a silent death.

"We are very sad and extremely disappointed that the Finance Minister chose to completely ignore this sector in these five days of announcements of stimulus package," NRAI President Anurag Katriar said.

Now, the industry is staring at large-scale close-down of businesses and massive loss of employment in the sector, he added.

"Let me also reiterate that our primary demands were largely around policy and liquidity support and did not require massive financial outlay from the government," Katriar said.

NRAI once again requests the government "to examine our requests closely and consider them favourably", he added.

FAITH has earlier said that the coronavirus impact could render 3.8 crore people jobless, which is around 70 per cent of the total workforce in the tourism and hospitality sector.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bihar government has shifted



around 4,500 prisoners from overcrowded jails to lesser- crowded ones but has not released a single inmate either on parole or interim bail, a senior officer said.

When asked why no prisoner was enlarged on interim bail or released on parole despite the apex court's order, IG (Prisons) Mithilesh Mishra said, the inmates were not released on parole as they might become vulnerable to coronavirus and later spread the contagion once they return to the correctional facility.

The Supreme Court on March 23 had directed all states and Union Territories to constitute high-level committees to consider releasing on parole or interim bail prisoners and undertrials for offences entailing up to 7-year jail term to decongest prisons in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

The top court had said overcrowding of prisons is a matter of serious concern, particularly in the present context of coronavirus (COVID 19).

"Once the inmates are released, it is very difficult to know whether they are coming in contact with a COVID-19 infected person. They are much more safe and secure inside a jail," Mishra said.

As many as 1,200 inmates have been shifted from Patnas Beur jail to lesser-crowded prisons, he said.

Apart from this, 500 prisoners each from Sitmarhi and Chapra jails, 350 inmates from a correctional home in Motihari, 300 from Aurangabad, 200 prisoners each from Madhepura and Barh, 100 from Muzaffarpur and 70 from Bhabhua have also been shifted, he said.

One thousand prisoners lodged in other crowded jails have also been shifted, he said.

"We have completed the process of shifting around 4,500 inmates to lesser-crowded jails of the state. The move will help maintain social distancing norms inside jails," Mishra told PTI.

No inmate has been transferred from Bhagalpur and Gaya jails as both the prisons have enough space, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uber is introducing new protocols for its drivers and riders as cities and states across the U.S. begin to reopen.

Ridesharing companies have taken a massive financial hit since the coronavirus emerged as cities have shut down and people have been urged to stay home.

Uber's stock fell from a six-month high on Feb. 11 of $41.27 a share to $14.82 on March 18, as the widespread impact of the outbreak on the U.S. became clear.

The company's stock has since recovered much of its value, closing at $32.47 on Friday as Uber drivers across the country geared up for the increase in rides expected as businesses resume operations. Yet earlier this month, the company announced it would lay off about 3,500 employees, or about 14 percent of its workforce.

On Sunday, the company announced the steps that it is taking to try to ensure riders' safety in the coming weeks.

"Now, as cities begin to reopen and people start moving again, Uber is proceeding with caution and safety top of mind," the company wrote in a press release.

The measures will go into effect on Monday. They include requiring Uber drivers and delivery people to wear face coverings and complete a safety checklist before they begin work for the day.

For many Alabama Uber drivers, safety has been top of mind since the early days of the pandemic. In March, AL.com spoke with a number of gig economy workers including Mike Dempsey, a Calera driver form Uber and competitor Lyft, who said that he had instituted his own safety plan.

Mike Dempsey, a driver for Uber and Lyft, wipes down the passenger area of his car on Friday, March 13, 2020. (Connor Sheets | AL.com)

Dempsey said that after each ride he used Clorox disinfecting wipes to clean all interior and exterior surfaces customers may have touched. He would also spray Lysol inside his car, and he used hand sanitizer liberally and had it on hand for his customers. Still he said he realized there was some risk involved in being a rideshare driver during the time of coronavirus.

"Doing this, I've driven a wide variety of people," he said in March. "I've driven people to the emergency room and I've asked them, 'Do you think it's the flu?' They've said yes before, and I dont drop them off on the side of the road. I politely take them to the emergency room."

The safety checklist Uber is instituting on Monday asks drivers and deliver people to confirm that they are wearing masks or face covers, and requires them to submit a selfie via the Uber app to verify that the mask or face cover is in place. If their face is not covered, drivers will not be able to begin a shift in a policy that Uber said begins Monday and will run through at least the end of June.

The checklist also asks drivers to confirm that they have taken a series of other steps aimed at increasing driver and customer safety, according to the press release. Riders will also be asked to follow a safety checklist.

"Before every trip, riders must confirm that theyve taken precautions like wearing a face cover and washing or sanitizing their hands," Uber wrote. "They must also agree to sit in the back seat and open windows for ventilation."

The company is also spending $50 million on masks, disinfectant, hand sanitizer, gloves and other supplied aimed at keeping Uber drivers and customers and safe from the coronavirus.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo today continued to push back on criticism about the states number of coronavirus deaths in nursing homes, one week after the state began requiring more testing and ensuring that fewer positive cases entered the facilities.

A quarter of the more than 22,000 people whove died of the coronavirus in New York state have died in a nursing home, according to state data. As of Saturday, 62 have died in nursing homes in Onondaga and Oneida counties.

Older people, vulnerable people, are going to die from this virus, the governor said today when asked about whether more should have been done to protect nursing homes residents. That is going to happen. Despite whatever you do.

Yet for many weeks, New York policy allowed nursing homes to accept positive Covid-19 patients back into nursing homes, some of which were not routinely testing staff and residents.

State officials said they couldnt discriminate against those whod tested positive. Cuomo also said last week that, at the time, there was also fear that hospitals would run out of beds for new, incoming patients. In mid-April, more than 18,000 people were hospitalized across the state with Covid-19.

I said from Day One, the fear is we overwhelm the hospital system, Cuomo said, today invoking images of people dying in the hallways of Italian hospitals before they could get care.

At the same time, the state required nursing homes that could not adequately care for coronavirus residents  including quarantining them  to seek help from the Department of Health so that those people could be cared for elsewhere. That remains the case, the governor has said repeatedly.

Finally, a week ago, Cuomo signed an executive order barring hospitals from sending infected patients back to nursing homes. That same order now requires all nursing home staff be tested for the virus twice a week.

Cuomo was asked about this again today in Albany during his daily briefing: What if that order had been in place earlier? Would that have saved lives?

People rationalize death in different ways, he said. I dont think there is any logical rationale to say they would be alive today.

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Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

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Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday endorsed the Centres decision to extend the lockdown till May 31 to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic in the country and hinted that his government would relax restrictions.

Centres guidelines are largely in line with the proposal sent by Delhi govt based on suggestions of lakhs of Delhiites. We have used the lockdown period to prepare our healthcare system if Corona cases increase, but it is now time to relax the restrictions to some extent, Kejriwal tweeted.

In another tweet he said the Delhi government will announce a detailed plan for the national capital on Monday.

Delhi govt will prepare the detailed plan for Delhi based on the Centres guidelines and announce them tomorrow, he wrote.

The Centre announced the extension of the lockdown shortly after the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) directed states to maintain the restrictions till May 31. Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra had already decided to extend the lockdown till May 31 while Meghalaya and Nagaland said current restrictions would continue till further orders.

Kejriwal has been an advocate of lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 that has affected almost 10,000 people in Delhi and claimed 148 lives.

The Delhi governments data shows that the number of patients recovering from Covid-19 in the capital during the third phase of the lockdown has tripled compared to the first two phases.

According to the data released by the Delhi government, 1,362 people in Delhi had recovered from Covid-19 till May 3 before the third phase of the lockdown.

The number of people recovering has increased almost three times in the first 13 days of Lockdown 3.0 from May 4 to May 16. As of May 16, 3,926 people in Delhi have been cured.
Neither the threat of coronavirus nor the threat of bad weather could keep partiers away from Bolivar Island for Go Topless Jeep Weekend.

Hundreds of vehicles descended on Crystal Beach for what started as a small weekend gathering for Jeep lovers and has now become a massive annual event.
Express News Service By

NEW DELHI /JAIPUR: Prisons in various parts of the country are also turning into corona hotspots. At least 15 inmates and one staff in Delhis Rohini jail were reported positive on Saturday while in Jaipur district jail, 116 prisoners and prison superintendent were found infected. In the Rohini jail, a 28-year old inmate was found positive three days ago after which 19 inmates who shared barracks with him and five jail officials were tested for the contagion.

We had conducted COVID testing for 19 inmates of Rohini jail who were sharing barrack with one inmate who was tested positive in DDU hospital earlier where he had gone for some other ailment. Their test results have come and 15 out of these 19 inmates have tested positive. Five staff members were also put to test. Out of these, one head warder has tested positive.

Rest are negative, said Sandeep Goel, Director General, Prisons. All of them, including those tested positive, are asymptomatic. The inmates have been kept in isolation barrack while the head warder and other jail staff have been sent for home quarantine. The 28-year-old inmate, an undertrial accused of attempt to murder and robbery, was the first case reported from among three Delhi jails  Tihar, Rohini and Mandoli. In Rajasthan, the health department report said 116 new cases had been reported in Jaipur District Jail. Nine prisoners had tested positive earlier.
Eight members of the Pretty Little Liars cast and creator I. Marlene King remotely reunited on Friday via Cast4Good on Looped to raise funds for Feeding America.

It's been three years since the ABC Family teen drama - based on Sara Shepard's young adult novel series - concluded after seven successful seasons, and it's now streaming on Amazon Prime.

Lucy Hale - who played artsy teen Aria Montgomery - discussed the possibility of a Pretty Little Liars spin-off movie.

For a good cause! Eight members of the Pretty Little Liars cast and creator I. Marlene King remotely reunited on Friday via Cast4Good on Looped to raise funds for Feeding America

Now streaming on Amazon! It's been three years since the ABC Family teen drama - based on Sara Shepard's young adult novel series - concluded after seven successful season

'"When are you going back to do Pretty Little Liars?" We've done done for three years but the [fans] love it that much,' the Katy Keene star - turning 31 next month - said.

'I always get asked about when we're doing a movie. People always think we're doing a movie, I think we just need to do it.'

Ian Harding - who played English teacher Ezra Fitz - quipped: 'If it does happen, it has to be pretty extreme. Like I want in the first 10 minutes, one of the people in this Zoom call right now dies.'

King assured fans that Troain Bellisario and Keegan Allen's characters Spencer and Toby were 'totally still together.'

'The [fans] love it that much': Lucy Hale - who played artsy teen Aria Montgomery - discussed the possibility of a Pretty Little Liars spin-off movie

The Katy Keene star - turning 31 next month - said: 'I always get asked about when we're doing a movie. People always think we're doing a movie, I think we just need to do it'

Ian Harding - who played English teacher Ezra Fitz - quipped: 'It has to be pretty extreme. Like I want in the first 10 minutes, one of the people in this Zoom call right now dies'

Lucy dijo que estaria dispuesta a protagonizar el papel de Aria si hacen una pelicula.

ESTOY GRITANDO#PLLReunion pic.twitter.com/HznlNUTJvB  Morrissey (@Fxcundomartxn) May 15, 2020

'Spencer definitely is practicing law, and Toby is building little mini houses for homeless vets. So they're rocking it. They probably have kids already,' the 57-year-old showrunner said.

Speaking of which, Tyler Blackburn reflected on his character Caleb Rivers' controversial hook-up with Spencer.

'It obviously caused a little backlash, but there's no such thing as bad press, you know what I mean?' Blackburn said.

'I was obviously a Haleb shipper, as they say, but it was awesome to just mix it up and I feel like the show also was taking a little bit more of an adult turn then. Troian and I did a lot of like suggested nudity that I had never really done.'

'They probably have kids already': King assured fans that Keegan Allen (L) and Troain Bellisario's (R) characters Toby and Spencer were 'totally still together'

'A lot of fans got upset about it': Speaking of which, Tyler Blackburn (R) reflected on his character Caleb Rivers' controversial hook-up with Spencer

'Pam shimmied down some pipe and then let them out': King also revealed precisely how the mothers escaped the locked basement during one key scene

Bellisario added: 'A lot of fans got upset about it, but I still feel like some of the scenes that came out of it  like that scene between me, Ashley, and Tyler, I think it's one of my favorite scenes. I think it was just wonderful material and it was so exciting to open up those sides of our characters.'

King also revealed precisely how the mothers escaped the locked basement during one key scene.

'There's a reason why Pam never drank after that,' the showrunner explained.

MIA: And while Shay Mitchell, Ashley Benson, Sasha Pieterse Sheaffer, and Janel Parrish Long were all apart of the reunion, Keegan Allen could not join since he was 'in the middle of the mountains'

'This happened!' Movie or not, six of the castmembers have a permanent reminder of the mystery thriller on their 'Shhh' fingers, which they got tattooed with their characters' first initials back in 2016

'We decided they drew straws and Pam got the short straw, so she had to take off her clothes and they greased her up with some car oil they found, and she shimmied down some pipe and then let them out.'

And while Shay Mitchell, Ashley Benson, Sasha Pieterse Sheaffer, and Janel Parrish Long were all apart of the reunion, Keegan Allen could not join since he was 'in the middle of the mountains.'

Movie or not, six of the castmembers have a permanent reminder of the mystery thriller on their 'Shhh' fingers, which they got tattooed with their characters' first initials back in 2016.
New Delhi/Islamabad, May 17 : In yet another case of religious persecution of minorities in Pakistan, Hindus in Sindh province have alleged that the Islamic proselytising group, Tablighi Jamaat tortured them, demolished their houses and also abducted a Hindu boy for refusing to convert to Islam.

A video from Sindh, shared widely on social media, showed Bheel Hindus protesting against the forced conversions.

"We will prefer to die but will never ever convert to Islam," women, children holding hand-written posters against the Tablighi Jamaat were seen protesting in Nasur Pur, Matiar.

A woman who was speaking on behalf of the protestors said that their properties were grabbed and homes demolished and they were beaten, forced to leave and asked to convert if they wanted to get their houses back.

In another video, a woman lying on the ground, was wailing that her son has been abducted by the members of Tablighi Jamaat. The woman was begging the Jamaat to release her son.

The persecution of Hindus and Christians has been rampant in Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan.

In an excruciating indictment of the Imran Khan government, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) recently said that over the years "there have been horrific, religiously motivated attacks on the minority communities and any efforts towards eradicating the violence, prejudices, and inequalities have been virtually imperceptible".

Both the Hindu and Christian communities in Sindh and Punjab continued to face forced conversions last year.

Recounting the incidents, the commission said in Punjab and Sindh, girls as young as 14 were abducted, forcibly converted and coerced into marriage.

In recent years, the commission said, people from minority religions have been facing persecution, and the Hindu community is feeling insecure and vulnerable as they face antagonism and mob attacks over allegations of blasphemy.

The Hindu community has a history of being targeted, the commission said.

"They are also forced to learn Islamic studies in school. There is also some concern that there are not enough Christian burial grounds and Hindu cremation grounds." Regretting that even as the court had directed in 2014 to set up a task force to develop a strategy for religious tolerance, reform of the curricula, action against hate speech in the media, a special police force to protect places of worship, and prompt registration of cases of desecration, the HRCP said nothing has happened yet.
US-based private equity firm General Atlantic will invest Rs 6,598.38 crore to acquire a 1.34 per cent stake in Mukesh Ambani's Jio Platforms. This happens to be the fourth big investment in Jio Platforms, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries, in last one month.

"This investment values Jio Platforms at an equity value of Rs 4.91 lakh crore and an enterprise value of Rs 5.16 lakh crore," Reliance Industries said in a press release.

General Atlantic's investment will translate into a 1.34 per cent equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully diluted basis, it said.

With this investment, Jio Platforms has raised Rs 67,194.75 crore from leading technology investors including Facebook, Silver Lake, Vista Equity Partners and General Atlantic in less than four weeks.

Commenting on the development, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, said, "I am thrilled to welcome General Atlantic, a marquee global investor, as a valued partner. I have known General Atlantic for several decades and greatly admired it for its belief in India's huge growth potential. General Atlantic shares our vision of a Digital Society for India and strongly believes in the transformative power of digitisation in enriching the lives of 1.3 billion Indians. We are excited to leverage General Atlantic's proven global expertise and strategic insights across 40 years of technology investing for the benefit of Jio."

Also Read: Reliance Industries rights issue to open on May 20; issue price still 14% lower than CMP

The transaction is subject to regulatory and other customary approvals, RIL said.

Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisor to Reliance Industries and AZB & Partners, and Davis Polk & Wardwell acted as legal counsel. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. acted as legal counsel to General Atlantic.

Also Read: After General Atlantic deal, US firms to own 13.82% stake in Jio Platforms

General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm with a 40-year track record of investing in the Technology, Consumer, Financial Services and Healthcare sectors. It has a longstanding tradition of backing disruptive entrepreneurs and companies around the world, including Airbnb, Alibaba, Ant Financial, Box, ByteDance, Facebook, Slack, Snapchat, Uber and other global technology leaders.

Also Read: General Atlantic, Saudi Arabian wealth fund to invest in Jio: Report

"As long-term backers of global technology leaders and visionary entrepreneurs, we could not be more excited about investing in Jio. We share Mukesh's conviction that digital connectivity has the potential to significantly accelerate the Indian economy and drive growth across the country," said Bill Ford, Chief Executive Officer of General Atlantic.

Akash Ambani, Director of Reliance Jio, said General Atlantic's endorsement and partnership energises Jio's young team to set, and achieve, even more ambitious goals in our onward march. "Jio is committed to make a digitally inclusive India that will provide immense opportunities to every Indian citizen especially to our highly talented youth," he added.

By Chitranjan Kumar
Case against Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne for unlawful assembly during pandemic dismissed

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The Florida State Attorneys Office has dismissed charges against controversial megachurch pastor Rodney Howard-Browne for allegedly violating a "safer-at-home" order in March, which prohibited large worship services during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Having reviewed the charge(s) contained in the Criminal Report Affidavit and/or Notice to Appear, the State Attorneys Office informs you that the charge(s) contained therein is/are dismissed and prosecution is terminated as of this date and that the defendant need not appear for any further proceedings in this matter, State Attorney Andrew H. Warren said in a Notice of Termination of Prosecution shared by Howard-Brownes defense lawyers, the Liberty Counsel, on Friday.

Howard Browne, who leads Revival International Ministries and The River at Tampa Bay Church in Tampa, Florida, was charged with unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency rules, which are both second-degree misdemeanors, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a maximum fine of $500.

At the time of Howard-Brownes arrest, ordered by Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, a "safer-at-home" order was in effect mandating nonessential businesses to abide by the CDCs social distancing guidelines that required individuals to be separated by six feet of space. If they are unable to do that, they had to shut down.

Chronister said at a press conference about the arrest that he was furious when he saw images online of packed services at Howard-Brownes church.

We received an anonymous tip that Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne refused a request to temporarily stop holding large gatherings at his church, he said. And instead, he was encouraging his large congregation to meet at his church.

In a statement Friday, Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver argued that the pastors arrest was politically motivated.

The arrest of Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne was politically motivated. Neither the pastor nor The River at Tampa Bay Church did anything wrong. The arrest and the press conference were outrageous and caught the attention of the nation and the world. As a result of this arrest, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared attendance at churches, synagogues, and houses of worship to be an essential activity. This arrest freed up every church in Florida to meet. We are pleased that all the charges have been dropped. It is now time to move forward with healing and restoration, Staver said.

Howard-Browne and Chronister were already on the path to mending fences after the fiasco.

The pastor announced in a post on Facebook on April 29 that he met with the sheriff at his home and discussed plans to reopen the county and that he was looking forward to hosting Chronister at his church as soon as it reopens.

Breaking News: So honored to meet with Sheriff Chad Chronister today! He came to our house and met with @adonicashowardbrowne and I. We had a great lunch together. We discussed the way forward in the opening up of Hillsborough County and the role of the @rivertampabay River Church in cooperation with the Hillsborough County Sheriffs department. Its time to get our County back to normalcy - thank you Sheriff Chronister, Howard-Browne said.
Saudi Arabia asks Hadi regime officials to leave as costs bite amid economic downturn: Report

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 May 2020 10:16 AM

Saudi Arabia has reportedly asked members of the regime of former Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi residing in the capital Riyadh to leave and suspended financial support provided to them.

The decision comes as slumping oil prices and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have saddled the kingdom with its worst financial crisis in decades.

Citing an official with the self-proclaimed Riyadh-backed Hadi government, the Arabi21 news website reported on Friday that Saudi authorities had informed officials and employees in the Yemeni presidency and the prime minister's office, in addition to a number of ministries, about their decision.

The source, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that the decision targeted officials in the presidency and cabinet, including deputy ministers, in addition to others who had arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier and were hosted in hotels for a short period before being transferred to apartments at Riyadh's expense.

The source, however, claimed that "not all Yemeni officials and employees are accommodated at the expense of the Saudi government" and that "most of the government staff live at their own expense".

A document issued on May 13 and circulated on social media indicated that Hadi officials and employees residing in Riyadh had been informed that the last Saudi payment would be provided at the end of May.

Whoever wants to stay or extend their residence in Riyadh after May 31 would pay their own expenses, the document read.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia announced that it will suspend the cost of living allowance and raise the value added tax threefold in a bid to boost state finances battered by the coronavirus outbreak and plummeting oil prices.

The austerity measures came after the kingdom reported a $9 billion budget deficit in the first quarter of 2020.

"These measures are painful but necessary to maintain financial end economic stability over medium to long term...and overcome the unprecedented coronavirus crisis with the least damage possible," Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said in the statement.

Saudi Arabia is trying to make up the difference between lower-than-expected oil revenues and higher spending to rein in the coronavirus.

The kingdom is stuck in a costly war on Yemen it launched in March 2015 in a bid to reinstall the Hadi regime and crush the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement.

However, over five years into the Western-sponsored war, Saudi Arabia has achieved neither of its objectives, but plunged Yemen into what the UN says is the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Over the past years, most members of the self-proclaimed Hadi government have been residing in Riyadh and Jeddah at the expense of the Saudi government.

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After covid-19 killed the elderly woman Mihaela Danaila had been taking care of for nine years in northern Italy, she joined a rush of about 1.3 million Romanians working abroad and headed home.

The 37-year-old had been part of a steady exodus west after the continent's ex-communist contingent joined the European Union. Open borders allowed doctors, engineers and builders to garner higher salaries elsewhere, escaping corruption and poor health care in the process. The shift helped richer countries struggling with aging populations but left the workers' homelands scrambling to fill jobs.

The virus has reversed a chunk of the migrant flows almost overnight: eastern countries now have an abundance of workers. The question is whether they'll stay. While wages haven't caught up, the region suffered far fewer Covid-19 deaths than western Europe and governments in Romania, Ukraine and Serbia are keen to retain at least some of those who've come back. People like Danaila may stick around.

"I don't want to return to Italy because life among strangers is hard," she said. "I'll see what happens in the next few months. If I manage to get a job here, that would be great."

Looking for employment right now is tough as eastern Europe's boom of recent years becomes what's shaping up to be its deepest slump since the fall of the Iron Curtain. But despite hitting records, unemployment isn't seen reaching the levels of places like Italy and Spain.

Romania -- which lost at least 4 million citizens to emigration since joining the EU in 2007, more than any other member-state -- reckons at least a third of those who have returned are actively looking for jobs and can help power construction, agriculture and industry in the coming years. One initiative is targeted at them: a 40,000 euro ($43,350) grant to start a farm.

"It's a priority for the government to retain these people -- we'll do it through investments, by creating new jobs," Finance Minister Florin Citu said. "Before the crisis, many companies complained that they can't find workers. Now, the workforce is here and we need to support it."

In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has longed to lure back those who left after the EU granted visa-free travel in 2017. As many as 1 million were in Poland alone before the crisis struck.

While there's been less of a rush home than in Romania, Ukraine's central bank estimates that about 300,000 people returned during lockdown -- 10% of the total. One program will offer them cheap loans to start businesses. A 'Great Construction' project to upgrade roads will add 170,000 jobs.

Companies looking to fill seasonal positions in the U.K., Finland and Germany with Ukrainians are also facing a tougher time. They must provide medical insurance and contracts of at least three months.

In Serbia, President Aleksandar Vucic says about 400,000 workers have arrived home amid the pandemic, most having lost temporary jobs and social and health insurance. The inflow is equivalent to 6% of the population and a fifth of the workforce. Officials have urged them to take jobs in agriculture.

Not all eastern European nations have seen big influxes. Poles, who make up the biggest foreign group in the U.K., are largely settled and have remained where they are. It's a similar story for the Baltic region, which has been among the worst-affected by mass emigration since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

And those who have come back did so for an array of reasons -- Easter being a big one. Bulgaria is a case in point. While 360,000 citizens returned since February, 285,000 have left again. Data later this year on remittances, which reached $12 billion in Ukraine in 2019, will paint a clearer picture.

"In the short term, the impact will be on higher social spending for the state because the economy won't be able to absorb everyone," said Dan Bucsa, an economist at UniCredit Bank. "It's very likely most will leave again once the situation calms down."

Romania, like most countries, has enough to worry about with the virus, having suffered more than the other eastern EU members. But if officials can find time and resources to reach out to people like Danaila, it may be better off once the economy overcomes its slump.

"I have a 12-year-old son who's the main reason I want to stay," she said. "Being away from him has been the most difficult thing I ever did but when I look at the things he has now -- a computer, clothes, everything he needs -- I realize that with the wages in Romania I'd never have afforded it all. People say things have changed here as well. I'll see."
WOOD RIVER  A cluster of coronavirus cases has been recorded at Riverside Rehab and Health Care in Alton, according to information released by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Madison County Health Department.

As of Saturday, 15 cases and two deaths had been reported at the 180-bed facility on Humbert Road operated by Greystone Healthcare Management LLC.

In February the company acquired 13 skilled nursing and one supportive living facilities in Missouri and Illinois. Included in that was Rosewood Care Center, renamed Riverside Rehab & Healthcare, as well as Rosewood Care Center in Edwardsville, renamed Care Center at Center Grove, and Foxes Grove Supportive Living in Wood River, which retained its name.

It is the third cluster reported in the county at a nursing home or long-term residential or rehab facility. Edwardsville Care Center has reported 92 cases and 18 deaths, up one case and one death from last week. Eden Village Care Center in Glen Carbon has reported 41 cases and 13 deaths, up 10 cases and five deaths from last week.

The Madison County Health Department on Saturday announced two new deaths, for a total of 43 so far. It also noted five new COVID-19 cases, for a total of 484. The county figures include 90 people hospitalized and 224 recovered, meaning they have completed isolation.

Statewide the IDPH reported 74 deaths and 2,088 new cases, bringing the total to 4,129 deaths and 92,457 cases. The IDPH also reported 23,047 test results during the past 24 hours for a total of 561,649.

IDPH information by ZIP code Saturday showed additional cases in the Bethalto, Cottage Hills, Maryville, Troy, Granite City/Pontoon Beach, Collinsville, Madison, Venice and Highland areas.

The most cases were reported at 62025 (Edwardsville) with 106, 62002 (Alton) with 76, 62040 (Granite City/Pontoon Beach) with 68, 62034 (Glen Carbon) with 55 and 62234 (Collinsville) with 46.

More Information COVID-19 cases by county St. Clair - 783 (66 deaths) Madison - 484 (43 deaths) Clinton - 162 (14 deaths) Monroe - 86 (11 deaths) Macoupin - 41 (1 death) Montgomery - 37 (1 death) Jersey - 18 (1 death) Bond - 11 (1 death) Washington - 17 Greene - 4 Calhoun - 1 Washington - 17 Cases by zip code 62002 (Alton) - 76 62010 (Bethalto) -13 62035 (Godfrey) - 18 62012 (Brighton) - 6 62052 (Jerseyville) - 13 62095 (Wood River) - 16 62018 (Cottage Hills) -7 62024 (East Alton) - 7 62025 (Edwardsville) - 106 62034 (Glen Carbon) - 55 62062 (Maryville) -8 62294 (Troy) -17 62040 (Granite City/Pontoon Beach) -68 62234 (Collinsville) -46 62060 (Madison) -18 62090 (Venice) -10 62249 (Highland) -11 62088 (Staunton) - 6 62069 (Mt. Olive) - 8 62056 (Litchfield) - 12 Sources: Illinois Department of Public Health and Madison County Health Department. See More Collapse

Eighteen cases were reported in 62035 (Godfrey) and 62060 (Madison) with 17 in 62294 (Troy); 16 in 62095 (Wood River); 13 in 62010 (Bethalto) and 62052 (Jerseyville); 12 in 62056 (Litchfield); 11 in 62249 (Highland); 10 in 62090 (Venice); eight in 62069 (Mt. Olive) and 62062 (Maryville); seven in 62018 (Cottage Hills) and 62024 (East Alton); and six in 62012 (Brighton) and 62088 (Staunton).

The IDPH is releasing case numbers by ZIP code for areas with more than five cases. Numbers are not released in ZIP codes with fewer cases to protect the privacy of patients. The information is online at www.dph.illinois.gov.

Additional cases were reported Saturday in Montgomery, St. Clair, Clinton and Monroe counties in the Metro East, with additional deaths noted in St. Clair and Clinton counties.

Also on Saturdat, the Associated Press reported people who want Illinois to speed up the reopening of the state gathered at rallies featuring Republican politicians or candidates and small business owners. A few hundred people clustered on downtown Chicago streets outside the Thompson Center; protesters also gathered in Springfield outside the state Capitol.

For the latest information on COVID-19 or coronavirus resources, visit the Madison County Health Department online at www.madisonchd.org or on Facebook @MadisonCHD. Also visit www.co.madison.il.us for more news and a daily update or on Facebook @MadisonCountyIL.
Babygirl Lisa Hamme and her much younger Nigerian fiance, Usman Umar (also known by his stage name, Sojaboy), became one of the most popular couples on this season of TLCs 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days almost instantly.

Lisa, a 52-year-old single mom from York, Pennsylvania, and Usman, a 30-year-old rapper, met online before beginning a rocky relationship. The troubled couple has hurled cheating accusations at one another on social media and appears to be estranged, according to The Blast.

In TLC GOs sneak peek of the upcoming May 17 episode of 90 Day Fiance, The Pleasure Principle, Lisa and Usman prepared to get married in Nigeria in a matter of days. But the marriage registry wasnt about to let them go through with it unless Lisa was able to find her divorce decreeresulting in a bitter fight between the two.

Usman Umar | Sojaboy via Instagram

Usman and Lisa were told they couldnt get married in Nigeria without a divorce decree

When Lisa and Usman headed to the Nigerian marriage registry, they were warned that their marriage wouldnt be recognized unless Lisa could prove that she was in fact divorced from her previous husband. Lisa claimed she had no idea that she needed that document, so she didnt bring it when she flew to Usmans home country.

And the 90 Day Fiance stars felt a sense of urgency, Lisa explained, because their marriage in Nigeria would hopefully allow the K-1 visa process to go much more smoothly. We want to get married before I leave, because my plan is to get back to the U.S. and apply for the K-1 visa, Lisa said.

Without a legal marriage under their belt, the application process might take a lot longer. I have no clue at this time whats going to happen, Lisa lamented.

Lisa blamed Usman for the confusion about her divorce

Without a certificate from her divorce, the 90 Day Fiance couple wouldnt be allowed to go through with their marriage. And Lisa placed the blame for the confusion squarely on Usmans shoulders. As the one who actually lived in Nigeria, she suggested, he should have known what Lisa needed to bring from the U.S.

Well, guess what, I dont have it, because my fiance did not check to see what I needed before I arrived, she snapped.

The hospice care worker accused Usman of being irresponsible and lazy. Im getting pissed off, because this was a completely avoidable situation if he just did what I told him he needed to do, she complained. If I dont have that divorce decree, there is no wedding.

The 90 Day Fiance stars were eventually able to get Lisas divorce decree

Lisa spent hours on the phone with the local courthouse back in the U.S. where she was divorced. At first, the court representative claimed Lisa would have to send in a written request. But with Usmans family arriving the following day to prepare for the couples upcoming wedding, that wasnt about to fly.

Finally, after an agonizing wait, the courthouse employee told Lisa she could email her a scanned copy of the decree. You just made my night and his night, Lisa gushed as Usman showered her with kisses. Youre a life-saver.

Usman, too, was relieved to hear the news. He said it would allow them to marry during Lisas trip and would make the process of his move to the U.S. that much faster. I am so relieved that Lisa was able to get the divorce decree, the 90 Day Fiance star told TLC producers. This means that now we can get married.
Pompeo Warns ICC Against Asserting Authority Over Israel

By VOA News May 16, 2020

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned the International Criminal Court Friday that if it continues to assert authority over Israel, the U.S. will "exact consequences."

Pompeo's warning came after the ICC prosecutor decided to consider Palestine a state with the ability to submit complaints that could trigger probes into alleged war crimes it says Israel committed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Pompeo said the U.S. does not "believe the Palestinians qualify as a sovereign state."

"The United States reiterates its longstanding objection to any illegitimate ICC investigations," Pompeo added. "If the ICC continues down its current course, we will exact consequences."

On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of U.S. House and Senate legislators sent separate letters to Pompeo urging him to defend Israel, a firm U.S. ally, against ICC investigations, declaring the ICC's assertion amounts to a "politicization" of the court's mission.

ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said late last year her years-long examination into Palestinian affairs provided her with a "reasonable basis to believe that war crimes were committed" by Israel and Palestinian groups such as Hamas.

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Actor Satyajeet Dubey recently took to Instagram to reveal to his fans that his mother had been diagnosed with Covid-19. The actor, who is currently in isolation with his sister, opened up about the diagnosis in a recent interview.

The actor said that his mother had a migraine attack, shivering, fever and vomiting. When he took her to the hospital the Covid-19 test came out positive. The actor told Hindustan Times that he was asked about the source many times.

The actor talked about not being able to pinpoint where the virus came from. He was also told that he and his sister could be carriers. But, my sister and Ive been absolutely fine. Were asymptomatic, and so were not supposed to test as per the BMC guidelines, the actor said.

The actor, whose mother is now in isolation at a private hospital, said that his friends in the industry, namely Sanjay Dutt, Ali Fazal, Tisca Chopra and Zoa Morani have helped him in his tough times. He said, As a son, I wanted to give her the best in terms of comfort. But, if you go through the normal channel, its next to impossible to find a bed in hospitals right now. Thank God for the kind of work I do, and the people I work with  I had to call a few people and pull some strings, and people were kind enough to say, You dont worry about it, we will help, and they did.

Follow @News18Movies for more
BRUNSWICK, GA.For many residents of Satilla Shores, a subdivision in coastal Georgia, their waterfront neighbourhood is paradise without pretension.

Several of the homes are low-slung ranches of 20th-century vintage, more cosy than fancy, and shaded by dramatic, moss-draped oaks. Some backyards are bordered by the Little Satilla River, a lazy on-ramp to a stunning jigsaw puzzle of waterways and wetlands stretching to the Atlantic Ocean.

But by mid-February, concerns about property crimes were mounting. Cars had been broken into. Guns had been stolen. One house under construction on Satilla Drive, the neighbourhoods main street, had been the subject of at least three emergency calls about potential trespassing.

On Feb. 23, there would be two more trespassing calls at the partially built house. The final call began with the sound of screams and shotgun blasts.

Ahmaud Arbery, 25, an avid jogger, was seen on camera going into the house that afternoon. No one knows why, but in one theory that emerged Friday, the property owner suggested that Arbery may have visited the house to get water before continuing to jog.

Minutes after his visit to the house Feb. 23, Arbery, who was Black, was chased down by two armed white men, a father and son, and killed, a shooting that was captured in a graphic cellphone video. In a case that has drawn national attention and inspired protests, in part because of the racial dimension and because more than two months passed without arrests, the men have since been charged with murder.

On Saturday, former president Barack Obama made reference to the case while addressing graduates of historically Black colleges. Speaking of the underlying inequalities that Black communities face, he added, we see it when a Black man goes for a jog, and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him if he doesnt submit to their questioning.

Also on Saturday, protesters gathered in Brunswick to call for the arrest of the man who took the cellphone video.

On Friday, Franklin Hogue, a lawyer for the father, Gregory McMichael, said that as more facts came to light, it would become clear that his client did not commit murder. The truth will reveal that this is not just another act of violent racism, he said.

But some things are clear. Arbery, who lived on the other side of a four-lane highway in a traditionally Black community called Fancy Bluff, took his final run across a stretch of South Georgia terrain marked by historic  though increasingly blurred  racial boundary lines and onto a street where neighbours were vigilant and apparently on edge.

There are only five streets in Satilla Shores and only two ways in by car. Since 2012, Tony Shaw, who is Black, has lived next to one of the entrances. He did not see Arbery jog past on that February afternoon, but he said he was not surprised that his white neighbours would eventually take note of Arberys presence.

Theyre not used to seeing a lot of Black faces around here, he said.

Shaw said that his was the second Black family to move into Satilla Shores, about 35 years ago. An Air Force veteran, he had been stationed elsewhere at the time, but he moved into the house eight years ago. His white neighbours give friendly waves, he said, though he winces at the sight of a Confederate flag he said the man next door often displays on a backyard pole.

Francisco Duran, 28, rented a Satilla Shores ranch house a few months ago. He and his wife, who are raising two small children, like the relative quiet of the place. But Duran, a truck driver of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent, said the neighbours can be chilly.

When he waves from his yard, he said, a lot of people dont even wave back to us.

For much of his life, Arbery lived with his mother in a small house with white siding and a cheerful blue door, about 2 miles from Satilla Shores. To get to Satilla Shores, Arbery had to cross U.S. Route 17, a four-lane highway that sends vacationers east toward the beach resorts and cream-coloured sands of Jekyll Island.

For years, the highway served as a kind of man-made barrier between Black and white worlds. But over the last couple of decades, some of those distinctions have begun to blur.

White people began moving to Fancy Bluff, a community of small homes, many of them newer and lining tidy, quiet streets.

Across the street from Arberys house, Jennifer Bolin, 53, emerged from her crowded garage on a sunny afternoon last week. A Dont Tread on Me flag flew over the front lawn. Bolin, who is white, spoke of Arbery tenderly. She recalled his love of running, the way he did pull-ups on a tree limb in the yard, and the gentle way he played with his toddler nephews outside. And she spoke with pride of her neighborhoods diversity.

Another neighbour, Kevin Flowers, 53, said that he had lived in Fancy Bluff for 13 years. Flowers, who is Black, said he had never considered Satilla Shores, across the highway, to be intimidating or off-limits. In fact, he said, he had a cousin who lived in Satilla Shores for a while, and Flowers did not think twice when his son used to walk over and visit.

Satilla Shores is a mixed bag of blue- and white-collar retirees, young working-class families, lifelong residents and transplants from northern states. Some homes have weedy lawns and old vehicles and old boats in their yards. Some are pristine.

And like any neighbourhood, Satilla Shores has had its share of vigilance, wariness and nuisance. Beginning in October, residents called 911 at least 86 times, reporting suspicious people, suspicious vehicles and numerous instances of possible trespassing, according to police records.

On New Years Day, one of the men who would later pursue Arbery called 911 to report a theft. The man, Travis McMichael, 34, told police that a Smith & Wesson 9-mm pistol had been stolen from his unlocked Ford pickup truck. He said that his father, Gregory McMichael, 64, had moved the truck that morning but had not locked it.

Another neighbour on the block, who declined to be identified because she did not want to be caught up in the controversy around Arberys killing, said in an interview in mid-April that family vehicles had been broken into three times beginning in late October.

But it was the unfinished property five doors down from McMichaels house that was subject to recurring episodes of unauthorized entries  the last of which would occur moments before the McMichaels armed themselves and chased down Arbery.

The property at 220 Satilla Dr., with its riverfront backyard, is the dream project of a man named Larry English, who lives out of town and had been hoping to build what his lawyer, J. Elizabeth Graddy, has called a peaceful refuge on the water. English became seriously ill with a lung disease, and the treatment kept him away from the project beginning in late December.

In recent days, Englishs lawyer has released videos that show people going into and through the house. Most of the videos appear to show what could be the same man  young, fit and African American  wandering around it.

Graddy said that nothing was ever taken from the property.

The first video was from Oct. 25, when English called 911 at 10:04 p.m. to report that a Black man with tattoos had entered the property.

On Nov. 17, Englishs security cameras captured a white man and white woman entering the house together. The next night, cameras captured a young Black man again.

The following day, Graddy said, English met a next-door neighbour named Diego Perez, who eventually texted English about the episodes and offered his help. Goodness, Perez wrote. If you catch someone on your cameras, let me know right away, I can respond in mere seconds.

The same young Black man reappeared on a video on Dec. 17. And again on Feb. 11.

On that night, records show that Travis McMichael called 911 at 7:27 p.m. to report that a man was trespassing at Englishs house. McMichael, who said he had not seen the man before, told police he had just chased him and said he was in his truck waiting for officers to come to the scene.

Twelve days later, a man would call 911 to report a Black male running down the street. Sounding slightly breathless, he appeared to shout Stop! and Travis! before going silent for the rest of the four-minute call. Gunshots could be heard in the background.

On Friday, after a number of the videos were published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the lawyers representing Arberys family said that they could only confirm that Arbery was the man who appeared in one of the videos  the one taken on the day he was killed.

There were frequently people on the construction site both day and night, they said in a statement Friday. Ahmaud Arbery seems to be the only one who was presumed to be a criminal and ultimately the only one murdered based on that assumption.

After poring over the videos, Englishs lawyer on Friday proposed the theory that the young man who returned over and over to the house had done so to drink water.

There is a water source at the dock behind the house as well as a source near the front of the structure, Graddy wrote. Although these water sources do not appear within any of the cameras frames, the young man moves to and from their locations.

In one angle, from Dec. 17, the man appears to wipe his mouth and/or neck, the statement continued, and what sounds like water can be heard. He walks out of the house, eases into a jog and disappears from view.

Graddy also released a Dec. 20 text message to her client that she said was from an officer in the Glynn County Police Department. The officer suggested that English call Gregory McMichael the next time his security cameras recorded an intruder.

This past week in Satilla Shores, there was a lingering sadness over Arberys death, a weariness toward the demonstrators who have marched and run through, and a bitterness toward a national press corps that had descended on a little neighbourhood that had rarely made the news.

A number of residents declined to give their names or talk. The properties around Englishs house were festooned with No Trespassing signs.

One house across the street had a sign in the yard that read, We Run with Maud, a popular slogan of solidarity for Arbery.

English, through his lawyer, has said he is having second thoughts about moving to the neighbourhood. He said he had received death threats and would not feel safe.

For weeks, Wanda Cooper-Jones, Arberys mother, has said she could barely stand to go into the small house she shared with her son across the highway.

This past week, there was a For Sale sign out front.
KAMLOOPS, B.C. - One member of the Canadian Armed Forces has died and another is injured after a Snowbird plane crashed in a residential area of Kamloops, B.C., on Sunday while on a cross-country tour meant to impart hope during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/5/2020 (612 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A piece of the wreckage of a Canadian Forces Snowbirds plane burns along with a house after crashing in Kamloops, B.C. on Sunday, May 17, 2020 is seen in this handout photo. A Canadian Forces Snowbirds plane crashed in a residential area of Kamloops, B.C., shortly after takeoff on Sunday, sending neighbours pouring onto the street where they said a house had erupted into flames. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Kenny Hinds *MANDATORY CREDIT*

KAMLOOPS, B.C. - One member of the Canadian Armed Forces has died and another is injured after a Snowbird plane crashed in a residential area of Kamloops, B.C., on Sunday while on a cross-country tour meant to impart hope during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Capt. Jenn Casey, a public affairs officer with the Canadian Forces, died in the incident, the Department of National Defence said Sunday night.

Capt. Richard MacDougall, the pilot of the aircraft, was being treated for his injuries that the Snowbirds said are not life-threatening.

"Canadians look at the Snowbirds as a source of joy and an exhibition of the incredible feats that our people in uniform are capable of," Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan said in a statement. "Operation Inspiration was intended to lift the spirit of Canadians at this difficult time and the Snowbirds accomplished their mission. I know that all Canadians grieve this tragic loss."

Casey joined the Canadian Forces in 2014 and was based out of Trenton, Ont., after working in radio as a reporter, anchor and producer in her hometown of Halifax and Belleville, Ont., according to her Royal Canadian Air Force bio.

Casey spent most of 2018 with the CF-18 Demo Team, travelling around North America and the United Kingdom with the NORAD 60 jet. She joined the Snowbirds in November 2018.

Tim Durkin, who worked with Casey at Quinte Broadcasting in Belleville, said they became fast friends when she joined the station in 2013.

"She just jumped right into the community and was involved with it," he said. "Just somebody that when she walked into a room, she just made you smile. She was a great person and a great friend as well."

An RCMP photographer photographs the remains of a downed Canadian Forces Snowbird plane in Kamloops, B.C., Sunday, May 17, 2020. One person has died and another is badly injured after a Canadian Forces Snowbird plane crashed in a residential area of Kamloops, B.C., while on a cross-country tour meant to impart hope during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Durkin said she loved hockey  particularly the Montreal Canadiens  and they attended the world junior hockey championship together three years ago in Montreal.

Casey's roots were in Nova Scotia  a province that's been ravaged by tragedy in the past month.

Under the spectre of the COVID-19 pandemic, a gunman killed 22 people in rural parts of the province, and a military helicopter from the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Fredericton went down over the Mediterranean Sea, killing six people  three of whom were from Nova Scotia.

"Now they lose one of their own daughters," Durkin said. "It's something that the whole country reels with, but Nova Scotia in particular is going to be hit hard now."

The crash sent neighbours pouring onto the street where they said debris was scattered and a house was on fire.

Kenny Hinds, who lives seven doors down from the crash site, said it looked like the living room of the house where the crash occurred was on fire.

"I just started running down the street. And I got there maybe a minute after it crashed and there was a couple of residents that had their hoses out and they were trying to put the flames out because it hit a house," he said. "It looked like most of it landed in the front yard, but maybe a wing or something went through the roof."

Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian said the military is sending a team to investigate the incident. He said the Snowbirds remain in Kamloops, and the city and airport are offering as much help as possible to the team.

Sunday's crash happened the same day the Snowbirds were scheduled to make a trip from Kamloops to Kelowna as part of Operation Inspiration, aimed at boosting the morale of Canadians struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds jets are seen in the background as a family pays their respects in Kamloops, B.C., Monday, May 18, 2020. Capt. Jenn Casey died Sunday after the Snowbirds jet she was in crashed shortly after takeoff. The pilot of the aircraft is in hospital with serious injuries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

"For the past two weeks, the Snowbirds have been flying across the country to lift up Canadians during these difficult times," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement. "Every day, they represent the very best of Canada and demonstrate excellence through incredible skill and dedication."

He said his thoughts are with Casey and MacDougall's families, as well as the entire Snowbirds team.

Video posted to Twitter by 610 AM in Kamloops appears to show two Snowbirds taking off from Kamloops Airport.

One of the aircraft subsequently climbed into the sky before rolling over and plunging to the ground. The video appears to show at least one person ejecting from the plane before it disappears behind a stand of trees and an explosion is heard.

Hinds had been watching the aircraft after hearing them take off, and said he was able to see the crash.

"I heard 'bang, bang,' and just as I looked before it left my view from the house beside me, I saw the Snowbird going straight down," he said.

Operation Inspiration started in Nova Scotia earlier this month and features the team's signature nine-jet formation.

Rose Miller lives directly across the street from where the plane hit. She'd watched the Snowbirds arrive on Saturday, and went to her front window when she heard the roar of jet engines.

Miller said she heard a loud bang and wondered whether it might be a sonic boom. Then she watched the plane smash onto the ground.

"It just exploded. It went everywhere," she said. "In fact, I got a big huge piece in my backyard. The cops said it was the ejection seat."

Miller said a couple in their early 70s lives in the home. Both are OK, she said, noting she'd spoken with them after they were evacuated to a nearby street.

The woman had been in the basement while the man was behind the house.

Sunday's crash follows the downing of another Snowbird in the U.S. state of Georgia last October, where the team was scheduled to perform in an air show.

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Capt. Kevin Domon-Grenier sustained minor injuries when he ejected from the plane, which crashed into a farmer's field. No one else was hurt.

A preliminary report on last year's Snowbird crash blamed engine failure, though military investigators had yet to identify the cause of the problem.

The Snowbirds have performed at air shows across Canada and the U.S. for decades and are considered a key tool for raising awareness about  and recruiting for  the air force. Eleven aircraft are used during shows, with nine flying and two kept as spares.

The air force obtained its Tutor jets in 1963 and has used them in air demonstrations since 1971. Prior to Sunday's crash, seven pilots and one passenger had been killed and several aircraft had been lost over the course of the Snowbirds' history.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2020.

 with files from Brenna Owen in Vancouver, Rob Drinkwater in Edmonton, Nicole Thompson and Salmaan Farooqui in Toronto and Lee Berthiaume in Ottawa.
After Australia called for an international inquiry into the origins of the new coronavirus, trade tensions have been rising between Canberra and Beijing.
An engineer checks the base of a 5G mast erected by telecom operator 'Proximus' that was set on fire, in Peltheide, Limburg province on the eve of April 19, 2020.

Yorick Jansens/Belga/AFP via Getty Images

US law enforcement officials have expressed their concerns about a possible rise in violence caused by conspiracy theories that claim 5G cellular network is linked to the spread of COVID-19.

In an intelligence report obtained by ABC News, the US Department of Homeland security said that the threats "probably will increase as the disease continues to spread" and warned that there could also be "violence against telecommunications workers."

A joint intelligence bulletin also concluded that there have been several attacks on 5G cell towers in some US states already, including Tennessee and Oregon.

The 5G conspiracy theory, which claims that the rollout of faster 5G internet is either causing or accelerating the spread of the coronavirus, has picked up steam during the coronavirus pandemic.

The conspiracy theory began to gain traction in the UK in late March and early April. It has since seen more than 70 arson attacks on phone masts around the country.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

US law enforcement officials are concerned that the conspiracy theories linking the spread of COVID-19 to the expansion of the 5G cellular network could result in arson and even physical violence against telecom workers.

The unfounded theory has apparently made its way from the UK, which has seen more than 70 arson attacks on phone masts.

An intelligence report obtained by ABC News from the US Department of Homeland security said: "We assess conspiracy theories linking the spread of COVID-19 to the expansion of the 5G cellular network are inciting attacks against the communications infrastructure globally and that these threats probably will increase as the disease continues to spread, including calls for violence against telecommunications workers."

"Violent extremists have drawn from misinformation campaigns online that claim wireless infrastructure is deleterious to human health and helps spread COVID-19, resulting in a global effort by like-minded individuals to share operational guidance and justification for conducting attacks against 5G infrastructure, some of which have already prompted arson and physical attacks against cell towers in several US states," it continued.

Story continues

The report, published on May 13, has been distributed to law enforcement agencies around the country.

A joint intelligence bulletin issued by the FBI, DHS, and the National Counterterrorism Center, also revealed that there have already been 5G-related attacks in several states.

The inside of an attacked phone mast in Huddersfield, UK on April 14, 2020.

OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

"Since December 2019, unidentified actors conducted at least five arson incidents targeting cell towers in Memphis, Tenn., that resulted in more than $100,000 in damages," the DHS reports say, according to ABC News.

"Additionally, 14 cell towers in western Tennessee, between February and April, were purposely turned off by way of disabling their electrical breakers. In April, arsonists set fire to a major cell tower in Portland, Ore., damaging electrical components at the base of the structure," the bulletin said.

Videos have also been posted on social media groups, showing people how to damage or destroy cell towers. Some posts are also "encouraging individuals associated with anarchist extremist ideology to commit acts of sabotage by attacking buildings and 5G towers around the world" the bulleting added.

5G is the next generation of mobile broadband, which will offer faster speeds than 4G or 3G, and is currently being rolled out in different countries. The 5G conspiracy theory has been around since at least 2019 but appears to have picked up steam during the coronavirus pandemic.

Conspiracy theorists believe that the rollout of faster 5G internet is either causing or accelerating the spread of the virus  a claim which has been debunked.

Incidents have not only been reported in the UK, but in other countries including Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, according to the documents obtained by ABC News.

There is no evidence that 5G  or any other kind of radio waves  are harmful to human health, and multiple organizations, including the international radiation watchdog ICNIRP, have confirmed it is safe.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The EPFO, under the Union labour and employment ministry, has settled a total of 12 lakh claims under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) package.

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said around 12 lakh members of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) withdrew Rs 3,360 crore retirement savings during the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

Earlier, on 28 March the EPFO allowed formal sector workers to withdraw a non-refundable advance from their retirement savings to deal with the hardships due to the lockdown.

Pics from the fifth tranche of press conference of #AatmaNirbharEconomy at the #NationalMediaCentre today by FM @nsitharamanoffc & MoS @ianuragthakur pic.twitter.com/YWLoe7hAYG  PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 17, 2020

The government on 25 March imposed a nationwide lockdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Unveiling the fifth and final tranche of the Rs 20-lakh crore economic package, Sitharaman on Sunday said 12 lakh members of the EPFO have withdrawn as non-refundable advance of Rs 3,360 crore during the past two months.

The EPFO, under the Union labour and employment ministry, has settled a total of 12 lakh claims under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) package.

The provision for a special withdrawal from the EPF Scheme to fight the COVID-19 pandemic is part of the PMGKY scheme announced by the government and an urgent notification on the matter was made to introduce a para 68 L (3) of the EPF Scheme on 28 March, 2020.

Under this provision non-refundable withdrawal to the extent of the basic wages and dearness allowances for three months or up to 75 per cent of the amount standing to member''''s credit in the EPF account, whichever is less, is provided.

Sitharaman also told that 2.2 crore building and construction workers got Rs 3950 crore under the PMGKY to sustain in lockdown.

Earlier in March, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar had asked all state chief ministers to provide financial aid to over 3.5 crore construction workers from Rs 52,000-crore construction cess available with them amid Covid-19 outbreak.

An advisory was issued on 24 March, by Gangwar to all chief ministers, Lieutenant Governors of all the states/union territories.

In the letters, the minister had said: "Under Section 60 of the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act, 1996, all states/UTs have been advised to transfer funds in the account of construction workers through DBT (direct benefit transfer) mode from the cess fund collected by the Labour Welfare Boards under the BOCW cess Act."

It was mentioned in the letter that about Rs 52,000 crore is available as cess fund collected by states and UTs, and about 3.5 crore construction workers are registered with these construction welfare boards.

The minister had stated in the letter that in this challenging situation, it is imperative that we devise probable mechanism to support unorganised workers, who sustain their livelihood on daily wages.

The minister had also said that state building and construction workers welfare boards have collected sufficient funds.

The cess has been levied and is being collected at 1 per cent of the cost of construction as notified by the central government in its official gazette.

The BOCW Welfare Cess, 1996, provides for levy and collection of cess at such rate not exceeding 2 per cent, but not less than 1 per cent of the cost of construction as the central government may notify.

The cess at the rate is collected by states and union territories, and is utilised for the welfare of building and other construction workers by the State Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Boards constituted under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996
Gujarat became on Saturday the third Indian state to record 10,000 Covid-19 infections, reaching the milestone in 58 days. According to state health department data, 350 cases on an average have been reported every day in May as compared with 143 infections a day in April.

On Saturday night, the total number of cases in the state stood at 10,989, behind Maharashtra s 30,706 and ahead of Tamil Nadus 10,585  the two other states with over 10,000 cases. The Saturdays increase of 1,057 Covid cases was highest single-day spike in Gujarat as over 700 vegetable vendors tested positive in Ahmedabad.

On May 1, there were 4,721 Covid-19 cases in the state. The increase of 6,268 till the May 16, put the doubling rate of the infection at 11.9 days. Indias current doubling rate is 13.9 days, according to Union health minister Harsh Vardhan.

On Saturday, fatalities in Gujarat reached 625 with 5.68% death rate. While the national average is 3.02%, 6.21 (West Bengal) with 160 fatalities and 6.1 (Madhya Pradesh) with 239 fatalities are the states with highest death rate.

An official in chief minister Vijay Rupanis office said the government was testing every symptomatic person, has enforced a hard lockdown, created additional medical facilities in all major hospitals, and deployed additional medical personnel in containment zones.

We are conducting round-the-clock monitoring of containment areas and have prepared a medical database of all persons above 60 years of age in the state. Effective monitoring is the best way to check Covid, said Ashwini Kumar, secretary to the chief minister.

The first patient in the state was reported from Ahmedabad on March 19. He returned from Dubai a week before his test results came in. According to the Ahmedabad municipal corporation, between March 1 and March 15, around 6,000 people returned from overseas locations.

Those with symptoms were tested as per the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) protocol, and the rest were asked to remain in home quarantine, said an official of the civic body who did not want named.

Then on March 20, a video went viral on social media, showing a West Asia returnee shopping for vegetables in an Ahmedabad market. Several other videos surfaced, purportedly showing people who were supposed to be in home quarantine moving out of their houses.

The first reaction of the Gujarat government to Covid-19 was slow and many people did not abide by guidelines of the lockdown, which was imposed on March 25 to slow the spread of Covid-19, according to Vidyut Desai, the chairman of Academy of Medical Sciences, which is a body of health care professionals.

There was no complete lockdown and contact tracing of patients was not done properly. The government failed to monitor persons coming from abroad to Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodra, which contribute 90% of all cases in the state, he said.

The Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi also contributed to an increase (of cases) in Ahmedabad as did huge public gatherings during janata curfew, he said, referring to the Islamic sects mid-March gathering in Delhis Nizamuddin that became a hot spot of the disease, and Prime Minister Narendra Modis call to observe a lockdown on March 22, but celebrate frontline health care workers at 5 pm by clapping hands and banging vessels. Some people responded by taking out processions.

The state began recording a spike after mid-April even as the government ramped up testing facilities . Between March 19 and April 15, Gujarat tested just 29,104 samples. But between then and May 15, the number rose significantly to 124,708 tests, taking tests per million in the state to 1,858.

Gujarat health secretary Jayanthi Ravi said on Friday that the high infection count could be attributed to the overhauled testing process. We have increased the number of labs as well as our testing capacity. Gujarat was among the first states to have a private testing lab, she said.

Mona Shah, the president of Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA), said neither doctors nor the administration was prepared for the outbreak. Shah said a section of the infected people did not share their medical history with doctors and also pointed out that there was delay in reporting symptoms , which, she said, contributed to a high death rate.

Desai said people initially did not cooperate with health workers. He said the state started consulting health experts only when the situation deteriorated.

Health secretary Ravi said the state has adopted a multi-pronged strategy, which involves surveillance of affected areas, monitoring every person in such areas and conducting random tests. It is wrong to say that we started late, she said.
TikTok's application logo on the screen of an iPhone in Arlington, Va., on April 13, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

US Lawmakers Seek to Bar Federal Employees From Using TikTok

U.S. Reps. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) and Lou Correa (D-Calif.) have introduced a proposal aimed at curbing security threats posed by the Chinese video-sharing app TikTok.

The measure would prevent all federal employees from downloading and using TikTok or any other apps developed by its parent company ByteDance on government-issued phones.

TikTok is a Chinese-owned company and is required by law to share whatever information the Chinese Communist Party wants whenever it wants, Buck said in a statement from his office. TikTok is a cybersecurity threat to our country. We cannot allow Chinas parasitic spyware app to collect data from United States government officials.

Chinas national intelligence law, which took effect in 2017, allows the regime in Beijing access to all data stored within its national borders.

Several U.S. government agencies, including the Pentagon and the departments of State and Homeland Security, have already barred employees from using TikTok because of security concerns.

The House bill, named No TikTok on Government Devices Act, is a companion measure to a Senate bill (S. 3455) introduced by Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) in March.

With the growing sophistication of cyber attacks, we must be proactive to protect our government networks from intrusion. Banning the use of TikTok on government devices is critical to ensure our networks remain secure, Correa said in the statement.

TikTok, known as Douyin in China, was launched by ByteDance in 2016. The app is extremely popular inside and outside of China, with an estimate of more than 800 million active users worldwide.

In April, market research firm Sensor Tower reported that TikTok has been downloaded more than 2 billion times globally on Apples App Store and Google Play.

The app has also come under fire for its lack of privacy protection for underage users.

TikTok agreed in February 2019 to pay a $5.7 million fine to settle U.S. government charges that it illegally collected personal information from underage users, in violation of the federal Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

On May 14, several U.S. advocacy groups, including Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and Center for Digital Democracy, filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), saying that TikTok has continued to violate COPPA, such as failing to delete underage users personal information that was obtained prior to the settlement.

For years, TikTok has ignored COPPA, thereby ensnaring perhaps millions of underage children in its marketing apparatus, and putting children at risk of sexual predation, said Josh Golin, executive director of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, in a statement.

Now, even after being caught red-handed by the FTC, TikTok continues to flout the law. We urge the Commission to take swift action and sanction TikTok again, he added.

Concerns about childrens data were also raised in the Netherlands. In early May, the Dutch Data Protection Authority said it would examine whether TikTok adequately protects the privacy of Dutch children, Reuters reported.

Other legislation aimed at addressing TikToks threats includes the Online Consumer Protection Act of 2020 (H.R.6570), which was introduced by U.S. Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) on April 21. The measure would require software marketplace operators and developers of specific foreign apps to provide consumers with a warning about security risks prior to their download.
President Muhammadu Buhari has unexpectedly chosen an exceptional new Chief of Staff (COS), Professor Ibrahim Gambari, (his friends call him Prof), to replace the recently deceased Malam Abba Kyari. Over these many years, through meetings formal and informal at the United Nations, Washington DC, Abuja, and Darfur, I have come to respect Prof. Gambari as an honorable and thoughtful Nigerian leader. During our many discussions, his depth and breadth of strategic thinking was evident and contributed to my knowledge of Nigeria, Africa, and the United States.

President Buhari and Prof Gambari know each other well. Prof Gambari served as the Minister for External (Foreign) Affairs between 1984 and 1985 under General Buharis military regime before it was overthrown in a coup. It should be remembered that during that time period, when the government of Gen. Buhari resisted the Washington Consensus and the Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs), the Naira was worth $1.34 dollars. Following the regime change of the Buhari-Gambari partnership, the Naira was immediately devalued to 25 to $1. As it is said, the rest is history.

Not a career politician or member of the foreign service, Prof Gambari as ambassador headed the Nigerian Mission to the United Nations from 1990-1999 and had the distinction of serving under five heads of state during his tenure. Recognizing his experience and diplomatic skills, Prof Gambari upon leaving the Nigerian Mission was appointed Special Adviser on Africa to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan from 1999 to 2005. He was the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Political Affairs from 2005 to 2007 under Secretary-Generals Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-Moon. Recognizing his experience and diplomatic skills Prof Gambari was appointed head of the Joint African Union-United Nations mission in Darfur (UNAMID) from 2010-2012. As head of the 26,000 man UNAMID force, Prof Gambari navigated a difficult peace keeping operation between the government of Sudan and those international forces who were intent on a Khartoum regime change.

Nigeria in Difficult Times

Nigeria is experiencing multiple tribulations. Its economy is suffering with 40% of its 200 million population living in extreme poverty and the majority of Nigerias tens of millions youth are unemployed. Infrastructure is inadequate, especially the lack of daily accessibility to electrical power for consumers and commercial enterprises. Furthermore, the murderous Boko Haram is still operating in the northeastern section of the country. Worsening the condition in Nigeria is the COVID-19 pandemic, which could potentially explode given the insufficient healthcare needed to contain and combat the effects of the coronavirus. The collapse of the price of oil now fluctuating below $30 per barrel has caused significant shortfalls in Nigerias revenue and its ability to accumulate foreign exchange. Nigerias national budget has been thrown into turmoil because it was predicated on a minimum price of $50 per barrel.

Essential priorities for Nigeria, which I have discussed with government leaders:
Sandra Iheuwa, one of the baby mamas of popular music executive, Ubi Franklin, has described popular social media commentator, Reno Omokri as a complete idiot over his comment on Baby mamas.

The popular social media commentator had lashed out at baby mamas by advising them to first get a job before giving birth.

Reacting swiftly, Sandra attacked the popular commentator by querying if he thinks it is every woman that wants to get married and give birth.

Read Also: Bringing A Child Into This World Without Marriage Is Wicked, Omokri Blasts Baby Mamas

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She further queried that she does not understand why people view marriage as an achievement.

See their exchange below:
The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board State Education Board (GSHSEB or GSEB) has announced the Class 12 Science examination results today.

The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board State Education Board (GSHSEB or GSEB) has announced the Class 12 Science examination results today.

The GSHSEB said in a release that students who appeared for the class 12 board exam held in March could access their results on the official website.

The Board would notify the dates for distribution of mark sheets, certificates, and revaluation and re-verification to the students later, it said.

Students can check the GSEB HSC Result 2019 by following these steps:

Step 1: Go to the official website  gseb.org

Step 2: Click on the result tab at the bottom

Step 3: Click on HSC result 2019

Step 4: Login using required details

Step 5: Click on the Submit button

Step 6: Download or take a print out for future reference

The examinations were conducted between 5 and 21 March, but announcement of results has been delayed due tothe nationwide coronavirus-induced lockdown imposed after 24 March.
For the exit from the state of the Hartz IV System is for young people, a diploma is more important than the question of whether the parents have received unemployment benefit II. This was the result of the Institute for labour market and occupational research (IAB) on Tuesday published study. It was studied over more than six years of the career of almost 10,000 young people in the Transition from school to working life.

Only in the case of a part group is a "considerable risk" of permanent Hartz-IV, therefore, was-cover. "It's not just young people who have already purchased in the household of her parents, unemployment benefit II," said the authors. "The main risk is that you achieve no or only a low school degree."

The majority had to rely, therefore, in this period, never to unemployment benefit II. A part I purchased from you this over a number of years in the community of need of the parents. Many of you would have solved it by making a successful Transition into vocational training and gainful employment. "This is not an unemployment benefit II over several years of life in the Phase of Transition from school to work is necessarily a reference to a vulnerable acquisition integration", said the author Juliane Achatz and Brigitte Schels.

Updated Date: 07 July 2020, 19:19
A Qatar Airways flight attendant.

By Dmitry Birin / Shutterstock

Qatar Airways just introduced a new flexible booking policy on Thursday that allows new bookings made before the end of September to be allowed unlimited changes for free with few restrictions.

Unlike most existing "book with confidence" policies, customers can change the origin city as long as it's in the same country, as well as the destination so long as it's within 5,000 miles of the original destination city.

The policy doesn't charge any change fees, including fare differences, and flights can be changed an unlimited amount of times as long as travel is completed before December 31.

A $494 ticket from Washington, DC to Yerevan, Armenia can be changed to New York to Singapore with no additional fees if the requirements are met.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Qatar Airways on Thursday unveiled its newest booking policy intended to instill confidence in travelers eager to explore after over two months of lockdown and for savvy flyers, the opportunities are endless.

Customers booking new flights on Qatar Airways, according to an airline press release, will be able to make unlimited changes with no fees. Date changes and even destination and origin changes, the policy states, will be allowed free of charge, as long as the booking is made before September 30.

While most airlines have been implementing flexible booking policies, Qatar Airways' policy takes the practice multiple steps forward. The Doha-based airline is waiving all fare differences for a change of date, change of origin, or change of arrival city as long as travel is completed by the end of the year, the country of origin remains the same, and the destination is within 5,000 miles of the original destination.

Under the new policy, passengers booking a round-trip ticket from New York to Mumbai, India on the airline for September can change it to Washington to the Maldives or Los Angeles to Singapore.

Story continues

A Google Flights search at the time of writing shows the cheapest option for Qatar Airways flights from now until September from the US is a round-trip flight from Washington, DC to Yerevan, Armenia for $494. Under Qatar Airways rules, both the origin and departure cities can be changed, the former must be in the same country but the latter can be within 5,000 miles of the original destination city.

The departure can be changed to any US city Qatar Airways flies from such as New York, Los Angeles, and Boston and the destination to within 5,000 miles from the Armenian capital, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, and Paris. Nearly every city in Europe, Africa, and Asia up for grabs for as little as $500 from the US under the new policy.

Passengers may also be able to opt for an itinerary that allows for an extended layover in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where the airline offers discounted tour and hotel options to encourage tourism.

Is it too soon to be booking international travel for 2020?

While the deal may seem too good to pass up in pre-pandemic times, the question of whether or not travel is safe for 2020 remains to be seen with arguably more reasons not to book than to book, especially as the threat of a second wave lingers.

The coronavirus pandemic highlighted numerous risky aspects of international travel for the year that had not needed to be considered previously. Countries have been closing borders with little notice, airlines were eager to cancel empty flights, and quarantine on arrival policies have been widespread, even in re-opened locales.

While some countries are anticipating a summer re-opening, including Greece and Italy, countries like Australia have stated they don't know when they'll open borders again, according to the Daily Mail.

The new policy does state that in the event a flight is canceled, which may be likely in the event that a destination is affected by the second coronavirus wave, Qatar Airways is going to refund the cost of the ticket. Passengers can also cancel the ticket and receive Qatar Airways miles, a travel voucher with a 10% bonus, or opt to extend their ticket validity by two years.

Potential travelers should also be looking at how the country they're eyeing to visit has dealt with the initial wave of the pandemic and be extra cautious in the days and weeks leading up to any international trip.

For those hopeful about travel rebounding, the deal is a great way to visit destinations previously out of reach financially. But those taking advantage of the new policy should keep in mind, there is a risk that the price of the ticket becomes nothing more than an interest-free loan or even grant to Qatar Airways in the event that a second wave once again cripples travel and the ticket becomes useless.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Punjab, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have become one of the first states to extend lockdown till May 31.

As the number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra cross 30,000 mark, the state government has announced the extension of lockdown till May 31. The extension comes on the last day of lockdown 3.0 today as the people wait for revised guidelines from centre on lockdown extension. The order issued by Maharashtra government reads that Maharashtra is threatened with the spread of COVID-19 and it is important to extend the lockdown in the entire state of Maharashtra further till midnight of May 31st, 2020.

The order also mentions that the calibrated phase wise relaxations/lifting of lockdown orders will be notified soon. It is to be noted that Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected coronavirus state in the country. Of the 30,706 confirmed cases, there are 7088 cured/discharged/migrated cases and 1135 deaths.

In his letter to PM Modi, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray recommended that the lockdown should be extended till May 31 but also requested for resumption of local trains in the state for people in essential services. He said that people should be allowed to board the trains on the basis of their identity cards.

Also Read: Nirmala Sitharaman mocks Rahul Gandhi outreach to migrants, calls it dramebaazi

Government of Maharashtra extends lockdown till May 31 for containment of COVID19. pic.twitter.com/qjJOfEj6o0  ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2020

Tamil Nadu has also decided to extend the lockdown till May 31. There are 10,585 confirmed cases, 3538 cured/recovered/migrated cases and 74 death cases in the state.

Government of Tamil Nadu extends #COVID19 lockdown in the state till 31st May 2020. pic.twitter.com/UGirGHG1uN  ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2020

Also Read: FM Nirmala Sitharaman opens up strategic sector for private entities, introduces reforms in health, education

Before Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the Punjab government had announced the extension of lockdown till May 31 on Saturday. Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh said that the curfew will be lifted in Punjab on May 18th but lockdown will continue. The state will follow the strategy of containment and non-containment zones.

From 18th May, curfew will be lifted in Punjab; however, lockdown will be implemented till May 31st. Punjab will follow the strategy of containment and non-containment zones wherein only the affected areas will be sealed. Details will be shared by DCs. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/EHU5UMgG5U  Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) May 16, 2020

The total number of coronavirus cases in India is now at 90927 cases, including 53,946 active cases, 34,109 cured/discharged/migrated and 2872 deaths. In the last 24 hours, India has witnessed its highest ever spike of 4987 cases and 120 deaths.

Highest ever spike of 4987 #COVID19 cases in the last 24 hours; the total number of positive cases in the country is now at 90927, including 53946 active cases, 34109 cured/discharged/migrated cases, death toll 2872 deaths: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/MQ5FLNPWSk  ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2020

Also Read: No curfew from May 18, lockdown extended till May 31, announces Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh

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To teach a lesson to four men after they were found roaming outside unnecessarily during the lockdown, a few Delhi Police personnel played a prank with them by asking them to carry a "fake dead body" of a COVID-19 patient, officials said on Sunday.

A policeman, who was wearing a personal protective equipment (PPE) kit, pretended to be dead.

The matter came to light after a video of the act surfaced online on Sunday.

The video was shot in east Delhi's Mandawali area.

However, senior officers did not appreciate the act and warned the officials against repeating it, they said.

After scolding the four men for roaming around unnecessarily, the policemen told them that since they have violated the lockdown norms, they will be punished.

As a punishment, the policemen were seen purportedly asking the four men in the video to carry the "fake body" on their shoulders and take it to the cremation ground.

After hearing this, the men tired to escape but were caught by police, who then dragged them towards the "fake body".

Seeing the body, the men pleaded to policemen.

However, the four were made to pick up the "fake body".

They carried the "fake body" for some distance but were later stopped by the police who warned them against violating the lockdown norms.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 Flash

COVID-19 may have occurred before mid-January in the United States as two persons with positive serology or blood-based tests had COVID-like illness last December, a health official from the U.S. state of Washington said Friday.

Among 295 probable cases, 35 had positive serological or blood tests and two of those individuals investigated reported having a COVID-like illness in mid- to late December, the Snohomish health district confirmed in a media release on Friday.

These two persons told their district's case investigators they got sick with COVID-like illnesses in mid- to late December, several weeks prior to the country's first confirmed case in mid-January.

"Given reports like the ones that we've had and others around the country, the introduction of COVID-19 may have occurred prior to mid-January," Chris Spitters, the district's health officer said.

"A positive serology test indicates prior coronavirus infection. It does not provide details on when the infection was acquired," he added.

Spitters noted that respiratory-tract symptoms experienced in December in each case overlap with other illnesses. "It is hard to determine if their illness in December truly was COVID-19, or if it was due to another respiratory infection and they later acquired an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection."

An additional 20 to 30 positive serologic results have been reported to the health district and are awaiting case investigation.

Health district investigators will follow up on reports of positive serologic results as time is available, the media release said.
A coronavirus patient who spent a record 58 days on a ventilator is conscious and speaking for the first time since being admitted to intensive care.

The female patient, 35, is at Southampton General Hospital and is still supported by a ventilator although is not reliant on one.

The hospital's lead consultant for critical care Dr Sanjay Gupta said the patient still faces a long way to go before recovery and a prolonged period of rehab, The Sunday Times reported.

Southampton General Hospital's lead consultant for critical care Dr Sanjay Gupta said the patient has virtually no muscle strength left

He added: 'She has virtually no muscle strength left - barely enough to breathe. If you're on a ventilator or in intensive care, your skeletal muscles decondition.'

He added that the longer a patient spends on a ventilator, other problems - such as a weakened diaphragm - start to emerge.

Generally the sickest patients face the longest recovery and some of those who spend weeks in intensive care have to be taught to walk and breathe again.

It comes after several studies calculated the mortality rate of patients on ventilators could be as high as 90 per cent.

Some researchers said some studies only included those who had died or left hospital and excluded those who were still in intensive care.

Professor Colin Cooke of Michigan University's pulmonary and critical care division said: 'It is always disheartening to know that some people are out there saying if you end up on a ventilator it's a death sentence.'

It comes after several studies calculated the mortality rate of patients on ventilators could be as high as 90 per cent (file photo)

The female patient, 35, is at Southampton General Hospital and is still supported by a ventilator although is not reliant on one

A study published in the Journal of American Medical Association examined the health records of 5,700 patients hospitalised with the virus at Northwell Health, New York.

The final outcomes were know for 2,634 patients.

It found that roughly 20 per cent of coronavirus patients died but for patients placed on ventilators, 88 per cent died.

Another study on a sample of 6,720 critically-ill coronavirus patients by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) found that just under two thirds of patients requiring ventilation died.

Professor Cooke added that that's not what we're experiencing and he doesn't think the data is showing that.

In the UK there are 10,484 people in hospital with coronavirus and 20 per cent of critical care beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients.
Silly me.

Quick, now. Name something that you are comfortable with when it occurs to everyone else but cringe when it applies to you.

The answer: Accountability.

We dont mind when others are held under a microscope but we may be a little uneasy if we are to be evaluated by our boss, our minister, our friends or even by other family members.

In government, accountability is absolutely essential, from City Hall and the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse all the way across the country to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

And that brings me to a point that not everyone understands in this day and age. The role of the press is to hold government accountable because, if it doesnt, who will?

The media doesnt always fulfill its responsibility as best it could. Mistakes are made. But the press is like pizza. Every once in a while it leaves a bad taste in your mouth but you dont really want to live without it. Do you?

The classic example of the media holding government accountable is the Watergate saga of the early 1970s when a vigilant press, exposing corruption, led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

Accountability is ever present at the local level as well. Ultimately, for elected officials, voters provide the accountability, and often they decide who to vote for on the basis of what they have read and heard about the candidates  because of the press holding politicians accountable.

Many years ago, when Pete Hjelmstad was an anchor at KIMT-TV, he and I were working on the same story. It regarded misconduct allegations against then-sheriff Larry Mason. He was a popular sheriff and had an excellent working relationship with the media.

But now he was under fire. Hjelmstad and I met with Mason, who is now deceased, at his office. He denied the allegations and was upset about the publicity they were generating, particularly with an election coming up. We had some uncomfortable moments with him and nobody left the meeting smiling. Not long afterward, Pete did his story, I did mine and a few weeks later, Mason lost his bid for re-election. Accountability.

It should be noted that no criminal charges were ever filed and Cerro Gordo County reached an out-of-court settlement in a civil suit.

The recent controversy over the possibility of the Prestage hog-processing plant locating in Mason City is another example of accountability because of the publics expectations of government. The councils vote was 3-3, causing the defeat of the proposal that early on seemed like a sure thing.

Mayor Bill Schickel, on the council at the time, voted against it. Mayor Eric Bookmeyer was the proposals biggest backer.

It would have been fascinating if Bookmeyer, who had been elected to two terms, had chosen to run for a third term and been opposed by Schickel, who had never been defeated in three previous runs for mayor. Accountability would have been on the front burner.

Schickel ran in his most recent election on a platform of seeing the River City Renaissance Project successfully completed. He should be held accountable for that and he knows it. Thats how politics works.

One of the obvious character traits of President Donald Trump is that he does not like to be held accountable  not by the press, not by the Justice Department, not by Congress, not by the Supreme Court and not by anyone who disagrees with him.

He has never been held accountable to anybody in his adult life. He has always been the boss, always calling the shots, never having to be beholden to anyone. So its not surprising hes having trouble with accountability.

Its like pizza, Mr. President.

Silly me.

John Skipper retired from the Globe Gazette in February 2018 after 52 years in newspapers, most of that in Mason City covering North Iowa government and politics.

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Fuelled even further by the countrys Covid-19 lockdown, the UKs solid growth in subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) adoption is set to continue over the next five years, according to research from GlobalData.





The UK SVOD Forecast, May 2020 forecasts that the total number of SVOD subscriptions is expected to double between 2019 and the end of 2024, rising from 22.4 million to 44.6 million. Total market revenue, exclusive of VAT, is expected to also double from 1.5 billion in 2019 to 3 billion in 2024.Outlining the drivers for this growth, the analyst said that prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, the SVOD market in the UK was experiencing a high rate of growth, with no sign of plateauing. The UKs SVOD market has traditionally been dominated by Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, with Skys NOW TV in third place.While it acknowledges that there will be some impact on SVOD adoption from the economic fallout from Covid-19, GlobalData expects this to be outweighed by a combination of lockdown-driven adoption and consumer take-up of new services such as Disney+. It believes that the market is expected to experience a record-level subscription growth in 2020 on a net additions basis.The recent launch of Disney+ Apple TV+ and BritBox provides consumers with more choice and will help propel market growth, said Joel Cooper, senior director, telecoms market data and intelligence at GlobalData. Disney+s impact is expected to be particularly pronounced given its brand power, breadth of premium content and low price. SVOD in the UK is a long way from saturation point. The market represents a clear opportunity for existing players as well as potential new entrants.
Leading solar power generation company Sterling & Wilson Solar (SWSL) has bagged its largest EPC contract from Australia worth over AUD 615 million (over Rs 3,000 crore), including an AUD 85 million worth of operation and maintenance contract for 20 years.

For the Shapoorji Pallonji Group and Khurshed Daruvala family promoted company, this award comes within 15 months of its entry in Australia, which took its cumulative order book in that country to around AUD 1 billion (Rs 4,900 crore). With this contract, SWSL, which had been facing financial troubles after a default, also became one of the largest solar EPCs in this market.

While the multi-billion-dollar Shapoorji Pallonji Group owns 67 per cent SWSL, the rest is 33 per cent is owned by the Khurshed Daruvala family.

The company towards later 2019 landed in the default list after failing to honour a Rs 2,500 crore debt repayment obligation. Of this, the company had cleared Rs 1,500 crore including interest, as of early April.

It has also signed two projects in its home market in spite of COVID-19 pandemic driven lockdown with leading global independent power producers worth Rs 620 crore.

"This is our largest order in Australia and is a culmination of efforts to break new ground in countries like Australia, the US and South America, where we have invested in a strong team," Bikesh Ogra, global chief executive of Sterling & Wilson Solar told PTI.

India continues to be a steady and focused market for us. Along with our growth in international markets over the past decade, we continue to remain a dominant player in the domestic market as well, he added.

"We hope to earn a substantial portion of our international revenue come from Australia, South America and the US where solar projects have resumed now," Ogra said.

Renewable projects in India, which also add up considerably to its revenue, have been allowed to restart now. SWSL is in the process of handing over completed projects post-lockdown and starting other projects. The worst impact of the pandemic seems to have passed and the company is looking forward to book more orders now, the firm noted.

SWSL is a pure-play, end-to-end solar EPC and construction solutions provider with presence in 25 markets. It also provides operations and maintenance services, including for projects constructed by third-parties and is now planning big data centres. Its main markets span Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australia.

SWSL group chairman Khurshed Daruvala had recently said that the group betting big on the data centre EPC business to contribute a substantial portion of revenue of around Rs 17,000 crore.

"I expect our data centre vertical to contribute significantly to the group topline over the years and close fiscal 2021 with an order book of Rs 1,500 crore and revenue of Rs 800 crore.

"We're already the country's largest data centre EPC contractor, offering turnkey projects. With the massive investments coming into this segment from big domestic corporates and also foreign companies, we see huge potential for data centre business," Daruvala had said in March.

It has already built data centres of Vodafone and the NSE in Chennai and NSDL in Bengaluru and is also building similar centres for some of the world's major cloud service providers. His optimism comes from the average 30 per cent growth that the industry is witnessing and huge investments are also likely to flow into this sector.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Children have largely escaped the ravages of COVID-19, but childrens hospitals have not eluded the financial pain the pandemic has wrought on health care providers.

Pediatric hospitals offered themselves as backups to their adult counterparts in case there was a surge of coronavirus patients. They suspended nonemergency surgeries and stockpiled protective gear and virus test kits, according to hospital executives and financial analysts.

But in many regions, the surge was smaller than anticipated  or hasnt materialized. And childrens hospitals that have offered to take sick kids off the hands of adult hospitals, or extend the age of people they admit, have not seen an influx of patients to fill the beds they emptied. As a result, numerous pediatric facilities, like many of the adult ones, face sharply declining revenue and extra expenses.

We turned off a significant volume of our activity for a surge that isnt going to occur. And since weve had continuing expenses, its been pretty devastating, said Paul King, CEO of Stanford Childrens Health, which runs Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital in Palo Alto.

King said he expects annual net revenue for the hospital and its affiliated clinics to drop about 10%. Lucile Packards net revenue in 2019 was about $1.7 billion, according to data from Californias Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.

Other childrens hospitals have given similarly downbeat assessments.

Many of them  including Packard and UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital  have furloughed staff members, required them to use paid vacation time, or cut hours or pay.

Robin Leffert, a registered nurse at the UCSF Benioff hospital in Oakland, said shes seen a huge drop-off in patients. Many staffers have been temporarily cut, requiring the nurses who are still working to perform extra tasks. The physical environment feels different, she said. Theres an eerie, empty quality to it. But that doesnt decrease the tension we are feeling.

Stay-at-home orders have reduced car accidents, injuries and illnesses that would normally bring kids to the ERs of childrens hospitals, while parents fear of exposing their families to the coronavirus has exacerbated the trend.

In early February, Jennifer Griffin, a 44-year-old mother of two boys, decided against taking her 9-year-old for adenoid removal surgery at Renown Childrens Hospital in Reno, where they live.

We were not comfortable with what was going on with COVID and didnt know what the exposure was going to be like, Griffin said.

Renown, like many childrens hospitals, has begun to resume some of the nonemergency surgeries that it halted as the pandemic spread. Griffin is still not convinced that its safe to bring in her son, though.

If people continue to not abide by the distancing guidelines and isolation guidelines, I might wait, she said.

Nicholas Holmes, chief operating officer of Rady Childrens Hospital in San Diego, said his facility faces similar parent concerns and is making a push  on social media and in collaboration with pediatricians  to make sure families know it is safe to come to the campus.

For all their problems, however, pediatric hospitals were generally in a stronger financial position than adult medical centers before the pandemic, so many of them are absolutely well positioned to weather the storm, said Kevin Holloran, a senior director at Fitch Ratings.

A 2019 Fitch report based on 2018 hospital audits showed the aggregate operating profit margin of a representative sample of not-for-profit childrens hospitals was nearly triple that of nonprofit adult hospitals. The pediatric centers had enough cash on hand to last 1.6 times longer than the adult hospitals.

In California, the average operating profit margin of childrens hospitals was almost three times that of adult hospitals last year  though individual results ranged widely, from an extremely profitable 25.4% for Rady to operating losses at the UCSF Benioff Oakland location (-0.8%) and Lucile Packard (-2.5%), according to the state Health Planning and Development office.

Holloran and others say childrens hospitals typically benefit from strong philanthropic and public support, and their specialization in complex acute cases results in higher prices while often affording them a commanding pediatric market share.

In 2018, California voters approved $1.5 billion in state bonds to help childrens hospitals with capital expenses including equipment, construction and seismic retrofitting. That means they can save some of what they would have spent on such projects.

So far, however, just 9% of that money, or $142.1 million, has been distributed, and to only three hospitals, according to Frank Moore, executive director of the California Health Facilities Financing Authority.

Childrens hospitals across the country have reported declines in surgery and outpatient procedures of 60% to 80%, with admissions cut by nearly half by the end of April, said Amy Knight, chief operating officer of the Childrens Hospital Association in Washington.

At Childrens Hospital New Orleans, ER visits plummeted from 4,000 in February to 1,700 in April, said Matt Schaefer, the chief operating officer. Outpatient visits dropped from 1,100 to about 400 over the same period. The hospital, like others around the country, has managed to offset some of the loss in outpatient volume with telehealth.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

When COVID-19 was wreaking havoc in southeastern Louisiana, the childrens hospital offered to take pediatric patients from adult hospitals and admit patients up to age 30, said George Bisset, the chief medical officer. But we didnt get a lot of takers.

Childrens facilities received virtually none of the first $30 billion in federal relief money intended for hospitals and other providers, though they have received some of a subsequent $20 billion.

Childrens hospitals that are part of larger health systems may also benefit from the aid received by affiliated adult hospitals. And belonging to a chain can allow for greater operational flexibility, industry executives say.

Cohen Childrens Medical Center in Queens, N.Y., part of the $13.5 billion, 23-hospital Northwell Health system, reassigned staff members to the adult hospitals that were struggling to cope with an onslaught of COVID-19 cases, said Dr. Charles Schleien, Cohens vice president for pediatric services.

Cohen also turned over more than half its beds to Long Island Jewish Medical Center, an adult hospital connected to Cohen by a hallway, and converted virtually every available space to more adult beds, Schleien said.

But filling beds with COVID-19 patients doesnt offset the lost revenue from suspending profitable elective surgeries, Schleien said. The economics of it are brutal, because when you lose elective surgeries, thats where your margin is.

Even though childrens hospitals have begun to resume nonemergency surgeries, they will likely continue to face financial challenges.

If we enter into a recession, and particularly if it is prolonged, that will have an effect on hospitals, including childrens hospitals, because people wont have jobs and may be uninsured, or more may be on Medicaid, which doesnt pay as well, said Lisa Martin, a senior vice president on the not-for-profit health care ratings team at Moodys Investors Service.

In California, nearly 60% of childrens hospital charges are tied to Medicaid, more than double the proportion for adult hospitals, according to state data. At some pediatric facilities nationwide, that number is well above 70%.

After spending staggering sums to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic, Congress will be looking for programs to prune, said Knight, of the Childrens Hospital Association. One with a target on its back is Medicaid.

Bernard J. Wolfson is a Kaiser Health News writer. The nonprofit news service covering health issues is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
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Catherine the Great had a womb with a royal view.

The 19-year-old Polish noblewoman arrived in 18th century Russia a virgin. Her mission? Spread her legs so the petulant, privileged and promiscuous Peter III can father a male heir. What did love have to do with it? Absolutely nothing. Enter that eternal wrinkle: Catherine had a mind of her own  and hated being mounted like a broodmare.

The Great, a dark satirical comedy series about her life (now available on Prime Video), introduces Catherine before she was great, just a newlywed seemingly destined to be known for nothing but birthing a king, a forgotten footnote for the history books. But she pushed back. She jammed. She tagged her name into history in Day-Glo paint. The Catherine we see proves an extraordinary ruler in her time and a feminist role model for ours. Taking comedic license with the historical facts, the show aims to conjure Catherines authentic spirit, her struggle against powerful forces, and the genius of her path to the throne  and to greatness.

Like many women from antiquity down to our own time, this book-loving beauty (Elle Fanning) rejects the notion that women are inferior. Catherine laments that females werent even considered human, just chattel. Although she is justifiably pissed off, it isnt like she could get a tattoo, pierce her tongue and join a feminist collective.

What does she crave that was so radical? To own her own body. To live without domestic violence. To empower her people through education and bring progressive Western ideas to Russia. Well, that last one was where she transcended the personal and made her grievances political.

As for the arranged marriage to Peter (Nicholas Hoult) that sends Catherine traveling to this backward Eastern empire, she has no say in the match. Shes expected to be grateful for this social coup, wedding the big man in Russia and bringing honor to her extended family. Good daughter that she is, she embraces the union with romantic hopes for love. Good luck with that! Her dissolute husband forces her into a three-way and abuses her  along with everyone else, as it turns out. His brutality inspires her to pick herself up by her bodice laces, take charge of her fate  and foment a political coup.

Story continues

Where did she get those ideas? The girl reads books. And, as we know, reading is fundamental. Enlightenment thinking was changing it up all over Western Europe, speaking new truths to power. The Empress-to-be arrives at the debauched and dangerous Russian court with the soul of a budding revolutionary  but the courtiers are more interested in her intact hymen. And, then, on her wedding night, she submits to Peters penetration as if it were a gynecological exam.

Pleasure? Not required. Not for Catherine, certainly.

Over time, though, Catherines sexuality evolves, and her power grows along with it. Peter, irked by his wifes listlessness, gifts her a lover so she wont be so bitchy around him. Leo (Sebastian de Souza) brings joy to Catherines bed. Her sexual awakening brings a bloom to her cheeks. With Leo, she feels empowered. Her desire to learn to give and receive pleasure, to see sex as a joyful experience separate from making babies, prods her to develop as an individual. Once unlaced, shes unleashed.

What makes our Cat so hip, though, isnt how she gets off with a bit on the side but how, once liberated sexually, she gets on with the ideas that really turn her on. Whatever her self-doubts, shes confident in the power of her own mind.

Fueled by the political and social theories of contemporary writers of her time, such as Rousseau and Montesquieu, which are bursting from her beloved books, Catherine reboots the empire according to these ideals, seeking a society where women are educated and the arts are encouraged. Even her empathy for Russias oppressed is informed by Rousseaus notion that the government should express the peoples will, not the rulers whims.

Given how kickass Cat is she doesnt just spout these radical philosophies. She walks the walk. She confronts the inequality that surrounds her both within the palace and without. Her growing self-esteem sets her on a collision course with the status quo. Facing a steep hierarchy, misogyny and the oppression of the poor, Catherine doesnt back down.

Within six months of arriving in Russia, Catherine gathers a close circle of allies and takes charge. Screw the frailty of the weaker sex  Catherine launches the political coup that defines her destiny. She risks her head and the lives of those she cherishes in order to liberate herself, her peers and her people. Its a daring act. But it lands her on the throne as Empress. Peter, alas (or not?), dies in captivity.

Once enthroned as Empress, Catherine leverages her power to realize her ideals. She enacts progressive policies and plans previously unknown in Russia. She encourages literacy among women. She embraces radical change to secure her peoples future prosperity.

Catherine carries the story of this series on her satin-draped shoulders  refusing to be simply the daughter, the wife or the mother, she becomes The Great. Sure, she struggles. Sure, she screws up sometimes. Shes a human being  but in her time and place, for a woman to be fully human is a radical act.

Catherine becomes great not only because she ascends to Empress. She proves that not only men have balls. She shatters expectations. She refuses to be a pawn, and proves through her actions that shes a player. Triumphing over the perverse Peter, she ushers in a golden age. Through it all, she leads by example. She demonstrates the power of women as individuals, sexual beings and rulers. Shes a kickass heroine for our chaotic times.

The Great is now streaming on Prime Video.

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China faces a potential second wave of coronavirus infections due to a lack of immunity among its population, its government's senior medical advisor has warned. After months of lockdowns and curbs on travel China has largely brought the virus under control, but fears of a second wave have risen as clusters have emerged in northeast provinces and in the central city of Wuhan. "The majority of... Chinese at the moment are still susceptible of the Covid-19 infection, because (of) a lack of immunity," Zhong Nanshan, the public face of government's response to the pandemic, told CNN. "We are facing (a) big challenge," Zhong added. "It's not better than the foreign countries I think at the moment." Zhong, who helped expose the scale of the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), also said authorities in ground-zero Wuhan had under-reported cases during the early days of the pandemic. "The local authorities, they didn't like to tell the truth at that time," said Zhong, who was part of a team of experts sent to Wuhan to investigate the outbreak. "I didn't believe that result (the number of cases reported) so I (kept) asking and then, you have to give me the real number," he said. But he added he believed data published after Wuhan was locked down in late January, and when the central government took control of the response, "will be correct". The novel coronavirus has killed at least 309,296 people, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP, with scientists around the world racing to find a vaccine. Zhong cautioned that a "perfect" vaccine for a disease that the World Health Organization (WHO) says may never disappear could take "years". Zhong Nanshan, the public face of China's response to coronavirus, told CNN the country was still not out of the woods
New Delhi/ IBNS: India has expressed support for the demands to investigate how the Sars-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 was transmitted to humans from animals and conduct an 'impartial' investigation of World Health Organisation's response to the pandemic, according to a draft resolution for the annual meeting of WHO starting tomorrow, said a Hindustan Times report.

The push for the inquiry is led by the European Union and Australia and this is the first time India has pronounced its support for such a move.

World Health Organisation and its director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have been accused of playing along with China till the virus spread to a considerable part of the world and its containment became a challenge for even the most advanced economies. Ghebreyesus, who is a former minister of Ethiopia, became the WHO chief with the backing of China, in 2017.

China has been repeatedly accused of developing the virus in its Wuhan based laboratories, mishandling of COVID-19 outbreak, hiding information related to the outbreak from the international community and making the World Health Organisation (WHO) its ally in covering up the mess.

In March China had blocked a draft to discuss the pandemic at the UNSC. The draft composed by Estonia included growing criticism that China is hiding vital details about origin about the Virus, making China uncomfortable over the terminology of the draft.

More recently, an EU report has accused China of spreading disinformation on the health crisis.

US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, too, have accused China of developing the virus in its Wuhan based laboratories.

On the other hand, World Health Organisation has strongly opposed the accusation which has led to the suspension of its funding by the US.

Diplomats in Geneva told Hindustan Times that the draft resolution signed by 62 countries including Bangladesh, Canada, Russia, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Japan is an effort to transparency and accountability for the spread of the deadly disease which has forced the entire world to go under lockdown leading to an economic and humanitarian crisis in many parts of the world.

According to the report, the draft asks WHO director-general to work with the World Organisation for Animal Health to conduct scientific and collaborative field missions and identify the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population, including the possible role of intermediate hosts.

It also asks the WHO chief to start, at the earliest appropriate moment, a stepwise impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation to review experience gained and lessons learned from the WHO-coordinated international health response to Covid-19, the report added.

The document also says that this should include an evaluation of the effectiveness of the mechanisms at WHOs disposal and the actions of WHO and their timelines pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic, stated the Hindustan Times report.

It also asks the countries to provide timely, accurate and sufficiently detailed public health information related to the COVID-19 pandemic as required by the international health regulations", the report said.

Since the WHO leadership has opted for a short agenda for the virtual meeting tomorrow, it is not clear how the draft resolution would be discussed, said the report.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world with numbers of confirmed cases increasing astronomically daily in Nigeria and globally, Promasidor Nigeria Ltd has joined forces with other critical stakeholders in the fight to contain further spread of the deadly virus with the contribution of over N280 million.

Promasidor, a leading food & dairy company, makers of Cowbell, Loya, Miksi, SunVita, Top Tea and Onga seasoning, has made a direct cash contribution as well as donation of its quality food products in the fight against COVID-19.

While the food company donated N200 million cash for the exclusive purchase of equipment and the setting up of isolation centers required in the nationwide fight against COVID-19 through the Nigeria Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID), it has also donated some of its quality products worth over N80 million to Lagos and Ekiti State Governments.

From the N80 million products support, the company has donated milk, beverages, cereals and seasoning products worth N44million in support of the food bank in Lagos state.

Similarly, it has given products worth N 34 million to Ekiti state even as it gave products worth N5.7 million to Isolo community, a major part of Lagos metropolis that plays host to its operational headquarters.

Marketing Manager, Promasidor Nigeria  Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji handing over the product donations to the Oba of Isolo  His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabiru Kolawole Alani Agbabiaka

Marketing Manager, Promasidor Nigeria  Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji handing over the product donations to the Oba of Isolo  His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabiru Kolawole Alani Agbabiaka

Speaking on the companys gesture during a media chat in Lagos, the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Anders Einarsson, stated Promasidors intervention in the support of the COVID-19 crisis that we are facing in Nigeria is a threefold intervention strategy: it comes in form of cash contribution to the tune of N200million that we are contributing to the CACOVID initiative for a nationwide reach.

We are also intervening in the form of food support to the people in dire need of food, and that is being distributed across three key initiatives. We are giving food support to Lagos and Ekiti States, as well as food support to the Isolo community in Lagos,.

Explaining further, the company boss noted: Isolo community is very close to our heart. Its the community, in which we have been operating in the last few years, and we are seeing and witnessing every day the struggles that her citizens are facing. Its important that we partner with our direct host community.

We are working with Ekiti State on a specific backward integration project which we are doing in Ikun Dairy Farm, we are giving N34million in the form of food products. And finally, we have given products worth N5.7million in value to Isolo Community through the traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabiru Kolawole Alani Agbabiaka he said.

While receiving the products donations from Promasidor, Mrs. Abisola Olusanya, Special Adviser to Governor of Lagos State on Agriculture commended the company over its corporate gesture to the state and her citizens.

We must appreciate Promasidor for this generous gesture towards the state and its citizens. I want to assure Lagosians on behalf of Promasidor that these items would be well expended by giving them to vulnerable groups, which includes the aged, the indigent people among others. At such a time like this when COVID-19 is ravaging all over the world, we will do our best to ensure that it gets into the right hands, she said.
Government of India's balance sheet will bear only Rs 1.5 lakh crore (0.75% of GDP) worth of expenditure from the Rs 21 lakh crore "Atma Nirbhar Bharat" economic stimulus package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in five tranches, according to British brokerage firm Barclays Research. The rest comes from Reserve Bank of India (RBI's) liquidity measure amount to Rs 8.1 lakh crore, Centre's guarantees, food stock or non-fiscal, non-monetary measures proposed.

"Accounting for the support measures unveiled on Sarturday (Rs 8,100 crore), and today (Rs 40,000 crore), we estimate that the government's fiscal support programme totals Rs 21 lakh crore, which includes Rs 8 lakh crore of measures announced by the RBI. However, we estimate that the actual fiscal impact on the budget will be only Rs 1.5 lakh crore (0.75% of GDP), based on our calculations and assumptions made during the series of announcements," Barclays said in its latest report.

According to Barclays, India's fiscal deficit will rise from the targeted 3.5% to 6% of GDP during financial year 2020-21. The agency has pegged consolidated government deficit (Centre and State) at 12% of GDP, compared to 8% previously, which implies an overall borrowing requirement of close to Rs 25 lakh crore.

"We continue to believe that the government may end up with a fiscal deficit of close to 6% of GDP during FY20-21. While the increase in deficit limits for states might be subject to revision, we assume they will utilise their additional deficit headroom of 5% of GSDP, with a further 1% of off-balance sheet spending, which would put the consolidated government deficit at 12% of GDP, relative to 8% previously. This implies an overall borrowing requirement of close to Rs 25 lakh crore," the report noted.

Also Read: Stimulus package 2020: Immediate relief worth Rs 80,000 cr only; combined fiscal dent to be 12%: CARE Ratings

Over the weekend, FM Sitharaman announced a series of regulatory reforms for sectors such as mining, power, airports, defence production, and atomic energy. Further announcements made on May 17 include a series of steps to provide employment opportunities for migrant workers, as well as material changes in bankruptcy rules, companies act among others.

The Finance Minister announced an additional outlay of Rs 40,000 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural employment guarantee scheme (MGNREGS), and every district will get multiple public health labs. Other announcements included steps to suspend bankruptcy initiation, decriminalisation of companies act to reduce litigation, and moves to improve access to capital for corporates.

Also Read: Govt allows private players to participate in all sectors, but 51% CPSEs are in services

As per Barclays report, states will also be allowed to raise their net fiscal borrowings to 5% of gross state domestic product (GSDP), which could increase state issuance by Rs 4.28 lakh crore. This increase is linked to states adhering to specific reforms in public distribution systems, ease of doing business, power distribution and urban body revenue sharing. This effectively allows the same increase in borrowing as by the central government, which increased its own issuance programme two weeks ago, it said.
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Linkedin (Reuters)  Sun, May 17, 2020 19:00 612 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd8ab5c9 2 News Hawaii,travel,coronavirus,tourism,COVID-19,quarantine Free

Hawaii is likely to keep its coronavirus stay-at-home measures in place until the end of June and will also discourage tourists from visiting, state Governor David Ige said.

The current 14-day mandatory quarantine for everyone traveling into the state, which began in March, will certainly be extended until the end of next month, Ige said in an online question-and-answer session late on Thursday.

Tourism is a big part of Hawaii's economy - more than 10.4 million visitors came to the islands last year, supporting some 216,000 jobs in a population of around 1.4 million, according to the state tourism authority.

The state at one point considered sweeping use of GPS-enabled ankle bracelets or smartphone tracking apps to enforce stay-at-home orders given to arriving air passengers.

However, that plan was put on the back burner after the Hawaii attorney general's office raised concerns.

In a talk streamed live on Facebook, Ige said that he was looking at ways to allow more businesses to reopen, such as restaurants with dine-in service, hair salons and barber shops, adding the state was looking at guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Hawaii has had over 630 cases of infection and 17 deaths from the new coronavirus, as of late Thursday. The state's average of one death per 100,000 people is among the lowest in the United States, Reuters calculations show.

The United States has recorded over 1.4 million cases of coronavirus infections as of late Thursday, with over 85,000 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 15:18:24|Editor: huaxia

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LOS ANGELES, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Eleven firefighters were injured in a major fire and explosion downtown Saturday evening, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) said.

It tweeted that the fire inside a one-story commercial building was reported at 6:26 p.m. local time (0126 GMT on Sunday).

"As firefighters were making their entry in and finding the seat of the fire, there was a significant explosion," LAFD Captain Erik Scott told a news briefing.

The explosion caused fires at several buildings.

"Over 230 firefighters are responding. Firefighters have moved to a defensive posture for fire attack, and a medical branch has been created for treating and transporting injured firefighters," the LAFD said in a fire update later.

Local television reporting showed flames raging and black smoke billowing into the sky.

Officials said that all injured firefighters will remain in the hospital overnight for observation. Three of the injured firefighters are in critical, but not life-threatening, condition.

The business at the building, called Smoke Tokes Warehouse Distributor, is "a supplier for those who make butane honey oil," according to officials.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Enditem
Yellow caution tape is wrapped across Waikiki, with beachgoers on the beach on March 20, 2020, in a file photo. (Marco Garcia/AP Photo)

Tourists Defy Hawaiis 14-Day Quarantine Rule, Locals Pack Beaches Amid CCP Virus Pandemic

Travelers visiting Hawaii are continuing to defy the states mandatory self-isolation rule, issued on March 26 in an effort to stem the spread of CCP virus, commonly referred to as the novel coronavirus.

Hawaii, which has reported 638 cases and 17 deaths, was the first state in the United States to implement a traveler self-quarantine order requiring visitors to the islands to self-quarantine for 14 days, without leaving their hotel room or residence.

Visitors are also required to initial and sign a legal document acknowledging that violating the quarantine is a criminal offense punishable by a $5,000 fine and up to a year in prison, according to the states transportation department.

Despite this, some travelers, including a newlywed couple on their honeymoon, are continuing to flout the quarantine rules and have subsequently been arrested. As of May 8, 2020, the Honolulu Police Department had made four arrests, Kauai Police Department made five, Maui Police Department made two, and the State of Hawaii Department of the Attorney General has issued eight arrests.

On May 15, authorities in Oahu arrested a tourist from New York for violating the states mandatory 14-day quarantine rule.

Tarique Peters, a Bronx resident, was taken into custody by special agents of the Hawaii state Department of the Attorney General for the violation and unsworn falsification to authority, the governors office said in a statement.

The 23-year-old had arrived on Oahu on May 11 before posting a number of photos from his trip on Instagram, the governors office said, adding that he had allegedly left his hotel room the day he arrived and traveled to many places using public transportation. His bail has been set at $4,000.

Last month, a newlywed California couple were also arrested for failing to adhere to the self-isolation rules, despite being aware of them when they arrived at a hotel in Waikiki, Honolulu.

Borice Leouskiy, 20, and Yuliia Andreichenko, 26, from Citrus Heights, California, were reportedly apprised of the requirements of the self-quarantine order by a front desk manager at the hotel, but the couple said the rules contradicted what they were told by officials at the airport, according to local reports.

The couple allegedly told hotel staff they planned to visit friends and beaches during their stay, before leaving the premises and returning after midnight with a pizza, telling the hotel manager they were allowed to leave to buy food.

Staff rang the authorities after Leouskiy and Andreichenko left the hotel again the following day, and they were arrested on April 30 on charges of unsworn falsification to authority and violation of the 14-day quarantine.

There are currently very few incoming flights to Hawaii. On May 15, 996 people arrived in Hawaii, including 286 visitors and 333 residents, according to the states tourism board. During this same time last year, nearly 30,000 passengers arrived in Hawaii daily, including residents and visitors.

As some parts of Hawaii slowly move to reopen, Ocean Safety lifeguards on May 16 said they rescued 266 people across Oahu as beaches, outdoor courts, and playing fields officially opened nearly two months after city and state orders closed them in late March.

Although more public recreation sites are now open, they are subject to COVID-19 restrictions mandating that group size cannot exceed 10 people, while individuals who are not from the same household must comply with social distancing requirements. The beach or sand area may also only be used one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, unless the person is engaged in shore fishing or permitted outdoor exercise.
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > US leverages Delhi-Kabul nexus. But whats in it for India?

May 10, 2020

The two-hour stopover in Delhi on May 7 by the US special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, accompanied by the White House official in charge of South Asia Lisa Curtis, raises eyebrows. The Indian media reported that Khalilzad came all the way to render the advice that India should get involved in the internal processes in Afghanistan, and, secondly, directly engage with the Taliban.

The American side has not issued any statement on Khalilzads mission. A press release by the Ministry of External Affairs stated that Khalilzad briefed the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor A.K. Doval on the status of the US-led Afghan peace process and registered Washingtons appreciation of the constructive contribution India is making to Afghanistans development.

Most important, the press release conveyed that Khalilzad gently reminded (laid importance to) Delhi of the gravity of Indias crucial and continuing role in sustainable peace, security and stability in Afghanistan.

The emphasis on regional peace, security and stability highlights beyond doubt Washingtons concerns regarding the role India is currently playing in Afghanistan and its impact on the US regional strategies.

Khalilzads itinerary shows that he touched down in Delhi briefly before proceeding to Islamabad. What it suggests is that while he had a message for India, his meeting with the ministers in Delhi would also have a bearing on his talks in Islamabad. Meanwhile, Khalilzad also had talks with the senior Taliban leader Mullah Baradar in Doha before traveling to Delhi.

Only recently, Khalilzad had a telephone conversation with Jaishankar. He later tweeted that their conversation on April 17 focused on the Afghan peace process. Khalilzad added that he and Jaishankar talked about the urgency of resolving the internal political crisis [in Afghanistan] and the importance of Afghan leaders forming an inclusive government.

Khalilzad further wrote: We also discussed the need for both the Afghan government and the Taliban to accelerate prisoner releases, support a prompt reduction in violence, and start intra-Afghan negotiations. We also spent some time covering the immediate and longer-term impact of the Coronavirus. I told the Minister that the US welcomes Indian engagement in regional and international efforts for a lasting peace in Afghanistan. We are committed to a sustained engagement with India on this objective.

The heart of the matter is that from the US perspective, Delhi today wields considerable influence with the Afghan elite in Kabul and can play a useful role  if only it chooses to do so  in nudging the Afghan government and other non-Taliban factions on the political spectrum to move in a direction that galvanises the Doha pact between the US and the Taliban  and in immediate terms create conditions for intra-Afghan talks.

However, Delhi harbours concerns that Afghanistan may once again become a revolving door for terrorists to bleed India. One way out could be that India engages with the Taliban, as all other regional states have done in recent years. Taliban has been sending signals that it is open to contacts with India. But Delhi tends to regard the Taliban as a mere progeny of the Pakistani military.

Arguably, Delhi needs to take a leap of faith. But the signs are not encouraging. Indeed, it makes no sense for Delhi to take Khalilzads advice and talk to Taliban without getting diplomatic participation in the US-led group navigating the Afghan peace process (which puts India in a position to secure its interests in an Afghan settlement.)

But Washington is cherry-picking. The US objective is focused on bringing Indias role in Afghanistan out of the shadows. Plainly put, Indian support for the Kabul elite has become the latters vital lifeline today, which in turn emboldens the Afghan government to push back at US pressure tactic to get it conform to the letter and spirit of the US-Taliban pact at Doha in February. Clearly, if the Afghan government didnt blink in the face of the recent US threat to cut off aid, the Indian support to the Kabul elite explained it to an extent.

Indias role today weakens the US capacity to frog-march the Afghan government to the negotiating table with the Taliban. By getting India to move toward the middle ground  between the Kabul elite and the Taliban  Washington hopes to regain its lost leverage over the Afghan government.

Of course, from the Indian viewpoint, it makes eminent sense that it has forged strong links with the emergent forces of Afghan nationalism. The reconstituted Afghan cabinet under President Ashraf Ghani has given weightage to the sons of the soil instead of accommodating Washingtons favourites / nominees. Delhis comfort level with Afghan nationalists has been traditionally appreciable.

The ensuing stalemate can end only if Indias legitimate concern over trans-border terrorism is addressed. The Indian security establishment expects a spike in terrorist attacks in the months ahead. And there is every likelihood that India may retaliate against Pakistan at some point. If that happens, a flashpoint may well arise as had happened in February 2019, which in todays circumstances, may also deal a body blow to the US-led Afghan peace process.

There are ominous developments lately. The killing of 5 Indian military personnel, including a colonel, highlights the criticality. There is always the danger of a Pakistani overreach, estimating that Indias hands are full, given the unprecedented challenge of a pandemic, the crashing of its economy and the spectre of a level of societal disintegration that the country has not experienced since independence.

Increased air activity by Pakistan Air Force along Indias western border has been reported. The Pakistani army may be flaunting its nuclear capability to create a firewall to deter India while abetting militancy in J&K. In fact, it will be a surprise if Pakistan does not exploit the mess we created for ourselves in the Valley.

Washington would have liked Delhi to harmonise its Afghan polices with the stance of its allies. But India got progressively disillusioned with the Doha process culminating in the US-Taliban pact in February brokered by Pakistan. Delhi has since carved out an independent pathway to secure its specific interests. It will be, understandably enough, loathe to abandon it to play second fiddle to Washingtons agenda.

Today, with the Trump administration caught in the Covid-19 quagmire and President Donald Trump himself distracted by a tough electoral battle ahead in November, the US capacity to leverage Indias Afghan policies is severely limited.
MANILA, Philippines  Malacanang has confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte returned to his hometown of Davao City on Saturday.

This, as Metro Manila eases from the COVID-19 lockdown after it was shifted into a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

It is the first time that the President has returned home since he ordered the implementation of a lockdown in March which suspended transportation and restricted the publics movement in Luzon.

Presidential Security Group chief Col. Jesus Durante III, in an interview, also confirmed that President Duterte took the flight at past midnight, arriving in Davao City early Saturday.

He is in Davao after more than 2 months of not being able to see his family, Durante said.

Durante assured that the chief executive will join the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) meeting next week.  /mbmf

The post President Duterte goes home to Davao as Metro Manila eases lockdown restrictions appeared first on UNTV News.
New Delhi: The All India Bar Association on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to amend Section 86 of the Civil Procedure Code, which restricts the scope of a citizen to sue a foreign government, enabling the filing of lawsuits against China to seek damages for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Terming the pandemic a "handiwork" of China, President of the Association Adish C Aggarwala said the government should bring an ordinance to amend the CPC Section which will enable Indians to seek damages from China for the disease that has brought the economy to a griding halt and claimed 2,752 lives.

"The pandemic is the handiwork of The People's Republic of China. The virus is the creation of its laboratories under orders of the government which is now trying to cover its tracks," he alleged.

The virus, developed with a remarkable ability to mutate, spread and afflict, and with unprecedented rate of mortality, has been deliberately and consciously wreaked upon the world by the Government of China, as part of its design, he alleged in the letter.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Aggarwala, a senior Supreme Court lawyer and President of International Council of Jurists, said according to section 86 of CPC of India no foreign State may be sued in any court otherwise competent to try the suit except with the consent of the Central Government certified in writing by a Secretary to that Government.

"It should be noted that above provision allows suits to enforce contractual obligations in respect of trade activity in which a government is engaged but not for damages for commission of tort. There is no logic underlying this distinction," he said.

A law which tends to take away, completely, the capacity of a person to canvass his rights, is itself a nullity, he said.

"As the law stands today, there is no other remedy available to an individual against the State of China. An individual can also not approach, directly, the International Court of Justice for seeking damages," he said.

The Doctrine of State Immunity--countries enjoying protection from being sued in courts of other countries --applies on those who have signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and their Property (Convention).

He said India having signed the Convention on January 12, 2007 is yet to ratify it. China too is a signatory but did not ratify it, he said.

Aggarwala in the absence of ratification India is under no obligation to exempt China or any other country from being prosecuted or sued in India for any for any violations."

"Any citizen will be entitled to sue in India once CrPC is amended. At International level, anyone can approach only United Nations Human Rights Council. No other court or Tribunal for this purpose," he told PTI over phone.

When asked if verdict of Indian courts will be binding on China, he said," Yes. Once there is decree from Indian court, then China would be under obligation to pay. If China is not making payment of decree, then decree can be executed from the assets of China in India and the the decrees can be transferred to Chinese courts for execution."
The Indian Railways has operated 1,300 'Shramik Special' trains since May 1, ferrying more than 17 lakh workers, it said on Sunday.

During the last three days, more than 2 lakh people have been transported per day. In days to come, it is expected to be scaled up to 3 lakh passengers per day, the Railways said.

Out of the trains which have terminated so far, the maximum has been in Uttar Pradesh. The state has so far given approval for over 500 trains, followed by Bihar with almost 300 trains.

The operation of these trains has, however, led to a political mudslinging with the opposition accusing centre of charging fare from migrants.

The Union government has clarified that the fare is being shared on a 85-15 ratio between the Railways and the state governments.

"We are fully ready for large scale operation of Shramik spl (special) trains. So far more than 1300 trains (have operated) and more than 17 lakh people (have been ferried)," a railway spokesperson said.

The centre has also said it has the capacity to run 300 Shramik Specials per day with Railway Minister Piyush Goyal appealing to states like West Bengal, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand to approve more trains.

A Shramik Special train carries around 1,700 passengers, instead of the earlier 1,200, to ferry as many workers home as possible.

Initially these trains had no scheduled stoppages during the journey, but the Railways now allows up to three stoppages in the destination states.

While the transporter is yet to announce the cost incurred on these special services, officials indicated that the national transporter is spending around Rs 80 lakh per service.

Since the Shramik Special service started, Gujarat has remained the top originating state, followed by Kerala.

Earlier, the Railways drew flak from opposition parties for charging for these services.

In its guidelines, the national transporter has said the trains will ply only if they have 90 percent occupancy.
Chefs, food producers and hoteliers tend to be more than a tad theatrical. Now, they're using their 'show must go on' mindset to fight for their businesses.

* THE BUTCHER

Ten years ago at a Tipperary Food Producers' dinner in the magnificent refectory of Rockwell College in Cashel, Pat Whelan, a Clonmel butcher, confided that he'd been approached by Simon Pratt to open in their then new Avoca Food Hall near me in Monkstown. It was a big step with a different customer base. Pat, however, a man of great vision, went on to be a sensation in the butchering business. He now has nine other James Whelan shops in Leinster and Munster, including Avoca Rathcoole and Kilmacanogue and seven other branches, following his merger with Dunnes Stores, in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Naas.

"Back in the 1960s, it was difficult for people to come into town to shop, so my mother would fill up the boot of her car and deliver door to door to her customers."

Like mother, like son, in 1999, they became the first butchers in Ireland to go online. "People thought I was mad." He was, as always, way ahead of the posse. Pat also garnered acclaim for Irish food in 2015 when he was the overall winner at the UK's Great Taste Awards for his mammy's 'dripping' - now on sale in Harrods and Fortnum & Mason!

"More than ever, as food producers, we have a very important role to play ensuring our shops and online stores are fully stocked every day of the week. We've seen unprecedented demands for our National Delivery Service, and have launched two new food hampers - The Family Collection and The Artisan Collection at 120 each. We've also introduced a local service with next-day delivery if you live within 15km of any of our 10 shops."

jameswhelanbutchers.com

* THE PRODUCER

"In the latter days of Arbutus Lodge restaurant, I developed a passion for bread making, especially sourdough, using a ferment I created with mulched organic grapes," says Declan Ryan, of Cork's famed Arbutus Breads.

However, Declan Ryan is not just famous for his breads. He and his wife Patsy achieved Ireland's first Michelin Star in 1974 at their legendary Arbutus Lodge in Cork which operated until 1999.

"We opened Arbutus Breads in a small renovated garage and, from a one-baker operation, we've expanded to eight bakers, supplying delis, restaurants, selling at country markets - Midleton, Douglas and Mahon, the English Market - and distributing nationwide with Odaios Foods.

"Like everyone else in business, we've been hit hard at this time. Nevertheless, we've kept the doors open, keeping all our staff employed on a three-day week. Currently, we also supply the neighbourfood.ie network, and Darina Allen's Ballymaloe market. We also operate an Order & Collect outlet from the bakery on Saturdays, which has produced a great response. Orders and payment are made online. We are quietly confident that there are sufficient lovers of real bread to ensure that our business will thrive through a third decade."

arbutusbread.com

* THE RESTAURANT

From a seafood shack in the Donegal port of Killybegs, Mairead and Garry Anderson took the plunge last December, opening the Boathouse Restaurant in the town. The paint had barely dried...

However, they've a lot going for them. Garry is an experienced chef having worked in the Michelin-starred Gordon Ramsay restaurant at Claridges, followed by five years at Lough Eske Castle. Mairead, who worked in the hotel industry, had followed the popular casual food trend, opening the shack in 2017. "Off the back of the seafood shack success, I persuaded my husband to open up a badly needed restaurant in Killybegs."

So, the minute the restaurant closures came, they started to serve their Seafood Shack food to go from the Boathouse courtyard. "We'll wait until we're told what the restrictions are and, with a reduced capacity, our idea is to do an outdoor offering in our big courtyard, and Garry's lovely seafood in the restaurant. As long as we're allowed to do so safely. If not, we will rejig and rethink. The possibilities are endless. It just takes a bit of imagination. Our intention is to also open the Seafood Shack on the quay in a couple of weeks."

killybegsseafoodshack.com

* THE HOTEL

Kelly's Resort Hotel in Rosslare is one of Ireland's most famous and best-loved hotels. Owner Bill Kelly told me how they are fighting back and preparing for reopening.

"Charting the evolution of Kelly's over the course of the last 125 years is about sketching the comings and goings of the people who have visited and worked in the hotel. Kelly's has weathered many highs and lows, from wars to recessions.

"We've been through a lot together and have always managed to overcome everything. This pandemic certainly presents a new challenge. The business decisions we make will continue to be based on the safety and well-being of our team, families and guests. This remains our number one priority.

"Now, we are challenging ourselves to find new ways of doing business, both in the short term with a new online Kelly's wine sales offering, and we launched our La Marine Kitchen Takeout menu last weekend with great success, so far. In the longer term, we are assessing the reopening of Kelly's cafe in Wexford as a walk-through Food Hall. Our wine sales have been a great success and we are supplying our customers throughout Ireland. All of the wines are directly imported from France, offering both quality and value.

"All of the producers are visited and each wine carefully tasted with the help of my brother-in-law, Vincent Avril, wine grower in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

"This will pass and things will get back to normal, hopefully we can emerge from this stronger than ever before."

kellys.ie
The United States will airlift 200 mobile ventilators to help Indians combat Covid-19, people familiar with the developments said on Saturday, hours after US president Donald Trump made the announcement on Twitter.

Trump also said the two countries were cooperating to develop a vaccine for the disease that has claimed more than 310,000 lives globally and infected 4.6 million people.

We stand with India and @narendramodi during this pandemic. Were also cooperating on vaccine development. Together we will beat the invisible enemy! Trump tweeted.

Trump reiterated the point at his press conference later, referring to his India visit in February, the role played by Indian expatriates in the US and describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a good friend of mine.

We are working closely with India, he told reporters.

Modi thanked him in a tweet and highlighted the India-US relationship. In such times, its always important for nations to work together and do as much as possible to make our world healthier and free from Covid-19, he said.

Trump did not mention details of the ventilators but a senior Indian government official said the consignment may arrive by the end of this month or latest, early June.

Each of these mobile ventilators is estimated to cost $ 13,000 (Rs 9.6 lakh at current exchange rates) without accounting for the transportation costs. In all, the ventilators will cost about $ 2.6 million (or Rs 192 million) plus freight charges.

The US move comes weeks after Modi acted on Trumps request to reverse a ban on the export of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug that was championed by the US President as a game changer in the fight against Covid-19.

Trump has often said the United States is the king of ventilators  a respiratory aid needed for severely ill hospitalized Covid-19 patients  as a result of an extraordinary push from his administration in response to early fears of an impending shortage. He has since said the United States has more ventilators than its needs and it will be willing to share them with allies and partners.

In a separate tweet hours later, the presidents National Security Council followed up with a full-bore acknowledgement of the vaccine projects. The US and India are working together to fight #COVID19 and find a vaccine, it said, adding, the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership has never been stronger. There was no mention of the ventilators.

Three vaccine candidates are in various stages of development in separate bilateral projects involving two of Indias leading pharmaceutical companies with robust portfolios of vaccines. Their US counterparts are research units of two universities and the third is a biotechnology company.

Diplomats in Washington and New Delhi said Trumps offer to send the ventilators and his public statements were an indicator of the deepening ties between the two countries and close contact between the two countries at different levels.

It also comes against the backdrop of growing congruence of views between the two countries on accountability and transparency on the origin of the coronavirus, reforms in the World Health Organisation (WHO) and even strategic issues such as terrorism and the situation in the Indo Pacific.

For weeks, Trump has criticised the WHO for allegedly allowing itself to be led by Chinas assessment of the virus when the disease was detected in central Chinas Wuhan city last year. There have also been allegations from Washington that the Sars-CoV-2 virus may not be natural and may have been created in a laboratory.

That the two sides are on the same page on China and WHO also came across at a seven-nation video conference initiated by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. There was broad agreement on the need to stress on transparency and accountability for the spread of the disease. The emphasis on transparency and accountability at this meeting attended by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is seen to be aimed at China and the WHO that is due to hold its annual meet on Monday.
Loading Rooney may be a Millennial writer but her work has now reached a significantly wider audience. In the UK, the adaptation broke records for the BBC's iPlayer, with 16.2 million people watching in its first week (compared to 8 million for Killing Eve). Despite the series being targeted at under 25s, it proved hugely popular with older viewers. The UK Daily Telegraph concluded the show's popularity was "fuelled by middle-aged nostalgia". Stan, which is owned by Nine, the publisher of this newspaper, would not release the Australian data but said the series had set new records for all demographics. But not everyone is a fan. Critic and Guardian columnist Jessa Crispin was "bored" by the series, deriding it as "a story as old as time" padded out with cliched university woes, milquetoast forays into sado-masochistic sex and "performed awareness about class relations". While Rooney's book earned critical acclaim and won a legion of everyday fans, many of the lay reviews on sites such as Amazon complained it was dull, repetitive and frustrating.

Of course, frustration is a key feature of the story. Marianne and Connell are supposed to infuriate; they are two highly intelligent but emotionally awkward young people trying to navigate their first love. Their inability to communicate effectively about their desires can be nauseating, but it is also the point. It's easy to see how this could provoke pangs of empathy from fellow Millennial and, at the same time, howls of derision from older and perhaps more jaded observers. It plays into prejudiced assumptions about young people being skittish, unreliable, naive and selfish. Theatre director Sam Strong loved the adaptation, especially its structure of 12 intense half hour episodes, but empathised with those who just don't get it. "People who are older than the characters depicted might have a degree of impatience with the way they express themselves or how much they're able to express themselves," he said. "It's true that the novel is quite a slow burn ... not an enormous amount happens and it's quite focused in its range of characters."

It plays into prejudiced assumptions about young people being skittish, unreliable, naive and selfish. Those who adore Normal People see themselves in it - and perhaps their infatuation, whether for the book or screenplay, stems from the rarity of that recognition. There is not a wide selection of explicitly modern literature by and about Millennial; less so novels with quick-witted, politically engaged, culturally aware characters at their core. It is no wonder Normal People resonates with those who produce the lion's share of social commentary and criticism - they are from Rooney's world, and the heartache that plays out between Marianne and Connell at Trinity College would make any 20, 30 or even 40-something university graduate nostalgic for their own halcyon days. Rothfeld, who is 28 and completing her PhD in philosophy at Harvard, says it is no surprise that in the middle of a terrifying pandemic, people find comfort in the world Normal People portrays. "People want to watch escapist TV right now," she says. "It's pleasant to watch glamorous people doing glamorous things. That's why I'm rewatching Downton Abbey. For similar reasons, I think it would be nice to be at college in Dublin."

The same flaws that make the characters frustrating also make them attractive. "It is pleasant to imagine a world in which everyone responds to you as if you're brilliant, even if you're behaving in a way that real people would find annoying," Rothfeld says. "Marianne is the classically glamorous aloof woman. All of her problems are glamorous problems: she's too thin, she's too emotionally contained. She doesn't have any of the qualities that might make her difficult for audiences to warm to - it's not like her depression manifests in emotional outbursts." Loading Much of the critical discussion of Rooney's story focuses on its supposed class politics. Marianne comes from wealth, Connell does not. As Rooney's critics point out, it is hardly a groundbreaking premise, though it is compelling to see how that divide manifests in a relationship between two class conscious Millennial. Rooney, herself a Trinity graduate, also identifies as Marxist. Rothfeld argues this has led people to elevate the role of class in her work beyond what is warranted.

"There are many books about people from different classes interacting with each other and this is no more radical than many others," she says. "I think if Sally Rooney did not say that she was a Marxist so much in interviews, people would not comment very much on this aspect of the book." Rothfeld says the better rendering of Normal People is that it is a classic love story, conventional in its structure and sensibilities, that has attracted a level of intellectual curiosity far beyond what it deserves. "The two camps I know are people who love it and people who think it's fine and entertaining and are confused as to why it's taken seriously as literature," she says. "I read it on a plane. I think it's great plane reading because it doesn't demand a lot intellectually. It has a couple of references to high literature so you get to feel good about yourself.
GST on textiles will not be increased from 5 to 12 per cent: FM Sitharaman

It is not BJP money: Nirmala Sitharaman on IT raids on 'Samajwadi perfume' trader

Budget Session 2022 to commence on January 31; Union Budget to be tabled on February 1

FM Nirmala Sitharaman to address press conference at 4:30 pm, likely to clear air on Antrix Devas issue

FM Sitharaman on Devas-Antrix issue: Cong has no moral right to speak about crony capitalism

Fifth and final phase of economic package: Sitharamans announcement at 11 am today

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, May 17: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will address the media today at 11 and announce the fifth and final phase of announcements on the government's Rs 20 lakh crore package.

In the fourth briefing on Saturday, the Finance Minister announced structural reforms in 8 8 sectors, namely, coal, minerals defence production, airspace management, MROs power distribution companies, space sectors, atomic energy.

Highlights of Nirmala Sitharamans briefing on economic stimulus package

In the last couple of months, an empowered group of secretaries was formed to look into project development. Ranking of states on investment attractiveness to compete for new reforms. Incentive schemes for promotion of new champion sectors will be launched in sectors such as solar PV manufacturing, said Nirmala Sitharaman.

Schemes will be implemented in states through challenge mode for industrial cluster upgradation of common infrastructure facilities and connectivity. 3,376 industrial parks/estates/SEZs in 5 lakh hectares mapped on industrial information system. All industrial parks will be ranked in 2020-12, she also said.
Mark Scott is the CEO of Cello Health plc (LON:CLL). First, this article will compare CEO compensation with compensation at similar sized companies. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels.

View our latest analysis for Cello Health

How Does Mark Scott's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

According to our data, Cello Health plc has a market capitalization of UK122m, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth UK923k over the year to December 2019. We note that's an increase of 94% above last year. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at UK380k. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations under UK165m, and the median CEO total compensation was UK275k.

Next, let's break down remuneration compositions to understand how the industry and company compare with each other. On a sector level, around 63% of total compensation represents salary and 37% is other remuneration. Non-salary compensation represents a greater slice of the remuneration pie for Cello Health, in sharp contrast to the overall sector.

It would therefore appear that Cello Health plc pays Mark Scott more than the median CEO remuneration at companies of a similar size, in the same market. However, this fact alone doesn't mean the remuneration is too high. A closer look at the performance of the underlying business will give us a better idea about whether the pay is particularly generous. You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Cello Health has changed over time.

AIM:CLL CEO Compensation May 17th 2020

Is Cello Health plc Growing?

On average over the last three years, Cello Health plc has seen earnings per share (EPS) move in a favourable direction by 70% each year (using a line of best fit). It achieved revenue growth of 4.9% over the last year.

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Overall this is a positive result for shareholders, showing that the company has improved in recent years. It's nice to see a little revenue growth, as this is consistent with healthy business conditions. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts.

Has Cello Health plc Been A Good Investment?

Since shareholders would have lost about 8.9% over three years, some Cello Health plc shareholders would surely be feeling negative emotions. This suggests it would be unwise for the company to pay the CEO too generously.

In Summary...

We examined the amount Cello Health plc pays its CEO, and compared it to the amount paid by similar sized companies. We found that it pays well over the median amount paid in the benchmark group.

However we must not forget that the EPS growth has been very strong over three years. However, the returns to investors are far less impressive, over the same period. This contrasts with the growth in CEO remuneration, in the last year. Considering positive per-share earnings movement, but keeping in mind the weak returns, we'd need more time to form a view on CEO compensation. On another note, we've spotted 2 warning signs for Cello Health that investors should look into moving forward.

If you want to buy a stock that is better than Cello Health, 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.
UPDATED Monday, May 18: Driver unaccounted for after crashing into Columbia River in NE Portland, police say

***

A car crashed into the Columbia River early Sunday morning, closing a large stretch of Northeast Marine Drive for hours.

Portland Fire & Rescue, along with Multnomah County Sheriffs Office and the Portland Police Bureau, responded at 5:41 a.m. to the crash, under the Interstate 205 overpass.

A person involved in the crash suffered life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Police reopened the east- and west-bound lanes of Marine Drive are closed from 33rd Avenue to 122nd Avenue just after 12:30 p.m.
China Pioneer Pharma Holdings (HKG:1345) has had a great run on the share market with its stock up by a significant 95% over the last month. However, in this article, we decided to focus on its weak fundamentals, as long-term financial performance of a business is what ultimatley dictates market outcomes. In this article, we decided to focus on China Pioneer Pharma Holdings' ROE.

Return on equity or ROE is a key measure used to assess how efficiently a company's management is utilizing the company's capital. In simpler terms, it measures the profitability of a company in relation to shareholder's equity.

Check out our latest analysis for China Pioneer Pharma Holdings

How Do You Calculate Return On Equity?

Return on equity can be calculated by using the formula:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for China Pioneer Pharma Holdings is:

9.1% = CN104m  CN1.1b (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2019).

The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. That means that for every HK$1 worth of shareholders' equity, the company generated HK$0.09 in profit.

What Has ROE Got To Do With Earnings Growth?

We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company's future earnings. We now need to evaluate how much profit the company reinvests or "retains" for future growth which then gives us an idea about the growth potential of the company. Assuming all else is equal, companies that have both a higher return on equity and higher profit retention are usually the ones that have a higher growth rate when compared to companies that don't have the same features.

China Pioneer Pharma Holdings' Earnings Growth And 9.1% ROE

On the face of it, China Pioneer Pharma Holdings' ROE is not much to talk about. Yet, a closer study shows that the company's ROE is similar to the industry average of 8.3%. Having said that, China Pioneer Pharma Holdings' five year net income decline rate was 15%. Remember, the company's ROE is a bit low to begin with. Hence, this goes some way in explaining the shrinking earnings.

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However, when we compared China Pioneer Pharma Holdings' growth with the industry we found that while the company's earnings have been shrinking, the industry has seen an earnings growth of 5.7% in the same period. This is quite worrisome.

SEHK:1345 Past Earnings Growth May 17th 2020

Earnings growth is a huge factor in stock valuation. Its important for an investor to know whether the market has priced in the company's expected earnings growth (or decline). By doing so, they will have an idea if the stock is headed into clear blue waters or if swampy waters await. Is China Pioneer Pharma Holdings fairly valued compared to other companies? These 3 valuation measures might help you decide.

Is China Pioneer Pharma Holdings Using Its Retained Earnings Effectively?

China Pioneer Pharma Holdings' declining earnings is not surprising given how the company is spending most of its profits in paying dividends, judging by its three-year median payout ratio of 70% (or a retention ratio of 30%). With only a little being reinvested into the business, earnings growth would obviously be low or non-existent. Our risks dashboard should have the 2 risks we have identified for China Pioneer Pharma Holdings.

Moreover, China Pioneer Pharma Holdings has been paying dividends for six years, which is a considerable amount of time, suggesting that management must have perceived that the shareholders prefer consistent dividends even though earnings have been shrinking.

Conclusion

Overall, we would be extremely cautious before making any decision on China Pioneer Pharma Holdings. The company has seen a lack of earnings growth as a result of retaining very little profits and whatever little it does retain, is being reinvested at a very low rate of return. So far, we've only made a quick discussion around the company's earnings growth. To gain further insights into China Pioneer Pharma Holdings' past profit growth, check out this visualization of past earnings, revenue and cash flows.

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 Omar Younis (Reuters) Los Angeles, United States  Sun, May 17, 2020 09:08 613 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd88c21f 2 Lifestyle Education,California-State-University,e-learning,virtual-class,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

As uncertainty about the spread of COVID-19 continues, the biggest university system in the United States decided this week to make fall term classes virtual, one of the first to do so, amid fears of a second wave of infections in the month ahead.

California State University said almost all classes across its 23 university campuses would be online at least until the end of the fall term. Programs such as the maritime academy, which holds classes aboard a training ship, may be among a handful of exceptions. The Cal State university system serves 482,000 students.

"As the largest four-year system of higher education in the country, while the spotlight is on us in terms of the decision, we weren't hoping to influence anyone," said Cal State spokesperson Mike Uhlenkamp.

"This is a decision that the chancellor and the campus presidents arrived at that we feel is in the best interests of our students and our employees."

Colleges and universities across the United States are grappling with similar decisions. But it was the timing of Cal State's announcement that came to some as a surprise. Other colleges and universities have said their decisions would come later in the summer.

As of Friday, the COVID-19 respiratory disease has infected more than 1.4 million Americans and killed at least 85,816, according to a Reuters tally.

Efforts to stem the spread of the disease have shut schools and businesses nationwide, severely disrupted travel and devastated the economy. Top U.S. infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has warned that a second wave of infections is a near certainty in the fall, which helped influence Cal State's decision, according to the chancellor's statement earlier this week.

"Obviously, this isn't what anyone had planned for," said Cal State's Uhlenkamp. "I want to make sure that people understand that we're not closed. The campuses are not closed."

Read also: $70k for Zoom classes? Virus crisis leaves US students miffed

'Social aspect'

Cal State universities moved to online classes on March 17. Students who could go home were asked to do so; those who couldn't were permitted to remain on campus.

"The social aspect is just completely gone, and I do very much miss it," said Ofer Barr, a 19-year-old mechanical engineering student at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, who has moved back in with his parents in Los Angeles.

"Here at home, the only thing I've really found that lets me have any kind of social interaction is video games," Barr said.

Some students are now living with their families in different time zones, which can be a problem for classes with fixed times.

Some classes are hard to make virtual.

"A lot of the art classes that I take are lab classes, they're studio classes," said William Hunter, a 21-year-old studio arts major at San Francisco State University.

Moving online has been costly for the universities. Earlier this week Cal State's board of trustees discussed an estimated $337 million in new costs and revenue losses for the spring term due to COVID-19.
Well informed citizens have been rocked by revelations from recently unclassified documents that clearly show that President Obama "was aware of the details of wiretapped conversations of then-incoming National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December 2016." Further, there's a long list of Democrat dignitaries who are also part of the unprecedented spying on an opposition party in an attempt to influence a presidential election and then undermine the duly elected president. The really pivotal fact, however, is that "Obama's knowledge of Flynn being wiretapped raises significant questions about what Obama knew and when he knew it with regard to the attempt to railroad Flynn and prevent him from serving as Trump's national security advisor."

There is nothing new about Obama seeking private information in order to smear a political opponent. It was well known that when he ran for the Senate in 2004, a California judge ruled that the divorce papers of his opponent, Republican Jack Ryan, be released. Both Ryan and his wife argued that the disclosure of the closed records would be harmful to their son, and they both opposed public disclosure of the documents. With the release of those documents, Ryan withdrew from the U.S. Senate election, and Obama sailed into the Senate without an opponent. That scheme was not a new tactic for candidate Obama. His opponent in the primary, Blair Hull, was also a divorced man with sealed records from 1998. In the infamous Chicago, Illinois politics in 2004, an enterprising reporter "discovered" that Hull's wife had previously sought a protective order against her husband. Obama "cruised to victory" in the primary  with the impossible odds of the same circumstances enabling him to win the general election against Ryan. One analyst described Obama as "lucky with his enemies"  a man with a fortunate history of "hapless opponents."

According to multiple media reports, including in the Western Journal, those campaign practices continued at the presidential level. "The Barack Obama presidential campaign hired Fusion GPS in 2012 to dig up dirt on Republican candidate Mitt Romney," according to a 2018 book by Michael Isikoff and David Corn, Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and Donald Trump's Election.

Further, we now have documents indicating exactly how various Obama administration leaders who were supposed to be serving the American people were actually weaponizing for political purposes their agencies to spy on the incoming Trump personnel. Just days ago, Gina Loudon recounted details on RealClear Politics about how acting director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell has been cleaning up the Office of National Intelligence to strengthen and protect its transparency and accountability. "Thanks to Grenell's efforts, Americans now know that the Obama administration abused its power during the 2016 campaign in order to illegally spy on Donald Trump's associates." The sheer volume of requests during the Obama administration is indicative of how widespread the spying was. For instance, United Nations ambassador Samantha Power was the "largest unmasker of US persons in our history." She unmasked more than 300 U.S. citizens in less than a year!

Grenell has released the names of sixteen Obama officials who specifically targeted Michael Flynn by requesting that his name be "unmasked" on documents recounting his conversations with Kislyak. In fact, during a two-month period after the 2016 election, Lee Smith, of the New York Post, reported that there were 49 requests to unmask General Flynn  a clear indication that Flynn was chosen because he was "one of Trump's 'most trusted advisers,'" thus his conversations could reveal Trump's plans.

From the very beginning of the Trump presidency, there were conflicting rumors and leaks about documents purported to show Trump colluding with the Russians. Others claimed that Trump was under investigation by the FBI. At the time, Glenn Reynolds, of Instapundit fame, wondered if we would ever know the truth and answered his own question: "Maybe, if there's a proper investigation into Obama Administration political spying." At the time, Reynolds ventured an hypothesis: the "spying on Trump thing is worse than we even imagine." Further, he declared that after Hillary lost the 2016 election and those involved realized that proof of the spying would "inevitably" come out, they invented "the Trump/Russia collusion talking point ... as a distraction." In fact, Reynolds noted that back on March 6, 2017, Democratic senator Chris Coons apologized with a rather contrived story. He claimed that his earlier comments about there being "transcripts" of President Trump colluding with Russian officials had been "misinterpreted." Sadly, he worried, those misinterpretations had produced some Senate "hyperventilating." Senator Coons declared that he had "no hard evidence of collusion."

Let all that sink in: there was enough talk about political spying and "transcripts" that a leading Democrat was compelled to declare that there was nothing there to see! In fact, the media laughed at President Trump's assertions that his campaign was being spied upon.

Then-chair of the House Intelligence Committee Devin Nunes, likewise, was subjected to ridicule back in 2017 when he declared that "none of this surveillance was related to Russia, or the investigation of Russian activities." Similarly, Attorney General William Barr has been derided for his revelations. The problem for the Democrats is that both Nunes and Barr have reputations for excellence and for being completely trustworthy. What Victor Davis Hanson wrote about Barr applies equally to Nunes: they "will follow the law wherever it leads ... without worry over the consequences." Hanson described that reality as being "quite scary indeed" for some politicos.

Among the scary realities finally coming into the light is evidence that Russia actually preferred Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump to win the election of 2016. Regardless of that reality, the narrative pushed by the Democrats and the media was that the Russians' pro-Trump efforts ensured Trump's victory. Last month, we learned that the U.S. Intelligence Community knew that the Russians preferred Hillary, but thenCIA director John Brennan suppressed that information "over the objections of CIA analysts." So, all this time, according to Fred Fleitz, a former CIA analyst, the U.S. Intelligence Community was fully aware that the Russians preferred Hillary  explaining that "it was not in Russia's interests to support Trump[.] ... Putin stood to benefit from Hillary Clinton's election."

The scary reality is that the U.S. has been deliberately duped into a long national nightmare of division. The president and his family have been subjected to unprecedented personal attacks. The president's supporters have been disparaged and called "hypocrites" and worse. All the while, high-ranking officials in the Obama administration have been perpetuating false narratives to cover up their illegal spying, inventing talking points about "Russian collusion," and conducting an impeachment process based on lies in order to overturn the results of a legitimate election of a candidate they hate.

Will Smith summed up what happens when a person hates another: "Hate in your heart will consume you, too." The recently revealed unmaskings point to illegal actions that threaten to consume innumerable high-ranking dignitaries in the former Obama administration.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr.
An Air India flight with 331 passengers from Britain landed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad early Tuesday. It later took off with another 87 passengers for Delhi, from where they will be airlifted to the US. Air India flight AI Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, May 17 : Air India on Sunday said that it will resume domestic flights only after a directive comes in from the Union government.

The statement comes after an internal e-mail of the national carrier went viral on social media.

"Air India flight bookings are currently closed and will resume after receipt of directions from Government of India", Air India said in tweet.

"There is an internal Air India e-mail circulating on WhatsApp. The contents of this may have been misunderstood and are being misrepresented in various media reports. Commencement of commercial domestic/international flights is not in the purview of Air India," it said.

The airline also urged people to follow Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India's Twitter handles and respective websites for official announcement regarding resumption of commercial services.

Further, the Centre on Sunday extended the nationwide lockdown till May 31 and as per the guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs said that all domestic and international air travel of passengers will be prohibited, except for domestic medical services, domestic air ambulance and for security purposes.
Its time for Gov. Kate Brown to relinquish her nanny role in dealing with the COVID-19 virus. The adult citizens of Oregon dont need a government nanny to give them permission to reopen their businesses, visit stores and venues or go out and play. Most people are smart enough to make good and safe decisions on their own. Even without Browns executive orders, most people would voluntarily stay at home a while longer. Recent national polling indicates that the majority of people support shutdown as a strategy to deal with the coronavirus. In other words, the people are smart enough to know what the best strategy is. Its time for Gov. Brown to scale down the government role and become an advisor, encourager and information-gatherer for Oregon citizens. Thats a government role that the intelligent people of Oregon need.

Doug Dauntless, Damascus
If health and safety fears werent enough to trouble local officials during the coronavirus pandemic, some Republican leaders are making it clear to nervous locals that their health restrictions could lead to a legal fight.

GOP state leaders in Texas and South Dakota have sent clear warnings in the last week challenging areas in their state going rogue when it comes to health measures as the leaders practice a much more lax approach. Alabamas Republican attorney general has also struck a similar tone in his state during the pandemic, warning in a statement late last month that municipalities expansive powers is not a license to abuse them.

Onlookers say the tense dynamic playing out between states and local leaders over policy is nothing new in American politics.

This has been an issue ongoing for a long, long time, said Lawrence Gostin, director of the ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. But now, it's playing out in life or death consequences.

The pandemic has further shown how deep the partisan divide can be in the country, even when it comes to trying to keep people healthy and safe. That continues to put medical officials in a difficult spot, as health directors in states have become the subject of backlash from some for extending restrictions this month.

"I think its very unfortunate that this pandemic is exacerbating political partisan differences," said Dr. Timothy Brewer, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at UCLA. And its unfortunate that we all havent been as active as possible to try to get beyond that and come together as a nation to address what really is a global public health crisis. It is too bad that we havent been able to put the politics behind us."

The battle over health restrictions has become one of the most divisive pandemic-era battlegrounds, with Republican officials largely moving faster than Democrats to try and push life to more of a sense of normalcy.

Story continues

In Texas, that dynamic caused Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxtons office to send letters to the mayors of Austin, San Antonio and a trio of counties chiding them over specific measures. The issues targeted included local mask requirements, which went farther than what the state would allow, and shelter-in-place orders.

His office touted in a statement the public scoldings served as a warning that some requirements in their local public health orders are unlawful and can confuse law-abiding citizens.

"It shows a concerning lack of coordination between states and cities on how to address the pandemic and how to deal with questions about reopening," Columbia Law School professor Olatunde Johnson said.

Each of the letters quickly pointed to the potential of a legal battle, with one urging officials to act quickly to correct these mistakes to avoid further confusion and litigation challenging these unconstitutional and unlawful restrictions.

The threat of legal action over health measures bothers Gostin "a great deal."

What it tells me is the (officials) are using a political agenda that will put people in their own state at risk of illness and death, he said. And they're willing to use the law to block evidence-based health and safety measures. And that's unforgivable.

The lingering threat of legal intervention towards restrictions has also been seen at the federal level. Late last month, Attorney General Bill Barr directed U.S. attorneys to also be on the lookout for state and local directives that could be violating the constitutional rights and civil liberties of individual citizens.

The following day, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, while not making an explicit legal threat in a statement, noted that despite state law giving municipalities broad police powers, in public safety and health matters, these powers must be exercised within constitutional parameters.

Others have been far more direct in the days since.

In South Dakota, the fight took the form of Gov. Kristi Noem feuding publicly with a pair of Sioux tribes over highway checkpoints. Noem had already seen her star rise on the right over her resistance to coronavirus measures.

Her threat last Friday that the state would take necessary legal action, if the checkpoints, maintained by the tribes because of health concerns during the pandemic, werent eliminated in the following 48 hours once again made the governor a major figure in the national GOP narrative.

A spokesman for the governor confirmed Thursday that the state had yet to take any legal action towards the tribes on the checkpoints.

While Republican state officials have emphasized potential litigation to try and get their way, a major state case this week showed the possibility of the courts rolling back a Democratic administrations restrictions statewide.

South Dakota Guv Is Hell-Bent on Forcing Tribes to Open Up. Now Two Members Are Sick.

In Wisconsin, a challenge from GOP leaders to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers administrations restrictions caused the state Supreme Court to dismantle the moves in a ruling Wednesday, triggering a celebratory tweet from President Donald Trump.

The Great State of Wisconsin, home to Tom Tiffanys big Congressional Victory on Tuesday, was just given another win, Trump tweeted. Its Democrat Governor was forced by the courts to let the State Open. The people want to get on with their lives. The place is bustling!

Back east, one Democratic governor is showing theres a partisan flip side to restrictions threats as well.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, in remarks provided by his office, warned Monday that other discretionary funding wont go to counties that put us all at risk by operating illegally, as reopening tensions remain high nationwide. Business owners in the state also received a similar warning from the governor that included the possibility of losing certificates of occupancy and liquor licenses.

Uncertainty over who has the definitive say on restrictions has become a troubling theme in the last month. President Trump, after falsely claiming total authority over state reopenings in April, has since made it clear that its up to states when it comes to those decisions.

But in recent weeks, local officials have made clear that just because their governor wants to see restrictions eased, that doesnt mean theyre eager to follow suit.

There are some pretty big political tensions, in many states involving Republican governors and Democratic local officials, said Donald Kettl, a public policy professor at the LBJ School, University of Texas at Austin. He also noted an "incredible partisan divide, between Republicans and Democrats during the pandemic.

So much of what is now happening on the front lines of the battle against the virus has to do with the block-by-block, business-by-business decisions about whether or not to reopen," Kettl said. And those are as close to local decisions as you can possibly get.

In Georgia, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said Republican Gov. Brian Kemps actions have superseded his ability at the local level. Rather than having to fear the possibility of a legal challenge, Johnson has found himself limited by Kemp.

(It) essentially means we could do absolutely nothing, Johnson, a Democrat, said.

And as he faces the impact locally of the decisions made by his home state governor, Johnson said he has struggled to reach the Republican leader amid their disagreements during the pandemic.

"We've reached out to him by phone and by letter, Johnson said.They have not responded to us. There's been just no communication. And we serve the same people."

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Former President Barack Obama criticized United States leadership during the coronavirus pandemic Saturday while delivering a virtual commencement speech to graduates at historically black colleges and universities.

Obamas speech centered on the idea that young people must meet modern challenges at a time when he says the countrys government is not rising to the occasion. The coronavirus crisis has killed more than 87,000 Americans and led to historical rises in unemployment.

This pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what theyre doing, Obama said, according to a transcript of his address released by the New York Times. A lot of them arent even pretending to be in charge.

Obama did not say President Donald Trumps name during his speech. He did say that pandemics like the current one spotlight the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communities have historically had to deal with in this country.

If the worlds going to get better, its going to be up to you, Obama told the graduates. With everything suddenly feeling like up for grabs, this is your time to seize the initiative. Nobody can tell you anymore that you should be waiting your turn.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 16:43:35|Editor: huaxia

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VIENTIANE, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The remaining five COVID-19 patients in Laos have only experienced light symptoms, according to a Lao official.

Director General of the Department of Communicable Disease Control under Lao Ministry of Health Rattanaxay Phetsavanh told a press conference in Lao capital Vientiane on Sunday that five COVID-19 patients, who are treated in Mittaphab Hospital have light symptoms or no noticeable symptoms at all.

The five infected cases included an 18-year-old man, who was confirmed as the eighth case and treated since March 28; the 10th case, a 21-year-old woman, who was treated since April 1; the 16th case, a 23-year-old woman, who was treated since April 9; the 17th case, a 32-year-old woman, who was treated since April 11; and the 18th case, a 32-year-old woman, who was treated since April 11.

All of the patients are treated in the designated hospital - Mittaphab Hospital (Hospital 150) and living in Lao capital Vientiane.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Laos remained at 19, as no new case was confirmed for 35 consecutive days, according to reports.

As of Sunday, Laos has tested 4,562 suspected cases with 19 cases tested positive, and 14 patients have recovered.

Laos announced its first two confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 24. Enditem
Agatha Christie is one of the most acclaimed authors of the 20th Century, but new evidence suggests she may have sought inspiration in a Norwegian novel that has a very similar plot to her much-loved story, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

Lucy Moffatt, a British translator living in Norway, claims she found an early English magazine translation of Stein Riverton's story Jernvognen (The Iron Chariot), which uses the same plot device as Christie.

The Poirot novel, published in 1926, became a literary sensation due to its twist which revealed its narrator - Dr James Sheppard - was the murderer.

While the device was novel in British literature, scholars now think Christie had seen a translation of Riverton's work, which was published in Norway 17 years earlier in 1909.

'Might Christie have also read or been aware of the Riverton story?' she said, speaking to The Observer. 'Well, the timing is extremely convenient, and she did publish a short story under the pen name of Mary Westmacott in the Sovereign Magazine in January 1926.'

Agatha Christie (pictured) is one of the most acclaimed authors of the 20th Century, but new evidence suggests she may have sought inspiration in a Norwegian novel that has a very similar plot to her story, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Lucy Moffatt, a British translator living in Norway, told the Observer she found an early English magazine translation of Stein Riverton's story Jernvognen (The Iron Chariot), which uses the same plot device as Christie. Pictured: David Suchet as Hercule Poirot and Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector James Japp investigate the murder of Roger Ackroyd in ITV's adaptation of Poirot

The similarities between the plots have always been considered a coincidence, as Jernvognen did not come out in English until 2005 and Christie, who died in 1976, could not read Norwegian.

However, Moffatt has now discovered there was a one-off publication of Riverton's story in a British crime magazine of the era: Tip Top Stories of Adventure and Mystery.

The magazine was only published for six months between 1923 and 1924, but Moffatt discovered a rare edition of the magazine in the British Library.

In the years since, Jernvognen (The Iron Chariot) has been voted the greatest Norwegian crime novel by the Norwegian Crime Novelists Association.

While the device was novel in British literature, scholars now think Christie had seen a translation of Riverton's work, which was published in Norway 17 years earlier in 1909. Pictured, Riverton

James Prichard, Christie's great-grandson and chairman of Agatha Christie Ltd went on to say the use of the novel device was a bold choice from the writer.

'Roger Ackroyd was controversial when it came out for this reason, although it catapulted her to fame as an author,' he said. 'Some people thought it was unfair, as there were rules in crime fiction' he said.

While lightning books, who published the most recent translation of Jernvognen, said they don't consider it 'proof' the idea was 'borrowed', Christie herself acknowledged two more sources of inspiration behind the book.

In a letter written to Lord Mountbatten, the author thanked him for the idea, adding that her brother-in-law James had suggested the same.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released a video celebrating its six incomparable years in power and to highlight achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modis government since 2014 when it was first voted to power. Modi is due to complete the first year of his second term in office on May 30 and officials said any celebration will be subdued and limited to the virtual world in view of the Covid-19 crisis.

The Congress hit out at the BJP over the nine-minute video, which makes no mention of the pandemic, saying the celebration amounts to insensitivity towards people suffering because of the crisis. It is not surprising that the BJP is celebrating, or that they have absolutely no sympathy for millions of people, who have been left to the mercies of God on the streets of India. If they had an iota of sensitivity, they would have observed a minutes silence to mark the peoples difficulties in reaching their homes without any assistance from the government, said Congress leader Manish Tewari, referring to the migrant workers.

The nationwide lockdown enforced on March 25 to slow the spread of Covid-19 left migrant workers jobless and has forced many of them to walk and cycle back to their homes. In late April, some states started transporting the workers on buses, and on May 1, the Centre started running special trains for them.

Despite multiple attempts, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya could not be reached for comment.

BJP MP Rakesh Sinha hit back saying that Congress leaders would not understand that report cards are only produced by performers.

This is not a celebration but an expression of performance, which has been backed by the mandate of the Indian people. Moreover, report cards can be produced only by those who produce and have the potential to transform the country and not by those who were non-performers in their ten-year UPA rule. Therefore, Congress party fails to understand the empirical evidence of the Narendra Modi government and the Congress argument is ridiculous, said Sinha.

As the partys supporters shared the video on social media, many reacted by posting pictures of migrant workers making arduous journeys on foot amid the pandemic while questioning whether it was the right time to celebrate.

In the video, the BJP has lauded the governments initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat (Clean India) campaign that was launched in 2014 to eliminate open defecation and the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. The nullification of Constitutions Article 370 to divest Jammu & Kashmir of its special status and the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act last year to fast-track the citizenship process for non-Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who have entered India before 2015, have been cited as important events during Modis second term.

The BJP swept back to power with a bigger majority of 303 seats in 543-member Lok Sabha last year.

The criminalisation of the practice of instant divorce among a section of Muslims and the Supreme Courts verdict in November awarding the contested religious site in Ayodhya to Hindus also finds mention in the video.

The BJP government is now working expeditiously to construct a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the voice-over in the video says.

The officials cited above said there would not be any major celebrations of Modis first year in office and that there have been suggestions including one on holding virtual exhibitions on the fight against Covid-19 that are under consideration. The information and broadcasting ministry is also planning to seek details from other ministries on the important decisions taken during this one year especially on reviving the key sectors that have been affected by Covid-19. However, it is clear that this is an occasion to fight the crisis, said one official on condition of anonymity.

A second official who asked not to be named said social distancing will play a major role and the activities to celebrate could be limited to the virtual world. ...it is yet to be decided what course of action is to be adopted for the first anniversary. The government is conscious of the hardships faced by the people and any decision will be take accordingly.
The Federal Government has caught and impounded a United Kingdom aviation company approved for humanitarian flights into Nigeria operating commercial flights into the country.

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, made this known on Sunday on his verified Twitter handle.

Nigeria had about six weeks ago banned commercial flights into the country following the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease in the country.

Only approved flights have been coming into Nigeria, with most of them ferrying Nigerians stranded outside the country because of the spread of COVID-19.

Sirika identified the company as Flair Aviation, with ties to Germany and the United Kingdom.

He tweeted: Flair Aviation, a UK company, was given approval for humanitarian operations but regrettably we caught them conducting commercial flights.

This is callous!

The craft is impounded, the crew being interrogated.

There shall be maximum penalty.

Wrong time to try our resolve!


My father fears what Im about to say will make me unable to find a job in the future. He may be right. My whole family worries about my health, as do I, and we have good reason to do so. I feel now more than ever that I must speak up regardless of consequence or retribution because to remain silent about this truly and uniquely American experience would be wrong. I did all the ... (click for more)
Coalition Of 62 Nations Backs Australias Push For Independent Inquiry Into CCP Virus Outbreak

A coalition of 62 countries has backed Australias push for an independent inquiry into the CCP virus outbreak which will be put forward at the World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting in Geneva on Tuesday, The Australian reports.

The publication said it had obtained an updated version of the motion,which includes toughened language from an earlier European version, and has support from nations including India, Japan, the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Indonesia, Russia, Mexico and Brazil, and all 27 EU member states (pdf).

The motion reportedly calls on World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus to initiate at the earliest appropriate moment a stepwise process of impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation of the international response to the pandemic, as well as the WHOs actions along with a timeline.

While the motion does not specifically mention China or the city of Wuhan, where the outbreak started last year, it does say the WHO should work with the World Organisation for Animal Health to conduct scientific and collaborative field missions and identify the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population, including the possible role of intermediate hosts, ABC reported.

The international support garnered by the motion will no doubt infuriate Beijing, which last month called the independent inquiry politically motivated, and an attempt to blame China for their own (the various countries calling for the enquiry) problems and deflect the attention.

In a press conference with Australian Financial Review political correspondent Andrew Tillet, Chinese Ambassador Cheng Jingye said China is opposed to the idea of any such inquiry, stating, The proposition is obviously teaming up with those forces in Washington to launch a political campaign against China, before referencing inflammatory comments in the media, and from some politicians.

The fact that the epidemic first broke out in China, and the first cases were reported, this does not mean the source of the virus is in China, Jingye continued, adding that, resorting to suspicion, recrimination or division at such a critical time could only undermine the global efforts to fight against this pandemic, which he said China thinks is irresponsible.

While the United States has not yet officially backed the motion, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has urged all countries to join Prime Minister Scott Morrisons push for the inquiry into the origins of the virus.

In a press conference on May 8, Morrison also pushed back at previous comments from China, stating that the investigation was not directed at anyone, and that Australia just wants to know what happened so it doesnt happen again.

Its a pretty honest question with an honest intent and an honest motive and Im seeing more and more support for that position, he said. And were supporting a European motion thats going to the World Health Assembly and theres an independent oversight committee of the Health Emergencies Program within the World Health Organisation. And on top of that, theres a health regulations review process thats going on that I think can accommodate the recommendations made by the Europeans as a good first step to getting down this path. But you cant let the trail go cold and I think Australia and the United States and the United Kingdom and countries all around the world would like to know what happened because we dont want to see it happen again.

Despite the prime ministers assertions that the investigation is simply a matter of finding the origins of the virus, China this week suspended beef imports from four of Australias largest meat processors and threatened to impose tariffs of 80 per cent on domestic barley producers, but claimed it was unrelated to the current dispute over COVID-19.
The world is looking very different from how it did a few months ago, before coronavirus struck and sent economies into meltdown.

As a result, the country's army of small businesses is having to take a leaf out of Darwin's book  and adapt to survive.

We spoke to the entrepreneurial bosses of companies making dramatic changes in a determined effort to thrive once lockdown comes to an end.

Flexible: Gwen Burgess makes takeaway English breakfasts first thing and Mexican suppers in the evening

Gwen Burgess describes the last couple of months as 'a bit of a whirlwind'  which could be putting it mildly.

She is the deputy mayor of Shrewsbury, and tomorrow she was to have been officially named as mayor with a ceremonial parade next month complete with sword-bearers and the traditional toast to the Queen.

But, by necessity, all that has been postponed for later in the year.

Instead, Gwen will spend tomorrow like every other day since lockdown began, making up to 20 full English breakfasts for takeaway in the morning  and preparing Mexican food (fajitas, burritos and tacos) for delivery in the evening.

Gwen, 57, owns Darwin's cafe in the centre of town  named after Shrewsbury's most famous son, Charles Darwin. Before Covid-19 struck, her business had just recovered from the devastating floods at the beginning of the year.

'After the floods, coronavirus was a real kick in the teeth,' says Gwen. Her dream of semi-retiring by selling the cafe and concentrating on her mayoral duties has now fallen through.

'All of a sudden my plans had gone and I was left with, 'What happens now?' she says. 'I had to reinvent myself.'

As well as reopening to serve takeaway coffee, Gwen started making breakfasts for delivery. She also transformed Darwin's into a takeaway Mexican restaurant  Pequena Burro  in the evening.

'It's gone well so far,' says Gwen, who has still seen her turnover fall by 50 per cent. 'I could have shut up shop and got by on the 10,000 small business grant I received, but as Darwin said, you have to adapt to survive.'

We switched to snack boxes to be sent home

Another business adapting to survive is Edinburgh-based Healthy Nibbles which supplies snacks to companies to give to their staff  including stocking vending machines with treats such as olives, chickpea puffs, lentil chips and dark chocolate.

Corporate customers range from technology and pharmaceutical firms to mobile phone network Three and Transport for London. But when lockdown came, income plunged 80 per cent in the first week.

Some even send jigsaws with the snacks for employees to do as team-building exercises

The business's founder Sara Roberts had to act fast. The result was to make individual snack boxes which employers could send to staff at home, not only to help them snack more healthily but as a way of letting them know they were being thought of.

Sara says: 'It's these little touches which really help. Companies can put messages on the snacks and some even send jigsaws with the snacks for employees to do as team-building exercises. For us, it's great to have a new income stream which will hopefully continue after the lockdown.'

I started selling my sauces online

Last year, former architect Robert Ngo quit his job to set up Malaysian street food company, Eat Lah.

Initially selling at street markets in London's Hackney and Deptford, Robert saw business take off when he started getting corporate bookings to supply lunch to office-based staff in the City.

But lockdown meant his business stopped overnight. 'I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared,' says Robert. 'I didn't qualify for any grants. Everything ground to a halt.'

If there's no income then I can't pay my bills, but hopefully this is something which will keep me going through lockdown

Robert decided to sell his homemade sauces and pastes online. He set up a website using Shopify, uploaded pictures and started spreading the word on social media.

He then began selling online packages of Malaysian food such as marinated fried chicken, his signature blue rice, prawn crackers, pickles and sauces and shipping them via UPS.

'I include instructions on how to reheat and serve, and it's great to be able to keep working,' he says.

'If there's no income then I can't pay my bills, but hopefully this is something which will keep me going through lockdown.'

Other businesses are focusing on preparing for the new way of doing things once lockdown rules are lifted.

Buy a 50 bond and get 60 to spend in future

Eighteen months ago, Andy Lennox founded Southern African-themed restaurant Zim Braai, in Poole, Dorset. But it is now closed.

He says: 'It didn't seem worth opening in some capacity such as takeaway just to be loss-making.'

Andy  who also runs Wonky Table, a local business network to support small businesses during lockdown  is now spending his time readying his restaurant for life after lockdown.

This means investing in personal protective equipment for staff and designing screens to go between tables to protect diners.

He's also launched 'Braai bonds' which he is selling with a 20 per cent dividend, meaning customers who buy a 50 bond will get 60 to spend on a meal at Zim Braai.

He says: 'If we can only open at 50 per cent capacity due to social distancing, we'll need people to stagger the times when they come to dine with us. The bonds are valid from Monday to Wednesday.

'The whole restaurant industry has paused and there are many businesses who won't make it out of the other side. We want to come out stronger,'

Don't forget the self-employed scheme

Self-employed workers are being encouraged to apply to the Government's new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) if they have not already done so.

It is designed to partly make up for the fall in income among the self-employed as a result of the lockdown. The scheme is similar to the Government's furlough arrangement for employed workers.

To be eligible, your business's income should have been adversely affected by the pandemic. Furthermore, you need to have filed a tax return for the tax year ending April 5, 2019, before April 23 this year.

You must also have traded in the tax year just ended and intend to trade during the current tax year. Many people will already have received a text message from Revenue & Customs advising them to check if they are eligible.

Anyone who thinks they are should visit the website gov.uk. You will need your unique taxpayer's reference (UTR) and your National Insurance number.

If you are eligible you can apply straightaway, signing in with your Government Gateway ID and password.

Once you claim, the system will calculate what you are entitled to  80 per cent of your average trading profits over the last three years. If successful, the taxable grant will be paid within six working days and will need to be included on your next tax return.
Panaji, May 17 : Goa's tally of hospitalised Covid-19 positive patients reached 16 on Sunday, after three persons who arrived from Delhi on Saturday, tested positive in a preliminary test, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane confirmed, adding all the three samples had to be sent for reconfirmation.

One out of the three persons who tested positive is a woman. She was aboard the special Rajdhani Express, which arrived at the South Goa's Margao Railway Station on Saturday evening, carrying 323 passengers.

Goa was a Covid-free state last week, before it saw a spurt of new viral infections, primarily from persons who crossed over into the state taking advantage of the relaxations in the pan-India lockdown.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that there is no "community transmission" in Goa yet.

Apart from the 16 Covid-19 positive patients, who are currently hospitalised, seven other persons have been cured of the dreaded virus in Goa.
By Trend

Statements by Armenian prime minister on the negotiation process to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict show that either he could not study this process over the past two years, or his statements are aimed at creating obstacles to the negotiation process, spokesperson for Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva said, Trend reports.

She was commenting on the statement made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during the online press conference. He noted that after the "velvet revolution" no new document was put forward to resolve the conflict, and the old proposal is no longer acceptable.

"It is true that there is no new document in the negotiation process, because there is no need for a new document and proposal. The statement of the OSCE Minsk Group dated March 9, 2019 says that negotiations are underway with the document that is already at the negotiating table, said Abdullayeva.

"Has Pashinyan ever inquired about what Armenias Foreign Minister did in the negotiations over the past two years? Possibly, the Armenian Foreign Minister did not report to the Prime Minister about the documents submitted by the co-chairs to the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, including intensive negotiations in Geneva in January this year. If the goal of the current leadership of Armenia is to prolong the process of resolving the conflict under the guise of "negotiations", then this approach is strongly rejected by both Azerbaijan and the international community. We remind the leadership of Armenia, which seeks to undermine the negotiation process and the efforts of international mediators, that the main goal of the negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia over many years, including the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, is to ensure the withdrawal of the occupying forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan, restore human rights of hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons and, thus, maintain lasting peace and security in the region in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. With such statements, the Armenian leadership clearly shows which country stands for peace and which country stands for increased tension in the region. We emphasize once again that all responsibility for the escalation of the situation in the region lies entirely on Armenia, Abdullayeva said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Charles Reader was the image of law and order as the sheriff of Pike County, one of Ohios smallest and poorest counties.

He became the face of an investigation there into one of the states most violent crimes, the execution-style slayings of eight members of the Rhoden family in 2016. His officers and state agents spent two years tracking suspects before making arrests.

In many ways, Reader represented a new wave of Ohio sheriffs, an energetic group of officers who enjoyed police work and wanted to be on the streets, a contrast to political appointees who wore coats and ties and rarely showed up at a crime scene.

Today, however, Reader is suspended from his duties, a law enforcement officer accused of using his office to commit crimes.

In court documents filed last month, prosecutors alleged that Reader, 46, of Waverly, misappropriated about $15,000 in seized funds and borrowed $6,000 from his employees. The records also accused him of circumventing rules at his departments auctions to obtain impounded vehicles for his family.

Reader would not comment for this story. His attorney, James Boulger, declined to go into detail or discuss evidence, saying the case should be decided in a Pike County courtroom, not in the media.

Reader will be arraigned in the coming weeks in Pike County Common Pleas Court on an 18-count, superseding indictment that prosecutors filed in February. The original charges brought last summer were pending when the new indictment was filed.

The new allegations include a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony. Prosecutors have long used the charge as a way to attack organized-crime figures and major drug dealers by seeking long prison sentences and large fines.

But they also have used it against law enforcement officers, including former Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly, who was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2015 for misusing his departments funds.

In the Pike County case, prosecutors also charged Reader with theft in office, tampering and theft. If convicted, he could be sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.

To some, the accusations against Reader were surprising, as many residents saw him as hardworking and stern, yet personable. He was appointed to the job in May 2015 after years in law enforcement. Nearly a year later, on April 22, eight members of the Rhoden family were found dead in their homes in rural Pike County.

The crime drew national attention to a county of 28,000 that, for years, was known for its poverty in Ohios Appalachia region and growth of illegal marijuana.

The victims were: Dana Rhoden, 37; her former husband, Christopher Rhoden Sr., 41; their daughter, Hanna, 19; son Christopher, 16; and son Clarence "Frankie," 20.

The others were Christopher Sr.'s brother, Kenneth, 44; their cousin, Gary, 38; and Hanna Gilley, 20, who was in a relationship with Clarence Rhoden.

Three children, including Hanna Rhodens 4-day-old daughter, were found unharmed.

In the initial days after the slayings, Reader and then-Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine met with reporters, provided some details and pleaded with the public for information.

In November 2018, Reader and DeWine again addressed reporters, describing how deputies and state agents conducted an investigation that spanned several states and hundreds of interviews.

They announced the arrests of Billy and Angela Wagner and their two sons, Jake and George, on aggravated murder charges.

If convicted, the Wagners could be sentenced to death. They are not likely to go to trial until next year. Authorities said the motive of the slayings stemmed from the custody of a child Jake Wagner and Hanna Rhoden had together.

Were a place that doesnt let cowardly murderers get away with their crimes under the cover of darkness, Reader told reporters hours after the arrests.

Days before, Ohio Auditor Keith Fabers office received an anonymous tip that Reader misused funds, borrowed money from employees and allowed his daughter to drive a car from the sheriffs impound lot.

Documents filed last month in Pike County Common Pleas Court allege that Reader, on June 22, 2017, seized about $7,000, money prosecutors called possible proceeds of drug trafficking.

Deputies later counted the well-circulated money, a practice they videotaped, according to records prosecutors filed.

The officers then placed the money in an evidence bag, sealed it and put it in a safe in Readers office. In December 2018, state agents searched Readers office and safe. The seized money was not there.

Days after the search, Reader and his attorney provided investigators with files that contained evidence bags and money, records show.

The money they gave investigators from the June 2017 seizure contained $20 bills that were crisp, not the older, worn bills that deputies had counted before the video camera, according to the documents. The evidence bag appeared to be re-opened and sealed again, the records alleged.

Prosecutors detailed three other similar cases, including one in which officers seized $7,000 in a search of a Waverly home in September 2017. A video recording of deputies counting the money showed that the bills also were well-circulated, according to prosecutors filings.

Many of the bills Reader later gave investigators in that case, however, were crisp and flat, with no sign of having been circulated, the records show. Prosecutors accused Reader of taking the money from the seizure and replacing it later, prompting the charges of theft in office and tampering.

The documents also said Reader worked to get his family members vehicles that had been impounded by deputies and put up for bid at a sheriffs auction in August 2017.

In one case, Reader told an officer to dull down a vehicle to keep the price low, according to the documents. The records also said those in attendance were told the vehicle did not have a key, even though the department had the key.

Reader gave a friend $3,500 to bid on the car; the friend purchased it for $2,000, the records allege.

He also is accused of borrowing $6,000 from sheriffs employees and $2,000 from a contractor who did business with his office.

Reader initially told state investigators that the stress of the Rhoden investigation caused him to gamble more, when he was staying up late and couldnt sleep, according to a filing from Fabers office.

Ohio Attorney General David Yost has said Reader was not a key witness in the murder investigation, and Yost has stressed that Readers issues will not affect that case.

Some legal experts previously told The Plain Dealer that they disagree, saying it could lead some to wonder about Readers involvement in the case and the investigations credibility.

Last summer, Reader was suspended as sheriff. He was replaced by James Nelson, a retired police chief.

Reader sought to run for sheriff as an independent in November, as he had not been convicted of a crime. He kicked off his campaign earlier this year with a shot at his critics.

My tenure as sheriff has ruffled the feathers of those who have long played the good ol boys game, when it didnt matter what you did, only mattered who you knew, Reader said in a statement.

But when youve spent your career chasing down child molesters, rapists and thieves, you dont worry too much about ruffling feathers.

Reader failed to get enough valid signatures. Nelson, a Democrat, will be unopposed in the November election.
West Philly's own Will Smith dropped a rap this week as part of Joyner Lucas' remix of his song "Will." Read more

At least one Philadelphia native is keeping it fresh during quarantine.

On Friday, Will Smith dropped a rap as part of Joyner Lucas remix of his ode to the West Philly-born rapper, Will, and the internet lost its collective mind over the quick wit that the 51-year-old can still spit.

So many people were posting about his skills on the track that Smith was trending on Twitter before noon.

In the nearly two-minute rap Smith, who hasnt released an album in 15 years, gives love to another Philly star (A shout out to Julius Erving, one of the legends I worship") and to the city that made him (I wouldnt be Will if I wasnt from Philly").

And, in classic Big Willie Style, he doesnt use a single swear word.

I was on fire I aint even need a grill. Did it all with no cuss words, I aint have to curse just to keep it real.....Even when the streets called me corny I still aint never let the hate break me, he raps.

Many on social media joked that his rhymes were so hot it set their earbuds  or their whole head on fire.

Others wondered if the coronavirus stay-at-home orders, or the strange nature of 2020 in general, inspired the new track.

In March, rapper Joyner Lucas dropped his track Will about how Smith is his hero (Homies my idol and dont even know it). The accompanying music video shows Joyner putting himself in many of Smiths roles from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to I, Robot.

Well, Smith did finally learn he was Lucas idol and he posted the music video to his Instagram, where Smith has more than 45 million followers. Lucas music video now has more than 25 million views on YouTube.

In April, Smith had Lucas on his Snapchat series, Will at Home.

Smiths decision to participate in Lucas remix of the song about him was not only a very meta move but a very kind one that gave Smiths fans all the feelings. And they used the many Will Smith GIFs on social media to express those feelings.

So while hearing Smiths Summertime this year may make you nostalgic for the days we could actually sit on Lorenzos or be on the plateau where everybody goes, hopefully his new rap brings you a smile.

And hopefully, Smith brings us more rhymes.
Noida, May 17 : At least six workers at the Greater Noida factory of Chinese smartphone brand OPPO have been found corona positive, leading to all operations being suspended till further notice, reliable company sources told IANS on Sunday.

According to sources, after the coronavirus cases were confirmed at OPPO factory in Kasna, Greater Noida, the work was immediately halted on Sunday till further notice.

"We have been asked not to come to the factory as six COVID-19 cases have been confirmed at our manufacturing unit in Greater Noida. The company has asked us to stay at home till further notice," an OPPO worker told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

"Do not go to work tomorrow. Everyone is at home waiting for the company's next notice," read an internal OPPO post.

An OPPO India spokesperson said in a statement that they have done Covid-19 testing for more than 3,000 employees for which test results are awaited.

"In the wake of the current situation, we have suspended all our operations at our manufacturing facility in Greater Noida and will allow only those employees to return to work who have tested negative. The employees who test positive will be taken to the quarantine facilities for treatment," a company spokesperson told IANS.

Meanwhile, two third-party construction employees at an under-construction Vivo facility in the Greater Noida industrial belt have also tested COVID-19 positive.

One third-party construction worker and one security guard at an upcoming Vivo site at the industrial park area in Greater Noida - where multiple factories are currently under construction - have tested Covid-19 positive.

However, this has not affected Vivo manufacturing as the construction site is nearly 15 km away from its operational unit, said sources.

OPPO and Vivo, along with other top handset makers, resumed manufacturing at their Noida and Greater Noida-based factories with 30 per cent workforce from May 8.

OPPO restarted manufacturing operations with 30 per cent workforce, with around 3,000 employees working in rotation out of more than 10,000-strong staff at its Kasna, Greater Noida-based facility.

Vivo also resumed production at its production facility with about 30 per cent of its workforce capacity.
As the government prepares to announce mandatory 14-day quarantine for arrivals from abroad, the UKs biggest airport has warned: Closing our borders to all will be closing Britain to business.

Heathrow airports chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, told Sky News: This is not just about going on holiday. Aviation is the lifeblood of UK.

We have gone from serving around a quarter of a million passengers every day to around five or six thousand.

Quarantine cannot be in place for more than a relatively short amount of time if we are going to get the economy moving again.

The prime minister announced the plan for 14 days of self-isolation a week ago. But the Home Office has provided no details of when quarantine will start, how long it will last and how it will work.

The government says: The scientific advice shows that when domestic transmission is high, cases from abroad represent a small amount of the overall total and make no significant difference to the epidemic.

Now that domestic transmission within the UK is coming under control, and other countries begin to lift lockdown measures, it is the right time to prepare new measures at the border.

Mr Holland-Kaye appeared to urge that the rule requiring 14 days of self-isolation should stay in place no longer than June.

He said: We should be thinking about the next phase in a month or sos time as we start to see the infection is coming down in this country.

Also on Sky News, the director-general of the CBI, Carolyn Fairbairn, called for coronavirus testing on arrival.

We see Vienna and Hong Kong introducing testing at airports as an alternative to quarantine.

We do ask the government to think very carefully about how this [quarantine] is introduced so it doesnt put the brakes on our fragile economy.

Were an island economy, we are service-based. Ive been hearing from businesses in aerospace in manufacturing who are really worried about this potential quarantine.

Michael OLeary, chief executive of Ryanair, told The Independent: The quarantine is hopelessly unimplementable and unpoliceable.

People will either observe it or not observe it as they so choose.

Heathrow airport is to introduce thermal imaging for arriving passengers later this week, and will offer face masks to all travellers.

The airports chief executive insisted that the controversial third runway at Heathrow should go ahead, despite the collapse of air travel and impending worldwide recession.

Mr Holland-Kaye said: The UK is a a global trading nation and we will desperately need that third runway within the next 10 to 15 years  which is about the length of time we need to build it.
OPEN LETTER

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu

Director General, Nigeria Center for Disease Control

The NCDC Headquarters

Plot 801, Ebitu Ukiwe Street

Jabi, Federal Capital Territory

Abuja, Nigeria

Correspondence Mode: WhatsApp Link

Dear Director General,

Your Centers Failure To Take Full Charge Is Encouraging Censored And Mutilated Opinions And Guesswork Reports On Harvest Of Infections & Deaths In Northern Nigeria

Sunday, 17th May 2020

Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria

The Intl Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law-INTERSOCIETY is writing your Center again to express deep concerns over the Centers failure to take full charge of its duties, functions and responsibilities as Nigerias Center for Disease Control, a failure that now encourages censored and mutilated opinions and guesswork reports on harvest of infections and deaths ravaging Northern Nigeria. The Governors and Governments of the affected States have also been lying about the true situations in their respective States; thereby put more citizens at the risk of losing their safety and precious lives.

Your Centers failure in this regard has made it to conspiratorially and vicariously cause thousands of infections and multiple hundreds of deaths in the country particularly in Northwest and Northeast regions. These mass infections and deaths occurred on account of negative mass effects of such contaminated opinions and reports on the citizenry. It has become so alarming that everybody in the country including media practitioners is now a medical expert including epidemiologist or virologist.

Functions & Powers NCDC Never Exercised : By the NCDC Act of 2018, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is the countrys national public health institute, with the mandate to lead the preparedness, detection and response to infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. The first formal step to establish the NCDC took place in 2011 when some departments in the Ministry of Health, including the Epidemiology Division, the Avian Influenza Project and its laboratories; and the Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP) were moved to form the nucleus of the agency. The Bill for an Act to establish NCDC was signed into law in November 2018 by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Core Functions Of NCDC : (a) Prevent, detect, and control diseases of public health importance. (b) Coordinate surveillance systems to collect, analyze and interpret data on diseases of public health importance. (c)Support States in responding to small outbreaks, and lead the response to large disease outbreaks. (d) Develop and maintain a network of reference and specialized laboratories. (e) Conduct, collate, synthesize and disseminate public health research to inform policy. (f) Lead Nigerias engagement with the international community on diseases of public health relevance.

NCDC Is Not For COVID-19 Alone: Sir, as you can see from the core functions of your Center highlighted above, the Center is not only for COVID-19, but generally established for purpose of preventing, detecting and controlling diseases of public importance. Diseases of public importance elementarily include any disease capable of causing mass infections and deaths in a place or places and within a population or among populations over a shortest period of time with attributes of pandemic or epidemic. In the instant case, therefore, meningitis, lassa fever and cholera outbreaks, etc are inclusive. In this era of COVID-19, if aided by same, deaths arising from them can safely and validly be described as coronavirus aided deaths.

Lying As Official Policy In Nigeria

We had in our statement of 10th May 2020 expressed serious concerns over the ravages and havocs caused by lying or falsehoods and cover-ups in Nigeria particularly in its public sector. We had held that in Christianity, lying is so sinful that its perpetrator is earthly condemned and treated as immoralist who, if he or she does not repent, will end up in Hellfire.

In Islam, lying is strongly condemned by Prophet Muhammed who further said that Angels cursed liars and they must end up in Hellfire. Prophet Muhammed abhorred lying and exhibited honesty during his own time to the extent that he was referred to as Al-Amin or The Honest. The Prophet further said: you must be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man will keep speaking the truth and striving to speak the truth until he will be recorded with Allah as a siddeeq (speaker of the truth).

In law and constitutionalism, biblical, Koranic and court affidavit oaths and codified others including public officers oaths of office and allegiance, court litigations and human rights provisions are all measures put in place to ward off and criminalize lying, falsehood and dishonesty. But in practice in Nigeria particularly in the countrys LGA, State and Federal political and other public offices, lying or falsehood and cover-up have been institutionalized. Government has also introduced censorship for purpose of codifying falsehoods and cover-ups and checkmating those who dare to question or kick or speak out against them. Lying under oath in law is an offense of perjury attracting about fourteen years prison term or punishment. The elective political office title of Excellency is expressly derived from honesty and impeccability of Character. But in practice, morality and honesty seem to have totally eluded the countrys political space; to the extent that the greatest liars in public offices now go with the title of Their Excellencies.

Todays Sun Newspaper Report: A Reference Point: A clear case in point was contained in todays (17th May 2020) Sun Newspaper, captioned: R-e-v-e-a-l-e-d: Why many are dying in Kano, Bauchi, Yobe. Bereaved families, community leaders open up on mysterious deaths. The report was completely guesswork and did not contain expert opinions from relevant medical experts or expert bodies such as epidemiologists, virologists or NCDC. The chief aim of this was to shift the causes of the strange deaths from COVID-19 or COVID-19 aided; hinging same on natural causes or normal occurrences. This was done without showcasing valid data backups indicating patterns and trends of such mass infections and deaths in the recent past.

The reporters had acknowledged that NCDC and Kano State Health Ministry were still investigating the cause(s) of the mass deaths in the State; but went on to magisterially conclude that the deaths were usual and normal occurrences and un-COVID-19 related; relying heavily on guess opinions of bereaved families and community leaders. This is a clear case of censored media practice in the country particularly in the North. For more details, the rest of the report is here: https://www.sunnewsonline.com/r-e-v-e-a-l-e-d-why-many-are-dying-in-kano-bauchi-yobe/

Northern Harvest Of Deaths Wickedly Covered Up: In the past 30 days or 17th April to 17th May 2020, Kano State has lost close to, if not more than 50 prominent citizens including at least seven professors, top serving and retired civil servants, media executives, captains of industry, first class traditional rulers and serving and retired security personnel, etc. Deaths of their likes have also been reported in Zamfara, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Taraba, Jigawa, Yobe and Bauchi States. Most of the sudden deaths occurred within three weeks of April 2020 which have never been recorded in the areas since the countrys independence in 1960. The Kano harvest of deaths sprang up first on 17th April 2020, killing 150 under four days.

Deaths of middle and low income earners in Kano (independently estimated at over 1,500), Yobe (over 470 officially reported), Bauchi (over 150 officially reported) and Jigawa (over 200 independently reported) have been in thousands or not less than 2500 deaths in the affected States. There are also independent or unofficial reports of more deaths of low income and middle income earners in Sokoto and others, but were wickedly kept from public knowledge-and-where they are rarely reported, they are attributed to not unusual or normal occurrences that have nothing to do with COVID-19.

The official responses of the affected Northern States Governors and their Governments, who also hid the deaths and their figures from public knowledge are that the deaths have been caused by strange deaths arising from meningitis, lassa fever, high fever, high blood pressure, hypertension, acute malaria, hepatitis B, typhoid fever, cough and catarr, etc. Contradictions also abound. Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA), had yesterday, 16th May 2020, told the media that 41 persons had died of Lassa fever from January to date in the state.

Only last week the Bauchi State Governor (Bala Mohammed) told the media that 150 people died in one Local Government (Katagum) in the State within 30 days and their deaths are not in connection with Coronavirus. But in a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari by Hon Ibrahim Muhammed Baba, former Member representing Katagum Federal Constituency in the House of Reps, the former lawmaker disclosed that over 100 persons died in seven days in Azare area (Katagum LGA) of Bauchi State and their deaths arose from COVID-19 complications. The letter was dated 8th May 2020. Instances are too to be cited.

Calling On NCDC To Sit Up & Take Full Charge: Your Center is hereby called upon to sit up and take full charge. These sudden and mishandled mass deaths would have been prevented or reduced to the barest minimum had your Center risen to its statutory duties, functions and responsibilities in Godly time; rather, the Center despicably created negative opportunities and lacunas cashed in by prophets and prophetesses of doom and the brainwashed citizens to lead the deceased to their early graves and creation of fresh grounds for more citizens to head to their early graves.

It is therefore our firm demand that all the infections and deaths in the above mentioned Northern States and similar ones in the rest of the country must be forensically detected and investigated and their findings made public. The countrys citizens and the international watchers would want to be expertly told what caused those infections and deaths, the specific (i.e. deaths in a particular State or LGA) and general number of deaths; if their causes are multi layered such as by COVID-19 and others; the yearly patterns and trends of such strange deaths in the affected States in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 if they are not truly COVID-19 caused, or caused by usual or normal occurrences. In other words, how many citizens including dozens of prominent citizens of Kano and others have died of such strange ailments and deaths by this time of last year or the preceding years?

Signed:

For: Intl Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law

Emeka Umeagbalasi

Board Chair

Barr Damaris Amaka Onuoha

Head, Campaign & Publicity

Barr Obianuju Joy Igboeli

Head, Civil Liberties & Rule of Law

Contacts:

Phone/WhatsApp: +2348174090052

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.intersociety-ng.org


SCHENECTADY  An internal investigation prompted by a sexual harassment complaint triggered Schenectady Superintendent of Schools Larry Spring's sudden resignation in March.

The complaint was filed by a woman who is employed by Capital Region BOCES but works within the city school system. The district's outside counsel, the Rochester-based law firm Harris Beach, investigated the matter and delivered its findings to the school board in March.

The completion of the investigation, conducted by the firm's Government Compliance and Investigations team, preceded the striking of a deal between the district and the superintendent that paved the way for Spring's resignation from his $204,064-a-year post, which he had held since June 2012.

In the weeks since the March 25 announcement, the 50-year-old Spring and the school board have declined to discuss what led to the abrupt resignation of the educator, who had honed a reputation as a champion for his district as well as other urban schools that according to Spring have remained woefully underfunded.

The findings and conclusions of the months-long investigation portray a man whose conduct toward the complainant and others was "part of a pattern" in which he targeted younger, sometimes untenured female teachers, according to a copy of the law firm's report reviewed by the Times Union.

PREVIOUSLY: Spring resigns as Schenectady school superintendent

The report also mentions that during the course of the investigation into Spring's behavior, investigators anonymously received several photographs of Spring either partially or completely nude. Some of the photographs appear to have been taken on school property, the report states.

The photographs reflected poor judgment on Spring's part and could potentially expose the district to liability issues, the investigators concluded. The report did not, however, recommend any specific disciplinary action that should be taken against Spring.

In the course of its reporting, the Times Union also obtained multiple pictures that appear to show Spring in various stages of undress.

The report said that women interviewed in the course of the probe alleged that if those approached by Spring rejected him, he would in some cases ignore them and give them the silent treatment. It recommended that the district re-train its staff on its sexual harassment and anti-retaliation policies.

The woman who filed the complaint against Spring did not respond to messages from the Times Union, which as a general matter does not identify the victims of alleged sexual harassment.

Asked about the complaint, Audrey Hendricks, BOCES communications and public relations coordinator, said that the organization has "a longstanding policy of not commenting on personnel matters.

READ MORE: Secrecy is part of exit pact for Schenectady superintendent Larry Spring

Douglas Gerhardt, the Harris Beach attorney for the Schenectady school district, said he was not authorized to speak to the media before hanging up the phone. School board members either declined comment or did not return calls.

On the day his resignation was announced, Spring and the school district reached a separation agreement that stipulated Spring would not take legal action against the district, and neither party would speak or write negative or disparaging comments about the other. The five-page agreement, which includes Spring's one-sentence resignation letter, also includes a confidentiality clause.

Spring, who is married with two children, would not respond to the allegations.

"Legally, the district and I are bound by confidentiality and that is something I take very seriously," he said in an email to the Times Union. "I believe in treating people with respect and am very proud of the work and dedication the entire team put forth at the Schenectady City School District over the past eight years. I wish them nothing but the best going forward."

CLICK: Schenectady school district poised to embark on superintendent search

Jacinda Conboy, general counsel for the state Council of School Superintendents, was listed as Spring's attorney on the separation agreement. Conboy did not respond to requests for comment.

Public agencies cannot use confidentiality agreements to block public access to records that expose alleged wrongdoing by officials. In November 2017, a state Supreme Court justice ordered the town of Milton to unseal a settlement agreement between the town and a woman who accused then-Supervisor Daniel Lewza of harassment. The report on Spring from Harris Beach is, however, a product of an attorney-client relationship; it was marked throughout as not subject to public disclosure.

In the three years since the #MeToo movement was sparked in part by revelations of widespread sexual misconduct by film mogul Harvey Weinstein, confidentiality agreements in matters involving alleged sexual harassment in the workplace have come under heavy criticism. While many institutions say such arrangements allow alleged victims to maintain their privacy after an episode of sexual harassment, advocates argue that they make it more likely that abusers will be able to find a new venue for bad behavior.

Harris Beach's billing records, obtained by the Times Union through a Freedom of Information Law request, were so heavily redacted by the school district as to make it impossible to determine what matters they pertained to. But the "general operations" section of the bills for the first three months of 2020 showed a four-fold increase in March, when Spring's matter was resolved: In January and February, the law firm billed the district the exact same amount ($1,870) for the same number of hours of labor (8.5) by four attorneys; in March, the bill was $7,646 for almost 35 billable hours completed by eight lawyers.

Spring remained on the district's payroll through April 22 as he used up accrued personal and vacation time. On the same night the district accepted his resignation, the board of education appointed Aaron Bochniak, the district's director of planning and accountability, as acting superintendent. The district said it would conduct a search for a new schools chief.

The controversy is another blemish for the district that hired Spring in the aftermath of revelations that his predecessor as superintendent, Eric Ely, had ignored warnings about the conduct of Steven Raucci, the district's facilities director. Raucci was convicted in 2010 of mounting an intimidation campaign that included planting explosives on the vehicles and homes of people who he believed had crossed him.

In 2013, Ely resigned from his subsequent job in Southbridge, Mass., after being investigated for misconduct. The nature of that investigation never came to light.

Spring, who previously served a six-year tenure as superintendent of the Cortland Enlarged School District, took the reins in Schenectady as an ambitious leader and evolved into a fierce advocate for impoverished students in the urban district of nearly 10,000 students.

The Times Union recently interviewed two current employees who said they had been pursued by Spring. The women, who also told their stories to Harris Beachs investigators, spoke to the Times Union on condition of anonymity due to concerns about potential career retribution.

They gave similar accounts of Spring lavishing them with praise over social media for their academic work, and then trying to arrange off-campus get-togethers. Neither filed complaints against Spring.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

One of the women recalled that Spring initially reached out to her via Twitter in 2016, and thanked her for liking one of his posts. She said that soon after that, she began seeing him showing up along the route she would take to go to the bathroom during her breaks.

A few times, Spring came to her classroom after school when students weren't around, she said. "He was dropping some hints about meeting off-campus, but for the most part it was professional," she said. The woman was, however, concerned about being the subject of gossip: "We'd be in there with the door shut, and he would come out, and it was weird."

She said Spring didn't seem too upset when she asked him to stop the after-class visits. "I think he tries to push it as far as he can," she said.

She broke off her interaction with Spring after he approached her from behind in a conference room and put himself in such proximity that she felt uncomfortable as he showed her blueprints for a school construction project. She stiffened up and told Spring she had to leave.

"This was the point that I knew this had to stop, because this was the moment that I believe he tried to see if I would become physical with him," she said.

Spring initially used Twitter to reach out to the second woman, who was at that point new to the district.

She acknowledged that the attention and the compliments from Spring initially flattered her. That began to change when her colleagues started noticing their interaction.

"I didn't think that every superintendent spent that much time with a particular teacher, but you digest and internalize some of these comments, and you're like, 'Maybe he does think I'm great,'" she said.

She said she gave Spring her personal cell phone number after he suggested texting might be easier to "exchange notes."

She said someone left an anonymous note on her desk "warning me about the way he moves on women," including trying to get them to send him pictures of themselves.

Spring had asked her for a photo, and after she sent him an innocuous vacation image he seemed disappointed, she said. "So it freaked me out that I was being manipulated in this game," she said. "I tried to slowly back off  like message a little less, but not to where it would make him mad."

"He really wants to meet off-campus and test the water with comments to see if you are thinking the same thing that he's thinking," she said, referring to her impression of Spring's communication.

She said Spring eventually got the hint and mostly left her alone.

Juliet Benaquisto, president of the Schenectady Federation of Teachers union and a 31-year veteran with the district, is confident Schenectady's schools will rebound under Bochniak.

"We, as a district, must move forward by creating an atmosphere of respect and culture of personal safety that will allow our dedicated staff to serve our students in a hostility-free workplace," she said.

pnelson@timesunion.com
Manfred Weber, leader of the European Peoples Party in the European Parliament, predicts that China will become a competitor for the EU in economic, social and political terms

European Union should impose a temporary ban on Chinese takeovers of companies that are currently undervalued or have business problems because of the coronavirus crisis, the leader of the blocs largest political alliance said. This is reported by Reuters.

Manfred Weber, a senior German conservative and head of the center-right EPP grouping in the EU Parliament, told Germanys Welt am Sonntag newspaper that he was in favor of declaring a twelve-month ban for Chinese investors who want to buy European firms.

We have to see that Chinese companies, partly with the support of state funds, are increasingly trying to buy up European companies that are cheap to acquire or that got into economic difficulties due to the coronavirus crisis, he said.

The European Union, therefore, should react in a coordinated way and put an end to the Chinese shopping tour by imposing a twelve-month moratorium on sales of European companies until the coronavirus crisis is hopefully over, Weber said.

We have to protect ourselves, he added.

China and the EU launched negotiations on a comprehensive investment agreement in 2013, and have held numerous rounds of talks since then. Sticking points have included reciprocal market access and a level playing field.

The German government agreed last month to tighten rules to protect domestic firms from unwanted takeovers by investors from non-European Union countries.

The move comes at a time when Europes biggest economy, and the EU as a whole, are reconsidering relations with China in the face of increased investment in critical sectors by Chinese state-owned enterprises.
Belgium's Prime Minister has been met by a silent protest during a visit to Saint-Pierre Hospital in Brussels.

The medical staff wearing protective equipment stood silently in two rows, turning their backs as Sophie Wilmes arrived in a car.

Wow powerful and very sad!

Healthcare professionals in Belgium turning backs as their PM arrives as a demonstration against the handling of the pandemic. Belgium has one of the higest #Covid19 death rates in the world.

pic.twitter.com/jR1SNfMaYY  Dr Nisreen Alwan  (@Dr2NisreenAlwan) May 17, 2020

The staff staged the protest against a decree to recruit unqualified staff to carry out nursing duties.

Belgium is among the European countries worst hit by Covid-19 with more than 9,000 deaths.

Some European nations are beginning their Covid-19 lockdown exit plans.

Italy will throw open its borders next month, effectively ending Europes longest and strictest coronavirus lockdown, just as the summer tourism season gets underway.

Both regional and international borders will open on June 3, with the government eliminating a 14-day quarantine for anyone arriving from abroad, it was announced on Saturday.

Many hope the move will revive a decimated tourist industry, which is worth 13% of Italys gross domestic product.

Meanwhile, Spain has registered its first daily death toll of fewer than 100 since declaring a state of emergency two months ago.

The figures come as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he will ask Parliament for what he hopes will be the last extension of the state of emergency, keeping it in place until around late June.

Tourism, which accounts for 12% of GDP, looks set to lose its critical summer season.

Spain needs tourism, Mr Sanchez said. But tourism needs security. It needs health guarantees.
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"We have met the moment and we have prevailed," said President Donald Trump Monday, as he supported the opening of the U.S. economy before the shutdown plunges us into a deep and lasting depression.

Tuesday, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nation's leading expert on infectious diseases, made clear to a Senate committee his contradictory views.

"If states reopen their economies too soon, there is a real risk that you may trigger an outbreak that you may not be able to control," said Fauci. "My concern is that we will start to see little spikes that might turn into outbreaks of the disease (and) the inevitable return of infections."

Fauci is talking of the real possibility of a second and even more severe wave of the pandemic this summer and fall, if we open too soon.

There is evidence to justify the fears of Fauci and Dr. Robert Redfield of the Centers for Disease Control, who told the same Senate committee, "We are not out of the woods yet."

Yet, there is a case to be made for the risks that Trump and red state governors are taking in opening up sooner.

The Washington Post daily graph of new deaths nationally has been showing a curve sloping downward for a month from April's more than 2,000 a day. On no day yet this week did the U.S. record 2,000 dead from the virus. On some days, there were fewer than 1,000.

The graph for new coronavirus cases, which was showing more than 30,000 a day in April, is now closer to 25,000.

Also, hospitalizations and ICU occupancies are not as high as they were. Hospitals put up in Central Park and the Javits Center seem not to have been needed. There was and is no shortage of ventilators. The Navy hospital ships Comfort and Mercy are returning to their home ports.

Also, not all states are suffering equally, nor are all communities in the hardest-hit states. There have been three times as many COVID-19 cases in New Jersey as in Texas, though New Jersey is a fraction of the size and has a fraction of the population of Texas.

There are twice as many cases in Massachusetts as in Florida, the nation's third-most populous state with one of its highest percentages of retirees and elderly. There have been five times as many cases in New York as in California.

It is the nursing homes filled with the elderly and ill that have proven to be the real killing fields of this virus. According to The New York Times, one-third of all deaths from COVID-19 have come among residents and staff of nursing homes. Beyond these are the meatpacking plants and the prisons where social distancing is almost nonexistent.

Moreover, while Fauci and Redfield are specialists in epidemics, Trump's portfolio goes far beyond that.

He is chief of state, head of government and commander in chief, responsible for the security and defense of the nation. His portfolio is broader and deeper than those of Fauci and Redfield.

In the first hours of the Normandy invasion, General Eisenhower must have been rightly alarmed about the high U.S. casualties on Omaha Beach. But he also had to concern himself with the failure to capture the Port of Caen to bring ashore the armor to stop any German counterattack that might turn D-Day into another Anzio.

Ike could not worry about casualties alone.

According to The Washington Post, economists already project that 100,000 small businesses have shuttered, never to reopen.

"(D)eeper and longer recessions can leave behind lasting damage to the productive capacity of the economy," warned Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday. "Avoidable household and business insolvencies can weigh on growth for years to come."

Ultimately, Fauci is not "The Decider" here. Trump is.

It is he who is accountable to the nation for weighing the losses, both human and material, due to his decisions.

Fauci may be the best at what he does, but he is still only an adviser. As John F. Kennedy said after the Bay of Pigs, it is the president who ultimately bears responsibility for what he does and fails to do, while "the advisers may move on to new advice."

Believing he can do no more than his White House is now doing to contain the incidence of cases, hospitalizations and deaths, Trump has decided his primary job is to prevent the nation from a catastrophic economic collapse from which it might take years to recover.

The country is slowly moving in Trump's direction, slowly opening. And he will be responsible for whether the policy succeeds or opens the floodgates to a second and worse wave, should it come.

As Abraham Lincoln put his situation: "I mean to keep going. If the end brings me out all right, then what is said against me won't matter. If I'm wrong, ten angels swearing I was right won't make a difference."

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Pune, May 17 : Two minors, including a six-week-old tiny tot, successfully vanquished Covid-19 virus and returned home here to a rousing welcome, officials said here on Sunday.

It was on May 1 when a Pune-based woman - had gone to Mumbai for delivery - returned home and found her newborn female infant suffering from high temperature.

She immediately rushed her to the Yeshwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital and the infant was found to Covid-19 positive.

As per protocols, even her 4-year old brother was tested and turned out to be positive, as also their aged grandfather.

However, the minor children's mother tested negative, but the remaining members of her family were admitted for treatment to the hospital.

A team of medicos led by Dr Rajendra Bable and Dr. Aniket Lathi, comprising child specialists and others started their rigorous Covid-19 treatment on the minor duo.

After over two weeks, the female infant and her elder brother were fully cured, tested negative and discharged from the YCM Hospital.

They arrived home this evening to a warm welcome by the neighbourhood in Sambhajinagar area of Pimpri-Chinchwad, said the officials.

This is at least the fourth case of infants or minors conquering Covid-19 successfully in the state, boosting the morale of the health authorities as the state remains the worst-hit by coronavirus.
The suicide of a 21-year-old queer woman from Kerala, who claimed that she had been taken to multiple de-addiction centres over three months against her will, in an effort to cure her of her non-heterosexual orientation, has drawn attention to the dubious practice of conversion therapy practised by mental health professionals in the country, experts have said.

The body of the Kannur University-affiliated college student was found in Goa earlier last week. She had visited the state with three friends on March 21, but got stuck there on account of the lockdown that was imposed three days later. Gargi H., a friend of the student, said that she was undergoing treatment for depression before her family took her to the de-addiction centres.

In a Facebook video that the queer woman posted in March, she narrated how she was put on heavy medication at the centres without her consent. The student had come out to her family as a bisexual woman recently. The post mortem report has confirmed that (the student) died as a result of the hanging and no foul play is suspected, Police Inspector of the Calangute police station, Nolasco Raposo, said.

Deepa Vasudevan, co-founder of Kerala-based Sahayatrika, an organization that works with lesbian/bisexual women and transmen said, Parents of queer or trans people often send them to psychiatrists or psychologists to cure them of their sexual orientation or gender identity, to make them normal. We have seen this practice in many of our crisis interventions.

As per the Mental Healthcare Act 2017, which came into effect in July 2018, an adult person cannot be treated for any mental health condition without their express consent, or that of a nominated representative in case they either lack the capacity to make decisions or pose a danger to themselves and others. A representative can only be nominated by the person requiring treatment.

Conversion therapy  which is considered unacceptable practice in psychiatric disciplines today  has historically used medication, and other practices like Electroconvulsive Therapy and chemical castration to cure persons of their homosexuality.

According to psychiatrist Dr Soumitra Pathare, While no provision outlaws conversion therapy, it is a clear violation of the Act. According to Pathare, who was one of the architects of the Act, the law  predicated on the consent of the person undergoing treatment, as well as an insistence that mental healthcare practitioners should only follow treatments which are approved in the field of their profession  can be interpreted as being clearly against conversion therapy.

Whats more, in 2018, the Indian Psychiatric Society released a statement that homosexuality is not a psychiatric disorder. This was in line with the position of the American Psychiatric Association and the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organisation, which removed homosexuality from the list of psychiatric disorders in 1973 and 1992, respectively. In 2018, the Supreme Court of India also struck down a colonial law that criminalized consensual adult same-sex intercourse.

However, according to Raj Mariwala, director of Mariwala Health Initiative, which focuses on making mental health accessible to marginalized persons and communities, psychiatric disciplines have a history of violence against members of the LGBTQI communities. Conversion therapy, like past practices of lobotomy, admission in asylums and ECT, is part of that violence and has never really died down.

Psy-disciplines and practices classify things as normal and abnormal. If you start with pathologising something like homosexuality as abnormal, it leads us to the place where treatment is required, Mariwala said.

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The Times Union has lifted the paywall on this developing coverage to provide critical information to our community. To support our journalists work, consider a digital subscription.

Total COVID-19 cases:

350,121 in New York state, including 28,232 deaths. 60,796 recovered. 1,378,717 total tested.

1,480,873 in U.S., including 89,318 deaths. 268,376 recovered. 11,077,179 total tested.

4,690,873 worldwide, including 314,096 deaths. 1,721,884 recovered.

Note: The figures include presumed COVID-19 deaths. The number of positive confirmed cases is cumulative and includes people who have recovered as well as those who died.

Additional resources:

Sunday updates:

7:17 p.m.: Total COVID-19 cases and deaths reported in the Capital Region

Albany County: 1425 cases, 29 hospitalized, 936 recovered, 67 deaths

Columbia County: 339 cases, 16 hospitalized, 150 recovered, 25 deaths

Greene County: 238 cases, 4 hospitalized, 174 recovered, 15 deaths

Rensselaer County: 458 cases, 5 hospitalized, 289 recovered, 27 deaths

Saratoga County: 414 cases, 6 hospitalized, 328 recovered, 14 deaths

Schenectady County: 591 cases, 16 hospitalized, 520 recovered, 28 deaths

Warren County: 219 cases, 3 hospitalized, 136 recovered, 28 deaths

Washington County: 191 cases, 133 recovered, 13 deaths

___

No new COVID-19 deaths in Rensselaer County

There are four new positive cases of COVID-19 in Rensselaer County, ranging in age from 34 to 75. The total number of confirmed cases in the county is now 467. Ten of those with coronavirus are hospitalized. However there are no new county deaths due to COVID-19, with the total number of victims to the virus remaining at 28.

___

Schenectady County has no COVID-19 deaths since May 2

Schenectady County's running streak of no new COVID-19 deaths continues, with the total number of victims to the virus staying at 28. The number of recoveries in the county has increased by almost 20 from Saturday, with a total of 539 people recovered. The county has five new confirmed cases of COVID-19, at 596 total, and a total of 10 people hospitalized, down six from Saturday.

___

Reopening could start this week for Capital Region

The Capital Region can begin reopening this week, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Sunday, after the state recalibrated the metrics needed to start reviving the economy.

The region has now met six of the seven requirements to reopen and is working to scale up its contact tracing operations to start phase one of the reopening process, Cuomo said. The region previously fell short of requirements for declining hospitalizations and deaths, but after the state shifted the timeline to hit those metrics, the Capital Region is "now qualified for reopening," the governor said.

The Capital Region must now increase the number of contact tracers in the region to start phase one, and Cuomo said the state government will work with local leaders to quickly ramp up capacity.

___

No COVID-19 deaths overnight in Albany County

During Albany County Executive Dan McCoy's daily presser Sunday morning, he mentioned no deaths overnight, and said hospitalizations dropped by one to 29 people in the hospital. Also, total positive COVID-19 tests only went up by four from Saturday, to 1,455 positive tests since the pandemic testing began in March.

___

Saratoga County has no new deaths

Saratoga County reached 423 positive cases of COVID-19, but has no increase in deaths (14) or hospitalizations (six) due to the disease.

___

Siena online commencement Sunday morning

At 10 a.m. Sunday, Siena College will honor 2020 graduates during a live Facebook feed. The broadcast can be found at https://www.facebook.com/sienacollege/

The broadcast is only about 15 minutes. It is being held in person on the walkway between Siena and Kiernan halls, and is featuring Margaret Madden, interim president; Charles Seifert, interim vice president for academic affairs, and Fr. Mark Reamer, vice president for mission and guardian of the Siena friary.

___

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Saturday: UAlbany graduation goes virtual

The University at Albany graduation for the class of 2020 is online as the university honored its newest graduates during the coronavirus pandemic. Watch here.

___

Saturday: Rensselaer County reports 28th death

Rensselaer County officials said there was one new COVID-19 death, a 92-year-old woman who resided at the Diamond Hill adult care facility in Schaghticoke. This brings the county death toll to 28 including 19 involving nursing home residents.

The county reported five new COVID-19 cases Saturday. The county has 463 confirmed cases. Eight residents are hospitalized, with none in ICU. The hospitalizations include four at Samaritan, one at Ellis, one at St. Peter's, one at Albany Medical Center and one at the Veteran's Administration hospitals.

There are more than 650 residents in monitor quarantine. There have been 5,699 tests administered to county residents. The county announced seven cases as cleared for recovery, bringing the total cases cleared to 296.

___

Saturday: Horse racing tracks, Watkins Glen can open June 1 without fans

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said horse racing tracks across the state and Watkins Glen International Racetrack will be allowed to open without fans as of June 1. The state will issue guidance on how they can open safely reopen in the coming week. Read more Cuomo also announced Westchester and Suffolk Counties are now eligible to resume elective surgeries and ambulatory care. ___

Saturday: Comptroller: State sees drastic tax revenue declines

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said monthly tax income for April fell $7.9 billion from April 2019, a massive 68.4 percent drop as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the three-month extension of the state income tax filing deadline, which was also related to the outbreak. All governmental funds monthly tax receipts totaled just $3.7 billion, he said.

See the monthly cash report released Friday.

___

Saturday: Total COVID-19 cases and deaths reported in the Capital Region

Albany County: 1,451 cases, 30 hospitalized, 957 recoveries, 68 deaths

Rensselaer County: 463 cases, 8 hospitalized, 296 recoveries, 28 deaths

Saratoga County: 417 cases, 6 hospitalized, 328 recoveries, 14 deaths

Schenectady County: 594 cases, 14 hospitalized, 531 recoveries, 28 deaths

___

Read more updates from Saturday
- President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered closure of the Kenya-Tanzania border but allowed cargo vehicle to move across

- On the other hand, President Magufuli's administration ordered complete closure of the border with drivers being allowed to drop goods at the border point

- The issue has led to huge traffic snarl up at the border with drivers who were travelling to Tanzania left stranded not knowing what to do

Kenyan truck drivers who were transporting goods to and from Tanzania have been left stranded at Taveta-Holili border point after Tanzanian authorities closed the border indefinitely.

Tanzanian Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu said President John Pombe Magufuli's government had banned any trucks carrying goods from leaving or entering its borders.

READ ALSO: Wajir: Suspected al-Shabaab militants attack, evict 26 officers from station

Traffic snarl up at Taveta-Holili after Tanzania banned vehicles from entering the country. Photo: Citizen

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Balozi wa China nchini Israel apatikana ameuawa nyumbani kwake

Speaking to members of the press on Sartuday, May 16, Ummy said for anyone ferrying goods into Tanzania, the driver will stop at the border point, make the payments, offload the truck and head back to their country of origin.

Also, cargo meant to leave Tanzania will be left at the border for the owner from the other countries, especially Kenya, to come collect it from there.

"All trucks with goods owned by a Tanzanian, and need to enter Tanzania, or they belong to someone else but the order was made by a Tanzanian, find another truck to take the goods to the final destination. Vehicles from any other countries will not be allowed," she stated.

READ ALSO: KDF soldiers kill 5 al-Shabaab militants in Somalia, recover 5 AK-47 guns in foiled attack

Tanzania's directive came after President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered closure of the borders with Tanzania only allowing cargo vehicles to move across.

"There will be a cessation of movement of persons and any passenger-ferrying automobiles and vehicles into and out of the Republic of Kenya through the Kenya-Tanzania international border except for cargo vehicles with effect from midnight tonight, Saturday, May 16, 2020," said Uhuru.

The other affected border was the Kenya-Somalia border which was also ordered to close down by President Uhuru.

Tanzania's move has been criticised highly with many people calling out Magufuli for what they say was an overreaction to the move by Kenya which will hurt businesses in both countries.

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
Today's National Famine Commemoration took place in a closed ceremony in St Stephen's Green due to Covid-19.

The ceremony was conducted in line with Covid-19 health and safety guidelines like the recent Easter and Arbour Hill Commemorations and was not open to the public.

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan laid a wreath on behalf of the Irish people.

The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps on behalf of the Diplomatic community also laid a wreath while Aimee Banks sang Brendan Grahams Crucan na bPaiste and the National Anthem was performed by an Army Piper.

In a speech in remembrance of all those who suffered or perished during the Famine, Minister Madigan said:

"In her poem Quarantine, the late Eavan Boland movingly evoked the efforts of a loving husband to support his wife with the last of his strength, when she said: ' She was sick with famine fever and could not keep up/He lifted her and put her on his back.'

"The heroes of the Famine that we honour today also sought to lift and carry those who fell or could not keep up.

Minister Madigan quoted the late Eavan Boland in her speech commemorating those who suffered as a result of the famine.

"That same spirit of caring and self sacrifice that is embedded in the caring professions, is being seen again today as our health workers embrace the challenge of caring for those affected by Covid-19.

"We honour and respect these modern-day heroes and value their courage. Perhaps we can best show our appreciation for their work, and the efforts of their forebears during the Great Famine, by adhering to those small acts of heroism we are called upon to perform in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and to come though these testing times, just as our ancestors once did.

The ceremony was due to be held in Buncrana in Co. Donegal this year, but has been postponed until next year.

The Minister unveiled a plaque marking the first Annual Famine Commemoration held in the Custom House in 2008 which later this year will be installed in the grounds of the Custom House.
(Newser)  President Trump, welcome back to the White Housenow what do you think of Barack Obama's latest jabs? That was pretty much the exchange between reporters and Trump after he returned Sunday from Camp David, the Guardian reports. "So I think we had a great weekend," Trump said of his time at the presidential retreat. "We did a lot of terrific meetings. Tremendous progress is being made on many fronts, including coming up with a cure for this horrible plague that has beset our country. It was a working weekend, it was a good weekend. A lot of very good things have happened."

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That's when a reporter asked for Trump's thoughts on Obama's online commencement speech for historically black colleges on Saturdayin which Obama said that "this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they're doing." Trump admitted he hadn't heard Obama's remarks, per the Hill, but he did say this: "Look, he was an incompetent president, that's all I can say. Grossly incompetent. Thank you." And he walked away. See it happen here. (Trump recently tweeted "OBAMAGATE!" and Obama responded with a one-word answer.)
Researchers and engineers watch the Long March 5B rocket being assembled at a plant in Hainan on Feb 12. CHINA DAILY

Engineers celebrate the rocket's successful arrival at its Wenchang launch pad on April 29. SU DONG/FOR CHINA DAILY

Li Dong (left), chief designer of the Long March 5 rocket family at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, talks with a colleague at the launch center on May 5. SU DONG/FOR CHINA DAILY

The reentry module of the prototype of the country's new-generation manned spacecraft is tested at a plant. CHINA ACADEMY OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY

The rocket is moved on its launch pad at the Wenchang center on April 29. SU DONG/FOR CHINA DAILY

The reentry module of the prototype of a new-generation Chinese spacecraft is inspected after landing in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Friday. WANG JIANGBO/FOR CHINA DAILY

The rocket is assembled at the plant in Hainan on March 9. CHINA DAILY
Tunis/Tunisia  President of the Republic Kais Said went Tuesday evening to the Directorate General of Intervention Units at the Bouchoucha barracks.

The Head of State shared an Iftar meal with senior security officials of the Ministry of Interior and members of intervention units belonging to different corps, according to a statement from the Presidency of the Republic.

The President, who was welcomed on his arrival by Interior Minister Hichem Mechichi and senior security officials, saluted the flag as the national anthem was performed and inquired about the arrangements and promptness of the security units.

He learnt about the efforts deployed by the national anti-terrorist brigade to combat the spread of coronavirus, including the provision of an equipped ambulance to officers of the Directorate General of Intervention Units in the Greater Tunis area and the regions.

The Head of State praised the efforts made by the offices and staff of the Directorate General, commending their dedication and abnegation in the accomplishment of their noble mission at the service of the homeland
Five Iranian tankers likely carrying at least $45.5 million worth of gasoline and similar products are now sailing to Venezuela, part of a wider deal between the two U.S.-sanctioned nations amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.

The tankers' voyage come after Venezuela's socialist leader Nicolas Maduro

For Iran, the tankers represent a way to bring money into its cash-starved Shiite theocracy and put its own pressure on the U.S., which under President Donald Trump has pursued maximalist campaigns against both nations.

But the strategy invites the chance of a renewed confrontation between the Islamic Republic and America both in the Persian Gulf, which saw a series of escalating incidents often involving the oil industry last year, and wider afield.

This is like a new one for everyone, said Capt. Ranjith Raja, an analyst who tracks oil shipments by sea at the data firm Refinitiv, of the gasoline shipments. We haven't seen anything like this before.

All the vessels involved belong to Iranian state-owned or state-linked companies, flying under the Iranian flag. Since a pressure campaign on Iranian vessels began,

The ships all appear to have been loaded from the Persian Gulf Star Refinery near Bandar Abbas, Iran, which makes gasoline, Raja said. The ships then traveled around the Arabian Peninsula and through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea, according to data collected from the ship's Automatic Identification System, or AIS, which acts as a tracking beacon.

One of the vessels, the Clavel, listed its AIS destination as Caracas beginning May 12, according to log data from ship-tracking website MarineTraffic.com. The vessel later changed its destination as TO ORDER two days later, though the ship remains on a route that will see it leave the Mediterranean Sea and be in position to sail onto Venezuela.

Another tanker, the Forest, changed its AIS destination to S. AMERICA TO ORDER on May 14.

Three others, the Faxon, the Fortune and the Petunia, all appear on routes that could take them to Venezuela. Given the crushing U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran, also-sanctioned Venezuela appears to be the country that would have nothing to lose from accepting the shipments. Raja said Refinitiv had no data on any Iranian gasoline shipment ever going to South America before.

TankerTrackers.com, a website focused on the oil trade at sea, first reported the ships likely were heading to Venezuela.

The capacity of the five ships is some 175,000 metric tons. On the open market, the gasoline and product carried within them would be worth at least $45.5 million, though Iran likely reached a discounted, non-cash deal with Caracas given the circumstances the two nations face, Raja said.

As news about the tankers grew, an Iranian news agency called Nour, believed to have ties to the country's Supreme National Security Council, published an item on its website early Saturday trying to link a U.S. military exercise in the Caribbean to the tankers. That council includes members of Iran's civilian government, its military and its paramilitary, hard-line Revolutionary Guard.

If the United States, like pirates, intends to create insecurity on international highways, it will take a dangerous risk that will certainly not go unnoticed, the agency warned in its brief report.

The Nour item, later picked up by other semiofficial news agencies in Iran, follows a pattern by Tehran of issuing veiled threats through such reports even as officials don't directly acknowledge them.

Quoted by a website affiliated to Iranian state television, Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei on Saturday said he did not have any information on the ships.

We have to sell our oil and we have access to its paths, Rabiei said. Iran and Venezuela are two independent nations that have had trade with each other and they will in the future.

But that all changed late Sunday, when Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying the U.S. piracy threatened the disruption of Irans fuel transmission to Venezuela." Abbas Araghchi, Irans deputy foreign minister, issued a similar warning to the Swiss ambassador in Tehran, who looks out for American interests there.

It remains unclear how the U.S. will respond to the tankers. On Thursday, the U.S. Treasury, State Department and Coast Guard issued an advisory warning the maritime industry of illegal shipping and sanctions-dodging tactics by countries including Iran.

The advisory repeated an earlier promise of up to $15 million for information disrupting the Guard's finances. It also warned anyone knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport or marketing of petroleum faced U.S. sanctions.

The U.S. State Department and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Analysts already have been warning about the growing chance for a renewed confrontation between the U.S. and Iran, whose government

In April, the U.S. accused Iran of conducting

Iran seized ships last summer and the U.S. accuses it of attacking tankers in the region amid tensions over Trump unilaterally withdrawing America from Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers in 2018.
New Delhi, May 17 : On the completion of six years of the Narendra Modi government, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released a video on its Twitter handle -- 6 saal bemisaal -- on Saturday, the opposition Congress, here on Sunday, termed it as a show of "arrogance and hubrios".

Criticising the BJP, senior Congress leader Manish Tewari said on the day when 24 migrant workers, desperately trying to survive amid the BJP government's apathy, were killed in a road accident, and millions of Indians were left to fend for themselves, the ruling party was claiming 'incomparable six years'.

The BJP in a 9-minute video claimed that after taking over in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was working for the country's development and also making India the 'Vishwaguru' (teacher to the world).

As many as 24 migrant workers, trying to reach home amid lockdown, were killed and 37 injured in a road accident in the Auraiya district of UP around 2.30 a.m. on Saturday.

Calling the BJP being insensitive when the migrant crisis is raging across the nation, the Congress said it was not the time of celebration when hapless workers were dying on roads.

Anand Sharma, another senior Congress leader, said, "They don't understand the seriousness of the situation". More people would die of starvation than Covid-19 as the government was doing nothing for the poor and the downtrodden.

The Congress also demanded 150 days of mandatory MNREGA work with Rs 300 as wages.

Modi is the first BJP Prime Minister to win two consecutive terms and form the majority government.

"Lakhs of men, women and children are on the march, desperate to get back to their homes. The biggest migration since Independence is underway, triggered by policies divorced from India's ground realities and ignoring the needs of our most vulnerable brothers and sisters, who have been left to fend for themselves," Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday.

The government had failed to formulate and define plans to tackle this humanitarian crisis caused by the nationwide lockdown, he added.
Cutting Losses in Afghanistan: Ongoing Attacks Throw Trump-Taliban Pact Into Doubt

Sputnik News

14:25 GMT 16.05.2020(updated 16:24 GMT 16.05.2020)

After invading in 2011 to depose the Taliban government and pursue its Al-Qaeda allies, the US now finds itself negotiating for peace with those same men, and largely in the absence of serious results.

Two bloody massacres carried out against civilians in Afghanistan this week, one of which killed two newborn babies, have raised serious questions about the viability of the recently signed US-Taliban peace deal, potentially suggesting that the Trump administration may be better off cutting its losses and abandoning the war-ravaged country altogether.

As part of its so-called 'Agreement For Bringing Peace to Afghanistan,' also known as 'The Doha Deal,' the Trump Administration sought to bring to a close America's longest running war, which still costs the American taxpayer, according to US government auditors, approximately $4 billion per year. Under the deal, the US would cut its forces in Afghanistan down from roughly 14,000 to 8,600 my mid-July if the Taliban kept to its commitment to reduce violence and engage with the central government. A full withdrawal would ensue within 14 months thereafter.

Furthermore, intra-Afghan talks between the Taliban and the Kabul-based government of Ashraf Ghani were supposed to be initiated on March 10, but both sides have yet to seriously commit to that effort. When they tried to do so in April, little progress was made and the Taliban's representatives walked out, slamming efforts as "fruitless."

Two recent incidents further cast any idea of 'peace on the horizon' into question. On Tuesday, May 12, 24 people were killed when gunmen disguised as police officers stormed a maternity ward - an attack that evoked nationwide revulsion because it targeted women in labour, new mothers and two babies. Then, on the same day, at least 32 people were killed in the eastern province of Nangarhar when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vest at a funeral for a local Afghan commander.

Shortly after, in another attack, a truck packed with explosives blew up near a court in the eastern city of Gardez, killing five people. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

President Trump has consistently voiced his desire to withdraw American troops from the Afghan quagmire.

Back in February, during his State of the Union Address to the US Congress, Trump declared that he was "working to finally end America's longest war and bring our troops back home."

"It's not our function to serve other nations as a law enforcement agency," said the president, echoing the longstanding desire among much of the American electorate to see an end to the US' 'forever wars.'

Yet, the president's ability to reduce US troops and make his pledge a reality is contingent upon a number of factors that are arguably very difficult to achieve, and these are highlighted by the recent attacks.

The agreement says that the Taliban is to not allow territory to be used by Al-Qaeda-like groups. Yet, the local Daesh* affiliate, ISIS Khorasan (ISISK) - which is said to be made of up of the most radical and disgruntled ex-Taliban fighters who oppose negotiations with the US - claimed responsibility for the attack on the commander's funeral, raising questions about the Taliban's ability - or perhaps even its willingness - to prevent terrorist organisations from operating on Afghan soil. No group has claimed responsibility for the hospital atrocity.

While the US has blamed both attacks on ISISK, the Afghan government says that they were carried out by the Taliban. Indeed, the ambiguity surrounding such attacks only further highlights the difficulty the US will face in trying to bring the war to a peaceful end on the deal's agreed terms.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation has been widely quoted as saying that, "there are forces such as ISIS [Khorasan] that doesn't see peace in Afghanistan in its interests and are trying to increase violence, to undermine the prospect for peace. We're urging both sides not to fall into that trap."

Moreover, allegations that Pakistani intelligence has long fuelled extremist insurgencies in neighbouring Afghanistan in order to keep its chief geopolitical adversary, India, out of the country also suggests that the Taliban may not be able to prevent such groups from using Afghanistan as a staging ground, even if it wanted to.

Afghanistan's National Security Advisor, Hamdullah Mohib, is quoted as saying of the Taliban that, "[if they] cannot control the violence, or their sponsors [Pakistan] have now subcontracted their terror to other entities [ISISK] -- which was one of our primary concerns from the beginning then their seems little point in continuing to engage Taliban in 'peace talks.'"

Following Tuesday's attacks, President Ashraf Ghani announced that the Kabul government had decided to resume offensive operations against the Taliban, likely to further fuel the cycle of violence and undermine the prospect for intra-Afghan talks, which is a central demand of the US-negotiated peace deal. In response, the Taliban has pledged to return to hostilities against government forces.

The spike in violence undermines another central tenet of the US' pact with the Islamist militants that was reportedly hashed out in secret: that the Taliban would work to cut violence in the country by 80%. It appears that so far, the Taliban leadership has been unable to meet that requirement.

President Trump has already had to brake off peace talks - only to reinitiate them later on - with the Taliban once back in September 2019 when a surge in attacks led to the death of an American soldier in Kabul.

However, despite the explosion of seemingly intractable violence, the US maintains that it will continue to withdraw troops as intended from the troubled South Asian country.

Indeed, as the November 2020 election creeps closer, President Trump likely has his eye on the Afghan exit in order to fulfil his central campaign pledge of ending that long and costly war, with or without peace.

This prediction is only further supported by comments made by US Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, back in December 2019 that, in line with the Trump Administration's National Security Strategy that prioritises competition with China, "[troops currently in Afghanistan will] be redeployed to the Indo-Pacific to face off our greatest challenge in terms of the great power competition that's vis-a-vis China." Therefore, Esper said, troops would be brought out of Afghanistan "with or without" a peace agreement.

In other words, considering that peace is unlikely to take hold in Afghanistan any time soon, it appears likely that the Trump administration will be increasingly looking to cut its losses and leave the country.

*Daesh, also known as ISIS/IS/Islamic State, is a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries.

 Sputnik

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Hundreds of residents of Yangayya community in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State on Saturday blocked a highway to protest repeated attacks by armed bandits on the community.

Residents said the protest followed an attack in which many residents lost their valuables, many injured and women raped.

The residents said the bandits first attacked the community on Wednesday after iftar (break of fast) when the largely Muslim residents were about to go for their night (Isha) prayer in the mosque. They invaded the community, reportedly using over 70 motorcycles, looted shops and went away with valuables.

The bandits returned on Saturday around 8 a.m. During the attack, they raped and physically assaulted many women, with some of the women later hospitalised, a resident said, asking not to be named for security reasons.

He said following the Saturday attack, the residents trooped to the main road in protest, blocking motorists, targeting and molesting government officials who use luxury cars. The residents also used derogatory language against Governor Aminu Masari and President Muhammadu Buhari.

READ ALSO:

We are under siege with repeated attacks. It appears to us that the police DPO in Jibia has done his best. He is overwhelmed because other community in Jibia such as Gangara, Tankuri, Bugaje, Zandam, Mazanya, Jar kuka, Kanwa, Kange, Falale, Gakurdi and Nasarawa are also under repeated armed bandits attacks.

We are appealing to the higher authorities to come to our rescue before they wipe us away. This is because when you are robbed of your valuables and left with nothing, it is equivalent to death, one of the protesters said.

The police spokesperson in Katsina, Gambo Isah, did not respond to calls seeking official comment on the development.

Katsina is one of the states in the North-west that have suffered from repeated attacks by armed bandits on communities. Other states include Kaduna and Zamfara.
Anyone with information about these or other crimes can call the appropriate Crimestoppers number. Callers can be anonymous; a reward of as much as $1,000 will be paid for information leading to an arrest.



Crimestoppers of Morgan, Scott and Cass Counties

Submit tips anonymously at tipsubmit.com, by calling 217-243-7300 or by text messaging CRIMES (274637) with payout as the first word of the tip.

 Crimestoppers is seeking information to assist the Jacksonville Police Department, which received seven reports of vehicles being entered illegally overnight May 10-11. All of the reported vehicles were unlocked. Handbags, credit cards and cash were removed.

The locations include the 600 block of North Church Street, 2000 block of Mound Road and 200 block of South Main Street. Those in these areas who might have noticed suspicious activity on an exterior camera are asked to contact the Jacksonville Police Department or Crimestoppers.



Two Rivers Crime Stoppers

Serves Calhoun, Greene and Jersey counties

Submit tips to 1-800-300-2590



Schuyler County Crimestoppers

Call 217-322-3326



Pike County Crimestoppers

Call 217-285-1500



Wanted on warrants

The following are being sought on arrest warrants, according to the various sheriffs departments. The addresses listed are the last known addresses provided by the warrants and may be outdated.

Morgan County

 Quinton A. Gause, 32, of 840 W. Lafayette Ave. is being sought on a warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court on charges of speeding and driving while license is suspended.

He is a black male standing 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

 Macie N. Parrent, 33, of Independence, Missouri, is being sought on a warrant accusing her of failing to appear in court on a charge of possession of a stolen vehicle.

She is a white female standing 4 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing 145 pounds. She has red hair and green eyes.
Chinese mask maker Dasheng Manufacture Co. Ltd has dismissed reports claiming that its N95 masks shipped to the United States were found to have ear loops and hence, were counterfeit.

According to reports, Dasheng has said that they don't manufacture N95 masks with ear loops and that they have never shipped such masks. The original N95 masks come with headbands that stretch across the back of the head, making it a tighter fit.

Read: Donald Trump: Finalized 3 Contracts To Produce 39 Million N95 Masks In 90 Days

As per reports, Wu Shengrong, chairman of Dasheng has said that his company never exported N95 masks with ear loops. Wu said that the masks they have exported to the United States had headbands.

Ever since the reports of counterfeit N95 masks have emerged, the company has posted a warning on its website stating, "We don't have any distributors, dealers or branch factories. Beware of counterfeits."

Read: IIT-Kanpur, Lucknow Institute Develop Alternative To N95 Masks

According to reports, the counterfeit masks were first identified in Los Angeles and were stamped falsely indicating they were certified by the US government. But in an Associated Press investigation, it was revealed that the masks had ear loops on them rather than the original headbands. The boxes that arrived in Los Angeles had the Dasheng logo on it, following which the company denied sending any shipment of N95 masks without headbands.

Read: Nurses Suspended For Refusing COVID-19 Care Without N95 Mask

However, despite the company dismissing reports of shipping counterfeit masks with ear loops, one of the exporter told the press that he is confident that his shipment came from the company's factory in China and he was told the same by his partner residing in the country.

Masks with ear loops are cheaper and easier to produce as it can be done just using glue and other materials. While the masks with headbands are generally more expensive because the bands are stitched to the face-covering and it is more effective in filtering airborne particles.

COVID-19 in the US

The United States is the worst affected country in the world with over 1.4 million confirmed cases and more than 89,000 deaths. According to figures on the Worldometer website, the United States recorded over 12,000 new infections in the last 24 hours along with 561 new deaths. Currently, there are 10,76,398 active cases in the United States with 16,060 of them under critical condition.

Read: Patriots Use Team Plane To Help Mass., Fly N95 In From China
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Until last December, people living in House District 42  a district entirely contained within the boundaries of Taos County  were represented for more than a quarter century by Democrat Roberto Bobby Gonzales.

But when the 2021 legislative session rolls around next January, District 42 will be represented by its third person in the span of 16 months. Thats due to the domino effect that started with the death of state Sen. Carlos Cisneros, a Questa Democrat, from a heart attack last September. Gonzales was appointed by the governor to fill Cisneross District 6 senate seat. Taos Mayor Dan Barrone was the Taos County Commissions pick to replace Gonzales and represent District 42 in the Roundhouse in the past legislative session, but he is not looking to keep the seat.

That makes the June 2 primary election essentially the semifinals in the competition to become the districts next state representative, with Democrats Mark Gallegos and Kristina Ortez matched on one side of the bracket, and Republicans Linda Calhoun and Paul Anthony Martinez on the other. The winners advance to the District 42 championship during the November general election.

Democrats

Its notable that Gallegos, who, aside from being mayor of Questa is a Taos County commissioner, voted in the majority when the commission chose Barrone to fill the District 42 seat on a 4-1 vote in December. Notable not only because he picked Barrone over Ortez, another of the applicants, but because he picked Barrone over himself. Gallegos, too, had applied for the position.

Efforts to reach Gallegos, 49, last week were unsuccessful and he did not respond to a Journal questionnaire sent to all legislative candidates.

The Journal visited with Gallegos at El Monte Carlo Lounge, the bar and liquor store he runs in Questa, in 2017. At the time, the village was working to rebrand itself as the Gateway to the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument as it looked for ways to stimulate the local economy in the wake of the Chevron molybdenum mine closure three years earlier.

The idea was to take advantage of the regions ample outdoor recreation opportunities  fishing, hunting, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, rafting and the like  to attract not tourists, but what he called an outdoor adventurer clientele.

He recently said on a virtual candidate forum that there needs to be more vocational training opportunities for students in Taos County, according to the Taos News, and that if elected he would like to serve on House committees that deal with agricultural issues.

Gallegos, who has been Questas mayor since 2014 and spent 10 years as a village councilor before that, said that he hadnt raised any money for his campaign.

My strength is that Im out there and Im engaged with the public, the News reported Gallegos as saying.

Ortez has been involved in politics before, generally in her role as an environmental advocate, but to actually become a candidate herself was a bit of a leap, she said.

It all came about when she and other women met last September and talked about finding women willing to run for office, as there were several seats that were opening up at the local level.

The next day, she said she got calls from four women urging her to become a candidate.

That was really the impetus, the shot in the arm I needed, she said. So I talked to my daughters, who are 6 and 9. After I got their permission, I went forward.

Ortez jumped at the next opportunity to become a candidate, which was applying to fill Cisneros senate seat. Even though she was nominated by the Los Alamos and Santa Fe county commissions, Gov. Lujan Grisham picked Rep. Gonzales to fill the senate seat.

After that, I realized that it would be best to go for (Gonzaless) seat and not press pause, so I did, she said.

She didnt get that either, but when Barrone decided not to run to retain the seat, she kept going.

Ortez, 46, says she comes from humble beginnings, raised in the central San Joaquin Valley of California by a single mother who was a probation officer. Her older brother was the first in the family to attend college and he encouraged her to do the same. She did and was accepted at Harvard.

After graduation, she did some work for internet startups, but what changed her life was a trip to Indonesia in 2001.

Thats where I had my environmental awakening, she said. It struck me at that moment, and took me being several thousand miles from my home, to realize the devastation that happens to the land.

She and her now former husband moved to New Mexico in 2008, first to Albuquerque, where she had her daughters, and then to Taos. She worked for the Sierra Club and Somos, a literary foundation, before becoming executive director of the Taos Land Trust, a position shes held for six years.

It was a crisis management position, she said of the time she first took over. Im really proud of being able to work with other folks to bring an organization back to life.

Ortezs short career as a politician has gained some traction. She won the endorsement of several groups, including Conservation Voters New Mexico, the Sierra Club, two teachers unions, AFSCME Council 18 and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, among others.

Republicans

Though District 42 residents have been represented by Democrats on the House and Senate side of the Roundhouse for decades, Linda Calhoun believes she can break through.

If I didnt think so, I wouldnt be trying, she said.

Calhoun is mayor of Red River, a resort town north of Taos along the Enchanted Circle, and has been for the past 14 years.

A Texas native, shes called Red River home for more than 40 years.

I graduated college in May 1978 and moved here two weeks later, said Calhoun.

She and her husband, Ted, own a grocery store and gift shop in town, and are partners with their oldest grandson in Red River Brewery (a blended family, the couple have been married for 27 years, have five children and eight grandchildren). She also is a licensed real estate broker.

Calhoun, 65, touts her years of involvement with various entities as qualifying experiences. She started on the town council in 1996 and became mayor 10 years later. She served on the New Mexico Municipal League, including time as president, and is vice-chair of the New Mexico Mayors Caucus. She was also one of just two Republicans chosen by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to serve on her transition team. More recently, she was selected to serve on the statewide Mayors Council on Economic Recovery to address issues surrounding the coronavirus outbreak.

I think it goes to the fact that Im very fair minded and I dont get too hung up on partisanship, she said of being chosen to committees by Lujan Grishams administration. Ive been a nonpartisan mayor for 14 years and I know what it takes to get work done and not have to worry about politics. Im much more focused on getting things done than I am about being a Democrat or Republican.

Her campaign website shares her stances on education, crime, veterans, affordable housing and protecting natural resources.

Her opponent in the Republican primary is Paul Anthony Martinez, who describes himself as a Christian conservative Constitutionalist.

Some of his views are decidedly Democratic, though. He believes Citizens United was a mistake, and that corporations have too much power and influence. Hes critical of former Gov. Susana Martinezs administration, says he didnt vote for President Trump in 2016 and probably wont this year.

Martinez is also a passionate land grant advocate.

Im an activist by nature, says the 56-year-old Martinez, who recalled participating in a protest against the environmental damage being done by the Questa molybdenum mining operation when he was a freshman in high school.

His father was an employee of the mine and his mother was president of the school board at the time.

Martinez finished high school in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and attended Highlands University for several semesters, but didnt graduate. He says he spent much of his career as a firefighter, eventually becoming a Type I fighter task force leader. He says he now works as a consultant, including work as a water dowser.

Martinez says hes running because theres a need for leadership and he feels he can provide it.

People need leadership and leadership that involves peoples rights, he said. My whole goal is help the people. People need to hear the truth. Truth and justice are more important to our people right now than anything else.

Martinez, who has never been married and has no children, admitted to a domestic violence charge filed against him in the 1990s and receiving a deferred sentence.

It saved my life, he says now.
Rove McManus has paid tribute to late Hollywood actor Fred Willard.

He looked back at their time working together in an Instagram post on Sunday, after it was revealed the comedic legend died of natural causes on Friday, aged 86.

The pair shared the stage while filming an episode of improvise show Set List: Stand Up Without a Net in 2013, that Rove looks back on with fond memories.

'What a loss': Rove McManus (L) paid tribute to late Hollywood actor Fred Willard (R) on Sunday, sharing a picture of them working together on Set List: Stand Up Without a Net in 2013

'They say never meet your idols but that was not the case with Fred,' he began.

'As delightful, sweet, funny and whip-smart in person as he was on screen, to get to perform with him and watch him in full flight was something I will forever cherish.

'He had a delivery all his own that made him steal every scene he had in everything from Waiting For Guffman, Best In Show, Spinal Tap, Anchorman to Modern Family. At 86, it feels like he still had so much comedy to give us. What a loss.'

'As delightful, sweet, funny and whip-smart in person as he was on screen, to get to perform with him and watch him in full flight was something I will forever cherish,' wrote Rove

Comic talent Fred Willard passed away on May 15, aged 86.

The Best In Show actor died from natural causes, his rep Glenn Schwartz confirmed to Rolling Stone.

He was well known for his roles in Christopher Guest mockumentaries like A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration and This Is Spinal Tap, also recently appearing on the hit series Modern Family.

RIP: Comic Fred Willard passed away on May 15 of natural causes, aged 86. Pictured in 2018

The news was first shared by actress Jamie Lee Curtis, the wife of Willard's longtime collaborator Guest.

'How lucky that we all got to enjoy Fred Willard's gifts,' Curtis tweeted.

'He is with his missed Mary now. Thanks for the deep belly laughs Mr. Willard.'

Fred's wife of 50 years, Mary, died in 2018.
Protesters gather outside a Boston courthouse where a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma related to the opioid epidemic was heard Aug. 2. (Charles Krupa / Associated Press)

The countrys other major public health crisis  the prescription opioid epidemic  has killed far more Americans than have died so far from COVID-19. Yet a major injustice to the opioid victims and their families is playing out mostly in the shadows in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York. That is where Purdue Pharma, the privately owned drug company responsible for the blockbuster OxyContin narcotic painkiller, filed for bankruptcy protection last September.

U.S. business history is littered with huge companies seeking the safety afforded only through bankruptcy courts: a halt to all pending civil litigation. That is no small matter for Purdue since over 2,600 lawsuits charge it was instrumental in creating Americas opioid crisis through deceptive promotion and marketing.

What sets Purdues bankruptcy apart is that Judge Robert D. Drain of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, N.Y., extended the no-litigation shield to eight members of the Sackler family, which owns the company. They have been individually named in many lawsuits for their roles in running Purdue and profiting from the opioid epidemic.

Many legal scholars were surprised that the judge  who acknowledged his order was extraordinary  protected the Sacklers since they were not parties in the bankruptcy case. None had declared insolvency. In fact, OxyContins $35 billion in sales had made the family one of the nation's richest. In 2015, Forbes estimated the Sacklers net worth at $14 billion.

The unprecedented high-stakes legal maneuvering left many victims and relatives convinced that the judge must take the rare step of appointing an independent examiner to thoroughly probe the Sacklers. Otherwise, the family might reach a global settlement of all opioid litigation while walking away with most of its enormous OxyContin fortune.

The Sacklers have agreed to pay at least $3 billion toward any settlement, but many suspect the family is significantly understating its wealth and might have secretly transferred money abroad or stripped assets from the company before filing for bankruptcy. The widespread distrust is fueled by the familys longstanding secrecy when it comes to how inextricably bound its finances are with Purdue. Three generations have run the company since the family acquired it in 1952.

Story continues

Over five years of researching the history of the American pharmaceutical industry, I discovered declassified FBI files and never-before-published Senate papers that revealed the Sackler family had created a byzantine business empire reaching back to the 1950s. They secretly owned stakes in dozens of companies that were ostensibly rivals competing for the same drug promotion or government research grants. From 1991 to 2016 the Sacklers ran an OxyContin tax scheme involving sibling companies to Purdue in the United Kingdom and Bermuda that saved the company an estimated $1.4 billion in corporate taxes and the family tens of millions. (The U.K. changed its tax law as a result.)

Last year, John Coffee Jr., director of Columbia Law Schools Center on Corporate Governance, concluded in a report prepared for Utahs Division of Consumer Protection that the Purdue board was kept a Sackler-family dominated club. Coffee called this dysfunctional corporate governance and said there is little to distinguish the control that the Sacklers exercised over Purdue from the control that the Godfather held over his Mafia family.

The Sacklers have benefited from the arcane and opaque nature of bankruptcy proceedings. They have ostensibly converted the courts protective order into an injunction to evade. They redacted information in the small number of documents they have made available and have not produced any files from the more than 125 mostly foreign companies they controlled.

On May 12, Drain granted a request from 24 attorneys general that allows them to issue dozens of subpoenas directly to banks instead of having to pass them first by the Sacklers elite defense team. Still, it was only a partial victory. The Sacklers retained the right to review and redact information, and whatever is produced as a result of the subpoenas will be classified as professionals eyes only information. That means none of it will ever be made public.

Many victim activists worry that the Sacklers might succeed in hiding the full extent of their wealth and that any settlement the bankruptcy court ultimately sanctions will forever leave unanswered the many troubling questions about the full extent of the familys role in igniting and fanning the opioid epidemic for its own profit. A bankruptcy-approved settlement means no further discovery, trial or any admission of responsibility by any Sackler.

To prevent this, the bankruptcy judge must immediately appoint an independent examiner with broad investigative powers. It has happened in only a handful of complex bankruptcies, including cases involving Lehman Brothers, Tribune Co. (a former owner of The Times) and Enron. Twenty prominent law school professors pleaded for an examiner to be appointed in the Purdue case but were ignored last November. The PAIN activist group recently launched an online petition demanding the appointment of an examiner in the case.

An independent examiner would have the authority to shine an overdue spotlight on the full breadth of the Sacklers finances, enabling victims to better decide whether the family is making a fair settlement offer. An examiner would also serve a broader public benefit.

The examiner in Enrons bankruptcy took 18 months to produce a blistering four-volume, 4,500-page report. Such a report gives us perhaps the only chance of knowing what really transpired at Sackler-run Purdue during the lethal opioid crisis. There is no other mechanism in the bankruptcy system for such a public accounting besides the appointment of an independent examiner. Victims families and the thousands of individual plaintiffs who have suffered from the ravages of OxyContin deserve no less.

Gerald Posners latest book is Pharma: Greed, Lies, and the Poisoning of America.
The U.S. Navy hasn't fared well recently, judging by news stories. In short order, it faced a major controversy when a U.S. Navy SEAL team operator was charged with war crimes. Taking a rare step, President Trump intervened in the matter. Most charges were dropped, and the accused was allowed to retire with his pension. This resulted in the resignation of the secretary of the Navy. Next, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, deployed in the Pacific, suffered an outbreak of COVID-19. Its captain broke the chain of command and appealed directly for assistance, fearing contamination of his entire crew. That matter remains under review by the secretary of defense in the aftermath of its handling by the thenacting secretary of the Navy, who also resigned. Third, the Navy is also at the front of the current COVID pandemic with two hospital ships engaged in support of the effort, and a new acting secretary, James McPherson, has been appointed. The Navy has its third leader in less than a year  not ideal for any large organization.

The Navy faces challenging times, although McPherson, with impressive credentials and experience, certainly seems up to the task.

If all this isn't enough, the Navy has now decided to go after a dog  a wounded combat hero at that. Last month, a new book, No Ordinary Dog, by Will Chesney, was released. Chesney, a retired Navy SEAL teams member, was a military dog-handler who, with his dog Cairo, took part in hundreds of missions, including the 2011 secret Operation Neptune Spear against Osama bin Laden. The book describes the incredible bonding of handler and dog, and Cairo's integral role in the bin Laden mission and others. The book was vetted for classified material and cleared, and redactions appear in the text.

Yet the Navy has issued a cease and desist order because an image of the Trident, the coveted badge earned and worn by Navy SEAL team operators, appears on the book's jacket cover design. Obviously, trademark laws are important to prevent ill gotten gains by illicit use of government assets. But is there no room here for judgment and proportionality?

There is no shady operator here chasing a fast buck selling knockoff Tridents. This is a story of heroism, to inform readers of Cairo's valor under fire and bring recognition to the military canines that do so much but are barely recognized for it, implying that perhaps they should be. Cairo has passed on now, but that should not matter. The author, who was also seriously wounded, is devoting his retirement years to assisting combat veterans who have sustained head injuries. Profiteering is not close to being an issue here.

Of course, Cairo is not a human being and doesn't wear a Navy uniform to which the Trident and awards for valor are pinned. But does that really make a difference? Like other members of the SEAL teams, Cairo underwent intensive selection screening, completed rigorous training, obeyed orders, and executed dangerous missions. The Trident on the book cover identifies Cairo with the Navy SEAL teams and, in a symbolic way, allows him, deservedly, to "wear" it. Is this so wrong?

Given the current issues, should resources be directed to branding this heroic and poignant story as illicit? There are numerous books out there that display Tridents. Have the thousands of military surplus shops, toy stores, t-shirt-producers, gun showpromoters, etc., many of whom produce and sell items that include Tridents or images of them, been served with cease and desist orders? Where does this end? This is about a U.S. Navy SEAL team member who earned the Trident and bled for the country, not some wannabe. He writes how his dog did more than enough in the service of the country, including getting wounded, to be entitled to "wear" it as well. It's a very positive story.

Perhaps officials have missed this, but, truth be told, the book shines an enormously positive light on the Navy and is highly likely to boost its image and aid recruitment. Newly appointed acting secretary McPherson has a plateful of issues before him. Dimming this light should not be on his list.

Bill Semos is a retired teacher, served in the armed forces, and is a dog-lover.
Police say they have launched an investigation after Du Wei was found dead in his residence in Herzliya.

The Chinese ambassador to Israel, Du Wei, has been found dead in his home north of Tel Aviv, according to the Israeli foreign ministry and police.

No cause of death was given, and Israeli police on Sunday said it had opened an investigation.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed that Du was found in the early morning by the envoys staff in his home in Herzliya.

He said police were at the scene investigating the circumstances surrounding Dus death.

Media reports said according to an initial assessment, Du appears to have died of a cardiac arrest, but there was no official confirmation.

Yuval Rotem, Israels director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said he spoke with Chinas deputy ambassador to express condolences and pledged to help the Chinese embassy with anything they may need along the way, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.

Du had arrived in Israel in February. He had previously served as Chinas envoy to Ukraine, according to the embassys website.

He is survived by a wife and son, both of whom were not in Israel.



Israel enjoys good relations with China.

The ambassadors death comes just two days after he condemned comments by visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who denounced Chinese investments in Israel and accused China of hiding information about the coronavirus pandemic.
In six years of being in power, the present regime has systemically jolted the edifice of Indias federalism.

On the eve of Republic Day in 2012, Narendra Modi (then the chief minister of Gujarat) ) wrote in his blogpost that [i]t is high time the Centre realises that giving to the states what rightfully belongs to them will not weaken the Centre. The states must co-ordinate with the Union Government and not remain subservient to it. Co-operative and not coercive federalism must be the norm in our country.

Subsequently, these thoughts, that were fairly aligned with the constitutional vision, made their way into the BJPs 2014 election manifesto. Among other things, the BJP pledged to place Centre-State relations on an even keel through the process of consultation and strive for harmonious Centre-State relations. Subsequently, upon assuming office, in his inaugural speech to the Rajya Sabha, Modi reiterated his belief in cooperative federalism, and the need to work with the states.

However, its one thing to espouse majestic constitutional principles while in Opposition, and quite another to live up to them when in power. The manner in which the Central government under Modi has functioned underlines this fact.

In six years of being in power, the present regime has systemically jolted the edifice of Indias federal architecture  be it via unilateral high-handed imposition of suspicious projects (such as demonetisation), or passing pivotal legislations involving the states interests (such as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019), or the handling of the COVID-19 situation  all of this without a sliver of consultation with the states.

This article specifically illustrates how the battle against COVID-19 could have been fought better, and how the pandemics economic and social ramifications could have been mitigated in a more effective manner, had the Central government honoured its promise to abide by the spirit of cooperative federalism, and work with the states.

The deplorable tragedy of migrant labourers

The most tragic brunt of the haphazard imposition of the lockdown, is being borne by the migrant labourers.

Since there was no legal framework specifically tailored to deal with a pandemic of this magnitude in India, the Central government invoked the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to impose the nationwide lockdown. Sections 11(1) and 11(2) of the Act mandates the drawing up of a National Plan, for the whole country in consultation with the state Governments, for disaster management. In a way, to this extent, the Act incorporates the essence of cooperative federalism.

However, the Central Government neither drew up any plan, nor did it consult the State Governments before it imposed the lockdown. Thus, states had no time or manoeuvring room to work the logistics vis-a-vis the migrant labourers. As a result, the migrant labourers have ended up on the streets. Many of them are now unable to fend for themselves in their host states, and are finding it difficult to return to their native states as well. The world has been witnessing the gut-wrenching visuals of their travails on a daily basis.

One size does not fit all

The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution lists public health, as a state subject, and for good reason. As state governments are more aware of the needs of people within their jurisdictions, they are better equipped to handle a health crisis than the Centre. As we have seen, the coronavirus pandemic has affected different regions of the country to varying degrees. Thus, it would be counterproductive for the Centre to issue a top-down, homogeneous set of guidelines to states.

For instance, while Kerala has succeeded in flattening the COVID-19 curve, cases in Maharashtra are still rising at a rapid rate. So, while Kerala may be ready for a gradual opening up of its economy, Maharashtra is far from it.

Yet, last month, when Kerala decided to open restaurants, buses and private vehicles in specific zones, the Central government considered these steps as dilution of its guidelines, and discouraged the Kerala government from relaxing the restrictions. Such responses only serve to impede efficient functioning of the states.

Likewise, when the Centre classified the entire country into district-wise zones, it drew flak from a few states. These states believed that an entire red-zoned district need not be placed under a stringent lockdown if cases were reported only from a small portion of that district.

Indias fight against the pandemic would be far more efficient if the state governments are given the freedom to navigate in their constitutionally prescribed domains.

Indispensability of states financial independence

Several days before the Centre imposed a nationwide lockdown, when the magnitude of the pandemic was still unclear, several states invoked the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and had very early on, started taking limited measures to deal with the pandemic. While the states revenue stream has been drying up (on account of the ban of alcohol sale, fall in the real estate market, etc), states continue to be at the forefront of the war against the pandemic. This entails a big financial cost to state governments.

Ideally, the Centre should empower states in their fight against the pandemic by enabling them to access funds. However, it is succumbing to its impulse of centralising funds. Three examples are illustrative of this command-and-control approach:

First, Modi instituted the public charitable trust, the PM-CARES Fund, with him as its ex-officio chairman. While contributions made to the PM-CARES Fund qualify as CSR expenditure under Schedule VII of the Companies Act 2013, those made to Chief Ministers Relief Fund, or State Relief Fund for COVID-19, would not.

Second, the Centre has has not been prompt with paying GST arrears to states. There cannot be a better time than now for the Centre to honour its GST-related commitments.

Third, the Central Government recently decided to suspend the operation of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for the next two financial years, and divert all its funds to the Consolidated Fund of India.

Although the legality and the utility of the MPLADS is oft deliberated, its suspension at this juncture is utterly ill-conceived, as it strips the MP of his/her authority and capacity to provide localised and last-mile support, in a manner suitable to the peculiar needs of the constituency.

Structural imbalance of power

The Constitution empowers the Centre to ensure that the government of every state functions in accordance with the constitutional provisions, and if the government of the state cannot be carried on in that manner, the Constitution empowers the Centre to impose Presidents Rule in that state. However, states do not have the corresponding power to check the Centre upon the latters failure to function in accordance with constitutional provisions.

Therefore, despite states being independent constitutional functionaries, and not merely appendages of the Centre, the inherent structural imbalance of power allows the Centre to drift from the essence of cooperative federalism, and indulge in coercive federalism, with impunity.
A Republican lawmaker opposed to pandemic safety measures at the Alaska Capitol compared them to Nazi Germanys labeling of Jews in an email exchange with fellow members of the Alaska House of Representatives.

When lawmakers return to Juneau on Monday, they will be required to undergo a health screening. Those who pass the screening will be asked to wear a sticker.

How about an arm band that wont fall off like a sticker will? Rep. Ben Carpenter wrote Friday in a message copied to all 40 members of the Alaska House. If my sticker falls off, do I get a new one or do I get public shaming too? Are the stickers available as a yellow Star of David?

Two Jewish members of the Legislature immediately responded, again copying all members of the House.

Ben, This is disgusting. Keep your Holocaust jokes to yourself, wrote Rep. Grier Hopkins, D-Fairbanks.

Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, said, I dont think a tag that were cleared to enter the building is akin to being shipped to a concentration camp. Its more akin to needing a boarding pass when you get through TSA. This is that.

Carpenter received support from fellow Republican Sarah Vance of Homer.

We should all be concerned about the implications of being labeled as non compliant or wearing a badge of compliance, she wrote in response to Hopkins.

By phone, Carpenter said he didnt intend to rile somebody.

I certainly have no ill will toward the Jewish nation and the Jewish people in our country, he said.

He said he believes public health restrictions in Alaska are far out of proportion to the threat posed by COVID-19. Ten Alaskans have died from the virus, many fewer than the states annual death toll from influenza. He agreed that public health guidelines have contributed to that low COVID-19 death toll but said the danger has passed.

We have a way of life that is being threatened right now because we have shut down our economy, Carpenter said. Yes, somebody might get sick and somebody might die, but our way of life will continue. And right now, our way of life is in jeopardy.

Carpenter said fear over the virus is now a bigger threat than the virus itself and could cause Alaskans to sacrifice liberties. He said he feels Alaska is headed down a slippery slope and that while the state is far from Nazi Germanys extermination camps, those didnt start out overnight.

Can you or I  can we even say it is totally out of the realm of possibility that COVID-19 patients will be rounded up and taken somewhere? he said. People want to say Hitler was a white supremacist. No. He was fearful of the Jewish nation, and that drove him into some unfathomable atrocities.

No, Hopkins said.

Thats not what led to the Holocaust, he said. There was no Jewish nation at that time. It didnt exist. And using that term is anti-Semitic and a misunderstanding of history.  If he wants to have a conversation about constitutional rights, thats a discussion we can have, but likening it to genocide is completely erroneous and wrong.

I dont know theres a whole lot more to say, Josephson said. I just think its pretty unfortunate.

House Minority Leader Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, said Carpenters emails were not appropriate and for that, he should apologize.

In a text message sent after the initial publication of this article, Carpenter wrote, Hitler wasnt fearful of a Jewish nation because there was not one. The point was that it was fear that drove him. The attention of his fear was undesirables, including Jews. And the larger point is that PEOPLE FOLLOWED HIM.

Vance said she wants to stay away from either condoning or condemning anything he said about (the Holocaust) but said she agrees with his concerns about government overreach during the pandemic.

Some fear the virus and some fear the overreach, and I think we need to be sensitive to both, Vance said.  Alaska Dispatch News (Anchorage, Alaska)
India should speak with Taliban militants if it feels that it will help the peace process, Pakistan's envoy to Washington said on Saturday, after a series of attacks in Afghanistan raised questions about whether the U.S. peace effort may collapse.

In an interview with The Hindu, an Indian newspaper, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said it would be "appropriate" for an India-Taliban engagement.

India and Pakistan have gone to war three times since they won independence from British colonial rule in 1947 and Pakistan has guarded the influence it has over the Taliban.

Islamabad has long been resistant to India increasing its influence in Pakistan.

"It is for India to respond to that suggestion," Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Asad Khan told Reuters.

Asked if he was open to an Indian dialogue with the Taliban, Khan said: "If India feels that their engagement is going to help the peace process, then we would defer to their judgment. But it's not for us to sit in judgment on what they should do or they shouldn't do."

He stopped short of saying he was open to an Indian engagement with the Taliban or whether Islamabad favored such a move.

However, any acquiescence by Islamabad to an Indian role could be seen in Kabul and elsewhere as a sign of growing international concern with the peace push.

Khan said that he would hopefully be speaking with Khalilzad soon and did not go by Indian media accounts, which he said in many cases are "fanciful" and give their own interpretations.

The two nuclear armed neighbors came close to another war last year after a deadly attack on Indian police by a Pakistan-based militant group resulted in air strikes by both countries.

Pakistan's role in the peace negotiations is a delicate one, with Islamabad seeking to avoid demonstrating the kind of broad influence over the Taliban that Washington has long accused it of having.

Two attacks in Afghanistan on Tuesday have complicated the U.S. push for peace. One attack, on a Kabul hospital's maternity ward, killed 24 people, including two babies. Another, at a funeral in eastern Afghanistan, killed 32.

The United States has blamed the Islamic State for the attacks.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ordered the military on Tuesday to switch to "offensive mode" against the Taliban following the attacks.

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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When Australias strict coronavirus lockdown is lifted it doesnt necessarily mean everyone has to rush back to the office.

Thats according to Erin Kidd, a senior lawyer at McCabe Curwood, who says there are grounds in which employees can refuse to go back.

Under the federal governments COVIDsafe plan for workplaces, businesses are required to re-evaluate shared kitchens, crowded elevators and 'hot-desking'.

Ms Kidd told the Sydney Morning Herald if companies have failed to meet any of these obligations and are not able to adequately comply with social distancing rules, an employee should be within their rights to work from home.

A number of modern offices have opted for activity based workspaces (AWB) where employees regularly switch desks.

Under the federal governments COVIDsafe plan for workplaces, businesses are required to re-evaluate shared kitchens, crowded elevators and 'hot-desking' (stock image)

Hot-desking was designed to drive greater interaction between employees - something which is greatly discouraged during a pandemic.

'It's the end of activity-based work as we know it,' James Calder, the global director of office design firm Era-co, told the Australian Financial Review.

'Until we have a vaccine, I can't see how ABW settings in their full capacity mode can actually be used. They're just like land-based cruise ships.

'The circulation paths are intended to make people meet as many other people as possible - I know, because I've designed them. They're the perfect incubator for passing this thing around.'

Other factors which may allow employees to keep working from home are a lack of childcare options, over-crowded public transport or any high-risk medical conditions that might make a worker more weary of heading out in public.

With companys around the country forced to dream up an array of creative solutions that will make their workplaces Covid-Safe, Safe Work Australia says much of the responsibility also has to fall on the shoulders of employees.

Factors which may allow employees to keep working from home include lack of childcare options, over-crowded public transport or any high-risk medical conditions that might make a worker more weary of heading out in public (stock image)

Employers have a duty to eliminate or minimise so far as is reasonably practicable, the risks arising from exposure to COVID-19, a spokesperson said.

Physical distancing in combination with good hygiene and cleaning practices are effective ways to reduce the likelihood of exposure to COVID-19.

But University of Technology Sydney law professor Joellen Riley Munton warns staff who refuse to work due to fear of COVID-19 could be forced to take annual leave or use their entitlements.

Eventually, they may even lose their position.

As harsh as it may seem, employers do not have to keep people on the books indefinitely because it is an inherent requirement of any job that the employee should do the job, he said,
FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Ghani and Abdullah participate in a family photo with Ghani and Abdullah at the NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland

By Hamid Shalizi and Abdul Qadir Sediqi

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and rival Abdullah Abdullah are close to resolving a standoff over last year's disputed presidential election that has threatened a U.S.-brokered peace process, both sides said on Saturday.

The feud culminated in both men declaring themselves president at parallel inauguration ceremonies in March.

A draft deal had been finalised that included proposals that Abdullah lead a high council for peace talks and have a half-share in government appointments, Fraidoon Khwazoon, a spokesman for Abdullah, said.

"In principle an agreement is reached but there are a few things that need to be finalised. We believe they are not big obstacles and will be solved," Khwazoon said.

The dispute has sparked fears among many, including the United States, that the split was undermining momentum in peace talks with Islamist Taliban insurgents.

Ghani's spokesman, Sediq Sediqi, had said on Twitter late on Friday that there had been progress in resolving the dispute.

"Progress has been made in the ongoing negotiations and discussions on important political issues and matters to resolve them politically," Sediqi said.

Both sides have been under international pressure to strike a deal. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo flew to Afghanistan in March for a one-day visit to try to broker an arrangement even as most travel was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"We have told both sides to firm up a deal this week. If not, then aid could be hit badly in this time," a senior Western diplomat said on Saturday.

Spokesmen for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and for Ghani declined to comment. A spokesman for Abdullah said donors had emphasised they should solve the issue but they had not been given a deadline to come to a resolution.

Pompeo had announced a $1 billion reduction in aid and threatened to slash the same amount next year to try to force Abdullah and Ghani to end their feud.

Story continues

After nearly 20 years of fighting the Taliban, the United States is looking for a way to extricate itself and to achieve peace between the U.S.-backed government and the militant group.

The United States and the Taliban signed a pact on Feb. 29 that was designed to pave the way for peace talks between the militant group and the Afghan government.

But formal talks have not started because of the political feud, as well as an escalation in violence by the Taliban since the deal was reached and disagreements over a prisoner swap.

(Reporting by Abdul Qadir Sediqi, Hamid Shalizi and Rupam Jain; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by James Drummond and Nick Macfie)
PHILIPSBURG:--- After deliberation in the Council of Ministers' meeting on Friday, May 15, 2020, it was decided that based on the efforts of the government to properly contain the virus, leading to a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases on both sides, as well as the bonds that exist between the people, it is no longer necessary to maintain the border controls and restrictions of movement between the two sides.

As of Sunday morning, which is a non-movement day, the Dutch Police Force will no longer control the internal borders of St. Maarten. The container which was placed by our police force at the Oyster Pond border to minimize the number of borders requiring control will also be removed on Sunday. The police force will be refocusing its energy on de-escalation measures, and on ensuring that safety and security are maintained during this process as businesses re-open in phase 2 on Monday morning. Prime Minister Jacobs informed that the police force will continue to maintain the night curfew which will be from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM as of Monday evening.

Just as before the State of Emergency, the Dutch side of the island will no longer require waivers. As one small 37 square mile island, we have tried our utmost to synchronize measures with our northern counterparts to protect the population from the spread of this virus, at times causing some stress to our citizens with family and economic ties on both sides. We see no need for this any longer as the COVID-19 cases are well under control, and it is time to normalize even further. As our businesses reopen, more persons will need to access their business, or place of work, making this extra task unreasonable. stated Prime Minister Jacobs.

Collective Prevention Services (CPS) community outreach testing campaign will continue this weekend and next weekend, however, during the week, normal movement is allowed to allow persons the opportunity to earn a living and get our economy restarted while upholding the guidelines for the safety of employees and clients.

After discussions with our French counterparts on Saturday morning, where they were updated of the decision of the Council of Ministers, it has been confirmed by Madame la Prefet Feucher that the French gendarmes will maintain the controls as they require additional time to evaluate whether their containment efforts via community testing have been successful. As this is the case, our French counterparts will continue to require waivers to allow movement to French St. Maarten.

In discussions with President Gibbs and the Collectivite, I have been informed by President Gibbs that he has contacted the Minister of Overseas Territories Annick Girardin and has advised her to also lift the border controls due to the decision taken by the Council of Ministers of St. Maarten in an effort to synchronize the measures on both sides of the island as border control is a competency of the state.

Our population is much more aware of the dangers of the virus and will continue to practice the guidelines to be out in public; wearing a mask at all times, keeping a social distance of 2 meters, and practicing proper hand hygiene frequently in order to avoid a second wave. Our behaviour will determine the success of our de-escalation of measures.

There are times, unfortunately, when our different systems cannot synchronize, as such we will continue to meet and discuss best practices moving forward and do our best to foster cooperation as we de-escalate measures and continue to fight the spread of COVID-19. concluded Prime Minister Jacobs.
Five students from Greenwich High School have advanced to the national level of the National History Day competition after winning several prizes in the Virtual National History Day state competition.

Students in grades 6 through 12 researched topics in local, state, national and world history that related to this years theme, Breaking Barriers in History. Students interpreted their findings, drew conclusions about their topics significance and created final projects.

Sophomores Richa Vaid and Carolina Ferrer advanced to nationals with their group exhibit, Ignorance = Advancement: How Scientific Breakthrough During the AIDS Crisis Cured Americas Prejudice.

Junior Danielle Spitz also advanced for her individual exhibit, HeLa Cells: Breaking Barriers in History.

Sohpmore Bryn Kummell and junior Sophie Chaves advanced with their group performance titled Womens Rights in Nigeria School.

Several GHS students were honored with special awards, including junior Veronica Paez-Deggeller, for her individual performance, Marie Curies Legacy of Broken Barriers.

Students Sophie Jaeger and Veda Swaminathan were recognized for their group documentary called Breaking Barriers: The Women of Yale.

Innovation Lab Program associate Courtney Hawes praised all of the students for their academic excellence and perseverance.

It is a testament to their determination and commitment under these unprecedented conditions, she said.

Hamilton honors Greenwich High grad

Lucas Mangold, of Old Greenwich, was named the recipient of the Rogers Prize in Geology at Hamilton Colleges annual Class & Charter Day.

The virtual ceremony was held on May 11. Established in 1950, the event combines the traditional Class Day celebrating the end of classes with a commemoration of the granting of Colleges charter on May 26, 1812.

The Rogers Prize in Geology is awarded to a senior majoring in geosciences and excelling in the courses in that concentration.

Mangold, a senior majoring in geosciences, is a graduate of Greenwich High School.

Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., offers an open curriculum that gives students the freedom to shape their own liberal arts education within a research- and writing-intensive framework.
The Chinese ambassador to Israel was found dead in his home north of Tel Aviv on Sunday, Israels Foreign Ministry said.

Israeli Police Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the ambassadors death was believed to be from natural causes.

Du Wei, 58, was appointed envoy in February in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. He previously served as Chinas envoy to Ukraine. He was found dead at the ambassadors official residence in Herzliya.

He is survived by a wife and son, both of whom were not in Israel.

Israel enjoys good relations with China. Bilateral trade has grown in recent years, as have American concerns over Chinese investment, and concerns over spying on one of its key regional allies.

The ambassadors death came just two days after he condemned comments by visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who denounced Chinese investments in Israel and accused China of hiding information about the coronavirus outbreak.

Pompeo told Hebrew-language daily Israel Hayom that the U.S. and Israel have an opportunity to build upon our relationship rather than give the Chinese Community Party the opportunity to undermine it.

The Chinese Embassy published an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post on Thursday rebuffing Pompeos claims that China was responsible for the outbreak and American concerns about Chinese investment in Israel.

We trust that the Jewish friends are not only able to defeat the coronavirus but also the political virus, and choose the course of action that best serves its interests, the embassy said.

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A homeless encampment beneath the 405 Freeway on Venice Boulevard. Those who live in the camp call it "Westside skid row." (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Thousands of homeless people living near freeways in Los Angeles County are in line to receive alternative shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic after a federal court judge ordered local authorities to find them housing.

The preliminary injunction, issued Friday by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, requires city, county and homelessness officials to provide space in shelters or alternative housing for the estimated 6,000 to 7,000 county residents living near freeway overpasses, underpasses and ramps. Carters ruling compels local governments to develop a plan for doing so by Friday.

Homeless residents living near freeways are not only at risk of contracting COVID-19 and spreading the disease throughout the community, but also of being exposed to lead and other carcinogens as well as being hit by cars, Carter wrote in the ruling.

As with many issues involving individuals experiencing homelessness, no party appears to be addressing this problem with any urgency, Carter wrote.

The order would apply to an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 homeless residents living near freeways in the city of Los Angeles, with the remainder living near freeways in other L.A. County cities or unincorporated areas.

Carters decision is the most definitive step hes taken to compel local leaders to address the estimated 60,000 homeless residents throughout the county. In March, the advocacy group L.A. Alliance for Human Rights sued public agencies across the county, accusing them of allowing unsafe and inhumane conditions in homeless camps.

Since the case was filed, Carter has persuaded L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and other local officials to come up with solutions to the regions homelessness problems more quickly, especially given the coronavirus outbreak. The judge has personally toured skid row and other homeless hot spots throughout the region to better understand the issue.

Daniel Conway, policy advisor with the alliance, said it was clear Carter was becoming frustrated with the lack of definitive action. Conway hoped the ruling was the first step toward the judge guiding a radical shift in how the region handles homelessness issues.

Story continues

Everyones committed to seeing this through, Conway said. The challenge becomes, how high are we aiming here? Are we trying to meet thresholds for the sake of a legal settlement or are we trying to fundamentally change how we deal with homelessness?

Its unclear how city, county and homelessness officials will respond to the order, though Carter laid out guidelines on what shelter must be offered.

All shelters and alternative housing must allow for at least six feet of distance between residents, provide adequate hygiene options and nursing and security staff. Homeless residents must be allowed to retain possession of their belongings and be given notice of available housing. While homeless residents could not be ordered to go to a shelter or alternative housing, they could be required to move away from a freeway once sufficient housing is available.

The most significant new program to house homeless residents during the pandemic is Project Roomkey, a statewide effort that uses empty hotel and motel rooms. In Los Angeles, however, just over 2,000 previously homeless residents are sheltered with about 500 other beds available, according to information provided in court Friday by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, not nearly enough space to comply with Carters order.

Carters order allows parties in the case to develop an alternative plan and submit it to him for review by Tuesday.
Archbishop of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Hollerich accused the government of carelessness during Sunday's "Octave" Pontifical Mass.

The coronavirus has left nothing and no one unaffected. Even the Church has felt its impact, and although this Sunday saw the end of the Octave celebrations, the city centre was unusually quiet. Yet the silence was not complete, as Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich used the opportunity to address what he saw as a government failure.

Unfortunately, unlike last year, we will not be able to provide any photos of the occasion, but we are all hoping for a swift return to normality.

Renee Schmitt, "Digital Oktav" organiser:

We do hope that we can celebrate the Octave properly again next year.

At this point in time, the return of communal Mass remains suspended until further notice; and it was on this topic that Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich - via livestream - had something to say. According to the Archbishop, the Church had tried to get in touch with the minister of state in order to discuss the reopening process, having sent over a plan outlining a protection scheme for Mass attendees. However all they received in return was a statement from the Ministry of Health banning all cultural events.

Jean-Claude Hollerich, Luxembourg Cardinal:

This is supposed to be a participatory democracy. This means that social agents cooperate. It's only natural that when a crisis such as this shakes the country to its core, we all want to collaborate responsibly.

The cardinal expressed disappointment in the government's current stance, especially regarding the country's religious communities.

Jean-Claude Hollerich:

I have spoken to bishops from other countries: they were appalled. Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. Evidently this right needs to be weighed up alongside other rights during a pandemic.

Because of this, the Church had acted accordingly and cancelled a live Mass with people, but the fact that all communication remained unilateral was disrespectful.

Jean-Claude Hollerich:

It makes no sense for us to get no response. Some people have told me this is deliberate, but I don't believe them. I think they just don't care.

Digital stream of Masses around the Octave celebrations garnered up to 22 000 viewers.
Australias call for an independent global inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak has garnered widespread international support ahead of a major meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday.

Representatives of the United Nation's 194 member states will meet, many virtually, for the World Health Assembly meeting where a proposal led by the European Union will be put forth to launch an inquiry into the origins and subsequent handling of the coronavirus.

Australia was the first country to call for such an inquiry  a move which angered the Chinese Communist Party and has since led to trade tensions and a bubbling diplomatic row between China and Scott Morrisons government.

A draft resolution calling for the gradual process of impartial, independent and exhaustive evaluation to start as soon as possible had the support of 62 nations by Sunday night (AEST) including the European Union, Canada, the UK, Russia, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and South Korea.

There is, however, one thing noticeably absent from the EU-led motion: Any direct reference to China or Wuhan, the city where the outbreak is believed to have begun.

Scott Morrison has called the inquiry push "unremarkable" (left). The head of the WHO and Chinese president (right). Source: Getty Images

Chinas furious opposition to a global inquiry was ostensibly based on fears it would be used as a political exercise to bash and scapegoat the country. Chinese president Xi Jinping is also seeking to redirect anger among the Chinese people away from his ruling party, and towards the outside world.

The inquiry, and the prospect of digging for liabilities, could add tension to an assembly in which not only the WHO, but also China could be questioned over their management.

However the complete omission of China in the draft proposal shows the careful tack taken by the nations backing the European Union and Australias call for an independent investigation.

The motion does say the WHO should work with the World Organisation for Animal Health to conduct scientific and collaborative field missions and identify the zoonotic source of the virus.

Story continues

For months, its been suspected the virus moved from a bat possibly to another animal before jumping to humans near a wet market in Wuhan.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne says it's crucial to review the events of earlier this year to avoid a repeat.

There is positive support for an independent review into the pandemic to help the world learn the lessons necessary to protect global health, Senator Payne told The Australian.

This is about collaborating to equip the international community to better prevent or counter the next pandemic and keep our citizens safe.

The Australian government expects the motion to be endorsed in Geneva.

Morrison stands firm in face of Chinese pressure

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously said the push for an inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 crisis was completely unremarkable.

On Friday, he called on China to respect Australias values and rules.

"We draw very clear lines about things that are very important to us, as does the Chinese government," he said.

"We respect their lines, as we expect our lines to be respected, whether it's on our foreign investment rules, or our rules around technology, our rules regarding human rights and things of that nature.

"I don't think any Australian would want us to compromise on those important things, and those things are not to be traded, ever.

However China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi lashed out at foreign politicians for politicising the pandemic.

Backing for the motion comes amid worsening relations between Australia and China after Trade Minister Simon Birmingham suggested local businesses would probably start looking elsewhere to sell their products to spread their risk.

The minister also told ABC News on Sunday he had tried to contact his Chinese counterpart by phone directly to try and soothe the growing rift, but he had yet to get a return call.

China last week abruptly suspended meat imports from major Australian suppliers and has been threatening to slap a large tariff on Australian barley imports.

 with AAP

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Children outside their school - Michael Gove insists teachers will be safe to return to school next month - PA

Michael Gove has insisted that teachers will be safe to return to primary schools from June 1, arguing that the only way to completely eliminate the risk of catching coronavirus would be for them to remain perpetually imprisoned at home.

Urging teaching unions and councils opposed the plans to reconsider, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster stated that the clear scientific and clinical advice was that it was safe providing social distancing is enforced.

Separately, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the World Health Organisation, said that the limited data on schools reopening was very reassuring, adding that the evidence from other countries suggested there had been no big outbreaks in those that had stayed open.

She added that from what is currently known, it appears that "children are less capable of spreading it, even if they get the infection and certainly are at very low risk of getting ill from the disease."

It comes after the ministers received a major boost this weekend from the Association of School and College Leaders, which has confirmed it will now advise schools to begin reopening from June 1.

While the union had previously expressed concern over the safety of teachers and pupils, its general secretary Geoff Barton said it had been reassured following talks on Friday with the Governments scientific advisers.

However, a number of the country's largest teaching unions remain firmly opposed to the plans, while two Labour-run councils, Liverpool City and Hartlepool, have said that schools will not begin to reopen on June 1.

Calling on them to think again on Sunday, Mr Gove told the Andrew Marr Show warned that children only had one chance at education and that failing to reopen risked widening the attainment gap between rich and poor.

"If progressive countries like Denmark can be teaching children and have them back in schools, then so should we, he added.

Story continues

The whole point about being a teacher is you love your job. It is a mission, a vocation, to be able to excite young minds."

Speaking during an earlier interview with Sky Newss Sophy Ridge, Mr Gove said that changes to the way classroom layouts and staggered break times would help minimise the risks to pupils.

The nature of what happens in the classroom has changed, he added. Instead of children working around the table they are sitting at desks separate from each other and, as a result, they are able to learn, they are able to benefit from being in school.

"We recognise this requires careful working with teachers. But the leaders of some of the country's very, very best schools have said they can that they can ensure that children and teachers and other workers are safe."

Meanwhile, Dr Swaminathan said the evidence from countries where schools have remained open suggest that this has not led to large outbreaks of Covid-19.

"What we have seen in countries where schools have remained open is that there have not been big outbreaks in schools, and where there have been it's been associated with events - where a lot of people gather, not in regular classrooms, and it's often been associated with an adult whose had the infection and has spread it, she said.

However, Dr Swaminathan indicated that the best way to reopen schools would be at a regional or local level, with decisions taken based on the rate of infection in areas and the time required to put social distancing measures in place.

"It's really important that all the stakeholders, that is the teachers, the children themselves and the parents or caregivers, have had a chance to have a dialogue and ask questions, and be informed of what is being done to minimise the risks and what they need to do," she continued.
P eople arriving at Heathrow Terminal 2 will be screened for high temperatures as part of the UK's response to the coronavirus crisis.

The trial will use cameras to monitor people's temperatures, which is faster than checking people's temperatures individually.

If anyone passing through has a high temperature or fever, the system will send out a warning.

The thermal imaging cameras are only being trialled in arrivals at first. But if the trial proves successful, cameras will be installed in departures, connections and the areas where Heathrow staff undergo security checks.

Heathrow's monthly passenger numbers fell to as many as would normally travel in a single day / Reuters

And the trials could start as soon as Thursday of next week, the Mail on Sunday has reported.

Thermal imaging will not detect all cases of coronavirus, as people can have the virus without symptoms - and even those who feel ill might not have a high temperature.

Johns Hopkins University says on its website: "It is possible to be infected with the new coronavirus and have a cough or other symptoms with no fever, or a very low-grade one, especially in the first few days. Keep in mind that it is also possible to have Covid-19 with minimal or even no symptoms at all."

Other new coronavirus measures that Heathrow is testing include security processes that don't need human contact and ultra-violet cleaning for the trays that passengers leave belongings in while going through metal detectors.

The measures could be "key to minimising transmission of Covid-19 across borders, and the technology we are trialling at Heathrow could be part of the solution," Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye said.

He told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "We are working with Public Health England to see if that could be part of the solution to health screening at airports."

People arriving at Heathrow / AFP via Getty Images

There have been concerns about the UK's borders during the coronavirus crisis, which have remained open while others - like Australia and New Zealand - have closed to foreigners, in an attempt to reduce the risk from coronavirus.

Mr Holland-Kaye said that up to 6,000 people were still flying into the UK every day on average - although this is down 97 per cent from the usual figure of 250,000.

And unlike some countries, the UK has not put strict 14-day quarantine measures in place for people arriving in the country, although the Government has said this is planned.

Mr Holland-Kaye said that countries needed to agree an international standard on quarantines.

The quarantine cannot be in place for more than a relatively short amount of time if we are going to get the economy moving again," he said.

There needs to be a plan for what comes next.

Heathrow Terminal 2, where the initial trials will start / PA

The Heathrow chief added that the Government should work with the US and EU to sort out "confusion" over rules on flying during the coronavirus crisis.

He told Sky News: As we went into this crisis, every country had its own plan and that, I think, has led to a lot of confusion among passengers as to what they should expect when theyre travelling.

As we come out of the crisis, we need to have something that is more consistent so that we can not only build confidence but also to make it safe for people to travel again.

Arrivals at Heathrow / PA

I think that if the UK Government, with one of the biggest aviation sectors in the world, were to get together with European Union and the United States, between them they have the heft and the global, diplomatic and economic power to set that international standard.

I think the approach to take is the risk-based approach as we do with security, where if two countries are very low-risk free of transmission there should be a free flow of passengers between those countries.

Despite reduced passenger numbers since the global coronavirus crisis, Mr Holland-Kaye said that Heathrow "desperately" needs the third runway.

We will desperately need that third runway within the next 10 to 15 years, which is about the length of time to build it, he said.

Weve got more coming to use Heathrow with the few flights that they have and that just underpins how vital Heathrow is to the UK economy.

Heathrow has been contacted for comment.
A Michigan man whom authorities say is a stabbing suspect was airlifted to a Toledo hospital today after being shot and critically injured by an Ohio sheriffs deputy, according to the Associated Press.

Sheriffs officials in Defiance County, Ohio, said their deputies responded to an incident in Farmer Township about 2 a.m. Sunday. They found a 43-year-old person in a home with injuries from a stabbing.

The suspect in that stabbing, a 38-year-old Kalamazoo resident, got into an altercation with sheriffs officials at the scene and a deputy fired at the suspect, according to the AP. The suspect was identified by police as Clarence Thigpen, according to WANE.com.

The injured suspect was taken to a local hospital, then flown to a hospital in Toledo. He was listed in critical condition, the AP reports.

Local Ohio authorities continue to investigate, as well as the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
A 77-year-old suspected Covid-19 patient in Uttarakhand died at a quarantine center on Saturday night in Pauri Garhwal district, informed officials. The lady had recently returned to her village in the hilly district from Delhi.

Manoj Bahukhandi, chief medical officer of Pauri Garhwal district said the woman along with a few of her family members had been quarantined at a center in Rikhnikhal block of the district after they returned from Delhi.

The woman was quite old and did not show any symptoms similar to that of coronavirus, but as per protocol, she had been quarantined at a center in the block. She had been suffering from bronchitis and hypertension, but did not show any Covid-19 symptoms, said Bahukhandi.

He added that late night on Saturday, the lady suddenly started vomiting blood.

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Prima facie vomiting blood along with bronchitis seems to be the cause of death. But a team of doctors have rushed to the quarantine center to conduct further check-ups and take samples of other people staying there, added the chief medical officer of Pauri Garhwal.

The health department had not received official feedback from the team of doctors till the filing of this report.

In April, two suspected Covid-19 patients had died in Government Doon Medical College Hospital, a day before tests confirmed them to be negative for the disease.

Dr NS Khatri, deputy chief medical superintendent of the hospital had then attributed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for the death of the 77-year old suspect and said that the other person, a 23-year-old male, was in a critical condition before his death on April 22.

While according to the union health ministry data, a total of 88 people have been detected positive for the disease in the northern hilly state, however, the data released by the state authorities puts the count of infected to at least 92.
MAPLEWOOD  On a recent afternoon, Shana Poole-Jones set up her tables full of food in her yard, like shes done almost every day for more than a month.

HELP YOURSELF, read handwritten signs attached to the three tables filled with everything from carrots and cucumbers to peanut butter and rice mixes on the lot near the corner of Bredell and Folk avenues in Maplewood.

A string of visitors, all affected in some way by the coronavirus pandemic, soon began to stop by. Construction workers who had their hours cut with slow-downs in work grabbed items. A woman who drove about 45 minutes, from Warrenton, collected food for a nurse she knows who has five kids and needs help. A maintenance man who is seeing less work amid the shutdown grabbed a few things, saying, Food is tight. This will help.

Poole-Jones provided the offerings out of grief and a need to take action.

She has lost 10 loved ones to COVID-19: an aunt, an uncle, two first cousins, four close childhood friends and two godparents. All lived in her hometown of Albany, Georgia, a city of about 75,000 that has had one of the most intense outbreaks of the virus in the nation.

Its a different type of hurt for me right now, Poole-Jones said, shortly after learning her partners father in St. Louis also had died, from an unknown cause. Its like blow after blow. I had to figure out a way to cope with all the emotions.

Poole-Jones came up with the idea for the food giveaway when she got a message from the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District saying it was suspending a meal drive for families after an employee reported a fever.

I thought, People are going to go hungry from this, Poole-Jones said.

So she and her family went into her kitchen and pulled out enough food to fill a table with school lunches. She posted about the effort on a local Facebook page and more than 15 people stopped by.

I thought, Wow, we need to keep doing this, Poole-Jones said.

Over the next few weeks, a single table grew to three. Poole-Jones got a donated tent to cover the tables from the sun, and neighbors began to contribute boxes of food.

Poole-Jones also began buying disinfectant wipes and personal care items and added toys, books and DVDs to the collection. Everything is taken almost every day, with about 25 families getting items, she said.

I found they really do take just what they need, she said. I have one older woman come and grab one meal off the table every day. Just enough for her.

Poole-Jones usually doesnt interact with the visitors but stays inside and keeps an eye on the tables via a security camera. She avoids close contact because she has health issues, including diabetes, that put her at high risk for complications from coronavirus. But she also likes that people can take what they want without having to speak with anyone.

I want to be a blessing. I dont want anybody to feel like someone is looking over their shoulder, she said. They dont have to fill paperwork out writing about why theyre struggling. They dont have to wait in line. Its just, Heres food. Its simple.

Poole-Jones does occasionally come out onto her porch to speak with regulars such as Jessica Hirzy, who stopped by recently with her young daughter, Lynaya Callahan.

She already feels like family. Last week I dropped stuff off. This week we need it, said Hirzy, who gave a dramatic wave when Poole-Jones and her partner, Keyaira Stepps, stepped outside to chat.

Lynaya told Poole-Jones it was her seventh birthday. She had wanted to go to a trampoline park and get a pet hamster, but her mom said that couldnt happen this year with stay-at-home orders still in place.

Stepps went into the house and a few minutes later brought the birthday girl bags of snacks and toys to celebrate.

Those are the moments that make this worth it, Poole-Jones said.

Poole-Jones this week had to pause setting up the tables for a few days while she traveled to Georgia and helped her family sort through the affairs of relatives who died from the virus.

I set up the table before we left at 7 a.m., she said by phone from Georgia. I asked people to keep setting out some food if they can. But I just want to get back as soon as I can. I know people have started to rely on it and there is a need.

The tables, she said, have helped her cope with weeks of personal loss and fear.

I realize that Im a broken person and most of the people who come to the table are broken right now, she said. But all the broken pieces come together and make a sort of community to survive this.

Anyone interested in supporting the grab-and-go tables can drop off food or give money through Poole-Jones fundraiser at GoFundMe.com.

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Even before the heated exchanges between the political figureheads, many Brazilians, regardless of their status, are already developing an awareness of Brazil's dependence on China for medical supplies and equipment.

In the previous month, China's consul general based in Rio de Janeiro Li Yang published an article in O Globo's opinion section.

Brazil dependent on China

Yang wrote criticisms of the administration's poor performance in handling the pandemic in response to Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro's remarks about the origins of the coronavirus. After Eduardo Bolsonaro's comments about China's accountability for the coronavirus, authorities have reached out to the Chinese ambassador to issue an apology.

As of yet, China is regarded as Brazil's biggest partner in the pandemic because of the medical supplies and equipment still awaiting shipment from the mainland of China. State governors, like Sao Paulo's Joao Doria, are dependent on China for the delivery of the much-needed ventilators, which have been ordered for nearly $100 million worth.

At the same time, Chinese investors are crucial for the recovery of Brazil from the upcoming recession following the pandemic. The country's echelons are equally outraged by the administration for failing to maintain civility with the trade partner.

Almost 30% of the exports from Brazil go directly to China. Losing them in business will mean ruining any chances of the country to fully recover in the global economy.

In mid-April, Bolsonaro fired Mandetta for directly going against his presidential orders by supporting quarantine measures initiated by local governments. The president wanted businesses and activities to resume regular operations amid the pandemic.

Check these out:

Bolsonaro supporters claim some authorities are closeted communists

People all over Brazil are calling out pro-China authorities. Vice President Hamilton Mourao and Minister of Agriculture Tereza Cristina are the easiest targets to criticize by Bolsonaro supporters because of their close ties with China.

The strongarm of the Brazil-China business trade involves Mourao's pragmatic planning. He built a strong union between the country's agriculture industry, economic elites, and state leaders and China.

Many Brazilians, regardless of their background, are already developing an awareness of Brazil's dependence on China for medical supplies and equipment.

The result of this was that some far-right nationalist Brazilians have now created a WhatsApp dedicated to xenophobic and anti-China discussions. Bolsonaro supporters in the group are perpetuating the speculations that China launched the COVID-19 pandemic to bring down the Brazilian president.

The Chinese Embassy in turn have taken to social media to disapprove any and every criticism with regards to China. It was also online that they posted a meeting between Ambassador Yang Wanming and former Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta.

Chinese officials directly responding to these hate speeches with equal animosity can lead them to the bigger risk of gaining a more vulnerable position for criticism. Analysts are concerned how this may affect the cooperation between the two countries in the near future, particularly where commerce is involved.
TDT | Manama

Bahrains toll from the deadly Coronavirus pandemic has reached 12 with the Kingdom reporting two more deaths in the last 48 hours. Both the victims, a 53-year-old expatriate man and a 67-year old Bahrain man, were registered active cases of COVID-19 symptoms and were suffering from underlying and chronic health problems, the authorities said in a late-night announcement on the Health Ministrys twitter handle.

The patients, along with all other active COVID-19 cases, had been placed in isolation and received extensive 24-hour treatment from a specialised medical team, the ministry tweeted.

The ministry of health expressed condolences to the individuals family at this difficult time. With this, Bahrains mortality rate, based on the total active case in the Kingdom, has become 0.305 per cent.

164 new cases, 122 recoveries

Separately, the ministry announced 164 new active cases and 122 new recoveries from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Out of the new active cases, 123 are expatriate workers and 38 are contacts of active virus cases.

Three of the cases are travel related. Bahrain has reported 3,973 active COVID-19 cases, as of yesterday, of which 3970 people are in stable health conditions, while three people are in a critical state.

Some 2,762 people have been cured and discharged from hospitals across the Kingdom, so far. The high number of active cases being reported daily is mainly due to the large number of COVID-19 tests being conducted.

Bahraini authorities have conducted 230,188 COVID-19 tests, of which 223,441 people tested negative to the infection. Some 6747 people, including expatriates and Bahraini nationals, tested positive. Bahrains recovery rate, so far, from the virus outbreak, is 40.93 pc, while the COVID positive rate is 2.93pc.

The Kingdoms fatality rate compared to the total COVID-19 positive figure is 0.17pc, with the authorities conducting 134,996 tests per million. Total cases per 1 million of the population here are 3,930 with the global average being 601.2. Total population here is 1,693,179.

Disinfectants and sanitisers

Recently, the Interior Ministry has started distributing medical disinfectants and sanitisers, in cooperation with the Dhaman Medical Disinfectant Company, to support the on-going national efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister, Zayed bin Rashid Al-Zayani, said the campaign is being implemented by the Inspection Directorates staff, along with volunteers, whose number is expected to exceed 500.

Saudi cases jump

Saudi Arabia yesterday saw a steep increase in the daily number of virus cases with 2,840 new infections, taking the cumulative total to 52,016. With 1,797 new recoveries, the overall recovered cases are 23,666.

The death toll in the kingdom increased by 10 to 302, an official said on state TV. Saudi Health Ministry, in a statement, urged people to go out only when absolutely necessary and avoid crowds. Saudi is also imposing a 24-hour lockdown for Eid holiday.

UAE cases near 22,000

UAE added another 747 cases in the past 24-hours increasing total infections to 21,831. Total recoveries increased to 7,328 as 398 more people got cleared of their symptoms, yesterday. The total death toll is 210.

Reports say that the governments of Abu Dhabi and Dubai are discussing ways to prop up Dubais economy by linking up assets in the two emirates, with Abu Dhabis state fund Mubadala likely to play a key role in any deal.

Kuwait toll hits 107

Kuwait reported 11 more deaths from the COVID-19 infections raising the total toll to 107. With 942 more confirmed cases, total cases reached 13,802.

Oman cases top 5,000

With 404 new confirmed cases, the countrys overall infection has surged to 5,029, according to Health Ministry there. The total toll is 20 and recoveries 1,436. Oman continues to remain as the lowest infected among the six-nation GCC countries.

Qatar reported on Saturday another 1,547 cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the countrys total number of confirmed infections to more than 30,000.

The latest health ministry report on confirmed cases took the total to 30,972, according to figures published on the ministrys website. One more person died, bringing the death toll to 15.

Worldwide cases pass 4.56 million, toll crosses 306,000

According to the latest tally, more than 4.56 million people have been reported to have been infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 306,221 have died. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.
MAYANKSINGH By

NEW DELHI: In a major step towards opening the Indian defence manufacturing sector, the government on Saturday permitted foreign companies to have a majority stake in Indian defence companies through the automatic route. It also announced that the government-owned Ordinance Factor Board would be corporatized. Defence FDI cap through the automatic route is being raised from 49 per cent to 74 per cent subject to security clearances, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, announcing the measures.

At present, foreign companies dont need to take government permission if it is below the FDI cap of 49 per cent. Sitharaman stressed that the corporatisation of OFBs did not mean that they would be privatized. The step was taken to improve their performance and enable them to cut costs and overheads. With this step, OFB factories could be listed in the markets in the future. Former Chairman of the Hindustan Aeronatics Limited and CMD of the national helicopter carrier, Pawan Hans, RK Tyagi, hailed the steps of the government but cautioned on the aspect of critical technologies.

The technology in foreign companies is owned by the government and not the companies, he said but added that the corporatization would raise transparency and accountability. India allows 100 per cent FDI but on a case-to-case basis. As per the figures shared by the Ministry of Defence in the Lok Sabha, $8.8 million (Rs 66 crore) FDI came in defence manufacturing sector in the last 19 years, from April 2000 to the end of 2019.

The finance minister also announced the provision of a negative list, which will preclude a list of weapons that can be imported. There would be a separate budgetary provision for procuring only Indian-made defence items. Sitharaman said the measures would bring down Indias large weapons import bill but clarified that certain high technology systems would still be procured from abroad.

DEFENCE SECTOR

Announcement: FDI limit in defence manufacturing under automatic route hiked to 74% from the existing 49%. (Excluding investments from China and other nations that share a border with India)

Impact: Foreign companies can have controlling stakes in factories

Announcement: Import of specific weapons/weapons platforms will be banned.

Impact: Will boost indigenous manufacturing and will reduce the defence import bill; expected to raise employment.

Procurement process for defence will be made time-bound.

Impact: Ensures timely procurement; savings in cost overruns.

Announcement: Ordnance Factory Board will be corporatized

Impact: Increased transparency and accountability

Announcement: Indigenisation of imported parts

Impact: Help in timely supply & result in foreign exchange savings.

Announcement: Realistic Genera; Staff Qualitative Requirements of weapons & platforms.

Impact: Will save time in identifying the requiredweapon/Platform.
NYC expands COVID-19 testing capacity as reopening date still unknown

Global Times

Source:Xinhua Published: 2020/5/16 8:14:00

Any person with COVID-19 symptoms in New York City (NYC) is now eligible for a test, as the city is trying to reach its daily goal of testing 20,000 people, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday.

In addition, contacts of COVID-19 patients and workers in such gathering places as homeless shelters and detention centers can receive the test, the mayor said at his daily briefing.

"Lack of widespread testing was our Achilles' heel from day one," de Blasio said, adding that "We're still playing catch-up, and unfortunately that's because the help we needed from the federal government never was there in the beginning, still isn't here, but we do not let that stop us."

More medical workers and personal protective equipment can be spared from hospitals to testing sites, said the mayor, expressing his confidence in achieving the daily goal of testing 20,000 people by May 25, when 12 additional testing sites will be added across all five boroughs.

The reopening of NYC needs to be "slow and steady" and "very careful," de Blasio told CNN in an interview on Thursday.

"It's about health and safety first. It's about avoiding that boomerang where the disease reasserts, which will be the worst of all worlds," he said.

Repeating his call for more funding from the federal government, the mayor said that the city spent 7 billion US dollars paying for police, teachers, health care workers and other frontline heroes during the first few weeks of the outbreak.

"Right now, if we don't get a massive infusion of federal support, we cannot go through this recovery. We cannot get our city back on our feet because we won't be able to pay for the basics," he noted.

NYC is still around halfway towards meeting all seven benchmarks for reopening, which are set by the state government.

Five regions in central and northern New York state will restart their economy on Friday night when the "PAUSE" order expires.

Several types of businesses, including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and fishing, will be allowed to operate in the first stage of reopening.

As of Thursday, the city has reported over 186,000 cases and more than 15,300 confirmed deaths, the city tally shows.

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17.05.2020 LISTEN

Will Coronavirus Accelerate The Future Of Work In Africa? This has been the question lingering through my mind couple of months ago before the birth of EADfix.

I doubt if things will return to normal in the African market place after COVID-19. After this pandemic, we will be entering into a new marketplace. Education, healthcare, financial services and all other sectors are and will experience a shift after this crisis. There is already and will continue to be a serious disruption in workplace culture across Africa. COVID-19 has caused rapid digitization in key sectors across Africa in the last few weeks and the spread of new technologies are ushering in a new era of economic disruption.

Sometimes when I look at the African continent especially my country Ghana, I feel we are not aware of what is coming regarding how the future workforce and marketplace will look like. The COVID-19 crisis is and will push Africans to be intentional at adopting new thinking, new solutions, new skills and new ways of doing business. Professionals and businesses should be worried about the impact the disruption by COVID-19 is causing and will cause for the next few weeks and months.

Now across the continent, from Ghana to Nigeria to Kenya to Zimbabwe to Malawi, educational institutions who never took online education began to turn to virtual learning options to keep educating their students, churches and religious leaders using digital platforms to reach out to their followers, conference and workshop organizers depending on online conferencing platforms to run virtual events, mental health workers and counselors leveraging on digital platforms (telemedicine) to connect with those in need of their services, the high use of fintech solutions by even the common man is on the rise the way we buy and access financial services is changing, cybersecurity is and will be on the rise because the more people work from home there is high risk of cyber attacks among many others.

One of the things that we can all agree on, and have witnessed across the globe is how important digital solutions and the internet has become in our society and in our economies. And while access to the internet and these digital solutions is still not readily available to about 4 billion (!) people, many of these tools have enable companies to leverage the power of the internet to reach and impact the lives of people that don't have.

Truthfully, if you weren't sure if digital was the way to go for your business before now, it's time to look at your options again. For many businesses there lies a huge opportunity to retain and attract customers by moving your offline services to a digital offering. Think about the high value products and services that you have that you can sell online through your own online store or other platforms, and events that you can host virtually using virtual summit tools, or moving your consultations to digital meeting rooms and increase interaction using collaboration tools. And guess what? It's been proven likely that you will be able to cut significantly on costs, increase productivity and efficiency to name a few advantages.

Realizing that both consumers and businesses are struggling in an economic recession, we had to find a way to serve those sufferers specifically, with different pricing structure or new opportunities they can leverage to make it through. This is not the time to commercialise on the back of the crisis because we're genuine in our outreach.

In a recession, people will make hard choices about what to cut out of their lives. If you can give them a more cost-efficient alternative to what theyre cutting out, youll stand to win big and that has been our mantra in this few weeks.

Work places around the world will need to adjust to a new normal to keep people safe and business running smoothly. We've combined our strategic insights and operational knowledge to create our back to work Application called EADfix, helping customers prepare, protect and perform.

Technology today allows many things that are inconceivable or impractical in the past. Do you think we can use it to solve start-ups and businesses affected by the pademic?

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EAD Group of Companies Launchpad is an Africa-wide platform aiming to build the capacity of businesses in all African States and foster establishment of sustainable African Service Providers in the area of the advanced ever-changing EADfix App.

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EAD GROUP OF COMPANIES, a fast-growing and innovation-driven company is taking a giant step in launching EADfix App. Mr.Emmanuel Gyau Addo, the Executive Director of EAD Group of Companies at the launching said The EADfix App is specially designed to boost businesses by connecting verified service providers to customers in a complete, easy, absolutely reliable and timely business environs using mobile application. It exposes customers to a frustration-free world by mapping out service providers  easily locating them by just a touch away. The company's management is highly experienced and qualified with extensive experience in the industry.

Since 2018, the company takes pride in the promotion of businesses with an enviable statistics in effectively mapping out businesses accessibility. In Ghana, the total registered businesses was reported at 802176 in 2003,16 262 456 people between the ages of 15  65 as at July 2018 and it is our target to work with more than 2million people in the next five years using our services.

Using the EADfix App, service providers are smoothly connected to customers on the highest level that can ever be imagined. The EADfix App improves both customer and service providers satisfaction while keeping them protected in a safe business environment. EADfix has designed an environment and structure that will encourage productivity and respect for customers and fellow employees. It has always been a thirst-mission for EAD GROUP OF COMPANIES to help businesses increase revenues and has stuck to this worthy course since 2018 (when it was founded and registered with Ghana Registrar General). EAD GROUP OF COMPANIES officially launched the EADfix App on the 1st of May, 2020 where the App was opened to the public (Ghana). Service providers (Waste management companies, Energy Companies Repairers, Construction workers, Security Services, Marketing companies, Cleaning Companies, Transportation Companies, Healthcare officers, Home-care Services, Event Management Companies, Real estate agents, Delivery Companies, Food vendors, etc) are hereby encouraged to seize this opportunity to download the App on Google Playstore and register so they can enjoy all the benefits that comes with it. With a strong partnership between the EAD Group of Companies and service providers, we can fix the world together.

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Pakistan President Arif Alvi has promulgated an order to form a caretaker government as well as to conduct elections in Gilgit-Baltistan province, a move strongly opposed by India.

The presidential promulgation came days after the Pakistan Supreme Court on April 30 allowed the federal government to amend a 2018 administrative order to conduct general elections in the region.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Order of 2018 provided for administrative changes, including authorising the Prime Minister of Pakistan to legislate on an array of subjects.

India has conveyed its strong protest to Islamabad for its efforts to bring "material change" to territories under its "illegal and forcible" occupation after the apex court allowed holding of elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Delhi said a demarche was issued to a senior Pakistani diplomat lodging a strong protest over the court ruling and clearly conveying that the entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India.

According to a notification issued by the federal Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan on Saturday, President Alvi promulgated the "Gilgit-Baltistan Election and Caretaker Amendment Order, 2020" to conduct transparent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly will complete its five-year tenure on June 24.

The presidential order said it was necessary to provide for the adoption of laws to install a caretaker government in Gilgit-Baltistan for conducting a fair and transparent election.

According to a Dawn newspaper report, president of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party president for Gilgit-Baltistan, Syed Jaffar Shah, said there was no provision for forming a caretaker government in the region and this difficulty has been removed after the presidential order.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly polls would be conducted on time and the caretaker government would arrange elections within two months, he said, adding that there is a law to extend the tenure of the caretaker government in special circumstances.

In reply to a question, Shah said the COVID-19 situation would not be a hurdle in the election process. However, special arrangements would be made to conduct elections in these circumstances.

The Pakistan government this week also signed a whopping Rs 442 billion contract with a joint venture of a Chinese state-run firm and a commercial arm of Pakistan's powerful military for construction of the Diamer-Bhasha dam in Gilgit-Baltistan.

India on Thursday took strong note of Pakistan awarding the mega contract to build the dam, saying carrying out of such projects in territories under Pakistan's illegal occupation was not proper.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 05/17/2020



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[ Spoilers Warning: This report contains spoilers revealing if Lisa and Usman are still together and spoilers that reveal if the : Before the 90 Days couple got married].

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So are Lisa and Usman still together? Did the : Before the 90 Days couple end up actually getting married?

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Lisa may end up moving to Nigeria to live with Usman and appear on : The Other Way

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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Lisa Hamme has been shown running out of time to marry Usman Umar on Season 4 of : Before the 90 Days, so did the couple tie the knot or at least remain together -- or has the couple split?Lisa, a 52-year-old hospice caregiver from York, PA, and Usman "SojaBoy," a 30-year-old rapper from Nigeria, are one of the couples starring on : Before the 90 Days' fourth season, which premiered in February on TLC.Lisa, a divorced mother of a 15-year-old daughter, met Usman, an entertainer in Nigeria who has over 20,000 followers on Instagram, on Facebook two years before filming .Lisa didn't understand why a Nigerian celebrity would be interested in her, but a love song Usman had allegedly written for her sealed the deal in Lisa's mind that their love was real.Lisa therefore flew to Nigeria -- her first trip out of the United States -- to meet Usman for the first time face to face.Although their relationship was supposedly built on trust, Lisa couldn't stand the "thirsty" women who followed Usman on social media. She therefore asked him to tighten up his profiles after seeing some flirty comments had been left by fans, such as heart emojis."I just have to try to tolerate her," Usman said in a confessional.Lisa and Usman were already engaged, so they planned to wed during her stay in Nigeria and then apply for a spousal visa so Usman could move to the United States.Lisa was warned by friends and family that Usman just wanted to come to America and obtain a Green Card -- after all, Usman admitted to cameras his dream was to become the king of hip-hop and R&B in America.But Lisa was sure of their love for one another and wanted to pursue it more than ever."If my life is one week [or] one month with this man, I've lived a full life," Lisa told her friends before she left America.Lisa gushed, "If I die in Nigeria, I'll die a happy woman because I'll be with the man I love... He's absolutely the man of my dreams. If this is a scam, it's going to break my heart and I will not recover from it."Once Lisa arrived in Nigeria, Usman told the cameras he was "in heaven" and in "paradise" holding his love, and Lisa expressed how Usman was "so damn hot."But Usman admitted Lisa had "a bit more belly" than he was expecting. He said he would've liked her to have a bigger chest with a little waist and big hips, but he said Lisa had a big heart and that's what mattered most.Usman admitted Lisa is not the kind of woman he's typically attracted to, and after the pair made love for the first time -- unprotected -- Usman said the encounter was "70 percent good," which was apparently good enough for him.Lisa, however, continued to be "very jealous," according to Usman, who said she was "even more controlling in person."Usman was afraid Lisa's jealousy would jeopardize his career or scare some of his fans off, and his friends and co-workers seemed to agree Lisa presented a problem and wasn't obedient enough.Lisa and Usman then flew to Sokoto to visit with his mother, whom Lisa needed approval from in order to marry her son, and the pair got into another fight about Usman leaving Lisa alone too long."You are not a god," Usman said. "You are not up to 10 days in Nigeria and how many times have I said, 'I'm sorry?' I can't even count."Lisa told Usman not to be a "drama queen," but he wasn't about to let Lisa control his life."It's better to live in prison... I can't put myself in prison just to make you happy all the time," Usman complained. "If this is how you want me to be, then I think it's better for you to just go your way and let me go my way."Lisa felt everything she did for Usman wasn't enough, and she insisted no one is perfect and Usman had to make up his mind about her quickly.Lisa claimed her behavior was a result of not sleeping well and being in a foreign country, so she asked Usman for another chance and to move on with the next chapter of their life together."I love Lisa and I want to make her happy, but if we get married, we need a plan to fix our problems," Usman said in a confessional.After Lisa dressed in traditional Nigerian attire called Hausa and bought a goat as a gift, she finally met Usman's mother Fatimatu, hoping to receive her support and blessing to marry Usman.Fatimatu initially rejected the idea of her son marrying Lisa and did not give the couple her approval or permission."I disagree with his choice to marry Lisa. It scares me because Lisa is obviously much older and also that she will take him abroad," Fatimatu told the cameras."I'm afraid of how they will treat him since the whites don't like the blacks over there."At this point, Lisa and Usman couldn't get married, and Lisa wished Usman had better prepared himself for this conversation with his mother.In a last-ditch effort to win her blessing, Lisa prayed with Fatimatu in a mosque since she's a devout Muslim. She dressed and played the part to the best of her ability.Finally, the couple won Fatimatu over once Usman assured her that he's find work in America and come back to Nigeria to visit her often."I have accepted it now," Fatimatu said."It had become clear to me she and Usman will love together in love and peace. I'm thinking he will come with Lisa here to Nigeria, and I'm happy about it."Later on, Usman picked out a wedding ring for Lisa, who wanted something simple.But Usman said he didn't want to spend his marriage fighting. Usman therefore told Lisa that a Hausa man controls the house and he wanted to be in control of their relationship. Usman was tired of Lisa commanding him to do things, saying that's the man's role.Lisa said a man telling her what to do would be "disrespectful," but Usman wanted to be in charge."If there are two kings in a kingdom, there will definitely be war," Usman said in a confessional.Lisa flipped out and insisted she would never be submissive to a man, but the couple eventually got over their fight and headed to a courthouse in Abuja to get married."If I'm going to marry Usman... I'm going to walk right beside him, not behind him. Usman needs to understand that before we're married," Lisa said in a confessional.Once Lisa and Usman met with a magistrate, they learned they may not be able to get married in Nigeria without a printed copy of Lisa's divorce decree, which she did not bring with her from the United States.Lisa was running out of time in Nigeria and was furious at Usman for not doing his research on the required documents ahead of time.Lisa feared a courthouse wedding might not even be possible, venting to the cameras, "I bent over backwards to make sure this wedding happens, and now it might not happen. I feel like I am in a nightmare."Lisa and Usman are officially a married couple! However, they are still living apart and in different countries.Lisa and Usman got married during Lisa's trip to Nigeria last year, and she posted a screenshot of their marriage certificate May 14 on Instagram. She had obtained the certificate from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.The marriage certificate says Lisa and Usman got married on August 29, 2019 in Abuja with Usman's brother Mohammed serving as their witness.Photos of what appeared to be Lisa and Usman's wedding ceremony leaked online last year by Starcasm and one picture showed the couple holding their Nigerian marriage certificate.Lisa reportedly chose not to wear any makeup on her wedding day at Usman's request, and Lisa changed her name to Usman's mother's name, Fatima Lisa Umar, when she got married.Lisa also reportedly converted to a different religion.Lisa confirmed she and Usman are married and "still together" in an early May interview with In Touch Weekly in which Lisa also said she'd be okay if Usman chose to have multiple wives."In the Islamic religion, it is acceptable for him to take four wives, BUT and I mean BUT, he must be able to provide for all four wives," Lisa said through her representative, Rocco Straz."[This includes] financially, housing, utilities, vehicles, car insurance and medical insurance. At that point, if he is able to do all of that, he may take another wife."Rocco added on Lisa's behalf, "The wives do not have to contribute their personal finances with him."Lisa was responding to comments Usman had made during the April 21 episode of Angela Lee's Lip Service podcast.Usman revealed at the time he doesn't want to stop at just one wife, admitting, "[Lisa] is not okay with it, but she cannot stop me. Yeah, that is the truth.""She cannot give [me a] child. Even if we are going to stay together, I must get [a] child," Usman disclosed, according to In Touch."And that is to say, I have to get married to another woman. It's definitely not only Lisa, whoever I am going to stay with in my life, if you cannot give me a child, honestly I have to get another wife. That is [a] must."Usman also insisted on the podcast Lisa had previously threatened to commit suicide towards the beginning of their relationship because he wasn't really in love with her, but Lisa subsequently denied the allegation."At no given time did Lisa state she would kill herself, for him or any other man. She is a very independent woman," Rocco told the magazine."Lisa doesn't need Sojaboy. She wants Sojaboy! Suicide is something that should not be thrown around lightly. Lisa has a beautiful family and would never do such a thing!"Lisa insisted to In Touch in late April that Usman was just really mad at her and the world on the day he appeared on the podcast.Not much later, Lisa posted a video on Instagram of Usman dancing with her and captioned it with a kissing emoticon, showing that everything was fine between them.Going back to April 16, Lisa hinted she and Usman were still going strong through an Instagram post.Lisa shared an image that read, "If another woman steals your man, there's no better revenge than letting her keep him. Real men can't be stolen."She captioned the image, "Since all the negative Nelly's have put me in a snarky ass mood if you think you can take my baby love @officialsojaboy just remember it will turn around and the exact same thing will happen to you but I don't think he's gonna do that to me so hate on hate on and hell yes I'm turning off the comments.""Karma's a bad ass bitch my sisters remember that BGL," she added.Not only did Lisa call Usman her "baby love," but she also insisted Usman would never leave or hurt her, which suggests they are still an item.She also posted a message to fans about staying strong during difficult times on April 1 amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and her location was tagged as Kaduna, Nigeria, implying she was visiting Usman in Nigeria.Lisa also posted a collage of photos of Usman and herself on March 20 on Facebook.In terms of speculation Lisa has changed her religion, Usman shared a post on Facebook in December 2019 that showed a screenshot of a text message Lisa had sent him in which she talked about converting to Islam, Starcasm reported."Wasn't for your mom or anyone in our lives, not even you," Lisa allegedly wrote, "this was a decision that I made for myself."Lisa reportedly received her fair share of backlash on social media after revealing she's married to Usman, and some people are claiming Usman has cheated on her. But it doesn't seem to phase the feisty Lisa!When one fan reportedly wrote to Lisa, "I wish you were faithful tho," she reportedly replied, "What do you mean my husband is faithful to me. Keep moving."Lisa then went off at the online troll and, according to Starcasm, wrote, "She is a typical Nigerian b*tch an ppl from my husband area wonder why he married a WHITE AMERICAN WOMAN. FACT STANDS I AM A GOOD WOMAN SO LET MY HATERS COME @USMAN SERIOUSLY ILL F**KING MAKE HER CRY."The commenter continued to allege Usman had been "f-cking around" on her, advising Lisa to get checked for sexual transmitted diseases."Jealous much b*tch? Get in line to kiss my white a**," Lisa reportedly responded."You mad bc I married Usman Sojaboy no wonder Nigerian men are choosing to marry anyone but a Nigerian woman like you.": Before the 90 Days' Season 4 cast Tell-All reunion had reportedly been set to film at a studio in New York City in March similar to past seasons, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, those plans ended up being postponed.Instead, the show ended up filming a reunion remotely, with everyone participating via videoconference, during the first weekend of May.About 10 hours of raw footage from : Before the 90 Days' Season 4 reunion show leaked online, including many segments with Lisa and Usman being interviewed by host Shaun Robinson At the end of the Tell-All's filming, Shaun asked Lisa to describe the future of her relationship with Usman, but Lisa pivoted and requested the host ask Usman the same question first."The future of our relationship always depends on Lisa," Usman said, before revealing he had done everything possible to prove his love for Lisa, including convincing his mother to accept Lisa so they could get married in Nigeria."If that is not the definition of love, then I don't know what is the definition of love," Usman noted."I love her and I [got] married to her. When Lisa came down to Nigeria, the intention was for us to get married... I have [no intention] to get another wife, until -- if -- she cannot give me a child."Earlier in the leaked footage, Usman had repeatedly addressed the topic of whether he wanted multiple wives and explained he would only be interested having a second wife -- who he said would have to have a Nigerian woman from his home village -- if it turned out Lisa was unable to bear him a child.Lisa had also confirmed she would be okay with Lisa having a second wife for that purpose, also she and Usman seemed to disagree about whether the second wife would be considered equal to her (Usman said she would be, while Lisa -- unsurprisingly -- insisted the woman would not be).During is closing comments to Shaun, Usman also insisted he's going to continue his music career, which is his passion.And then Lisa said, "The future of our relationship is off-camera. Him and I discussed a lot of things... Our relationship will proceed from here because it is exactly what we've said. We're blending two people from two different countries and two different cultures."Lisa said it's "going to take time" for them to find their footing, especially since Usman is only 31 years old."He's very young and very naive in terms of what he's been exposed to by doing this show. It's been a shock to him. There's some points that inflated his head more than it should be because it is TV, but he's learning. It's a learning process," Lisa continued."We all make mistakes in life... But we continuously move forward."Lisa said if she and Usman move forward together and have patience with one another then their relationship will be "a success."Usman also repeatedly insisted during the Tell-All via videochat he's not with Lisa just to move to the United States."I have no intention to be in the States. Ask Lisa, she will tell you. A lot of people.... [say], 'This guy is young, he wants to marry an old lady from America because he wants a Green Card.' I've been with Lisa for a good three years," Usman began."If I wanted to come to the States, I would be in the States by now."Usman said he wants to stay in Africa like all the other big African rappers have done, adding that he only wants to leave Africa for concerts and shows."The only reason why I listened to Lisa about coming to the States was because we discussed the economy [is better in America]. I have not had any intention, since we got married -- it's been several months right now -- Lisa has been asking me to send my documents so she can fight for me to come to America... but [as of] today, I did not send the documents," Usman explained.The documents would enable Lisa to file for Usman's K-1 visa, but he has clearly not sent them in over eight months since they got married."So I am not desperate to come to America," Usman added. "I don't see anything special in America for my own career, but I believe America is a far better country than my country of Nigeria."Lisa therefore admitted she's considering moving to Nigeria to be with Usman, which would be the type of storyline featured on : The Other Way."That has been on the table for... The Other Way," Lisa noted.When asked when she plans to pack her bags and move to Nigeria, Lisa said, "That is something he and I will discuss when cameras are not around. That is something very personal between him and I."Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
A massive fire completely burnt down part of a Texas condominium complex to the ground on Saturday morning, following a suspected lightning strike.

Around 7:30am, fire alarms went off at Gulf Point Condominiums as Building 'B' quickly became engulfed in a horrific fire on South Padre Island.

The fire began on the east side of the building before spreading towards the center, NBC News reports.

Firefighters from South Padre Island and three nearby cities rushed to the scene, but substantial damage had already been caused.

A massive blaze broke out at Gulf Point Condominiums in South Padre Island, Texas, on Saturday morning

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, but the National Weather Service suggested it might have been a lightning strike

Photos from the scene show firefighters attempting to quell the flames with hoses from the parking lot, but building B was essentially leveled.

Several witnesses captured the inferno on camera and shared the tragic footage on Facebook Live.

Massive flames can be seen ravaging the building as dark smoke billows into the air.

'Its a terrible morning on South Padre Island, Texas,' said Ben Hill, who recorded the blazes.

Firefighters reportedly tried contain the fire by spraying water from a parking garage.

Residents were evacuated from the complex and no one was injured during the incident

The fire started the east side of Building 'B', but spread towards the center as the inferno continued

Firefighters reportedly tried to contain the fire by spraying water from a nearby parking garage

Carlos Chacon, the property manager at Gulf Point Condominiums, said the complex was built in 1977

'A piece of is island history is lost,' Mayor Patrick McNulty said during a new conference.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, but the National Weather Service suggested it was caused by a lightning strike. Storms were in the area around that time.

Officials said residents were evacuated from the complex and no one was injured.

Carlos Chacon, the property manager at Gulf Point Condominiums, told KRGV that the complex was built in 1977.

He estimates that damage will cost $7million.

The fire was eventually contained at 2pm, but those who watched the incident unfold are still shocked.

Chacon estimates that damage caused by the sudden fire will cost around $7million

Witnesses reported hearing a loud boom Saturday morning before fire alarms rang out due to the fire

Several cars were also reportedly damaged in the fie, according to witnesses

Roy Garcia, 55, is visiting South Padre Island with his family and is staying at the nearby Sapphire Condominiums when the fire broke out.

Garcia said he heard a loud boom immediately followed by fire alarms.

'There's several cars that were damaged. Some completely burned by the fire,' he said.

Camila Crisp, a 23-year-old also staying at Sapphire Condominiums, also heard the boom.

'For a minute I thought maybe there was some sort of a tornado or something just because it was a huge cloud of smoke,,' said Crisp.

'I saw the entire building going up in flames,' she added.
Even as war of words continues between China and the US over the place of origin of coronavirus COVID-19, China continues its recent aggression towards India, as it has now come to light that on April 11, a Chinese helicopter entered 12-15 kms into India in Samdho region of Lahaul-Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh.

Rajesh Dharmani, SP Lahaul-Spiti district told ANI that another Chinese helicopter entered in the same region on April 20. He added that CID and other intelligence agencies have submitted reports of the incidents to concerned authorities.

Few days ago, Chinese helicopters were spotted flying close to the undemarcated border between India and China in Eastern Ladakh after around 250 soldiers of both sides were engaged in a fierce face-off near Pangong Lake recently.

The Chinese military helicopters were seen flying close to the Line of Actual Control on at least a couple of occasions after which a fleet of Su-30 fighters of the Indian Air Force too were sent to carry our sorties in the area. Additional troops were also rushed in to the site following the fracas.

In the face-off on May 5, scores of Indian and Chinese army personnel clashed along the northern bank of the Pangong Lake and even resorted to stone-pelting. The incident led to a number of soldiers on both sides receiving injuries.

It is to be noted that Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam tri-junction in 2017 which even triggered fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Unwarranted Fianna Fail attacks on Fine Gael have damaged the talks aimed at forming a government it has been claimed.

The deputy leaders of both parties  Simon Coveney and Dara Calleary  spoke this morning in a bid to clarify reports that officials are making arrangements to hold elections under Covid-19 restrictions.

These reports have led to some Fianna Fail TDs to accuse Fine Gael of seeking to orchestrate a second general election after the summer.

In a terse statement released by Fine Gael on Sunday, the party said that an attack by two senior Fianna Fail spokespeople was unwarranted and has damaged the talks process.

It is also rather ironic that one of the two had recently claimed falsely that both parties had agreed to hold a referendum within weeks of forming a Government, presumably during a pandemic, the statement added.

Following these attacks, it has been made clear that Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin are to discuss the matter.

The statement said: Following the unwillingness and inability of other parties to form a Government without us, Fine Gael agreed to enter talks with Fianna Fail and the Green Party with a view to forming a Government in the national interest. Talks were going well.

Yesterday, it was reported that officials in the Franchise section of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government were making contingency plans for polling in the coming months, it added.

"The Constitution and the law are clear on this. Elections, by-elections and referenda must happen within defined timeframes once vacancies arise.

There is no specific provision for public health emergencies (eg pandemics) envisaged in the Constitution or the law. Officials were only doing their jobs by scenario planning for all eventualities.

"The Leader of Fine Gael will be in contact with the Leader of Fianna Fail to discuss the matter, the statement concluded.

Earlier,

Read More:

Mr Coveney took a call from Dara Calleary on Sunday morning to quell mounting speculation that plans for a second election were moving apace, insisting officials are merely trying to do their duty and explore options should an election need to be held while Covid-19 conditions are still in play.

A media report on Saturday revealed that a plan on how to hold a general election in the midst of the coronavirus crisis  including spreading voting over a number of days, giving cocooners a postal vote and allowing polling in nursing homes  is being drawn up within Government.

A limited number of Cabinet Ministers are aware of the plans, but sources said they are being drafted by officials on the orders of Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy on a contingency basis should the current negotiations to form a government fail.

One option being mooted is to hold voting over two or three days to allow for social distancing at polling stations. In such a scenario polling days may be allocated to certain addresses or streets, but no firm decisions have been made.

Speaking on Sunday, Mr Coveney said he rang Mr Calleary to dampen down speculation that his party is seeking to collapse the current talks process.

I rang Dara to assure him and he is, Mr Coveney told RTE's The Week in Politics.

The Tanaiste also said his government acknowledge the anomolies which have arisen in those who are in receipt of the 350-a-week Covid-19 emergency payment and said they will seek to correct that if legally possible.

He was speaking amid controversy that women returning from maternity leave are currently outside the scope of the measure, a situaiton which the opposition said is unacceptable.

Mr Coveney said there is not a lack of will to fix the problem but said any move would have to be legally permissable and there is uncertainty about that.

Sinn Fein's Louise O'Reilly said new legislation is not needed to include those women returning from maternity leave, arguing a ministerial order from Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe could resolve it.
The following editorial appeared in Sunday's Japan News-Yomiuri:

- - -

A smartphone app is being developed to alert people who have potentially had close contact with people infected with the novel coronavirus.

The government is required to carefully explain the purpose of introducing such an app to gain the public's understanding.

The app utilizes the short-range wireless communication technology called Bluetooth available in smartphones. When app users are in close proximity over a certain period of time, their mutual data are automatically recorded on their smartphones.

If app users test positive for the virus, this information is registered in the app by the users via institutions such as public health centers. Those recorded as having had close contact with the infected people will receive notifications, with the infected people's information concealed. The government aims to implement the system by the end of this month.

When people can find out they have the possibility of being infected, they would be encouraged to refrain from going out and apply for a virus test. The system would be one of the approaches to help prevent a second wave of infections from spreading while economic and social activities are being resumed. It is also expected that the burden placed on public health centers - interviewing infected people about their recent history of movement - will be reduced.

If people can't take the virus test immediately after receiving notifications, however, it will only make their anxiety increase. To realize effective use of the app, it is essential to expand and improve the testing system.

Whether to use the app is optional. As more people use the app, more useful results will be achieved. In Singapore, where a similar app has been introduced, the rate of usage remains at the 20% level. Some have pointed out that requiring the registration of users' phone numbers has made people wary.

The app being developed in Japan will not ask for users' phone numbers. It will not use location information on the smartphones to track infected people as has already been implemented in China and South Korea. In addition, the recorded contact data will be deleted after a set period of time and neither the government nor the app developer will manage the data.

It can be said that taking such measures is realistic in Japan, where the public has a strong sense of reluctance to allow the government to have access to personal information. The government should make it known to the public that the app's system is designed to protect privacy.

The government plans to ask infected persons and people notified of having potential close contact via the app to register in a unified system to manage information of infected people.

Building trust in government systems of information management is the prerequisite for measures against the virus, as data on infected people and people with a record of close contact definitely need to be collected.

In Aichi Prefecture, private information solely managed by the prefectural government, including names of infected people in the prefecture and their hospitals, were posted by mistake on its website, leaving them accessible for a while to anyone.

Personal data breaches and gradually expanding the scope of the data's use beyond preventing infections must be avoided.

The central government needs to create an environment in which people can feel safe about using the system, while setting rules for monitoring and supervising the system after its launch.


Some Asian governments that have had a decreasing number of coronavirus cases are considering permitting travel to some cities.

Experts predict that bubbles, where travel is permitted, will form while restrictions continue in places where infection numbers remain high.

The number of new cases of COVID-19, the disease the virus causes, has eased in much of the Pacific area. Australia, Hong Kong, Macau, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, mainland China and Vietnam have reported low levels of infection in the past month.

In an effort to cut off the spread of the virus, many Asian governments have banned foreign nationals -- with a few exceptions. Local people and foreign permit holders must spend 14 days in quarantine after each entry.

Experts say so-called country-to-country bubbles could help the air travel and tourism industries. Trade related to travel has been hit hard since the coronavirus spread outside of China.

The industry group World Travel and Tourism Council estimates that as many as 49 million jobs related to travel are at risk in the Asia-Pacific area.

Rajiv Biswas is an Asia-Pacific economist for the company IHS Markit. He said, Its very much an issue about how to reopen travel and not only for tourism but also for business, because business travelers also cannot travel.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealands Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have met to discuss the issue. Australian media reported that the two leaders talked about establishing a quarantine-free travel area for their countries.

Biswas said such a move could be a sign of things to come for other countries with low virus infection rates.

No other governments appear to have had official talks on the idea.

But Biswas suggests that Hong Kong, Macau, mainland China and Taiwan could be next to consider the idea.

A Hong Kong Executive Council member suggested this month that the territory could form a bubble with Macau.

Chiu Cheng-hsun is deputy director of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital near Taipei. He said Taiwan could consider opening travel from low-risk countries and not require visitors to quarantine for 14 days. Visitors could instead take their body temperatures each day and report any signs of health problems to travel agencies.

Chiu suggested that travelers from moderate-risk or high-risk countries could come back, too. These visitors would be required to quarantine for seven to 14 days.

Taiwan can open up to accept international tourists, but it needs to manage them, Chiu said. He said the island should welcome everyone in an effort to help its economy.

A spokesperson for the foreign ministry suggested that any decision to reopen travel would come from the governments Central Epidemic Command Center.

Taiwan has not had locally spread cases of the virus in about one month. The island had a total of about 440 infections and seven deaths.

Also in the area, Vietnam has reported fewer than 300 infections and no deaths. Hong Kong has confirmed a little over 1,000 cases. Nearly all have recovered.

Im Mario Ritter Jr.

Ralph Jennings reported this story for VOANEWS. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

quarantine n. to be held for a period of time away from others to prevent the spread of an infectious disease

tourism n. travel for the purpose of pleasure rather than business

manage v. to supervise, to have control over something like business or work
In a letter to the central government, 60 former bureaucrats and diplomats, including former secretaries, have expressed grave concerns about the Central Vista Redevelopment Project and urged the government to see the fallacy of the project and issue notifications to keep the work from going ahead.

According to the letter, at a time when the government needs to step up its efforts to help boost the economy due to the coronavirus pandemic, spending Rs 20,000 crore on the Central Vista project is like Nero fiddling while Rome burns.

When enormous funds are required for strengthening the public health system, to provide sustenance to people and to rebuild the economy, taking up a proposal to redesign the entire Central Vista at a cost of at least Rs 20,000 crore, a figure likely to escalate significantly, seems particularly irresponsible, states the letter.

The signatories to the letter include Vappala Balachandran, IPS (Retd), former Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Meena Gupta and Tishyarakshit Chatterjee, former secretaries, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Aruna Roy, former IAS officer, and Harsh Mander, former IAS officer and social activist.

Addressed to housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Puri, the bureaucrats have reminded the government that the Central Vista is a heritage site and construction and redesign on the scale planned in the redevelopment project will significantly affect the heritage nature of this precinct, and destroy it irrevocably.

The redevelopment planned will, moreover cause severe environmental damage, states the letter, a copy of which was accessed by Hindustan Times.

A query sent to the ministry over the letter remained unanswered till the time of going to press.

It is sad to note that approvals of empowered supervisory bodies like the Environmental Assessment Committee of the Ministry of Environment and the Central Vista Committee have been pushed through in great haste at meetings convened at short notice while the country is in lockdown due to the Covid-19 epidemic, and despite the absence of private members who expressed their inability to attend and advised waiting till the nation returned to normalcy. The clearances are being given despite the matters being sub judice. These bodies have, unfortunately, been reduced to mere rubber stamps with notes of dissent not even recorded, the letter states.

According to the letter, the tenders issued for the project were hastily drafted and rushed through in record time to select an architectural firm in an extremely flawed process.

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KARNES CITY  Nearly two hours of blaring, ceaseless car horns rocked this quiet, rural county Saturday afternoon as dozens of people protested from their cars, attempting to put pressure on immigration officials at the Karnes County Residential Center  an immigrant family detention facility  in a socially distanced manner.

Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly presented a form to families that are detained at the U.S. three family detention centers, two of which are in Texas. The form requires detained parents to make a choice, lawyers at all three facilities say: Either agree to release your child or continue staying detained with them amid the coronavirus pandemic.

I cant even imagine the pain and despair they must feel and the shock of it all. To have to make that horrible of a choice, said Laura Molinar, co-founder of the San Antonio-based Suenos Sin Fronteras, whose shirt at the car protest read Abolish ICE.

ICE did not respond to a request for comment.

In recent months, advocates, lawyers, Democratic lawmakers and a federal judge have put pressure on ICE to release more detainees, as the number of coronavirus cases among them has increased rapidly to nearly 1,000.

Like jail and prison inmates, immigrants in detention are especially vulnerable to contracting and spreading the virus. They have little ability to social distance, often sharing recreational spaces, dining areas and restrooms, while workers move in and out of the facility.

On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus cases mount at South Texas immigrant detention center

No cases have been reported at the family detention centers. ICEs detained population has decreased by more than 7,000 since the beginning of March, according to its website.

In April, U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee of Los Angeles ordered the Trump administration to begin rapidly releasing migrant children from its facilities, which she characterized as hotbeds of contagion.

But advocates argue that ICEs option of releasing only the children, thereby separating them from their parents, is not the answer.

That they would try to separate these kids again is really a travesty.  Its almost like kidnapping, said Fred Schellenberg, a protester and director of the American Organization for Immigrants nonprofit in San Antonio.

Some advocates are calling the move Family Separation 2.0, referring to the administrations family separation policy in 2018, which put parents who crossed the border illegally in detention centers  even if they were seeking asylum  and their separated children in shelters meant for young migrants who arrived unaccompanied at the border.

Schellenberg, who was a legal aid at the Karnes facility and helped migrants prepare for their credible fear interviews, said that without their children, the parents are potentially more vulnerable to deportation, a move that would likely make a temporary separation amid the pandemic permanent. In 2018, hundreds of separated parents were deported without their children.

The protesters painted their cars, held signs outside their windows and raised their fists while laying on their horns outside the facility. Families do not belong in jail read one sign. Detention is deadly, read another.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

One protester put signs up with the names of two detained immigrants who have died from the coronavirus. One died in custody, the other shortly after release.

The cars traversed the highway where the facility sits in a tight loop, a locked black gate preventing them from circling in the parking lot.

Molinar was thinking of the immigrant families that were just beyond the white walls of the facility.

I want them to know that we are standing with them and that we will do whatever is possible to make sure they know that this is not who we are. This is not acceptable. That there are people that love and care for them and will not stand for this, she said.

I really do hope they heard the horns today. I hope all the families did.

Silvia Foster-Frau covers immigration news in the San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas area. To read more from Silvia, become a subscriber. sfosterfrau@express-news.net | Twitter: @SilviaElenaFF
With job losses brought by the new coronavirus pandemic reaching more than 36 million in two months, the economy is in uncharted territory. Businesses and industries across the country are shuttered. On Friday, the House of Representatives passed the Heroes Act, Democrats' $3 trillion proposals, as an attempt by the government to curb the damage.

According to Forbes, the bill serves as a significant marker for the key priorities of Democrats as lawmakers weigh how to cope with the economic fallout caused by the new coronavirus pandemic.

The legislation includes more than $900 billion in federal funding for both cities and states, as well as another round of stimulus checks and prolonging the expanded unemployment insurance, passed the House 208-199 predominantly on party lines.

About $3 trillion has already been passed out by the congress in a couple of months as part of the new coronavirus relief effort- and the latest package of the House weighs in at over $3 trillion itself.

While far from a final bipartisan bill negotiated with the Senate, it's been recognized that there's no prompt end in sight for the new coronavirus or the chaos it's wreaking on the country.

The primary focus of the House bill is getting money to both state and local governments, many of which are looking at weighty budget shortfalls due to the new coronavirus. The bill includes $500 billion for states, $375 billion for local governments, $20 billion for tribal communities, and another $20 billion for territories like Guam, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands.

The bill also allocates $755 million as coronavirus aid to Washington, DC. This is far greater than the first CARES ACT, which established a $150 billion relief fund for state and local governments.

Read also: Law Firm Hackers Threaten to Reveal Donald Trump's 'Dirty Laundry', Demanding $42 Million

There is a concurrence building among Democrats that the one-time $1,200 stimulus checks to Americans were not sufficient to meet the scale of the crisis. Another round of $1,200 is being proposed by Democrats, but with some changes. $1,200 for single filers and $2,400 for joint filers, but filers would be eligible for $1,200 per dependent.

With 264,000 tests a day, the US still lags behind other countries in per capita testing and officials from the White House are expecting to double the tests per day. Speeding up testing and contact tracing will take additional federal funding and Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, said this is an important priority for Democrats in their bill.

The House bill would prolong expanded benefits through January 31, 2021, and to ensure that some individuals get benefits through March 2021, it would also put in a soft cutoff. The bill allocates $925 million to states to assist with processing claims since many states need additional money to cover their portion of unemployment benefits.

$10 billion additional grant allocated for small businesses

Earlier this year, provisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act have been approved by lawmakers enabling families and individuals to receive maximum monthly SNAP benefits for which they qualify. However, lawmakers have not expanded the maximum amount, which has not seen any increase in the aid they are receiving. The latest proposal of the Democrats' bill includes $10 billion to fill the increased demand for SNAP.

With the presidential election just six months away, many states are figuring out how to hold the elections without exposing the voters to the new coronavirus. The bill allocates $3.6 billion to expand vote-by-mail access and prolonging the period for early voting.

To fund the US Postal Service, the bill contains $25 billion. The new coronavirus pandemic has complicated long-standing problems at the USPS, which is burdened with debt it part because of the modern American communication ways.

Moreover, the bill funds roughly nine months of full premium subsidies for the existing COBRA health insurance program, which lets furloughed or laid-off employees to stay on their health insurance plans. Sen. Bernie Sanders and some Democrats have criticized this provision of the House bill as giving money to insurance companies and have recommended increasing the funding to expand Medicare and Medicaid to more people.

The bill includes SALT tax deductions. SALT is one that will reinstate the state and local tax deduction among some new tax provisions in the House bill. In 2017, the GOP tax bill which has been passed changed that deduction, capping the amount of state and local tax deductions someone could claim on their tax returns at $10,000. It impacted higher-income filers in states with higher taxes, like New Jersey, New York, and California.

On Friday, Democrats were able to gather votes needed to approve the legislation though 14 members of the caucus voted against it.

Related article: U.S President Donald Trump Introduced 3-Phase Plan to Reopen Economy

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Rahul Jauhari, Sr Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing, Star Rays, has forged ahead professionally for more than 14 years garnering experience in Business Development, Luxury Lifestyle Consultancy, Market Analysis, Global Fashion / Luxury trend study, Strategic Planning, Merchandising, Product Sourcing/ Pricing Strategy, Profit Centric Operations and much more.

For the last 2-plus years as Sr Vice President Rahul has been handling Star Rays marketing adeptly across the globe. Before this, he was Commercial Director, India of HRD, and also Sr Manager - International Business at Gitanjali Gems Ltd. Rahul also has a range of degrees under his belt like IT-Computer Science; Diamond Grading  GIA; Marketing Management  NMIMS; and an Executive Program in Luxury Management- IIM, Bangalore.

Here, in an Interview with Rough & Polished, Rahul Jauhari speaks about Star Rays, a major Indian diamond companys journey over the years, as well as its plans for the future

Some excerpts:

Star Rays recently announced that it intends to be Indias first carbon-neutral diamond company in the country. Tell us more about this initiative

The diamond industry is not often credited for its efforts to protect the natural world and support its people and communities, even though many in the sector are proactive in building a sustainable future for our planet and its inhabitants.

Star Rays is leading the charge among diamond cutting and polishing firms. Social responsibility and environmental protection are top priorities for Star Rays. Star Rays is convinced that sustainable growth can be achieved through the development and well-being of its employees and their families, business partners, the local community and the environment.

Carbon neutrality is just one of several initiatives that Star Rays has adopted. This has helped to cement its reputation as an environmentally and socially conscious company. Underlining its commitment to sustainable business practices, Star Rays has been carrying out carbon emission assessments for the past two years and is determined to become Indias first carbon-neutral diamond manufacturer. Star Rays is collaborating with Carbon Expert, a carbon consultancy firm that has developed processes and best practices to help companies become carbon neutral under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. Star Rays is also participating in the World Jewellery Confederations Greenhouse Gas Measuring and Offsetting Initiative to ensure that its carbon emissions and removals are measured by international standards.

Can you run us through Star Rays history, giving details about the growth graph, products, etc., for the benefit of our readers?

Star Rays is one of the leading manufacturers of solitaire diamonds since 1980. We were accorded De Beers Sightholder status in the year 2014. Our offering includes CanadaMark and Forevermark diamonds as well. As a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, we are committed to ethical best practices in all areas of our business.

Our manufacturing facility in Surat produces close to 60,000+ solitaires annually from 0.30  5ct+. We offer a seamless buying experience with a wide selection of close to 12,000+ solitaires through our website and mobile app.

We export to more than 28 countries and have a global presence with sales offices in New York, Dubai, Hong Kong and Mumbai.

In the recent past, Star Rays established a fully owned subsidiary, Star Rays Diamonds Botswana (Pty) Ltd which manufactures diamonds in a fully equipped, state-of-the-art factory in Gaborone, Botswana. We currently employ close to 45 people in the facility with most of them being locals.

Our vision is to build a beneficiation manufacturing operation of the highest standard (when benchmarked against global best practices) allowing for long-term sustainability. Star Rays is also committed to skills transfer, employee well-being and believes in giving back to the communities in which it operates. Star Rays Botswana is a De Beers Sightholder as well.







Star Rays Factory Image credit: Star Rays





As a solitaire manufacturer, does Star Rays use multiple sources to buy rough? Currently, which mining companies are the Star Rays main rough diamond suppliers?

We directly source high-quality rough diamonds from the worlds leading mining companies like De Beers, ALROSA and Dominion. Besides these majors, we do procure rough diamonds from other mining companies as well.

If mining companies reduced their supplies, will the Indian industry return to is robust past? What effect will over-stocking of rough diamonds have on the price? What changes do you foresee this year?

Considering the current situation where half of the world is under lockdown due to the spread of Coronavirus the industry is mulling to stop imports of rough diamonds for next month or so. This could be a very sensible move to bring back some sort of a balance between reduced demand and current supply. It will be practically impossible to continue at the same levels of production as demand will take a hit shortly.

When and how things will return to normalcy is unpredictable. With such uncertain times, the industry should continue to sell from its existing inventory without adding any more polished goods for at least the next few months.

Mining companies have been supportive in understanding the situation and have offered options to defer the purchase to a later date. This has somewhat helped ease the pressure on the midstream.

Midstream will surely see further consolidation going forward. It will need to evolve and become more agile. We need a more demand-driven manufacturing approach. The cyclic over optimist approach of the industry hasnt been very helpful.

As exporters, what is the demand situation in the global market for solitaires? What quality, size, shape, etc., of solitaires move well in overseas markets in comparison to the Indian domestic market? Whats the volume of business in the domestic market right now?

With most of the major countries been affected by the pandemic, its very difficult to say how long will it take before the consumer demand returns to normal. We can hope that in another 4 to 5 months things may start to settle. Far-East (China and HK) have started to show signs of recovery on the business front.

India manufactures and exports close to 90% of the world diamonds by volume so practically India is exporting all kinds of diamonds world over.

Solitaire demand has been steady in the overseas markets. Every country has a market for all sorts of solitaires so its practically not possible to associate a particular quality of solitaire with a country. China contributes close to 15% of global diamond consumption and most of these diamonds are below 1ct size (0.30, 0.40, 0.50, 0.70, 0.90 pointers, in F to I, VS-SI range). The USA continues to contribute close to 45% of the world diamond consumption and its a very mature and diversified market. The US has a market for all kinds of solitaires ranging from the best to the commercial qualities.

India contributes close to 6-8% of the global diamond market which in terms of value should be around USD 8 Billion. Since the year 2000 India has seen a steady growth on the diamond consumption front. Its just that the last couple of years the growth has been stagnant for various reasons. India has a very strong affinity to diamonds which will surely lead to higher consumptions in the future.

With organisers either cancelling or postponing Global Trade Shows recently due to COVID-19, how has it affected Star Rays in particular? Will this negatively affect the Indian G&J industry on the whole? Your views.

Cancellation or rescheduling of events will surely have an impact soon. These events provided a great platform for PR, networking and displaying of products. As the reoccurrence of such a pandemic cant be ruled out in future, the industry will have to use more digital and online technologies to compensate for the cancellation of these trade shows. I feel that the industry can mitigate this negative impact to a great extent by using digital marketing and networking tools.

Buying of solitaires has already become an online phenomenon. Our global clients were able to access our inventory through our website and app even during this lockdown.

Looks like Lab Grown Diamonds are here to stay, with many companies jumping onto the bandwagon. What do you predict will be the future of the Natural diamond industry? Do you think natural diamond and LGD sector can co-exist without any major issues? Your opinion.

In my opinion, both are two different categories, and both will have room to co-exist. It will be wrong to say that one will take over the other. Looking at the better profit margins a lot of companies have jumped into it but in the long term, these margins will reduce drastically. Already in the last one year, the prices of LGDs have reduced 40- 60% and its believed that LGD prices will stabilize at somewhere 10% of its natural counterpart.

Both these categories will cater to different need states of the consumers. Consumers will probably start looking at LGDs as fashion category. Natural Diamonds will continue to retain its premium positioning due to its rarity and value holding capacity.

Today, the Indian gem and jewellery industry is badly hit due to liquidity problems, high rough cost, polished prices going down, gold prices going up, bank financing cut drastically; production reduced at cutting centres, workers rendered jobless and so on. Where do you think the industry is heading to, as of now?

We are experiencing a phase of consolidation. There have been too many players in the midstream. I would say that the industry has seen some unrealistic and unsustainable growth in the last decade or so. Lack of financial discipline in the industry led to the banks shying away from it.

High rough cost again can be contributed to the availability of easy financing. If any industry starts to produce more than the demand then naturally prices will go down. In the race to secure top positions in terms of exports, the industry lost its track and went after unviable production volumes.

Going forward in future companies need to have the financial discipline and make rational business decisions. We will have to change from being manufacturing centric to a marketing-oriented industry. We need to treat diamonds as a luxury product and not a commodity. The language of the trade needs to change across the board.

Finally, how is Star Rays faring in these tumultuous times? What strategies is the company using to overcome this period? Any diversifying plans, maybe into LGDs, in the future?

Ethics and values have been at the core of our business. We have always believed in a lean organizational structure which is agile and driven by rational business decisions.

We will be looking at spending more wisely on technology and digital marketing as these will be driving the businesses in future. Sustainability and traceability are the two key areas where we remain focused on.

The recent slowdown due to the pandemic has impacted everyone and we arent an exception to the same. This year may not be the best year for the industry due to the pandemic but we remain positive in the long term.

We remain focused on our natural diamond business and dont have any plans of diversifying into LGDs anytime soon.

Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished
Women and children were among at least 20 civilians murdered in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congos Ituri province, local officials told AFP on Sunday.

We have 20 people killed for now and 17 wounded, some of them admitted to hospital, Adel Alingi, a Djugu territory administrator, told AFP, adding that a notorious regional milita was suspected of carrying out the latest massacre overnight Saturday to Sunday.

Another local official said 22 people were killed.

Pilo Mulindro, a tribal chief, told AFP by telephone that the victims are of all ages, children, youths, women and old men, killed by machete, by knife or by firearm.

Local authorities blamed the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) for the massacre, one of dozens of armed groups spread across the conflict-wracked country.

CODECO is accused of the murder of hundreds of civilians this year alone.

Its members are mainly drawn from the Lendu ethnic group, who are predominantly farmers, and clash repeatedly with the Hema community of traders and herders in Ituri  a region rich in gold and oil.

For the entire country, the number of victims from ethnic violence is almost 1,000 since December 2017.

According to the UNHCR on May 8, the toll this year was at least 274 people killed and 200,000 who have fled the violence.

On Sunday, the attack apparently came from a Lendu area whereas the victims were ethnic Hema, a local source said.

In the Djugu territory, which covers more than 8,000 square kilometres (3,000 square miles), villages from both groups are interspersed and military spokesmen Jules Ngongo told AFP: No army in the world can be everywhere in a zone like Djugu.

Two UN battalions are also posted in the province, and are backed up by Uruguayan special forces troops, the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO said in late April.

Tens of thousands were killed in the region between 1999 and 2003. The UN says most victims were targeted because they were Hema.

The conflict has reignited in recent years and a UN report said in January that some deaths might constitute a crime against humanity.
The city is on the verge of facing acute blood shortage as the current blood storage across blood banks is likely to suffice only ten days. This is a result of donors staying away from hospitals and blood banks in fear of contracting Covid-19.

Mumbai generally requires 900 units of blood a day, but the number has dipped to 400 units a day since the outbreak of Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown. Officials at the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) said that almost 80% of stored blood across the 58 blood banks in the city has dried up.

The shortage came to the fore last week when Nashik resident Suwarna Pawar, 25, had to wait for four days for a foetus blood transfusion at Wadia Maternity Hospital. The seven-month pregnant woman had rushed to the Parel-based hospital on Wednesday after the foetus was diagnosed with a rare-genetic disorder and immediately needed blood transfusion. However, the hospital didnt have his blood group O- (negative).

My blood group is A- (negative) and my child is O- (negative). We kept searching for blood for four days. Finally, doctors transfused blood on Saturday. I thought I would lose the child, said Pawar who is still undergoing treatment at the hospital.

In another case, Sohini Mazumdar, 38, a patient of thalassemia  a blood disorder wherein the body produces less haemoglobin  struggled for four days to arrange one unit of blood. I need blood transfusion every 15 days to survive since my body cant produce enough blood. If I dont get blood on time, I may even die. Arranging for blood is my monthly struggle, but the pandemic has made it worse, said Mazumdar.

While all elective surgeries have been put on hold for the moment, the blood shortage crisis is likely to worsen once the government allows surgeries.

In view of the state governments rule that mass gatherings at one place will not be permitted, all major blood donation camps between March and May have been cancelled. With no alternative in sight, SBTC is planning to organise micro-blood camps in housing societies by adhering to physical distancing measures.

At present, we have a stock of around 10 days. Sometimes, willing donors who want to donate get stopped by police. Though demand for blood in accident cases has decreased owing to the lockdown, patients suffering from cancer, thalassemia and haemophilia are facing a lot of trouble, said Dr Arun Thorat, in-charge of SBTC, Maharashtra.

Two days before the nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25, Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope had appealed to citizens to donate blood in light of a shortage of blood.

Blood Donors India, which works with the Union health ministry, said peoples response on social media platforms has decreased by almost 40%. The crisis is not only in Mumbai but across the country. Earlier, we would get around 15-20 requests from the city, however, the response is far less now as people are scared to even go near hospitals, said Balu Nayar, founder of the group.

Another bottleneck is the lack of manpower to efficiently operate blood banks round the clock. Many staffers who stay in far-off areas like Nalla Sopara or Virar are not coming to the hospital since the lockdown. As a result, there is not enough staff to arrange blood donation camps, said a blood donation official from King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital, Parel.

In view of the pandemic, it has also become harder for hospital administrations to reach out to patients relatives for blood.

If anyone wants to donate blood, they can call on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) helpline number  1916  to get details about their nearest blood bank. All blood banks are given special instruction to main sanitation and physical distancing norms, said Dr Thorat.

With growing awareness about convalescent plasma therapy, people are seeking blood from people who have recovered from Covid-19. As HT reported earlier, convalescent plasma therapy involves injecting patients with blood plasma from recovered patients. In this process, the plasma with antibodies is transfused into an infected person to boost his immunity response to Sars-Cov-2, which causes Covid-19.

In the last one month, Blood Donors India has received around 20 such demands from Mumbai. Once, we get such requests, we tweet about the post and circulate it on social media platforms requesting recovered patients to come forward to donate their blood for plasma therapy, said Balu Nayar, founder.
PHILADELPHIA, May 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The PHL COVID-19 Fund is excited to announce it will host PHLove, presented by the Middleton Family, a one-time variety show on Thursday, May 21 at 7 p.m., to support the Fund. Daryl Hall, Questlove, and Patti LaBelle will headline PHLove and feature DJ Jazzy Jeff, Amos Lee, DJ Diamond Kuts & Friends, WALLO267, Jeffrey Gaines, Jay Buchanan of Rival Sons, The Geator, Jerry Blavat, and Friends, and Pastor Alyn Waller and The Enon Tabernacle Fresh Anointing. The family-friendly event will air live on 6ABC, CBS3, NBC10, 96.5 TDY, 98.1 WOGL, B101.1, and KYW Newsradio, and stream nationwide online at Inquirer.com and Radio.com.

The variety show will celebrate the talent and resilience of the Greater Philadelphia region as it raises awareness and support for the PHL COVID-19 Fund. Produced by ESM Productions, a ROC Nation Company, along with support from Live Nation Philadelphia and Live Nation Urban, the lineup will include surprise guest appearances from several other friends of the Philadelphia region.

Since March 19, the PHL COVID-19 Fund, powered by Philadelphia Foundation and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ), has been rapidly deploying critical funds to nonprofits serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. In eight weeks, the Fund has raised $16 million dollars and aided nearly 400 regional nonprofits. However, in order to continue to meet the critical needs of the community, more funding is vital.

"Despite the Fund's success to date, the needs of the most vulnerable among us continue to persist," said Pedro Ramos, President & CEO of Philadelphia Foundation. "Additional funding will support the urgent and pressing needs of the community."

"As the pandemic wears on, we continue to see our neighbors facing very real, very urgent challenges, placing ongoing strain on the limited resources that are available to help," said Bill Golderer, President & CEO, UWGPSNJ. "As successful as the Fund has been in raising money and identifying and addressing the most immediate, pressing needs in our community, the nonprofits at the frontline of the crisis are still struggling to meet increased demand for services. The additional funds raised from this event will not only make sure their doors remain open for those hardest hit in our community but ensure we stand ready to address emerging needs as well."

"These past two months have been a distressing time for all of us  particularly those who are most in need and lacking food, shelter and hope," said John S. Middleton, managing partner of the Phillies. "We all know there are people who can use a hand up right now."

The PHL COVID-19 Fund has prioritized supporting people who have been hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, such as seniors, people experiencing homelessness, those with disabilities, low-income residents without health insurance, people with substance abuse disorder and survivors of abuse.

"The PHL COVID-19 Fund is doing an incredible job helping nonprofits on the frontline of the region's response to this pandemic," added Leigh Middleton. "We're honored to be a part of this effort to raise funds for those most in need, and excited to bring this program to the community."

More information on the PHL COVID-19 Fund, recent grantees and its efforts to date can be found at www.PHLCOVID19Fund.org.

About Philadelphia Foundation

Founded in 1918, Philadelphia Foundation strengthens the economic, social and civic vitality of Greater Philadelphia. Philadelphia Foundation grows effective philanthropic investment, connects individuals and institutions across sectors and geography, and advances civic initiatives through partnerships and collaboration. A publicly supported foundation, the Philadelphia Foundation manages more than 1,000 charitable funds established by its donors and makes over 1,000 grants and scholarship awards each year. To learn more, visit philafound.org.

About United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, serving communities in Pennsylvania's Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, and New Jersey's Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May and Cumberland counties, is part of a national network of more than 1,300 locally governed organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and in people's lives. United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. In Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, United Way fights for youth success and family stability because we LIVE UNITED against intergenerational poverty. For more information about United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey visit www.UnitedForImpact.org .

For Philadelphia Foundation: Melissa Fordyce, 856-430-4661, [email protected]

For United Way: Abby Douglas, 330-208-5554, [email protected]

SOURCE Philadelphia Foundation and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-18 01:05:01|Editor: huaxia

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GUANGZHOU, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), the largest offshore oil and gas producer in China, and Royal Dutch Shell, the world's leading energy and petrochemical conglomerate, signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement worth 5.6 billion U.S. dollars on Sunday.

Representatives in Guangzhou, capital city of south China's Guangdong Province, Beijing, and The Hague, signed the agreement via 5G video link.

The new cooperation, based on the CNOOC and Shell Petrochemical Company Limited, is the CNOOC and Shell Huizhou phase III ethylene project.

With an estimated annual output value of 38.2 billion yuan (nearly 5.4 billion U.S. dollars), the project is scheduled to start construction in the city of Huizhou, Guangdong Province, in 2021.

Founded in 2000, the CNOOC and Shell Petrochemical Company Limited is one of the largest chemical joint ventures of Royal Dutch Shell in China.

Ben van Beurden, CEO of Shell, said that the joint venture has developed into one of the largest and most competitive petrochemical facilities in China and the world.

CNOOC and Shell Petrochemical Company Limited had in total produced nearly 15 million tonnes of ethylene with a net profit of more than 20 billion yuan by the end of 2019, according to CNOOC Chairman Wang Dongjin. Enditem
Agents with the Department of Homeland Security (HSI) in Arizona coerced suspected human trafficking victims to perform sexual acts on them during a three-year investigation that later collapsed after the officers' conduct became publicly known.

The investigationdubbed 'Operation Asian Touch' saw federal agents pay for and receive at least 17 sexual acts from 'Asian females' working in eight different massage parlours in Mohave County, over a five-month period in 2018.

The sex-trafficking probe began in May 2016 after Havasu police received complaints that local massage parlors were offering erotic extras to their foot and back rub services. The HSI were called in by police in 2018 following suspicions the women might be victims of human-trafficking.

Internal ICE documents show the offices were given permission by their supervisors to go through with the sexual acts, research from the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University suggests.

'These girls were victimized again by the agency who was supposed to be protecting them,' retired HSI senior agent Louie Garcia said.

Initially, Garcia said he was told, agency officials in Washington DC, 'wanted heads to roll,' but the issue quietly went away. The U.S. Attorney's Office received a 'brief' call from ICE internal investigators, but in the end only a low-level supervisor was disciplined.

The investigationdubbed 'Operation Asian Touch' saw federal agents pay for and receive at least 17 sexual acts from 'Asian females' working in eight different massage parlours in Mohave County, over a five-month period in 2018

Internal ICE documents show the offices were given permission by their supervisors to go through with the sexual acts, research from the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University suggests

The case began unraveling in the fall of 2019 after defense attorneys obtained some of the evidence prosecutors planned to present.

Mike Wozniak, who briefly represented one of the alleged traffickers, recalled his shock listening to audio recordings from the investigation.

'They talked about a handjob, and I believe I was hearing one take place,' Wozniak said. 'In every other case Ive ever had, the undercover officer did not go through with the actual sexual act.'

Wozniak said he called the lead prosecutor to confirm what he was hearing, and she did. 'I found it pretty repugnant that they were engaged in sexual acts with people that, under their theory, would have been the victims,' Wozniak said.

Defense attorney Brad Rideout also clearly remembers first reading the HSI agents reports. 'It was absolutely, morally problematic,' he said.

Of those reports, instance after instance of an undercover federal agent telling a masseuse to 'masturbate him' is documented, Reason reported.

In one exchange, the woman told the officer a 'handjob' would cost $60. 'How much for oral copulation?' the agent asked in response.

She replied, '$120 for oral sex.' The agent said he didn't have enough money, so the woman lowered her price to $100.

The agent then 'asked her to take off her clothes.' The woman countered again with a price of $120 for oral sex and nudity, and the deal was struck.

The woman put a condom on the agent and 'attempted to perform oral sex,' according to the report. He stopped her immediately, the officer said, pulled off the condom and told her to masturbate him instead.

'The female placed oil on her hand and began to stroke the U.C.'s penis. After a few minutes, the female stopped and gave the U.C. a towel to clean himself,' the report reads.

Many of the reports include descriptions such as 'the female was very skill with small breasts,' or 'the Asian female had black hair and was wearing a black skirt, black shirt, fishnet stockings and heels.'

Not all of the workers approached by ICE agents agreed to carry out the requested sexual act. However, the memos theorize that they decline because they were onto the officer's identities, rather than just choosing not to do so, or not wanting to.

In total, nine people would go on to be arrested in the probe, including two women on prostitution charges after performing sex acts on the officers.

In total, nine people would go on to be arrested in the probe, including two women on prostitution charges after performing sex acts on the officers

Money is seen spread across a massage table during a police raid on A Body Spa in Lake Havasu City, Arizona in September, 2018

In reports, instance after instance of an undercover federal agent telling a masseuse to 'masturbate him' is documented. Many of the reports include descriptions such as 'the female was very skill with small breasts,' or 'the Asian female had black hair and was wearing a black skirt, black shirt, fishnet stockings and heels'

Police in Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City, near the border with California and Nevada where the investigation occurred, said they were told by HSI that undercover agents may engage in sex acts with suspects.

'Detectives were informed by HSI that the undercover sexual activity was authorized,' said Emily Fromelt, a Bullhead police spokeswoman.

It is illegal in Arizona, as in other states, for police to engage in sexual activity with subjects of an investigation, though HSI does not explicitly ban agents from doing so.

A leaked HSI policy handbook describes how, with supervisor approval, undercover agents can engage in 'otherwise illegal' activity. While it gives some hypotheticals, the handbook says nothing about undercover sex.

In September 2019, Rideout filed a court motion seeking the names and badge numbers of the HSI undercover agents  identified in reports only as 'Arturo' and 'Sergio' - so he could call them to testify.

'It is unclear how an ICE officer having sexual relations with human trafficking victims in Mohave County, Arizona, protects the nation from terrorist attacks or secures the borders,' Rideout wrote in his request.

The Mohave County Superior Court sided with Rideout and said Homeland Security should indeed have to turn over information about the two officers, adding that the pair could not be used as witnesses unless the court got their full names and addresses.

HSI responded by telling Mohave County police and prosecutors it would not be participating in the case any further.

Rideout, who represented two women in the Arizona case, wasn't surprised. 'Having sex with people they identify as victims is a crime in itself, and theyre not going to come on the stand and testify,' he said.

In December 2019 the case collapsed. All felony charges against the alleged ringleaders (left to right) Amanda Yamauchi, 46, and Dean Michael Bassett, 52, were dropped, in addition to the charges against the masseuses. Sex-trafficking experts say the women were likely re-traumatized by the actions of the officers.

A note left by one of the masseuses for the officers is left behind at one of the parlors, reading: 'Hi men! I'm -- I'm going to buy something food. Maybe at 11:00am come back. See you later'

The probe began in May 2016 after Havasu police received complaints that local massage parlors were offering erotic extras to their foot and back rub services. The HSI were called in by police in 2018 following suspicions the women might be victims of human-trafficking

As consequence, in December 2019 the case collapsed. All felony charges against the alleged ringleaders Amanda Yamauchi, 46, and Dean Michael Bassett, 52, were dropped, in addition to the charges against the masseuses. Sex-trafficking experts say the women were likely re-traumatized by the actions of the officers.

Of the nine people originally charged, only three pleaded guilty to attempted pandering, prostitution and solicitation - all before the HSI agents' actions became publicly known.

Ultimately, the three-year operation yielded just three state misdemeanour convictions stemming from a single sexual encounter which authorities interrupted during a raid.

A 45-year-old woman was convicted of prostitution, resulting in 56 days in prison and a $600 fine; the man who paid her was convicted of solicitation; and the masseuse's husband, who drove her to the parlor, accepted a plea deal on one charge of attempted pandering.

Rideout said he believes the agents behavior was not unprecedented.

'In my experience in law enforcement, these types of things do not just happen in one spot.' He sought to obtain HSI policy documents to see if there was a 'pattern' of behavior elsewhere, but his efforts were unsuccessful.

Clark Neily, vice president for criminal justice at the libertarian Cato Institute, said the Arizona case was yet another example of law enforcement not policing itself.

'It is difficult to exaggerate the extent to which the law enforcement community collectively turns a blind eye when its members engage in misconduct,' Neily said.
In a return to his old fighting form last week, President Donald Trump suggested that his electoral rival, Joe Biden, should go to prison for an unspecified offense he labeled the "greatest political crime in the history of our country."

In response, Biden did nothing, holding back in silence for hours after Trump's interview aired Thursday on Fox Business Network, until the presumptive Democratic nominee's campaign finally sent out a tweet.

"There's nothing that the American people cannot accomplish when we stand together - one nation, united in purpose," it read.

The cheery non sequitur underscored a core presumption of Biden's senior team as it enters a new phase of the presidential campaign, one marked by hourly offensives from one of the most accomplished political pugilists in American history, who now enjoys the largest electoral cash advantage of the modern era.

Biden's advisers, aware of what Trump is preparing to fire at him, describe themselves as dead set against being triggered by his provocations or engaging with him on his terms. Voters will decide the election, they believe, in response to the crisis now engulfing the nation, not the spectacle of Trump's Twitter feed.

The most explosive Trump volleys have been dismissed by them as distractions - so far at least - even as Trump's attacks on the former vice president's competence and economic record stir more concern and response.

"The context of this race is different than anything anyone has experienced since probably 1932," said Anita Dunn, a senior strategist for the Biden campaign. "The question that the American people are going to be posed in 2020 will be: Who do you trust as we enter this new phase of this nation's history?"

Some of Biden's top advisers have gone even further, predicting that Trump's tactics of embracing false conspiracy theories and stirring up hurricanes of controversy could backfire, given an unemployment rate approaching 20 percent and a viral pandemic that has already killed nearly 90,000.

"The public is really focused on what matters in this election. And they're not being dragged into side issues and they are not being dragged into manufactured issues," said Mike Donilon, the Biden campaign's senior strategist. "It's just too serious. So I think Trump is risking a real problem in trying to push the conversation to a place where the country knows that's not what's at stake."

It's a wager the Trump campaign's top advisers are happy to take. After more than two months of mixed messages and inconsistent strategy, Trump chose the second week of May to finally launch his campaign at its full power against Biden, attacking his record, his integrity and his mental acuity with a media blitz anchored by about $10 million in television ads in the key swing states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, Arizona, Iowa and North Carolina. Trump has focused extensively on Pennsylvania and Florida in recent conversations with political advisers, who met with him in the Oval Office last week.

Pro-Trump ads in the electoral battlegrounds now outnumber Democratic ads for the first time this year, by a margin of about 2 to 1 since the beginning of the month, according to Democratic advertising tracking data provided to The Washington Post. And that is just part of the effort Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale calls "omnichannel," a reference to the scope of its delivery systems, which include online advertising, social media posts, phone banking and an extensive surrogate operation.

On Facebook, the Trump campaign debuted new ads calling Biden a "corrupt BIG GOVERNMENT SOCIALIST," and others attacking his record on guns and immigration. One set of digital ads casts the former vice president as a puppet in the hand of Chinese President Xi Jingping, and another photoshops Biden as a spoon-fed invalid in a nursing home with the caption "Too Old?"

Trump allies and advisers are likely to slam Biden for other unproven charges, such as allegations about women and being mentally disabled. The president's son, Donald Trump Jr., posted an image Saturday on Instagram that showed an alligator calling Biden a pedophile, an allegation with no foundation. In emojis, the younger Trump indicated he found the image to be funny.

Among the other messages the Republican National Committee and the Trump campaign have tested in polling: Biden's support for the Iran nuclear deal, his boast of wanting to get rid of fossil fuels, his vote for the North American Free Trade Agreement and his support for access to health insurance for undocumented immigrants. They have also tested attacks about members of Biden's family making money while he held public office, his vote for the Iraq War, his personal wealth and his tendency to stumble over his words.

Among the attacks that have polled better, advisers say: Hitting him on China, NAFTA, support for the Green New Deal and Iran.

Parscale and his team have tested positive messages about Trump and did not get the same results, according to people familiar with the campaign tests. But there are some limits to how well some of the attacks might work. After voters in the 17-state RNC survey were provided an onslaught of negative statements about Biden, the Democrat still won by 1 percent over Trump, compared with 3 percent before they heard the statements, an official familiar with the poll said. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the findings.

One adviser said of Trump: "We are testing if he still has the amazing ability to get people to vote for him who say they can't stand him."

The sheer volume of attacks is part of the strategy, an effort to overwhelm a Biden campaign that is still finding its footing after a near standing start at the end of the Democratic primaries.

"They don't have a choice but to just take it on some of these things. They don't have the war chest or the structural organization to fight a multi-front battle," said Tim Murtaugh, the Trump campaign's communications director. "If they say their strategy is to take gut punch after gut punch and that's their plan, I'm not sure who's buying that."

Talking points distributed Tuesday by the Trump campaign to surrogates asked them to hammer Biden on his support for China gaining entry to the World Trade Organization, opposing "strong trade actions" against China and the evidence-free charge that Biden's son, Hunter, took $1.5 billion from China. (The younger Biden was involved in a Chinese investment effort during his father's time as vice president, but there is no public evidence the fund ever attracted that much investment or that the younger Biden profited to that extent.)

Similar scripts were given to Trump's army of grass-roots volunteers, who have been blitzing key states with phone calls and text messages, according to a campaign official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss strategy.

Trump and his advisers see scorched-earth as the way to win. Campaign adviser Bill Stepien has recounted to others being in Trump Tower on Election Day 2016 and telling the president his approval rating was 38 percent - and Trump still believed he would win.

At the same time, Trump has personally taken the lead attacking Biden from the White House, even as he simultaneously denies that Biden is the focus of his campaign.

"I'm not running against Sleepy Joe Biden. He is not even a factor," Trump tweeted on Saturday. "I'm running against the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats & their partner, the real opposition party, the Lamestream Fake News Media!"

Over the past week he has questioned Biden's ability to perform as a candidate and latched on to a recently declassified document showing that Biden was one of 16 officials who requested the unmasking of a person who turned out to be Trump's first national security adviser, after his conversation with the Russian ambassador was captured in intercepts gathered as part of a foreign intelligence operation after the 2016 election.

The same document says standard procedures were followed during the unmasking, which occurs in every administration, including Trump's, if top officials can show they need to know the name of Americans or legal residents interacting with foreigners targeted by spy agencies. But Trump has nonetheless alleged that Biden's actions are part of a criminal conspiracy to undermine his incoming administration, which he has labeled "Obamagate."

Many Democratic strategists, including those outside the Biden campaign, have warned that the attacks are tangential and should be ignored. "Vote," tweeted former president Barack Obama in an apparent one-word rejoinder to the attack, which Biden echoed with the phrase, "What he said."

"If I were them I would be as quiet as a church mouse," said Jefrey Pollock, a Democratic pollster who has been working with independent groups to help defeat Trump. "Engaging with an arsonist will only light your house on fire."

Inside the Biden campaign, the greatest concern is raised by Trump attacks that might erode Biden's standing as a person better able than the president to help the country recover from the coronavirus pandemic. The campaign has hit back on Trump's China attacks, using the president's own words to argue in digital videos that it is Trump who is too cozy. And advisers have taken notice of the Trump campaign's fixation on Biden's mental competence.

Biden has also launched an economic policy attack on Trump's coronavirus response, tapping into liberal economic populist arguments that Biden has embraced in past campaigns.

"Trump and his administration are carrying out what is now the largest corporate bailout in American history in a way that is systematically rigged in favor of big businesses, the wealthy, and the financial sector - and against the working people and middle class families," advised a Biden campaign memo to surrogates on May 8.

The campaign has also focused on health care, a significant Trump weakness, according to internal and external polling.

The Biden campaign has also been playing its own branding game, seeking to build out an online brand identity with a "campaign code" of inclusion, empathy and kindness, words not associated with Trump's more aggressive style. Campaign videos make jokes about the candidate's love of ice cream and aviator sunglasses.

His advisers have also been cheered by internal and public polls that show Biden with advantages in key personal attributes and a far more favorable rating among voters than the last Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, had at this point in 2016.

A CNN poll released last week found that Biden had a 12-point advantage over Trump on the question of whether the candidate "cares about people like you," a 15-point advantage on being "honest and trustworthy" and a 17-point advantage on uniting the country, not dividing it. Biden trailed Trump by three points in a question about who had the sharpness and stamina to be president. Internal Trump polling has shown similar numbers.

While there is no certainty that those numbers will hold up over the Trump blitz to come, Biden and those working to elect him believe they will be better off ignoring much of it.

"By the end of next week they will be done with this and they will go on to the next thing, which is Beijing Biden or whatever," said Rick Wilson, a Trump foe and Republican consultant. "The Biden campaign needs to just keep one thing in mind: Every re-election is a referendum on the incumbent."
In this article GOOGL

The homepage of the "Tribune Times Today." All the news that's fit to copy. Megan Graham

Last month, a story I'd written had just gone live. I punched a few keywords into Google search to pull it up so I could grab the link. That was when I noticed a publication called the "New York Times Post" had also just published a story with the exact same headline. When I clicked the link, I noticed that it was my story in its entirety. And it had ads all over it.

This website, the "New York Times Post," was running ads on a story they stole from CNBC.

These phony "news" sites with realistic names and stolen stories aren't new  they've been ripping off publishers and taking advertiser dollars for years. But as the pandemic hits the publishing industry and news sites like Conde Nast, Vice and Vox cut pay and lay off more employees, the issue feels more pressing than ever. Many advertisers don't want to advertise on publishers' coronavirus stories out of fear they'll face negative brand connotation for being alongside that content. Yet, through the muddy supply chain of digital media, many are ending up on that content anyway. Only here, it's stolen. A two-year study by the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers and PwC articulated with new clarity how the digital media ecosystem hemorrhages cash on its way to publishers. It tracked 15 UK advertisers, including Disney and Unilever, and found that half a brand's digital marketing spend is absorbed by middlemen before reaching a publisher. Worse, it found that about one-third of the supply chain fees advertisers pay cannot be traced, meaning that it's impossible for advertisers to know exactly where their money is going. It all underscores the fact that the ad tech space is so convoluted, it's easy to make money from legitimate advertisers just by setting up a web page. That means there's significant incentive to create sites with not just with low-quality clickbait or A.I.-generated nonsense, but sites filled with outright plagiarized content. I was curious how bad the problem was. So I did an experiment to see if I could make a site using stories from CNBC and get ad tech partners to agree to show ads on it. It was shockingly easy.

Setting up a website

I'm by no means a coding whiz, but this part was straightforward. I bought a domain through GoDaddy and set up a managed Wordpress site, then set up an SSL certificate so I would have a secure website, which would prevent the site from triggering security warnings on browsers like Google's Chrome. I downloaded a theme that made my site look somewhat like a news website, made a favicon (the little image that shows up in Google search and in your browser tab) and gave myself a name: The "Tribune Times Today."

The homepage of the "Tribune Times Today." All the news that's fit to copy. Megan Graham

To populate my site with content, I first copied and pasted text from CNBC stories manually. Then I learned how to speed the process with scrapers  simple software plug-ins you can download on Wordpress and can scrape stories using RSS feeds or individual links. A lot of fraudulent news sites will also scrape images from stories, but I avoided that for legal reasons. Instead, I stuck with stock images I was allowed to use on the site, or my own images from industry events I had saved on my phone. I spent a couple hours on a Sunday afternoon tweaking the site, setting up fancy-looking widgets to show my "top stories" or a carousel display of stories and pulling stories until I had more than 50 posts. Then I was ready to find some advertisers.

Finding advertisers

Websites often work with ad tech partners to get ads placed on their site. To start, publishers usually go through a fairly simple process of sharing their website URL, contact info and sometimes traffic figures or revenue. From there, the company will often give the publisher a piece of code, which the publisher sticks on their web site. This lets the ad partner make sure the person trying to sell ads actually has access to the site, and isn't trying to sell ads on a site that isn't theirs. I applied to nearly three dozen of these companies, and some approved me right away. These firms mostly sold "popunder" ads, which pop up a new link in a browser tab when you click something. They're one of the worst forms of online advertising, not to mention annoying and intrusive for the user. Others seemed eager to work with me but wanted to see how much traffic I had, or said I didn't have enough traffic or existing revenue to meet their thresholds. Some said I didn't meet their requirements for content. Conversant, for instance, didn't approve me because I applied using my Gmail address and because I didn't have enough traffic. Ad tech partners Media.net and Infolinks took a bit longer to approve me, but they both did.

My denial email from Sovrn. Megan Graham

One firm, Sovrn, initially declined the site because it didn't meet its standard for original content. But within 24 hours they sent another email saying I was approved.

My approval email from Sovrn. Megan Graham

Google took days to give me an answer, but eventually answered that since I had "scraped content" on my site, I wasn't eligible for Adsense. I asked the three companies that approved me how they vet sites. Sovrn said it is "the first, and remains one of the few exchanges to achieve a TAG Platinum certification," and says its site approval process is "stricter than most." The company said each site that applies to its platform goes through a four-step review process involving "proprietary checks, third-party tools such as IAS and buyer-level settings and filters." Despite that, the Tribune Times Today  populated entirely with "stolen" news articles  got through those steps. "Even with what we believe is the strongest site approval process in the industry, it is still possible that some bad actors can slip through," Sovrn acknowledged. "That's why we continuously monitor our exchange, and perform weekly auditsand removalsof sites that violate our controls." Infolinks CEO Bob Regular said a domain goes through human review to ensure some basic criteria, like making sure it's not violent, pornographic, dangerous or pertaining to other explicit adult content. If it passes that level, there's an automated process that submits the site to other advertising companies to see if they want to advertise on my site, and it's up to them to approve it one by one. He said the company also submits each publisher to third-party fraud providers for review. Media.net said its compliance team immediately assess sites for "clear terms of services violations" like pornography, hate speech or violence and that they're instantly blocked from its network. If not, sites can "go live on a provisional basis." That's when the company typically discovers less obvious violations, including copyright infringement, and flags bad actors. It said this typically occurs between 30-60 days. The company said it doesn't immediately ban bad actors because it found that they simply try to get around it by submitting a ton of slightly different sites that also violate Media.net's terms of service. By letting sites slip by at first, then banning them before they get a payout, Media.net "disincentivizes bad actors from reattempting to join our network." But these three media partners aren't the end of it. They work with other partners as "resellers." By looking at some technical information the partners sent me to add to my "ads.txt" file, I saw I was authorizing the ad space on Tribune Times Today to be sold by not just the three ad tech companies who approved me but also its partners, such as AppNexus, GumGum, OpenX, Rubicon Project and Google. That doesn't mean they had approved the site; They would have had to approve the domain based on their own criteria, and I didn't run the experiment long enough to see if they would do so. Rubicon Project, for instance, said once a partner had approved me, that partner would send domains to Rubicon, which would then take a number of steps, including looking at industry associations like TAG to see if there had been reported plagiarism on the site, working with anti-fraud partners to make sure it's not fraudulent or spot-checking inventory itself. Google said that just because a particular exchange works with Google in general does not mean they will send ad requests for every single publisher that is on their platform as a reseller; it also said that just because it's listed on ads.txt doesn't mean it's monetizing a certain site. (Google said it had no evidence of any ads placed via our platforms on the website created, including through AdManager, and I didn't see any Google ads when I briefly switched on advertising). "We have strict policies that prohibit bad actors from monetizing content that is stolen from other sites," a Google spokeswoman said. "Our ad tech partners must abide by these policies as well. Our enforcement systems and teams work to detect and block these illicit web pages before they can sell ad space. If we find a site or partner violates our policies, we take immediate action." But I'd slipped through the cracks once, and I wondered which cracks I'd slip through again when it came to the resellers verifying the "Tribune Times Today" domain.

The Tribune Times Today's ads.txt file. Megan Graham

I didn't want to be taking ad revenue from legitimate advertisers, so I only briefly activated advertisements from the partners to see what surfaced and to take a few screenshots. I saw ads come through in for companies including Kohl's, Wayfair, Overstock and Chewy. In a statement, Overstock said that as an advertiser it is negatively impacted by this fraud and does "everything in [its] power to prevent it." "To combat these kinds of fraudulent efforts, we partner with reputable ad-tech providers and are constantly auditing our ad placements to ensure they are appearing on legitimate sites," Overstock said. "However, even with those precautions, a fraudster occasionally slips through the cracks. In the rare event that this happens, we work with our partners to swiftly investigate and resolve the incident." The other companies declined to comment or didn't respond to a request for comment.

Chewy ad on "Tribune Times Today." Megan Graham

If I were a bad guy...

I only put a few hours of work into this site, but I don't do this for a living. Real bad actors can get a lot farther than this with only a little more work. For instance, they can set up a site with actual original content, get approved, and only then start scraping content. Or, they can easily buy an existing website that's already monetizing with adtech partners, and just flood it with plagiarized content. They can buy fake traffic to conduct traffic arbitrage, a fancy way of saying that they pay less for traffic than they gain from the ad impressions. They can set up more automated means to keep scraping huge amounts of automated content to keep the website looking fresh. Joshua Lowcock, who's global brand safety officer at UM, a media agency that's part of Interpublic, said he's run a similar experiment and found that a number of ad tech partners were similarly lax about their approvals. Like me, he didn't make too much of an effort to appear super sophisticated. "We weren't acting like a motivated bad actor," he said. "If anyone had done basic due diligence, we would have been caught out." He added that sites can act as legitimate news publishers for months, gain social media followers then start publishing completely fake stories. Andreas Ramos, who teaches digital marketing at INSEEC and California Science and Technology University, says the size of fraud like this is "staggering." He said some scammers set up tens of thousands of websites at once with a few keystrokes. "It's a money machine," he said. It's easy to find examples. One afternoon, I spent a few minutes trying to find other sites that had copied CNBC stories in full without credit. In a matter of minutes I found "The Washington Time," "FR24News.com," "Bioreports.net," "AfricaZilla," and "USA News Hub." All of them were showing ads through various partners, including Google and Criteo. There are so many more of these sites that I don't have enough time in the day to report them, as much as I would like to. Criteo, which had also been showing ads on the "New York Times Post" (my very first example) said it had seen my tweets about the site and discovered the inventory had come through another platform, and requested those sites be added to a blacklist. "We constantly monitor our supply network to prevent such infractions as the ones found by you. In the event we find a partner is not adhering to our policies, we will terminate the relationship immediately," said a company spokesperson. As of Thursday, FR24News.com, USA News Hub and AfricaZilla were each showing Google ads on stolen content from CNBC and other publications, and each listed Google as a direct seller on their ads.txt files. Google said Friday it had demonetized USA News Hub and said it's investigating the other two sites. Google recently announced it would be requiring all advertisers to go through an identity verification process to ensure they are who they say they are. Some argue they should be doing the same for publishers. "There should be that same requirement on the publisher side, a proof of identity and demonstration that you're legitimate," Lowcock said. "And then up and down the digital supply chain, people should do spot checks to make sure that work is being done."

Google ads appear on a FR24News story copied from CNBC. Megan Graham

Bob Hoffman, a former advertising executive who has written numerous books about the industry, said the advertising ecosystem has never been 100% pure, but what's being seen now is a new level. "The extent to which it's happening now is way beyond anything I think we've ever seen before, where tens of billions of dollars are being stolen from advertisers," he said. "If you're a crook, this is like Christmas Day. And there are no consequences... If somebody finds you out, so what? You put up another phony site, or you put up a thousand other phony sites. The so-called ad tech fraud detection systems seem to be extremely ineffective." He said one solution is for advertisers buying directly from publishers. "So much of the fraud would disappear," he said. "All the middlemen would evaporate. Yes, you'd pay a little more, but you'd know what you're getting, if you bought directly from quality publishers."
Tehran, May 17 : The United States would be practically unable to block shipments of fuel from Iran to Venezuela at a time when the two countries need to cooperate to mitigate the impacts of American sanctions on their energy sectors, Hamid Hosseini, the spokesman for the Iranian Association of Exports of Crude Products, said.

Washington is extremely angry about Iran's delivery of fuel to a location near its borders despite various sanctions it has imposed on Tehran's shipping and energy sectors, Hosseini was quoted as saying by Press TV, reported Xinhua news agency.

On Wednesday, western media reported that "at least one tanker carrying fuel loaded at an Iranian port has set sail for Venezuela ... which could help ease an acute scarcity of gasoline in the South American country." Accordingly, the White House announced on Thursday the United States was considering measures it could take in response to Iran's shipment of fuel to crisis-stricken Venezuela.

"Gasoline shipment is not one that could be intercepted or attacked," Hosseini said. "It would be a remote possibility for the US to block the gasoline export shipment," he added.

Hosseini described Iran's decision to ship large consignments of gasoline to Venezuela as a right move which is meant to help Caracas tackle its fuel shortage.

He also said Iran should continue to export more of such shipments in the future to offset a reduction in domestic demand for the fuel which has come as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Inside the festival cabins adapted to let Dutch care home residents see their family.

Health chiefs are considering installing secure perspex rooms in care homes so families can visit their elderly loved ones without the risk of spreading coronavirus.

Sunday Life has learned the radical proposal is among several mentioned by Health Minister Robin Swann in a draft paper brought before the Executive last Thursday.

He is currently finalising recommendations which will be submitted to ministerial colleagues charting a way forward for the sector which has been devastated by Covid-19.

"One idea is to have perspex rooms inside care homes so relatives can visit elderly relatives," explained an Executive source.

"Families can stand on one side of the partition and their loved one on the other. It would at least allow a degree of social contact without the risk of the virus being spread. The side on which the family sit would be deep cleaned after each visit."

The Executive insider said capital grants should be made available to care homes to provide this service.

"It wouldn't cost a huge amount in real terms and the benefits would be massive," added our source.

"Lots of care homes residents are suffering badly because of a lack of social interaction with their families since they were locked-down in March. This plan would give them something to look forward to every week and really lift their spirits."

Almost half of the 599 Covid-19 related deaths recorded by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra), which is higher than the Department of Health figure of 473, occurred in care homes. This included 36 in the week up to May 8, a fall from the 72 registered the previous week ending May 1.

The Belfast Telegraph yesterday reported how deaths in care homes had fallen by half in just one week.

Medical experts have been scathing in their criticism of the failures to protect elderly care home residents during the pandemic.

In a damning assessment Professor Gabriel Scally told the Belfast Telegraph that promises to protect older people "just didn't happen".

He also hit out at the decision to admit hospital patients suffering from Covid-19 into care homes, describing it as a "very bad idea".

People aged over 75 have accounted for 75% of all virus-related deaths in Northern Ireland. There are currently 483 nursing and care homes operating here with 10,500 residents.

The perspex room proposal to allow relatives to visit was hinted at by DUP MP Gregory Campbell (left) last Tuesday when he warned the isolation of care home residents "cannot continue indefinitely".

Mr Campbell said: "We need to strategically look at how interactions with people outside the care setting can be managed without compromising the bio-security of the setting.

"We need to look at what technology is available in each care setting. Do they have broadband access for residents?

"Can new facilities be built to accommodate visiting through a partition wall?

"All of these measures will require long term planning."

cbarnes@sundaylife.co.uk
Researchers have developed a computer model to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at preventing the COVID-19 pandemic's spread, an advance that may help public health experts determine scenarios for upcoming weeks.

The scientists, including those from the University of Gottingen in Germany analysed German COVID-19 case numbers with respect to past containment measures, and derived scenarios for the coming weeks.

Their findings, published in the journal Science, may provide ways to derive insights about how well the measures to contain the pandemic have worked in recent weeks, and how things will continue in the coming weeks.

In the study, the scientists simulated the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany since mid-March.

Their model calculations related the gradually increasing restrictions of public life in March to the development of COVID-19 case numbers.

In particular, the study examined the effect of three packages of interventions in Germany in March -- the cancellation of major public events around March 8, the closure of educational institutions and many shops on March 16, and the extensive contact ban on March 22.

The scientists combined data on the temporal course of the COVID-19 new infections with a disease transmission model.

This allowed the analysis of the course of the pandemic to date, and the investigation of scenarios for the future, they said.

According to the computer models, the packages of measures initially slowed down the spread of COVID-19, and finally broke the dreaded exponential growth.

"Our analysis clearly shows the effect of the various interventions, which together ultimately brought about a strong trend reversal," said Viola Priesemann, study co-author from the Max Planck Institute in Germany.

The scientists said they did not only have Germany in mind for making the predictions.

The model calculations show us the overall effect of the change in people's behaviour that goes hand in hand with the interventions, added Michael Wilczek, research group leader and another co-author of the study.

"From the very beginning, we designed our computer model so that it could be transferred to other countries and regions. Our analysis tools are freely available on GitHub and are already being used and developed further by researchers around the world," said Jonas Dehning, lead author of the study.

The scientists said they are currently working on applying the model to other countries.

They said it is particularly important to work out the different points in time at which the measures were taken in different countries, from which conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of the individual measures.

The study's findings for Germany, on the basis of case numbers up to April 21, indicated an overall positive development of case numbers for the coming weeks.

However, they also revealed a critical challenge in assessing the epidemic dynamics.

Changes in the spread of the coronavirus are only reflected in the COVID-19 case numbers with considerable delays, the scientists explained.

"We have only recently seen the first effects of the relaxation of restrictions of April 20 in the case numbers. And until we can evaluate the relaxations of May 11, we also have to wait two to three weeks," Wilczek said.

The scientists said they are continuing to monitor the situation very closely to evaluate the new case numbers and assess whether a second wave is to be expected.

They also hope to show how the number of new cases might develop further.

If the relaxations of May 11 doubles the infection rate, they said, a second wave can be expected in Germany.

Instead, if the infection rate balances the recovery rate, the new infections stay approximately constant, the scientists noted in the study.

However, they said the number of cases can continue to decrease if people continues to be very careful, and contact tracing by health authorities is effective, and at the same time new outbreaks of infection are detected and contained early.

"How exactly the numbers will develop in the future, therefore, depends decisively on our behaviour, the observance of distance recommendations and hygiene measures," Priesemann said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over 4,500 persons have been



arrested in Assam for violating restrictions during the ongoing nationwide lockdown, the Assam Police said on Sunday.

The lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 for 21 days with effect from March 25. It was then extended till May 3 and again till May 17.

In its daily report on the lockdown, the Assam Police mentioned that 2,292 cases have been registered for 3,003 incidents since the beginning of the restrictions.

Accordingly, 4,513 persons were arrested in connection with the cases, it said.

The police has also realised a total fine of Rs 2.63 crore for violating lockdown norms.

It includes Rs 14.66 lakh for not wearing masks in public places.

Besides, 27,391 vehicles of all types and 34 boats have been seized from various parts of the state during this period.

Action is being taken against those spreading provocative content and rumours about COVID-19 on social media, the police said.

As on Sunday, 96 cases have been registered and 50 persons were arrested, an official release issued by the Assam Police said.

To stop the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus in the state, there are 26 effective containment zones across nine districts, it added.

Eleven areas in Cachar district have been declared as a precautionary containment zone, the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chadwick Boseman bulked up and got into superhero shape for his career-defining role in the 2018 hit film Black Panther.

But since he went into quarantine in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the actor has had a dramatic weigh loss.

And on Saturday he showed off his slimmed-down physique when he took a break from his home sequester to take his dog on a walk in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles.

On the go: Chadwick Boseman, 42, took a break from his home quarantine for a walk to a local store with his pet pooch by his side

With a safety first approach, Boseman, 42, covered his nose and mouth with a black protective mask for his stroll with his pet pooch, which included a stop to pick up some fresh bread from a local store.

He kept it casual in the fashion department in baggy brown sweatpants and a black hoodie that read: 'Lost in love' on the front of it.

The South Carolina native also donned green sneakers and wore his locks longer than usual, styled in mini dreads.

Casual: The slimmed-down actor wore baggy brown sweatpants and a black hoodie

Fans have voiced their concerns about his health since he first appeared thin and gaunt when he posted a video on social media in April.

Not long after he was seen taking a stroll with his mother around his neighborhood with a walking stick.

So far Boseman has not addressed his weight loss, but some people have speculated that it may be in preparation for an upcoming role.

Transformation: The actor first appeared gaunt when he made a post on social media in April

One of his next roles is in the sci-fi-fantasy series, The Black Child, alongside Halle Berry, Mike Epps and Common.

Boseman will have to bulk up once again when he begins filming the sequel to Black Panther in 2021.

He currently has two new movies that are in some phase of post-production: Spike Lee's war film Da 5 Bloods and the drama Ma Rainy's Black Bottom that also stars Viola Davis.
One of the world's top tobacco manufacturers, British American Tobacco claims to have developed a potential COVID-19 vaccine and that the drug is ready for human trials. As per reports, the company has been conducting pre-clinical trials and claims the potential COVID-19 vaccine has shown to produce a positive immune response.

In April, the company had announced that its biotech subsidiary, Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP), was developing a potential vaccine for COVID-19.

Read: French Government Summons Sanofi CEO For Saying US Would Receive COVID Vaccine First

"We have committed funds to conduct these clinical trials, which could start as early as late June, pending the responses from relevant health bodies. We have also invested in additional equipment to boost our manufacturing capabilities should they be needed. We have submitted our Pre-Investigative New Drug package to the US FDA who have acknowledged its submission whilst our correspondence with other government agencies around the world continues. We are hopeful to receive further feedback in the coming weeks," the company said on its website.

Read: COVID-19: 'Vaccine Or No Vaccine,' Donald Trump Unveils Plan To Reopen US

The world's second-largest tobacco manufacturer also highlighted how it is contributing to the fight against COVID-19 pandemci in several other ways. British American Tobacco on its website has mentioned that it is producing 60,000 bottles of hand sanitiser in Bangladesh and also utilising its 3D printers to make face shields for healthcare workers.

The company has also said that it is using its distribution networks in countries like Brazil and Kenya to ensure medical equipment reach vulnerable communities in time and has also loaned its R&D equipment to the UK government for use in COVID-19 testing centres.

Read: Trump Hopes For COVID-19 Vaccine By End Of This Year, Launches 'Operation Warp Speed'

COVID-19 Vaccine development

The novel coronavirus outbreak is still claiming thousands of lives across the world as countries race to develop a vaccine for the contagious infection. As per reports, eight countries have so far started conducting human trials of potential COVID-19 vaccine, including China, the United States, Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

US President Donald Trump while announcing 'Operation Warp Speed' had suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine will be ready by the end of 2020, as opposed to health experts. The White House Coronavirus taskforce member Dr. Anthony Fauci had earlier said that the vaccine development could take 12 to 18 months before it is fully ready to deliver.

Read: COVID-19 Pandemic: World Leaders Call For Free, Available To All peoples Vaccine

(Image Credit: AP)
Were going to demand in New Mexico that science guide every decision we make, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in her news conference Wednesday announcing that some restrictions on business reopenings would be loosened slightly  along with a new mandate that everyone wear masks in public places unless exercising, eating or drinking.

Indeed, invoking science and data has become the mantra used by every politician and elected official in the country to do what they want to do in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is, of course, some unassailable science underlying the many public health directives now playing out across the United States. It is a novel virus that originated in China and quickly became a global pandemic. It is highly transmissible, primarily via airborne droplets, but also can be picked up on surfaces. It is particularly lethal for people over 65, especially in long-term care facilities, and for those with serious underlying medical conditions.

But in too many instances, science and data is a term used by politicians to squelch debate and discussion over policies and their impact. It is science, we are told. There is no dissent. Do as you are told.

But people arent stupid. They remember that what science dictated just a month ago, now  suddenly  may no longer be the case. It might actually be the exact opposite.

Take masks. On March 8, Dr. Tony Fauci was asked about masks on a 60 Minutes interview. Theres no reason to be walking around with a mask, he said, adding that it could actually be harmful because people tend to keep fiddling with it to adjust it, touching their face  which science has told us not to do.

But on Wednesday, Lujan Grisham and Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase said science and data show that widespread use of masks in New Mexico can save thousands of lives. OK  if thats true, why wasnt there an earlier mandate to wear them the past couple of months? Why does the mandate only come now as the number of cases and rate of spread is headed in the right direction?

And testing.

At one point only people with symptoms were being tested, mainly because of a limited number of tests. Now, we are told that just about everybody should be tested. Some people repeatedly. Is there a good scientific reason that every single New Mexican should seek out a test? Is the plan to try to find anyone positive and then do contact tracing and isolation? Weve been told that free testing is now available to anyone but havent really been told if, and why, and how often we should all do it  if, in fact, thats the case.

At a more granular level, what science dictated that it was OK for more than 100 people to be in a big-box store but no customers could be allowed in a local family-owned liquor store? What science dictates who is an essential worker? In New Mexico, essential includes selling lottery tickets at convenience stores.

What science says the same restrictions on church services, which can now have 25% of capacity except in northwest New Mexico, should apply in Sierra County, which has recorded one case of COVID-19, as in a county with many more cases? What science keeps southeast New Mexico and places like Lincoln County with a total of two cases on the same level of lockdown as Albuquerque?

Science and data from the spread rate, which Scrase describes as an important indicator of how quickly the state can reopen, show three regions of New Mexico are at or below the target 1.15. Yet there is no move to allow the areas with the lowest spread rates to open more quickly.

Geography, apparently, isnt considered science.

The science and data trump card is being played out across the country. President Trump uses it. The governor of Michigan who insanely banned people from being on a lake in a boat or buying paint used it. The governor of Georgia, perhaps recklessly reopening businesses, uses it. Heck, in Colorado the governor uses science and data to say people can get haircuts.

None of this is to say science and data arent useful in formulating public policy. They are. But that buzzword phrase is too often used to squelch questions and disagreements with their policies.

And the one thing science and data used to justify lockdown policies wont do is tell you what kind of ramifications, or economic devastation, come about as a result. For example, the science and data-driven virtual shutdown of non-emergency medical procedures has led to its own budding public health crisis as people either cant get the care they need, surgical and otherwise, or are afraid to get it. People with heart attacks arent going to hospitals. Early detection of cancers arent happening. Kids arent getting vaccinated. Hospitals have taken a huge financial hit that many wont recover from  despite federal and state help. (It should be noted that this area is slowly reopening.)

So yes, science and data are important. But they cant by themselves dictate wise public policy. That requires looking at subsets  like geography  and understanding what you hope to achieve and balancing that with the negative impact certain to follow.

At the end of the day, the fallout of policies dictated by science and data is found in another separate set of data  one that policymakers cant afford to ignore.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
A preliminary study done by New York's Grossman School of Medicine reports on the use of HCQ+AZT+Zinc versus HCQ+AZT alone in four New York Hospitals has issued its report. Here's the key finding of the abstract.

Zinc sulfate increased the frequency of patients being discharged home, and decreased the need for ventilation, admission to the ICU, and mortality or transfer to hospice for patients who were never admitted to the ICU. After adjusting for the time at which zinc sulfate was added to our protocol, an increased frequency of being discharged home (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.12-2.09) reduction in mortality or transfer to hospice remained significant (OR 0.449, 95% CI 0.271-0.744). Conclusion: This study provides the first in vivo evidence that zinc sulfate in combination with hydroxychloroquine may play a role in therapeutic management for COVID-19.

The "main finding of this study is that after adjusting for the timing of zinc therapy, we found that the addition of zinc sulfate to hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin was found to associate with a decrease in mortality or transition to hospice among patients who did not require ICU level of care, but this association was not significant in patients who were treated in the ICU."

Here are the statistics:

Discharged home:

Zinc, 317 (77.1%) No Zinc 356 (68.3%)

Needed ICU Zinc: 38 (9.2%) No Zinc 82 (15.7%)

Needed Invasive Ventilation Zinc 33 (8.0%) No Zinc 86 (16.5%)

Expired/Hospice Zinc 54 (13.1%) No Zinc 119 (22.8%)

Expired/Hospice (Patients needing ICU) Zinc 28 (73.6%) No Zinc 61 (74.4)

Expired/Hospice (Non-ICU Patients) Zinc 26 (6.9%), No Zinc 58 (13.2%)

Why do we need a clinical trial of HCQ+AZT+Zinc?

It may cut ICU visits by 40%

It may halve the need for ventilation.

And it may cut the death rate by almost 50%.

Let's try a thought experiment. Suppose the government launches a full-scale clinical trial of HCQ+AZT+Zinc, perhaps as a control group in the currently ongoing South Dakota or University of Washington clinical trials. (The latter is already testing HCQ+AZT but not zinc. To date, outside the Grossman report, I have seen trials testing only one or both of the first two drugs.) Let's also assume that one or both of these clinical trials do test HCQ+AZT+Zinc on early stage patients and their early results (as of June 15) echo those found in the anecdotal reports of Dr. Armstrong, who saved 39 of 39 patients at a Texas nursing home using this therapy, and Dr. Zelenko, who reported treating 1,450 patients, of whom 405 were high-risk (over 60 with symptoms, under 60 with no symptoms but with an underlying chronic medical problem, as well as anyone who looked sick or had difficulty breathing). These patients were treated immediately on first presentation with HCQ+AZT+Zinc  without waiting for test results. "Statistically," Dr. Zelenko says, "out of that number, you would have expected 20 dead, and a multiple of that, perhaps 30 or 40, on a respirator." But only nine of Dr. Z's patients were admitted to hospital. Five had pneumonia, and they quickly recovered and returned home. Four were temporarily on respirators before recovering. Only two patients died. None of these patients experienced any side effects during treatment. The remaining 1,045 patients were low-risk (defined as under 60 with no symptoms and no chronic medical problems such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, things like that), and they were not treated with this therapy and recovered on their own.

If a clinical study of HCQ+AZT+Zinc confirms Dr. Z's results, the president will need to make some decisions fast. Here's why:

The history of the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 suggests that the virus could wane over the summer months and roar back in the fall. For the sake of simplifying the math, let's assume that Dr. Zelenko treated only 1,000 patients and adjust all his findings proportionately. In this scenario, he would have had 279 high-risk patients needing the therapy. Of these, six would have needed to visit the emergency ward for a time, and all but one would have gone home within a few weeks. Note also that 721 patients are not at high risk, and they will not receive the therapy because the initial diagnosis suggests and events will demonstrate that they will recover on their own.

Now, suppose President Trump launches a crash program on June 16 that by September 15 produces enough of these drugs to provide courses of treatment for one million individuals. I'm using a million because my next assumption is that the U.S. experience with C19 will echo that of the Spanish Flu. If that happens, we might well see two million new cases turning up between September 15 and October 15  or somewhat under double what we have seen reported in the last two months. If the HCQ+AZT+Zinc therapy is administered to high-risk individuals when they first present with symptoms, and it works according to the results described above, the U.S. will need to supply the therapy to 558,000 patients on first presentation. It will also face an emergency room load of 12,000 visits, of which about 3,000 are relatively short, and approximately 3,000 will be a few weeks longer. And we'll have 542,000 surplus treatment packages in reserve to meet demand if the spike is followed by additional cases.

Here's the critical question: if we keep in mind that roughly half of this caseload will likely come from within 100 miles of New York City, can the U.S. medical system and emergency rooms handle such a caseload so that everyone who needs it will get the best possible medical care?

And my final question: If the answer to my previous question is yes, will we even need a vaccine?

I think these are significant questions. I wish someone would ask them of Dr. Fauci.

Rob Williamson is the pseudonym of a freelance writer with a longstanding interest in political decision making.
Nepal on Sunday extended the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus until June 2, a day after the country reported its first COVID-19 death.

A decision on the matter was taken during a Cabinet meeting held at the prime minister's official residence in Kathmandu, sources in the Cabinet said.

A high-level committee for the prevention and control of COVID-19 had recommended to the government to extend the lockdown for another 15 days in view of the rising number of coronavirus cases.

The lockdown, which was first enforced in the country on March 24, was to end on Monday midnight.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 14 new patients were registered in the country on Sunday, taking Nepal's tally of COVID-19 cases to 295, while two persons have died due to the disease.

A 25-year-old male from Banke district, who returned from India five days back, died at a quarantine facility after he tested positive for the COVID-19.

On Saturday, the health ministry confirmed the first coronavirus-related death of a 29-year-old female from Sindhupalchowk district. She died following difficulty in breathing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PHILIPSBURG:--- The continuing increase in the number of reports of domestic and family violence since the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, has been seen as an eminent cause for concern by Sint Maarten Police Force. It is evident that an increase in community awareness is needed in order to bring this abusive behavior to a drastic halt.

When people think of domestic abuse, they often focus on domestic violence. But domestic abuse includes any attempt by one person in an intimate relationship or marriage to dominate and control the other. Domestic violence and abuse are used for one purpose and one purpose only: to gain and maintain total control over the other. Be aware that the abuser doesnt play fair. An abuser uses fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear the victim down.

Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone; it does not discriminate, abuse happens within all relationships. While women are more often victimized, men also experience abuse especially verbal and emotional. The bottom line is that abusive behavior is never acceptable, whether from a man, woman, teenager, or an older adult. You deserve to feel valued, respected, and safe.

This behavior should no longer be considered a private matter. It is recognized by all sectors that abusive behavior towards a person in a relationship constitutes criminal behavior and is punishable by law.

The Sint Maarten Police Force is actively committed to improving our operational response to this crime during this epidemic. Persons choosing to engage in abusive

actions will be held accountable for their actions, it is just a matter of time. Instead of engaging in this illegal. You alone are responsible for your behavior. Do the right thing, put a stop to the abuse.

If you need help please leave a message on the anonymous tip line # 9300 or you can also send a private message via our Facebook Page- Police Force of Sint Maarten - Korps Politie Sint Maarten or website https://www.policesxm.sx/ 24/7.

KPSM Press Release.
The government's halting response to the coronavirus pandemic represents the culmination of chronic structural weaknesses, years of underinvestment and political rhetoric that has undermined the public trust - conditions compounded by President Donald Trump's open hostility to a federal bureaucracy that has been called upon to manage the crisis.

Federal government leaders, beginning with the president, appeared caught unaware by the swiftness with which the coronavirus was spreading through the country - though this was not the first time that an administration seemed ill-prepared for an unexpected shock. But even after the machinery of government clanked into motion, missteps, endemic obstacles and lack of clear communication have plagued the efforts to meet the needs of the nation.

READ ALSO: Reality star charged with fraud for misusing $1.5M PPP pandemic loan

"A fundamental role of government is the safety and security of its people," said Janet Napolitano, the former secretary of homeland security. "To me that means you have to maintain a certain base level so that, when an event like a pandemic manifests itself, you can quickly activate what you have and you have already in place a system and plan for what the federal government is going to do and what the states are going to do."

That has not been the case this spring. The nation is reaping the effects of decades of denigration of government and also from a steady squeeze on the resources needed to shore up the domestic parts of the executive branch.

This hollowing out has been going on for years as a gridlocked Congress preferred continuing resolutions and budgetary caps to hardheaded decisions about vulnerable governmental infrastructure and leaders did little to address structural weaknesses.

The problems have grown worse in the past three years. Trump was elected having never served in government or the military. That was one reason he appealed to many of those who backed him. He came to Washington deeply suspicious of what he branded the "deep state." Promising to drain the swamp, he has vilified career civil servants and the institutions of government now called upon to perform at the highest levels.

His transition was messy and since then his administration has been slow to populate the thousands of political slots atop federal agencies, and the president has seemed to prefer acting agency heads to those who can win confirmation from the Senate and the authority that imprimatur conveys. He has targeted career officials and sought retribution for those who differed with him, particularly those whose job it is to find and expose problems.

"One thing to keep in mind is that government takes on hard problems," said David E. Lewis, a political science professor at Vanderbilt University. "They're often problems that can't be solved by the market and there aren't private entities to solve them."

He added: "We're seeing a government that is suffering now from a long period of neglect that began well before this administration. And that neglect has accelerated during this administration."

The question is whether the weaknesses and vulnerabilities exposed by the current crisis will generate a newfound interest among the nation's elected officials - and the public - in repairing the infrastructure of government and a sense of urgency on the part of the public to encourage them to do so. Or will partisanship and public indifference lead to a continuation of the status quo?

- - -

Public trust in government has declined sharply for the past half century. In the early 1960s, more than 7 in 10 Americans said they trusted government to do the right thing all or most of the time. A year ago, a Pew Research survey found that just 17 percent of Americans expressed that view.

Attitudes began to turn more negative during Vietnam and Watergate. Over the next decades, there were occasional increases in public trust, but the trendline continued downward. There was also a spike upward after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Since then, there has been a steady decline amid deepening political divisions and intensifying anti-government rhetoric.

Over these years, there have been a series of major government breakdowns that helped shake confidence in government's competence. Some are relatively recent: the 2003 invasion of Iraq; the response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005; the Deepwater Horizon oil well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010; the crashing website for the Affordable Care Act in 2013.

Other breakdowns happened longer ago or are less remembered but nonetheless highlight ongoing weaknesses, whether the explosion of the Challenger space shuttle in 1986 or a flu vaccine that sickened many recipients in 1976.

COVID-19 OUTBREAKS : Texas releases nursing home coronavirus case totals

The pandemic has forced another critical look at government's competence. For months, the Trump administration has been running behind to bring testing capacity to the levels needed. That was true as the virus was taking hold and when more tests might have helped contain the spread. It is the case now as businesses look to reopen but cannot assure safety for workers or their communities without the widespread availability of tests, which so far does not exist.

Stockpiles of needed equipment were never adequate for the scale of the pandemic either, and the government was slow to ramp up production. The government's economic intervention, while massive in dollars and well-meaning in intent, also has run into problems.

In contrast to many European nations, where the strategy has been to keep payrolls afloat, the U.S. program has relied on direct payments to individuals, unemployment insurance for furloughed workers, loans to small businesses (in some cases forgivable) and aid to some major industries, such as airlines.

Speed took precedence over precision in the design of the program. Delays were common. Areas of the country hardest hit by the virus in March and early April were sometimes shortchanged as money flowed to areas less affected. Payments through the Small Business Administration ended up in the hands of big firms like Ruth's Chris steakhouses or entities like the Los Angeles Lakers. Treasury Department officials had to move swiftly to get those payments returned.

Flaws in the nation's unemployment insurance program, a patchwork system run through the states, highlighted inequities, as benefits vary from state to state, as do eligibility requirements and length of assistance.

Florida's has drawn the most criticism. That state's program was redesigned when now-Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican, was governor to make it more difficult to qualify for assistance. Recently it has been plagued by computer problems. A recent headline on the Miami Herald website said, "Florida's jobless benefits program finding new ways to confound, infuriate the unemployed."

Congress authorized an additional $600-a-week payment through July for those unemployed, on top of what they would receive from their state program, which has resulted in some people receiving more money while being unemployed than when they were working.

Ricardo Reis, an economist at the London School of Economics, said that the U.S. program is one of the largest in the industrialized world but not necessarily the most efficient. "To get the same bang you've got to spend a lot more bucks because you're sending a check to everyone, right?" he said "A lot of people don't need a check."

"Much of the response at the federal level has been predicated on the idea that we're just going to take a holiday for a few months and then go back to where we were," said a skeptical Steven Davis, a professor of international business and economics at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned last week of "significant downside risks" to the future of the economy."

The jury is still out as to whether what the government has done is either adequate or efficient. "My impression from the outside is that we have significantly mal-designed the economic assistance and adjustment system," said Philip Zelikow, a professor at the University of Virginia who served in five administrations and was executive director of the 9/11 Commission.

"The counter to that is we just needed to get the trillions out the door," he added. "Maybe after analysis, that argument could have merit [but] I suspect this still could have been done better under the time constraints."

Meanwhile, lawmakers are now locked in age-old ideological battles at a time when fresh thinking will be needed to help workers who could face long periods of unemployment and businesses threatened by closure by a pandemic that appears certain to create a new normal whenever the economy does reopen.

"I think this event is revealing of what governance wonks have been warning about for a long time, namely that we haven't been very focused on the basic governing systems we need to execute policy successfully," said William Galston of the Brookings Institution. "The competency of government to serve as an instrument of policy delivery has been weakened substantially. One of our long-term tasks is to rebuild that capacity."

- - -

Gene Dodaro, the comptroller general, leads the Government Accountability Office, the agency that is tasked with being a watchdog for government performance. He sees structural weaknesses that constantly impede performance. "The hardest part of my job is getting people to focus on things before they become a crisis," he said.

The GAO regularly produces a list of areas of high risk in government performance. The most recent, issued in 2019, began with this assessment: "The ratings for more than half of the 35 areas on the 2019 High Risk List remain largely unchanged. Since GAO's last update in 2017, seven areas improved, three regressed, and two showed mixed progress."

"Fundamentally we have a legacy government that hasn't kept up with the world around it," said Max Stier, president and chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service. "We create government and capacity around the problems of the day and there's not much refreshed. . . . It does not lie with a single administration. It is endemic through modern times and not just the executive [branch] but in Congress."

To take just one example, government has allowed its technology infrastructure to age in place. According to Dodaro, Washington spends about $90 billion a year on its IT systems - about three quarters of the money going to supporting operations and maintenance of existing systems, starving investment in new technology.

A call for technology upgrades is not a new problem. In 1995, Dodaro said he recommended that every agency create a position of chief information officer. Congress followed suit the next year, he said, but resistance in the agencies hampered the progress. In 2014, Congress enacted a second piece of legislation to spur what had been started nearly two decades earlier.

The Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs have been working to make medical records easily transferrable when personnel leave the military and become eligible for VA benefits. Billions have been spent but the problem hasn't been solved.

Among those with the most antiquated computer systems are two agencies tasked with delivering economic assistance to workers this spring, the Small Business Administration and the Internal Revenue Service.

"SBA was asked to do the impossible on top of antiquated technologies," said Paul Light, a professor of public service at New York University.

Some unemployment insurance systems run on mainframe computers that are 40 years old. In April, several states put out a call for people familiar with programming language for COBOL, introduced half a century ago, to help keep their systems running.

More than the computer systems are aging; so too is the workforce assigned to work on them. Stier estimates that there are five times as many federal employees over age 60 working on IT issues as there are employees under age 30. "The talent pool in government has to be refreshed," he said.

Aging technology highlights the weaknesses of the government's infrastructure, but that is only one of the obstacles that hinders more effective performance. Over the years, the federal government has created a complex system for the delivery of services.

Much of the work done by government is now carried out by nongovernmental employees - private contractors, consulting firms, nonprofits and others not technically on the federal payroll. Tina Nabatchi, a professor of public administration at Syracuse University's Maxwell School, estimates that as much as 70 percent of the work of government is done by these outside entities. "We've taken out the middle levels of bureaucracies," she said.

One reason is the desire of some leaders to run government like a business, though the two are not alike. Another is to mask the true scope of government. John DiIulio, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said that earlier in its existence, the Department of Homeland Security had more full-time-equivalent contractors than full-time-equivalent employees. "We want a lot from government," he said. "We don't want a lot of government."

Donald Kettl, a professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, said most Americans, including many lawmakers, view government services through a vending machine model: Money goes in at the top, a lever is pulled and services come out at the bottom. Inside, however, is a complicated and often cumbersome contraption.

Kettl described the U.S. health care system as "much more complex than anywhere else in the world," a labyrinth of government, private insurers, public and private hospitals, physicians, nurses and other health care workers, all involved in the delivery and billing of services. "The strategy of competence means managing these really complex partnerships," he said.

Another area where the United States is unique is in the number of political appointees atop agencies in the executive branch. The system is supposed to allow a president to gain control of the bureaucracy but vacancies and constant turnover in those jobs mean that, when in their posts, officials are often afflicted with short-termitis - focusing on matters of the moment and ignoring underlying structural weaknesses that can become crippling problems in a crisis.

Leadership is a critical ingredient in the functioning of government. A president can set priorities and focus his administration on making systems work more efficiently. But there is one more reason the work of making government better rarely attracts the attention of senior government officials. It often requires becoming mired in mind-numbing detail. In other words, however important the work might be, it's just plain boring.

- - -

The last serious attempt at government reform was more than 20 years ago, when then-president Bill Clinton asked his vice president, Al Gore, to head up what became known as the "reinventing government" initiative.

Clinton believed that people needed to trust that their money was being spent wisely before they would trust the government itself. "If you convinced America you were being really, really careful about their tax dollars, then a lot of this animosity toward government would decrease," said Elaine Kamarck of the Brookings Institution, who directed the project for several years.

The program may best be remembered for Gore's appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman," where he donned protective glasses and broke a government-issued ashtray with a hammer to ridicule the cost and complexity of government procurement regulations.

The reinventing government initiative achieved some success and was aided by the fact that the timing coincided with a broader transition from the old industrial economy to the new information-age economy. "We could take advantage of a lot of the technology and that helped us cut," Kamarck said.

Whatever progress was made is now long in the past. "Even if it had been wildly successful it would have been out of date four or five years after it was done," Stier said.

Before that effort, the last president to address government reform in a serious way was Jimmy Carter. He created the Department of Energy and broke up what then was known as the Department of Health, Education and Welfare by creating a separate Department of Education.

Carter liked to look under the hood of government; few of his successors have had the same desire. "In terms of basic reorganization, you've got to go back to the 1950s and Herbert Hoover to find the last reorganization movement," Light said, referring to a commission the former president headed after he left office.

Today, there is debate about whether government should or even can be reformed in those ways. The creation of DHS in the aftermath of 9/11 is a case in point. The hastily created department became a hash of many different entities pulled from across the government.

The departmental structure has made setting clear priorities far more difficult, as it serves multiple masters. "If you look at DHS, they have to report to more than 100 different congressional oversight committees," said Mark Harvey, former senior director for resilience policy at the National Security Council.

Some students of government say a more pressing priority than fundamental reorganization should be finding ways to improve how agencies collaborate when confronted with the kind of crisis now facing the country. Today's problems, they say, no longer fit without the boundaries of a legacy government structure.

- - -

Marc Hetherington, a professor at the University of North Carolina, said the public conversation about government began to shift with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. Before that, anti-government rhetoric focused more on what government ought and ought not to do, themes highlighted by Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, a Republican, during his 1964 presidential campaign.

"What changed with Reagan and the decades since is that the conversation moves away from what government ought to do to government is incompetent to do things," he said. "That's a big change, with a fundamentally different message."

Throughout the conservative movement since, that message has been a staple, with the often explicit goal of shrinking the federal government, cutting resources to starve the beast. "Sometimes poor performance is trying to do government on the cheap," Lewis said. "There is a penny-wise, pound-foolish idea of how we manage government agencies."

Hetherington said he has noticed one thing from his research about trust in government. Whenever the focus is on the military or national security, trust increases. When the focus shifts away to other programs, particularly those safety net programs such as welfare or food stamps, which serve disadvantaged populations, trust decreases.

But if Republicans have made this kind of rhetoric a staple of their message, Democratic politicians have engaged in some of the same kind of thing. "Every candidate has campaigned on a bureaucracy-bashing theme," Nabatchi said. "That message has gotten through to affect people's confidence in government."

The president's disdain is on display constantly, far more so than for past presidents. Hetherington said that in this area, Trump is "off the charts. Whereas a lot of Republican attacks on the government left certain things implicit, the Trump people have made them explicit."

There is much that works well in the federal government, particularly everyday activities that citizens take for granted. Career civil servants on the whole are dedicated and skilled. But when the challenges shift from ordinary to extraordinary, cracks within the system are exposed, demands on leadership rise and the government's competence is rightly called into question. This has been such a time.

It is an open question whether the more intense focus on the federal government will result in more calls to deal with the underlying weakness or whether criticism of the administration's response - and the political divisions surrounding it - will further degrade people's trust in the institutions they have turned to at this moment.

"We don't want to invest in the capacity of government to get the job done," Kettl said. "But we are happy to complain immediately when there's sand in the gear that causes the system to seize up."
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will continue to strictly manage rice exports through international border gates, said an official.

Packing rice for export

Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the MoITs Export-Import Department, said at the ministrys regular press conference on May 15 that although rice is a key export staple, it is a must to ensure the country's food security.

The ministry will also coordinate with competent forces to increase inspections in order to prevent rice smuggling across borders, he said.

Statistics showed that Vietnam shipped abroad 2.1 million tonnes of rice valued at 991 million USD in the first four months of this year, up 1.1 percent in volume and 4.1 percent in value.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed with the MoITs proposal to resume rice exports from May 1, in accordance with Decree 107/2018/ND-CP on rice exports.

In implementing the PMs instructions regarding rice exports in the time ahead, the ministry has asked cities and provinces to supervise businesses ensuring circulated reserves at at least 5 percent of the total rice export volume, Hai told the Vietnam News Agency.

In addition, the ministry has urged the 20 biggest rice exporters to sign agreements with at least a supermarket system to ensure food reserves for circulation.

The MoIT will continue its close coordination with other ministries, agencies, localities and the Vietnam Food Association to implement solutions to facilitate rice exports in terms of procedures, logistics and credit.

Notably, it will keep a close watch on the developments of domestic and global rice demand-supply and forecast actions to be taken by the worlds major importers and exporters, as well as the developments of diseases and natural disasters. Relevant reports will be submitted to the PM for decision making.

According to the MoIT, the country is projected to harvest 43.5 million tonnes of paddy this year, nearly 30 million tonnes of which is expected to be used for domestic consumption, and the rest for export./.VNA
The past Chinese New Year still haunts Wang Wenjun although he and his hot pot business is now feeling a little bit of the summer heat.

An employee of a hot pot restaurant packs hot pot seasoning in Beibei disctrict, Chongqing municipality in southwest China, March 2. Photo by Qin Tingfu/Peoples Daily Online

The founder of a renowned hot pot restaurant in Chengdu, southwest Chinas Sichuan province, was caught off-guard by the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, when he was about to embrace a peak period of his business during the Chinese New Year. And the supposed-to-be busy season of the catering industry soon cooled down.

I closed my restaurant, and my income came to a halt, but I still had to pay the employees and the rent, Wang told Peoples Daily. Much of his hair went grey due to the concerns over the huge economic losses every day. The electric charge was a staggering number given the refrigerators that stored extra-volume food materials for the Chinese New Year, he added.

To pull his business out of the doldrums became the top priority. He sold his food materials in stock to neighboring residents, even at bad bargains, and asked employees in the city to work in shift. Those outside the city were requested to work from home. Besides, the management board took the lead to lower their salaries, in an effort to further reduce the labor cost.

A courier is on his way delivering meals, May 4. Photo by Pan Haisong/Peoples Daily Online

The rent of the restaurant remains the largest part of the overhead. Im really grateful to relevant authorities that helped us save 1.2 million yuan of the rent after negotiating with the property management company. They also offered us preferential tax rate, Wang said.

Thanks to the destocking efforts, as well as lowered cost and rent, Wangs hot pot business, which was suspended for over a month, survived though it was hit hard by the public health crisis.

To his surprise, the takeout service, which he had attached little importance to, and the livestreaming marketing, something he had never touched upon, later became an unexpected opportunity for him to revive his business.

As early as 2016, Wangs restaurant has offered takeout service, but the orders of the service were quite limited back then, as customers preferred dining-in, said Wang. However, the service has been surging since the work resumption.

According to a restaurant manager, takeout orders peaked at over 1,500 in a day, with a turnover exceeding half a million yuan.

"Im craving for hot pot, but I live outside of the delivery coverage, and I cant make it myself, so what should I do?

A message left for Wangs restaurant on Chinas twitter-like Weibo had the man contemplating.

He later decided to teach customers to make hot pot on livestreaming platforms, and the idea coincided with that of a streaming service provider. Soon his livestream career started.

His first livestream show attracted more than 87,000 viewers though he rushed to open the channel without much preparation. Apart from the teaching, Wang also sold hot pot seasoning products and self-heating food produced by his restaurant.

An official of Huaxi village, Zhongyi township, Shizhu county of Chongqing municipality introduces local delicacy through live streaming, together with Huzige, an online influencer, April 15. Photo by Liang Zhiqiang/Peoples Daily Online

The active interaction from the viewers greatly boosted his confidence. He later launched a bunch of activities under the cooperation with local media and completed around a dozen of livestreaming shows.

The effect was out of expectation, and Im reached by a number of brands and stores for cooperation, Wang said.

Another piece of good news came as Chengdu fully recovered its service sector, including the catering industry on March 26.

Seeing the customers waiting to dine at the restaurant, Wang is no longer anxious or worried. However, he still cannot relax.

The epidemic is a rare stress test, which forces us to think about how we should develop in the new retail industry and exploit the intelligent technologies, he noted.
Prime minister Narendra Modi has praised the government interventions announced by finance minister Nirmala Sithraman on Sunday while delivering the fifth and final tranche of Rs 20 lakh crore package to revive Indian economy, which is suffering the disastrous impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

PM Modi said the announced reforms will have a transformative effect on the countrys health and education sectors.

Measures and reforms announced by the FM today will have a transformative impact on our health and education sectors, the first part of the prime ministers tweet said.

Sitharaman announced reforms in 7 sectors under the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan envisaged by the prime minister. Her measures included increased investments in public health along with other reforms to prepare India for future pandemics. She also spoke of measures to encourage technology-driven education with equity after the worst of Coved-19 is over.

On the public health front, she announced that expenditure will be increased for investment in grass-root health institutions and for ramping up health and wellness centres in rural and urban areas. She also said that the government will set up infectious diseases hospital blocks in all districts and strengthen lab network and surveillance through Integrated Public Health Labs in all districts & at block level enabling management of pandemics by labs & public health units.

She also spoke about governments plan for implementation of National Digital Health Blueprint under the National Digital Health Mission.

In the sphere of technology-driven education, Sitharaman said PM eVIDYA, a programme for multi-mode access to digital or online education will be launched immediately after the worst presented by coronavirus pandemic is over.

She also said that another programme named Manodarpan, aimed for psycho-social support to students, teachers and families will also be launched immediately after the country emerges from the throes of Coved-19 virus.

She also partly unveiled plans for a new national curriculum and pedagogical framework for school, early childhood and teachers. She also said the government was committed to the launch of National Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission by December 2020 to ensure that every child attains learning levels and outcomes in grade 5 by 2025.

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Speaking of other reform measures announced today, the prime minister said the measures will boost entrepreneurship among other objectives.

They will boost entrepreneurship, help public sector units and revitalise the village economy. Reform trajectories of the states will also get an impetus, the second part of PMs tweet said.

PM Modi was referring to the announcement made for enhancement of ease of doing business through IBC related measures, decriminalisation of companies act defaults, public sector enterprise policy for a new, self-reliant India and increasing borrowing limits of states from 3% to 5% for the financial year 2020-21 along with helping in state-level reforms.

Also Read: A game changer: Amit Shah praises PM Modi, Nirmala Sitharamam for stimulus package

The finance ministers announcements were earlier welcomed by home minister Amit Shah, who said the steps announced by the government will greatly boost our rural economy and infrastructure as well as provide employment to crores of poor people and migrant workers.
They are not the sort of stitches usually associated with hospitals.

But 91-year-old Margaret Seaman is busy with her knitting needles to raise money for the NHS.

The great-great-grandmother is making a woollen replica of the UK's Nightingale hospitals in a tribute to health workers.

Mrs Seaman has been working until midnight every day on her project, which she has named the Knittingale Hospital and which is taking shape almost as fast as the temporary critical care centres set up to treat an influx of coronavirus patients.

Great-great grandmother 91-year-old Margaret Seaman, from Caistor, near Yarmouth, Norfolk, hopes to raise thousands for NHS charities with her 'Knittingale Hospital'

Although not yet finished, the Knittingale already has a clinic, adult and children's wards, an A&E department and a reception.

Once completed, it will have four wards, an X-ray department and a coffee shop. Woollen figures of doctors, nurses and patients have been donated by a fellow knitting enthusiast.

Mrs Seaman, known locally as 'Norfolk's knitting queen', has previously raised thousands of pounds for charities with her knitted recreations of Great Yarmouth sea front and Sandringham House.

She hopes the Knittingale will raise at least 5,000 for three hospitals in her area: the Norfolk and Norwich, the Queen Elizabeth in King's Lynn and the James Paget in Gorleston-on-Sea.

Great-great grandmother 91-year-old Margaret Seaman, from Caistor, near Yarmouth, Norfolk

Mrs Seaman, who is isolating with her daughter Tricia in their home in Caister, said it was designed as a tribute to NHS staff on the front line battling Covid-19.

She wanted to do 'something to help', she told ITV News.

'I thought, 'Well, I can knit'. I've knitted the other things and raised money with them. Why not knit a hospital and raise money for the NHS?'
The long-running feud between Married At First Sight's Bronson Norrish and his ex-girlfriend Vanessa Romito has turned ugly.

As reported by The Daily Telegraph, the former couple ended up in court this month after Vanessa, 31, took out an interim AVO against Bronson, 36, after he spoke to a tabloid magazine about their relationship.

The order prevented Bronson from contacting Vanessa or publishing 'intimate personal images of her', the publication reports.

Court battle: Married At First Sight's Bronson Norrish, 36, (left) has been embroiled in a court battle with ex-girlfriend Vanessa Romito, 31, (right) after she took out an interim AVO against him

However, the interim AVO was thrown out by the Magistrates Court of Western Australia on May 8.

Bronson, who appeared on Married At First Sight last year, celebrated the news by uploading a photo of himself smiling outside the courthouse with his new girlfriend Hayley Wallis and his lawyer.

'Winners are Grinners!!! Stick up for what you believe in as the truth will always come out,' he wrote in the caption.

'Winners are Grinners!' After the court threw out the AVO on May 8th, Bronson uploading this of himself smiling outside the courthouse with his new girlfriend Hayley Wallis and his lawyer

Hayley commented beneath the photo: 'Amazing- we can finally put this ugly chapter behind us! I love you honey and so so proud of you!'

The post was 'liked' by fellow former Married At First Stars including Dino Hira, Cyrell Paule, Nic Jovanovic and Mike Gunner.

Meanwhile, Vanessa's ex-'husband', Married At First Sight's Chris Nicholls, commented: 'Mate you've honestly done well to stay quite till (sic) this point and now put the truth out there. Good on you buddy!!'

'I believe an AVO is something serious and should be used for women who are in serious trouble': Speaking to The Daily Telegraph Bronson accused Vanessa (pictured) of 'clogging up' the legal system

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph after the restraining order was thrown out, Bronson accused Vanessa of 'clogging up' the legal system by taking out a restraining order simply because he spoke to a magazine about her.

'I believe an AVO is something serious and should be used for women who are in serious trouble,' he said.

According to the publication, Bronson's lawyers have now taken out a private restraining order against Vanessa.

Case of the ex: Bronson and Vanessa dated for three years before he dumped her to be on Married At First Sight last year, according to Who magazine. Pictured together in happier times

Bronson and Vanessa dated for three years before he dumped her to be on Married At First Sight last year, according to Who magazine.

Vanessa appeared on the 2020 series of Married At First Sight.

She was 'married' to Chris Nicholls on the show, but the pair ended their relationship midway through filming.
China is going after the United States over more than $1 billion that the Trump administration owes the United Nations in unpaid dues for its regular operating budget and arrears for the separate budget for the UNs far-flung peacekeeping operations.

The unusual singling out of the US non-payment by Chinas UN mission comes as President Donald Trump continues to accuse Beijing of not being open about the coronavirus when cases were initially reported in December and early January.

A US Mission spokesperson said China 'is eager to distract attention from its cover-up and mismanagement of the COVID-19 crisis, and this is yet another example.'

China is going after the United States (pictured) over more than $1 billion that the Trump administration owes the United Nations in unpaid dues for its regular operating budget and arrears for the separate budget for the UNs far-flung peacekeeping operations

The unusual singling out of the US non-payment by Chinas UN mission comes as President Donald Trump (pictured at the UN last year) continues to accuse Beijing of not being open about the coronavirus when cases were initially reported in December and early January

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in early April that the United Nations faced a cash crisis because of non-payment of dues by member states, which has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

He said in a letter to the UNs 193 member nations that 'unpredictable cash inflows, exacerbated by the global crisis posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, seriously threaten' the UN's ability to do its work.

Guterres announced a temporary hiring freeze and urged all countries to pay their past and present dues.

There have been almost 4.5 million cases of the coronavirus and almost 306,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19 across the globe since the outbreak began. In the US there have been 1,500,707 confirmed cases and 89,549 deaths.

Chinas UN Mission said its acting deputy ambassador, Yao Shaojun, spoke at a UN General Assembly budget committee meeting Thursday titled 'Improving the Financial Situation of the United Nations,' and stressed the importance of all UN member nations fulfilling their financial obligations, citing the US arrears.

'Facing tremendous economic and fiscal pressure from the COVID-19 outbreak, China, the second largest contributor to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping budget, has managed to pay all assessed contributions in full,' the mission quoted Yao as saying. 'It shows Chinas concrete support to the cause of the UN and the work of the secretary-general.'

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (pictured) said in early April that the United Nations faced a cash crisis because of non-payment of dues by member states, which has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic

The acting deputy ambassador for China's Mission to the UN Yao Shaojun stressed the importance of all UN member nations fulfilling their financial obligations, citing the US arrears, during a General Assembly budget committee meeting Thursday

The United States funds 25% of the regular U.N. budget, while China pays 12%. Of the 193 member nations, 91 had paid their dues in full as of May 13. China paid $336.78 million for the regular budget on May 1.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday there is still $1.62 billion unpaid for the UN's 2020 regular budget and $2.12 billion outstanding for the peacekeeping budget. He did not give the US arrears.

Chinas Yao called the United States 'the largest debtor,' saying it owed about $1.16 billion to the regular budget and $1.3 billion to the peacekeeping budget.

The U.S. Mission spokesperson, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said the United States recently made a payment of $726 million toward its peacekeeping assessment 'and per practice will pay the bulk of its assessment at the end of the calendar year.'

Because the US fiscal year runs from October to September, not January to December, it has always paid UN dues late in the year.

Trump suspended US funding to the World Health Organization in early April, accusing the UN health agency of failing to stop the virus from spreading when it first surfaced in China.

Trump suspended US funding to the World Health Organization in early April, accusing the UN health agency of failing to stop the virus from spreading when it first surfaced in China. Trump is pictured attending the General Assembly in September

He said the agency 'must be held accountable, accusing the WHO of parroting Beijing.

The US-China dispute over the WHO has blocked the UN Security Council, the global organizationss most powerful body, from adopting any resolution on the pandemic.

China strongly supports the WHO and has insisted the agencys role in tackling the pandemic be included in any resolution. The US insists on making no mention of the WHO and including a reference to 'transparency' on the coronavirus outbreak, which China opposes.

Chinas UN Mission said Beijing has decided to donate $30 million more to the WHO in addition to the $20 million it already gave the agency to support its work on COVID-19.
The Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) on Sunday said the industry has been left "disappointed" that its long-standing demand for cut in licence fee and other levies did not figure in measures and reforms announced by the government to boost the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the fifth and final tranche of economic stimulus package to deal with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The booster measures announced on Sunday related to MGNREGS, healthcare and education, businesses, de-criminalisation of the Companies Act, ease of doing business, public sector enterprises, and resources related to state governments.

COAI said it is still going through the fine print of the measures announced but added that it is disappointed that the crisis-ridden telecom sector that has demonstrated its ability to maintain connectivity and meet consumer demands for high data and traffic amid lockdown, did not figure specifically in the announcements made.

"We are disappointed, as were expecting that given the importance of the industry and the need for us to continue to invest in networks going forward...putting new cell towers, new fibre to provide the speeds that customer require, the fact that we are supporting additional areas like work from home...we expected some relief for the sector in terms of critical things that we had asked for," COAI Director General Rajan Mathews told PTI.

Coronavirus-triggered large-scale migration back to rural areas also means ensuring connectivity and scaling up to meet additional requirement of rural consumers by bolstering networks, he said.

"We have been asking for big-ticket items like rationalisation of licence fee and spectrum usage charges....because you have to get liquidity into the industry...we are surprised that what the industry has shown as necessity of networks would not be translated into assistance for the industry to ensure its orderly growth. That said, we are still hoping that the Government will consider our request," he said.

Apart from seeking reduction in statutory levies, the telecom industry has unutilised GST input tax credit over Rs 35,000 crore for which the sector has repeatedly demanded refund.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Noida, May 17 : At least six workers at the Greater Noida factory of Chinese smartphone brand OPPO have been found corona positive, reliable company sources told IANS on Sunday.

According to sources, after the coronavirus cases were confirmed at OPPO factory in Kasna, Greater Noida, the work was immediately halted on Sunday till further notice.

"We have been asked not to come to the factory as six COVID-19 cases have been confirmed at our manufacturing unit in Greater Noida. The company has asked us to stay at home till further notice," an OPPO worker told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

"Do not go to work tomorrow. Everyone is at home waiting for the company's next notice," read an internal OPPO post.

An IANS query sent to OPPO was yet to be answered.

Meanwhile, two third-party construction employees at an under-construction Vivo facility in the Greater Noida industrial belt have also tested COVID-19 positive.

One third-party construction worker and one security guard at an upcoming Vivo site at the industrial park area in Greater Noida - where multiple factories are currently under construction - have tested Covid-19 positive.

However, this has not affected Vivo manufacturing as the construction site is nearly 15 km away from its operational unit, said sources.

OPPO and Vivo, along with other top handset makers, resumed manufacturing at their Noida and Greater Noida-based factories with 30 per cent workforce from May 8.

OPPO restarted manufacturing operations with 30 per cent workforce, with around 3,000 employees working in rotation out of more than 10,000-strong staff at its Kasna, Greater Noida-based facility.

Vivo also resumed production at its production facility with about 30 per cent of its workforce capacity.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A Tallassee man was killed in a single-vehicle crash near Tuskegee Saturday evening, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Robert Ralph Pace, 53, was pronounced dead at the scene after he drove his 1998 Dodge Dakota off the road and into an embankment at 5:35 p.m. Saturday. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time, ALEA spokesman Senior Trooper Benjamin Carswell said in a statement.

The crash took place in Macon County, about three miles east of Tuskegee on Macon Road 36 near the intersection with Macon Road 48.

ALEAs Highway Patrol Division was investigating the crash as of Sunday morning.
World's No.2 cigarette company British American Tobacco said on Friday it was ready to test its potential COVID-19 vaccine using proteins from tobacco leaves on humans, after it generated a positive immune response in pre-clinical trials.

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The maker of Lucky Strike cigarette said once it gets approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the vaccine, it would progress to Phase 1 trials or testing on humans.

The company raised eyebrows in April when it said it was developing a COVID-19 vaccine from tobacco leaves and could produce 1 million to 3 million doses per week if it got the support of government agencies and the right manufacturers.

Drugmakers across the globe have been racing to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, caused by the new coronavirus, with some of the vaccines already in human trials. Experts have suggested that a COVID-19 vaccine could take 12-18 months to develop.

On Friday, London-based BAT said it had submitted a pre-investigative new drug application to the FDA and that the agency had acknowledged the submission. BAT said it was also talking with other government agencies around the world about the vaccine.

The company said it has committed funds to conduct clinical trials, which it expects to start as early as late June, and invested in additional equipment to boost capacity.

Shares of the company were up 1.7% at 3,041 pence in afternoon trading on the London Stock Exchange.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says the country needs to ease out of the lockdown in a strategic and gradual manner.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended a nationwide lockdown meant to control the spread of coronavirus, though the restrictions will be reviewed every two weeks.

In a live broadcast on Saturday, Mnangagwa said the measure would remain in place for an indefinite period, adding that the country needs to ease out of the lockdown in a strategic and gradual manner.

He said informal street markets, where millions of Zimbabweans make a living, would remain shut while the government consulted health specialists on how to reopen them safely.

But businesses such as manufacturers, supermarkets and banks, which have been allowed to continue operating, will see their operating hours extended from a maximum of six hours to more than eight hours between 8am (06:00 GMT) and 4:30pm (14:30 GMT).

Mnangagwa said the hundreds of Zimbabwean migrants returning home every week, mainly from South Africa and Botswana, will have to undergo a 21-day quarantine in school and college buildings set aside for the purpose.

The president said only students writing final examinations this year would be allowed to resume classes, but did not say when. The government is still working on plans to reopen schools in phases.

The drastic restrictions have so far borne fruit as coronavirus transmission has not been widespread and numbers remain lower than the initial projections, Mnangagwa said.

Zimbabwe imposed its lockdown on March 30 and has recorded 44 confirmed coronavirus cases and four related deaths.

Mnangagwa said the World Health Organization had classified coronavirus transmission in Zimbabwe as sporadic, with a low number of cases and no discernible clusters.

This may suggest that, despite the small numbers tested, our country might have a reduced COVID-19 trajectory, he said.

Doctors and experts have warned that Zimbabwes poorly equipped health service could not cope with a severe coronavirus outbreak.
On the 25th anniversary of his disappearance, the Tibetan government-in-exile on Sunday demanded China to release the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, considered to be a reincarnation of Bodhisattva Amitabha.

In a statement issue here, Sikyong (president) of the exiled government, Lobsang Sangay, said Chinas abduction of the Panchen Lama and forcible denial of his religious identity and the right to practice in his monastery is not only a violation of religious freedom but also a gross violation of human rights.

Panchen Lama was just six years old when he was allegedly abducted by the Chinese government on May 17, 1995, along with his family members, after he was recognised by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama.

Since that day, Buddhists around the world and Tibetans in exile have been living in the hope that one day they will be able to receive his blessings, said Sangay.

After orchestrating the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Sangay alleged that China, a self-declared atheist government and infamous for its persecution of religious groups, placed a young boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as their own 11th Panchen Lama.

This politically-motivated action failed, however, to displace the position of the true Panchen Lama from the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people. For Tibetans and Buddhists around the world, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima will always be the true Panchen Lama, he added.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lamas disappearance, said Sangay, adding that 25 years is a significant time in an individuals life.

He said the communist government must honour its claim of ethnic harmony in China by fulfilling the aspirations of the Tibetan people.

It must right the wrong and release the 11th Panchen Lama along with his family, Chadrel Rinpoche, and all Tibetans unjustly imprisoned, he said while appealing to the international community to make a concerted effort to press China to release Nyima and resolve the critical human rights situation in Tibet.
2 cops deputed for CM Bommai's security held for trying to 'extort' money from drug peddlers

Karnataka: No institutional quarantine for healthcare workers in complete PPE

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, May 17: The Health and Family Welfare Department on Saturday issued an order stating that there is no need of a 14-day institutional quarantine for healthcare workers, who work in complete personal protective equipment (PPE) without any breach, while treating COVID-19 patients.

Coronavirus cases in India rise to 90,927, death toll at 2,872; highest spike yet

However, the healthcare workers (Doctors, residents, nurses, technicians and group D workers) can report temperature and absence of symptoms each day before starting their regular duties in the hospital.

''As per the Interim Guidance Document of WHO, Risk assessment and management of exposure of HCW in the context of COVID-19, "the HCW who is always using the Complete Personnel Protective Equipment without any breach for treatment of COVID-19 positive patients is considered as low risk and there is no need for 14 days Quarantine except self monitoring,'' the advisory noted.

Fact check: Does spraying on disinfectant on streets kill coronavirus

''Further, as per clause 5.3 of the Advisory for managing Health Care Workers working in COVID and Non-COVID areas of the Hospital, issued by MoHFW, Quarantine of Health Care Workers, other than what is stipulated in the advisory is not warranted,'' it stated.

Meanwhile, the state has reported 36 new covid-19 positive cases on Saturday, that takes the total number of people who tested positive to 1092.

Yediyurappa has been trying to lift restrictions in Karnataka to allow businesses to resume operations and help kickstart economic activity in the state.

All those returning to Karnataka in trains, flights and other modes of transport are being sent to institutional quarantine facilities.
Imperial Valley News Center

Proclamation on World Trade Week, 2020

Washington, DC - As the global leader in innovation and commerce, the United States is willing to do business with any country strongly committed to open, fair, and competitive markets, benefitting our Nations farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, service providers, and entrepreneurs. During World Trade Week, we reaffirm that free, fair, and reciprocal trade is essential to driving economic growth and ensuring a secure and prosperous future for our Nation.

For far too long, other countries have taken advantage of American workers and producers through unfair and unbalanced trade deals. Since my first day in office, my Administration has worked tirelessly to rebalance these harmful agreements in order to protect the talent, hard work, and ingenuity of the American people. We are negotiating with unrelenting and uncompromising drive to modernize and improve existing trade agreements and to secure new deals that are fair and reciprocal. As a result, our Nation now enters this new decade with deals in place and a philosophy of trade that will benefit American workers, producers, and consumers for years to come.

In January, I was proud to deliver on my promise to end the outdated and unbalanced North American Free Trade Agreement, and I signed into law the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act. This new agreement opens up markets throughout North America for American small- and medium-sized businesses across all sectors of the economy. My Administration also significantly updated one of our most consequential trade deals, the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement, to include key provisions that increase American exports and secure highpaying manufacturing jobs in our Nations auto industry. I also signed two trade agreements with Japan to substantially expand market access for American farmers and preserve Americas role in the growing digital economy.

My Administration is also delivering on our promise to begin rebalancing our trade relationship with China. Through tough, honest, and open negotiations, we reached a new deal with the Peoples Republic of China this past January. The agreement preserves tariffs while securing historic protections for intellectual property, commitments to combat counterfeit goods, safeguards against forced technology transfer, a mechanism to address unfair currency practices, promises for the purchase of $40 to $50 billion in agricultural goods each year for the next 2 years, and a strong dispute resolution mechanism to ensure timely and effective implementation. In every negotiation, we are putting American jobs and American workers first, and we will continue working to secure a level playing field for all American farmers, ranchers, and businesses.

This week, we recommit to supporting trade deals that benefit hardworking Americans, continuing our legacy as producers of world-class manufacturing, agriculture, services, and technology. Through adhering to the principles of free, fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade, we will continue unleashing the limitless potential of American workers and industry, building a better world for individuals and communities throughout our Nation and around the world.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 17 through May 23, 2020, as World Trade Week. I encourage Americans to observe this week with events, trade shows, and educational programs that celebrate the benefits of global trade to our country.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fourth.

DONALD J. TRUMP
The number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in Delhi rose to 9,333 on Saturday with 438 infections recorded  the third consecutive day the fresh cases were over the 400-mark in the national capital  and with six more deaths taking the toll of 129.

The number of those who have recovered from the infectious disease in Delhi rose to 3,926, leaving 5,278 active infections in the city, a health bulletin released by the government showed.

The development came even as the government designated two more hospitals  Batra Hospital and Cygnus Orthocare Hospital  for treating Covid-19 patients and those suspected to have contracted the pathogen, taking the total number of dedicated Covid-19 hospitals to 13.

The number of containment zones in the national capital was 73, while the number of people who have been put in home quarantine was 1,983.

On the six deaths added to the official tally on Saturday a senior government official said: All these deaths did not necessarily take place in the last 24 hours. There is a gap between occurrence of deaths and final report submitted by the Death Audit Committee. The toll recorded in the health bulletin reflects cases in which the primary cause of death is found to be Covid-19 by the committee.

The committee goes through the case sheets, medical investigations, and the death summary of the deceased before classifying them as Covid-19 deaths. Till Saturday, the data showed, 130,845 individuals were tested for Covid-19 in Delhi and 2,571 were admitted in either hospitals, dedicated Covid Care Centres or quarantine centres.

On Friday, a report said that Delhi witnessed 443 Covid funerals  including both cremations and burials  since March 14, which included confirmed Covid-19 deaths and those suspected to have been infected.

On Saturday, a Delhi government official dismissed the suggestion that the number of deaths from Covid-19 could be higher than the official figure. The official said that following the Covid-19 protocol is mandatory for all funerals in the Capital pertaining to death of individuals from any respiratory ailment, kidney or heart ailment, or those with flu-like symptoms shown immediately before death, irrespective of Covid-19 tests.

In March, the Delhi government issued a standard operating protocol for Covid-19 funerals. The health minister was of the opinion that why take a chance? So, the ambit of the protocol was expanded to cover deaths beyond confirmed cases of Covid-19, a senior official in the health ministers office said on condition of anonymity.

A senior official in the Delhi chief ministers office said on condition of anonymity: The Death Audit Committee follows the guidelines prescribed by the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) . All hospitals have been mandated to submit their death summaries to the committee within 24 hours. Death Audit Committee is an independent body which examines each of these cases. Delhi Health Bulletin reflects the figures as declared by the Committee.

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Women and children were among at least 27 civilians murdered in two separate attacks in the troubled northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials told AFP on Sunday.

The first incident, in the Ituri province, is believed to have been carried out by a notorious regional militia overnight Saturday to Sunday. The second took place close to Beni.

We have 20 people killed for now and 17 wounded, some of them admitted to hospital, Adel Alingi, a Djugu territory administrator, told AFP.

Another local official said 22 people were killed.

Pilo Mulindro, a tribal chief, told AFP by telephone that the victims are of all ages, children, youths, women and old men, killed by machete, by knife or by firearm.

Local authorities blamed the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) for the massacre, one of dozens of armed groups spread across the conflict-wracked country.

CODECO is accused of the murder of hundreds of civilians this year alone.

Its members are mainly drawn from the Lendu ethnic group, who are predominantly farmers, and clash repeatedly with the Hema community of traders and herders in Ituri  a region rich in gold and oil.

On Sunday, the attack apparently came from a Lendu area whereas the victims were ethnic Hema, a local source said.

In the Djugu territory, which covers more than 8,000 square kilometres (3,000 square miles), villages from both groups are interspersed and military spokesmen Jules Ngongo told AFP: No army in the world can be everywhere in a zone like Djugu.

Two UN battalions are also posted in the province, and are backed up by Uruguayan special forces troops, the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO said in late April.

Tens of thousands were killed in the region between 1999 and 2003. The UN says most victims were targeted because they were Hema.

The conflict has reignited in recent years and a UN report said in January that some deaths might constitute a crime against humanity.

 Widespread panic 

In the second attack, close to the town of Beni, seven people were killed by the armed Islamist group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), said a local official.

There was an incursion. The ADF managed to kill seven people and wounded four others, Donat Kibwana, the regions administrator, told AFP.

The incursion took place in the morning in Kokola, about 45 km north of Beni in a part of North Kivu province where the ADF have been accused of the massacre of nearly 400 people since November.

The attackers burned four houses. The situation has created widespread panic in the local population, disrupting road traffic, said a local representative Bravo Muhindo.

We are calling the army to help us neutralise the ADF who continue to make us mourn, he added.

For the entire country, the number of victims from ethnic violence is almost 1,000 since December 2017.

According to the UNHCR on May 8, the toll this year was at least 274 people killed and 200,000 who have fled the violence.
Among the coronavirus victims, the deadly plague scored a direct hit yesterday. As we are now caught up in masking our faces, keeping our distance, washing our hands until they are chapped, and praying for the nearly 90,000 who have died in the United States, one of the most hallowed of all days went by completely unnoticed. Saturday was Armed Forces Day. Instead of parades, and flyovers, and picnics, and rousing songs, you could have heard a pin drop. This is the day we honor our six branches of service and, while events all across the country were cancelled, I cannot find one mention of casting aside the day itself, but nowhere in the newspapers, our television news networks, yet nowhere else was our annual day of sincere and faithful gratitude ever mentioned.

My dear friend Mickey McCamish sent me an early-morning email, the retired Navy captain missing Chattanoogas parade for the first time in the celebrations 70-year history and hes right; little is more American than a day when we extend our thanks to those under the umbrella of our Department of Defense. Right now, the U.S. Department of Defense is the nation's largest employer. It has over 1.4 million active duty personnel and 1.1 million reservists. It also employs 861,000 civilians. There are 450,000 employees stationed overseas in 163 countries. An additional 3 million Americans receive income from DoD. And the day also includes millions who have retired from the services.

We honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on Memorial Day, always on the fourth Monday in May, but it gets a bit confusing every Nov. 11 when Veterans Day is celebrated; while active soldiers are saluted on Armed Services Day and our combat dead are honored on Memorial Day, Veterans Day has become increasingly famous. This is when one approaches a veteran and says, Thank you for your service. It honors all who are alive and have honorably served in the military. It doesnt matter if the person served during a war or during peaceful times. If they have been a member of the military at any time, then they are honored and celebrated on Veteran's Day and rightfully so. It was once suggested it honor only living combat veterans until it was asked, When the alarm goes off, you better have folks in the fire house. Nuff said.

This years Armed Forces Day was quite unique because on Friday the newly-created U.S. Space Force flag was delivered to the White House where it will stand with the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard banners in the Oval Office. Fittingly, ever Armed Forces Day has a theme; in the past the themes have included: Appreciation of a Nation, Dedication and Devotion, Freedom Through Unity, and Liberty among others.

Because of the Space Force, this years theme was Soaring to New Heights, which magnifies, Going above and beyond and to always dream bigger, and shoot higher.

Please, in the precious name of the Father, how could we ever allow the candle of Armed Forces Day to dim. Understandably, in the face of COVID-19, our attention must be placed elsewhere but our admiration, our gratitude, and our love for this nations troops is dauntless, unwavering. Armed Forces Day has not lost a glimmer of its luster and in the kinder years ahead, you just watch and see.

* * *

AND THEN LT. JOHN FOX SAID, FIRE IT!

I openly mourned the fact that extenuating circumstances caused me to miss the dedication of the Charles Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center in late February. Not long after, one of my heroes called  vaunted tank commander General B.B. Bell  to offer a personally guided tour and darned if I wasnt almost glad I missed that glorious day in Chattanoogas history. Can you imagine General Bell as your guide, great mercy!

Among those in the stunning museum who I want to know about is Lt. John R. Fox, a member of the famed Buffalo soldiers in World War II. When the war first began, American blacks enlisted in droves but were mostly assigned to menial jobs  construction workers, cooks, sanitation  but as the war took its toll, they were allowed into combat and, much like the Tuskegee Airmen, they became heroes galore. The Buffalo soldiers were thus named  with absolutely no racial overtones - by the American Indians. Because of their dark bodies and curly hair, the Indians likened African Americans to their favorite animal - the buffalo, far more of a tribute than not.

During the first weeks of December in 1944, the Allied troops were pushing through northern Italy, high on the boot peninsula, and, while the fighting was intense, several days before Christmas Day there was a lull. The holy day caused the battle to ebb at the foremost American front in the Sechio River Valley Sector, the closest town, Sommocolonia. The town was battered, to be sure, but Lt. Fox held the perilous job as a forward observer, watching the enemy troops, and calling in artillery coordinates from the second floor of a shell of a building in the town square.

Remember, this was December of 44, five months before V-E Day, and the Germans were so desperate they abandoned their uniforms to dress like the many partisan Italians who were fighting with the Allies. (Geography: The top of Italy finds Austria on the East, Switzerland at 12 oclock (with its pesky Alps), and larger border with France on the West.) The Allies thrust was sensational but as the fighting minimalized Christmas week, the 598th Field Artillery battalion drew back. (think: hot showers, warm food, clean clothes, and sleep.)

But the worst had yet to begin.

The Buffalo Soldiers stood post, and at 0400 on Dec. 26, the Germans descended in a fury. Lt. Fox continued to call in coordinates and the United States 75 artillery-gun placements had become so expert in the art you could have thrown a loose deck of cards in there, yelled 10 of hearts and they could have sizzled without a care.

This is the account of what happened, according to historian William Mclaughlin, on warhistoryonline.com: The Germans were in the open in the streets and attacking in strength, vastly outnumbering the small group of American soldiers. Lieutenant Fox radioed in to have the artillery fire adjusted closer to his position, then radioed again to have the shelling moved even closer. The soldier receiving the message was stunned since that would bring the deadly artillery fire right on top of Lieutenant Foxs position; he would surely be killed.

That last round was just where I wanted it, the 29-year-old lieutenant reported. Bring it in 60 yards more.

The receiving operator thought Fox was mistaken  the order would train the full fire of up to 75 heavy caliber artillery guns directly on Foxs position. But sir, this too close 

Fox confirmed the order: Theres more of them than there is of us  Fire it.

Seconds later the bombardment began. And within minutes, hundreds of shells had hit the target. Each one powerful enough to blast the house and its occupants into oblivion. When the American troops went to fetch Lt. Foxs remains, they counted of 1,000 dead enemy.

On Saturday Armed Forced Day was, for the most part, ignored. I am so grateful that John Fox  an African Americans voice  completely turned the tide in Italy. His want to bring Americas might upon himself, literally changed the war. It really did if you follow the battle line. Its urgency gave the America troops time to recontour, and oh, we won. In the next five months, the Allies would break the Winter Line. When the Allied troops went to fetch his remains, it was noted there were over 100 dead Germans around where he called the strike.

How in the world can an adoring nation disregard that? But Saturday we were too busy. This must never occur, never again.

royexum@aol.com






Daesomun (Great West Gate) of the past. Courtesy of Hyunuk Park



By Robert Neff





At the foot of Jeungheungsa Temple, November 2014. Robert Neff Collection

In September 1884, George C. Foulk, an U.S. Navy ensign temporarily assigned to the American legation in Seoul, visited the mountain fortification of Bukhan  just outside Seoul.



Foulk wrote of the experience: "Passing through the gate, I was amazed at the view before me. This was a great mountain walled ravine with abrupt perpendicular sides, a full thousand feet deep. The whole ravine seemed [to be] encircled by the mountain ring of 2,000 feet high on which ran the heavy wall through which I had passed; at points on the lofty wall in front which would have to be broken through in escaping by them." In his letter to his parents, he declared it to be "a circular nature-made fortress."



As he made his way into the interior of the fortification, he noted in his report that there were great stone gates with enormous iron-bound doors, barracks for troops, as well as the storehouses of Jung-heung-sa and Sang-chang-ji, where "matchlocks and small guns of obsolete patterns" and munitions were kept.





An engraving of Jeungheungsa Temple, circa 1889. Robert Neff Collection



To his parents, however, his prose is almost poetic:

"In the bottom of the ravine runs a wild stream over white rocks, worked by it into fantastic shapes. By the streams hidden by old moss and vine covered walls were a few scattered houses, some storehouses for food and other houses of peasants whose forefathers have lived here before them nearly 900 years."



Ancient memorial tablet stones of cut granite lined the mountain stream and scattered along it were "little ancient pavilions in which ancient nobles sat to enjoy the wild scenery."



He also spied, in a secluded nook, "an old palace, small, crumbling with age, yet gay in well-preserved colors and carvings." This was Haeng-gung-ji  the emergency palace  which will be discussed next week.





Whimsical cuteness at the foot of Jeungheungsa Temple, November 2014. Robert Neff Collection



Foulk was clearly moved by all that he saw and proudly gushed in his report:



"This remarkable fortress is the Bukhan, the secret hiding place of the King, the existence of which would never be suspected in all but a most critical examination of the Seoul vicinity. It is entirely unknown to foreigners and ordinarily unvisited by natives who seem averse to speaking of it. I was the first person not a Korean to whom it was exhibited  and this with a view to obtain my advice as to the erection of modern batteries along its approaches."



What advice he offered  if any  is unknown, but to his parents he admitted: "I was deeply impressed with the great idea of establishing so long ago such a grand stronghold and the receding hermit-like spirit of the nation an inspection of it suggested."



He was then led to the Buddhist temple Jungheongsa  which he declared to be a fortified temple. As a military man, he was not impressed with the "shaven priests [who] all wore soldiers clothes" but seemed lacking in discipline.





Hyunuk Park explains an engraving near Jeungheungsa Temple, November 2014. Robert Neff Collection



Foulk explained: "When Confucianism came into Korea many hundreds of years ago, Buddhism in spirit went out and the priests, a strong, rich body, were formed into guardians of these mountain recesses where the king might hide in time of war. The temple contains yet its three gilded Buddhas, its bells and incense vessels, but no worshippers come, and the priests are a noisy, rascally pack of soldiers only, who draw their food from the government."



Foulk claimed there were "thirteen temples built in nooks of the ravine" but according to Hyunuk Park, a senior researcher, there were only 11: Jeungheungsa Temple (), Yongamsa Temple (), Boguksa Temple (), Bogwangsa Temple (), Buwangsa Temple (), Wongaksa Temple (), Gungnyeongsa Temple (), Sangwunsa Temple (), Seoamsa Temple (), Taegosa Temple (), and Jinguksa Temple ().



Concerned about the hour, Foulk and his party finished their tour and left the fortress through Daesomun (the Great West Gate). They then traveled for another five kilometers and stopped for the night at another temple.





Foulk's photograph of Sannyeongnu Pavillion  named for the "elegant shape of Bukhan Mountain reflected in the water." Circa 1884. The original image can be found in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries. This copy was provided by Hyunuk Park



Within the temple he had "a meal in Buddhist style  without meat  of rice, oiled seaweed, salted vegetables, a strong bean liquor called "chang," all served on a little stool placed on the floor."



After he had eaten, he was shown his quarters where "under a shelf of Buddhas, in a room smelling faintly of incense and with all the other evidences of a decaying Oriental religion about [him]" he slept.



He slept well in this temple that was "a hotel practically." It would be his last comfortable sleep for the rest of the trip.



My appreciation to Hyunuk Park, Senior Researcher, Cultural Heritage Team of Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation, for his invaluable assistance.





Sannyeongnu Pavilion was destroyed by a flood in 1925. It was restored shortly before this photograph was taken in November 2014. Robert Neff Collection





Jung-seong-mun. There is a small secret gate hidden in the bedrock near this gate. It did not have a name but was known as "Si-gu-mun" because corpses were transported through it, instead of Jung-seong-mun. November 2014. Robert Neff Collection





Jung-seong-mun partially hidden by the colors of autumn. There was once a water gate next to Jung-seong-mun. November 2014. Robert Neff Collection





Part of the fortress wall along Jung-seong-mun. November 2014. Robert Neff Collection





The present Daesomun (Great West Gate). Courtesy of Hyunuk Park
"BRI will emerge stronger out of the crisis. It is via such a massive integration mechanism and investments platform that the world economy can be relaunched," said George Tzogopoulos, an expert on Chinese affairs with the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Israel's Bar Ilan University.

by Keren Setton, Chen Wenxian

JERUSALEM, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Israeli experts have applauded the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for its role in pushing forward world economic development amid challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the world economy is gradually recovering after weeks of lockdown due to COVID-19, the BRI has also regained its vitality in economic cooperation between China and its BRI partners.

"It is vital and it will continue despite the ongoing pandemic. China's policies are based on continuity and this is also the case for the BRI," said George Tzogopoulos, an expert on Chinese affairs with the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Israel's Bar Ilan University, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

He believes that China will continue to implement the vision.

Israel, known as a "start-up nation," is a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and also a major country along the Belt and Road.

With the development of the BRI, an increasing number of Chinese companies have joined hands with Israeli partners, leading to the rise of mutual investment between the two nations and the improvement of infrastructure in Israel.

"China has the best infrastructure system in the world," Yuri Pines, a professor with the Asian Studies Department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told Xinhua.

"Many of the countries within the BRI do need infrastructure projects and many of them will turn to China sooner or later," Pines added.

An explosion-proof light rail train undergoes a test in CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd. in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, July 25, 2019. The train, manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd., will be used for the red line of the light rail system in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. (Xinhua/Wang Haofei)

Since the establishment of the innovative comprehensive partnership between China and Israel in March 2017, economic and trade cooperation between both sides has been augmenting.

At present, China has become Israel's second largest trade partner in the world, and the huge potential in the Chinese market has greatly stimulated the enthusiasm of Israeli businesses to seek cooperation.

As many countries affected by the COVID-19 economic fallout are hoping to get back to normal as soon as possible, China is strengthening collaboration with others through the BRI mechanism to combat the pandemic and resume economic growth.

Despite the shockwaves caused by the pandemic, some infrastructure projects being built by Chinese companies in Israel are steadily progressing, such as the Red Line of Tel Aviv Light Rail, so as to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Israeli medical experts attend a video meeting on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 with Chinese medical experts in Wuhan, in the central Israeli city of Ashdod on March 23, 2020. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)

"The Chinese system is not a system of radical changes but it is a system of adaptability. BRI can be adapted to different circumstances and different conditions," Pines said.

Additionally, the BRI is also about strengthening digital connectivity and health governance, Tzogopoulos said.

China's leadership in the application of artificial intelligence in digital health and the ability to supply such technologies at affordable prices could be important and helpful for other countries to tackle COVID-19, he said.

"BRI will emerge stronger out of the crisis. It is via such a massive integration mechanism and investments platform that the world economy can be relaunched," Tzogopoulos said.
Ricky Gervais has called for celebrities to be banned from 2021's New Year Honours List.

The comedian, 56, said only NHS heroes and frontline workers should instead be rewarded for their bravery during the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking to the Christian O'Connell show in Australia, the After Life star said: 'I never want anyone to complain about the NHS again, or nurses or doctors or anyone on the front line. We've got to remember we clapped for them and that should always be there.

Speaking out: Ricky Gervais has called for celebrities to be banned from the next New Year Honours List

'The New Year's Honours list should not go to celebrities this year. It should go to those people.'

The funnyman also took aim at fashion designers and beauty gurus, saying they are not worthy of the esteemed honours.

He said: 'Give it to someone who gave a kidney to a stranger, not someone who invented a new type of mascara.

'I've seen people given a knighthood for services to fashion. What are you talking about, services to fashion?

Heroes: The comedian, 56, said only NHS and frontline workers should instead be rewarded for their bravery during the coronavirus pandemic

'Christ, it's not that hard. People are finding cures for cancer and AIDs.'

Gervais also took a swipe at reality stars who are desperately seeking fame to make themselves happy, and said it was 'bordering on mental illness'.

He continued: 'We all want to be happy. We don't know how to do it. Sometimes we're sold bad advice.

Happy: Ricky lives with his partner Jane Fallon, 59, in a luxury 11 million home in Hampstead (pictured at the Golden Globes in January 2020)

'People think fame can make them happy. Then they're like, why am I not happy? People don't realise having worth is a huge thing to tick off before you can feel happy. And fame's not the place for it.

'I see these reality shows they go on and they're bordering on mental illness in a way. People think, "oh if I could just be loved and accepted by strangers I'd be happy", no... that's not true either.

'You've got to learn to love yourself.'

Gervais has been critical of celebrities throughout the pandemic for moaning about the situation from their mansions.

Unimpressed: Sam drew criticism for looking upset on an Instagram post as they self-isolated in their 12million mansion and captioned the snaps: 'stages of a quarantine meltdown'

The star publicly ridiculed stars such as Sam Smith, 27, who caused a furore when he broke down in tears on Instagram from self-isolation in his 12 million home.

The comments come after reports that Gervais was offered 5 million to write a third series of After Life.

It is thought that the actor, who confirmed series three last week, is due to meet network bosses next month to tie down the seven-figure deal.

But along with a third instalment of the popular show, he will also be expected to write a number of standalone comedy specials, according to reports.

An insider told The Sun: 'After Life smashed expectations again with the second series and Netflix wanted to tie Ricky down with a big money deal.

Success: It was recently claimed that he's been offered more than 5million to the third season of Netflix's After Life (pictured on the series)

'They basically approached him with a blank cheque and after bashing out the finer details he will receive just over 5million for the third After Life.

'As part of the wider deal Ricky will also pen a couple of comedy shows and skits for Netflix.'

The next series of After Life had been earmarked to air by Spring 2021 but filming could be delayed due to the coronavirus epidemic.

A representative for Ricky was contacted for comment at the time of publication.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 14:05:14|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's National Center for Communicable Disease (NCCD) confirmed on Sunday one more COVID-19 case, bringing the total infections in the country to 136.

"A total of 156 tests for COVID-19 were conducted across Mongolia yesterday and one of them was positive," Dulmaa Nyamkhuu, head of the NCCD, said at a daily press conference.

The patient is one of the over 340 Mongolian nationals who returned home on Wednesday from Russia via three Russian military planes, said Nyamkhuu.

All the 136 cases, including four foreigners, are imported ones, mostly from Russia, said Nyamkhuu.

Besides, one more patient recovered from the disease, raising the total number of recoveries in the country to 21, added the official.

A French national tested positive for the virus on March 10, becoming the first case in Mongolia. So far, there have been no local transmissions or deaths reported in the country. Enditem
Spains daily Covid-19 death toll has fallen below 100 for the first time since March, the countrys health ministry has said.

The health minister announced on Sunday that regional authorities had confirmed 87 new deaths from the virus, the lowest daily number since 16 March.

At the peak of Spains coronavirus outbreak, more than 900 people were dying each day.

The countrys death toll now stands at 27,650, while the number of infections rose on Sunday by 652 to 231,350.

After bringing in one of Europes strictest lockdowns in mid-March, the rate of fatalities and infections have dropped significantly, allowing the government to ease some restrictions.

However, Fernando Simon, the health emergency chief, struck a note of caution by saying that Sundays low death figure may be down to reporting delays over the weekend.

The latest figures came the day after the prime minister Pedro Sanchez said he hoped to extend the countrys state of emergency until the end of June.

He will ask parliament to approve this latest extension.

Authorities are also thinking about extending the obligatory use of face masks on public transport to all public spaces.

Salvador Illa, the health minister, told reporters: "There is an ample consensus that we should reinforce the obligatory use of masks.

Although restrictions on movement are being eased in other areas, Barcelona and Madrid, which have been particularly hard-hit by the disease, will be kept under a stricter lockdown. 

Protests have taken place over the last week, with demonstrators airing their frustration at the governments handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Announcing the fifth and final tranche of stimulus measures, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said direct listing of securities by Indian public companies will now be permissible in foreign jurisdictions. Private companies, which list their non-convertible debentures on stock exchanges, will now not be regarded as listed companies, she added.

Sitharaman said reforms will be the focus of the fifth and final tranche of economic stimulus package to deal with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the package would focus on MGNREGA, healthcare and education, businesses, de-criminalisation of the Companies Act, ease of doing business, public sector undertakings, and resources related to state government.

Follow our LIVE blog for updates on FM Sitharaman's press conference

With an eye on further enhancement of the Ease of Doing Business, the government said it will create additional or specialised benches for National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). Also, there will be lower penalties for all defaults of small companies, one-person companies, producer companies, and start-ups.

This is another important announcement in the series of decriminalisation of the provisions of Companies Act, 2013. This is not the first time. The Companies Act, 2013 has been earlier amended to remove criminal punishment for many procedural and trivial offenses. This is being done to facilitate ease of doing business for corporates, Lalit Kumar, Partner at J Sagar Associates.

A source who worked closely for this regulation told Moneycontrol: "This measure may give benefit in long run. As companies now will have option to tap high liquidity and lower cost market without any hurdle. However, it is not beneficial for domestic investor, they will not get chance to take benefit of good companies. Now, government may treat International Financial Service Centre (IFSC) as international listing".

Direct listing of securities in permitted jurisdictions, which was earlier recommended by the SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) committee, will now become a reality with these proposed reforms. In the current and post COVID-19 economic environment, many of our large and new age companies will need access to deeper pools of capital, at the right valuations and in a market with their relevant peer group, said Sai Venkateshwaran, Partner and Head, CFO Advisory, KPMG in India.
By Trend

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented his new unity government to parliament on Sunday, ending more than a year of political deadlock but still facing a trial starting in a week for alleged corruption, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Under his accord with Gantz, after three inconclusive elections, Netanyahu will remain prime minister for 18 months before handing over to his new partner.

Gantz, a former armed forces chief, will be Netanyahus defence minister and alternate prime minister, a new position that Netanyahu will hold when Gantz is in charge.

By assuming that alternate premiership once he hands over to Gantz, Netanyahu hopes to avoid having to resign from the government under legal rules that allow a prime minister to remain in office even if charged with a crime.

Israels longest-serving leader, Netanyahu, now 70, first came to power in 1996 and has served three consecutive terms since 2009. He goes on trial on May 24 on charges of bribery, breach of trust and fraud, which he denies.

The people wanted unity, and that is what it got, Netanyahu told parliament, citing a desire to steer clear of a fourth election and the need for a national battle against the coronavirus crisis.

Gantz, in his address to the legislature, said: The biggest political crisis in Israels history is over.

Parliament is expected to formally approve the new administration later on Sunday.

With a new government in place, Netanyahu would be poised to proceed with his plan to extend Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank, territory Palestinians seek for a state.

He has set July 1 as a starting point for cabinet discussions on the volatile issue, with no publicly stated deadline for approving de facto annexation of land Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

Palestinians have vehemently opposed such a move, urging international sanctions against Israel in response. It would be certain to heighten tensions in the West Bank and Gaza that could ignite anti-Israeli violence.

GANTZ CHANGE OF HEART

Gantz, 60, had cited the charges against Netanyahu in again pledging to his voters after the latest election in March that he would not serve in a government with Netanyahu. Angering many of his supporters and splitting his own party, he made a deal in the end, saying the coronavirus crisis made unity an imperative.

The coronavirus crisis is an excuse to hold a corrupt celebration at the taxpayers expense, new opposition leader Yair Lapid, who split from Gantz, said in parliament.

You are establishing the biggest and most wasteful government in Israeli history.

The cabinet will have a record 36 ministers, with several new posts created to ensure both Netanyahu and Gantz could dole out cabinet seats to loyalists - deal-making that boosted the veteran leaders reputation as a political survivor.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Sadie Robertson's book Live has sold more than 100,000 copies. The follow-up to her national bestseller, Live Fearless which has sold nearly 200,000 copies, Live: remain alive, be alive at a specified time, have an exciting or fulfilling life released in February 2020 at #25 on the USA Today Best-Selling Books List and #5 on the Wall Street Journal's Bestselling Books List.

Sadie reminds readers 'There's a big difference between being alive and knowing how to truly live. To be alive is something that happens to you. But to truly live is something you get to choose each day. When you truly learn to live the life God offers, your whole existence becomes a verb."

"With her honest and vulnerable spirit, Sadie encourages, challenges, and models life that is full and joyful," said Laura Minchew, senior vice president, Children's and Gift Group publisher for HarperCollins Christian Publishing. "We truly are thrilled that Live has surpassed the 100,000 milestone so quickly and even more delighted to publish Sadie's passionate message inspiring a generation to live in that fullness every day."

A speaker, influencer, and media personality, Robertson has become a leading voice of hope, courage, and truth for young people. In Live, she balances encouragement as well as tackling weighty matters such as overcoming jealousy, finding confidence, dealing with haters. This book is a practical help to discover a life you can't wait to live.

More information about Robertson can be found at liveoriginal.com. Live (Thomas Nelson, ISBN#9781400213061, Feb. 25, 2020) is available for purchase wherever books are sold.

About the Author:

Sadie Robertson is the author of her newest book, LIVE. She is also a New York Times bestselling author of Live Original, Live Original Devotional, Life Just Got Real: A Live Original Novel", and Live Fearless.

A respected role model for her generation, Robertson shares powerful messages of hope through her books, speaking events, podcasts, television and media appearances, social networks and her Live Original tour. Robertson gained widespread visibility competing on season 19 of ABC's Dancing with the Stars and finishing as runner-up. Following Dancing with the Stars, her commitment to balancing celebrity with philanthropy led her to launch a campaign to inspire millennials to work together to make a difference in the lives of people in need around the world.

A passionate and tireless advocate for underprivileged children, youth and families, she views her platform as a means through which to benefit humanity by responding to its areas of greatest need. With her signature combination of boldness and compassion, she is currently rallying fans, friends, and followers to end world hunger through partnerships with World Vision and the World Food Program. For Robertson, each new day is an opportunity to continue spreading her message and to impact the lives of others in positive ways. Learn more at www.liveoriginal.com.

Tags : Sadie Robertson's book Live has sold more than 100 000 copies. sadie robertson sadie robertson duck dynasty Thomas Nelson sadie robertson new book Live: remain alive be alive at a specified time have an exciting or fulfilling life
The statue of George Mason on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., on Nov. 2, 2015. (Gary Greenbaum/Wikipedia)

College Students Call for Closing Confucius Institutes Across America

Bipartisan groups of college students across America have joined forces with nonprofits, human rights organizations, and leaders of the youth organizations of both Democrats and Republicans to call for the closing of Confucius Institutes on college campuses across America.

Confucius Institutes are instruments of Chinese soft power and propaganda funded by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). More than 100 were established in universities throughout the United States from the mid-2000s on.

Human Rights Watch reports that as of January, 29 colleges had closed their institutes, largely due to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2018, which requires academic institutions to choose between receiving language funding from Confucius Institutes, or from the U.S. Defense Department.

Caleb Max, a senior at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, said he was inspired to build support to challenge the influence of the Confucius Institute on his campus when he discovered that the organization was spreading CCP propaganda on campus.

Max pointed out the irony that his college is named for the author of Virginias Declaration of Rights, yet my tuition dollars are going to fund the Chinese Communist Partys propaganda on my own campus.

Max said that another motivation to organize support to close the CCP-funded organization was his discovery that some Chinese students at George Mason felt intimidated by Confucius Institute staff.

During his conversations with Chinese students, Max came across some who said the Institute was bothering them. When asked, however, if they would sign the open letter that his new nonprofit, Athenai (Action to Halt the Expansion of Neo-Authoritarian Influence), put out this week announcing its mission to close the institutes, the students demurred.

Asked why, they said they were afraid of reprisals against their families back in China.

The publicly available agreement between the Confucius Institute and George Mason University states that among the institutes scope of activities is to provide non-degree Chinese language courses, administration of a Chinese language proficiency test, training of Chinese language teachers, and language and cultural exchange activities.

Nothing in the agreement suggests that the Confucius Institute has either a right or a responsibility to interact or intersect with Chinese students at George Mason in any way.

Indeed, the Institute, whose headquarters are in western Beijing, pledges in the agreement to observe and respect the commonly accepted principles of academic freedom.

Caleb Max. (Courtesy Caleb Max)

A Lot of Power

Max said that in creating Athenai, our biggest fear is that this is seen as something racist to the Chinese students. Emphasizing that the open letter and the press release are 100% student-written by Athenai President Rory OConnor, Executive Director John Metz, and Max himself, the students also enlisted the outside advice of others, who looked at the documents and said it doesnt come across as racist.

Among those advisers is Dr. Yang Jianli. Yangs LinkedIn profile says hes a Harvard fellow and president of Initiatives for China. Yang is a dissident who participated in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

The Confucius Institutes are also well-financed, according to Max and other sources.

The board of George Mason University reviewed an internal audit in 2017 and found that in fiscal year 2016 through January 2017, the Confucius Institute received $386,000, spending $344,000.

Typically, the target university matches Chinese contributions dollar for dollar, making the university not only the host of the institute but a partner, as well.

The Chinese budget for the Confucius Institutes around America is said to be in the range of $100 million, according to Max.

Call to Action

According to its press release, The Athenai Institute is a 501(c)(3) bi-partisan nonprofit founded in May 2020 dedicated to defending the academic and financial integrity of universities and academia in the face of sustained efforts by the government of the Peoples Republic of China to limit free discussion of human rights abuses on university campuses in the United States.

The letter states that it was written in response to calls from within Chinese civil society, and in light of the continued struggles of Hong Kongers, Mongolians, Taiwanese, Tibetans, Uyghurs, and others.

We are compelled, it states, to voice our concerns over the present state of academic freedom, and bring to light the continued exploitation of liberal, democratic academic institutions by authoritarians.

We further seek to condemn, in the most unequivocal terms, all anti-Asian sentiment, violence, and hateful acts, the letter states.

Saying that it wants to call attention to the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party [which] represents an affront to the fundamental belief in the dignity of the human person, the call to action demands the immediate and permanent closure of all Confucius Institutes in the United States.

The document cites a long and growing list of offenses that make up a campaign undeniably aimed at expanding the reach and power of the Chinese states apparatus of power.

It states that Confucius Institutes promote self-censorship, and censor discussion of issues sensitive to the Chinese Communist Party.

They also utilize discriminatory hiring practices and propagate blatant disinformation.

Most egregiously, and despite the lack of a mandate to involve itself with the affairs of Chinese students, Confucius Institutes have restricted the rights of students to express political views, to freely organize, and to join associations, Athenai states.

Max says that George Masons Confucius Institute has a lot of power, including intimidation, and not just of students.

He recounts an incident that occurred earlier this year on the George Mason campus. Attending a meeting of students and faculty, I stood up and said something about how we shouldnt have Confucius Institutes on campus.

Afterwards, a gentleman pulled me aside. He turned out to be a member of the universitys academic community. He walked me over to his private office, and only there would tell Max that his involvement in bringing the Confucius Institute to George Mason had been his biggest mistake.

A Family Tradition

Max credits teamwork, and Athenai President Rory OConnor, whom he met by chance at a human rights event held on Capitol Hill, for drafting the open letter, and mobilizing support among college Democrats.

He also credits the example of his grandfather, retired Rep. Frank Wolf, a noted champion of human and religious rights in the U.S. House of Representatives during a 34-year career representing his northern Virginia district. Wolf was also an early critic of the Chinese Communist Party rights record.

An original 1998 version of a congressional act supporting religious rights across the globe was renamed the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act when it was amended, strengthened, and signed into law in December 2016.

Max says next steps include establishing Athenai chapters in colleges throughout America, enlisting donor support, and directly lobbying university presidents to shut down their Confucius Institutes.
On January 2020, Wuhan City in China was put on a lockdown following the coronavirus outbreak which allegedly started in a wet market. But this precautionary measure was far too late, and the highly-communicable virus has already spread in all parts of the globe, including in the U.S.

Recently, experts uncover the truth about the first-ever coronavirus patient in the US, and how China tried to mislead the world.

First US COVID-19 patient in December?

A viral hotspot was first detected with the two infections in the Snohomish County, north of Seattle. The patients tested positive for COVID-19 symptoms in December, that was contradictory to the timeline when the coronavirus landed in the US, according to the Seattle Times.

Report of the Snohomish patients beat the first US case, that was almost a month earlier than the 50-year old man declared positive for infection on January 20.

According to Dr. Chris Spitters, health officer for the Snohomish Health District, "Maybe it was that individual that was the first introduction in January, (but) it certainly wasn't the only one. And it's reasonable to assume, given reports like the ones that we've had and others around the country, that introduction may have occurred before January, as we initially suspected."

Tests were done and the doctors were caught off guard by the results after they registered positive. The returned result showing that antibodies were detected, it gave a different picture that the coronavirus may have traveled from Wuhan undetected.

But public health officials consider the two residents as not part of any official tally of cases, because there is no way to know if the two were infected.

Heather Thomas, a Snohomish Health District spokeswoman, told The Seattle Times it might be probable, not impossible and infection existed. The two positive individuals were not added from January and after that.

Also read: Coronavirus Effects: How it Harms Human Body Organs

Symptoms were felt as early as Christmas

Of the two identified coronavirus positive individuals, Jean (not her real name), reported coughing and a high fever for two days, after the 25th of December

The 64-year old retired nurse had improvement after thanks to a nebulizer. After getting better, Jean took a test to see if the virus might have been COVID-19. After checking the result of her test soon after, it indicated there were antibodies detect in her blood!

Jean told the Seattle Times, "When I got sick, I didn't even know what COVID-19 was." The healed patient requested to be identified by her middle name.

She also mentioned that the antibodies will not bring immunity, that much is guaranteed. Though it gave peace of mind that survival is a turn.

Thomas said 30 people in the districts are a carrier for the antibodies that repel the coronavirus. The positive serology tests will not be able to determine if the two residents are carriers at home.

Officials speculate they could have been exposed after the first case, and in the Kirkland nursing home. By definition, these cases in December had the symptoms expounded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for positive cases.

Following the timeline of the first detected case in Wuhan, the first US coronavirus was infected several days after Christmas. Next is the discovery of antibodies due to exposure, how did the coronavirus reach the US this early? China needs to explain.

Related article: 34 Fighters, Police Officers Quarantined Following Second COVID-19 Fatality in Nursing Home

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Two more migrant workers died on Sunday following injuries sustained in the road accident a day earlier at Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh, raising the death toll in the incident to 26, said local police.

Twenty-four migrant workers had died and 36 injured on Saturday early morning when a trailer truck carrying sacks of lime along with 43 people rammed into the back of a stationary truck with many other migrant workers sitting in it near a roadside eatery on the national highway in Auraiya.

In a statement issued here, the Auraiya police said the accident took place near Shivji Dhaba in Tikauli village involving a trailer truck and a mini-truck with both the vehicles falling into a ditch by the roadside.

In the accident, 26 migrant labourers died, while 34 others sustained injuries, the statement said while updating the casualty figures.

A case has been registered against the drivers, owners and transporters of both the vehicles under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Motor Vehicles Act at Kotwali police station in Auraiya.

Investigations are going on in this regard, police said, adding that efforts are being made to arrest the drivers, owners and transporters of both the vehicles.

Meanwhile, as many as 32 injured migrant labourers were admitted to the Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences at Saifai in Etawah district.

The varsitys Vice-Chancellor, Dr Raj Kumar said, The condition of four migrant labourers is extremely serious, while seven others are in serious condition. Apart from this, 20 other injured labourers are also undergoing treatment. Some of these labourers could be discharged in the next couple of days.

Shiv Kumar, an injured labourer who was going from Rajasthan to West Bengal, while recalling the accident said, There were around 40-50 persons travelling in the trailer truck. As the trailer hit the stationary mini-truck near a dhaba (roadside eatery), both the vehicles overturned and people fell down. Some came under the truck. The accident in Auraiya is the latest one in a string of mishaps involving migrant workers returning to their native states amid the coronavirus lockdown.

Most of the victims were sitting on sacks of lime powder loaded on the trailer and were crushed when the vehicles overturned and fell into a ditch following the crash near an eatery between 3 am and 3.30 am on the Auraiya-Kanpur Dehat stretch of the national highway, police said.

While many of the workers were from Jharkhand and West Bengal, some were from Kushinagar in eastern Uttar Pradesh, they pointed out.

In the accident, most of the labourers were crushed under these bags, which were on the trailer truck, and died. Some of them succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital, District Magistrate Abhishek Singh said, adding that all the deceased were men.

The mini-truck, which was going from Delhi to Madhya Pradesh, had stopped at the eatery as some workers wanted to have tea. It was carrying around 22 people, including five women and seven children, officials said.

The trailer truck with 43 migrants was coming from Rajasthan, they said.

Both the vehicles were ferrying people who found themselves without jobs, money or food during the lockdown and were desperate to get back home.

Local villagers assisted the police and the administration in the rescue operation as earthmovers were used to pull out the people from under the lime sacks. The badly mangled vehicles showed the intensity of the crash.
With the government against the Delhi Gymkhana Club, the club's management has questioned the maintainability of the petition filed before the NCLT saying it "smacks of malafides".

Terming the corporate affairs ministry's petition as "completely misconceived, misplaced and not maintainable, the club in its reply affidavit also said it was a private club formed for the use of its members and there is no element of public interest that was involved.

The ministry has alleged "fraudulent and rampant mismanagement" by the club's general committee and sought to take over the management control under section 241 and 242 of the Companies Act, 2003.

The principal bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) is presently hearing the matter. It was heard through video conferencing last week and the tribunal would continue the hearing on Monday as well.

"What is equally disturbing is the manner in which the petitioner has sought to move this petition, namely ex-parte, without service of an advance copy upon the answering respondent. This act itself smacks of malafides as indeed, does the petition itself," the club's petition said.

It also noted that present membership is "neither heritable nor transferable" as it is a company limited by guarantee.

In its petition, the government has also alleged that the practice of hereditary succession mode of membership terming it as "parivaar-vaad" (nepotism) and "minimal adherence to the democratic ethical practice".

According to the club, "existence of public interest is a condition precedent for invoking under section 241 and in the absence of public interest the question of anything prejudicial thereto does not arise" and another condition precedent for maintaining such a petition is grounds of winding up must exist, which is also not in the present petition.

"Admittedly, there being no public interest in the present matter within the meaning of Section 241 (2) the petition must be dismissed with costs; given the apparent legal malice in the petition," it said.

The club has also alleged that complaint from a former ministry official arose as it "resisted pressure to give him membership".

Noting that the club verily believes that the person was a high-ranking member in the ministry, the petition said, "harassment that the club has been facing from the Department of Corporate Affairs harps back to that episode".

"Their grievance is limited towards the revision of registration fee and not the imposition or the power to impose a registration fee. Needless to say these are facile arguments raised by disgruntled applicants," it said.

On April 24, the NCLT had issued notices to the club and its general committee managing the affairs, over the ministry's petition seeking management control of the facility. Among others, the ministry has "fraudulent and rampant mismanagement" by the general committee.

Moreover, in connection with election of membership, the club has always followed the traditional procedure as per the past practice and there is no violation of its article of association (AoA), it said in the reply affidavit.

"Accordingly, the club has never breached the provisions of its AoA in relation to election of the members, including issuing green cards from time to time," it added.

Regarding complaints received by the other members over the affairs, the club said "they are results of having lost the elections and other individual grievances and are disgruntled members".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Trump - AFP

Donald Trump has touted a new "super duper" missile which will be 17 times faster than current capabilities.

The president said the US was building right now incredible military equipment".

He said: "We have, I call it, the Super Duper Missile, and I heard the other night, 17 times faster than what they have right now, when you take the fastest missile we have right now.

"Youve heard Russia has five times, and Chinas working on five or six times, we have one 17 times and its just gotten the go ahead.

"Seventeen times faster than what we have right now. Fastest in the world by a factor of almost three. Space is going to be the future both in terms of defence and offence. We're now the leader in space."

TRUMP: I call it the Super Duper Missile. pic.twitter.com/BV2UfiuCRL  Benny (@bennyjohnson) May 15, 2020

The White House declined to release any further details of the missile.

A Pentagon spokesman said he had "no information" to release.

In February Mr Trump spoke publicly about "super-fast" US missiles that were "four, five, six, and even seven times faster than an ordinary missile."

Mr Trump spoke about the "super duper" missile at the unveiling of a flag for the Space Force, the newest branch of the US armed services.

Trump - Reuters

Pentagon officials presented Mr Trump with the Space Force flag during a short Oval Office event.

The dark blue and white flag includes elements intended to evoke the vast recesses of outer space.

The Space Force, which was officially established in December, is the first new military service since the US Air Force was established in 1947.

Mr Trump has made clear he sees the newest service as critical to the future of American defence.
Signs of spring include: pussy willows, skunk cabbage, red-red bobbin robins.

And turtles.

Yes, said Sarah Breznen, director of education at the Woodcock Nature Center in Ridgefield and Wilton in an email. Turtles are out at Woodcock.

I havent seen any here, said Diane Swanson, executive director of the Pratt Nature Center in New Milford. But Ive seen painted turtles out at Conns Pond, just down the road.

And not just painted turtles  the one that clamber onto rocks and logs in threes and fours and sixes to sun themselves on spring days. Breznen said a visitor to the Woodcock center spotted an eastern box turtle  a terrestrial species  along a trail there.

And not just entirely benign turtles. Ann Taylor, executive director at New Pond Farm in Redding, said a staff member there had to steer a snapping turtle  our largest inland turtle and the one that can do some damage to digits  in a proper direction.

Billy Michael of Bethel  monitor of amphibians and town budgets  said hes seen painted turtles, but no snappers yet.

The Mothers Day weekend is generally their start, he said.

These long-lived, solitary reptiles, which slow and steady win the race, have ancient forebearers that swam and plodded around earth in the Triassic period, about 200 million years or so. Before there were dinosaurs, there were turtles.

Now through June you may see them out, slowly crossing roads. We know why they do this. Unlike the mystery of the chicken, theyre female turtles, looking for higher, drier ground where they can dig a nest and lay eggs.

With cabin-fevered people now hiking around, the chance for turtle observation is at hand.

Its a good time, said Theodora Pinou, professor of biologic and environmental sciences at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. People are outside more than theyve ever been before, and theyll see things theyve never seen.

Pinou is a herpetologist  a specialist in the study of reptiles. She advises people, delighted in watching turtles, not to treat them as playthings. Instead, she said, people should snap a cellphone picture and send it to iNaturalist, a citizen science project that is mapping and sharing information about the worlds biodiversity.

That way, youre contributing by telling other people that you actually saw the particular species, Pinou said.

Along with four sea turtle species that swim in the Atlantic Ocean off our coast, there are eight inland turtle species in Connecticut. If they make it to adulthood, they can live long and prosper.

Fifty years could be an understatement, said Michael Ravesi, a wildlife biologist at the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

But living that long is no easy thing.

Ravesi said that some turtles in the state are doing well. Painted turtles and snapping turtles seem to be sustaining their numbers.

At the other end of the scale, the bog turtle is listed by the DEEP as endangered. Its found only in the limestone bedrock woods and wetlands between the Housatonic River and the New York border. It faces extinction in the state because of habitat loss.

The DEEP now lists four other inland turtles as species of special concern  the spotted turtle, the wood turtle, the eastern box turtle and the northern diamondback terrapin, which lives in the brackish estuaries along the states coastline.

Box turtles and spotted turtles are widespread, Ravesi said, but we dont know how robust their populations are.

The greatest threat to turtles is habitat loss or the erosion of the quality of that habitat, Ravesi said.

Add diseases. There is also a thriving trade in turtles  people collect them to keep them as pets, or sell them illegally to foreign traders. They also collect and sell turtle eggs.

Ravesi said theres also a non-native invasive turtle species  the red-eared slider  thats now breeding in the state. Its a species that originates in the southern U.S. or northern Mexico. But people, tiring of them as pets, have released them into the wild.

Theres normal predation  snakes, raccoons, skunks and foxes all dig up and eat turtle eggs.

And cars hit turtles as they cross the road to get to their nesting ground. Slow and steady is no help on the blacktop.

Theyve been on this planet for millions of years, Ravesi said. They evolved armor that can protect them against alligators and in Connecticut, from predators like coyotes. But they have no defense against cars.

Contact Robert Miller at earthmattersrgm@gmail.com
Famed French serial killer expert Stephane Bourgoin has confessed that his prestigious career is founded on lies, following a series of revelations.

Bourgoin, 67, built a reputation as the country's foremost expert in serial killers, writing more than 75 books and producing dozens of documentaries, before an investigation brought him down.

His standing as an expert in his field meant he was called upon as a guest lecturer for trainees at the French national judiciary police academy and regularly toured the country to give speeches on his experiences.

However, in January an anonymous collective called "4e Oeil" or "4th Eye" uploaded a series of videos on YouTube accusing Bourgoin of lying, and the story quickly became a sensation in France given his public profile. The videos have since been removed from YouTube, but remain on the collective's official website.

A spokesperson for 4e Oeil told CNN they started investigating Bourgoin in August 2019 after discussing his work in a Facebook group dedicated to criminal cases.

Members of the group had their suspicions that Bourgoin had plagiarized books originally written in English and noticed dates that didn't match up or inconsistencies from one of his books to another, said the spokesperson.

"His television interviews convinced us that he was truly making it all up," they told CNN.

Bourgoin has now admitted falsehoods, both in the press and on his personal Instagram account, and CNN has attempted to contact his representatives

"I'm ashamed to have lied, to have hidden things," he said in an interview with the Le Parisien on Sunday.

"It is true that when I was in the public eye I sometimes happened to embellish, to extrapolate, to exaggerate my importance because I always had the deep feeling of not really 'being loved.'"

One of the fabrications relates to a woman who was murdered in 1976 in Los Angeles, in the United States.

Bourgoin had said for years it was his wife that was killed, but it was in fact a bartender he had met five or six times.

"It is completely true that I voluntarily concealed her identity," he said.

Bourgoin also admitted making up a meeting with serial killer Charles Manson and opened up on why he is now confessing.

"This has weighed on me immensely for two, three years," he said. "Very strangely, there's the relief of having told the truth, and from the shame, a will to redeem myself, to never again say nonsense like that in public.

The spokesperson for "4e Oeil" told CNN they want Bourgoin to stop working in the field.

"We sincerely doubt that his excuses, even though he has presented them, are indeed sincere," they said.
: Four people died of COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu on Sunday, while the number of cases crossed the 11,000 mark with 639 testing positive, the health department said.

Those who died included two men and two women.

With this, the death toll in the state has risen to 78, the department said in its bulletin.

A total of 634 people were discharged on Sunday, taking the total to 4,172 till date, it said.

After a marginal dip in the number of fresh cases below the 500 mark for the past two days, the state recorded 639 new cases on Sunday, which included people who had arrived from other states.

Twenty six of these were children aged below 10 years.

Of the 78 deaths reported in Tamil Nadu, 53 were from Chennai, the bulletin said.

Chennai also continued to constitute the majority of positive cases at 480, taking the total cases till date to 6,750.

With the latest cases, the cumulative tally in the state has breached the 11,000 mark to touch 11,224.

Eighty one of the 639 new cases included people who had arrived from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the bulletin said.

Out of the 639 cases, 398 were men and the remaining, women.

The total number of active cases, including those in isolation, stood at 6,971, it said.

A total of 12,445 people were tested at 61 centres in Tamil Nadu on Sunday,taking the aggregrate so far to 3,11,621.

It said Chennai reported 480 new cases on Sunday, while neighbouring Thiruvallur and Chengalput districts had 18 and 28 cases respectively.

Districts which recorded a high rise due to influx of people from other states on Sunday included Kallakurichi, Karur, Salem, Virudhunagar and Tuticorin, the bulletin said.

Kallakurichi district recorded 17 new cases, including 14 returnees from Maharashtra, while Karur reported 16, again of those who had returned from that state.

Salem and Virudhunagar reported a total of 13 positive ases, mainly those who had arrived fromTelangana, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, the bulletin said.

Tuticorin district Sunday saw 12 returnees from Maharashtra testing positive.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New York City residents who flouted social distancing restrictions for a night on the town got the mayor's wrath Sunday.

The city's embattled health commissioner is staying on the job. Gov. Andrew Cuomo got tested for coronavirus on live TV as he announced all people experiencing flu-like symptoms are now eligible for tests.

Meanwhile, two more state regions Western New York and the Capital District have met all seven criteria to move into the first phase of reopening but still need to hire several hundred more people for contact tracing programs.

In the first phase, construction, agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, manufacturing and wholesale trade businesses are allowed to reopen and retail stores can provide curbside or in-store pickup or drop-off.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio admonished people seen crowding outside bars Saturday night, many with drinks in hand but no masks on their faces, for putting lives in danger. Officials may go so far as to shut down establishments that are violating social distancing rules, de Blasio said, asking residents to call 311, the city's non-emergency hotline, if they see such crowding.

Bars and restaurants in the city have been restricted to takeout and delivery service since mid-March, when coronavirus cases started to soar, but some in Manhattan were allowing people to dine and drink inside on Saturday.

We're not going to tolerate people starting to congregate. It's as simple as that, de Blasio said. If we have to shut places down, we will.

After a rash of violent social distancing arrests involving people of color, the city eased up on social distancing enforcement this week by no longer having police officers breaking up small groups of people or confronting citizens about failing to wear a mask.

As the weather heats up, though, more and more New Yorkers are flocking to public spaces and familiar haunts for a sense of normalcy after spending most of the last two months cooped up inside and not always policing themselves.

If you start to form groups of people and then two, three, five and then it becomes six, it becomes 10, it becomes 15 that violates what we're saying about social distancing and that puts lives in danger," de Blasio said.

Parks, boardwalks and beaches attracted big crowds on Saturday, though city beaches aren't officially open and won't be for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

Beaches on Long Island and in other parts of the region will be open for the holiday, but de Blasio said opening the city's grand strands for swimming and merriment is not safe and is not the right thing to do in the epicenter of this crisis.

In fact, de Blasio said, the city's beaches could be closed off completely to public access if people don't follow social distancing rules. Fencing is being installed at entrance ways and could be rolled out if beaches meant now only for nearby residents to get some exercise get overcrowded or people violate swimming bans, he said.

De Blasio said beaches could open for wider use sometime in the summer, with lifeguard training over the next few weeks for a possible return to duty.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The uncertain financial picture caused by COVID-19 also has affected the town's ability to give raises to police officers.

Town leaders and the Merrillville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 168 have been discussing a new contract, and officers initially sought raises this year.

We believe our police officers deserve a raise, Gibson said. We just can't afford to give them one right now.

In lieu of a salary increase, the two entities agreed Merrillville will contribute an additional 3% to the Public Employees' Retirement Fund for police officers for the remainder of the year.

The council on Tuesday authorized the additional contribution. The move will cost the town about $82,000, and there is sufficient funding within the budget to cover it, officials said.

The council and the FOP are expected to eventually negotiate a new agreement that would start next year.

The council on Tuesday also addressed a budgeting error in the Police Department's spending plan.

When the budget was prepared last year, line items for payroll were unintentionally short hundreds of thousands of dollars, officials said.
Ontario Provincial Police want to talk to anyone with information about an incident in Simcoe that may have led to gunshot injuries.

Officers were called to a suspicious incident at an address on West Street just before 5 p.m. May 16.

A male went to hospital with unknown injuries, however initial information suggest that it may have been a possible gunshot wound, police said in a media release.

The injured male refused to co-operate with officers, police say.

Police are investigating the incident and want to speak with anyone that saw or heard anything suspicious in downtown Simcoe near Peel Street or Talbot Street South just before 4 p.m. Saturday.

If anyone has any information, they are being urged to contact the Norfolk County OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122 or anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.helpsolvecrime.com.
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The 2020 Academy Award for best short subject documentary went to Learning to Skateboard in a War Zone. The film tells the story of Afghan girls who learn to skate through a program run by a Berlin-based NGO.

The NGOs stated mission is to train young people to become leaders for a better world, through a combination of skateboarding lessons as well as creative, arts-based education. Though Im a bit fuzzy how skateboarding lessons will produce leaders for a better world, Academy voters seemed to like the idea.

However, one person not enthralled by the film was Sahar Ghumkhor, a social scientist from the University of Melbourne. Writing for Al Jazeera, Ghumkhor called the film an example of white savior syndrome. Though thats a jarring term that too often gets thrown around indiscriminately, it does capture an underlying cultural attitude of those who see people in the developing world as victims of an inherent backwardness. These are people who need saving, not just from sickness, or drought, or poverty, but from a way of life, specifically their traditional ways of thinking  typically about things like the role of sexual morality, gender and marriage roles, and the emphasis on community norms over individual desire.

In this case, teaching Afghan girls how to skateboard and providing creative, arts-based education, is, in the end, shorthand for making them more Western in their views about women, and thus, less backward. The hoped-for end products are artists, hipsters, [and] rebels with a cause, who are often introduced as trailblazers.

Reading Ghumkhors piece, it becomes clear that many of these NGOs are nothing less than secular missionaries.

Of course, Christian missionaries are the ones so often depicted as judgmental and dismissive of native cultures. The history of Christian missions certainly does include bad ideas about native peoples and bad behavior by those tasked with bringing the Good News to them. Still, today, its Western liberal secularists leading the way in being judgmental and dismissive of native cultures.

In 2017, French president Emmanuel Macron lamented Africas high birth rates as a civilizational problem, snidely saying, present me the woman who decided, being perfectly educated, to have seven, eight or nine children.

Macrons belief that large families are a sign of backwardness and patriarchy is, perhaps, the foundational doctrine being spread by secular missionaries, which explains why abortion is their sacrament. So, for instance, Canadas health care response to COVID-19, both nationally and internationally, included increased funding for abortion.

Of course, progressive rhetoric about womens health is, in reality, just a smokescreen for the larger goal of replacing native values about sex, marriage, and family with more enlightened, neo-Western values. And increasingly, the rhetoric we hear about inclusiveness and justice is merely cover for saving these developing nations from all antiquated views on homosexuality and gender.

Obianuju Ekeocha, the founder of Culture of Life Africa, rightly calls the secular Western assault on native values, ideological colonialism.

Culturally, most of the African communities actually believe, by tradition, by their cultural standards, that abortion is a direct attack on human life, she writes, so for anybody to be able to convince any woman in Africa that abortion . . . can be a good thing, you first of all have to tell her that what her parents and her grandparents and her ancestors taught her is actually wrong.

Ekeocha is one of 20 leading Christian worldview thinkers at our Truth. Love. Together virtual event. Specifically, she is talking about why speaking the truth is an act of love, even the hard truths she is so often speaking on international media outlets.

Teaching girls in Kabul to skateboard is fine, I suppose, but for secular missionaries to claim to create a better world when what they really mean is recreate the world in their ideological image? Well, thats just backwards.

And as for our Truth. Love. Together virtual event: Please join me and people like Obianuju Ekeocha, Os Guinness, Sean McDowell, Joni Eareckson Tada, Lee Strobel, John Lennox, Katy Faust, its an incredible line up. And its free. Please join us via live stream or on demand. All you have to do is go to ColsonCenterWorldview.org to register.

Originally posted at breakpoint.org
Lester Bruce Mainquist, known as Bruce, passed away at Dove Healthcare-West in Eau Claire, Sunday, April 5, 2020, at the age of 80. He was born Oct. 29, 1939, in Magnet, Neb., the son of Allan and Valdis Mainquist. When Bruce was still a baby, the Mainquist family moved to Buffalo, Minn., where Bruce and his siblings were raised on a farm located on Lightfoot Lake. He graduated from Buffalo High School in 1957. He served four years in the U.S. Navy.

Along with friends he met at college, Bruce became a founding member of the Cherry Stone Farm, which was established in 1974, as an artists co-operative in rural Colfax, where Bruce continued to reside for the rest of his life.

A talented and accomplished artist, Bruce frequently exhibited his works at art fairs and galleries in Minnesota, Wisconsin and other parts of the mid-west. He produced intricate and striking works of geometric shapes using steel plate and sheet metal as a medium, with each piece having its own unique patina. Using a torch he would cut the steel into pieces and then weld them together, often fashioning the metal into works inspired by nature. Many of his popular works featured a variety of small animals, including frogs, birds, fish, shellfish, butterflies and snails.

Some of Bruces most well-known works were the series of dancing, happy people, which he developed while working with a local arts program in Dunn County. The smiling statues, which Bruce produced in sizes ranging from very small to very large, were inspired by the children he saw playing at Cherry Stone Farm. Permanent installations of these works have been displayed in many places and can be seen at the Dunn County Fairgrounds, as well as several local parks, including Wilson Park in Menomonie, 22-Mile Ford Park near Colfax on the Red Cedar River, and Boyceville Park.

In addition to his artistic creativity, which he expressed in countless ways, Bruce will be remembered as a quiet, gentle and kind soul, who possessed a dry sense of humor and a mischievous grin. An avid reader who did not own a television, Bruce loved listening to public radio.

Bruce is survived by his older brother, Vance Mainquist and his wife, Barb, who still reside on the family farm in Buffalo; his younger sister, Linnea (John) Shinn of Stillwater, Minn.; many cousins, nieces, and nephews; and close friends, including Joe and Sally Felling and Denny and Amy Lenz. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his older half-sister, Janet Trussoni.

A celebration of Bruces life will be held once arrangements can be made. Memorials in his name may be made to Wisconsin Public Radio or a charity of donors choice.
TDT | Manama

The Ministry of Health announced yesterday the death of an 80-year-old Bahraini citizen due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). The patient had underlying health conditions. Along with all other active COVID-19 cases, he had been placed in isolation and received extensive 24-hour treatment from a specialised medical team.

His passing marked the ninth death related to the coronavirus in the Kingdom. The Health Ministry expressed its heartfelt condolences to the individuals family during this difficult time. The Ministry also reported yesterday 295 new active COVID-19 cases.

Of these, 181 are expatriate workers, 113 are contacts of active cases, and one is travel-related. Their detection brought the total number of active cases in the Kingdom to 3,330, with five of them in critical condition.

The Ministry noted that 31 of the cases were from a single-family, whose members did not follow the precautionary measures issued to help curb the spread of the virus.

The Minister of Health, therefore, called on citizens and residents to ensure they adhere to the decisions and procedures and not to underestimate the danger of failing to comply with them.

The Minister stated that daily laboratory tests showed an increase in the number of cases caused by people in contact with existing cases, due to their non-compliance with the health guidelines.

The Health Minister stressed that in order to preserve the health and safety of everyone during Ramadan, breakfast gatherings should be limited to a small group of family members, in addition to the need of wearing face masks and practising social distancing, amongst other precautionary measures.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry announced 40 new recoveries from COVID-19, bringing the total discharged to 2,192. The total tested rose to 197,898 as of last night.
Hundreds of migrants were stopped on Sunday by police in border districts of Uttar Pradesh from travelling to their native places by unauthorised vehicles and on foot during the ongoing coronavirus lockdown, leading to protests in some areas.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had on Saturday directed district authorities not to allow migrants to travel by unsafe means and to ensure that they are transported in buses after 26 workers who were returning to their homes died in a truck-trailer collision in Auraiya.

On Jhansi-Shivpuri border, police stopped trucks and other private vehicles ferrying migrants on Saturday night leading to protests.

Senior officials reached the spot and at 2 AM it was decided that the people will be allowed to proceed further after undergoing screening for coronavirus symptoms, according to Divisional Commissioner, Jhansi divison, Subhash Chandra Sharma.

Haryana officials said a number of buses arranged by the state government for ferrying migrant workers to different parts of Uttar Pradesh had to return to Yamunanagar due to fears of law and order problem after protests by a large number of migrants on the Saharanpur highway.

The migrants, who were reportedly kept in a shelter home in Saharanpur after they entered UP from neighbouring states, were demanding that they be sent home.

Hundreds of migrants who were trying to cross into Uttar Pradesh from Delhi were also stopped at the Ghazipur flyover.

"We have been directed to ensure that no person without proper authorisation crosses the border. There is nothing we can do for these people," said police officer present on the spot.

Anil Soni, a house painter by profession, tried to cross Delhi-UP border along with his family when the policemen stopped them.

"I lost work because of lockdown and coronavirus, because people do not want any unknown person to enter their homes," he said.

Accompanied by his wife and three children, the youngest just ten months old, Soni hoped to make it to his home in Badayun in UP.

"I will not come back here even if I have to beg at home. This is no life. Can you tell me what am I supposed to do. Policemen do not allow us to go ahead and there are no buses or trains even if one is ready to buy a ticket," he said.

Three container trucks carrying over 170 migrant workers were seized by UP police in Shamli and Muzaffarnagar since Saturday.

The police action came after at least 26 migrants were killed and 34 others injured in the Auraiya incident

"The chief minister has said that directions have been given to all the border areas to ensure that no person travels by unsafe means such as trucks.

"Directions have already been issued to keep 200 buses under the disposal of district magistrates in every district of border areas. Funds have also been approved to send the labourers by buses. The district magistrates must strictly comply with these orders," a UP government statement had said after the accident on Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, BSP leader Mayawati claimed that a number of migrant labourers from UP, who were staying in Punjab and Chandigarh, are returning home through the Yamuna river and it can lead to mishaps anytime.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday said a total of 16.50 lakh migrant workers have already returned to the state through trains and other means of transport.

The lockdown which started on March 25 to check the spread of coronavirus has left lakhs of migrant wokers without a livelihood, forcing them to return to their native places.

Shramik special trains are being run since May 1 for the migrants, but a large number of people have not been able to avail the facility.

Buses have also been arranged by some states, still they have been inadequate and many people have been trekking for hundreds of kilometres or travelling in crowded trucks and other vehicles on long perilous road journeys.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - At least six people were killed and six others wounded in new rocket attacks Saturday targeting a university hostel in the al-Farnaj neighborhood east of Tripoli, as the military escalation in the Libyan capital continued
Demanding immediate travel



arrangements, migrant workers on Sunday hurled stones at the police and damaged vehicles on a national highway near Rajkot in Gujarat, police said.

Some police personnel and a local journalist were injured in the incident that occurred in Shapar area near Rajkot, about 215 kms away from Ahmedabad.

Rajkot (Rural) superintendent of police Balram Meena said 25 migrants were arrested, including a purported instigator, after identifying them through video footage of the incident.

"A group of agitated migrants resorted to vandalism by damaging vehicles on a national highway demanding arrangement from local authorities for return to their native states," a police official said.

Meena said an FIR was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for rioting, voluntarily causing hurt and for attempt to commit culpable homicide.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, May 17, 2020 14:09 612 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd89f641 4 News Baduy-tribe,Baduy-Dalam,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

The Baduy tribe, which lives in the remote parts of Lebak regency, Banten province, has reportedly not been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak after recently observing the traditional Kawalu ritual for three months.

No visitors or tourists were allowed to attend the ritual, which was observed by members of the Baduy Dalam tribe in Cikeusik, Cibeo and Cikawartana hamlets.

According to Antara news agency, the settlement of the approximately 11,600 people has seen no visitors enter as villagers continue with their lives as usual by farming in fields, beekeeping, cultivating palm sugar and making kain tenun (woven cloth) by hand.

The tribe is popular among tourists who visit to observe these traditional activities, in addition to enjoying the natural beauty of the regencys landscape.

Read also: Tips for visiting Baduy village

"We guarantee that this settlement is free from the deadly coronavirus as no one has been found to suffer from it and we are also implementing health checks on visitors before they enter," Kanekes village head Jaro Saija told Antara in Lebak on Sunday, adding that the residents were also prohibited from going outside the villages, particularly to red zones such as Jakarta, Tangerang, Bekasi, Depok and Bogor.

Tribe members who are currently staying outside their hometowns have been urged to return but not before undergoing health checks at local community health centers (Puskesmas) prior to being granted entry.

Separately, COVID-19 task force spokesperson for Lebak, Firman Rahmatullahami, confirmed there were zero cases in the regency.

In order to maintain a clean health record, the administration is providing education on health protocol and restricting visitors from COVID-19 red zones.

"We are working hard to make sure Lebak and the Baduy people are free from the pandemic," Firman said.

According to data on siagacovid19 lebakkab.go-id, as of Sunday, the administration recorded 539 people under surveillance (ODP), of which 503 people were declared safe, 25 patients under treatment (PDP) and five deaths. (kes)
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China is set to be challenged on two main issues involving COVID-19 by the world at the first World Health Organization's (WHO)'s governing body since the start of the global outbreak. The two main issues include China's initial handling of the virus and the inclusion of Taiwan in the WHO.

While the United States has been accusing China of developing the virus in the laboratory, the European Union and Australia are all set to push a probe into the virus's origin. Australia on Friday has said that it will continue to push for an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, even if it hurts trade relations with China. Meanwhile, China has suspended beef imports from four abattoirs and plans to impose tariffs on Australian barley, after warning the inquiry could harm two-way trade ties. Crucially, the WHO is accused of being China-centric amid the criticism.

Read: Australian PM Scott Morrison on virus inquiry, China trade

The US blames China

The Trump administration has been blaming China for the spread of the novel coronavirus and for hiding its outbreak from the world. In its latest attack, US President Donald Trump threatened to put a complete end to ties with China over the latter's alleged reluctance in sharing full information regarding COVID-19. Recently, a top US Senator has released a detailed 18-point plan to hold China accountable for the COVID-19 outbreak, which includes enhancing military ties with India. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis said that the United States should seek reparation from the Chinese government and impose sanctions for lying about the virus.

Blaming the World Health Organisation (WHO) for being 'China-centric', Trump administration has also halted its funding to the UN body. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier claimed that his country has enough evidence to prove the COVID-19 contagion emerged from a 'laboratory in Wuhan' and that it is 'not natural'.

Read: Trump pens massive attack at 'plague floating' China after saying he doesn't want Xi talks

Taiwan's status in WHO

Amid the Coronavirus outbreak, a fresh diplomatic row has erupted between China and western powers about the inclusion of Taiwan in the World Health Organization (WHO). According to Taiwan, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is urgent for them to be allowed a proper access to the UN body. Further, several countries are now calling Taiwan to be either allowed into the WHO or to be granted observer status. Meanwhile, Taiwan has won a positive response in the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as it has managed to keep the infections as low as 433 with only 7 deaths.

Read: Has India surpassed source China's Covid count? Leaked data suggests it's not even close

Read: US Senator releases 18-point plan to hold China accountable for COVID-19
Here is a recap of more than a year of political crisis in Israel:

On December 24, 2018, Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party announces that all the parties in the ruling coalition have agreed to hold legislative elections in April 2019.

Two days later, the Knesset, Israel's parliament, votes to dissolve itself.

In polls on April 9, 2019, Netanyahu -- Israel's longest serving prime minister, in power since 2009 -- hopes to prevail again despite being dogged by corruption allegations.

Netanyahu's Likud and the Blue and White alliance of ex-military chief and centrist challenger Benny Gantz finish neck-and-neck.

Parliament chooses Netanyahu, backed by smaller right-wing parties, to try to form a majority government.

But after weeks of political bargaining, he is unable to command a majority in the 120-seat parliament. The deadline expires and the Knesset agrees to hold a new election.

In the next election on September 17, exit polls show another tight race.

Two days later, in a surprise, Netanyahu proposes a unity government to Gantz, who insists he would have to be the prime minister.

Official results released on September 25 confirm a deadlock, putting Gantz's party at 33 seats against Likud's 32.

Even with their respective allies, neither can muster the 61 seats needed for a majority. President Reuven Rivlin tasks Netanyahu with forming a government within 28 days.

Gantz refuses to join Netanyahu, citing his potential indictment on corruption charges.

On October 21, Netanyahu announces he has failed. Rivlin hands the task to Gantz.

On November 20, Gantz informs Rivlin hours before his deadline that he too has been unable to form a government.

The following day, the attorney general charges Netanyahu with bribery, fraud and breach of trust. It is to be the first time a sitting prime minister faces trial in Israel.

Netanyahu rejects the charges, saying they are an attempt to remove him from government.

On December 11, as the deadline passes for paohrliament to find a head of government, lawmakers call a new election for March 2, 2020.

This time around, Likud wins the most seats -- 36 against 33 for Gantz's party.

On March 15, an Israeli court postpones Netanyahu's graft trial amid fears of the spread of the new coronavirus.

The following day, Gantz, backed by 61 lawmakers, is nominated to try to form a new government, but fails.

On March 26, Gantz is elected parliament speaker, raising fresh hopes of a unity government.

On April 16, Rivlin tasks parliament with forming a government after a deadline expires without the two sides reaching agreement.

The two camps announce, however, that negotiations have resumed.

On April 20, with Israel on lockdown against the coronavirus and facing economic crisis, Netanyahu and Gantz announce a deal to form an emergency unity government.

The three-year agreement will allow Netanyahu to stay in office for 18 months.

Gantz will then take over as premier for another 18 months before Israel heads to a new round of elections.

On April 25, thousands of Israelis demonstrate in Tel Aviv against the accord, which they say threatens democracy.

On May 6, Israel's Supreme Court approves the coalition deal between Netanyahu and Gantz.

Lawmakers endorse the pact on May 7.

Rivlin tasks Netanyahu with forming a new government.

On May 14, the swearing-in of the unity government is postponed by three days to May 17, to give Netanyahu time to finalise cabinet assignments.
China on Saturday hit back at the Donald Trump government for announcing new export controls aimed at limiting Chinese technology giant Huaweis access to semiconductor technology, calling it Americas "unreasonable suppression" of Huawei.

Describing the move as the destruction of "global manufacturing, supply and value chains", the Chinese foreign ministry said that Beijing would "firmly uphold Chinese firms' legitimate and legal rights and interests".



"We urge the US side to immediately stop its unreasonable suppression of Huawei and Chinese enterprises," said the foreign ministry after the new rule barred semiconductor-makers that use US technology and software in chip design from shipping to Huawei without the US government's permission.





According to South China Morning Post, new restrictions will cut off Huawei's access to one of its major suppliers, Taiwanese chip maker TSMC, which also manufactures chips for Apple and other tech firms and on Friday announced to build a $12 billion chip manufacturing plant in the state of Arizona.



Global Times said in a report that "Beijing was ready to target Apple, Qualcomm, Cisco and Boeing in retaliation for the restrictions on Huawei".



The tightened controls come a year after the US moved to cut off Huawei, the world's second largest smart phone maker, from access to US-made semiconductor chips, which form the backbone of most computer and phone systems.



In response, the company and others in China accelerated efforts to manufacture such chips domestically.



US Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross said that those efforts were "still dependent on US technologies", and accused Huawei of taking steps "to undermine" earlier export controls.



"This is not how a responsible corporate citizen behaves," Ross said. "We must amend our rules exploited by Huawei... and prevent US technologies from enabling malign activities contrary to US national security and foreign policy interests."



The new US rules applies to foreign-made items using US technology. It exempts equipment or software made or shipped within the next 120 days - a move meant to limit economic harm.



In a background briefing for reporters, the US said officials would consider licence applications to do business with Huawei on a "case by case" basis.



"This is a licensing requirement. It does not necessarily mean that things are denied," a senior State Department official said. "We tend to approach Huawei with some concern but this is a measure that gives the US government visibility into what is moving."



On Friday, the US also extended waivers that allow US companies, many of them rural internet providers, to use some kinds of Huawei technology for another 90 days.



Donald Trump, who is campaigning for re-election in November, has stepped up his attacks on China in recent weeks, blaming it for the spread of COVID-19.



This week, he moved to restrict US government pension funds from investing in Chinese companies. He said on Wednesday he could "cut off the whole relationship".



The US has said Huawei's technology could be used for spying by the Chinese government.



It has pressured allies, including the UK and Germany, to bar Huawei from their networks and sued the company for technology theft and doing business with Iran, in violation of US sanctions.



Huawei has contested the US government's claims and said American efforts are likely to backfire, hurting the ability of US tech firms to do business.



The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Huawei's handset shipments outside of China had dropped by 35 per cent, threatening its position as the world's second-biggest handset maker.



Its latest phones can no longer embed Google Mobile Services, which include important features such as maps and the Google Play app store.



Huawei has tried to work its way around this by providing its own Huawei Mobile Services. But its App Gallery is missing a majority of the most-popular apps found on Android in the UK and US.
Amaravati, May 17 : For the first time in weeks, Andhra Pradesh registered its lowest single day tally of 25 cases in the 24 hours ending 10 a.m, on Sunday. Releasing the details, the state nodal officer reported that 9,880 samples were tested during this period. For the second consecutive day, there were no districts that reported double digit tallies.

On Sunday, Andhra Pradesh's cumulative tally of COVID-19 cases climbed to 2,230. However, with a rise in the number of people discharged from hospital after being cured, the tally of active cases currently stands at an all time low of 747. So far, 1,433 persons have been cured with 103 persons discharged in the preceding 24 hours alone.

Srikakulam district reported 7 cases, emerging as the district with the highest single-day tally in Andhra Pradesh. The top hotspot district of Kurnool reported 3 cases, of which, one person had a travel history to the Koyambedu market in Chennai. All the 3 cases detected in Nellore district were reported to have a travel history to the market, while 1 of the 4 cases detected in Chittoor district was also found to have a Koyambedu connection. Guntur district reported 4 cases while Visakhapatnam district reported 3 cases.

Kurnool district's overall tally touched 611 cases on Sunday, even as the active case tally dipped to 187 from the previous day's active count of 199. Guntur's tally grew marginally, by 3, to 417 cases, while Krishna district's cumulative tally remained at 367 cases.

Of the state's 13 districts, 6 districts did not report a single case on Sunday. With one death reported during the past 24 hours, the state's death toll has touched 50.

Of 23 persons discharged over the last 24 hours are people who returned to the state from Gujarat. With this, the number of active cases of people returning from other states stands at 127 cases. The returnees are from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, and Karnataka. The majority (101) are from Maharashtra, while 3 persons have returned from Gujarat, 11 persons from Rajasthan, 10 persons from Odisha, and 1 person each from Karnataka, and West Bengal.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 21:19:48|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China's Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, presented its summer views and profound traditional Chinese culture to the public in livestreaming form on Sunday ahead of International Museum Day.

Echoing the theme of this year's International Museum Day, "Museums for Equality: Diversity and Inclusion," the livestreaming was a new way to connect and engage with the general public, the Palace Museum said in a notice.

The broadcasting was available on Chinese news platforms and short video services including TikTok and Kuaishou.

This year's International Museum Day falls on May 18. The main event in China will be hosted by the Nanjing Museum in east China's Jiangsu Province. Enditem
Ho Quoc Tuan - Lecturer, Bristol University

The shock from COVID-19 has resulted in a sudden stop in capital flows to emerging markets (EM).

Fresh data from the Institute of International Finance (IIF) reveal that the first quarter of this year experienced the most substantial capital outflow from EMs ever, exceeding the worst points of the global financial crisis more than a decade ago.

A combination of public health challenges and a substantial plunge in oil prices following the failure of OPEC+ negotiations brings about a record-breaking outflow episode of around $83 billion in March alone. Since January 21, portfolio equity outflows reached $72 billion, while debt outflows amounted to $25 billion.

Asian EMs were among the hardest hit. Experts at the IIF predict the total non-resident capital flows to EMs will slow down significantly in the coming time, driven by the outbreak and its consequences to global growth and risk sentiment, as well as the fall in commodity prices. Non-resident flows will reach $444 billion, which is considerably lower than last year ($937 billion). Total foreign investments in EMs, excluding in China, are expected to come in at $304 billion, the lowest since 2004.

In Vietnam, foreigners indiscriminate sell-off has been a brutal comeuppance for the local equity market. But the situation could be much worse in other EMs.

As a result of the sudden stop in capital flows, most EMs may find it difficult to run significant current account deficits and will have to draw down reserves.

Outsized capital outflows from EMs coincided with falling asset prices. Exchange rates suffered heavily, and bond yields increased despite rate cuts, as curves steepened.

Though few countries have sounded the alarm in public, the IIF estimates that EMs, excluding China, will need at least $2.5 trillion over the course of the pandemic.

The Asian financial crisis of 1997 showed that strong public finances are not enough to protect an emerging economy if private firms borrow heavily abroad.

Recently, The Economist published a ranking examining 66 economies, including Vietnam, across four potential sources of peril. These include public debt, foreign debt (both public and private) and borrowing costs (proxied where possible by the yield on a governments dollar bonds).

The newspaper also calculated those countries likely foreign payments this year, their current-account deficit plus their foreign-debt payments, and compared these with their stock of foreign-exchange reserves. A countrys rank on each of these indicators is then averaged to determine its overall standing.

One thing that should be taken seriously is that EMs in Asia are stronger and more resilient compared to their peers in Latin America and Africa. Some economies that have been stuck with their debt, such as Venezuela and Argentina, are more likely to fall into a new debt crisis. Even some Eastern European economies like Hungary, Ukraine, or even the deep-pocketed Arab economies like Qatar are still in a risky position.

The ranking also revealed vast differences in the source and scale of potential weaknesses. Vietnam has indeed emerged as the bright spot to woo overseas capital, which was proven by its firm position (ranked 12th out of 66) in the financial strength test. The country is seen as the beneficiary from multinational firms relocating and moving out of China.

Notwithstanding, there are some major concerns Vietnam should take into account. First and foremost, would Vietnam succeed in luring high-quality movement of funds? The country needs to take a new approach in its foreign direct investment attraction strategy to bring added value, as well as to better protect the environment and reduce the over-exploitation of natural resources.

Secondly, the countrys inadequate logistic infrastructure is plaguing its ability to compete with other countries. Besides this, Vietnam is forecast to face power shortage after 2020 due to a variety of power projects in the revised master power plan falling behind schedule, particularly in the southern area.

Thirdly, how domestic companies compete fair and square with foreign-invested enterprises is also a matter to consider. The pandemic has proved one thing: only a resilient economy which has a strong foundation from domestic enterprises and domestic consumers could be resistant to external shocks.

Fourth, it is important to take advantage of the aviation industry  the most vulnerable sector amidst the crisis. Currently, airway routes are rather complicated for foreign investors and even local businesses.

Finally, local authorities should mull over increasing or lifting foreign ownership limits in some sectors such as stocks or in real estate. It is evident foreigners play a large role in the growth of economic development, as well as driving a huge amount of capital and cutting-edge technology into the local economy. Thus, the limits consequently could block overseas capital inflows, which would be even more perilous under the current circumstances.
Much of the world remains on some form of lockdown. But as countries slowly start to loosen restrictions, that has meant schools are back in session for in-person instruction.

What does the classroom look like during a pandemic? As places such as China and Denmark reopen their countries, they provide answers to -- or at least experiments in -- how social distancing and safety protocols play out.

PHOTO: Students enter the Nanwu school in Guangzhou, China, April 17, 2020, amid the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. (Alex Plavevski/EPA via Shutterstock)

MORE: After delay, CDC releases new guidance on how states can safely reopen

PHOTO:Staff tape off social-distancing markings as they prepare to reopen Schloss-Schule elementary school, April 21, 2020, in Heppenheim, Germany. (Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Face masks, to a degree

Face coverings are a common sight as school children return to their desks. China has been rolling out school reopenings over the past several weeks, from Hubei to Chongqing to Guangdong. And from province to province, students and teachers are sporting face masks, with a few exceptions, like during gym class or lunch.

PHOTO:Primary school pupils attend class wearing protective visor caps made by the city council in La Grand-Croix, near Saint-Etienne, central France, two days after lockdown measures were eased, May 12, 2020. (Jean-philippe Ksiazek/AFP via Getty Images)

In France, where a majority of schools reopened this week, masks are required for students ages 11 and up. In towns such as La Grand-Croix and Val-de-Reuil, primary school students have been wearing protective visor caps.

In Germany, where schools started to reopen last month, mask regulations vary by state. They are required for everyone age 7 and up in Bavaria, for instance.

Social distancing indoors and out

How do you enforce social distancing in crowded classrooms and during recess? One way is to have students on a staggered schedule to limit classroom and hallway capacity. New South Wales, Australia's biggest state, reopened schools on Monday, with students attending in person one day a week and learning from home the rest.

PHOTO: Rebekka Hjorth holds a music lesson outdoors with her class at the Korshoejskolen school, after it reopened following the lockdown to control the spread of COVID-19, in Randers, Denmark, April 15, 2020. (Ritzau Scanpix Denmark/via Reuters)

Another solution is to move classes outdoors. In Denmark, which started reopening schools in mid-April, classes are being held outside, such as in parks, as much as possible.

PHOTO:Students eat their lunch on desks with plastic partitions as a preventive measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 at Dajia Elementary School, in Taipei, on April 29, 2020. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

Some schools are enforcing social distancing through means like plastic partitions during lunch, seen in Taiwan, and individual chalk squares for outdoor play, observed at a preschool in Tourcoing, France.

PHOTO: Schoolchildren stand on smiley faces to maintain social distancing in the courtyard of a primary school during its reopening in Paris, May 14, 2020. (Benoit Tessier/Reuters)

MORE: Humanitarian organizations issue guidelines on reopening schools amid COVID-19

Story continues

PHOTO: The children of essential workers comply with social distancing rules in the cafeteria of a hub school for Edinburgh city center pupils at Drummond Community High School, Edinburgh, April 28, 2020. (Jane Barlow/Zuma Press)

Tests and screenings

The World Health Organization recommends daily temperature checks for students as part of schools' COVID-19 public health measures. In Shanghai, students and staff enter school through thermal scanners. At Montana's rural Willow Creek School, one of the first schools to reopen in the U.S., students' temperatures are checked upon entrance.

PHOTO: A staff member guides a student to check her body temperature with a thermal scanner before entering an elementary school in Pingdingshan City, in China's central Henan province, on May 8, 2020. (Str/AFP via Getty Images)

COVID-19 diagnostic testing is also being done on school grounds. Testing is commonplace in Wuhan, where students line up along cones to give swab samples. A high school in Neustrelitz, in northern Germany, has students self-administer tests twice a week, according to The New York Times. If they test positive, they stay home for two weeks; if they test negative, they wear a green sticker.

PHOTO: Hospital medical workers collect swabs from high school teachers for COVID-19 testing at a school, in Yichang, China, April 27, 2020. (China Daily/Reuters)

What to know about the coronavirus:

How it started and how to protect yourself: Coronavirus explained

What to do if you have symptoms: Coronavirus symptoms

Tracking the spread in the U.S. and worldwide: Coronavirus map

Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis.

How schools around the world are reopening during the coronavirus pandemic originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The Centre on Sunday allowed state governments to classify and demarcate their own red, orange and green zones --- areas specified as per their vulnerability and presence of Covid-19 cases, a key demand of the Delhi government since the entire city was under the red zone.

Major relaxations that were announced by the Centre amid the nationwide lockdown were not applicable to the red zones, crippling Delhis efforts to jump start economic and business activity.

The Union home ministry in its guidelines to states issued for the fourth version of the lockdown, which will stay in effect till May 31, has fixed broad rules for the states on which specific rules can be framed. The Delhi government will notify its relaxations and guidelines on Monday.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

A red zone is an area where there are more than 10 Sars-Cov-2 positive cases. A red zones can have one or many containment zones to limit the spread of the cases. As on Sunday, Delhi had 73 containment zones.

On May 2, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had first raised the demand for the Centre to reconsider the demarcation of red zones, which, until Sunday, was being done on the basis of districts, across the country.

All the 11 districts of Delhi are in the red zone as per the Centres rule, meaning that the reported Covid-19 cases in each district is 10 or more. Because of this parameter, Delhi, being such a small city, will never be able to get out of the red zone. No economic activity will be able to restart because of this. This rule needs to change and should either be on the basis of containment zones or wards, Kejriwal had said on May 2.

Also Read: States to fix zones in lockdown 4.0

On Sunday, the Centre gave states and Union Territories a free hand to designate areas into red, green and orange zones. With red and orange zones, containment zones and buffer zones will be demarcated by the district authorities, after taking into consideration the guidelines issued by the minister of health and family welfare (MoHFW), the order stated.

Later, the MoFHW issued a letter to all states laying out the parameters for identifying such zones.

States may categorise districts/municipal corporations as red/orange/green zones. States may, however, also choose to categorise a sub-division/ward or any other appropriate administrative unit as red/orange/green zone after detailed analysis at their end, duly taking into consideration the geographical spread of cases, contacts and the zone of influence terms of disease spread, read the letter written by Preeti Sudan, secretary, MoFW.

Also Read: AIIMS OPD clinics to open with restricted access from Wednesday

The Delhi government, responding to the guidelines, said, Broadly, the Centres guidelines are in the right direction of opening up the economy and leaving it to states to work out the details. We have always been saying that we all will now have to learn to live with corona. We used the last two-month lockdown period to prepare ourselves for dealing with corona by improving necessary logistics and health infra. We do expect a slight increase in cases when the economy reopens and Delhi is prepared to deal with it.

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A coalition of 62 nations will support Australia's call for an independent probe into the origins of coronavirus.

The new resolution demands an independent investigation into the international response to the pandemic and the actions of the World Health Organisation.

It is backed by the entire 27-member European Union along with New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan, the UK, India, Canada, Russia, Mexico and Brazil, and is to be put to the World Health Assembly for a vote on Tuesday.

The assembly, made up of health ministers of the World Health Organisation's 194 member states, meets once a year in Geneva, Switzerland, to set health policy for the WHO.

A coalition of 62 nations will support Australia's call for an independent probe into the origins of coronavirus

The investigation would look at the WHO including director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (pictured) who told the world not to stop travel and trade on February 3

The resolution stops short of mentioning China which is where the outbreak emerged to spread round the world infecting more than 4.7 million, destroying economies and killing more than 313,000 people as of Sunday. Pictured: Coronavirus graves in Brazil

This year it will be held online, and Australia's Health Minister Greg Hunt will present its position in the resolution's debate.

The motion is a toughened-up version of an earlier EU resolution.

It requires WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to 'initiate at the earliest appropriate moment, and in consultation with Member States, a stepwise process of impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation'.

The new resolution demands a review of 'experience gained and lessons learned from the WHO-coordinated international health response to COVID-19'.

It calls for reviews into the 'effectiveness of the mechanisms at WHO's disposal', and 'the actions of WHO and their timelines pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic'.

However, the motion does not specifically mention China or the city of Wuhan where the outbreak is believed to have begun.

The US has been pushing for tougher language calling to investigate specifically how it started in Wuhan.

Australia's most powerful ally has not co-sponsored the bill, but US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged all nations to back Australia's call for answers.

China has been accused of covering up the severity of the pandemic after it emerged, costing the world vital weeks of preparation.

China's President Xi Jinping knew about the coronavirus on January 7, yet China only shut down the epicentre of the outbreak, Hubei province, on January 23, after five million people had left to travel through China and to the rest of the world.

The wording of the toughened-up resolution stops short of specifically mentioning either China or Wuhan where the outbreak began. Pictured is the Wuhan Institute of Virology which studied bat coronaviruses and has been blamed as a suspected source of the virus

The location of the BSL-4 laboratory as seen from the air. It is China's only high-security biolab and held more than 1500 deadly viruses including for controversial 'gain of function' research

The World Health Assembly (pictured: 2019) meets once a year where health ministers from 194 member states set WHO policy. This year 62 nations will back Australia's call for a probe

WHO director-general Ghebreyesus then told the world's nations on February 3 not to shut its borders to travel and trade, at a time when there was still a chance to contain the magnitude and spread of the virus to prevent a worldwide disaster.

Instead, flights continued and the WHO did not formally declare the novel coronavirus outbreak to be a pandemic until March 11.

As of Sunday evening there were 4.7 million confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide, of which 313,703 are dead, 2.6 million sick and 1.8 million recovered according to Worldometers, which tracks coronavirus statistics.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said there was positive support for the independent review 'to help the world learn the lessons necessary to protect global health.'

'Australia and a significant number of countries are co-sponsoring the EU-led resolution, which includes a call for an impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation,' she said.

'This is about collaborating to equip the international community to better prevent or counter the next pandemic and keep our citizens safe.'

The new, strengthened resolution will require the pandemic investigators to update all 194 member states with a report on its progress by next year's assembly meeting.

Australia was the first nation to call for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic, angering China, and prompting veiled trade threats from China's Ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye (pictured)

Supporting countries lobbied even more nations to co-sponsor the resolution to send a strong message, and they are confident it will pass at the assembly meeting on Tuesday, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Countries that co-sponsor the resolution add their name to the demand for a global inquiry, which is stronger than simply voting for it.

Australia was the first nation to call for an independent review into how the coronavirus started and spread, infuriating China.

Beijing has said it is conducting its own investigation through the Chinese Communist Party, which it says should be enough.

China's ambassador to Australia, Cheng Jingye, previously denounced the calls for an inquiry as dangerous and said it would fail to gain support from global leaders.

The Chinese Communist Party hit back through its diplomats, with a veiled threat to cut off trade, threatening wine and beef exports.

Beijing suddenly suspended meat imports from four Australian abattoirs last week, citing technical issues including 'labelling compliance breaches'.

Coronavirus has damaged millions of lives and killed more than 313,000 people as of Sunday. Pictured: Radiologists prepare a patient for X-ray at a UK hospital on Thursday

A private analysis of cellphone data is said to show the Wuhan Institute of Virology shut down in October, possibly for a 'hazardous incident'. Spy agencies are now reviewing the document

Ratcheting up the trade pressure, China is due to make a decision on Tuesday in an anti-dumping inquiry into whether to hit Australia's barley exports with an 80 per cent tariff.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has said his Chinese counterparts have not returned his calls.

The growing international support for the motion is expected to further enrage China which wants to conduct its own internal investigation without foreign scrutiny.

Neither China nor the US have yet backed the motion.

The draft resolution says the WHO should work with the World Organisation for Animal Health to 'identify the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population, including the possible role of intermediate hosts, including through efforts such as scientific and collaborative field missions.'

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said earlier this month there was 'enormous evidence' that the virus did not come from an animal source from nature, but from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, China's only biosecurity level four lab.

The lab was located close to the Wuhan wet market which was initially blamed for the outbreak.

It kept more than 1500 strains of deadly viruses and conducted 'gain of function' research on bat coronaviruses.

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 US, hardest hit by the coronavirus with 1.5 million cases and 90,000 deaths as of Sunday, has launched an official investigation to find out if the virus first crossed to humans during experiments with bats at the lab.

US President Donald Trump has said he intends to bill China for damages.

Scientists had previously believed the virus jumped from bats to an unidentified intermediary species before infecting humans at the Wuhan wet market where wild animals are kept in cages and slaughtered for meat.

However this earlier theory is now considered unlikely after a short paper from February 6 written by scientists Botao Xiao and Lei Xiao, both from Wuhan universities, called 'The possible origins of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus'.

The paper noted that the bats that carry the coronavirus live in habitat 900km from the seafood market, the bats are not eaten by Wuhan residents, and that 'no bat was traded in the market'.

Controversial footage surfaced in April of Chinese scientists studying a novel coronavirus in bats at the BSL-4 lab two years ago.

The archival footage from China's state media aired in 2018.

Shi Zhengli, a lead researcher from the institute, told reporters the pathogen featured in the clip was different from the strain of coronavirus that has triggered the pandemic.

US-based pathologist Chris Martenson has claimed a there's a suspicious sequence of DNA in the Sars-Cov-2 coronavirus which is not even distantly related to similar viruses.

'None of the closest (viral) or even distant relatives have this site,' he claimed in a YouTube analysis.

'Those that do only have 40 percent of the same genome.'

China expert Clive Hamilton also claims the argument the virus emerged from the seafood market 'no longer stacks up' and there was mounting evidence the coronavirus leaked from the Wuhan laboratory

Professor Hamilton said the earliest cases of COVID-19 were in people who had no contact with the Wuhan wet market, which was first blamed for the outbreak.



'The only other plausible explanation was that it was a leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.'

The hypothesis came from Chinese scientists themselves and was all over the internet before disappearing, Professor Hamilton said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  The Manila City government is setting up its own COVID-19 testing laboratory to help trace cases in the coming months, Mayor Francisco "Isko" Moreno said on Saturday.

"Habang tayo ay nakikipagpartner sa national government, sa mga private sectors, medical institution, tayo rin magtatayo ng sarili nating testing laboratory na ilalagak natin sa Sta. Ana Hospital," he said in a video situation report.

[Translation: As we work with the national government, private sector, medical institutions, we are also going to put up our own testing laboratory which we will place in Sta. Ana Hospital.]

Moreno added that they have already begun building the room for the laboratory, which will also have polymerase chain reaction machines that can detect the coronavirus.

"Para mapataas natin 'yung confirmation ability through testing via PCR machine na kung siya ay positive o hindi, kaya po magkakaroon tayo nito. Ginagarantihan ko sainyo," he addressed the residents.

[Translation: We will have this so we can increase our confirmation ability to check if someone is COVID-19 positive or not through a PCR machine. I guarantee you this.]

The country currently has 30 laboratories that can test for COVID-19, and at least five are located in health facilities in Manila.

Moreno said 24,832 residents have been tested for COVID-19 using antibody rapid test kits, while 5,785 have taken the PCR-based tests. Some 45,000 rapid tests kits remain, he added.

The PCR-based tests are what health officials call the "gold standard" for confirming if a patient has the coronavirus or not while the antibody tests can still yield false negative results since it only checks the antibodies that fight the virus.

Manila recorded 997 confirmed cases of COVID-19, wherein 163 have been cured, registering a 16.35 percent recovery rate, while 89 have died, bringing the fatality rate to 8.9 percent.

Tondo District 1 had the most infections with 249 cases, Moreno reported, followed by Sampaloc with 169 cases. It can be recalled that the local government earlier placed both districts on a temporary lockdown due to the surge of infections.

Moreno said most of the city's cases were from the 18-39 years old age group which he surmised was due to their frequent exposure to the virus while outside their homes.

"Ang konklusyon, 'yung ating mga lolo't lola, nanay at tatay mas behave sila sa loob ng bahay... sa pagkat ang mga nabigyan ng (enhanced community quarantine) pass... ay 'yung mga edad na 18 hanggang 39," he said. "Sila ang lumalabas ng bahay."

[Translation: The conclusion is, our elderly grandparents and parents are more behaved inside the homes, since those ages 18 to 39 were given the enhanced community quarantine passes. They are the ones who leave the house.]

The mayor said they expect more cases to pop up as the quarantine measures ease and testing ramps up. Manila is now under modified enhanced community quarantine, meaning several sectors will be returning to work.

The COVID-19 national tally is now at 12,305 with 2,561 recoveries and 817 fatalities.
Pentagon: US developing range of hypersonic missiles

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 May 2020 5:43 PM

The Pentagon has reluctantly acknowledged it is developing hypersonic weapons, hours after refusing to comment on President Donald Trump's remarks about a new "super-duper missile."

In a rhetoric that fueled fears of new nuclear arms race, Trump said on Friday that his country was building "incredible military equipment, at a level that nobody's ever seen before."

Trump said that Washington has "no choice with the adversaries we have out there," referring to China and Russia.

The Department of Defense did not offer any clarity on Trump's remarks, nor did the White House.

The Pentagon referred reporters to the White House and the White House, in turn, referred them back to the Pentagon.

After their refusal to comment on the issue was revealed to the media, the Pentagon's chief spokesperson Jonathan Rath Hoffman, finally took to twitter to comment on the president's remarks.

"The Department of Defense is working on developing a range of hypersonic missiles to counter our adversaries," he wrote.

Back in 2018, Trump directed the Pentagon to establish the Space Force  the first new US military branch in 72 years  calling for his country's "dominance in space."

Late last year, he signed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that includes funds for the country's controversial Space Force.

He said back then that with his "signature today, you will witness the birth of the Space Force" and that there was "going to be a lot of things happening in space."

Trump also claimed that both China and Russia have been seeking to militarize space.

That prompted Russia to warn Washington against "destabilizing the situation in space security."

In another move that sparked fears of another arms race among the world powers, Trump pulled out the US from the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with Russia.

The deal was signed in 1987 to ban all land-based missiles with the range of up to 5,500 kilometres.

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The Mt. St. Helens crater towers above hikers on a trail crossing the Pumice Plain, where the U.S. Forest Service proposes a controversial road. (U.S. Forest Service)

On the morning of May 18, 1980, an earthquake shook Mt. St. Helens and the mountain's north face collapsed in one of the largest debris avalanches ever recorded.

The slide uncorked the volcano, baring magma that exploded with 500 times the force of the Hiroshima bomb in the most destructive eruption in U.S. history.

The cataclysmic chain of events killed 57 people and thousands of animals, took out 250 homes, 47 bridges and 185 miles of highway, clogged rivers with sediment, flooded valleys and blocked the Columbia River shipping channel.

Forty years later, the destruction may not be over.

The landslide remade Spirit Lake  once a beloved recreation spot at the volcano's base  raising the lake bed by 200 feet and dumping debris that functions as a huge dam holding back 73 billion gallons of water.

U.S. Forest Service officials say the situation is precarious: The only relief valve for the 3-square-mile lake is a 1.6-mile drainage tunnel hurriedly built in 1985 and deformed repeatedly by faults and subsidence.

A breach is not thought to be imminent, but if it occurred the results would be disastrous.

Mt. St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, sending a column of ash 15 miles high in less than 15 minutes, which caused complete darkness in Spokane, 250 miles east. (Associated Press)

Chris Strebig, Spirit Lake project manager for the Forest Service, said a massive surge of water, mud and debris could inundate cities below and disable four Columbia River ports: Longview, Vancouver and Kalama in Washington and the Port of Portland in Oregon.

We are doing everything we can to make sure that never happens, Strebig said. It would be somewhat of a repeat of the 1980 mudslide that went downstream.

The Forest Service proposes to drill into the debris to assess how much lake water the natural dam can safely restrain and how it might perform when the massive and long-predicted Cascadia earthquake finally strikes. A deteriorating cast iron gate at the tunnel entrance would be replaced with a safer double barrier.

None of that is especially controversial, given the potential catastrophe. A conflict, however, is coming to a head over another issue: how to bring workers and equipment into the remote section of the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Story continues

The Forest Service wants to build a temporary 3-mile road across the Pumice Plain, an area that was scoured by the landslide and eruption in 1980 but has since experienced a remarkable regeneration of plants and animals.

Researchers who study the area argue that helicopters could be used to ferry workers and equipment in order to preserve the fragile ecosystem.

The scientists describe the plain as a unique blank slate where they have watched nature recolonize.

Its an amazing area that people thought would take hundreds of years to recover, but its happened far faster than we thought, said Carri LeRoy, an Evergreen State College freshwater ecologist studying watersheds that the road would bisect.

Rebecca Evans, a Washington State University biology graduate student, examines lupine flowers on the Pumice Plain, which plants have recolonized since the 1980 eruption. (Courtney Talak / Daily News)

Charlie Crisafulli, a Pacific Northwest Research Station ecologist, said that when he began work in the blast area in July 1980, scientists expected that life would recolonize merely from the edges.

Boy, how naive we were, he said.

Northern pocket gophers  nocturnal creatures that survived underground when the volcano blew  emerged to build mounds, bringing up crucial carbon and nitrogen that helped plants to sprout.

Willow bushes grew, attracting songbirds and beavers that built ponds. Deer and elk returned. Nutrients flowed into Spirit Lake, supporting an aquatic ecosystem.

Once a steaming black stew full of uprooted trees and dead animals, the lake appears serene, dotted with thousands of logs. Researchers have discovered insect species that may exist nowhere else.

The scientists believe they have the law on their side. The 172-square-mile Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was established in 1982 under an act of Congress requiring managers to allow "geologic forces and ecological succession to continue substantially unimpeded."

The monument's centerpiece is the 8,366-foot mountain, which lost more than 1,300 feet from the eruption. The Johnston Ridge Observatory provides views of the exposed crater and a lava dome taller than the Seattle Space Needle.

Jim Gawel, a University of Washington Tacoma environmental engineer who studies the lake, said that road construction would alter natural patterns of erosion and probably introduce invasive species via tires and tractor treads.

"If you start messing with that, it takes away the whole reason you created the monument," he said.

Harry Romberg, a Sierra Club Washington chapter volunteer, said the Forest Service should have looked harder at transporting workers and equipment by helicopter.

A boat holds back logs near the entrance of a drainage tunnel that acts as a relief valve, keeping Spirit Lake from cresting a dam formed by debris left from the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption. (U.S. Forest Service)

Rebecca Hoffman, the Forest Service monument ranger, said helicopters were not feasible because the construction equipment was too big and the workers would need to travel to and from the lake too frequently.

"We all want research to continue, and it will continue," Hoffman said. But she added that the act that created the monument also said that nothing would prevent the Forest Service from managing for public safety.

Forest Service managers have watched with concern as rain and snowmelt have raised the level of Spirit Lake during closures of the tunnel for repairs. They plan to use data from drilling the dam to help decide how to build an additional outlet that could be built as a backup to the tunnel.

If the managers decide to go ahead with the road after reviewing a final round of objections, and if opponents don't sue, construction could begin next year. The multimillion-dollar project would take about two years.

For now, the monument is closed because of the coronavirus crisis. Visitors can drive only as far as highway viewpoints and look across the river below Spirit Lake to the mountain's snowcapped summit.

Mt. St. Helens, viewed from a roadside viewpoint recently, is off-limits to visitors during the 40th anniversary of its eruption, because of the coronavirus outbreak. (Richard Read / Los Angeles Times)

Local hotels, restaurants and gift shops selling T-shirts and ash had been gearing up for tens of thousands of visitors for 40th anniversary programs and reunions of blast survivors and responders. Instead, the businesses are closed during Washington state's lockdown, and volcanologists, artists, teachers and survivors will appear in online events.

Among those disappointed is Joe Bongiovanni, who owns a gift shop across Spirit Lake Highway from a site where 13 houses were swept away in 1980. Not only is he missing out on memorabilia sales, but he has suspended plans to begin taking customers on expeditions furthering his true passion: Sasquatch research.

Joe Bongiovanni, of Toutle, Wash., installed thermal imaging equipment in a military Humvee to search for Sasquatch in forests below Mt. St. Helens. (Richard Read / Los Angeles Times)

He recently restored a Humvee and fitted it with surveillance gear, including dashboard-mounted thermal monitors that he believes could detect ape-like creatures said to inhabit Pacific Northwest forests.

Bongiovanni said that people can choose whether or not to to believe in Bigfoot. But when the Cascadia earthquake hits, he said, no one should doubt the need to run for higher ground, given the undeniable specter of Spirit Lake.

"Our personal belongings would no longer exist," he said. "But what else do you need other than your neck?"
Amid the staff crunch at the city's private hospitals in the wake of the recent exodus of nurses, most medical facilities here have decided to cater to a limited number of patients, and counsel the existing employees to prevent them from following suit.

Over 350 nurses have quit jobs at private hospitals here and left for their homes in Manipur and other parts of the country, notwithstanding the spurt in COVID-19 cases.

A senior official of Peerless Hospital in south Kolkata, which is currently short of 25 nurses, said the number of patients admitted would be in proportion to the total beds available.

"The number of admissions will be restricted as we have to make do with the existing staff. It seems those that left are not going to come back anytime soon. As of now we have to wait patiently. Nurses cannot be produced overnight," Peerless Hospital Managing Director (MD) Dr Sujit Kar Purkayastha told PTI.

At AMRI, one of the designated COVID-19 hospitals in Bengal, the authorities are counselling the staff members to prevent them from leaving. At least 77 nurses from the hospital have left for their hometowns in other states.

AMRI CEO Rupak Barua said assurances have been given to the staff members that their concerns would be addressed.

We are talking to our employees and addressing their problems. We are planning to rope in those who have retired, Barua said.

Prashant Sharma, the MD of Charnock Hospital, said the management was having a difficult time making a fresh roster.

"This is the problem with almost all private hospitals. Nurses from Manipur, Odisha and Tripura, who had been working for us all this while, are suddenly leaving. Those from Bengal, Kerala and other south Indian states are still here, we will have to make a revised roster."



The east Kolkata hospital, which had shut its doors for a few weeks after one person, who had gone there for dialysis, tested positive for COVID-19, reopened on May 14 with only 35 beds.

Sharma said that he fears the problem might aggravate over the next few weeks, and suggested that the state take immediate steps to address the issue.

A senior official of Bhagirathi Neotia Woman and Child Care Centre, where more than 50 Manipuri nurses have stopped reporting for work since last week, said, "We knew this was coming. We had heard whispers. Most of them have left without submitting resignations."



As of now the patient footfall is low, and the hospital is coping with the crisis somehow, he said.

"Once the lockdown is revoked, we have no idea how to deal with the staff shortage. None of these nurses are available on phones. They have switched off their phones. The ones still there are working overtime..." he said.

Other private facilities in the city facing a similar predicament include R N Tagore Hospital, Medica, IRIS Multispeciality Hospital, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals Limited, AMRI hospital, Fortis Healthcare Limited, Charnock Hospital and Belle Vue.

A nurse who left for Manipur, earlier in the week, said safety concerns and parental pressure were the two main reasons due to which she quit her job.

Association of Hospitals of Eastern India, a non- statutory body comprising 17 private facilities in Kolkata as members, has written to Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha seeking his intervention for resolving the crisis.

In his letter, Pradeep Lal Mehta, the president of the association, said, "Although the exact reason why they are leaving is not known, we have found out from nurses still on duty that the state government of Manipur is offering them lucrative stipend upon returning home."



Taking to Facebook, however, Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh rubbished the claim and said, "No such advisory has been issued by the state. We are not asking anybody to return. We feel proud of them as they serve the patients in Calcutta, Delhi and Chennai."



Sources in the health department said the government has sought information on nurses, including their place of origin, from different hospitals here.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Posted on Friday, May 15, 2020

Texas A&M University-Kingsville and their food service provider, Aramark, will continue to provide a free lunch to students beginning during intersession Saturday, May 16, through Thursday, May 28, and continuing through Tuesday, June 30. The meals are provided on a to-go basis only at the Javelina Dining Hall in order to ensure social distancing.

Free lunch will be provided from 11 a.m. to 1 p,m. Monday through Sunday at the dining hall. Students must show a valid A&M-Kingsville identification card. Meals must be to-go only and all social distancing guidelines will be followed.

Students from the Irma Rangel College of Pharmacy also are welcome to use their ID cards to get a free lunch.

The free lunch will be served daily except Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25, when the dining hall and the university are closed in observance of Memorial Day.

-TAMUK-
New Delhi, May 17 : The government has decided to provide more money in the hands of state governments to help them in their fight against coronavirus and resurrect the faltering economic activity.

Accordingly, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday raised the borrowing limits of states from 3 per cent to 5 per cent of GDP, for financial year 2020-21, acceding to the demand of the states.

The handholding measure of the Centre will give states extra resources of Rs 4.28 lakh crore this year. This would come handy at a time when states' tax resources have fallen sharply during lockdown while the expenditure need has risen to combat the virus crisis.

Announcing the last set of measures as part of mega Rs 20 lakh-crore economic package on Saturday, Finance Minister Sitharaman said that part of the additional borrowing by states will be linked to specific reforms (including recommendations of the Finance Commission) to ensure sustainability of the additional debt through higher future GSDP growth and lower deficits.

"Reform linkage (to get additional borrowing by states) will be in four areas: universalisation of 'One Nation One Ration card', Ease of Doing Business, Power distribution and urban local body revenues," the Finance Minister said.

It has been decided that a specific scheme will be notified by the Department of Expenditure to allow extra borrowing by the states. Under this, there will be unconditional increase in borrowing by states by up to 0.50 per cent while the remaining 1 per cent increase will be in four tranches of 0.25 per cent each, with each tranche linked to clearly specified, measurable and feasible reform actions.

Further 0.50 per cent borrowing limit will be available to states milestones are achieved in at least three out of four reform areas.

Asked whether additional borrowing limit to states means that the Centre has allowed them to expand their deficit beyond 3 per cent of GDP, Sitharaman said that states have to decide what level of deficit they have to maintain.

According to an analysis done by Motilal Oswal of the fiscal position of 18 states earlier, eight states have already budgeted for a 3 per cent fiscal deficit of the GSDP or higher for FY21, another five states have budgeted for a fiscal deficit of 2.5-2.9 per cent of their respective GSDPs. Only five states have budgeted for a fiscal deficit of less than 2.5 per cent of GSDP in FY21.

States net borrowing ceiling for 2020-21 is Rs 6.41 lakh crore, based on 3 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). About 75 per cent thereof was authorised to them in March 2020 itself and timing is left to the states. States have so far borrowed only 14% of the limit authorised while 86 per cent of the authorised borrowing remains unutilized.

The Centre has been taking steps in the past few weeks to address the issue of state finances that like Centre are facing a sharp decline in revenues. Devolution of taxes (Rs 46,038 cr) in April was given fully to states if Budget Estimates were valid, even though actual revenue shows unprecedented decline from Budget Estimates.

In addition, Revenue Deficit Grants to states (Rs 12,390 cr) was given on time in April and May, despite Centre's stressed resources Also, advance release of SDRF (Rs 11,092 cr) funds was given in the first week of April. Release of over Rs. 4,113 crore from Health Ministry for direct anti-Covid activities. At Centre's request, RBI has increased the Ways & Means Advance limits of States by 60 per cent.

Moreover, the number of days state can be in continuous overdraft has been raised from 14 days to 21 days. Number of days states can be in overdraft in a quarter was also increased from 32 to 50 days.
The suits will be distributed to hospitals and laboratory centers starting Monday, the minister said.

Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov says the batch of hazmat suits purchased in China in late April has been delivered to Ukraine.

Read alsoWorld's biggest plane brings 103 tonnes of protective gear from China to Ukraine (Photos, video)

"The cargo has already arrived in Ukraine. Starting Monday, the suits will be distributed to our hospitals and laboratory centers where they are most needed. They will be handed over to our doctors on Monday and Tuesday," the ministry's press service quoted Stepanov as saying on Sunday, May 17.

The minister mentioned that the largest state-run vertically integrated oil and gas holding NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine last week delivered a cargo with charitable goods to the country, which included a large batch of hazmat suits that were distributed to 98 regional hospitals according to the number of patients.

In addition, Chernivtsi region, where the spread of the disease was the greatest, will receive all required funding to provide additional payments to healthcare workers, who are tackling the deadly coronavirus epidemic. According to Stepanov, the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration on May 14 asked the ministry to allocate UAH 5.6 million (US$209,895) to the region.
SOFIA -- An independent Bulgarian television station has accused Prime Minister Boyko Borisov of "spreading false rumors" after he insinuated it was working at the behest of an exiled oligarch.



On May 16, Borisov twice referred to the U.S.-owned bTV as "Bozhkov TV," a reference to Vasil Bozhkov, the nation's wealthiest businessman who has been in self-imposed exile in Dubai since January following charges of tax fraud, attempted bribery, and organized crime.



Companies belonging to Bozhkov, who built his fortune on gambling and lottery operations, had been major advertisers for Bulgarian media, including bTV. However, that changed after the parliament decided in January 2020 to restrict lottery operations to state-owned companies, shutting Bozhkovs most profitable business.



We find it alarming what Prime Minister Borissov is calling bTV, the Sofia-based station said in a statement later that evening. The management of the company has neither had close contact with Mr. Bozhkov nor received any money from him.



As the first private nationwide television channel in Bulgaria, bTV is part of Central European Media Enterprises, which is 75 percent owned by the U.S.-based telecommunications and media giant AT&T.

'Black Sheep Of The EU'



Borisov has tightened his control over the nations media since taking power in 2009, raising concerns in Western capitals about freedom of the press in the former communist country.



Bulgaria ranked 111 globally in Reporters Without Borders latest annual survey of national media freedom. The watchdog called Bulgaria "the black sheep of the EU" for its weak press freedom.



On May 15, Bozhkov published what he claims are screenshots of his conversations with Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov that indicate they have been in close contact, raising questions about corruption inside Borissovs government.



The screenshots allegedly show Bozhkov and Goranov discussing the activities of the State Commission for Gambling, which oversees some of Bozhkov's business operations. Goranov and the Ministry of Finance declined to comment on the screenshots but did not deny their veracity.



Bulgarian media, including bTV, covered news of Bozhkovs conversations with Goranov. Yet, Borisov aimed his anger at bTV, the most influential news outlet in the country and one that is still not under government control.



The bTV networks two largest competitors are Bulgarian National Television, which is funded and directly controlled by the government, and Nova TV, which was acquired by Kiril Domuschiev, a businessman who is seen as being loyal to Borisov.
An Indian-origin doctor has described how one of his coronavirus patients is on the path to recovery and has even begun communicating after 58 days on a ventilator.

Dr Sanjay Gupta, lead consultant for critical care at Southampton General Hospital on England's south coast, told The Sunday Times while the unidentified 35-year-old patient is still supported by a ventilator, she is no longer entirely reliant on one and is being weaned off the support.

Suddenly she can communicate, whereas before she was so weak she could barely lift a finger to write anything, said Gupta.

"She has virtually no muscle strength left barely enough to breathe. If you're on a ventilator or in intensive care, your skeletal muscles decondition," he said.

Most recent findings have indicated a very high chance of death for COVID-19 patients placed on ventilators and therefore the woman's recovery is particularly remarkable.

Patients who go into intensive care are intubated, meaning that a breathing tube is inserted through their mouth. A ventilator attached to the tube can then push air into their lungs. After a patient has spent about three weeks on a ventilator, doctors commonly perform a tracheostomy, creating a surgical opening in the windpipe that replaces the tube.

The patient at the Southampton hospital had a tracheostomy several weeks ago, the newspaper said.

A tube through the front of your neck is easier to tolerate. It means that you can basically wake the patient up, switch off all sedation and start to mobilise them more, explains Gupta.

After almost two months of 24-hour monitoring, the patient still faces a lengthy convalescence with a prolonged period of rehab but the recovery will give hope to other patients who require critical care after contracting the deadly virus which attacks the lungs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nicole Kidman has sparked some concern among her fans after being pictured with a mysterious foot injury in a recent photograph shared online.

The actress was attending husband Keith Urbans drive-in concert for frontline healthcare workers in Tennessee, and was snapped by a fan sporting a moon boot on her right foot.

Nicole Kidman was spotted with an injury. Photo: Instagram/keithurbancentral

The image was then shared on a fan account Keith Urban Central, sparking comments from concerned fans wondering what had happened to the 52-year-old, who has been isolating at home in Nashville during the coronavirus pandemic.

What happened to Nicoles foot? one fan asked.

Oh no what happened to Nicole? wrote another.

Did Nicole hurt her foot? was a third comment, while a fourth added: Kidman is certainly hiding something under the medical boot.

Nicole did share her own picture from the show, which saw Keith play on a flatbed truck in front of about 125 cars with two other musicians, but was sure to not show her foot.

@KeithUrban just had to play!! Isolating with live music at last nights first #UrbanUnderground drive-in gig for the incredible #frontline workers, she captioned the snap taken from behind.

Plenty of the Nicoles fans didnt care what had happened simply wishing the star a speedy recovery.

Hope your ankle gets better quickly. Love you both, one person wrote.

Nicole, did you hurt your foot dancing to the music!? Heal quickly, another quipped.

While a third wrote: Hope you are not in pain. Get well Nicole.

Nicole didn't have the boot when she was last seen publicly on April 18, during Keith's home performance on the One World: Together At Home live-stream benefit concert.

Keith had to walk the Grammys red carpet alone this year as Nicole was sick. Photo: Getty

Its not the first time Nicoles fans have found themselves worried about the stars health.

Keith Urban caused a stir earlier this year when he left the Grammys because Nicole was home sick.

The couple typically support each another at high-profile events but the country star had to walk the red carpet alone at Los Angeles' Staples Center as Nicole had been suffering from flu.

Story continues

At the event he said he was keen to get home to look after her.

My wife is home with the flu. A lot of that going around, he told People TV. She's home with our girls tonight and I'm heading home ASAP.

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.
Published on 2020/05/17 | Source

Samsung will administer its annual recruitment test online this year due to the coronavirus epidemic.

Advertisement

"To take part in efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus, we decided to administer the [recruitment test] online for the first time", Samsung said in a press release.

Previously applicants sat them in large halls like any other aptitude tests.

The online test will be administered in four batches on May 30-31 to prevent Internet connection problems. Samsung said each will be different to prevent cheating.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

GALLUP  Its a Thursday afternoon, and paramedic Christian Root-Bowman has just finished checking on his COVID-19 patients. Hes wearing three masks, one on top of another, a face shield, gloves, scrubs and a protective gown.

Hes not at the hospital. Hes at a Howard Johnson hotel in Gallup.

Root-Bowman came to Gallup from Albuquerque two weeks ago as a volunteer with the New Mexico Medical Reserve Corps and he said hes been struck by the scale of the virus in McKinley County.

In Albuquerque, I dont personally know anyone who has gotten the coronavirus, I dont know anyone whos gotten sick from it, and I certainly dont know anyone who has died from it, he said. But here in Gallup, it has touched everyone. You talk to anyone in the city  they know someone who has either gotten sick or died.

Teams of doctors, nurses and paramedics have been working around the clock to staff four hotels around the city that are housing COVID-19 patients who have nowhere else to go.

While the pandemic has presented daunting challenges for Native American and border town communities, it has also prompted creative solutions. Over the past month and a half, medical professionals and community organizations say they have housed over 400 people in hotel rooms to try to keep them from infecting others with the virus.

Some staying in the hotels are experiencing homelessness and came from the Nanizhoozhi Center Inc. detox center  where 170 people were exposed to the virus  and others live in group homes or are dealing with substance abuse issues. However, the rooms are also occupied by health care workers or those who have the virus, or have been exposed, but dont have a place to quarantine away from their families.

McKinley County continues to have the highest number of cases in the state, despite having 3.5% of its population, and its too soon to tell whether the hotel initiative has lessened the spread of the virus. But municipalities across the country are also housing the homeless and other vulnerable populations in hotels during the pandemic. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom secured funding from the federal government to house tens of thousands of the states homeless in hotels, in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. The effort, Project Roomkey, had over 2,000 clients housed as of last week, and a total of 3,100 rooms available across Los Angeles.

In New Mexico, state officials say there are a total of 2,000 hotel beds available for people who need to be isolated, and as of Tuesday night, 267 people were being housed, 60% of whom are getting some level of medical supervision.

In Gallup, the Indian Health Service, the Navajo Nation, New Mexico Department of Health, the nonprofit Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment, or COPE, organization and local hotels have been working to isolate people since late March, and they estimate there are about 120 people in quarantine in hotels and motels around the city, although that figure can change daily. The initiative is paid for and supported by the state Health Department and the Navajo Nation, and a reduced rate is given for the rooms for COVID patients.

Transients at high risk

McKinley County has some of the highest rates of homelessness in New Mexico, according to a 2017 study that counted 197 homeless people in the county. Advocates suspect there may be twice as many.

Since many of the people who were exposed to COVID-19 at the detox center are living on the streets, it was difficult to find them for testing after they left the facility. Many had gone home to their families on the Navajo Nation or didnt have a telephone or fixed address where they could be reached.

Dr. Christopher Novak, medical director of the DOH Public Health Division, said state, tribal and federal experts launched an aggressive tracing and testing program after the initial outbreak. But there have been many challenges in keeping people from spreading the virus.

Sometimes its not so easy for these people to follow our recommendations, like social distancing, Novak said. Theres also the chicken and egg problem of substance abuse issues for a lot of people experiencing homelessness, which does complicate things.

Nitumigaabow Champagne, the executive director of COPE, said that although crowding in family homes, substance use disorders, or other behavioral health issues have led many Native Americans to start living transient lifestyles, they frequently return to their communities and dont consider themselves homeless. This also contributed to COVID-19 spreading from people at the center to entire families.

Its customary for many of these individuals to bounce from community to community, with Gallup being a hub zone, Champagne said.  Everybody knows everybody.

He said IHS has been testing transient people and others who are particularly vulnerable even if they dont have symptoms, so they can isolate patients in the hotel rooms  which he calls respiratory shelters  before they come into contact with lots of other people. Champagne said that the virus has a higher infection rate among the citys transient population than the general population but that housing asymptomatic people has prevented a high mortality rate among transients.

Theres a risk for many of these people to be feeling fine and then have a quick turnaround to getting very sick, he said. When they have this access to health care, its a lot easier to dial 0 or dial 911 than to find someone on the street to help them get to a hospital.

He said he thinks infection rates through the general population have been slowed, partly because the groups distributed masks and public health information early in the crisis.

We were already working with this population, so we have built up that trust, Champagne said. We dont just say, Here, go get tested, because that would never happen. We transport them, and we go get them tested, and were there with them through that process. Then we let them know that they can come to a respiratory shelter.

In quarantine

Tammy Arnold, a 29-year-old security guard at a casino east of Gallup, said that after she found out she had gotten COVID-19 she knew she couldnt stay in her familys small three-bedroom house near Yah-ta-hey, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation.

Arnold, her mother, niece and aunt all contracted the virus from her cousin, who had stayed at the Nanizhoozhi detox center in early April when there was an outbreak.

She said that a couple of days after she tested positive, a health official called and asked if she needed a place to stay. Minutes later, she was told they had a room for her and her 20-year-old niece, who also had the virus.

I think if me and my oldest niece had stayed at home, they would have probably caught it, Arnold said, referring to her sister and youngest niece. They lived in the same house.

Arnold and her niece checked into the Howard Johnson hotel in Gallup on May 1 and although neither got sick enough to go to the hospital, some days were better than others. Arnold said she had a severe headache and high fever and her throat and chest hurt from coughing. Her first interview with the Journal was punctuated with coughing fits, but she was feeling better by the end of last week and using her inhaler only once a day.

Arnold said she mostly spent her time in quarantine sleeping, watching television and scrolling through Facebook. She was given meals  bologna sandwiches or hot dogs on Mothers Day  but just as often ended up ordering delivery from nearby restaurants through DoorDash.

Hotel logistics

Working out of the hotels, Root-Bowman and other medical personnel take note of an occupants blood pressure, oxygen levels, and any fevers or coughs, and they provide meals, clothing and medication. Some days, one or two people are transferred to the hospital as their symptoms worsen.

COPE is also running a green shelter to house people who dont have the virus or who have recovered.

Nashat Khalaf, the owner of the Howard Johnson and Days Inn, both of which are participating in the program, said it has been an adjustment for him and his employees, but he sees it as a service to the community.

It takes a lot of time and work for our staff to help take care of these patients and help this community, Khalaf said. It has changed our schedule. Everyone wears a full mask and gloves when going in to clean the rooms. I have other guests, but the traffic has changed quite a bit.

All the hotel rooms being used as isolation sites must have a door that faces the parking lot, with restricted access to the lobby and other hotel areas because there are other guests in the buildings as well. Because there are multiple hotels participating in the program, no one facility exceeds the capacity level mandated by state public health orders.

The program may continue through July, depending on how the virus runs its course, Champagne said.

He said that although many have gone into quarantine, others have refused.

Not everybody would come in, Champagne said. There was a very small minority who was positive who refused to.  There have been some individuals who have passed on in the streets, whether from COVID-19 or from elements or something else, we dont know exactly.

But he said others who were struggling with addiction were able to use the time to get the support, counseling and help they needed.

When they came out of our respiratory shelters, many of them went home to their families clean and sober, Champagne said. Having that clear mind, it felt so good to restart their lives.

EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated to correct Christian Root-Bowmans title.

This story has been supported by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems.
Three out of the 256 Nigerians recently evacuated from Dubai have tested positive for coronavirus in Lagos, an official has said.

Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, gave the update on Sunday on his Twitter handle.

The 256 evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on May 6 and were placed on 14 days of compulsory isolation. The returnees are being isolated at undisclosed hotels in Lagos.

Upon arrival, officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said all the 256 evacuees tested negative for COVID-19.

However, on Sunday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health said three of them have tested positive for COVID-19.

3 of the returnees recently evacuated from Dubai have tested positive for #COVID19 infection following COVID-19 test conducted on them.

Those affected have been admitted to Lagos COVID-19 care centre for appropriate treatment protocols.

LSMOH will continue to adhere strictly to quarantine protocols and enforce necessary precautionary measures so as to contain the spread of COVID-19 Infection, the commissioner wrote.

Efforts to reach Mr Abayomi, on why the patients who initially tested negative later tested positive during isolation, were unsuccessful as calls and text messages were not responded.

However, according to the World Health Organisation, the incubation period of coronavirus infection is an average of 5 to 6 days and can also take up to 14 days. This is the period between exposure to the virus and patients showing symptoms. In other words, the three patients could have been infected but asymptomatic when they returned, and thus initially tested negative.

In addition to the new positive cases recorded in Lagos, three more COVID-19 related deaths have been recorded in the state.

This brings the total deaths from COVID-19 to 36 in Lagos State. Details about the deceased patients were not disclosed.

As of Sunday afternoon, therefore, Lagos has 2,389 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 608 discharged cases and 36 deaths.

The commissioner urged Lagos residents and particularly those who recently returned to the country to cooperate with the COVID-19 response team as may be desirable at all times and in all circumstances.
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CLICK HERE FOR PART ONE - 'The numbers that have died are just appalling' - Louth MEP Mairead McGuinness on Covid-19'

January 29, 2020. Brexit in a nutshell in Brussels. Boisterous Britain against the reasoning rest.

Nigel Farage, MEP: You want to ban our national flags, but were going to wave you goodbye and well look forward, in the future, to working with you as sovereign

Suddenly, amid a European Parliament sitting, the ardent, English Brexiteer was talking but couldnt be heard. A human ventriloquist doll.

Mairead McGuinness, EU Parliament Vice-President: If you disobey the rules, you get cut off. Could we please remove the flags. Mr Farage, could you remove the flags, please?

Farage, beneath a rendition of claps: Thats it, its finished.

McGuinness: Can I please ask for quiet.

But the British delegation are heedless. Hip, hip, hurray, one exclaims as the others humm like bees around a honey pot, Farage looking altogether pleased with himself. McGuinness wearing a steely guise of discontent.

I felt there was a great tension in the plannery and I thought that in order to keep the respect of the chamber that I could not allow Nigel Farage put on a circus because Ive great respect for all parliaments; theyre not circuses, McGuinness tells The Democrat of an incident which, like no other, has earned her widespread plaudits.

I took the decision to take control of the situation and I got a very strong, positive reaction from Ireland and across the globe. Id no idea that people were so engaged and appreciative of the fact that I did my job.

To some extent, as was said elsewhere, he didnt get the last word.

******

McGuinness expected nothing less than ensuing chaos when the United Kingdoms then Prime Minister, David Cameron, announced his decision to hold a referendum on British membership of the EU. And her prophecy delivered its expected bedlam, leading to the fall of two Westminster governments and successive changes in the Conservative Party leadership.

Yet, almost four years later, a deal is yet to be done. Maybe its that Britain has realised its mistake in voting to leave, or that those charged with negotiating are, in fact, remainers? Or, could it be that the EU isnt designed to allow members to leave, as is their democratic right?

The Ardonian rejects the latter, believing it to be the UKs flippant view which has led to an ever-rumbling crisis which is deepening the divide between Britain and its European colleagues.

The UK never looked at what it meant to leave the European Union, the Fine Gael MEP added. It was simplified down to almost opening a door and walking out, when its a bit like a marriage break-up, you can walk out the door, but you still leave a mess of a settlement to be cleared up - Who minds the kids? Who gets the cat? All of those difficult questions.

I think that to simplify membership of the European Union, which historically arose because of our history of war on the continent, was a disrespectful view of what it is and why it was created. Europe is more than getting from, I think youve to contribute to.

Its of course voluntary and Ireland could leave if it wants, but where would we go? Hungary arent anxious to leave Europe, they may want to reshape it but they certainly want to stay in it because the single market confers huge benefits, as does free travel.

I think we will have to start rethinking our relationships with each other in Europe and with Europe itself. Our upcoming conference on the future of Europe will be part of that.

Withdrawal discussions are set to resume during the summer, though the effects of Covid-19 could well impact the rate at which they occur.

British leader Boris Johnson and the EUs chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, are both recovering from bouts of coronavirus and so the resumption of talks could be kicked further down the road.

In the meantime, though, Britain has persisted in disassociating itself from the EU and its offerings. Badly-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) hasnt even been availed of to the nations evident detriment.

Constant negativity will break any system, McGuinness says. If you look at what happened in the United Kingdom, there never was a good story about the European Union for as long as I can recall, but there were many headlines making little of and disparaging the Union.

Yet, if the UK regarded themselves as members today, they could have had access to the PPE that they so need.

Politics is much more difficult in an era of instant news and an era of instant fake news. Twitter, Facebook and all those social media outlets, people are reading stuff there that has no legs or factual basis.

******

Nonetheless, in abiding by the foundational principles of the EU, respecting the individual rights of members is of the utmost importance to McGuinness, hence she is reluctantly adherent with the UKs opting.

Though the monotonous parting, and all its entailed for both her and fellow MEPs, has been a political challenge like no other. She does, however, believe there has been a relative upside to the situation in that Irelands position within the Union is now better understood.

The Brexit referendum was stressful and I didnt think the UK would vote to remain - Im sorry to have felt that way. But the campaign was so viciously anti-European that I think it really swung it in favour of the Brexiteers.

The subsequent three years of negotiations, of bringing colleagues to the border between Dundalk and Newry, explaining our position, it was extraordinarily difficult, but also a privilege to be able to explain the sensitivities for Ireland and to get support for those.

I have to accept their view - perhaps more that of England than the UK - that theyre better off on their own. They have a different history, different life experience and passionately believe that every problem in the United Kingdom arose because of the European Union - now theyre finding that thats not the case.

What I took issue with is the way in which they manipulated everything that Europe stood for in a negative way and how they would attack, without criticism in their own press, everything that Europe did.

These people did not work on committees or do the work of other politicians, they simply campaigned for Brexit and they won. Despite how I feel about that, they did manage to succeed.

The problem surely is still with us, though. Negotiations are starting to enter full swing and theyre hoping to get the issues ironed out by June, but using this online technology and video conferencing, I think, makes that very difficult. There will need to be an understanding that deadlines are there to be reached for and not always achievable, as opposed to simply jumping off the cliff.

Could the EU, over both its long-term and recent history, have done more to facilitate Britain, thus preventing such a precarious predicament?

Britain has a focus that has always been more internal than external and this has happened over a period of time. There has always been a dynamic, even during Tony Blairs days in Downing Street, where they wanted the EU curtailed.

It led us to a situation where David Cameron called a referendum without any reflection on his timing and he felt hed win it when he hadnt a chance. There may have been occasions when Europe could have done more, but when youve a member state thats always pulling against more at European level, it was always going to be hard to placate them.

******

On the ongoing situation in Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orban has effectively declared authoritarian control, McGuinness believes her comrades in the European Peoples Party have stood firm in suspending his involvement.

Democracy, a recurrent and fluent aspect of the former journalists political outlook, is in question all over the world as peoples view of what it entails and how best to implement it sways.

Hungary isnt exclusive in its shift towards a more extreme administration, leaderships which have created mass civil unrest through previous generations in various parts of Europe and the world.

Its a source of concern for McGuinness, although shes optimistic that the cross-border unity garnered from the current health crisis can be beneficial to society on a lengthier basis.

Across the globe there has been the rise of the strong male, that leader that takes total control without due regard to others and other leaders, she adds. We have to be very careful of that.

Weve been very critical of the Hungarian Prime Minister at every stage of this process. But there are other governments, like Malta, where wed be concerned over the freedom of the press; a journalist (Daphne Caruana Galizia 2017) was murdered there and there hasnt been sufficient follow-up.

I think there will always be concerns over particular governments, but the good thing is that these concerns get aired and the Commission is looking into the rule of law and its application.

I think the wider issue around democracy is around trust and to some extent we have to acknowledge that trust in politics - and, sadly, in journalism sometimes too - has been eroded because of the economic collapse. We need to rebuild trust.

If you look now at the crisis where science is guiding politics, I think thats helped to restore trust.
WASHINGTON  The plan for a pandemic drone didnt last long in Westport, Conn.

Within days in late April, the police department of the coastal town outside New York City reversed course on using drone-mounted cameras to scan crowds for fevers and coughs.

The department had said it would use the technology at beaches, train stations, recreation areas and shopping centers. Biometric readings would help the department understand population patterns and respond to potential health threats.

Feedback from some of the towns 28,000 residents was quick and laden with concern, Lt. Anthony Prezioso said, so the department canned the program.

This is not really a time to divide people, Prezioso said. If this was an issue that would create more angst and division among our community, it wasnt the time.

At least 40 law enforcement agencies across the country have used drones in the past few months for coronavirus-related purposes, according to a Stateline review of police websites and news reports. Law enforcement drones have hovered over a homeless encampment to invite people to get a free health assessment, flown over parks to check for social distancing and broadcast messages asking crowds to disperse.

But as in Westport, drones raise the question of what surveillance the public will accept in a tense time. The new measures  monitoring social distance, scanning crowds, testing temperatures  also worry civil liberties advocates and some in the drone industry.

This is not a time to be, in my opinion, ramrodding the aircraft into the air, said Matt Dunlevy, who owns SkySkopes, a Grand Forks, N.D.-based drone company.

SkySkopes is testing how drones can be used to deliver supplies or spray disinfectant across areas such as playgrounds, gyms and stadiums. It is also doing limited indoor testing with a thermal imaging camera.

I think that this is a time to take particular care as to how drones are used, Dunlevy said. I would personally encourage all drone operators to make sure that they take the utmost care and operate with the utmost sensitivity.

Roughly 1,100 law enforcement agencies have acquired drones over the past few years, according to research by the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College in New York. Agencies tout their uses for evaluating crime scenes and searching for missing persons.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires drone pilots to be certified and keep drones in sight and not above people, with some exceptions. As long as its rules are followed, the agency doesnt regulate how a drone is used.

I think its so cool that all these agencies are doing stuff, said Ian Gregor, a spokesperson for the FAA. We wrote the authorizations and regulations broadly. When we wrote them, we had no idea wed be seeing this kind of public health agency use.

Since 2013, at least 44 states have enacted laws addressing drones, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. For example, some states bar flights over correctional facilities.

At least 18 states require law enforcement agencies to get a search warrant to use a drone for surveillance or to conduct a search, the group said.

But those laws leave room for uses such as crowd surveillance and broadcasting social distancing messages, experts said.

Either of those use cases dont violate the Fourth Amendment because people in public places dont have a reasonable expectation of privacy, said Gregory S. McNeal, a professor of law and public policy at Pepperdine University in California.

The other bigger question is whether we as a society want drones flying around as the enforcers of these bureaucratic rules, whether by blaring these commands by speaker, or by other means, McNeal said. Thats less of a legal question and more of a social acceptance question.

Civil liberties advocates worry that the pandemic will push law enforcement agencies to go to extreme lengths to adopt fast-moving technology.

In a rush to do something, we need to be very cognizant that hastily implemented systems could pose unnecessary and significant risks to privacy, civil rights and civil liberties, said Kara Gross, legislative director and senior policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.

Gross pointed to similar civil liberties discussions amid expanded government surveillance after 9/11. In times of crisis we are seeing our country relax protections for individuals, she said.

Do we really want to live in a state where we have this ever-present eye in the sky thats collecting information about individuals, about their private, personal health? Gross said.

Matthew Guariglia, a policy analyst with Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit digital rights group based in San Francisco, said he was skeptical of the accuracy of thermal imaging cameras and questioned their use by law enforcement rather than public health officials. But even sending a drone with loudspeakers toward a crowd gave him pause.

It normalizes policing and governance by robot, he said.

And, he warned, even if a technology is adopted under the guise of short-term use, its less likely to be removed after the crisis.

It might be for policing social distancing now, but in seven or eight months it might be sending that drone over protests against a presidential election, Guariglia said.

The CEO of the company behind the Westport drone program, while commending the departments decision to back out, said he thinks other police departments will give it a try.

They did the right thing by being transparent about it and providing the community a chance to voice their concern, said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly. The Saskatchewan, Canada-based company with offices in Los Angeles and Raleigh, North Carolina, has been working with public safety agencies for about 15 years.

The thermal imaging software was developed in partnership with the University of South Australia and Australias defense department, he said. It can detect body temperatures, respiratory rates and heart rates from 190 feet away. The cameras dont have facial recognition abilities, he said.

It could provide us real-world information instead of guesses, Chell said.

Chell said hes working with both law enforcement agencies and private industry groups to start more pilot programs. He declined to name any of the groups.

Police in another Connecticut town, Meriden, started a drone program a few months ago with plans to use it to investigate crash scenes and search for missing people. Instead, police have used it to hover over two large parks and see whether residents are social distancing.

In one snapshot, you can see areas of concern, said Sgt. Jeff Herget. On the first Sunday in May  a warm, spring day  the parks were full of families walking and hiking, he said.

Using a speaker on the drone, the police played four or five announcements over about six hours reminding groups to keep a safe distance apart.

Reactions were mixed. Many people at the park responded positively and wanted to see how the drone worked, Herget said, but online commenters were less supportive.

Of ways to use the drones, he said, I dont think any of us thought wed be doing social distancing.
Brad Pitt's high-profile relationships were always publicized and full of public scrutiny, especially during his marriages to Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie.

Before Angelina Jolie, the "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" was married to Jennifer Aniston. A few years later, news broke out that he allegedly started cheating on his wife for his co-star Jolie.

In 2005, Pitt and Aniston got a divorce. Months later, the "Ad Astra" star tied the knot to the "Maleficent" actress. However, their marriage also didn't last.

In 2016, Jolie and Pitt filed for divorce.

With two marriages, many fans can't help but compare if who was better for Brad Pitt.

But questions will get answers because the actor's former bodyguard revealed that one ex-wife was better for him than the other.

Former Bodyguard Claims Brad Pitt Was Happier with Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt were the "it couple" in the 2000s. Though their meeting wasn't as romantic since they were set up by their agents in 1998, sparks flew. Later tied the knot in 2000 in a Malibu beach wedding ceremony.

While many thought it was all an act just for them to rise to A-list celebrities, Pitt's former bodyguard, Kris Herzog, revealed that the actor was "100% happy" while he was married to the "Friends" actress.

"I never heard of them fighting. I never heard rumors of cheating. I never heard anything bad between Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt before he met Angelina Jolie."

When Pitt and Jolie met on the set of their movie, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," Pitt was a happily married man who wasn't looking for a relationship.

On the other hand, Jolie was single but adopted her son Maddox from Cambodia and also didn't expect to be in a relationship.

In a Vogue interview, the "Tomb Raider" star described their unlikely romance, saying, "Brad was a huge surprise to me. I think we were both the last two people who were looking for a relationship. I certainly wasn't."

But to the co-stars' surprise, their chemistry on the set was just undeniable. Pitt ended his marriage to Aniston, then shortly after, he started hooking up with Jolie.

Former Bodyguard Claims Things Were 'Different' With Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

The former bodyguard had nothing but good things to say about Pitt and Aniston's time together, but his opinions on his boss's new girlfriend weren't so great.

"It was, 'We are the most powerful celebrity couple in the world,' and that was primarily Angelina pushing the public image."

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's Relationship Now

Despite the former couple's ongoing divorce and settlements, and after a couple of explosive headlines about each other, new reports surfaced that Angelina Jolie is "impressed" with her ex-husband.

In the past, Pitt has been battling alcohol addiction but has now stopped and is committed to being a great father to their children. He is also reportedly trying to fix his troubled relationship with all of them.

Both Pitt and Jolie are also in a "cordial" place.

A source told Us Weekly, "Things between Brad and Angelina are better than they have been. They're more cordial - they're aiming toward resolutions that work for each of them."

Is it safe to say that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt might end up together once again?

READ MORE: Mary-Kate Olsen 'Petrified'; Emergency Divorce Petition Filed, Denied
There will not be a traditional graduation this year at Deptford High School but students and a small group of relatives will be invited to a live ceremony with not as much pomp but still plenty of circumstance in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The plan is to have students participate in 125, 15-minute live ceremonies in which two students will be able to have two guests attend at the Gloucester County high school.

Officials are calling the mini graduations a hybrid event. The ceremonies will take place over four and a half days with four each hour starting at 8 a.m. at the high school.

I feel that all the students and their families need to be recognized, in person, for all of their accomplishments, Jeffrey Lebb, the Deptford principal said in a web message.

The students should arrive 45 minutes before the scheduled ceremony to take pictures in front of two backdrops and a professional photographer will be on hand, as well.

Students will be dressed in caps and gowns and have a diploma cover given to them during the picture session and later for their actual diploma. Guest will be seated in the gym while the students are in a separate room. The students will enter and the ceremony will begin.

After all of the ceremonies, a videographer will edit footage of each event to include all of the students and the recording will be streamed free online.

Officials said another event is being planned on June 17, the original date for the traditional graduation which was canceled because of a statewide pandemic shutdown.

New Jersey now has lost 10,356 residents to the coronavirus outbreak with 146,334 total cases confirmed Sunday as the state slowly starts to reopen from near-lockdown restrictions ordered by Gov. Phil Murphy.

The latest numbers include 107 new deaths and 1,272 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, though officials have warned of lags in getting results over the weekend. Murphy did not hold an in-person coronavirus briefing on Sunday and the numbers were provided online.

Staff writer Matt Arco contributed to this report.

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Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
The Congress on Sunday hit back at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for describing Rahul Gandhi's interaction with a group of labourers on their way home a drama, and demanded that she and Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to migrant workers.

The country will not spare Sitharaman for this insult of lakhs of migrant labourers and workers, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

"Do the woes and helplessness of migrants walking down to their homes thirsty and hungry look like 'dramebaazi' to the government.

"Please do not insult the lakhs of workers and the country will not spare you for doing so. This insensitive and 'sahukaar' government and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman should apologise to the workers of the country," he said in a video message.

Surjewala said Rahul Gandhi met the migrants to share their pain in this hour of crisis.

"If sharing pain is a crime, then the Congress will repeat this crime again. If hearing out the woes of labourers about this insensitive government is a crime, then Rahul Gandhi will commit this crime again," he said.

Another party leader, Anand Sharma said one expects certain degree of seriousness and gravitas when a finance minister is addressing an official press conference.

"She should answer questions; she should not ask questions. Congress President Sonia Gandhi does not have to learn from Nirmala Sitharaman about how to conduct, answer and what genuine compassion the Congress Party have about the suffering migrant labourers and our solidarity to them." he said at a press conference.

"We don't intend to play politics, but, the fact is, it is almost two months they are suffering, because, it was without any planning, without any preparedness, without any coordination with the states the lockdown was imposed in 4 hours and tens of millions were left stranded," Sharma said.

He said the government has to answer and apologise to these poor citizens of India who have been left abandoned and their fundamental and legal rights snatched.

Sitharaman on Sunday said Rahul Gandhi is doing drama and asked political parties to refrain from politicising the plight of migrant workers and behave responsibly on the issue.

After announcing the Rs 20-lakh crore economic package, she said the government would seek cooperation from all parties including the Congress to resolve the issue.

Referring to Rahul Gandhi's interaction with a group of migrant workers returning their home on Saturday, Sitharaman said, "They are adding to misery of migrant labourers, who are walking on their foot to their home, by stopping them and talking. It would be much better, if they could walk along with with them and also carry their yoke or their children".

"They are calling us dramabaaz.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two senior TMC leaders on Sunday retweeted a post shared by Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani about the alleged discovery of the body of a coronavirus patient on street in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, ruled by the BJP.

The development comes amid the ongoing war of words between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and the alleged suppression of death figures by the West Bengal government.

TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee, who had earlier questioned centres silence on the COVID-19 situation in Gujarat, shared Mevani's tweet and an accompanying picture.

The senior minister in the Mamata Banerjee cabinet said in the tweet: "The ugly face of Gujarat model could no longer be hidden. No wonder, India has fallen 10 ranks in Democracy Index in @BJP4India's rule."

Chief national spokesperson of TMC Derek O'Brien too retweeted Mevani's post but did not make any comment.

In a tweet posted on Sunday, Mevani said: "Bloody what the hell is going on? Gunawant Makwana, a 70 year old Covid-19 patient was admitted at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on 10th May and now his body is found on the street! Yes, bloody on the street! Mr. Rupani take moral responsibility and step down. This is just criminal."

When contacted, Chatterjee told PTI: "This incident has unmasked and exposed BJP. I have nothing else to say."

The two parties are at loggerheads over several issues like alleged fudging of actual number of coronavirus positive cases by the West Bengal government, alleged disparities over the total number of deaths due to the contagion, and return of migrant labourers by train.

The TMC had alleged BJP West Bengal unit was doing cheap politics even during a pandemic like coronavirus when the state is singlehandedly fighting to contain the spread and strengthening state machineries.

A senior BJP leader said as the TMC's gameplan to hide the actual alarming scenario about the spread of COVID-19 in Bengal fell flat, the ruling party is resorting to diversionary tactics and spreading falsehood in their tweets.

"Many bodies were disposed of without the knowledge of their family members by the Bengal government which tried to suppress real death figures for days. What about that?," the leader said, adding that the authenticity of the purported picture in the tweet by Mevani was not proved.
Representative image

Casa Everz Gmbh, the owner of footwear German brand Von Wellx, will be shifting its entire production to Agra from China, news agency ANI has reported quoting state Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Uday Bahan Singh.

"We are very happy to see that investment from Casa Everz Gmbh, which will be giving employment to so many people, is coming to India from China and especially to Uttar Pradesh," Singh told the news agency.

The production will happen in collaboration with latric Industries Pvt Ltd, the news agency has reported.

According to Ashish Jain, the Director and CEO of latric Industries, the collaboration has the potential to generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Von Wellx products are sold in over 80 countries with more than 100 million customers across the globe. In India, it was launched in 2019 and is available at over 500 top retail locations.

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 shift is in keeping with the government's plan to bring in foreign companies into India. Earlier reports had suggested that many companies are looking to shift from China to India as a fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in the Wuhan district of China.
But to realize the potential of cities, we need to change the harsh reality that the neighborhoods into which Americans are born delimit their prospects in life: their chances of graduating from high school, of earning a decent living, of surviving into old age. In Chicago, the difference in average life expectancy for people born at the same time in different neighborhoods is as much as 30 years. Please pause to consider that number. Babies do not choose where they are born. In Streeterville, a neighborhood of white, affluent, college-educated families living comfortably in townhomes and high-rise condominiums along the shore of Lake Michigan, a baby born in 2015 could expect to live to 90. Eight miles south, in Englewood, a poor, black neighborhood of low-rise apartments in the shadow of Interstate 94, a baby born in 2015 could not expect to reach 60.

We need to rewrite the rules that have made it virtually impossible to build affordable housing in wealthy neighborhoods, immiserating lower-income families forced ever farther from jobs and services. Lower-income workers in the San Francisco Bay Area often live outside of the Bay Area: Last year, more than 120,000 workers in the region had daily commutes of at least three hours. In Montgomery County, Md., an affluent suburb of Washington, fully 44 percent of the countys own employees live in other counties, often because they cant afford homes in the communities they serve.

And we need to ensure every American can obtain a high-quality education regardless of the value of their family home. The economic gaps between people are compounded because funding for public institutions is tightly linked to the wealth of local communities. In underfunded urban school systems, even the most successful students struggle to rise. The Boston Globe last year tracked down 93 of the 113 students named valedictorians at Boston public high schools, including Boston Latin, between 2005 and 2007. Nearly a quarter of those students had said they hoped to become doctors, like Paul Zoll, but more than a decade later not one had graduated from medical school. Among a group of valedictorians from the Boston suburbs, 12 percent were doctors.

The isolation of the poor has broad consequences. The economist Paul Romer won the Nobel last year in part for his work demonstrating the economic importance of cities, the way that dense gatherings of people facilitate the sharing of information and the process of creation.

In effect, segregation reduces the size of a city. It limits the number of people, the number of interactions, the number of ideas. A study published in 2018 found that children from families in the top 1 percent of the income distribution were 10 times as likely to file for a patent when they grew up as were children from families in the bottom half of the income distribution. The difference is not innate ability: Rather, the poor kids are excluded from opportunity. They do not know inventors, they are not encouraged to become inventors, they do not interact with others trying to solve the problems of the day. In a separate study, the same researchers sought to estimate the impact of moving children to a better environment. They found that Seattle children whose lower-income families used federal housing vouchers to move to more affluent neighborhoods would earn an extra $210,000 in the course of their lives.
A Utah police officer saved explicit photos of a terrified college student who was being blackmailed by her ex-boyfriend to his personal phone and bragged it to a colleague just days before she was murdered, a new report has revealed.

University of Utah student Lauren McCluskey, 21, confided in campus cops in October 2018 that she was being extorted by her sex-offender ex, 37-year-old Melvin Rowland, who said he had access to some of her personal images and was threatening to release them if she didn't pay him $1,000.

Terrified by the demand, McCluskey paid Rowland the money, and then sent copies of his threatening messages and the pictures in question to police as evidence.

Officer Miguel Deras then saved the compromising photos of the young track star onto his phone, before showing them to at least one male colleague and bragging about being able to ogle at them any time he wanted, the Lake Tribune reported.

Just nine days after filing the report, McCluskey was shot dead by Rowland on campus, who then turned the gun on himself. The promising athlete had ended the relationship a month earlier after discovering Rowland was a registered sex offender who had lied about his name, age and criminal history.

'The people who were supposed to be helping and protecting Lauren were actually exploiting her,' Jill McCluskey, Lauren's mother, told the Tribune. 'I wish that Deras had used his time to arrest the man who was committing crimes against Lauren.'

University of Utah student Lauren McCluskey, 21, confided in campus cops in October 2018 that she was being extorted by her sex-offender former boyfriend, 37-year-old Melvin Rowland, who said he had access to her personal files and was threatening to release them if she didn't pay $1,000

Terrified by the demand, McCluskey paid Melvin Rowland (right) the money, and then sent copies of the messages and pictures in question to police as evidence.

Along with her husband Matt, the McCluskey family filed a $56 million lawsuit over the police handling of the case, after an independent review found Deras did very little to investigate McCluskey's complaints.

On the morning of October 22, McCluskey called Deras to report that Rowland was trying to lure her out of her dorm. Deras never passed that information along to anyone else in the department and hours later she was shot dead.

'This latest revelation makes me wonder when we'll hit bottom,' Matt McCluskey, told the Tribune.

One of Deras' colleagues confirmed to campus police that he had been shown the images by Deras, with another officer confirming he had heard the conversation taking place.

The first officer told investigators in September 2019 that he had been sitting next to Deras during a briefing in between shifts, when Deras leaned over towards him and started scrolling through the images on his phone.

Deras, who now works for Logan Police 85 miles away, declined several requests to comment, the paper said. The campus police say the officer who was shown the images has not been disciplined because he didn't ask Deras to see them.

While the university confirmed that Deras had in fact saved and shared the images, the revelation only came to light when the Tribune started asking to access records, officials said.

'He was long gone before we had any inkling that that incident with the photo being shown had occurred,' Lt. Jason Hinojosa told the paper. 'We did identify one person who could confirm. He came forward after the investigation [had] begun.'

In their lawsuit filed last October, the McClusky family (left to right: Dad, Matt; Mom, Jill) accused the school of failing to protect their daughter or for taking responsibility for her death. They're seeking $56 million in damages but say the money would go to a trust designed to improve campus safety

The university claims to have no physical evidence of Dera's misconduct. In July 2019, investigators attempted to download data from Deras' cellphone, but anything yielded was either corrupted or from after the McCluskey case. This was partly because Deras got a new cellphone after McCluskey's death and didn't transfer all of his files to the new device.

Sharing or displaying a compromising photo of someone without the person's consent could be prosecuted under Utah's revenge porn laws. The first offense can result in a misdemeanor charge. Because the statute requires proof that a victim was harmed, McCluskey's death could complicate a prosecution.

Also complicating matters, for their part the university claims to have no physical evidence of Dera's misconduct.

In July 2019, investigators attempted to download data from Deras' cellphone, but anything yielded was either corrupted or from after the McCluskey case. This was partly because Deras got a new cellphone after McCluskey's death and didn't transfer all of his files to the new device.

Major Scott Stephenson, who oversees all police training in the state under the Utah Department of Public Safety, said the discovery could be grounds for action against Deras' police certification.

'It's very alarming to me,' Stephenson told the Tribune, suggesting it might be a 'policy violation' for the incident having not been reported earlier.

In their lawsuit filed last October, the McClusky family accused the school of failing to protect their daughter and for failing taking responsibility for her death. They're seeking $56 million in damages but say the money would go to a trust designed to improve campus safety.

'This latest revelation makes me wonder when we'll hit bottom,' Matt McCluskey (pictured above with Lauren), told the Tribune

On the morning of October 22, McCluskey called Deras to report that Rowland was trying to lure her out of her dorm. Deras never passed that information along to anyone else in the department and hours later she was shot dead.

McClusky was said to have madbee as many as 20 police reports about Rowland before her death. Her friends also reported concerns to dormitory officials, the lawsuit said, but they were ignored

The lawsuit alleges that officials missing the warning signs of dating violence and made no effort to stop Rowland's harassment or ban him from being on campus.

McClusky was said to have made as many as 20 police reports about Rowland before her death. Her friends also reported concerns to dormitory officials, the lawsuit said, but they were ignored.

An independent review was commissioned by the university and found that the school indeed missed warning signs of abuse before McCluskey was found shot in a car after returning from a night class.

However, university president Ruth Watkins says there's no reason to believe Rowland could've been stopped.

In response the lawsuit, University of Utah has pledged to run more frequent checks to identify ex-convicts and investigate on-campus complaints more thoroughly.

They've also hired more officers, increased training, and streamled communications between housing officials and police.

McCluskey received a track scholarship following a standout high school career in Pullman, Washington. She finished second in the state for the 100 hurdles and fifth in the high jump in her senior year. She specialized in jumping events in college and ranks 10th all-time at Utah in the pentathlon.
- Vice Ganda has finally spoken up about his friends, Coco Martin and Kim Chiu, in his latest online post

- During the live video session, Vice expressed his concerns for his celebrity friends

- The comedian also answered some fan questions during the two-hour live video session

- He also shared that he is not feeling okay with all of the things that are currently happening to him

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Following the news of the ABS-CBN shutdown which happened on May 5, Kapamilya celebrities have used their social media platforms to air their frustrations over the matter.

Among the celebrities who trended after sharing their opinions about the ABS-CBN shutdown are Kapamilya stars Kim Chiu and Coco Martin.

After Kim and Coco participated in the online rally event Laban, Kapamilya, the two were heavily criticized on social media.

Following this news, KAMI learned that Vice Ganda recently held a Facebook live session on his page and discussed various issues at hand including his reaction towards his friends, Kim and Coco.

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During the live session, Vice could be seen answering fan questions.

When asked how he was currently doing, the comedian answered, "Nakaka-survive naman. Pero ayaw kong sabihin na OK na OK ako kasi hindi ako OK."

He also mentioned that during the past few days, there were times he wanted to cry because he was sad about the things that are currently happening around him.

The It's Showtime host also expressed his dismay for his friends who were misinterpreted, "Nalulungkot ako dahil parang ang daming poot ng mga tao.

"Parang hindi magkaintindihan ang mga tao. Ang daming galit sa isa't-isa, ayaw magkaunawaan.

"Nalungkot ako para sa mga kaibigan ko na parang nami-misinterpret. Sa mga kaibigan ko sa showbiz. Nalulungkot ako para kay Coco, nalulungkot ako para kay Kim Chiu."

Watch the video below:

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As reported earlier by KAMI, Vice Ganda received a heartbreaking text message from his mom Rosario Viceral on Wednesday morning, May 6, a day after ABS-CBN stopped its broadcast operations. He then shared the message on Twitter and expressed what his mothers words made him feel.

Vice Ganda is a popular actor, comedian, television host, and recording artist in the Philippines. He starred in many blockbuster movies including Praybeyt Benjamin.

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In this video, our hosts talk about 'quaranFLING' and the levels of flirting involved during the ECQ! Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel !

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Rare, venomous 'blue dragons' were spotted by a seven-year-old boy vacationing at a Texas seashore earlier this month.

The boy, Hunter Lane, of Mesa, Arizona, was at Texas' Padre Island National Seashore on May 2, when he found four of the sea creatures washed up on the shore in a matter of minutes.

But officials have warned people not to get too close if they see the colorful animals - as they carry a nasty sting.

Dad Trey Lane told CNN that in the 30 years that he had been vacationing at the spot on the Gulf coast, he'd never seen one of the dragons before.

A seven-year-old boy was walking along Texas' Padre Island National Seashore when he spotted several washed up blue dragon sea slugs

The inch-long slugs are venomous and considered rare as they normally live in the open ocean

The Padre Island National Seashore Facebook page shared images and warnings about the blue dragons that were found on the beach

'Hunter loves sea creatures and thought he had found a blue button jellyfish,' Trey told the news network. After picking it up in a beach toy, Hunter 'proclaimed to me that he had discovered a new species!'

It turns out that the vividly-colored discovery were actually inch-long sea slugs called Glaucus atlanticus, which are natural predators of Portuguese man-of-wars, a species related to jellyfish.

'Don't let their size fool you, they have a defense worthy of the name dragon,' Padre Island National Seashore wrote in a Facebook post accompanying Hunter's pictures of a blue dragon he found.

After preying on the man-of-war, the nature agency wrote, the blue dragons 'move the stinging cells from the man-of-war to the end of their "fingers." Because they are able to concentrate the stinging cells together, their sting can be more painful than a man-of-war's!'

The blue dragon sea slugs are natural predators of much larger Portuguese man-of-wars (file)

The blue dragons siphon off the stinging cells of the man-of-wars (pictured) they eat and the concentrate those cells, meaning their stings can be stronger than a man-of-war's sting

A Padre Island National Seashore (pictured) spokesperson said that people have been reporting blue dragon sightings recently, something which she hadn't heard of in two years

The blue dragons are typically found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Although they live in the open ocean, they are said to occasionally wash up on shores.

Because their stings are so strong, wildlife experts warn against picking them up.

The Facebook post said: 'If you see a dragon in the park, be amazed as they are a rare find, but also keep your distance!'

A Padre Island National Seashore spokesperson told CNN that several visitors have reported spotting blue dragons on the seashore recently.

The spokesperson said she had worked at the park for two years without any reports of blue dragon sightings. The apparent new and sudden phenomenon could be attributed to a group of the slugs having washed up on the shore.

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley director for the School of Marine Sciences told KVEO that 'We don't see a lot of them' and noted that 'they kind of go around in masses of water, if you see one you see 1,000 of them.'
A Delhi court has granted interim bail to an undertrial prisoner arrested in a murder case, while directing him to install the 'Aarogya Setu' app on his phone.

Additional Sessions JudgeNaveen Kumar Kashyap on Saturday granted relief to accused Ravi Dhikaon his plea that he had to take care of his ailing wife who was undergoing treatment as there was no one else to take care of her.

The court's order came after the investigating officer confirmed that the contention made by the accused about his wife's treatment was true.

Besides directing him to install the 'Aarogya Setu' app on his mobile phone, the court also asked him tokeep the GPS location and Bluetooth of his mobile phone on at all times during the period of release.

The court also directed Dhika not to tamper with the evidence, influence the witnesses or flee from justice. It also directed the accused to appear before the SHO concerned every Monday by sharing his mobile location.

The court further directed him to surrender before the jail superintendent after the period of interim bail is over.

"Applicant is further directed to install 'Aarogya Setu' app on his mobile phone and will keep location, GPS as well as Bluetooth onall the time during the period of such interim bail," the court said.

The interim bail was conditional on the accused furnishing a personal bond and surety of Rs 20,000 each.

The accused was in custody in connection with an FIR for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan on Sunday welcomed the signing of the power-sharing agreement between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah, saying that it is important for the country's leaders to work constructively to bring lasting peace and stability in the war-torn nation.

As per the deal, Ghani will stay as the president, while Abdullah will helm the High Council of National Reconciliation (HCNR) with executive authority and his team will have a 50 per cent share in the cabinet, according to Afghan media reports.

The agreement was signed after a bitter dispute over the results of last year's presidential election that pushed the country into a political crisis. Ghani was sworn in as the Afghan president for a second term on March 9, but Abdullah also declared himself as the president by holding his own oath-taking ceremony the same day.

At this critical juncture, it is vitally important that all Afghan leaders work together constructively in the supreme interest of the Afghan people and help bring lasting peace and stability to the country affected by decades of violence and conflict, Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) said.

The power-sharing agreement between Ghani and Abdullah came over two-and-half months after the US inked a peace deal with the Taliban, providing for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and effectively drawing curtains to Washington's 18-year war in the country.

FO said the US-Taliban Peace Agreement has created a historic opportunity, which must be seized by all Afghan stakeholders to advance the goals of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.

It is critical that the Intra-Afghan negotiations commence at the earliest, culminating in a comprehensive and inclusive political settlement in Afghanistan, the FO said.

It said that all Afghan parties must honour their respective commitments, work with perseverance and sense of common purpose, and also guard against the machinations of any spoilers, from within and without.

While reaffirming our abiding solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, Pakistan reiterates its commitment to continue to support a peaceful, stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan, at peace with itself and its neighbours, the FO said.

It also said that the agreement between Afghan leaders was imperative for being able to effectively respond to the formidable challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Andrews government will undertake the biggest spend on social housing since the global financial crisis, as part of a $500 million package to build 168 new units and upgrade 23,000 more to bolster Victoria's struggling economy.

The state government will pump $58 million into new social housing units in Reservoir, Balaclava, Dandenong and Hampton Park, but the biggest portion of the package will go towards maintenance and upgrade works that can be delivered quickly, such as painting and roofing.

Rundown properties that are unliveable will be allowed to be occupied, homelessness services say. Credit:AP

The mammoth spend is part of a $2.7 billion government "building blitz" to be announced on Monday, which it says will create thousands of jobs.

Workers must start on the projects immediately, and companies tendering for the social housing contracts will be required to find new employees through the state government's jobs portal before looking elsewhere.
Countries everywhere, including Ireland, are beginning the process of releasing the lockdown. The rules differ from country to country, but most are insisting on maintaining social distancing, keeping up with hygiene, wearing face masks in public and the all-important testing, tracing and isolating of infected people, or those at risk of having been infected.

The goal is simple: to prevent the number of infections rising again to levels that might threaten the health service, lead to more deaths and potentially another lockdown - which is unthinkable. The second surge. This is literally a matter of life and death for governments everywhere. Get it wrong, and people die. Get it wrong and economic havoc continues, with all the difficulties that brings.

The WHO issued conditions on April 15 that are needed for any government to start lifting restrictions. Four stand out:

Disease transmission must be under control. This means the number of new cases must be falling. Health systems are able to "detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact". Note the phrasing here: 'every case and trace every contact'. Hot spot risks are minimised in vulnerable places, such as nursing homes. Schools, workplaces and other essential places have established preventive measures.

The Irish Government is taking things cautiously, most likely because we are not where we want to be with testing, tracing and isolating. As well as protecting the vulnerable, this has to be the number one priority right now.

And so, we take the first tentative steps towards the light again. If we get the testing part right, we can proceed with confidence. And most importantly, as long as we keep up the good work with all the other measures, including wearing masks in shops and on public transport, this will help greatly to decrease the spread of the virus, such that the virus will be effectively eliminated.

This is what is being claimed by New Zealand, and surely we must aim to be able to claim that, too.

Testing times

Our testing strategy is not there yet though, and falls under the category 'a lot done, more to do'. It needs our utmost attention. We desperately need a 'Minister for Testing' to lead this, given all the complexities. The price of getting it wrong is too high.

You can't do much about testing/tracing/isolating, other than watching closely and insisting we get what we need. But you can do all the other things to decrease spread.

Scientists continue to analyse just how contagious Covid-19 is. And it's scary. They have examined the early phase of the pandemic, when the various measures we are now following weren't being observed. If we loosen up on them, the horror stories I am about to tell you might happen again.

In South Korea, one study has shown that a patient called 'Patient 31' managed to infect 1,170 people out of a total of 9,000 who had gathered at a religious event organised by the Shincheonji church in the city of Daegu. In a nearby hospital, 100 out of 102 patients soon became infected. A doctor in Daegu has called this event - where one person was responsible for infecting so many - "like a volcano exploding". It was the ability of the South Koreans to test, trace and isolate following this event that brought the virus under control in that country.

Mass testing has been called the 'salvation of South Korea', saving many thousands of lives. Along with maintaining their testing protocol, what South Korea has been doing since then should be adopted by Ireland. Mask wearing is ubiquitous. There are hand sanitisers in all public places. Everyone has an app on their phones to alert them if there are cases, so that they can check if they were in the vicinity and report for testing. There is a highly detailed map that everyone can download on their phones which reveals where all the recent cases have been.

An even starker example of how contagious Covid-19 is, can be seen in what happened in the USA. The first case there was traced to Seattle. But what happened next has shocked scientists. On January 15, a 35-year-old man returned to Seattle having visited his family in Wuhan, China, where Covid-19 began. He developed some symptoms but went to work, had lunch in a restaurant and went shopping. A few days later, he tested positive for Covid-19.

Scientists working in the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle got a sample of the virus from that first case. Each virus, just like us humans, has its own fingerprint. It's in the genetic code of the virus. The scientists were able to compare the virus in this first case, with samples of viruses from many places, which other scientists had identified and uploaded their fingerprints into a database of viruses.

What they found stunned them. The fingerprint of that original virus was found all over the place. This man had infected other people, and the virus had travelled far and wide, passing from person to person without them knowing.

They found it in samples from all over the US. And further afield, in Australia, Mexico, Iceland, Canada, the UK and Uruguay. It was even found on the Grand Princess cruise ship. On its journey from person to person that began in Seattle, it spent some time in Lynnwood, just outside Seattle.

There was a square dance held there one month after the first case, and three people out of 24 became infected that night with the same virus. A week later, there was a cluster of cases in people who had been at a party in Seattle. Four out of 10 of the people at that party had been infected there with the self-same virus. Current estimates are that this original case is responsible for 25pc of all cases in the US. That's how contagious this virus is, if left to its own devices.

The spread of the virus to many thousands of cases in the US, leading to many deaths, tells us of the dangers when the rules we are all now well aware of are not in place.

What now?

What does this mean for the next phase of this pandemic in Ireland? Current estimates are that around 6pc of the Irish population have had Covid-19. Although we can't be fully sure of this number, it will be in that range. The other 94pc, and maybe even some of the 6pc, might become infected. All it needs is for one person to pick up the virus from someone else, and then start spreading it to others. This will happen if we don't continue to observe all the rules.

New rules might also help, like in Germany, where choirs have been banned for the moment, as singing can spread the virus. Clearly, mass gatherings can't take place, and nor can people gather unless strict social distancing rules are applied. It will also be difficult to stop if we don't have adequate testing, tracing and isolation in place, for "every case and every contact".

You can't do much about the testing, but you can certainly play your part by following the rules. Wash your hands, maintain social distancing, keep surfaces clean, wear a mask in shops and on public transport. Be unrelenting, because the virus that causes Covid-19 certainly is.

Luke O'Neill is professor of biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday exhorted the party cadre to reach out to the people in distress and help them fight coronavirus.

In his first video conference with senior party leaders of Jammu province after his release from nearly eight months detention under PSA in March, Abdullah said "we are in an unprecedented situation, which calls for a cohesive approach based on compassion and the spirit of togetherness, the hallmark of our glorious existence.

He said this is not the time to do or to superimpose individual sufferings over the general good of community, given the unprecedented challenge posed by COVID-19 to humanity.

"Political class should not be seen seeking votes only but it has to remain in the forefront to share the miseries of the people, especially during the critical times mankind is presently in," he said. Abdullah asked party workers to assist labourers and stranded people returning their home by whatever way they can.

"Even humble contributions will be a big gesture to demonstrate solidarity, he said, adding that the disease knows no religious, economic or social barriers, as it has struck humanity as a whole and therefore calls for a united and cohesive response.

He said the party leadership headed by his father Farooq Abdullah has been taking up every distress call from the stranded people with concerned quarters to seek expeditious evacuation.

He referred to the airlifting of Jammu and Kashmir students from Bangladesh and hoped that a similar mechanism will be adopted in bringing back the stranded people from Oman, Dubai, Iran and other countries.

Those stranded in various parts of the country too are needed to be ferried in a time bound manner while efforts should be made to ensure inter-district movement of stranded people as well, the NC leader added.

He also urged party workers to support every administrative measure for the overall good of the people in the war against the pandemic notwithstanding the political developments of the last year.

Abdullah lauded the resilience of the people in meeting the challenge with courage and fortitude, hoping the current gloomy phase will come to an end soon.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Imperial Valley News Center

Coordinated strategy to accelerate multiple COVID-19 vaccine candidates is key

Washington, DC - A harmonized and collaborative approach to the clinical testing, scale-up and distribution of candidate vaccines to prevent COVID-19 is essential, scientific leaders write in a perspective published today in Science. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, government, industry and academia have introduced a variety of vaccine candidates. The authors note that more than one effective vaccine approach likely will be required to successfully protect the global community from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

They describe a strategic approach to research and development that would generate essential data for multiple vaccine candidates in parallel.

National Institutes of Health Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Lawrence Corey, M.D., professor in the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, and John R. Mascola, M.D., director of NIAIDs Vaccine Research Center are the co-authors of the commentary.

The perspective discusses diverse vaccine candidates and key considerations for development, including the characteristics of various vaccine platforms in terms of prior commercial experience, scalability, and the types of immune responses generated. It also emphasizes that no single vaccine or vaccine platform is likely to meet the global need, highlighting the need for a coordinated strategic approach to vaccine development.

The authors stress that researchers need to learn more about what constitutes a durable protective immune response against COVID-19. They review considerations for vaccine efficacy trials, explaining how trials for several candidate vaccines can be conducted in parallel to generate essential safety and efficacy data and accelerate the licensure and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The authors propose specific approaches to harmonizing the clinical testing of multiple vaccine products, including using common clinical trials designs, clinical endpoints, standardized immune assays and a common Data Safety and Monitoring Board.

The authors emphasize that developing COVID-19 vaccines will require unprecedented cooperation from governments, academic institutions, industry, and global philanthropic partners. The ACTIV (Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines) public-private partnership spearheaded by NIH aims to facilitate such collaboration with discussions and collaborations on trial designs and data sharing.

Protecting the entire global community from COVID-19 through vaccination will require significant manufacturing capacity, according to the authors. They emphasize the need to fund the necessary biomanufacturing infrastructure and note possible hurdles in the eventual delivery of vaccines, including cost, distribution systems and cold chain requirements. The authors conclude that strategic collaboration among public and private sectors to effectively accelerate COVID-19 vaccine development is essential.
I want to go back home. My husband has died there, and I need to see him one last time.

An inconsolable Sunita was at Delhis border with Uttar Pradesh in Ghazipur in the hope of boarding a bus back home to Sasaram city in Bihar. But the borders were shut, and there were no buses to be found. Sunita had come to visit her sister in the national Capital before the nationwide lockdown came into effect. Someone please help me get home, she said, sobbing.

Hundreds of migrants had gathered at the Ghazipur border on Sunday, leading to shouting, chaos and cries as the UP police made sure that no migrant entered Ghaziabad. The nationwide lockdown put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19 was extended till May 31 on Sunday, which was the last day of the third phase of the restrictions.

The UP government had asked the police and administration to ensure no migrant worker travelled on foot or in vehicles, after 24 people were killed in UPs Auraiya district when the truck they were travelling on met with an accident on Saturday morning. As a result, no buses were forthcoming, nor were they allowed to cross over on foot.

This resulted in lot of chaos as the migrants tried to enter Ghaziabad with the police pushing them back.

A majority of the migrants were from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Among them was Sushila Devis family. Her four sons had managed to cross the border on Saturday night, while she, her husband, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren had been left behind.

We started to walk from Narela on Saturday afternoon after someone told us we can get buses to Sitapur in UP, from the Ghazipur border. My sons got to the border before we did, and managed to cross. However, the police stopped us when we tried to join them. Now they are stuck just two kilometres away. They were carrying all the money we had. We are left with nothing here. We have been requesting the police to help them get back to Delhi. We are ready to stay wherever we are told. We just want to be together, she said.

When they werent allowed to enter Ghaziabad, angry migrants blocked the Ghazipur main road in the evening for around 20 minutes.

Nitish Tripathi, who worked in a garment factory in the area, was among those who had blocked the arterial road. He said he and his brothers wanted to walk home to Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh.

We have had no work for the last two months, and have run out of money now. Yesterday, we sold a TV and a table we had in our room to arrange money for the travel. But they are not letting us go home, and asking us to shift to a shelter. Our mother is unwell, and she needs us. We want to go home, Tripathi said.

Jasmeet Singh, deputy commissioner of police (east), said the migrants had blocked the road after being provoked by some political leaders who had gathered many of them at the border with assurances that they would be sent to their hometowns.

There were attempts by some migrants and party leaders to block the Ghazipur Road, but we have to convince them to leave. They are now on the side of the road, which is now clear, Singh said. He said DTC buses would be arranged to send them to their homes in Delhi.

Officers of the Ghaziabad police said they could not let migrants enter as they were on foot, and had orders to that effect. Only those with valid train tickets were to be allowed entry.

Police said nearly 500 migrants had also gathered at the border on Saturday evening.

Sitting under a flyover near the Ghazipur border, Rajesh Kumar Kohli was among six who arrived in Delhi from Kolkata aboard a special train. We walked from the New Delhi Railway Station to ISBT bus stand to board a bus for Aligarh. At ISBT, someone told us that buses are only available from the borders, so we started walking to Ghazipur last night. We walked for five hours but the police said there were no buses here either. We do not know what to do. I am left with Rs 100 now, he said.

Meanwhile, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the Delhi government will arrange trains for all migrant workers who want to return home. We will take full care of the migrants, if they want to live here. In case they want to return to their homes, we will arrange trains for them. We wont leave them alone in such a crisis, he said in a tweet.

Deputy chief minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia said more than 25 trains and a large number of buses have ferried over 35,000 migrant labourers to their home states from Delhi so far.

Today eight Shramik Special trains will carry around 12,000 migrant labourers to their homes states, he tweeted.

He added that it is mandatory to register to be able to board one of these trains.

Meanwhile, the UP government has allowed the operation of Shramik Special trains from Ghaziabad and Noida, from where trains have been running since May 15.

UP government officials on Sunday said 522 trains have arrived from other states, and another 87 were scheduled to arrive.

When these trains arrive, around 1.65 million migrant workers will arrive in UP. Around 150,000 arrived in the state on Saturday, said Awanish Awasthi, additional chief secretary (home), Uttar Pradesh.

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- Felicien Kabuga, a Rwandan businessman, was accused of bankrolling and participating in the Rwandan genocide that claimed lives of at least 800,000 innocent people in 1994

- The fugitive was arrested on Saturday, May 16, in Paris by French paramilitary officers and over 20 years on the run

- Serge Brammertz, the chief prosecutor of the mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals in The Hague welcomed his arrest

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Police in France have arrested Felicien Kabuga, the suspect who was accused on bankrolling the Rwandan genocide that claimed at least 800,000 lives in 1994.

The 84-year-old who had evaded arrest for 25 years was living at an apartment in Paris under a false identity.

READ ALSO: Nana Ama McBrown speaks for the 1st about Nana Yaa Brefo's resignation

Felicien Kabuga was accused of being the main financier of the 1994 Rwandan genocide where 800,000 people were killed. Photo: Muhabura.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Kofi Kinaata shares rear throwback photo; fans say "God is good"

According to reports by BBC and other international news outlets, the fugitive was arrested on Saturday, May 16, by French paramilitary officers.

Serge Brammertz, the chief prosecutor of the mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals in The Hague welcomed his arrest.

There were reports Kabuga was allegedly hiding in Kenya under protection of some senior officials in government. Photo: Alchetron.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Matilda Asare flaunts her adorable son in powerful photo; fans react

"The arrest of Felicien Kabuga today is a reminder that those responsible for genocide can be brought to account, even 26 years after their crimes," said Brammertz.

"For international justice, Kabugas arrest demonstrates that we can succeed when we have the international communitys support. This result is a tribute to the unwavering commitment of the United Nations Security Council, which established the mechanism to continue the accountability process in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia," he added.

The United States (US) had offered KSh 500 million to anyone who would give information of his whereabouts.

READ ALSO: John Dumelo speaks about his childhood for the 1st time; says his mum wanted him to be a priest

There were reports the fugitive was hiding in Kenya under alleged protection of senior officials in government.

Here was how the world reacted to his arrest:

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The body of a COVID-19 positive patient who'd been admitted to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on 10 May was found at an Ahmedabad bus stop Friday, according to several media reports.

The body of a COVID-19 positive patient who had been admitted to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on 10 May was found at a bus stop in the city on Friday, according to several media reports.

The patient, Gunvant Makwana, who was suffering from respiratory problems, was admitted to Ahmedabad Civil Hospitals COVID-19 isolation ward on 10 May after displaying symptoms of the disease, as per a report in Scroll.

His son Kirti received a positive test report by email three days later. "For three days, I had no idea about my fathers condition, because no one is allowed to visit the isolation ward and the hospital had told me to go home, Kirti, a labourer at a textile mill, who lives in Ahmedabads Danilimda neighbourhood told Scroll.

Then, on 15 May Kirti received a call from the Danilimda police station, asking him to pick up his fathers body from the postmortem room of SVP Hospital, a public hospital which is six kilometres away from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, Scroll reported.

Police said Makwana was an asymptomatic COVID-19 patient who'd filled in the home isolation form on 15 May, per a report in the The Times of India. Makwana, who was being taken home in a bus with five other patients, asked the bus driver to stop and said he'd walk to his home, the police further told the newspaper.

Follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak here

Dr MM Prabhakar, the officer on special duty at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, told The Quint, "The patient had very mild symptoms and as per new protocols, he was asked to home quarantine. He was discharged on 14 May. When he was being discharged, he was adequately fit.

Prabhakar further told The Quint, The hospitals transport system took him from the hospital but probably because the road was congested near his house, he was dropped at a neighbouring bus stand. It is not immediately clear whether his family members were informed about his discharge.

Gujarat chief Minister Vijay Rupani has ordered a probe. Rajiv Gupta, ex-additional chief secretary, health department, will conduct the inquiry and has been asked to submit his report in 24 hours, The Times of India reported.

Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani took aim at the Rupani administration on Twitter, demanding that the chief minister take "moral responsibility" and step down.
Five hundred buses hired by the Congress to ferry migrants to their home towns were stopped at Bahaj village in Bharatpur at the border of Mathura district on Sunday pending permission from the Uttar Pradesh government.

All India Congress Committee secretary in charge of UP, Zubair Khan, and Rajasthans minister of state for health Subhash Garg tried to contact the UP government for permission but in vain.

Khan said the party wanted to help the migrant workers in transit. The buses are ready. We will start transporting the workers when we get permission, he said.

He said party general secretary in charge of UP Priyanka Gandhi has offered buses at the expenses of the Congress party to UP government for taking migrants to their houses.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath ordered his officials on Thursday to ensure that no migrant labourer enters the state walking. A statement from his office said the state government was actively engaged in bringing them back safely.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, hundreds of migrants were seen travelling on trucks on the Jaipur-Agra national highway in Bharatpur. They were going to Bihar and Jharkhand.

Munsi Lal of Bihar said he was walking from Bhilwara in Rajasthan to his village in Bihar when the police ordered him to hop on to a truck at Kamalpura border in Bharatpur. Truck driver Raj Kishor said he was transporting goods from Rajgarh in Gujarat to Kolkata. At Kherli Mod, police ordered me to also take migrants on the truck, he said.

Congress general secretary and in charge of the partys eastern UP affairs, Priyanka Gandhi urged the UP government to allow the buses to ferry migrants in the state, however, state minister Siddharth Nath Singh accused Priyanka of attempting to make political capital without understanding logistics.
A day after police arrested a 40-year-old wanted man, his close aide was also arrested in another shoot-out near Ghasera village in Nuh Saturday night, police said. The two suspects and their gang were involved in more than 200 incidents of ATM thefts, they added.

The suspect arrested on Saturday was identified as Shoukat by the police. The suspect is wanted in eight states and the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police had announced a reward of 50,000 on his arrest.

According to the police, Shoukat is from Shikarpur village in Tauru tehsil. They said his gang had allegedly looted more than 14 crore in the last 10 years. The gang members used to uproot ATMs from kiosks and loot the cash, the police added.

Narender Bijarnia, superintendent of police (SP), Nuh, said the police received a tip about the suspects movement  that he would be going towards Ghasera village to meet his some of his associates. The investigation unit, led by inspector Vipin Kumar, laid a trap and intercepted the motorcycle the suspect was riding. Shoukat opened fire on the police team following which our personnel retaliated, and a bullet hit his right leg, he said.

The suspect was rushed to the civil hospital in Nuh, police said adding that two country-made pistols and two live cartridges were recovered from his possession.

We had arrested the leader of the gang, identified as Farookh on Friday late night in a shoot-out, but his close aide Shoukat had managed to flee from the spot. He had fled to Tauru and was on his way to meet other gang members when we received a tip on his movement and the police team surrounded him, Bijarnia said.

Shoukat was wanted in eight states and was declared a proclaimed offender in 2017 by Nuh, Gurugram, and Uttar Pradesh Police.

Earlier when police used to conduct raids in his village, the villagers would pelt stones on the police teams and have assaulted many police personnel of Gujarat, Nuh, Gurugram, and Uttar Pradesh Police. Shoukat used to hide in his village at a relatives house, and was not arrested for the last three years, the SP said.

Police officers said the suspect was involved in more than 200 incidents wherein he along with his associates uprooted ATMs in at least eight states across the country. Bijarnia, said the suspect would get unemployed youngsters in Nuh to join the gang and rope them in for ATM thefts and robberies.

Shaukat had travelled with Farookh to Gujarat, Orissa, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra to conduct ATM thefts, the police said.

According to the police, the suspect was involved in cow smuggling cases before and was arrested at least seven times. After police had started arresting the people involved in smuggling cases, he gave smuggling cows and joined Farookh. He would drive to other states with his gang and steal other vehicles that were used to return to Nuh with the looted cash.

The Nuh police have registered 197 cases in the last two months and have arrested as many as 155 suspects. The police said they arrested 21 most-wanted criminals, 61 proclaimed offenders, and 40 bail-jumper. Over 1,037 vehicles were impounded by the police in the same period.

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Loading "I regret that we made very little progress towards agreement on the most significant outstanding issues between us," said Britain's chief negotiator David Frost. "We failed to make any progress on any of the other more difficult topics," Frost's EU's counterpart Michel Barnier said in Brussels. The sticking points are the same thorny issues that have long dominated the Leavers' list of gripes. The EU wants access to the UK's fishing markets under EU regulations; Britain wants to be treated as an independent coastal state and negotiate access in the same way the EU does with the Faroe Islands and Iceland, for example.

The EU also wants the UK to sign on to so-called "level playing field" or "fair play" rules that would ban Britain from diverging from EU regulations and restrict the British government from offering state aid to companies. The UK has said it will not lower environmental and worker standards and said it will have its own anti-subsidy regime. And in a foretaste for what could continue to stall any meaningful progress in the EU-Australia trading negotiations, Barnier is adamant that Britain's pledge to be carbon-neutral by 2050 be bound in "appropriate instruments", serving as "concrete, mutual and reciprocal guarantees". "Yet the UK refuses this decision," remarked a surprised Barnier. "Without a level playing field, and without an agreement on fisheries, there will be no economic and trade partnership agreement," he warned. Frost also agreed that agreement, without movement from the other side, was impossible.

Loading It is hard to understand why the EU insists on an ideological approach which makes it more difficult to reach a mutually beneficial agreement," Frost lamented. Barnier identified the difference between the UK and EU as one of "ambition". In a way he is right: the EU wants to include more in its trade agreement than Britain believes is necessary. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who headed the Vote Leave campaign with promises of the benefits of the single market plus new trade agreements, has since jettisoned these promises that Remainers always said were impossible to achieve. The UK now wants what it says is no more than what the EU agreed with Canada and if that can't be struck, then it is happy to have an "Australian-style" trading arrangement with the EU.

Australia has been trying to negotiate an FTA with the EU for years, so Britain's acceptance of these arrangements is to essentially embrace No Deal  crashing out of the EU with no agreement and defaulting to the rules set out at the World Trade Organisation for how goods can be traded where no bilateral or multilateral deals exist. Put simply, this would amount to huge economic pain for both sides  that would add to but also be concealed by the devastating economic fallout of the pandemic. This could serve as an added incentive for those British who want the cleanest possible break with Brussels once and for all. Both parties only have until about July to strike a deal in time for its ratification by EU member states and in Britain. "Time is running out for a deal," the Australian-born Labour MP and shadow minister for Europe, Catherine West, told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

It is worth keeping in mind that we have seen this brinkmanship before only for both sides to reach agreement in the final hours. However, Shanker Singham, an international trade expert who advised former UK trade secretary Liam Fox, said the EU was negotiating like it was still 2019. "I understand it," he said. "They're looking at the video calls and seeing the same faces they dealt with in the May administration and they assume it's business as usual. "But it's not going to happen with this lot, it doesn't need to happen with the 80-seat majority Boris won last year." Singham said there were solutions to all the sticking points that could be agreed at the next round of talks to begin on June 1.

"Id watch for June, either theyll get it or not and if they do, it will be pretty quick." But if not, "a more of a tear-the-plaster-off-the-wound approach becomes more likely", he said. Labour is likely to push for an extension for the transition period. Singham says there is no political will in the UK to extend the transition period because the EU could abandon talks and leave the UK locked in its regulatory orbit forever. Labour observers note that the Prime Minister has broken his own deadlines before, most notably that Brexit would happen "no ifs, no buts" on October 31, 2019. "Johnson has already broken his promise on border controls for Northern Ireland," West said. This, she said, added to concern among those who wanted as close a relationship with Europe as possible, about the direction the Tories were willing to take Brexit. "With hardcore Brexiteers in charge of both chaotic response to Brexit and COVID-19 simultaneously, the UK faces a punch-in-the-face double-whammy of recession and no-deal Brexit chaos," she said.

Australia in the box seat While acrimony is breaking down the EU and UK's talks, momentum is surging around the UK's other trading negotiations. The focus on the UK's relationship with the EU often overlooks the fact that the UK's single largest trading partner is the world's biggest economy, the United States. Two-way trade is already worth 230 billion ($434 billion) a year. On May 5, the UK and the United States launched negotiations and the first fortnight of talks, involving nearly 30 different negotiating groups, also concluded on Friday. Trade Secretary Liz Truss will update the Commons on progress this week. But no one expects the UK and US to strike a deal quickly.

Added to the complex issues to be thrashed out around a digital tax, US demands for weaker food standards and potentially even a measure to deter UK trade with China, is the US election in November. "I'm not saying it's impossible to do it before the election in the US but I think it's, personally, unlikely," former chancellor George Osborne told a webinar this week. While the US and UK could strike a political mini-deal, these many deterrents put Australia in the box seat. Australia's high commissioner to Britain, George Brandis, said the launch of negotiations on an Australia-UK free trade agreement would not be far off. "We expect the announcement of the commencement of formal negotiations between Australia and the UK to take place very soon," he said.
Editor's note: In recent weeks, there have been many new developments relating to Bien Dong (the East Vietnam Sea), particularly the circulation of notes verbales by several states  including Malaysia, China, the Philippines and Vietnam  at the United Nations. In this context, Dr. Nguyen Ba Son, president of the Viet Nam Society of International Law (VSIL) gave Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper an interview to discuss the legal implications of these actions, as well as give his opinion on what should be done to maintain peace, stability and to promote peaceful settlement of disputes and cooperation in the Sea.

Reporter: Thank you, Mr. President, for giving this interview. In the recent weeks, we have witnessed many new developments relating to Bien Dong, in particular the circulation of notes verbales by several states at the United Nations, seizing the attention of the public opinion. In your capacity as president of VSIL, what are your evaluations of these developments from the perspectives of international law?

Dr. Nguyen Ba Son: It is noticeable that the situation in Bien Dong always attracts the attention of the public opinion, not only in the coastal states of the Sea but also in countries outside the region. The complicated developments in relation to Bien Dong, as well as territorial and jurisdictional claims of coastal states have continually been updated by the media in Vietnam and elsewhere, being a hot topic for commentaries at different venues, including on the social sites.

What seizes the attention of international law researchers and practitioners are the recent notes verbales, circulated by Malaysia, China, the Philippines and Vietnam at the United Nations.

This series of notes was initiated by Malaysias Note No. HA 59/12, dated December 12, 2019, referring to Malaysias Submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) regarding its extended continental shelf in Bien Dong. On the same day, China addressed its Note No. CML/14/2019 to the Secretary-General of the United Nations to protest Malaysias Submission. On March 6, 2020, the Philippines sent Note No. 000191-2020 to protest Chinas claims in its Note No. CML/14/2019 and Note No. 000192-2020 to protest Malaysias Submission. On March 22, 2020, China again sent Note No. CML/11/2020 to protest the Philippines claims.

On April 22, 2020, at the request of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the UN circulated Note No. 22/HC-2020 of Vietnam to protest Chinas claims in relation to Bien Dong in its two Notes CML/14/2019 and CML/11/2020. On April 10, 2020, the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations also sent to the Secretary-General of the UN Note No. 24/HC-2020 referring to Malaysias Note of December 12, 2019 and Note No. 25/HC-2020 referring to the Philippine Notes of March 6, 2020.

It should be highlighted that member states attach significance to affirming and defending their positions at the United Nations  the most important multilateral organization in the world. The content of the above-mentioned notes verbales shows the states concerns on legal issues and their efforts to employ international law to defend their interests.

Reporter: Please explain the international legal implications of the Notes circulated by Vietnam at the United Nations, in particular its Note No. 22/HC-2020.

Dr. Nguyen Ba Son: It is a normal diplomatic practice at the United Nations that member states send notes verbales or other instruments to the Secretary-General of the UN and request him or her to circulate to all UN member states. Just on the issue of Bien Dong, Vietnam has sent dozens of notes or letters for the circulation to all member states at the United Nations.

From the angles of international law, the expression of states views in protest against or in support for the positions of other states emanates from certain principles of international law. In the international legal theory and customs, there exists an important rule relating to territory and boundary, which is called acquiescence.

As interpreted by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), acquiescence means an indirect recognition by a state of another states unilateral act, which is considered by the other state as the consent of the state giving the indirect recognition. In the Malaysia/Singapore case, the ICJ gave further explanations to the acquiescence rule by saying that the silence of a state in face of an act or a position of another state that required the formers reaction had the same legal meaning as the expressed consent with or protest against such act or position.

The above-mentioned notes of China, Malaysia and the Philippines, to certain extents, demonstrate claims relating to Vietnams territory and maritime jurisdiction. Vietnam, therefore, must express its official positions by sending its diplomatic notes to the UN Sec-Gen. The absence of these diplomatic notes could be interpreted as Vietnams acquiescence in the claims of those states, following the ruling of the ICJ in the Malaysia/Singapore case.

Vietnams Note No. 22/HC-2020 is in response to Chinas Notes of 12 December 2019 and 23 March 2020 at the United Nations. In these two notes, China reiterated its claims that severely violated Vietnams sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in Bien Dong and clearly ran counter to international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea adopted in 1982 (UNCLOS).

Those were claims of territorial sovereignty over all the offshore archipelagos/islands in Bien Dong, including the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands of Vietnam; of full maritime entitlements for the whole of those offshore archipelagos/islands; of historic rights in most of Bien Dong. Furthermore, in those two notes China stated that its claims were in accordance with international law and relevant practices and known to the international community. China also requested the UN Sec-Gen to circulate its notes to all UN member states.

All those baseless and unlawful claims, intentionally coated with legal justification and publicized at the United Nations by China, constitute a typical circumstance that requires reactions from interested states, if they do not want to be assumed that they give acquiescence to those claims of China. Therefore, Vietnams Notes, addressed to the UN to reject Chinas unlawful claims in Bien Dong, are prompted by international law and practices.

Vietnamese off-shore fishing vessels are seen near Ly Son Island off Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. Photo: Viet Hung / Tuoi Tre

Reporter: Please comment on the content of Vietnams Note No. 22/HC-2020

Dr. Nguyen Ba Son: As I have mentioned, Note No. 22/HC-2020 is Vietnams response to Chinas positions expressed in its two Notes CML/14/2019 dated December 12, 2019 and CML/11/2020 dated March 23, 2020. The first and most important point in Note No. 22/HC-2020 is that Vietnam rejects all claims made by China in its Notes regarding territorial sovereignty and maritime entitlements in Bien Dong.

Note No. 22/HC-2020 reaffirms Vietnams consistent position that Vietnam has ample historical evidence and legal basis to affirm its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands and the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands in accordance with international law.

The Note states that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides the sole legal basis for and defines in a comprehensive and exhaustive manner the scope of the respective maritime entitlements of the coastal states in Bien Dong. This position of Vietnam is opposite to and rejecting Chinas views that there exist customary international rules outside the UNCLOS, which govern the determination of maritime entitlements as between China and Vietnam. It is undeniable that States Parties to the UNCLOS, including China and Vietnam, have the obligation to respect and fully implement the UNCLOS.

Finally, the Note presents a clear interpretation and application of the relevant provisions of the UNCLOS to the offshore geographical features in Bien Dong, consisting of three main points: i) the maritime entitlements of the high-tide elevations in the Hoang Sa Islands and the Truong Sa Islands must be determined in accordance with article 121 (3) of the UNCLOS, meaning that they are rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or an economic life of their own and they are not entitled to an EEZ and continental shelf; ii) the baselines of the groups of islands in Bien Dong, including the Hoang Sa Islands and the Truong Sa Islands, cannot be drawn by joining the outermost points of their respective outermost features, meaning that the use of the archipelagic state baselines or the straight baselines around the outermost features of those island groups to form a single unit and to claim full maritime entitlements for such single unit is not in accordance with the UNCLOS; iii) low-tide elevations or submerged features are not capable of appropriation and do not generate entitlements to any maritime zones; this means that the illegal occupation of and the land reclamation and island-building activities at the LTE or submerged features cannot change their legal status as provided by the UNCLOS.

These positions of Vietnam fully conform with international law as first confirmed by the ICJ in the Qatar/Bahrain case (2001) and then reaffirmed by the ICJ in the Malaysia/Singapore case (2008) and the Nicaragua/Colombia case (2012) or the Arbitral Tribunal in the South China Sea case (2016).

The Note reflects the consistency in Vietnams positions on territorial sovereignty and maritime entitlements in accordance with international law. Vietnam does not claim sovereignty over submerged features and states that submerged features are not subjects for appropriation and do not enjoy any maritime entitlements of their own. The consistency in Vietnams positions has been manifested over a long period of time, through the Statement made by the Vietnamese National Assembly when ratifying the UNCLOS in 1994 (attached to the Ratification Instrument), the Notes of Vietnam at the UN in 1998 and 2014 regarding Chinas baselines, as well as its Notes at the UN in 1998, 2009, 2012 and 2014 rejecting Chinas so-called historic rights in Bien Dong.

Again, I would like to conclude that Vietnams positions, reflected in its Note No. 22/HC-2020 to the UN, fully conform with international law as upheld by international courts and tribunal in the above-mentioned cases.

Dr. Nguyen Ba Son, president of the Viet Nam Society of International Law, is seen in this file photo. Photo: Mai Vinh / Tuoi Tre

Reporter: Please assess the Notes of Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as the Notes of Vietnam in response to the Malaysian and Philippine Notes. Are they also relating to the acquiescence rule that you mentioned above?

Dr. Nguyen Ba Son: As I have said, the Malaysian and Philippine Notes, to certain extents, relate to Vietnams territory and maritime entitlements. We, therefore, need to express our positions through diplomatic notes.

On December 12, 2019, Malaysia sent Note No. HA59/12 to the UN Sec-Gen to notify its Submission to the CLCS on the outer limits of Malaysias remaining extended continental shelf in the northern part of Bien Dong. Following the Joint Submission with Vietnam in 2009, Malaysia affirmed that it implemented the obligation under article 76 (8) of the UNCLOS.

Vietnams Note No. 24/HC-2020 on April 10, 2020 is aimed at reserving its lawful rights and interests relating to the issues mentioned in the above Malaysian Note. Based on the provisions of article 76 (10) and Annex II (on maritime delimitation) of the UNCLOS, Vietnam reminded that the actions of the CLCS shall not prejudice matters relating to the delimitation of boundaries between States with opposite or adjacent coasts. This implies that in case there is an overlapping area between the extended continental shelf of Vietnam and Malaysia, the lawful rights and interests of Vietnam must be respected.

Note No. 24/HC-2020 also recalls the Joint Submission by Vietnam and Malaysia of May 6, 2009 concerning the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured in the southern part of the East Vietnam Sea (South China Sea) and its Partial Submission of May 7, 2009 concerning the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from its baseline from which the breadth of its territorial sea is measured in the northern part of Bien Dong. In this regard, Vietnam reserves its rights to submit information on the limits of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from its baselines from which the breadth of its territorial sea is measured in other areas in Bien Dong.

Note No. 25/HC-2020 on April 10, 2020 referred to the two Notes sent to the UN Sec-Gen by the Philippines on March 6, 2020 and only made reservations to Vietnams sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and the Truong Sa Islands, as well as Vietnams rights to its maritime zones as established in accordance with the UNCLOS. The objective of this Note was to pre-empt any possible implications that may arise from the Philippine claims of sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction over the area called the Kalayaan island group. The Note did not touch upon the legal positions relating to maritime entitlement definition on the basis of the Arbitral Award of 2016 on the South China Sea case in the Philippine notes. Considering the legal positions Vietnam expressed in its Note No. 22/HC-2020, it could be observed that Vietnam supports the interpretation and application of the UNCLOS by the Arbitral Tribunal in the related issues.

Chinas illegal land reclamation on the Phu Lam (Woody) Island in Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago is evident in this satellite image taken in March 2019. Photo: Google Earth

Reporter: On April 17, 2020, the Permanent Mission of China to the UN sent Note CML/42/2020 to oppose Vietnams Note No. 22/HC-2020 and Vietnams two notes of April 10, 2020. Do you have any comment on Chinas Note of April 17, 2020?

Dr. Nguyen Ba Son: In my view, there is nothing new in the Note of China on April 17, 2020. China only repeated its erroneous information and arguments, to which Vietnam has, for many times, rejected with evidence and arguments very well received and supported by the international community.

However, I need to comment on a shameless fabrication of fact by China when it said that from 1975 Vietnam sent troops to invade and illegally occupy some islands and reefs of Chinas Nansha Qundao (the Truong Sa Islands of Vietnam) and it demands that Vietnam withdraw all the crews and facilities from [those] islands and reefs.

The historical truth is at least since the 17th century, the Nguyen Lords had exercised the sovereignty of Vietnam over the Hoang Sa and the Truong Sa Islands through the dispatches of the Bac Hai-Hoang Sa teams to exploit these islands. In the following periods, the Nguyen Emperors ordered naval units to carry out map drawing and implanting of sovereignty marks on these islands. During the colonial times, France administered these two islands on behalf of Vietnam. In 1954, the Government of the Republic of Vietnam assumed the administration over these two islands in accordance with the 1954 Geneva Agreement. In 1975, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam took over the administration of the Truong Sa Islands and has continued to exercise Vietnams sovereignty over the islands since then. The exercise of Vietnams sovereignty over the Truong Sa Islands in 1975 and afterwards is fully in accordance with international law and has not been protested by other states, including the Peoples Republic of China. How that could be described as illegal occupation!

Vietnams peaceful and effective administration of the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands has also been recognized by the international community. For instance, in 1949, the World Meteorological Organization registered three meteorological stations operated by Vietnam on offshore islands in Bien Dong, one of which was the Hoang Sa Station under register No. 48860. Thus, not only Vietnams sovereignty was established and recognized, but the name Hoang Sa was included in official documents of the inter-governmental organizations.

Contrary to the peaceful exercise of sovereignty by Vietnam over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands, China used force in 1974 and 1988 to seize some islands or features in the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands of Vietnam. These were acts of absolute violation of international law. Chinas illegal occupation of and its activities of island-building and militarization in these features of the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands prove to be the real causes of tension in Bien Dong, threatening regional peace and stability.

Reporter: What would you comment on Chinas recent notification of the establishment of two administrative districts in the Hoang Sa Islands and the Truong Sa Islands in light of international law?

Dr. Nguyen Ba Son: According to the press, on April 18, 2020, the Chinese Government approved of the establishment of two administrative units at district level under the so-called Sansha City, illegally established by China in 2012. These new districts were named the Xisha District (the Hoang Sa Islands of Vietnam) and the Nansha District (the Truong Sa Islands of Vietnam).

It should be underlined that the establishment of administrative units in the territory of another state is an illegal act, violating both international and national laws.

The authority to establish administrative units in a territory emanates from the state sovereignty over that territory. Vietnam has ample historical evidence and legal basis to affirm its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands and the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands for many centuries. Long before China illustrated these islands in their maps, the Vietnamese authorities had included the Hoang Sa Islands and the Truong Sa Islands in the provinces under their administration.

Decree No. 10 of Bao Dai Emperor, issued on March 30, 1938, provided: Considering that the islands and islets of Hoang Sa had belonged to the sovereignty of Vietnam for a long time and during the previous dynasties, those islands were placed within the administrative sphere of Nam Ngai Province [Quang Ngai Province at present]. This arrangement remained the same until Duc The To Cao Emperors reign, because all voyages to these islands proceeded from the ports of Nam Ngai Province.

After Frances war of aggression in Vietnam and the signing of the Pact of Patenotre in 1884, as the successor of the Nguyen Dynasty to govern in Vietnam, the French Colonial Administration established the Hoang Sa District (by Decree 156-SC on June 15, 1932) and annexed the Truong Sa Islands into Ba Ria Province (by Decree 4702-CP on December 21, 1933).

Along the course of our history, there have been several administrative allocations by the following governments in Vietnam with regard to the Hoang Sa and the Truong Sa Islands. For instance, in 1938 Hoang Sa was taken from Quang Ngai Province and annexed to Thua Thien Province; in 1961, Hoang Sa was taken from Thua Thien Province and put as a commune in the administrative sphere of Hoa Vang District in Quang Nam Province and named as Dinh Hai Commune; in 1982, Hoang Sa Islands became a district under Quang Nam-Da Nang Province; in 1996, Hoang Sa was annexed to Da Nang City under the central government.

With regards to the Truong Sa Islands, in 1956, they were annexed to Phuoc Tuy Province; in 1982 they were put under Dong Nai Province and then annexed into Phu Khanh Province; in 1989, Truong Sa Islands became a district of Khanh Hoa Province and in 2007 there was a decision to define the administrative limits of communes and towns within Truong Sa District and to establish the Town of Truong Sa, the Communes of Song Tu Tay and Sinh Ton, and more.

The administrative allocations of the Hoang Sa and the Truong Sa Islands have been part of Vietnams peaceful and effective exercise of sovereignty over these two islands in accordance with international law. The White Books on Vietnams Sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and the Truong Sa Islands, published in 1975, 1979, 1981 and 1988, provided undisputable evidence.

Since at least the 17th century, Hoang Sa and Truong Sa fell under the sovereignty of Vietnam and have been administrative units of the independent and sovereign State of Vietnam. Chinas use of force to invade the Hoang Sa Islands in 1974, some features of the Truong Sa Islands in 1988, and its activities to turn these low-tide and submerged features into artificial islands from 2014 to 2018 cannot bring about a sovereign title to China over those islands. Therefore, Chinas establishment of the Xisha District and the Nansha District is in violation of international law, invalid and would certainly be denounced and criticized by the international communities.

Not only the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, but also the related local authorities protested against the establishment of the so-called Sansha City in 2012, as well as the announcement of the two new districts of Xisha and Nansha at present. It should be highlighted that since 2012, the Vietnamese competent authorities always expressed clear positions regarding any Chinese moves in relation to the so-called Sansha City and its subordinate units.

Reporter: In your view, what should be done to protect the lawful rights and legitimate interests of Vietnam, to maintain peace, stability and to promote peaceful settlement of disputes and cooperation in Bien Dong?

Dr. Nguyen Ba Son: On April 21, 2020, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam made a clear statement on the positions of Vietnam, as follows: Vietnam sincerely wishes that the lawful and legitimate rights and interests of States, as provided for by the UNCLOS, be respected; the related parties are under the obligation to observe international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, showing their commitment to the development of the friendly relationship between States, to peace, stability and cooperation in Bien Dong, in the region and throughout the world.

In the above statement, we can see that the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam attributes importance to peace, stability and cooperation, aspires to promote the friendship with China and other coastal states of Bien Dong and upholds the role of international law in settling disputes and managing the situation in Bien Dong.

Being a lawyer, I wish to offer a few ideas of my own:

According to the provisions of the UNCLOS, the coastal states of Bien Dong enjoys many rights and interests. At the same time, other states are also entitled to certain rights, as to navigation, overflight, submarine cables and pipelines, scientific research, and more. Therefore, the issue of Bien Dong does not solely relate to Vietnam or the countries around the Sea. The maintenance of peace, security and safe maritime and air navigations, as well as opportunities to exploit the resources in Bien Dong should be the shared interest of the international community.

Vietnams consistent position is to settle all disputes with other countries by peaceful means in accordance with international law. Article 4 paragraph 3 of the Law on the Sea of Vietnam in 2012 prescribes: The State will settle all disputes concerning the sea and islands between Vietnam and other countries by peaceful means, in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, international law and practices.

Accordingly, Vietnam so far sets priority in conducting negotiations with related states to settle differences and disputes over maritime zones and islands. It has been recognized by international scholars and proved by international practices that negotiation is the most effective and common dispute settlement mean.

We, however, cannot deny the instances in which negotiation cannot progress, due to opposite and irreconcilable positions of the disputed parties in interpreting international law. In this case, states are entitled to consider other peaceful means, provided by the UNCLOS, the United Nations Charter, such as: mediation, conciliation, international courts or arbitral tribunals to get an objective opinion of a neutral third party, which could serve as the basis for the disputed parties to modify their legal positions.

By our assessment of the above-mentioned notes verbales, it is clear that the disputes relating to Bien Dong originate from stark differences in understanding, interpreting and applying international law by the disputed parties. The use of a third-party mechanism to assist in overcoming the different legal positions between parties is normal and reasonable. The opinions of the third-party mechanism could help the disputed parties to better understand the lawful and legitimate rights and interests of each other, thus more sustainable cooperation or solutions could be agreed upon by the disputed parties.

There is a view that the issues of sovereignty or territory in Bien Dong are too sensitive to be submitted to a third-party mechanism. But I am of the view that state sovereignty or national territory is not just brought about by subjective will. It must be established in accordance with international law. From this perspective, many of the disputes over sovereignty and territory are, in nature, disputes over legal views, including the interpretation and application of the international legal norms and principles. So the settlement of disputes by a third party procedure or mechanism does not create an addition or a loss of territory or sovereignty for a party; it only helps the disputed parties to define properly the limits of their respective sovereignty or territory in accordance with international law.

An objective and equitable legal opinion of a third-party mechanism may not only help the disputed parties in Bien Dong to settle their disputes, but would also be of value to other countries, because of the vital significance of the Sea to the international community.

The disputes in Bien Dong can only be settled by peaceful means, because that is the only venue to achieve sustainable solutions to the existing complicated problems and disputes between the related parties, creating a common legal basis for the parties to cooperate and deal with the issues of their concern. A state may decide to use force or superior strength to enforce its unilateral claims on the ground in spite of other states protests, such behavior is nothing but a violation of the obligation to peacefully settle international disputes and can never help to achieve a long-term and thorough solution to any dispute.

I need to caution against conflating the use of third-party mechanism in dispute settlement to the extent of considering this as a magical stick. We all know that in international law there is no organ above the states that will enforce the compliance by states of the awards or recommendations of the third party mechanism. State compliance is based on its voluntary consent. That does not mean international law lacks binding effects. The binding effects come from the states consent to be bound by international treaties, the correlation of power and interests in international affairs, the common aspiration to maintain a stable and equal international order and a peaceful world without wars Up till now, most states have chosen to comply with the decisions of the third party mechanism that had jurisdiction to consider their disputes.

In searching for the applicable third-party mechanism for dispute settlement, we need to pay attention to the types of disputes. Disputes relating to the interpretation and application of the provisions of the UNCLOS between the States Parties to the Convention can be settled by the means and procedures provided in the Convention, because when states ratified the Convention, they gave their consent to its provisions, including the dispute settlement procedures under Part XV.

There are, however, some exceptions and limitations as regards: i) disputes relating to marine scientific research and fisheries under Article 297; or ii) as provided by Article 298, disputes relating to boundary delimitation of the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf, historic titles, military activities, some of law-enforcement activities, or disputes which are under the mandates of the UN Security Council as entrusted by the UN Charter could be excluded by means of a statement made to that effect by States upon ratification (China had such a statement in 2006). Disputes relating to territorial sovereignty cannot be settled by the procedures under the UNCLOS. These disputes can only be considered by a third-party mechanism with the consent of the disputed parties. Efforts by States to bring territorial sovereignty disputes to the dispute settlement mechanism under the UNCLOS so far have not been successful.

We should also note that the use of legal means, such as mediation, conciliation, international judiciary or arbitration, is not a simple business. As we learned from the South China Sea Arbitration, the Philippines had spent a lot of efforts and financial resources to be able to present their strong and persuasive arguments and thousands of pages of supporting documents to help the Arbitral Tribunal reach its historic Award.

So we are required to do many things to be prepared, such as a strong team of lawyers and specialists of international law, a complete collection of historical evidence and legal arguments (to the best possible extent) and a good proceeding strategy.
A solo pilot has died after crashing his home-built amphibious light plane into a backyard in the NSW Hunter region.

The plane crashed short of a runway about 10.15am on Sunday and into the yard of a property on Denton Close in Windella next to the Royal Newcastle Aero Club.

The pilot is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be a 44-year-old man, who was an experienced pilot.

He was trapped in the wreckage before being removed by witnesses who attempted to resuscitate him before paramedics arrived.

Emergency services were unable to save the pilot who was pronounced dead at the scene.

A pilot has died after crashing his homemade plane into the yard of a property on Denton Close in Windella in NSW

Royal Newcastle Aero Club vice-president Trevor Bright told ABC he believed the pilot attempted to land on the airstrip after having engine troubles, with smoke seen emitting from the aircraft by witnesses.

'A radio call was given to the pilot to share that information with him and from that point, he attempted to land,' Mr Bright said.

Lawrence Howey helped the pilot out of the wreckage after watching the plane go down behind his shed.

'It's very sad. I guess it's lucky he didn't run into a house,' he said.

Peter Gibson from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority said the plane was an Osprey 2 amphibious aircraft which was built from a kit by the pilot.

He said it was common for aviation hobbyists to build their own planes.

Witnesses said it was lucky the plane didn't crash into a house in the rural area. Bystanders helped the man from the wreckage after the crash, but he was unable to be revived

'People enjoy the challenge of building the aircraft from scratch and understanding how it's all put together. Then there is the thrill of flying it,' he said.

A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman told AAP firefighters were on the scene to clear fuel spills and hazardous material from the crash site.

One firefighter had been injured during this process and transported to hospital, with his condition unclear.

Officers from Port Stephens Hunter Police District have established a crime scene and commenced inquiries.

A NSW police media release reads that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority have been notified.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Imphal/Guwahati, May 17 : Twelve of the 22 insurgents handed over by Myanmar to India on Friday tested negative for coronavirus in Manipur on Sunday, officials said.

Manipur Health and Family Welfare Department's Additional Director Khoirom Sasheekumar Mangang confirmed that swab samples of 12 "prisoners" had tested negative.

An Assam Police official said on condition of anonymity that swab samples of Assam's ten militants had been collected even as they were put in institutional quarantine immediately on their arrival in Guwahati on Friday.

According to security officials, these militants include self-styled home secretary of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit faction) Rajen Daimary.

Twelve of the 22 terrorists handed over by Myanmar are linked to four insurgent groups in Manipur while the remaining 10 are associated with NDFB (S) and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) of Assam.

The 22 insurgents, who linked to NDFB (S), United National Liberation Front, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Pro), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, People's Liberation Army and KLO, were brought to India on a special aircraft and handed over to Manipur and Assam police separately.

Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram - share 1,643-km of unfenced Indian border with Myanmar.
Manager of chemical tanker Stolt Apal says armed guard opens fire at attackers off the coast of Yemen.

Armed pirates attacked a British-flagged chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday but were repulsed, the ships manager Stolt Tankers has said.

The pirates approached the Stolt Apal in two speedboats some 75 nautical miles (139km) off Yemen, it said, in one of the most important trade routes for oil heading from the Middle East to Europe.

After multiple warning shots were fired by the armed guard team on board Stolt Apal, the skiffs opened fire on the ship. The armed guard team returned fire, disabling one skiff and ending the pursuit, a company spokesman told Reuters in emailed comments.

A coalition warship [also] responded and Stolt Apal has resumed her voyage, the spokesman said.

He did not specify which coalition was meant, but maritime security sources said the vessel had been sailing through a transit corridor patrolled by international naval forces due to the high risk of attack.

The spokesman said the ships bridge had sustained minor damage from bullets, but that there were no injuries. None of the ships cargo was damaged.

British officials were not immediately available for comment.

Stolt Tankers is a subsidiary of Norwegian listed Stolt-Nielsen.

Merchant ships have been attacked in recent years in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab waterway by armed gangs as well as groups such as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

A Saudi-led military coalition has, in the past, accused Yemens Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which it has been battling for five years, of trying to attack vessels off the coast of Yemen with unmanned boats laden with explosives.

Maritime security firm Dryad Global said it was the ninth reported incident in the Gulf of Aden this year.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations naval authority says in a warning notice on its website that it advises vessels in the area to exercise extreme caution.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- When research firm GlobalData surveyed Americans on which stores they were most looking forward to visiting once the Covid-19 pandemic subsided, one household name came out near the bottom, and well below its department-store peers: J.C. Penney. That helps to explain Fridays late news that the retailer  which began life in 1902 as a store called The Golden Rule  filed for bankruptcy protection. Pushed to the brink by the coronavirus shutdowns, J.C. Penney Co. was seemingly left with no other choice. But years of struggle and strategic missteps had laid the groundwork.

After securing $900 million of financing, J.C. Penney will stay open for now, and its next steps include closing some stores, cutting its debt by several billion dollars and looking at alternatives including a sale. Despite those planned survival efforts, its hard to see J.C. Penney having a vibrant future.

Even before the coronavirus crisis, the retailer, with just under 850 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, had battled to be relevant to shoppers. Changing consumer tastes and incursions from online sellers wreaked havoc on its sales. And so now, unlike in the case of luxury department-store chain Neiman Marcus Group Inc., which also filed for bankruptcy this month, there may be little for a potential acquirer to pick up.

The downfall of J.C. Penney  a chain that grew out of a single store opened 118 years ago in Kemmerer, Wyoming by James Cash Penney  is part and parcel with the long, slow decline of the department store. The concept had its heyday from the end of the Second World War through to the 1980s. Often starting life downtown as Americans moved to the suburbs, these venerable names followed, opening in newly built malls. They focused largely on clothing and the items needed to furnish the homes that Americans were buying. Amid the age of mass car ownership, they were more than happy to drive to these retail attractions.

Story continues

For many years, J.C. Penney was known as a family department store. If not somewhere Americans aspired to shop, it offered good value, and solid styles. In fact, it was a bit like Britains Marks & Spencer Group Plc, the sort of place you went for back-to-school gear and basics. But at least M&S sold food  because by the 1980s, the environment for department stores was already darkening. In 1988, Walmart opened its first super-center, adding groceries to its non-food selection to encourage more regular visits. At the same time Target Inc., another mass merchant that combined clothing, home furnishings and groceries, was quietly expanding across the U.S.

The mid-market, which J.C. Penney had traditionally occupied, was under attack, not just from discounters, but later the internet, which was rapidly displacing department stores as the one-stop shop, and with cheaper, more transparent pricing.

By 2011, in an effort to reinvent itself, J.C. Penney appointed Ron Johnson, an executive from Apple Inc. who built the tech giants much-admired retail network. Some of his ideas  a communal space in stores for yoga classes and coffee bars and food stands dotted throughout  were directionally right, even if they never got off the ground. Other concepts did come to fruition and were disastrous, such as ditching the coupons that had driven much of J.C. Penneys traffic.

When Johnson was ousted in 2013, the company apologized to customers in a television commercial: We learned a very simple thing  to listen to you, it said in the ad. Come back to J.C. Penney. Unfortunately, they never did to the same extent.

While subsequent leaders Marvin Ellison, now chief executive of home-improvement chain Lowes Cos Inc., and current CEO Jill Soltau made progress, the company has yet to regain its stride. It has grappled with messy stores, and a lower proportion of online sales  around 20%  compared with 26% at Macys and 33% at Nordstrom.

Most recently, Soltau had cut discounting and reduced the amount of stock the chain carries. She also ditched the electrical appliances that Ellison introduced and sought to strengthen Penneys core clothing offering. But her efforts, however valiant, were no match for weeks of stores being closed. The group was also burdened with net debt of $4.5 billion, including store lease liabilities of just under 8 times Ebitda as of Feb. 1. Penney said late Friday that it owed creditors $8 billion.

With the company less constricted by debt, it may be possible for Soltau to turbocharge her recovery plan, which already includes rejuvenating locations. A store in Hurst, Texas shows the way, with a much-improved layout as well as styling, cafes, a fitness center and a barber shop. Soltau insists its not a prototype, but with more investment freedom she may be able to inject elements into other stores. She also had already begun to pare back J.C. Penneys store base. More locations will close, in phases.

Stacey Widlitz of SW Retail Advisors estimates J.C. Penneys footprint could shrink to just 150 stores. Even so, its hard to see how the retailer can stave off dwindling mall traffic if nervous shoppers stay home. Distinguishing itself from other mid-market rivals such as Macys Inc., which has its own plans for reinvention, will be another challenge.

A financial restructuring isnt a panacea. For retailers to make it through such a process and flourish, there must be a revival of the operating business, too. Its far from clear whether J.C. Penney  or any new owner  can pull that off.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Andrea Felsted is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering the consumer and retail industries. She previously worked at the Financial Times.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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The ministry continues to be on high alert to the Covid-19 pandemic and would like to remind the nation that the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against Covid-19 are to practice good personal hygiene, always wear a face mask in public places and exercise social distancing. Herald
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 17)  The Lung Center of the Philippines said on Sunday it has recorded a recovery rate of around 40 percent among its coronavirus patients.

"Kahit 20 percent po ang aming mortality (Even if our mortality is at 20 percent), ang aming recovery po ay nasa bandang 40 percent (our recovery is at around 40 percent). It's twice as much so this a good news, a good sign na mas marami po kaming nakikita (that we see more) recovery pa rin kaysa (than) mortality," LCP Spokesperson Dr. Norberto Francisco told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Weekend.

The hospital has handled 2,188 COVID-19 related cases so far, and 295 of these are confirmed for the disease, he said.

The Lung Center is among the country's COVID-19 referral hospitals as announced earlier by the Department of Health. It specifically handles severe and complicated coronavirus cases, explained Francisco.

In response to the pandemic, the hospital had shifted to an incident command system, which Francisco likened to a medical emergency mode. It has adopted this approach to better protect health workers and provide medical service to Filipinos in need at the same time, he said.

According to Francisco, among the measures taken by the LCP is retrofitting the hospital to better address coronavirus cases.

"Ang hospital natin, hindi lang Lung Center, pati lahat ng hospital, naka-design po yan sa general medical care. Pero alam naman nating lahat, ibang-iba ang sitwasyon ngayong COVID," he said.

[Translation: All hospitals, not just Lung Center, have been designed for general medical care. But we all know the situation nowadays is different with COVID(-19).]

LCP has since dedicated six out of its eight wings for coronavirus patients, said Francisco. Meanwhile, the two remaining wings are for patients with general lung conditions such as cancer, drug-resistant tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma, he explained.

Francisco added that the hospital had also installed additional CCTV cameras, telemetry machines, plastic curtains to replace isolation room doors so that medical personnel may monitor coronavirus patients at all times with minimal personal contact.

Call for donations

Despite all these measures, the Lung Center still seeks additional personal protective equipment for its workers, said Francisco, adding they are using 500 to 600 PPEs on a daily basis.

"We have to make sure we have stocks for at least three months. Ang target po natin (Our target) is, ang pinaghahandaan namin (what we prepare for) in forecasting is always for the next 3-4 months, hindi kami mawalan ng (we won't run out of) supply," he explained.

The hospital needs isolation gowns and N95 masks in particular, added Francisco.

Donations may be dropped off at the hospital's delivery area, while those who are unable to bring them personally may contact LCP instead. They shall find a way to transport the donations, he said.

Francisco added that the Department of Public Works and Highways and other government agencies are also assisting the Lung Center in transporting these donations.

The Philippines currently has 12,305 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 817 have died from the disease, while 2,561 have recovered from it.
TORRINGTON  Restaurants and hair salons are some of the first businesses being allowed to open next week, and city officials are doing what they can to help them get ready.

Reopening day was the topic of a Tele-Town Hall for restaurants and hair salons, held Friday by Mayor Elinor Carbone.

The forums were part of Carbones Survive and Thrive plan to help businesses reopen during the pandemic. The first group of businesses being allowed to reopen since closing March 13 include restaurants (with outdoor dining only), hair salons and barbershops, offices, retail stores and malls, museums and zoos. The states website offers a full description of the reopening process.

Many rules and restrictions are in place to protect business owners, staff and customers. Carbone, joined by Economic Development Director Riska Malanca, Fire Chief Peter Towey, Police Chief Bill Baldwin, City Planner Martin Connor and Torrington Area Health District Directors Robert Rubbo and Tom Stansfield, provided an overview of services and assistance being provided.

Mostly, though, the officials wanted people to ask questions.

We arent going to run through the list of whats required, whats allowed; we want to hear from you, Carbone told an online audience of about 30 people during the restaurant forum. We are here to become your partner, to develop a resiliency plan and help you develop a long-term plan to help you thrive.

Questions ranged from permit requirements to types of masks to use, to handling a difficult customer. Restaurants already offering takeout food and with a few tables outside dont need a permit, but someone adding outdoor dining does.

Takeouts supposed to be eaten off the premesis, said Stansfield. That being said, some places have outdoor seating. ... If youre using a picnic table, theres no way to disinfect it. So put a sign on it, saying use at your own risk. Just use caution.

A big worry is that large groups of people will form at outdoor dining areas, or that customers will disregard the use of masks and social distancing. Baldwin said if people didnt cooperate, the restaurant can call police.

If you have people who arent complying, you need to talk to your patrons about social distancing, and that its important to take precautions, he said. Well send an officer over, and if they dont comply, theyll be asked to leave. You have every right to ask them to leave.

But, Baldwin said, it shouldnt get that far. Managers cant allow this to happen, either, he said, referring to restaurant staff. If you allow violations to take place and theres a big crowd, the restaurant would be penalized. So its up to the managers to adhere to the guidelines.

Restaurant owners are being allowed to serve food outdoors, provided they have proper seating. They must apply for outdoor service permits from the town, but dont need an outdoor liquor permit if they already serve alcohol. Fees are being waived for all permits, Connor said. If theyre adding tables to a sidewalk area, the restaurant must have liability insurance.

Some eateries are setting up tents in their parking areas to serve customers, while others already have small, cafe-style tables outside. Some of the rules include keeping food covered until it is placed in front of a customer; having no more than four people at a table; limiting seating times to avoid overcrowding; wearing masks and gloves; and providing safety measures to avoid face-to-face contact with customers, such as installing a plastic shield by a reception area.

Food trucks are allowed, but not on city property or on a public sidewalk. Owners and staff will be expected to wear masks and gloves, and keep customers from standing close together while theyre waiting for their food.

Hair salons also are facing strict guidelines. Salons and spas can cut, style and color hair, but no manicures are allowed yet, and nail salons are not opening. Owners are required to clean and sterilize their shops and wear masks and gloves. Customers can call ahead, then wait in their car until they get a text message for their appointment.

Stylists must also be separated by a curtain or plastic, Stansfield said. Rearrange your spaces so you have six feet between you and all work stations, he said.

A woman who works as a receptionist at a salon wanted to know if she had to wear a mask all day. Talking on the phone all day, it will make that a little difficut, she said.

Stansfield suggested using plastic to shield her from customers. A mask would be appropriate, but if youre facing people, put Plexiglas up in the reception area, he said.

Salon owners have been asked to keep their space clear, with nothing but the basics, said Rubbo, who also reminded owners to protect themselves.

Bring a change of clothes, he said. Wash your hands, throw the used clothes in the laundry. Keep in mind that youre going home to your own families.

Rubbo also said it was OK to ask customers whether they are healthy, and when an owner on the forum said people might be offended, he said, Stick to the guidelines.

Screen your customers, he said. Ask if they have symptoms; ask if anyone in the family has tested positive for COVID-19.

Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact the forum participants. Carbone said she was planning to hold similar forums to get feedback and offer support. We want to hear from you, she said. If you have questions, contact us.

Owners can also visit www.ctcovidresponse.org/request-masks-for-ct-small-business for more masks if they need them.

The state websites page on reopening is portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Coronavirus-Business-Recovery/Sector-Rules-for-May-20-Reopen.

The city website, torringtonct.org, is also offering resources on the economic development page.

To reach Rista Malanca in the economic development office, email rista_malanca@torringtonct.org.

To reach the Fire Marshal Ed Bescetta, call/email 860-489-2255 or email edward_bescetta@torringtonct.org.

To reach Torrington Fire Chief Peter Towey, call/email 860-489-2257, Peter_Towey@torringtonct.orgFire Marshals Office.


By Kim Jin-heon





Yeosu city in South Jeolla Province, 350 kilometers south of Seoul, hosted the Yeosu EXPO in 2012. To prepare for the event, the city constructed infrastructure such as a KTX (Korea Train Express) station, and highways to the existing airport and seaport.



Thanks to this, in the year of the expo over 10 million tourists visited the city. Since then, more than 10 million travelers have been visiting Yeosu by the year.



The area features various photo zones, delicious food, and night views along the coastal area, which have spurred tourists, especially young people to visit. Lately, a pop song titled "Yeosu's Night Beach" inspired tourists to visit the city more often.



Yeosu also has cool sea weather, historical attractions relating to the famous admiral Yi, and natural attractions such as Odongdo Island, Hyangilam, Geomundo Island and Backdo Island.



The city has had a pivotal role as a marine transportation hub and a link to nearby islands. The city is near both Hallyeo Haesang National Park and Dadohae Haesang National Park.



Along the Liacisic Coast the water is shallow and mud and coastal lines are complicated. These conditions have led to opulent fishery resources and sea farming. Moreover, thanks to seasonal winds and Kurusu current, the islands have fantastic rocks.



These conditions have encouraged numerous travelers to seek out the areas. In particular, islands between Yeosu city and Goheung County are very beautiful.



Therefore, to encourage people to see the beauty of the islands in person, South Jeolla provincial government began to build bridges linking four islands (Jobaldo, Tunbeongdo, Nangdo, Jeokgeumdo) from Hwayang District, Yeosu to Goheung from 2011 and finished the construction Feb.28, 2020.



Along the route you can take in different views of the Dadohae Haesang National Park and architectural beauty of the four bridges, saving transportation time between the two peninsulas.



In Goheung, its thick forests, clean water and wide fields encouraged people to settle there.



A retired pilot, who had traveled around the world's famous places, moved to Goheung and has lived there since, stating that the islands between Goheung and Yeosu were the most beautiful in the world.



An undersea tunnel from Yeosu to Namhae Island is planned. If the tunnel is constructed, Yeosu will be a traveling center connecting two national sea parks.





The writer is an English teacher at Chung-mu High School in South Jeolla Province.


Teenage girls are more likely than boys to experience stress and anxiety and feel the loss of social connection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A study by UNICEF Australia has found the threat of the coronavirus and the associated lockdown is damaging the wellbeing of Australian teenagers, with less than half saying they are coping well.

Student Emily Jones at home in Wahroonga. Credit:Christopher Pearce

Emily Jones, 16, from Wahroonga on the upper north shore, said her anxiety and depression has flared up because of the enforced social isolation.

"I'm normally very sociable and I enjoy hanging out with my friends a lot," Emily said.
New Delhi, May 17 : In an uncharacteristic response from an industry body which tend to be mellow in their take on government policies, the Federation of Associations in the Indian Tourism & Hospitality, said on Sunday that the Indian tourism industry has "gone into a state of disbelief and shock".

This is the policy federation of all the national associations representing the complete tourism, travel and hospitality industry of India.

"The industry has gone numb from a lack of any umbrella direction from the government or without any fiscal & monetary support," it said. The industry body said, "Indian Tourism industry goes into a state of shock and disbelief as there were no announcements to support tourism, 10 weeks of constant discussions come to a naught and industry has gone directionless".

With no visibility of cash inflows the Indian tourism industry is now looking at large scale bankruptcies, business closures which will lead to job losses across cities, towns and hinterlands of India. This has the potential to set back the Indian tourism, travel and hospitality industry by many years, it said.

The body said that the Indian tourism industry was looking forward to deep set of survival measures for tourism from the Rs 20 lakhs crore package announced over 5 days, which however were not addressed.

The Indian tourism, travel and hospitality sector impacts almost 10 per cent of GDP through its direct and indirect impact. It has already seen over one quarter of accumulated losses which began from February onwards.

There is no cash inflow expected for many quarters over FY20-21 as the key segments of the Indian tourism economy will be down. The international inbound tourists, inbound and VFR - (visiting friends and relatives) and the outbound travel will remain mostly non- performing due to international flight restrictions and tragic impact in most key markets tourism markets of India, the association said.

"Domestic travel and corporate travel within the country may slightly ease up post lockdown but will be highly restricted due to fear of travel among elders and children, the new social distancing norms, corporate travel freeze and the closure of the holiday season which will impacting all leisure, adventure, heritage, spiritual, cruise and niche tourism segments," it said.

The meetings incentives exhibitions & events segment will be severely impacted due to the meeting size restrictions.

Consequently all tourism service providers, the hotels, travel agents, tour operators tourist transporters, restaurants, guides will be compromised and the tourism industry of India will be operating with extreme under capacities making most tourism businesses unviable on a cash operating basis.

To prevent this and to ensure survival, FAITH had proposed a dedicated interest and collateral free long term fund for paying salaries and operating costs and for a minimum of 12 months of complete waiver of fixed central & state statutory and banking liabilities without any penal or compounding interest which have not been addressed.

The proposed MSME fund with its many underlying restrictions may have a very limited usage.

FAITH & its ten member associations (ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI, TAFI) had been constantly dialoguing with all factions of the government over the past 10 weeks the PMO, ministries of Finance, Commerce , Aviation, and Tourism, with RBI, with all 28 Chief Ministers, Niti Aayog and with the Empowered Group 6.

Indian tourism travel and hospitality impacts 10-12 per cent of India's employment which covers almost 5 crore plus direct and indirect jobs.
President Donald Trump has announced that the US will donate a lot of ventilators to India to help it fight the "invisible enemy", moments after he underlined the close partnership between the two countries and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi his "good friend".

Trump also said the US and India were cooperating to develop a vaccine for the deadly coronavirus that has claimed 307,666 lives and infected more than 4.5 million people globally since it emerged in China in December last year.

India's tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases crossed 85,000 on Friday, surpassing China's count of 82,933 infections.

"I am proud to announce that the United States will donate ventilators to our friends in India," Trump said in a tweet.

However, the White House did not say how many breathing devices would be sent.

"We are sending a lot of ventilators to India. I spoke to Prime Minister Modi. We are sending quite a few ventilators to India. We have tremendous supply of ventilators," Trump told reporters before boarding Marine One on his way to Camp David on Friday.

"Together we will beat the invisible enemy! We stand with India and Prime Minister Modi during this pandemic," Trump told reporters in the Rose Garden of the White House.

The president is scheduled to spend his weekend at Camp David for a number of meetings.

At Trump's request, India had last month allowed the export of 50 million hydroxychloroquine tablets to treat COVID-19 patients in America, the country worst-hit by the pandemic, with 87,530 deaths and over 1.4 million infections reported so far, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Earlier in the day, Trump praised India and Prime Minister Modi.

"India has been so great and as you know your prime minister has been a very good friend of mine. I just got back a short while ago from India and we are very much together," the president said, referring to his visit to New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Agra in February.

Trump said Indian-Americans were "great" scientists and researchers, who were contributing to the development of the coronavirus vaccine.

He said a COVID-19 vaccine would likely be available by the end of the year. Trump has appointed the former head of vaccines at GlaxoSmithKline to spearhead the vaccine development effort.

"The president just extolled our great relationship with India. India has been a great partner to us for quite some time. I am encouraged to hear ventilators to India," White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said during a press briefing.

She said India will be among several countries that would be getting the ventilators.

A number of countries, including India, are trying to procure ventilators needed for hospitals to deal with the demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Last month, China said it was ready to help India procure the ventilators to treat coronavirus patients, but underlined that Chinese firms are finding it difficult to scale-up production as they needed imported parts.

A ventilator takes over the body's breathing process when disease has caused the lungs to fail. This gives the patient time to fight off the infection and recover
China eyes 'protracted battle' against virus, 2 officials ousted in a week for slacking off

Global Times

By Wang Qi Source:Global Times Published: 2020/5/16 13:33:57

China eyes 'protracted battle' against virus, 2 officials ousted in a week for slacking off

Due to slacking off on epidemic prevention and control, at least two local government and Party officials were ousted this week, which analysts believe, shows China's determination to contain the coronavirus and the country's highly-responsible attitudes toward people's health and safety.

Li Pengfei, Party chief of Shulan, Jilin city in Northeast China's Jilin Province, where sporadic COVID-19 cases rebounded, was ousted from his post on Friday. So far, more than 8,000 people have been quarantined in Jilin and Liaoning provinces after cluster infections occurred in Shulan.

Jilin Province reported two confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, all related to previous cases. Three patients in the province continue to receive treatment in hospitals, all from Jilin city and related to the rebound in Shulan.

Besides, the Dongxihu district government in Wuhan, Hubei Province announced on Monday that Zhang Yuxin, a subdistrict-level Party chief, who is allegedly responsible for the rebound of six infections in a community, was ousted from his post after a liaison group under China's State Council rushed to the community to oversee the prevention and control work.

The anti-epidemic works should never be slackened, and local officials should be prepared for a "protracted battle," said Zhu Lijia, a professor of public management at the Chinese Academy of Governance, on Saturday.

According to Zhu, the removal and accountability of officials will serve as a warning to others.

The central government has attached great importance on people's safety, and repeatedly stressed the responsibility of local government in curbing the spread of the virus, said Zhu, noting that, the epidemic prevention and control is the most crucial task currently, as far as the reality (rebound) is concerned.

China has made great efforts in regulating and penalizing government officials for dereliction of duty, especially after the coronavirus epidemic outbreak.

Ma Mingfu, the head of human resources and social security bureau of Jiamusi, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, was ousted from his post in late April for joining a get-together meal, which violated the regulation on avoiding mass clustering.

In mid-February, two government officials from Harbin, Heilongjiang, were removed from their posts for underestimating the seriousness of the epidemic and failing to exercise leadership in epidemic prevention and control.

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To hear public health experts describe it, defeating the coronavirus is a massive but straightforward problem, difficult but not impossible while waiting for a vaccine.

First, administer tens of millions of tests to find out who has the disease. Then trace all their recent contacts, using a cellphone app that tells the government whom they met. Finally, track down all those people and order them into isolation for 14 days, possibly in a quarantine hotel.

Now think about that scenario.

In a country where armed men are marching to defend their right not to wear masks, how will intrusive measures like those go down?

Answer: Not easily.

My public health friends are working out brilliant solutions for the technical problems, but they havent confronted the challenge of political culture, Keith Humphreys, a professor of psychiatry at Stanfords Medical School, told me.

What are we going to do if millions of people refuse to take the tests? What are we going to do if they refuse to isolate themselves or close their businesses?

Hes right. Our political culture often puts individual rights before communal interests. Were not obedient people by heritage; the Constitution enshrines our right to rebel.

Thats not a complaint. Our small-L libertarian streak, by which I mean our attachment to the Bill of Rights, is one of the glories of American life.

But in the face of a pandemic, it gets in the way of protecting the larger community.

Weve already seen widespread protests against the shutdown orders imposed by many governors  protests encouraged, bizarrely, by President Trump, even though the governors are following White House guidelines.

Theres been scattered violence by hotheads who refuse shop owners requests to wear masks.

A security guard at a Family Dollar store in Flint, Mich., was shot and killed after he ordered a maskless customer to leave. A clerk at a Target in Van Nuys ended up with a broken arm after he was slugged by another mask-averse knucklehead.

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Even before widespread contact tracing has begun, some have denounced the idea  especially the proposed phone app  as an unwarranted data grab by Google and Apple.

And conspiracy theorists are busy denouncing the pandemic as a hoax cooked up by Bill Gates, the Democratic National Committee, or some other imaginary supervillain.

The resistance to masks and other public health measures, while noisy, is still a small minority. A poll released by the Washington Post and the University of Maryland last week found that only 11% of Americans think the anti-pandemic measures have been too severe, including only 32% of Republicans.

Still, it doesnt take much noncompliance to create problems, Humphreys pointed out.

Smart public health planners are already thinking about making the next stage work, including how much to ask of those who may have been exposed to the virus.

I dont think you necessarily want to ask people to quarantine for 14 days, Ashish Jha, director of Harvards Global Health Institute, told me.

I could see a system that asks people to self-isolate for three to five days, gives them a couple of tests, and if both are negative tell them they are OK as long as they avoid large gatherings," he added. "Is that the ideal scientific outcome? No. But we can live with it.

Bottom line: We'll never see 100% compliance, but we don't need it. If doctors can get 60% or 70% to cooperate, the contagion can still be contained  just more slowly.

That means a long, uneven slog toward reducing the danger, with some states imposing tougher measures than others  a crazy quilt of slightly different approaches.

That creates problems too. People are still largely free to travel from one state to another, which gives the virus more ways to spread. As Humphreys put it, its like building a no-peeing section in the swimming pool.

And all this is merely awaiting an effective vaccine to protect people from the virus. Did I mention that the anti-vaccine movement has roared back to life, denouncing Trumps call for a crash program to develop, test and deploy 300 million doses by January as another dangerous plot?

Thanks to the anti-vaxxers, even an effective vaccine is unlikely to eradicate COVID-19 completely because some Americans will choose to remain vulnerable to it. In that respect, it will be something like the measles  a threat that came back because some families refused the vaccinations.

Well still contend with the coronavirus years from now  and still argue about the appropriate public health measures to employ.

Were not like South Korea or Taiwan. Were not even like Canada or Germany, countries where people trust government more than we do.

Were America, and were going to do it our way  no matter how long it takes and how many mistakes we choose to make.




Its so windy the back of my wide-brimmed hat is chattering like a kite fighting a strong breeze.

Ducking out of the wind atop a rocky knob, the spring sun melts away my bodys weary memories of winter. Summer cant be far off.

From my perch above Bear Canyon at about 5,800 feet I have a birds-eye view of the surrounding terrain. Straight ahead the canyon carves a narrow furrow up the Pryor Mountains. A group of six turkey vultures lazily circles on updrafts above a bend in the canyon, their shadows moving quickly across the cliffs below.

To the right, my view is up the canyon as it squiggles toward the still snowy 8,700-foot top of the Pryors beyond. Lumpy, cave-riddled cliffs overlook the canyon as it climbs, scattered pine trees providing a dark green contrast to the tan- and blush-colored cliffs.

To the left the Beartooth Mountains shimmer blue and white in the distance. The juniper-dotted foothills of the Pryors provide a stark distinction to the Beartooths, scrubby high-elevation desert meets alpine forest fortress.

Trek

I arrived at my majestic lunch site by trekking up the Rocky Juniper Trail about 1.2 miles, gaining about 600 feet along the way. The route is one of several featured hikes on the Pryors Coalitions website, which is a great source for info on other hikes and the history and geology of the region. With detailed notes of where to go, photos and a topo map to highlight the way, the website provides an easy-to-understand guide.

Too lazy to continue along the suggested route, I decided to climb a low saddle on a cliff overlooking Bear Canyon. Had I continued on another quarter mile I would have reached a junction with two other trails: one that drops via switchbacks into Bear Canyon and another that connects to the parallel Big Sky Trail. Those two trails provide the opportunity for hikers to make a loop out of their day hike.

The trek from the bottom of Bear Canyon back to the trailhead of Rocky Juniper is about 1.4 miles. Taking the Big Sky Trail back would add another two miles after reaching the bottom. If this is too long a hike, consider parking another car, or leaving a mountain bike, to shorten the trip between trailheads.

Rock on

The rocks along the Rocky Juniper Trail are one of the main attractions. Not far from the beginning the trail moves between two balancing boulders that guard the entry. Shortly thereafter, large stones along the trail appear to have been squashed under enormous pressure until they are as wrinkled as raisins and as bulbous as the "Star Wars" character Jabba the Hutt. After a steep climb along an old road, the trail enters a gopher-hole dotted meadow, just beyond which glittering white quartz are scattered. The crystals gleam like frost despite the heat.

As the trail climbs it winds through patches of Utah juniper, which according to the Pryors Coalition website is the northern limit for the plant. Most of the other juniper in the Pryors is Rocky Mountain juniper.

The dead trees are spectacular in their contortions. The skeletal gray branches are twisted and gnarled. In some places the wood is so weathered it looks like rough fish scales standing on edge. The live trees, along with scattered sagebrush, provide a tart tinge to the air.

Any off-trail walking requires attention to foot placement since cactus spines lie in wait to pierce thin-skinned hiking boots. The repelling cactus sometimes take root next to delicate white, yellow and purple wildflowers distinguishing their differences.

Slowpoke

It took about 40 minutes of slow walking, taking photographs and gazing in wonder at the rugged country before I reached a saddle below a Sphinx-like rock outcrop. On the other side of the saddle the view up the flank of the Pryor Mountains opened up for miles, revealing dry washes and red hills leading up to the pine forest at higher elevations. Even with binoculars I could find no other living creature moving across that open expanse known as Horse Haven. It looks like perfect pronghorn country, but Ive never seen one in the region. Although mule deer inhabit the countryside, evidenced by their tracks in the sandy soil or frozen in dried mud, they were likely hiding from the midday sun and wind.

After shedding a few layers of clothing to cool down, I started up the nearby hillside to overlook Bear Canyon. The wind rushing over the rocky ridge roared as if there was a whitewater rapid on the other side, constant and churning, the torrent of air stirring the juniper branches into arthritic motion.

The ridge was composed of shelf rock. Weather had carved out small caves under some of the limestone leaving ribs of harder rock exposed like veins disappearing into the soil. At the very top of the ridge the slab rock was dimpled by erosion and painted with orange lichen.

Lizard

Following a snack, some sips of water and after glassing the surrounding hillsides with binoculars one last time, I reluctantly began hiking back down, deciding to follow the ridge paralleling Bear Canyon as far as possible. In places the ridge was a moonscape of rough rock, portions of which looked like bubbles frozen in midair. Swallows raced past with a tailwind. The turkey vultures returned and circled overhead as if to make sure my sweaty stench didnt mean I was dead meat.

Walking through a thick juniper forest at the base of the ridge I startled a brilliant mountain bluebird that provided a flash of color. Just before exiting the trail I almost stepped on a small lizard atop a flower  which I later found out was a common sagebrush lizard. I speculated the creature had staked out the plant hoping a fly or bug would be attracted to the bloom and become an easy meal. The lizard was zen-like in his calm focus, unworried by my looming telephoto lens' presence. After several shots I left him to his work, slim pickings in a desolate yet entirely mesmerizing landscape.

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A rally calling for Oregon officials to reopen the coast drew a small crowd Saturday afternoon in Seaside. According to Jon Rahl, Seaside assistant city manager, a group of about 15 to 25 people gathered at the Seaside Turnaround, for what Rahl describes as a peaceful event and one that did not result in any arrests or incidents.

The Seaside City Council has voted to reopen the Seaside Beach at 6 a.m. Monday, May 18, along with parks, waterways and trails throughout the community. Restrictions on access to the beach and other areas had been in place since March 23, in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

A Facebook post about the reopen the coast event said it was scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. Rahl said the event began at noon and ended at around 2 p.m. Organizers wrote on Facebook that Reopen the coast is a group of concerned Oregonians dedicated to stopping the revocation of individual and business rights in the state of Oregon, and that the group invited others to tell Gov. Kate Browns administration that her Draconian shutdown cannot continue in the lives of ordinary citizens.

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All together, Rahl estimated there might have been 75 to 100 people in the area near where the protest occurred, but it was hard to tell who were bystanders, locals, or people interested in coming out to see which shops were open. Seaside was beginning Phase 1 of the Brown administrations plan for gradually reopening Oregon, which allows businesses such as bars and restaurants to operate within rules meant to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

There is a group of protesters at the Turnaround in Seaside. They want the coast to open. Which the Seaside beach is opening on Monday. Some businesses started opening last night. pic.twitter.com/7alMOmO7Nq  John Hendricks (@JohnKPTV) May 16, 2020

Rahl said that while Seaside remains reliant on tourism, its important for people to pay attention to guidelines governing their communities. The stay-home order is still in effect for Portland-area residents, and Brown has discouraged residents of Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties from traveling.

Once the Seaside-area beaches reopen, officials are still asking visitors to maintain six feet of social distancing, and avoid the area if theyre sick. We dont want to go backwards with this thing, Rahl said.

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

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Fighting between supposed allies continues for sixth straight day on outskirts of Zinjibar, Abyan province.

More than a dozen people have reportedly been killed as fighting between pro-government forces and southern separatists in Yemens Abyan province entered a sixth consecutive day.

Fourteen fighters, including 10 pro-government soldiers, were killed on Saturday, a government military official told AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.

The toll was confirmed by a separatist military source, who also claimed the capture of 40 pro-government soldiers and the seizure of military equipment.

They [pro-government soldiers] were unable to advance towards Zinjibar and they will only get there over our dead bodies, a separatist commander on the front line told AFP.

The forces of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) are resisting an offensive by pro-government troops on the outskirts of Zinjibar, some 60km (35 miles) from the main southern city of Aden.





Sources said the confrontations, in which the two sides exchanged missile and artillery shelling, were taking place in two fronts  including the village of Sheikh Salem and al-Tariya, an area northeast of Zinjibar.

Witnesses in the city said military reinforcements  including armoured vehicles loaded with weaponry  had reached STC forces, while similar reinforcements were delivered to pro-government forces from Shabwa province, in eastern Yemen.

The fighting is the first major confrontation since the separatists on April 26 declared self-rule in southern Yemen, including Aden, accusing the government of failing to carry out its duties and of conspiring against their cause.

Aden has been the interim seat of the internationally-recognised government after the Houthi rebels seized Yemens capital, Sanaa, in late 2014.

At least 10 fighters were killed and many were wounded on both sides in the fighting on Monday.

New front

The division between the two supposed allies adds another complex layer to the countrys long-running war.

On one side are the separatists and on the other are forces loyal to exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Both have fought together against the Houthis as part of a Saudi-led military coalition that intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to restore Hadis government.

But the separatists, who sought self-rule in the south, turned on the government in August last year and seized Aden. The fighting stopped when the two groups reached a deal in Riyadh last November.

Under the accord, the STC and other regions in the south were supposed to join a new national cabinet and place all forces under the control of Hadis internationally-recognised government.

Yemens multi-faceted conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, and triggered what the United Nations considers to be the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.
Kathy Su and Eric Paul Schultz were married May 16 in Mesa, Ariz. Wade R. Swanson, a cousin of the groom and a Universal Life minister, officiated in the backyard of his home.

The couple lives in New York but bought one-way tickets to Mesa on March 28 to shelter in place at the winter home of the grooms parents. They had originally planned to get married the same weekend, but at Maritime Parc, a restaurant and events space in Jersey City, N.J.

Ms. Su, 32, is a senior product marketing manager at Amgen, a pharmaceutical company in Berkeley Heights, N.J. She graduated from M.I.T.

She is a daughter of Ru Huang and Xinhua Xu of Ellicott City, Md. Her father is a technical consultant for software management at Sunovion, a pharmaceutical company; he works from a home office. Her mother is a Chinese language teacher in the Baltimore County public schools.
In order to promote digital education in the country and make e- learning feasible for students and teachers, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday launched PM eVidya programme. With this scheme, students and teachers will get multimode access to digital education. Over 100 universities will be permitted to start courses by May 30.

What is PM eVidya Programme:

A programme for multimode access to digital/ online education that will consist of:

Top 100 universities will be permitted to automatically start online courses by May 30. This was announced in the union budget also.

To provide enhanced learning opportunities to 3.7 crore students in higher education and expand e-learning by liberalizing open, distance, and online education regulatory framework, the top 100 universities will start online courses. Online components in conventional Universities and ODL programmes will also be raised from 20% to 40%, the Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said in a tweet on Sunday.

DIKSHA that will give one nation, one digital platform for school education in states and union territories: It will provide e- content and QR coded energised textbooks for all grades. This will benefit nearly 25 crore school going children across the country.

DIKSHA has content in 14 languages - Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Chhattisgarhi.

Over the next three month a large number of high-quality e- resources for learning and teaching will be made available on DIKSHA through the recently launched VidyaDaan Program. VidyaDaan is conceptualised as a common national program for individuals & organizations across the country to donate/contribute e-learning resources for school education to ensure continuity of quality learning.

One earmarked TV channel for each class from standard 1 to 12 under one class one channel programme

There will be extensive use of radio, community radio and podcasts among students.The use of 289 Community Radio Stations will be attempted for school education.

Podcast called Shiksha Vani of CBSE disseminates audio content for various subjects of grades 9 to 12, in a timely, educative, lucid and seamless manner. CBSE-Shiksha Vani is available on Play Store for Android phone users. So far Shikshavani contains approximately 400 pieces of content in the form of audio files on topics in accordance with NCERT curriculum.

Special e-content for visually and hearing impaired students. This is going to be one of the biggest steps forward and I personally feel very touched by this attempt of HRD ministry to provide equal access to good quality education to the Divyang students, the finance minister said in a press conference.

Special e-content will be provided for visually and hearing impaired children. It is developed on Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY) and in sign language on NIOS website/ YouTube, the HRD minister informed in a tweet.

For the Visually Impaired Learners

Study material has been developed in Digitally Accessible Information System(DAISY), a technical standard for digital audiobooks, periodicals and computerized text.

Learners can access all study material of NIOS through DAISY

These lessons are broadcast on Gyanamrit, Channel 30 of Swayam Prabha

For the Hearing impaired learners

Course content (Selected ones) of NIOS has also been recorded in sign language which is placed on NIOS website as well as on YouTube.

The recorded content is sent to HI learners on DVD

IITPAL for IITJEE/NEET preparation.

SWAYAM PRABHA:

In order to support and reach out to those who do not have much access to the internet, MHRD introduced SWAYAM PRABHA DTH channels. SWAYAM PRABHA is a group of 32 channels devoted to telecast of high-quality educational programmes.

Four of these channels (27- Panini, 28-Sharda, 30- Gyanamrit and 32- Vagda) are already being used by NIOS and one channel (31- Kishore Manch) by NCERT to telecast school education related learning and teaching material. These channels can be accessed through DD, Dish TV and Jio TV app.

NIOS organises live interactive web-streaming of Personal Contact Programmes (PCPs) on various subjects of Secondary, Senior Secondary and Vocational courses for its enrolled learners through Mukta Vidya Vani (MVV). Radio Vahini also broadcast these PCPs to maximize its reach not only among the learners but to the masses in general.

Other Programmes:

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman also talked about various other programmes for boosting the education system in a press conference on Sunday.

1. Manordarpan: Finance minister also launched Manodarpan, an initiative for psychological support and counselling of students, teachers and families for mental health and emotional well-being.

2. New National Curriculum and Pedagogical framework for school, early childhood and teachers will also be launched. It will be integrated with global and 21st century skill requirements.

3. National Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission for ensuring that every child attains learning levels and outcomes in grade 5 by 2025 will be launched by December 2020.
Visitors wearing face masks walk through trees in Seoul, Friday, May 15, 2020. AP



South Korea added 13 new cases of the new coronavirus on Sunday with nightclub-linked infections showing signs of a slowdown over the weekend, health authorities said Sunday.

The new cases, detected Saturday, brought the country's total to 11,050, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

It marked the fewest daily cases since Itaewon, a multicultural nightlife district in Seoul, emerged as a hotbed for coronavirus cluster infections. The country added 19 new cases a day earlier.

The new cluster infections have put South Korea at the critical juncture of whether domestic spread of the virus will continue or not.

After a patient infected with the COVID-19 virus visited multiple clubs in Itaewon in early May, the country experienced a resurgence in the number of new patients, leading to the monthly peak of 35 last week.

Around 5,500 people were estimated to have visited affected clubs in Itaewon between April 24 and May 6. With more than a thousand people still being out of contact, health authorities are remaining vigilant over another possible boom in local infections.

South Korea reported no new deaths, keeping the death toll at 262.

The fatality rate reached 2.37 percent, with most of the deaths being reported from those aged 70 and older. No deaths were reported from people aged 29 or younger, although they account for nearly 35 of the total infections.

The total caseload tied to visits to clubs and bars in Itaewon reached 162 as of Saturday noon.

The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 9,888, up 37 from the previous day.

The figures indicate nearly 90 percent of the patients fully recovered from the disease.

The nation, with a population of 50 million, has carried out 747,653 tests since Jan. 3, including 7,000 from a day earlier. South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case, from a Chinese person, on Jan. 20.

Imported cases, which used to be the biggest threat for South Korea's quarantine operations before the clubbers' group infections came up to the surface, rose by seven to reach 1,167.

Despite the infections from Itaewon, South Korea has made no major changes to the relaxed social distancing scheme.

Amid growing concerns over an irrevocable impact on the economy, South Korea gave the go-ahead to the normalization of public facilities and other business establishments under the condition that they follow basic sanitation measures. Clubs and karaoke rooms are excluded in some areas.

High school seniors will return to classrooms starting Wednesday, a week later than earlier scheduled, and students of other grades will gradually resume their school years by June 8.

Health authorities here earlier said there has been no "explosive" spread of club-linked infections, although they remain vigilant over risks of chain transmissions.

Should the country observe no further boom in the number of cases over the weekend, South Korea could safely say that it has brought the Itaewon-linked cases under the control of quarantine authorities, they added. (Yonhap)
Blood-thinning drugs can help save the lives of coronavirus patients by stopping dangerous clots forming on the lungs, British scientists have discovered.

London specialists made the discovery after finding Covid-19 caused potentially deadly blood clots in the lungs of most patients who die.

NHS England will give hospitals new guidance on blood thinning, which may lead to the administration of higher doses for those who are critically ill.

Specialists at the Royal Brompton Hospital's severe respiratory failure service identified the clearest link yet between Covid-19 and clotting.

Blood-thinning drugs can help save the lives of coronavirus patients by stopping dangerous clots forming on the lungs, British scientists have discovered (file image)

They used hi-tech dual energy CAT scans to take images of lung function in the worst patients - which found a lack of blood flow, suggesting clotting within the small vessels in the lung.

This may explain why some patients die of lung failure through lack of oxygen in the blood, doctors told The Sunday Telegraph.

Low oxygen levels have been regularly recorded in Covid patients reporting no breathlessness.

Prof Openshaw, a specialist in experimental medicine at Imperial College London told the publication: 'This intravascular clotting is a really nasty twist that we haven't seen before with many other viruses.

Low oxygen levels have been regularly recorded in Covid patients reporting no breathlessness (file image)

'It does sort of explain the rather extraordinary clinical picture that is being observed with people becoming very hypoxic, very low on oxygen and not really being particularly breathless. That would fit with it having a blood vessel origin.'

As a result of the new evidence, clinical trials to test blood-thinning drugs are being fast-tracked as part of the Government's response to the pandemic.

The new NHS England guidance is independent of the work, and is believed to have been issued on the advice of haematology specialists.

Doctors at the Royal Brompton said blood thinning medication should be used carefully and specialists have said treatment would need to 'start very early' to prevent clots forming.

Dr Brijesh Patel said she thinks the majority of patients will end up on 'significant therapeutic doses' of blood-thinning drugs as scientists learn more about the disease, and if implemented properly they will save lives.
Doors carry disease. A contaminated doorknob can infect half an office in just a few hours. But you can't exactly socially distance from a door.

As some companies plan a return to the office, entrepreneurs, engineers and architects are confronting a design challenge: how to keep the public safe from shared items that require constant decontamination. Grabbing a doorknob is almost as unconscious as touching your face  and both are now considered health risks.

"Im not seeing my family, but Im touching things that a thousand other people have, too," said Ziad Salah, 26, from Edmonton, Alberta. His wife, Maram, is pregnant with their first child and both have older parents. "Its not enough to socially distance from being around people. You have to socially distance from things that are publicly shared, too."

Tired of using his sleeve to open doors, Salah and two friends, brothers Abed Shawar, 26 and Ammar Shawar, 28, designed a solution. Their product, the CleanKey, is a key-shaped pocket tool with a hook on the end that can open doors of up to 70 pounds without the user's hands ever touching the door handle. It can also be used to press elevator buttons, keypads or touch screens.

The CleanKey is among a proliferation of portable door-openers that have either entered the market or grown in popularity since the pandemic took hold. Salah said he and his team have worked to improve upon other designs: The CleanKey has a curved hook, for example, for a more stable grab, and at $7, is cheaper than some of its competitors. "Were getting orders for five to six of them at a time; one for every member of a family, so we don't want the total cost running to $100," he said.

Image:

Carrying such tools might not be for everyone, though, so some 3D-printing evangelists have altered the design of the door itself.

It took engineers at Materialise, which runs Europe's largest 3D-printing factory, just three days to design, manufacture, refine and publish online printing blueprints for a device that can be installed on an existing door handle and allows it to be opened with a forearm instead of a hand.

Story continues

"We didnt invent sliced bread with this thing. Its a door handle," Kristof Sehmke, a spokesperson for Materialise, said by phone from Leuven, Belgium, where the company is headquartered.

Image: 3D printing design and manufacturing firm Materialise is encouraging 3D printer owners to print their own plastic door handles that allow people to open doors with their forearm. (Materialise)

"But I think we were possibly the first to come up with a positive, functional, 3D-printed solution for a very practical problem that everybody has," he added.

Materialise specializes in designing and 3D-printing medical equipment, so the goal was never to mass produce doorknobs. Instead, by making the blueprints available free online, the company is encouraging a grassroots retrofitting of doors: Anyone with a 3D printer can download and make their own handles.

One-hundred-thousand blueprints have been downloaded so far, equivalent to at least one tenth of all 3D-printer owners worldwide. The Mayo Clinic in Minnesota has even installed door handles printed from Materialise's blueprints, Sehmke said.

Image: Sample design for one of Materialise's hand-free door handles.

Even before the pandemic, architects and designers were increasingly interested in how the workplace affects employees' physical and mental health. "Fundamentally, we want to be creating buildings that minimize the amount of sickness people have when theyre in the office," said Arjun Kaicker, head of workplace analytics and insights at Zaha Hadid Architects, which is headquartered in London.

Kaicker designs some of the most sophisticated office spaces in the world, where everything from elevator doors to the air conditioning over an individual desk can be controlled by a cellphone app. He suggests voice-activated doors as a future alternative to germy doorknobs, with employees simply asking Alexa to close the door.

But in the short-term, Kaicker said offices may opt for simpler solutions.

"Meeting room doors are going to be propped open and only if you have a meting requiring absolute privacy will a person close that door with a handkerchief," he suggests.

"And when people move into the offices straightaway, they might just take doors off meetings rooms and offices and put them into storage until things change."

Don Norman has built a career around thinking about doors. Norman, an engineer, psychologist and director of the Design Lab at the University of California, San Diego, wrote the bestselling design manual, "The Design of Everyday Things" after he constantly encountered poorly designed objects during his time at Cambridge University in England in the 1980s.

"They had doors that moved in every possible direction. 'Do I push it or pull it?' So I try both and nothing happens! Then I find out you have to slide it to the left," Norman said. His subsequent exploration of the phenomenon has even led to badly designed doors being dubbed "Norman doors."

Image: The term 'Norman door' has been coined for a badly-designed door that needs a sign to tell people how to use it (Ratchat / Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Norman thinks low-tech design solutions like foot-operated kick pedals at the bottom of doors will prove most effective in pandemic-proofing while avoiding the fate of the "Norman door."

"The more technology you throw at a problem, the more things go wrong," he said.

Psychologically, Norman believes that expanding the reach of pre-existing doors for people with disabilities  like automatic doors controlled by a button that can be activated with just an elbow  could also be key to getting a potentially skeptical public on board.

"I dont want to tell people, 'This is what we put in to solve the pandemic.' Instead, we say, 'Hey, this is an easier to use door for people with children,' for example. If you come out as the expert, telling people what we must do, people rebel," Norman said.

"But if we make things better for people, with less touching, it would work for everybody."
Since 1976, I have been a medical professional in Virginia Beach, having completed an internal medicine and pulmonary fellowship. Since 2004, I have been the medical director for long-term-care facilities and a hospice organization, practicing medicine to ensure the well-being of our aging population.

Unfortunately, this population is the most vulnerable to, and the most at risk for fatal outcomes from, the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus.

Statistics show that COVID-19 outbreaks have had very different results at several nursing homes, based on the protective measures put in place. Some facilities have seen almost half of residents and staff contract the virus, and some have had death rates as high as 30%-40% among those who have contracted it. Exact death rates are unclear, as many people are still dealing with the virus and its repercussions.

Sadly, news articles are popping up daily highlighting that the large majority of COVID-19 deaths are from long-term-care facilities.

Throughout my 44-year career, too often I have seen that leadership and decision making regarding medical issues do not come from medical professionals, but rather from administrators, lawyers, and corporate or political leaders who worry too much about current regulations, lawsuits, bottom lines, and appearances and not enough about the well-being of the patients and the medical providers who care for them.

Regrettably, the medical system we have today requires balancing financial, legal, and political risks with the health of patients and long-term residents.

Tragically, during times of crisis, this mindset results in responses that are too little, too slow and too antiquated to be effective, resulting in lost lives.

The data from Canterbury Nursing Home, outside of Richmond, showed that 50% of positive cases were without any symptoms. I suspect the same is true outside of the nursing home.

It is reported that 80% of individuals who get this disease will recover without any difficulty or without requiring hospitalization, but will still be carriers of the disease and an unwitting vector to infect others. In fact, research showed 70% of those admitted to the hospital do not have a fever.

With the onslaught of this indiscriminate, unforgiving, and devastating viral disease, family nurse practitioner Christina Holloway and I have determined that we do not have the luxury of time for a graduated response with ineffective actions.

Medical providers need to speak up and take a more active role in making decisions based on understanding of how this virus is transmitted and how it kills once an infection occurs. The decisions being made daily by leadership must focus on stopping the spread of the disease, preventing infection, and clearly separating those who have it and who have potentially been exposed to this virus.

Decisions should be informed primarily by medical, disease, and crisis-management professionals and should be open to innovative, out-of-the-box ideas such as the one devised by nurse Holloway, calling on community support to make masks from recycled fabrics for employees to wear while in our nursing homes to protect the patients.

We began a face-mask campaign, which has since developed into a nationwide project. This campaign had two goals: to create washable cloth masks to allow for a sanitary reuse of our limited supply of surgical masks and to get their use not only approved, but mandated for all staff and medical providers in long-term-care facilities.

We accomplished the goals due to the strong support and steadfast leadership from state Sen. Jen Kiggans, and the supporting efforts of Helene Molnar, our nursing home CEO. We have since made face shields, and, with the generosity of CHKD Thrift Stores, procured bathrobes to use as protective garments that can be laundered and reused for our staffs protection when we exhaust our current supply of personal protective equipment.

We all need to be vigilant and protect each other by wearing masks and learning about infection control in public and in our homes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Virginia Department of Health are good resources.

We do not yet know the overall fatality rate of this virus, but if it is you or one of your loved ones the effect is the same as if it is 100%.

While we have seen many attempts at innovative ideas to stop the spread, sometimes innovation not informed by medical professionals can have unintended consequences. A perfect example is supporting our local restaurants. Even with drive-by meal pick-up, we still have risk of transmitting this virus.

Medical personnel in some places are conducting drive-by testing in full hazmat suits; why arent our take-out personnel required to wear face masks, face shields, and goggles? Lets prevent drive-by infections!

Even innovative ideas from hospitals can have unintended consequences.

Unfortunately, long-term-care facilities are being challenged by ill-informed decisions that gloss over the health risks of patients and their caregivers. With the daily increase of COVID-19 cases, hospitals have the potential of rapidly running out of beds to house the ill. The hospitals response to this problem may be to discharge patients believed to be free from COVID-19, and send them to rehab and long-term-care facilities for continued care.

While this seems like a logical response to aid struggling hospitals, this decision puts our long-term-care residents, staff and care providers at significant risk for contracting this virus.

Based on testing data, approximately 30% of the negative PCR COVID-19 viral tests have shown positive on follow-up testing. If these statistics are accurate for discharged hospital patients, then it is not a matter of if, but when an infected individual is admitted into a long-term-care facility. Just like the wildfires through California hotspots, a coronavirus-infected patient can cause devastation, as the virus rolls through the facility.

The people who might suffer are our parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, as well as veterans and first responders who have dedicated their lives to protecting others. Now they need our protection. Better to quarantine patients who are presumed to be free of COVID-19 for a minimum of two weeks, in a separate facility, than to release them directly into the public or admit them to long-term-care facilities.

This could be done several ways. Empty hotels could be contracted to house quarantined patients. We could set up medical units staffed by displaced medical personnel from medical offices that have closed or from hospitals that have furloughed personnel or reduced their hours. Local hospitals could support the effort from their reserve funds; so could cities and counties from their emergency funds.

If the hospitals still insist on sending patients to long-term-care facilities, then at least place isolation trailers in the facilities parking lots in which to keep the patients separated. Long-term-care facilities are not set up to be isolation units, nor are they designed to handle infections that can become aerosolized with nebulizer treatments, as does COVID-19.

As our politicians begin to re-open the economy, everyone needs to consider himself as a vector for the disease and to wear a mask whenever out in public  not to keep from getting the disease, but to lessen the chances of spreading it if you are an asymptomatic carrier.

I am pleading with you, my fellow medical providers, to speak up. I am pleading for our community members to call your General Assembly members as well as your city or county management team and encourage them to seriously consider some of these suggestions to protect our elderly.

With your help, we can make a difference and save more lives.

James J. Hatcher, MD, CMD is a 1976 graduate of the University of Virginia Medical School and currently a pulmonologist and critical care specialist in Virginia Beach. Christina Holloway, FNP-BC contributed to this commentary.
People come out of the barricades at the Rangareejupeta Red Zone Containment area near Prasad Gardens in Visakhapatnam. (Photo: P Narasimha Murthy)

Vijayawada: Forty-eight new cases of coronavirus infections were reported on Saturday, taking the states total to 2,205, the health department said. Of these, 803 are in hospital, and 1,353 have been discharged after recovery. A coronavirus positive patient from Kurnool district died, taking the toll to 49.

Health department officials said that Guntur, Kurnool and Nellore districts reported nine cases in the last 24 hours followed by Chittoor eight, Krishna seven, Visakhapatnam four and Kadapa and West Godavari one each. Among 48 new infections, 31 patients were having a link with Koyambedu market in Tamil Nadu.

Guntur district reported nine infections with six in Guntur city alone at Anandapeta and Sarada Colony and one each at Narasaraopeta, Tadepalli and Penumaka.

Kurnool district registered nine new positive cases with Kurnool city reporting four, Kosigi two while one each was registered at Nandyal, Yammiganur and Kowthalam. The district reported the highest number of 608 confirmed infections and of these, 390 were discharged while 199 are in hospital. The death toll stands at 19. Officials reported nine new cases in SPSR Nellore district, taking the total cases to 149.

Chittoor district reported eight new confirmed infections and of these, two each were from Madanapalli and Varadaiahpalem while one each at Nagalapuram, Punganur, V. Kota and Pichatur. With this, the district recorded 173 cases with 96 undergoing treatment and 77 discharged.

Kadapa district reported one positive case, taking the total cases to 102. Of these, 34 are in hospital while 68 have been discharged after recovery.

Meanwhile, a youngster, identified as Yeddala Venugopal, hailing from Patur village of Nandalur mandal in the district died on Saturday. He was infected with the virus in Kuwait, where he had gone two years ago to eke out a living. His friends in Kuwait informed his family members in their native village. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Visakhapatnam district reported four new confirmed infections taking the total cases to 72. Of them, 45 are in hospital while 26 patients were discharged. One patient has died.

Vizianagaram district reported no new infection on Saturday. Seven infected patients are in hospital. Srikakulam district health authorities reported 21 new confirmed infections taking the total cases to 28 with 24 patients in hospital while four were discharged.

They said that nearly 1,200 migrant labourers, including women and children, arrived from Chennai on a Shramik special train on May 12. All of them were kept in various quarantine centres located in the district.

Two hundred persons are in a quarantine centre at Sastrulapeta village of Sarubujjili mandal in Uddanam region. They tested negative in the initial testing. However, in the second round of tests carried out on them, 21 persons tested positive based on a report from a virology lab in Kakinada.

However, the State health bulletin on Covid-19 did not mention the 21 new cases reported from Srikakulam district in its daily report.
US Donating 200 Ventilators to Russia

By Carla Babb May 16, 2020

The United States will donate 200 medical ventilators to Moscow via U.S. military transport beginning next week, to aid against the worsening coronavirus outbreak in Russia.

Government communications obtained by VOA reveal that the first 50 ventilators are being produced in California and will be ready for shipment to a surgical center in Moscow on Wednesday. The remaining 150 will be ready for shipment on May 26.

The U.S. government is donating 100 percent of the cost of the ventilators, their start-up components and their delivery expenses, which officials said totals roughly $4.7 million.

U.S. military aircraft will be used to transport the medical ventilators, considered the "best option" due to extremely limited commercial flights. Officials stressed within the communications that the ventilators are for the Russian people and do not signal a partnership with the Russian military.

"There is no cooperation between the U.S. and Russian militaries, as is prohibited under the National Defense Authorization Act," according to the communications.

The COVID-19 outbreak has recently surged in Russia, which now has the second-highest number of cases in the world at nearly 263,000 cases, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Only the U.S., with 1.4 million cases, has more.

The deliveries later this month will fulfill an offer made by President Donald Trump during a news conference in mid-April.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted Trump's offer to provide ventilators during a call between the two leaders that focused on the coronavirus as well as arms control, according to the White House.

The United States has aided many countries battling the coronavirus pandemic and will continue to do so in the future, according to officials.

Ventilator fires

On Wednesday, Russia suspended the use of some Russian-made, Aventa-M medical ventilators following fatal hospital fires in Moscow and St. Petersburg reportedly involving the machines.

Russia sent a batch of the same type of ventilators to the United States in the beginning of April due to projected shortages in the states of New York and New Jersey.

U.S. officials have said the Russian ventilators were not used or deployed to hospitals due to a flattening of the coronavirus curve, and the two states are returning the ventilators to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) "out of an abundance of caution."

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Lucknow, May 17 : The UP State Roadways Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has started deploying buses in various districts of Uttar Pradesh to carry migrants to their respective destinations.

"We will send the number of buses required in various districts on the written requests of the district magistrates. We have also directed our drivers and conductors that while coming back after dropping migrants to their destination, if they see other migrants walking on foot, they should make them board empty buses and drop them at pick up points on district borders," said UPSRTC MD Raj Shekhar.

The buses will be deployed at the pick-up points on the borders of all districts.

After the Auraiyya road mishap on Saturday morning in which 24 migrants were killed, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath ordered that no migrant should be allowed movement on foot, cycle or unauthorized vehicles.

In a meeting through video conferencing with all district magistrates that ended around midnight on Saturday, the chief minister said that if migrants were found walking to their destinations, the concerned officials would face action.

He said that all migrants should be stopped at the entry points, given food and water and then subjected to medical screening. "After this procedure, the migrants should be taken to their destinations in buses," he ordered.

Soon after the chief minister issued this directive, entry was stopped at all entry points of the state capital.

Meanwhile, Lucknow Police Commissioner Sujeet Pandey said, "Two inspectors, eight sub-inspectors, and 30 constables, besides one company of PAC will be deployed at every entry point. Migrant workers will not be allowed to move on foot, auto, tempo, cycles or on trucks. They will be taken to their destination on buses." Within an hour, long queues of vehicle were seen at the Lucknow-Kanpur highway.

At Raksa, on the UP-MP border in Jhansi, the traffic jam extended to almost 20 kilometers on Sunday morning.
Gov. Gavin Newsom gestures toward a chart on Jan. 10 showing the growth of California's rainy day fund. (Associated Press)

To the editor: Before Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sacramento implement budget cuts to public schools, they should examine the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic. ("Coronavirus forces sharp cuts to schools, healthcare in California, Newsom says," May 14)

This crisis has proved to everyone, especially home-schooling parents, that teachers are underpaid and underappreciated, and schools are understaffed. Education needs and deserves more money, not less.

Where do we get some of this money? By killing the over-budget high-speed rail project between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

It won't really be high speed since it has to slow down through every city and town it crosses. It's not needed because this virus has proved that telecommuting is not only possible but beneficial for both employers and employees. And, when the next virus comes, no one will want to pack into a train.

It will be medically safer for all of us to drive our own cars to any far-flung destination. Kill the train and give back to the schools.

Steve Paskay, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: In 2008, California schools addressed the economic crisis by cutting classes. Teachers were thrown on unemployment and students crammed into overcrowded rooms.

This time, administrators should take the hit. Principals, deans and others making six figures would suffer only a a minor loss, while rank-and-file teachers could keep working and give students a better education.

Ralph Tropf, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: According to your reporting, the state budget relies much on federal help. No one should hold their breath waiting for that assistance.

Like President Trump, who wants to bankrupt the U.S. Postal Service both to fight Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos and eliminate voting by mail, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to bankrupt the states in order to renegotiate the social contract with citizens.

Nearly 2,000 Americans are dying every day from COVID-19, and Trump and McConnell are engaged in a brutal exercise of power to sow discord for the sake of an all-controlling federal government. We're being conned.

Story continues

Cary Adams, North Hollywood

..

To the editor: Newsom said that the federal government has a moral and ethical and economic obligation to help support the states.

That is laughable from a leader who has basically told the federal government to go pound sand, because we will decide which federal laws to obey.

I hope Newsom is ready for his next budget after this one to have another large deficit because of continued reduced income and sales tax revenue.

Linda Forsythe, West Hills




Chinas ambassador to Israel, Du Wei has been found dead. The Ambassador was found dead on Sunday in his apartment, in a Tel Aviv ...
HOLLAND, MI  Rachel Harned is stuck between a pandemic and a hard place.

Harned, owner of Bombshell Blow Dry Bar and the Salon Professional Academy beauty school in Holland, is being pushed by some clients join a handful of barbershops and salons reopening in defiance of state orders that closed many businesses to help stem the coronavirus spread.

Others say not to jeopardize her license and wait to reopen when stay-home orders lift.

She knows that hair salons and barbershops bring people into close contact, which is risky in a pandemic. Physical distancing is next to impossible while cutting someones hair. But she also knows that stylists are generally well-versed in sanitation and their services are in high demand.

Harned is torn by the dilemma. I have a high-risk son, but I also have to provide for him; pay his medical bills and put food on the table, she said.

Professional cosmetologists are starting to pipe up as new Michigan COVID-19 cases taper and the state takes initial steps toward reopening its economy. They are feeling overlooked and frustrated by a lack of communication and direction from state and local officials about when salons, spas and barbershops might be allowed to reopen, and what safety protocols will be necessary once that occurs.

Unable to get any direction from Michigan health and licensing officials, salon owners have turned to back-to-work guides from the beauty industry and are studying states like Ohio, Georgia and Indiana, which have begun allowing salons to reopen with enhanced safety measures.

Federal guidance has also been scare. The Trump Administration has put the onus on individual states to develop economic reopening guidance rather than offer centralized leadership. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week released limited one-page reopen guidance for some types of business, but has not produced anything specific to cosmetology.

The groundswell of frustration in the cosmetology ranks occurs against the state and national backdrop of anti-quarantine political protests in Michigan and elsewhere, as well as a high-profile Owosso barber who has become a flashpoint for openly defying Gov. Gretchen Whitmers order closing non-essential businesses.

Were trying to be neutral and supportive, but its hard when you cant even get a hello back, said Kristan Sayers, a Brighton salon owner whose nascent Michigan Association of Beauty Professionals (MABP) has seen of surge of new members during the pandemic.

We just know what other states are doing, said Sayers. Thats all we can really follow.

Related stories: MLive coronavirus coverage

Salon owners say theyve have had little besides Whitmers media statements to guide them over the past couple months as they try to cobble together post-lockdown plans. The governors six-phase MI Safe Start economic reopen plan rolled out on May 7 doesnt directly address cosmetology businesses, but Whitmer has said previously theyre expected to be among the last types of businesses to reopen.

This week, Whitmer said salons may reopen in Phase 5, when non-essential retail business can resume with limited capacity. The plan says that phase begins when COVID-19 case levels are extremely low and health care system capacity improves. Presently, Michigan is in Phase 3. New cases have plateaued; and testing and contact tracing efforts are ramping up.

On WSNX, Whitmer referenced the inherent difficulty in physical distancing at salons, but also acknowledged they might reopen sooner in some areas of the state.

Whitmer said Michigan is still developing the protocols.

When you talk about services like that, youre touching the public and often in high density scenarios; where youve people sitting right next to each other, she said. Theres no possibly of observing six feet of distance. In some, you can wear a mask. You can improve hand washing. I think that were looking at those types of services in probably the 5th phase.

Related: Retail probably included in next wave of reopenings, Whitmer says

Sayers and others have sent emails and called COVID-19 state hotlines trying to connect with someone in Lansing who can offer clarity. State agencies have been directing them to the governors office, which is presumably swamped and not responding. The state cosmetology licensing board offered little guidance during its regular meeting this week and commissioners did not answer questions, say stylists who tuned-in.

MLives attempts to reach Whitmers press staff were not successful.

Indications the state is beginning to get the message finally arrived this week. On Wednesday, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) offered Sayers a seat on a new state workgroup thats creating guidelines to present to Whitmer. An initial meeting took place Saturday.

Sayers said the MPBA, which started in 2017 but was dormant until the pandemic hit, has added about 2,000 licensed stylists in recent weeks. Difficulty connecting with decision-makers has made obvious the need for a state association, she said.

She wonders if having better communication between the industry and state government might have helped avoid the situation in Owosso, where barber Karl Manke resumed business in defiance of state order on May 4 and has since drawn national attention. Manke, whose license has now been suspended amid a legal showdown with the state, has become a champion of the anti-quarantine movement.

Salons in Cadillac and Holland have since followed suit.

Sayers isnt sure Manke is helping her cause. Were trying really hard to stay neutral of that, she said.

We need communication with our industry, she said. Anything. Just communicate. Without it, theres chaos.

Absent state guidance, salon owners like Elisabeth Bartrom have cobbled together reopening plans of their own. Bartrom, who owns Chasing Vanity salon and medispa in Grand Rapids, said clients can expect to see changes.

She has been collaborating with peers on a list of new safety procedures that include reduced staffing, more distance between chairs, frequent disinfection of tools and surfaces, mandatory masks and other personal protection gear for patrons and staff, guest and employee temperature checks and pre-appointment screening questionnaires.

Bartrom is considering a stop to blow-drying altogether. The waiting room is being closed. Clients would wait in the car for a notification the stylist is ready.

I want my customers to know were doing everything in our power to take those extra precautions because this is serious, she said.

Shes been frustrated by a lack of communication with Lansing.

I feel like weve been forgotten about, Bartrom said.

In northern Michigan, Kimi Schugart of Endless Hair Designs in East Tawas said she expects many salons that were already struggling financially to close for good.

Schugart consults around Michigan through LOreal and said many stylists are bummed about safety changes dampening salon culture. Stylists are creative people who like to dress-up and wear makeup, she said. Having to wear masks and social distance will be tough.

Were lovey, touchy people, she said. We like to be in your personal space.

Schugart anticipates some reluctance from clients to return until a coronavirus vaccine is developed, but suggested changes in customer habits may depend on demographic and whether theyre from a hard-hit metro area, or parts of Michigan that are barely touched by the disease.

Youll have the ladies with gray hair who dont care how much it costs or whats going on, they want their hair done, she said. Our industry is strange.

In Holland, Harned said shes already reorganized her space and is stocking up on personal protective equipment like masks and face shields, which she hasnt struggled to find. Among other precautions, shes planning to have the place regularly fogged with disinfectant.

Shes been talking to peers in Michigan and other states and digesting industry support guidance from national franchise groups. Shes expecting to reopen at something like 25 to 30 percent capacity. Thats tough on revenue, but its better than nothing. Since the shut-down, Harned has tried selling hair products, special boxes of boutique items and gift cards from the curb. Thats all we can do right now.

Shes turned away a lot of business, from lucrative bridal party work to mens haircuts. Shes also turned down many requests for haircuts at home. Harned said a truck driver called asking for a haircut, and she told him to schedule something once he reached Georgia.

I sent him to another state for a haircut, she said. There was nothing else I could do.

Related stories:

Michigans unemployment system is better than most, but thats cold comfort

A slow crawl back to normalcy ahead for Michigan bars and restaurants

Michigans mask mandate highlights political fault lines in coronavirus crisis
The governor of New York sent out a call to health-care workers for aid during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Rio Rancho nurse answered this call.

Brandi Reilly was an administrative nurse at a home hospice agency in Rio Rancho. She also worked at Presbyterian Cardiac Progressive Care in downtown Albuquerque on an as-needed basis as a staff nurse.

It still gives me chills just thinking about when Gov. (Andrew) Cuomo sent out  I kind of call it his cry out for help  saying please, just anybody, send us health-care workers, Reilly said.

She told her husband if she had the opportunity, she would go.

This request weighed on her through her shifts at Presbyterian and the hospice, she said.

At that time, (New York) had no end in sight. They knew no help was coming; there was nobody to back them up and I just couldnt imagine, she said. It makes me tearful when I speak about it out loud because I felt like there was no help coming for them right now and they knew that, and yet the patients are still coming.

In early April, the opportunity to help came after Reillys niece signed with a nursing company called Krucial Staffing. This company would allow her to work in New York.

Reilly signed a three-week contract with the company to work in Brooklyn. She was concerned about leaving her husband, their 12-year-old daughter and her full-time job.

So once things started to get settled, my daughter and my husband said, You know you need to go. We know how bad you want to go. You need to go; you need to quit worrying about us. Were going to be fine,' she said.

Shes in New York now.

I miss her, but if it makes her happy to go and help people, it makes me happy, her daughter, Abby, said.

Reillys administrative nursing job wouldnt allow her to take a leave of absence, so she resigned. Presbyterian told her a job would be waiting for her when she came home.

This was a life mission she wanted to do, and three days later, she was gone, John Reilly said.

He and Abby have told her through many Facetime calls how proud they are.

As Reilly was on her way to New York, she shared flights with about 15 other nurses headed to help. Once there, she would spend 21 nights, with one day off, caring for COVID-19 patients, she said.

I think just going in that first week was so surreal, Reilly said.

Nurses are placed where they are needed, she said. Their specialty before arriving in New York does not matter.

On her second night, Reilly was caring for patients who had already been admitted to the hospital. A man in his early 50s was sent up from the emergency room, with staff telling Reilly he had been stabilized.

That turned out not to be the case, and the man had to be intubated rather quickly. The patient ended up not doing well.

Its hard because youre trying to reassure them, and you can see the fear in their eyes because they still know enough. And its hard because you know they are by themselves and theyre just not going to see their families anymore and their families arent going to see them, she said. He is still alive, but he wont make it out of the hospital and its hard. Like you know his family is still at home waiting for him. He is one of many.

Reilly said there is a very real need in New York.

People give media a bad name, but maybe its because its what (people) dont want to see, because it is not all a lie, she said.

Going into the heat of New York, there is a sense of anxiety and timidness, she said.

At the beginning of a shift, 60 nurses go to the hospital. From there, nurses are broken into groups of eight and then into even smaller groups, she said.

So now were like, Weve got to stick together, because when youre going into these hospitals, youre in an area of town you dont even know and its in the middle of the night. So, everything starts feeling bigger and smaller at the same time, Reilly said. Ive had a nurse who had been a psych nurse her whole life, and shes like, Youve got to help me out. I did some of this in nursing school, but I have a patient whos on a ventilator now. And you dont want these people to fail, and now youre not only taking these patients under your wing, but also another nurse under your wing.

Reilly said the experience has built close friendships.

I think the shared experience helps with the mental-health aspect, being able to talk to somebody who knows what youre talking about, she said.

Reilly said there is a bright side: the overwhelming support.

First of all, our family support has been amazing from both sides of our family. Ive been extremely grateful for that. And we have just had support from all over. Sometimes social media can be very toxic, but we have had people calling, checking on John and Abby, from people who are there local in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque, she said.

The community has sent the Reilly family masks, care packages, food and love, John said.

Its been amazing and awesome, the response we have gotten from social media, from friends and family from the past 20 years from all around the country. Its the American spirit, and its really motivating, he said.

Reilly signed another three-week contract to stay in New York because the need is there, she said.
A total of 169 Indian nationals will be repatriated from Dhaka to Kolkata on May 18 on a special Air India flight under the Vande Bharat Mission, days after the Central and West Bengal governments had sparred on the lack of flights to the state.

People familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity that special efforts have been made by the Indian high commission in Dhaka to identify and accord priority to citizens with compelling reasons to return because a large number of residents of West Bengal are currently in Bangladesh.

The passengers on the first flight from Dhaka to Kolkata on Monday include 73 students, 16 senior citizens, 45 stranded tourists, 16 people with medical emergencies and a pregnant woman.

Not only in Dhaka, but Indian nationals stranded across Bangladesh were facilitated and the passengers for this flight have come from 18 different districts, said one of the people cited above.

Once the passengers reach Kolkata, they will be placed in quarantine for 14 days, following which they will travel to their homes spread across more than 20 districts, including Pashim Bardhaman, North 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur and Jalpaiguri.

Kolkata was not among the destinations in the initial list of 149 repatriation flights from more than 30 countries in the second phase of Vande Bharat Mission that will bring back some 32,000 people. The second phase began on May 16, after some 15,000 people were repatriated on 64 flights in the first phase.

Vande Bharat Mission is a very dynamic operation and flights are being added almost every day, said another person.

The Central and West Bengal governments were involved in a spat on the repatriation flights on May 14, with the external affairs ministry saying the state hadnt confirmed if it has arranged quarantine facilities to receive people wishing to return from abroad.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava tweeted that flights to repatriate residents of West Bengal from abroad could be arranged if the state government confirmed it has organised quarantine facilities for them.

Srivastava was responding to a tweet from West Bengals higher education minister Partha Chatterjee, who posted a schedule of the flights being organised during the second phase of Vande Bharat Mission and questioned why there were no flights to the state.

According to the external affairs ministry, more than 3,700 people from West Bengal have registered for repatriation from different parts of the world.
For allegedly making posts and comments on his Facebook page which some Muslims interpreted as insults on the prophet of Islam, police in Nigeria arrested Mubarak Bala. They have detained and held him incommunicado for almost three weeks. The Islamic establishment has refused to speak out against this illegality and infringement on his fundamental human rights. In fact, some Muslims have threatened to kill Mr. Bala if he was not adequately punished by the state.

It is important to ask, why do they hate Mubarak Bala? Why is there so much dislike for a little known individual who made innocuous posts on his Facebook page? By they here I mean those who wrote the petition against Mr. Bala including all muslims who are directly or indirectly calling for him to be dealt with? Why has Mr. Bala become such as bete noire, someone that is so despised in the local Muslim community? Here are the reasons. But before explaining them, I would like to provide some background to my relationship with Mr. Bala.

I never knew Mubarak Bala before 2014. I never heard about the name. We connected through some strange circumstance. In 2014, I was studying for my doctorate in Germany. One day I got a message that an ex Muslim had been taken to a mental hospital. I was both worried and confused. All the ex-muslims that I knew then were in the closet. I was asked to join efforts to release him from the hospital. Balas family took him to this health facility after he went open and public with his disbelief and criticism of Islamic religion. The family thought he was out of his mind. For days, I struggled to understand what was going on. Religion, especially Islam is a charged issue in Northern Nigeria. I wondered how I could effectively intervene in this case while living thousands of miles away.

I was under immense local and international pressure to rally support because time was of essence. Bala was being treated for mental illness that he did not have. Those who contacted me were in Lagos which was very far from Kano where Mubarak Bala was. They also relied on information from third parties. I managed to call the psychiatric hospital in Kano. And they confirmed that Mubarak was a patient and had been admitted to the facility. But they refused to provide details of his case. After some back and forth calls and emails, I managed to piece together what could be going on and joined the campaign. I issued a statement calling for Mr. Bala's release. We hired a lawyer to help with his case. Incidentally, as we were trying to figure out how to get him out from the hospital, the staff embarked on industrial action and Mr. Bala left the hospital. He became a free man. Since then, Mr. Bala has been very outspoken in his criticism of Islamic extremism. He has been the face of atheism and freethought in Northern Nigeria. His experience has inspired many atheists and ex-Muslims in northern Nigeria to go open and public with their views and positions. Bala has become synonymous with apostasy and blasphemy in the Islamic Northern Nigeria.

So they hate Mr. Bala because he renounced Islam. They believe that Islam is a perfect religion that people can embrace but not abandon. Bala was born into a Muslim family and they had expected him to remain a Muslim for the rest of his life. However, Bala disappointed them. He did not live up to their expectations. He left Islam. Bala did not even convert to Christianity, which would have been bad enough but not as bad. He became an atheist, a 'bloody infidel'.

Mr. Bala betrayed them. And they are angry and furious with him. Now they are trying to punish him for the betrayal. Apostasy is a crime under sharia law and in Islam. As an apostate, Mubarak Bala is, for them, a criminal who deserves to be punished as required by Islamic law. Bala should be forced to recant and return to the Islamic fold or be removed from the Islamic community via imprisonment or execution. This has not happened. Mr. Bala has not received any punishment, or better an adequate penalty (I was told that his family had disowned him). To them, Mr. Bala has not been given a penalty that is severe enough to make him regret leaving Islam.

Instead, Bala has made it seem acceptable to leave Islam. He has been living his normal life and freely going about his everyday business. And this has not gone down well with them. Mr. Bala has made it look as if one can abandon Islam and still live happily and freely, not hiding or living in fear for one's life in Islamic Northern Nigeria. In fact, Mr. Bala has gone to the extent of openly declaring to contest for a political office in Kano.

Now if they had some residual love for Mubarak Bala given his family and ethnic ties to the region, that affection has disappeared. Mr. Bala has caused them to hate him more by openly criticizing Islam. As an apostate, they expected Bala to keep quiet and not to say anything about Islam and the prophet. By renouncing Islam, Bala had lost the authority to speak freely about the religion. For them, only Muslims can talk about Islam. It is only believers or those who have something apologetic, complementary, and supportive to say about Islam and the prophet that can talk or openly comment on this perfect religion and its perfect messenger.

For them, critical views about Islam and the prophet are not allowed even if these viewpoints are true and based on facts. Critical views about Islam and the prophet are blasphemes. And blasphemy is a crime, another crime that is punishable by death under sharia law. Blasphemy law is a weapon to silence and eliminate critics of Islam and perpetuate the teachings of this religion whether they are true or false. It is a mechanism to stop people from making unauthorized comments about Islam. Blasphemy law is what the Islamic establishment use to police and censor what people say and express about Islam and the prophet.

So they hate Mr. Bala because he criticizes Islam and freely speaks about the prophet of Islam. He is a progressive mind and a champion of islamic reformation and social change. Mr. Bala draws attention to aspects of Islam and the prophet's life which are often hidden and forbidden. He points out those teachings of Islam and the prophet which he finds mistaken and incompatible with human rights, science, and critical thinking. He calls attention to those Islamic practices that he finds morally repugnant and objectionable. They hate Mr. Bala because he is not afraid to speak his mind. Simply put, they hate Bala because he is an apostate and a 'blasphemer'.

In addition, they hate Mubarak Bala because he has emboldened many atheists in muslim dominated communities in Northern Nigeria. Many atheists in Northern Nigeria are leaving their closet and becoming assertive of their views and identities. Bala has inspired many young people in Northern Nigeria to begin to freely express their disbelief in Islam. They dislike him because he has become a formidable moral and intellectual force behind the growing wave of atheism in Islamic Northern Nigeria.
On the hit series Vikings, the people of Kattegat have been wondering about Flokis (Gustaf Skarsgard) whereabouts since he first left with the settlers to start a new life in Iceland. He came back after discovering a new land that he said was a place that the gods inhabited. Together with other people from Kattegat, Floki set off to find the land again that would become Iceland, which they do, but things dont go as planned.

Flokis settlement doesnt turn out the way he hoped

Gustaf Skarsgard | MEDALE Claude/Corbis via Getty Images

Floki has the utmost faith in the new settlement, a place he believes is actually Asgard. In this land of the gods, he struggles to find harmony with the people he brought there. The settlers establish factions that end up killing each other. Its too much for Floki to deal with when the settlement fails in his eyes.

Floki speaks to Kjetill Flatnose (Adam Copeland) and tells him hes done with everyone. He says that he wont kill him but he would if he were still the man he once was.

Eyvind (Kris Holden-Ried), another man with a family in the settlement, and Kjetills family start a blood feud that Floki can no longer stand to watch play out. Kjetill eventually kills Eyvind and his family, which is the final tipping point. Even Aud (Leah McNamara), Kjetills daughter, kills herself when she cant handle the out of control blood feud between her family and another.

Kjetill returns to Kattegat and Bjorn is suspicious

Kjetill returns to Kattegat in Flokis boat, which makes Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith) and his brother Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) suspicious. Kjetill tells Ubbe that Floki just up and left for no reason one day and they havent seen him since. He says they searched for him and found no sign of Floki.

When Bjorn is able to speak candidly with Kjetill, he demands to know what really happened with Floki in Iceland. I want the whole story, Bjorn demands to know. The truth.

You know most of it already, Kjetill says to him. He recounts the fact that they had no food and times were hard. He says the first crop failed and an evil man called Eyvind blamed Floki for everything. He tells Bjorn that this other family killed his son and daughter. In the end, I killed Eyvind and all of his family, Kjetill admits. After all, I am a Viking. It was a matter of honor.

RELATED: Vikings Season 6: Is Floki Still Alive?

Why Bjorn thinks Kjetill might have killed Floki

Bjorn admits that Floki is a dreamer and he would have been upset that his dream failed, especially with all the killing. Surely someone killed him and hid the body, Bjorn says. Perhaps you killed him Kjetill. Perhaps there was a confrontation and you struck him.

Bjorn has known Floki for almost his entire life and he doesnt think Floki would just up and leave like that. Why wouldnt he return home to Kattegat and to the sons of Ragnar? In Bjorns mind, someone must have killed him, and its suspicious that Kjetill would show up in Flokis boat with this story. Not to mention he admits to killing this other family in a blood feud, so hes obviously capable of it.

You better pray to the gods that one day Floki returns to verify your story. Because up until that day, a man capable of slaughtering an entire family, will to me forever stand accused of his murder, Bjorn tells him.

What actually happened to Floki?

Fans will remember that what actually happened to Floki remains clouded in mystery. He walks away from the settlement and finds a cave that he believes to be the gate of Helheim. He travels deeper into the cave to discover a cross that has been carved inside the cavern. Hes completely dumb-founded and begins to cry and laugh at the same time. It appears Floki is inside the body of a volcano that suddenly erupts, burying him inside the cave out of nowhere. Fans havent heard from Floki since and its unclear if he died or somehow made it out alive.

Bjorn Ironside has his suspicions about what happened to Floki. Hopefully one day well all learn the truth.
(Newser)  A top White House economic adviser hit the talk-show circuit Sunday and slammed everyone from the CDC to China to former President Obama, Politico reports. "I'm glad Mr. Obama has a new job as Joe Biden's press secretary," Peter Navarro said on ABC's This Week, responding to Obama's latest criticisms of the administration. "As far as I'm concerned, his administration was a kumbaya of incompetence in which we saw millions of manufacturing jobs go off to China." Among his other remarks, and one from a federal official who dared disagree with him:

story continues below

"Early on in this virus, the CDC, which really had the most trusted brand around the world in this space, really let the country down with the testing because not only did they keep the testing within the bureaucracy, they had a bad test," said Navarro on NBC's Meet the Press. "And that did set us back."

As for China, Navarro warned about China possibly stealing intellectual propertyincluding vaccines. "And what would they do with it? It wouldn't be a benign experience," he said on This Week. "They'd use that vaccine to profiteer and hold the world hostage. So yes, I do blame the Chinese."

Navarro also criticized the notionpressed by Democratic senatorsthat President Trump should use the Defense Production Act to increase production of test kits and protective gear. "We're using the DPA whenever we need to, and we are using it quite effectively," he said. "These Democratic senators ought to get out more often and see what the Trump administration is doing."

Navarro's detractor? Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. "I don't believe the CDC let this country down," he said on CBS' Face the Nation. "I believe the CDC serves an important public health role."

(Read more Sunday morning talk shows stories.)
One Ukrainian soldier has been wounded as a result of enemy shelling since Sunday midnight.

Russia's hybrid military forces on May 16 mounted six attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.

Read alsoUkrainian troops destroy enemy firing position in Donbas (Video)

"The Russian Federation's armed groups violated the ceasefire six times in the past day," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in a Facebook update as of 08:00 Kyiv time on May 17, 2020.

Russia-led forces opened fire from proscribed 120mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and small arms.

Under attack came Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Novotroyitske, Hranitne, and Lebedynske.

Joint Forces returned fire to each enemy shelling. According to intelligence data, one members of Russia-led forces was wounded.

"From Sunday midnight, Russia-led forces attacked Ukrainian positions twice near the town of Avdiyivka, using 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, and small arms. One Ukrainian soldier has been wounded as a result of enemy shelling since day-start on Sunday," the update said.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika says it has impounded an aircraft belonging to Fair Aviation, a United Kingdom-based aviation, for operating commercial flights contrary to the approval it got for humanitarian operations.

The minister, who made this known in a tweet on Sunday afternoon, described the companys action as callous, adding that the company will receive maximum penalty.

Read Also: UK Has Failed Woefully In Managing COVID-19: Daddy Freeze

He said, Flair Aviation, a UK company, was given approval for humanitarian operations but regrettably we caught them conducting commercial flights. 

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This is callous! The craft is impounded, crew being interrogated. There shall be maximum penalty. Wrong time to try our resolve!

https://twitter.com/hadisirika/status/1262011252924198913?s=19
Even in the best of times, events can be counted on to come along occasionally that upend our expectations. But these are the most extreme times the majority of us will ever live through, and that can make the violence of the inversion something to behold. Yesterday's truth becomes tomorrow's punchline.

Remember Gangnam Style? Credit:AP

Cast your mind back just two months as the COVID-19 pandemic started to spread through Australia and the Morrison government put together its first set of economic support packages. Remember the predictions of a V-shaped recovery, in which the economy would take one big hit and then steadily rebound, uninterrupted? And putting our economy into "hibernation" so that it would emerge refreshed and intact in the spring?

Only two months after these predictions were put forward confidently by political and economic experts, they now sound as outdated as Gangnam Style. Which leads you to wonder how much of what we're being told to expect right now will come to look moth-eaten or irrelevant in, say, July, let alone September, when the JobKeeper program that's propping up millions of jobs is due to come to an end.

Of one thing we can be certain. The day will arrive when the pandemic is over. COVID-19 will be with us forever but somehow  through a vaccine or treatments or the establishment of herd immunity or something else  the overwhelming fear of imminent contagion will recede.
Virgin Australias collapse sparked a lot of cruel jokes. Just Tragic, Says Joyce wrote one satirical newspaper. Another led with Virgin Allows Customers To Purchase Airline As Optional Add On.

Though this was tongue in cheek, reading the comments (and scrolling through Twitter), DMARGE noticed a conspiratorial question crop up time and time again  did Qantas kill Virgin?

QANTAS RULE THE AUSTRALIAN GOVT, SHOW SOME GUTS FRYDENBURG BAIL OUT VIRGIN, OTHERWISE QANTAS WILL CONTROL AUSTRALIA AGAIN, VOTE THIS FRYDENBURG OUT  Allan Jackson (@richnJa38064647) April 16, 2020

Fringe at best, moronic at worst. Sure. But it raises other, viable questions. For instance: does the government have an interest in treating Qantas, which is always at least 51% Australian (shareholder) owned, like the favoured elder child, over Virgin Australia: the distracted younger sibling who has foreign flings, lives beyond their means and  as the conspiracy cranks love to remind you  is run by some hippie British billionaire?

So QANTAS should be the ONLY one getting a bail out?

A reminder

In 2011, then Opposition leader Tony Abbott knew QANTAS was shutting down before the ALP government did.

Dont tell me about QANTAS and ethics.

Imagine if they had the skies to themselves.

https://t.co/FGJ7U6eai0   Bogan Demographic (@IcacPersistance) March 31, 2020

The counterpoint to this would be that regional carrier REX, also majority-owned by overseas interests, received more pandemic funding than Qantas and Virgin Australia combined.

Also: its not as if lobbying is a secret  let alone illegal (something many keyboard warriors appear enraged by).

Back to the point at hand: does Qantas have a better relationship with the government than Virgin? Beyond its fair cry for an Even Stevens bailout, did Qantas influence the government in coming to its the best solution is a market solution stance?

If it did, would that necessarily be foul play? Or is that just business? After all, Qantas hasnt exactly hidden its position.

As Bloomberg reported on the 1st of April, Qantas argues that Virgins record shouldnt be rewarded with a bailout, while Virgin has accused Qantas of spreading false rumors about Virgins cash position.

So: is all fair in love and bailouts? Or is there something more at play?

Lots of questions, not many answers.

To get a clearer picture, DMARGE spoke to Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Michael McCormack.

Though he wouldnt be drawn on Qantas relationship with government, the Deputy PM told DMARGE, We continue to monitor Virgins situation and the best solution for the airline is a market solution.

He also told DMARGE: The Federal Government is exploring all possible avenues to keep two airlines in the air, throughout this pandemic and on the other side of it.

I welcome States and Territories exploring ways to assist their local aviation businesses.

Mr McCormack also pointed to the governments initial $165 million package which has helped Qantas and Virgin operate an essential domestic network servicing the most critical metropolitan and regional routes in Australia over the past months.

We will continue to support every Australian through this pandemic with more than $320 billion of investment to support workers, businesses and the economy, Mr McCormack added.

Crucial, no doubt: but, regarding the Qantas relationship with the Australian federal government, not very illuminating.

To shed a bit more light we asked the opinion of a Qantas pilot, who told us Qantas success wasnt so much a result of the airline having a special relationship with the government (or having extra smiley employees), but a smart business plan.

Im not sure Qantas recent success is a direct result of its relationship with its employees [though that has certainly helped], but more so a product of the significant changes it has gone through in recent years. It is a much leaner beast than 10 years ago, with thousands of jobs being cut or consolidated. It is also a lot more than just an airline.

Qantas loyalty is one of, if not the most profitable section of the business, and It has successfully leveraged the brand to diversify its business.

Our take? Even though Qantas hasnt been government-owned for over 25 years, its effort to stay relevant to (and pitch itself as being an integral part of) the ever-evolving Australian culture has rewarded it with a loyal customer base.

Not to mention: the crucial role Qantas plays, financially, culturally, and infrastructure-ally, to Australia, means the government would be crazy to do anything that disadvantages it, even if it doesnt actually enjoy special privileges.

Read Next
New Delhi: World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is celebrated every year on May 17 to help raise awareness about the importance of the internet and other means of information and communication in bringing the world closer. The day marks the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865. WTISD is being celebrated annually since 1969.

The United Nations (UN) celebrates WTISD every year with a unique theme and this time, it is 'Connect 2030: ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)'.

First, it was only celebrated as World Telecommunication Day, but in March 2006, the General Assembly adopted a resolution stipulating that World Information Society Day too shall be celebrated every year on May 17.

In the current scenario, when the world is reeling under the coronavirus pandemic, communication plays a very important role in delivering the correct information, helps us connect to our loved ones. Life seems to be incomplete without the internet and communication.

Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted to say, On the World Telecommunication Day, I would like to appreciate the efforts made by each and every employee of telecom and Internet service providers for rendering uninterrupted services to the people of India despite facing the constraints posed by lockdown.

On the #WorldTelecommunicationDay,

I would like to appreciate the efforts made by each and every employee of telecom and Internet service providers for rendering uninterrupted services to the people of India despite facing the constraints posed by lockdown.  Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) May 17, 2020

As we mentioned earlier that 2020s theme is 'Connect 2030: ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)', lets take a look at the themes for previous years:

2019: Bridging the standardization gap

2018: Enabling the positive use of Artificial Intelligence for All

2017: Big Data for Big Impact

2016: ICT entrepreneurship for social impact

2015: Telecommunications and ICTs: Drivers of innovation

2014: Broadband for Sustainable Development.
Loading The Premier indicated the state would continue ramping up its testing to provide insights into infection rates across the community, especially as restrictions are eased. Almost 2000 teaching staff have been tested ahead of schools reopening in coming weeks. Pubs, restaurants and cafes in Victoria have been open for takeaway only, while many venues in other states have begun reopening for a maximum 10 diners. Patrons dining in must give their names, mobile numbers and addresses as a condition of entry, to help contact tracing in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak at the venue.

Tables will need to be 1.5 metres apart, and businesses must abide by physical distancing requirements of one person per four square metres. Employees will be required to complete a check-list of their health status at the start of each shift. The state government will also work with the hospitality industry and unions on how to manage shared spaces such as entrances and bathrooms. Bars and pubs that serve only drinks will not be allowed to reopen. Similarly, the public bar area of a pub must stay closed. Gaming areas and food courts will remain closed throughout June. "Getting these venues back up and running is very important, " Mr Andrews said.

"It's got to be done in a safe and appropriate way, in a cautious way. We simply can't have all the rules come off at once. We simply can't go to a situation where there are hundreds and hundreds of people crammed into venues not maintaining that social distance." Loading Under the first stage of reopening announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday, cafes and restaurants must maintain social distancing of four square metres per customer. However, each state has been allowed to choose when it introduces individual aspects of the national plan and Victoria has been most cautious in lifting restrictions. "There are many other restrictions that remain in place: I'm not here to talk about gyms, I'm not here to talk about outdoor playgrounds, I'm not here to talk about overnight stays," Mr Andrews said.

"We will have more to say in coming days." The Premier said that from June 1, as Victorians head out to cafes, restaurants and pubs, "we'll be less talking about people staying home, and we'll be asking them to stay safe". But the one thing that's not changing from June is requiring people to work from home. "It is the view of the Chief Health Officer and his team that if we have literally millions of people returning to office environments and other places of work, where they don't need to be there, pressing lift buttons, opening doors, congregating in kitchens, sharing bathrooms  all the natural, normal things that happen which you can't really protect against  that presents the biggest risk for the stability that we have experienced in our numbers to date." Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the pandemic was not yet over.

"We're heading in the right direction in terms of slowing down new cases in Victoria, particularly around community transmission, but this is not time for complacency. There is still a risk," she said. Sign up to our Coronavirus Update newsletter Get our Coronavirus Update newsletter for the day's crucial developments at a glance, the numbers you need to know and what our readers are saying. Sign up to The Sydney Morning Herald's newsletter here and The Age's here. Australian Hotels Association chief executive Paddy O'Sullivan welcomed the government's announcement and said allowing 20 diners at a venue would be viable for many pubs and hotels. "Today's announcement is a big step in the right direction  the next phase will be the pub industry showing that it can trade under these initial arrangements, in order to prove to the government that we are up for the challenge to manage the COVID-19 issues," he said. But Opposition leader Michael OBrien said the government had dragged the chain on lifting restrictions, saying the Premier had flattened the economy as well as the curve.



He should be leaving decisions about opening small businesses and when its viable to the people who know best, and thats small business owners themselves.
Amazons French warehouses are close to reopening roughly a month after they closed. The internet retailer said it planned a gradual reopening starting on May 19th as it came close to reaching a deal with French unions and work councils on safety measures to protect against COVID-19. Its not clear just how quickly the facilities will come back online, but it promises to widen deliveries beyond essential items like food and healthcare products.

The shutdowns came after French courts limited shipments to essentials until Amazon conducted risk evaluations at the warehouses. The courts found that Amazon hadnt provided sufficiently sanitary conditions in some areas, and that it hadnt factored aspects like mental well-being into its work schedules and teams. Amazon closed the warehouses in part due to alleged ambiguity over the nature of essential products.

The company has been implementing stricter safety measures in warehouses, such as temperature checks. Frances order to limit shipments added to existing pressure, though, and the its clear that workers will take further action if theyre convinced Amazon still isnt doing enough to safeguard employees.

Update 5/17 11:30AM ET: An Amazon spokesperson told Engadget this was all about formal procedure and that there has been no significant change to the safety measures the company had already put in place. You can read the full statement below  its clear unions were content enough to come back, even if the measures might not completely address concerns about COVID-19 (such as the desire to test for the disease, not just temperatures). Separately, its now clear that the restart phase will last through June 2nd, and French workers will receive an extra 2 per hour in hazard pay through May.
New Delhi, May 17 : Reliance Retail's success in new commerce platform, JioMart could alter the industry dynamics, but execution holds the key and there are challenges, according to brokerage firm, Jefferies.

"We see the grocery opportunity as huge and own-label introduction as the next logical step. RRL's success could alter the industry dynamics structurally, but execution holds the key and there are challenges", it said in a research.

Reliance Retail's partnership with Whatsapp holds promise for RRL's new commerce platform, JioMart. The pilot, launched in some geographies last year, now extends to Mumbai. "Our interactions with retailers suggest the model is still evolving", the research said.

"Execution holds the key and RRL would require significant efforts like micromarket strategy, feet on ground, customer & consumer-centric approach", the research said. "While we view the opportunity as immense, we believe RRL will take considerable time to gain scale", it said.

There is no JioMart app as of now and there is no link to JioMart on Whatsapp -- these should be available in the coming months, it added.

"Given COVID-19 related issues, we expect issues like delayed delivery or lack of delivery option to be resolved in the coming months", according to the research.

The introduction of own labels is the logical step in due course, which would be margin positive -- generic product name along with own label could alter the FMCG industry dynamics.

With a presence of more than 11,700 outlets, RRL leads the Indian organised retail space and is the fastest-growing retailer in the world. Although it has a broad-based presence, grocery contributes more than 20% to reported revenues and FY20 revenues nearly doubled year-on-year. RRL has now set its eyes on the unorganized grocery retail market under 'New Commerce' where it connects merchants on an uniform technology platform.

Unlike the competition, RRL offers POS (handheld device) free of cost, with less than Rs 5,000 refundable deposit, with no monthly outgo.

RRL's POS allows retailer to manage inventory, place orders on RRL, accept payment, generate tax returns; hence, it is not just another POS. However, not every retailer is using all functionalities as of now.

RRL is also building B2B presence, while an important aspect of its B2C strategy, retailer has an option to even sell in the offline segment, on his own.

Jefferies said on B2B, RRL is not always the cheapest option. Hence, traditional distributors are also important -- given the legacy of several years or decades, retailers value relationships with them.

There is some concern about too much dependence on one vendor (RRL) in the long term, hence, most retailers expect both (RRL & traditional) to co-exist, the research said.
Now that drive-in movie theaters are allowed to resume operating in New York state, a Central New York farm has been given the go-ahead to host its first ever pop-up drive-in movie event. And its already sold out.

Arlington Acres in LaFayette, New York, will show The Goonies on a big screen after sunset on Saturday, May 23. The 100-acre family farm, also known as a barn wedding and event venue, announced on Facebook that reservations were filled within hours.

Our first drive-in movie night is SOLD OUT. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate drive up admission so please do not try to come without a ticket, the venue said.

Arlington Acres, which still cant hold weddings due to the coronavirus pandemic, plans to hold more drive-in events; people interested can sign-up for their movie newsletter at www.arlingtonacresevents.com/movies.

Arlington Acres owner Katie Jerome told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that they will not be charging for tickets, but will ask for a suggested donation of $15 per car or $5 per person to help cover costs of the first event.

I dont expect to make money, its more of a community thing, she said.

Movie theaters and other non-essential businesses remain closed due to New York states stay-at-home order, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this past week that drive-ins can open as an exception with safe social distancing practices. Fingerlakes Drive-In in Auburn opened Friday with a showing of Trolls World Tour and the Midway Drive-In in Minetto said it plans to reopen within the next few weeks.

Jerome said she hopes to temporarily pivot to hosting drive-in events until she can resume hosting weddings, to help give the community something fun to do.

We are not trying to steal any business from any drive-in movie theaters or other businesses, Jerome explained.

Nomad Cinemas co-founder Michael Flores told syracuse.com that his company, which sets up outdoor movie screenings at places like the Everson Museum and the Syracuse Inner Harbor, will follow state and local government guidelines to help ensure safety amid Covid-19 concerns.

Flores said theyll set up the pop-up big screen movie theater, along with an FM transmitter, so attendees can stay inside their car and listen to the film through their radio. Cars are typically spaced out to give everyone an optimal view, but may spread them more than six feet apart.

Flores, who also works as a filmmaker and has contributed to productions like A Quiet Place, said he and Mario Restive started Nomad Cinema in 2014 to create more community events in the Syracuse area. He said he hopes this event, their first since the coronavirus pandemic began, will give people a break from staying home and binge-watching Netflix.

TCP Contracting and Woodford Bros. are sponsoring the Arlington Acres event. Jerome said additional sponsors could help put on more movie nights, with ads shown on the big screen before shows start.

For more information and updates, visit facebook.com/arlingtonacresevent.

*Editors note: An earlier version of the story incorrectly said Nomad Cinema was providing the screen for the drive-in event.

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After a two month forced closure due to coronavirus restrictions, Pink Duck Beach Bar and Bistro owners are ready to set the Monopoly board aside and get back to serving their customers in-house.

From Monday, Pink Duck in Rockingham, along with thousands of other restaurants, bars and cafes across Western Australia will open their doors with a strict 20-person limit.

Pink Duck Beach Bar and Bistro in Rockingham will reopen Monday with a new-look and new dining experience. Credit:Facebook

Pink Duck operator Courtney Pink said her phone had been ringing through the night off the hook with bookings going crazy after their regulars got wind they would be reopening.

Ms Pink, who runs the venue with her father Mark Pink, said their regulars had been following the family-run business stupid, crazy things they had been doing on social media throughout isolation and had proven supportive and keen to return to their local.
When you look back at the Beatles epic run, you might point to Nowhere Man as a line in the sand. Though John Lennon had cried out in desperation (Help!) on a previous track, the assumption was the one whose help he needed was a significant other (i.e., a woman).

That wasnt the case with Nowhere Man, which arrived on Rubber Soul, the 1965 record George Harrison called the bands first fully fledged pothead album. On this track, John sang about a character whos as blind as can be and doesnt even manage to have a point of view.

Indeed, he couldnt have trekked further from work like A Hard Days Night and If I Fell, which John had written the previous year. And, when John spoke about composing Nowhere Man, he stressed how different the songwriting experience was for him.

John Lennon said Nowhere Man came only after hed given up on writing

18 February 1965: John Lennon of The Beatles sits in his Triumph Herald convertible car. | Evening Standard/Getty Images

RELATED: When Nowhere Man Snapped The Beatles Record Run of 6 Consecutive No. 1 Hits

By the time The Beatles tackled Nowhere Man in October 65, they had completed several key tracks for Rubber Soul. Drive My Car, the opener by Paul McCartney, and If I Needed Someone, Georges nod to the California sound, were already on tape.

The same goes for In My Life and Norwegian Wood, two stunners John had brought to the studio earlier in the Rubber Soul sessions. But John would still come out with Nowhere Man, a song that came to him after a long night of frustrating attempts at writing.

In his 60s Beatles biography, Hunter Davies quoted John explaining how his frustrations ceased. Id actually stopped trying to think of something, John said. Nothing would come. I [] went for a lie down, having given up. Then I thought of myself as Nowhere Man, sitting in this Nowhere Land.

Looking back on writing Nowhere Man in 1980, John continued the story. [It] came, words and music, the whole damn thing, as I lay down, he told David Sheff in All We Are Saying. So letting it go is what the whole game is.

Nowhere Man became 1 of the last new songs The Beatles performed live

John Lennon of The Beatles appears in a BBC revue, Not OnlyBut Also on January 9, 1965. | Bettmann

When The Beatles embarked on their final tour, they had just finished Revolver (1966), an album with several songs they wouldnt consider playing live. (Tomorrow Never Knows would have been particularly tricky in that regard.)

So the final Beatles live sets only featured songs up to Rubber Soul. But the Fab Four also passed on most of that album on their 66 tour. Rather than figure out whod play George Martins keyboard solo on In My Life, it appears they simply excluded it.

However, Nowhere Man was one of two Rubber Soul tracks to make the cut. (Georges If I Needed Someone was the other.) If you ever catch videos of a 66 show, you might see one of the bands energetic performances of Nowhere Man, featuring John singing over a screaming crowd.

RELATED: Why John Lennon Wrote A Day in the Life and Other Masterpieces in a Time Crunch
The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan T.D. is today, Sunday, officiating at the National Famine Commemoration in Dublin.

Todays formal State ceremony will be held in St. Stephens Green, following the deferral until 2021 of the ceremony which was to have been held in Buncrana, Co. Donegal this month. As with the recent Easter and Arbour Hill Commemorations, the ceremony will be conducted in line with current health and safety guidelines and will not be open to the public. The ceremony will be available to view live nationally and internationally on RTE News Now, on www.rte.ie and on the RTE Player.

The ceremony will include military honours and a wreath laying ceremony in remembrance of all those who suffered or perished during the Famine. Wreaths will be laid by Minister Madigan on behalf of the Irish People and by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps on behalf of the Diplomatic Community. Aimee Banks will sing Brendan Grahams Crucan na bPaiste and the National Anthem will be performed by an Army Piper.

The Minister will also unveil a Plaque marking the first Annual Famine Commemoration held in the Custom House in 2008. This will be installed in the grounds of the Custom House later in the year.

Speaking today, Minister Madigan said:

In her poem Quarantine, the late Eavan Boland movingly evoked the efforts of a loving husband to support his wife with the last of his strength, when she said: She was sick with famine fever and could not keep up. He lifted her and put her on his back.

The heroes of the Famine that we honour today also sought to lift and carry those who fell or could not keep up. That same spirit of caring and self sacrifice that is embedded in the caring professions, is being seen again today as our health workers embrace the challenge of caring for those affected by Covid-19. We honour and respect these modern-day heroes and value their courage. Perhaps we can best show our appreciation for their work, and the efforts of their forebears during the Great Famine, by adhering to those small acts of heroism we are called upon to perform in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and to come though these testing times, just as our ancestors once did.

Notes to Editor:

Images will be issued to media this afternoon.

The ceremony will be available to view live on RTE News Now, on www.rte.ie and on the RTE Player, and footage can be made available to media.

The 2020 National Famine Commemoration was to be held in Buncrana, Co. Donegal. However the ceremony which would, as in other years, feature significant community involvement has been deferred until 2021 in light of the COVID-19 situation.

This years ceremony will therefore follow the model used for the Easter Sunday and Arbour Hill commemorations.

The National Famine Museum Strokestown Park

(www.strokestownpark.ie/famine/roadshow/) and the Irish Heritage Trust have been running the Great Famine Voices Roadshow 2020 (www.greatfaminevoices.ie/famine-heroes/) entitled Famine Heroes a series of virtual events season of documentaries and online lectures since April, These Famine Heroes virtual events provide uplifting stories about coping with epidemic and pay tribute to caregivers, both in the mid-nineteenth century and today. They are funded by the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme.

As part of this programme Dr Jason King and Dr Christine Kinealy will be holding an online discussion on May 17th on the theme of "Honouring Famine Heroes" reflecting the theme of Ministers Madigans remarks at the Commemoration in Dublin.
A woman migrant worker on Sunday gave birth to a girl on board a Shramik special train that was coming to Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, health officials said.

The woman, Ishwari Yadav (23), delivered the baby around 1.50 am with help of some women passengers on the train before it reached Nagpur railway station in Maharashtra, her husband Rajendra Yadav said over the phone.

"She went into labour at midnight, following which I called the railway on the helpline number. The helpline staff said doctors will reach after the train arrives at the nearest station, which was far from there," he said.

"Then I started asking other women passengers travelling on the train if they could help me, to which they agreed," he said.

Thanks to those women, the delivery happened safely, Yadav added.

When the train reached Nagpur station around 4 am, a railway medical team came and provided assistance. They removed the umbilical cord and clamped it. Doctors also gave some medicines to my wife, and the journey resumed after that, he said.

"After arriving at Bilaspur railway station at 10.55 am, the mother and the newborn were rushed to Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) Bilaspur in an ambulance," Public Relations Officer of the institute, Dr Aarti Pandey, said.

Both of them have been kept in the isolation ward and they are fine. The rapid testing of the woman for coronavirus came out negative. However, her sample has been sent for RTPCR testing for final confirmation, she said.

Yadav, a native of Dharampura village in Mungeli, said he had gone to Bhopal after the Holi festival in March to work as a construction labourer along with his pregnant wife and a

one-and-a-half year daughter.

"Unfortunately, only three-four days after I started working, lockdown came in force. It was very difficult to arrange for food and other essentials for two months. I borrowed money from my contractor and others. Sometimes we had to manage with just water as there was no food," he said.

"The horrific experience of lockdown will continue to haunt me," he added. "As my wife's delivery date was nearing, I tried many times to return home on goods vehicles, but wasn't able to," he said.

Finally I boarded the special train at Habibganj station with the help of other labourers of my area who were also there, and finally reached here, he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-16 23:55:20|Editor: huaxia

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YAOUNDE, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The total number COVID-19 cases registered in Cameroon has surpassed 3,000, according to statistics updated Saturday by World Health Organization (WHO).

According to WHO, 3,047 cases have been detected in Cameroon, including 139 deaths. The current fatality rate is about 4.56 percent, higher than the fatality rate in Africa as a whole.

The continuous rise in the number of infections was a result of increased testing capacity across the country, according to Fanne Mahamat, Director of Health Promotion in Cameroon's Ministry of Public Health.

Cameroon reported its first coronavirus infection on March 6, an imported case from Europe, and has closed national borders, schools and applied social distancing since March 18.

On April 30, Cameroonian Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute announced that, the government decided to ease some of the social distancing restrictions by allowing bars and restaurants to run after 6 p.m., and lifting passenger number restriction in public transport.

On Friday, Ngute issued technical guidelines for schools nationwide to reopen in an orderly manner. Only examination classes in primary and secondary schools will resume classes on June 1. Enditem
WATERLOO REGION  The Grand River Conservation Authority has issued a combined Flood Warning and Flood Watch message for the entire Grand River watershed.

A low pressure system will move into southern Ontario over the next two days, bringing widespread rainfall expected to begin late Sunday afternoon and continue through midday Tuesday.

The bulk of the rain is forecast to fall throughout the day on Monday.

The total forecast rainfall volume is uncertain, with multiple weather sources projecting between 50 mm - 100 mm across the watershed, but how much rainfall actually occurs will depend on how fast this system moves through the watershed.

Due to the uncertainty, a Flood Warning is being issued for Woolwich, Wilmot and North Dumfries townships, while a Flood Watch is being issued for the entire Grand River watershed.

The Conservation Authority advises all residents living in the floodplain, who typically experience spring flooding, to take necessary precautions.

Based on current forecasts, flows are forecast to peak in the Grand River through Brantford around midnight Tuesday and through Caledonia early Wednesday morning.

Flows are expected to peak through York midday Wednesday, through Cayuga on Wednesday evening and through Dunnville overnight Wednesday, into Thursday morning.

The Conservation Authoritys major reservoirs at Belwood, Conestogo, Guelph, Luther, Woolwich, Laurel, and Shades Mills are in a normal operating range for this time of year and will be used to manage run-off into local waterways to reduce downstream flooding during this event.

The public is reminded to exercise extreme caution around all water bodies.

Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery and, when combined with forecast weather conditions, pose a serious hazard. Parents are encouraged to keep their children and pets away from all watercourses.

In related news, Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Waterloo Region, Guelph and Southern Wellington County forecasting heavy rainfall for Waterloo Region, with 25 to 50 millimetres of rain by Monday night and higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

As of noon Sunday, periods of rain have begun in Windsor and will spread northeastward across all regions by afternoon. Rain is expected to continue overnight and Monday.

The rain will taper off by Monday night in most places.

Environment Canada will continue to monitor the situation.

For more information on flows, weather and reservoir conditions see the River Data section at www.grandriver.ca.

Read more about:
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 21:05:55|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Beijing plans to conditionally ease epidemic prevention and control restrictions over its 682 nursing homes from Monday.

The institutions, with some 48,000 senior citizens who remained in residence during the Spring Festival holiday, have reported zero infections of COVID-19 since Jan. 27 when Beijing closed off nursing homes amid the severe challenge from the novel coronavirus.

Starting from May 18, family visitors, returning and newly admitted senior citizens, returning and new employees, and medical and maintenance personnel are among those who will be allowed to enter the nursing homes after going through relevant procedures and ensuring adequate protection, according to Li Hongbing, deputy head of the Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, at a press conference held on Sunday.

Li returning residents and applicants will have to take at least two nucleic acid tests before and after 14 days of isolation and medical observation.

To cope with the impact of the COVID-19, Beijing will allocate 100 million yuan (about 14.1 million U.S. dollars) to support the operation of elderly service institutions, he said.

Aside from the current operation subsidy, known as "bed subsidy" which is 100 yuan for each person admitted, Beijing municipal government will subsidize 500 yuan per person per month according to the number of senior citizens actually admitted to the nursing homes during the epidemic.

About 40 percent of the subsidy will be earmarked for professional nursing homes, the rest goes to sub-elderly service institutions in urban and rural communities.

The subsidy covers the February-April period. Further decision will be made according to the epidemic prevention and control situation in Beijing.

The population of registered residents aged 60 or above in Beijing was 3.52 million by the end of 2019. Enditem
Vietnamese people line up in front of the Vietnamese Embassy's citizen support area at Washington Dulles International Airport before getting on the plane to come home (Photo: VNA)

The flight was arranged by Vietnamese authorities, the countrys representative agencies in the US, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and relevant agencies of the US.

The passengers include elderly people, those with illnesses, people under 18, students without accommodation due to school closures, those stranded because of flight suspension, and some with particularly disadvantaged backgrounds. They were from various states in the US.

The Vietnamese Embassy had sent staff to assist the citizens before they got on the plane.

After arriving at Noi Bai airport, all the passengers and flight crew immediately received health check-ups and were sent to quarantine facilities under regulations.

In the time ahead, Vietnamese authorities, overseas representative bodies and airlines will organise more flights to bring Vietnamese expatriates home basing on COVID-19 developments in the country and the world, the citizens aspirations, and local quarantine capacity.
Washington

When Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., sought guidance on how to protect his family, including his 94-year-old father-in-law, when he returned home from the nation's capital amid the coronavirus pandemic, a doctor offered him some blunt advice.

Don't go home just yet, Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician of Congress, told Barrasso, directing him to quarantine for 14 days before rejoining his family. "You're a visitor," Monahan said.

But when House Democratic leaders wanted counsel on whether they could safely reconvene in the Capitol with COVID-19 still spreading  a debate with political dimensions as a partisan divide was emerging across the country over how quickly to reopen  Monahan was less absolute. Returning to Washington carried health risks he would not recommend taking, he told Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader. But it was up to them to decide what to do.

They opted to delay their return and, on Friday, partly because of Monahan's warnings, moved forward with plans to institute remote voting.

It was typical of Monahan, the 59-year-old Navy rear admiral who is known in the Capitol as much for his meticulous attention to medical detail as he is for his efforts to stay out of politics.

"He is both an executive with lots of health care responsibilities  particularly now  and also has the unique relationship with members that a small-town doctor would have with the patients he knows and sees," said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., chairman of the Senate Rules Committee.

As government doctors emerge as trusted public voices in the face of a fearsome pandemic  appearing in White House news conferences and as witnesses at marquee hearings  Monahan maintained an uncommonly low profile.

He never issued a public statement offering his opinion on whether Congress should reconvene, although he shared his warnings with House leaders and privately told senior Republican officials that his office did not have the capacity to screen all 100 senators for the coronavirus when they returned to work. When Alex Azar, the health secretary, offered to send 1,000 tests to Capitol Hill, Pelosi and the majority leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., turned down the offer, wary of the optics of receiving special treatment at a time when testing was scarce  and prompting President Donald Trump to suggest on Twitter that "maybe you need a new Doctor over there."

Monahan, who declined to be interviewed, has been a calm and professional voice of reason during the pandemic, according to interviews with more than two dozen lawmakers, Capitol officials and medical professionals who know him. They say he takes a personal interest in his influential clientele, which includes the nine Supreme Court justices, even as he fields politically charged questions about precautions and reopening.

Operating out of a nondescript clinic tucked away in the heart of the Capitol, Monahan and a small staff have been exceedingly busy since the pandemic took hold, consulting with lawmakers who have contracted COVID-19 or were exposed to someone infected with it, doling out health recommendations in detailed memos before votes, and producing a series of videos released on an internal website to educate lawmakers and their staff on how to protect themselves.

Monahan films and produces videos by himself in his office, often seated next to an bouquet of white flowers and a tiny plastic model of a pangolin, a scaly mammal that may have been an intermediary carrier of the virus.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

In videos, he walks through the most recent recommendations offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and demonstrates medical equipment, such as a thermometer and varied masks.

"He has a big job  two houses of Congress, two parties to deal with  but he's not political in any way," Pelosi said. "He treats us all with respect, and we respect his judgment in return."

Monahan in 2009 became the seventh man to serve as attending physician, taking up a position that has always been held by a Navy doctor. The House first approved a Navy officer to work out of the Democratic cloakroom in 1928 after one lawmaker died and two collapsed, with several hours passing before a doctor could arrive in each case. Two years later, the Senate extended that doctor's jurisdiction to include its own members, leading to the establishment of the Office of the Attending Physician.

The office provides care to lawmakers for a fee, as well as offering some services and emergency care to staff and tourists. The first physician, Dr. George Calver, who began his work just before the start of the Great Depression, displayed placards in cloakrooms and elevators across the Capitol with his nine "Commandments of Health," including "Accept Inevitables (don't worry)" and "Relax Completely."

Monahan was born in Connecticut, the son of Irish immigrants who came to the United States in the 1950s. His mother grew up in Kilkee, while his father grew up in a house with a thatched roof without running water or electricity in Lissycasey. The first in his family to attend college, he worked full-time at a supermarket while commuting in a yellow Volkswagen Beetle to Fairfield University, a Jesuit college  an education, he would tell graduates in 2011, that meant, "you are called to be 'men and women for others.'"

He studied biology and chemistry. After graduating he joined the Navy through a Health Professions Scholarship Program, enticed partly by the offer of free tuition and a living allowance in exchange for three years service.

Monahan rose through Navy ranks to be a professor of medicine and pathology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Maryland and participates in many national groups related to cancer, oncology and hematology.
Wellington: In New Zealand, no one is exempt from the strict coronavirus prevention measures -- not even prime minister Jacinda Ardern, who was denied entry to a cafe because of her own social distancing rules.

Ardern, her fiance Clarke Gayford and a group of friends were turned away from a cafe in Wellington on Saturday because it had already reached its customer limit.

"I have to take responsibility for this, I didn't get organised and book anywhere," Gayford tweeted in response to another diner, who had spotted the couple being turned away.

As New Zealand eases out of its coronavirus lockdown, cafes were allowed to reopen on Thursday, but must maintain social distancing between tables and customers must remain seated.

A diner who saw Ardern refused entry told Stuff media that a cafe employee "had to awkwardly say it was full and there were no tables, and they left."

Fortunately for Ardern's party, other diners left soon after, and staff from the cafe were able to run down the street to invite the prime minister back.

"Was very nice of them to chase us down the street when a spot freed up. A+ service," Gayford tweeted.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, May 17, 2020 09:10 613 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd88c3cb 4 National Jokowi,house-of-representatives,COVID-19,judicial-review,Constitutional-Court,Perppu,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,MK Free

The Constitutional Court will proceed with the judicial review petition filed against the executive order on the COVID-19 pandemic response as it has summonsed President Joko Jokowi Widodo and the House of Representatives to the hearing next week as witnesses.

The hearing, scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, will listen to testimonies from the President and the House as the executive and legislative parties involved in the passing of a regulation in lieu of law, Perppu No. 1/2020, which grants the government the authority to allocate emergency coronavirus spending.

The House passed the Perppu into law in a plenary meeting on Tuesday.

All parties [including] witnesses and experts must attend the hearing to answer the Constitutional Courts summons, the summons letters signed by the courts clerk stated as reported by tempo.co on Friday.

The hearing will continue the request filed by a group of anticorruption activists, who argued that Article 27 violated the 1945 Constitution and several prevailing laws, including the 2003 law on state finances and the 2006 law on the Supreme Audit Agency.

The Perppu allows the government to extend the state budget deficit beyond the legal cap of 3 percent of gross domestic product and allocate the spending to programs related to COVID-19, while officials are protected from any legal charges as long as they act in good will and according to the law.

Read also: Perppu on COVID-19 aid puts graft fight at stake

Coordinator of the Indonesian Anticorruption Community (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman said he hoped the President and representatives from the House would be present at the hearing.

We, as members of the public, need an explanation as to why it is necessary for a Perppu on COVID-19 to include impunity for state officials, he said referring to Article 27, which activists have strongly criticized for granting impunity to officials caught misappropriating state funds.

The MAKI, Boyamin said, had prepared four expert witness in the legal and financial sectors to testify in the hearing on Wednesday.

Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly has denied that the Perppu would give officials impunity from graft charges if corruption were to occur, adding that Article 27 only meant to ensure that the government could make swift decisions in mitigating the health crisis.

The government seeks to disburse Rp 405.1 trillion (US$24.6 billion) for COVID-19 measures, most of which would be allocated to support economic recovery rather than health care. (mfp)




Haiti - Diaspora : Message from the Embassy of Haiti in Washington DC





"The Embassy of Haiti in the United States of America presents its compliments to the members of the community and wishes to reaffirm its commitment to work intensively to bring moral support and comfort in these difficult and unprecedented times.



Also, it would like to emphasize the importance of continuing to follow the sanitary precautions and recommendations published through numerous medical platforms to protect ourselves. Moreover, the Embassy wants to reiterate its determination to serve the community with professionalism, ethics and respect.



Consequently, the Embassy wishes to share with the community the necessity to fulfill its duty by maintaining a registry of the deceased among the diaspora. Thus, the Mission invites all the haitian- american institutions and associations to share with her, through the official email address, amb.washington@diplomatie.ht, all information relating to the deaths among members of the haitian diaspora so that the Embassy might be able to pay its respects publicly, through its diverse social networks.



These difficult times which call for solidarity may also cause panick and anxiety but they will not last forever. Thus, the Embassy invites all of you to maintain some degree of serenity and hope while taking care of each other.



Ansanm nou fo ! "



HL/ HaitiLibre


















T he death toll from Covid-19 in Spain fell below 100 for the first time in two months, the health ministry said on Sunday.

Total deaths from the virus rose by 87 to 27,650, while the number of confirmed cases edged up from 230,698 to 231,350.

Spain introduced one of Europe's strictest lockdowns on March 14 in a bid to contain coronavirus, which threatened to overwhelm the country's health service.

As the population has remained largely confined to their homes, the rate of new infections and fatalities has steadily fallen, prompting the government to begin unwinding the restrictions.

Health emergency chief Fernando Simon cautioned that the low death tally on Sunday could be due to delays in reporting at weekends.

Asked at a press conference if health authorities had sufficient resources to deal with current patient levels, he said: "The ministry is gathering reserves, but now there is enough material for current needs."

A doctor in Madrid also expressed concern that hospitals would not be able to cope if there was a second surge of the disease and added: "I have to say that we are not yet ready to face a second wave even if it is smaller."

As the government begins to lift restrictions on movement, authorities are considering extending mandatory mask use on public transport to cover all public spaces.

"There is an ample consensus that we should reinforce the obligatory use of masks," Health Minister Salvador Illa told a news conference.

From Monday, inhabitants of the sparsely populated Canary Islands of La Graciosa, El Hierro, and La Gomera, and Formentera in the Balearics, will be able to go for walks at any time of day.

However, in Madrid and Barcelona, which have been particularly badly hit, tougher restrictions will remain in place.

Protests have sprung up around the country in the past week, with disgruntled Spaniards airing their frustration at the government's handling of the crisis.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday he would seek parliament's approval to extend the country's state of emergency until the end of June, when most regions should have returned to normality.
A physiotherapist who worked in Australia for 20 years claimed in a bizarre rant she had a right to flout coronavirus lockdown rules in Singapore because she was a 'sovereign'.

Footage of Paramjeet Kaur protesting her rights went viral online earlier this month after she was charged with three counts of breaching lockdown laws and one count of being a public nuisance.

Singapore-born Kaur, 40, unleashed in an extraordinary tirade at Shunfu Mart on May 3 after she was confronted for not wearing a face mask in public, which must be worn by anyone leaving their house in Singapore.

Footage shared to Facebook shows Ms Kaur causing a scene, claiming to be a 'sovereign' during the heated exchange.

The 'sovereign' term she refers to is related to a US movement where supporters believe they can decide which laws to obey and reject any form of government and police authority.

Paramjeet Kaur (pictured left) claimed she was a 'sovereign' when she was confronted for not wearing a face mask in public while at Shunfu Mart on May 3

'It means I have nothing to do with the police, it means I have no contract with the police. They have no say over me,' Kaur claims in the footage.

'This is something people are not going to know even what it isIt means I have nothing to do with the police.They have no say.'

Passers-by heard in the footage disagree.

'That does not even make any sense. If you are a person in Singapore, you have to follow the rules in Singapore,' one man says.

Kaur fires back: 'I'm not a person.'

Police allege Kaur also failed to wear a mask when she visited a food stall three day priors on April 30, Straits Times reported.

She's also accused of eating at a table at Shunfu Mart on April 14, which is banned under lockdown laws.

Paramjeet Kaur (pictured during the May 3 confrontation) was remanded in a mental health facility and will face court this week

Singapore remains in partial lockdown, which was recently extended for a further four weeks until at least June 1.

She was arrested at the scene and appeared in court via videolink from Central Police Division the following day, where she extended her 'sovereign immunity' to her lawyer Satwant Singh, the publication reported.

'I am a living woman and that is my only capacity in this matter,' she said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kaur's lawyers for comment.

Kaur was remanded at a mental health facility until her next court appearance on Tuesday (May 19).

'It means I have nothing to do with the police, it means I have no contract with the police. They have no say over me,' Kaur (pictured) claimed in the rant which was later posted online

Kaur returned to her homeland Singapore last year after living in Australia for 20 years, Chinese media newspaper Lianhe Wanbao reported.

Her mother recently told Yahoo News Singapore her daughter was born and raised there before heading to Australia at age 20 to study and work.

She continued to work as a physiotherapist when she returned to Singapore last year.

Kaur faces up to six months in jail and a fine up to $10,000 for breaching lockdown laws.

She may also be fined an additional $2,000 if convicted of the public nuisance charge.

The sovereign citizen movement originated in the US where it's deemed by some as extremist.

'Sovereign citizens believe that they  not judges, juries, law enforcement or elected officials  get to decide which laws to obey and which to ignore, and they don't think they should have to pay taxes,' Southern Poverty Law Centre states on its website.

Three of Kaur's four charges relate to two recent visits to Shunfu Mart (pictured)

Singapore Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam later took to Facebook to address Kaur's claims and described the case as 'very odd'.

'There is a movement in the US, and adherents to that movement, (broadly speaking) reject Government, reject the police and any kind of authority,' he wrote.

'Well and good. But then such people should not live within society - she should not expect any of the benefits that come from this system of governance, including her security, medical care, other benefits.'

'If she doesnt follow the rules and (say) ends up infecting someone - why should society accept that? Or if she falls ill herself, she will be imposing a medical burden on the rest of the society - whose rules she rejects, presumably.'
Writings on the Wall

As a part of my academic field, I do a lot of trend spotting and basic estimates of what could happen in the future. Here are a few examples. Read more
Rebuttal comes after Centers for Disease Control was put under intense scrutiny for producing a faulty test for virus.

The White House rebuked the top US health agency saying it let the country down on providing testing crucial to the battle against the coronavirus outbreak.

India has extended a nearly two-month-old stringent lockdown by another two weeks with Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and some other key regions still battling to control the rising curve of coronavirus infections.

Spains daily death toll from the coronavirus is 87, the health ministry has said, dropping below 100 for the first time in two months.

Burundi is pushing ahead with an election on Wednesday that will end President Pierre Nkurunzizas divisive and bloody 15-year rule. But the coronavirus poses a threat to the May 20 vote, and the government has kicked out World Health Organization workers after concerns were raised.

Former President Barack Obama has criticised US leaders for the handling of the coronavirus response, telling college graduates in an online commencement address that the pandemic shows many officials arent even pretending to be in charge.

Globally, more than 4.6 million people have been infected and more than 312,000 have died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. Almost 1.7 million people have recovered.

Here are all the latest updates:

Sunday, May 17

20:30 GMT  White House: CDC let the country down on coronavirus testing

The White House rebuked the top US health agency saying it let the country down on providing testing crucial to the battle against the coronavirus outbreak.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been under intense scrutiny since producing a faulty test for COVID-19 that caused weeks of delays in the US response.

Critics have pointed out it could simply have accepted testing kits made by the World Health Organization, which has been producing them since late January, instead of insisting on developing its own.

Early on in this crisis, the CDC, which really had the most trusted brand around the world in this space, really let the country down with the testing, White House official Peter Navarro told NBC. Because not only did they keep the testing within the bureaucracy, they had a bad test. And that did set us back.

20:00 GMT  Boris Johson: Coronavirus vaccine might not come to fruition

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says there might never be a vaccine for COVID-19 despite the huge global effort to develop one.

Johnson, who was hospitalised last month with a serious bout of coronavirus, speculated on Sunday that a vaccine may not be developed at all, despite the huge global effort to produce one.

Johnson wrote in the Mail on Sunday newspaper there remains a very long way to go, and I must be frank that a vaccine might not come to fruition.

Read more here.

18:20 GMT  US coronavirus cases rise by 31,967 to 1,467,065

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,467,065 cases of the new coronavirus, an increase of 31,967 cases from its previous count, and said that the number of deaths had risen by 1,394 to 88,709.

18:00 GMT  France coronavirus death toll reaches 28,108

French health authorities reported 483 new coronavirus deaths on Sunday, bringing the total to 28,108.

The heath ministry said the number of people in hospitals fell to 19,361 from 19,432 the previous day while the number of people in intensive care units dropped to 2,087 from 2,132.

17:20 GMT  Tanzania leader says coronavirus cases down despite US warnings

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has said prayers have succeeded in reducing the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, despite the American embassy recently warning that all evidence points to exponential growth of the epidemic in the countrys largest city.

Magufuli said during a church service that if the trend of declining cases of the disease caused by the coronavirus continues this week he will open schools, universities and sports events.

The Tanzanian government has not released any data on COVID-19 cases for more than two weeks, so there are no current figures on the number of people diagnosed with the disease, the US embassy said in a health advisory released last week.

Many hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzanias largest city, have been overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, said the strongly worded health advisory issued by the US embassy on Friday.





17:00 GMT  Sudan airports to remain closed until May 31

Sudan will keep its airports closed for both internal and international commercial passenger flights until May. 31, the state news agency SUNA said, extending a shutdown that began in March due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The airport will remain open only for flights for cargo, humanitarian aid, oil organisations workers and evacuating foreigners.

16:00 GMT  Italy sees drop in coronavirus deaths, cases

The daily death toll from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy fell to 145, the lowest since March 9, against 153 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, while the daily tally of new cases fell to a March-4 low of 675 from 875 the previous day.

The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on February 21 now stands at 31,908 the agency said, the third highest in the world after those of the United States and Britain.

The number of confirmed cases amounts to 225,435, the sixth highest global tally behind those of the United States, Spain, Britain, Russia and Brazil.

People registered as currently carrying the illness fell to 68,351 from 70,187 the day before.

15:30 GMT  Pelosi sees negotiations on new $3 trillion coronavirus legislation

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said there will be negotiations on the new $3 trillion coronavirus relief legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives.

Asked if there has been a Republican response or counteroffer to begin negotiations on the bill passed late on Friday, Pelosi said on CBS Face the Nation program, No bill that is proffered will become law without negotiations, so, yeah.

14:30 GMT  No spike in cases in places reopening: US health secretary

Authorities are not seeing spikes in coronavirus cases in places that are reopening but are seeing increases in some areas that remain closed, US health secretary Alex Azar has said.

We are seeing that in places that are opening; were not seeing this spike in cases, Azar said on CNNs State of the Union program. We still see spikes in some areas that are in fact close to very localized situations.

14:00 GMT  India extends coronavirus lockdown until May 31

India has extended a nearly two-month-old stringent lockdown by another two weeks with Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and some other key regions still battling to control the rising curve of coronavirus infections.

The government-run National Disaster Management authority said in a statement that fresh guidelines will be issued that keep in view the need to open up economic activity.

Indian media reports said that travel by air, rail and metro will remain shut down nationwide until the end of May. Schools, hotels, restaurants, bars, shopping malls, cinemas and places of worship will also be closed nationally.

On May 4, the government eased some restrictions, allowing reopening of neighborhood shops and manufacturing and farming in rural areas. It also resumed running a limited number of trains, mainly to carry the stranded workers.





13:05 GMT  Russias virus spread stabilising: top health official

The growth of coronavirus cases in Russia is stabilising, a top health official said, as the daily tally fell under 10,000 for the third time this week.

The country has the worlds second highest number of infections at 281,752, topped only by the United States.

Weve moved towards the level of stability that weve all been waiting for, said the head of Russias public health watchdog, Anna Popova, in a televised interview. I would say that of today, we have halted the growth. Stabilisation can be seen over the whole country.





12:47 GMT  Iran says virus deaths close to 7,000

Iran says it had recorded nearly 7,000 deaths from the coronavirus, warning of infection clusters in new regions after it partially eased lockdown measures.

Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said the COVID-19 illness had claimed a further 51 lives over 24 hours into Sunday. He warned cases were rising in the province of Lorestan, and to some extent in Kermanshah, Sistan and Baluchistan.

Khuzestan province is still in a critical situation, he added.

The southwestern province has become Irans new coronavirus focal point, with the most critical red ranking on the countrys colour-coded risk scale. It is the only region so far where authorities have reimposed business lockdowns after a country-wide relaxation in April.

12:30 GMT  Chinas Wuhan nearly doubles number of COVID-19 tests per day

The city of Wuhan, where the new coronavirus outbreak originated in China, conducted 222,675 nucleic acid tests on May 16, the local health authority said, nearly doubling from a day earlier.

Wuhan kicked off a campaign on May 14 to look for asymptomatic carriers  people who are infected but show no outward sign of illness  after confirming last weekend its first cluster of COVID-19 infections since its release from a virtual lockdown on April 8.

The number of tests carried out on May 16 in the city of 11 million residents was more than the 186,400.

12:15 GMT  Madagascar records its first COVID-19 death

Madagascar has registered its first coronavirus death, of a 57-year-old medical worker who suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure, the national COVID-19 taskforce said.

Taskforce spokeswoman Hanta Danielle Vololontiana said in a televised statement that the man died on Saturday night.

A man died from COVID-19 in Madagascar. He is 57 years old and a member of the medical staff, she said.

12:07 GMT  Spains daily death toll below 100 for first time in two months

Spains daily death toll from the coronavirus is 87, the health ministry has said, dropping below 100 for the first time in two months.

Total deaths from the virus climbed to 27,650, while the number of confirmed cases edged up to 231,350 from 230,698, the ministry said.





10:27 GMT  New York racetracks reopen, baseball possible

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced horse racetracks and an upstate car-racing track can reopen on June 1, but fans will have to stay away for now. And he suggested it might not be long before the Yankees or Mets could be playing baseball, too.

The order means races can start running again at Belmont Park as Cuomo seeks to reopen the state without causing a spike in coronavirus cases or deaths.

Remember, the problem here are crowds and gatherings. So what can you do or what economic activity is willing to reopen without a crowd? Cuomo said. It can still be televised. Great. If you can have economic activity without a crowd, thats great.

10:24 GMT  Long queues as Thai malls reopen after virus shutdown

Shoppers have flocked to Thailands top-end malls, eager for retail therapy as shopping centres reopened in a gradual easing of restrictions to revive the virus-ravaged economy.

Hundreds of masked customers passed through temperature checks, disinfection stations, and had their photos taken before they were allowed into plush malls in Bangkok.

In the main shopping district, Central World touted a new normal of doing business on posters, while screens on the malls exterior declared We are open.

People stand in line to enter the Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok [Mladen Antonov/AFP]

09:44 GMT  Top China expert warns of potential second wave

China faces a potential second wave of coronavirus infections due to a lack of immunity among its population, its governments senior medical adviser has warned.

The majority of  Chinese at the moment are still susceptible of the Covid-19 infection, because [of] a lack of immunity, Zhong Nanshan, the public face of governments response to the pandemic, told CNN.

We are facing [a] big challenge, Zhong added. Its not better than the foreign countries I think at the moment.

09:40 GMT  Russia allows foreign athletes entry

The Russian government said it would allow foreign athletes competing in its domestic sports leagues to enter the country as the number of cases of the novel coronavirus passed 280,000.

The government said athletes and coaches under contract with a Russian sports organisation would be put under medical observation and obliged to spend two weeks in quarantine upon their return to the country.

The decision will help professional sports organisations, including the soccer clubs in the Russian Premier League, to resume training after the easing of measures linked to the spread of the coronavirus, the government said in a statement.





08:57 GMT  Zimbabwe extends coronavirus lockdown indefinitely

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended a nationwide lockdown meant to control the spread of coronavirus, though the restrictions will be reviewed every two weeks.

In a live broadcast on Saturday, Mnangagwa said the measure would remain in place for an indefinite period, adding that the country needs to ease out of the lockdown in a strategic and gradual manner.

Read more here.

08:55 GMT  Philippines records 208 new cases, seven deaths

The Philippine Department of Health reported 208 new cases of coronavirus infections and seven more deaths.

The Southeast Asian countrys total confirmed cases have risen to 12,513, most of which are in the capital Manila, while its death toll has climbed to 824.

The number of recoveries has reached 2,635, the health department said in a bulletin.





08:50 GMT  Iran to allow Eid al-Fitr prayers in open spaces

Iran announced it will allow Eid al-Fitr prayers to be held in open spaces in all Iranian cities.

Hossein Kazemi, secretary of the committee tackling the coronavirus outbreak in Iran, said prayers would be held in open places and in all cities, adding that they will not take place where participation is likely to be intense, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

He explained that restaurants will be opened after Ramadan, taking into account health protocols.

08:47 GMT  Malaysia reports 22 new cases, no new deaths

Malaysias health ministry reported 22 new coronavirus cases, bringing the cumulative total to 6,894.

The country reported no new deaths, with total fatalities remaining at 113.





08:19 GMT  Indonesia plans $8.6bn bailout for state firms

Indonesia is planning an $8.6bn bailout for 12 state-owned firms, to reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, mostly as cash compensation and working capital investments, according to government documents reviewed by Reuters news agency.

The government has proposed to parliament to provide 128.04 trillion rupiah ($8.63bn) in financial support to the companies, according to the finance ministry documents presented in a May 11 meeting with parliaments financial commission.

A finance ministry spokeswoman on Sunday confirmed the authenticity of the documents and that they were used in the parliament presentation. But, the documents were used in an early stage consultation with lawmakers and still need President Joko Widodos approval, she said.

07:52 GMT  Russia reports 9,709 new infections

Russia reported 9,709 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus on Sunday, a rise from 9,200 new cases reported the previous day.

Russias coronavirus taskforce said the overall number of cases nationwide stood at 281,752. It added that 94 people had died over the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll from the virus to 2,631.

Rainbow appears in Russias capital Moscow after the heavy rain [Sefa Karacan/Anadolu]

07:30 GMT  Singapore reports 682 more cases, taking total to 28,038

Singapore registered 682 more infections of the new coronavirus, its health ministry said, taking the city-states total to 28,038 cases.

The vast majority of the newly infected people are migrant workers living in dormitories, the ministry said in a statement. Four are permanent residents.

07:09 GMT  Qatar starts enforcing mandatory face mask rule

Qatar began enforcing the worlds toughest penalties of up to three years imprisonment for failing to wear masks in public, as it battles one of the worlds highest coronavirus infection rates.

More than 30,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Gulf country  1.1 percent of the 2.75 million population  although just 15 people have died.

Violators of Qatars new rules will face up to three years in jail and fines of as much as $55,000.





06:25 GMT  UN chief: LGBTI vulnerable during pandemic

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of the increasing vulnerability of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people during the coronavirus pandemic on the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

Guterres said many LGBTI people who already face bias, attacks and murder simply for who they are or whom they love  are experiencing heightened stigma as a result of the virus, as well as new obstacles when seeking health care.

He said: There are also reports of COVID-19 directives being misused by police to target LGBTI individuals and organizations.

05:55 GMT  Japan COVID-19 doctors lack fresh masks, hazard pay

Japanese hospital doctors on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic face tough working conditions, with many reusing masks and few getting hazard pay, a survey by a labour union showed.

The survey of about 170 doctors, conducted online from late April through May 6, found three-quarters said they were ordered to work on the coronavirus front line, while four-fifths said they receive no hazard allowance for the work.

05:50 GMT

Hello, I am Tamila Varshalomidze in Doha, taking over the live updates from my colleague Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur.

04:50 GMT  Sunday service resumes in Australia after lifting of lockdown

Catholics in the Australian state of New South Wales were allowed to attend their first Sunday mass, after coronavirus restrictions were lifted, with only 10 people allowed to be in attendance.

Presiding over mass at St Michaels Catholic Church in the Sydney suburb of Lane Cove, Father Geoffrey Plant told Reuters that even though the number allowed is small, he considers the gathering as a blessing.

Australia has recorded just more than 7,000 COVID-19 cases, including 98 deaths.

Father Geoffrey Plant presides the Sunday service attended by only 10 people in New South Wales [Reuters]

04:35 GMT  Sri Lanka reimposes weekend curfew

Sri Lanka has reimposed a 24-hour curfew this weekend even though the government has begun easing the two-month coronavirus lockdown.

Private businesses and government offices reopened last week. However, on midnight Saturday, authorities again slapped a 24-hour curfew in an apparent move to restrict peoples movements during the weekend.

The curfew is expected to be relaxed on Monday morning. Health authorities say COVID-19 is under control in the Indian Ocean island nation. A total of 960 cases have been confirmed, along with nine deaths.

04:09 GMT  Church attendee in US state of California tests positive

A person who attended a religious service on Mothers Day in the US state of California has tested positive for the coronavirus, possibly exposing it to more than 180 members of a congregation.

The church in Butte County, north of Sacramento, chose to open its doors defying the governments order banning gatherings of any size, county public health officials said.

03:50 GMT  Germany reports 583 more cases, 33 new deaths

The Robert Kock Institute reported on Sunday at least 583 new cases in Germany, bringing to 174,355 the total number of cases in the country.

It also reported 33 new deaths as of the end of Saturday, with total deaths at 7,914.

03:16 GMT  China, South Korea consult Japan on easing business travel limits

China and South Korea have consulted Japan about easing border controls on business travellers to help revive business activities, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday without citing sources.

The idea, already implemented between South Korea and China, would allow a fast-track entry of businesspeople if they test negative for the new coronavirus before departure and after arrival, the newspaper said.

But Tokyo is cautious about relaxing border controls at this point due to fears of another spike in infections, as well as a lack of test kits for travellers, according to the report. Japan has reported some 16,300 cases of the coronavirus and 748 deaths.

03:01 GMT  Deaths hit 1,000 in US state of Washington

The number of deaths in Washington state because of the new coronavirus has reached 1,000.

The Washington State Department of Health added eight more deaths and listed the total number of confirmed cases at 18,288.

02:35 GMT  Venezuela sees its largest one-day cases increase

Venezuela is reporting its biggest one-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic hit the South American nation, with 45 new cases bringing the total number of cases to 504 with 10 deaths.

President Nicolas Maduro ordered a nationwide lockdown shortly after the first cases, and he recently extended it until mid-June, hoping to contain the viruss spread.

Officials say that 35 of the cases involved people returning to Venezuela, including several on a flight from Peru.

Venezuelan citizens waiting outside the Venezuelan consulate in Quito, Ecuador to return to their country [Jose Jacome/EPA]

02:18 GMT  China reports five new cases

Mainland China reported five new confirmed COVID-19 cases for May 16, down from eight the previous day, according to the National Health Commission (NHC).

Two of the five confirmed cases are so-called imported infections, while three are locally transmitted in northeastern Jilin Province. The number of new asymptomatic cases of the coronavirus fell to 12 from 13, the NHC said.

The number of confirmed cases in the mainland stands at 82,947 and the death toll at 4,634.

01:50 GMT  South Korea adds 13 new cases

South Korea added 13 new cases of the new coronavirus with nightclub-linked infections showing signs of a slowdown over the weekend, Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday quoting health officials.

The new cases, detected as of the end of Saturday, brought the countrys total to 11,050, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). There were no new reported deaths, keeping the total death toll at 262.

01:40 GMT  Coronavirus deaths in Turkey slow down

Turkeys health ministry says 41 more people have died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 4,096. The death rate is the lowest registered since the end of March.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca wrote on social media that 1,610 new infections were confirmed, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 148,067.

The death rate reported on Saturday was the lowest registered since the end of March [Emrah Gurel/AP]

01:18 GMT  Sudan hits highest one-day tally of infections

Sudans Health Ministry has reported the countrys highest one-day tally of coronavirus infections, with 325 new COVID-19 patients and six deaths.

The figures took the countrys tally to 2,289 confirmed cases, including 97 deaths, the ministry said. A total of 222 were discharged after recovering.

Most of the countrys COVID-19 patients were in the capital, Khartoum where authorities imposed a round-the-clock curfew in April to stem the spread of the virus, AP news agency reported.

01:05 GMT  Mexico registers 47,144 cases, deaths rise to 5,045

Mexico registered 47,144 cases of coronavirus on Saturday, with the countrys death toll rising to 5,045, health authorities said.

Mexico has seen a slightly higher death rate from coronavirus than the global average so far due to the widespread presence of pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, experts told Reuters.

00:38 GMT  More US sailors test positive

Eight more American sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive a second time for the new coronavirus, raising to 13 the number who appear to have become infected again while serving aboard the sidelined aircraft carrier, AP news agency reported.

All the sailors had previously tested positive and had gone through at least two weeks of isolation. Before they were allowed to go back to the ship, all had to test negative twice in a row, with the tests separated by at least a day or two.

On Saturday, a navy official confirmed eight additional sailors had tested positive again. A day earlier the Navy had said in a statement that five had tested positive a second time. The navy official was not authorised to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

00:04 GMT  Obama criticises US coronavirus response

Then US President Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House during the transition period in November 2016 [File: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]

Former President Barack Obama criticised US leaders over the handling of the coronavirus response, telling college graduates in an online commencement address that the pandemic shows many officials arent even pretending to be in charge.

Obama spoke on, Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition, a two-hour event for students graduating from historically black colleges and universities broadcast on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what theyre doing, Obama said without naming the president or other officials. A lot them arent even pretending to be in charge.

_____________________________________________________________

Hello and welcome to Al Jazeeras continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Im Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You can find all the key developments from yesterday, March 16, here.
Dear Pete

My employer just cut our 401k match completely. They used to match 100% of our first 6%, but now theyre contributing absolutely nothing. I keep telling my wife that if theyre not gonna match, we shouldnt put any money in either. Can you help me to explain why to her?

Darren,

Raleigh, North Carolina

No. But I can help her explain to you why you should not only keep contributing, but you should double your contribution.

Im sorry they cut the match, and Im sure its incredibly frustrating for you. Employer matches have been used as carrots to influence employees to save for their future. Its in everyones best interest if you are properly prepared for retirement, but it benefits you more than it benefits anyone else. That fact doesnt change once the employer match stops.

You have to remind yourself of the point of a company-sponsored retirement plan match. It's meant to help you save for retirement. Notice I didnt say it's meant for you to help your employer save for your retirement. Its your responsibility, not theirs.

Close up of a 401(k) statement.

Penney closings are coming:Former mall mainstay wants to avoid liquidation

COVID-19 child care crisis:As nation pushes to reopen, parents ask: Who will watch our kids?

I dont know how old you are, Darren, but if youve been putting in 6% and receiving a 6% match throughout your career, youre on track for a beautiful retirement. That means youve been partially responsible for 12% of your annual income going into your retirement fund every year. To me, thats perfect. I like for people to set aside a total of somewhere between 12% to 15% of their gross income throughout their career, as long as they start early. And 18% to 20% is the correct amount if a person gets started later than they should have.

If your employer isnt able to help via the 401(k) match, then you have to pick up the slack, not drop the rope altogether. In other words, you are the only entity getting hurt when you let your contribution level fall below 12%. It doesnt impact your employer at all, and even if it did, why would you care? Your goal is to retire successfully, plain and simple.

Story continues

Lets take a look at some math. Lets say you earn $60,000 a year. That means you put $3,600/year ($60,000 x 6%) into your 401(k), which is $300 a month. Your employer was doing the same on your behalf. Now, without your employer's march, you should increase your contribution level to 12%, or another $300 a month. Do this if you have a healthy emergency fund (three months of expenses) and youre confident about your employment and income stability.

Its also worth noting why your employer likely suspended their 401(k) match program. They probably did it to save jobs. It wasnt an act of malice but of compassion, believe it or not. Need more proof? A 6% match is significantly higher than the national average of roughly 4.7%.

I dont know when companies will start matching once again, but when they do, you can lower your increased contribution back down to the appropriate level. Its quite possible the match returns but in a different form. Be on the lookout for those details, once these difficult times have passed.

Never forget, funding a successful retirement is the most difficult financial task you will ever accomplish. It requires decades of discipline and resolve, a tad bit of luck, and a structured distribution strategy. And as hard as it is to acknowledge while youre going though the current realties of the world, you have to.

There will absolutely be people who experience a major retirement plan setback during this recession, but you dont have to be one of them. You can virtually guarantee you wont be a victim of this time by avoiding the unforced error of stopping your contributions.

Increase your contributions and save.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Retirement: 401(k) company match ends. What should employees do?
For many of the millions of students graduating from high school in the US, this is not the celebration they had hoped for.

The coronavirus pandemic has taken a lot out of the graduation celebrations many high school seniors were dreaming of.

Not only that, but the knock-on economic effects may well mean that many students who had planned to attend university are now cancelling their plans.

Al Jazeeras Alan Fisher reports from the US state of Virginia.
CHESTER  Chester Housing Authority expanded its Making a Difference scholarship this month with awards to three of its college student residents. An influx of local business donations to the authoritys Chester Housing Initiatives, Inc. nonprofit subsidiary bolstered the program from one award in its 2019 inaugural year to three $1,000 scholarships for 2020.

The funds will go towards fall 20 semester tuition for Ciani Hodges at Neumann University; Thomas Jarrett at West Chester University; and DaiShona Jones at Morgan State University.

We also know that during these stressful times brought on by COVID-19, students will need even more supplemental support as funding becomes scarcer and part-time jobs may not be as easy to come by, said CHA Executive Director Steven Fischer.

This scholarship means a lot to me, especially in the wake of this pandemic because I am currently out of work, said Hodges, an English major with minor in history. I typically work as much as I can in the summer to pay for my books and my tuition, but I am not able to this summer due to the circumstances.

Jarrett, a social work major entering his senior year, said the award brings him a step closer to making a different in his community. During dark unprecedented times there are members of the community who are voiceless and without resources who want change. As a future social worker, it is my goal to advocate for the voiceless, and identify resources for those who are in need.

Receiving this scholarship means everything to me, said Jones, a psychology major and resident assistant. It will allow me to continue to be the person that I want to be for myself, my family, as well as my city. When I graduate, I want to be remembered as the young lady from Chester, Pennsylvania who worked hard, stayed involved, and made a difference on the campus of Morgan State University.

The M.A.D. scholarship was founded last year to assist college-enrolled residents who excel in academics and extracurricular involvement. CHA Director of Housing Operations Norman Wise proposed a permanent scholarship fund after personally donating $1,000 to resident and student Paul Mays Jr. in 2019.

SERVPRO of Southern Delaware County and West Chester has signed on as an annual contributor to the fund. Providing an annual gift to M.A.D not only provides financial support for many students education, but we feel we are also making an investment in their futures and the development of our upcoming leaders in our world today and into tomorrow, said Danielle Mortimer, sales and marketing manager.

Our goal had always been to increase the number of award recipients, and I am grateful for our generous business partners for helping us reach that goal, said Fischer. And since times are tough for everyone right now, their compassion is felt that much more.
It hasn't been the best quarter for Wellington Drive Technologies Limited (NZSE:WDT) shareholders, since the share price has fallen 27% in that time. But that doesn't change the fact that shareholders have received really good returns over the last five years. We think most investors would be happy with the 224% return, over that period. To some, the recent pullback wouldn't be surprising after such a fast rise. Ultimately business performance will determine whether the stock price continues the positive long term trend. Unfortunately not all shareholders will have held it for the long term, so spare a thought for those caught in the 54% decline over the last twelve months.

Check out our latest analysis for Wellington Drive Technologies

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 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 of share price growth, Wellington Drive Technologies moved from a loss to profitability. Sometimes, the start of profitability is a major inflection point that can signal fast earnings growth to come, which in turn justifies very strong share price gains.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

NZSE:WDT Past and Future Earnings May 17th 2020

It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Wellington Drive Technologies's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

We've already covered Wellington Drive Technologies's share price action, but we should also mention its total shareholder return (TSR). 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. Wellington Drive Technologies hasn't been paying dividends, but its TSR of 247% exceeds its share price return of 224%, implying it has either spun-off a business, or raised capital at a discount; thereby providing additional value to shareholders.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

Wellington Drive Technologies shareholders are down 51% for the year, but the market itself is up 2.9%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 28%, each year, over five years. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Wellington Drive Technologies , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on NZ 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.
Everyone on that block knew why. Anyone who has ever shopped for a home can guess the reason. The two houses shared a prestigious line on their return address stickers: Bronxville, N.Y. 10708. But the lower-priced was in the Tuckahoe school district, where about a quarter of the students were from low-income families. The higher-priced was in the Bronxville school district, with the number of low-income families close to zero.
OTTAWA

May 16, 2020

Canada

Campbellton, New Brunswick

Prince George, British Columbia

Rankin Inlet

$2,000

Canada

$1,000

Canada

In 2018, women accounted for 38% of self-employed Canadians; fewer than 16% of small and medium-sized businesses are women-owned.

Since the launch of the WES in 2018, the umbrella of contributions has increased to include new investments as well as additional funding to existing programs and initiatives. The total WES investment has more than doubled in size and is now close to $5 billion .

. The additional funds include the following:

o Export Development Canada: $2 billion by 2023 in financing and insurance solutions on commercial terms for women-owned businesses exporting or looking to export

by 2023 in financing and insurance solutions on commercial terms for women-owned businesses exporting or looking to export o $100 million through the Women in Trade Investments Program for equity capital specifically designed to help women entrepreneurs

through the Women in Trade Investments Program for equity capital specifically designed to help women entrepreneurs o a commitment to serve 1,000 women-owned and women-led business customers by 2023

The WES complements other government efforts to advance gender equality, including addressing pay equity, introducing more affordable childcare and putting an end to gender-based violence.

This investment will build on the success of the previous 52 projects across the country that received funding under the WES Ecosystem Fund. Of these projects, 7 are national in scope, while 45 are regional and tailored to the regionally unique needs of women in communities across the country.

COVID-19 Economic Response Plan

Women Entrepreneurship Strategy

WES Ecosystem Fund recipients

/CNW/ - Canadian women entrepreneurs are key to our economic success as a country, and they make invaluable contributions to our communities. However, women still face unique and systemic barriers to starting and growing a business, and they remain underrepresented in our economy.The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted women entrepreneurs. It has severely affected sectors such as retail, hospitality and food servicessectors where women entrepreneurs are most present. On top of typically operating smaller businesses and having less access to capital, many women business owners also still bear a disproportionate share of domestic work, caregiving and childcare.To address these realities, and in keeping with our commitment to advance the economic empowerment of women, our government is taking action.Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, announced that the Government ofwill provide $15 million in additional funding to support women entrepreneurs through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES). This money will go directly to select organizations that are currently WES Ecosystem Fund recipients and will help women entrepreneurs through the COVID-19 pandemic.In the coming weeks, this investment will help thousands of women entrepreneurs and business owners navigate this crisis. It will help ensure women across the countrywhether they're a restaurant owner in, a manufacturer in, or a retailer in, Nunavutget the support they need through things like business workshops, mentorship and skills training to adapt to a digital marketplace.This investment builds on a wide range of federal supports that have been brought in to help small business owners retain their employees and keep up with their operating costs. This includes the 75% wage subsidy, lending supports, help with commercial rent and deferred tax payments, as well as dedicated funding for innovators, entrepreneurs in rural and northern communities and Indigenous-owned businesses.The government is also boosting the Canada Child Benefit for parents, increasing funding to address gender-based violence and giving a monthlyEmergency Response Benefit to Canadians who make undera monthincluding entrepreneurs, workers and business owners.Empowering women-owned businesses acrossremains a key priority, and the government will continue working hard to ensure women entrepreneurs are supported through the pandemic and into the economic recovery."Women business owners and entrepreneurs are facing unique difficulties during these challenging and uncertain times. Our government is taking action to give women entrepreneurs much-needed support so they can keep their businesses open and get through this crisis. We will continue to be there for women business ownersand all small businessesto help them all the way through the COVID-19 pandemic." The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International TradeFollow @CanadaBusiness on social media for business-related news: Twitter, FacebookSOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 17

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 22 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe didn't hold back when he spoke to members of the three political parties examining the formation of a new coalition government.

The straight-talking Donohoe said we are looking at a situation where there may be an unemployment rate of 15pc for a few years to come, even after the pandemic has subsided.

The idea of coping with around 350,000 long-term unemployed is pretty shocking given the number of people unemployed in February was 120,000. Coping with an additional quarter of a million for several years will be costly and a huge economic setback.

Donohoe used the phrase "1980s recession", which strikes fear into anyone who was around and was caught on the wrong side of the lost decade.

Some of us don't have to look up re-runs of Reeling in the Years to get a shiver down our spines from what was economically a pretty awful time in Ireland.

It seems the most vulnerable sectors in the longer term will be retail, tourism and hospitality. Already we have seen regional differences when it comes to the hardest-hit parts of the country. We have also seen that some counties are more heavily dependent on tourism than others.

The social welfare bill, along with the forgone taxes, of having 350,000 people on the dole would be very challenging. However, where Donohoe is not quite right is when he compared the years ahead to the 1980s. Back then the capacity of our economy to create wealth and jobs was more limited.

We have made enormous strides in the make-up of the economy, our successes in foreign direct investment and the underlying creation of wealth that has happened.

Back in 1988, unemployment was around 15pc and our national debt was around 107pc of GDP. The population was a lot smaller and the capacity of the economy to generate wealth was a fraction of what it has become.

The Finance Minister may well be right about the challenges facing some sectors, including tourism, retail and hospitality, but the country has a better chance of cancelling out those painful losses in a post-coronavirus Ireland, than it did in the 1980s.

We got out of the mess last time by fine-tuning our tax system to attract American multinationals, introducing some fiscal discipline and being able to offer international companies well-educated people who would do the job for less.

Our cost base advantages are not as strong. Our tax offering remains broadly intact, but won't have the same clear-cut advantages it used to. The cost of living in Ireland is a lot higher than it used to be.

Nevertheless, the new government will find itself turning to IDA Ireland and foreign multinationals for a turbo-charged recovery.

This won't do you much good if you are living in the wrong place or don't have the requisite skills to avail of whatever jobs might come.

After the last financial crash, FDI accelerated our recovery but reaching record tourism numbers helped enormously in certain regions.

Among the longer-term consequences of the coronavirus will be an acceleration of a two-speed Ireland.





Flying off the handle

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has decided to take court challenges to state bailouts of some of his European rivals.

He was in vintage form taking aim at Lufthansa "going around hoovering up state aid like the drunken uncle at the end of a wedding drinking from all the empty glasses. They can't help themselves".

I'd say it has been a while since O'Leary was at a wedding where anything like that happened, but we got the picture.

Ryanair is also out to topple France's $8bn rescue package for Air France. The Irish airline has sued the European Commission twice this month, challenging its approval of French tax breaks, which it says will mainly benefit Air France and Sweden's 455m loan guarantee for its airlines.

For O'Leary, this is all about what happens after the pandemic. In theory, as an airline with a strong balance sheet going into the crisis, it should be best-placed to benefit from consolidation and growth through cheaper air fares. Yet, the opposite could happen. Subsidised airlines could use those state supports to fund consolidation themselves and support loss-making cheap fares during the crucial period when the industry is trying to get people travelling again.

The Ryanair CEO has talked about unbelievable cut-price fares to drive growth in the aftermath of the pandemic. He has overtaken Alitalia as the number one airline in Italy and has had a tough German market in his sights for some time. Alitalia is in line for state aid and the opportunity to really crack Germany could be stifled by a state- subsidised Lufthansa, instead of a massively weakened or even bust Lufthansa.

What is O'Leary to do? Fares will have to be high for a time after lockdown or airlines won't make money due to higher costs, reduced schedules and flights that aren't full.

Ryanair signalled it would return to up to 40pc of its normal flight schedule from July. This is extremely difficult to see happening. If the airline were to go ahead, it would surely lose a lot of money. Part of this is around the psychology of flying. People will have to feel flying to a foreign country is safe and worth doing. By driving forward with a major schedule return, it creates the impression things are getting back to normal. Airlines like Ryanair and IAG want to get some momentum going. It is a reasonable marketing tactic and one which other airlines will use.

Ryanair has said it won't be taking state support. O'Leary has a point when he says he will have to compete against a range of state subsidised airlines. Ryanair has taken its fair share of local state incentives in specific regions over the years but it must be frustrating to see the one big opportunity out of this disaster for Ryanair being taken away by national government interventions.

What were the French, Italian, Swedish and German governments to do? Let these strategically important businesses go under, thereby delivering reduced competition for their travelling public? This might have been the logic of the market, but it was never going to play out that way.





Port checks were inevitable

No surprise that the British government has succumbed to the inevitable, namely that there will be port checks in Northern Ireland on goods coming in from Britain after Brexit.

Having said it wouldn't happen, Boris Johnson signed a deal which meant it had to happen, and now a House of Commons committee has finally been told it will happen.

But what about goods going the other way? There shouldn't be checks on goods going from Northern Ireland to Britain, unless they have originated south of the Border.

If the UK crashes out or has some kind of tariff regime between Dublin and London, surely goods brought across an open Border, parked in the North for a brief period and shipped to Britain, will be impossible to stop.

Who will want to anyway? If this is thoroughly policed, Northern businesses involved in import and export from and to Britain will face enormous additional costs.

The DUP should have gone with Theresa May's backstop. It would have been a better deal for everybody.
We would be hit by the reality of what was happening, and then be in the presence of these doctors who were so focused and clear and unwavering, and it was beautiful.

Over the course of these shoots, I learned about the reality behind the numbers. Its one thing to follow the news and the statistics, but its another to witness the underlying tragedy up close.

I really hope this work promotes empathy for fellow Americans. We all have a role to play in this, and I hope these pictures show that we are all trying our best. I also hope it serves as a record in our collective history.

How has it affected me? Im not really sure. Im still processing it. I have no idea because Im still moving through it.

Thats it for this briefing. See you next time.  Carole

Thank you

To Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh for the break from the news. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

P.S.

 Were listening to The Daily. Our latest episode is an interview with a restaurant owner in Louisiana who is debating whether to reopen.

 Heres our Mini Crossword, and a clue: Becomes bubbly (five letters). You can find all our puzzles here.

 Tom Bodkin, the creative director and chief creative officer of The New York Times, explained to Fast Company how he designed striking front pages during the pandemic.
Concerned over the spread of coronavirus infection to more than 140 prisoners in Jaipur jails, the government may take a decision on Monday to conduct random sampling of prisoners lodged in other jails of the state.

"A decision regarding random sampling of prisoners lodged in various jails in Rajasthan is likely to be taken tomorrow, a senior official said.

After COVID-19 cases were reported in the Jaipur district jail, the jail authorities got all the inmates and staff members tested for the virus.

In the district jail, the jail superintendent and 130 inmates have tested positive so far. A few cases have also been reported from the central jail.

"All the inmates and staff members of Jaipur district jail have been tested for coronavirus. Cases have come up from one ward in Jaipur's central jail also and now we have decided to conduct random sampling in other wards of the central jail, DG (Prisons) NRK Reddy said.

For random sampling in other jails where there is no case so far, the official said a decision would be taken tomorrow in a meeting with home department officials.

We would take a call on sampling in other jails tomorrow in a meeting, he said.

He said after a lockdown was announced in March, separate/isolation arrangements for new entrants were made in all the jails. A new entrant is kept in the new ward before shifting to regular wards after a period of 14-21 days.

Only during that time we found anyone suspicious or with symptoms; we used to refer him to hospital for check up, he said.

In Jaipur district jail, he informed, a prisoner who came into the jail in early April was the source of infection. He was asymptomatic when he was kept in isolation in initial days and later suffered from low BP and diarrhoea. He was tested for COVID-19 and the report came positive on May 9.

In the meantime, the jail superintendent and a few other inmates got infected.

The cases in Jaipur district jail spiked on Saturday when 119 prisoners tested positive. On Sunday, 14 prisoners (12 from central jail and two from district jail) tested positive for the virus.

So far, more than 140 prisoners (maximum from district jail) have tested positive for the virus in Jaipur.

After the prisoners tested positive, the jail department decided to shift new prisoners -- who come to Jaipur, Alwar and Sawaimadhopur jails -- to Dausa jail temporarily.

Dausa jail has been vacated and the inmates and staff were sent to another jail in Dausa to create room for the new prisoners coming from Jaipur, Alwar and Sawaimadhopur.

The officer said that 156 prisoners in the state have been released on parole, parole of 21 prisoners was extended and 11 prisoners have been released from jails after remission of sentence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Choi Ji-won (The Korea Herald/Asia News Network)  Sun, May 17, 2020 12:00 612 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd897340 2 Entertainment Hospital-Playlist,South-Korea,K-Drama Free

One does not have to be a doctor or a nurse to be able to relate to what happens inside hospitals, where lives are born and deaths pronounced, wounds are healed and hurt minds are treated.

It is for such reasons, perhaps, that medical dramas have flourished in the recent decade or so, the stories and themes becoming more diverse with time.

Two of the most popular TV dramas so far this year take place in a hospital.

The second season of SBS Dr. Romantic racked up a 28.4 percent viewership rating, a figure higher than the highest rating from the first season that aired in 2016. TvNs Hospital Playlist saw the viewership rating jump from the first episodes 6.3 percent to 12.1 percent for last weeks episode.

There are many elements inside a hospital that can cause dramatic tension. Not only the urgent life-and-death issues, but the power conflict between the protagonist and the antagonists in the hospital are also elements that grip viewers attention, TV drama critic Yun Suk-jin told The Korea Herald.

And the real drama in a medical series comes with the character resembling the ideal doctor, who puts the lives of the patients at the forefront. Dr. Kim in Dr. Romantic is a typical example, said Yun, a professor of modern Korean literature at Chungnam University.

Past hit medical dramas such as Behind the White Tower and New Heart -- both of which aired in 2007 -- are typical medical dramas, revolving around life-and-death situations and power struggles.

However, the past few years have seen the emergence of hospital-themed shows that diverge from such classical formulas, delving, instead, into the more human and day-to-day aspects of a hospital life.

Hospital Playlist is one such example. Following the friendship of five doctors in their 40s, each episode features stories of relationships between the characters, whether it be the protagonists, their families, fellow doctors, nurses or patients.

The drama did away with the cliched power conflict, and focused on the doctors sincerity in their work and their relationship with the patients, Yun said.

Indeed, producer Shin Won-ho previously said that Hospital Playlist is a witty human drama revolving around a group of close friends, just like his previous Reply series. "But this time, it takes place in a hospital.

The portrayal of different occupations inside the hospital organization also accounts for the more dynamic storyline of Hospital Playlist where the five friends work in different departments.

Read also: 'The World of the Married' sets new record for highest rating on Korean cable TV

Meanwhile, Soul Mechanic, a recently launched series on KBS2, is a human drama about a psychiatrist.

There are also some medical dramas where doctors are not the lead characters.

A drama about nurses is expected this year. The upcoming series will be based on 2018s I am a Nurse, a Human, written by a Korean nurse who had worked in an intensive care unit for more than 21 years.

Past medical dramas mostly involved surgeons or emergency room doctors, because they could easily make for visually capturing scenes. Now the focus has completely changed, and the hospital life is only a means to talk about ordinary people and their lives, said Yun.

Topics :

This article appeared on The Korea Herald newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
More listed Asian companies are turning to rights issues to see them through the coronavirus pandemic, as businesses across the region hit limits on rising debt.

In April, two sizeable rights issues announced by Singapore Airlines and Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries paved the way for more deals in Asia this year, bankers said. Companies in the transportation, hospitality and consumption-related sectors will likely announce rights issues later this year as these industries are the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

"We see a lot of companies in Southeast Asia, India, engaging in measuring the impact of the pandemic on their liquidity positions, and consequently their need for capital" said Mrinal Parekh, head of Southeast Asia & India equity capital markets at BNP Paribas based in Singapore, adding he expects more deals to launch starting in July.

Companies saddled with debt, and whose businesses are greatly impacted by the virus are more likely to undertake rights issues, he said.

A rights issue gives existing shareholders an equal opportunity to buy additional shares. It is often used by companies that are unable to raise new debt due to cash flow constraints at a time when majority shareholders are reluctant to be diluted further through share placements to new investors.

But minority shareholders can also choose to give up their rights to subscribe. Key to success therefore, is wooing majority shareholders' support ahead of launch by offering stock at a steep discount.

Last month, Singapore Airlines successfully won shareholders' support for its mega S$8.8 billion (US$6.2 billion). When the troubled airline first pitched the deal to its shareholders in late March it had already won support from Temasek which holds 55.46 per cent of the airline.

"Majority shareholders' commitment to buy their portion of new rights shares, typically at a discount, signals their confidence towards the company's long term prospects," said Kenneth Ho, managing director of equity capital markets at Haitong International Securities' based in Hong Kong.

Story continues

Singapore Airlines' deal, comprising new equity and a 10-year mandatory convertible bond that will convert into equity at maturity, was done partly to cover its operating cash flow needs as Covid-19 has caused a slump in passenger revenue. Priced at S$3, the rights shares was priced at a steep 53.8 per cent discount to the last quoted price at S$6.5 on March 25.

Bankers said issuers of rights shares historically would price them at a 20 per cent to 30 per cent discount to the last quoted share price.

Reliance Industries' proposed INR531.25 billion (US$7.04 billion) issue, the oil-to-tech giant's first rights issue in three decades, was intended to cut debt. Billionaire chairman Mukesh Ambani and other controlling shareholders have committed to buying their respective portions of the rights shares at a 14 per cent discount to the previous day's closing price.

In Hong Kong, there were 10 rights issues for the year through mid-April, raising a total of US$583.7 million, more than double the US$247.8 million raised from just six deals a year ago, according to data from Refinitiv.

The biggest deal was issued by Chinese brokerage Guotai Junan International, which raised HK$2.78 billion from an issue completed in March, followed by developer Beijing Capital Land, which raised HK$954.4 million.

Ho said Haitong International saw rights issue proceeds raised by Hong Kong-listed companies increased by about 60 per cent in the first four months this year from a year ago. Listed companies from Chinese property developers to financial services continue to tap investors, even as funds raised from initial public offerings dropped by about a third in the first quarter from a year ago.

To be sure, rights issues are not just for troubled companies. Ho said it is also used by companies in Hong Kong to raise capital for other purposes, such as business expansion.

"Companies also have to weigh up how quickly they need access to new funding. While you can complete share placements to new investors within a week, it often takes more than a month to complete a rights issue," said Ho, citing time needed for publishing a prospectus to all shareholders as an example.

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.
A Tale Of Central Asian Borders: One Of Cooperation, One Of Conflict

By Bruce Pannier May 16, 2020

Having a good neighbor in a tough part of the world is a real plus.

That is especially true now for countries sharing land borders during the coronavirus pandemic.

During this global crisis, a country's best efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus can be damaged and even undone by the irresponsible actions or policies of a contiguous neighbor.

Central Asia lies at the heart of the Eurasian continent and land borders are the norm except for the Caspian Sea coasts belonging to Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

The history of Central Asia's borders since Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan became independent following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union is largely one of tensions.

The five inherited their tangled borders from the Soviet Union.

Since that country's disintegration there have been disagreements about those borders and problems with who or what crosses from a neighboring country.

And no Central Asian country needs a border problem added to the many challenges they face now combating the coronavirus pandemic or coping with the accompanying serious economic setbacks it brings.

But two serious border problems occurred in May that resulted in two very different stories about the state of border relations in the region.

Dam Devastation

Uzbekistan's Sardob Reservoir -- completed just four years ago -- burst on May 1, flooding large areas in Syrdarya Province, killing several people and forcing some 70,000 to evacuate.

But it also flooded parts of the Maktaaral district in neighboring Kazakhstan, seriously damaging 10 towns and forcing the evacuation of some 5,000 people.

Kazakh authorities complained that Uzbek officials were slow and inaccurate in warning Kazakhstan about the coming flood waters.

On May 5, Kazakh Deputy Minister of Ecology, Geology, and Natural Resources Sergei Gromov said his Uzbek counterpart had called to tell him about the burst dam but told him the water was unlikely to reach Kazakhstan.

Gromov mentioned that Kazakhstan had been against the construction of the Sardob Reservoir from the start.

As of May 4, the Turkestan provincial administration in Kazakhstan was preparing a note of protest for Uzbek officials and was considering a claim for financial damages, but the note was apparently never sent.

It seemed Kazakh-Uzbek ties were headed down a bumpy road because of the damage done by the burst dam and if Uzbekistan's first president, Islam Karimov, had still been alive at the time of the flooding, the issue would almost surely have become another sore spot in relations.

But Karimov -- who died in 2016 but often had confrontational relations with Kazakhstan -- was succeeded by his longtime prime minister, Shavkat Mirziyoev.

Mirziyoev has since pursued a much friendlier policy towards Uzbekistan's neighbors.

On May 2, Mirziyoev and Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev spoke by phone about the flooding with Mirziyoev apologizing for the incident and promising to help the Kazakh residents who suffered damages.

On May 10, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdullo Aripov went to the Maktaaral district where he met with his Kazakh counterpart, Askar Mamin.

Aripov and Mamin toured four of the towns damaged by the flood and posed for a photo holding shovels of cement at a construction site in the town of Myrzakent.

Reports from Kazakh and Uzbek news websites noted that Uzbekistan sent more than 200 "specialists" along with emergency vehicles, bulldozers, tractors, water pumps, and other equipment to help clean up and rebuild the damaged towns.

Such an outcome would have been unimaginable under Karimov and the current cooperation despite the devastation along the border is a positive development for the region.

Border Clashes Yet Again

Along the Kyrgyz-Tajik border it was a very different story, though unfortunately a very familiar one in recent years.

Only 519 kilometers of the approximately 970 kilometers of border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have been demarcated and in many of the areas where the border is unclear, fighting sporadically breaks out between Kyrgyz and Tajik villagers.

Such conflicts have increased in frequency in the past 10 years.

Cars have been damaged, buildings burned, orchards destroyed, crops trampled upon, and many people injured by sticks or stones and -- unfortunately in some cases -- by gunshots.

On May 8, clashes broke out again not far from the Kyrgyz village of Chek.

It was an all-too-typical story: someone doing something on land that other people think belongs to them.

In this case, one young Kyrgyz man lost his home to fire and Tajik border guards say two villagers on their side of the border received gunshot wounds.

Kyrgyz border guards, for their part, say a Kyrgyz villager was hospitalized after being hit by rocks thrown at him, and three Kyrgyz border guards were injured by mortar fire from Tajikistan.

The two countries have exchanged protest notes and once again representatives from the two countries met, agreeing to do everything possible to decrease tensions along the border, something they have agreed to do many times before.

But the Kyrgyz-Tajik border has become the most dangerous one in Central Asia, a dubious distinction that once belonged to the Kyrgyz and Tajik borders with Uzbekistan when Karimov was president.

Not only were trespassers on Uzbek territory likely to be shot, the Uzbek military also placed land mines along parts of its mountainous frontiers with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The land mines have since been removed, Uzbek border guards are not as trigger-happy as they once were, and Kyrgyz and Tajik relations with Uzbekistan have arguably never been better than they are now with Mirziyoev.

Even a meeting between Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on the border in late July 2019 did little to resolve the long-festering frontier problems.

One Tajik citizen was killed in a clash just before that meeting, and three Tajik border guards and one Kyrgyz border guard were killed in fighting in September. Another Kyrgyz serviceman was shot and wounded in December, and already in January of this year fighting also broke out.

The mortar rounds that exploded in Kyrgyzstan on May 8 are not the first to be fired from Tajikistan.

In January 2014, there were clashes in the same area and Kyrgyz border guards said their Tajik counterparts used mortars and grenade launchers. Five Kyrgyz border guards and two Tajik border guards were wounded in that skirmish.

The clash in January 2020 led to talk about a land swap, but in a sign of how intractable some people are on both sides, some villagers vowed not to give up one square centimeter of "their" territory.

The Kyrgyz-Tajik border area is far from the countries' capital cities, Bishkek and Dushanbe, and both governments have not worked as hard as they could to resolve this longstanding problem, leaving it up to local officials to practice damage control after every new violent incident.

The very different stories from the borders of Central Asia feature the two wealthiest countries in the region working to cultivate better ties despite the obstacles and the two poorest countries failing to improve relations that continue to fissure.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/qishloq-ovozi-central -asian-borders-cooperation-conflict-uzbekistan- tajikistan-kyrgyzstan/30615663.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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JERUSALEM  Ending a 510-day political crisis that three elections had failed to resolve, Israel on Sunday swore in a new government charged with responding to the coronavirus pandemic, extending Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus record-setting tenure just a week before his corruption trial is set to begin.

Mr. Netanyahu, 70, has joined forces with his erstwhile challenger, the centrist former army chief Benny Gantz, 60, who now holds the new title of alternate prime minister, a veto over most major decisions, control over half the governments ministries and an agreement to switch positions with Mr. Netanyahu on Nov. 17, 2021.

But by keeping Mr. Netanyahu in office, even as he faces prosecution on bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges over his dealings with several wealthy media executives, the new ruling coalition may represent a crowning political achievement for Israels longest-serving leader.

Only two and a half years ago, Mr. Netanyahus closest allies had ruled out the possibility that he could continue in office if he were indicted. Only two and a half months ago, a clear majority of Israeli voters had elected lawmakers promising to usher Mr. Netanyahu into the political afterlife.
Drilling new wells may have come to a near-standstill, but existing wells continue to have maintenance needs.

With operators watching every cent they spend, the various suppliers that comprise the supply chain are challenged to provide increasing transparency.

That puts pressure on us to let people see in real time their expenditures, said Tim Neal, chief executive officer of GoExpedi, in a phone interview.

His company just secured a $15 million debt facility from Silicon Valley Bank to accelerate its market expansion, including in the Permian Basin, where it has an Odessa warehouse. The facility will allow the company, which Neal likened to an industrial Amazon to carry more goods and enhance the fulfillment and delivery of orders. In this case, from its Odessa warehouse.

Odessa was the first facility we got, Neal said. He recalled the companys beginnings in 2017 when the small staff would drive parts out to the well sites.

Neal said he started the business around the manufacturing world but then we saw the distribution side. So GoExpedi evolved into an e-commerce, supply chain and analytics company providing more than 200,000 parts and supplies to industrial and energy companies.

Also driving his business model is a younger wave of workers, who are tech-savvy. We saw the opportunity to develop an e-commerce platform to ensure customers get the right part.

He called it predictive analytics, ensuring the customer is getting the right part. He said sending the wrong part can jeopardize an asset.

It spans that bridge between the field and corporate offices, letting the field operators order the parts they need, while delivering transparency to corporate executives who can see whats being ordered, what the costs are and where those parts are being used.

Too, being able to closely track what is being spent, will let companies achieve their cost-cutting goals, he said.

We see a lot of demand for this model, especially in the last year, Neal said. People are digitizing their supply chain. A large multi-billion-dollar distributor is adapting this technology; it resonates as being value-added.

As GoExpedi started working in the Permian Basin, he said its customers were predominantly drillers. But now hes seeing more interest from the midstream sector, supplying parts for terminals, pipelines and refineries.

The debt facility comes on the heels of last Novembers $25 million Series B raise. Combined with this new debt facility, GoExpedi will not only expand its warehouse capacity but hire additional software developers.

The industry is focusing more on data and technology, Neal said. They wont want to go back. Once people start adapting to this new data and technology, they wont go back.

In addition to its Odessa warehouse, Houston-based GoExpedi has operations in San Antonio, Bakersfield, California, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
This week, a furor arose on a topic that feels remote to most Canadians, even more so amid the upheaval of COVID-19: the prime ministers cottage.

In the context of unprecedented layoffs, a health-care crisis and a looming recession, there are many who find such a conversation tone-deaf. But they miss the point  Harrington Lake and the other official residences do not belong to any politician, rather they are symbols (or should be) that belong to all Canadians.

Though most of us would be hard-pressed to name them, the National Capital Commission maintains six historic official properties. In addition to the iconic Rideau Hall and the famously decrepit 24 Sussex Drive, there is the Opposition leaders home, Stornoway, the House of Commons Speakers Gatineau getaway, The Farm, a place for visiting dignitaries to crash, 7 Rideau Gate, and  subject of the latest furor  Harrington Lake.

As sure as the swallows are to return to Capistrano each year, on cue, opposition parties shame the sitting prime minister for spending even a red cent on upkeep of these official residences. And it matters not who is paying the bill. Trudeau Sr. was attacked for allowing supporters to build a swimming pool at 24 Sussex  critics called it a bribe from shadowy donors. When Brian Mulroney dared to spend $308,000 on renovations  much of it funded by the PC Party of Canada  he was accused of Imelda Marcos-like extravagance.

Now it is Justin Trudeaus turn. Since mid-April, Conservatives have been using Google Earth photos to speculate that the prime minister has been secretly building himself a lakeside mansion at Harrington Lake. Not so, says the National Capital Commission: they are proceeding with a planned $6.1 million restoration of the main cottage. The prime minster is simply using a newly or  depending on who you ask  ostentatiously rebuilt farmhouse in the interim; one that will revert to use by official guests once renovations are done.

As the Liberals have faltered in disclosing information about this latest renovation and the NCC has been forced to play cleanup, the countrys chattering classes or notables as they like to call themselves in Ottawa, plunge once again into a familiar pond of rancour; fear of which has dissuaded government after government from keeping these residences in livable condition. And talk about pound-foolish and penny wise. With each delay, the eventual cost increases as the buildings sink further into disrepair.

As a result, the historic properties intended to house our countrys elected leadership are in a sorry state. At 24 Sussex, the wiring is a fire hazard, the boiler is broken, the plumbing jams often, the brickwork is crumbling; the entire place is cooled during the summer months by security-compromising window-mounted air conditioner units. The dining room is too big for a family, but too small for a state function. Asbestos is everywhere, as are rodents. And not the hamsters favoured by the Harper children.

That Canada has allowed these properties to degrade into squalor is a national shame. Across the world, there is a distinguished tradition of official residences for heads of government. Just as 10 Downing Street does for the British or the White House does for the Americans, 24 Sussex should serve as a metonym for our elected government itself.

Yet the disrepair is so bad, the current PM has chosen to abandon it and decamp across the road to Rideau Cottage, which his daily coronavirus updates have made famous.

Its clear no leader has the political guts to make the obvious case that any renovation would not be in his (or her) personal interest; indeed, the necessary fixes would take longer than any prime ministers term to complete.

So, it is also clear we need a different approach. We need to take this whole business out of the hands of the politicians and entrust these properties to an independent commission of experts.

Just as we have relied on health care professionals to help guide us through this pandemic, we should rely on architectural experts to help determine the future of these important buildings.

After all, these residences, emblems as they are of our system of government, deserve better. They deserve our care and our respect.
Those who cannot work from home and whose workplace has not been told to close have been told to go to work by the government. (Getty)

Some 7.5 million people are covered by the coronavirus furlough scheme in the UK, which has been extended until the end of October to help prevent huge job losses over the next few months.

Furlough supports firms hit by coronavirus by temporarily helping to pay the wages of people who can't do their jobs. It allows employees to stay on the payroll, even though they aren't working.

All reasonable steps should be taken by employers to help people work from home, the government has said. But those who cannot work from home and whose workplace has not been told to close have been told to go to work. Workplaces that are allowed to be open include those involved in construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution and scientific research.

But does this mean your employer can force you to go back to work  and what are your rights as a furloughed worker?

Harriet Calver, senior associate in the employment team at Winckworth Sherwood, says the fact that an employee or worker has been placed on furlough does not impact on their statutory rights.

So for example, any employee with over two years service would still have the right not to be unfairly dismissed and to receive a statutory redundancy payment and all workers on furlough would have the right not to be unlawfully discriminated against, Calver explains.

An employee's contractual rights under their contract of employment will also continue during furlough, albeit they will be varied by the terms of the furlough agreement.

READ MORE: How to cope with being furloughed

The devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are sticking with the government's former instruction to "stay at home" and not encouraging people to return to work. In England, concerns remain about the risk of contracting the coronavirus once back in the workplace  and are questioning whether employers can force furloughed workers to return.

While the furlough scheme has been extended until October, employees on furlough leave should assume that they may be asked to resume work well before then, Calver says.

Story continues

Many employers will have expressly set out in the furlough agreement the process for bringing furlough to an end, for example by agreeing to review furlough at particular dates or agreeing to give notice to de-furlough, in which case both the employer and employee should respect this agreement.

In the absence of an explicit right to bring furlough to an end, the employer would be expected to give the employee reasonable notice in writing that the furlough period is being brought to an end and that they should return to work.

If a furloughed employee refuses to return to work in response to their employer's request to do so, then technically the employer may be able to withhold their wages for this period and subject them to disciplinary action for unauthorised absence, Calver says.

However, before taking any such action employers should discuss with the particular employee why they are not keen to return to work, she adds. They may, for example, be in a high risk category, have genuine health and safety concerns or have childcare issues, in which case they should only be required to return to work once any such concerns have been addressed and a safe working environment can be provided which complies with government guidelines.

READ MORE: What does the furlough extension mean?

Everyone is being asked to distance themselves from other people to prevent spreading coronavirus further, but some people with underlying health conditions are being asked to take further precautions to protect themselves. People classed as clinically extremely vulnerable who are socially shielding during the coronavirus pandemic are urged to remain indoors and not return to work until at least the end of June.

If an extremely clinically vulnerable person wants to continue to shield at home and not return to work, then it would be sensible for their employer to discuss with them if any adjustments can be made to enable them to work from home in their existing post or if they can be transferred to another role which might be capable of being done at home, Calver says.

If this is not feasible then it is advisable that the employee is allowed to remain at home. If the employer insists that the employee must return to work outside their home, then this may lead to claims being brought by the employee under health and safety legislation and under the Equality Act 2010 for disability discrimination.
At President Donald Trumps urging, states began relaxing restrictions on businesses and individuals imposed during the coronavirus pandemic. The federal Centers for Disease Control released a brief set of decision tools to help them do so safely, but states and communities were largely on their own for the nitty-gritty decisions.

Editorial cartoonists captured the breadth of opinion on reopening  from too fast (Walt Handelsman) to smotheringly slow (A.F. Branco), with a dash of worry about trampled civil liberties in between (Scott Stantis).

Cartoonists are obsessed with getting a haircut. (And who isnt after two months at home?) Newark Star-Ledger cartoonist Drew Sheneman sees the risk of getting up close and personal with a hairstylist as a date with the Grim Reapers scythe. Joey Weatherford puts Medusa in the chair. And Handelsmans cartoon kids cant tell one parent from the other.

Other topics in the news, and thus in the cartoons, include Trumps opaque references to Obamagate" and the unmasking of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynns name in U.S. intelligence intercepts; dimming prospects for another federal coronavirus relief bill anytime soon; Kentucky Sen. Rand Pauls sharp questioning of infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci; surveillance of employees working at home; arrests in the February killing of an unarmed black man jogging through a predominantly white neighborhood in Georgia; Michael Jordan for president; and coronavirus fatigue.

Cartoons were drawn by Bill Bramhall, Dan Wasserman, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and A.F. Branco, Mike Luckovich and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate.

View more editorial cartoon galleries.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 21:09:59|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Forces of the UN-backed Libyan government on Sunday announced the launch of three airstrikes on a military base belonging to the rival east-based army.

"The air force at dawn launched three airstrikes on Watya air base and its surroundings" in southwestern Libya, said Mohamed Gonono, spokesman of the UN-backed government's forces, in a statement.

Two of the airstrikes destroyed ammunition stores in the air base, located some 140 km southwest of the capital Tripoli, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the east-based army announced downing of a Turkish drone belonging to the UN-backed government's forces in Ajaylat city, some 80 km west of Tripoli.

For more than a year, the UN-backed government and the east-based army have been fighting for the control of Tripoli, which killed and injured many civilians.

Despite repeated international calls for a cease-fire, the war has not stopped and civilians continue to be targeted. Enditem
Haryana on Sunday reported one more Covid-related death and 23 fresh cases, 11 from Gurugram alone, which took the death toll to 14 and infection count to 910 in the state.

According to officials, a 45-year-old man from Faridabad succumbed to the virus on Sunday. Six people have died of Covid-19 in Faridabad district so far.

Faridabad health officials said he was admitted to a private hospital on May 12 after his sugar level rose. He tested positive for coronavirus next day and was shifted to a Covid hospital, where he died on Saturday night, the official added.

The infection continues to spread in Gurugram, where 11 new cases were reported, followed by Rohtak (4), Faridabad (3), Panipat (2), and Karnal, Sirsa and Mahendergarh (1 each).

As per the health bulletin, of 910 Covid-19 patients, 562 have recovered and been discharged. Until Sunday evening, Haryana had 334 active cases.

On Sunday, four districts adjoining Delhi, Gurugram (100), Faridabad (64), Sonepat (58) and Jhajjar (37) had total 259 active cases, while in 16 districts, the number of active cases was in single digit, hovering from one to nine. Ambala and Yamunanagar districts didnt have a single active case as on Sunday.

In Sonepat, 60-year-old sister of a 75-year-old Tharu village woman, who died of coronavirus last week, tested positive, said DC Ansaj Singh. A Delhi Police staff, who had returned from the national capital on May 12, was also found infected at Mahendergarhs Khatoli Jat village. A Rewari resident working with Delhi governments fire department tested positive for Covid-19 as well.

Two test positive in Panipat, one in Karnal

Two persons with travel history to Mumbai have been tested positive in Panipat. Panipat chief medical officer Sant Lal Verma said the patients include a 22-year-old youth from Hali Colony and a 28-year-old man from Chhotu Ram Colony of Panipat city.

Another 40-year-old man has been found infected in Chogawan village of Karnal district. He had returned from Gurugram recently and gone for a surgery at Mullana medical college.
Dear Editior,

I find it perplexing that only a matter of weeks after Ulster County Industrial Development Agency Chairman Randall Leverette told a group of Ulster County small business owners that the IDA was researching ways in which we can help that are within our means and capabilities , the agency decided to extend sales tax breaks for Hudson Valley Kingston Development LLC.

The UCIDA has extended several tax arrangements for Hudson Valley Kingston Development in the past, allowing for the acquisition of multiple properties within the city of Kingston. The investment into the community most certainly has had positive impacts. But as Ulster County and other locally grown small businesses are facing a rapid downturn, it seems it irresponsible to keep extending tax revenue breaks to Hudson Valley Kingston Development while expecting a significant shortfall in tax revenue for the mid- to long-term.

Hudson Valley Kingston Development has proven its business savvy. Times are taking a downturn and all small businesses will struggle. Lets ensure that all small businesses are afforded needed help before the UCIDA decides to hand out more tax breaks.

Bill Cranston

Kingston, N.Y.
Moments after the centre announced a two-week extension to the nationwide lockdown with additional permissions to resume some activity on Sunday evening, Cabinet Secretary Rajeev Gauba held a meeting with the chief secretaries of states and union territories to underscore some key points in Indias progress in the fight against Covid-19, including an increase in the doubling rate of cases in 9 worst affected states during the period of the third lockdown.

According to an official privy to the discussions during the video conference, Gauba pointed out that Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab had registered a significant increase in the doubling rate since April 30, just before the beginning of the third phase of lockdown. Punjab had made the most remarkable progress by increasing its doubling rate of the virus from 7.3 days to 29.8 days on May 14, followed by Andhra Pradesh, which had more than doubled its doubling rate of 24.4 days on May 14 compared to 11.7 days on April 30. Uttar Pradesh, too, had made encouraging progress on this front with the doubling rate jumping from 14.6 days to 21.8 days in the same period; the state was closely followed by Gujarat that increased its doubling rate from 9.4 to 15.5 days.

Among the worst-hit states, Maharashtra had made marginal improvement on that count by reaching a doubling rate of 11.6 days from 10 days on April 30, similarly, Delhi and Rajasthan, too, had barely managed to improve their doubling rates by a margin of 1.3 days and 1.7 days from 13.6 and 18 days respectively in the corresponding period.

Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal had fared little better with increased doubling rates of 15.2 and 12.6 days respectively on May 14 as against 11.5 and 9.4 days on April 30.

Tamil Nadu the third-worst affected state in the country was the only one among the top 10 to have reduced its doubling rate in the period. Tamil Nadus doubling rate had slipped to 8.4 days as on May 14 from 15.1 on April 30.

The data assumes significance as the categorization of areas into red, orange or green zones in the states are dependent on parameters like active Covid-19 cases, cases per lakh population, doubling and fatality rates. The categorization, in turn will impact how much freedom for economic activity is granted in those zones.

The movement of migrant labourers also came up for discussion between the centre and the states as it has played its part in spreading the infection to far-flung rural areas of the country.

Rajiv Gauba is reported to have requested the state officials to cooperate in the running of more Shramik special trains to facilitate the movement of migrant workers, which has not only led to a political blame game between states but also to tragedies and law and order situations across the country.
The mall has placed graphics in the food court to encourage social distancing and placed hand sanitizer stations in the food court and restrooms, some of which will be closed as a precaution. Customers are encouraged to frequently sanitize their hands or wash them for at least 20 seconds.

"While we are excited to see you, out of concern for your health as well as those around you, please stay home if youre not feeling well," mall management said in a statement.

Individual stores in the mall can limit the number of people inside at one time at their discretion, and customers will have to line up outside if a store is at capacity. Not all stores at Southlake Mall will be open right away.

"We expect opening schedules to vary by retailer," mall management said in a statement. "Before arriving, we recommend calling or checking a stores website for opening details, expected hours and to understand their health and safety procedures. You can also check to see if your favorite store is open by visiting our store directory."

Salons and restaurants can begin reopening at the mall Monday. But patrons are advised to call ahead to find out if they are open and also to understand any new on-site health and safety procedures.
Were really ready to be done with COVID-19 by now. But that doesnt mean its done with us.

After weeks of lockdown, officials across the country are taking the first steps to cautiously reopen the economy. And as the public health guidelines start to move from black and white to grey, were going to have to start navigating risk ourselves and be more vigilant than ever.

The virus is only a few months old, and the science is still emerging. But heres what we know so far about how and where COVID-19 is transmitted, and how to stay safer as many of us take our first steps out into the world.

The first thing to consider, said Colin Furness, an infection control epidemiologist at the University of Toronto, is the community spread of the disease where you are. A small town in northern Ontario may have virtually no cases, but right now downtown Toronto is a pretty scary place, he said.

Depending on the situation, you can assess your individual risk and adjust your behaviour accordingly. In general, outside is safer than inside.

Being outdoors is ideal, Furness said. If youre indoors, the more people in a smaller space the riskier it is, Furness said. Im terrified of elevators.

Thats because of the way COVID-19 is spread, primarily through droplets expelled when people cough, sneeze, laugh, sing or even talk. Theres growing evidence that even people without symptoms can spread the disease this way. Dont forget these droplets can fall on surfaces and live on them, and thats why you have to keep washing your hands and avoid touching your face.

Outside there might be a breeze, as opposed to indoors where if someone coughs theyll leave a kind of cloud, said Furness.

Its really hard to tell if someones got bad breath outdoors, he added. If you can smell someones breath, youre too close.

The virus travels in nanodroplets said Andrew Halayko, a University of Manitoba physiology professor who specializes in respiratory illness and environmental pathogens. Those droplets are sort of the carrier, like the airplane for its passengers.

Its still not known how much virus you need to become infected with COVID-19, but in general the longer you are exposed, the greater the risk.

In a recent viral blog post Erin S. Bromage, an associate professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, wrote that he regularly hears people worrying about getting COVID from bike rides, the grocery store, and runners passing them on the street.

Are these places of concern? Well, not really, wrote Bromage, who did not respond to a request for an interview. Remember the formula: Successful Infection = Exposure to Virus x Time.

One pre-print study from China  meaning it hasnt been submitted for publication or is still under review  analyzed over 7,000 cases in that country and found almost 80 per cent of outbreaks occurred at home. Transport was the next biggest source of outbreak (34 per cent; some involved more than one category). Only one, two-person outbreak occurred outside, during a conversation.

A new study published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal found talking produces thousands of tiny droplets that can stay in the air for up to 14 minutes. The study still needs to be replicated in real-world conditions, but it suggests face-to-face conversations, especially in small enclosed spaces, can be risky, even if a person doesnt have any symptoms.

Im sure youve met wet talkers in your time, Halayko said. Sometimes you notice something comes shooting out of your own mouth that was unintended, and the droplets were taking about are not necessarily droplets you can see.

And an early release in the U.S. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, about a COVID-19 cluster that started at a choir practice in Washington state, suggested singing might have contributed to the spread.

Choir members were aware of the virus and took precautions like not hugging or shaking hands. But following a two-and-a-half-hour practice in mid-March that 61 people attended, 32 were infected, 20 had probable cases but didnt get tested, and two died.

Any environment that is enclosed, with poor air circulation and high density of people, spells trouble, Bromage wrote.

Thats also why dining at a restaurant patio is safer than being inside, said Halayko.

Of course, that is if the restaurant keeps tables six feet away from each other. There also shouldnt be any shared items on the table, like a water jug or basket of bread.

There are a lot of things that we take for granted at a restaurant that have to stop, Halayko added. And the longer youre talking the higher the risk goes.

One early release article about a COVID cluster that originated at a restaurant in Guangzhou, China, found the air conditioning flow may have facilitated the spread of infected droplets from one table to two others.

Events where family and friends have gathered indoors, like birthday parties and funerals, have also been hot spots for transmission. One man in Chicago accidentally passed on the virus to two others at a dinner where they shared food from the same serving dishes over three hours.

The next day he went to a funeral, where he hugged several people. The day after that, he went to a birthday party with nine people, where they hugged and shared food over three hours. The man later died of COVID-19, as did three of the 16 people he infected.

Thats why officials have been so strict about social distancing and asked people not to see anyone outside of their households.

In B.C., people are now allowed to do this in small groups, with the provinces health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry stressing fewer faces and bigger spaces.

Ontario is not there yet. But even when it is allowed, Halayko said there are things you can do to cut down on risk.

For example, when having a relative outside of your household over, dont hug, sit outside on the lawn or a porch if possible, dont share food. Ask where those people have been, whether theyre at risk, and how many people are in their household.

Of course, that gets to the question of bathrooms. An unedited manuscript study of two hospitals in Wuhan, China, found virus particles, possibly from fecal matter after flushing, in the air.

But it didnt prove those particles were infectious. So the science is still not settled, but there are a lot of surfaces in a bathroom  from toilet seats, to flushers, to sinks and door handles  where the virus could be lurking.

Practise really good hand hygiene, you want to be mindful, said Furness.

Of course, there are businesses where close contact is almost inevitable.

Ontario is not ready to open hair salons and spas just yet, but some owners are already thinking about ways to keep customers and employees safe.

The hair salon chain Civello will require patrons to wait outside until their appointment, wear masks and get temperature checks at the door.

At the Ten Spot chain of spas, staff will be wearing masks  and face shields for some services  and theyll also limit the number of people inside.

Nail or hair salons may also consider the Plexiglas barriers already seen at grocery stores, said Victoria Arrandale, an assistant professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, as a way to maintain the physical distance that allows them to operate.

That can make things safer  we cant guarantee safe anywhere, she said.

Employers in office settings should also think about who absolutely needs to be present even if theyre allowed to reopen, she added. An early release contact tracing study in South Korea of an outbreak at a call centre showed that the coronavirus can be extremely contagious in crowded office settings.

Basically, as the work closures are loosened, and we start to venture out more, possibly even resuming in-office activities, you need to look at your environment and make judgements, wrote Bromage in his blog.

How many people are here, how much airflow is there around me, and how long will I be in this environment?

And now is the time to step up, not forget the things weve been doing throughout the pandemic said Halayko. That includes hand washing, avoiding touching your face, socially distancing, and wearing a cloth mask or face covering when thats a challenge.

You dont have to be terrified, you can control your exposure, Halayko said.

This is not out of our hands. Pardon the pun.
KIGALI, Rwanda (AP)  One of the most wanted fugitives in Rwandas 1994 genocide, a wealthy businessman accused of supplying machetes to killers and broadcasting propaganda urging mass slaughter, has been arrested outside Paris, authorities said Saturday.

Felicien Kabuga, who had a $5 million bounty on his head, had been accused of equipping militias in the genocide that killed more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus who tried to protect them.

The 84-year-old Kabuga was arrested as a result of a joint investigation with the U.N.'s International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals office of the prosecutor, French authorities said.

He had been living in a town north of Paris, Asnieres-Sur-Seine, under an assumed name, the appeals court's prosecutor's office said.

The U.N.s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda indicted Kabuga in 1997 on charges related to conspiracy to commit genocide, persecution and extermination.

Rwandan prosecutors have said financial documents found in the capital, Kigali, after the genocide indicated that Kabuga used dozens of his companies to import vast quantities of machetes that were used to slaughter people.

The wealthy businessman also was accused of establishing the station Radio Television Mille Collines that broadcast vicious propaganda against the ethnic Tutsi, as well as training and equipping the Interahamwe militia that led the killing spree.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed Kabugas arrest, according to U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

It sends a powerful message that those who are alleged to have committed such crimes cannot evade justice and will eventually be held accountable, even more than a quarter of a century later, Dujarric said.

Mausi Segun, Africa director at Human Rights Watch, described the arrest as "an important step towards justice for hundreds of thousands of genocide victims.

Kabuga was close to former President Juvenal Habyarimana, whose death when his plane was shot down over Kigali sparked the 100-day genocide. Kabugas daughter married Habyarimanas son.

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Kabuga is expected to be transferred to the custody of the U.N. mechanism, where he will stand trial. It is based at The Hague in the Netherlands.

The arrest of Kabuga today is a reminder that those responsible for genocide can be brought to account, even 26 years after their crimes, the mechanism's chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz said in a statement. He said partners who contributed to the arrest included law enforcement agencies and prosecution services from Rwanda, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the United States.

Officials in Rwanda hailed the arrest. According to prosecutors, other top fugitives still at large include Protais Mpiranya, the former commander of the Presidential Guards, and former Defense Minister Augustin Bizimana.

Guterres, the U.N. chief, stressed that all countries have an obligation to cooperate in the location, arrest and transfer of those sought by international courts, Dujarric said.

The secretary-generals thoughts today are first and foremost with the victims of Mr. Kabugas alleged crimes, the victims of other serious international crimes, and their families, the U.N. spokesman said. Ending impunity is essential for peace, security and justice.

For years after the genocide, relations between Rwanda and France were under strain, with Rwandas ruling party blaming the French government in part for supporting the genocidal regime.

But under French President Emmanuel Macron, Kigali and Paris appear to have made some amends. In 2018, French authorities said they dropped an investigation into the 1994 plane crash, citing lack of sufficient evidence. Several people close to Rwandan President Paul Kagame had been under investigation and his government denounced the probe, saying it was aimed at exonerating Frances suspected role in the genocide.

In 2019, Macron announced the creation of a commission tasked with investigating Frances alleged role.

After many years, the old guards in the French government who could have been protecting Kabuga have left power and you find the young generation have no interest in protecting the aging fugitive under the new administration, asserted Gonza Muganwa, a Rwandan political analyst.

Its clear he was being protected and some powerful people knew his hiding place. They sold him."

___

Elaine Ganley in Paris and Mike Corder in Amsterdam contributed.
BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant loss of life, disrupting livelihoods, and threatening the development and prosperity of the world.

As solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to fight the pandemic, China has been boosting international cooperation in an open, transparent and responsible manner since the onset of the unprecedented health crisis.

By upholding the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, China has been providing updates on COVID-19 in a timely manner, unreservedly sharing its experiences in epidemic response and medical treatment with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international community, strengthening cooperation on scientific research, and providing assistance to all parties to the best of its ability.

UNPRECEDENTED, EFFECITVE MOVE

In the face of a ballooning epidemic, the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Jan. 22 ordered Hubei province, the center of the outbreak at the time, to impose comprehensive and strict control over the outbound population flow, an unprecedented but effective move in modern Chinese history.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the serious lockdown measures not only protected the Chinese people, but also prevented the spread of the virus to other countries.

"China has rolled out perhaps the most ambitious, agile and aggressive disease containment effort in history," said a report released in late February by the WHO-China Joint Mission on COVID-19, consisting of 25 experts from eight countries and the WHO itself.

"Because of this strategy, if it weren't for China's efforts, the number of cases outside China would have been very much higher," he said at a WHO Executive Board meeting in Geneva.

After a nine-day field trip in Beijing and other Chinese provinces, the China-WHO expert team concluded that China's unprecedented responses to the COVID-19 outbreak have yielded notable results in blocking human-to-human transmissions of the virus, preventing or at least delaying hundreds of thousands of cases.

The Chinese people stand on the frontline of defense in the fight against the pandemic, and have made huge contributions and sacrifices in order to safeguard the health and safety of people around the world, which deserves the respect of all countries worldwide, said Ivica Dacic, president of the Socialist Party of Serbia.

CHAMPION OF MULTILATERALISM

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his address to the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit in March, proposed that a Group of 20 (G20) health ministers' meeting be convened as soon as possible to improve information-sharing, strengthen cooperation on drugs, vaccines and epidemic control, and cut off cross-border infections.

He also proposed a G20 COVID-19 assistance initiative for better information-sharing and policy and action coordination with the support of the WHO.

In a phone conversation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday, Xi said that China firmly supports the United Nations and the WHO in playing their due roles in international cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the same day, he urged the international community to step up support for Africa's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. There are currently 75,498 cumulative COVID-19 cases in 53 African countries, with 2,561 deaths, according to WHO data.

China, on top of paying its assessed contributions to the WHO on time and in full, has recently donated a total of 50 million U.S. dollars to the WHO to support its response to the pandemic.

Besides, Chinese medical teams have conducted some 400 training sessions in Africa to share its anti-epidemic experiences and have trained 20,000 local medical workers, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday.

As of mid-May, the Chinese government has provided anti-epidemic supplies to more than 150 countries and international organizations, held over 120 video conferences with more than 160 countries and international organizations, and sent 21 teams of medical experts to 19 countries.

TECHNICAL EXCHANGE

Since the beginning of the outbreak, China has not only promptly shared with the world such critical information as the whole genome sequence of the virus, but also its diagnostic and therapeutic experiences.

It has also established close technical-level communication mechanisms with international organizations such as the WHO, the European Union, the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Starting from Jan. 3, China has begun to inform the United States of the novel coronavirus outbreak and response measures on a regular basis. When an expert evaluation team from China's National Health Commission identified a novel coronavirus on Jan. 8, heads of Chinese and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention talked over the phone to discuss technological exchanges and cooperation.

By carrying out timely technical exchanges with the international community, such as the WHO, the United States, and countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America, Chinese scientists and health experts worked with their global peers to share their knowledge about the virus to help countries develop testing kits and adopt response measures.

Chinese scientists and political leaders have made efforts to help the world understand the virus and contain its spread, said Fabrizio Pregliasco, a researcher at the Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health at the University of Milan.

China sets "an excellent example of 'peer to peer' experience-sharing," said Maria van Kerkhove, technical lead for the WHO's Health Emergencies Program, adding that the WHO looks forward to seeing more direct interaction of that kind.
Michael Sclafani didn't previously pay much attention to customers' personal messages as he hand-wrote cards to accompany the flowers they ordered from his Brooklyn shop.

That is, until the pandemic hit. Now, in addition to dashing off happy birthday, anniversary and Mother's Day cards, Sclafani finds himself playing the middle man between New Yorkers who miss one another. Senders are gifting blooms as a way to check in on one another and "just because," he said.

"People miss their friends and experiences they've had," Sclafani said. "They keep talking about the future."

MORE: Coronavirus has florists adjusting to meet consumer demand Mother's Day weekend

In a city where more than 20,000 people have died from COVID-19, Sclafani is also transcribing more sympathy notes, even though his shop doesn't formally do flower work for funeral homes. There are other kinds of loss happening, too. Flowers after layoffs. Flowers when pets die.

"Life is still happening," Sclafani said.

PHOTO: Park Delicatessen, a flower and skateboard shop in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, has continued to offer curbside flower pick-up during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Kyle Dorosz)

Staying open hasn't necessarily been easy. Sales are down from last year. When New York City shut down nonessential businesses in mid-March, Sclafani and his wife, Valentine Leung, who he co-owns Park Delicatessen with, had to make the difficult decision of deciding whether or not to stay open. The state's guidance wasn't much help. What counted as an essential business was surprisingly vague, he said.

"It's a Catch-22 feeling," he explained. "On one hand, if we decide not to open, we're going to be going out of business. If we stay open, are we contributing to the problem and not helping flatten the curve?"

MORE: 3.2 million more people file for unemployment, bringing coronavirus crisis total to over 33 million

In the end, the pair decided to stay open for curbside pickup and delivery. No customers would be allowed inside the store.

The also had to get creative about sourcing flowers. With New York's wholesale flower market closed, Sclafani and Leung are working directly with small farms to arrange one-off meet-ups. "I'm going to meet this farm from New Jersey at JFK at 3 o'clock in the morning," he said. "We had another farm from New Jersey on 28th Street at 7 p.m. on Wednesday."

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Sclafani's plight is familiar, according to Kate Penn, CEO of the Society of American Florists.

"There is no doubt that March and early April was the toughest time for the industry," Penn said. "Traditionally florists count on graduations, proms and weddings to help spark summer business. With those events on hold, florists will have to market heavily and promote the feeling of connection that flowers provide -- outside of holidays."

For Sclafani's and other small flower shop owners, Mother's Day may have been an infection point.

A number of the more than 3,000 florists around the country who use the online floral retailer BloomNation went out of business in April, according to a spokesperson for the company. It's also unclear how many of BloomNation's currently frozen accounts are ultimately going to come back.

According to SAF's market research conducted annually by Ipsos, Mother's Day accounts for roughly a quarter of the money florists make from holiday flower purchases.

"Having a strong Mother's Day is extremely important to the financial health of florists," Penn said. "Certainly the longer they remain closed -- and if they were unable to open for Mother's Day -- the more difficult the proposition of reopening becomes."

MORE: What offices may look like in a post-pandemic era, if they exist at all

While Sclafani didn't make as much money this Mother's Day as he did last year, he's thankful that he was open, and that he's been able to adapt his business to the pandemic's constraints.

Having fewer orders also allowed him to appreciate how his customers are staying connected during the pandemic.

"It was a little bit sad, but there were some messages that made me smile," he said. "When you get 50 orders in a day, you don't pay attention to all of them. But when you start to read them individually, there's a lot of emotion in there."

A few of Sclafani's favorite notes:

PHOTO: At Park Delicatessen, a flower shop in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, owners Michael Sclafani and Valentine Leung have begun paying attention to the notes customers are writing one another during the pandemic. (Valentine Leung)

To my sweetheart. I can't think of anyone better to go mad with whilst locked up in isolation. Happy birthday!

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PHOTO: At Park Delicatessen, a flower shop in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, owners Michael Sclafani and Valentine Leung have begun paying attention to the notes customers are writing one another during the pandemic. (Valentine Leung)

I love myself. Happy passover.

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PHOTO: At Park Delicatessen, a flower shop in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, owners Michael Sclafani and Valentine Leung have begun paying attention to the notes customers are writing one another during the pandemic. (Valentine Leung)

I know times have been tough lately but I love you so so much! If we can weather this storm, we can weather anything!

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PHOTO: At Park Delicatessen, a flower shop in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, owners Michael Sclafani and Valentine Leung have begun paying attention to the notes customers are writing one another during the pandemic. (Valentine Leung)

Happy MOTHERS-19 Day! See you at home, today. And tomorrow. And the day after that. Love you!

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PHOTO:At Park Delicatessen, a flower shop in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, owners Michael Sclafani and Valentine Leung have begun paying attention to the notes customers are writing one another during the pandemic. (Valentine Leung)

Hi lovey, Tika was the sweetest little kitty, I'm so glad to have known her and that you had each other all these years. Sending so many love vibrations to fill the empty space and hugging you with flowers.

Besos

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PHOTO: At Park Delicatessen, a flower shop in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, owners Michael Sclafani and Valentine Leung have begun paying attention to the notes customers are writing one another during the pandemic. (Valentine Leung)

We are here for you and your family, always. We are so sorry for your loss. You will carry on her legacy beautifully.

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PHOTO: At Park Delicatessen, a flower shop in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, owners Michael Sclafani and Valentine Leung have begun paying attention to the notes customers are writing one another during the pandemic. (Valentine Leung)

Dear Mama, This is the best pandemic ever. We get to spend more time with you! Sorry about all the farts. Kinda. So much love ...

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PHOTO: At Park Delicatessen, a flower shop in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, owners Michael Sclafani and Valentine Leung have begun paying attention to the notes customers are writing one another during the pandemic. (Valentine Leung)

IT'S FRIDAY : ) And I am thinking of you guys

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PHOTO: At Park Delicatessen, a flower shop in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, owners Michael Sclafani and Valentine Leung have begun paying attention to the notes customers are writing one another during the pandemic. (Valentine Leung)

Love you so much i can't wait to see you !!

WASH YOUR HANDS !!!

xo Mom xo

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What to know about the coronavirus:

How it started and how to protect yourself: Coronavirus explained

What to do if you have symptoms: Coronavirus symptoms

Tracking the spread in the U.S. and worldwide: Coronavirus map

Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis.

Flower shop notes offer glimpse into New Yorkers connecting during coronavirus pandemic originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
As a 12-year-old, I was introduced to the magic of the Jamaica Inn, located near Ocho Rios, in Jamaica, through the diaries of playwright Noel Coward - one of the inn's many celebrity guests since its opening in the 1950s.

This colonial-style property welcomed Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller for their honeymoon. Ian Fleming coined the phrase 'shaken not stirred' in the bar, and Winston Churchill had a suite named after him.

When I first visited the Jamaica Inn three years ago, another former British Prime Minister was checking out! It's my favourite place, and provides a central location in my new book, Crazy For You.

The first night, I'll look out on to the calming Caribbean Sea and enjoy a vodka Martini. I'll be left neither shaken nor stirred!

Jamaica is the home of chill, so my Saturday will begin with yoga on the beach. The Caribbean Sea offers an embarrassment of activities - swimming, boating or, my favourite, snorkelling. The reefs will render you speechless.

On Saturday night, I'll book a table in the hotel's Terrace restaurant. Under the starry sky, while musicians strum and drum nearby, I'll eat yummy prawns cooked on the charcoal grill.

To take the edge off departing on Sunday, I'll enjoy a treatment in the cliff-top spa. A facial might help clear the tears that are sure to flow when saying goodbye.

Domhnall O'Donoghue plays Padraig in TG4's 'Ros na Run' and writes a column in 'Woman's Way'. His third novel, 'Crazy For You', published by Mercier Press, is available digitally
NOIDA:

High drama was witnessed at the district hospital in Sector 39 on Sunday when nearly a dozen grade-IV contractual women employees climbed atop the terrace of the 18-storey building and started raising slogans against the Gautam Budh Nagar district administration for alleged non-payment of their pending salaries.

These women employees are working in the housekeeping department of the quarantine centre at the district hospital. The district administration has recently decided to close the quarantine facility at the hospital, and to develop it into a dedicated Covid-19 hospital.

However, the matter was resolved in a few hours after the district administration, taking cognizance of the agitation, constituted a two-member probe committee, including Gautam Budh Nagar chief development officer (CDO) Anil Kumar Singh and additional chief medical officer Dr Amit Vikram, to look into the matter and immediately redress their demands.

Things have been sorted out. They are happy and willing to work again, said the CDO.

When contacted, the agitators also said that their dues have been cleared. We were left with no option but to stage a protest as our demands would fall on deaf ears of the hospital administration. We have got our pending payments today and dont have any grievance now, said a demonstrator, preferring anonymity.

Singh said that after the decision of making the district hospital a dedicated Covid-19 hospital, these employees had doubts that they would not get their pending salaries.

After this matter came into the cognizance of the administration, I personally met them and asked the reason behind the agitation. They said that they were apprehensive about their payments, and had no option other than to demonstrate to catch the attention of higher authorities, he said.

Singh said that the administration has made immediate payments of the pending amounts to the demonstrators.
Dozens of people rallied Saturday in downtown Livermore, calling on the city to reopen for business.

Photos showed demonstrators, organized by a Facebook group called Save Our Town  Livermore, waving U.S. flags, carrying signs with messages like Reopen and Save Downtown, or Small business is essential and Open Our Town.

The gathering prompted a stern rebuke from Livermore Mayor John Marchand, who said organizers did not communicate with city officials ahead of time, and many were not wearing face coverings or following social distancing guidelines.

I get it, we are all frustrated, but these are not the citys rules, Marchand told The Chronicle on Saturday, noting that the orders come from Alameda County and the state.

The county needs to be convinced that Livermore is ready to open, but demonstrations where people are not wearing masks and are ignoring social distancing are not the way to do it, he said. Instead, the citys office of Innovation and Economic Development is working closely with our businesses so that when the time is right, using flexible space and careful planning, we can open safely.

The rally was in the center of downtown, in front of Pura Vida, a Latin American restaurant. Owner Manuel Moreno, who was inside his closed restaurant working on renovations as the rally occurred Saturday morning, described a peaceful event with speakers and periodic crowd chants of Open Up.

Theyre trying to help us out, he said of the demonstrators. This is a very tight-knit community. All the business owners are so united. Im the newest kid on the block, and were suffering a little more, he said, adding he and his wife just purchased the restaurant in November. I couldnt even keep open for takeout because I didnt have the clientele.

Asked about his feelings on reopening, he said, Im supportive if everything is done correctly. I think that we should keep 6 feet apart and wear our masks until we get the vaccine. Were just here for the people. We support the people here.

In a statement to The Chronicle, Save Our Town-Livermore said, We respect the choice to stay home and away from crowds, if community members are more vulnerable or perhaps just arent ready.

Still, the group said, There are business owners who are 60, even 30 days away from losing everything. These are our neighbors who have invested decades into a business that has helped to shape and support this community  and now their doors may permanently close and they will be left with nothing.

Marchand said, Not one Livermore business owner reached out to me to support the rally. Instead, he said he has received overwhelming support in emails from community members who agreed with his statements condemning the lack of social distancing.

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.

Marchand said Livermore police officers were in attendance to ensure there was no violence, but added: To be perfectly honest, we have much higher priorities than worrying about people that arent social distancing or wearing face coverings.

Livermore police officials could not be reached for comment on Saturday night, but Marchand said that he was not aware of any demonstrators cited or arrested.

The people who organized this event did not identify themselves and they have not reached out to me, the mayor, or any of my council, Marchand said. If we are going to reopen our businesses, we need to work together.

Chronicle staff writer Rita Beamish contributed to this report.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
The federal government said it has delivered a total of 139 truckloads of foodstuff to the government of Kano State for distribution to the less-privileged, the vulnerable and people living with disabilities as palliatives against the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, in a statement on Sunday, said the consignments which is equivalent to 5,318 metric tons comprises 10 trucks of rice; 2,438 metric tonnes of maize; 1,380 metric tonnes of millet and 900 metric tonnes of sorghum in a total of 139 trucks each ferrying 60 metric tons to feed 300,000 households.

The ministry had last month delivered about 110 trucks of foodstuff as palliatives to vulnerable in the state.

Kano is considered the epicenter for COVID-19 in Northern Nigeria with 761 confirmed cases and 35 deaths in the state, according to reports from the state health ministry on Sunday.

While the 10 trucks of rice were from the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the maize, millet and sorghum were drawn from the countrys strategic food reserves as authorized by President Muhammadu Buhari, Ms Farouq said.

She added that she handed over the foodstuff to the Kano State Government:With the utmost respect. I implore His Excellency to ensure that the poor and vulnerable, including the elderly and persons living with disabilities, are prioritized in the distribution of these relief materials because they are the most affected in times of crisis.

The minister also disclosed that as of May 6, a total of 729,847 beneficiaries in 24 states have received their payment from the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCT).

I can happily report that out of that number, 84,045 of the beneficiaries are in 15 Local Government Areas of Kano State, she said in the statement.

Beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme are extracted from the world bank assisted National Social Register (NSR) which at the onset of the pandemic contained the data of over 2.6 million poor and vulnerable households, with over 11 million individuals across 34 states and the FCT.

As of today, with the accelerated registration and rapid expansion, the Register has grown to 3.1 million households, containing 13 million individuals across 35 States and the FCT, the minister explained.

In his remarks, the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting the state with the food palliatives to ease the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the people of Kano.

He added that the ministry of humanitarian affairs delivered the food items at the right time when it was most needed and assured the minister that the food items will be delivered to the intended beneficiaries.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will address the media on Sunday at 11 am in the fifth and final phase of announcements on governments Rs 20 lakh crore package.

In her fourth day of the briefing on the stimulus package on Saturday, Sitharaman announced structural reforms in 8 sectors - coal, minerals defence production, airspace management, MROs power distribution companies, space sectors, atomic energy.

Sitharaman said that over the days, along with her team, she has been announcing the various steps that the government wants to take to give stimulus to the economy and help various sectors.

Also read: Private firms to get access to ISROs facilities, space exploration opportunities

We have made several announcements and introduced many measures. We also made sure people dont have to struggle to file taxes and have given boost to the MSMEs, the finance minister said.

Announcing the introduction of commercial mining in the coal sector, Sitharaman said, The government will introduce competition, transparency, and private sector participation in the Coal sector through revenue sharing mechanism instead of the regime of fixed rupee per tonne.

Also read: Fourth tranche of economic package will boost job opportunities, says PM Modi

Commercial mining is being introduced in the coal sector and the age-old government monopoly is being removed. The commercial mining of coal will be done on a revenue sharing basis. An amount of Rs 50,000 crore is being provided for evacuation infrastructure in the coal sector, Sitharaman said.

In defence production, the finance minister said for self-reliance a list of weapons and platforms will be notified and a ban imposed on import with year-wise timelines. There will be indigenisation of imported spares so that defence equipment is both made and bought in India.

Foreign Direct Investment limit in defence manufacturing under the automatic route is being raised from 49% to 74%, the government has decided.

In Civil Aviation, Sitharaman indicated that Restrictions on the utilisation of Indian Air Space will be eased so that civilian flying becomes more efficient. We will bring a total benefit of Rs 1000 crore per year for the aviation sector.

The announcements made by the FM on May 13 (first phase) were majorly focussed on the MSMEs while in the second phase of announcements on Thursday, the focus was on migrant labourers, street vendors and farmers.
Australian stocks are tipped to climb on Monday as a fresh round of confronting COVID-19 data tests the cautious optimism on investors that the nations economy will improve as lockdown measures ease.

The SPI futures index is tipping the ASX00 to open 32 points, or 0.6 per cent, higher at the open, ahead of official data that will again detail how the coronavirus was hurting households at the end of April.

COVID-19 is expected to keep the stock market volatile this week. Credit:Jim Rice

The previous Australian Bureau of Statistics household impacts survey showed nearly a third of respondents finances had worsened due to COVID-19, while more than one in four adults reported receiving the first one-off $750 economic support payment from federal government.

Mondays data will be followed by weekly payroll jobs and wages figures on Tuesday in what's expected to be another glum reminder of deteriorating employment conditions.
Actors Sakshi Tanwar and Seema Pahwa will be seen together in a Netflix crime thriller series, backed by Bollywood star Anushka Sharma.

The series is being directed by Atul Mongia and Anushka will be producing via her banner Clean Slate Films.

"Sakshi Tanwar is playing the main role in the series. There is Seema Pahwa playing a different role, something which she hasn't done before. There are many other actors as well," a source close to the show's production told PTI.

According to the insider, the series is set in the underworld.

The team had begun the work on the series in Lucknow, but the shoot had to be stalled due to the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown, which was announced on March 24.

"We had just started shooting for it in March, but due to the lockdown we had to come back to Mumbai from Lucknow," the source added.

Anushka made her digital debut as a producer with Amazon Prime Video's latest web series "Paatal Lok", which started streaming May 15.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-18 00:15:43|Editor: huaxia

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LISBON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's Director-General of Health Graca Freitas said on Sunday that it is better for citizens to be prepared to live with the novel coronavirus as it will not disappear on its own.

"It is better to be prepared for this virus to become habitual in our lives," Freitas said at the daily press conference to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic.

She explained that whether there is a vaccine or not, it is expected that "human beings gain immunity and the virus becomes less aggressive."

"If we have a vaccine, the better. If not, we will have to live with the virus until we have natural immunity," she added.

Meanwhile, on a day before Portugal enters the second phase of deconfinement, Secretary of State for Health Antonio Lacerda Sales said that the fear of COVID-19 "should not paralyze" the Portuguese, but rather make them "most attentive and vigilant" citizens.

The second phase starts on Monday, with the reopening of restaurants and cafeterias with limited capacity, resumption of classes for secondary schools and shopping centers up to 400 square meters.

As of Sunday, Portugal has recorded 1,218 deaths from COVID-19 and 29,036 cases of infection, the health authorities said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 21:35:54|Editor: huaxia

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ANKARA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces killed at least five members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on Sunday.

In a written statement by Turkey's defense ministry, two PKK members were killed in Turkish airstrikes in northern Iraq.

The two were "neutralized" in the Avashin-Basyan region after being detected by reconnaissance and surveillance vehicles, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, three other members of the PKK were killed in a domestic security operation in southeastern Turkey, the interior ministry said in the statement.

The Provincial Gendarmerie Command in Siirt province carried out the air-backed operations in Eruh district of Gabar and the operations are underway, said the statement.

Turkish security forces have long been conducting operations against the PKK in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq where the group has hideouts. Enditem
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Abdullah Abdullah, both of whom claimed to have won Afghanistan's presidential election in September, have reached a power-sharing agreement under which Abdullah will lead the government's efforts to reach a peace deal with the Taliban.

The deal also installs a controversial former vice president, who has been accused of human rights abuses, in a senior military position.



Presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi tweeted an image of Ghani and Abdullah signing off on the agreement in Kabul on May 17.

The United Nations and United States said in statements that they welcomed the agreement.

Sediqqi wrote that Abdullah will lead the newly formed National Reconciliation High Council and that members of his team would be included in the government.

Former Vice-President Abdul Rashid Dostum,an Abdullah team member who once spent nearly four years in exile after being accused of rape and kidnapping, will become marshal of the Afghan armed forces, according to a copy of the agreement.

The agreement ends a political crisis that led to a parallel government and hampered efforts to broker a peace deal ending more than 18 years of war with the Taliban.



Ahead of the signing, a source told the Reuters news agency that the two leaders would each have a 50 percent share in the government. In his tweet, Sidiqqi said that more information regarding the deal would be forthcoming.



Abdullah served as Afghanistan's chief executive alongside Ghani for six years under a U.S.-brokered power-sharing deal that followed a disputed presidential election in 2014.



Abdullah refused to recognize the results of the poll in September, which was marred by low voter turnout and allegations of fraud.



After election officials in December declared Ghani the winner by a large enough margin to avoid a runoff vote, Abdullah declared himself president, although the international community recognized Ghani's victory.

Disagreements over the composition of the government have contributed to the delay in negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban to end fighting. The talks were to begin on March 10 under a deal signed in February between the United States and the militant group.



U.S. envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said on May 15 that a new date for intra-Afghan peace talks was under discussion.

U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo spoke with Ghani and Abdullah later in the day to congradulate them on the deal, but expressed regret for the "time lost" during the political squabble over the election results, the State Department said in a statement.



Pompeo said he welcomed their commitement to enter intra-Afghan negotiations, adding a settlement to end to the war was a U.S. priority.

With reporting by Reuters and The Guardian
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

For many shoppers, theres comfort in choosing a familiar brand. But before you buy a new TV, theres something you should know: Even if a TV carries a brand name you recognize, that model might have little connection to the company that built that brand over a course of decades.

For example, RCA, an iconic TV brand, now appears on sets produced by Curtis International, a Canadian company. Sharp TVs? For the past several years they've been manufactured by the Chinese TV brand Hisense, and the brand is about to change hands again (see below).



The evolving economics of manufacturing is one reason for such shifts.

For many years, TV making was limited to the few large consumer-electronics companies that could afford the investment, says Paul Gagnon, executive director for consumer devices at market research firm Omdia. But then it became easier to source components, which in turn decreased profits. For some brands, the TV business was not profitable anymore."

Companies, including Magnavox/Philips, JVC, and Toshiba, exited the U.S. market, licensing their brands to companies in China, Taiwan, and other countries looking to breaking into the U.S. market.

What Does This Mean for You?

Consumer Reports has seen a wide range of quality in televisions carrying licensed brands. For instance, some Hisense-made Sharp sets have done well in our TV ratingsthough none rival the top modelswhile others scored poorly. And several RCA- and Westinghouse-branded sets are near the bottom of the list.

No matter what kind of TV you buy, it's smart to use a credit card that doubles the manufacturers warranty. Retailers like Costco grant you the same cushion. This is particularly important with licensed brands, because the manufacturers' warranty periods may be shorter than what the major brands provide. And it might be tough to get a licensed-brand set serviced, especially if it requires parts from overseas.

Story continues

You can also ask retailers for a 30-day guarantee that allows you to return a TV if youre unhappy with the picture quality, even if that goes past their normal return window.

Here we list licensed TV brands and who actually makes their sets.

(If youre reading this article on your smartphone, we recommend that you rotate the device to landscape mode to better view the table below.)

Brand Details Insignia Insignia is Best Buy's value-oriented house brand for consumer electronics products, including televisions. Insignia TVs, which are made under contract by several TV manufacturers, are one of the few TV brands that offer both Amazon Fire TV and Roku smart TV platforms.

JVC The JVC TV brand was licensed to the Taiwan manufacturer AmTran until 2018, when that license was acquired by Shenzhen MTC, a Chinese TV company. The TVs are marketed here in the U.S. by JMC, a company based in Irvine, Calif. JVC is among the brands that sell smart TVs using the Roku TV platform. Magnavox Once a U.S. TV market leader, the Philips-owned Magnavox brand is now licensed by Funai Electric. The Japanese manufacturer also controls the U.S. licenses for the Emerson, Philips (see below), and Sanyo brand names. As a historical footnote, Funai was the last remaining company to make VCRs, which it stopped producing in 2016. Onn Onn is a Walmart private-label house brand for a variety of electronic products, including TVs and sound bar speakers. Walmart doesn't disclose what companies are making the products, but if you look through the manual for TVs it says that warranties are the responsibility of "Element TV Company," the same as for Element TVs, a company that assembles televisions in its South Carolina facilities. Philips The Philips brand in the U.S. is licensed to Funai via a subsidiary called P&F USA. A multiyear licensing dealwhich also includes the Magnavox namewas renewed in 2018, though the company declined to disclose for exactly how long. Polaroid The once-venerable Polaroid name has gone though many changes since the original Polaroid company declared bankruptcy in 2001. After reorganizing, the Polaroid brand was licensed and then sold to Petters Group Worldwide in 2005, which itself went under three years later after an FBI investigation found the company was being run as a Ponzi scheme. In 2009, a group of investors snapped up the Polaroid brand and launched a company called PLR IP Holdings, which now administers the licenses. The current U.S. licensee is Makena Electronics, a Chinese electronics company. Makena's U.S. office is Empire Electronics, a California-based sales and marketing company. ProScan ProScan was once the premium TV sub-brand of RCA; now both brands are owned and controlled by Technicolor, which created the color film process that was widely used by Hollywood until the mid-1950s. The ProScan brand is currently licensed in North America by Curtis International, an Ontario, Canada, a manufacturer and distributor of lower-priced electronics goods. Curtis also licenses the RCA and Sylvania brands. Quasar Ask your grandfather about the Quasar name and he may remember it fondly. This TV brand launched by Motorola was acquired by Matsushita (the parent company of Panasonic) in the '70s, but the little-used trademark expired in 2007. About three years ago, Panasonic re-registered it. For a while we saw a few Quasar TVs as low-cost alternatives in outlets such as BrandsMart and Walmart, but Quasar TVs are currently unavailable. RCA One of the most significant consumer electronics brands in American history (the original company helped develop the NTSC standards for color televisions), RCA is now owned by Technicolor. Over the past decade, the trademark, which stood for Radio Corporation of America, has gone through several TV licensees, including TCL and then, more recently, On Corporation, a Korean TV manufacturer. The RCA brand in the U.S. is now licensed by Curtis International, which also licenses the ProScan and Sylvania labels. Sanyo Several years ago, Panasonicanother high-profile brand that's exited the U.S. TV marketagreed to license the Sanyo TV brand to Funai. Today, Sanyo TVs seem to turn up mostly in Walmart stores, acting almost as a private label brand for the retailer. Sharp No company did more to develop and commercialize LCD TV technology than Japan's Sharp Corporation. But in 2015, it yielded to market pressures here in the U.S. and licensed its brand to Chinese TV manufacturer Hisense, which also purchased its TV plant in Mexico. Subsequently, a majority share of Sharp was bought by Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn, which reclaimed the rights to the Sharp brand from Hisense in 2019. So far it hasn't announced it re-entry into the U.S. TV market. Toshiba Joining the growing list of Japanese TV manufacturers that have found the U.S. market too competitive, Toshiba pulled the plug on its U.S. TV business in 2015, licensing its brand to Taiwanese manufacturer Compal. Then, in November 2017, Chinese TV manufacturer Hisense purchased the Toshiba TV business. Hisense, which sells TVs under its own brand, had until recently also licensed the Sharp brand for TVs. Like Insignia, Toshiba makes both Amazon Fire and Roku smart TVs. Westinghouse Another historic U.S. electronics name, the Westinghouse TV brand is controlled by ViacomCBS, which currently licenses it to TongFang, a Chinese company that has a facility in California. It acquired the rights to sell TVs under that brand following the dissolution of the prior licensee, Westinghouse Digital. Westinghouse sets are typically inexpensive compared to the competition.

Editors Note: This article is updated periodically as TV brand relationships evolve.





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.
The medical center in the middle of an accusation that CBS News staged the visuals for a report on the coronavirus has taken responsibility, according to local Michigan station Wood TV.

In a Thursday evening statement given to Wood TV, Cherry Health CEO Tasha Blackmon acknowledged mistakes were made when CBS News filmed a line of cars waiting for coronavirus testing at the center in Grand Rapids.

She said, After conducting an internal investigation, we learned that a few staff were encouraged to pull their cars up in the testing line to provide a visual backdrop showing how busy the testing site can get. This was done with the intention of protecting patient privacy since many of the patients scheduled for a COVID-19 test on that day declined to be filmed for HIPAA reasons. The individual responsible for this mistake has accepted responsibility and expressed deep remorse for this unfortunate situation.

Also Read: Kimmel: Pence Joking About Delivering Empty Boxes of PPE on Camera Is 'A Perfect Metaphor'

That is in line with the statement given by CBS News to Project Veritas, the right-wing activist group that initially made the accusation.

Thursday, after Project Veritas cited a center insider who said CBS News absolutely used Cherry Health staff to make the line appear longer, the news organization provided a statement denying blame.

CBS News did not stage anything at the Cherry Health facility. Any suggestion to the contrary is 100% false. These allegations are alarming. We reached out to Cherry Health to address them immediately. They informed us for the first time that one of their chief officers told at least one staffer to get in the testing line along with real patients. No one from CBS News had any knowledge of this before tonight. They also said that their actions did not prevent any actual patients from being tested. We take the accuracy of our reporting very seriously and we are removing the Cherry Health portion from the piece, read the full statement, which a CBS News representative confirmed to TheWrap, as well.

Read original story Medical Center Admits Planting Staff in CBS News Report on COVID-19 Testing At TheWrap
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Linkedin (Reuters) Vienna  Sun, May 17, 2020 10:09 612 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd8923f0 2 Art & Culture Austria,tourism,travel,coronavirus,COVID-19,theater,cinema Free

Austria on Friday outlined plans to start allowing seated cultural events of up to 100 people in two weeks' time, ramping up to 1,000 people from Aug. 1, as it eases coronavirus restrictions.

Austria flattened its curve of infections with an early lockdown and has been loosening curbs for a month. Shops have reopened in phases and on Friday, restaurants, bars, cafes, churches and some museums followed suit, under strict social-distancing rules and with face masks required in many places.

Theaters and cinemas, however, have remained closed and the conservative-led government has come under growing pressure from the cultural sector to allow events, to the point that the junior minister for culture resigned on Friday.

"We will in a first step allow cultural events of up to 100 people both indoors and outdoors," Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told a news conference. "We will in a second step do the same for artistic and cultural events of up to 250 people from July 1. That is a big step, a very big step."

Cinemas would also be allowed to open from July 1, with the same capacity limit, he added. There will be a general requirement that people in an audience stay 1 metre apart.

From Aug. 1, events of up to 500 people would be allowed, Anschober said, with the possibility of holding events of up to 1,000 people when a "special security concept" is prepared for the event in question.

The formerly imperial nation is a heavyweight in classical music and German-speaking theater. It also hosts many cultural events, particularly in summer, like the Salzburg Festival of opera, theater and classical music, where German Chancellor Angela Merkel is a frequent visitor.

Austria and Germany, which have similarly low coronavirus infection and death rates, said on Thursday they had agreed to reopen their shared border on June 15. Kurz said on Friday the same deal was reached with Switzerland and Austria.

Austria's tourism sector contributes about 8 percent of economic output in a normal year, and it relies heavily on German visitors. Hotels and other forms of tourist accommodation will be allowed to reopen on May 29, the government has said.
As Scott Morrison contemplates returning to politics as usual, theres something he should keep front-of-mind: governments that preside over severe recessions usually get tossed out.

Voters gratitude for being saved from the virus will fade, leaving them staring at that triumphs horrendous price tag  its opportunity cost: the huge number of people still waiting to get a job back as we approach the federal election in early 2022. It follows that Morrisons best chance of pulling off two election miracles in succession rests in doing all in his power to get the rate of unemployment back down to the 5 per cent it was at before the virus hit.

To Morrison, returning to politics as usual means returning to what he calls ideology and I call governing not for all Australians but for the Liberal tribe  team Lifters  the base and its big business donors. What he means by ideology is fighting for less government, lower taxes and the protection of tax breaks. Which, in turn, means shifting the balance in favour of the Lifters and against the rival Leaners tribe, aka Labor.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is open to adjusting JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Liberal grandee John Howard sanctioned Morrisons huge increase in government spending by telling him that, in a crisis, theres no ideology. True. Any Liberal government would have done the same, as the big spending of Britains Conservatives and Americas Republicans suggests.
The process of John Krasinski getting on The Office had a few awkward moments. One of them was that he turned down the chance to audition to play Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson.) Find out how the NBC casting director responded to it and another awkward moment that could have kept him from getting cast on the show.

John Krasinski almost ruined his chance to get on The Office

RELATED: The Office: When Was Jim and Pams First Kiss? Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski Disagree About The Dundies Smooch

Krasinski revealed that he almost ruined his chance to get on the show by being really honest with executive producer, Greg Daniels. Thats because he was like many people who loved the original show and was skeptical about an American version.

This guy sits in front of me with his salad and people are coming in and out and he goes, Are you nervous? Krasinski told the Huffington Post. And I was like, You know, not really. You either get these things or you dont.

He then revealed what he was nervous about when it comes to the project. What Im really nervous about is this show, Krasinski told the man. Its just I love the British show so much and Americans have a tendency to just really screw these opportunities up. I just dont know how Ill live with myself if they screw this show up and ruin it for me.

The actor then revealed what the man said next. Hes like, My names Greg Daniels, Im the Executive Producer, Krasinski said. And I was like [vomit noise]. I actually threw up in my mouth.

He turned down auditioning to play Dwight Schrute

John Krasinski as Jim Halpert, Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute on The Office | Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

RELATED: The Office: Angela Kinsey Says Creed Would Make John Krasinski Disintegrate

The actor was asked to audition as the beet farmer first. However, he passed it up for a reason.

I was offered to come in and audition as the role of Dwight and I was so excited, he told the co-hosts of the Office Ladies podcast. He said he didnt have any money when he had a meeting where he was told something called The Office was coming.

They said youre going in for the role of Dwight and I had been a huge fan of the British show and I was like I dont know man. Thats notI dont know if Im right for that role,' he said. And so I weirdly had no idea what I was thinking I said, You know what, I read the pilot. And I said, I want to put my best foot forward. Let me know when theyre casting Jim. And I remember the response from the NBC casting director to my manager at the time was No, but honestly who does he think he is?'

RELATED: The Office: The 1 Way John Krasinski Was Like Jim Halpert While Working With the Cast on Set

Five weeks later they called back letting him know that they were auditioning for Jim. He flew from New York to L.A. to audition and he really hit it off with Jenna Fischer in their screen test.

Both of them were rooting for each other to get their future roles. Once Krasinski was told he got the role of Jim he immediately asked if Fischer got the role of Pam. He was told that was the first thing she asked when she got the good news of getting on the show too.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed a power-sharing deal signed Sunday by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah, pressing for a political settlement to end surging militant violence.

"Secretary Pompeo congratulated the two leaders for reaching an agreement on inclusive governance for Afghanistan," Pompeo's spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement, adding that he "regretted the time lost" during a bitter months-long feud that plunged the country into political crisis.

"He reiterated that the priority for the United States remains a political settlement to end the conflict and welcomed the commitment by the two leaders to act immediately in support of prompt entry into intra-Afghan negotiations."

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Plans to relax coronavirus border restrictions are being drawn up across Europe, with EU officials pushing for countries to again facilitate the free movement of people and goods  despite concerns of a second wave of infection.

The European Commission issued guidance on Wednesday urging member states with a similar overall risk profile to replace blanket restrictions on free movement with more targeted measures.

The EUs calls for a phased reopening of borders comes amid anticipation of a looming recession of historic proportions across the bloc, with concerned senior officials pushing to resuscitate the continents highly profitable tourism industry in time for summer.

Describing the crisis as a shock without precedent since the Great Depression ahead of the guidances publication, economic affairs commissioner Paolo Gentili insisted: We will have a tourist season this summer, even if its with security measures and limitations.

Tourism accounts for 10 per cent of the bloc's GDP, and a number of governments have announced in the past week that they will lift border restrictions for fellow member states in the coming days and weeks.

Italy appeared to jump the gun somewhat on the EUs desired coordinated and phased approach, announcing on Saturday that it would throw open its borders to EU and Schengen Area tourists on 3 June and remove the 14-day quarantine for all new international arrivals.

The first European country to impose a lockdown on its citizens, Italys tourism industry is worth some 13 per cent of its GDP, and the move was reportedly cautiously welcomed by embattled hotel owners.

It came as Austria declared it would reopen its borders with the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary on 15 June  the same date the renewed EU ban on international travel from outside the bloc is currently due to end.

Germany, which entered recession yesterday, has also announced it will open its border with Denmark in the coming days, extending this to its frontiers with France, Austria and Switzerland on 15 June, when it may also do so to non-bordering countries.

In an apparent rebuke to Italy, Germany urged its citizens not to travel abroad until that date, while foreign minister Heiko Maas called on Poland and the Czech Republic to also fully reopen their borders to allow supply chains to resume.

However, the Czech Republic has said there are no negotiations with Munich because Germanys coronavirus situation is not as stable as its other neighbours. Poland has this week extended its strict border controls for another month.

Germanys planned relaxing of border restrictions came despite a rise in new coronavirus cases, with the countrys public health agency, the Robert Koch Institute saying that while R had been above 1 for several consecutive days, it was not a significant cause for concern.

We are very confident and satisfied that all our measures and our vast restrictions of the last weeks are successful, a German minister told Deutsch Welle. We are successful in our containment policy with regard to the pandemic.

While cautious, France has also called for a coordinated European reopening. But it could make decisions that protect the French regarding countries where the virus is still active, interior minister Christophe Castaner said on Saturday.

On Friday, Slovenia became the first European country to open its borders to all EU citizens, with the prime minister declaring an end to the countrys coronavirus epidemic despite new infections still being reported.

It came as Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia created the EUs first coronavirus travel bubble, opening their borders to each other.

Lithuanias prime minister Saulius Skvernelis labelled the decision an opportunity for businesses to reopen, and a glimmer of hope for the people that life is getting back to normal.

In its new guidance, the EU said it was important not only to put the economy back on the path to full recovery, but also for social and family considerations", adding: "Many families have endured long periods of separation to help stem the tide of the virus."

Initial reports suggest the majority of member states will be keen to comply with the EU's stated aims.

In contrast, the UK is mulling introducing a mandatory 14-week quarantine for the first time during the pandemic, with Boris Johnson last week "serving notice that it will soon be the time" to do so.

Some 18.1 million people arrived in the UK between 1 January and when lockdown began on 23 March. Figures released to Labour MP Stephen Doughty show that just 273 of these arrivals were formally quarantined.

Additional reporting by agencies
To bolster the food supply chain amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Baker-Polito administration on Sunday announced the state will invest $56 million to combat food insecurity in Massachusetts.

Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said the funding was consistent with the findings of the Food Security Task Force, which was convened on April 22 in response to increased demands for food assistance. The group prioritized more than 80 recommendations tied to developing an emergency food program; fortifying the food bank system; maximizing federal resources for food and nutrition and reinforcing the food system infrastructure.

Marylou Sudders, the state Secretary of Health and Human Services and COVID-19 Command Center director, said in a statement that longstanding assistance programs are experiencing significant increases" in applications at a time when community-based food banks are seeing skyrocketing demand and local grocers and farmers are struggling to meet the needs of consumers.

The largest portion of the funding, $36 million, will help establish a food security infrastructure grant program, ensuring individuals and families in need can more easily access food.

The grants could boost a host of services including food delivery; food banks and food pantries; local food distribution partners; new ways to ensure families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and nutrition program for women, children and infants (WIC) benefits can receive food more easily; and solutions for urban farming and farms, retailers, fisheries and other food businesses disrupted by the upheaval caused by the pandemic.

The state will invest $12 million to provide 25,000 family food boxes per week through a regional food supply system, the administration announced. Each family food box of 30 to 35 meals will be distributed through food pantries.

Five million dollars will boost the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) to meet increased demand for local produce and provide families more access points for SNAP and HIP benefits.

And $3 million will go toward immediate relief to food banks.

These funds jump start some of the recommendations to address urgent needs and food supply chain issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic for communities across the Commonwealth," Baker said. "While COVID-19 has had a statewide impact, some of our communities and residents who have historically experienced food insecurity have been even more disproportionately impacted.

Michael J. Heffernan, Secretary of Administration and Finance, said the funding builds on other critical COVID-19 resources distributed by the administration and state legislature, including $502 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Funds awarded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act signed by President Donald Trump in late March.

We are pleased to provide new funding to a wide array of programs and initiatives in order to help ensure individuals and families have access to affordable, nutritious food during the COVID-19 pandemic, Heffernan said in a statement.

The Food Security Task Forces work also builds on the states other initiatives to improve access to food, including emergency food distribution sites, school meal sites, increasing SNAP benefits and implementing Pandemic EBT to offer food to half a million youth who would otherwise receive free or reduced-priced lunch if schools were open.

Massachusetts officials recently announced plans to distribute $502 million in coronavirus relief funding to towns and cities suffering the impacts of the pandemic, along with guidelines to local municipalities seeking funds and looking to avoid dipping into reserves to cover deficits and unexpected costs related to the public health crisis.

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Even the biggest stars often have humble beginnings. Case in point, Megan Fox starred in several blockbuster movies in the late 2000s. And in 2016, she joined the cast of New Girl in a major role. But the Transformers actress actually got her start several years earlier.

In fact, before she joined Shia LaBeouf to battle the Decepticons, Fox was coming up against Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. In the years following the end of Full House, the Olsen twins starred in a variety of direct-to-video movies. And one of these served as Foxs very first screen credit.

Megan Fox at the PUBG Mobiles #FIGHT4THEAMAZON Event | Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

Megan Fox became a household name with 2007s Transformers

In the mid-2000s, Foxs star was already on the rise. The actress had done some TV work and even held down a main role on ABC sitcom Hope & Faith. Plus, she had co-starred opposite Lindsay Lohan in 2004s Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. But in 2007, she got her big break when she booked the female lead in Michael Bays first Transformers movie.

While Fox returned for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, she had a falling-out with Bay and left the franchise. In the subsequent few years, she starred in DC Comics misfire Jonah Hex and future horror cult classic Jennifers Body. She even reteamed with Bay for the 2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and its 2016 sequel.

RELATED: The Best and Worst of Transformers: The Franchise Ranked

But she made her film debut with the Olsen twins six years earlier

Yet, Foxs roots lie with the Olsen twins. In 2001, she appeared alongside the Full House stars in the direct-to-video film Holiday in the Sun. The movie stars the Olsens as teenagers looking for love while vacationing in the Bahamas. In the process, they get mixed up in a crime.

Fox plays Brianna Wallace, an heiress who emerges as a romantic rival to Ashley Olsens Alex. The character is the first one Fox plays on screen but it also sets a precedent. In the aforementioned Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Fox plays similar bad girl rival Carla Santini.

Holiday in the Sun was the first of three collaborations between the Olsens and director Steve Purcell. The trio would work together again on Getting There and When in Rome, both released in 2002. But Fox didnt appear in either, though she did later play villains again, of course.

RELATED: TMNT: Out of the Shadows: 6 Things This Movie Got Wrong

Rumors are swirling about Fox and rapper Machine Gun Kelly

Although Fox reportedly has a few projects in the works, the buzz surrounding the actress at the moment is centered on her personal life. Rumors continue to circle the status of her marriage with actor Brian Austin Green, with whom she has three children.

And in the midst of all that, Fox was recently seen with rapper Machine Gun Kelly. At this point, neither Fox nor Machine Gun Kelly has commented on the status of their relationship. But fans of both are certainly wondering whats going on. Meanwhile, one of Foxs first co-stars, Mary-Kate Olsen, is wrapped up in her own relationship drama.
Kim Kardashian has become one of the most recognizable people in the world with her famous look.

But the Skims mogul has recently given her 170million Instagram followers a glimpse behind the glamorous facade.

She flaunted her signature hourglass curves Sunday in a sexy photo of herself rocking a black bra, matching high-waisted pantyhose and pointed stilettos in her vast fitting room.

Signature curves: Kim Kardashian flaunted her signature hourglass curves Sunday in a sexy photo of herself rocking a black bra, matching high-waisted pantyhose and pointed stilettos in her vast fitting room

The 39-year-old wore her dark brown hair parted down the middle and pulled back in a tight bun.

She admitted in the caption: 'My blonde hair was just a wig. Cleaning out my closet and doing @skims fittings today.'

Kim was referring to the blonde beach waves she recently showed off on her Instagram story.

She blew a kiss in the video as she displayed the expertly placed wig, complete with dark roots.

Blonde ambition: She admitted in the caption: 'My blonde hair was just a wig. Cleaning out my closet and doing @skims fittings today'

Beach waves: Kim was referring to the blonde beach waves she recently showed off on her Instagram story

Kiss kiss: She blew a kiss in the video as she displayed the expertly placed wig, complete with dark roots

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star has been keeping busy during quarantined with her shapewear line Skims.

She launched a line of non-medical face masks on Saturday, keeping relevant amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the first batch selling out in an hour and another batch on the way, the company is also donating 10,000 masks to coronavirus relief efforts.

Quarantine chic: She launched a line of non-medical face masks on Saturday, keeping Skims relevant amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Trouble in paradise: It comes amid reports that her marriage to Kanye West, 42, is on thin ice amid their family's quarantine

It comes amid reports that her marriage to Kanye West, 42, is on thin ice amid their family's quarantine.

A source told Us Weekly: 'Kim feels like she needs some space from Kanye. She is trying to be a great mom, focus on law school and her work commitments and its hard to do all of this without Kanye helping as much as he can.'

Kim and Kanye tied the knot in 2014, and they share daughters North, six, Chicago, two, and sons Saint, four, and Pslam, one.

Happy family: Kim and Kanye tied the knot in 2014, and they share daughters North, six, Chicago, two, and sons Saint, four, and Psalm, one

Meanwhile: Kim's youngest half-sister Kylie Jenner showed Kim's Skims brand some love on Sunday
Reports suggest four US Navy warships are in the Caribbean for a possible confrontation with Irans tankers.

Irans foreign minister on Sunday warned the United States against deploying its navy in the Caribbean to disrupt Iranian fuel shipments to Venezuela.

According to an oil shipment analyst, five Iranian-flagged tankers loaded with tens of millions of dollars worth of fuel are heading towards Venezuela.

In a letter to United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, Mohammad Javad Zarif warned against Americas movements in deploying its navy to the Caribbean in order to intervene and create disruption in [the] transfer of Irans fuel to Venezuela.

He said any such action would be illegal and a form of piracy adding the US would be responsible for the consequences, according to a foreign ministry statement.

A senior official in US President Donald Trumps administration told Reuters news agency on Thursday that the US was considering measures it could take in response to Irans shipment of fuel to crisis-stricken Venezuela.

Irans Fars News reported on Saturday it received information that four US Navy warships are in the Caribbean for a possible confrontation with Irans tankers.

Zarifs deputy summoned the Swiss ambassador, who represents Washingtons interests in Tehran, to communicate Irans serious warning on Sunday. Abbas Araghchi said any potential threat to Irans tankers would be met with a quick and decisive response.





The US has imposed unilateral sanctions aimed at ending oil exports by both Iran and Venezuela, both major crude producers.

Full speed ahead

Five Iranian tankers likely carrying at least $45.5m worth of petrol and similar products are now sailing to Venezuela, part of a wider deal between the two US-sanctioned nations amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.

The tankers voyage come after Venezuelas socialist leader Nicolas Maduro already turned to Iran for help in flying in chemicals needed at an aging refinery amid a petrol shortage, a symptom of the wider economic and political chaos gripping Latin Americas one-time largest oil producer.

For Iran, the tankers represent a way to bring money into its cash-starved country and put its own pressure on the US, which, under President Trump, has pursued maximalist campaigns against both nations.

But the strategy invites the chance of a renewed confrontation between the Islamic Republic and the US both in the Gulf, which saw a series of escalating incidents often involving the oil industry last year, and wider afield.

This is like a new one for everyone, said Captain Ranjith Raja, an analyst who tracks oil shipments by sea at the data firm Refinitiv, of the petrol shipments. We havent seen anything like this before.

All the vessels involved belong to Iranian state-owned or state-linked companies, flying under the Iranian flag. Since a pressure campaign on Iranian vessels began, notably with the temporary seizure of an Iranian tanker last year by Gibraltar, the countrys ships have been unable to fly flags of convenience of other nations, a common practice in international shipping.

Nothing to lose

The ships all appear to have been loaded from the Persian Gulf Star Refinery near Bandar Abbas, Iran, which makes petrol, Raja said. The ships then travelled around the Arabian Peninsula and through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea, according to data collected from the ships Automatic Identification System, or AIS, which acts as a tracking beacon.

Given the crushing US sanctions imposed on Iran, also-sanctioned Venezuela appears to be a country that would have nothing to lose from accepting the shipments.





Raja said Refinitiv had no data on any Iranian petrol shipment ever going to South America before.

TankerTrackers.com, a website focused on the oil trade at sea, first reported the ships likely were heading to Venezuela.

The capacity of the five ships is some 175,000 metric tonnes. On the open market, the petrol and product carried within them would be worth at least $45.5m, though Iran likely reached a discounted, non-cash deal with Caracas given the circumstances the two nations face, Raja said.

It remains unclear how the US will respond to the tankers. On Thursday, the US Treasury, State Department and Coast Guard issued an advisory warning the maritime industry of illegal shipping and sanctions-dodging tactics by countries including Iran.

The advisory repeated an earlier promise of up to $15m for information disrupting the Revolutionary Guards finances. It also warned anyone knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport or marketing of petroleum faced US sanctions.

The US State Department and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Analysts already have been warning about the growing chance for a renewed confrontation between the US and Iran.

In April, the US accused Iran of conducting dangerous and harassing manoeuvres near American warships in the northern Gulf.
A man has been interviewed in connection with an incident involving a railway worker who died with coronavirus.

Belly Mujinga was spat at on the concourse of Victoria Station in London.

Ms Mujinga, who has an 11-year-old daughter, then came down with Covid-19 and later died in Barnet Hospital on April 5.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: "Following a number of enquiries into an incident at London Victoria station on March 21, officers identified a 57-year-old man from London in connection.

"He was interviewed under caution today at a London police station.

"Detectives will continue to collate evidence and investigate the circumstances behind the incident.

Belly Mujinga, 47 (left), died of coronavirus after being spat at while on duty / PA

"They are not looking to identify anyone further in relation to the incident."

Leading the flood of tributes for Ms Mujinga, Boris Johnson told Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday that the death was tragic.

He said: The fact that she was abused for doing her job is utterly appalling.

My thoughts, and Im sure the thoughts of the whole House, are with her family.
Callahan, the Urbana church pastor, who believes coronavirus is a real sickness, a real disease with real consequences, has yet to hold in-person services, instead hosting weekly Sunday services by video. He said he initially supported the coronavirus stay-at-home measures but said its time for them to end for places of worship. Callahan said he is waiting to see what the Illinois legislature may do when it meets again this week and is keeping an eye on lawsuits related to stay-at-home orders.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: A total of 169 Indians will be brought back to Kolkata from Dhaka in an Air India flight under the government's mega evacuation mission, official sources said.

West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee last week accused the Centre of discrimination, wondering why no repatriation flight has been planned to evacuate people from the state who are stranded abroad.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava rejected the charges.

The government is bringing back over 32,000 stranded Indians from 31 countries under the second phase of the mega evacuation mission from May 16 to 22.

The government launched the 'Vande Bharat Mission' on May 7 to evacuate Indians stranded in various countries due to coronavirus-related restrictions.

Under the phase one of the mission, the government has evacuated over 13,000 Indians.

The sources said the passengers on the first flight to Kolkata from Dhaka include 73 students, 16 elderly people, 45 stranded tourists, 16 people having medical emergencies, and one pregnant woman.

"Since a large number of residents from West Bengal are in Bangladesh, special efforts were undertaken by the High Commission of India in Dhaka to identify those who have compelling reasons to return," said a source.

The people returning to Kolkata in the first flight were staying in 18 different districts of Bangladesh, sources said.

In West Bengal, they will have to undergo mandatory quarantine period following which they will travel to their homes spread across more than 20 districts, they said.
Uber is reportedly preparing to cut thousands more jobs in another wave of layoffs just weeks after 3,500 employees were laid off during a Zoom call.

Uber's additional round of layoffs amid the pandemic is expected to happen on Monday, a source told Business Insider.

The number of staffers being let go was not confirmed, but a source said it would be thousands. It's also unclear if all the reported layoffs will happen on Monday.

A company spokesperson said the company is surveying every option on how to best operate amid the coronavirus pandemic.

'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,' she said.

Business Insider reports the Uber is expected to cut thousands more jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic

During an all-hands meeting two weeks ago, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi revealed that he was finalizing layoff plans and employees would be notified within weeks.

One day later, 3,700 staffers were axed during a Zoom call led by the head of customer service, Ruffin Chaveleu.

Globally, Uber employed 28,600 staffers - with 16,200 outside the US - as of March 31, according to its SEC quarterly filing on May 8.

That latest firing accounted for 14 per cent of its workforce.

If Uber is not discussing more layoffs at the moment, then the two week-period that Khosrowshahi cautioned about would be over.

But sources close to Uber told Business Insider that this is not likely, especially if the acquisition of Grub Hub goes through.

Earlier this month, Uber made an offer to buy the delivery service company.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi (pictured) reportedly said in a past all-hands meeting that the company was finalizing layoff plans, according to BI

The move would consolidate the two companies and allow Uber to lean into the food delivery service to make up for financial loses amid the pandemic.

If this happens, Uber will be in a position to cut employees whose Uber Eats role overlaps with Grub Hub.

Uber executives who attended the all-hands meeting reportedly discussed a severance package for sacked staffers, including 10 weeks of pay and health cure promised through 2020.

Divisions expected to see cuts reportedly include the freight unit and the self-driving car unit, Advanced Technologies Group, the source said.

Lior Ron, head of the Freight unit, warned employees of possible layoffs, Business Insider reports.

Eric Meyhofer, CEO of Advanced Technologies Group, reportedly did not address questions about the potential layoffs during the all-hands meeting.

Employees at the meeting were reportedly encouraged to submit questions and vote on which questions they most want answered.

One question involved asking senior company leaders song was their 'guilty pleasure.'

While some employees enjoyed the relaxed question, other found it 'tone deaf' and would have preferred to focus on their jobs.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Uber Technologies Inc. for further comment.

Meanwhile, nearly 2.98 million Americans have filed new unemployment claims last week, according to the Labor Department.

It adds to the 33 million who have sought aid in the two months since the coronavirus first forced millions of businesses to close their doors and shrink their workforces.

Another 2.98 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, the Labor Department said on Thursday, adding to the 33 million who sought aid in the previous seven weeks

The waves of layoffs caused by the coronavirus pandemic continue with nearly 36.5 million Americans now thrown out of work in a US economy still paralyzed by business shutdowns

In early May, the company informed 3,500 people who worked in customer service and recruitment around the country that it would be their last day working for Uber on the live call.

Uber's Ruffin Chaveleau was tasked with breaking the news that the app was 'eliminating' thousands of jobs on the call, obtained by DailyMail.com. Chaveleau heads Uber's Phoenix Center of Excellence - the term the company uses to describe its customer service office.

Chevaleau told staff: 'Our rides business is down by more than half. There is not enough work for many frontline customer support employees. [As a result] we are eliminating 3,500 frontline customer support roles.

'Your role is impacted and today will be your last working day with Uber. You will remain on payroll until the date noted in your severance package.'

Chaveleau's voice cracked as she told the employees that 'no one wants to be on a call like this'.

She said: 'I know that this is incredibly hard to hear. No one wants to be on a call like this. With everyone remote and a change of this magnitude, we had to do this in a way that allowed us to tell you as quickly as possible so that you did not hear it from the rumor mill.

'I also wanted to deliver this news personally and just take a brief moment to thank you for your contributions to Uber.'

This was not the first time Chaveleau had to tell Uber employees they were out of a job.

In February the executive was tasked with informing 80 staff they were losing their jobs when Uber shut down its Los Angeles customer support office.

The business has been devastated by the pandemic and a company filing on Wednesday revealed around 3,700 roles will be cut from its global workforce.

The cuts will be made among customer support and recruiting teams, meaning driver number will be largely unaffected.

DailyMail.com obtained video of the call where Ruffin Chaveleau, head of Uber's customer service, broke the news that Uber employees were being laid off

The company expects to incur about $20 million in costs for severance and related charges, the filing revealed.

A former Uber employee, who asked to remain anonymous, slammed the company for laying off so many people on a Zoom call and for the lack of notice.

'It was a 3,700-person live Zoom call,' she said. 'It was controlled. I would prefer to have had notice. The day before, we were told we would know in two weeks what departments would be let go.

'They gave us no notice. If I missed that Zoom call, I would have missed the news. We knew they didn't have the drivers' backs, but they don't have anyone's backs.

The employee continued: 'They sent us severance and stuff, but they're not telling us anything. It's worldwide, but there were like 50 people laid off in my office.

'We are eliminating 3,500 frontline customer support roles,' Chaveleau said. 'Your role is impacted and today will be your last working day with Uber'

'They were going based on a lottery, like Russian roulette. The severance package is generous, but they're treating us like they treat the drivers,' she continued, referring to Uber's less than stellar reputation in fairly compensating their independent contractors.

'Uber is doing unemployment claims for people they've laid off,' she said. 'They taught us how to do that stuff and then the next day they fired us.

'Apparently someone at the CEO level leaked that this was gonna happen, so they expedited it.'

The employee tells DailyMail.com that more layoffs at Uber are expected.

'They're still not done getting rid of people. The way they've gone about it is very negative,' she said. 'Uber has empathy training and they teach us to be sympathetic to other people's needs, but they're not practicing what they preach.

'Right now we're all getting a severance, but they can change their mind on that if they want to.'

Uber has been decimated by the COVID-19 lockdown with far fewer people booking rides as they stay home.

The company posted a net loss of $2.9billion on Thursday and announced it was implementing a hiring freeze as well as cutting thousands of jobs from its corporate workforce.

Khosrowshahi, above, will also forgo his$1million base salary for the rest of the year

Khosrowshahi will not be paid for the rest of the year. His salary was set for $1million in 2019 with a possible bonus of $2million.

A memo sent to staff on Wednesday saw Khosrowshahi hint that more cuts may be on the way.

He said: 'We are looking at many scenarios and at each and every cost, both variable and fixed, across the company. We want to be smart, to move fast, to retain as many of our great people as we can, and treat everyone with dignity, support and respect.

'And with our hiring freeze, ' Khosrowshahi added, 'there simply isn't enough work for recruiters.'

A spokesperson for Uber said: 'It's never easy or uncomplicated to let employees go, and that's only been more true during this unprecedented period, where we are all working from home across dozens of cities and countries. We've focused on providing the clearest, most empathetic experience, possible and have put together a strong severance package and other benefits.'
Buenaventura is one of the most violent and poorest cities in Colombia. In one of the most dangerous neighborhoods, a music sang by children voices is wafting from a house with a big sign saying Mezquita in front of it. It is a mosque and a headquarters of the local Shia Muslim community led by Sheikh Munir Valencia, a Colombian cleric who got educated in Iran.

Munir Valencia was born in Buenaventura. His mother raised him to be a proper Christian. When he was preparing to go to service of God and work in a church, he met a girl from a Muslim family which made him question his religion and eventually he converted. As a new ardent Muslim, he was offered a scholarship to study in a famous mosque in Buenos Aires under a prominent Iranian cleric Mohsen Rabbani.

As he later proved his talent and devotion to Islam, he and his wife were given an opportunity to study in Qom. As he describes, he got everything for free, starting from education and accommodation to transportation and other benefits. Once he came back, he started to run an educational and cultural center as well as a local mosque to practice his religion and share it with the community.

Munir Valencia is not the only one in Latin America who converted to Shia Islam and traveled to Qom to get an Islamic education to spread in local communities. In fact, Iranians have built a well-structured and systematic network of cultural centers and local mosques usually led by converts trained in Iran with an aim to recruit local people and increase Tehrans influence in the region.

As Emanuele Ottolenghi, an expert on activities of Iran in Latin America from Foundation for Defense of Democracies, explains When people convert, they travel to Iran and the trip is fully funded by the regime. It is usually a two-month trip during which they take classes, see the Iranian [religious] culture, holy sites, or battlefields of the Iraq- Iran war. Part of this process is designed to identify the most talented students because most of them come back or stay in Qom even for years to train to become clerics.

When they come back, their role is clear promote their religion and the Iranian regime. The cultural centers seem to be the most convenient way to do so as it allows them to organize events, publish texts in Spanish or spread their message on social media.

The cultural centers are integrated in a systematic network spearheaded by an organization called Islam Oriente. They have a whole range of publications for the Hispanic community, they overwhelmingly produce in Spanish but they also started to publish in Portuguese and the range of publications is impressive  they have a quarterly journal that is history, philosophy, theology or they also have publications for children called Los Angelitos, summarizes Ottolenghi.

The organization is based in Qom and is led by Mohsen Rabbani, one of the leading persons in Iranian operations in Latin America who came to Argentina at the beginning of 1980s to spread the message of the Islamic revolution. According to Argentinian judicial authorities, Mohsen Rabbani was implicated in the bombing of a Jewish Community Center (AMIA) in Buenos Aires in 1994. Based on the information of an investigation report by Alberto Niesman, Argentinian government issued a still-standing international arrest warrant and an INTERPOL red notice which forced him to leave Argentina and move back to Iran.

Prior to his departure, Rabbani proved to be very successful in his missionary work guiding numerous converts and helping them to strengthen their faith. He has developed especially strong relationship with the Argentinian-born Lebanese descendant Suhail Assad who has become one of the most prominent figures in Iranian propaganda campaign in Latin America.

Suhail Assad was born in Buenos Aires; he went to university where he studied theater and acting. However, he found out he had some sort of spiritual epiphany, so he decided to journey back to Lebanon to the village of his ancestors. He was probably recruited because he started to study there to become a cleric and eventually moved over to Iran where he was ordained as a cleric in Qom in a seminary for foreign students. From there he eventually became in charge of spreading the word in Latin America, says Ottolenghi.

Assad is also the face of Iranian propaganda as he has hosted several religious programs broadcast on HispanTV, he has been a subject of a documentary movie about his life and hosted a documentary series about Muslim converts in several countries on the continent.

Although he is generally located in Qom, he often travels across Latin America to carry out missionary work, giving lectures at universities and helping locals to establish their cultural centers. According to open sources, he has laid the foundations of more than 20 Islamic centers in Latin America and has visited more than 80 universities, lecturing about the Islamic Revolution in Iran or about Shia Islam.

This way, Assad has become an important link between local cultural centers and the Qom-based sponsoring organization, Islam Oriente. This connection is further enhanced by an Islam Oriente operation called Center for Iranian-Latin American Cultural Exchange which is based in Caracas and where Suhail Assad is usually operating from while travelling in Latin America.

Having extensive ties in Latin American Shia Islamic community and close relationship with Mohsen Rabbani, he has been associated with several international watch terrorism lists or connected to the 1994 AMIA attack due to which he was banned from entering to Mexico.

Assad is also a brother-in-law of Argentinian cleric, who succeeded Rabbani at the Buenos Aires at-Tauhid mosque and Rabbanis first convert and right-hand man, Abdul Karim Paz. Due to the close relation with Suhail Assad, Abdul Karim Paz very often appears in his shows on Hispan TV explaining Shia principles of Islam. According to Emanuele Ottolenghi he is reportedly in charge of accompanying coverts from Latin America to Iran. He has also helped to establish several cultural centers in Chile and Bolivia. In a book called Irans Strategic Penetration of Latin America he is described as an influential person managing Mohsen Rabbani missionary operations targeting Argentinians and also in developing the younger generation of Islamists in Argentina such as Suhail Assad.

Iranian operation in Latin America, however, extends beyond the Spanish speaking world. In Brazilian capital Sao Paulo, it is possible to find several Iranian cultural centers. Two of them, Islamic Benevolent Religious Organization and center Arresala, are operated by Sheikh Taleb Hussein al-Khazraji, an Iraqi born cleric who was sent to Brazil not long after Mohsen Rabbani. Al-Khazraji has been involved in Irans network since the early 80s. Before he came to Sao Paolo in 1989, he was in Tanzania, explains Ottolenghi.

His name is also mentioned in the investigation documents of 1994 attack in Buenos Aires as an employee of Iranian government who recruits believers to get them closer to Tehran.

Bilal Mohsen Wehbe is another character who has been operating alongside Khazraji and who was sanctioned ten years ago by the United States as a chief representative of Hezbollah in Latin America as he, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury had relayed information and directives between Hizballah leaders in Lebanon and Hizballah elements in South America. He has been active in the mosque until recently.

Iran has a very detailed and structured strategy to expand its influence. The cultural system is based on three pillars which are linked in a certain hierarchy. Islam Oriente from Qom spearheads the network in Latin America by its operational Center for Iranian-Latin American Cultural Exchange based in Caracas. The local cultural centers are connected by these two organizations and are usually led by locals who were recruited by one of the missionaries or clerics such as Mohsen Rabbani, Suhail Assad or Taleb Khazraji.

According to Emanuele Ottolenghi, they are successful in their operations. They dont take everybody  the recruitment process is very slow, they vet people very carefully before they bring them onboard. So, they do not recruit tens of thousands of people, but they are more likely in hundreds. However, the people they bring onboard tend to be true believers through and through - the part of that is that they indoctrinate them for years because they need them for a lifetime to slowly win over civil society.
The West Bengal government has



released around 3,000 inmates on bail or parole to decongest correctional homes since the last week March in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, an official said on Sunday.

The department of correctional services has also taken several measures to check coronavirus infection inside the jails of the state.

The official said there are around 60 correctional homes in West Bengal, housing nearly 25,000 inmates and of them, close to 7,000 are convicts while others are undertrials.

"So far, more than 3,000 inmates have been granted bail or parole. Out of whom, around 2,000 are under trial prisoners and the remaining are convicts. We have taken other measures such as ensuring that the inmates use protective gears and maintain social distancing norms in correctional homes," the senior jail official said.

Earlier, the department also disallowed prison visits by family members.

"This decision of not allowing family members to meet the inmates has helped a lot in containing the situation. Initially, the prisoners had protested against this decision, but later they accepted it," Correctional Services Minister Ujjal Biswas said.

The decision had even led to clashes between inmates and guards at a jail in Kolkata in March, where prisoners pelted stones and set prison properties on fire.

The Calcutta High Court on March 24 formed a three- member panel to examine the situation in all correctional homes of West Bengal and prepare a report on the number of inmates who could be granted bail or parole to avoid crowding in jails, in view of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The department then prepared a list of inmates eligible for parole and bail and forwarded it to the court.

Inmates were released following the guideline laid down by the court, the official said.

The high court took up the issue suo motu following a Supreme Court direction, asking all state governments and Union territories to set up high-level committees to determine the class of prisoners who could be released on parole for four to six weeks.

The apex court had said prisoners convicted of or charged with offences having prison terms up to seven years can be given parole to decongest the jails.

According to the website of the West Bengal Correctional Services department, the state has six central correctional homes, 12 district correctional homes, three special correctional homes, two women's correctional homes, one open-air correctional home, and 33 subsidiary correctional homes.

The combined registered capacity of these facilities is 20,802 including 1,637 females.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When he bought a 15 million mansion in suburbia, it appeared Simon Cowell was finally ready for a quieter life. Interior designers were hired following the purchase of the property in South-West London in October 2018 and the music mogul was expected to move in seven months later.

Now friends wonder why Simon, pictured below with partner Lauren Silverman, hasnt moved from Holland Park, where he has lived for 20 years, and why the 1 million renovation project has not begun. Mind you, Simon was never one to act quickly: he started dating Lauren in 2013, and friends are still waiting for them to marry.

It is no secret Simon, 60, invests considerable sums from his estimated 385 million fortune in property. He has bought homes for ex-girlfriends Terri Seymour and Mezhgan Hussainy in the past.

Simon Cowell, pictured with his girlfriend Lauren Silverman, right, has bought a 15 million home in south west London, but the music mogul is reluctant to move from his 1m Holland Park home as it is close to his office

Simon Cowell lives in a 1m home in Holland Park, west London, which is only a short distance from his office

But friends are now asking why he wanted the 15 million house. It is such a strange buy, says one close associate. He hates traffic and loves the fact that his Holland Park home is so near to his office. The journey from the new house to work could take him over an hour.

A friend said plans to move to the new property had been delayed by the coronavirus crisis, adding: It now looks like it will be 2022.

The name's Branson...

Richard Branson has been called many things  but a spy? The claim came after a failed plot to topple Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro last week. Maduro tried to link Branson, to the plots alleged leader, Jordan Goudreau, who was head of security at a concert organised by the Virgin tycoon.

Maduro said: Branson has worked for the US and UK intelligence agencies for years. A spokesman for Branson called the claims baseless.
Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - The Office of Governor Doug Ducey Monday announced that more than $8.2 million has been donated to the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund to support COVID-19 relief efforts. The fund was established as part of the Arizona Together Initiative, supporting Arizonans during the COVID-19 outbreak and connecting individuals and businesses to needed resources.

More than $175,000 of the total donation amount is from private citizens. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Arizona Department of Education have received in-kind donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) and computer equipment, totaling more than $258,000.



How will these dollars support Coronavirus relief efforts? In April, the Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation donated $5 million to support the purchase of PPE including 1.1 million N-95 masks. As the equipment is received, the Arizona Department of Health Services will distribute it to county health departments across the state.



In addition, a first round of grant funding was approved to nonprofit organizations totaling nearly $1,500,000. Grant announcements will be made as disbursements are finalized. The first round of funding will focus on the following efforts:

Keeping students safe and on-track with learning, with a special emphasis on children of essential workers, first responders, families with limited income, foster children and children with special needs;

Preventing hunger and ensuring access to meals and adequate nutrition through food banks and local food pantries statewide;

And providing services and care for senior citizens and other adults who need extended care at home, especially those with limited incomes, to ensure that Arizona residents with special needs and their caregivers have continuity of care and support.

How are these dollars being allocated?

A five-member committee was selected shortly after the fund was announced in March. The AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund committee members are:

Nicole Bidwill, Owner/Executive, Arizona Cardinals

Tina Marie Tentori, Executive Director, APS Foundation

Eileen Klein, former Arizona State Treasurer and former President, Arizona Board of Regents

Sandra Watson, President & CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority

Dan Mahoney, Partner, Snell & Wilmer

Over the past month, the committee has conducted detailed due diligence on hundreds of requests for funding. Opportunities for the fund to provide support have been evaluated on the basis of how an organization and its constituents have been impacted by COVID-19, numbers of the vulnerable population served and more. Nonprofit organizations receiving funding must use the funds for direct services and may not use funds for operational overhead or management salaries.



Additionally, the committee has coordinated with the philanthropic community in Arizona including the Arizona Grantmakers and the Arizona Community Foundation to understand community needs. The committee discusses each funding opportunity until a unanimous agreement has been reached by all five members.



The AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund is managed administratively by the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA). All dollars donated to the fund are going to causes and organizations in need; the ACA is receiving no additional funding to provide administrative support. Donations to the fund are fully tax-deductible as they are used solely for charitable purposes.



Contributions to the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund include a $5 million gift from the Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation; $1 million from Michael Bidwill, Chairman and President of the Arizona Cardinals; $1 million from Jerry Simms, owner of Turf Paradise Race Course; and contributions from Arizona Public Service (APS), Southwest Gas, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Waymo, VanTrust Real Estate and Valley Toyota Dealers.



Individuals and organizations interested in supporting the AZ Coronavirus Relief Fund can learn more about how to contribute at ArizonaTogether.org.
KYODO NEWS - May 17, 2020 - 22:23 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

The Japanese government has decided to ban reselling of disinfectant ahead of reopening the economy across the country amid the coronavirus pandemic, sources close to the matter said Sunday.

Individuals and businesses will be banned from reselling disinfectant at a price higher than its purchase price, they said. The Cabinet is expected to approve the ban on Friday.

Punishment will be a one-year prison sentence, a 1 million yen ($9,300) fine or both, as is the case with the resale of face masks.

Resale of high-proof alcohol and sanitizing wipes that contain alcohol will also be banned, they said.

Related coverage:

New virus cases in Tokyo drop to 5, none reported in Osaka

Children's cafeterias using COVID-19 crisis to consolidate community

Online matchmaking party business getting brisk amid pandemic
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

With Rep. Joseph Sanchez, D-Alcalde, running for New Mexicos 3rd Congressional District, the expansive House District 40 is open in 2020.

Two distinctly different Democrats are now running to replace Sanchez, with the winner of the June 2 primary taking on Republican Justin Salazar-Torrez in November.

Roger Montoya, a longtime community organizer in the Espanola Valley, said his experience starting multiple nonprofits and a charter school has prepared him to tackle the issues facing the residents of District 40.

I think a voice like mine in the state House will be unusual, but valuable, because of that particular understanding of community needs, he said.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still ravaging parts of the country, Montoya stressed the importance of providing local residents with physical and emotional health resources.

If our population is not healthy and doesnt have access to basic needs, its going to be very, very rough, he said.

He said his previous career in the performing arts and community work gave him a different vantage point for solving the complex problems facing New Mexico.

Montoya, who has lived in Velarde since 1984, recently gained national attention for his advocacy. He was one of 10 people nominated as CNNs Hero of the Year, due in large part to his work with Moving Arts Espanola, which provides artistic and after-school opportunities to local children.

This attention has also brought him support from many Democrats in the Roundhouse. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Wednesday she would endorse Montoya for the primary. Hes also received campaign donations from Rep. Susan Herrera, D-Embudo; congressional candidate Teresa Ledger Fernandez; and Santa Fe School Board President Kate Noble.

A newcomer to politics, Montoya imagines hell have a lot to learn if elected, but said the key is keeping the skills he already possesses.

The more critical part is always remaining a voice for the people  and responding with a sense of public service, he said.

District 40 covers an immense amount of territory, sprawling across an area in three counties about the size of Vermont. However, for many years, the northern New Mexico district has been represented by those living in the small piece of Rio Arriba County that makes up the district.

Cimarron City Councilor Matthew Gonzales said the district needs someone familiar with all the communities in District 40 to represent them in the Roundhouse.

Roughly one-third of legislators represent the county of Bernalillo, he said. You have large land masses in rural New Mexico that are often underrepresented.

Despite being only 36, Gonzales has served multiple political roles as city councilor, school board member and working for former Lt. Gov. John Sanchez. He said this prior experience in crafting budgets and policies will make him a more effective legislator in Santa Fe.

I would be equipped to advocate for the citizens of District 40 because I already understand the inner workings of Santa Fe, he said.

Access to health care, Gonzales said, is the most important issue facing rural New Mexicans, as many have to travel long distances for different kinds of treatment. He also said he wants to bring more industry to northern New Mexico to slow down the number of young people leaving.

Gonzales also said his political stances distinguish him from Montoya and show how he would vote in the Roundhouse. On his campaign website, Gonzales said he is anti-abortion and against restrictions on firearms.

Asked if his beliefs have pitted him against the states Democratic establishment, Gonzales said they will to a certain extent.

Gonzales currently trails far behind Montoya in terms of money raised and has only $1,500 on hand, according to campaign finance reports. He also has loaned himself the majority of his campaigns funds.

But Gonzales views this as a benefit because he does not want to ask residents to donate money during an economic crisis, he said. He also said his campaigns on-the-ground strategy will be his advantage in the race.

Thats where were winning the race is on the ground, he said. We really are grassroots.
The Chinese ambassador to Israel was found dead in his home north of Tel Aviv on Sunday, Israels Foreign Ministry said.

Chinese ambassador to Israel Du Wei was found dead in his home north of Tel Aviv on Sunday, the Israeli police said.

No cause of death was given and Israeli police said it was investigating.

As part of the regular procedure, police units are at the scene, a police spokesman told Reuters.

However, a Global Times report quoted an anonymous source as saying that he died due to health reasons. It also quoted the Israeli foreign ministry as saying that all evidence indicates that the ambassador died of natural causes.

Israels Channel 12 TV, quoting unidentified emergency medical officials, told Reuters initial indications were that Du died in his sleep of natural causes.

Du Wei, 58, was appointed envoy in February in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. He previously served as Chinas envoy to Ukraine.

He is survived by a wife and son, both of whom are not in Israel.

Israel enjoys good relations with China.

The ambassador's death comes just days after he condemned comments by visiting US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who denounced Chinese investments in Israel and accused China of hiding information about the coronavirus outbreak.

With inputs from agencies
At least 620 Nigerian Christians killed so far in 2020 by Boko Haram, Fulani: NGO report

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A Nigerian civil society organization estimates that about 620 Christians were killed and hundreds of homes, as well as churches, were damaged in Nigeria since the beginning of the year as attacks carried about by Fulani radicals and Islamic terrorists continue.

The Anambra-based nongovernmental organization International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law, headed by Christian Emeka Umeagbalasi, released a statement Thursday highlighting the impact of the atrocities committed by terrorists across Nigeria thus far in 2020.

The report, based on days of forensic research, warns that militant Fulani herdsmen roaming the countrys rural Middle Belt states and terrorists affiliated with Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province in Nigerias northeast region have intensified their anti-Christian violence.

The group reports the killing of no fewer than 620 defenseless Christians and wanton burning or destruction of their centers of worship and learning" in 2020.

According to the statement, Fulani radicals are responsible for killing over 470 people in the first four-and-a-half months of 2020. The group reports that Fulani killed 140 Christians from the beginning of April until May 14.

Meanwhile, Boko Haram is believed to have killed 150 Christians since January.

The atrocities against Christians have gone unchecked and risen to alarming apogee with the countrys security forces and concerned political actors looking the other way or colluding with the Jihadists, the organization argues.

Houses burnt or destroyed during the period are in their hundreds; likewise dozens of Christian worship and learning centers.

Intersociety relies on what it deems to be credible local and foreign media reports, government accounts, reports from international rights groups and eyewitness accounts to compile its statistical reports and updates.

The organization reported in a March statement that at least 350 Christians were killed in January and February, with Fulani radical attacks in the Middle Belt of Nigeria accounting for 250 of the deaths and Boko Haram terrorists accounting for between 50 to 100 killings.

Additionally, the group reported at the time that between 11,500 and 12,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since June 2015. According to Intersociety, radical herdsmen accounted for the killing of over 7,400 Christians and Boko Haram groups accounted for 4,000 killings.

While conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and predominantly Christian farming communities in the farming-rich Middle Belt states have existed for decades, advocates warn that Fulani attacks in recent years have increased in severity as well as quantity.

Fulani radicals are often armed with firearms when conducting their overnight attacks on sleeping farming villages. As a result, many farming communities have been pushed off their lands.

Intersociety projects that by the end of 2020, no less than 32,000 Christians will have been killed across Nigeria by Boko Haram and Fulani radicals combined since 2009.

The killings covered 2009 to 2020, with projected figures for Boko Haram and its offshoot ISWAP and Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in the coming seven months and half of 2020, the report explains.

Intersocietys findings come as the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated last year that at least 27,000 people have been killed by the Boko Haram conflict in northeast Nigeria since 2009.

During the years that Boko Haram rose to prominence in the northeast, Intersociety notes that there were 6,000 Christians killed by radical herdsmen between January 2009 to December 2014 in the Middle Belt states.

This is an average of 1,000 Christian deaths per year, Intersociety reports. [T]he Jihadist Fulani militants must have accounted for additional 9,000 Christian deaths, or 1,500 deaths per year [from January 2015 to end of December 2020].

In the end, the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen must have accounted for total Christian deaths of 15,000 in 11 years, Intersociety estimates.

The organization also contends that most of those killed by Boko Haram from January 2015 to December 2019  about 60%  are Christians and that all those killed by Fulani radicals during that timespan are Christians.

This past week, suspected Fulani radicals conducted a series of attacks in the Kaduna state district of Kajuru, killing over 20 people and injuring several others.

[S]ince the COVID-19 lockdown on March 25, these Fulani herdsmen have killed 38 Southern Kaduna people, as of yesterday, Kajuru resident Alheri Magaji, who leads the nonprofit Resilient Aid and Dialogue Initiative, told The Christian Post. Thats more than the coronavirus.

In addition to the killings, millions in Nigeria have been displaced from their homes and farms due to the violence in the northeast and Middle Belt. While some have returned, many are still homeless with no timetable for when they may be able to return to their farms and homes.

Nigeria ranks as the 12th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. According to Open Doors, Nigeria is one of the most violent countries in the world for Christians.

Nigeria was added to the U.S. State Departments special watch list of countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom for the first time last December.

It is a dangerous situation in too many parts of Nigeria," U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback told reporters at the time. "The government has either not been willing to or have been ineffective in their response and the violence continues to grow.



International advocacy groups have also raised concerns that the violence against Christians in Nigeria has reached the level of genocide.
Tanaiste Simon Coveney has called his opposite number in Fianna Fail to assure him Fine Gael is not seeking to orchestrate a snap second general election.

Mr Coveney rang Dara Calleary this morning to quell mounting speculation that plans for a second election were moving apace, insisting officials are merely trying to do their duty and explore options should an election need to be held while Covid-19 conditions are still in play.

A media report on Saturday revealed that a plan on how to hold a general election in the midst of the coronavirus crisis  including spreading voting over a number of days, giving cocooners a postal vote and allowing polling in nursing homes  is being drawn up within Government.

The Irish Times report said a limited number of Cabinet Ministers are aware of the plans, but sources said they are being drafted by officials on the orders of Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy on a contingency basis should the current negotiations to form a government fail.

One option being mooted is to hold voting over two or three days to allow for social distancing at polling stations. In such a scenario polling days may be allocated to certain addresses or streets, but no firm decisions have been made.

Speaking today, Mr Coveney said he rang Mr Calleary to dampen down speculation that his party is seeking to collapse the current talks process.

I rang Dara to assure him and he is, Mr Coveney told RTE's The Week in Politics.

The Tanaiste also said his government acknowledges the anomalies which have arisen in those who are in receipt of the 350-a-week Covid-19 emergency payment and said they will seek to correct that if legally possible.

He was speaking amid controversy that women returning from maternity leave are currently outside the scope of the measure, a situation which the opposition said is unacceptable.

Mr Coveney said there is not a lack of will to fix the problem but said any move would have to be legally permissable and there is uncertainty about that.

Sinn Fein's Louise O'Reilly said new legislation is not needed to include those women returning from maternity leave, arguing a ministerial order from Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe could resolve it.
The line was at least 50 people deep and stretched more than a block.

People stood in clusters  some wearing masks, some not  on the boardwalk in Belmar, a bustling Jersey Shore town that can attract hundreds of thousands of visitors on a summer day.

Saturday marked the first day Belmars seasonal beach passes were being sold. Eager beachgoers, cramped in their homes for more than two months, flocked to the Taylor Pavilion to slap down $70 ($30 for seniors) for a tiny piece of plastic that will bring some semblance of normalcy in the coming months.

But the image of the crowded line, plastered on social media and featured on TV newscasts, now has some asking: Is social distancing really possible at the Jersey Shore?

Went to Belmar this morning, tweeted one brave soul who waited in line. After 3 hours on line got our season passes. The beach itself was sparsely populated. People exercised social distancing. Got in line at 9:15. Got badges ~ 12:15pm.

After seeing the beach badge line in Belmar, another person tweeted at Gov. Phil Murphy. What were you thinking opening the beaches?

Belmar Mayor Mark Walsifer conceded that adjustments needed to be made in anticipation of Memorial Day weekend.

Borough Hall, where seasonal passes are normally sold, has been closed since the shutdown. And officials suspended online purchases after lackluster sales. So what happened when the badges went up for sale on the boardwalk?

It just opened the floodgates for everyone to come down and buy seasonal beach badges, Walsifer said Sunday in a phone interview with NJ Advance Media. Its not that were selling more than last year. It just happened all at one time.

The people waiting to buy badges, he said, were practicing social distancing. But when clustered with the normal passersby on the boardwalk, it created a little problem for us, Walsifer said.

We made some adjustments, he said. Its fine today.

This weekend was the test run for Memorial Day weekend, which is next weekend and typically billed as the unofficial start to the summer season at the Jersey Shore.

Murphy has signaled in recent weeks that the Shore is open for business  albeit with restrictions.

The Jersey Shore, after all, is where memories are made, Murphy said Thursday during his daily coronavirus media briefing. The last thing any of us wanted was for a summertime down the Shore to be a memory.

Murphy said every beach town needs to implement social-distancing mandates, but that local officials will make the call on what methods work best for their communities. Face coverings are not a requirement, but the governor has implored people to wear them, especially in areas where social distancing can be a challenge.

The boardwalk is one of those places.

In Belmar, officials took out the benches to prevent people from congregating and to provide more space to walk. Walsifer said police placed orange traffic cones in the middle of the boardwalk with signs to direct pedestrian traffic.

Im really surprised with how good thats working, he said.

Officials noticed that the food stands and beachfront restaurants had some issues with enforcing social distancing, Walsifer said. He said representatives with the Office of Emergency Management will have a meeting with restaurant owners this week to give them a stern warning.

Were prepared to shut them down if they dont comply, he said. I would say 95% of the people are really conscious of it. Younger adults havent seen their friends in a while. Thats the issues were seeing.

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Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Britain has refused Indias request to extradite Tiger Hanif  described as a classic fugitive by the high court of England and Wales  to face charges related to two blasts in Gujarat in 1993 as a revenge for the 1992 Ayodhya demolition.

One of Indias high-profile cases in the UK, Hanif, reported to be an aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, was arrested in Bolton in 2010. He exhausted options to block extradition after it was cleared by the Westminster Magistrates Court and the high court in 2013.

The Home Office informed Hindustan Times that the extradition request for Hanif  full name: Hanif Mohammed Umerji Patel  was refused by former home secretary Sajid Javid and was later discharged by the court.

After losing in the high court in 2013, Hanif made further representations to the home secretary, who for years did not take a decision until mid-2019. The home secretary is the final authority to order extradition after a request has gone through courts.

Indias case against Hanif, as the high court stated, was that he was part of Muslim group which obtained explosives, guns and other weapons and then carried out revenge terrorist attacks on the Hindu community, including two explosions which resulted in loss of life, injury and damage. Others involved in the blasts were convicted and sentenced.

Hanifs arguments to oppose extradition included risk of torture in a Gujarat jail, passage of time, that he would be denied justice, and that there is no case for him to answer. For the first time, a team was sent from London to inspect jail conditions in India during the trial.

Charges brought by India against Hanif and businessman Vijay Mallya who is also facing extradition trial are different but the trajectory of their cases in the UK is similar; Mallya has also exhausted legal options to block extradition and is likely to make last bids on ground of issues that arose after court rulings.

For example, health and the incidence of coronavirus in the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai - where Mallya is to be lodged if extradited - are likely to factors. There are reported to be over 150 coronavirus cases in the jail.

One specific argument that Mallya could advance as a supervening event is that the presence of Covid-19 in Indian jails poses a new and unacceptable risk to his health amounting to a breach of Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights, said Nick Vamos, former head of extraditions at the Crown Prosecution Service.

Events can occur after all appeals have been dismissed which would make extradition incompatible with the requested persons human rights...The law is now clear that, in this event, the case will go back to the high court.

Mallya would have to establish that the issue arises as a result of a supervening development or event and provide a reasonable explanation why the issue was not anticipated at the extradition hearing or on any appeal, Vamos, partner of law firm Peters & Peters Solicitors, added.
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Special summer camps could be set up in the school holidays in a bid to help children catch up on lost lessons during the lockdown.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said yesterday there were currently no plans to make up time by starting the new school year in August in the normal summer holidays. But he hinted at other initiatives to be rolled out during the summer.

And last night, sources confirmed that could involve special summer camps for pupils to receive tuition missed during the lockdown.

Schools in England closed for most pupils on March 20, staying open only for the children of key workers and for vulnerable youngsters [File photo]

They said that could apply to children of all relevant school ages and regardless of how well the plan to re-open some schools from next month worked in practice.

The option of starting the new school year early has been floated as one way to allow children to make up for weeks of being out of school and amid concerns that online lessons can only partly compensate.

But at yesterdays Downing Street daily virus briefing, Mr Williamson insisted: There are currently no plans to start the new school year in early August.

However, he revealed that his department had been doing an enormous amount of work on initiatives to make sure that people do not miss out as a result of this crisis, looking at how we can make the interventions to support children.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said yesterday there were currently no plans to make up time by starting the new school year in August in the normal summer holidays. But he hinted at other initiatives to be rolled out during the summer

Mr Williamson said: We are looking at different initiatives that we could maybe look at rolling out during the summer period.

He declined to give further details but stressed that the Government had got elected on an agenda of levelling up right across society and there is no better way of levelling up, whether it is children or adults, than through education.

He added: Education is the greatest leveller. The comments came as Mr Williamson outlined his plans for a phased school reopening from June 1 of reception, year one and year six in primary schools as well as years ten and 12 in secondary schools.

Schools in England closed for most pupils on March 20, staying open only for the children of key workers and for vulnerable youngsters.

Declaring that children stand to lose more by staying away from school, Mr Williamson vowed to throw a protective bubble around young pupils returning to class.

He revealed that returning pupils would be eligible for free coronavirus tests, along with their parents and teachers.

Protective measures would include small classes and keeping children in small groups.
At a time when the trauma of migrant workers are coming to the fore amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown, Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said "decentralisation of cities" and development of far-flung areas are solutions to address the crisis faced by them.

Migrants' tragedy is "too unfortunate", Gadkari said and emphasised that it was high time that employment avenues through development is created in villages, rural, backward and far-flung areas shorn of development.

With the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, economic activities have been disrupted. After being rendered jobless, thousands of migrant workers have gone back or are making all efforts to go back to their native places.

Adding to the woes, scores of migrant workers, including those going by foot, have been killed in road accidents during the lockdown, which began on March 25.

"We will have to learn the art of living with coronavirus. Nobody comes to big cities willingly... it is acute poverty and lack of avenues at native places which force migrants to come to cities...

"Pain and fear forced them to walk back...We have made arrangements for their food etc at toll plazas but we will have to instil positivity in them," Gadkari said.

In a telephonic interview from his Nagpur residence, Gadkari said, "fear has resulted in this serious situation".

Noting that decentralisation of the industry is the need of the hour, the minister said, "whoever comes, comes to Gurgaon, Delhi, Noida, Ludhiana, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai or Pune. We have to develop socially, economically and educationally backward areas".

The Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and MSME said that he was in touch with the Maharashtra government to work on a plan that could serve as a model for other parts of the country and can arrest mass exodus of workers in search of "greener pastures".

"In Maharashtra's Dharavi 1.5 lakh people depend on leather work....The upcoming Delhi-Mumai Expressway goes through Thane. We have land available there. I have suggested to the Maharashtra government that if you join hands with us, we can establish a leather cluster there and these 1.5 lakh people of Dharavi will be shifted there. They will get affordable houses, they will get and opportunity to live with dignity," Gadkari said.

According to the minister, once the plan is formalised, design and ancillary industries can be set up, and it can be an initial step for decentralisation of Mumbai.

"The leather industry is of the size of Rs 1.45 lakh crore in India of which Rs 85,000 crore is from domestic consumption while Rs 45,000 crore to Rs 55,000 crore are exports...If the Maharashtra government takes initiative, we can start work on it which can be replicated in other parts of the country depending on expertise of people and tribal area," he said.

The Rs 1 lakh crore Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will reduce the travel distance between the two places by 220 kilometres and could help in decentralisation of over-concentrated cities. It would pass through the backward areas of Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mahrashtra and Gujarat by bringing in various industry and clusters.

The work on the 12-lane cement concrete highway is on full swing and as it is on a new alignment, the government has saved Rs 16,000 crore on land acquisition.

Gadkari said plans are also afoot to build about 2,000 wayside amenities, industrial clusters and other facilities besides the highway. In addition, there would be smart cities and smart villages, and once the highway construction is complete, the land cost would rise manifold.

On short-term solutions for migrant workers, the minister said what happened has been unfortunate as they left in fear but still the industry and the people can convince them to return.

He cited example as to how about 16,000 migrant workers from two areas in Maharashtra -- Gadchiroli and Chandrapur -- which were not much impacted by the coronavirus had gone back to their villages in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

"A state minister has sought my help as 10,000 labourers had returned to Telangana and 6,000 to Andhra Pradesh from these areas. All work has come to a grinding halt.

"I wrote to both the chief ministers and convinced them that they had gone back out of fear. Both the states helped us to send the workers back to Maharashtra border from where Maharashtra government brought them to their districts and they have started work," Gadkari said.

According to him, similar process should be followed by the industry and others who should get in touch with the respective state governments and district collectors and bring back migrant workers legally.

The process would no doubt be time taking but gradually the workers would come back, he said, adding that at the same time focus should also be on setting up village industries.

"We are planning a large number of activities including promoting honey and other tribal produce... My target is to take the Khadi and Village Industries turnover to Rs 5 lakh crore in the next two years and for this we will work on 115 aspirational districts across the country."



Further, the minister said that 95 per cent work of the National Highways has been started and that his ministry was ensuring that the guidelines like wearing masks, social distancing etc are being followed.

"We will win the economic war and we will win the corona war... there are some people who turn opportunity into problems and there are some who turned problems into opportunity," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A military officer and two policemen escorted a couple of young men off their respective horses near the Guasaule River's shores.

This move was part of the authorities' mission to block the Nicaraguans' entry to Honduras in the face of the seeming indifference of Managua to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The riders, the authorities found, were Honduras nationals who were crossing from Nicaragua through what was called "a blind spot on the border." They carried blocks of cheese which, according to them, would be sold in their communities.

A member of the Honduran police who permitted the two men to get in sans any penalty said, "We are all hungry."

According to Lt. Carlos Wilfredo Cruz who was equipped with an M-16 rifle, it is the mission of the Honduran officials assigned at the border to prevent infections from Nicaraguan personnel entering with the virus.

Strict Border Surveillance

Both Costa Rica and Honduras have constricted border surveillance in the past weeks for protection from what the two governments regard as an insufficient response by Nicaragua to the COVID-19 crisis.

More so, while many nations employ restrictive measures which include stay-at-home directives and closures of borders to contain COVID-19, in Nicaragua, no restrictions have been declared, and, in contrast, Daniel Ortega's government has called for mass celebrations and marches.

Authorities are also patrolling the undergrowth where there is illegal trade like that of the smuggled cheese, flowing in both ways.

And, as the Honduran military and police prohibit Nicaraguans from passing through the so-called blind spots, "customs, health, and immigration authorities have strengthened as well, the "epidemiological scrutiny" near the border.

According to Rosana Ventura, the border customs administrator, they are concerned that what they call "the sister republic of Nicaragua" does not take any preventive measure against COVID-19.

Examining the Truckers

Nicaragua has officially reported eight mortalities and 25 confirmed COVID-19 cases, however, civil organizations have reported over a thousand infections and almost 200 fatalities.

Jose Alfredo Sanchez, a doctor examining the truckers and is in charge of the approval of the truckers' entry into the Honduran territory, also asks those who he examines if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptom and forewarning them to the risk of the said illness.

Specifically, after passing the examination with Sanchez, 50-year-old Edy Roberty Taltique, a Guatemalan transporter carrying "shipment of reels of papers from Costa Rica to Guatemala" claimed that the authorities of Costa Rica have taken better measures to combat the disease in another report.

In Costa Rica, at the border's entrance, a swab testing is required before entry at the territory. Then, from the entrance, the sample is brought to the lab.

Once the results are available and the entering individuals are clear from the illness, they can already enter. In connection to this, Costa Rica started testing all truckers entering the nation with cargo.

More so, those found with symptoms like cough or nasal congestion, Daniel Salas, the Health Minister said, would not be allowed to enter.

The country has also mobilized its police forces, which include the OIJ or the Judicial Investigation Police, to strengthen the border surveillance and control the Nicaraguans' entry to the country.

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About 3,190 years ago, a merchant in Emar, a trading outpost in what is now northern Syria, sent a desperate letter to his boss, Urtenu, who lived in the rich metropolis of Ugarit, a city-state on the coast of Syria. There is famine, he wrote. If you do not quickly arrive here, we ourselves will die of hunger.

A long drought had left the hinterlands around Ugarit in a state of famine, wars were brewing, and there were likely plagues as well. Urtenu may not have realized it, but he was living through the last years of two wealthy cities, Ugarit and Mycenae, that dominated the eastern Mediterranean Sea during what historians call the Bronze Age, from roughly 3000 to 1200 B.C.E.

More than a thousand years before the Greeks invented democracy and the Romans undermined it with imperialism, these city-states of the Bronze Age laid the foundations for what is often called Western civilization. Homer recorded the myths of the Bronze Age in The Iliad and The Odyssey, and carved stone inscriptions of the pharaohs Hatshepsut and Thutmose III record the machinations of the Bronze Age elites. Although the rulers of the Bronze Age sometimes went to war, the true source of their power, like that of todays biggest cities, was economic power secured through trade. The final decades of Ugarit and Mycenae tell us a lot about why cities fail  and who survives amid the ashes.

Ugarit and the Greek city-state of Mycenae were two of the most prosperous kingdoms in a thriving international economy that grew along coastal trade routes linking todays Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt. Their markets sold everything from imported olive oil to local grain, while artisans crafted sculptures and weapons from the metal alloy that gave this period its name. Made with tin from Afghanistan and copper from Cyprus, bronze was the ultimate achievement of long-distance trade as well as technical know-how.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg, said here Saturday "the alliance considers the government of national accord (GNA) as the only legitimate government and will not deal with the others"
The government's halting response to the coronavirus pandemic represents the culmination of chronic structural weaknesses, years of underinvestment and political rhetoric that has undermined the public trust - conditions compounded by President Donald Trump's open hostility to a federal bureaucracy that has been called upon to manage the crisis.

Federal government leaders, beginning with the president, appeared caught unaware by the swiftness with which the coronavirus was spreading through the country - though this was not the first time that an administration seemed ill-prepared for an unexpected shock. But even after the machinery of government clanked into motion, missteps, endemic obstacles and lack of clear communication have plagued the efforts to meet the needs of the nation.

"A fundamental role of government is the safety and security of its people," said Janet Napolitano, the former secretary of homeland security. "To me that means you have to maintain a certain base level so that, when an event like a pandemic manifests itself, you can quickly activate what you have and you have already in place a system and plan for what the federal government is going to do and what the states are going to do."

That has not been the case this spring. The nation is reaping the effects of decades of denigration of government and also from a steady squeeze on the resources needed to shore up the domestic parts of the executive branch.

This hollowing out has been going on for years as a gridlocked Congress preferred continuing resolutions and budgetary caps to hardheaded decisions about vulnerable governmental infrastructure and leaders did little to address structural weaknesses.

The problems have grown worse in the past three years. Trump was elected having never served in government or the military. That was one reason he appealed to many of those who backed him. He came to Washington deeply suspicious of what he branded the "deep state." Promising to drain the swamp, he has vilified career civil servants and the institutions of government now called upon to perform at the highest levels.

His transition was messy and since then his administration has been slow to populate the thousands of political slots atop federal agencies, and the president has seemed to prefer acting agency heads to those who can win confirmation from the Senate and the authority that imprimatur conveys. He has targeted career officials and sought retribution for those who differed with him, particularly those whose job it is to find and expose problems.

"One thing to keep in mind is that government takes on hard problems," said David E. Lewis, a political science professor at Vanderbilt University. "They're often problems that can't be solved by the market and there aren't private entities to solve them."

He added: "We're seeing a government that is suffering now from a long period of neglect that began well before this administration. And that neglect has accelerated during this administration."

The question is whether the weaknesses and vulnerabilities exposed by the current crisis will generate a newfound interest among the nation's elected officials - and the public - in repairing the infrastructure of government and a sense of urgency on the part of the public to encourage them to do so. Or will partisanship and public indifference lead to a continuation of the status quo?

- - -

Public trust in government has declined sharply for the past half century. In the early 1960s, more than 7 in 10 Americans said they trusted government to do the right thing all or most of the time. A year ago, a Pew Research survey found that just 17 percent of Americans expressed that view.

Attitudes began to turn more negative during Vietnam and Watergate. Over the next decades, there were occasional increases in public trust, but the trendline continued downward. There was also a spike upward after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Since then, there has been a steady decline amid deepening political divisions and intensifying anti-government rhetoric.

Over these years, there have been a series of major government breakdowns that helped shake confidence in government's competence. Some are relatively recent: the 2003 invasion of Iraq; the response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005; the Deepwater Horizon oil well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010; the crashing website for the Affordable Care Act in 2013.

Other breakdowns happened longer ago or are less remembered but nonetheless highlight ongoing weaknesses, whether the explosion of the Challenger space shuttle in 1986 or a flu vaccine that sickened many recipients in 1976.

The pandemic has forced another critical look at government's competence. For months, the Trump administration has been running behind to bring testing capacity to the levels needed. That was true as the virus was taking hold and when more tests might have helped contain the spread. It is the case now as businesses look to reopen but cannot assure safety for workers or their communities without the widespread availability of tests, which so far does not exist.

Stockpiles of needed equipment were never adequate for the scale of the pandemic either, and the government was slow to ramp up production. The government's economic intervention, while massive in dollars and well-meaning in intent, also has run into problems.

In contrast to many European nations, where the strategy has been to keep payrolls afloat, the U.S. program has relied on direct payments to individuals, unemployment insurance for furloughed workers, loans to small businesses (in some cases forgivable) and aid to some major industries, such as airlines.

Speed took precedence over precision in the design of the program. Delays were common. Areas of the country hardest hit by the virus in March and early April were sometimes shortchanged as money flowed to areas less affected. Payments through the Small Business Administration ended up in the hands of big firms like Ruth's Chris steakhouses or entities like the Los Angeles Lakers. Treasury Department officials had to move swiftly to get those payments returned.

Flaws in the nation's unemployment insurance program, a patchwork system run through the states, highlighted inequities, as benefits vary from state to state, as do eligibility requirements and length of assistance.

Florida's has drawn the most criticism. That state's program was redesigned when now-Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican, was governor to make it more difficult to qualify for assistance. Recently it has been plagued by computer problems. A recent headline on the Miami Herald website said, "Florida's jobless benefits program finding new ways to confound, infuriate the unemployed."

Congress authorized an additional $600-a-week payment through July for those unemployed, on top of what they would receive from their state program, which has resulted in some people receiving more money while being unemployed than when they were working.

Ricardo Reis, an economist at the London School of Economics, said that the U.S. program is one of the largest in the industrialized world but not necessarily the most efficient. "To get the same bang you've got to spend a lot more bucks because you're sending a check to everyone, right?" he said "A lot of people don't need a check."

"Much of the response at the federal level has been predicated on the idea that we're just going to take a holiday for a few months and then go back to where we were," said a skeptical Steven Davis, a professor of international business and economics at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned last week of "significant downside risks" to the future of the economy."

The jury is still out as to whether what the government has done is either adequate or efficient. "My impression from the outside is that we have significantly mal-designed the economic assistance and adjustment system," said Philip Zelikow, a professor at the University of Virginia who served in five administrations and was executive director of the 9/11 Commission.

"The counter to that is we just needed to get the trillions out the door," he added. "Maybe after analysis, that argument could have merit [but] I suspect this still could have been done better under the time constraints."

Meanwhile, lawmakers are now locked in age-old ideological battles at a time when fresh thinking will be needed to help workers who could face long periods of unemployment and businesses threatened by closure by a pandemic that appears certain to create a new normal whenever the economy does reopen.

"I think this event is revealing of what governance wonks have been warning about for a long time, namely that we haven't been very focused on the basic governing systems we need to execute policy successfully," said William Galston of the Brookings Institution. "The competency of government to serve as an instrument of policy delivery has been weakened substantially. One of our long-term tasks is to rebuild that capacity."

- - -

Gene Dodaro, the comptroller general, leads the Government Accountability Office, the agency that is tasked with being a watchdog for government performance. He sees structural weaknesses that constantly impede performance. "The hardest part of my job is getting people to focus on things before they become a crisis," he said.

The GAO regularly produces a list of areas of high risk in government performance. The most recent, issued in 2019, began with this assessment: "The ratings for more than half of the 35 areas on the 2019 High Risk List remain largely unchanged. Since GAO's last update in 2017, seven areas improved, three regressed, and two showed mixed progress."

"Fundamentally we have a legacy government that hasn't kept up with the world around it," said Max Stier, president and chief executive of the Partnership for Public Service. "We create government and capacity around the problems of the day and there's not much refreshed. . . . It does not lie with a single administration. It is endemic through modern times and not just the executive [branch] but in Congress."

To take just one example, government has allowed its technology infrastructure to age in place. According to Dodaro, Washington spends about $90 billion a year on its IT systems - about three quarters of the money going to supporting operations and maintenance of existing systems, starving investment in new technology.

A call for technology upgrades is not a new problem. In 1995, Dodaro said he recommended that every agency create a position of chief information officer. Congress followed suit the next year, he said, but resistance in the agencies hampered the progress. In 2014, Congress enacted a second piece of legislation to spur what had been started nearly two decades earlier.

The Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs have been working to make medical records easily transferrable when personnel leave the military and become eligible for VA benefits. Billions have been spent but the problem hasn't been solved.

Among those with the most antiquated computer systems are two agencies tasked with delivering economic assistance to workers this spring, the Small Business Administration and the Internal Revenue Service.

"SBA was asked to do the impossible on top of antiquated technologies," said Paul Light, a professor of public service at New York University.

Some unemployment insurance systems run on mainframe computers that are 40 years old. In April, several states put out a call for people familiar with programming language for COBOL, introduced half a century ago, to help keep their systems running.

More than the computer systems are aging; so too is the workforce assigned to work on them. Stier estimates that there are five times as many federal employees over age 60 working on IT issues as there are employees under age 30. "The talent pool in government has to be refreshed," he said.

Aging technology highlights the weaknesses of the government's infrastructure, but that is only one of the obstacles that hinders more effective performance. Over the years, the federal government has created a complex system for the delivery of services.

Much of the work done by government is now carried out by nongovernmental employees - private contractors, consulting firms, nonprofits and others not technically on the federal payroll. Tina Nabatchi, a professor of public administration at Syracuse University's Maxwell School, estimates that as much as 70 percent of the work of government is done by these outside entities. "We've taken out the middle levels of bureaucracies," she said.

One reason is the desire of some leaders to run government like a business, though the two are not alike. Another is to mask the true scope of government. John DiIulio, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said that earlier in its existence, the Department of Homeland Security had more full-time-equivalent contractors than full-time-equivalent employees. "We want a lot from government," he said. "We don't want a lot of government."

Donald Kettl, a professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, said most Americans, including many lawmakers, view government services through a vending machine model: Money goes in at the top, a lever is pulled and services come out at the bottom. Inside, however, is a complicated and often cumbersome contraption.

Kettl described the U.S. health care system as "much more complex than anywhere else in the world," a labyrinth of government, private insurers, public and private hospitals, physicians, nurses and other health care workers, all involved in the delivery and billing of services. "The strategy of competence means managing these really complex partnerships," he said.

Another area where the United States is unique is in the number of political appointees atop agencies in the executive branch. The system is supposed to allow a president to gain control of the bureaucracy but vacancies and constant turnover in those jobs mean that, when in their posts, officials are often afflicted with short-termitis - focusing on matters of the moment and ignoring underlying structural weaknesses that can become crippling problems in a crisis.

Leadership is a critical ingredient in the functioning of government. A president can set priorities and focus his administration on making systems work more efficiently. But there is one more reason the work of making government better rarely attracts the attention of senior government officials. It often requires becoming mired in mind-numbing detail. In other words, however important the work might be, it's just plain boring.

- - -

The last serious attempt at government reform was more than 20 years ago, when then-president Bill Clinton asked his vice president, Al Gore, to head up what became known as the "reinventing government" initiative.

Clinton believed that people needed to trust that their money was being spent wisely before they would trust the government itself. "If you convinced America you were being really, really careful about their tax dollars, then a lot of this animosity toward government would decrease," said Elaine Kamarck of the Brookings Institution, who directed the project for several years.

The program may best be remembered for Gore's appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman," where he donned protective glasses and broke a government-issued ashtray with a hammer to ridicule the cost and complexity of government procurement regulations.

The reinventing government initiative achieved some success and was aided by the fact that the timing coincided with a broader transition from the old industrial economy to the new information-age economy. "We could take advantage of a lot of the technology and that helped us cut," Kamarck said.

Whatever progress was made is now long in the past. "Even if it had been wildly successful it would have been out of date four or five years after it was done," Stier said.

Before that effort, the last president to address government reform in a serious way was Jimmy Carter. He created the Department of Energy and broke up what then was known as the Department of Health, Education and Welfare by creating a separate Department of Education.

Carter liked to look under the hood of government; few of his successors have had the same desire. "In terms of basic reorganization, you've got to go back to the 1950s and Herbert Hoover to find the last reorganization movement," Light said, referring to a commission the former president headed after he left office.

Today, there is debate about whether government should or even can be reformed in those ways. The creation of DHS in the aftermath of 9/11 is a case in point. The hastily created department became a hash of many different entities pulled from across the government.

The departmental structure has made setting clear priorities far more difficult, as it serves multiple masters. "If you look at DHS, they have to report to more than 100 different congressional oversight committees," said Mark Harvey, former senior director for resilience policy at the National Security Council.

Some students of government say a more pressing priority than fundamental reorganization should be finding ways to improve how agencies collaborate when confronted with the kind of crisis now facing the country. Today's problems, they say, no longer fit without the boundaries of a legacy government structure.

- - -

Marc Hetherington, a professor at the University of North Carolina, said the public conversation about government began to shift with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. Before that, anti-government rhetoric focused more on what government ought and ought not to do, themes highlighted by Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, a Republican, during his 1964 presidential campaign.

"What changed with Reagan and the decades since is that the conversation moves away from what government ought to do to government is incompetent to do things," he said. "That's a big change, with a fundamentally different message."

Throughout the conservative movement since, that message has been a staple, with the often explicit goal of shrinking the federal government, cutting resources to starve the beast. "Sometimes poor performance is trying to do government on the cheap," Lewis said. "There is a penny-wise, pound-foolish idea of how we manage government agencies."

Hetherington said he has noticed one thing from his research about trust in government. Whenever the focus is on the military or national security, trust increases. When the focus shifts away to other programs, particularly those safety net programs such as welfare or food stamps, which serve disadvantaged populations, trust decreases.

But if Republicans have made this kind of rhetoric a staple of their message, Democratic politicians have engaged in some of the same kind of thing. "Every candidate has campaigned on a bureaucracy-bashing theme," Nabatchi said. "That message has gotten through to affect people's confidence in government."

The president's disdain is on display constantly, far more so than for past presidents. Hetherington said that in this area, Trump is "off the charts. Whereas a lot of Republican attacks on the government left certain things implicit, the Trump people have made them explicit."

There is much that works well in the federal government, particularly everyday activities that citizens take for granted. Career civil servants on the whole are dedicated and skilled. But when the challenges shift from ordinary to extraordinary, cracks within the system are exposed, demands on leadership rise and the government's competence is rightly called into question. This has been such a time.

It is an open question whether the more intense focus on the federal government will result in more calls to deal with the underlying weakness or whether criticism of the administration's response - and the political divisions surrounding it - will further degrade people's trust in the institutions they have turned to at this moment.

"We don't want to invest in the capacity of government to get the job done," Kettl said. "But we are happy to complain immediately when there's sand in the gear that causes the system to seize up."
Kristin Cavallari is sharing how she's been a hands-on mom to her three kids: sons Camden, 7, Jaxon, 6, and 4-year-old daughter Saylor.

During an Instagram Live conversation for Revolve with her stylist Dani Michelle on Saturday, the mother of three, 33, detailed her life at home in Nashville amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"I'm at my friend Justin's house right now. We've been together for the entire quarantine time, literally from day 1," Cavallari said, referring to her best friend and hairstylist Justin Anderson, with whom she and estranged husband Jay Cutler went on a three-week vacation to the Bahamas in early April.

Weeks after the vacation, Cavallari and Cutler, 37, filed for divorce and announced the end of their 10-year relationship on social media.

Kristin Cavallari

"With my kids, it's like alright, what should we do today? We've maxed out every creative idea," the Very Cavallari reality star told her stylist about their daily routine. "I used to wake up at 5 a.m. every morning, work out and then I would get my kids ready for school, take them to school and go to the office. I haven't set an alarm since all of this has been going on. It's going to be really hard for me to get back into it. I don't know that I can go back to that 5 a.m. lifestyle."

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Describing what it's been like for her to parent her kids, Cavallari said she's been trying to spend quality time with each child. "Because of my kids, I get up from anywhere between 6:30 and 8. I don't normally let my kids sleep with me, but I've been rotating my kid for the last week," she said. "It's cute but those are the moments that will never be the same, we'll never get those back. So in that sense, I've been trying to really enjoy that time with my kids."

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However, for Cavallari, homeschooling her sons has been "tough" without their teachers. "I will tell you, the no school thing is tough," she said, adding that she's been "attempting to" moonlight as a teacher to Jaxon and Camden. "With the boys, Jaxon will not listen to me. He refuses to do work. I'm like, 'I can't fight with you about doing schoolwork.' It's too hard."

Later, Cavallari said, :My kids are young so that's nice," adding, "My boys are 7 and 6 so it's not the end of the world if they're not sitting here doing schoolwork every day but everyone's going a little stir crazy because we really can't go anywhere."

RELATED: Kristin Cavallari Agrees to Purchase $5 Million Estate Near Nashville amid Divorce from Jay Cutler: Source

A source previously confirmed to PEOPLE that Cavallari and Cutler had reached a custody agreement. Cutler also agreed to release the funds for Cavallari to purchase her own home, the source said.

Prior to this agreement, Cavallari claimed Cutler was preventing her from buying a new house with her own money unless she agreed to share joint custody with him.

Documents obtained by PEOPLE state that both parties "have entered into a Permanent Parenting Plan that they attest is in the best interest of their minor children and ask the Court to approve and adopt the same as its Order."

Cavallari and Cutler agreed to be named "joint primary residential parents," each spending 182.5 days with the kids a year and alternating time on a week-on, week-off basis, according to the documents.

They will alternate Easter and Thanksgiving, as well as fall and spring breaks, and will split the Christmas holiday. The agreement also notes that each parent will have the right to two phone calls and two FaceTime or Skype calls per week while the children are with the other parent.

Recently, Cavallari celebrated her first Mother's Day following the split. "Everything made sense once I become a mom to these 3. Being their mom is the greatest gift. Happy Mothers Day to all of the moms out there," she wrote alongside a happy family photo.

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, click here.
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Sudan and Eritrea Sunday agreed to enhance regional cooperation and develop bilateral relations further to reflect the aspirations of the two nations
People living in North Korea hold hands of their separated family members in the South while bidding farewell following a three-day reunion event at Mount Geumgang Hotel in the North, Aug. 26, 2018. / Joint Press Corps



By Kim Rahn



The United Nations' human rights office has urged the two Koreas to allow meetings and contact between families separated by the Korean War (1950-53).



The Seoul branch of the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called for the South and the North's joint efforts on Facebook, Friday, marking the International Day of Families.



"About 65 percent of the separated family members who are still alive are 80+ years old. The U.N. Human Rights Office strongly urges both Koreas to allow permanent contact between separated families, through meetings, letters, phone communications and video messaging," it wrote.



In an August 2019 report on North Korea's human rights situation, the U.N. made similar calls. "Take the steps necessary, in collaboration with the Republic of Korea, to resolve the issues of family separation as a matter of priority and ensure that permanent mechanisms are in place for relatives of both countries to enable them to remain in touch and have periodic reunifications, keeping in mind that such reunion events should become routine and include many more people, including affected Koreans worldwide," the report said.



The meetings of separated families began in 2000 and the 21st round, which was the last one, took place in August 2018. In the Pyongyang Declaration announced following the third summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in September 2018, two Koreas agreed to open a facility on Mount Geumgang in the North for regular meetings of separated families as soon as possible. They also agreed to seek video meetings and video message exchanges of the families first.



However, these agreements have not made much progress as denuclearization talks between North Korea and the U.S. have been stalled and inter-Korean relations have also faced an impasse.



According to the unification ministry data on people in the South who have applied for meetings of separated families, 39.6 percent were in their 80s and 26 percent, in their 90s.


Guest columnist Abbe Froimson is store manager at Thriftique Showroom, 5055 Richmond Road in Bedford Heights. All proceeds support NCJW/Cleveland projects and initiatives changing the lives of women, children and families.

As the manager of one of Northeast Ohios most popular thrift stores, I love watching customers shop and find pieces that no one else has. One of my biggest joys is watching a customer find a jacket that fits perfectly or a toy that they just know will light up their grandchilds day.

Ive missed that customer interaction.

Like other retail stores, thrift stores have been closed during Ohios shelter-at-home orders. Happily, they are starting to reopen -- all with proper protocol, of course.

During this unexpected time at home, Ive had a lot of time to really research and reflect. And Ive found that thrifting is going to be needed more than ever after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Heres why thrift shops will have their big moment:

They provide the best bang for your buck: During these unprecedented times, were all tightening our purse strings. Yet seasons are still changing, wardrobes need refreshing, and broken dishes still need to be replaced. Thrift stores provide the greatest value in retail.

Theyll see an increased inventory: Sheltering-in-place orders have inspired a large uptick in cleaning. People have been using their time at home to sort through drawers and clean out garages. The National Council of Jewish Women/Cleveland (NCJW/CLE) has never had so many calls about donations! That means the chance that you will find barely used sneakers or a like-new bicycle (all perfect for social distancing this summer) are higher than ever. And most thrift stores -- like our Thriftique Showroom -- are letting all donations sit for at least 72 hours and adhering to medical recommendations before displaying them on their shelves.

They help the community: A lot of thrift stores depend on donations and sales to fund ongoing work in the community. For instance, Thriftique sales support the work of NCJW/CLE, whose 2,000 volunteers work to change the lives of women, children and families in Cleveland. By shopping at thrift stores, you are also doing good for others at a time when a lot of people need more help than ever.

They help the environment: For a lot of us, this pandemic has made us rethink our connection and relationship to nature. And thrifting -- keeping clothing and items in recirculation -- is a great way to help the environment. Did you know that the average American throws away 81 pounds of clothes PER YEAR, according to the EPA? All of our donations are either resold or recycled, which cuts back on waste and pollution.

Readers are invited to submit Opinion page essays on topics of regional or general interest. Send your 500-word essay for consideration to Ann Norman at anorman@cleveland.com. Essays must include a brief bio and headshot of the writer. Essays rebutting todays topics are also welcome.
Before taking up the post in Israel, Du Wei had been China's ambassador to Ukraine.

The Chinese ambassador to Israel, Du Wei, was found dead in his home on Sunday, an Israeli police spokesman said.

Read alsoFM Prystaiko, envoy Du Wei talk boost to Ukraine-China political dialogue

He did not comment on the cause of the death, Deutsche Welle (DW) reported.

Police are reportedly investigating the circumstances of the death of 58-year-old Du Wei.

He was reportedly found in his home in Herzlija, near Tel Aviv. The married father of one came to Israel in mid-February to take up his post.

According to local media citing unidentified emergency medical officials, initial indications are that he died in his sleep of natural causes.

Before taking up the post in Israel, Du Wei had been China's ambassador to Ukraine.
Montgomery County fitness facility owners and trainers are warmed up and ready to welcome back members to gyms and studios on Monday.

Krista Haywood, who owns F45 Training Woodforest at 851 Fish Creek Thoroughfare in Montgomery will be among those getting back to the grind in the studio.

They say the businesses you want to see reopen, you have to support them, Haywood said noting members did not want to see the gym suffer the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic. We were extremely blessed and fortunate to have a huge second family that wanted to see us open our doors back up and because of them we are very fortunate to be able to do that.

We are very excited about reopening.

While the nationwide franchises headquarters had to furlough some positions to help offset anticipated expenses due to the pandemic, she said all three F45 locations in Montgomery County, which average about 30-40 members at each local location, are expected to reopen.

The gym has remained active with virtual trainings, and has worked with members by allowing cancellations, pauses and discounts. She believes teletraining, the members support, and being proactive with a rainy-day fund after already planning for a worst-case scenario which is being closed for at least two months has helped the gym survive the pandemic. She remains optimistic about the gyms future.

I cant imagine it can get any worse than what we just went through, Haywood said.

Next week, Haywood said members can expect some changes to the social atmosphere and group setting to uphold social distancing and state requirements. Members must reserve a spot in the training session to be guaranteed to be let in the door as only 12 people will be allowed in the nearly 3,000 square foot studio at a time, she said. Those who are not comfortable can still work out at home.

Members may be encouraged to go outside to socialize. Some equipment, such as sandbags, will not be used at this time, exercise routines have been modified with some eliminated from the program and extra recovery time has been added by the franchise to keep people safe.

We look forward to increasing our class sizes back to what they were prior and any possible growth in the county in the future, Haywood said.

In March, Conroe resident Brady Curnel, who owns the private Fit4Life personal training studio off League Line Road and lost her home during Hurricane Harvey, prayed orders would not shut down her business as she turned to teletraining to save it. She confirmed Saturday that her studio will be open on Monday as well.

We will be cleaning just as vigorously as we have been and making sure we are taking the utmost precaution for everybody that chooses to bless us with their presence as far as bringing income back to the small businesses, Curnel said.

She has been able to continue training during the pandemic, including clients with special needs and most of her clients over Facetime. While some clients will be back, others including a senior clients will not be returning and may permanently continue to teletrain over Facetime. With only one or two people at the gym at the time, she said equipment is cleaned between each person.

Curnel describes the decision to reopen as necessary for business.

I had to get really creative during this time to be able to hold things together and I did lose several clients, so its not that I havent suffered, its just that I was able to keep my business afloat, she said. I think that it is necessary for the small businesses to be able to reopen.

I think it is up to us as individuals to determine whether we feel comfortable in those environments and to take care of ourselves. I dont think that is something that the government should choose for us. We have to become responsible for ourselves at some point in time.

She shared people have called her and requested to use her studio because their gyms are not reopening.

I dont know which gyms those are, I dont know if they were smaller or what the situation is, but I know that there are places that are probably not going to be able to reopen and I think thats a tragic situation, she said. I have a friend that just opened a place and I think maybe she was open maybe six weeks before all of this happened.

So, we will see if she is going to be able to reopen as well.

Gym members at other locations are encouraged to check social media pages, websites, and emails to check on the status of the reopenings, including for Planet Fitness which has started to reopen select clubs on a state-by-state basis. Golds Gym plans to reopen Kingwood, Humble, Magnolia, Conroe, and The Woodlands at 5 a.m. on Monday.

No further information was available by press time.
"I'm not old and I'm healthy, I don't need a mask."

I hear this sort of comment too often. The person making the comment does not understand what the masks are all about. I suspect the media, which emphasizes COVID-19s nasty aspects and the heroic efforts of caregivers, may be contributing to the misunderstanding by continuing to cover the more exciting aspects of the overall pandemic story.

One of our New Jersey health experts has said that, eventually, everyone in our densely settled state will test positive for the virus. Although face coverings may protect the wearer from being inflected, thats not really their greatest purpose. That purpose is to prevent people who have the virus, especially those showing no symptoms, from infecting others.

This is the so-called "flattening the curve, which is a silly way to describe the aim of the social distancing. The aim is to slow COVID-19s progress through the population.

Think of the reasons for this:

1) To leave hospital bed space and hospital staff available to treat those who need hospitalization for any purpose.

2) To give the doctors and researchers the time necessary to develop a treatment that will heal the sufferers.

3) To give time to discover a vaccination that works against COVID-19, plus enough time to produce enough doses to vaccinate  as much as as possible  everyone in the world.

So, if you would like your sick grandmom to have a hospital bed when it is needed, you would like your neighbor to have effective treatment when they collapse with shortness of breath, and you would like to hold the ultimate death rate for the virus to stay below 1% of the world population  wear the mask!

Howard Leroy Davis, Pitman

Dont be bamboozled by no jobs claim

If the federal and state governments continue to hand out free food, free medical care, subsidized housing, free computers and low-cost internet, its no wonder that I cant hire anyone willing to work for $15 an hour to cut down some bamboo on my property.

I even advertised that I was willing to pay $20 an hour to a worker if I observed that they were doing a good job. Some who answered my ad asked for $25 an hour. The ones who said theyd accept $15 never showed up. One even called me a name insinuating that I was trying to enslave them.

Give me a break! I am asking them to do work that a 9-year-old could do, as I did growing up in Montana.

There are plenty of jobs out there if Gov. Phil Murphy would just back off from keeping businesses closed, and cease believing in skewed statistics, such as not separating the high percentage of COVID-19 cases and deaths from nursing homes that give delinquent care and have already been fined.

Meanwhile, Ill continue to cut bamboo on my own.

Larry Lueder, Mantua Township

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The uproar began when an Alaska lawmaker emailed all 39 of his statehouse colleagues to compare health screening stickers to the badges that singled out Jews during the Holocaust.

"If my sticker falls off, do I get a new one or do I get public shaming too?" Rep. Ben Carpenter, a Republican, wrote Friday, sharing his dismay at a new requirement for legislators returning to the Alaska Capitol amid the coronavirus pandemic. "Are the stickers available as a yellow Star of David?"

The backlash was swift: "Ben, this is disgusting," one Jewish representative wrote back in emails first posted by the Alaska Landmine. "I don't think a tag that we're cleared to enter the building is akin to being shipped to a concentration camp," responded another. The leader of the state House's Republican delegation said Carpenter should apologize.

But Carpenter dug in.

"Can you or I - can we even say it is totally out of the realm of possibility that covid-19 patients will be rounded up and taken somewhere?" he said later in an interview with the Anchorage Daily News, arguing that officials are overreacting to the coronavirus with limits on people's liberty. "People want to say Hitler was a white supremacist. No. He was fearful of the Jewish nation, and that drove him into some unfathomable atrocities."

That provoked a new round of denunciations from fellow lawmakers, one of whom said he's seen similar arguments making the rounds online. The comments echo comparisons made by some protesters opposed to stay-at-home orders who argue that strict public health measures are akin to slavery and genocidal dictatorships - governors have been likened to Nazis - in rhetoric that many view as inappropriate in a national debate about measures to curb the coronavirus.

Anti-Semitic symbols and Confederate flags have also popped up at protests, causing offense and getting entangled in resistance to lockdowns.

"If people want to have a dialogue about how this is infringing on our Constitution, I'm happy to have that conversation," said Rep. Grier Hopkins, a Democrat, the Jewish representative who wrote the email calling Carpenter's initial message "disgusting."

"But I hope he understands that this is not the Holocaust, and how that massacred 6 million Jews, and how genocide is not health mandates," he told The Post on Saturday.

Democratic colleague Rep. Andy Josephson told the Anchorage Daily News: "I don't know there's a whole lot more to say. I just think it's pretty unfortunate."

Carpenter, who did not immediately respond to The Post's inquiries Saturday, told the newspaper he didn't intend to "rile somebody' and has "no ill will toward the Jewish nation and the Jewish people in our country."

Another representative on the mass email chain reviewed by The Post sympathized with Carpenter's view, later telling the Anchorage Daily News she wanted to "stay away from either condoning or condemning anything he said about [the Holocaust]." She said she agreed with his take on the virus response.

"We should all be concerned about the implications of being labeled as 'non compliant' or wearing a badge of 'compliance,' " the representative, Sarah Vance, a Republican, wrote in an email after Hopkins had written his rebuke.

Protesters and lawmakers around the country have raised questions about the value of continued coronavirus restrictions, though polling shows a majority of Americans are concerned about lifting stay-at-home orders too early. Shutdowns have devastated the economy, put millions out of work and placed sweeping new limits on Americans' daily lives.

The requirement that sparked Carpenter's email, though, was quite limited in scope: a rule that state legislators wear stickers indicating they've passed a health test when they head back to Juneau on Monday.

"We want to take necessary precautions because we have some of the most rural communities in the entire country, and they were decimated by the 1918 flu pandemic because people brought the disease back," Hopkins said. " 'It is enough? Will it help to keep us all safe?' [are] some of the bigger questions I've heard."

Like most states, Alaska has been moving to reopen: Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, let restaurants, retail stores and hair and nail salons start operating late last month, though with new social distancing requirements, such as capacity limits that many businesses find burdensome.

But Carpenter still said he sees coronavirus measures as a slippery slope, claiming the danger is past. He argues that with 10 Alaskans dead from the coronavirus, the fear of the pandemic is a bigger threat than the disease - a view shared by some national leaders including President Trump, who has tweeted that "WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF."

"We have a way of life that is being threatened right now because we have shut down our economy," Carpenter told the Anchorage Daily News.

He continued to defend his statements in text messages to the newspaper after its story with his Hitler comments published, saying: "The point was that it was fear that drove him. The attention of his fear was undesirables, including Jews. And the larger point is that PEOPLE FOLLOWED HIM."

Asked about the assessment of Hitler, Hopkins evoked the 2017 neo-Nazi rally where people chanted "Jews will not replace us." Attendees have described themselves as "white nationalists" who want a "homeland for white people."

"If those people were not white supremacists," he said in an interview, "well, I guess I don't know what a white supremacist looks like."
Curfew will continue in Himachal Pradesh till May 31,



Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Sunday after the Centre decided to extend the ongoing lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The state government had imposed the curfew on March 24.

In a video statement, Thakur said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had decided to extend the lockdown beyond May 17 after talking to chief ministers of various states.

The fourth phase of the lockdown will continue till May 31, the chief minister said.

Noting that coronavirus cases had increased after the return of stranded people from other states, the chief minister said that the number of cases may rise further as about 60,000 more people had expressed their wish to come back to Himachal Pradesh.

At the same time, he said '"there is no need to worry".

"Himachal Pradesh is still better than other states," he said and urged the returnees to follow quarantine norms whether they were being kept in any institution or at home.

He said the curfew will remain imposed till May 31 to check the spread of coronavirus.

Thakur said "the nation is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi" and thanked the PM for announcing a Rs 20-lakh-crore package for the revival of economy.

Stating that two 'corona warriors' also tested positive for COVID-19 in Kangra a few days ago, he wished them speedy recovery.

Himachal Pradesh has reported 81 coronavirus cases and three deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Carlos Atkins, 27, used to spend weekdays with his 2-year-old son Malachi, taking walks and reading books, before heading out into the night to power wash sidewalks, pick up trash and remove graffiti in downtown Detroit for a local nonprofit. Then the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the city and his sons day care center but not Atkins job as an essential worker. After being reassigned to a midday shift that ends at 9 pm, hes scrambled to find child care, leaning heavily on his mom and aunt.

Even clad in a jumpsuit, gloves and mask, his line of work carries health risks and hes fearful of bringing home the deadly virus to the two-family flat he shares with his son, mother and younger sister. And, fiercely protective of his young charge, he wonders whether his son should return to day care when Michigan reopens.

Its overwhelming. I try not to focus on it, Atkins says. I just hope and pray for the best.

What schools will look like when they reopen: Scheduled days home, more online learning, lots of hand-washing

When will schools reopen?: Not soon, education leaders say, despite Trump's declarations

The push to reboot the nations economy is leaving millions of parents like Atkins in a tough bind. They cant go back to work without someone to care for their children, whether preschools or day care facilities, babysitters or relatives. And, even if they can find child care, theyre worried states are moving too quickly and may be putting their kids lives at risk.

Last week the Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected an extension of the states stay-at-home order. In some places, employees are being called back to work before child care facilities open.

I just hope and pray for the best," says Detroit father Carlos Atkins on sending his 2-year-old son back to daycare when Michigan reopens.

Lack of child care is quickly emerging as one of the biggest barriers to the economy bouncing back, says Patricia Cole, senior director of federal policy for Zero to Three, a nonprofit focused on early childhood development.

Child care is foundational to our nations ability to recover from this crisis, Cole said during a news briefing put on by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Story continues

COVID-19 plunges child care system into crisis

COVID-19 has plunged the child care industry, 90% of which is privately run, into a crisis the likes of which the nation has never seen.

Already child care centers were expensive to operate and stayed afloat on meager profits. Caregivers and other staffers, a third of whom have been laid off, often get by on poverty wages and public assistance, unable to afford child care for their own children.

Now child care advocates argue the nations already fragile system is at risk of collapse. They are lobbying for billions more in federal aid to ensure reliable child care is available to parents.

We don't fully know yet who are the child care providers and facilities that are not going to have survived this economic crisis because they just couldn't keep the doors open, said Javaid Siddiqi, CEO of The Hunt Institute, an education nonprofit in Cary, North Carolina.

Though in many places they were not required to close, since the pandemic began, nearly half of child care facilities nationwide have shut down, some of them indefinitely as the coronavirus forced families to keep kids at home, according to a survey of child care providers conducted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Seventeen percent of providers have closed to everyone except the children of essential personnel. Of the facilities which have remained open, 85% are operating at less than 50% of enrollment capacity and the majority of those are operating at less than 25% of capacity, the survey conducted in April found.

We don't fully know yet who are the child care providers and facilities that are not going to have survived this economic crisis because they just couldn't keep the doors open, says Javaid Siddiqi, CEO of The Hunt Institute, an education nonprofit in Cary, North Carolina.

Its also unclear how many providers will be able to afford to reopen or at what capacity with strict new health protocols that vary from state to state. Some new rules limit the number of children that can be in any group  and in many cases require the same children and adults be placed together every day. Child care centers also face higher costs for additional staffing, personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies.

Child care is foundational to our nations ability to recover from this crisis, says Patricia Cole, senior director of federal policy for Zero to Three, a nonprofit focused on early childhood development.

Summer camps and programs have also fallen on hard times and are being driven out of business. The ones still standing are trying to figure out if or how they can reopen safely.

Half of facilities closed, remaining providers stretched

Child care providers that have remained open to watch over the children of essential workers are stretched to the breaking point.

Crystal Perry-Grant, a 38-year-old mother of three, runs a family day care in Perris, California, a small city in Riverside County. For 12-hour stretches with the help of her 17-year-old daughter, she cares for eight children whose parents are essential workers from firefighters to UPS workers, ranging in age from 1 to 9.

School-age kids learn remotely on six computers that routinely slow her Wi-Fi to a crawl. She cooks homemade soups from fresh farm produce to boost their immune systems. Hand sanitizer squirted liberally throughout the day into little palms has kept sickness at bay. In the past two months, she hasnt had even a single runny nose.

Crystal Perry-Grant, a daycare operator and mother of three in California, cares for eight children whose parents are essential workers from firefighters to UPS workers, with the help of her 17-year-old daughter.

Our parents need us. They dont have family around. Its a dire need. I would feel bad if I closed, Perry-Grant says. No one had a job they could up and quit, so I couldnt either.

But Perry-Grant cant take on any more children. She has no openings and a long waiting list.

This goes very much to the heart of whether we are going to be able to just reopen the economy, says Michael Madowitz, an economist at the Center for American Progress who studies the child care industry. There are a lot of reasons why we can't just flip a switch and this is very high on the list.

For Demetriss Demi DeShazior, a 41-year-old medical assistant in Miami, child care tops her list of concerns.

Her mother babysat her 2-year-old while DeShazior languished on a long waiting list for partially subsidized child care. When she was seven months pregnant, DeShazior learned shed secured a spot, but this was a month before the pandemic hit. Before she could finish filling out the paperwork, child care facilities closed.

So DeShazior took family medical leave earlier than she planned in March to stay home with her son. Now she's applying for child care for her toddler and 5-week-old as an essential health worker but her unease is growing.

A classroom at Small Wonders in Portland, Ore., the week before the child care center had to close because of coronavirus concerns.

If I do return to work, will my babies be safe from contracting COVID-19 at day care?" DeShazior wonders. Will I even have day care covered for both babies by my return date?

Nation cannot reopen with kids still at home

Even before the coronavirus tore across the country, parents scrambled to find child care. With too few spots to meet demand, the burden fell heaviest on low-wage parents, women and families of color. Now millions more spots may have evaporated.

Traditional backstops such as grandparents who used to step in to care for children while parents worked belong to populations most vulnerable to the coronavirus.

Most states are talking about child care, but theres a mixed bag in terms of how many are actually being planful about it. When you as a state say, were open, but then you dont give guidance around child care, that puts the burden of the situation on families, says NAEYC's CEO Rhian Evans Allvin. And that, Allvin, says, exacerbates the already existing inequities in early childhood education because inherently wealthier families have more options.

As more parents prepare to return to work, the enormousness of the challenge facing the nations patchwork child care system is staggering.

Four in 10 working adults have children under 18. Nearly 60% of children under 5 participated in regular weekly care arrangements and a third were enrolled in a child care program of some kind before the coronavirus struck. Yet, with many child care providers from small family day cares to after-school programs closing up shop indefinitely, parents are at loose ends.

Parents who are being called back into work at this point really may find challenges in securing care or even, in some cases, securing the care they were accustomed to, says Dan Wuori, director of early learning at The Hunt Institute, which has a database tracking state child care policies.

Among those parents is Laura Byrd, 35, a human resources generalist from Newark, New Jersey and mother of a 7-year-old whos been working from home since the start of the pandemic.

Our new normal will pose some difficulties once I am instructed to return to the office. As the state reopens, our day care centers and summer camps will not be operating which will create child care issues for me, says Byrd, whos considering taking a leave of absence if necessary.

Laura Byrd, 35, a human resources generalist from Newark, N.J., with a 7-year-old, says she may have to take a leave of absence if she's called back to the office.

Agonizing choices between health risks and paychecks

Reopening is forcing parents in Georgia, Florida and other states into an agonizing choice between potentially risking their health and the health of their children and earning a paycheck.

Late at night and in the early morning hours, Christy Moreno, 39, a bilingual editorial director, squeezes a stress ball while sending work emails from her Kansas City, Missouri, home.

Her makeshift office is a small round table in the corner of her dining room covered in stray crayons and device chargers. This single mother of two, ages 10 and 13, balances overseeing her childrens education and counseling Latino parents working in hotels and restaurants on how to find child care. On social media, parent groups are overflowing with worry and confusion: What are families supposed to do?

Christy Moreno, a bilingual editorial director and single mother of two from Kansas City, Mo., balances overseeing her childrens education and helping Latino parents working in hotels and restaurants figure out child care.

Anxieties are running especially high for parents whose children have health conditions that put them at higher risk for the coronavirus. Many cant afford lower-risk options such as babysitters and nannies or having one parent stay home. These parents say even if they can find child care, they dont know if they should send their kids. Some employees can take sick leave or expanded family and medical leave if they are caring for a child when schools and day care centers are closed under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which was signed into law in March, but not everyone has that option.

Parents are being forced into this Catch-22, says Keri Rodrigues, founding president of the National Parents Union, a network of parent organizations across the country. They feel a desperate need to go back to work but at the same time they are terrified of this deadly virus.

Children line up to wash hands before lunch at a day care held at Martinez Elementary School in Abilene, Texas, on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The child care is organized by United Way of Abilene and is being provided at no cost for essential workers.

Parents worry: Is it safe to send kids back to child care?

Laid off in March, Rachel Jean-Pierre is a single mother of two in Union, New Jersey. If shes called back to her job in New York City as a guest service manager in July, she will have to find a family member to help care for her children, ages 6 and 9, both of whom have asthma.

Until the country has really grabbed hold of this pandemic, as a parent with children who suffer from asthma, I would rather be safe than sorry, says Rachel Jean-Pierre, a single mother of two in Union, N.J., who may be called back to work in July.

With the government reopening the economy with no confirmed solution to this pandemic, I am torn between wanting my children to return to their normal schedules and wanting to keep them safe, she says. Until the country has really grabbed hold of this pandemic, as a parent with children who suffer from asthma, I would rather be safe than sorry.

Conflicting messages have not helped parents make these tough calls. While President Donald Trump pushes governors to work to reopen schools, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned in Senate testimony last week, "We don't know everything about this virus and we really better be pretty careful, particularly when it comes to children."

Its week 11 of quarantine for Naomi Nedd, a 49-year-old mother and contract negotiator for a managed care plan in Queens. Shes resorted to bribing her 3-year-old son with gummy bears and screen time when she has to write a contract or jump on a Zoom call. Once he falls asleep at 7:30 pm, she digs in for hours to make a dent in her workload.

I went into this thinking, my kid is home, it will be fine. But its so different when you are trying to be the professional you are when youve left your child at day care than when you are at a dining room table with a 3-year-old who just knows youre mommy, Nedd says.

I don't care what opens up, if my gut feels like it isnt safe, we will have to figure out a way to continue to make it work at home, says Naomi Nedd, a 49-year-old mother and contract negotiator for a managed care plan in New York City's borough of Queens.

Her son is supposed to start a summer program in July and preschool in the fall, but her heart races just thinking about it. The ravages of the coronavirus are all around her at the epicenter of the New York outbreak. Children her sons age dont know how to socially distance.

I don't care what opens up, if my gut feels like it isnt safe, we will have to figure out a way to continue to make it work at home, Nedd says.

I would probably be very scared to send my children to any form of child care or after school program, says Boston mom Yahaira Lopez.

In Boston, Yahaira Lopez, a 41-year-old mother of 10-year-old twins, one with ADHD, the other with autism, was recently laid off from her job on a mobile crisis team performing mental health risk assessments. Shes struggling to be a substitute teacher to her two fourth graders, run Autism Sprinter, her nonprofit that helps the families and caregivers of children who are on the spectrum, and figure out how shell afford rent and utilities.

Schools are closed, summer programs are up in the air and Massachusetts has not yet reopened child care centers, she says. Even when these programs restart, Lopez says shes not sure she will send her kids. Both of her sons have severe asthma.

I would probably be very scared to send my children to any form of child care or after school program, she says, or, to be honest with you, even back to school into what may be overcrowded classrooms.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID-19 child care crisis: Who will watch kids when nation reopens?
BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Japan is on Monday scheduled to release preliminary Q1 figures for gross domestic product, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. GDP is expected to sink 1.2 percent on quarter and 4.6 percent on year after sliding 1.8 percent on quarter and 7.1 percent in the three months prior. Japan also will see March numbers for its tertiary industry index; in February, the index dipped 0.5 percent on month. Thailand also is set to release Q1 GDP data, with forecasts suggesting a drop of 4.5 percent on quarter and 4.0 percent on year. That follows the 0.2 percent quarterly increase and the 1.6 percent yearly gain in the previous three months. Indonesia will see Q1 data for its business confidence index; in the previous three months, the index score was 104.82. Singapore will see April figures for trade; in March, non-oil exports were up 12.8 percent on month and 17.6 percent on year, with a trade surplus of SGD31.8 billion. New Zealand will see March numbers for the Performance of Service Index from BusinessNZ; in February, the index score was 52.0. China will release April figures for house prices; in March, prices were up 5.3 percent on 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.
A 27-year-old Ghanaian man, Derrick Amponsah, has been arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison for raping a 15-year-old student.

Reports have it that the said man not only raped the girl, he also bit her clitoris, leaving her to bleed profusely after the act.

Read Also: Man Rapes Potato Seller Because She Refused His Advances

According to Ghanaian media, the incident took place at Manso Yawkrom in the Amansie West District of Ashanti Region.

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A detailed medical report revealed the victims hymen has been completely broken.

Prosecutor, Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Ofori, told the court that the accused called the victim on phone to go and do laundry for him at home.

He returned around 1 pm and met the dirty clothes unwashed.

According to prosecution, the suspect then went to the victims house to call her but she refused to follow him. He eventually managed to get the girl to follow him to his house.

When he got home, he asked the girl to go to his room, but she refused. He then dragged her inside, pushed her onto the bed and raped her.

Detective Chief Inspector Ofori said Amponsahs mother later showed up and provided water for the victim to clean herself.

Derrick has been arraigned before the Bekwai Circuit Court and Police Prosecutor, Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Ofori, told the court that the suspect used his fingers, penis, and mouth to abuse the girl at about 11 a.m. on April 15, 2020.

The suspect pled guilty to two counts of assault and defilement. Both acts contravene Sections 84 and 101 respectively the of Criminal Offences Act, Act 29 of 960.

The presiding judge then sentenced him to 7 years imprisonment.
By Mark Peterson





This is No. 10 or the last in my series of articles advocating that Korea was a remarkably peaceful and stable place historically. And perhaps this is the most compelling one. The issue is the high population of a few number of surnames  in other words, 21 percent of the population are Kim, 15 percent are Yi (Lee, Rhee), 9 percent are Pak (Park, Bak). A total of 45 percent of the population had one of three surnames. Add Choe (Choi) at 5 percent, and Jeong (Chung) at 5 percent, and you have 55 percent of the population with one of five surnames. This is really unusual compared to other countries.



I've written about this previously, but I have two angles of approach here. One is to re-emphasize and re-situate what I wrote before, and the other is new comparative material (that will appear in "part 2," next week).



The first point is to emphasize that the concentration of so few surnames evidences the peaceful history of Korea. In making this point I need to emphasize that this is a matter of comparison with other countries. Korea has suffered great invasions! My emphasis on the peaceful spaces between major wars is not to say there was not suffering and heartache in Korea. In fact, one of the objections I have to the typical recitation of the long list of "invasions" is that by ignoring the qualitative differences between the two major invasions, Japan (1592-98) and Mongol (1231-59), where millions of people died, and listing all the "invasions" as if they were the same, hides the fact that these two invasions were a quantum measure larger and more damaging to Korea.



At the same time, by de-emphasizing the scale of the Japanese and the Mongol invasions, one de-emphasizes the tremendous ability to recover demonstrated by the Korean people.



In the case of the Japanese invasion, though Korea was the greatest victim of the fight between Japan and Korea (and China as Korea's ally), the Korean court rebuilt and continued on. Whereas, the Japanese government fell in the wake of their failure in Korea.



And it can be argued that the Chinese government fell because of their losses (men and resources) in the war, for after all, the Ming Dynasty was defeated by a much smaller state out of Manchuria that established the Qing Dynasty. In a sense, China was the big loser because they were taken over by an alien power. Japan was taken over by a rival to Hideyoshi, Tokugawa. But Korea, that suffered the greatest losses in people and property, re-built, restored the king to the throne and reestablished social order, and all returned to order antebellum. It was remarkable.





In the case of the Mongols, the Goryeo court fought nobly for 28 years before the Mongols declared victory. Over those years, the Mongols formed new forces repeatedly and kept trying until they were satisfied, but herein the interesting thing is that they did not achieve complete control of Korea. In other conquered lands, notably China, the Mongols took over control of the country. In Korea, they did not. They were satisfied to have the Korean king remain on the court, but to marry a Mongol princess. Thus, Goryeo was called a "son-in-law kingdom," not a subjugated kingdom.



All the other conflicts  with the Manchus, with the Khitans, the Jurchens and with Japanese pirate raids  the scale of warfare does not compare. Two important measures can be applied: the number of fatalities, and the duration of the hostilities. These two large-scale invasions lasted years. None of the other hostilities did. These two saw millions of people dead. None of the others come anywhere near a million.



Thus, I think Korean history should remember the degree of devastation and emphasize the resistance and reconstruction to these two great "world-scale" wars, and at the same time see that the other hostilities were much smaller. And the times before, between and after these two great wars were hundreds of years.



And therein lies the story of peaceful development and cultural superiority in the primacy of the scholar (seonbi) and scholarly pursuits (the exam system) and a stable continuity of government and society. Thus, I have come to study the "peace" of Korea more than the "wars." I have tried to step back from the typical paradigm of "history is the study of wars" to the new paradigm of "history is the study of peace."



One of the current measures of this remarkable stability that I see in Korean history is the concentration of the surnames. Kim, Yi and Pak are the royal names of earlier dynasties that were never fully eliminated. The wars and invasions did not destroy the fabric of Korean society, and neither did the rise and fall of dynasties. In large measure the aristocracy of Korea has been in place for 1,500 years. More on surname issues next week.





Mark Peterson (markpeterson@byu.edu) is professor emeritus of Korean, Asian and Near Eastern languages at Brigham Young University in Utah.


While the coronavirus pandemic is a scary and tough time for new mothers and pregnant women, police in Rajasthan have plied technology to take a novel step in order to aid such vulnerable women. Police in the city of Udaipur have started a new WhatsApp group by the name of "Hello Mommies" to help out new and expecting moms.

Several pregnant women across Udaipur have been added to the WhatsApp group, which was created by women cops and has a total strength of 150 members. As per reports, the group has also helped a number of these women connect to hospital and medical services.

The idea of a special WhatsApp group for expecting mothers was suggested by additional superintendent of police Gopal Swaroop Mewar.

As per group administrators Chetna Bhati, Sudha Palawat and Prem Dhande, who also created and implemented the group, the group was intended for the police to identify and help pregnant women in "curfew-bound areas".

As per Chetna Bhati, jawans and constables on checkpoint duty have instructed to identify such women in their areas who could need medical or any other form of assistance, even at beyond permitted hours or at night. "We are feeding their numbers in the group so that they may reach us directly in case they require any kind of assistance during the curfew period", Bhati told news outlet

Udaipur Kiran.

Even as cases of coronavirus continue to spike in India, expecting and new mothers in India have been facing a number of challenges amid the national lockdown. Even as medical facilities remained stretched due to high cases of COVID-19, several pregnant women including migrant workers or their wives are reportedly at risk due to the lockdown.

Last week, district administration officers in Jaipur intervened to help out a pregnant woman who had been on her way to Madhya Pradesh on foot by providing her food and transport.
Jerusalem: China's ambassador to Israel, who took up his post in February, was found dead at his home on Sunday morning in a coastal suburb north of Tel Aviv, officials said.

The ambassador, Du Wei, was found in his bed in Herzliya by an embassy worker, officials said.

Men leave the house of China's ambassador to Israel, Du Wei, after he was found dead in his home in Herzliya, Israel. Credit:Getty

Israeli police found no reason to suspect foul play in the death of Du, 57, officials said, and in preliminary findings, the Chinese government attributed his death to unspecified health problems.

Investigators  including Chen Kugel, the head of Israel's National Centre of Forensic Medicine  declined to comment as they left the ambassador's residence. Du's wife and son were not in Israel at the time, according to Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 00:49:03|Editor: huaxia

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach reacts during a press conference in Olympic House after the closing of the IOC Executive Board Meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, March 4, 2020. (Greg Martin/IOC via Xinhua)

IOC and WHO signed a new cooperation agreement to promote a healthy society through sport in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.



LAUSANNE, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday signed a new cooperation agreement to promote a healthy society through sport in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to affect people's lives around the world.

"Over the last few months in the current crisis, we have all seen how important sport and physical activity are for physical and mental health. Sport can save lives," said IOC President Thomas Bach. "We will benefit from WHO advice when addressing the challenges of the post-coronavirus society, where health will play a much more prominent role in public policies. We look forward to working even closer with WHO. The IOC calls on the governments of the world to include sport in their post-crisis support programs because of the important role of sport in the prevention of non-communicable diseases, but also of communicable diseases."

Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, addresses a press conference about the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

He continued: "As we are preparing for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in a safe environment for all participants, we are happy and grateful that we can continue to rely on the valuable advice of WHO."

"I am pleased to formalize this longstanding partnership with the International Olympic Committee," said WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "WHO works not only to respond to diseases, but also to help people realize their healthiest lives, and this partnership will do exactly that. Physical activity is one of the keys to good health and well-being."

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks at a daily briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, March 9, 2020. (Photo by Li Ye/Xinhua)

WHO was instrumental in sharing technical advice with the IOC during the discussions that led to the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. 
Dozens of people standing shoulder to shoulder in front of two Marina District wine bars drew a visit and an admonishment on Friday night from San Francisco police.

Police were called to the 2300 block of Chestnut Street where they found people not complying with the health ordinance to maintain social distance and wear face masks, said sergeant Michael Andraychak.

The proprietors of the two bars, Howells and Cultivar, were admonished by officers, Andraychak said. It was the first time the establishments had been the subject of complaints, he added.

Photographs of dozens of unmasked young people crowded onto the sidewalk and street circulated on social media, drawing angry comments.

So much for stay-at-home, wrote one comment poster. These thugs cant be trusted to make the right decision.

Nick Barker, the general manager of Cultivar, acknowledged that his customers and others were violating pandemic rules when the officers arrived. The crowd quickly broke up, he said.

We support the police, Barker said. Were thankful for their help. Its hard to control a customers behavior, once they purchase a (take-out) product from us and go back outside.

Under the states temporary coronavirus rules, bars and restaurants are allowed to serve alcoholic beverages for takeout.

Andraychak said a report of the incident would be forwarded to the city attorneys office.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

On Saturday evening around 7:30 p.m., Howells was closed, and only a few people could be seen outside Cultivar.

NOTE: This story omitted a response from owners of one of the bars. Howells Bar co-owners Sameet Mehta and Nate Welch said they appreciated the police response and the dispersal of the crowd, not all of whom were Howells customers. Their bar sells beverages and food for takeout only and has signs urging customers and others not to congregate.

Chronicle staff writer J.K. Dineen contributed to this report.

Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@SteveRubeSF
At the end of April, Susan Wojcicki, YouTubes CEO, had an announcement for those who wished to upload content to the preeminent video platform: The platform will remove any videos that have problematic information about the Wuhan Virus.

It appears now that YouTube decided that a man who holds doctorates in computer science and medical biometry, is problematic for disagreeing with the World Health Organization, because his video, with 1.4 million views, just disappeared. The federal government and the states, however, may provide a solution to the tech giant problem.

In the CNN interview in which she announced YouTube's censorious policy, Wojcicki expanded upon what constituted problematic content. YouTube wasnt just concerned with folk remedies, such as  Take Vitamin C . . . take turmeric.  Instead, YouTube decided that the World Health Organization, which first wrongly downplayed the virus and then lied about Chinas role, is the gold standard. Anything that would go against World Health Organization recommendations would be a violation of our policy, she said.

It was almost certainly fealty to this standard that led YouTube to remove a video by Dr. Knut M. Wittkowski, who is critical of the lockdown approach to the virus:

Dr. Knut M. Wittkowski, former head of biostatistics, epidemiology and research design at Rockefeller University, says YouTube removed a video of him talking about the virus which had racked up more than 1.3 million views. Wittkowski, 65, is a ferocious critic of the nations current steps to fight the coronavirus. He has derided social distancing, saying it only prolongs the virus existence and has attacked the current lockdown as mostly unnecessary. Wittkowski, who holds two doctorates in computer science and medical biometry, believes the coronavirus should be allowed to achieve herd immunity, and that short of a vaccine the pandemic will only end after it has sufficiently spread through the population. With all respiratory diseases, the only thing that stops the disease is herd immunity. About 80% of the people need to have had contact with the virus, and the majority of them wont even have recognized that they were infected, he says in the now-deleted video.

If youre curious about the Wittkowski video, you can see it here (assuming you can get it to load, something thats not usually a problem at YouTube). Youll notice that it tracks the actual data about the virus, rather than kowtowing to the defective models that dictated (and still dictate) most governments approaches to the Wuhan virus.

To appreciate how dangerous it is that YouTube is engaging in this type of censorship, you have to appreciate how big Google and YouTube, a Google subsidiary, really are:

As of August 2018, the website is ranked as the second-most popular site in the world, according to Alexa Internet, just behind Google.[2] As of May 2019, more than 500 hours of video content are uploaded to YouTube every minute.[7] Based on reported quarterly advertising revenue, YouTube is estimated to have US$15 billion in annual revenues.

YouTube and Google are run by all those good college students who dutifully imbibed the constant stream of leftist indoctrination poured into them during their years at college campuses in America and Europe. At YouTube, this ideology means that theyre reasonably comfortable with anti-Semitic bile but have de-platformed Prager University so that the videos are hidden in search engines and cannot be viewed in schools.

Help may on the horizon, although not in the form of the government dictating content, which would trade the Google monopoly for an even more powerful, government monopoly. Instead, we may see some old-fashioned trust-busting, a la the 1911 breakup of Standard Oil.

It appears that the Justice Department is drafting a lawsuit against Google based upon allegations that its violating antitrust laws. The focus is on its control of the digital advertising market. It appears too that myriad state attorney generals are also eying suits against Google.

Trump is certainly enthusiastic about breaking the power of these hard-left tech monopolies:

The Radical Left is in total command & control of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google. The Administration is working to remedy this illegal situation. Stay tuned, and send names & events. Thank you Michelle! https://t.co/ZQfcfD3Hk9  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2020

Although Im not a fan of the government interfering in matters of either speech or the free market, things are a bit different here. Given how big these tech outlets are, this is one of those rare instances that cannot rely on the marketplace and competition to weaken Googles and YouTubes strangleholds on the exchange of ideas in America. Too many people have invested too much data in them to walk away.

Ive written before about the fact that these outlets are public accommodations in the same sense as restaurants and lodgings were when the federal government enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Indeed, to the extent these repositories of information are trafficking in ideas, one shouldnt need an act to impose upon them the obligation to abide by the First Amendment. It's time to break down these conglomerates, making them appropriately vulnerable to the forces of free-market competition.
New Delhi/Islamabad, May 17 : Afghanistan's former spy chief has warned that the Pakistan-backed Haqqani network (HQN) is helping banned Islamist terror group al-Qaeda to plan another 9/11-style terror attack against the West.

In a series of tweets posted on Sunday, the former director of Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS), Rahmatullah Nabil revealed that al-Qaeda continues to be backed by the HQN based in Pakistan.

"If state sponsors of terrorism in the region are not stopped we will see another 9/11-style attack in future. Al-Qaeda's al-Zawahiri, Abu Muhammad Al Masri and Saif ul Adel are still planning attacks in the West with the backing of the HQN which is based in Pakistan," he tweeted.

An offshoot of the Taliban, the HQN headed by Maulvi Jalaluddin's son Sirajuddin Haqqani, is an Afghan Islamist terror group fighting against the US-led NATO forces and the democratically elected government of Afghanistan. The network in the 1980s was backed by the CIA during the Ronald Reagan administration to fight against the Soviets in Afghanistan.

Jalaluddin Haqqani for his network, recruited Arab national Osama bin Laden who later founded al-Qaeda with a pan-Islamic objective. Al-Qaeda remains closely associated with the HQN whose objective of establishing Islamic rule is restricted to Afghanistan.

The former director of NDS in a series of tweets on Sunday said, "Sirajuddin Haqqani and his senior commanders are running the commission responsible for overlooking the foreign fighters." Yahya Haqqani is the overall liaison for the HQN with foreign fighters, Nabil said.

"From ETIP (East Turkistan Islamic Movement), AQIS (Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent) to AQC (Al-Qaeda Central) all these are the strongest allies of HQN leadership, in particular Sirajuddin Haqqani and his hard boys which gives HQN leverage and control over the wider Taliban movement thus striking fear in those who oppose them in the movement," the Afghan security expert said.

Nabil revealed that Abdul Rauf Zakir also known as Qari Zakir, the chief of suicide operations of HQN with a bounty of five million dollars on his head, had been killed in a drone strike along with Hamza bin Laden (Osama's son) in Ghuzguri area of Kurram Agency.

"The death of Hamza bin Laden was confirmed in September 2019 by US President Donald Trump. But no one talked about the place of his death and that he was together with Qari Zakir in Kurram Agency! Hamza bin laden was killed with Qari Zakir in the same drone strike," he tweeted.

The Taliban particularly HQN have never denounced al-Qaeda, the former NDS director pointed out.

"From the materials seized in Abbottabad to sheltering Farooq Al Qahtani in Kunar the intelligence communities know this very well. Intel sources are aware that the presence of AQIS and AQC is only strong in areas where HQN is present/active and these agencies are sitting on piles of evidence. We cannot ignore the elephant in the room," Nabil wrote while tagging US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US President Donald Trump.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-18 02:02:15|Editor: huaxia

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ROME, May 17 (Xinhua) -- On Monday, Italy will take its biggest step yet toward reopening its economy after nearly ten weeks of national lockdown.

Starting Monday, shops, restaurants, bars, barbershops, beauty salons, museums, and beachfront operators will all be allowed to reopen as long as they respect rules for social distancing and disinfecting facilities. Italians will also be allowed to move within the region they live in. But schools will remain closed. The current plan is for them to reopen only in September.

The decision to keep schools closed is controversial, especially since the newly-reopened economy will see more parents heading out to work while children have no place to go.

Minister of Education Lucia Azzolina said the decision to keep schools closed was based on health concerns.

"The easy thing would have been to reopen the schools, but we acted prudently," the minister told Italian reporters last week. "Keeping the schools closed has allowed us to save lives by slowing the spread of the contagion."

Traditionally, the decisions to close schools in Italy -- usually for bad weather or in the wake of a natural disaster -- are taken by local mayors, and rarely does a closure last for more than a few days. But if schools remain closed until September, it means students will have been out of the classroom for seven months by the time they reopen.

In some parts of Italy, including some provinces of the northern region of Piedmont and in parts of southern Italy not hard hit by the coronavirus outbreak, mayors have threatened to reopen schools despite the rules of the national quarantine. But no city has so far disregarded the rules completely.

For students who are old enough -- usually those above the age of around ten, teachers and students are carrying out some form of lessons online. But there are worries that such a long period out of the classroom will worsen educational results for Italian students compared to those in other countries, where schools will be allowed to reopen sooner.

For younger students, the lockdown represents a bigger challenge since one of the main roles of school at that age is socialization.

Two mayors of the cities in Piedmont said that small children should be allowed to gather so that their parents can go to work. Alberto Villani, president of the Italian Pediatric Society, a member of Azzolina's task force on school reopening, said such a move, however, would not take into account how difficult it would be to have small children respect social distancing rules or to wear masks, and it would also ignore the risks to the teachers who would have to work in crowded environment.

"It is absolutely premature to bring children of any age back to class," Villani told local media Il Fatto Quotidiano. "The indications of the technical-scientific committee, taking into account [all of the] trends and the numbers, tell us the situation is still worrying."

Though the current plan is for schools to reopen only for the fall semester, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte did give some hope to those hoping for an earlier reopening when he said quarantine deadlines in place could be moved up if the epidemiological data on the outbreak in Italy improved going forward. Enditem
An explosion and fire at a commercial building in downtown Los Angeles Saturday night has wounded 11 firefighters, the LA Fire Department said in a statement. AP describes the business as a "hash oil manufacturer."

Why it matters: The LAFD said the business, Smoke Tokes Wholesale Distributor, is "reportedly a supplier for those who make butane honey oil. The cause is of great concern to us and is under active investigation." More than 230 firefighters responded following a "mayday" distress call, the department tweeted.

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

Of note: Per AP, butane is an "odorless gas that easily ignites, and its used in the process to extract the high-inducing chemical THC from cannabis to create a highly potent concentrate also known as hash oil. The oil is used in vape pens, edibles, waxes and other products."

The big picture: The fire department said the severity of injuries was not confirmed. But Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted that all of the firefighters were being "treated for their injuries and in stable condition."

The LA Fire Department said in its statement that firefighters were attending the fire call-out "when a significant explosion occurred."

A mayday call was put out over the radio and additional units attended the Major Emergency incident.

SmokeTokes website says it is an "international distributor and wholesaler of smoking and vaping products, and related accessories," selling products including torches and butane, vaporizers and pipes.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell speaking to the press on Capitol Hill on 12 May, 2020: Getty Images

Donald Trump has publicly pleaded with senior Republicans to back his "Obamagate" theory to help him win the next election.

The president has been trying to popularise the phrase, sending out one word tweets saying "Obamagate" and accusing his predecessor of unspecified criminal offences. The accusations, which Mr Trump claims also implicate his likely Democratic opponent in November, Joe Biden, relate to investigations into the behaviour of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

While Trump supporters and media allies like Fox News have enthusiastically piled in, senior Republicans like Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham have so far been more circumspect.

On Saturday morning, while tweeting a series of attacks on his political opponents, the media and web companies, and praising his own handling of the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Trump sent a direct message to Mr McConnell, with Mr Graham's Twitter handle included.

He wrote: "Mitch, I love you, but this is 100% true. Time is running out. Get tough and move quickly, or it will be too late. The Dems are vicious, but got caught. They MUST pay a big price for what they have done to our Country. Don't let them get away with this! @LindseyGrahamSC."

mitch-mcconnell-senate-majority-leader-republican.jpg

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell speaking to the press on Capitol Hill on 12 May, 2020 (Getty Images)

In a separate tweet, alluding to a supportive article from The Federalist's Mollie Hemingway, Mr Trump wrote: "This is true. I say it all the time. The Republicans must play by the same rules, or die! Wow Mollie, you are good."

On Thursday Mr Graham, chairman of the Senate's judiciary committee, rejected the president's suggestion that he force Barack Obama to testify about the alleged conspiracy on Capitol Hill. Mr Trump said the supposed plot was "worse than Watergate", adding: "No more Mr Nice Guy. No more talk!"

Mr Graham responded: "I don't think now's the time for me to do that. I don't know if that's even possible.

Story continues

"I understand President Trump's frustration, but be careful what you wish for."

Ms Hemingway's article calls on Republican Senate majority leader Mr McConnell to do more to hit back at what she calls the "Russia hoax", warning that the Republicans risk losing their majority in November if he fails to do so.

Gen Flynn was appointed national security adviser in January 2017 but the president fired him for lying to the FBI and to vice-president Mike Pence over his contacts with the then Russian ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak.

Mitch, I love you, but this is 100% true. Time is running out. Get tough and move quickly, or it will be too late. The Dems are vicious, but got caught. They MUST pay a big price for what they have done to our Country. Don't let them get away with this! @LindseyGrahamSC https://t.co/PplfqTJdHc  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2020

The retired three-star general twice admitted lying to the FBI in court. However, Attorney General William Barr has instructed his Department of Justice prosecutors to withdraw the case against him, arguing that Gen Flynn's admissions were not "material" to the Bureau's investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The judge in his case has asked to hear an opposing opinion before deciding what to do with the case.

Richard Grenell, Mr Trump's acting Director of National Intelligence, has revealed the names of Obama-era officials who knew that Gen Flynn was an object of interest to authorities.

While Mr Trump and others have argued that this points to a conspiracy against his incoming administration, others have said there is nothing unusual in senior figures requesting the identities of people who may be subjects of investigation, something that has continued under the current administration.

Others have pointed out that Mr Trump has a habit of making outlandish claims about his predecessor, some of which -- including that Mr Obama was not born in America and therefore ineligible to be president, or that he founded the terror group Isis -- have been shown to be false.

Asked last week by Washington Post reporter Philip Rucker exactly what crime he was accusing Mr Obama of, the president declined to explain, saying: "You know what the crime is. The crime is very obvious to everybody. All you have to do is read the newspapers, except yours."

Read more

What is 'Obamagate'? 3 things to know about Trump's latest fixation
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant



on Sunday said that from Monday, the Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express will not take a halt in the state, where 18 people have tested COVID-19 positive in the last few days.

Some of the patients include those who had arrived in Goa by this train, he said.

"There are 18 COVID-19 positive cases in the state right now. These cases were detected at the entry point of the state, before these patients could mingle with other people," he said.

"Since there are rising instances of passengers testing COVID-19 positive after their arrival in Goa by Delhi Rajdhani train, it has been decided that this train will not take a halt at Madgao railway station from Monday," he said.

The Rajdhani Express train that arrived on Saturday had carried more than 280 passengers, while the one which came on Sunday brought in 368 passengers, he said.

Sawant, however, said that the Nizamuddin Express running between Thiruvananthapuram and Delhi will continue to take a stop at Madgao railway station.

"We have noticed that none of the passengers, who have arrived by Nizamuddin Express, have tested positive so far. Also, very few people get off this train at Madgao railway station," he said.

The chief minister also said that a mechanism is being put in place, wherein all the truck drivers arriving in the state from red zones would be tested for COVID-19 before they are allowed to enter.

No community transmission due to the COVID-19 patients has been found in the state so far, he said.

He ruled out the possibility of postponing the SSC (Class X) and HSC (Class XII) exams, conducted by the state board, which are starting from May 21.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mr. Johnston was mostly right. Early on a Sunday morning several weeks later, the mountain did blow, in the most destructive eruption in U.S. history. But there was no warning. At his instrument outpost, on a ridge more than five miles from the summit, Mr. Johnston had only seconds to radio in a last message: Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!

Image A photograph of David Johnston, who was killed when Mount St. Helens erupted. Credit... Chris Sweda/Daily Southtown, via Associated Press

Monday, May 18, marks the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption, and as we now face our own struggle to gauge the uncertain risks presented by nature, to predict how bad things will get and how much and how long to protect ourselves, it may be useful to revisit the tension back then between science, politics and economics.

The drama played out on a much smaller stage  one region of one state, instead of the whole planet  but many of the same elements were present: Scientists provided a range of educated guesses, and public officials split on how to respond. Business owners and residents chafed at the restrictions put in place, many flouted them, and a few even threatened armed rebellion. In the end, the government mostly accepted the analyses of Mr. Johnston and his fellow geologists. As a result, while the eruption killed 57 people and flattened hundreds of square miles of dense Pacific Northwest forestland, the lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands, were spared.

At the first warning signs, state and federal officials moved to distance people from the mountain. They sought to block nonessential visitors from nearby Spirit Lake, ringed with scout camps and tourist lodges. Other than loggers, few people hung around the peak year-round, but the population surged in late spring and summer, when thousands hiked, camped and moved into vacation homes. Many regulars dismissed the risk. Slipping past roadblocks became a popular activity. Locals sold maps to sightseers and amateur photographers that showed how to take old logging roads up the mountain. The owner of a nearby general store shared a common opinion of the threat: Its just plain bull. I lived here 26 years, and nothing like this happened before.

Like the probability of a pandemic, though, it was well-established that one of the dozen or so volcanoes in the 800-mile Cascade Range might soon turn active. Averaging two eruptions a century, they were overdue. A 1978 report by the U.S. Geological Survey, where Mr. Johnston worked, identified Mount St. Helens as most likely to blow next. Yet forecasting how big the event could be was a matter of art as well as science. Geologists could model only previous explosions and list the possible outcomes. (That position was difficult for many to accept, because they believed we could and should make predictions, a U.S.G.S. report said later.)
We should also start considering assisting Government financially so that we revive the economy. The welfare of people is the responsibility of the church. It is possible and we must not be afraid. Zimbabwe Council of Churches was born in Gweru in 1964. Churches then rose up against racism and colonialism. The church should lead in unity. Everyone who is a Christian should drive the vision of the church to unite people. People are looking for a day and a place where they are called people of God and not identified by their political affiliation, race or tribes. It is incumbent upon the church to unite the people and provide that place, he said. Sunday News
Prime Minister Netanyahu and his former rival Benny Gantz were today sworn in for Israel's new unity government, ending the longest political crisis in the nation's history.

Lawmakers in the 120-person parliament, the Knesset, formally approved the three-year coalition government with 73 voting for and 49 against. One member was absent for the vote.

Today's swearing in of a coalition ends an impasse of more than 500 days, following three inconclusive elections that left the country in a political limbo.

Benjamin Netanyahu at Sunday's swearing in ceremony of Israel's new unity governement

It also comes just a week before Netanyahu is due to stand trial on corruption charges, which he denies.

Addressing the Knesset before the vote, Netanyahu vowed to push on with controversial plans to annex large parts of the West Bank, including eastern Jerusalem.

The proposal is part of US President Donald Trump's controversial peace plan, which also includes the establishment of a Palestinian state in parts of the West Bank and Gaza.

Netanyahu said his incoming government should apply Israeli sovereignty over West Bank settlements.

'It's time to apply the Israeli law and write another glorious chapter in the history of Zionism,' Netanyahu said on the issue of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Netanyahu, seen wearing a mask at the ceremony, announced he would push ahead with controversial plans to annex parts of the West Bank

Such a move is seen likely to cause international uproar and inflame tensions in the West Bank, home to nearly three million Palestinians and some 400,000 Israelis living in settlements considered illegal under international law.

Netanyahu told the chamber that annexation 'won't distance us from peace, it will bring us closer'.

Israel's unity government was agreed last month between veteran right-wing leader Netanyahu and the centrist Gantz, a former army chief.

Plans had been set for an inauguration last Thursday, but after 17 months without a stable government, Netanyahu asked for three more days to decide on cabinet assignments among his Likud party loyalists.

Under the three-year coalition deal, Netanyahu will serve as prime minister for the next 18 months.

Gantz will take on the new position of alternate prime minister for the first half of the deal, before he and Netanyahu swap roles.

The new government's policy guidelines are focused on combatting coronavirus and healing an economy battered by the pandemic.

Netanyahu's unity government partner and former rival Benny Gantz at the ceremony

The Netanyahu-Gantz deal also says that from July 1, the government can initiate moves to annex Jewish settlements and other territory in the West Bank.

Some experts warn that Jordan may back away from its historic 1994 peace deal with Israel if the Jewish state tries to annex the strategically crucial Jordan Valley border region.

Speaking to German magazine Der Spiegel earlier this week, Jordan's King Abdullah II said: 'If Israel really annexes the West Bank in July, it would lead to a massive conflict with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.'

Opposition to the proposed annexation has also come from the European Union.

The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc would use 'all our diplomatic capacities' to try to dissuade Israel from the move.

Gantz and incoming Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi are both known to have reservations about annexation and the international backlash and did not mention the issue in his Knesset speech on Sunday.

He did however address criticism of his move to join forces with Netanyahu, which split his Blue and White coalition, arguing that Israel needed unity after a year of bitter division.

'My friends and I chose unity to defend Israeli citizens, not just from the challenges from outside our borders, but also from the hatred eating away at us from within and harming our resilience,' he said.

The 35th government since Israel's creation in 1948 includes representatives from across the political spectrum, with a record 34 to 36 cabinet seats.

Cabinet posts have been assigned to the left-wing Labour party, Blue and White, Netanyahu's Likud and leaders from conservative ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties.

The large cabinet and additional funds needed for the new position of alternate prime minister have prompted criticism as Israel seeks to address the economic fallout from Covid-19, which has infected more than 16,500 Israelis and caused more than 260 deaths.

Israel's Yediot Aharonot newspaper called the incoming government 'the most bloated and wasteful' in the nation's history, adding that Israel's economy is 'in an unprecedented state of emergency'.
Photo: Contributed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Health Canada has approved COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials at Dalhousie University.

Health Canada has authorized COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials at Dalhousie University, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said May 16.

The trials are part of work at the Halifax, Nova Scotias universitys Canadian Centre for Vaccinology, Trudeau said speaking from Ottawas Rideau Cottage.

Research and development takes time and must be done right, Trudeau said.

No details on what the clinical trials entail were provided. Dalhousie officials are expected to provide details.

Canada has 75,004 COVID-19 cases as of May 16, the bulk in Quebec followed by Ontario, Canadas main population concentrations. Some 5,595 people have died nationwide.

On May 15, Trudeau announced $450 million in funding to help Canadas academic research community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By providing these institutions with immediate support, we continue to nurture Canadas talent pipeline and sustain our innovation capacity, while helping to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 on the research community, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Navdeep Bains said.

On March 12, Health Canada authorized the first COVID-19 serological test for use in Canada, the DiaSorin LIAISON. The department said Canadian laboratories will use the test to detect antibodies specific to COVID-19.

Serological testing will contribute to a better understanding of whether people who have been infected by COVID-19 are immune to the virus, the department said. Further research will also help us fully understand the relationship between positive antibody tests and protection against re-infection.

Through the work of the federal COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, the department said, at least one million Canadian blood samples will be collected and tested over the next two years to track the virus in the general population and in specific groups at greater risk of having been infected, including health care workers and the elderly.

The department said 18 COVID-19 diagnostic testing devices have been authorized in Canada.
DUQUE DE CAXIAS, Brazil - Specialists stood over intubated patients in the intensive care unit, reviewing charts and jotting down notes. They conversed in low voices, barely audible amid the incessant beeps from patients monitors.

Two empty beds were in sight Saturday morning, but doctors at the Sao Jose hospital in a working class city just north of Rio de Janeiro said they would be occupied by afternoon. It likely will be only a matter of days, or perhaps hours, until the rest are full, too, as the coronavirus spreads.

People are coming from all over, Jose Carlos de Oliveira, health secretary for the city of Duque de Caxias, told The Associated Press in the hospitals parking lot.

This disease is not kidding around. Whoever thinks its a joke is going to lose their life, said de Oliveira, a physician who recently recovered from the virus himself.

Four ambulances soon pulled up simultaneously at the hospital. A fifth had arrived 20 minutes earlier. All transported COVID-19 patients and were making a dash for the facilitys precious few remaining beds.

Sao Jose is accepting overflow from other hospitals whose facilities are already maxed out in treating COVID-19 cases.

In Rio de Janeiro state, which has the second highest number of deaths in Brazil, most hospitals accepting COVID-19 patients have run out of intensive care beds. According to the states health secretary, as of Thursday, 369 people thought to have the virus were waiting to be transferred to an ICU.

The Sao Jose facility was just inaugurated, on May 4, and already 90% of its 128 beds are occupied. Less than a week after the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, the city of Duque de Caxias bought a private hospital and began racing to transform it into an intensive care facility exclusively for treatment of COVID-19 patients.

More than 15,000 Brazilians have died from the disease so far, though many experts say the figure is probably significantly higher, with cases missed because of insufficient testing. In recent days, more than 800 people have been added to the death toll every 24 hours and the crisis peak has yet to hit Latin Americas largest nation, the experts say.

President Jair Bolsonaro has consistently downplayed the pandemic, calling the coronavirus a little flu and fiercely criticizing state governors and mayors who have closed businesses, introduced lockdowns and recommended stay-at-home measures. Bolsonaro has instead advocated for everyone who doesnt belong to at-risk groups to return to work so the economy doesnt collapse.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms including fever and cough. The risk of death is greater for the elderly and people with other health problems such as diabetes or hypertension.



Associated Press video journalist Yesica Fisch reported this story in Duque de Caxias and AP writer Diane Jeantet reported from Rio de Janeiro.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-18 03:10:37|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday that the United States will no longer remain in Syria and Iraq, according to leader's official website.

"For sure, Americans will not remain in Iraq and Syria, and they will be expelled" from those countries as the Americans "have supported terrorism" and "are abhorred" by the regional nations, he said.

Khamenei made the remarks in a video-conference meeting with the Iranian students on Sunday. Enditem
Police in Australia are hunting a man who took a late-night tour of a closed Sydney museum, posing for selfies with a dinosaur skull before making off with a cowboy hat and a picture.

The intruder climbed up scaffolding into The Australian Museum at around 1:00 am last Sunday and went on a leisurely wander through the empty building, local police said.

"He was in there for about 40 minutes... he certainly enjoyed his night at the museum," New South Wales Police Detective Chief Inspector Sean Heaney said Friday.

Security cameras caught the man taking photos with displays, posing with his head inside the jaws of a Tyrannosaurus skull and searching cupboards.

The man eventually left the museum with the hat and a picture from a wall, officers said.

The Australian Museum has been closed since last year for renovations and police believe the refurbishment work made his entry easier.

Other museums and galleries around Australia are also closed as part of coronavirus shutdowns.

"It's very serious, we shouldn't make light of this," Heaney said, as he appealed for witnesses to help catch the man.

"We're lucky he hasn't damaged any historical artifacts or anything that is expensive in there."
A Canadian Air Force jet crashed, killing one of the military personnel on board, in Kamloops, British Columbia, on Sunday during a flyover that was intended as a tribute to Canadians, especially those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, the authorities said.

Capt. Jenn Casey, who was a spokeswoman for the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, a demonstration team, was identified by the authorities as the military member who died in the crash.

The RCAF has suffered another tragic loss of a dedicated member of the RCAF team, the Royal Canadian Air Force said on Twitter. We are deeply saddened and grieve alongside Jenns family and friends.
Delhi recorded 422 new cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Sunday, taking the citys tally to 9,755, according to the daily health bulletin released by the Delhi government. With almost 400 cases being recorded in the national capital each day for the past four days, the total number of infections is likely to cross the 10,000 mark on Monday.

Nineteen more deaths were recorded in Delhi, taking the citys toll of Covid-19 fatalities to 148. All these deaths did not, however, take place in the past 24 hours and were cleared from a backlog of probable cases by the Death Audit Committee.

This is the second-highest number of deaths that have been recorded in a day since 20 deaths were recorded on May 13.

These deaths did not happen in the last 24 hours; the nineteen deaths for which summaries have come in have been recorded. It is difficult to get the reports the same day. It takes a couple of days to get the report. The backlog has almost been cleared, there will be additions like this once or twice more, said Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain in a media interaction on Sunday.

Many of the cases are coming from hospital, BSF, CISF. There have been many cases from the police department. There are many cases of health care workers also. Many patients admitted to the hospitals have also tested positive. Right now, most of the cases are coming from the existing containment zones, we will increase the containment zones as and when needed, said Jain.

This puts Delhis mortality rate at 1.5%, still among the lowest in the country.

All designated Covid-19 hospitals  government and private -- have now been directed to submit their death reports each day by 5pm to prevent any backlog and erroneous reporting. A three-member death audit committee goes through the case sheets, patient records and investigations, and death summary to include the deaths in the toll every day at 5:30 pm. The step was taken after a discrepancy was detected in the number of cases recorded in the health bulletin and those reported by hospitals. Only the deaths where the primary cause is Covid-19 will be recorded in the bulletin.

A person may have tested positive for the infection, but if their chest X-Ray is clean, the arterial blood gas does not show any signs of acidosis, and their oxygen saturation is normal then clearly Covid-19 isnt the cause of death, said a senior official from Delhis health department, on condition of anonymity.

The 9,755 cases have been recorded in less than three months since the first case was reported in the city on March 2. The first person to be infected by he disease in the city was a 45-year-old resident of east Delhis Mayur Vihar who had returned from Italy.

So far, 95,656 cases have been recorded in the country, with Delhi accounting for 10% of the cases. The highest number of cases have been recorded in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, followed by Delhi.

The first spike in cases of the highly infectious disease was reported in the city in early April after people who attended a congregation in the headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat, an Islamic missionary group, in Nizamuddin Basti started testing positive for the infection. As per Delhi government data, 1,080 of the over 2,300 people who were evacuated from the building tested positive for Covid-19.

The highest number of cases recorded during this first spike was on April 13 when 356 cases had been recorded in a single day. Of these, 325 were in those evacuated from Nizamuddin, the data showed.

The number of cases started shooting up this month, with Delhi breaching the highest single-day spike in numbers four times in May -- 427 cases were recorded on May 3, 428 on May 6, 448 on May 7, and 472 cases were recorded on Thursday, May 14. From just over 3,500 Covid-19 cases recorded till April-end, the numbers have shot up by over 6,000 cases being recorded in the city in just 15 days.

Some of this is owing to laboratories across the city rushing to give Covid-19 reports with 24 hours of collecting the samples in compliance with orders by the Delhi government and the high court. Since mid-January when screening for Covid-19 began in the country, Delhi has tested 135,791 samples. There are 13 government and 15 private laboratories in the city performing the tests.

Many district authorities also pointed out that hospitals were becoming hotspots for infections with several healthcare workers, their family members, and patients visiting hospitals also testing positive for the disease. So far, over 500 healthcare workers across the city have tested positive for Covid-19.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anonna Dutt Anonna Dutt is a health reporter at Hindustan Times. She reports on Delhi governments health policies, hospitals in Delhi, and health-related feature stories. ...view detail
Army Sgt. First Class Vince Gill III was allegedly stabbed by his wife on Fort Knox

A U.S. Army sergeant was allegedly stabbed by his wife after failing to carryout household chores amid the coronavirus lockdown

Verol Gill III, 46, reportedly ended up getting into an argument with his spouse, 42-year-old Chaniqua Boyd, in their home on the Fort Knox military base.

A criminal complaint alleges he was stabbed after breaking his promise to clean the couch.

Military police on the Kentucky base found the sergeant first class with a deep wound to his upper torso, according to the Daily Beast.

He was taken to University of Louisville Trauma Center where doctors found he had a punctured lung.

Gill is said to have excused his lack of chores and failure to clean the couch 'due to a missing part from the vacuum machine he rented.'

'Boyd then returned from the kitchen with a knife and said, "I wish you would spit at me again,"' the complaint, based on an interview with agents from the Army Criminal Investigative Division reads.

'She then followed V.G. (Verol Gill) to the kitchen and the two continued to argue. Boyd punched V.G. in the face twice and then stabbed him in the chest.'

The fight allegedly began after Sgt. Gill's failure to clean the couch after a vacuum broke

Boyd has reportedly admitted to investigators that she and Gill had a history of domestic violence incidents with both having of them having previously been charged with assault.

Authorities say Boyd claims she did not mean to stab Gill and denies all knowledge of having done so.

She reportedly claimed that she was carving a turkey when Gill 'came at her,' and that he 'lunged into the knife.'

Boyd was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm and fitted with an ankle monitor.

The attack happened in housing on the Fort Knox military base in Kentucky, near Louisville

A judge ordered her to stay away from Gill and she is now living with her mother before her next court appearance on June 23.

If convicted at trial the maximum sentence for assault with a dangerous weapon with the intent to do bodily harm is 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release.

'Boyd vehemently denies the allegations and looks forward to presenting the full version of events at the appropriate time,' her lawyer said claiming that she had long been abused by Gill and that the relationship was coming to an end.

'It is unfortunate that given that history, law enforcement thought it necessary to subject her to criminal charges for this incident,' said Boyd's lawyer.
China in Focus (May 16): Babies Fall Sick as More Fake Formula Hits Shelves

New studies find that the symptoms of the coronavirus are far stranger than doctors initially expected. What are COVID toes? And how can a patient have severe lack of oxygen without even realizing?

Many children have falling ill in China after ingesting fake baby formula. Its the latest in a series of cases involving more problematic baby food products.

The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) is coming under increased global scrutiny for its handling of the pandemic. Now, there are also rising tensions between the agency and Beijing over the virus investigation.

And U.S. President Donald Trump has said that U.S. funding for the WHO may drop by 90 percent. Here is his reasoning and how it will be conditional based on the amount of funding given by China.

Subscribe to our Youtube channel for more first-hand news from China

For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter
The idea behind antibody tests for the novel coronavirus is highly appealing.

Such tests, also known as serology tests, are designed to detect proteins produced by the immune system in response to an infection, indicating previous exposure to a pathogen.

The hope was that the tests, which use blood from a finger prick or blood draw, could identify people who had been infected by the coronavirus but never knew for sure. That presumed immunity could allow them to return to work and public life, without the risk of COVID-19 hanging over their heads.

But as antibody tests have proliferated in San Antonio and across the U.S., the reality of what they can and cant promise consumers has proved far more confusing and complicated.

With little in the way of federal regulation, manufacturers have released more than 100 brands of antibody tests, with varying levels of accuracy. Few were vetted by the Food and Drug Administration before they went on the market.

Amid growing concerns about the reliability of some tests and false advertising of them, the agency ordered companies earlier this month to provide proof their tests worked and instituted performance standards.

I agree with anybody who says its a Wild West, because theres been a flood of different kits out there, said Dr. Sam Bagchi, the chief clinical officer for Christus Health, which last month initiated antibody testing for its employees and selected patients at its hospitals.

On ExpressNews.com: Christus hospitals roll out antibody testing to identify coronavirus infections in health care workers, patients

Local health officials are sounding the alarm as dozens of antibody tests for the coronavirus have become widely available to the public through doctors offices, urgent care centers and drive-up sites.

The tests are being marketed and sold to consumers who are desperate for answers about the highly contagious virus that has disrupted their lives and livelihoods.

Experts say existing antibody tests, still in their infancy, have limitations that prevent them from providing such insight. And they worry a positive test could lull people into a false sense of security, leading to less cautious behavior.

Dr. Junda Woo, medical director of the Metropolitan Health District, said the agency has been working to dispel the notion that antibody tests can diagnose a coronavirus infection, or that they can tell a person whether they are immune from future ones.

Not enough is yet known about how a person gains immunity to a virus that only has been circulating among humans for six months, she said, or how long such protection would last.

Its a public health threat for somebody to think that theyre protected and act as if theyre protected when theyre actually not, she said.

Photos by Billy Calzada / Staff photographer

Metro Health has created an explainer to help physicians grasp the complexities of antibody testing. While the health department is not responsible for regulating antibody tests, it is contacting providers who are conducting the tests outside a certified lab to warn them that they are violating federal standards.

The rushed roll-out of antibody tests has sparked a debate in the medical community about their usefulness for individuals. Some doctors recommend steering clear of them altogether, while others are using them as a screening tool or are counseling patients on the tests shortcomings and nuances.

Little regulation

The way that antibody tests entered the market was in sharp contrast to the cautious approach federal regulators took with diagnostic testing for the coronavirus.

When the coronavirus first emerged in the U.S., public health laboratories initially were unable to conduct swab-based diagnostic testing due to problems with kits distributed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Commercial and hospital labs also were unable to develop their own tests for some time, as the FDA was slow to grant authorization.

The resulting bottleneck, which was paired with initially narrow testing criteria, stymied early efforts to identify where the coronavirus was spreading.

With antibody tests, regulators allowed manufacturers to widely produce and distribute kits under a flexible policy issued in March.

As a result, tests went out to the public before developers had to prove their efficacy. And some began to falsely claim theyd secured FDA approval, when at best, only about a dozen tests had received emergency use authorization.

The FDA allowed companies to provide antibody testing while they worked on providing the evidence that the antibody testing was doing what it said it was doing, said Dr. Jason Bowling, an infectious disease specialist with UT Health San Antonio and University Health System. The pendulum swings from one extreme to the other.

On ExpressNews.com: We cant test everyone: San Antonians grow frustrated as they run up against limited coronavirus testing

Dr. Jeremy Gabrysch, CEO of Remedy, an Austin-based telemedicine company that has opened antibody testing sites in several Texas cities, said the FDAs normal approval structure cannot work in a pandemic situation, because it cant get the lab tests we need to market fast enough.

Two measures  sensitivity and specificity are critical to understanding the strengths and weaknesses of any given test.

Sensitivity refers to the ability of a test to correctly identify all the people who have a certain disease  in this case, COVID-19. Specificity indicates how often a test accurately rules out those who dont.

Billy Calzada /Staff photographer

For the coronavirus, antibody tests have been all over the map. Some have been prone to detect antibodies for coronaviruses other than the one that causes COVID-19, such as those associated with the common cold.

The most accurate antibody tests still have limitations, Woo said, because theres a higher likelihood of false positives if few people are infected. That could be a concern for people who get tested in San Antonio, where coronavirus infections account for less than 1 percent of the overall population.

Even the best antibody tests will produce as many or more false results as true results if the level of infection in a community is low, Woo said. Thats not because its a bad test, thats just a technical limitation of testing.

Immunity a question

Some experts have noted that tests to diagnose an active coronavirus infection have drawbacks, too.

For that test, a swab is used to collect a sample from the nasal cavity. Depending on when a person is tested and where the virus is residing in the body, the test might not pick up an active infection, in some cases even for those who develop severe symptoms of COVID-19.

A person whos almost or fully recovered might not test positive, either, if the virus mostly has cleared the system.

Even if antibodies are detected by a test, some experts argue that more needs to be learned about immunity against COVID-19, including which antibodies are protective and what level they must reach to confer that protection, before conclusions can be drawn from their results.

We dont know what the antibody to COVID-19 means, we dont know how long the protection lasts, Bowling said.

On ExpressNews.com: She was released from a hospital in San Antonio with coronavirus still in her system. Weeks later, she doesnt appear to have infected anyone.

Based on information from other coronaviruses, such as the one that causes SARS, experts have estimated that immunity of two to three years after a COVID-19 infection is likely.

Some early success treating critically ill coronavirus patients with plasma from recovered donors also supports the idea that people infected with the virus have some level of immunity, Bagchi said.

That does give us more evidence that immunity does exist and immunity can be shared through plasma donation, he said.

Billy Calzada /Staff photographer

But its still too early to say with certainty whether immunity against COVID-19 is like measles  robust and long lasting after infection  or something shorter, such as the flu.

Bowling said he wouldnt recommend antibody testing for his patients at this time.

I would not use it to diagnose their disease or try to interpret, from that standpoint, their individual health maintenance guiding their care, he said.

Woo said she wouldnt recommend people seek out such tests unless it was part of a study to identify coronavirus antibodies among the population at large.

Screening patients

Other health care providers in San Antonio see value in antibody testing and are forging ahead, albeit with differing approaches.

In early March, Christus Health, which operates hospitals in San Antonio and New Braunfels, began searching for an antibody test that could be used across its system.

They landed on an antibody test produced by Healgen Scientific, a Houston-based medical manufacturer, that produces results within 10 to 15 minutes. The system bought all of the companys test kits  about 70,000.

The test, which has sensitivity of nearly 79 percent and specificity of more than 97 percent, was validated in Christus central lab against known coronavirus patients. Bagchi said the system never would rely on a test that had not been rigorously evaluated.

The FDA hasnt yet given the test emergency use authorization.

The hospital system has chosen to deploy the antibody tests as part of a comprehensive testing strategy and not a standalone test, Bagchi said. Theyre being used to screen Christus employees, including those who might have been exposed to the virus, as well as all consenting patients who are being hospitalized for elective procedures unrelated to COVID-19.

If a person tests positive for antibodies, theyre also then tested for active infection.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

Bagchi said the testing can help ensure a safe hospital environment by flagging potentially infected patients and workers.

Billy Calzada /Staff photographer

At Christus Santa Rosa Hospital at the Medical Center, the system also has piloted conducting both tests at the same time.

So far, more than 2,500 people throughout Christus international hospital system have been tested through blood draws. The tests are being offered at no charge.

There has been some debate about the testing among the systems physicians, but Bagchi said most support it.

We feel its important to use all the tools available to us to both expand our testing capacity and expand our understanding of who may have been exposed, he said.

Alternate routes

Within the past few days, new providers of antibody tests have joined several dozen places already offering them in San Antonio.

Last week, Remedy, the Austin telemedicine company, began drive-up antibody testing at a parking lot off Interstate 10 on the Northwest Side. The company says the tests should be partly or fully covered by insurance but estimated an uninsured person would pay between $49 and $69.

While Remedy is conducting the blood draws, it has outsourced testing of its samples to Quest Diagnostics, a national commercial laboratory. Quest is using tests produced by Abbott Laboratories and Euroimmun, which have been granted emergency authorization use by the FDA.

Before patients are tested, doctors counsel them during a video call. Gabrysch said his company is trying to avoid problems with false positives by assessing patients for relevant symptoms and travel history. Such a targeted approach, as opposed to testing people indiscriminately, can yield more accurate results, he said.

There are some things in medicine where we are able to tell you, this is exactly what this means, he said. There are other things where we have to say, this is what we think this means by the best evidence that we have.

Gabrysch said he understands why health officials are worried about some of the problems with antibody testing. In Remedys case, he said, the company has prepared handouts explaining test results to its patients.

On ExpressNews.com: A last resort against COVID-19: A ventilator wasnt enough for this 30-year-old patient, so S.A. doctors improvised

Other doctors have fully embraced making antibody testing available to the general public.

Billy Calzada /Staff photographer

In late April, Dr. Luke Berry, a local emergency room physician, noticed a number of patients were unhappy with a dearth of testing for the coronavirus.

He obtained a mobile trailer and began researching companies that make rapid antibody test kits. On April 21, he began offering both diagnostic and antibody tests for the coronavirus at a price of $149 per person.

After moving around his testing site, Berry now has parked the trailer in front of Livingston Med Lab, a Stone Oak-area lab that processes the swabs he collects for the diagnostic tests. He said he has tested hundreds of people.

Berry, 31, who is affiliated with the Greater San Antonio Emergency Physicians group, said the cost of testing has been affected by skyrocketing prices for protective equipment, swabs and other items needed to run tests.

He sources his antibody test kits from RayBiotech, a Georgia-based biotechnology company. The tests, which use blood from a finger prick, are advertised as having sensitivity of around 90 percent and specificity of more than 98 percent.

At the bottom of his website, Berry has a disclaimer stating that the antibody test has not been reviewed by the FDA and that its results cannot diagnose a coronavirus infection. He noted the antibody tests are paired with the gold standard diagnostic ones.

On ExpressNews.com: His COVID-19 patient got better after a plasma transfusion. To know if it worked, a San Antonio doctor is encouraging more donations.

We disclose all of this, that there are limitations to the antibody test and immunity is not something we are saying this antibody shows, he said. The way that I was approaching it was, we can do these antibody kits and at least give the patient an idea if they were exposed.

On Wednesday, Berry said he also soon will offer a finger-prick antibody test produced by Hardy Diagnostics, a California-based medical manufacturer that has received an emergency use authorization from the FDA. More of Berrys tests would be conducted using those kits as they become available, he said.

Unlike tests for active infections, the results from antibody tests are not being reported to health departments, so they have no impact on official case counts.

Woo, with Metro Health, said she is concerned about some of the prices for such testing when diagnostic tests are available for free at numerous sites across the city.

To ask people to pay 140 or however many dollars for a test that we dont know will be useful is morally troubling, to me, she said.

A previous version of this story incorrectly defined test sensitivity and specificity, swapping the definitions of each.

Lauren Caruba covers health care and medicine in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Lauren, become a subscriber. lcaruba@express-news.net | Twitter: @LaurenCaruba
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 09:56:00|Editor: huaxia

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People visit Xiangjiang park in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 17, 2020. Heilongjiang Province had been cleared of confirmed COVID-19 cases as the last patient was discharged from hospital after recovery on Saturday, the provincial health commission said Sunday. No new confirmed or asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were reported in the province on Saturday, it said. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

HARBIN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province had been cleared of confirmed COVID-19 cases as the last patient was discharged from hospital after recovery on Saturday, the provincial health commission said Sunday.

No new confirmed or asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were reported in the province on Saturday, it said.

By Saturday, the province had reported a total of 559 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and 386 imported confirmed cases.

Also by Saturday, 546 locally transmitted COVID-19 patients and all the 386 imported COVID-19 patients had been discharged from hospital after recovery.

The province still had four asymptomatic cases, according to the commission.

By Saturday, a total of 629 close contacts of locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province and four close contacts of imported confirmed cases were still under medical observation. Enditem
Violinist Jennifer Koh has commissioned 40-plus new pieces for her Alone Together live streams. Read more

Its the climactic moment of All the Rage, a solo violin work written in recent weeks by Philadelphia composer David Serkin Ludwig, a Curtis Institute faculty member, to capture what he calls the intense rage that people are feeling  against our governments response and negligence.

Leading up to the scream is solo violin writing thats meant to capture the distorted sound of death metal electric guitar.

All the Rage is just one of the 40-and-counting short pieces for unaccompanied violin that Koh has commissioned in recent weeks through her nonprofit Arco Collaborative. These new works  running anywhere from 30 seconds to three minutes  are written not for next month or next year but to be premiered now in her weekly Facebook Live programs each Saturday.

Theyre all available on the Jennifer Koh YouTube Channel, where youll find All The Rage about 15 minutes into the Week 5 installment of her Alone Together series.

It almost feels like an archive of different aspects of this quarantine, she said during the sixth segment. Its been a roller-coaster.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia Orchestra gives gift of Pomp to graduates everywhere

Other performers, institutions, and foundations  from the Guggenheim Museum to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra  have been commissioning and performing pieces in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The idea is to help to keep composers financially afloat and doing what they do best. (Many events are listed on the website icareifyoulisten.com.)

Taken together, these direct artistic responses are the classical soundscape of the pandemic.

The keep-your-spirits-up message that circulated early on in the classical music community has given way to something darker, no doubt coming from the mounting uncertainty whether institutions that once fostered artistic work will survive at all.

Then theres the artistic loneliness. Composers and musicians not only miss each other, but live listeners.

 READ MORE: Musicians worldwide are playing their hearts out in live-streamed performances. These are some of the most soulful ones.

People say theres more time to think. Theres no upside of that. I refuse that, said pianist Igor Levit, one of the most celebrated musicians of his generation, in one of the many webcasts he has performed during the shutdown. Id rather be with you.

In the weekly musical pandemic chapters written by bicoastal composer Lisa Bielawa (shes now up to six), testimonials" that people submit to her website, lisabielawa.net, find a voice in loose-limbed songs. Multiple voices sing lines like, I feel like Im going in reverse, I miss being healthy, and I was just getting my life on track  often written with a lag time suggesting social-distanced reality. Sample title: The New Abnormal."

 LISTEN: The New Abnormal from Lisa Bielawas Broadcast from Home series

Some composers turn toward God. Gratias Tibi, church Latin for giving thanks, is the title of a piece being composed by Jose Luis Dominguez for the New Jersey Symphony and a physically distanced choir. All performers will record their parts individually from home in what promises to be the largest pandemic piece so far, celebrating frontline workers. The virtual world premiere is on June 8; look for details at njsymphony.org/gratiastibi.

Others find inspiration in the mundane. Composer/pianist Conrad Tao, one of 30-plus Guggenheim-commissioned artists, created the music video What Ive Been Doing, riffing on the drip of my leaky ceiling; the tone of running water hitting a drain, so faint I always wonder if Im imagining it; the rustling of a low-density polyethylene plastic bag. (The full Guggenheim series is on the Works & Process Guggenheim YouTube channel.)

Surprisingly numerous composers are writing about the loss of spring. In another Guggenheim commission, Michael R. Jackson sings about a romantic breakup during the lockdown titled Your Silence.

Obviously, these pieces arent likely to sound like the composers business as usual. I always ask myself what can I do now that I cant do any other times, said Lansdale-born composer Missy Mazzoli, concerning her Koh piece Hail, Horrors, Hail (quoted from Paradise Lost). The pause has forced me in a good way to try something totally new.

The piece, performed at the end of Kohs Week 6 installment, may be one of her most effective, with themes repeated in ways that become obsessive and hysterical. Koh isnt asked to scream: Mazzoli does it for her.

Vacuum Packed was Thomas Kotcheffs name for his Koh work. Thats how I felt, he says in an explanatory video, sealed off, closed off and trying to maintain my own bubble of sanity.

Finding herself unable to work with her usual colors while composing for Koh, Pulitzer Prize winning Ellen Reid envisioned a brick wall: You cant go over it, she said in an accompanying video. Its impenetrable. The title: Brick Red Mood.

More sounds of the times

More amiable and upbeat is the Los Angeles-based web show Living Music with Nadia Sirota: Pirate Radio Edition with a playful intro suggesting a send-up of The Tonight Show. The casual party atmosphere has Sirota and her three or four guests on each show proudly drinking on the job while unveiling new works (or new versions of older works) by noted composers such as Donnacha Dennehy. Listen 9 p.m. Eastern on Tuesdays and Thursdays on the Living Music with Nadia Sirota Facebook page.

 WATCH: Episode 11 of Living Music: Pirate Radio Edition, featuring the music of Donnacha Dennehy.

On more distant fringes is a group called ThingNY whose SubtracTTTTTTTTTlive has, among other things, the ultimate muted outburst with six screens, open mouths, but no sound. Find archived episodes on the Ensemble thingNY YouTube channel.

The enterprising HERE arts center has launched a series of what it calls Covideos. One features noted puppeteer Basil Twist and a set of hands floating in midair in an urban stairwell. Sound artist Christine Campanella plays a piano keyboard wearing surgical gloves. You can find them on the HERE Arts Center Facebook page.

Most daring but most reality-based is Phil Klines Every Night at 7, employing sounds recorded from the streets of New York City. Best known for his Vietnam War-oriented Zippo Songs, Kline is a major composer who has also authored the ambient music perennial Unsilent Night (periodically performed in Philadelphia). Now, he has organized music from the cacophony that erupts on Manhattan evenings in gratitude to the epidemics first responders. The piece encompasses sirens, church bells, and lots of pan banging. Listen at Dreamcity9 on SoundCloud.

davidpatrickstearns@yahoo.com
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said that the government has taken a number of steps in the healthcare sector to battle the Covid-19 pandemic.

 15000 crore have been announced for states, essential items, testing labs and kits, along with rolling out of teleconsultation services, the launch of Aarogya Setu app and protection to health care workers with adequate PPEs, Sitharaman announced in her final tranche on 20 lakh crore stimulus package on Sunday.

The finance minister said that the Centre has released more than 4,113 crore to states. Insurance cover of 50 lakhs per person has been announced for healthcare workers.

Also read: 7 sectors in focus under last tranche of economic stimulus - Nirmala Sitharaman

The Epidemic Diseases Act was amended for protection of healthcare workers, she said.

Sitharaman said that health expenditure will be increased and investment at the grassroots level will be ramped up for health and wellness centres, with a particular focus on aspirational districts.

All districts will have infectious diseases block in hospitals. Public health labs will be set up at block levels, Sitharaman added.

Also read: FM Nirmala Sitharaman gives a break-up of govts stimulus package

Sitharaman on Sunday opened her address on the final tranche of the economic package by quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She said that prime minister Narendra Modi, in his address earlier this week, has said that the coronavirus crisis has brought an opportunity to build a self-reliant (Atmanirbhar Bharat).

As a nation today we stand at a very crucial juncture. Such a big disaster is a signal for India, it has brought a message and an opportunity, Sitharaman quoted the prime minister.

She said that todays announcements will be about 7 steps taken by the govt - MGNREGA, health & education related steps, business & Covid-19, decriminalization of Companies Act, ease of doing business, public sector enterprises, state govt resources.

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The city reported 11 deaths on Saturday taking the death count to 185 in Pune city due to Covid-19. Sassoon General Hospital reported four deaths on Saturday, taking the hospitals total count to 103 deaths. Out of the 11, one includes a 46-year-old transgender from Bhavani peth. The number of critical patients also rose from 70 as of May 9 to 149 on Saturday. About 68 patients were discharged taking the final count to 1,698 and 202 fresh cases of Covid-19 were reported taking the total to 3,295.

The transgender was suffering from acute respiratory failure due to bilateral pnuemonia with diabetes, hypertension, obesity and Covid-19 positive. The death was reported at Sassoon hospital where the patient was admitted on May 14 and declared dead on Saturday at 3:45 am.

The other deaths includes a 55-year-old female from Ramtekdi Hadapsar, reported from Kashibai Navale hospital who also had a history of pulmonary TB and was admitted on May 9 and declared dead on May 15.

The third death is that of a 64-year-old male from Nana peth, reported from Poona hospital who also suffered from diabetes, hypertension and IHD and was admitted to the hospital on May 13 and declared dead on May 15.

The fourth death is of an 84-year-old male from Rasta peth reported from Sahyadri hospital who was admitted on May 6 and declared dead on May 15 and was suffering from diabetes, hypertension and hyperthyroidism.

Fifth death is that of a 68-year-old female from Tadiwala road admitted at Sassoon on May 10 and declared dead on Saturday. The person was also suffering from myocarditis, acute kidney injury, dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertension.

The sixth death is that of a 63-year-old male from Ramtekdi Hadapsar, reported from Sassoon hospital who was admitted on May 14 and declared dead on Saturday. The person was also suffering from hypertension and ischemic heart disease (IHD).

The seventh death is that of a 49-year-old male from Mangalwar peth reported from district hospital Aundh who was admitted on May 14 and declared dead on Saturday and was also suffering from decompensated liver cirrhosis and bilateral pneumonia.

Another 79-year-old male from Gultekdi was reported dead on Saturday at Sassoon hospital and was also suffering from hypertension and hypothyrodism.

The ninth death was of a 72-year-old female from Bibwewadi reported from Poona hospital, admitted on May 13 and declared dead on Saturday due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ failure, diabetes and hypertension.

The tenth death was of a 48-year-old male from Tadiwala road reported from Symbiosis hospital who was admitted on April 24 and declared dead on May 16. The person also suffered from diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetic neuropathy.

The 11th death reported on Saturday as of evening update is that of a 65 -year-old from Yerawada, reported from Poona hospital who also suffered from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and diabetes. and was declared dead on Saturday.
Attorney Sidney Powell will go down in history as one of the greats.

Obama added his two cents' worth to the DOJ's dismissal of charges against General Flynn and got his tongue handed back to him on a silver platter via Sidney Powell. On sidneypowell.com is an open memorandum to our former president, Barack Hussein Obama, which addresses his concern for following the rule of law. Sidney rhetorically offers Obama help "if truth and precedent represent your true concern." We Deplorables are all too familiar with Obama's predilection for lying. In her memorandum, legal scholar Sidney educates Obama that his statement on the law is entirely false.

With the exoneration of General Flynn, the dominoes on the Obama administration scandals appear to be faltering. President Trump may have let the swamp creatures fade away without wasting time and energy on their destruction. Right after the election, Trump made a statement about letting Hillary and her crimes go to avoid further divisiveness. This is the pivotal moment when the left could have gathered its people and decided to forgo the insurance policy of destroying Trump. All they had to do was fade away and go live their lives. Instead, they chose to continue their attempts at destroying the Trump family, his presidency, his administration, and anyone who dared support him.

Sidney has stated that Obama has been involved in the framing of General Flynn. The likelihood that Obama's administration, including the DOJ, FBI, and CIA went rogue is nil. The likelihood that Obama learned about his administration's actions on TV is nil. Thank God we have President Trump in office, who now must see Obamagate through. We Deplorables expect convictions and long jail sentences so that no other administration will attempt what Obama and his administration have done to our country. If any of their circus acts had resulted in destroying our president, it is safe to say that a true civil war could have erupted. A big thank you to Sidney for breaking through on legal grounds.

Carol Headrick is the author of Obama Elected Trump.

Image: Fox Business via YouTube.
Students of the Presidency



University have distributed food items among transgender people hit by the lockdown, the institute's students' council president said on Sunday.

Twenty-five transgender people from Garia Nabagram area in the city have been given rice, pulses and potatoes among other essential items, Presidency University Students' Council President Mimosa Ghorai told reporters.

"We distributed 33 kg of rice, 6.5 kg of pulses, 12 kg of potatoes, 25 soybean packets besides onions, oil and soap among them on Friday and Sunday," she said.

Students and staff, faculty, alumni members contributed to the students' council fund for the cause, Ghorai said.

Chhabirani, a transgender, said she had exhausted all her savings in the first month of the lockdown and could not hold back her tears upon receiving the food packets.

"The monthly ration provided by the government had exhausted and we were wondering how to survive in the coming days. These children brought smiles to our faces. We bless them for a happy and successful life," she said.

Lauding the students' effort, Presidency University Registrar Debojyoti Konar said, "We are proud of our students. They have risen to the occasion like true 'Presidencians'. But they should maintain safety protocols while coming to the aid of the poor," Konar said.

Earlier during the lockdown, the students' council had given Rs 1,000 each to eight casual workers of the Hindu Hostel and a hawker who used to sell food packets on the institute's campus for years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A burst of violence on Sunday morning at a Super 8 motel in Northern Illinois ended with one person killed, two others wounded and a suspect who was barricaded for hours inside the building dead of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the authorities said.

The shootings began shortly after midnight at the motel on Colosseum Drive in the city of Rockford, which is situated on the banks of the Rock River, and a suspect engaged in an hourslong standoff with police officers who responded to the scene, the authorities said.

The police chief, Dan OShea, said in a statement that a SWAT team had responded to the initial shooting, and that officers discovered two people with gunshot wounds. A third victim was pronounced deceased, also from gunshots, he said. The wounded were being treated at a hospital; their condition was not immediately clear.

No further information about the victims, the suspect or a possible motive for the shootings were released. It was not clear if other people were in the motel.
A man and woman from Washington escaped a plane crash into the Columbia River on Sunday morning.

According to 911 calls to the Hood River County Sheriffs Office, a single-engine airplane was headed toward the Cascade Locks Airfield just before noon Sunday. Callers said that it appeared the landing gear did not properly descend in preparation for landing.

The plane then turned toward the river and skipped along the water, slowing, before coming to a rest on top of the water. It then sank into the Coast Guard waterway near the Port of Cascade Locks Marina.

Sheriffs deputies showed up and found the occupants, both from Bellevue, Washington, had left the plane and swam to shore.

Medics transported the pair to a Portland-area hospital to treat minor injuries.

Police said the cause of the crash is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Isabel Oliver is the national secretary of state for tourism. Since the state of alarm was declared, she has remained in her native Majorca. Last week she was at the offices of the national government delegation in Palma and spoke about tourism this year and going forward.

"We are working so that there can be as much of a tourism season as possible. It will be difficult, but we have to achieve it; that is for sure. Our main industry cannot stop."

The European commissioner for tourism recently suggested that tourism may operate at some 60% this summer. Oliver said that "you would want it to be like that, but control of the epidemic determines everything; reactivation will not occur until July." On quarantines and safe corridors for travel, she stressed that it was important to revive the economy under safe conditions. "We must be able to carry out good controls on passengers both within Spain and from abroad. I think the safe corridors proposal is an interesting one."

Asked if there was pressure to lift restrictions as soon as possible, the secretary of state said that there wasn't pressure so much as worry and uncertainty. "International travel is essential for Spain. Right now, the airlines have all their planes on the ground. But being safe to fly is not enough. Airports, hotels, restaurants, beaches - these must all be safe; it is a huge chain. The evolution of the pandemic determines everything. This is why I see there being progressive opening. The important thing will be to maintain social distance and personal hygiene. In the end, it will be a combination of factors."

She explained that she was not pessimistic about foreign tourism this season, but realistic. "We must not deceive ourselves. This will not be resolved until we have a vaccine. It is the case that some people will be reluctant to use certain types of transport. So for Spain, we have options to attract tourists from France and Portugal. For the Balearics, there is the opportunity for safe corridors."

Tourism promotion, she said, will involve an "emotional message" aimed at the domestic market and key overseas markets, such as Germany and the UK. All countries, she acknowledged, will be wanting to promote internal tourism. With regard to a UK minister having suggested that foreign holidays may be unlikely, she observed that "the British are eager to come; the desire to travel exists".

Now that the de-escalation process has started, a plan to relaunch tourism is being prepared with all the necessary support measures. Oliver stressed the importance of control parameters set by the European Union and the Spanish government and of agreements that have been reached with all sectors involved with the tourism industry.

Looking ahead, she considered the future of the tourism model and how it might change. "Sun and beach will continue to drive tourism, but not as before. This virus has brought the world to a standstill and it will have social and economic consequences. Tourism will continue to exist, and Spain is a great destination. But it is time for a 'reset' to improve tourism through more personalised and professionalised services, alternative products, 'calmer' products. The tourism industry is already highly professional and it will accompany this change."

Mass tourism, she observed, will not end, "but it will be transformed". "It will not be the same. Crowded establishments and beaches will be out of fashion. There is a new sensitivity. Anxiety has to be overcome by offering security."
Three container trucks carrying over 170 migrant workers during the lockdown were seized by police in Uttar Pradesh, close on the heels of death of 26 migrants in a collision between a trailer and a truck on which they had hitched rides.

A total of 178 migrant workers were found travelling in unauthorised vehicles on Saturday, officials said.

Seventy-eight migrant workers were found holed up inside a container truck in Shamli on Saturday evening, SP Vinit Jaiswal said.

The truck which was on its way to Ludhiana in Punjab was impounded by police and all the migrant workers were sent to a shelter home, he said.

In a similar incident, a container truck was intercepted by police in Muzaffarnagar, the SP said.

During checking, police found 60 migrant labourers sitting inside the vehicle, he said.

Police said arrangements were being made to send these labourers to their native places in West Bengal by special trains.

Forty migrant workers were found travelling in a truck by police in Muzaffarnagar district on Saturday night, Jaiswal said.

The truck was intercepted at the Baghela checkpost, he said.

It is learnt that authorities have sealed all entry points to Muzaffarnagar and Shamli to prevent travelling of migrant workers on foot and in unauthorised vehicles following a series of road accidents.

At least 26 migrants were killed and 34 others injured when a trailer and a stationary truck collided on a highway near Auraiya in the early hours of Saturday, police said.

Most of the victims were sitting on sacks of lime powder loaded on the trailer, and were crushed when the vehicles overturned and fell into a ditch following the crash near an eatery between 3 am and 3.30 am on the Auraiya-Kanpur Dehat stretch of National Highway 19, they said.
Electrical and electronic experts have urged the federal government to adopt 5G mobile technology, so the country can be part of the ongoing global technological industrialisation and development evolution.

The experts gave the advice at a 5G Health Symposium webinar organised by the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) on Saturday.

A former member of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Dr Yakubu Bityong, is dead. Bityong represented Kaura Constituency in the Assembly from 2011 to 2019.He reportedly died on Friday night in Kaduna at the age of 56.

Kayode Fayemi, Govenor of Ekiti State, has approved a draft supplementary for the downward review of the 2020 budget from N124. 5 billion to N91.128 billion in view of the general fall in crude oil prices at the international market.

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The State Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua, made this known in a statement obtained by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado Ekiti.

Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma has threatened to lockdown the State over violation of orders to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

He expressed his displeasure over the non-compliance of the citizens with the governments directives on the prevention of the spread of coronavirus in the state.

Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje has revealed that due to plans to increase the number of testing centres for COVID-19 in Kano state, there might be an upsurge in positive cases,

He made this known at a press conference of the state task force on COVID-19 at the Government House on Friday.

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has described the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu as a coward.

The Ralph Uwazuruike-led Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, made the declaration while challenging him to come back to Nigeria.

Lauretta Onochie, President Muhammadu Buharis aide on social media, has slammed the Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi for saying he is yet to understand the difference between COVID-19 and malaria. Speaking via her official Twitter handle, Onochie said she is surprised that Dokpesi would make such remark despite his academic qualifications.

Kwara state government says travellers from Lagos and North West are responsible for the increase in COVID-19 cases in the state despite the ban on interstate travels. Kwara state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said this while speaking with newsmen during an inspection visit to the Sobi Specialist Hospitals Isolation Centre in Ilorin.

A 33-year-old COVID-19 patient has delivered a baby boy at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, making it the third of such delivery at the facility.

The woman was said to have delivered the baby via a caesarian section on Thursday.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday received the delivery of the countrys allocation of the Madagascar anti-coronavirus drink.

President Buhari has received the Madagascan native formulation against the COVID19 pandemic, Bashir Ahmed, a presidential spokesman tweeted.

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has spoken against the N13.4 billion earmarked to feed school children at home, saying it would be better to use such fund to build infrastructure in tertiary institutions.

NANS made this known in a statement through its president, Danielson Akpan, threatening to mobilise its members nationwide in a mother of all protest should the federal government proceed with its decision to feed school children at home.

Musiliu Akinsanya, chairman of the Lagos chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) popularly known as MC Oluomo, says he has no interest in holding political office in Lagos.

Speaking on Public Eye, Funmi Iyandas talk show, on Friday, MC Oluomo said his children may be interested in politics but hes not
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The COVID-19 pandemic has most of the country in isolation, but it is bringing doctors together. We are no different. After medical school, we parted ways, and thought nothing of it. We met in our first year, endured 4 of the most trying and formative years of our lives together, and then moved to opposite ends of the country to pursue residencies in entirely different fields  this is the normal trajectory for medical school classmates.

Now, we are reunited, under circumstances that are decidedly not normal. When the pandemic reached the United States, we were still on opposite ends of the country; one of us a resident in cardiothoracic surgery at Columbia University, the other an emergency room attending at the University of California  San Francisco (UCSF). New York is the global epicenter of the pandemic, and New York hospitals are inundated with patients. Meanwhile, San Francisco has fared far better. In a gesture of unity, UCSF sent a volunteer group of physicians and nurses to New York to help on the front lines.

While many Americans suffer through isolation, health care workers are uniting in the face of the greatest pandemic in at least 100 years. As we face the pandemic, we have also become its heroes. On a nightly basis, people stand outside hospitals to applaud us, banging pots and pans to show their appreciation and support. Many Americans recognize the cost that health care workers, and all essential workers are paying in order to care for the sick. We defer time spent with loved ones. We risk our physical health. We risk our mental well-being. Suddenly, we find ourselves needing to advocate to get even the most basic supplies. Social media is used as a tool to disseminate critical information amongst professional colleagues, to dispel myths and promote responsible action among the general public, and to pressure policymakers to address the needs of patients and health care workers.

In the past, we as physicians have not done a great job of advocacy, and we have largely been removed from policy discussions. The emergence of physician advocacy is a relatively new phenomenon. During the AIDS crisis, in the setting of fear and explicit prejudice, a unified physician voice was largely missing from policy conversations. Since that time, physician advocacy for social change has grown. Physicians have led movements calling for sensible gun control only to be told to stay in our lane. Physicians have supported broader access to health care, defending the Affordable Care Act against repeated repeal attempts by a government body with minimal health care experience. Despite bearing witness to the consequences of policy decisions, our expertise is dismissed, and our calls for action go unnoticed. Physicians represent just 10% of hospital CEOs and just 3.2% of congress (3 in the Senate, 14 in the House of Representatives). In this crisis, we have finally begun to find our voice but, as in the past, have lacked the power to push forward important structural changes to address current and future health care challenges.

If the current pandemic has taught us anything, it is the importance and power of physicians advocating for ourselves. While we are currently advocating for the supplies and support we need in the face of a crisis; this is also an opportunity, a call to action, to continue to represent our field, our patients, and our communities. While we enjoy the privilege of caring for others on a daily basis, we must not forget that our profession affords us a class privilege, which we should leverage to promote health equity. There is no doubt that there will always be a need for competent and dedicated clinicians to serve on the frontlines. But, this pandemic has shown that we will also always be in need of effective advocates for our patients and our profession.

The pandemic brought us together, but when the crisis is over and we return to our homes, we must no longer be separated. If there is a silver lining in all of this, it comes from the affirmation that when we unite and advocate for ourselves and our patients, we can do great things. When the curtain of isolation lifts, we will continue to draw upon this newfound strength, and we hope you, dear reader, will join us.

David Blitzer is a cardiothoracic surgery resident. Tomas Diaz is a clinical emergency medicine fellow.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
President Donald Trump has tweeted an offbeat video made by a fan, depicting him in the role of fictional President Thomas J. Whitmore in the 1996 film Independence Day.

Trump on Saturday evening shared the video, created by the anonymous meme artist known as 'Mad Liberals,' without adding any comments of his own.

The video shows Trump delivering the movie's famous speech at Area 51 in which Whitmore, portrayed by Bill Pullman, calls upon a ragtag band of military pilots as well as civilian volunteers to launch a final, last ditch assault on the alien invaders poised to destroy Earth's major cities.

In addition to digitally mapping Trump's face over Pullman, the video depicts a wide range of Trump supporters - including his White house team, Fox News hosts, and Jack Posobiec, a far-right activist who promoted the outlandish 'Pizzagate' conspiracy.

Trump is shown delivering Independence Day's famous speech at Area 51

The video shows Trump delivering the movie's famous speech at Area 51 in which Whitmore, portrayed by Bill Pullman, calls upon a ragtag band to launch a final assault on the aliens

One cameo sparked particular backlash, that of One America News Network commentator Jack Posobiec (front), a far-right provocateur

Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson are among the real-life figures digitally inserted into the crowd scene from Independence Day

Lesser known figures from the Trump-supporting 'Meme Team' were also included

Response to the video was predictably divided along party lines, with Trump's supporters applauding it as humorous and inspiring, and his detractors panning it as narcissistic and possibly racist.

Trump's 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale features prominently, as do Ivanka Trump, Don Trump Jr, and Vice President Mike Pence.

Senator Ted Cruz is seen choking back a tear alongside Rep. Matt Gaetz, as Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson look on stoically.

Also seen are pundits Dan Bongino, Dinesh D'Souza, Mark Dice, David Harris Jr, and Brenden Dilley, as well as comedian Terrence K. Williams.

White House deputy communications chief Dan Scavino also features, along with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and creative officer Benny Johnson.

Ted Cruz choked back tears in the video as Ivanka Trump looked on from the background

Trump's campaign manager Brad Parscale (front) also featured prominently in the crowd scene

Posobiec's cameo sparked particular backlash, with the One America News Network commentator and a far-right provocateur, who was seen superimposed on a character holding a rifle.

He has notoriously promoted 'Pizzagate', an unfounded conspiracy theory that claims Democrats harbor child sex slaves at a pizza restaurant.

He also once claimed, with no evidence, that Disney had rewritten Star Wars film Rogue One to include anti-Trump rhetoric, and called for a boycott.

'Trump tweeted out this video that features white nationalist @jackposobiec in it holding a gun,' tweeted comic video editor Vic Berger IV.

Posobiec has publicly denied that he is a white nationalist and denies being part of the so-called alt-right, a racist offshoot of conservative movement.

Other Trump critics piled on, with one tweeting: 'When you're such a bad President, you need to photoshop yourself on a fictional President.'

'This is how Trump envisions himself... but in reality, we witness Trump not speaking in coherent sentences, lying, and throwing tantrums on the daily,' another wrote.

Trump's supporters responded to the video with enthusiasm, however.

'And ladies and gentlemen u are witnessing the reason why the left is trying to ban political memes from twitter! This. Is. Gold,' tweeted podcast host Tommy G.

'Wow that's a moving speech, Mr. President! Beautifully said!' one person tweeted.
RTHK: White House blasts CDC over virus tests

The White House rebuked the top US health agency on Sunday, saying "it let the country down" on providing testing crucial to the battle against the coronavirus outbreak.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been under intense scrutiny since producing a faulty test for Covid-19 that caused weeks of delays in the US response.

Critics have pointed out that it could simply have accepted kits made by the World Health Organization, which has been producing them since late January, instead of insisting on developing its own test.

"Early on in this crisis, the CDC, which really had the most trusted brand around the world in this space, really let the country down with the testing," Navarro told NBC's "Meet the Press."

"Because not only did they keep the testing within the bureaucracy, they had a bad test. And that did set us back."

The Food and Drug Administration has also criticized the CDC for not following its own protocols in manufacturing Covid-19 tests. The errors were not corrected until late February.

Trump often blames the administration of his predecessor, Barack Obama, for passing on "broken tests" for the new coronavirus -- although Obama left office years before the virus came into existence.

But Navarro's comments mark the strongest criticism by a named White House official of the CDC's role in the administration's slow roll-out of testing.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar defended the CDC against Navarro's criticism, telling CBS it was never meant to be "the backbone of testing, of broad, mass testing, in the United States."

"I don't believe the CDC let this country down. I believe the CDC serves an important public health role. And what was always critical was to get the private sector to the table," he said on "Face the Nation."

The United States has the world's largest coronavirus outbreak by far, with more than 88,000 deaths among some 1.5 million confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University.

On March 6, Trump said as he toured the CDC headquarters in Atlanta that four million "beautiful" testing kits would be available within a week and that "anybody that needs a test gets a test."

More than two months later, just 12 million Americans have been tested -- less than four percent of the population.

That places it 39th in the world behind other hard-hit countries like Russia, Italy and Spain, according to trusted online statistics source Worldometer.

Experts say widespread testing -- of healthy people as well as those with symptoms -- is crucial as a means of knowing exactly where the virus is spreading as the US begins reopening the world's biggest economy, locked down during the health crisis.

Navarro accused China -- where the outbreak started late last year -- of crippling the US economy "in 30 days" but vowed that Trump would rebuild it as the country reopened.

Echoing a claim made frequently by the president, Navarro said locking down the country until the outbreak was over would kill "a lot more people" through suicides, drug abuse and a halt on medical procedures than the virus itself. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-05-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Government bureaucrats first told us, inconsistently, that 1) masks were useless, and 2) we should save them for medical personnel. Now that advice has changed: on the theory that wearing a mask might prevent an asymptomatic person from passing on the virus, we are being pressured to wear masks of some kind when in public.

This has created an interesting sociological picture. Last week, my family went up North for a few days on a big lake near the Canadian border. We noticed that once you got outside the Twin Cities, hardly anyone was wearing a mask. On the other hand, after we returned I drove to downtown Minneapolis for the first time in a couple of months. The streets were nearly deserted. I saw around a dozen people, on the average one per block. The majority were young men, maybe 25 years old, generally walking along with no one within 50 yards of them. Every single one wore a mask.

Mask wearing has become a form of virtue signaling. Do they do any good? Who knows? But wearing one shows that you are a slavish adherent to authority. Not wearing one suggests that you might be a rebel.

Beyond the sociological aspect, there are actual facts. Neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock argues persuasively that face masks do more harm than good:

As for the scientific support for the use of face mask, a recent careful examination of the literature, in which 17 of the best studies were analyzed, concluded that, None of the studies established a conclusive relationship between mask/respirator use and protection against influenza infection.

***

Now that we have established that there is no scientific evidence necessitating the wearing of a face mask for prevention, are there dangers to wearing a face mask, especially for long periods? Several studies have indeed found significant problems with wearing such a mask. This can vary from headaches, to increased airway resistance, carbon dioxide accumulation, to hypoxia, all the way to serious life-threatening complications.

Here, as in other respects, Sweden has been nonconformist. Why is Sweden not recommending face masks to the public?

Face masks in public spaces do not provide any greater protection to the population, Johan Carlson from the Swedish Public Health Agency Folkhalsomyndigheten said at a press conference on May 13th.

***

Prime minister Stefan Lofven told reporters at the same press conference: There is a risk of a false sense of security, that you believe that you cant be infected if you wear a face mask.

In the absence of any substantial scientific support, face mask wearing has become a largely political act. If you love authority, if you need to be told what to doright or wrong!you probably are wearing a mask. If you tend to be skeptical of authority (or if you remember that not long ago, the authorities were telling us not to wear masks), you likely arent. Like so many things in America these days, wearing face masks is more a marker than a practical action.

PAUL ADDS: I am surprised that in our D.C. suburb, where few conservatives reside, considerably less than half of the people I see on my walks wear masks. On the other hand, almost all of the people I see whom I know to be liberal have masks on. On Friday, one of them chided me for not wearing one.

There are lots of foreigners in our neighborhood and they like to be outdoors. Most of them dont wear masks. They help account for the fact that mask wearers dont predominate around here.
Edward Harris of Los Angeles is one of 3,500 people given early release from prison during the pandemic. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

In short order, the coronavirus pandemic has ushered in a sweeping and historic emptying of Californias overcrowded prisons and jails, as officials have dramatically lowered the number of people held in custody to avert deadly outbreaks.

State data show Californias prisons have released about 3,500 inmates while the daily jail population across 58 counties is down by 20,000 from late February.

The exodus is having a profound and still-evolving effect: Those leaving custody enter a vastly different world in which a collapsed economy, scant job opportunities and the closure of many government offices have compounded the challenges of getting lives back on track.

Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan speaks after touring the Terminal Island prison site to inquire about the "extremely high" number of COVID-19 cases among inmates and prison staff. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Reentry programs are struggling to meet the deluge of incoming inmates as the disease has forced them to close shelters and serve fewer people.

People are continuously getting out.  Where are those folks going? said Jay Jordan, executive director of Californians For Safety & Justice, a nonprofit criminal justice reform group. "Seventy-five percent of people getting out of prison right now have no plan. Nowhere to go.

Some of those released from jails unknowingly carry the novel coronavirus, potentially infecting family, friends and the community. Advocates say many run the risk of ending up homeless when jailers don't connect them to services.

Others have taken advantage of the pandemic to commit more offenses, in some cases within hours of leaving jail. Law enforcement leaders and many district attorneys see an intensifying public safety threat posed by the mass release as well as a trampling of the rights of crime victims.

There was a one-size-fits-all approach which was really difficult to understand, said Sheriff Ian Parkinson of San Luis Obispo County, where no jail staff or inmates have contracted the virus. Now Im putting people out on the street that a judge might not put out.

Inmates walk to their cell blocks at the L.A. County Jail. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

It would be very difficult if we did nothing

On a typical day, there are still just over 50,000 people in California's constellation of jails and 116,000 in state prisons.

Story continues

The releases have been accomplished through a patchwork of measures, nearly all of which have generated controversy, including reduced bail for some and early release for those due to be out within 60 days. Others awaiting trial gained freedom through approvals from prosecutors, public defenders and judges, a process that resulted in about 700 people in L.A. County getting out. Such measures have pushed L.A. Countys jails  the largest system in the nation from a pre-pandemic population of 17,000 down to less than 12,000.

It would be very difficult if we did nothing, and left all 17,000 inmates in, to contain the spread of this disease, said Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey.

Perhaps most controversially, the state Judicial Council ordered zero bail last month for misdemeanor and low-level felonies.

The high risk of infections in institutional settings such as nursing homes have informed decisions to reduce jail and prison populations.

Fears of widespread outbreaks have been borne out: At the federal prison at Terminal Island, about 700 inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus, and eight have died. More than 900 inmates in a federal prison in Lompoc contracted the virus, the worst outbreak in the federal prison system. Five died at the mens prison in Chino, where 443 inmates have tested positive for the virus.

Dr. Mark Malek, the former director of infection control and epidemiology for the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, said jails and prisons are constantly challenged by infectious diseases, but COVID-19 poses particular threats.

"Social distancing can be done to a certain degree, but you can't take 100 people in a dorm and quarantine them separately. You have to quarantine them in the dorm," Malek said. "And we are not dealing with a 100% perfect healthy population here."

Edward Harris of Los Angeles is one of thousands of inmates given early release. A criminal justice advocacy group got him a hotel room. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

Whos answering the phone?

Edward Harris, whose record includes convictions for domestic violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm, was scheduled to walk out of Centinela State Prison in the Imperial County desert in late May when a parole officer told him Youre gonna be leaving fast" and to pack up.

He was among the 3,500 prison inmates who had their release accelerated by Gov. Gavin Newsom. But instead of going home, an old warrant caused him to be transferred into Riverside County's jail system, which was also experiencing an outbreak.

He was finally released the night of April 9, but had no place to go. His family was hunkering down in Texas, and he didnt know if he could reach any friends nearby.

"They got a phone right there that you get to use, but once again its a collect call from a payphone," Harris, 35, said in an interview. Here it is like 10 oclock at night, whos answering the phone? A collect call at that?

A lifeline came in the form of a phone number scrawled on a post-it note by his cellmate connecting him with Jordan's group, which has paid for his hotel room.

Advocates and service providers statewide have reported a similar lack of planning over the flood of early releases. Susan Burton, founder of the reentry program A New Way of Life, said the L.A. County Sheriffs Department refused to coordinate releases from its womens jail.

Last month, about an hour before Burton set out to pick up a woman eligible for release because of a preexisting medical condition, the Sheriffs Department called and told her not to come. Burton said she doesnt know where the woman ended up.

I felt it was really painful that they would rather just release the person instead of having a designated place for this woman to shelter in place, said Burton, who opened a nine-bed house to prepare for the surge of early releases.

Challenges persist even when jails do coordinate with reentry groups. When Santa Clara County became an early locus of outbreaks, the Sheriffs Department asked one of the largest local shelters, Home First, to expect an influx of 200 to 300 inmates. Home First had to turn them away.

Andrea Urton, chief executive of the Milpitas shelter, said she had to make the difficult choice of protecting those already under her care from potential infections.

We felt that we needed to make the decision because if we loaded up our facilities to max capacity  we would have an outbreak in our homeless shelters, Urton said.

An inmate puts his hand through the cell bars on the 3000 floor of L.A. County Men's Central Jail as sheriff's deputies patrol. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

In Los Angeles County, Homeboy Industries had to temporarily close its doors in mid-March due to financial headaches and distancing restrictions just as nearby Mens Central Jail was releasing scores of inmates.

We see the guys that come from the county jail, in their black paper jumpsuits, said associate executive director Hector Verdugo. And were saying, Im sorry brother, but our doors are closed for now due to COVID-19, but heres a care package.

Reentry providers statewide said the failure of some jailers to guide those who are being released toward transitional housing could encourage recidivism. Many ex offenders had no homes to go to before the pandemic, and with shelter and employment options more limited now, some may wind up stealing to survive.

"They are releasing people .... that have nowhere to go. Then the sheriffs departments are turning around saying these people will commit crimes," Jordan said. "How inhumane is that?

In L.A. County, the Office of Diversion and Reentry typically helps inmates with mental illness or substance abuse problems find housing, but the coronavirus has forced a new strategy.

We slowed our work down in court and shifted our resources to address the number of people released from jail, said Peter Espinoza, a retired Superior Court judge who now heads the office. Espinoza said they added 211 beds in new housing sites, and found housing for more than 170 inmates in a two-week period.

He said inmates in L.A. County generally are not being tested for COVID-19 before their release unless they show symptoms and many service providers now are checking for symptoms when they arrive.

The case of Frank Cooper underscores the risks of inmates as a vector for spreading the virus. Cooper was scheduled to be released from Riverside County jail in November, but was let go on April 24 to serve the rest of his term on house arrest. On his way out, jail staff wore gloves and masks, and put his personal belongings in a bag marked COVID.

Deputies work in a secure section of the Men's Central Jail. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Cooper was confused  he wasnt sick and hadnt even been tested. But a deputy who drove Cooper to the county jail in Banning to be released said the measures were necessary because his dorm was quarantined. Before leaving, a nurse took his vital signs and swabbed him for the virus.

Riverside County officials have yet to officially give him his results. Cooper sought his own test and learned May 2 that he was positive for the coronavirus.

Its only because Im a nurse and I did take some precautions, said his wife, Jackie Cooper. If I had just been a lay person going to pick him up with no mask, kissing him, hugging him  it could be a different scenario now.

I had anticipated hitting the ground running

Once outside, the closure of businesses and government services poses daily obstacles. Angela Hernandez, 38, was released from prison March 19, the day Newsom announced a statewide shelter-in-place order. She secured a spot at one of Burtons reentry homes in L.A., but needed to return to Bakersfield for a parole check-in and feared riding a bus would risk exposure to the virus.

I didnt want to put myself in a bad predicament, but I didnt want to wait it out either, Hernandez said.

Burton said she ended up driving Hernandez to Bakersfield. When they arrived, Burton said, the parole officer wasnt there. She checked in and filled out some paperwork, ending a trip they both viewed as unnecessary.

After nearly 11 years in state prison, Sureka Weinberg, 42, was released April 17 and entered a South L.A. residential program.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Men's Central Jail facility. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

The DMV is closed, so Weinberg cant get a new identification card. She doesnt know where her Social Security card is, cant open a bank account and doesnt have a credit history.

I had anticipated hitting the ground running, said Weinberg, who according to public records was an attorney before the fatal DUI crash that landed her behind bars. Not only am I just not able to do that, but Im anonymous as far as societys concerned.

Weinberg said she spends her newfound freedom studying online, taking Alcoholic Anonymous meetings via Zoom, and performing household chores.

Mass hysteria to empty jails and prisons

Police agencies have been quick to single out re-offenders. Alameda County has released nearly 1,000 inmates since March 15 and about 30 have been rearrested, said Sgt. Ray Kelly.

Among them was Rocky Music, whose antics were detailed on the Sheriffs Department Facebook page. Music was first detained on April 19 by Oakland police on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle. Twelve hours later, he was released because of the zero bail order.

Kelly said that 37 minutes later, he allegedly carjacked someone near a transit station in Dublin, and drove the car to a San Ramon gas station, where he tried to carjack a second vehicle. Police responded, chased Music and ultimately detained him using a police dog, Kelly said.

There was mass hysteria to de-incarcerate over COVID-19, and in our county it's proven not to be based on fact or scientific evidence, but based on fear, Kelly said.

The Alameda County jail population went from a pre-pandemic average of 2,600 to about 1,775 people. More than 50 inmates and two staff have tested positive for the coronavirus, and all but 14 current inmates have recovered.

Still, Kelly conceded it helped tremendously that fewer people were in custody and social distancing could be implemented, especially in the large dorm that houses minimum-security prisoners.

In San Luis Obispo County, Sheriff Parkinson said his agency took a pretty aggressive stance on the coronavirus: New inmates stay in a quarantine area for 14 days before going into the general population. Staff wear masks, and sheriffs deputies and inmates are given regular temperature checks. All 10 inmates who were tested had negative results.

Parkinson said his deputies supply all those released with Narcan, a prescription drug to treat opioid overdoses. Jail staff try to provide several days worth of medications, but the zero bail has limited their ability to get an accurate medical history when those arrested are swiftly released, he said.

San Luis Obispo County Dist. Atty. Dan Dow said repeat offenders face few consequences, with criminal trials suspended and bail for many nonviolent offenses eliminated.

"Bail is there to make sure a person has an incentive to come to court and remain crime-free," Dow said. "Just releasing them on zero bail  they have nothing to lose."

In one Orange County case, a man charged with vehicular manslaughter in connection with a street racing crash that left two people dead saw his bail fall from $100,000 to $20,000. The man was released last month, said Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer.

There comes a point where you have to weigh that the inmate might get a particular disease  which they might get outside of jail, that we all might get it outside of jail  against the public safety and the propensity that these people might commit crimes against another individual," Spitzer said.

Others argue that California's criminal justice system has long jailed too many for minor offenses and welcome the releases.

San Francisco Dist. Atty. Chesa Boudin, a former public defender and champion of more progressive law enforcement policies, said early releases there included a woman with a high-risk pregnancy and no criminal record who was serving time for a misdemeanor as well as another person too mentally ill to stand trial.

The surge in releases highlights a need to fund more rehabilitative programs, he said.

One of the great failings of the American system of mass incarceration is its refusal to invest in reentry.  It helps create and perpetuate a cycle of crime and violence, of poverty and victimization, Boudin said. It is possible to decrease the number of people in our jails and in our prisons in a way that does not impact public safety and does not lead to an increase in crime."
The lavish lifestyle of a drugs kingpin has been laid bare in court documents, exposing his uncontrollable spending on bling, cars and even Nando's.

Ryan Hill spent $1 million on lavish holidays and $12,660 worth of designer bags for his model girlfriend, as well as a $120,00 racing boat and several flashy cars.

The 26-year-old agreed to forfeit all his dirty money and proceeds from drug trafficking to the Queensland government under proceeds of crime laws.

It exposed his pricey Nando's habit, frequently spending his ill-gotten gains on spicy Portuguese chicken.

He also splurged on Louis Vuitton bags for his model girlfriend Soraya Bodman, and well as forking out $50,000 to buy her a car, according to the Courier Mail.

Soraya Bodman (pictured) is the former girlfriend of drug trafficker Ryan Hill, who used his ill-gotten gains to shower her with gifts

In February, Ryan Hill (pictured) pleaded guilty at the Supreme Court to drug trafficking as part of an organised crime syndicate.

Hill, who smuggled ice, cocaine and ecstasy, flew off to Cancun, Mexico, Japan and Bali, thoroughly enjoy reaping the benefits of his illegal profession.

He also spent thousands of dollars on watches, online gambling - and buying Ms Bodman products from Instagram star Tammy Hembrow's website.

The drug trafficker has also been accused of bullying a witness online, branding him a 'rat' with friends saying 'snitches get stitches' and 'don't dog the boys'.

There is no suggestion that his girlfriend Soraya Bodman knew of, or was involved in the criminal activity.

When he was arrested by police on January 2 2018, they found $95,000 in cash buried in a PVC pipe in bushland near his father's home, court documents said.

Soraya Bodman (pictured) was bought $12,000 worth of designer hand bags by her drug trafficker boyfriend

Ryan Hill (pictured) enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, and particularly enjoyed spending his fortune on Nando's

After monitoring Hill for several days prior to his arrest, they also discovered another $23,000 in cash hidden in various places in his father's house, mostly vacuum-packed.

Police allege Hill trafficked drugs hidden in packages from Sydney to Cairns, using the courier company Toll.

Court documents state the drugs were then sold on to buyers in Townsville and Taigum.

Not only is the syndicate alleged to have operated in Far North Queensland, but also South Australia, NSW and overseas, the Cairns Post reported.

Soraya Bodman (pictured) was given numerous gifts from Instagram star Tammy Hembrow's website

Ryan Hill (pictured) admitted trafficking in drugs between December 2016 and January 2018

In February, Hill pleaded guilty at the Supreme Court to drug trafficking as part of an organised crime syndicate.

But last month he applied to the court to reverse his plea, stating that the aggravating feature was that he was part of a drug-ring.

He has admitted trafficking in drugs between December 2016 and January 2018.

Packages were sent to fictitious people, but to addresses owned by Hill's family, court documents state.

Police allege they found 66 consignments from Sydney that Hill organised between July and December 2017.

His operation was first busted by police in January 2018, when he used his girlfriend's car to pick up a package from the Toll depot.

The package contained a cardboard box with 1kg of ice inside, worth $750,000, as well as 2,000 ecstasy tablets, worth $20,000 and 28g of cocaine, worth $5,600.

Soraya Bodman (pictured) was dating the drug trafficker, who spent his drugs fortune on handbags, holidays and cars
Tanupriya Basu, an MBA student and Kolkata resident, had been stranded in Vellore, Tamil Nadu with her parents for nearly two months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown on March 24 to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Basu, who was in Vellore for her father's treatment, finally managed to come back home on May 13 after taking one of the Shramik Special Trains that the government is plying to transport migrant workers and those stranded in foreign cities.

I had gone to Vellore on February 22 for my father's treatment. My father was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in 2018 and although he is currently in remission, we still have to keep him under observation because of the side effects of gruelling treatment. That is why we took him to Christian Medical College in Vellore. By the time my father was fit to travel back to Kolkata, the lockdown had been announced.

We had been staying at a small lodge just opposite the hospital. Thankfully, we weren't alone, there were other patients and families of patients stranded there with us. We initially thought we'll fly back before March 24, but flight tickets for the three of us amounted to Rs. 60,000. My mother insisted that we stay back, and we did.

I couldn't believe this was happening. I'd never stayed away from home for so long. Although I live in Delhi, I make it a point to come back home at least once a month to be with my family. We had nothing to do all day. My mother and I took care of my father, watched TV and played games on our phone. What else could we do anyway?

The only silver lining was Vellore municipality slashing lodge rents by half during this period. We had even reached out to ambulance services to see if we could travel to Kolkata by road. But there were two issues. One, the journey would take 48 hours and my father wouldn't be able to endure that. Two, the rates were exorbitantly high. It would cost us more than a lakh to get home in an ambulance. A family staying in the next room paid Rs 80,000 to get to Ranchi in an ambulance while another paid Rs 1.5 lakh to travel to Delhi. We can't afford that kind of money and decided to stay put instead.

A few weeks ago, we found out about the Shramik trains that were going to start between cities to allow migrant workers and stranded people to go back home. We were in a dilemma and were initially confused about whether we should wait for AC trains and flights to resume. But how long could we continue living in a lodge?

I applied for an e-pass online and received a message saying that our names had been registered. The Vellore municipality officials came door to door to help us; they gave us instructions and took down our details.

We were finally going home!

On May 12, before entering the station, officials verified our passes. There were so many people whose passes hadn't been confirmed, and they were turned away. Then a bus took us to the station where only asymptomatic passengers were allowed to enter after a thermal test.

Photo: Tanupriya Basu

We never had to worry about food and water, that was provided to us in abundance. We were given bags containing bread, jam, rotis, sambar and water before boarding the train. Water bottles were provided at regular intervals and we also got sufficient meals all through the day.

Of course, I was scared. We were risking a lot to travel back home. But tell me, what else could I have done? My father is sick. We heard the lockdown would be extended for two more weeks. How could we continue to stay there? It was my father who actually convinced us. He said, "let's go, we'll deal with whatever comes our way." Our train mostly consisted of patients and their families, along with migrant workers.

Tanupriya's father, Tuhin Kanti Bose, who had gone to Vellore for his treatment. Photo: Tanupriya Basu

We reached Kharagpur on May 13. At the station, each passenger was given an instruction manual of what to do if someone started showing symptoms. We were also given medicines to take if we developed a fever upon reaching home. All of us were again handed a bag of food to last us till we reached our destinations.

Photo: Tanupriya Basu

We took a car and finally reached Kolkata. I am not exaggerating, but I don't think I've ever felt as relieved as when I stepped into my house after almost three months. I still cannot believe this happened, and I keep turning to my father and saying, "We're home."

We are home, and that's all that really matters.

Basu has also made a video of her journey back home:

As told to Jashodhara Mukherjee.
M ichael Gove has defended the Government's plan to reopen schools next month, but admitted that the risk to children and teachers can never be eliminated.

The Government has faced criticism from teachers' unions for its scheme to let some children go back to school from June, and the devolved Governments and some local councils have also said they will not be following the guidelines.

But senior Cabinet minister Mr Gove told the BBC's Andrew Marr show that reopening schools was for children's benefit.

We can learn from what other countries have done," he said, citing Denmark as an example.

Teaching unions have warned it is not safe to reopen schools in June / PA

"It may have been the case in many of the primary classrooms that you or I may have visited in the last couple of years working together in groups around a table.

"Children will have to be distanced now, sitting at desks, which might seem rather more traditional."

The former Education Secretary added that staggered lunch and play breaks would be among measures used to help children keep to social distancing rules.

"The only way ever to ensure that you never catch coronavirus is to stay at home completely. But there is always, always, always, in any loosening of these restrictions, a risk of people catching the coronavirus.

Schools are set to bring some children back from June 1 / Unsplash

We recognise this requires careful working with teachers. But the leaders of some of the countrys very, very best schools have said they can that they can ensure that children and teachers and other workers are safe.

His comments follow several days of discussion between teachers' unions and ministers over reopening.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson told the coronavirus briefing on Saturday that reopening schools for children in reception, year one, year six and years 10-12 was for their benefit. He added that rigorous cleaning measures would be put in place.

Teachers' unions have insisted they want to work with the Government to reopen schools, but said that talks on Friday left "many unanswered questions".

Patrick Roach, head of the NASUWT, one of the biggest teachers' unions, told the BBC: We are continuing to say to Government, but also to schools and employers, that we are here, we want to work with those employers to put plans in place to see whether schools can be ready for re-opening from June 1.

We want schools to be re-opened, we want children to be safe and we want staff to be safe. It is not a zero sum game here. It is about ensuring that we get back to a place where we can return to some form of normality.

The Oasis Trust plans to reopen all of its 35 schools from June 1 / PA

But England children's commissioner Anne Longfield urged teachers' unions and Government ministers to "stop squabbling" and agree a plan for reopening schools safely.

She said: "All sides need to show a greater will to work together in the interests of children."

"We cannot afford to wait for a vaccine, which may never arrive, before children are back in school."

"It's time to stop squabbling and agree a staggered, safe return that is accompanied by rigorous testing of teachers, children and families."

A school playground before the lockdown / PA

Meanwhile the headteachers of four primary school chains - Oasis, Reach 2, Harris and GEP - said on Friday that they were supporting the Government's plan.

Sir Steve Lancashire, chief executive of Reach 2, told the Times: "Our intention is to open all of our schools for the priority year groups, and will do so as long as the rigorous risk assessments we carry out for each school gives us the reassurance we need that we can keep our pupils and staff as safe as possible."

Steve Chalke, founder of the Oasis trust, added that people opposing reopening were "rather middle class" and didn't understand the harm caused to disadvantaged children from missing school.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as Liverpool and Hartlepool Councils, have said they will not be reopening schools on June 1.

Schools have been closed since March 18 for all students apart from the children of key workers and vulnerable children.

Denmark and Germany are among the countries that have reopened primary schools while trying to maintain strict social distancing rules.

Evidence so far shows that most healthy children experience mild or no symptoms if they catch coronavirus, although it remains unclear if children without symptoms are likely to pass it on.

The Government has said that parents will not face penalties for keeping their children out of schools that reopen in June.
Home-buying demand is starting to come back. The number of customers reaching out to real estate agents was 5.5% higher in the week ended May 10 than it was prepandemic, according to new data from Redfin. The real estate firm also said new listings have increased every week for the past month. Also, the number of homes Americans pulled off the market that were unsold  known as "delistings"  peaked in the 28-day period ended April 9, when 7.2% of active listings were delisted across Redfin's business markets. Now, for the 28-day period ended May 8, that number is down to 6.6%. Despite the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, three top U.S. luxury brokers say now could be the best time to buy or sell your home. Here is a look at three megahomes that hit the market in the past week and what brokers are saying about each market:

A $33.5 million compound in 90210

"The home has a historic stone archway imported from an old Lebanese church and nine unique fireplaces throughout the home from France," says listing agent Aaron Kirman. Aaron Kirman Partners

Listing price: $33,400,000

$33,400,000 Location: Beverly Hills, California

Beverly Hills, California Square footage: 17,000 square feet

17,000 square feet Beds / baths: 7 beds / 12 baths

7 beds / 12 baths Date listed: May 15 "Now is the right time to sell a house," said luxury real estate broker Aaron Kirman, whose team just listed this $33.4 million estate in Beverly Hills.

Great room Aaron Kirman Partners

"Most people, when Covid-19 happened, retreated and took their house off the market," said Kirman, the star of CNBC's "Listing Impossible." "I argued not to pull one house off the market  and we didn't." Instead, Kirman moved forward with price reductions, new listings and virtual showings.

The 17,000 square foot mega-home has 12 bathroom and seven bedrooms, including this master suite. Aaron Kirman Partners

"Today, sellers are more committed to selling houses than they were before [Covid-19], because of uncertainty," Kirman said. "A lot of people are ready to make changes, those living in vertical places  like New York, for example  are coming to LA." With more than $6 billion in sales over his 20-year career, the power broker said his favorite parts of the new listing are the property's historic stone archway imported from an old Lebanese church as and its nine unique fireplaces, which were brought in from France.

"The home has a historic stone archway imported from an old Lebanese church and 9 unique fireplaces throughout the home from France," says broker Aaron Kirman. Aaron Kirman Partners

"At the end of the day, people need houses at all price points. Where people live is more important than ever."

A $23.5 million Florida mansion

This Delray Beach, Florida, mansion just recently hit the market for $23,500,000.

Listing price: $23,500,000

$23,500,000 Location: Delray Beach, Florida

Delray Beach, Florida Square footage: 20,951 square feet

20,951 square feet Beds/baths: : 7 beds / 11 baths, plus 3 half baths

7 beds / 11 baths, plus 3 half baths Date listed: May 7 Events like a worldwide pandemic change consumer behavior in profound ways. "The concept of luxury is evolving. A residential sanctuary in the post-Covid world isn't just about bells and whistles. It's also about intangibles  like comfort and safety," said South Florida real estate broker Senada Adzem, who just listed a $23.5 million estate in Delray Beach.

"The open arms staircase is an architectural marvel is an ode to both modern classicism and throwback glamour  reminiscent of a Hollywood classic," says broker Senada Adzem. Douglas Elliman

With social distancing and shelter-in-place orders making showing real estate tough, the luxury broker is taking qualified buyers through her new $23.5 million listing, "The Rocky Brook Estate," virtually. Here's what a tour looks like via FaceTime:

"Buyers in the ultra-luxury category not only are planning for life after the lockdown, but they're doing it with a critical eye after spending so much time in their current residential spaces," she said. Adzem, who recently crossed the $1 billion mark in career sales, said there has been a shift in the luxury category toward properties that have a private resort feel, which best describes her latest listing.

The residence has 11 bathrooms and 7 bedrooms, including this master suite. Douglas Elliman

"It's glamorous. It's spacious. It's inviting," Adzem explained. "It's filled with jaw-dropping details and family-friendly spaces. It makes every day feel like a getaway." Over the past 60 days, Adzem said she's seen sales and inquiries decrease due to the stay-at-home restrictions, stock market fluctuations and other pandemic-related factors.

Movie theater Douglas Elliman

"The families that were looking to buy were from larger cities in the northeast. In that sense, South Florida and its warmer year-round climate (and no state tax) continues to be an attractive destination," she said. "As the stock market steadies and states begin to reopen, it's sparking more confidence  and the financial ability to act  for our high-net-worth clients," she said.

A $7 million Manhattan condo

This New York City condo, which hit the market in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, is listed for just under $7 million. Douglas Elliman

Listing Price: $6,925,000

$6,925,000 Location: New York, NY

New York, NY Square footage: 2,720

2,720 Beds/baths: 4 bed/4.5 baths

4 bed/4.5 baths Date Listed: May 14 But even in New York City, which has been particularly hard-hit by the coronavirus, new listing are being made. "Everything has changed. Some changes are bad, some good and some just different," said Noble Black, a Douglas Elliman broker who recently listed this nearly $7 million condo in New York City's Upper West Side neighborhood. "It's really been a conversation with each seller over their comfort level on when to list. We're listing some now and holding many." Black, who's also had more than $1 billion in career sales, said he expects New York City should see a substantial jump in listings market-wide as soon as the rules are relaxed on showings or when that seems imminent.

Kitchen Douglas Elliman

"For all the talk of virtual showings, most buyers by far still want to walk a property before buying," Black said. "With everyone at home, we can see that online traffic is up by huge amounts. Some buyers are buying sight unseen, but even those that aren't, are doing their research in preparation for when they can tour a home in person."

Master bath Douglas Elliman
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is indulging in "petty politics" by allegedly trying to make a "political capital" out of the migrant crisis, Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Sidharth Nath Singh said on Sunday.

"It is unfortunate that the Congress Party is trying to make a political capital out of the migrant issue. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra seeking to send buses to the UP border shows that she does not understand the concept of logistics. She is purely indulging in petty politics," Singh charged.

His statement came after the Congress general secretary sought permission from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to run 1,000 buses for migrant workers wanting to return home. She said the Congress party would bear the cost.

"The migrant workers are not originating from UP but from states like Punjab, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. These states are either ruled by the Congress or its allies. If she understood the logistics, the buses should be kept in those states to ferry them up to UP destination," Singh said.

He said, "Unfortunately, she cannot tell her own CMs and is hence pointing fingers at the UP government. This shows her poor understanding of the affairs."



The minister pointed out that the Yogi Adityanath government has booked over 400 trains, while 11,000 state buses were engaged in bringing



Uttar Pradesh migrants stranded in other states.

After following the proper protocols of health, each migrant worker is given 15 days' ration and Rs 1,000 to meet incidental expenses. Moreover, after they reach their villages, the UP government will provide them jobs, Singh claimed.

In a letter to the chief minister, Priyanka had Saturday alleged that despite continued announcements by the government, no proper arrangement has been made for the safe return of migrant workers.

She had said the Congress Party wanted to run 500 buses each from Gazipur (Ghaziabad) and Noida borders for them, adding that the All India Congress Committee will bear the entire expenses.

"We are seeking your permission to run 1,000 buses to help the migrant labourers," she had said.

Later on Sunday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in a series of tweets in Hindi said, "A number of labourers are stuck at the borders of UP. They are moving on foot, and today they are made to stand for hours. They are not allowed to come inside (the state). They are without jobs for the past 50 days, and their livelihood has come to a standstill."



In another tweet, the Congress general secretary said, "Mere announcements and doing petty politics in the name of sending labourers home will not do. More trains should be run, buses should be run. We have sought permission to run 1,000 buses, allow us to serve (the people).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India Axes Gov't Monopoly in Strategic Sectors - Defence, Space, and Coal

Sputnik News

14:08 GMT 16.05.2020

New Delhi (Sputnik): India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has unveiled three tranches through the week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a $266 billion economic stimulus package. The measures are aimed at helping the economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced major reforms in the country's strategic sectors and gave access to private players in sectors like coal, defence production, and space, while detailing the fourth set of announcements for the COVID-19 economic stimulus.

The foreign direct investment limit in defence manufacturing under the automatic route has been hiked from 49 percent to 74 percent to boost "Make in India" in defence production, announced Sitharaman. Since 2015, the Indian government has been making efforts to attract foreign investment in the defence sector through various means but data suggest that only $2 million was received last year.

The Indian government has also decided to curb the import bill on defence equipment. Sitharaman said that the government will come out with a list of weapons/platforms for a ban on imports containing timelines. The authorities will additionally release a separate budget provision for domestic capital.

Coal Sector

Sitharaman stated that the authorities are going to permit commercial mining in the country's coal sector, giving up the federal government's monopoly in the field. Instead of fixed pricing, the government will incorporate a revenue sharing mechanism to encourage the private sector and ensure transparency.

"India has the 3rd largest valued coal mines, but the country still imports it. Regulation is required when there is a shortage. We have been suffocating the sector by regulating it, and preventing it from producing what is required by industry", said the finance minister.

Coalbed methane will now be auctioned off and Rs. 50,000 crore ($6.6 billion) will be invested by the government to build evacuation facilities once coal is mined.

Privatisation of Space Sector

Appreciating the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s work in the space sector, the minister stated that the participation of the private sector is needed for the country's space journey. Adding, the government will provide a level playing field for private players in satellites, launches and space-based services. They will also be allowed to use ISRO's facilities and other relevant assets to improve their capabilities.

Future projects for planetary exploration will be open to the private sector as well.

A Sputnik

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Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to allow the party ferry migrant labourers back home in buses arranged by it and kept ready at the state border.

She made the appeal in a video message posted on Twitter, a day after 24 migrant workers were killed and 36 injured when a trailer rammed into a stationary truck, both carrying passengers, on a highway near Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh.

"Respected chief minister, I am requesting you, this is not the time for politics. Our buses are standing at the border. Thousands of labourers and migrants are walking towards their homes without food or water and after fighting all troubles. Let us help them. Give permission to our buses," she said.

In another tweet, she said, "Our buses are standing at the border. Thousands of nation-builders workers and migrants are walking in the sun. Give permission Yogi Adityanath ji. Let us help our brothers and sisters."

She also put out a video of the buses standing at Uttar Pradesh border ready for plying.

The Congress has been for quite some time seeking permission to ply their buses to transport migrant labourers to their homes.
The arrest of an Australian man who was allegedly caught live-streaming child abuse from the Philippines has triggered the rescue of three child sex slaves.

The 63-year-old Sydney man was arrested in January accused of accessing sickening images online.

Police allege he had spent $113,000 over 395 individual transactions to the Philippines over a number of years, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Authorities in the Philippines raided a property in Manila following the Sydney man's arrest

A 34-year-old woman was arrested and charged with filming three children performing sex acts

Australian Federal Police told officers in the Philippines about the man's arrest and provided details about his alleged offences, which resulted in a property in Manila being raided on Wednesday.

Local authorities rescued three children, age six, 11 and 14, and arrested a 34-year-old woman.

She is accused of live-streaming the children performing sex acts online.

Local authorities rescued three children, age six, 11 and 14, and arrested a 34-year-old woman (pictured in orange)

Paula Hudson, the police boss leading child abuse investigations, said authorities are working to rescue exploited children regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic.

'We are not distracted by the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue our tireless work targeting anyone who seeks to exploit children,' she said.

'International partnerships are critical to our combined efforts to protect children no matter where they live.'
The Delhi High Court has directed the AAP government to ensure uninterrupted working of their helpline numbers for migrant workers so that they can approach nodal officers who shall be easily available to labourers.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar, which conducted the hearing through video conferencing, noted that the Delhi government is ready and willing to accept the registration of the workers who want to migrate. The bench noted in its order that as and when these workers will approach the concerned nodal officer, all care will be taken by ...
New Delhi, May 17 : Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba is to hold a meeting with Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Director Generals of Police of all states on Sunday night through video conferencing, sources said.

It is expected that the meeting will be held at 9 p.m. after the announcement of new guidelines for the lockdown 4.0 which are expected to ease curbs in various sectors to bring back lives and the economy on track.

Home Secretaries and Health Secretaries of all states/Union Territories (UTs) are also expected to join the meeting to discuss the implementations of the new nationwide guidelines.

It is learnt that Principal Secretary to PM, P.K. Mishra, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and Health Secretary Preeti Sudan will also be present in the meeting to answer the questions of state officials in implementing the new guidelines. Gauba has taken several such meetings involving these state officials but this is the first time when the meeting is being held a few hours after the announcement of new lockdown guidelines.

In a similar meeting on May 10, the state Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries, Health of states/UTs through video link called for stepping up of economic activities in a calibrated manner considering theCovid-19 pandemic.

They shared with Gauba information on the situation during the lockdown 3.0 which is ending on Sunday. The lockdown, enforced on March 25, was to end on April 14. It was extended to May 3, and then again to May 17.
Reacting to the government's Rs 20 lakh crore coronavirus relief package for the economy, India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki said it does not have anything to spur demand in the economy which has been battered by the over 50 day lockdown.

"The Prime Minister in his speech on May 12 had mentioned five pillars as the focus area of the relief package and one of the them was demand. But nothing has been specifically done to address that," said R C Bhargava, chairman, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. "Possibly the intention is that all the money that is being made available to different sectors and MSMEs will create demand. All of this will take time."

Even before the pandemic forced all sections of the economy to virtually come to a standstill, the automobile industry was in the midst of its worst ever protracted slowdown in over two decades. It hit a new low last month when the industry could not sell even a single car or two wheeler as all dealerships and factories were shut for the entire month.

Also Read: Coronavirus crisis: Traders 'angry, disappointed' with relief package, demand PM Modi's intervention

"The immediate concern of the government was to address problems with the small industries, SMEs, the issues with migrant labour and farmers. Frankly, I do not think the intent was to deal with the larger industrial problems at all," he said.

The long standing demand of the industry to bring down taxes on cars and two wheelers have once again been ignored by the government. Bhargava said reducing the taxes right now would not have served the purpose anyway as production is low but said the concerns of the industry should not be ignored for long.

Also Read: Stimulus package 2020: Immediate relief worth Rs 80,000 cr only; combined fiscal dent to be 12%: CARE Ratings

"In the longer term, unless the automobile industry grows, you will not achieve the targets you have set for overall manufacturing sector. The auto industry constitutes almost 50 percent of the manufacturing in the country and taxes on cars are way above international levels even though the cars are of the same standard in terms of safety and emissions as abroad," he said.

"In Europe the cars are taxed at 19 per cent. In Japan it is at 10 per cent. In India a small car is taxed at 29 per cent and on bigger cars it is between 45-50 per cent. On top of this you have road tax which varies from 4-20 per cent depending on the state."
He said the Executive Branch had asked special powers to legislate on this issue as well, but they were not granted to allow special pardons, which is why it submitted a bill to address the prison population without a final sentence, that is, some 30,000 inmates.

The Cabinet chief noted that, in addition to the Executive Branch's legal initiative, the Judiciary presented another proposal, which included measures to reduce overcrowding in prisons in the face of the coronavirus emergency.

"I regret that neither a majority nor a minority opinion has been approved. I regret this because it does not contribute to reducing overcrowding in prisons," he expressed.

AHORA | Titular de la PCM, @VicAZeballos, arriba a la ciudad de #Iquitos para reforzar las acciones frente al #COVID19 y supervisar la entrega de alimentos, pruebas rapidas y medicinas para la poblacion de Loreto. Sostendra reuniones con autoridades y el Comando COVID regional. pic.twitter.com/Crt0YLmtrR
Free Toilet Paper! Get it before it melts!

When Michigan gives you snow in April during a toilet paper shortage, what else are you supposed to do?!?By Claire Sparklin on April 21, 2020.
Only urgent matters will allow passage onto island: Phuket Police Chief

PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Rungrote Thakurapunyasiri has warned that only people attending to urgent matters are being allowed onto the island.

COVID-19Coronavirushealthtransportpolice

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

Sunday 17 May 2020, 02:29PM

A waits to be screened at the Phuket Check Point. Photo: PR Phuket

I want to make it clear that only people with urgent matters to address will be allowed onto the island. Arrivals will be subjected to strict inspection. he told The Phuket News.

If there is no need [to enter Phuket], they will not be allowed to travel into the area. So please register through the [PhuketSmartCheck-in] app first, Maj Gen Rungrote said.

Once people have submitted the application through the app, they should be able to check whether they have been approved the next day, he added.

Maj Gen Rungrote urged people denied entry into Phuket to be calm and patient.

If people have not been allowed to enter the province, that means their reason to come in is not necessary. So I want them to calm down and wait for a while until the Cabinet announces [that entry is permitted].

Please wait, everyone is waiting, he said.

As of yesterday, according to the PhuketSmartCheck-in app, the number of people registered as living in Phuket who were allowed back onto the island from May 3-15 totalled 14,245.

In total, 28,490 people have registered their intent to come back to Phuket, the app also revealed.
New documentary accuses Polish Bishop Edward Janiak of shielding priests known to have sexually abused children.

The Polish Catholic Churchs most senior archbishop notified the Vatican on Saturday of a Polish bishop accused of shielding priests known to have sexually abused children.

The referral, unprecedented in the deeply religious country, will test procedures introduced by the Vatican last year to hold to account bishops accused of turning a blind eye to child sex abuse. The Vatican is now expected to assign an investigator to the case.

I ask priests, nuns, parents and educators to not be led by the false logic of shielding the Church, effectively hiding sexual abusers, Polands Primate Wojciech Polak said in a statement published on Saturday.

There is no place among the clergy to sexually abuse minors. We do not allow for the hiding of these crimes.

The case came to prominence after a film by brothers Tomasz and Marek Sekielski, released on Saturday, showed how Bishop Edward Janiak, based in the city of Kalisz, failed to take action against priests who were known to have abused children.

Janiak, who is still practising, has not commented directly on the allegations. He did not respond to a request for comment by Reuters.





In Janiaks defence, the Kalisz curia said the parents of one of the alleged victims portrayed in the film did not follow the right procedure.

The recording in the film doesnt show the whole conversation. It doesnt show the part where we say that the parents shouldve expressed their concerns to the prosecutor immediately, it said in a statement.

The Sekielski brothers released another film last year that suggested that known paedophiles were deliberately shifted between parishes. The film has over 23 million views on YouTube.

Alleged cover-ups

Victims of sexual abuse have long called for measures to make it easier to report alleged cover-ups by the Church.

Polands Catholic Church, an institution with close ties to the ruling nationalist Law and Justice party, has faced accusations in the past of shielding priests who abuse children.

A Church official told Reuters that Janiaks referral was partly the result of the Vaticans new procedure.





I believe that this is just a facade, said Agata Diduszko-Zyglewska, a co-author of a map marking child sexual abuse by priests around Poland.

For the last year, the Catholic Episcopate has known that there are bishops who covered up paedophilia cases, and yet none of them have been dismissed.

Poland faces tension between liberals who feel the Church wields too much power and conservatives who see the Catholic faith as a key element of national identity that must be protected.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 11:28:08|Editor: huaxia

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KHARTOUM, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Saturday reported 325 new COVID-19 cases and six new deaths, bringing the nationwide count to 2,289 and 97 respectively.

Meanwhile, 17 more patients have recovered from the disease, taking the tally of recoveries to 222, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Adil Sharif, a Sudanese epidemiologist and community medicine specialist, told Xinhua that "this is the highest number of cases recorded in a single day since the disease outbreak in Sudan."

He urged local health authorities to take further measures and start an epidemiological investigation.

It is clear that there are epicenters of the disease, particularly in Khartoum State which has so far registered 1,874 cases, Sharif said.

He stressed the importance of further extending the full curfew in the state imposed on April 18 and the travel ban between the capital city of Khartoum and other states.

On May 8, the Sudanese government extended the full curfew in Khartoum State for 10 more days from May 9 to curb the spread of the pandemic. Enditem
ATLANTA - There was an abundance of evidence when officers arrived at the scene on a February afternoon in coastal Georgia: A man, apparently unarmed, lying on the street, soaked in blood. The suspected shooter, a shotgun, eyewitnesses. And video of the incident.

But no arrests were made in the death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery for more than two months, not until after video of the shooting in Brunswick surfaced and stoked a national uproar over race relations.

Local prosecutors are now under investigation for their handling of the case. And a newly appointed investigative agency and prosecutor must untangle the criminal investigation, build a case and make up for lost time.

Among the questions: Did shooting suspect Travis McMichael and his father, Gregory, both white, get special treatment because the elder McMichael had been a longtime investigator at the Brunswick Circuit District Attorneys office? Did investigators treat the shooting as a potential murder, or as a justifiable homicide? And might the outcome have been different if Arbery werent black?

___

The 911 operator sounded confused by the callers description of a purported crime: A man was in a house under construction.

You said someones breaking into it right now?

No, its all open. Its under construction, the caller says, And hes running right now. There he goes right now.

The dispatcher says shell send police, but I just need to know what he was doing wrong.

A second call comes in six minutes later: Im out here in Satilla Shores. Theres a black male running down the street.

The operator is trying to get more details when a man yells, Stop. ... Damnit. Stop. Then, after a pause, Travis!

Moments later, Arbery is shot.

According to the police report, Gregory McMichael said he saw a person he suspected of burglary hauling ass down the street. He ran inside his house, calling for his son Travis. The two grabbed their guns, hopped into a pickup truck and chased him.

Gregory McMichael told police they wanted to talk to Arbery and tried to corner him, but he began to violently attack Travis McMichael, the report says. The two fought over the shotgun, and Arbery was shot. The McMichaels claimed self-defence.

The father and son were questioned, and police called the district attorneys office, where Gregory McMichael had worked for more than two decades, for legal advice. They were released.

Meanwhile, Arberys mother got a call from an investigator.

He went on to say that Ahmaud was involved in a burglary, and in the midst of the burglary he was confronted by the homeowner, and in the midst of that confrontation, there was a fight over the firearm and Ahmaud was shot and killed, Wanda Cooper-Jones told The Associated Press.

She repeated that story to her family.

___

Law enforcement in Brunswick has a checkered history, and over the past decade police have faced numerous lawsuits and increasing scrutiny.

In 2010, two officers fired eight bullets into an unarmed womans car after a chase, killing her. An investigation found neither of the officers checked on her condition afterward  instead their in-car cameras caught them comparing their shooting skills.

One of those officers later killed his estranged wife and her friend before dying in a standoff with police.

Just days after Arberys killing, Glynn County Police Chief John Powell and three former high-ranking officers were indicted in what investigators described as a coverup of an officers sexual relationship with an informant.

A November 2019 memo from the county manager described how Powell had inherited a culture of cronyism, outdated policies, lack of appropriate training, and loss of State certification.

The memo also described how supervisors had failed to document or investigate misconduct allegations and detailed a culture of coverups, failure to supervise, abuse of power, and lack of accountability within the Glynn County Police Department before Powell arrived.

Now, the version of Arberys death told to Cooper-Jones is under dispute, and authorities are again under scrutiny.

___

Officers in a small town calling the DA for guidance in a fatal shooting case is not unusual and would normally be uncontroversial. But theres disagreement over what happened next.

Peter Murphy, an elected commissioner in Glynn County, alleged that officers were hesitant to arrest the McMichaels after the DAs office told them it wasnt necessary.

Im just wondering, what other investigation occurred over the next two months really? Murphy said.

The district attorneys office has called that a malicious lie and says it was police who raised the justified shooting angle.

Police say they were told the day of the shooting that more follow-up was needed but the McMichaels werent flight risks and could go home. A second prosecutor was brought in after the first recused herself because Gregory McMichael had worked for her, and he quickly decided no charges were necessary. He was eventually removed over his own conflict of interest  his son works at the Brunswick Circuit.

J. Tom Morgan, a former metro Atlanta district attorney who is now a criminal defence lawyer, said it would be a big misstep for the DA to advise against arrests if officers decided there was probable cause that a crime had occurred.

I cant imagine saying stand down if Im not there personally to talk to people, Morgan said. If police believe they have probable cause, Im not going to second-guess them from my back porch.

In any homicide, its important to interview witnesses immediately while the facts are still fresh in their minds and before theyve had a chance to co-ordinate stories. If that was delayed because officers were told not to make arrests, it could be problematic, he said.

Bowling Green State University criminologist Philip Stinson said there is also a tendency to treat a crime scene differently if a current or former law enforcement officer is involved, as was the case with Gregory McMichael.

It could make it harder for prosecutors to bring a successful murder case, and easier for defence lawyers to argue that the crime scene is tainted by potential prosecutor misconduct thats under investigation by Georgia authorities.

It looks like investigators started with an assumption it was a justified shooting, Stinson said.

Because of that  because of all of the assumptions that are made, all of the steps in the investigation that are not taken  they made the job much more difficult for the AGs office, he said.

___

The case seemed to have stalled until May 5, when a video was posted to the website of a local radio station.

The shaky footage, taken by a man listed in the police report as a witness, shows Arbery, dressed in shorts and a white top, running from the McMichaels. The drivers side door is open. Travis McMichael and Arbery appear to struggle over the gun. Gregory McMichael hops from the back of the truck. Arbery is shot and falls to the ground.

It doesnt show Arbery with a firearm, nor have police said they recovered one.

The footage seemed to refute Gregory McMichaels version and prompted widespread outrage and calls for justice. The case drew national attention, including from Jay-Z and President Donald Trump, who said he was disturbed.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case. Investigators canvassed the neighbourhood, talking to some people who had previously been interviewed and others who hadnt.

They arrested both McMichaels on charges of aggravated assault and murder May 7, less than 48 hours later.

GBI director Vic Reynolds said there was clear probable cause and that local authorities had done a good investigation, a thorough investigation.

___

The legal case now stretches beyond coastal Georgia, with the FBI weighing potential federal hate crime charges. And more evidence is emerging.

A third prosecutor who had the case when the video surfaced was removed after the attorney general said it had grown in size and scope, and a fourth prosecutor from a bigger district has now been appointed. Cobb County District Attorney Joyette M. Holmes, one of seven black district attorneys in Georgia, is overseeing the prosecution at the direction of the state attorney general.

The first DA, Jackie Johnson, has defended her offices involvement. So has the second DA.

Im confident an investigation is going to show my office did what it was supposed to and there was no wrongdoing on our part, Johnson told the AP this week.

Asked if anyone in her office told police not to arrest the McMichaels or suggested the shooting may have been justified, Johnson said, Absolutely not.

More video has emerged of a man inside a house under construction  the home where the 911 caller reported seeing someone shortly before Arbery was shot. But the owners lawyer has told AP and others the house was wide open, and nothing was ever taken.

The McMichaels remain in jail and their attorneys caution against a rush to judgment.

For now the case is stalled once again, with courts largely closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and no way to call a grand jury until mid-June at the earliest.

___

Brumback reported from Atlanta and Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Russ Bynum in Savannah, Ga., Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia and Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 17 : Economist turned State Finance Minister Thomas Issac on Sunday welcomed the announcement made by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman when she raised the borrowing limits of states from three per cent to five per cent of GDP, for financial year 2020-21, acceding to the demand of the states.

Speaking to the media here, Issac said it was Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who first raised this demand and now we welcome this new announcement.

"The revenue loss for Kerala on account of Covid-19 is around Rs 39,000 crores and with the borrowing limit now raised to 5 per cent, we will get about Rs 18,087 crores. But this is only half of our loss and hence the GST component for the states also should be given in full," said Issac and pointed out that the calculation should be made on the basis of the allocation made in the Central budget and not on the current GDP, which will soon turn negative for both state and Centre.

He, however, expressed his reservation in certain guidelines to be accomplished for this.

"This is not fair as what's given to states have to be repaid with interest. Certain guidelines imposed for this includes ration cards -- which we have no issues. If the new norm of the public sector enterprises' is a condition, then we will object to it. We also will oppose the power sector reforms. It's unfortunate that the Centre is using Covid times to engage in unwinding the PSEs. We expect the Centre will initiate a round of discussions with the states before this is implemented. Let us discuss this," added Issac.

He also welcomed the additional allocation of Rs 40,000 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (MGNREGS).

"What we suggest, the need of the hour is people do not have money with them, so what should happen is half of the wages what people got under this programme in the last year should be given in advance and as they engage in work, from now on, it can be reduced. I would suggest even this present allocation won't be enough, as when this is translated to working days, it would suffice only for around 60 days, so more allocation would have to be made," added Issac.
The relief given by the Delhi High Court to GST taxpayers on the matter of pending transitional credit has been taken away by the government through a retrospective amendment in the GST law.

The amendment, which imposes a restriction on the time limit to claim transitional credit, is being notified by the government from 18 May 2020. The amendment comes into effect from 1 July 2017.

The Delhi High Court in an order passed on 5 May 2020 had allowed all taxpayers to claim transitional credit accumulated before the implementation of GST by 30 June 2020.

It was a significant judgment as it extended the period for claiming input credit from 90 days to 3 years and also allowed all taxpayers to take benefits of the order. The HC verdict, if also upheld by the Supreme Court, could have meant a huge revenue loss to the Central government.

The High Court verdict was on the premise that Section 140 of CGST Act did not prescribe the time limit but only manner through which the Rules were to be made and credit could have been claimed. Accordingly, Rule 117 which prescribed the time limit was not basis any empowerment of the Act. The Delhi High Court in case of Brand Equities allowed the assesse to claim the transitional credit stating that the rule is directory in nature and not mandatory as the period for filing Tran-1 (form for claiming transitional credit) is not considered by the legislature.

But now the government by amending the Section 140 of the CGST Act has fixed this loophole, thus nullifying the High Court order. This means many taxpayers will now have to litigate separately to avail any credit disallowed due to technical glitches or errors.

"This ruling would have given nightmares to the bureaucracy, who immediately jumped to save the dried up national coffers by notifying the retroactive amendments brought in by Finance Act, 2020 to cure this defect. The significance of the Delhi High Court ruling goes for a toss in light of the changes made in tax laws from a retrospective date," says Rajat Mohan, partner, AMRG & Associates.

With this amendment in hand, the government can now successfully challenge the high court decision in Supreme Court.

Jigar Doshi, Founding Partner, of tax service firm TMSL, says: "Through this amendment, the said case per se gets nullified and we are more than sure that the government will move Supreme Court against the ruling and win over the appeal."

But Abhishek A Rastogi, Partner at Khaitan & Co, who argued the lead petition on this issue in Delhi High Court says that the amendment has come after the decision of the Delhi High Court and this retrospective amendment needs to be challenged at appropriate time.

He says that this amendment will have to test the constitutional validity as any retrospective amendment after the court order needs to pass various tests.

Rajat Bose, partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, points out the fact that a retrospective amendment to Section 140 was proposed in the Finance Bill 2020 was never discussed in the Brand Equity case.

"Now that the amendment has been notified, it will be interesting to see how the Supreme Court deals with the Special Leave Petition against the Delhi HC judgement, if and when such a petition is filed by the department," says Rajat Bose.

This amendment also creates a stonewall for assessees who were contemplating transitioning of erstwhile credits in light of the Brand Equity judgment.

However, Abhishek Rastogi of Khaitan & Co. believes that since there is no stay on the Delhi High Court order, the taxpayers who have taken the benefit of the court's order before the date of the notification are in clear safe zone.

Also Read: RBI faces herculean task! Borrowing target Rs 22.69 lakh, savings available Rs 14 lakh crore

Also Read: Coronavirus relief: Here's break-up of Modi govt's Rs 20 lakh crore economic package

Also Read: Coronavirus-related debt excluded from default; will big companies rush to avail benefit?
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Even though fresh COVID-19 cases continue to be reported at high rates  including 477 on Saturday  and testing labs in the State have increased to 61, the number of individuals tested each day has fallen sharply from 10,883 on Friday to 8,270 Saturday.

While 332 of the 477 cases were reported in Chennai, 93 were of people who returned from other States and countries, including Bangladesh. TNs tally is now 10,585. Three more deaths were reported, all with co-morbid conditions, taking the toll to 74. The biggest challenge would be screening those returning to the State from outside, said Health Minister C Vijayabaskar in a video briefing.

On the bright side, 939 people were discharged in a single day, taking the total number of people who have recovered to 3,538. We are strongly limiting the spread, but flattening the curve will be a challenge, he said, commending Erode and Tirupur, Coimbatore for successfully containing the virus. Meanwhile, in Chennai the number of containment zones has risen to 701, with 119 in Tiru Vi Ka Nagar and 116 in Royapuram.
The police on Sunday arrested a Nepalese man for raping a 12-year-old girl in Jubbal.

The incident took place on May 13, when the minor was alone at home. The accused raped the minor and fled the spot.

Later, the minor narrated her ordeal with her parents who filed a complaint at the police station. The police had started an inquiry into the matter and arrested the accused from Tikkar village in the district. He was presented before a local court on Sunday that remanded him in three-day police custody.

Rohru deputy superintendent of police said the police are conducting the investigation.

A case under Section 376 (punishment for rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act has been registered.
Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

From her perch as speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi has bested Donald Trump in budget battles, mocked him at the State of the Union and won an outsized place in his brain. Now Molly Ball of Time magazine delivers a biography that does justice to the most powerful woman in American history: well-researched, a smooth read that goes back to the beginning.

Related: For God and Country review: Christian case for Trump is a thin read indeed

Ball traces Pelosis rise from a childhood in Baltimore, the daughter of Thomas DAlesandro Jr, a Democratic mayor and former congressman. Pelosis politics were shaped by the New Deal, the Depression, the Catholic church and the citys cacophonous tapestry. Think ethnic reductionism leavened by transactionalism. Good government was not an end in itself.

The young Pelosi was privy to the needs of her fathers constituents but also to the frustrations of Annunciata Lombardi DAlesandro, her immigrant mother. As Ball makes clear, her ambition was thwarted for the sake of family and her husband.

Big Tommys career came to a halt after a criminal investigation, an unsuccessful bid for the US Senate and a failed comeback at city hall. When their mother died, Pelosis brother Tommy, like their father a former Baltimore mayor, called their mother the really true politician of the family.

While politics was part of Pelosis upbringing, her own entrance came later. Soon after college she married Paul Pelosi, an aspiring banker. Unlike other rich legislators such as Dianne Feinstein, Kelly Loeffller and Mitch McConnell, Pelosis money is seldom a source of headlines.

Pelosi is an unabashed liberal. But she is also an institutionalist

The pair moved to New York and then to San Francisco. By the time Pelosi turned 30, in 1970, she was the mother of five children. The speakers gavel was not on the horizon. But within a decade, life would change.

As a young mother with a penchant for books, San Franciscos libraries were a natural destination. In Balls telling, one day Joseph Alioto, the mayor, called Pelosi and asked if she was making a big pot of pasta e fagioli? An obnoxious question, in Balls view, but dinner was not Aliotos point. He wanted to appoint Pelosi to the public library commission.

Story continues

After Pelosi said she enjoyed volunteering, Alioto pushed back. His take was simple: if youre doing the work  you should get official recognition for it. Later, Pelosi came to view the call as a feminist-minded assist from an unexpected source.

Pelosi emerged as a bridge between rival Democratic factions. She also offered a roadmap to California governor Jerry Browns run for president in 1976. When Brown won the Maryland primary he thanked Pelosi as the architect of his campaign. At that point, Pelosi was more than a housewife, more than a pocketbook, more than a hostess, in Balls words. She was a strategist.

In 1981, Pelosi became chair of the California Democratic party and embarked on a voter registration drive that added 700,000 to the electoral rolls. She successfully pushed for San Francisco as the site of the 1984 Democratic convention, and along the way had a brush with Feinstein, then mayor of the City by Bay. She thought the cost excessive.

Following the death of Representative Sala Burton, the wife of legendary congressman Phil Burton, Pelosi was elected to the US House in 1987. There, she gravitated toward the hard committees like appropriations and intelligence, the ones that did work traditionally seen as masculine: dollars and cents, war and peace. Early on, Pelosi understood where actual power and influence resided.

When it came to impeachment Pelosi moved slowly, and discounted the trigger-happy voices of AOC and the 'Squad'

As a congresswoman, Pelosi did her homework. She raised money, collected chits and made friends in unexpected places. The late John Murtha, a gruff congressman and ex-marine from Pennsylvanias God and guns country, became an ally. The two had sat on the appropriations committee, which Murtha chaired.

When George W Bushs mission accomplished moment degenerated into a mordant fiasco, Murtha became Pelosis point person in attacking the Iraq war. To her credit, Pelosi was mindful of the potency of culture in politics, that her home district was not a mirror image of the US. Murtha was a more effective attack dog than the lefts usual suspects.

Pelosi is an unabashed liberal. But she is also an institutionalist, the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee until she was elected minority leader in 2006. These days, Adam Schiff, another Californian by choice, chairs the committee.

Pelosi rips up Donald Trumps State of the Union address, in February this year. Photograph: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

When it came to impeachment Pelosi moved slowly, and discounted the trigger-happy voices of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Squad. Instead, she pivoted on the issue when seven first-term security Democrats, who had served in the military or intelligence, penned a Washington Post op-ed calling for impeachment proceedings.

Related: Active Measures review: how Trump gave Russia its richest target yet

Four of the seven had refused to vote for Pelosi as speaker. Swing-district America weighed on Pelosis calculus.

There are sentiments and then there is unvarnished math. Pelosi is by far a more adroit vote-counter than Paul Ryan or John Boehner, the past two Republican speakers. She is better at it than her own whip team, as Kevin McCarthy, the House minority leader, can attest.

Pelosis weaknesses are delivering a set speech and the Sunday morning talkshows. That doesnt seem so serious next to Newt Gingrich, the speaker who led the impeachment charge against Bill Clinton and resigned in disgrace. For that matter Denny Hastert, Gingrichs successor, eventually went to prison for covering-up hush money payments to former students he had sexually abused.

Pelosi is the one politician to repeatedly humble Trump in front of national audiences. She exudes competence, avoids scandal and has earned the gratitude and loyalty of her caucus. Her rise and return to the speakership were anything but inevitable. Thats what makes her story worth telling, and Ball is definitely up to the task.
Nearly 2,000 council staff are being furloughed in Northern Ireland and hundreds more face temporary lay-offs.

Seven local authorities have confirmed they will use the Government scheme for around 1,800 workers, as their umbrella body warns some could go to the wall without financial support.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is furloughing 375 workers, the highest number of the local authorities to have finalised a figure, followed by Mid Ulster District Council with 365.

Two of our largest local authorities - Belfast and Lisburn and Castlereagh City Councils - are yet to make a decision.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council said it had not yet finalised the number but an officer told a council meeting on May 14 as many as 300 staff could be furloughed.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is also yet to land on a final figure. Ards and North Down Borough Council will furlough about 350.

Derry City and Strabane and Fermanagh and Omagh District Councils will each furlough about 200. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council will temporarily lay off 252, and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council 61. Of those councils, some are still negotiating with unions whether to top up workers' wages.

Alison Millar, Nipsa's general secretary, said one was proposing to furlough staff on 80% of their normal salary.

She added: "While Nipsa obviously welcomes the decision by the Communities Minister [Deirdre Hargey] to ensure that councils could furlough workers under the scheme, we have concerns that some jobs may be at risk in the short to medium-term. It's imperative that all councils are proposing to furlough their workers must do so on the basis that they will fund the additional 20%.

"This is significant issue as some of these workers are on the national minimum wage."

Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors voted on May 14 to furlough 375 workers on full pay until May 19, when they will be paid at the Government rate of 80%. The council said it was losing 665,000 each month and faced a 15.6m shortfall this financial year. Of the 46 staff the council had considered making redundant, 28 will now be furloughed.

SDLP councillor Ryan Wilson said the decision had spared the council from making hundreds of redundancies, but he was disappointed staff wouldn't have their pay topped up, as other councils had done.

He added: "The council is clearly under financial pressure and the Minister for Communities must make additional funding available to ensure ratepayers do not bear this burden, either by a large increase of rates or a depletion of services."

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council said it expected to lose about 10m this financial year, but had no plans to cut back services.

It added: "To be in a position to sustain service levels into the future and emerge with a feasible long-term plan for economic recovery, greater financial assistance from central government will be required."

Meanwhile, Mid Ulster District Council said furloughing just over a third of its workforce would reduce April losses from 620,000 to just over 400,000.

Solace NI, the body of council chief executives, warned last week that local authorities here could run out of cash for staff and suppliers within months if they did not get the support they needed.
Gist assured that district officials are considering every option to come up with a comprehensive plan in addition to contingencies in anticipation of unexpected outcomes. At minimum, they must be prepared to close schools again and return to distance learning. She said it may be possible to shut down only the sites where cases have been confirmed instead of a district-wide stoppage.

We hope to have our students back in person, she said. But we know even that will need to look different because well need to have all the different kinds of health guidelines implemented.

Jenks Public Schools also still is working on its framework for the fall, but Superintendent Stacey Butterfield said she wants to start the school year with as many as students and teachers in classrooms as possible.

Butterfield said its important to begin practicing guidelines and forming habits at the beginning so everyone is better prepared for switching to remote instruction later in the semester.

Our idea is that if we are doing distance learning at different times during the school year, she said, then we will be able to continue to introduce new content and continue to advance through the curriculum and keep students moving forward.
Kroger Health is partnering with the city of East Ridge, Cherokee Health Systems, and the Hamilton County Health Department to facilitate a free drive-thru COVID-19 testing event.



The three-day event will take place Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It will be in the parking lot of Camp Jordan Park, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge.

People seeking a test will use a virtual screening tool based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. Individuals who do not have symptoms and anyone with health concerns is eligible for testing.

We are grateful to Kroger Health for providing this opportunity for the citizens of our community, shared East Ridge City Manager Chris Dorsey.

Increased testing opportunities are vital as we begin to get people back to work.

Individuals must schedule an appointment via Kroger Healths online portal at www.krogerhealth.com/ covidtesting . Scheduling an appointment is required to receive a test. The East Ridge Police Department and Kroger Health associates will be present to direct traffic to the designated testing area. Please make sure windows are up on all vehicles when in the testing area and individuals need to have their photo ID ready.

Kroger Health is proud to partner with the city of East Ridge, Cherokee Health Systems, and the Hamilton County Health Department in this important effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, said Colleen Lindholz, President of Kroger Health. This aligns perfectly with our vision, which is to help people live healthier lives.

This onsite testing is supported with the laboratory services provided by eTrueNorth, a contractor of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.




The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has said it does not intend to introduce any new taxes on energy and capacity charges.

It says the supply of electricity to a dwelling of up to a maximum consumption level specified for block charges for lifeline units is still exempt from Value Added Tax (VAT) and Ghana Education Fund Trust (GETFund) and Levy.

GRA made this known in a statement signed by its Assistant Commissioner, Communication and Public Affairs, Florence Asante.

The statement was in reaction to what GRA says were discussions in the media on Value Added Tax, GETFund Levy and National Health Insurance.

According to the statement, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) already charges VAT, NHIL and GETFund Levy on the supply of electricity in excess of lifeline units.

GRA explained that on account of their current invoicing policy, ECG over the years has had some challenges claiming input VAT associated with the supply of electricity by power producers, which could have reduced the net tax payable by ECG to GRA.

It added that GRA is scheduling a meeting with power producers to address the application of the VAT mechanism to the power sector.

It says meanwhile the letter dated 4th May, 2020 on VAT, GETFund Levy and NHIL on energy and Capacity charges has been withdrawn.

Meanwhile, in another development, GRA has issued a statement noting that the benchmark value policy continues to be implemented as originally announced by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

---Daily Guide
A Chinese author who kept an online diary about her lockdown life in Wuhan has revealed how authorities initially told residents the deadly coronavirus was 'not contagious between people.'

Wuhan-native Fang Fang, 64, launched a 'forbidden' journal to capture what she heard, read and saw during the epidemic from the viewpoint of an ordinary resident at the epicentre of the crisis.

In a gripping new extract published by the Sunday Times, the author confessed it was her brother who first told her the virus was contagious, having previously been informed it was 'controllable and preventable.'

On February 1, she said: 'Now that I think back, it was actually my eldest brother who first told me that this virus was contagious. He teaches at Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

'On December 31, he forwarded to me an essay entitled "Suspected Case of Virus of Unknown Origin in Wuhan".

Fang Fang, 64, launched a 'forbidden' journal to capture what she heard, read and saw during the epidemic from the viewpoint of an ordinary resident at the epicentre of the Covid-19 crisis

'However, it wasn't long before the official government line came down: "Not contagious between people; it's controllable and preventable." As soon as we heard that, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.'

It comes as China's senior medical adviser Dr Zhong Nanshan warned the nation could still face the 'big challenge' of a second wave of coronavirus.

He told CNN that authorities in Wuhan had withheld 'key details' about the magnitude of the initial crisis at the start of the year.

'The majority of... Chinese at the moment are still susceptible to Covid-19 infection because a lack of immunity,' Dr Zhong said. 'We are facing a big challenge, it's not better than the foreign countries I think at the moment.'

Fang Fang, who was born in Nanjing but moved to Wuhan aged two, posted her diary entries to Chinese social media sites Weibo and WeChat, but the blogs were quickly deleted by censors.

Her journal, which began on January 25 as the crisis began to spiral out of control, described the scramble for facemasks, food and supplies as hospitals across the city of 11million teetered on the brink of collapse.

Fang Fang (left speaking to media in Wuhan on February 22) previously admitted she had received threats and was worried about her safety. One person urged her to kill herself or face attacks in a street poster in Wuhan (right)

Pictured: Residents wear face masks as they walk through a park in Beijing, China today

In a later entry, on February 12, Fang Fang claimed medics and 'probably even some patients' at a temporary hospital sang to coronavirus patients in their sickbeds when a 'certain local political leader' visited.

The next day, in what became one of her most-read entries, the author described the grim scene inside a local crematorium, in a photograph sent to her by her doctor friend.

Fang Fang explained the photograph showed a 'pile of mobile phones on the floor of a funeral home; the owners of those phones had already been reduced to ash.'

Her diary continued to recount heartbreaking tales from inside lockdown, including a three-year-old child who was afraid to go outside and lived on crackers for days after the death of her grandfather, until good news peeked through on March 19.

On this day, Fang Fang wrote, there were 'no new cases of novel coronavirus in Wuhan and no new suspected cases.'

Throughout the following days, the author described how the city began 'gradually opening up', and she even heard the laughter of a child outside for the first time in weeks.

Her last post was posted on March 24, when the government announced it would lift the lockdown restrictions on April 8.

Pictured: Patients rest at a temporary hospital at Tazihu Gymnasium in Wuhan, Hubei province, on February 21

Pictured: People wearing protective face masks cross a road in Wuhan on March 31

But Fang Fang's diary of the tragedy unfolding in her hometown wasn't met with positivity from all her millions of readers, and she revealed last month she has faced death threats after agreeing to publish it in the West.

Several of her candid accounts have been deleted, the author told Caijing in April, and her account on Weibo was blocked temporarily during the two-month quarantine.

She said she has received threats and was worried for her family's safety after being targeted by furious web users who spread fabricated and defamatory claims about her and even exposed her home address.

One angry reader even sent a death threat to Fang Fang in the form of a huge poster posted on a street in central Wuhan, reported Radio France Internationale.

The Caijing report also disappeared shortly after its publication, but some Chinese websites based overseas have managed to re-post the piece.

Throughout the lockdown, Fang Fang had touched on politically sensitive topics such as overcrowded hospitals turning away patients, mask shortages and relatives' deaths.

'A doctor friend said to me: in fact, we doctors have all known for a while that there is a human-to-human transmission of the disease, we reported this to our superiors, but yet nobody warned people,' she wrote in one entry.

Born into a family of intellectuals, the writer's real name is Wang Fang but she uses the pen name Fang Fang.

Pictured: A group gather at a park in Beijing, China today as medics warn there could be a second wave of the virus

Fang Fang confessed it was her brother who first told her the virus was contagious, having previously been informed it was 'controllable and preventable' (Pictured: Residents in Beijing)

Her journal was once celebrated by Chinese web users who praised her for speaking out for those people in Wuhan who were suffering during the epidemic.

But her coronavirus stardom came to a sudden end when it was revealed that her posts would be compiled into a book and published in English and German.

The English version, which will go on sale on June 30, has 'Dispatches from a quarantined city: Wuhan Diary' written on the cover.

The German version is the more disputed edition out of the two. Its cover, sporting a black mask, bears the words 'Wuhan Diary: The forbidden diary from the city where the corona crisis began'.

Critics say the 64-year-old, who was awarded China's most prestigious literary prize in 2010, is providing fodder to countries that have slammed Beijing's handling of the pandemic.

China has been accused of concealing information about the deadly virus from international powers at the start of the pandemic.

Some critics have even accused Fang Fang of being a 'hanjian', a derogatory term for a race traitor to the Han Chinese.

Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of nationalist tabloid Global Times, said the diary's foreign publication 'is not really in good taste' in a Weibo post on March 19.

'In the end, it will be the Chinese, including those who supported Fang Fang at the beginning, who will pay the price of her fame in the West,' Hu said in the comment that drew more than 190,000 likes.

An article in the state-run newspaper said that to many Chinese people, the book is 'biased and only exposes the dark side in Wuhan'.

Loyal fans of the author, on the other hand, have rallied around her on Weibo.

'Fang Fang owes nothing to anyone,' wrote one. 'You're free to write a diary that goes against what she wrote, translate it and publish it abroad!'
President Donald Trump's surprise firing of the State Department's internal watchdog could be "unlawful" if it was done in retaliation, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday.

Trump on Friday night ordered the removal of State Department Inspector General Steve Linick, following through on a recommendation from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, according to the White House.

Linick had opened an investigation into Pompeo, according to House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. A Democrat aide told NBC news that Linick "was looking into the Secretary's misuse of a political appointee at the Department to perform personal tasks for himself and Mrs. Pompeo."

NBC, citing two congressional officials, reported later Sunday that Linick was probing whether Pompeo made a staffer run a variety of his personal errands, such as walking his dog, picking up his dry cleaning.

Trump said in a letter to Pelosi that he had lost confidence in Linick, without providing further explanation.

"The president has the right to fire any federal employee, but the fact is if it looks like it's in retaliation for something that the IG, the inspector general is doing, that could be unlawful," Pelosi, D-Calif., said on CBS' "Face The Nation."

"They're supposed to show cause," Pelosi said of the "unsavory" late-night firing, adding that "even Republicans in Congress are concerned and have spoken out."

Face the nation TWEET WITH VIDEO

"Congress requires written reasons justifying an IG's removal," said GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley, the co-founder and chairman of the Whistleblower Protection Caucus, in a statement Saturday. "A general lack of confidence simply is not sufficient detail to satisfy Congress."

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, tweeted Saturday that firing inspectors general without good reason poses "a threat to accountable democracy."

Romney TWEET

Engel and Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, demanded that the Trump administration hand over all records related to Linick's firing by next Friday.

In a statement, Engel and Menendez said that they understood Pompeo recommended Linick be fired "because the Inspector General had opened an investigation into wrongdoing by Secretary Pompeo himself."

"Such an action, transparently designed to protect Secretary Pompeo from personal accountability, would undermine the foundation of our democratic institutions and may be an illegal act of retaliation," Engel and Menendez wrote. "This concern is amplified by the fact that it came only hours after the House of Representatives passed the Heroes Act, which contains additional legal protections for inspectors general."

Last month, Trump ordered the removal of Michael Atkinson, the inspector general of the intelligence community who had flagged the Ukraine whistleblower complaint that became a major catalyst for Trump's eventual impeachment in the House. Trump was acquitted in the Senate.

In her own statement Friday, Pelosi said Trump's "late-night, weekend firing of the State Department Inspector General has accelerated his dangerous pattern of retaliation against the patriotic public servants charged with conducting oversight on behalf of the American people."
Exporters of the prized Sanganeri textile say altered consumption patterns and diminished purchasing power in their primary markets  the US and Western Europe  will continue to hurt their livelihoods long after the lockdown is lifted. Countries, such as the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Italy  most of which are among the worst affected by the Covid-19 pandemic  accounted for 30 per cent of the overall export of ...

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A Canadian air force jet celebrating front-line workers in the coronavirus pandemic crashed into a British Columbia home on Sunday, authorities and witnesses said.

The Royal Canadian Air Force said in a statement that the incident occurred in Kamloops, northeast of Vancouver. It wasnt immediately clear if anyone was injured or killed in the crash or what caused it.

The flight was part of Operation Inspiration, a nationwide mission aimed at saluting first responders and other essential workers. The Snowbirds are a military acrobatics squadron based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

A Canadian Forces plane crashed into a neighborhood near Kamloops, British Columbia, on May 17, 2020. (Kerri Turatus)

A video that appeared to capture the crash showed two jets taking off and flying side by side for a few seconds. One of them veers into the sky and seconds later is seen spiraling toward the ground.

Kamloops Airport, located just west of the city, said in a tweet that emergency crews were responding.

Kerri Turatus, who lives in the neighborhood where the plane went down, said the aircraft hit a house, engulfing it in flames.

It sounded like a gunshot outside my window, said Turatus, 30.

Flames and debris at the site of the plane crash.

She saw a "big black circle ring of smoke in the sky, she said, adding that part of the planes wreckage was in the street, and she could see a wing sticking out of a neighbors garage. Photos showed the structure on fire.

It wasn't clear if anyone was home at the time.

Operation Inspiration was announced on April 29 and began in Nova Scotia, on the countrys east coast.
A forest fire broke out Sunday in a popular hiking area in Hardwick Township near the Pennsylvania border, where about 80 acres burned over several days in February.

The fire on Mt. Tammany on the New Jersey side of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area started just before 1 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of the Pahaquarry -- formerly the Blue Dot -- and Mt. Tammany trails in Worthington State Forest, according to the Worthington State Forest Facebook page.

By 4 p.m., the brush fire on Mt. Tammany was still burning, but considered 90% contained. The current fire danger remains high in northern New Jersey, according to the state fire service.

All hiking trails in the area remain closed Sunday and Monday. People are asked to avoid the area.

Old Mine Road is currently closed going north at the three-minute light, while traffic is allowed to travel south to leave the area. The road is expected to reopen Monday.

At 2:30 p.m., the fire on Mt. Tammany had burned about an acre, just north of where the Red Dot and Blue-blazed trails meet, according to a Facebook post.

Eleven firefighters from the National Parks Service and the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service are working to contain the blaze on the mountain. There is a helicopter ready with a bucket to provide aerial support if needed, according to the post.

UPDATE on MT. TAMMANY FIRE: As of 2:30, May 17, the fire on Mt. Tammany in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area... Posted by Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on Sunday, May 17, 2020

This is the second brush fire in the area this year. Since New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy reopened the states parks earlier this month - theyd been closed due to the coronavirus - Worthington State Forests been one of several overrun by visitors.

By 1:30 p.m. Saturday, parks officials closed the forests parking lots after hitting the 50% capacity set by Murphy.

In late February, a fire -- officially known as the Rock Face Fire -- broke out between Worthington State Forests Red Dot Trail, a steep and rugged path up Mt. Tammany, and I-80, which winds between the mountain and Delaware River below in Knowlton and Hardwick townships.

The fire raged for nearly two days, burning 80 acres of parkland, before it was brought under control.

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.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.
Returning from a weekend away at Camp David, the president, Donald Trump, was asked by reporters if he had any reaction to the criticism levelled at him on Saturday by his predecessor, Barack Obama.

Mr Trump said he had not heard the comments, but said of Mr Obama: He was an incompetent president. Thats all I can say. Grossly incompetent.

The president took no further questions and walked quickly into the White House, having landed only a moment before in Marine One.

On Saturday Mr Obama addressed graduates of historically black colleges and universities. He rebuked the current president for the response to the coronavirus, saying that it revealed the extent of the ineptitudes at the heart of government.

More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what theyre doing, the former president said. A lot of them arent even pretending to be in charge.

Mr Obama told graduates: So, if the world is going to get better, its going to be up to you.

Earlier on Saturday, the former president gave a separate speech to high school seniors in a widely-televised and streamed virtual commencement ceremony in which he also appeared to take a swipe at Mr Trump.

Do what you think is right, he said. Doing what feels good, whats convenient, whats easy  thats how little kids think.

Donald Trump arrives at the White House on Marine One after a weekend at Camp David (AFP via Getty Images)

Unfortunately, a lot of so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs, still think that way  which is why things are so screwed up.

On Sunday morning, White House adviser Peter Navarro also responded to the speech, saying that he was glad Mr Obama had a new job as presidential candidate Joe Bidens press secretary, before referring to the previous administration as a kumbaya of incompetence.

It is the second time in as many weeks that Mr Obama has publicly criticised the current administration, after leaked audio of him calling the White Houses response to Covid-19 an absolute chaotic disaster sent Mr Trump furiously seeking to manufacture a scandal in retaliation that he is referring to as Obamagate.

An interview with President Trump was aired by Fox News on Sunday morning that had been recorded prior to Mr Obamas comments. Mr Trump took the opportunity to talk about the alleged scandal, which he refers to as the greatest political scam in the history of our country.

He told Maria Bartiromo: It was impossible for it to happen without the man that sits right in that chair in the oval office. He knew everything.

Ms Bartiromo asked: Do you believe President Obama directed the US intelligence agencies to spy on you?

The president replied: Yes, he probably directed them, but if he didnt direct them, he knew everything.

It is not unusual for former presidents to criticise their successors, although Mr Trump has claimed otherwise. In the last twenty years, George W Bush and Bill Clinton have, and more historically so did Jimmy Carter and Theodore Roosevelt.
Actress Kathy Burke has blamed her swearing habit on the nuns who taught at her convent school.

Burke, 55, best known for playing foul-mouthed characters in shows such as Gimme Gimme Gimme and Absolutely Fabulous, revealed her spell at Maria Fidelis RC Convent School in North London had prepared her for her future career.

Interviewed on BBC Radio 4s Saturday Live show yesterday, the actress said her bad language was less an act of rebellion and more a case of her emulating the sisters who taught at the school.

Actress Kathy Burke, 55, blames her swearing habit on the nuns who taught her at Maria Fidelis RC Convent School in North London

She said: I remember the nuns used to swear quite a lot, so I think maybe its picking it up from them. I was called all sorts, mate, I tell you. And the star said she owed her fearlessness on social media to her age.

I came on to Twitter in my 50s and I sort of think that was perfect, she said. I am just a ranting old lady really and I like it. If I get angry about stuff  I have to say I can use quite fruity language at times which isnt to everyones taste.

She also said being rebuked by fellow users brought back happy memories.

I am always being told off for using bad language but its sort of lovely really, because it makes me think of my lovely dad who was constantly shouting at me for bad language.
Online symptom checkers are only accurate about a third of the time, according to new Edith Cowan University research published in the Medical Journal of Australia today

Many people turn to 'Dr Google' to self-diagnose their health symptoms and seek medical advice, but online symptom checkers are only accurate about a third of the time, according to new Edith Cowan University (ECU) research published in the Medical Journal of Australia today.

The study analysed 36 international mobile and web-based symptom checkers and found they produced the correct diagnosis as the first result just 36 per cent of the time, and within the top three results 52 per cent of the time.

The research also found that the advice provided on when and where to seek health care was accurate 49 per cent of the time.

It has been estimated that Google's health related searches amount to approximately 70,000 every minute. Close to 40 per cent of Australians look for online health information to self-treat.

Lead author and ECU Masters student Michella Hill said the findings should give people pause for thought.

"While it may be tempting to use these tools to find out what may be causing your symptoms, most of the time they are unreliable at best and can be dangerous at worst," she said.

Online symptom checkers ask users to list their symptoms before presenting possible diagnoses. Triage advice is about whether - or how quickly - the user should see a doctor or go to hospital.

The 'cyberchondria' effect

According to Ms Hill, online symptom checkers may be providing a false sense of security.

"We've all been guilty of being 'cyberchondriacs' and googling at the first sign of a niggle or headache," she said.

"But the reality is these websites and apps should be viewed very cautiously as they do not look at the whole picture - they don't know your medical history or other symptoms.

"For people who lack health knowledge, they may think the advice they're given is accurate or that their condition is not serious when it may be."

When to see a doctor

The research found that triage advice, that is when and where to seek healthcare, provided more accurate results than for diagnoses.

"We found the advice for seeking medical attention for emergency and urgent care cases was appropriate around 60 per cent of the time, but for non-emergencies that dropped to 30 to 40 per cent," Ms Hill said.

"Generally the triage advice erred on the side of caution, which in some ways is good but can lead to people going to an emergency department when they really don't need to."

A balance

According to Ms Hill, online symptom checkers can have a place in the modern health system.

"These sites are not a replacement for going to the doctor, but they can be useful in providing more information once you do have an official diagnosis," she said.

"We're also seeing symptom checkers being used to good effect with the current COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the UK's National Health Service is using these tools to monitor symptoms and potential 'hot spot' locations for this disease on a national basis."

Lack of quality control

Ms Hill points to the lack of government regulation and data assurance as being major issues behind the quality of online symptom checkers.

"There is no real transparency or validation around how these sites are acquiring their data," she said.

"We also found many of the international sites didn't include some illnesses that exist in Australia, such as Ross River fever and Hendra virus, and they don't list services relevant to Australia."

'The quality of diagnosis and triage advice provided by free online symptom checkers and apps in Australia' was published in the Medical Journal of Australia.

###

Media contact: Kylie Davies, Communications Coordinator, +618 6304 2833, kylie.davies@ecu.edu.au
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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, May 18 2020

National Mandate Party (PAN) patron Amien Rais, known as an outspoken critic of President Joko Jokowi Widodo, is preparing to form a new political party following an internal rift within PAN.

PAN cofounder and former party executive board member Agung Mozin told The Jakarta Post on Friday that Amiens new party would accommodate groups that were critical of the government. Amien, a PAN icon, lost his influence in the party after his leadership candidates lost to current party chairman Zulkifli Hasan.

We call on government critics, no matter who the government is, not limited to the Jokowi-Maruf Amin administration, all elements of society that have the same concerns as us, to join the new party, Agung said of the plans for the new political party.

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Marie Ryan wearing her mask while sitting outside her Berlin Borough, N.J. home on May 8. Ryan's brother, Joseph Pearson has tested positive for the COVID19 virus while living at the New Lisbon Developmental Center, a home for people with developmental disabilities in the Pine Barrens. Read more

As the coronavirus began spreading through New Jersey, Marie Ryan knew her brother, Joe Pearson, was in more danger than most.

Pearson, 55, had suffered a severe brain injury as a teenager and now lives at the New Lisbon Developmental Center, deep in New Jerseys Pine Barrens, along with dozens of other medically fragile residents.

I thought ... its going to spread like wildfire, Ryan said. I knew it was going to be an issue. It was kind of like I was just waiting for the phone call.

Over the last two months, the virus has ripped through New Jerseys five state-run residential facilities for people with developmental disabilities, killing 27 as of Friday and infecting more than a third of the 1,238 residents -- including Pearson.

Many have underlying medical conditions that put them at high risk for contracting the virus. Some are nonverbal and cant express how they feel. Some dont have families who can advocate for them.

Centers like New Lisbon were preparing for the pandemic as early as February, said Jonathan Seifried, who oversees the state Division of Developmental Disabilities, which is responsible for the five facilities.

Its been challenging, and weve had heartbreak and long days and nights, but weve protected many residents and staff and seen many recover, Seifried said in an emailed statement.

New Lisbons efforts have included testing for all workers and staff and a tiered quarantine procedure, officials said, though many had already been sickened by the time these were fully implemented. Unlike Pennsylvania, New Jersey has released information about residents in such state facilities, though officials would not provide details about victims ages or underlying health conditions.

The explosion of cases, though, speaks to the limits of the states efforts. Of all the state-run centers, the virus toll has been heaviest at New Lisbon, with eight residents dead out of 188 infected as of May 10. Thats 44% of all the cases at the states five residential facilities. Eighty-seven New Lisbon staff members have also tested positive for COVID-19. Others have stopped coming to work for fear of getting infected, leaving the facility understaffed, workers say.

Tom Hester, a spokesman for the state Division of Developmental Disabilities, said staffing is a challenge during the pandemic, but countered that the states facilities had been able to maintain adequate staffing levels."

Isolated in rural Burlington County, New Lisbons troubles have been largely overlooked but for the Pine Barrens Tribune, which has faithfully chronicled the coronavirus spread through the center.

Staffers at New Lisbon, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of losing their jobs, described a facility that lacked preparations including protective gear for staffers, and missed crucial early opportunities to limit the spread of the virus.

It seems like the disabled community were the last ones thought of, which is not unusual in life itself, said Steve Sweeney, New Jerseys Senate president, who three weeks ago urged the state to send PPE to New Lisbon and other centers like it.

Planning for the anticipated pandemic began in February, the Division of Developmental Disabilities reported, and by March authorities had limited visitors to the facility, began taking residents temperatures, and instituted a policy of sending home staff with symptoms of COVID-19. In early May, testing of all residents and staff began.

But workers said the facility did not quarantine infected residents in a separate building until mid-April, instead confining them to their rooms. The same workers served both the healthy and the sick.

On Wednesday, a staffer learned she would be working with two people thought to have recovered from the virus, but who still were testing positive. Even so, she was told, they werent going to be moved back to a quarantine unit.

Frustrated and fearful for her own life, she and another worker walked off the job in tears.

A refuge among the pines

New Lisbon is a sprawling campus of residential cottages off a four-lane highway outside of tiny Woodland, N.J. Since 1914, it has housed people with developmental disabilities, though, in many cases, residents have other health conditions as well.

Some people may look at it as a paycheck, said a New Lisbon health aide, but some of us look at it where we really love and care for these people because [some] dont have no families.

Pearson, who has five siblings, visits their homes on birthdays and holidays and regularly chats with his family on the phone. But he needs daily care that his family cant provide.

His sister lives in Berlin, about 40 minutes away. Shes been happy with the care her brother gets at New Lisbon. But, she notes, the cottage where Pearson lives has bedroom walls that dont reach the ceiling, making it impossible to truly isolate residents.

Pearson tested positive for the virus in early May after his roommate contracted it, Ryan said. Hes asymptomatic, but still frightened. In a phone call with Ryans older sister, he said he was terrified of dying.

The Burlington County facility has a history of problems. It was placed under independent oversight after the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) found in 2002 that residents werent getting needed medical and psychological care, leaving them vulnerable to abuse.

Last year, the center reached a $150,000 settlement with a female employee who reported being sexually harassed by a male coworker. The state did not concede liability in the settlement.

Gwen Orlowski, executive director of the advocacy organization Disability Rights NJ, said she believes state officials were doing everything within their power to try to prevent the spread of the disease as best they could, given the fact that they really didnt know who had the virus. But without being able, early on, to test asymptomatic staffers who come and go from the facility, residents couldnt be protected, she said.

Like peers nationwide, the Division of Developmental Disabilities faced a protective gear shortage that has left even the most well-off hospitals struggling to stay supplied.

Sweeney said that when making decisions about deploying its limited protective equipment and test supplies, the state failed to consider the developmental centers.

The prioritization was our hospitals and our doctors, then everyone turned their attention to the nursing homes, said Sweeney. But no one paid attention to this community.

Hester said that while more PPE than usual has been necessary during the pandemic, the state has supplied the recommended PPE to its employees and regularly monitors its supply to make sure theyre not dipping low.

The Centers have been able to maintain sufficient levels of PPE so that staff members working with residents or in residential units have the appropriate PPE for the duties they are performing, he wrote in an email.

Taxed workforce

Two nurses who work at New Lisbon, who also requested anonymity for fear of retribution, described feeling well-protected and supplied.

When I was there for work, one said, I was given whatever I needed.

But some health-care aides who handle intimate daily care such as bathing, say they are left behind.

Though Hester said that staff are provided fresh PPE at the beginning of a shift, and replacements when needed, several New Lisbon staffers said they each received one N95 mask weeks ago, and none since. Some healthy staffers are using disability leave to stay home.

Because there simply arent enough staff to go around, workers said, no team works solely at quarantine cottages, avoiding contact with New Lisbons healthy population and limiting the spread of infection.

Hester said that direct care staff are assigned to a single cottage each shift. But one staffer described traveling between cottages housing the infected and uninfected during one shift.

Staffers said that they do switch gloves and using hand sanitizer before traveling among buildings. But since such measures dont protect staffers from infection, they cant see how they would protect residents either.

A worker who had tested positive for the virus and has since recovered said the facility was so understaffed that over the course of a shift one person alone could be responsible for the care of more than 25 people.

Before the pandemic, that was a job for seven or eight people.

 READ MORE: Temple hospital workers say Chinese masks meant to protect against COVID-19 are falling apart

A number of workers described the grim endpoint of scant staffing: Residents being alone as they lay dying. The worker who walked out Wednesday chose to visit a long-time resident while he was quarantined.

When he was in the quarantine room, he was there by himself, she said.

She learned he died the next day.

A faltering response

As the virus first spread, the facility was able to test only those with symptoms -- a situation that has persisted in much of the country. The state announced universal testing with a Rutgers University-designed saliva kit in late April. New Lisbon staff said some were not tested until the first week of May.

The sudden access to testing contributed to a spike of confirmed COVID cases in state-run developmental facilities in May, state officials said.

New Jersey is the first state in the country to offer universal testing to residents and staff in centers for the developmentally disabled.

Our universal testing shows how we are working to be a leader among states when it comes to protecting residents and staff and combating the spread of this virus, Seifried said in his statement.

Orlowski said the center has put people who tested positive in one building, those who were symptomatic but not confirmed were put in another, and there was a third space for people who were recovering.

Two nurses who work at the facility (who also spoke anonymously for fear of job loss) say the sick are recovering, and the latest state data shows 75 residents and 27 staff who had been infected no longer test positive for the virus.

Other workers, though, say the situation at New Lisbon remains bleak. Sweeney acknowledged that even with a new influx of PPE, the states developmental centers are struggling to keep all workers fully equipped.

The woman who walked off the job Wednesday described spending weeks working in a cottage housing both the healthy and infected, before deciding she was not safe.

This disease is not going to stop, she said. Im not going to put my life at risk a second time.

Shes been coughing a lot recently, she said, and Tuesday was tested for the coronavirus for the first time. On Saturday, she was still awaiting the results.
As Nigerians continue to experience the nationwide ease in lockdown announced by President Muhammadu Buhari, the country recorded a 16 per cent drop in coronavirus cases last week compared to the previous week, an analysis of data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows.

A PREMIUM TIMES review of the daily report of COVID-19 cases by the NCDC shows that Nigeria recorded 1,470 new cases in the past week (May 10  May 16), a 16 per cent drop from the 1,763 cases reported in the previous week (May 3  May 9). This weeks figure is, however, higher than the 1,206 cases recorded in the penultimate week (April 26 to May 2), an indication the country cannot say it has flattened the curve of new cases.

Also, a total of 727 patients recovered and were discharged last week, a 101 per cent increase when compared to the 360 patients discharged in the previous week.

However, 47 new deaths were recorded across the country last week as against the 43 reported in the previous week.

Lagos State remains the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria with 609 new cases. However, Lagos, like Nigeria, recorded a weekly decrease in new infections when last weeks figure is compared to the 696 new cases recorded in the state in the previous week.

Despite the reduction in the national aggregate, Jigawa, Niger and Yobe states reported double of their previous cases last week.

The data also shows that Abia and Bayelsa did not record additional cases last week while Cross River and Kogi states are yet to report a single case of the infection since Nigerias index case was announced in February.

The governors of the two states with zero cases have discouraged their residents from testing, a move opposed by the ministry of health and the NCDC.

Nigeria so far

According to the NCDC, Nigeria recorded 176 new cases of COVID-19, on Saturday, as the tally of infected people rose to 5,621.

A breakdown of the 5,621confirmed cases shows that Lagos State has so far reported 2,373 cases, followed by Kano  761, FCT  397, Katsina  239, Bauchi  212, Borno  212, Jigawa  197, Ogun  145, Kaduna  134, Gombe  124, Sokoto  112, Oyo  107, Edo  95, Zamfara  74, Kwara  58, Osun  42, Rivers  35, Yobe  32, Kebbi  31, Delta  25, Nasarawa  31, Niger  22, Plateau  21,, Adamawa  21, Ondo  19, Taraba  17, Akwa Ibom  16, Ekiti  19, Enugu  12, , Ebonyi  9, Imo  7, Bayelsa  6, Benue  5, Anambra  5 and Abia  2.

So far, 1,472 persons have recovered and have been discharged while 176 have lost their lives to the infection.

Timeline last week

On Sunday, 248 new cases of COVID19 were reported in the country.

On Monday, 242 new cases of the pandemic were reported in the country. This brought the tally of confirmed cases to 4,641 as of 11:55 p.m. on May 11.

On Tuesday, 146 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded.

A total of 184 new cases of the disease were reported on Wednesday which brought the number of confirmed cases to 4,971.

The NCDC figures, as of 11:55 p.m. on May 13 showed that 1,070 patients had been discharged while 164 had died.

On Thursday, 193 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the country.

On Friday, 288 new cases were reported in Nigeria, bringing the tally of confirmed cases to 5,445 as of 11:55 p.m. on May 15.

On Saturday, 176 new cases of the pandemic were recorded.

Therefore, a total of 5,621 cases have so far been reported, out of which 1472 have recovered and 176 have died.

Testing

Nigeria has so far tested 32,942 persons since the beginning of the pandemic, a very low figure compared to many other African countries.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Friday, said that the government envisaged a steady rise in the number of cases with more diligent testing, treatment, isolation and (contact) tracing.

READ ALSO:

In a bid to scale up its testing capacity, the federal government has decided to repurpose the tuberculosis GeneXpert machines already deployed in all the states and the FCT.

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In a recent document, the NCDC noted that with the GeneXpert machines, each of which could test 24 samples daily, it is targeting 1,300 tests per day with ability to return test results on the same day.

The health agency added that: There are also available in-country two mobile laboratories equipped with two GeneXpert instruments each. These will be deployed as needed to support COVID-19 testing surge in target states.

The agency earlier in May set a target to conduct two million COVID-19 tests in three months.

Violations

A lockdown of major cities was eased by President Buhari on April 27. The president announced that from May 4, the total lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja, would be replaced by a dusk to dawn curfew and a nationwide ban on interstate travels.

The first week after the ease in lockdown, new weekly coronavirus cases increased, from 1,206 to 1,763 before it reduced last week to 1,470.

According to Mr Buhari, some of the conditions for the gradual easing of the lockdown nationwide is the compliance with the 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, interstate travel ban and the social distancing regulations.

These rules have, however, been violated in many states as many defy the interstate travel ban across the country.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how law enforcement agents in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ondo, Kwara, Bayelsa and other states have turned back people hiding in trucks which carried cattle, goats, rams, yams, or bags of rice.

There is also a massive movement of commuters to Abuja from the neighbouring states.

Recently, 70 young Nigerians from the northern part of the country were apprehended in Oyo State, by operatives of the civil defence corps when they tried to sneak into the South-west state. They had travelled hundreds of kilometres from Kano, Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna.

In addition, PREMIUM TIMES investigation revealed that migrants have been defying the border closure and moving between Nigeria and her West African neighbour, Benin Republic, by sea.

This they do with the support of corrupt security personnel who extort travellers and turn blind eyes.

Notwithstanding, the Senate has urged the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Muhammadu, to investigate the alleged complicity of security officers in the breach of the curfew and ban on non-essential interstate travels and bring to book anyone found wanting.

The Senate, on Tuesday, made the call to heads of all security agencies charged with enforcing the ban on interstate travel.
Hundreds of Central Asian migrants have been stranded at Russian-Kazakh border crossings for several days, trying to return home after their hopes of working in Russia were dashed by the coronavirus pandemic.



They are among thousands of people -- desperate for work -- who are unable to return home to Central Asia where thousands of more would-be migrant workers are hoping to leave their hopeless situations and go to Russia.



Most of the migrants arrived at the Kazakh border in early May, assuming that Kazakhstan would reopen its frontiers on May 11 with the end of the state of emergency that Nur-Sultan imposed two months ago.



Kazakhstan is the main transit route for Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Tajik migrants traveling to and from Russia overland.



But an opening was not in the offing.

"The Kazakh border remains shut," one migrant told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, speaking by the phone from the Mashtakovo border crossing in Russia's Samara Region.



"Some 400-500 people from Uzbekistan have gathered here," said the Uzbek migrant, who gave only his first name, Farrukh.



Videos sent to RFE/RL show large crowds of people, including many women and children, at Mashtakovo, pleading for help from the Uzbek government to get them home.

"We are spending our last money to buy food and water here, we don't have anything," one woman said. "Russia allows migrants to leave but Kazakhstan is closed."

Many are camping outside in very desperate conditions.



Similar situations are being reported from other Russian-Kazakh border crossings, with hundreds stuck on the Russian side of the frontier in Samara and Orenburg provinces. Some Kyrgyz migrants say they arrived by foot.



In some areas, local Russian governments provided tents for Central Asian migrants, while others sleep inside their vehicles.



'We're Working On It'



The Uzbek Foreign Ministry said on May 14 that it was working to resolve the situation, with Uzbek diplomats contacting Russian and Kazakh authorities to explore options.



On May 13, Russia's TASS news agency quoted Uzbek diplomats as saying, "we were aware of our citizens' plans to return home through Kazakhstan and we had warned them not to do this, but they didn't listen."



The Foreign Ministry separately announced that the Uzbek government was organizing seven flights between Tashkent and the Russian cities of St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Kazan, Novosibirsk, and Moscow between May 14 and May 24 to bring Uzbeks home.



At the Kyrgyz Embassy in Moscow, Ambassador Alikbek Jekshenkulov says Kyrgyzstan is hoping to send some 400 Kyrgyz home soon with a Russian plane.

The Russian plane was scheduled to fly to Bishkek on May 17 to evacuate Russian citizens from Kyrgyzstan.



Among the large number of people hoping to go back home, the embassy will prioritize the most vulnerable, including those with serious illnesses, pregnant women, and women with young children, the ambassador said.



Since March, the Kyrgyz government has helped more than 9,000 Kyrgyz citizens return from abroad, the country's Foreign Ministry says. Around 1,000 more citizens are expected to come back in May.



Some of the returnees are infected with the coronavirus, authorities say. Among the 541 Kyrgyz nationals who came home from Russia on May 7, at least 56 people have tested positive for the virus.



Central Asian embassies get hundreds of pleas for help from their citizens, left with no money, income, or place to live in Russia.



Russia is a host country for millions of labor migrants from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, where unemployment has been a major problem since the early 1990s.



Now, with second-highest number of coronavirus infections in the world, Russia has closed construction sites, factories, and other workplaces that provided a lifeline for Central Asian workers.



One video shared on social media tells the story of 11 Tajik migrants, most of them women, who live in a wagon in a forest near the town of Kotelniki, near Moscow.



The migrants had to move there after they ran out of money to rent a place to live. Until workplaces reopen, they depend on charity from friends and strangers to survive.

A former sewing-factory worker from the Uzbek city of Andijon, Muyassar Rahimova says she came to Russia in February after losing her job in Uzbekistan.

Rahimova, 31, found a job in Moscow and rented an apartment with her elder sister and niece.



"But soon the quarantine started and I became unemployed again," Rahimova said. Her situation took a turn for the worse as the three women were diagnosed with COVID-19 in early May.



Back in Andijon, Rahimova's three children depend on the money she was sending them from Moscow. The children live with relatives in Rahimova's apartment bought with a mortgage she can no longer pay.



Not Everyone Going Home



Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan have in recent weeks helped thousands of their citizens to come home from Russia both by special flights or by land via Kazakhstan.



But not everyone is rushing back home.



"I came to Russia in February and have since been living with several friends in one room we rented outside the city of Perm," says Bakhtovar, a Tajik migrant from Dushanbe.

Bakhtovar adds that the men get "random jobs" that pay for their rent and "very basic food" to help them survive. Despite the hardship, Bakhtovar doesn't want to go back to Tajikistan.



"I am lucky I came to Russia before the borders closed," he says. "In Russia, at least there is hope that I'll make money to send home as workplaces are reopening."



"There were no jobs in Tajikistan even before the coronavirus struck. My family would starve if I go back home."



In The Other Direction



As hundreds of Central Asian are trying to leave Russia, thousands more are hoping to move in the opposite direction, toward Russia.



In the southern Tajik province of Khatlon, Shorahmat Alimov says he is constantly checking news on when the borders will reopen so he can go back to the Russian city of Surgut, a popular destination for many Central Asian migrants.



"The coronavirus is everywhere now," Alimov says. "In Tajikistan, I face both the virus and hunger. I want to take my chances and go to Russia to look for work."



No official announcement has been made on when Russia and Central Asian countries will open their borders.



Russia is currently facing a spike in its number of coronavirus infections, averaging more than 10,000 per day over the past few weeks.



Four Russian cabinet ministers have also been diagnosed with COVID-19, factors that one would assume make a reopening of the country -- and its borders -- still a long way off.

Written by Farangis Najibullah with reporting by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz, Uzbek, and Tajik services
The total number of people hospitalized in Connecticut for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, continued to fall over the weekend, slipping below 1,000 on Saturday and down to 937 Sunday, data reported by the state shows.

The drop in hospitalizations comes as the state looks to reopen some businesses, including hair salons and restaurants for outdoor dining, starting Wednesday.

Statewide, 69 new deaths associated with the disease were reported, bringing the official death toll to 3,408.

Health officials also reported 716 new infections, for a total of 37,419 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases across the state.

As the states gradual reopening is set to begin Wednesday, state officials Friday counted fewer than 1,400 businesses that certified they have taken preventative measures to halt the spread of the disease  steps that include the wearing of masks, and disinfecting areas people often touch.

The reopening businesses include non-essential retail stores, barbershops and hair salons, and restaurants for outdoor dining only.

In Ansonia, city officials announced over the weekend that Main Street would be closed to motor vehicle traffic in order to expand options for outdoor seating.

Several are colleges announced plans to hold graduation ceremonies remotely. Yale University in New Haven said it would host virtual gatherings on Zoom or pre-recorded ceremonies for Art, Drama, Engineering & Applied Science, Forestry & Environmental Studies, Management, and Music, along with pre-recorded messages from deans.

Death and infection data by county continues to show Fairfield County leading with 1,146 deaths and the highest number of infections at 14,248.

The state recorded 5,852 new tests, bringing the total number of tests performed to 170,607.

Cuomo urges testing

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo made a plea for residents of his state to get tested  including people who will return to work under that states phase one of reopening, which includes construction workers and curbside retail workers.

We have more tests and more sites than we are using, Cuomo said. As a demonstration of how non-invasive the testing procedure is, the governor had a doctor in full protective garb swab his nose with a test kit during a live teleconference.

It is so fast and so easy that even a governor can take this test, Cuomo said.

Later on in the press conference, Cuomo hinted that a newly identified syndrome affecting children that doctors believe is linked to COVID-19 could affect summer camps or even schools reopening in the fall.

Cuomo said the state is investigating 120 cases of the syndrome, which researchers said causes inflammatory symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease or toxic shock syndrome. Several children have died after contracting the syndrome in New York, and a handful of cases have been reported in Connecticut.

We were told children are not affected, and weve been operating on that basis. And thats one conversation with summer camps when we say children are not affected, Cuomo said Sunday during the daily teleconference.

If you now change your facts again and you say oh, children may be affected  not with the traditional COVID respiratory illness but, they may have this more serious inflammatory illness that could be a heart disease issue  thats a different set of facts.
President Buhari who expressed sadness over the recent attacks in the State extended his condolences to the families of those killed and prayed for the recovery of the injured.
The Great Economy Reopening Gamble

We knew the April US jobs data would be ugly. Speaking on ABCs This Week program last Sunday, Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank President Neel Kashkari predicted the worst is yet to come.

Kashkari is right; this wont get better while so much of the economy is sidelined. The stay-at-home orders, while they help reduce coronavirus spread, have other side effects, too. Domestic violence increases, children miss educational opportunities, people with other health conditions go untreated. These are real problems.

The question is how to reopen without making the situation worse. Kashkari had some advice on that, too: To solve the economy, we must solve the virus.

Unfortunately, its not happening. Which means we are making a massive bet against the odds.

Serious Problem

Lets start by correcting some misinformation: COVID-19 is not just the flu.

Yes, most who get it seem to show only mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all. Similarly, most people who get in cars dont have fatal accidents. But you probably dont drive 100 mph down narrow streets without a seat belt. You modify your behavior to reduce the risk.

So, whats the risk?

Well, the worst recent flu season was 201718, when the US had an estimated 61,000 flu-related deaths. And that was over an entire year. COVID-19 has killed 80,000 in just two months.

Ah, but they were mostly old people, you say. Im safe.

No, youre not.

Heres a Bloomberg analysis comparing risk of death by age group of the 2018 flu season vs. three possible COVID-19 scenarios.

Let me explain this. Look at the number I circled in red. 1.57 means that in the optimistic scenario, for people age 25-34, the risk of being one of 100,000 COVID-19 deaths is 1.57 times higher than the risk of dying from the flu if this flu season is as bad as 2017-2018. And it gets worse from there.

Bloomberg made similar calculations for auto accidents, drowning, etc. The results are consistent. If you are over age 40 or so, COVID-19 is significantly deadlier than anything else you will likely encounter this year. The odds are getting worse, not better.

The economy cant recover if that is the case, and it will be the case if the virus is actively spreading. We need a plan to fix this.

Turns out, we have a plan or at least, we did.

Abandoned Plan

Lets review some ancient historyas in four weeks ago.

On April 16, the White House released a set of guidelines called Opening Up America Again. It advised governors how to gradually reopen their states while fighting the coronavirus.

The plan begins with a set of gating criteria. The key one: a downward trajectory of documented COVID-19 cases within a 14-day period. The plan recommends relaxing restrictions in phases with each such period of improvement.



Image: The White House

Those who follow me on Twitter know Ive been very critical of the Trump administrations handling of this crisis. But I thought this plan was sensible. Similar methods seemed to be working elsewhere, so it gave me some much-needed hope.

My hope didnt last because, within days, governors whose states were nowhere near meeting the criteria announced plans to start reopening anyway.

Note, the White House hasnt withdrawn its recommendations. Its still the official advice, even though many governors are doing things differently.

Stranger still, the president has been inviting those governors to the White House to congratulate them. Its like he is saying, Here are my recommendations and Im glad you are ignoring them.

Why publish a plan and then act like it never existed? The only way this makes sense is if Trump and these governors have decided reopening businesses is more important than reducing virus deaths, but they dont want to say so publicly.

Thats a big gamble. They could lose both ways.

No Good Outcomes

Gamblers need to know all the possible outcomes. In this case, we can simplify the next few months to two variables.

The economy will either get better or not.

The coronavirus will either spread or recede.

That means we have four paths, as shown in this matrix.

Lets look at each:

If the virus recedes soon and the economy gets back on its feet, then well be essentially back to 2019. That was better than where we are now, but hardly great. The economy was growing slowly and maybe approaching recession, with stocks overpriced and the financial system wobbly.

If the virus recedes but the economy doesnt improve, then we will pay for all this with a severe recession. Millions will stay unemployed and many businesses go bankrupt.

If the virus keeps spreading but relaxing the lockdowns helps the economy, the mortuary and funeral industry will be hiring as it expands rapidly. This burial boom would be an opportunity for jobless restaurant workers and maybe others, too.

Finally, if the virus keeps spreading and the economy doesnt recover, we will face a major national disaster: economic depression concurrent with mass sickness and death.

You can debate what the odds are for each scenario. None lead anywhere good. One is unbelievably bad. So, it makes sense to do all we can to avoid that one.

Are we? Well know in a few weeks.

The Great Reset: The Collapse of the Biggest Bubble in History

New York Times best-seller and renowned financial expert John Mauldin predicts an unprecedented financial crisis that could trigger in the next five years. Most investors seem completely unaware of the relentless pressure thats building right now. Learn more here.

By Patrick_Watson

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Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

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CALHOUN COUNTY, MI  Police have arrested a man, who is the father of the 5-day-old baby who went missing Saturday morning near Battle Creek but was found unharmed, according to a Michigan State Police news release.

Jeffrey Michael Smith Sr., of Burlington, fled the scene of an alleged domestic assault incident and resisted police. He was arrested Saturday, May 16 in Kalamazoo County on charges of fleeing and eluding and resisting and obstructing officers from both Michigan State Police and the Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office.

Related: Missing 5-day-old baby found safe, say police near Battle Creek

Smith, 25, is expected to face additional charges in Calhoun County from both Emmett Township Police and the state police.

MSP issued a missing/endangered advisory around 6:30 a.m. Saturday for the baby, Jeffrey Michael Smith Jr.

The infant was found unharmed in the care of his maternal grandmother at her home in Newton Township, according to the release. Smith was not initially present at the scene.

While officers waited for the babys mother, who is the alleged victim of the domestic assault, Smith drove up to the scene but refused to cooperate with police and fled the scene, according to the release.

As he was driving away, Smith reportedly collided into an unoccupied parked MSP patrol vehicle, causing damage to the car.

State troopers did not immediately pursue Smith when he fled from the scene, but he was being pursued by police in the area, according to the release.

A state trooper in Kalamazoo County later observed Smiths vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop. According to the release, Smith pulled over and the officer pulled behind him and Smith put his car in reverse and hit the patrol car. The vehicles became stuck.

Smith, who did not sustain any injuries, was arrested without further incident and taken to Kalamazoo County Jail.

A state trooper sustained minor injuries and two MSP patrol vehicles sustained damage in the incident, police said.

State troopers were assisted in the incident by Calhoun County Sheriffs Department, Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Department, Emmett Township Police Department and Battle Creek Police Department.

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The confrontation between the United States and China has disrupted international cooperation indispensable for dealing with the new coronavirus. Unless the worlds two major powers join hands, it cannot be expected that infections will be contained and the world economy will be revived.

What is important now is for each country to share information on the virus and establish an international cooperative framework for the development of vaccines and therapeutic drugs. Controversy between the United States and China over the source of the infection has hindered such moves.

Of course, China bears the greatest responsibility.

The first place in the world where the virus spread was the Chinese city of Wuhan. At the end of last year, a local doctor who had promptly warned of an emergency was punished by the local government. It cannot be denied that Chinas tendency to conceal information has led to the outbreak in Wuhan and its spread worldwide.

When, where, and how did the virus originate and spread? Deeper discussions based on scientific data would be effective in preventing a recurrence. The World Health Organization plans to send experts to China to investigate.

China should accept the investigation as soon as possible. It is necessary for Beijing to provide all materials useful for the research, while not limiting what is subject to the investigation.

U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo continue to argue with China, claiming that a laboratory in Wuhan is the source of the disease. China denies the claim, saying there is no scientific evidence, thus continuing tit-for-tat accusations.

The United States is the most infected country in the world and has a long way to go before the situation settles. It is important to determine the source of the virus, but Trump should focus on domestic measures first. He cant complain if people accuse him of using the tactic of criticizing China, while hinting at taking measures of retaliation such as imposing tariffs, as a way of drumming up support.

The global supply chain has already been hit. The world is not in a situation for the United States and China to continue their trade friction. Officials in charge of the two countries trade talks held a phone conversation on Friday. It is said to be the first official talks in about four months. They should deal with the matter more swiftly.

Trump calls himself a wartime president, while Chinese President Xi Jinping also calls the situation a peoples war. They may have likened the current state to a war, regarding it as a crisis that requires broad cooperation from the public.

Trump compared the pandemic with the Imperial Japanese forces attack on Pearl Harbor and the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, saying the new virus is really the worst attack weve ever had.

Infectious diseases are not conflicts between countries. No military power is used. Expressions such as attack and war can cause people to lean toward condemnation of other countries, forgetting that the enemy is a virus. Leaders should avoid such easy analogies.

 The Japan News
Overhauling the childcare sector to reduce the cost burden on families could help bring more women into the workplace and improve productivity, with leading economists encouraging the government to undertake a wide-ranging review to help boost the post-coronavirus recovery.

The government has indicated it is unlikely to extend free childcare beyond June amid increasing demand for spaces as parents return to work. However, recent labour force figures show women are bearing the financial brunt of the restrictions and have dropped out of work at a faster rate than men.

Economists believe childcare needs to be overhauled to help women back into the workplace. Credit:Louie Douvis

Grattan Institute budget policy and institutional reform program director Danielle Wood said the rescue package currently in place to support childcare, providing fee-free services for families, had been effective at keeping businesses afloat but after June there would be a "crunch point".

"If we move back too fast to the introduction of fees what we know is quite a lot of people have lost their jobs and hours, businesses wont operate as usual, and you may have a world where if you transition off too quickly you may get centres closing their doors," Ms Wood said.
Ottawa, May 17 : The first Canadian clinical trial for a potential COVID-19 vaccine has been officially approved, according to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

At his press conference in Ottawa on Saturday, Trudeau said the Canadian Center for Vaccinology at Dalhousie University has been given the green light by Health Canada to begin clinical trials of the vaccine candidate, Xinhua news agency reported.

"If these vaccine trials are successful we could produce and distribute it here at home," Trudeau said. "Research and development take time, and must be done right, but this is encouraging news." Trudeau said the National Research Council of Canada will work with the manufacturers of the potential vaccine so that it will be able to be manufactured domestically should the trials be successful.

As of Saturday afternoon, at least 75,770 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, with 5,677 deaths in the country.

Health Canada reportedly has authorized 33 clinical trials for supportive care or treatments for COVID-19 to date.

On May 12, the National Research Council of Canada announced a collaboration with CanSino Biologics Inc. (CanSinoBIO) to advance bioprocessing and clinical development in Canada of a candidate vaccine against COVID-19.

Referred to as Ad5-nCoV, the vaccine candidate received Chinese regulatory approval earlier this year, allowing CanSino Biologics to move ahead with human clinical trials in China.

It is one of only a handful of vaccine candidates in the world against COVID-19 so far approved for initial safety testing in humans, and was the first candidate vaccine to begin conducting Phase II human clinical trials.

By bringing their respective technologies and expertise together to fight COVID-19, CanSino Biologics and the National Research Council of Canada are aiming to pave the way for future clinical trials in Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Immunization Research Network at the Canadian Center for Vaccinology. The vaccine is subject to approval by Health Canada, for which CanSinoBIO is in the process of filing a Clinical Trial Application.

The Ad5-nCoV was developed using technology from both China and Canada. It was co-developed by the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology (BIB) and CanSino Biologics Inc. using a genetically engineered replication-defective adenovirus type 5 vector to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is grown using living cells that were designed and developed at the National Research Council of Canada.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Narendra Modi government on Sunday announced Rs 40,000 crore of additional money in the federal job guarantee programme, MGNREGS, as demand for work continues to surge, with millions of daily wagers returning home.

The 66% top-up, above the original allocation of Rs 61,000 crore in the budget, made the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) the only social welfare programme with a kitty of Rs one lakh crore.

Announcing the fifth and final tranche of the economic package in view of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the allocation for MGNREGS was being increased by Rs 40,000 crore.

The rural job guarantee programme, enacted in 2005, has emerged as the backbone of rural income, when many experts have been asking for more money in the hands of the poor. The government, in the first week of April, allotted Rs 33,300 crore or more than half of its annual budget to the states anticipating a rise in the number of beneficiaries.

BJP president JP Nadda said the decision reflected Prime Minister Narendra Modis concern and timely initiative, adding that the higher funding will provide adequate work and earning opportunities to migrant families returning home. The Congress, too, welcomed the decision but pointed out that the Centre was spending money worth only 1.6% of the GDP as against its promise of giving a stimulus equal to 10% of Indias GDP.

A quick look at MGNREGS data shows that the Centre planned to create about 40% of its annual target of 280 crore person-days or work between April and July  an indication of the urgent need for more money as well as high demand from beneficiaries.

A government presentation said that with the new allocation, MGNREGS will help generate nearly 300 crore person-days in total and address need for more work, including returning migrant workers in monsoon season as well. It also hoped for creation of larger number of durable and livelihood assets including water conservation assets that will boost the rural economy through higher production.

In the initial estimate, the government had the target to create 26.2 crore person-days in April, 34.9 crore in May, 34.7 crore in June and 24.2 crore person-days in July to reach the target of 120 crore person-days out of the 280 crore person-days in the first four months of the financial year.

The first allocation of Rs 33,300 crore has been able to meet all pending arrears of both wages and material costs and kick-start the job scheme in these challenging times.

Another set of data reveals how the job demand has spiralled as people return home from big cities. In April, 1.21 households demanded jobs under the scheme but in May, the numbers nearly doubled, with 2.23 households asking for work. Under the MGNREGS act, a state is bound to give work to beneficiaries.

Many experts have also suggested that the government should consider lifting the ceiling of 100 days  as envisaged in the act  to at least 150 days of work for one person in a year as job opportunities for millions of rural Indians have squeezed due to the pandemic.

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The suspect in a shooting at an Illinois motel which left one person dead and two others injured has died following a stand-off with police, authorities have said.

The shooting started in the early hours of the morning at a Super 8 motel in Rockford, Illinois, according to the citys police.

Dan OShea, the police chief, said in a statement that a SWAT team was sent to the scene and that officers had found two victims with gunshot wounds.

He said that a third victim was pronounced dead, also from gunshot wounds.

Rockford Police said that the stand-off finished on Sunday morning local time with the death of the suspect.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The force said in a tweet: The stand-off at the Super 8 Motel has ended with the suspect found deceased from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A formal release will follow once more details become available.

Another fatal shooting occurred in the same city just hours before the motel shooting started, with local media reporting that a 21-year-old man had died from his injuries.
In wake of the extended lockdown in India, all domestic and international flights have been suspended till May 31 midnight, according to a notice issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Sunday. However, restrictions will not apply to domestic and international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA.

"In view of the decision taken by the government to continue the lockdown up to May 31, prohibiting domestic passenger flight operations has been further extended till 11:59 pm of May 31, 2020," the Indian aviation regulator DGCA said.

This announcement came after the central government extended the nationwide lockdown by two more weeks till May 31 to prevent the spread of coronavirus as the number of positive cases crossed 90,000 on Sunday.

The DGCA said "foreign and domestic airlines shall be suitably informed about the opening of their operations whether international to or from India or domestic, respectively, in due course".

All commercial passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 25, when the lockdown was first imposed to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

According to a CRISIL report, domestic aviation industry will suffer a revenue loss of Rs 24,000-25,000 crore this fiscal (FY21) due to the extension of lockdown. Airlines will be the worst-affected, contributing more than 70% of the losses, or nearly Rs 17,000 crore, followed by airport operators with Rs 5,000-5,500 crore, and airport retailers (including retail, food and beverages and duty-free) with Rs 1,700-1,800 crore, the report said. The agency has also warned that the losses will climb if travel restrictions last longer in hubs such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata.

Meanwhile, India reported 4,987 fresh coronavirus cases in 24 hours, highest single-day spike, with 120 deaths in a day, as the country gears to enter its fourth phase of lockdown. The country's total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases jumped to 90,927 on Sunday, according to the latest update by the Union Health Ministry. The tally includes 53,946 active cases, 34,108 cured/discharged, 1 migrated, and 2,872 deaths.

By Chitranjan Kumar

Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown 4.0: What are the rules for offices?

Also Read: Delhi metro won't open in Lockdown 4.0; govt issues strict guidelines
The flight landed at 4.45 am today and it reached Hyderabad from Chicago via Delhi.

Hyderabad (Telangana): Under the Vande Bharat Mission, Air India's repatriation flight AI- 126, carrying 168 passengers from Chicago, USA arrived at Hyderabad International Airport on Sunday.

All arriving passengers were serviced through the fully sanitised International Arrivals section of the Main Passenger Terminal of Hyderabad International Airport.

Earlier on May 16, Air India repatriation flight AI 1839 carrying 121 passengers from Newark, landed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad.

India began from May 7 the phased repatriation of its citizens stranded abroad, due to various lockdown restrictions, under the Vande Bharat Mission.
This article is for investors who would like to improve their understanding of price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll show how you can use China Reinsurance (Group) Corporation's (HKG:1508) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. What is China Reinsurance (Group)'s P/E ratio? Well, based on the last twelve months it is 5.40. That is equivalent to an earnings yield of about 18.5%.

Check out our latest analysis for China Reinsurance (Group)

How Do You Calculate China Reinsurance (Group)'s P/E Ratio?

The formula for price to earnings is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share (in the reporting currency)  Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for China Reinsurance (Group):

P/E of 5.40 = CN0.770  CN0.142 (Based on the year to December 2019.)

(Note: the above calculation uses the share price in the reporting currency, namely CNY and the calculation results may not be precise due to rounding.)

Is A High P/E Ratio Good?

A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. That is not a good or a bad thing per se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future.

Does China Reinsurance (Group) Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. We can see in the image below that the average P/E (7.8) for companies in the insurance industry is higher than China Reinsurance (Group)'s P/E.

SEHK:1508 Price Estimation Relative to Market May 17th 2020

Its relatively low P/E ratio indicates that China Reinsurance (Group) shareholders think it will struggle to do as well as other companies in its industry classification. While current expectations are low, the stock could be undervalued if the situation is better than the market assumes. It is arguably worth checking if insiders are buying shares, because that might imply they believe the stock is undervalued.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. That's because companies that grow earnings per share quickly will rapidly increase the 'E' in the equation. And in that case, the P/E ratio itself will drop rather quickly. So while a stock may look expensive based on past earnings, it could be cheap based on future earnings.

Story continues

In the last year, China Reinsurance (Group) grew EPS like Taylor Swift grew her fan base back in 2010; the 62% gain was both fast and well deserved. Having said that, if we look back three years, EPS growth has averaged a comparatively less impressive 5.5%.

Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits

One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash).

Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio.

How Does China Reinsurance (Group)'s Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio?

China Reinsurance (Group) has net debt equal to 27% of its market cap. While it's worth keeping this in mind, it isn't a worry.

The Bottom Line On China Reinsurance (Group)'s P/E Ratio

China Reinsurance (Group) trades on a P/E ratio of 5.4, which is below the HK market average of 9.7. The company hasn't stretched its balance sheet, and earnings growth was good last year. If the company can continue to grow earnings, then the current P/E may be unjustifiably low.

Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, 'In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine. So this free report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock.

You might be able to find a better buy than China Reinsurance (Group). 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.
Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - Governor Doug Ducey Thursday announced that following a national search, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has selected Arizona for its new U.S. advanced semiconductor factory. The project will create over 1,600 new high-tech jobs and generate thousands of additional jobs in the state for suppliers and other companies within the semiconductor industry.

TSMCs total spending on this project, including capital expenditure, will be approximately $12 billion from 2021 to 2029.



Were incredibly proud that one of the worlds leading technology companies has chosen Arizona for this high-tech project, one with national and global significance, said Governor Ducey. TSMC could have picked any place in the world to build this advanced manufacturing factory. They chose Arizona for our unbeatable business climate, already thriving tech sector and ready access to an international supply chain. Id like to thank TSMC Chairman Dr. Mark Liu for his commitment to Arizona. We are honored to be selected for this project and look forward to building a collaborative long-term relationship with TSMC. Im very grateful to President Donald Trump for his leadership and tireless efforts to bring more manufacturing back to our shores. Id also like to thank Secretary Ross, his team at the U.S. Department of Commerce including SelectUSA, and the Trump administration for their partnership.



Arizona has long been a hub for the advanced manufacturing and semiconductor industries. The states skilled workforce, strong supply chain, strategic geographic location, commitment to pro-innovation policies and unmatched quality of life have continued to drive rapid industry growth and economic momentum. This new U.S. facility will enable TSMC to provide enhanced service to customers and partners and increase its ability to attract global talent.



The facility will utilize TSMCs 5-nanometer technology for semiconductor wafer fabrication and have the capacity to produce 20,000 wafers per month. Construction is planned to begin in 2021 with production targeted to start in 2024. The Arizona facility will be the companys second manufacturing operation in the United States.



Several sites in the City of Phoenix are still being evaluated for the location of the factory. The Arizona Commerce Authority will continue working with TSMC, the U.S. administration, the City of Phoenix and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council to finalize all aspects of the project.



About TSMC: TSMC pioneered the pure-play foundry business model when it was founded in 1987 and has been the worlds largest dedicated semiconductor foundry ever since. The Company supports a thriving ecosystem of global customers and partners with the industrys leading process technologies and portfolio of design enablement solutions to unleash innovation for the global semiconductor industry. With global operations spanning Asia, Europe, and North America, TSMC serves as a committed corporate citizen around the world. TSMC deployed 272 distinct process technologies and manufactured 10,761 products for 499 customers in 2019 by providing broadest range of advanced, specialty and advanced packaging technology services. TSMC is the first foundry to provide 5-nanometer production capabilities, the most advanced semiconductor process technology available in the world. The Company is headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan.
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Health Minister Hala Zayed toured Abbasiya's Fever Hospital tents, which are prepared to be used as waiting and screening areas for suspected coronavirus patients

Egypt will begin operating "field tents" for suspected coronavirus patients at a Cairo fever hospital on Monday to prevent overcrowding inside the facility, the health ministry announced late on Saturday.

According to a statement, Health Minister Hala Zayed toured Abbasiya's Fever Hospital tents, which are prepared to be used as waiting and screening areas for suspected coronavirus patients.

She assured the availability of x-ray and testing equipment at tents to ensure swift medical services.

She inspected the development of a designated building at Abbasiya Chest Hospital, which will serve as a quarantine centre for coronavirus patients with a capacity of 166 beds starting next week.

Zayed also toured the hospital's laboratory after the ministry supplied a PCR device, with testing set to begin next week.

The move comes as the country works to expand the capacity of its health system to cope with a spike in coronavirus cases, as authorities seek to ease lockdown measures by the end of Ramadan, which falls next week.

Egypt reported 491 new coronavirus infections on Saturday, bringing the total number of detected cases up to 11,719.

It also reported 20 new coronavirus deaths on Saturday, bringing the total number of fatalities up to 612 nationwide

Egypt surpassed 11,000 coronavirus cases on Friday 15 May, almost three months after the first case was confirmed on 14 February. It took the respiratory virus seven weeks to reach 1,000 infections in Egypt, and five days to move from 10,000 to 11,000 cases.

Last month, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El Sisi issued a decree extending a nationwide state of emergency for three months starting Tuesday.

The ratification came after the parliament passed a number of amendments to a law regulating the state of emergency that give greater powers to the presidency and the military prosecution as authorities fight the coronavirus outbreak.

The amendments allow authorities to put in place a series of measures to contain the spread of the virus, some of which have already been enforced, including suspending schools and banning public and private gatherings.

The state will also be allowed to instruct private hospitals and their staff to help with public healthcare for a limited period in case of emergency, and to turn schools, youth centres and other state-owned facilities into field hospitals.

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T J S George By

Two things worry me. Deeply. Feeling patriotic, I sat glued to the television set for the Prime Ministers address to the nation. After two minutes I felt hungry and moved to the dining table. Like me, the majority of people in the south must have lost interest in the Hindi prabhashan. I dont feel good about my lack of interest in Hindi. But I dont feel guilty either.

The second thing that sent me off to the dining table was the nothing-new feeling created by the prime ministerial message. Economic package. Rebuilding. Demand-supply chakra. Selfreliance. C20 lakh crore for self-reliant India. Of course, if even a few of the promises are fulfilled, it will be progress. But the fact remains that we have lived for 70 years on slogans, the last six of them on well-phrased slogans well delivered. They didnt click because urgent issues, like massive movement of migrant labour, were ignored.

But one thing is new, and disturbing. Sedition law is being used to suppress the common democratic right of criticism. Dhaval Patel, a local journalist in Gujarat, was booked for sedition when he uploaded a report about Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. It was a routine report saying that there were problems between the chief minister and the BJP High Command, the kind of report that appears about many state leadership in many forums. If the report was incorrect, both the Chief Minister and the BJP High Command could have publicly said so and the media would have been obliged to publish the denial.

But that is not what the Rupani Government did. It ensured that the Ahmedabad Police crime branch filed an FIR against Patel under the sedition Act. The police chief perhaps saw the farcical nature of the action and said: As a precautionary measure in view of the coronavirus pandemic, Patel has been detained, not arrested, and sent to SVP Hospital for Covid treatment. Thus, the police turned the sedition story into a corona story.

Sedition means inciting people to rebel against the state. In the Indian democratic system, governments have always been criticised by political opponents and by media. This was never interpreted as rebellion against the state. Therefore, using the sedition Act to prevent legitimate give-and-take in a democracy is a cheap trick. It wont work. BJP and Congress, CPM and Trinamool, all must face democracys challenges; none can get refuge behind sedition laws.

Strangely, many of our elected leaders seem to believe that once elected,they are above the checks and balances of democracy. Such leaders resort to sedition laws at the slightest provocation. Parliamentary criticism of a government or a minister is the essence of democracy. To say that such criticism is sedition amounting to rebellion against the state is nonsense.

That the Rupani Government in Gujarat resorted to nonsensical procedures to silence critics is ironical. Gujarat has the worst morbidity rate in the country. The first Covid cases were confirmed in Gujarat. It remains the worst affected state after Maharashtra. Gujarat became known for announcing precipitate policies without giving people sufficient notice. People were banned from leaving their homes; shops were closed for a week.

Ahmedabad is notorious for localities crammed with people Dharavistyle. In fact, it is worse because, unlike in Dharavi, religion plays a role in separating one over-crammed sector from another. Large numbers of men and women sharing one bathroom is scary enough. Imagine the complications if the scarce bathrooms are segregated religion-wise as well. Many years of rule by BJP stalwarts have not succeeded in improving the situation in Gujarat and in its capital, in particular.

British bureaucratic legalese is the hallmark of the sedition law that India still follows. It says that whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite, disaffection towards the Government, shall be punished... A century and a half have passed since the original enactment. But the language  and the mentality  remain unchanged.

The PM deflects all criticism by giving his oratory full play. Abraham Lincoln was no orator. He delivered the Gettysburg Address in a most unimpressive style. But it changed the course of history. Infosys founder Narayana Murthy recently made a relevant comment. India cannot continue in this situation for long. At some point, deaths due to hunger will outweigh deaths due to corona. We must facilitate return to work by the able-bodied while protecting the vulnerable. Wisdom, not oratory.
Sri Lanka's former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday said that as many as 500,000 people could be left unemployed in the country due to the COVID-19 economic crisis, urging the government to come up with a credible stimulus package to help the island nation's economy ravaged by the pandemic.

Criticising the government's decision to impose a blanket ban on imports to stabilise the country's economy, he said that Sri Lanka is facing a negative economic growth and the government needs to allow the market to operate in order to increase the revenue.

He said that with the uncertain future, as many as 500,000 people could be facing job losses in the country.

"The increase in unemployment will affect all sections of society," he said.

Terming the government's response to the COVID-19 economic crisis as inadequate, he said that 50 billion rupees (USD 26 million) set aside by the government as economic stimulus was only 2 per cent of the GDP as compared to other countries.

He urged the government to present to the country a credible economic package.

He also criticised the government for printing money to the value of rupees 200 billion (USD 2.6 billion).

To ensure financial stability of the country, the Cabinet last month approved a proposal made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to enter into an agreement with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a currency swap worth USD 400 million to boost the country's foreign reserves.

Meanwhile, the ministry of defense on Sunday said that security forces and police personnel are not required to donate their salaries to help the government face the COVID-19 economic crisis.

The government had earlier this month appealed to the state sector employees to donate their salaries for the month of May in full or in part to the government.

The defense ministry said that security forces personnel are exempted from this requirement.

According to the Johns Hopkins University data, Sri Lanka has so far reported 960 COVID-19 cases and 9 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A group from Tataskweyak Cree Nation was in its second day of blocking traffic Saturday on the northern access route to Manitoba Hydros Keeyask generating station construction site.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/5/2020 (612 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A group from Tataskweyak Cree Nation was in its second day of blocking traffic Saturday on the northern access route to Manitoba Hydros Keeyask generating station construction site.

The target of the groups concern is a planned shift change of workers on May 19, which would bring as many as 1,200 employees to the site. Hydro scaled back the number of workers on site to about 700 when pandemic measures were first announced in March.

'Yes, we are (staying here), until we get a message and a commitment to shut down Keeyask until this pandemic goes away'  Tataskweyak band councillor Nathan Neckoway

The group wants to prevent the entry of the COVID-19 virus into their community, which is located approximately 750 km northeast of Winnipeg.

Tataskweyak band councillor Nathan Neckoway, whose community has been able to avoid any COVID-19 infections thus far, hopes to get the message out and said the group would remain in place until Manitoba Hydro changes course.

"Yes, we are (staying here), until we get a message and a commitment to shut down Keeyask until this pandemic goes away," said Neckoway via telephone from the site of the blockade on Provincial Road 280, one of two access routes to the construction site.

"One message we tell everybody, because were providing notification letters to traffic that goes by, north and south, were not blocking any residents. We give them notification stating its our mission to protect our people against COVID-19."

Manitoba Hydro said the shift change will go ahead Tuesday as planned and added it made adjustments to the plan based on input from the partner communities and public health officials and that there is little risk of transmission of COVID-19 from Keeyask to surrounding communities.

Hydro is developing the project in partnership with Tataskweyak, York Factory First Nation, War Lake First Nation and Fox Lake Cree Nation.

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"Right now in our territory, theres zero cases since COVID came into Manitoba and Canada in March," said Neckoway. "This risk of bringing 1,200 new people to the site of Keeyask; were kind of concerned and afraid that one case will come into our territory."

Manitoba Hydro media relations officer Bruce Owen said safety concerns have been addressed.

"For the past eight weeks the project site was essentially in lockdown, operating at about half-capacity with 700 workers who volunteered to stay," said Owen in an email. "At the completion of the shift change, approximately 1,000 workers will have returned to site, again following the plans and protocols endorsed by Manitoba Health and the Chief Medical Officer.

"We and the project contractors are minimizing the number of out-of-province travellers. To be absolutely clear, we are not bringing in new workers  we are bringing back returning workers to the project."

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14
Customers at a Saigon Co.op supermarket (Photo: VNA)

The survey questioned 618 consumers in Vietnam on their consumption behaviour shifts during the COVID-19 crisis.

The findings show that only 4 percent of Vietnamese consumers surveyed believe the pandemic will have a long-lasting impact on the economy and create a lengthy recession. This is compared to 6 percent in Indonesia, 16 percent in the US, and 24 percent in the Republic of Korea.

This optimism, coupled with the countrys head start on recovery, is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the countrys new reality.

Out of the more than 600 respondents from Vietnam, 47 percent expressed a belief that the economy will rebound within two to three months and will then grow at a similar or even faster rate than before the pandemic.

It found that about 70 percent of respondents expect to be more careful with their spending, and about half of respondents say they feel less job or financial security because of COVID-19. This is linked to decreased spending expectations across all categories, except for essentials such as groceries, food delivery and telecommunications services.

People also have a growing preference for healthy and locally sourced offerings. More than four in five Vietnamese respondents (81 percent) shared that they are more focused on health. This is reflected by an increase in consumption of products that are perceived to be healthy such as eggs, fresh foods and healthcare products.

Vietnamese are fairly loyal to stores, but significantly less loyal to brands in a pandemic as 39 percent of respondents have tried or switched to an alternative store.

The top three reasons for switching including location closer to home (46 percent of switchers), availability of online or app-based channels (42 percent) and stock of essentials (37 percent).

However, 75 percent of Vietnamese respondents have switched brands during the COVID-19, and these changes are expected to last beyond the pandemic.
MONTPELIER, Va. - Sundays were at once wonderfully familiar and painfully different for the 70 Christians who, in staggered small groups, entered Hopeful Baptist Church for the 11 a.m. service.

In the months since the novel coronavirus shut down communal worship, some congregants could not resist coming to their small country church anyway. One 6-year-old wanted to have her birthday parade in Hopeful's parking lot. A dozen people, longing to connect, met one evening and, spread out and silent, walked prayer circles around the building.

For the first time in two months, some of Hopeful's faithful finally were back inside, two days after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, slightly eased shutdown restrictions for most of the state.

Things looked dramatically different: Communion's juice and cracker came in packages waiting on trays at the door, not passed by smiling, familiar deacons. Pews, empty of hymnals and Bibles, were stocked with photocopied handouts. The family that always occupies the middle of the far right section was home, recovering from the highly contagious virus. Some elderly members also stayed home, leaving empty spots in the middle section, left behind the piano, and elsewhere.

Those who made it sang traditional hymns, murmured "amens," heard the Rev. Leroy Davis preach about what God may be doing when "he messes up your plans," and returned, gratefully, to a slice of their previous spiritual lives.

"I was determined if I could put one foot in front of the other I was going to be here," 76-year-old deacon Barry Alderson said as he choked back tears after the service.

Blind and using a cane, he was dressed in a crisp yellow suit, tie and green polka-dotted mask. He's left the house since March only for treatment of his Stage 4 bone cancer and, now, for church. "I need to be part of my Christian family," he said.

What communal worship looks like in the United States and around the world is evolving. Many houses of worship in the parts of Virginia and Maryland that reopened this weekend kept their doors shut. That included the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, the Episcopal dioceses of Virginia and Maryland and most Jewish congregations across the region. Some clergy who were opening up declined to be interviewed by The Washington Post last week because they feared protests or criticism.

The District of Columbia suburbs of Maryland and Virginia and other hot spots, including the cities of Baltimore and Richmond, remained closed.

But on this cloudy spring morning the doors of this 213-year-old Southern Baptist church, located on a rural curve on the border of Louisa and Henrico counties, were wide open, and the congregation was living up to its name.

"It's home. You know the smiles from the eyes. You know the love behind the masks," said Jessica Beck, a physical therapist who has attended the church for 12 years, was married there and came back Sunday with her husband and their two girls.

Ryan Beck said he hopes the couple's daughters will have their weddings at the church as well. "And when it's my time to go, I hope I'll be buried in the backyard," he added, referring to the cemetery behind the red brick church building.

Staying away had been difficult, Ryan Beck said: "You're always the best Christian you're going to be when you leave church. By the time Saturday night comes around, between work and finances pressure, you feel yourself slipping. Looking at the building, and knowing all the people who came to know the Lord inside - it's a recharge on your batteries. I feel a Christian needs to be in the building."

Northam and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, kept strict limits on attendance for churches, part of the social distancing measures that had ushers, clergy and deacons measuring pews to see how many family groups could sit six feet apart. Organizers also rejiggered services to limit singing, touching, or sharing items.

They wanted services to be familiar, and meaningful, despite the differences.

Davis, who has been pastor at Hopeful for eight years, decided that meant no choir. No handed-out bulletin with community announcements and everyone's birthday. No passed tray for financial offerings. Of the church's 300 members, about 150 attend on a typical Sunday, Davis said. But he knew this first opening-up Sunday wouldn't be a full house, with all the elderly members.

Decisions about when and how to reopen factor what congregations have been able to do during the virus shutdown. While many have gone online and have members who can easily connect and communicate and pray virtually, others - such as Hopeful - do not.

The church sits in area of low connectivity, and Davis said about 60% of the congregation does not have WiFi. He's been streaming his weekly services on Facebook but knows only a fraction is watching. He also has been doing twice-a-day robocalls offering scripture and encouragement.

Davis was among dozens of Virginia clergy to sign a letter in early May urging Northam to consider churches "essential" and reopen them.

"Corporate worship is commanded by Scripture and has been a foundational element of the Christian faith for more than 2,000 years," the clergy wrote. "Alternatives are not adequate . . . with each passing week that corporate worship is banned . . . the government pushes Christians closer to the point where they must choose to sin against God and conscience or violate the law."

Tricia and Charles Melton watched Davis every pandemic Sunday morning at 11 a.m. from their porch, sharing an iPhone. Stuck at home instead of teaching Sunday school (her) and being a deacon (him), they found themselves watching three or four extra services as well from regionally and nationally well-known preachers.

But this Sunday, they were beaming as they climbed into their car to head to church.

"There is something unique and special about a group of Christians getting together," Tricia said. "There's a physical feeling to it."
Across the state, many Michiganders are making it abundantly clear: They want to reopen the economy.

That was the message at a Beach Bash protest Saturday in Grand Haven, where residents from around the state gathered to express their frustrations about Gov. Gretchen Whitmers stay-at-home order and called for it to be lifted.

The plea for reopening was also evident at a Branch County drive-in theater this weekend, where cars were lined up for about a quarter of a mile when the theater opened in defiance of the executive order.

A Holland salon owner became the latest of several Michigan barbers and stylists, who opened up shop despite the restrictions in place until May 28 on businesses deemed non-essential such as hair salons.

"Its about the principle of everything, said Sarah Huff, owner of Ardon +Grit Salon and Lounge. We need to open our economy.

Whitmer has defended her executive orders as necessary to battle the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, she provided details about her plan to reopen Michigan in six phases.

Below is a look at the most recent developments related to the COVID-19 crisis:

Over 28,000 Michiganders have recovered from the coronavirus

The state Department of Health and Human Services releases new data about recoveries every Saturday, and this weeks recovery number exceeded 28,000.

Thats about 56 percent of the states total virus cases. A recovery is defined as someone who is alive 30 days past the onset of COVID-19 symptoms.

Michigan has 50,504 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 4,880 deaths linked to the virus, according to Saturdays data release.

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Michigan receives $315 million in federal funds for coronavirus testing

The state of Michigan will get a boost from federal funding to expand its testing capacity for the novel coronavirus.

A total of $315 million in federal funds is coming to the state of Michigan from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, according to a news release from Michigans two U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing and Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills.

Widespread testing is absolutely critical to keeping us and our loved ones safe as we reopen our economy, Stabenow said in the release.

Coronavirus is taking a serious toll on the mental health of Michigan residents

After two months in a statewide lockdown, Michiganders are struggling with their mental health. Experts say coronavirus isnt just a threat to physical health; it has led to a new epidemic of stress, anxiety and depression.

But at what point does depression or anxiety about the ongoing pandemic call for professional intervention?

Medical experts offers these five signs for when you might be struggling with mental health problems and should get help.

Nurse returning from NYC coronavirus unit warns: You are walking into a potentially fatal position'

Erin Beard worked for 44 days in a COVID-19 hospital in New York City, where she said she could have never mentally prepared for the 12- to 14- hour shifts she would endure.

Beard, who Saturday returned home to Jackson County, said she would see people break down before they left the hospital after a long and grueling day at work at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx.

You just did it, she said. You went in. You knew what your mission was for the day and you got through it somehow, knowing that today would come and youd be able to go home.

Read more about her experience working on NYCs coronavirus frontlines here.

Whitmer extends price-gouging restrictions to protect consumers

Michigan consumers will continue to receive protection from price-gouging through June 12.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an order Friday, May 15 to extend the previously mandated price-gouging restrictions.

The order prohibits a person from selling any product for more than 20% higher than what the person offered or charged before March 9 -- the date of the first state of emergency order.

The only exception is for non-emergency supplies that cost more than $1,000.

Kroger swaps $2 per hour Hero Pay raise for frontline workers for one-time bonus

Kroger is ending a $2-per-hour pay increase for frontline workers during the COVID-19 crisis, but launching a one-time bonus program.

The $2 per hour increase began March 29 and will end May 23.

The move sparked a complaint from the United Food and Commercial Works International Union, which represents 18,000 Michigan Kroger workers. Union President Marc Perrone said he thinks Kroger should continue the hourly pay increase because the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing.

Things that give us hope in Jackson County amid COVID-19 crisis

This week saw another round of Jackson County community members helping each other in various ways during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

From recognizing nurses to repainting old murals and using Harry Potter to reach a community, here are some things that give us hope in and around Jackson County.

Ann Arbor Pride celebration goes virtual amid coronavirus pandemic

Ann Arbor Pride announced this week it will host an online celebration on Aug. 1, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Although its online, the event from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. will feature local bands, sponsors and drag performers, with the headliner being a yet-to-be-revealed local legend, according to the events Facebook page.

It was a difficult decision, but we felt like that it was the most responsible decision for our attendees, vendors, entertainers and community," Ann Arbor Pride Director Joe Schoch said.

Whitmer opens research labs back up in latest coronavirus order

Research laboratories were allowed to reopen Friday in the latest executive order signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Labs must follow a number of precautionary measures in their reopening, such as distributing face coverings, creating capacity limits for labs, minimizing the use of shared lab equipment and disinfecting the work site when a worker is sent home with symptoms or with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

The reopening of laboratory research in Michigan marks another step toward reopening our economy and getting Michiganders back to work, Whitmer said in a written statement.

Coronavirus dispute at Flint liquor store leaves man with gunshot wound to ankle

A dispute over limiting access to a Flint liquor store due to the coronavirus crisis culminated in a security guard shooting an assailant in his ankle.

The altercation took place between a security guard and a male customer at Carpenter Road Superette, 1066 E. Carpenter Road in Flint, over limited access due to the COVID-19 crisis, said Michigan State Police Lt. James Lang.

The customer subsequently struck the security guard multiple times, police said. The guard drew his gun and the customer attempted to strike him again, causing the guard to fire one round toward the ground.

The bullet struck the customer in his ankle. Investigators believe the bullet ricocheted off the ground before it hit the customer.

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.

Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.

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

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
The Manipur Police detained 819



people for violating the lockdown norms and not wearing masks, a senior police officer said on Sunday.

The detained people were produced before magistrates who fined them Rs 79,530, ADGP (Law and Order) L Kailun said in a statement.

Police also detained 610 vehicles for violating the lockdown norms.

Since March 25 police has detained 35, 991 people for violating the lockdown norms and seized 26, 811 vehicles.

The police had also collected Rs 36,38,290 as fine from the detained people and seized vehicle since the beginning of the lockdown, the officer said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One hundred and forty-three Afghanistan nationals departed for their homeland from the city, while nine Indians returned back home from Afghanistan with the help of Pune customs.

The flight landed at 12.40 hours and departed at 13.30 hours, according to officials.

Vaishali Patange, customs commissioner, said, We successfully facilitated the arrival of nine Indian nationals and departure of 143 Afghanistan nationals stranded in Afghanistan and India respectively by KAM Airlines.

They were stranded due to the restrictions in place to contain Covid-19 cases. Among the departing Afghan nationals, most of them were defence personnel and students who came to Pune Airport from Pune, Goa, Panchamarghi, and Bangalore, said Patange.

Out of the nine arriving Indian passengers, eight were sent to their respective places to be quarantined while one passenger who had some symptoms was sent for Covid-19 test, said Patange.

Out of the total 147 Afghani passengers who had come for returning back home, four could not be accommodated as the flight capacity was of 143 passengers and they had to be sent back home, said Patange. None of departing passengers were found with signs and symptoms of Covid- 19, she added.

The Pune Customs, Airport Authority of India, Immigration, CISF and District administration coordinated to facilitate the movement and the district administration arranged for the transport of these passengers. All the passengers were screened and guidelines were followed at the airport where they were seen maintaining social distancing and using sanitizers while completing the formalities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin Reveals How Moscow Created Unique High-Tech Weapons

Sputnik News

20:35 GMT 16.05.2020

During his address to the Federal Assembly, the president showcased the country's new strategic weapons, including the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, unmanned underwater vehicles and the Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic cruise missile.

In an interview with local media, the president said well-developed science is a prerequisite for the creation of high-end weapons. "How would we have done that if we hadn't had fundamental science, scientific schools, highly professional staff? It would have been impossible", Putin said, adding that currently Moscow possesses weapons that no other country has.

Last year the president said Russia continued developing unique weaponry after successfully creating hypersonic weapons. Putin stressed that the aim of the high-technology is to ensure Russia's security in the face of rising threats.

The development comes after US President Donald Trump's announcement on 15 May that the country's military is working on what Trump described as a "super duper missile", which will be seventeen times faster than all other current missiles.

In December of 2019, President Putin stressed that Russia was leading the world in hypersonic weapons. A year earlier, Putin unveiled the Avangard hypersonic boost-glide vehicle, which is capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear payloads, as well as the Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic cruise missile.

Besides hypersonic weapons, Moscow is developing other high-tech weaponry, including the RS-28 Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile, capable of carrying 10 tonnes of payload. According to reports, it will enter service in 2021.

A Sputnik

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Wyomings Republican Party talks frequently about the importance of freedom and liberty. They are quick to criticize Democrats for being intolerant to different ways of thinking and lampoon liberals for being snowflakes who cant take criticism.

And yet, party leaders here, for all of their purported love of independence, have sought to ostracize anyone who does think differently  even when it comes to their own members. In fact, they are so opposed to the idea that someone might have a different view of what it is to be a Republican that they attempted to disenfranchise Wyomings second-most populated county to prove their point.

Consider the recent attempt by the partys hard-line leadership to keep Natrona County delegates out of the GOP state convention. The effort failed  but only barely. And even that required an intervention from some of our countrys most powerful GOP lawmakers including Rep. Liz Cheney and Sen. John Barrasso.

The issue stems from a growing schism between the extreme far-right wing of the party and more mainstream elements and is most exemplified in the feud between party leaders and Joe McGinley, the party chairman in Natrona County. Those disagreements came to a head on May 9 when members of the state partys credentialing committee attempted to bar Natrona Countys delegates from the convention, effectively removing their voices from larger policy discussions. At issue were a number of technicalities over how Republicans in Natrona County conducted a remote convention as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

But it appeared to many that what Natrona County was really being punished for was a failure to conform to the extreme rights narrow point of view. Consider the extraordinary letter that former U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Cubin, a tea party supporter who could hardly be described as a moderate, sent to party members, railing against actions she likened to the actions of the Soviet Union.

The decision to not seat the Natrona County delegation is shameful. Anyone who supports it should be ashamed. The behavior is that of the Soviet Politburo. Your action is antithetical to the principles this country was founded on. You will relegate yourselves and the party to irrelevance. In this country, we allow the voice of the opposition.

The fact that someone with the record of Cubin is now being branded a RINO or a moderate suggests party leaders have lost their way. The fact that leaders who espouse freedom deny freedom of thought to members of their own party reflects a bitter irony.

The irony doesnt stop there. Members of Wyomings extreme far right have railed against voting fraud and pushed back against efforts to encourage mail-in voting. And yet the voting that took place over that weekend was quickly called into question, as people who shouldnt have been able to vote were given online ballots. Others said they never received ballots or worse, that their votes were not counted. House Majority Whip Tyler Lindholm called it a wreck and absolute failure.

A mess like this should be a concern for all of Wyoming. Republicans dominate our politics and will do so for the foreseeable future. Its in all our interests to have a healthy party, one that encourages debate and tolerates various perspectives of conservatism.

Unfortunately, theres little to suggest things will change until and unless members of all stripes in the partys membership decide the only way to right the ship is to get involved, to steer the party away from the extreme towards the more moderate and tolerant big-tent approach that defined the party for decades. Short of that, the risk is that criticisms like this one will be dismissed out of hand. Purity tests will continue. Smart, capable people will be called into question. And in Wyoming, if you are a Big Tent Republican, your greatest threat will not be Democrats or progressives. It will be the extreme right of your party.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a partnership with CVS to allow more people to be tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) as plans to reopen parts of the state have begun to unfold.

To illustrate how easy the test is, Cuomo took one himself at the press conference.

The partnership is going to bring testing to more than 60 CVS pharmacies across the state, according to Cuomo. Each site is expected to be able to perform 50 tests per day, adding an additional 3,000 tests daily, he said.

The CVS partnership came on the heels of Mayor Bill de Blasio announcing on Sunday that the city would be partnering with CityMD for an additional 6,000 tests per day.

The tests will be offered seven days a week at 123 sites, and walk-ins are welcome. If patients are uninsured, City MD will cover the cost.

The partnership will allow for 20,000 tests per day, a benchmark for city officials that should be reached ahead of schedule.

With more testing sites being announced, Gov. Cuomo also announced new guidelines for being tested.

As of Sunday, anyone who expects to return to the workplace in phase one is eligible to be tested. This includes residential and commercial construction workers and retail business owners and employees doing curbside or in-store pickup.

On Staten Island, testing sites include the drive-thru testing site and several private urgent care centers. The city is also opening three new sites at Staten Island schools on May 25.

TESTING IS SO EASY, EVEN THE GOV. CAN DO IT

Governor Andrew Cuomo gets tested during his Sunday press conference to prove that testing is fast and easy.

Governor Cuomo touted that getting tested is fast and easy, and he proved it by getting tested during his Sunday afternoon press conference.

There is no reason you should not take the test, he explained. Even a governor can do it.

The test requires a person to close their eyes and have the inside of their nose swabbed.

One of the main problems the state is having right now is New Yorkers not opting to get tested, according to Cuomo.

As of Sunday, the state is capable of performing 40,000 tests per day.

Some drive-thru sites, like the one on Staten Island, are able to give up to 15,000 tests per day. Cuomo says that many are only doing about 5,000.

We have more sites and testing capacity than were using, Cuomo explained. Its a serious problem.

The full list of New Yorkers eligible for testing as of May 17 includes:

Any individual who has COVID-19 symptoms

Any individual who has had contact with a person known to be positive with COVID-19

Any individual who is subject to a precautionary or mandatory quarantine

Any individual who is employed as a healthcare worker, nursing home worker, first responder

Any essential worker who directly interacts with the public while working

Any individual who would return to workplace in phase one

More information about where and how to get tested can be found on the new government website for coronavirus.

On Sunday, total hospitalizations, new hospitalizations, and deaths were down, according to the governor. Seven out of the 10 regions in New York are entering phase one of reopening.

Its a good day across the state, said Cuomo during the press conference.

CAPITAL REGION, WESTERN NEW YORK ELIGIBLE TO REOPEN

Gov. Cuomo announced on Sunday that the Capital Region and Western New York qualify for reopening.

According to Cuomo, the two regions both are only lacking in tracing and testing abilities. However, Cuomo claims that these are administrative problems that will be resolved quickly, allowing the regions to enter phase one.

Working together with the regions, we can get this done, Gov. Cuomo said.

WHERE TO GET MENTAL HEALTH HELP

As a symptom of the global pandemic, there is an underwhelming mental health crisis that needs to be addressed, said Cuomo.

Theres a more subtle, but very present, mental health crisis," Cuomo explained. Dont underestimate the trauma."

Due to the pandemic, 38% of adults are experiencing severe mental distress. The most prevalent stress is anxiety, which can be caused by getting the virus, worry about loved ones, and fear of losing jpbs.

New York State has a mental health hotline for anyone experiencing mental health issues: 1-844-863-9314. The state has also partnered with the mental health help site, Headspace.com.

Gov. Cuomo encouraged New Yorkers to visit HowAreYouReally.org, a site dedicated to mental health awareness.

Asking how are you, really? means lets get to a different depth in the question, Cuomo said. How are you when youre going through hell? Not good!

Reaching out to loved ones and not using the throw away question of How are you?' is extremely important at this time, Cuomo said.

** CLICK HERE FOR FULL COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK **
Felicien Kabuga, who was arrested Saturday in a Paris suburb, rose from poverty to become one of Rwanda's richest men before allegedly using his wealth to fund the country's 1994 genocide.

Kabuga's money and connections also helped him avoid arrest for more than 20 years as he moved from Rwanda to Switzerland, the former Zaire, and Kenya.

Charged by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) with "genocide", "complicity in genocide", and "direct and public incitement to commit genocide", Kabuga, 84, was living under a false identity outside Paris and people close to him said he had died.

He was one of the world's most-wanted fugitives and often referred to as the person who financed three months of Rwandan massacres from April to June, 1994 in which 800,000 people were massacred.

Kabuga's parents were modest farmers and his first jobs included peddling items door to door and selling cigarettes and used clothing in a market in his native Byumba region in northern Rwanda.

A hard and determined worker, Kabuga then moved to Kigali where he opened several shops.

According to French press reports, he owned a tea plantation, a mill, and real estate, including apartments and warehouses.

By 1994 he was said to be one of the richest men in Rwanda and if farmers in remote villages saved up money, they were often nicknamed "Kabuga".

In 1993, one of his daughters married the oldest son of Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana, whose assassination triggered the 1994 genocide of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate ethnic Hutus.

Another daughter married Augustin Ngirabatware, the country's planning minister who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the bloodshed.

Kabuga was also charged by the ICTR with two lesser but related genocide charges.

He headed the National Defence Fund, to which he and other businessmen contributed, and which allegedly bought machetes and uniforms for the army and Interahamwe Hutu militia.

"In his position of authority, Felicien Kabuga between April and June 1994 contributed to the interahamwe's killing and harming of persons identified as Tutsis by organising meetings ... to raise funds to purchase arms," the ICTR indictment read.

Jean Damascene Bizimana, executive secretary of the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide, told AFP that Kabuga had funded "tonnes of machetes and grenades which were imported and distributed across the country as weapons."

Many of the victims were hacked to death with machetes.

Broadcasting calls for murder

In addition, Kabuga helped create the notorious Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) that incited people to carry out murder in its broadcasts.

"Kabuga served as president of RTLM and as such had de facto and de jure control of programming, operations, and finances of RTLM," the indictment said.

He is also accused of directly supervising Interahamwe massacres in Gisenyi, northwestern Rwanda, and in the Kigali district of Kimironko.

In July 1994, Kabuga sought refuge in Switzerland but was thrown out a month later.

He flew to Kinshasa and later moved on to Kenya, where he managed to avoid three arrest attempts by police and ICTR officials after an arrest warrant was issued in 1997.

The United States offered a reward of $ five million in 2002 for information leading to his arrest and funded a media campaign in Kenya that splashed his photo across the country.

In 2011, the ICTR organised forums to collect testimony for Kabuga's eventual trial, in case some witnesses died before he could be arrested.

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Kings speech is only item on agenda, in a move that has driven anger among opposition questioning government majority.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  The Parliament of Malaysia will sit for the first time on Monday, two months after a power grab led to a change in government and the emergence of a cluster of coronavirus cases forced the country into lockdown from which it is only now starting to emerge.

But there will be no government bills presented for scrutiny and no opportunity for the politicians suddenly flung into opposition to test the majority of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin with a vote of no-confidence.

The only item on the agenda is the kings speech, a roughly one-hour-long address on the governments plans.

It is a case of tick a box so to speak, constitutional lawyer Lim Wei Jiet told Al Jazeera, referring to a requirement that the parliament, which last sat in December, cannot be in recess for more than six months. I think the real intention is to prevent the executive from being scrutinised by the legislature and avoiding its majority being tested.

Muhyiddin was sworn in as prime minister on March 1 after a power grab within the then-governing Pakatan Harapan coalition triggered the resignation of his predecessor  and party co-founder  Mahathir Mohamad, the collapse of the coalition that had governed Malaysia since May 2018, and a week of political intrigue.

On announcing his decision to name Muhyiddin as prime minister, after meeting each member of Parliament individually, King Abdullah Ahmad Shah said he believed Muhyiddin had the numbers, even as Mahathir and Pakatan Harapan said they did. A parliamentary sitting scheduled for March was postponed.





Speaking to Malaysians on national television at the end of the month, 10 days after the country had gone into a coronavirus lockdown, the man who had been Pakatans home minister acknowledged the frustration felt by many voters at the sudden change in administration, and appealed for their support.

This government may not be the government that you voted for, Muhyiddin said, urging Malaysians to come together. I want all of you to know that this government cares for you.

Coalition of convenience

In contrast to Pakatan Harapan, which included the multiracial but mostly ethnic Chinese Democratic Action Party and the multiracial Keadilan Rakyat, Perikatan Nasional is dominated by ethnic Malay parties. While Malays, who are Muslim, make up the majority of Malaysias population, about 44 percent of Malaysians are of other ethnicities.

Muhyiddins own Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) is split, with 94-year-old Mahathir who has been Malaysias prime minister for 25 of the past 39 years remaining the chairman of the party and still backing Pakatan. He is thought to have about five of the partys members of Parliament on his side, compared with Muhyiddins 31.

To hold onto his job, Muhyiddin is reliant on the backing of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which was rejected by voters in the last election amid massive corruption, and Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), whose goal is to turn Malaysia into an Islamic state. UMNO has 39 members of Parliament.

Muhyiddin, centre, was sworn-in as prime minister on March 1 after a week of political turmoil following a power grab two years into the term of the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition. Muhyiddins support has not yet been tested in Parliament [Lim Huey Teng/Reuters]

His position as prime minister is very much dependent on whether he can control his (own) party and prevent its [members of Parliament] from defecting to Mahathir and Pakatan Harapan, said BowerGroup Asia director Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani. Muhyiddin must formalise Perikatan. Otherwise, he will be a one-term [prime minister].

The need to satisfy the different parties has led to a bumper-size Cabinet. Key party figures, including PAS leader Hadi Awang, have been made special envoys with ministerial status, and a slew of backbench members of Parliament appointed to chair government-linked companies and agencies.

But while Asrul believes Muhyiddin can be confident of the support of UMNO and PAS, others are not so sure.

Its a coalition of convenience, said political analyst Oh Ei Sun, adding that UMNO could abandon Muhyiddin once he is seen to have outlived his usefulness.

UMNO, which dominated Malaysian politics until May 2018, has continued to prevaricate, suggesting Perikatan is more of a pact than a formal coalition. Some of its senior leaders, including the current president and former deputy prime minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and former Prime Minister Najib Razak, are on trial on corruption charges totalling hundreds of millions of dollars  in Najibs case in relation to state fund 1MDB.

Amid the machinations, Francis Hutchinson, the coordinator of the Malaysian Studies Programme at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, estimates Perikatan can count on 107 members of Parliament. In a commentary published with research associate Kevin Zhang on May 14, Hutchinson said with the backing of a handful of non-aligned MPs the grouping could manage a narrow and unstable majority.

The countrys economy grew 0.7 percent in the first three months of the year with the central bank governor warning the pandemic had created an unprecedented economic crisis [File: Lim Huey Teng/Reuters]

Scrutiny of bills

While the government insists the decision to hold a single, ceremonial sitting is because of the current global pandemic, opposition members have questioned why the country cannot use video conferencing as other countries, including the United Kingdom, have done.

Yeo Bee Yin, who was minister of energy, science, technology, environment and climate change until March, said in a tweet on Saturday the government should not use the coronavirus as an excuse to limit sittings.

Parliament debate & vote can be done virtually, she wrote. Many countries have done.

Her successor, Khairy Jamaluddin, responded in a blog post that while the UK had tended to be a reference point for Malaysias parliament, the dates for Parliament had already been set for the year and there would be 61 days for majorities to be tested. He added that a virtual sitting would require amendments to the standing orders.

I would urge the Speaker to call for the Standing Orders Committee to consider the amendments needed, he wrote.

The power grab came as Malaysia experienced its first cases of coronavirus, and triggered anger among voters who felt politicians were trampling on their democratic rights [Fazry Ismail/EPA]

Others point out that the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, which has left many of the poorest struggling to make ends meet, demands Parliaments involvement.

The countrys economy grew 0.7 percent in the first three months of the year with the central bank governor warning the pandemic had created an unprecedented economic crisis.

The government has so far announced wage subsidies, loan extensions and the early release of retirement savings worth billions of ringgit to help people through the difficult months ahead, but analysts say Parliament has a crucial role to play in considering and fine-tuning such plans.

My reading of the constitution is that these (financial) packages need to be brought to parliament, said Lim, the constitutional lawyer. That process has not taken place. It appears the government is implementing policy by decree.

Analysts argue even with the ceremonial session, there remains an opportunity for the opposition to make its concerns felt. They could attempt to amend the daily agenda, or stage a walk-out.

It would ultimately be an exercise in political futility, but it would show their concerns, said Oh.

By the time Parliament is next due to sit on July 18, the coronavirus threat will probably have receded  Malaysia has already eased its lockdown to allow people to return to work providing they meet social distancing guidelines  but that is unlikely to ease the pressure on Perikatan.

As the COVID-19 situation dies down and the PN government is called into action  to actually govern and revive the economy, more disputes are likely to arise, which would likely increase its instability, said Elvin Ong, a political researcher, based in Singapore.

Mahathir and Anwar will also have space to ponder their next move.

The delay only lends weight to Dr Mahathirs charge that the Perikatan Nasional administration is illegitimate, Hutchinson and Zhang of ISEAS-Yusof Ishak said. When coupled with the internal unrest within the ruling coalition over the allocation of ministerial portfolios, UMNOs refusal to commit to a formal partnership with PPBM, and the deepening economic malaise in the country, the persistent doubts about the legitimacy of Muhyiddin Yassins mandate will only intensify.

Parliament may only sit for a few hours on Monday, but Malaysias political machinations look set to rumble on for some time to come.
UK's media watchdog Ofcom has fined controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik's Peace TV network 300,000 pounds for broadcasting "hate speech" and "highly offensive" content in the country.

The London-based regulator for the communications services in the UK has fined licence holders of Peace TV Urdu 200,000 pounds and Peace TV 100,000 pounds for breaking its broadcasting rules.

"Our investigations found that programmes broadcast on Peace TV Urdu and Peace TV contained hate speech and highly offensive content, which in one instance was likely to incite crime," it said.

"We concluded that the content represented serious failures of compliance with our broadcasting rules, which warranted fines. Ofcom has today fined the former licence holders of Peace TV Urdu 200,000 pounds and Peace TV 100,000 pounds for breaking our broadcasting rules," Ofcom said in a statement.

Peace TV is owned by Lord Productions Limited, and Club TV holds the licence of Peace TV Urdu. Both have the Universal Broadcasting Corporation Limited as their parent company which is owned by Naik, a 54-year-old televangelist and Islamic preacher from Mumbai.

"The former licence holders, Club TV and Lord Production must now pay 200,000 pounds and 100,000 pounds respectively to HM Paymaster General," said the statement issued early this month.

Peace TV is a nonprofit satellite television network broadcasting free-to-air programs in English, Bengali and Urdu languages from Dubai. The founder and president of Peace TV is Naik.

The controversial preacher has been wanted in India for money laundering and inciting extremism through hate speeches. He left India in 2016 and subsequently moved to Malaysia, where he was granted permanent residency.

Last week, India made a formal request to the Malaysian government for his extradition.

He was banned from entering into the UK in 2010 due to his "unacceptable behaviour".
The Illinois Department of Employment Security is aware there was a glitch in a new system for processing unemployment claims for independent contractors and the self-employed that made some private information publicly available for a short time, and worked to immediately remedy the situation, Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said in a statement. A full investigation is underway to assess exactly what happened and how many people were impacted. Those who were impacted will be notified.
Leader of Opposition in Karnataka



Siddaramaiah has called a meeting of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Tuesday to discuss the situation arising out of COVID-19 and other related matters.

The meeting will be held at 4 pm on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah's office said in a statement.

COVID-19 situation in the state, packages announced by state and central governments, amendment to Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act, gram panchayat elections, among other issues will be discussed at the CLP meeting, it said.

The meeting will also discuss measures taken by the government and decide on the strategy for agitation in this regard, it added.

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah in series of tweets has hit out package announced by the Centre.

He claimed that the stimulus announced by Union Finance Minister in the name of coronavirus shall definitely not address the fallout from the pandemic, and termed it a "hideous route" to fulfill BJP and crony capitalists' agenda during the health crisis.

"History will remember @PMOIndia @narendramodi as a 'Failed Prime Minister who betrayed poor & middle class people by creating fools' paradise' The actual spending by the govt out of 20 lakh Cr claimed is not even 25%," he tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) has released a list of some 6,000 private schools in Ghana that have applied for a stimulus package from the government of Ghana in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic which compelled President Nana Akufo-Addo to close down all schools since mid-March.



The Director of International Relations/Business Corporation of the Council, Mr. Steve Revss, confirmed that, as part of measures taken to present credible information of schools to the state and other international donor organisations, with which he is currently negotiating, the council has engaged the services of state agencies to verify any and every bit of information that the various schools have sent to the private schools' council.



"We have received over 6,000 applications from schools whose desire is to access part of the Government's stimulus package/financial support and it is within our mandate to probe further to ascertain the authenticity of provided information presented to the Council so that Government will be in good position to approve every school that meets the requirements of a school in good standing", Mr Revss said.



He said the government is ready to support schools in this trying times but there is a need, also, to position ourselves as recognised private educational institutions and reliable stakeholders in order to benefit from the national cake.



In addition, he said that the released list covers those who have successfully submitted their information through the council's portal and have been filtered through government agencies such as the Ghana Revenue Authority (Tin Numbers authenticated) and the Register General's Department (Company Registration Details) as well as details of their location (with real-time GPS), bank details and the total amount needed as loan or grant provided.



He assured the private schools and the government that since the NBSSI has opened their doors for companies to apply for part of the 600 million government stimulus package, the council has also put in more pragmatic measures by meticulously verifying all submitted information at their disposal to ensure that the collective data that would be submitted finally to the government through the NBSSI, would be correct and without blemish.



Making reference to the council's dealings with the council's external partners, donors and international agencies, Mr Revss said they are also ready to come to the aid of private schools.



He disclosed that there are ongoing discussions with many of these organisations.



Negotiations are far advanced and the Council is confident and quite hopeful that sufficient financial grants would be brought in to ease the burden of private schools, he said, and advised the entire private school stakeholders to frequently use the portal(www.gnacopsgh.com/register) created for them to reach out to the Council and also inform all those who have not yet filled and submitted their information to do so immediately to avoid being late and subsequently disqualified.



In late April, some private schools, which cater to more than two million pupils and students, demanded that government give them a stimulus package to help them stay afloat amidst the economic ravages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.



They petitioned President Nana Akufo-Addo through Neogenics Education, a consultant, which works with over 500 private schools and 5,000 private schoolteachers in Ghana.



The private schools said they want an economic and financial stimulus or intervention for private sector basic and secondary schools in Ghana for the following reasons:



(1). 80% of private school proprietors are unable to meet the basic salaries of teachers and office staff (over 400,000).



(2). Almost all private schools are facing the challenge of retrieving arrears of fees from the previous term and payments due this third term by parents. 67% of Schools revealed that parents are unwilling to pay outstanding fees from the previous term.



(3). As a result of lockdown and school closures, many private schools (85% of private schools) have had to acquire virtual learning platforms and resources in order to continue educating the Ghanaian child through distance learning.



(4). Fresh produce purchased prior to school closures have all been left to rot.



(5). Continuous maintenance and servicing of existing credit facilities and other recurrent operational costs - (50% claim they are unable to keep up with payments).



Below were their demands:



1. Financial intervention/stimulus to support the payment of salaries of private school teachers during this lockdown and one month after re-opening.



2. Freeze SSNIT & tax payments up to three months after schools are re-opened



3. Authorise banks/creditors to grant stressed-schools payment holidays on loans and credit facilities up to three months after schools are re-opened



4. Absorb all examination fees as a relief to ease the financial burden on parents for the rest of this academic year.



Neogenics Education believes this, to a very large extent, will show that the Ghana government recognises the enormous contribution made by private providers in education, from pre-school to the senior high school level.



Read the full petition below:



PETITION TO HIS EXCELLENCY, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA FOR GOVERNMENTS INTERVENTION IN SUPPORT OF GHANA PRIVATE SCHOOLS



Over 50% of private schools in Ghana are likely to fold as a result of the adverse impact of the COVID-19 crisis.



According to the 2018 World Bank report, Private Schools constitute over 30% of education provision at the Primary School level in Ghana.



Their contribution in Ghana cannot be overstated. Evidence from Ghanas Educational Sector Performance Report (2017) gives an indication of how important private sector education is to this country.



According to the report, Private Education contributed to the increase in enrolment at the primary from 4.1 million in 2011/12 to 4.4 million in 2017/18. One can arguably state that Private schools in Ghana contribute to over 60% of quality education delivery at the Pre-SHS level.



In spite of their immense contribution to the total Ghana education provision, a "vast majority" of private schools do not have "huge reserves'' to contain unexpected contingencies like COVID-19 and the government closures of schools.



This was confirmed in our recent survey carried out. 100% of school proprietors who completed the survey stated that they will require some form of assistance or support to keep up with payment of teachers, loans and delivering of online lessons during this school closure directed by Government.



Your Excellency, Neogenics Education, which works with over 500 private schools and 5,000 private school teachers in Ghana, will like to submit this petition to your office to urge you to consider an economic and financial stimulus or intervention for private sector basic and secondary schools in Ghana amidst the Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic for the following reasons;



(1). 80% of private school proprietors are unable to meet basic salaries of teachers and office staff (over 400,000).



(2). Almost all Private schools are facing the challenge of retrieving arrears of fees from the previous term and payments due this third term by parents. 67% of Schools revealed that parents are unwilling to pay outstanding fees from the previous term.



(3). As a result of lockdown and school closures, many private schools (85% of Private Schools) have had to acquire virtual learning platforms and resources in order to continue educating the Ghanaian child through distance learning.



(4). Fresh produce purchased prior to school closures have all been left to rot.



(5). Continuous maintenance and servicing of existing credit facilities and other recurrent operational costs - (50% claim they are unable to keep up with payments).



What we request from Government;



1. Financial intervention/stimulus to support the payment of salaries of private school teachers during this lockdown and one month after re-opening.



2. Freeze SSNIT & TAX payments up to three months after schools are re-opened



3. Authorise banks/creditors to grant stressed-schools payment holidays on loans and credit facilities up to three months after schools are re-opened



4. Absorb all examination fees as a relief to ease the financial burden on parents for the rest of this academic year. Neogenics Education believes this to a very large extent will show that the Ghana government recognises the enormous contribution made by private providers in education, from Pre-school to the Senior High School level.



Failure to intervene will mean over 2 million Ghanaian children will fall behind in their progress and will be at risk of receiving low-quality education provision with a great consequence on the quality of Ghanas future human resource. We count on your usual cooperation and most honourable response.



Yours sincerely,



Grant Bulmuo (Lead Consultant, Neogenics Education / GLOSSNET)



















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The date has been confirmed for the return of action at the Kilbeggan Races.

Following the decision to bring forward the resumption date for commencing racing behind closed doors, a new fixture list for the month of June was released.

This will include four national hunt race meetings and Kilbeggan racecourse has been chosen to stage a national hunt race meeting on Monday, June 29 behind closed doors.

Paddy Dunican, Managing Director stated, the breeding and racing of horses generates over 1.8 billion in economic activity per annum, with the industry employing 29,000 people directly and indirectly in Ireland. We much welcome the fact that the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that horse racing will resume behind closed doors on June 8, which is aligned with what is happening in Britain and France. This announcement is great news and we are grateful and delighted to be back racing at Kilbeggan, with our first National Hunt race meeting of the year on Monday June 29th, being held behind closed doors.

Mr Dunican added, that the HRI, in consultation with the IHRB, have developed strict new protocols, which will be enforced at racecourses to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to safeguard everyone's health and wellbeing. I would like to compliment Brian Kavanagh CEO, Jason Morris Director of Racing and their team at Horse Racing Ireland, Denis Egan CEO and the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board team for their huge work, which has allowed a quick resumption of the racing industry.
Its not quite a new Cold War yet. Just the cold shoulder.

Some 40 per cent of Americans said they wont buy products from China, according to a survey of 1,012 adults conducted May 12-14 by Washington-based FTI Consulting, a business advisory firm. That compares with 22 per cent who say they wont buy from India, 17 per cent who refuse to purchase from Mexico and 12 per cent who boycott goods from Europe.

The poll also found: 55 per cent dont think China can be trusted to follow through on its trade-deal commitments signed in January to buy more U.S. products; 78 per cent said theyd be willing to pay more for products if the company that made them moved manufacturing out of China; 66 per cent said they favour raising import restrictions over the pursuit of free-trade deals as a better way to boost the U.S. economy. For observers of trade policy, that last point is striking because a large majority in the U.S. have traditionally shunned protectionism. According to Gallup, almost four-fifths of Americans embrace international commerce as an opportunity rather that a threat, a number thats steadily risen over the past decade.

After two years of tariff wars and now the scourge of a coronavirus that originated in China, its hardly surprising to see some souring of U.S. public opinion about the countrys main economic rival. But the degree of the shift and the timing of it  less than six months before a presidential election  may mark a sea change in the electorate. It could embolden some of Chinas harsher critics in Washington, with huge potential consequences for financial markets.

Foreigners are an all too easy political target in normal times. But once they become unpopular, politics can turn dangerous, as they turn into policy, said Chad Bown, a trade expert at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. As candidates compete over who can adopt a more extreme stance toward China between now and November, their post-election policies toward Beijing are increasingly being set in stone.

United States President Donald Trump drove the wedge a little deeper last week when he suggested in an interview on Fox Business Network that the U.S. could sever ties entirely. There are many things we could do  we could cut off the whole relationship, Trump said when asked about taking punitive steps like reducing U.S. visas for Chinese students.

Beijings response on Friday showed little effort to win a likability contest. Such lunacy is a clear byproduct, first and foremost, of the proverbial anxiety that the U.S. has suffered from since China began its global ascension, according to an editorial in the Global Times, a Chinese tabloid run by the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party.

Trumps divorce threat revived memories of his tweet last August when, in the heat of the trade war, he hereby ordered American companies to look for alternatives, saying we dont need China and, frankly, would be far better off without them. He called on executives to bring jobs home and make products in the U.S.  repeating his argument for a decoupling from China that the pandemic has only amplified.

FTIs survey from last week showed 86 per cent of respondents say the U.S. relies too heavily on foreign supply chains.

For a majority of U.S. companies that do business in China, uprooting themselves from worlds second-largest economy isnt really feasible. But according to a March survey of members of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, 44 per cent of respondents said its not possible for the two economies to decouple, down from 66 per cent polled in October. A fifth said decoupling will accelerate.

For U.S. consumers, who may not fully grasp how much they consume from China, the desire for a breakup is intensifying. According to Kat Devlin, a research associate at the Pew Research Centers Global Attitudes Project, were in somewhat uncharted territory with how Americans see China.

A Pew poll taken in March showed 66 per cent of U.S. adults held China in an unfavourable light  a record high in Pew surveys going back to 2005 and up almost 20 percentage points since Trump took office in January 2017. The survey didnt explicitly ask about the coronavirus. It measured favourable views at 26 per cent, down from 44 per cent three years ago.

Thats an unusually abrupt turn because it takes a lot to sway American opinion about foreign powers.

Favourable sentiment toward the European Union, for example, has held fairly steady around 50 per cent since 2002, Devlin says. Positive views on Russia, on the other hand, fell from 44 per cent in 2007 to 18 per cent last year  a drop Devlin says became noticeable after Russias actions in Crimea.

Gallup polling published in 2018 showed favourable ratings for Japan peaking at 87 per cent, recovering from lows set two decades earlier. That same report showed favourable views on Chinas surpassing 50 per cent for the first time since early 1989  an upswing thats since been reversed.

Chinas diminished views in recent years is an interesting example because, while views tended to fluctuate somewhat, they historically stayed within a set range, Devlin said. While negative views did increase amid the U.S.-Japan trade wars of the 1990s, it never peaked as dramatically as were seeing with China today.

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Police in Liberia have arrested a political activist for a Facebook post in which he used inflammatory language to criticise the governments proposed coronavirus feeding programme.

Menipakei Dumoe, a staunch critic of President George Weah, had rejected the idea.

He wrote on Facebook on Monday: We dont need free bags of rice. I say we the poor in [the capital] Monrovia need AK-47s so that our leaders can take us seriously.

Police say his post amounts to a security threat.



Before his arrest, Mr Dumoe defended himself, saying his message was a metaphor and did not refer to actual guns.

He is acting head of the large campaign group The Council of Patriots, which has organised two mass protests in the last year against Mr Weahs handling of the economy.

Mr Dumoes lawyer Findley Karnga has called for his release, saying he was being held unconstitutionally.

But police spokesman Moses Carter told the BBC that authorities had 48 hours to press charges.

Liberia has been in lockdown since 10 April, with a curfew from 15:00 to 06:00 local time.

But it has been difficult for the authorities to police as people have been going out looking for food.

The governments $25m proposal to feed some of the most vulnerable people in the country affected by the restrictions has been approved by both houses of parliament on the condition that it specifies where the money is being sourced.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
A 29-year-old Winnipeg man was airlifted from the scene of a single vehicle rollover northwest of Mitchell Saturday evening.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/5/2020 (612 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 29-year-old Winnipeg man was airlifted from the scene of a single vehicle rollover northwest of Mitchell Saturday evening.

St Pierre RCMP were called at 9:05 p.m. to a spot on Road 37N, also known as Randolph Road, one and a half miles east of Provincial Road 206.

Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

The man's grey sedan came to a rest south of the gravel roadway, facing west.

"He was found outside of the vehicle, in the ditch," Hanover Fire Department District Chief John Schroeder said.

No other occupants were in the vehicle.

Paramedics treated the man at the scene while firefighters created a landing zone for a STARS air ambulance that touched down around 9:30 p.m. to whisk the man to hospital.

Spokespersons for STARS and Manitoba RCMP were unable Sunday to provide details on the man's medical condition.

St Pierre RCMP continue to investigate the incident.
JACKSON, Mississippi  Mississippi lawmakers and Gov. Tate Reeves still have to make big decisions about spending most of the $1.25 billion that the federal government is sending the state for coronavirus relief.

After ending their feud over who has power to spend the money, the Republican governor and the Legislature worked efficiently last week to create a plan to use $300 million for small business grants.

"My priority from day one has been the quick release of these funds and getting back to the people who need it," Reeves said during a news conference Thursday, hours after legislators approved the grant program in a late-night session.

Republicans hold a three-fifths supermajority in the Mississippi House and the Senate. While Democrats have had few prominent roles in writing important legislation in recent years, some were deeply involved in creating the grant program for businesses. The proposal passed with broad bipartisan support.

Reeves and legislators will face long list of requests as they consider how to spend the additional federal money.

Cities and counties, for example, have incurred extra expenses because of the coronavirus pandemic, with police officers and sheriff's deputies patrolling places like parks and beaches to ensure that large crowds are not congregating.

Educators and others spoke at the Capitol last week about the need to expand high-speed internet service, particularly in rural areas where coverage is spotty or nonexistent.

Reeves said he would like to use some of the money to replenish the state fund that pays for unemployment benefits. He also said he wants to spend some of the relief money to help the tourism industry.

"Whether you're a bed-and-breakfast in Natchez or a major casino on the coast, the shutdown has significantly changed your business outlook, it has significantly changed your revenue, and it has significantly impacted your employees," he said.

The $300 million small business grant program is divided into two parts. One has $60 million to provide $2,000 grants for businesses that were forced to closed by government orders, including barbershops, salons, dance studios, gyms and child care centers.

Reeves said many barbers and salon operators were not able to collect unemployment benefits and did not receive aid from the federal Paycheck Protection Program. Speaking of the state grants, Reeves said: "I think we've got to make sure that we are getting monies in the hands of those who were most affected that have not been helped by other programs."

The small business program has $240 million for grants ranging from $1,500 to $25,000 to cover expenses for virus response. For the first 21 days, the only applications considered would be from businesses that did not receive aid from the federal Paycheck Protection Program. And for the first 60 days, $40 million of this money would be reserved for minority-owned businesses.

Both parts of the grant program are for businesses that existed before March 1 and have 50 or fewer employees. The U.S. Treasury Department has issued rules about how the federal money can be spent. The grants can cover expenses that businesses face because of the coronavirus pandemic  restaurants that have to buy masks for their employees, for example. The grants cannot be used to make up for businesses' lost profits.

Mississippi Development Authority, the state agency that promotes job creation and tourism, will handle the applications for the $1,500 to $25,000 grants, and officials say they hope the application process will be simple.

The governor said he wants to get money into people's hands soon.

"It will never happen as quick as I'd like," Reeves said. "But I know that we're through the first days of the negotiating process, I'm grateful to everyone who got involved in this, for working together and get this done for the people of Mississippi."

____

Emily Wagster Pettus has covered Mississippi government and politics since 1994. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus.
Chinas trade volume with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) route rose 0.9 percent year-on-year in the first four months of 2020 to 2.76 trillion yuan (about $388.73 billion), according to the latest statistics released by the countrys General Administration of Customs.

Chinese medical team sent by east Chinas Jiangxi provincial government to Uzbekistan returns to Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi province on April 28 after completing its mission. Photo by Shi Yu/Peoples Daily Online

In the first quarter, Chinese enterprises made non-financial direct investment of $4.2 billion in 52 countries along the Belt and Road, up 11.7 percent year-on-year, said Chinas Ministry of Commerce.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic, China and the Belt and Road countries have been offering mutual assistance and donating anti-epidemic materials to each other.

China has dispatched medical teams to over 10 countries along the Belt and Road, including Iran, Iraq, Serbia, Cambodia, Pakistan and Laos, to assist local efforts in coping with the disease. It also organized teleconferences between Chinese medical experts and foreign medical workers to exchange experiences of epidemic containment.

China-Europe freight train X9003 leaves Xian, northwest Chinas Shaanxi province for Uzbekistan, carrying 49 containers of refrigerators, tea, lamps, and air compressors, May 6. It is the 1,000th China-Europe freight train leaving Xian this year. Photo by Tang Zhenjiang/Peoples Daily Online

As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads along the BRI routes, corridors, ports and logistics hubs in Belt and Road countries are now being used to provide medical support for partner countries in need, said Forbes on its website, adding its a move which the Chinese side calls the Health Silk Road.

Chinas offering of medical equipment to the Belt and Road countries via railway at the critical moment indicates a basic function of the interconnectivity network  maintaining the relationship between China and other countries.

Ezzat Saad, director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs noted that the COVID-19 pandemic once again proved that mankind shares a same future, as well as the necessity to build the Health Silk Road. The China-proposed BRI is charting the course for global countries regarding the joint construction of a Health Silk Road, he added.

Facing the huge pressure of the global economic downturn, China is actively engaged in anti-pandemic and economic cooperation and exchanges with Belt and Road countries, injecting strong power into the global efforts battling the disease and boosting confidence for the world to vitalize economy.

The general station of immigration inspection of northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region donates over 10,000 items of anti-pandemic materials, including protective suits, masks and electronic thermometers to Kyrgyzstans immigration department at Torugart port, Xinjiang, April 11. Photo by Zhang Jia/Peoples Daily Online

BRI projects havent stopped construction, even when COVID-19 is spreading in Belt and Road countries. Currently, 40,000 Pakistani and 7,000 Chinese workers are performing their duties with dedication. The number of workers indicate the volume of work, which is going on, said Pakistani newspaper Daily Times.

As an important logistics route linking the Belt and Road countries, the China-Europe freight service once again proved its important role during the pandemic. It takes only 12 days for a China-Europe freight train to cover a 4,000-mile trip from Xian, northwest Chinas Shaanxi province, to Izmit, a coastal Turkish city on the shore of the Sea of Marmara, which is nearly half of the time needed by maritime transport.

An international container vessel docks at a container wharf of Ningbo Zhoushan Port, east Chinas Zhejiang province, May 7. Formalities are handled by Chinese customs staff immediately after the ship arrives. Photo by Yao Feng/Peoples Daily Online

The resumption of the Belt and Road freight service is a piece of exciting news for Central Asian countries, said Aidar Amrebayev, member of a Belt and Road expert club in Kazakhstan. He believes that the Belt and Road international cooperation will be further improved after withstanding the test of the pandemic.
Nearly a dozen firefighters were injured in an explosion and subsequent fire in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, multiple outlets reported.

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said on Twitter that 11 LAFD firefighters are being treated for their injuries and are in stable condition after battling the blaze. "Our hearts go out to their loved ones and fellow first responders. We are keeping them in our prayers," Garcetti wrote.

Dr. Marc Eckstein, an attending physician at L.A. County USC Medical Center, told KTLA that four firefighters went to the burn intensive care unit, two were placed on ventilators, and the others suffered various burns, ranging from very serious, to moderate and minor.

"We have every anticipation the firefighters will pull through, Eckstein said.

Tonight, 11 @LAFD firefighters were injured battling a blaze in downtown L.A. All of them are being treated for their injuries and in stable condition at this time. Our hearts go out to their loved ones and fellow first responders. We are keeping them in our prayers. pic.twitter.com/RRoUNPgLBt  MayorOfLA (@MayorOfLA) May 17, 2020

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RELATED: Pilot Ejects Before F-22 Fighter Jet Crashes During Routine Training Flight on Air Force Base in Florida

LAFD Captain Erik Scott said during a news conference that the fire appears to have started at Smoke Tokes Warehouse Distributor, a supplier for businesses that make butane honey oil.

According to KTLA, the blast was reported around 6:30 p.m. local time. Several of the firefighters that arrived on the scene went in through the front of the building, while the rest went on the roof.

Story continues

When the firefighters tried to flee the building, the explosion rang out, LAFD Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas told the local outlet."Our firefighters came down the aerial ladder from the roof with their turnout coats on fire, he said.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

The incident was upgraded to a major emergency shortly after the explosion, Terrazas said, and over 230 firefighters responded to the fire and battled the flames, authorities said.

Videos of the scene, shared by social media users, showed dark plumes of smoke over the area and flames shooting up from at least one building as sirens could be heard in the background.

The bulk of the fire was extinguished at around 8:10 p.m., nearly two hours after the explosion occurred, authorities told KTLA.

The cause of the explosion currently remains unknown and is under investigation.
Image

Decluttering

Dear Diary:

After 34 years in cramped apartments, my wife and I have an arrangement that is not uncommon among city residents who share tight spaces: I keep stuff, and she throws stuff out.

Over time, I have noted that my wife has three distinct levels of throw out.

Throw-out Level 1 (the lowest): She holds something up and asks: Can we throw this out? This gives me an opportunity to object.

Throw-out Level 2: She holds something up and says: Im throwing this out. This means that I must present a compelling case for keeping the item in question.

Throw-out Level 3 (what I call Throw out with extreme malice.): This is when I ask where something is, and my wife responds: Oh, that. I threw that out.

 Richard Pieper
(Newser)  In a sad story out of Missouri, authorities are accusing a woman of letting her newborn baby die in the toilet where she gave birth. KTVO reports that Makuya Stephanie Kambamba, 28, of Kirksville, is facing murder-one and -two charges in the death earlier this month. Court documents say she gave birth at the Smithfield Foods plant where she's employed and saw the baby moving face-down in toilet water, but sat back down with more labor contractions and didn't look again for half an hour. By then, the child was dead.

story continues below

Kambamba admitted as much to investigators, per the Chillicothe News, and the newborn's autopsy results are consistent with drowning. Kambamba was arrested nine days after the alleged May 6 murder and is being held in Sullivan County Jail without bond. She apparently has no prior criminal record. (Read more child murder stories.)
Authorities in Maharashtra have



released over 7,200 prisoners so far to check overcrowding in jails amid the coronavirus pandemic, officials said on Sunday.

Around 10000 more will be released shortly, they said.

In a bid to decongest state jails due to coronavirus outbreak, the state prisons department has so far released over 7,200 prisoners across the state on either temporary bail or parole, an official said.

Following the Supreme Court directives to states and Union territories to set up a panel to consider the release of prisoners on parole to avoid overcrowding in jails to check the spread of coronavirus, the state government had said that around 11,000 prisoners in Maharashtra, whose sentence period is less than seven years, would be released temporarily.

"The pre-lockdown population in the 60 prisons across the state was over 35000 and so far we have released over 7200inmates temporarily to decongest the jails," an official from the prisons department told PTI.

In all, around 17000 jail inmates would be released on temporary bail or parole, he said.

A high-powered committee appointed by the state government recently decided to release 50 per cent prisoners from various jails across the states and this figure is around 17000, he said.

The committee's decision came after over 100 inmates and staff of central Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail tested positive for COVID-19.

The pre-lockdown population of Arthur Road Jail was 2300, of which around 700 prisoners were released, he said. There are 1572 inmates in the jail now, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The stimulus package announced by the government for different sectors and the new definition for MSMEs will give huge boost to industry, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday.

Addressing a meeting with representatives of Business Network International and MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications via video conferencing, the minister for MSME and Road Transport and Highways sought suggestions for effective implementation of the Fund of Funds announced as part of the package for MSMEs.

There is need to explore agro and fishing MSME sector, Gadkari said in a statement.

He said that all the stakeholders, including government, are facing challenges due to COVID-19.

He urged the industry to maintain a positive attitude during these difficult times to tide over the present crisis as negativity is not in anybody's interest.

Recalling that Japan government has offered special package to its industries for taking out Japanese investments from China and move elsewhere, the minister opined that it is an good opportunity for India, which should be grabbed.

He also said that work has already started on New Delhi - Mumbai Green Expressway, which passes through rural, tribal and backward areas.

This, he stressed, is an opportunity for industry to make future investments in industrial clusters, logistics parks equipped with state-of-art technology along the way passing through rural, tribal and less developed areas.

Stating that there is a need to work on decentralisation of industries from metro/big cities, he said focus should be on rural, tribal and backward areas of the country.

The minister outlined that special focus towards export enhancement is the need of the hour and necessary practices should be adopted to reduce power, logistics and production costs to become competitive in the global market.

He cited an example that by introducing vehicle scrappage policy, production cost can be reduced.

Further, he mentioned that there is also need to focus on import substitution to replace foreign imports with domestic production.

Gadkari shared that the Ministry of MSME is working on two booklets to cover details about last three years' export and import.

The minister mentioned that industry should focus more on innovation, entrepreneurship, science and technology, research skill and experiences to convert the knowledge into wealth.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EASTHAMPTON  The citys Health Department with the assistance of a number of elected officials and police handed out nearly 2,000 face masks on Saturday to residents to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Officials held a drive-through mask giveaway to help residents who do not have access to face coverings on Saturday at City Hall. They gave away 1,780 adult masks and 160 child-sized masks, Health department officials said in a social media post.

Gov. Charlie Baker issued an advisory on April 10 asking all residents to wear some type of face covering in public places such as stores, when social distancing is difficult.

All the masks distributed are cloth and can be rewashed and reused, health officials said.

Health Department staff was assisted by Board of Health Chairwoman Maggie Hebert, City Council members Peg Conniff and Homar Gomez, Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, Police Chief Robert Alberti, Det. Andrew Beaulieu, and Capt. Dan Constantine, health officials said.

Residents who still need masks can email health@easthamptonma.gov or call 413-529-1400 ext. 430. The Health Department will arrange free non-contact delivery. Because the masks are reusable, they are limited to one per person.
T he Government is on track to meet its target of recruiting 18,000 coronavirus contact tracers by mid-May, with 17,000 already hired, Michael Gove has said.

Mr Gove praised "energetic and determined" Health Secretary Matt Hancock for keeping the UK in line to meet the target.

It is now the case that more than 17,000 people have been recruited for contact tracing, so we are on course to meet that target," senior Cabinet minister Michael Gove told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme.

"It's more evidence that we have in Matt an energetic and determined health secretary who's throwing everything into the fight against coronavirus," he added.

Contact tracing is a key part of the UK's response to coronavirus. The Government hopes that it can begin lifting the lockdown safely by working out who infected people have been in contact with.

The UK is also trialling an app to work alongside the human contact tracers.

Rigorous contact tracing has been a core part of the response to the crisis by countries that have managed to keep coronavirus cases and deaths relatively low, like South Korea.

The UK stopped contact tracing in mid-March as the virus was spreading out of control in the country.

Downing Street was forced to correct comments by Northern Ireland minister Brandon Lewis on Saturday, after he mistakenly told Sky that only 1,500 contact tracers had been hired so far.

A Government spokesman told reporters that the figure was "significantly higher".
A geographic quarantine or near absolute interruption of movement of people shall be applicable to such areas reporting a large outbreak of COVID-19 spread and strict perimeter control in containment zones be applied with active search for cases through physical house-to-house surveillance by special teams, the health ministry said on Saturday.

The ministry's "updated containment plan for large outbreaks COVID-19" said a large outbreak is defined as a localised increase in the incidence of a coronavirus case occurring within a defined geographic area, for example, in a village, town, or city.

Follow live updates on coronavirus here

This could also imply progression of a small cluster, earlier noticed for which cluster management action is under implementation, into multiple clusters, the health ministry document said, noting that the cases may or may not be epidemiologically linked.

"For operational purposes, as a working definition a large outbreak is deemed to be present when there are 15 or more cases," it said.

Geographic quarantine (cordon sanitaire) strategy calls for near absolute interruption of movement of people to and from a relatively large defined geographic area where there is single large outbreak or multiple foci of local transmission of COVID-19, the health ministry document said.

In simple terms, it is a barrier erected around the focus of infection.

"Geographic quarantine shall be applicable to such areas reporting large outbreak and/or multiple clusters of COVID-19 spread over multiple blocks of one or more districts that are contiguous based on the distribution of cases and contacts," the ministry document said.

Noting that the current geographic distribution of COVID-19 mimics the distribution of H1N1 pandemic influenza, the document said this suggests that while the spread of COVID-19 in India's population could be high, it's unlikely that it will be uniformly affecting all parts of the country.

This calls for differential approach to different regions of the country, while mounting a strong containment effort in hotspots, it said.

"Large scale measures to contain COVID-19 over large territories have been tried in China. Mathematical modelling studies have suggested that containment might be possible, especially when other public health interventions are combined with an effective social distancing strategy," it said.

The document, however, said a number of variables determine the success of the containment operations through geographic quarantine such as number and size of clusters, effectiveness of geographic quarantine, how efficiently the virus is transmitting in Indian population, taking into account environmental factors like temperature and humidity, public health response in terms of active case finding, testing of large number of cases, immediate isolation of suspect and confirmed cases and quarantine of contacts.

Geographical characteristics of the area, population density and their movement, ability to ensure basic infrastructure and essential services, action plan for geographic quarantine for large outbreak also determine the success of geographic quarantine.

The states should review the existing legal instruments to implement the containment plan, it said.

Boundary for geographic quarantine will be defined based on mapping of cases and contacts, geographical dispersion of cases and contacts, area having well demarcated perimeter and enforceability of perimeter control.

Once the containment zone is delineated, the perimeter will be defined and there would be strict perimeter control with establishment of clear entry and exit points, no movement to be allowed except for medical emergencies and essential goods and services, no unchecked influx of population to be allowed and people transiting to be recorded and followed through Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).

Activities in the containment zones would include active search for cases through physical house to house surveillance by special teams formed for the purpose.

Also, there should be testing of all cases as per sampling guidelines, contact tracing, identification of local community volunteers to help in surveillance, contact tracing and risk communication, the document said.

Extensive inter-personal and community based communication, strict enforcement of social distancing, advocacy on hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, environmental sanitation and wearing of masks or face covers and clinical management of all confirmed cases shall be carried out, the document said.

The residential areas will be divided into sectors for ASHAs/anganwadi workers/ANMs each covering 100 households (50 households in difficult areas), it said.

Additional workforce would be mobilised from neighbouring districts (except buffer zone) to cover all the households in the containment zone, the document on containment plan for large outbreaks said.

The health ministry document also talks about the discharge policy for suspected cases of COVID-19 tested negative will be based on the clinical assessment of the treating physician.

On dead body management, the document said the dead body of a COVID-19 patient does not spread infection.

"The healthcare worker,however, handling the body immediately after death is at risk incase there is exposure to bodily fluids and shall be protected," it said.
The Union Health Ministry on Saturday asserted that Mathematical modeling studies suggest containment of COVID-19 might be possible; however, the success of containment operations 'cannot be guaranteed' owing to efficient human to human transmission. The government has chalked out a containment plan as clusters posing high risk of further spread of COVID-19 have emerged, the Ministry added.

"Since there is efficient human to human transmission, success of containment operations cannot be guaranteed. Mathematical modeling studies suggest containment might be possible," the Health Ministry said.

As there is no approved drug or vaccine for the treatment of COVID-19 as of now, Chemoprophylaxis with Hydroxychloroquine drugs are recommended for healthcare workers and high-risk contacts, the ministry informed.

READ | India's COVID-19 cases cross 90,000 mark; death toll at 2,872 and 34,108 recoveries so far

Custer containment plan

According to the Health Ministry, the cluster containment strategy aims to contain the spread of the disease within a defined geographic area by early detection of cases, breaking the chain of transmission and thus preventing its spread to new areas.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and the Committee of Secretaries (CoS) will be activated for institutional mechanisms and inter-sectoral coordination at the national level. The NCMC will coordinate with health and non-health sectors on issues flagged by the health ministry.

Meanwhile, the concerned state will activate the State Crisis Management Committee or the State Disaster Management Authority, as the case may be to manage the clusters of COVID-19, a document by the health ministry read. There will be regular co-ordination meetings between the Centre and the affected states through video conference, it said.

READ | Venezuela reports highest single-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases

Follow the strategic approach for possible scenarios: Ministry

The document further mentioned that India would follow a strategic approach for possible scenarios  travel-related cases reported in India, local transmission of COVID-19, large outbreaks amenable to containment, widespread community transmission of the disease and India becoming endemic for COVID-19.

"Containment for large outbreaks through geographic quarantine strategy calls for near absolute interruption of movement of people to and from a relatively large defined area where there is single large outbreak or multiple foci of local transmission of COVID-19. In simple terms, it is a barrier erected around the focus of infection. geographic quarantine shall be applicable to such areas reporting large outbreak and/or multiple clusters of COVID-19 spread over multiple blocks of one or more districts that are contiguous," it said.

The cluster containment strategy would include geographic quarantine, social distancing measures, enhanced active surveillance, testing all suspected cases, isolation of cases, quarantine of contacts and risk communication to create awareness among the public on preventive public health measures, the document stated.

Large-scale measures to contain COVID-19 over large territories have been tried in China. Mathematical modelling studies have suggested that containment might be possible especially when other public health interventions are combined with an effective social distancing strategy, the document stated.

READ | Coronavirus Live Updates: FM Sitharaman to announce final tranche as cases rise to 90,927

Factors affecting large outbreak cluster containment

Listing down the factors affecting large outbreak cluster containment the ministry said a number of variables determine the success of the containment operations through geographic quarantine which includes the number and size of the cluster and also how efficiently the virus is transmitting in Indian population, taking into account environmental factors especially temperature and humidity.

The factors also include public health response in terms of active case finding, testing of large number of cases, immediate isolation of suspect and confirmed cases and quarantine of contacts along with the geographical characteristics of the area.

Extensive contact tracing by authorities

The authorities will do extensive contact tracing and active search for cases in the containment zone, test all suspect cases and high-risk contacts isolate all suspect or confirmed cases, implement social distancing measures and intensive risk communication as part of the cluster containment strategy, the health ministry document stated.

READ | Four COVID-19 patients recover in HP, two fresh cases reported

(With inputs from agency)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 11:37:30|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Serraj on Saturday said he hoped to cooperate with NATO, the U.S.-led military alliance, to achieve stability and security in Libya.

Serraj made the remarks during a telephone call with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, said a statement of the UN-backed government.

It said the prime minister stressed firm stance and willingness to "defeat the aggression with all means possible," and expressed hope for working with NATO.

The eastern-based army of Libya has been leading a military campaign for more than a year, trying to take over the capital Tripoli and topple Serraj's government.

Despite repeated international calls for ceasefire, the armed conflict continues in the country. Enditem
Cebu (CNN Philippines, May 17) The COVID-19 testing capability in Cebu may be scaled down for a few days as its main testing laboratory undergoes decontamination, local officials said Sunday.

While the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center subnational laboratory faces reduced operations, Department of Health-Central Visayas director Jaime Bernadas said two other accredited laboratories TB Regional Laboratory and the ARC Hospital in Lapu-Lapu City will still be running samples and tests for the infectious disease.

At present, the subnational laboratory has four machines that are capable of conducting around 80 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests each daily. The two other laboratories have lower testing capabilities.

About 329 coronavirus tests were conducted on May 13, while only 88 tests were released for the entire Central Visayas region on May 14, according to health officials' record. Last May 15, only 28 tests were conducted.

DOH-7 usually records over 200 tests per day.

The local health agency has yet to release the official number of test results for May 16. Bernadas, however, said they expect to be "back on track" to address the testing backlog in about two days.

Since the start of operations of the COVID-19 testing laboratories in the area, the entire Cebu Island was able to test 11,792 as of May 15.

Data from the regional health department showed 8,436 individuals were swab tested in Cebu City, while 1,536 have also been tested in Cebu province.

Cebu City has a population of 1.01 million residents, while Cebu Province is home to 3.22 million as of May 11.

The Philippine government has meanwhile expressed hope that the country can reach the target of conducting 30,000 COVID-19 tests daily by the end of the month. In an earlier interview with CNN Philippines, Vince Dizon, deputy chief implementer of the national policy against COVID-19, said the goal is doable with the help of the private sector.

To date, the country has logged over 12,000 cases of the viral disease.

Stringer Dale Israel contributed to this report.
Jerusalem: After three deadlocked and divisive elections, a year and a half of political paralysis and another three-day delay because of political infighting in his Likud party over coveted Cabinet posts, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was finally set to swear in his new government on Sunday.

Over the weekend, both Netanyahu and his rival-turned-partner Benny Gantz announced their appointments for the new government, the most bloated in Israeli history with an expected 36 ministers and 16 deputies.

Netanyahu and Gantz, a former military chief, announced last month they would be putting their differences aside to join forces to steer the country through the coronavirus crisis and its severe economic fallout.

Their controversial power-sharing deal calls for Netanyahu to serve as prime minister for the government's first 18 months before being replaced by Gantz for the next 18 months.

Their blocs will also have a similar number of ministers and virtual veto power over the other's major decisions.

Critics have already accused the government of being out of touch by creating so many Cabinet posts at a time when unemployment has soared to 25% as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

But because Netanyahu's bloc includes several smaller parties, he still only has a limited number of Cabinet ministries to hand out to the Likud rank and file, and he faced a mini-insurgency from angry senior members ahead of the planned swearing-in ceremony on Thursday. Unable to meet a deadline, Netanyahu asked for a delay to solve his internal party crisis.

The deal has already led to the dissolution of Gantz's Blue and White party after he reneged on his central campaign promise not to serve under Netanyahu, who has been indicted on corruption charges and faces an upcoming criminal trial.

Their much-scrutinized coalition deal could only come about after the country's Supreme Court ruled it had no legal grounds to block it.

Despite the criticism, Gantz argued that teaming with Netanyahu offered the country its only way out of the prolonged stalemate and prevented Israel from being dragged once again to another costly election that would have been its fourth in just over a year.

Gantz will start out as defense minister, with party colleague and fellow retired military chief Gabi Ashkenazi serving as foreign minister. Netanyahu's top deputy in Likud, outgoing Foreign Minister Israel Katz, will become finance minister.

Yariv Levin, perhaps Netanyahu's closest ally, will become the new parliament speaker. The coalition will also include a pair of ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties and some other individual defectors to add up to 73 out of parliament's 120 members.

The main point of contention for critics has been the newly created position of "alternate prime minister", a post that could allow Netanyahu to remain in office even after the swap and throughout his corruption trial and a potential appeals process.

There are also deep suspicions about whether Netanyahu will keep his part of the bargain and ultimately cede the premiership to Gantz.

Still, the new position is supposed to enjoy all the trappings of the prime minister, including an official residence and, key for Netanyahu, an exemption from a law that requires public officials who are not prime minister to resign if charged with a crime.

Netanyahu has been indicted on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals involving allegedly trading favors with wealthy media moguls.

He denies any wrongdoing and blames the charges on a media-orchestrated plot to oust him.

Since his indictment last fall he has repeatedly lashed out at the country's legal system as well, with his political allies taking special aim at the high court and accusing it of overreach and political interference. His legal woes and fitness to serve were central issues in the recent election campaigns
It is important that the Tamil community remain conscious and sensitive to the immense suffering and sacrifices made by large sections of our community during the decades-long struggle.





Following statement issued by the Global Tamil Forum





The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) joins Tamils worldwide in commemorating the 11th anniversary of the end of civil war in Sri Lanka. The final phase of the war is one of the most brutal in recent history and mass atrocity crimes were systematically committed against the Tamil people. It is estimated that 40,000 to 70,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the final months alone, and this constitutes only a fraction of the total deaths, destruction and displacement suffered by the Tamil community during its 70-year political struggle for equality and justice in Sri Lanka.









For the first five years after the war, the all-conquering government was opportunistic in its authoritarian consolidation of power, with no regards for rights and freedoms. Instead of reconciliation, the government went further with militarization and Sinhala-Buddhisisation that threatened the existential roots of Tamils. Further, the government did all it could to deny the serious crimes committed by its armed forces and even attempted to propagate a myth of zero civilian causalities. However, the heroic efforts by several victims and witnesses, as well as the principled initiatives by conscientious UN officials, journalists and several countries, ensured that the truth behind the atrocities committed during the war is widely known and no longer contested.





The next five years of the coalition government offered hope during the early period. The initiatives by the government lessened the fear of the citizens and partially delivered on strengthening key institutions. There was notable relief for Tamils due to some de-escalation of the military stranglehold in the North-East, and Sri Lanka even co-sponsored UNHRC resolutions promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka. However, it majorly failed on the accountability front - no real outcomes on criminal liability, missing persons, security sector reform or truth telling, and failed to deliver on the much-anticipated constitutional reform.





With the advent of the new government six months ago, Tamil struggle has once again entered a challenging phase. The government, elected almost exclusively by the majority Sinhala-Buddhist vote, appears insensitive to the concerns and aspirations of the minority communities and bent on reversing even the minimalist reforms achieved by the previous government. The high degree of militarization of the government apparatus (including by officers credibly accused of serious human rights abuses), the authoritarian approach to governance, and the arbitrary decision to withdraw from the UNHRC commitments, provide a stark glimpse into the challenges ahead.





It is important that the Tamil community remain conscious and sensitive to the immense suffering and sacrifices made by large sections of our community during the decades-long struggle. Equally important is that the Tamil people and their leaders take stock of the challenges and opportunities in the present political climate and act strategically by forming partnerships with all relevant stakeholders in Sri Lanka and in the international community. The importance and urgency of securing pragmatic and tangible gains, with the objective of fulfilling the political and economic aspirations of the Tamil people, cannot be overstated.





While remembering those who perished and suffered in innumerable ways during the Tamil struggle, we solemnly commit to continue to do all that is possible, however long it takes, to ensure that the Tamil people in Sri Lanka will one day constitute a confident and empowered community that will have opportunities to lead a peaceful, prosperous and fulfilling life.
New Delhi, May 17 : The Central government, which on Sunday extended the nation-wide lockdown for another 14 days till May 31, warned of strict action under the Disaster Management Act and Indian Penal Code if the fresh guidelines are not complied with.

The nationwide lockdown was first imposed for 21 days starting March 25 and then extended on April 15 and later on May 4 with an aim to stem the spread of novel coronavirus.

This is the fourth time the lockdown has been imposed in the country, though, this time certain curbs have been relaxed in areas with limited virus infection to boost the economy.

"Any person violating measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC, and other legal provisions as applicable," the Ministry of Home Affairs warned.

The government said that if any person obstructs any officer in the discharge of his functions or refuses to comply with any direction given by the Central or the state government shall be punishable with imprisonment for one year or with fine.

"If such obstruction or refusal to comply with directions results in loss of lives or imminent danger, the person shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years," the fresh guidelines stated.

Besides this, the government said that if anyone makes a "false claim" for obtaining any relief assistance, repair, reconstruction or other benefits, they will be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years with fine.

Similarly, if anyone makes a "false warning" to disaster or its severity or magnitude, leading to panic, they will be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine.

The government said that no court shall take cognizance of an offence under the Disaster Management Act except on a complaint made by the national or the state authority, the Central or the state government or the district authority.

Disobeying order duly promulgated by a public servant which may cause obstruction, annoyance or injury will attract simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, with fine which may extend to Rs 200, or both under the IPC.

"If such disobedience causes or trends to cause danger to human life, health or safety, or causes or tends to cause a riot or affray, it shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both," the guidelines added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
T he Government is aiming for 30 million coronavirus vaccine doses to be made available by September if UK trials succeed, Alok Sharma has said.

Speaking at the daily Covid-19 press briefing, the Business Secretary announced a further 84 million to support teams at Oxford University and Imperial College London engaged in the global race to find a vaccine.

Mr Sharma also said that Oxford had sealed a major deal with pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, who will aim to produce 30 million doses by September if the trials are successful.

He said the UK would have access to the vaccines first, but would also ensure it would be available to developing nations "at the lowest possible cost".

But, the Business Secretary was also careful to warn that there was no guarantee trials will succeed in finding a viable coronavirus vaccine.

Vaccine trials are progressing well, Alok Sharma said / REUTERS

Mr Sharma told the press conference on Sunday that he was "proud" of the work taking place at Oxford University, where human vaccine trials are already underway.

He said: The first clinical trial of the Oxford vaccine is progressing well with all phase one participants having received their vaccine dose on schedule earlier this week.

The speed at which Oxford University has designed and organised these complex trials is genuinely unprecedented.

Microbiologist Elisa Granato, 32, is injected as part of human trials in the UK for a coronavirus vaccine / PA

Mr Sharma also told viewers that work by Imperial College to develop a vaccine was also progressing well and will move to the trial stage in June.

Meanwhile, the new money - which comes on top of the 47 million already provided by taxpayers - will help mass-produce the vaccines if they get approval.

Mr Sharma said that pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca will aim to make 30 million doses available by September - if the vaccine trials are successful - as part of a Government licensing agreement for a total of 100 million doses.

The Business Secretary said that the UK would have access to the vaccines first, but would also ensure it would be available to developing nations "at the lowest possible cost".

Mr Sharma added that coronavirus could not be "conquered" until a vaccine is developed, but warned that it may never be developed.

His words echo chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, who warned last month that successfully developing a coronavirus vaccine is "a long shot".

In other developments:

In a further move, Mr Sharma said that the Government was putting in 93 million to accelerate the completion of the UK's first vaccines manufacturing innovation centre.

If the search for a vaccine was not successful, Mr Sharma said they were also looking at other drug treatments and therapeutics, with six drugs having entered initial live clinical trials.

World leaders said countries need to adapt to living with coronavirus and cannot wait to be saved by a vaccine.

Senior Cabinet minister Michael Gove said the Government was on track to meet its target of getting 18,000 contact tracers by next week with 17,200 now recruited.

Boris Johnson cautioned that the search may never be successful, writing in The Mail on Sunday: "There remains a very long way to go, and I must be frank that a vaccine might not come to fruition."

Mr Sharma's comments come as the Government moved the opening of the UK's coronavirus vaccine manufacturing centre forward by around a year to summer 2021.

He said that the Government was putting in 93 million to accelerate the completion of the country's first vaccines manufacturing innovation centre.

And Mr Sharma said that the centre will have capacity to produce enough vaccines for the entire UK population within six months.

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The Business Secretary also warned that there are no certainties and it is possible trials may not lead to a successful coronavirus vaccine.

So we also need to look at other drug treatments and therapeutics for those who get the virus, he said.

He said the Government is working with scientists in the collaborative UK programme Accord to find a drug.

UK returns to work as Coronavirus restrictions are eased - In pictures 1 /38 UK returns to work as Coronavirus restrictions are eased - In pictures Londoners returning to work near London Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Emergency as Lockdown is slowly lifted at Victoria Station Nigel Howard Cyclists travel in central London AFP via Getty Images Emergency as Lockdown is slowly lifted at Victoria Station Nigel Howard Alan Price on his Penny Farthing this morning on Battersea Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Delivery men are seen outside a reopened McDonald's with take-out only deliveries in Dalston Reuters Jubilee Line tube commuters as lockdown eases Nigel Howard Worlds End Nurseries in Chelsea opens for business. Customer Nika Kucifer is shown flowers by Janson Lotery Nigel Howard Londoners going back to work at Waterloo Jeremy Selwyn People ride bicycles in a cycle lane in Chelsea PA Jubilee Line tube commuters as lockdown eases Nigel Howard Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Jubilee Line tube commuters as lockdown eases Nigel Howard Jubilee Line tube commuters as lockdown eases. Nigel Howard Matt Writtle Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Vehicles are seen on the M56 motorway near Manchester, Reuters Londoners going back to work at Waterloo Jeremy Selwyn Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Monty's first day back. West Highland Terrier Monty commutes to work on his bike on his first day back with owner Darragh McElroy. Monty, who's Instagram account is @monty_whitehall_westie, works at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall with his owner Darragh who is Deputy Director of Coronavirus Communications at the Cabinet Office Matt Writtle Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn A commuter wears a mask at Canning Town station Reuters Rush hour on the M6 at the junction for Birmingham/Walsall on the first morning of the eased Coronavirus lockdown PA Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Commuters, some wearing masks are seen on a London Underground tube, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease Reuters Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Commuters, some wearing masks are seen at Stratford station, Reuters Cyclists in Chelsea today. Nigel Howard

Today I can report six drugs have entered initial live clinical trials, he said. If positive results are seen they will advance to larger scale trials.

If the search for a vaccine was not successful, Mr Sharma said they were also looking at other drug treatments and therapeutics, with six drugs having entered initial live clinical trials.

The announcements came as the latest Department of Health figures showed 34,636 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Saturday, up by 170 from the day before.
The Arunachal Pradesh government has ordered a judicial inquiry to probe the death of a civilian in firing by the Indian Army in Longding district of the state on Saturday.

A 60-year-old resident of Pumao village in the district was killed when a team of army personnel fired at a crowd. Several others, including army personnel, are also stated to have sustained injuries in the incident.

A judicial inquiry, to find exact details of what happened, has been ordered. The first class judicial magistrate of Longding has been entrusted to submit the report within 15 days, RP Upadhyaya, the director general of police, said.

Army doesnt share their operation details with us, but as far as we know there is no search operation going on at Pumao village on Sunday, Upadhyaya added.

Longding is one of the three districts in Arunachalthe other two are Tirap and Changlangwhere rebels groups from Nagaland and Assam, like NSCN-IM and United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I), are active.

The three districts are the only ones in the state where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, (AFSPA), which gives sweeping powers to the armed forces, is operational.

Usually, the army informs the local police before conducting any operation. But since Longding is under AFSPA, they are not supposed to inform us, Upadhyaya said.

According to a statement issued by the army on Saturday night, a search operation was launched on Saturday at Pumao village based on intelligence inputs about the presence of National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) cadres.

There was a gathering of villagers which started protesting against security forces and resorted to stone pelting. Troops identified suspicious movement and started moving towards a house, which drew two to three bursts of fire on Indian Army party, the statement said.

Civilians were told to disperse and to safeguard lives and property controlled retaliation was resorted to by firing eight single shots. In this melee, insurgents managed to escape. However, in this crossfire, it is believed few villagers have got hurt and one villager has expired, it added.

The statement said many army soldiers were also injured due to stone pelting by supporters of NSCN-IM.

However, student bodies and human rights organisations in Arunachal allege the firing took place as a fallout of a meeting between residents of Pumao and the army to discuss reported thrashing of another villager on Friday night by the men in uniform.

According to them, a commotion broke out in the meeting and the army team left it midway. This was followed by stone-pelting by villagers on the army personnel, who fired back in retaliation, killing one villager and injuring others.

The North East Human Rights Organisation (NEHRO) has filed two complaints with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against the 19th Sikh Regiment of the army for alleged human rights violations.

The All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) has also condemned the incident and termed the armys action as barbaric.

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Bhubaneswar, May 17 : Odisha registered two more COVID-19 fatalities taking the death toll to five in the state, informed the Health department on Sunday.

Two persons from Ganjam district succumbed to the disease.

The deceased have been identified as a 38-year-old man and a 45-year-old man. Both were Surat returnees, said the department.

COVID-19 positive cases in the state rose to 828 with the detection of 91 fresh cases on Sunday.

The new cases are from Bhadrak (28), Balasore (17), Ganjam (15), Cuttack (12), Puri (7), Keonjhar (4), Khurda (3), Balangir (2), Kendrapara (1), Sambalpur (1) and Sundargarh (1).

Of the 91 detected, 87 were in quarantine centres and four were locals including a Sarpanch, who came in contact with a positive case.

With this, the number of active cases in the state rose to 627 while 196 patients have recovered so far.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, has expressed admiration for President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he wished he had his level...





Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, has expressed admiration for President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he wished he had his level of self-control.





According to him, not many leaders can resist the urge to regularly respond to negative criticism as Buhari.





He said this in an interview with The Punch, during which he said his role models in politics are Peter Odili, Rufus Ada-George and Buhari.





(I admire) the discipline of Muhammadu Buhari. I wish I was that disciplined. People think it is easy to be disciplined but its not. If you want to know what discipline is, try to stay hungry for one month. Im not talking about fasting. Or imagine someone craving chocolate (or any other thing) and not taking it, even if it is right in front of you, he said.





President (Major General) Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) is so disciplined that he is able to resist temptation to reply his critics when they abuse him.





Also, I admire his love for the country. That trait can also be found in (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo. They have fierce love for the country. However, the difference between both men is that Obasanjo thinks his idea of growth for the country is better than anybody elses own. But there can always be alternatives. And maybe Buharis own could be another one.





He also spoke of his experience as a politician, saying he had reservations about his son becoming active in politics because of the way it is played in Nigeria.





Nigerian politics is not something one would want ones child to go into because there are no rules. One can be easily destroyed. One must have the grace to survive. I dont know if he has that grace (and Im not talking about tact or sagacity) to survive because it is a man-eat-man world, he said.





You can see what is going on in Rivers State now  young men, who God used one to help rise in politics are now turning against one. If God wasnt by my side, I may not have been standing till now.





There is a lot of betrayal and I dont know if he can survive that because he literally grew up in Europe. One has to be a hard man to survive the betrayals in Nigerian politics.





Imagine someone you used to sleep on the same bed with and have given both financial and political assistance to selling you out because of his ambition. One of them said he helped make me! Meanwhile, when we were in court, he wasnt there with us; he ran away. Meanwhile, these are men that used to literally prostrate themselves on the floor for me. But because Im a simple man, I always told them not to do all that. I told them they should only do that for God and not for people like us. So I ask myself, can my son withstand these intrigues?





When asked to comment on the recent demolition of hotels by Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, Amaechi said he would prefer to remain quiet and focus on transportation.




President Trumps handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has reportedly alienated Peter Thiel, the tech billionaire who was one of the Republicans few supporters in Silicon Valley.

Thiel, who made his fortune as co-founder of PayPal and one of Facebooks earliest investors, has been s***-talking the president over what he views as his botched management of the coronavirus crisis, sources close to the billionaire venture capitalist have told The Daily Beast.

The tech magnate also has not donated significant sums of money to Trumps re-election effort even though he publicly stated in 2018 that he supports the president in his bid for another term in the White House.

One member of the presidents inner circle told The Daily Beast that Thiel has ghosted Trump associates.

President Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has been met with disapproval by Peter Thiel, who was one of the few Silicon Valley figures to support his candidacy in 2016. Thiel is seen right with then-President-elect Trump and then-Vice President-elect Mike Pence in New York in December 2016

Thiel spoke at the Republican National Convention in support of Trump. He is seen above at the convention in Cleveland in July 2016

Thiel has also reportedly criticized Trump in private conversations with confidants in recent months.

Instead of donating money to the president, Thiel is now said to be considering limiting his financial support to other prominent Republicans like Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri.

In 2017, Thiel donated $5,400 to Hawleys campaign, which is the most allowable by law, according to The Daily Beast.

When a Trump campaign official was asked if Thiel had engaged the president's team on any meaningful initiatives for the 2020 re-election effort, they replied: 'He ghosted us.

'If anything [new] has happened, I havent heard about it.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Thiel, the White House, and the Trump campaign for comment.

This isn't the first time that Thiel has reportedly expressed reservations about Trump.

In August 2017, just seven months after the president took office, Thiel told confidants that the administration was 'incompetent' and that he feared Trump's presidency would 'end in disaster,' according to BuzzFeed News.

Thiels chilliness toward Trump stands in sharp contrast to the billionaire entrepreneurs enthusiastic embrace of the president that stretched even before he won the election in 2016.

He was virtually alone among tech giants in supporting Trump, whose anti-immigration rhetoric was at odds with views widely held by Silicon Valley giants like Apple, Amazon, Google, and others.

Thiel, whose net worth is valued by Forbes at $2.3billion, even spoke at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in the summer of 2016.

Thiels data-mining venture, Palantir, has benefited from billions of dollars in government contracts.

Thiel was reportedly frustrated by the president's appearances at his White House coronavirus briefings. Trump is seen center alongside Dr. Deborah Birx (left) and Dr. Anthony Fauci (right) at the White House on Friday

In March, Palantir won an $80million contract to build a logistics management system for the US Navys warships and aircraft, according to The Washington Post.

In February, Palantir won an $823million contract to provide software to the Pentagon.

The firm has longstanding ties to some of the countrys most feared intelligence and law enforcement agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Palantir is also working with the Trump administration during the current pandemic to help the government build a single source database that would help mitigate the effects of the spread of the coronavirus, according to The Daily Beast.

The Protect Now platform unveiled by the Department of Health and Human Services uses data from across federal, state, and local governments as well as health care facilities and colleges in order to help the administration to better mitigate and prevent spread of COVID-19.

Despite the ties between Thiel and the administration, however, the billionaire was reportedly frustrated with the presidents performance, particularly during his coronavirus briefings.

Trumps briefings raised questions about the presidents ability to lead the country during a time of crisis, particularly after the sessions descended into tense back-and-forth exchanges with the press.

The president also gave conflicted messaging about following social distancing guidelines while urging supporters to liberate states that imposed lockdowns in an effort to stop the spread of the virus.

Trump also has touted a drug used to treat malaria, hydroxychloroquine, as a possible cure for COVID-19, though this claim has been refuted by medical experts.

The president also drew widespread ridicule when he suggested that bleach or disinfectant cleaner can be used to rid the body of the virus. Trump later insisted he was being sarcastic.

As of Sunday, more than 1.5 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19. The national death toll is also approaching 90,000.

The administration is facing criticism after reports surfaced indicating that the president ignored dire warnings from top officials about the approaching pandemic.

Trump has denied the reports.

The crisis has left the economy in the worst shape it's been in since the Great Depression with tens of millions of Americans filing for unemployment benefits.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has lauded the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for the role he is playing to secure part of the military land adjoining the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for health development projects.



One of the critical challenges confronting Teaching Hospitals in the country has to do with the unavailability of land for future expansion, the President noted.



The government, consequently, had tasked the Health and Defence Ministries to hasten ongoing discussions between the Asantehene and the Board of Directors, KATH, for the possible release of the military land, and also relocate the barracks.



President Nana Akufo-Addo, who was addressing a ground-breaking ceremony in Kumasi, to reactivate works on the KATH Maternity and childrens Block, said the authorities should put in more effort to ensure the conclusion and implementation of the ongoing discussions.



They have to strive to finalize all outstanding issues regarding the release of the adjoining military land, as well as the relocation of the barracks adjacent to the Hospital.



KATH, which is currently sited on a total landmass of 35, 000 square metres, is considered to have the least land size amongst the Teaching Hospitals in the country.



In an earlier address, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Oheneba Owusu Danso, had said the Hospital, Ghanas second-largest health referral facility, was in dire need of land for pending projects.



We lack the requisite land resources for pending projects such as Cardiovascular Centre, Renal Transplant Centre, Infectious Diseases Centre and a Central Laboratory and Diagnostic Centre, amongst others, he stated.



The hospital records on the average 1, 450 Out-Patient-Department attendances per day, with a staff strength of 4, 430.



The Maternity and Childrens Block, whose initial sod-cutting was done in 1976, had been abandoned all these years due to the unavailability of the needed funds to complete the 800-bed facility.



In 2004, under the government of former President John Agyekum Kufour, the project was redesigned and expanded after a piece of the adjoining military land was released, following the intervention of the Asantehene.



The three-year project, being executed by Messrs. Contracta Construction (UK) Limited, is expected to revolutionize maternal and paediatric care when completed.



Facilities include 10 theatres and intensive care units, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) unit, emergency reception for children and pregnant women, dedicated medical oxygen plant, lecture halls and paediatric surgery unit.



The others are pharmacy, breastfeeding centre and other specialist facilities.

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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She is preparing to turn 50 next week with a low-key lockdown celebration.

But Naomi Campbell was on the move on Saturday, and shared a selfie from the plane where she donned a full hazmat suit fit with goggles and a mask.

The supermodel, 49, recently posted a six-minute long video titled 'Protecting Myself Against Coronavirus', where she took fans through her complex PPE gear worn when travelling.

Taking no chances: Naomi Campbell shared a selfie from a plane where she donned a full hazmat suit fit with goggles and a mask on Saturday

The selfie showed Naomi sat on what appears to be a pink blanket covering the aeroplane seat while she is covered head to toe in the white protective equipment.

The catwalk queen titled the post: 'On the move...'

Naomi recently clarified that she has been deep cleaning her seats on aeroplanes for 15-17 years and only decided to document it last year, she stressed that COVID-19 is 'all new for her'.

The fashion icon has also previously stressed that she wasn't wearing this outfit to be 'humorous' and 'for a laugh'.

The catwalk queen titled the post 'On the move...'

Birthday girl: She is preparing to turn 50 next week with a low-key lockdown celebration

Instead clarifying: 'This is how I feel comfortable travelling if I have to. I'm keeping it [travelling] at a minimum. If I do have to go, I'm keeping it like this.'

Her extravagant display comes after she discussed her birthday plans for lockdown and why she is 'not afraid of 50.'

Speaking on her YouTube live series, No Filter with Naomi, the model shared: 'Frankly, if I am here on May 22, in isolation, I'm blessed.

Protected: The supermodel, 49, recently posted a six-minute long video titled 'Protecting Myself Against Coronavirus' where she took fans through her complex PPE gear worn when travelling

Staying safe: The fashion icon has also previously stressed that she wasn't wearing this outfit to be 'humorous' and 'for a laugh'

'I'm not afraid of 50. I'm going to be spending my 50th here. I'm fine with it.

'And when the crisis is over, it'll be back to work for a model who's carved out a phenomenal 30-year career in the fashion industry.'

Throughout the lockdown Naomi has shared various pics dressed in her protective gear and urged fans to 'wear gloves' and 'be safe.'
Wisconsin This content is being provided for free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus outbreak. Please support local journalism by subscribing.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul issued an opinion Friday declaring local stay-at-home orders legal after several communities rescinded their orders fearing challenges in the wake of the Wisconsin Supreme Court striking down a statewide order intended to battle COVID-19.

Kaul cited mounting confusion over the legality of local stay-at-home orders, which were issued within hours of the Supreme Courts decision in attempts to limit business activities and large gatherings in the absence of a statewide rule, which had been in place since late March to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Public Health Madison and Dane County communications supervisor Sarah Mattes said Dane Countys order  which essentially mirrors the states former safer at home order  will stand.

We believe that our order is perfectly legal and have no plans to rescind it, Mattes said. The end of this week looks no different than the beginning of this week in Dane County.

As of Friday, there were 11,685 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin and 445 deaths, according to the state Department of Health Services. Dane County has reported 517 cases and 25 deaths.

Though mostly Republicans in rural parts of the state where there are fewer cases have been urging an end of the stay-at-home order to help revive businesses, the statewide trend in COVID-19 cases has not subsided. The 410 new cases reported Friday were the second-largest daily increase since the pandemic began.

A shrinking patchwork

More than a dozen counties and several cities enacted their own stay-at-home orders after the Supreme Courts 4-3 decision to strike down the states safer at home order.

However, the number of local orders, which ranged from mirroring the states former safer at home order to rules limiting large gatherings while allowing businesses to remain open, whittled down Friday, with officials expressing doubt in their authority to pass such measures.

Counties that rescinded their local orders include Kenosha, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Winnebago and Brown, which has had the second-most positive cases in the state with more than 2,000 as of Friday.

Kenosha County Health Officer Dr. Jen Freiheit announced the countys stay-at-home order, which went into effect Wednesday, had been withdrawn the next day due to guidance from the Wisconsin Counties Associations legal arm suggesting that the Supreme Court ruling also applies to local orders.

Weve determined that we will withdraw our order and instead view Safer-at Home as a series of best practices, rather than requirements, Kenosha County corporation counsel Joseph Cardamone said in a statement.

On Friday, Brown County Public Health Officer Anna Destree said in a statement that the countys stay-at-home order also had been rescinded.

Bar and restaurant owners outside Dane County deal with uncertainty after stay-at-home order tossed by court

Based on research conducted during the last 24 hours, and on consultations with outside legal counsel, Brown County Corporation Counsel is now of the opinion that the legal basis for the Order is likely not strong enough to withstand legal challenge, Destree said in the statement.

Manitowoc County also withdrew its order to be consistent with neighboring Brown County, and the city of Appleton announced its stay-at-home order had been lifted.

It is deeply frustrating and disappointing that Gov. Tony Evers and the Legislature will not work together, or even attempt to do so, in the interest of statewide health and clarity, Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford said in a statement.

Appleton, as well as several counties that have lifted their respective orders, have issued public health guidance and best practices for residents to follow.

Also on Friday, plaintiffs in another challenge to the former safer at home order argued that Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm attempted to circumvent the Supreme Courts Wednesday ruling by providing local entities with a template for their own city or county orders.

The lawsuit was filed by two Wisconsin residents who argue the orders ban on travel and mass gatherings infringes on their rights to practice religion or exercise free speech.

Mounting uncertainty

A statement posted Wednesday on the Wisconsin Counties Association website expressed uncertainty over whether the Supreme Courts ruling also applies to counties.

As a result, it is unclear whether a local health order would, in the Courts view, suffer from the same deficiencies that caused the Court to invalidate the Safer at Home Order, according to the statement.

What you need to know about Dane County's stay-at-home order

A statement on the League of Wisconsin Municipalities website also notes a lack of clarity over whether the Supreme Court ruling prohibits a city from enacting its own order to close businesses or limit gatherings due to the pandemic.

It is possible a municipality could exercise its emergency powers to enact restrictions similar to Safer at Home, according to the post. However, it is unclear whether a court would find the scope of authority under (state statute) to extend that far.

In his opinion, Kaul said the Supreme Court ruling addressed the Department of Health Services authority, not a separate statute that allows local authorities powers to prevent, suppress and control communicable diseases and forbid public gatherings when deemed necessary to control outbreaks or epidemics.

Kauls opinion also states that nothing in the Supreme Courts decision even arguably limits other measures directed by a local authority under (state statute).

On Thursday, Democrat Evers and Republican leaders in the Senate and Assembly began conversations regarding potential new COVID-19 rules. However, officials on both sides of the aisle said its unlikely a statewide shutdown of businesses will be on the table.

GOP leaders also said they do not anticipate the state attempting to preempt local rules to limit gatherings or business activity. In response to the Supreme Courts ruling, Evers administration took the first step in creating new statewide rules for addressing COVID-19, which would be subject to legislative approval.
The boy's father, Christopher Crets (pictured), 40, was arrested earlier this month after the child escaped his home

Missouri parents, who allegedly handcuffed their 12-year-old son to his bed, have been arrested after the boy escaped from their home and told police he was being abused earlier this month.

Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison told KSDK that a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper found the boy walking alone down Highway T on May 2.

That same night, the boy's father, Christopher Crets, 40, and his stepmother, Nicole Crets, 33, were taken into custody.

According to police, the child was suffering from 'severe bruising on his face, torso, legs and arms' when he was found.

The boy told the trooper that he had just escaped from his home where he said his parents usually handcuff him to the bed, according to KSDK.

Authorities said the boy explained that he was able to escape after the couple forgot to handcuff him. He was also carrying a bag when he was discovered.

The child explained to police that both parents had been 'whooping him with a leather belt'.

Nicole Crets (pictured), 33, the boy's stepmother, was also arrested after the child was found with 'severe bruising on his face, torso, legs and arms'

But the Crets told a different story. They claimed the child needs to be restrained because to keep him from 'sneaking' food and candy, according to KSDK.

The boy reportedly has a health condition that prevents him from having certain foods.

During the arrest, detectives found the handcuffs on the bed like the little boy had described, KSDK reported.

The child was taken to a local hospital where doctors determined his weight of 74 pounds.

The boy reportedly told police that he once weighed between 115 and 120.

Doctors diagnosed him with refeeding syndrome, a condition that can cause seizures, heart failure and confusion due to starvation.

Police found two other children at the home and they were removed and placed in the care of other family members despite not showing any signs that they were abused.

The Crets have both been charged with felony child abuse.
12 coastal districts of Odisha have been put on alert on Sunday as cyclone Amphan develops into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal with the potential of becoming very severe in the next 24 hours.

Odisha special relief commissioner P K Jena has said that 567 cyclone and flood shelters apart from 7,092 buildings are available to house people in the state in case evacuation is required reported PTI.

The agency also reported that NDRF personnel were deployed in the state of West Bengal and Odisha on Sunday. Odisha, which has a history of braving cyclones, announced that it was ready to evacuate 11 lakh people that could get affected by cyclone Amphan.

The cyclone is likely to bring heavy rain and high-velocity winds in coastal Odisha and West Bengal. Its trajectory, according to an IMD report released on Sunday, is towards West Bengal, Sagar Islands and possibly towards Bangladesh.

The trajectory is mostly towards West Bengal, Sagar Islands and probably towards Bangladesh.... But we have to watch the trajectory very closely. NDRF has deployed the teams well in advance. They are either deployed or moving towards the destination, said S N Pradhan, the chief of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

G K Das, the regional MeT director in Kolkata said Amphan is likely to cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Islands and Hatiya islandsthe former in West Bengal and the latter in Bangladeshon May 20 afternoon. The cyclone is likely to make a landfall in West Bengal on the same day.

Odisha was ravaged by cyclone Fani last year and the state is not leaving anything to chance this time as well. It has put twelve coastal districts--Ganjam, Gajapti, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda and Nayagarh-- on high alert.

The infrastructure developed for management of cyclones is being used for fighting coronavirus in the state. Odisha special relief commissioner P K Jena said 242 of the 809 cyclone shelters in the 12 coastal districts were being used as temporary medical camps for the returnees from different states.

Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), NDRF and fire service personnel have already been sent to the districts. We are also in constant touch with the Indian Coast Guard, IMD and NDRF for any requirement, Jena was quoted as saying by PTI.

According to the regional met office in Kolkata, the cyclone is also likely to bring light to moderate rains to North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, East and West Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly on May 19.

Seven teams of the NDRF, comprising of 45 personnel per team, have been deployed in six districts in West Bengal, namely South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly.

10 teams have been deployed in seven districts in Odisha, namely Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj.

Cyclone Amphan intensifies into severe cyclonic storm: Latest Updates

The Odisha government has also decided to keep in abeyance the transfer of two senior IAS officers including health and family welfare secretary N B Dhal and the principal secretary of revenue and disaster management department B P Sethi keeping in mind the cyclonic storm.
OTTAWA, May 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The statistics for diagnosed COVID-19 are staggering high than the cure or treatment for Coronavirus patients in Canada.



Canadas population is around 37.5 million and as of today 75,864 cases have been diagnosed for COVID-19, however, out of all these cases, about 15 percent of the patients were announced dead due to the virus during this time.

The World Health Organization announced the global outbreak in early 2020.

According to Meladul Haq Ahmadzai, says Assessment is needed for treatment, but there is no vaccine available in the world to cure the patients.

The CBC News talks about whether it is good to be outside or inside during the pandemic in their latest news article. In Canada, health experts have told people to remain in their homes. They have also advised them to wash hands regularly.

Ahmadzai adds. For the treatment of Covid-19, we need experts to continue to provide advice, equipment and medicine for cure  without these, the population will continue to be extinct.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are working on vaccine development, and the UK too is starting to show its seriousness to combating the virus after a lot of focus on global politics.

Ontarios Premiere Doug Ford wants to kick start the local economy back on June 2nd.

A global lockdown has not yet been called by the World Health Organization and no vaccine is yet available.

Meladul Haq Ahmadzai is the CEO of Taleam Systems and a global health researcher. To learn more about Taleam Systems visit www.taleamsystems.com

Media Contact:

Meladul Haq Ahmadzai

melad@taleamsystems.com

613-521-9229
Like everyone else, Illinois census outreach coordinators have had to adapt to a new reality during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As drastic as this change has been for everyone, its the same thing for us, said Marishonta Wilkerson, who was named co-director of the newly created state census office in September.

Wilkerson and fellow co-director Oswaldo Alvarez are leading Illinois $29 million outreach effort through their office within the Illinois Department of Human Services. Their positions were created by Gov. J.B. Pritzkers June executive order aimed at maximizing participation in the decennial head count.

The pair oversees a hub and spoke model in which funding passes through IDHS to 31 intermediary organizations that lead outreach efforts in 12 regions of the state. Those organizations partner with other community groups to target outreach at a hyper-local level.

There is still plenty of time to push this years numbers upward, because the self-response period deadline has been extended to Oct. 31. But, for organizers, one difficulty is maintaining momentum as the pandemic puts door-knocking efforts on hold and strict social-distancing requirements cancel the planned pizza parties, booths at fairs and local library events while driving outreach online.

Anita Banerji, director of the Democracy Initiative of the nonprofit organization Forefront, agreed that 2020 is presenting challenges both foreseen and unforeseen. Forefront is partnered with the city of Chicago for community-based census outreach as part of the program, and Banerji said they are noticing lagging numbers in minority communities that have not had points of contact with census organizers.

She said one continued challenge is fear of a citizenship question appearing on the official questionnaire. While President Donald Trump advocated for such a question and received widespread media attention, it does not appear on the final form.

And then everyone also thought that with us going online, that was going to be an issue, but now coupled with the pandemic, there are so many challenges to the 2020 census, she said.

Organizers agree that challenges are compounded in hard-to-count communities.

Populations and geographies deemed hard to count are areas where the self-response rate in the 2010 census was 73% or less. Populations that have been historically undercounted include young children, immigrants, low-income households, people of color and rural residents.

Alvarez said the Illinois model puts nonprofit and other community organizations at the center of outreach in these communities.

Its important to have them become the trusted messengers, he said, noting that nonprofits often are already making day-to-day contact with some of the hardest-to-count communities.

Education is key in the effort, organizers said, because residents need to know what they stand to lose in an undercount, what questions will or will not be on the form, and that their privacy is protected.

Unsurprisingly, social media has been important to getting the word out as organizations creatively adapt to new realities.

Banerji said one organization she worked with had not used Twitter much, but realized its power when participating in a coordinated regional outreach thunderclap event in which several organizations posted to several social media platforms at a coordinated date and time to promote the census.

So weve never utilized social media like this before, she said. And to know that it is helping people get counted while theyre home has helped us with our outreach efforts while were all staying at home.

While the pandemic has changed nearly everything about census outreach efforts, one thing remains the same  the consequences of an undercount. Those include a potential loss of local health resources, up to two seats in Congress and other federal funding.

Wilkerson said about $1,500 a year in federal funding is lost for each person not counted in the census, and the numbers shape federal funding for the next 10 years.

Alvarez characterized the census as the one way we really have to twist the governments arm to represent you and invest in you.

We all win when were all counted, he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 17)  Questions from some lawmakers on cash aid for poor families are still lingering ahead of President Rodrigo Dutertes eighth weekly report to Congress on his special powers to tackle the COVID-19 crisis.

Senate Social Justice Committee chair Leila de Lima, in particular, questioned the governments plan to cut cash aid beneficiaries in the second tranche of its distribution so only families in areas under enhanced community quarantine will be covered.

De Lima suggested that the decision is illegal and unfair, citing the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act which granted Duterte special powers and provided that 18 million low-income families should get subsidies ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 for two months.

This perfunctory exclusion of those 15.5 million families, who are in the non-ECQ areas starting May 16, is also unfair  nay, inhumane  considering that they would have already spent the first half of the month of May still in lockdown, she said in her comment on Dutertes seventh report on his special powers.

De Lima also asked what the role of local government units would be in the distribution of the second tranche of cash aid as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, along with the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, would now directly handle its distribution.

Senator Joel Villanueva, meanwhile, asked what the DSWDs plan would be for the remaining beneficiaries who have not yet received cash aid.

Latest data from the DSWD show that 17.2 million of the target 18 million families have been served by the cash aid program, leaving around five percent of beneficiaries still not receiving financial assistance.

Villanueva, who chairs the Senate Committee on Labor, is also seeking clarity as to why the distribution of aid to drivers of public utility vehicles and transportation network vehicle services froze at 44.9 percent of the target beneficiaries.

He said he wants to know what caused the delay in the distribution of subsidies to drivers.

Aside from cash aid, Duterte is also expected to detail part of the spending for COVID-19 response, which is sourced from realignments within the executive department.

Congress granted Duterte in March additional powers to tackle the COVID-19 crisis, but also required him to report back to the legislature every week about his administrations fight against the viral disease.

To date, 12,513 have been infected with coronavirus in the Philippines. Of them, 824 have died, while 2,635 have recovered.
In times of crisis, we can no longer switch from one production zone to another to get our essential products, Louis Gautier, the former director of the General Secretariat for Defense and National Security, a powerful inter-ministerial unit inside the prime ministers office that coordinates the response to large-scale crises, said in an interview. The issue of strategic stocks and secure supplies has to be reconsidered. A new model has to be invented.

France had long identified masks as indispensable in a pandemic, yet the government had mostly stopped stockpiling them during the past decade, mainly for budgetary reasons. Domestic production collapsed at the same time the countrys pharmaceutical industry was also moving overseas.

France had decided that it was no longer necessary to keep massive stocks in the country, considering that production plants were able to be operational very quickly, especially in China, the health minister, Olivier Veran, said in Parliament in March.

But the scope and speed of the coronavirus defied that logic. Still reeling from its own outbreak, China, the worlds leading maker of masks, was overwhelmed with orders. India, a top exporter of medication, temporarily banned exports for fear of shortages.
The startling inequalities in lockdown learning are laid bare today after it was revealed that an estimated 700,000 state school pupils are not being set any work by their teachers.

Some schools have simply decided against online lessons because they say many children have only limited internet access.

Astonishingly, one head teacher said teachers might feel 'embarrassed' about teaching on screen.

And as teachers' unions continue to frustrate plans to re-open schools on June 1, many schools expressed reluctance to put extra pressure on parents, preferring to let families concentrate on health and wellbeing.

By contrast, private and state schools in more affluent areas insist it is business as usual and boast virtual lessons and full timetables.

Some schools have simply decided against online lessons because they say many children have only limited internet access (file image)

The full extent of the nation's classroom divide is exposed in a survey of primary and secondary heads and governors that provoked anger among education experts last night.

It shows that more than ten per cent of secondary schools have not been giving pupils any work since the summer term began earlier this month and do not intend to do so, while 8.2 per cent are offering just 'one learning activity per day'.

The results are similar for primary schools. Unions have strongly urged teachers not to live stream lessons.

The Campaign for Real Education said it was 'outrageous and immoral' that disadvantaged children risked being 'thrown on the scrap heap'.

And leading educationalist Professor Alan Smithers warned some children were missing out on their education completely and their life chances could suffer.

Wildly varying approaches to remote learning were revealed in the poll of 900 heads across England, conducted by The Key, a national information service for heads and governors.

Many schools favour a full timetable of lessons and activities with a 'school-like routine'.

More than half the primary schools polled and 27 per cent of secondary schools said they were setting two or three activities per day.

Six-year-old Leo (right) and his three-year old brother Espen complete homeschooling activities suggested by the online learning website of their infant school, as his mother Moira, an employee of a regional council, works from home near Huddersfield

Most of the secondary schools  38 per cent  set four to five activities. But it is those that are not producing anything  7.1 per cent in the case of primary schools  that are causing concern.

If the results were extrapolated, it would mean around 335,580 primary children and 342,475 secondary children are in schools that are not setting any work.

Lord Andrew Adonis, a former schools Minister, has written to the chief inspector of schools Amanda Spielman urging her to ensure 'adequate online teaching and support'.

He told The Mail on Sunday: 'I am not talking about a full timetable but I do think it is reasonable that there should be some interactive contact and teaching each day, and for older year groups quite a lot.

'Firstly, because of the value of teaching but secondly because day-by-day contact keeps pupils motivated and that helps parents enormously.'

Why can't all schools do this? Here is the weekly home education diary of a seven-year-old Year Two pupil at a private London prep school during lockdown  with work carried out at home being regularly emailed to teachers for marking and discussed in Zoom classes. Monday 9am: 15-minute video assembly with headteacher. 10am: 40-minute phonics lesson live on Zoom. 11am: 40-minute maths lesson live on Zoom. Emailed music and art lessons to do at home. Phonics spelling test to do at home. 3pm: 30-minute class lesson live on Zoom. Tuesday 10am: 40-minute English lesson live on Zoom. 11am: 40-minute maths lesson live on Zoom. 3pm: 30-minute class time live on Zoom. Emailed Topic (history) lesson to do at home. Wednesday 10am: 40-minute English lesson live on Zoom. 11am: 40-minute maths lesson live on Zoom. High Frequency Words spelling test to do at home. 2pm: PE lesson live on Zoom. 3pm: 30-minute class time live on Zoom. Emailed PSHE lesson to do at home. Emailed computing lesson to do at home. Thursday 10am: 40-minute English lesson live on Zoom. 11am: 40-minute maths lesson live on Zoom. 3pm: 30-minute class time live on Zoom. Emailed science lesson to do at home. Friday 9am: 15-minute video assembly with headteacher. Morning: Every pupil has ten-minute one-to-one time on Zoom with class teacher. One-hour English writing exercise to do at home. 30-minute maths exercise to do at home. Emailed French lesson to do at home. Emailed RE lesson to do at home. Saturday/Sunday: Weekend homework  usually something not too taxing after a hard week's learning for pupils (and their parents!). Advertisement

The Labour peer added: 'The private sector is, by and large, making that provision and they know parents wouldn't pay the fees if they didn't.

'Meanwhile, we the taxpayer are, quite rightly, continuing to pay teachers so it is absolutely reasonable that we should expect that they are teaching children to the best of the school's capabilities.'

Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: 'I pity those kids from under-privileged backgrounds who are being let down. All children matter.' And he accused some teachers of exploiting the lockdown for 'a welcome break'.

Prof Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research, said: 'While those fortunate to be from good schools are receiving close to a full timetable, others are missing out completely and they are likely to be the already disadvantaged.

'The huge variation in learning opportunities at home underlines the importance of getting children back to schools as soon as safely possible.'

Parklands Primary School in Leeds, classed as outstanding by Ofsted, is not running online lessons because staff have not been trained to deliver them and some might feel 'embarrassed' about teaching via screens.

Head teacher Chris Dyson, said only 18 per cent of his pupils have a laptop at home.

'At a school like mine, there may only be one electronic device between four children, so a strict timetable that's all screen-based just isn't going to work,' he said.

For the first two weeks of the lockdown, the school did not set any work but it is now providing 'learning opportunities' through Seesaw, a learning app.

Earlier this month, the Government said it had committed 100 million for remote learning for 'those who need it most' with the new Oak National Academy, a national online school, providing video lessons, worksheets and quizzes related to many subjects.

While some schools are directing families to online resources, there is little or no contact between pupils and classroom teachers. Other schools are setting work but not necessarily marking it.

A teaching assistant at a South West London primary said she has had no contact with her school since lockdown began and believes there are many others in the same position.

Clapham Manor Primary School, in South London, said the technology and resourcing needed to plan lessons of any kind, including live teaching, 'is something our teachers simply do not have access to from home'.

The mother of a pupil at a state primary school in South London said: 'The sum help we have for home-schooling is a weekly worksheet  one side of A4 with a few ideas of what to do with children  sent round via email on a Friday.

'My fear is that by catering to the lowest common denominator to keep things equal, schools will end up creating even more of a gulf between rich and poor.'

At Beaumont School, a secondary in Hertfordshire, headteacher Martin Atkinson told parents that although many of them would like live lessons, teachers do not have to provide them because it may not be possible for some and it could disadvantage students who do not have devices and 'cause them to fall behind'.

One frustrated state school parent said: 'Private schools are doing live teaching, state sector parents get home learning packs. We've not heard from anyone at school for two weeks. Why can state sector teachers not actively teach online and stay in touch with the kids?'

A survey last month by the Sutton Trust, a charity that strives to improve social mobility among children, found pupils at private schools are more than twice as likely to receive daily online tuition as their state-educated peers.

'Education is suffering big time,' said the trust's founder and chairman Peter Lampl. 'It's really hurting children in moderate and low income households.'

The independent Royal Hospital School in Ipswich began to teach its 750 pupils remotely on iPads provided by the school as soon as lockdown began in March.

A daily timetable of live lessons is provided by the school. Becky Haywood, whose son is in his GCSE year, said the transition to online learning had been seamless. 'It has been really positive. As a result, I don't feel the lockdown has particularly impacted my son in terms of learning,' she said.

Many state schools offer similarly impressive provision. At Ursuline High, a Catholic girls' school in Wimbledon, South West London, every pupil has a tablet and six online lessons a day. Parents are informed if their child does not log on at the start of the school day.
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Wont be left alone: Arvind Kejriwal extends guarantee to migrant labourers in Delhi

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday extended an assurance to all migrant workers stuck in Delhi that the government was fully committed to their care whether they desired to stay back in the capital or leave for their home states. Read more.

NDRF deploys 17 teams in Odisha, West Bengal to prepare for Cyclone Amphan

Seventeen teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Odisha and West Bengal in view of the approaching cyclone Amphan, the chief of the force said on Sunday. Read more.

Nation-building migrant workers are out in the sun, allow us to help them: Priyanka Gandhi writes to UP CM

Congress leader and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday took to Twitter and asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to grant permission to help migrant labourers amid the coronavirus crisis. Read more.

India brings down coronavirus test swab price to one-tenth

As COVID-19 pandemic spread quickly, India faced twin challenge - short supply of testing swabs and those imported from China at a steep price of Rs 17 per stick were proving to be inferior. Read more.

I knew if MS Dhoni is playing, I wont get to play: Saha on how he made most of opportunities

India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha on Sunday said that he learnt the most from former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, as he knew that he will not be included in the team till Dhoni is in the team. Read more.

Mumbai Police gets on Paatal Lok hype train, share meme on spreading fake news

The Mumbai Police has one of the funniest and wittiest Twitter accounts and never loses a chance to drop a fresh, topical meme. They have done it again, this time with a meme featuring a scene from Paatal Lok. Read more.

Mompreneurs in times of coronavirus: The deep-seated strength of a woman

The lockdown announced in March came crashing down on the woman of the house, who had to, overnight, manage both, family (in full quorum and maid-less) and office simultaneously. Read more.

Dramebaazi: Nirmala Sitharaman on Rahul Gandhi meeting migrant workers

Finance Minsiter Nirmala Sitharaman slammed Rahul Gandhi over migrant workers. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had interacted with migrant workers on May 16. Gandhi spoke to migrants sitting on a sidewalk in the national capital. Sitharaman urged Congress party to come together to help stranded migrant labourers. Watch here.
On a call in March, four photographers  Guannan Li in Germany, Samuel Beech in London, Sigga Marrow in Iceland, and Verity Fitzgerald in South Africa sat discussing the spread of the novel coronavirus, especially its impact on Indias migrant workers, daily wage earners, and other vulnerable groups. The four had met in January in Delhi, at a photography workshop with Magnums Martin Parr, and wondered how they could help, as harrowing news poured in, from migrants attempting to walk thousands of kilometres to get home to vulnerable peoples starving, and even dying. When I read about the lockdown regulations introduced by the Modi government within mere hours, I was shocked. The sheer number of people affected by this lockdown was bewildering and disproportionate to any other nation, Li recalls. They struck upon the idea of selling prints of their photographs to fundraise, also calling upon the global photography community to donate their work. They consider each image an investment, when weighing the generosity of the contribution, as photographers often spend weeks, months, or even years on a single project. Considering the full circle that every single image has taken from its first conception as a vague idea to final print or publication is important to bear in mind, Li says.

Zishaan A Latif/Prints for India. All photos courtesy Prints for India Their call for contributions was met with a staggering response. People who were previously just names on spines on my bookshelf have got in touch and willingly requested to donate work, says Beech. Among their contributors are Martin Parr, Susan Meiselas, Cristina de Middel, Matilde Gattoni, Soham Gupta, Sohrab Hura, Ed Kashi, Sanjit Das, Andrea Bruce, and Laura McPhee. With the works of over 60 contributors and a total of 70 images, their prints reflect different voices of photography, from abstract to photojournalism, and from fine art to portraiture. Armed with the prints, they launched Prints for India on 24 April, selling each at 80 (Rs 7,700). The sale will run until 22 May, and all funds will be donated to the Indian non-profit Goonjs Rahat COVID-19 program.

Sohrab Hura/Prints for India While being a response to the alarming situation Indias most vulnerable find themselves in, Prints for India also stems from the bond each of the photographers formed with Delhi while photographing it earlier this year. Each had a different immediate response to the city. Fitzgerald, having grown up in Botswana, found the city felt familiar. Lis first impression was a piercing, glistering light followed by an immediate excitement, and the discovery that outside of pockets of chaos, there is always calm. Marrow, having arrived from the cold and less populous Iceland, had a complete culture shock and stayed in the hotel all the first day wondering what I was getting myself into. And Beech, who had already visited and experienced Delhi before, particularly looked forward to Hauz Khaz Village and Meena Bazaar.

Soham Gupta/Prints for India Responding to the vibrancy and chaos long associated with the streets of Delhi is what made the city such a fascinating subject for these photographers. There is, on the one hand, a sense of fulfilment in honing in on an individual perspective through the chaos, connecting on a personal level, and capturing a portrait against the crowd. As an assignment during the workshop, for instance, Marrows interpretation of Delhi resulted in a short series of men reading newspapers. That is Delhi to my mind; a quiet bastion of calm, surrounded by the chaos of the streets. On the other hand is the thrill of making sense of the chaos, or giving in to it, in the face of the colour, noise, congestion, an overwhelming number of subjects, and an overall sensory overload. Like Beechs way of processing the chaos, which resulted in the project Motorcycles in Small Alleyways. The concept of riding a motorcycle at high speed down a tiny alleyway seems ludicrous to me from my perspective as a motorcyclist, a photographer, and someone walking down the small alleyway in question. However, like much of the chaos in India, it seemed to just work!

Parth Gupta/Prints for India Its these contradictions  the logic driving the chaos  that have long attracted photographers to the country, and inspired them in different ways. India is simply a place where all is possible and that is always a good place to be in, says Li. While Fitzgerald recalls that hitting the streets as a woman certainly has its challenges, for her, its a particular feeling that photographers want to capture. It seems to be an infinite melting pot of stories to tell, and Indias unexpectedness will always be alluring, she says. For Beech, the allure lies in the people, and all the life that is lived out in the open. For me, the people have always been so warm, kind, open, and positive, as well as incredibly photogenic! says Beech. And Marrow simply finds it a photogenic country.

Ole Witt/Prints for India Even as photography allowed each to express their own perspective, the art form is also a way of opening ones eyes to unusual, underrated, or otherwise inaccessible places, and makes one aware of the lives, triumphs, and struggles of the people inhabiting those spaces.

Matilde Gattoni/Prints for India And as the four now use photographs to raise funds for Indias most vulnerable, they also consider the larger role of pictures, especially documentary photography, in society. Not only does it raise awareness, but it also nudges feeling and care for the subject, which results in a viewer taking action. From my perspective, says Beech, documentary photography records things prior to them changing. This is becoming increasingly important in a fast-moving world where unfounded and reactive claims are made at an alarming rate. And while no individuals work can be entirely objective, to have a range of voices from across the spectrum starts to make some sense of situations and bring some order to the chaos, he adds. The overwhelming response they have received to Prints for India thus far speaks of the power of a photograph, and of the empathy and solidarity that images and visual narratives can evoke. Beyond this, says Li, my hope is that our initiative, and the many photo fundraisers around the world, could begin joining forces in having a larger conversation about the relevance and impact of visual storytelling, and especially documentary photography, in times like these.

Marc Ressang/Prints for India

Ed Kashi/Prints for India

Carlo Bevilacqua/Prints for India

Anurag Banerjee/Prints for India Prints for India sales are open till 22 May. Find more information here.
as to why Minnesotas COVID-19 model was wrong by at least one, and perhaps two, orders of magnitude:

Before Friday, March 20, Marina Kirkeide, who graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering in 2019, was a School of Public Health part-time research assistant working on HPV transmission for Kulasingam. On a gap year before starting Medical School at the University in fall 2020, Kirkeide also had a second job as a lab tech at St. Pauls Regions Hospital. That Friday, Kulasingam called her and two other research assistants and asked if anyone was available to work through the day and night to get a COVID-19 model to Governor Walz the following Monday. They all jumped at the chance.

The model was literally created over a weekend, in part, at least, by kids.

I dont think a lot of researchers get to work on something over the weekend and have public figures talk about it and make decisions based on it three days later, says Kirkeide, who had to leave her hospital job to focus solely on modeling. She feels the responsibility of such a big project, too. [In this situation] you dont have the time to validate as much as you normally would. You want to get it right the first time.

They didnt. Minnesota is now using the third iteration of the U of M model.

As a modeler, says Kirkeide, you have complete control over what your results look like. The most important thing is to have absolute integrity. Yes, numbers may look grim, but they are what were getting, she says. You cant argue with what you see.

You can, however, check your model against reality. These are the grim numbers the modelers were projecting:

One projection showed that cases would peak around April 26 in Minnesota if there were no mitigating steps to slow the virus. The death toll in this scenario could reach 74,000. The other scenario showed a time frame with significant and staged mitigations in place that pushed the peak to about June 29 and projected deaths in the 50,00055,000 range.

In the linked article, the University of Minnesotas School of Public Health boasts that [w]hen [Governor Tim] Walz issued the stay-at-home order for the state two days later, which he recently extended to May 4, he took these projections heavily into account. Six weeks later, is is obvious to all that the U of M model was wildly off the mark. As noted above, it has been replaced by later versions that still cant predict the present, let alone the future. But no matter: the policy lives on, long after the basis for the policy is gone.
Two terrorists of Pakistan-based terror group Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday (May 17). One Army jawan also got martyred in the encounter which lasted for a few hours.

The slain terrorists were identified as Masood (local) and Tahir, a resident of Pulwama.

A search operation was launched by a joint team of 10 Rashtriya Rifles (Rajput Regiment), CRPF and Doda police on Saturday night after receiving specific inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area. Contact with terrorists established this morning when forces zeroed in the area where the terrorists were hiding.

Notably, the terror activities across Jammu and Kashmir has seen a sourt amid the coronavirus pandemic. The area which was declared terrorism free, including Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts have also witnessed terror attacks and related activities during the lockdown.

Less than 24 hours after the encounter of Hizbul Mujahideens chief Riyaz Naikoo, security forces on May 7 arrested an overground worker of the terror group from Doda. The arrested man was identified as 22-year-old Raqib Alam.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police released a statement on the killing of terrorists:

"Yesterday late night specific information was received regarding the presence of a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Tahir Ahmed Bhat of Pulwama in the village Khotra in Tehsil and district Doda. An operation was launched and the village was cordoned by early morning by the forces of Police, Army, CRPF and SSB. During the search, terrorists hiding in a house opened indiscriminate fire on the Police /Army. In the encounter that followed, Tahir Ahmed Bhat was killed and an AK 47 Rifle and Magazine have been recovered. Tahir Ahmed Bhat joined terror outfit HM early last year (2019).

His name has figured in the fabrication of IED which was exploded near a CRPF convoy at Banihal in March 2019. He had subsequently visited Chenab Valley and was given the task of recruiting youth and reviving HM activities in the Chenab valley. He was also a part of a group of HM terrorists who killed RSS activist Sh. Chandrakant Sharma and his PSO in April 2019. The same AK-47 Rifle which was taken away that time has been recovered after the encounter today.

With this operation, an attempt of HM to revive activities in Doda has been nipped. The designs of the HM to target SF Convoy and Camps has also be thwarted.

Tahir Bhat was a close associate of present Operational Commander of HM outfit Saifullah @ Dr Saif and was assigned the task of Revival of Terrorism in Chenab Valley by recruiting more youth from there, as the Chenab valley had got rid of militancy in the late 1990s.

The slain terrorist was directed by his mentors to target the SFs and carry out some sensitive and sensational attacks in Chenab Valley to create insecurity among the people and to disturb the peaceful atmosphere. He was complicit in several terror crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities.

His killing will create a huge deterrence to the Revival of Militancy in Chenab Valley. He was involved in case FIR No. 36/2020 U/S 20,38,UAPA 121 RPC P/S Kakpora , Case FIR No 33/2019 U/S 364,302, RPC P/S Awantipora, Case FIR No 37/2019 U/S 307, RPC 7/27 A. Act, 16,18,20, ULAP Act P/S Litter and Case FIR No 45/2019 U/S 364,302, RPC 7/27 A.Act P/S Shopian.
Students at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, are demanding a waiver of outstanding fees for those belonging to marginal sections like scheduled caste (SC), scheduled tribe (ST), other backward classes (OBC) and economically weaker sections (EWS).

For the graduating batch of 2018-20, the final date for paying the tuition fee, dining fee and hostel fee is May 31. However, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected the means of income of many families, the Progressive Students Forum (PSF) at TISS has claimed that students are not in a position to pay their outstanding fees. Students eligible for the Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship (GoI-PMS) have not received their scholarship fee from the central government, said PSF in a letter to the administration.

The PSF has, therefore, demanded a complete waiver of outstanding fees of graduating students coming from SC, ST, OBC (NC) and EWS sections of the society. The forum has also sought a partial fee waiver of 50% for the students not falling under these categories but are unable to pay the money due to the lockdown.

No student should be levied a late fine because of the delay in reimbursement of scholarships, the letter said.

A source in the institutes administration, however, indicated that any kind of waiver  partial or full  was not possible, given the institutes financial health. The institute has been incurring deficits to the tune of Rs 9 crore annually, according to its annual reports. The institute is doing its best to raise student aid to support students coming from marginal communities. We have raised over Rs 2.15 crore as student aids in 2019-20. Waiving off outstanding fees would mean waiving off around Rs 80 lakh, which is not feasible for the institute, said the official.

Last year, following protests over the fee issue, the institute had allowed final year students, particularly those from marginal communities, to pay their fees by May 2020 after their GoI-PMS funds had been disbursed, instead of the regular deadline of June 2019.

We will not be able to give any further extensions, said the source. A final decision from the institute is awaited.

Group condemned over webinar

An independent student forum at the TISS campus, Democratic Secular Students Forum, has come under criticism for holding a webinar on five things the youth must do to become an intellectual Kshatriya. The student union of the institute has condemned the webinar and called it an attempt to sabotage the anti-caste movement on the campus. Asha Banu, dean student affairs at TISS, said that since the seminar was happening on social media, the institute administration had no jurisdiction over the same. As long as they are not using the TISS campus or the logo, the administration has no jurisdiction over such activities, she said.
NEW YORK, May 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (ServiceMaster or the Company) (NYSE: SERV). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.



The investigation concerns whether ServiceMaster 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 October 22, 2019, ServiceMaster announced disappointing preliminary financial results for the third quarter of 2019, having missed both revenue and earnings estimates. ServiceMaster also gave downward adjusted EBITDA guidance of $415 to $425 million, down from $435 to $445 million. The Companys press release attributed the disappointing results partly to termite damage claims arising primarily from Formosan termite activity, primarily in Mobile, Alabama. ServiceMaster further stated that this had been a known issue, the Company has taken mitigating measures starting in 2018. Finally, ServiceMaster announced the sudden departure of Matthew J. Stevenson from his role as President of Terminix Residential.

On these announcements, ServiceMasters stock price fell $11.44 per share, or 20.38%, to close at $44.70 per share on October 22, 2019.

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.
By Express News Service

KOZHIKODE: The partner and the six-month-old child of a Kozhikode native, who is hospitalised for Covid-19, were found dead in an apartment in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Friday. The woman, a 30-year-old Manipur native, was the partner of Biju Valery, 35, of Arikkulam near Koyilandy. Biju is on ventilator support at the isolation ward of a Covid hospital in Riyadh. He was employed as a technician in a company at Madinah Airport but was retrenched recently. His 70-year-old mother was with Biju and his partner in Riyadh.

V M Unni, Arikkulam gram panchayat president, said the mother alerted the neighbours that the apartment was locked from inside and that there was no response from inside. Then neighbours gathered and the police was called in to break open the flat. They found the Manipur native and child dead, said Unni. The initial report suggested it to be a case of suicide. Bijus sister, who lives at Kayanna in Perambra, alerted his friends about him going to the hospital. They later found out that he was under ventilator support at a Covid hospital.
India has backed calls to identify how the Sars-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 was transmitted from animals to humans and conduct an impartial evaluation of the World Health Organisations response to the pandemic, according to a draft resolution proposed for the WHOs annual meet beginning tomorrow.

New Delhis decision to sign off on the push for an inquiry led by the European Union and Australia is the first time that India has formally articulated its stand on the Covid-19 outbreak that was detected in central Chinas Wuhan city late last year. The disease has, at last count, killed over 300,000 people worldwide and devastated the global economy.

But Prime Minister Modi did indicate New Delhis stand at the G20 summit in March where he backed WHO reform and referred to the need for transparency and accountability.

Also Watch | How Chinas loss can become Indias Covid-19 gain: PMEAC member explains

China, which has been accused of concealing information about the virus in the early days of the outbreak, had later contested that the deadly Sars-CoV-2 pathogen detected in its territory could have originated just about anywhere. Chinese foreign ministry officials even shared conspiracy theories that accused the US military of starting the coronavirus outbreak.

World Health Organisation and its director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on the other hand, have been blamed for playing along with China till the virus reached enough countries and spread rapidly. Ghebreyesus, a former Ethopian minister, was elected with support from China in 2017. The accusations - he has denied them - also led United States President Donald Trump to suspend funding to the UN global health body.

Diplomats in Geneva, where the WHO headquarters is located, told Hindustan Times that the draft resolution - supported by 62 countries including Bangladesh, Canada, Russia, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Japan - was an effort to bring about transparency and accountability for the spread of the disease that has been widely-acknowledged to be the worst crisis since the second world war.

To be sure, the draft resolution does not mention China or its Wuhan city.

It asks the WHO director general to work with the World Organisation for Animal Health to conduct scientific and collaborative field missions and identify the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population, including the possible role of intermediate hosts.

Also Read: China must come clean on Covid-19| Opinion

The seven-page draft resolution seen by Hindustan Times also proposes to ask the WHO chief to start, at the earliest appropriate moment, a stepwise impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation to review experience gained and lessons learned from the WHO-coordinated international health response to Covid-19.

This, the document says, should include an evaluation of the effectiveness of the mechanisms at WHOs disposal and the actions of WHO and their timelines pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also Read: Early Covid lockdown in China could have reduced cases: Study

The draft also asks countries to provide WHO timely, accurate and sufficiently detailed public health information related to the COVID-19 pandemic as required by the international health regulations.

It is not clear if, and how the draft resolution would be discussed at the virtual meeting since the WHO leadership opted for a truncated agenda, a move that has been seen as an effort to silence its critics.

The showdown on Monday, where countries will push for the draft resolution to be taken up, is largely seen to target China which has come under scrutiny over the pandemic that has devastated the global economy.

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Japanese animal park situated south of Tokyo has reopened as a drive-through facility which allows residents to take a glance of the scenery and wildlife from the safety of their cars. As per the reports, the park was closed to the public amid the coronavirus pandemic. Mother farm, which is situated 70 km south of central Tokyo reportedly suspended its operations in early April after the government declared a nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic.

READ: Japan Says It Expects IOC To Fully Share Costs Of Tokyo Olympics Delay

A spokesperson reportedly said that the government decided to reopen it to help relieve stress for people who have been locked up in their homes since lockdown. As per international media reports, nearly 200 cars visit daily to the park paying 3,000 yen (Rs 2,128) to drive 3.5 km along a winding road and see animals including alpacas, ostriches, and emus.

Japan withdraws state emergency

Japan reportedly waived off state of emergency across several parts of the country on May 14 but the capital city of Tokyo will remain under restrictions until there is a convincing containment of the coronavirus. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reportedly held a press conference on May 14 where he announced the lifting of the emergency in 39 of Japan's 47 prefectures. According to the international media reports, Japan declared a nationwide state of emergency about a month ago and urged people to maintain social distancing measures to curb the spread of coronavirus. Japan is the third-largest economy in the world and is badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

READ: COVID-19: Japan Lifts Its State Of Emergency In Most Regions Except Tokyo

Japanese companies bankrupt

At least 141 Japanese companies have been pushed to bankruptcy since February due to the novel coronavirus, with more to get impacted towards the end of the month, according to a report released by Tokyo Shoko Research (TSR). Mostly smaller companies, related to tourism, hospitality, and restaurant business witnessed a decline of up to 80 percent profits as they struggled to survive in the face of the unpredictable impact of the pandemic. In a statement released for the fiscal year, the TSR estimated a total of 743 companies that went bankrupt in April, of which 71 were virus-related, compared to 645 in April last year, as per reports. Further, most of these small-scale businesses had difficulties in raising funds due to labour shortages and an increase of the consumption tax last year, the statement read. The coronavirus pandemic further enhanced their struggle.

READ: COVID-19: Japan Says Hospitals Administering Remdesivir On Severely Ill Patients

READ: Coronavirus Pushes 140 Companies To Bankruptcy, 2 Million Workers Could Lose Jobs In Japan

Pic Credits: Pixabay
Karnataka on Monday will come out with a new set of guidelines for COVID-19 lockdown 4.0 till this month end after extending existing measures for two days on Sunday, as the state reported 55 new cases, including a death, taking the total number of infections to 1,147.

The existing guidelines will continue until further orders or till May 19 midnight, which ever is first, the state government's order said.

According to official sources, the extension for the short period was done as the state government was waiting for lockdown 4. 0 guidelines from the centre.

The state will come out with its measures for the next phase of lockdown on Monday, following the centre deciding to extend the lockdown till May 31 with a new set of guidelines, giving states and union territories powers for delineation of Red, Green and Orange Zones as per COVID-19 situation, they said.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has convened a meeting of Ministers and senior officers at 11 am on Monday to discuss the guidelines issued by Government of India for lockdown 4.0 at Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat here, his office said in a release.

The steps to be taken and the guidelines to be issued for the state will be discussed and finalised in this meeting, it said.

The nationwide lockdown was initially imposed from March 25 to April 14, then extended to May 3 and again to May 17 to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Meanwhile, a 54-year-old man from Udupi became the 37th CIVID-19 fatality in Karnataka.

The man with cardiac issues was admitted to a private hospital in the district and died due to cardiac arrest on May 14.

He tested positive for COVID 19 on Saturday, the department said in its bulletin.

"As of May 17 evening, cumulatively 1,147 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 37 deaths and 509 discharges," it said.

Out of 600 active cases, 587 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while 13 are in Intensive Care Units.

Thirteen patients who have recovered, were discharged on Sunday.

Out of the 55 new cases, 22 are from Mandya, 10 from Kalaburagi, six from Hassan, four from Dharwad, three each from Yadgir and Kolar, two each from Dakshina Kannada and Shivamogga, and one each from Udupi, Vijayapura and Bhatkal in Uttar Kannada.

While 40 of these cases are those with inter-state travel history from neighboring Maharashtra, mostly from Mumbai, nine are contacts of patients already tested positive, one each with travel history from Tamil Nadu, with a history of SARI and from containment zone in Kalaburagi, the bulletin said.

Three other patients' contact tracing or investigation is underway.

At least 10 out of these 55 cases are children.

Bengaluru urban district still tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 216 infections, followed by Belagavi at 114 and Kalaburagi 104.

Among discharges too Bengaluru urban tops the list with total of 122, followed by Mysuru 88 and Belagavi 54.

A total of 1,45,398 samples were tested so far, out of which 5,374 were tested on Sunday alone.

So far 1,43,444 samples have reported as negative, of them 5,228 tested negative on Sunday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Netflix is known for producing and releasing haunting thrillers that leave viewers quaking in their seats and salivating for more. They hold a vast array of Spanish hits that gained international attention. Some of its well-known pieces include The Platform, Elite, and Money Heist. The COVID-19 lockdown provided bingers lots of time to catch up on the latest flicks. Netflix, however, is planning to release more.

On May 28, the streaming giant is set to publish a hair-raising Spanish crime thriller named La Corazonada (Intuition). The film will star Argentine actress and Michael Buble's wife, Luisana Loreley Lopilato. She will act alongside The Boss, Anatomy of a Crime actor Joaquin Furriel, as well as Las Estrellas star Rafael Ferro.

Intuition is based on a Florencia Etcheves book, La Virgen En Tus Ojos (The Virgin In Your Eyes). The story will revolve around a police officer, Pipa as she works on her first big case solving the murder of Gloriana Marquez whose killer is suspected to be the elite Minerva del Valle. The Virgin In Your Eyes is part of the Francisco Juanez and Manuela Pelari crime trilogy.

The story, which is inspired by a Buenos Aires real case, promises to be entertaining and intriguing that promises to hook viewers in and take them on many twists and turns that come to a powerful and surprising end.

The film is the prequel to 2018 Spanish crime-drama Netflix film Perdida. The 2018 film, which is based on the third novel in the trilogy, explores a policewoman's life as she is haunted by the mysterious case behind the disappearance of her best friend, Cornelia. She plunges into the past to try and crack the case against the wishes of her superiors. Pipa finds herself involved in a lucrative human trafficking ring that may be linked to her friend's disappearance.

The gripping film, which translates to 'lost' from Spanish, features Pipa's struggles in finding a sense of self while also wrestling with Cornelia's ghost that haunts every single missing person case she solves.

Perdida features multiple characters and multiple story strands that add a lot of depth and flavour to the Argentine film's stark cinematography and its expressionistic and ambitious exploration of the world of human trafficking.

The Netflix original deviates from the source material's plot while still keeping the core elements that made the book an instant hit. The adaptation starts off strong with an enthralling search-and-rescue scene that will keep viewers off the chairs and on their toes. The director ends the story in a darkly mesmerizing and unexpected tone that all crime and mystery lovers would surely enjoy.

While Perdida was received with mixed reviews, many are still looking forward to the film's prequel, Intuition, as it promises to shed more light into the character and life of the protagonist as she juggles her daily life while working her way up the ranks of the law enforcement department.

Watch the trailer for La Corazonada here:

Want to read more? Check these out:
Congress says government package only worth Rs 3.22 lakh cr and 1.6% of GDP, not Rs 20 lakh crore. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday accused the government of misleading people through economic package and said the measures announced by the Centre amounted to only 1.6 per cent of India's GDP, i.e. worth Rs 3.22 lakh crore instead of Rs 20 lakh crore as claimed by the Prime Minister.

Congress' senior spokesperson Anand Sharma Sharma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must "walk the talk" and announce the measures required by giving money in the hands of the poor and small and medium enterprises to help reboot the economy.

He noted that there was a difference between providing stimulus to the economy and merely giving loans and credit to people.

Sharma, a former union minister, challenged the finance minister for a debate on the package while raising questions about the announcements made by the prime minister.

"The government's economic package is only of Rs 3.22 lakh crore and is only 1.6 per cent of India's GDP and is not worth Rs 20 lakh crore as announced by the prime minister," Sharma said while addressing a press conference through video conferencing.

"I am questioning the Finance Minister, disputing the announcement of Prime Minister and challenging the government to disprove me on the numbers given by me and am ready for a debate with the finance minister," he said.

The Congress leader further said the Finance Minister should answer questions and not ask questions instead. He also demanded that the government provide answers to the country on the plight of migrants forced to walk on roads due to lack of planning on the part of the central government.

Sharma hit back at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her attack on the opposition party and termed it as "frivolous", saying the country expects some seriousness and gravitas from the finance minister.

He also asked the government to apologise to the poor citizens of the country who have been abandoned and their fundamental rights and legal rights violated.
The arrest of Felicien Kabuga, one of the last key fugitives wanted over the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in a suburb of Paris has raised some difficult questions for France.

Those committed to getting justice for the genocide victims want to know how fugitives such as Kabuga find refuge in France -- and why it took so long to track him down.

Kabuga, now 84, faces trial at an international tribunal after his arrest on Saturday.

He is accused of being one of the organisers and financiers of the genocide carried out by ethnic Hutu extremists against Tutsis but also moderate Hutus between April and July 1994, in which at leasIntt 800,000 people were slaughtered.

According to the UN indictment filed against him, Kabuga -- once one of Rwanda's richest men -- used his fortune and business empire to facilitate the killings.

"Kabuga arrested, and arrested in France! It's a thunderbolt, quite extraordinary!" said Alain Gauthier, co-founder of the Collective of Civil Parties for Rwanda (CPCR).

For 23 years, Gauthier and his Franco-Rwandan wife Dafroza -- who lost several members of her family in the genocide -- have been gathering evidence against those they say are responsible.

In 2001, they founded the CPCR to bring before the French courts anyone suspected of having taken part in the genocide and who, they say, often found refuge in France all too easily.

The Gauthiers have given the courts information on some 30 suspects who have taken refuge in France, but only three cases have led to convictions, with the investigations often interminably slow to reach court.

France's dispute role in Rwanda

France's role before, during and after the genocide remains a matter of substantial controversy.

One of the most fiercely disputed issues has been the military aid France gave to the regime of Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu, who ruled from 1973 until his April 1994 assassination, which triggered the genocide.

In April last year, President Emmanuel Macron pledged to open the state archives on Rwanda from 1990 to 1994 to a committee of experts in a bid to help track down any suspects living in France. The committee is currently working on its report.

For Rwanda, one such person is Habyarimana's widow, Agathe. She has been accused of being a member of the inner circle of Hutus who planned and carried out the genocide.

For Pierre Nsanzimana, who runs Ibuka France, a support group for survivors of the genocide, Kabuga's arrest is "really massive news".

Felicien Kabuga, now 84, faces trial at an international tribunal after his arrest on Saturday. By - (Mecanisme pour les Tribunaux penaux internationaux/Nations Unies/AFP)

But that did not, he said, stop them asking questions about what protection Kabuga might have enjoyed -- and how he could have been hiding out in France for so long.

Florent Piton, a researcher at the University of Paris who specialises in Rwanda, has studied just this question.

"I don't know if we can say that France has been a country of asylum, but it has been a sought-after country for genocide suspects, as has Belgium, because of previously existing institutional links," he said.

At the time of the genocide, France took in figures already identified as suspects -- such as Agathe Habyarimana, who left on the first flight out of Kigali a few days after the violence started, he said.

Piton added that the long wait for justice was not necessarily down to political interference, but could be due to lack of resources.

A crimes against humanity unit set up by France in 2012 made a difference in "speeding up investigations," he said, as did smoother relations between Paris and Kigali.

A 17-year-old photo

But Alain Gauthier still has questions.

"How come we have had to wait until 2018 for the prosecutor's office, on its own initiative, to finally arrest a person suspected of having taken part in genocide?," he asked.

"It's not normal that it took 25 years, and that until last year all the files on the judges' desks are the files that we brought them."

One former investigator with France's paramilitary gendarmerie explained why such cases were so difficult.

"We were looking for suspects on the run, who had changed their identity, who were moving around all the time and some of whom had a lot of resources," the investigator told AFP on condition of anonymity.

For Kabuga, who was been wanted since 1997, "we had a 17-year-old photo," he said.

Kabuga's wife lived in Belgium around six years ago, while he had been traced first to the Democratic Republic of Congo and then Kenya, the investigator added.

The Paris aparentment where Kabuga was holed up. By FRANCOIS GUILLOT (AFP)

"Several times we had information putting him in France. We tried to arrest him in Paris one Christmas night, several years ago, but without success."

Francois Graner of the anti-colonial activist group Survie asked: "Why doesn't the criminal justice system take more of an interest in Agathe Kanziga?"

The French administrative system had established that her role in the genocide was sufficiently serious to justify denying her asylum, he argued.

Habyarimana's widow, who lives in a small house in the region of Paris, is "undocumented but not deportable," said her lawyer, who has taken her case to the European Court of Human Rights.

France has never extradited a single person suspected of involvement in the Rwandan genocide.
Up to 80% of Arizonas children are not seeing a pediatrician right now, a dangerous trend that leaves families and communities vulnerable to myriad health and social risks.

The pandemic has derailed immunization schedules and denied children needed care for ongoing health problems as well as everyday illnesses, according to findings released last week by the Arizona chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, or AzAAP.

Doctors are seeing flare-ups of asthma, diabetes and other chronic conditions because of missed health-care visits, said Dr. Sean Elliott, a Tucson pediatrician and member of the academy. Delayed or skipped newborn health checkups, which might include screenings for jaundice and failure to thrive, can pose life-or-death risks for an infant.

Elliott, an infectious-disease specialist, said pediatricians also are seeing an increase in the number of children and teens needing professional help for pandemic-related mental-health problems brought on by stress, fear and social isolation.

Certainly a major issue is mental health, he said. Children and teenagers and young adults are really at risk right now for developing depression and anxiety.

Another significant concern: Children being abused or neglected with no one from outside the family there to notice and help.

Detection of abuse and neglect is often dependent on teachers and health-care workers having in-person interactions with children and families, and the states stay-home order and fear of the virus has taken those watch guards away from at-risk children.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 05:34:44|Editor: huaxia

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A member of a Chinese medical team talks with workers of the China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG) in Algiers, Algeria, on May 16, 2020. Chinese medical experts provided guidance on the prevention of COVID-19 for Chinese and Algerian workers at a project of a Chinese company in Algiers on Saturday. (Xinhua)

ALGIERS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese medical experts provided guidance on the prevention of COVID-19 for Chinese and Algerian workers at a project of a Chinese company in Algiers, capital of Algeria, on Saturday.

Some 13 members of the Chinese medical team visited the project of Baraki Satdium undertaken by the China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG).

The experts conducted on-site training for the project management personnel and 60 worker representatives.

Pi Xiangkui, manager of the Algeria branch of CRCEG, said that the expert team brought not only knowledge and materials, but also confidence and hope to them.

"The project's staff are confident in achieving the double victory of epidemic prevention and production management," the manager said.

At the invitation of the Algerian government, the Chinese medical expert team arrived in Algeria on May 14.

During their 15-day stay in Algeria, the experts will carry out extensive and in-depth exchanges with their Algerian counterparts on the prevention and control measures of COVID-19, clinical treatment techniques and laboratory testing.

They will also carry out epidemic prevention and control training for the Chinese medical team in Algeria and provide prevention guidance for Chinese people and Chinese companies in the African country. Enditem
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In preparation for the upcoming hurricane season, the Honorable Minister of VROMI, Egbert J. Doran, toured the various shelters to assess the necessary works still needed to take place, due to damages caused by the hurricanes in 2017.

The Minister and his support staff were escorted by the Secretary General of the Ministry of VSA, Mrs. Joy Arnell and her support staff, as well as the Head of the Department of New Projects at the Ministry of VROMI, Mr. Kurt Ruan.





Based on the assessment, there are many reparations needed, such as the reinstallation of air-conditioning, generators, windows as well as the installation of hurricane shutters. This has the full attention of the Minister and he plans to take immediate action as in his opinion, the process of the World Bank via the NRPB has been prolonged for way too long.





The Minister highlighted that this is the 3rd hurricane season since the devastation of the 2017 hurricanes, and what he has encountered upon taking up office is absolutely not good, and definitely not in favor of the people of Sint Maarten.

He stressed that the pace of these reparations doesnt seem to be picking up much. The Ministry of VROMI is diligently exploring ways and means of financing these reparations as many are still suffering since 2017, and may need shelter. As such, the Minister recently held a meeting with the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB), in which discussions were held regarding the financing of the repairs.





Due to the fact that the start of the hurricane season is near, Minister Doran instructed his staff to create a hurricane shelter registration form.





A button will be placed on the Government of St. Maartens website for persons requiring a shelter prior to any hurricane www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane . The form will be available through the entire hurricane season. It will be very simple to fill out. Applicants will have to provide their general information and also that of their household.





The sole purpose of this new registration form, is to ensure that the Ministry has an estimate of persons requiring accommodation at the hurricane shelters in the event of a hurricane.

As social-distancing may still be mandatory during the hurricane season, it is even more crucial that the Minister has an estimate to ensure that everyone in need of shelter, can be sheltered safely.





For those persons with no internet access, registration forms will be available at the Government Administration Building in Philipsburg, in the near future.





Hurricane shelter registration will soon be possible
Nursing homes operated by Life Care Centers of America, one of the largest chains in the industry, violated federal standards meant to stop the spread of infections and communicable diseases even after coronavirus outbreaks and deaths from covid-19 began to sweep its facilities from the Pacific Northwest to New England, federal inspection reports show.

Over the past six weeks, as the nationwide death toll among the elderly soared, government inspectors discovered breakdowns in infection control and prevention in at least 10 Life Care nursing homes that underwent covid-19 emergency inspections overseen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That does not include deficiencies found at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, Washington, which suffered the country's first reported outbreak of the novel coronavirus in February.

At other Life Care nursing homes, inspectors have since discovered staff who did not wash their hands or enforce social distancing guidelines, according to the inspection reports.

At one home in Denver as recently as May 5, staffers left the door to an isolation room open, allowing a patient with covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, to slip outside and sit in a wheelchair in the hallway without a face mask next to a room with two healthy residents. At another home in Colorado, a nursing assistant hovered 12 inches from the face of a coughing patient who was not wearing a mask.

In Kansas, inspectors found a nursing home's infection control log failed to include two patients with fevers - one was sent to the hospital with a 103-degree fever and died.

In a home in Michigan, a nursing assistant rolled a blood pressure machine out of an isolation room and into a non-covid-19 room without sanitizing the equipment.

At another Michigan home, inspectors found residents in a hallway who were not wearing masks and an aide who delivered meals without wearing gloves or a gown, even though the residents were at risk of respiratory infection.

"These deficient practices resulted in the high liklihood of spreading coronavirus and harmful pathogens among five residents . . . second floor residents that received direct care from staff, second floor residents that interacted with each other, residents that resided on the first floor that received food from the kitchen and nine residents that transferred to the hospital testing positive for covid-19," the inspector wrote.

The Washington Post obtained a batch of inspection reports for 26 Life Care homes from CMS, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes, as well as the state of Michigan and Life Care, though the universe of total inspections may be larger. In 16 inspections, regulators found no deficiencies.

The Tennessee-based Life Care has said that no amount of preparation could have kept the virus at bay and that administrators worked early and often with health authorities to contain the spread of infection.

Since the outbreak in Kirkland, Washington, the privately owned company with more than 200 nursing homes has seen at least 2,000 cases and 250 deaths among residents and staff, according to a Post tally of state data and local media accounts. Five Life Care nursing homes have experienced outbreaks of 100 or more cases.

There is no comprehensive national data available to determine whether the rate of infections and deaths at Life Care facilities is higher than at other chains - or how often other chains have been cited for violations after the pandemic began. Nursing homes across the country have been hit particularly hard: About 1 in 4 have reported at least one case of the coronavirus, according to a Post analysis.

Around the country, even nursing homes with strong track records have publicly reported cases of covid-19, which is particularly lethal among the elderly.

"We have a virus that has attacked our vulnerable populations who have co-morbidities, and that has made this extremely difficult to manage," said Tim Killian, public information liaison for Life Care Centers of America. "We need help. We need hands on the ground. We need money. We need equipment. We need doctors. And none of that is happening in a significant way anywhere in the country."

Killian declined to comment on the specifics of the most recent inspections. Two of the reports obtained by The Post included Life Care's responses to inspectors, with the homes noting that staff had received additional training and would be monitored for compliance.

"Choosing a handful of reports, especially during this time of great difficulty, has allowed the press to paint a picture of our company that does not accurately reflect our values or the hard work we do every day to take care of our residents and staff," Killian said.

Life Care President Beecher Hunter said the homes submit plans of correction to the government.

"Life Care Centers of America and its affiliated facilities are not perfect; no organization is because it is made up of people, and people are imperfect human beings," Hunter said in an email to The Post. ". . . Our healthcare heroes will from time to time unfortunately fall below our standards for resident care."

To critics, the size of the outbreaks reflects profound flaws in the company's management and the treatment of patients, which have been documented for years in lawsuits by families, former employees and federal prosecutors. Time and again, they described a company beset by staffing shortages, compromised care, deficiencies that critics say probably worsened as covid-19 infected hundreds of residents and caregivers.

In the past three years, dozens of Life Care homes received below-average staffing ratings or were flagged during inspections for not having enough nurses to properly care for patients, according to CMS.

At Life Care Center of Kirkland, which has had at least 100 reported cases, residents last year recounted waiting extended periods of time for help bathing and using the bathroom. One resident said she developed sores from sitting for too long on a soiled bedpan, the inspection report showed.

The Justice Department has accused the company's billionaire owner of leaving Life Care "severely undercapitalized" while engaging in a "systematic scheme to maximize its Medicare billing." Prosecutors say Life Care subjected patients to excessive, unnecessary and "sometimes even harmful" rounds of rehabilitation therapy to draw Medicare dollars and chastised or punished those who complained the practice undermined the judgment of therapists at the expense of patients.

The company, without admitting liability and arguing the government did not prove its case, settled with the Justice Department in 2016 for $145 million - the largest settlement with a skilled nursing chain in the department's history. Life Care also entered into a five-year corporate integrity agreement with the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, which required an independent annual review of the company. Life Care was in its fourth year of the agreement when the coronavirus struck the United States.

Families, lawmakers and former and current employees say Life Care, after years in operation and amid intense scrutiny, should have done far more to protect patients and caregivers as the pandemic intensified.

After the early outbreak at the Life Care facility in Kirkland, inspectors found the facility failed to properly treat sick patients or alert authorities to widespread illness. The state banned Life Care from accepting new admissions until fixes were made, including training staff in managing infectious diseases.

"When you are a private, national corporation with skilled nursing centers all over the country, you've got what others don't, which is economies of experience," said Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., who called for more federal oversight after dozens of residents and staff members tested positive for or died of the coronavirus at the Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley outside of Boston. "Their facilities in Massachusetts and other states should have been way ahead, given what they learned in Washington."

At the Nashoba Valley home, several staff members told The Post that critical information about the growing crisis was kept from employees and that a shortage of nurses and aides vexed the home long before the pandemic, including the weeks after the Kirkland, Washington, outbreak.

"We kept waiting and waiting for them to do something, and they never did," said Diane Crowley, who worked at the front desk at the Nashoba Valley nursing home, wiping her hands with a cloth soaked in bleach that she said she kept in a plastic bag in her pocket. She eventually quit. "I was literally surrounded by covid," she said. "I just told my kids, 'Please never put me in one of those places. These people live their whole lives, there are teachers, poets and everything else, and this is what they're ending their lives with?' "

Killian said nursing home administrators and staff members followed federal guidelines and risked their own well-being to continue to care for residents throughout the crisis. He said personal protective gear was in short supply at nursing homes across the country and that staff members continued to come in even as their colleagues fell ill.

"These are good people who have been caught up in a difficult situation,"Killian said.

He added that an inspection at the Nashoba Valley facility on April 10 found no deficiencies in infection control or emergency preparedness.

"This environment of sort of conspiracy theories and negative news stories that has set a narrative and tone . . . we think is simply incorrect," Killian said.

By early April, more than 60 people at the home had tested positive for the virus. Five had died.

- - -

The federal government has not yet released a death count in nursing homes nationwide, but state data has placed the number in the thousands. CMS in early March temporarily called off routine inspections of the 15,000 Medicare-certified nursing homes in the United States to focus most heavily on deficiencies in infection control.

Across the country, inspectorssurveyed nursing homes to determine whether front-line workers were unintentionally contributing to the spread of the coronavirus.More than 6,000 nursing homes have been assessed, with inspectors finding"sporadic noncompliance" involving hand-washing, the proper use of personal protective equipment and the separation of sick patients from healthy ones, according to Skilled Nursing News, a publication that covers the industry.

At multiple Life Care homes, inspectors documented lapses in infection control through observations, medical records and interviews with staff and patients. Federal standards for nursing homes cover everything from food safety to residents' rights.

On March 30, shortly after regulators announced they had found significant breakdowns at the Kirkland, Washington, home, an inspector went to a Life Care nursing home in Pueblo, Colorado. During the visit, several staff members did not wash their hands, wear masks or isolate residents. Doors were left open even when residents were supposed to be isolated inside their rooms, according to the inspection report.

A day later, in Greeley, Colorado, an inspector found that residents in a television room were not asked to wash their hands before lunch. At another home in the Denver area, a nursing aide helping a resident with a soiled bedpan did not wash her hands when she was done.

When an inspector showed up at a home in central Tennessee in April, the receptionist did not ask questions about the inspector's health or about the health of a visitor who arrived afterward. The inspector looked at the visitor log and noted the receptionist had checked no to a series of screening questions, including whether the visitors had signs and symptoms of respiratory infection or had been in contact with anyone who had covid-19.

Concerns were also raised at a home outside of Detroit, where 10 people had died by the time an inspector visited in mid-April. Staff shared gowns, the inspector found, and one nursing assistant acknowledged not knowing which patients had covid-19 and required isolation. A week after the inspection, the relatives of a 77-year-old woman who died protested outside the home, with signs that read, "Our elderly deserve better," and, "Liars. They are not ok."

According to the report, the nursing home told inspectors that training had been conducted.

"There are far more stories of success than will ever be published or recognized," Hunter said. "We thank our dedicated associates for those successes."

- - -

Forrest Preston, the son of a Massachusetts pastor, settled in southeast Tennessee in the 1950s to help his brother create booklets and public relations material for hospitals. Over time, he developed an interest in long-term care.

"He believed that if a person could build a beautiful building, highly functional for patient care, staffed with people administering professional skills in a spirit of love and compassion, a successful facility would result," according to a Life Care publication from earlier this year.

Preston and his partners opened the first nursing home in 1970. From his Tennessee headquarters, the company would grow to more than 200 nursing homes, one of the largest networks in the country.

In 2015, the Chattanooga Times Free Press described the 45th anniversary of the first Life Care home, when Preston recounted the first night in operation: "I said these lights will never go off again until the second coming."

Preston kept a low profile even as federal regulators began to question Life Care's claims for Medicare reimbursement.

In 1999, the inspector general at the Department of Health and Human Services audited Medicare claims from Life Care's homes in Tennessee and ordered $1.6 million returned, according to the report. Investigators found Life Care billed for "inappropriate services," including eight occupational therapy appointments for an 84-year-old resident in a semi-comatose state.

The inspector general's report contained no response from Life Care, and the company did not respond to questions about the audit.

In 2002, five whistleblowers with relatives at a Life Care facility in Georgia sued in federal court, saying that severe staffing shortages, inadequate training and an ineffective medical director at the home resulted in the deaths of several residents. The Justice Department intervened and filed a lawsuit on behalf of the whistleblowers and the government.

In 2005, Life Care agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle the case.

"In failing to provide sufficient care for these nursing facility residents, Life Care placed at risk the very residents who had been entrusted to its care," Thurbert Baker, then Georgia's attorney general, said at the time.

Killian, the public information liaison at Life Care, declined to comment on the case.

"At this time, our entire focus is on the ongoing effort to fight the coronavirus," he said. "We are working hard to support our residents and our staff."

In the agreement with the government, the company noted that it had denied the allegations and that the nursing home's "conduct was at all times lawful and appropriate."

In 2008, a registered nurse at a Life Care center in Tennessee sued, saying Life Care's corporate managers pressured nurses and therapists to increase Medicare billing for physical and occupational therapy, even when patients were permanently bed- or wheelchair-bound.

"The therapists would essentially drag the resident down the hall and document the patient as having ambulated. The resident would gain a false sense of being able to walk and would fall when he tried to walk on his own," according to a complaint filed in federal court.

A second employee also sued, this time a former occupational therapist at a Life Care center in Florida. Federal prosecutors once again intervened, suing Life Care as well as Preston, the company's sole shareholder, on behalf of the two whistleblowers and the government.

Prosecutors alleged that "every level of the corporate hierarchy" at Life Care pressed staff to grow Medicare revenue. Some patients put in therapy were terminally ill, sick or medically unstable, according to the Justice Department's lawsuit, filed in federal court in Tennessee.

In South Carolina, according to the complaint, a lethargic and frail 80-year-old woman was twice placed for 42 minutes in a standing frame - equipment to secure a patient in a standing position - even though she required assistance to control her head and open her eyes and her physical therapist had said she was unable to participate in treatment. She died five days later.

In Florida, prosecutors noted that a 92-year-old man dying of metastatic cancer that had spread to his brain and lungs was sent to rehabilitation therapy for at least two hours a day, including when he was spitting out blood. On the day he died, according to prosecutors, therapists recorded 35 minutes of physical therapy, with occupational therapy scheduled for later that afternoon.

In 2016, the company and Preston agreed to pay $145 million to resolve the cases and entered into a five-year corporate integrity agreement that required an annual, independent review of the organization.

Killian declined to comment on the lawsuits or the probe by the Justice Department. In court documents, Life Care disputed the allegations. The government, according to Life Care, "did not allege a single instance of physician orders for therapy services being false or inappropriate."

Life Care also said the Justice Department did not link "alleged corporate practices and actual claims nor individuals involved with submitting false claims."

A year after the settlement, 96-year-old Evelyn Bornstein died at Darcy Hall, a Life Care nursing home in Florida. Her son, Howard, said she spent three days in a room without air conditioning after Hurricane Irma struck West Palm Beach. Though a backup generator had restored cool air to the lobby of the building, he said he discovered that residents had been left in sweltering rooms.

Bornstein said he found his mother, a grandmother of four who grew up in the Bronx, unresponsive and curled up in a ball, her face red and mouth dry. He said he tried to put ice on her mouth and head and eventually left in shock. She died that evening.

After Bornstein sued the nursing home, an arbitration panel in Palm Beach County Circuit Court found that Evelyn Bornstein's death was caused by negligence and awarded $150,000 in damages.

"I'll live with this for the rest of my life," Bornstein told The Post.

In court documents, Life Care said that no evidence showed the home's conduct was "intentionally wrongful or showed conscious disregard or indifference to the life, safety or rights of the plaintiffs."

- - -

At the Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley, set amid the apple orchards of Littleton, Massachusetts, former marketing director Lina Le said nurses and aides for months were working short, a term the caregivers used to describe low staffing levels.

By the third week of March, long after the virus had struck Life Care's Kirkland home, Le said her colleagues were also short on masks, gowns and other protective equipment.

Le called the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce and a local sewing studio. In late March, Le delivered 120 homemade masks to the staff.

Then she quit, leaving behind her job of two years.

"I was terrified for myself and my co-workers," she said. "It kept getting worse and worse and worse."

Several caregivers at the home told The Post they had no time to wash their hands, change soiled linens or help immobile patients get out of bed. One nursing aide said she found herself caring for 30 patients at once, helping them into bathrooms with filthy toilets or out of beds soaked in urine.

In the third week of March, the local fire chief called state Sen. James Eldridge, a Democrat, and described two dozen ambulance runs to the facility in a single weekend.

"Something's going on there, but no one at the Life Care Center will tell us," Eldridge recalled the fire chief saying.

Eldridge reached out to the nursing home and to local and state health authorities, worried that residents, first responders and caregivers had been exposed. Much like in Kirkland, he said, Life Care provided little information.

"I literally live 15 minutes away from this nursing home," he said. "It was just maddening to me that essentially state government didn't have the authority to intervene. We were relying upon a nursing home that's owned by a large corporation based in Tennessee that was being very unresponsive."

On April 2, Trahan, the lawmaker, sent a text message to a supervisor in the Massachusetts National Guard, which had been activated after a deadly coronavirus outbreak at a home for veterans. "We're not getting cooperation or visibility from management," she wrote about Life Care. "Is your team able to get there today?"

"Ma'am, let me speak with Department of Public Health representation now," the supervisor responded.

The following day, the National Guard tested more than 80 residents at Life Care.

On April 10, inspectors surveyed the home and found no infection-control deficiencies. By then, dozens of people were infected and about 10 had died, including Maria Krier, a nurse who had quit her job at the end of March after developing a fever. She died on the day of the inspection.

Killian said the Nashoba Valley home worked to provide quality care under challenging circumstances and that administrators and company executives regularly reached out to lawmakers and both state and local health authorities. He said local politicians and others created "acrimony" in the community by alleging that Life Care did not properly report the spread of infection.

Hunter, the president of Life Care Centers of America, wrote to Trahan and other lawmakers on April 9.

"My promise is that our facility will be a model of cooperation and communication," he said. ". . . This is a learning experience for all of us. We regard the protection, the care, and the love for our residents as a sacred trust. Their well-being is our highest priority. And we will make every effort to comply with all public health requirements."

Since then, the virus has been reported at all 15 Life Care nursing homes in Massachusetts and at dozens more facilities in other states.

Executives from Life Care have made few public comments during the crisis. Hunter, however, has appeared on corporate videos emphasizing moral and spiritual lessons. Just before Easter, he spoke about the pandemic.

"These are difficult days to say the least," he said. "Take heart. God has your back."

- - -

King, Mulcahy and Jacobs are graduate students in journalism at Northwestern University's Medill Investigative Lab. The Washington Post's Maria Sacchetti and Post researcher Alice Crites contributed to this report, along with Arnab Mondal at the Medill Investigative Lab.
For the past two months at Christ the King Catholic Church near downtown, Father Praveen Lakkisetti has looked upon pews filled with church members photos while celebrating Mass.

Faithful Catholics have been unable to attend services in person at Christ the King since March 13, when the Archdiocese of San Antonio suspended public Masses at all its churches as the coronavirus spread across the city.

Lakkisetti, like many priests, has been livestreaming Mass on the churchs Facebook and YouTube pages so Catholics could watch services from home.

Instead of speaking to 300 people in church pews as he would on a typical Sunday, Lakkisetti has been celebrating Mass while gazing at the family photos that he asked church members to send in, which were printed out and affixed to the chapels seats.

But starting Tuesday, Christ the King and other local Catholic churches can welcome back parishioners for public Mass as long as they follow certain safety protocols established by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller. Catholics can resume attending Sunday Masses in person the weekend of May 23-24.

There is a desire and longing for people to be coming back, Lakkisetti said. But at the same time, I think we have to exercise a tremendous amount of caution right now because this is going to be the new normal for all of us. No priest in the archdiocese or in the world has ever been exposed to this kind of pandemic, especially in relation to Masses.

We have to be more flexible and also put the priority of the health of everyone in its place, especially the elderly and most vulnerable. Thats why it is a gradual reopening.

Catholics arent obligated to attend Mass for the time being because of the dangers that the COVID-19 virus still poses, the archbishop said. His dispensation freeing Catholics from that obligation will continue until its repealed.

The archbishop encouraged elderly Catholics and those especially at risk of catching the virus, such as patients with certain health conditions, to stay home and watch Mass on Catholic Television or online.

On ExpressNews.com: Archbishop soars over San Antonio as Catholic churches prepare to reopen

If another public health emergency occurs, attendance at Mass could be suspended again, Garcia-Siller cautioned.

Safety requirements stipulate that those attending Mass at Catholic churches will be seated at least 6 feet apart from each other, which will limit attendance capacity. Everyone will be required to wear a mask unless they are young children or are unable to remove a mask without help. Every church must be sanitized before and after each Mass, the archbishop said.

All songbooks and missals will be removed from the pews, and Holy Water receptacles will remain empty. Collection baskets wont be passed. Priests and deacons wont shake hands or touch church members as they leave.

Holy Communion will be placed in recipients hands, and wine wont be distributed.

Lakkisetti is going one step further  everyone wanting to enter Christ the King must have their temperatures taken with no-touch, infrared thermometers to ensure that they dont have a fever before theyre allowed inside.

A task force of 20 volunteers will sanitize the church between each Mass.

Because seating capacity will be limited to 60 people inside Christ the Kings chapel and to 30 people in a spillover area at the churchs nearby hall, Lakkisetti has added three additional Masses to the churchs weekend schedule. Masses will be held at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturdays and at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays.

Father Kevin Fausz has been celebrating Mass for groups of less than 10 people at three Catholic churches on the East Side for the past month. Hes looking forward to welcoming more people to Mass beginning Tuesday.

Seating capacity will be limited to 84 people at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 52 people at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and 52 people at Church of St. Michael to comply with the social distancing requirements, Fausz said.

On ExpressNews.com: USDA knocked for unfathomable $39 million contract awarded to San Antonio event planner with no experience in food distribution

Its different to preach in front of a camera, Fausz said. The whole feeling, the interaction, the communication that takes place, its just not there. And that whole interaction between priests and community is so important.

I think people bring additional life. You can see their faces  they nod. Its like theres communication that is going on between the priest and the congregation. And that means the world. ... That makes a big difference.

Cornerstone Church, a nondenominational evangelical church with more than 22,000 members, will welcome worshippers back to its building for services today. Through a spokesman, the pastors declined to be interviewed.

Cornerstone will seat people so each family has at least 6 feet of space around them, the churchs website said. Every other pew will remain empty. Worshippers will be asked to stay at least 6 feet away from each other in common areas.

Cornerstone officials are recommending all those who attend services to wear face masks, the churchs website noted. Ushers and greeters also will be wearing masks. No items will be passed among the worshippers.

Those attending Cornerstones services in person should avoid touching each other, while hand sanitizing stations have been placed at all the buildings entrances and throughout the church, the website said.

Other local churches are taking a more conservative approach and will remain closed for a while longer. That includes Community Bible Church, one of the largest nondenominational churches in San Antonio, which hasnt yet set a reopening date. The church is encouraging its members to continue watching services online and to stay connected on social media.

Concordia Lutheran Church, which has a congregation of about 9,000 people, also hasnt determined when it will reopen. The church continues to broadcast its services online.

Senior Pastor Bill Tucker said the church is proceeding very carefully. It will be wonderful to see everyone in person, but we also want to protect those loved ones who are most at risk, he said in a statement.

On ExpressNews.com: $270 million in stimulus aid wont plug holes in San Antonio budget

Some Episcopal churches may choose to reopen at a later date, Bishop David Reed said. Some have indicated they wont reopen for public worship until June, while at least one said it will remain closed until July, he noted.

Its our sense from surveying congregations and clergy  they feel pretty much like our society does  about half are ready (to reopen) regardless, and about half think its way too soon to start regrouping, Reed said. So were trying to honor where everybody is and let them choose.

Those attending services at Episcopal churches will be seated at least 6 feet apart, but members of the same household will be allowed to sit together. Worshippers must wear masks or face coverings before they are allowed inside. The dioceses guidelines strongly discourage any physical contact between people and require all pews and seats to be disinfected between each service.

The diocese also is encouraging all its churches to continue livestreaming or broadcasting worship services so people can watch them online at home.

Reed said he greatly misses sharing the word with worshippers in person, though he doesnt expect to resume his Sunday visits with congregations for at least several more months. Delivering sermons to a camera lens has been challenging.

In preaching, youre usually engaging with your congregation, Reed said. If theres nobody there except the camera operator and somebody sitting way off to the side, its really hard.

The bishop said he has heard from Episcopalians who are longing to return to church.

I think our people are really missing it, Reed said. I hope that people remember how much they wanted to be in church when they couldnt once theyre free to return.

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
Mumbai, May 17 : Indian-German origin actress Evelyn Sharma says when she ventured into the Hindi film industry in 2010, it welcomed her with open and loving arms.

Evelyn made her Bollywood debut in the 2012 film "From Sydney With Love". She was then seen in films like "Nautanki Saala", "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani", "Yaariyan" and "Saaho" among many more.

Was Bollywood welcoming initially and did she ever feel like an outsider? "I landed on Indian shores in 2010 and destiny took its course. Bollywood welcomed me with open and loving arms. I started out as a model and after being launched as the face of a big beauty campaign, I soon started getting offers for Bollywood films," Evelyn told IANS.

The actress says she took up films that "sounded" interesting to her.

"I took up the ones that sounded the most interesting to me and the teams that were the friendliest to me. I still choose my films the same way today! I always believed the journey of making a film should be as enjoyable as watching the end-product in the cinemas," she said.

Currently, Evelyn is isolating in Australia. She recently told IANS that she has discovered that the quarantine period is the best time for her to explore scriptwriting.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery was fatally shot while out jogging on February 23 in Glynn County, Georgia

The fatal shooting of black jogger Ahmaud Arbery is prompting demands to disband the embattled Glynn County Police Department, which has been accused of cover up operations, abuse of power and was embroiled in a scandal where a narcotics officer slept with a confidential informant.

The Glynn County Police Department has faced public outrage for its handling of the death of 25-year-old Arbery, who was killed on February 23 after he was shot three times by white men Gregory McMichael, 64, a former employee of the department, and his son Travis McMichael, 34.

More than two months passed before the father and son were arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault on May 7, following the release of video footage of the killing. Both were denied bond and remain in Glynn County Jail.

The Arbery case is fueling calls from the public to get rid of the Glynn County Police Department for their checkered past and have the Glynn County Sheriffs Office take over, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In total the Glynn County Police Department has faced 17 lawsuits over the past decade.

The Glynn County Police Department is facing calls to be disbanded for its handling of the Ahmaud Arbery case and for its checkered past of corruption including its scandal that emerged in 2019 where a narcotics officer slept with a confidential informant. Police Chief John Powell (above) and other officers were indicted in February over alleged wrongdoing in the narcotics scandal

Glynn County Police Department has been plagued with multiple scandals with 17 lawsuits against the force in the last decade

Four days after Arberys death a grand jury indicted Police Chief John Powell and three other current and former officers over alleged wrongdoing in a narcotics unit in a scandal that was internally investigated last year.

Just last year a grand jury accused the Glynn County Police Department of having a culture of cover up, triggering efforts to overhaul the agency.

In 2018 the department lost its certifications with the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, both voluntary programs that provide police training standards and professional development.

The Georgia Association Chiefs of Police spokesman said Glynn County Police fell out of compliance with several standards including the documentation of training and required audits of the evidence room.

In 2017 Glynn County Police supervisors learned an officer in a narcotics unit had an improper sexual relationship with a confidential informant.

Gregory McMichael, 64, a former employee of the department (left), and his son Travis McMichael, 34, (right) were arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault on May 7, following the release of video footage of the killing, over two months after Arbery's death

Video footage which showed Gregory and Travis embroiled in a scuffle with Arbery before they fatally shot him sparked national outrage after it was published on social media earlier this month

'There is an ongoing culture of cover up, failure to supervise, abuse of power and lack of accountability within the administration of the Glynn County Police Department,' jurors wrote in the case.

In an internal affairs investigation on February 4, 2019 found evidence that drug task force investigator James Cassada had sex with two confidential informants he had control over, according to First Coast News. He resigned shortly after that investigation began.

Instead of investigating, the department covered it up, according to a report by the grand jury.

The report said at least one supervisors refused to be interviewed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and urged others not to cooperate. This led to the disbanding of the drug force last year.

This is the case Chief Powell and three former members of the county police leadership were indicted for on February 28 this year.

Chief Powell was placed on administrative leave with pay and an interim chief was named.

State Sen. William Ligon Jr filed a bill well before Arberys murder that would allow Glynn County voters to express whether or not they want to abolish the police department all together in a referendum ballot vote. From there, the vote would be given to county commissioners as a recommendation, not an order.

Now with Arberys death, Ligon is considering altering the bill, drafted last year, to consider altering the measure to make the referendum binding.

Lawmakers will consider the bill when they reconvene, possibly in June.

'Theres frustration at how this has been handled. The public should just be able to vote for change,' Ligon said.

'This Ahmaud case has proved that our hopes were in vain. Its appalling to us that our [local] law enforcement made no arrest in this case,' Rev. John Perry II, president of the NAACPs Brunswick, Georgia, chapter said on the department's repeated controversies.

On Saturday hundreds gathered at a rally outside the Glynn County courthouse demanding accountability for Arberys case

Protesters march after a rally at the Glynn County Courthouse to protest the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery on Saturday in Brunswick, Georgia

A woman pictured speaking through a megaphone at Saturday's rally where protesters marched from the Glynn County Courthouse to a police station in Brunswick, Georgia

The crowd marched away from the courthouse, taking a knee in silence and blocking traffic for more than 60 seconds to symbolize the days it took for arrests in the case

The crowd chanted: 'When black lives are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back'

In April, Glynn County commissioners established a panel to suggest improvements to the police department and implement them. The group held its first meeting on May 5, but the Arbery wasn't discussed there, instead the meeting focused on how the department could regain its accreditation.

On Saturday hundreds gathered at a rally outside the Glynn County courthouse demanding accountability for Arberys case.

'Justice for Ahmaud is more than just the arrest of his killers. Justice is saying weve got to clean up the house of Glynn County,' John Perry, president of the Brunswick NAACP chapter said at the rally.

Protesters voiced their outrage over the countys failure to hold Travis and Gregory McMichael accountable in the case and waiting months to arrest them only after video of the killing sparked national fury.

Speakers at the rally demanded the resignation of Jackie Johnson, the district attorney for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit who recused herself from the investigation, and George Barnhill, the Waycross circuit district attorney who took over the case and declined to press charges.

Organizers of the rally said around 250 vehicles drove more than four hours from Atlanta for the rally, bringing historically black fraternities and sororities, civil rights organizations and black-led gun rights groups, who said if Arbery had armed himself, he might be alive today

A man stands next to the memorial for Ahmaud Arbery on May 8, at the place where he was shot and killed in February after being chased by a white former law enforcement officer and his son, in the Satilla Shores neighborhood

Gregory McMichael was an investigator in Johnson's office before retiring last May. Both Johnson and Barnhill have denied wrongdoing.

Organizers of the rally said around 250 vehicles drove more than four hours from Atlanta for the rally, bringing historically black fraternities and sororities, civil rights organizations and black-led gun rights groups, who said if Arbery had armed himself, he might be alive today.

The crowd then marched away from the courthouse, taking a knee in silence and blocking traffic for more than 60 seconds to symbolize the days it took for arrests in the case.

Then they chanted: 'When black lives are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back.'
Abu Dhabi, May 17 : Indian students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed an online petition for a local centre to conduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) because of uncertainty over travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

NEET which is the sole entrance exam for undergraduate medical courses in India conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is scheduled to take place on July 26, Gulf News reported on Saturday.

The exam is open to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) but they must travel to one of the test centres in India as the exam is only offered offline.

Some 1.5 million students are registered to take NEET 2020, including around 300 from the UAE.

Students in the UAE generally choose their home city or state in India to appear for the NEET exams.

Simran Shinde, who recently graduated from high school in Abu Dhabi, said she registered to take the NEET in Mumbai or Pune (both cities in Maharashtra state) as part of her options, which have "most of the coronavirus cases and red zones".

"The best thing would be to have a test centre arranged in the UAE for NEET this year, taking all the necessary precautions and approvals," Gulf News quoted Shinde as saying.

Another candidate, Sharjah-based Ardra Sudhir, said she was yet to receive notification for which test centre she will take the test.

India expat Jiya Shankar commented on ipetitions.com, which is hosting the petition, "there are many students from UAE who are enrolled to give the exam.

"Travel and stay in India will be very tough to arrange in time for the exam. It will be safer for everyone if an exam centre is held in UAE".

Meanwhile, Subramanian Krishnamoorthy, CEO of the UAE-based Meccademia Education Group which prepares candidates for NEET and other exams, said the suggestion was "under consideration" by the NTA.

Krishnamoorthy said Meccademia can provide its facilities for a local test, bearing its expenses, at its 10 centres in the UAE with a total capacity of 500 candidates.
In total, over the past day, border guards let 21,600 people enter and leave Ukraine

Terminal B of Ukraine's biggest airport Open source

During the day, Boryspil Airport took three passenger charter and special flights. In total, the border guards of the Kyiv separate checkpoint issued 184 people who arrived by plane from New York, Larnaca, and Helsinki. The press service of the State Border Service reports.

Mandatory border guards conducted a temperature screening of each passenger. Persons with elevated body temperature were not identified. Also, none of the passengers complained about their well-being.

Without exception, all arriving citizens installed the "Diy Vdoma" mobile application and pledged to be self-insulated at the addresses indicated in it. During passport control, border guards checked the correctness of the arrival of the necessary information by arriving citizens in the mobile application "Diy Vdoma."

In total over the past day, border guards issued 21,600 people to enter and leave Ukraine

As we reported before, Starting May 20, Ankara will provide the right to cross the Turkish border with the aim of treating citizens of 31 countries, including Ukraine. The Turkish government made this decision as part of measures to simplify quarantine
By Trend

Kazakhstans Air Astana airlines company is looking to resume nearly 30 percent of its scheduled flights on internal routes by the end of May 2020, the company told Trend.

In order to prevent coronavirus spread in Kazakhstan, the number of flights was reduced by 438 flights per week on international destinations on 97 routes, which makes up 99 percent of all international flights implemented.

Additionally, all domestic flights have been cancelled and currently no regular air services operate in the country.

The company said that that it has entered the COVID-19 pandemic crisis in Mar. 2020 following a successful 2019. Thus, the company net income in 2019 amounted to $30 million, the companys revenue was $900 million, and the passenger traffic went up by 17 percent.

"The passenger traffic increased due to the establishment of companys subsidiary  FlyArystan lowcoster, which started its operations in May 2018 and transported over 5 million people by the end of 2019," the company said.

CEO of Air Astana Peter Foster noted that current situation on the air transportation market is very difficult, and expressed assumption that many markets will recover only after many years.

"However, I am confident that the results of our effective, operational activities and successful financial performance will allow us to strengthen our position in the future in Kazakhstan and the region as a whole," Foster said.

Established in 2001, Air Astana company is one of the largest airline companies in Kazakhstan. Prior to emergency state, Air Astana operated a fleet of 34 aircrafts on over 60 domestic and international routes.

The first two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020.

The total number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Kazakhstan since the virus was first confirmed in the country amounted to 5,689 cases. This includes 2,531 people who recovered from the coronavirus, and 34 patients who passed away.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Baghdad, May 17 : Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said that the Iraqi forces will launch a major offensive to eradicate Islamic State (IS) militants, and that the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi fighters will be at the forefront of the security forces in the upcoming offensive.

A statement by his office on Saturday said that al-Kadhimi made his comment during a visit to the headquarters of the Hashd Shaabi Command, in which he said "we are about to conduct a final offensive to root out IS organization, which is trying to reorganize its remnants," Xinhua news agency reported.

"The Hashd Shaabi fighters are at the forefront of implementing this offensive alongside their brothers in the army and the other security forces," al-Kadhimi said.

Al-Kadhimi's comment came as the extremist IS militants intensified their attacks on the security forces, including Hashd Shaabi forces, and civilians in the Sunni provinces which once were under the control of IS militants, since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, resulting in the killing and wounding of dozens of people.

The security situation in Iraq has been improving since Iraqi security forces fully defeated the IS militants across the country late in 2017.

However, IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or resorted to deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.
The next Chinese New Year will begin on February 12, 2021. It will be the year of the Ox. The first real publishing season since the pandemic started will begin at about the same time. In America and elsewhere, I suspect, it will be the year of the Diary.

Writers in lockdown are, like everyone else, feeling pale and postoperative. A diary, as soldiers, prisoners and invalids have long understood, can be a good way to write oneself out of a bad spot. The Chinese novelist Fang Fang lives in downtown Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. After that city went into ...
We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So before you buy or sell BARD1 Life Sciences Limited (ASX:BD1), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling.

What Is Insider Selling?

It's quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required.

We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. For example, a Columbia University study found that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own companys stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'.

View our latest analysis for BARD1 Life Sciences

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At BARD1 Life Sciences

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when insider Jeffrey Emmanuel bought AU$1.8m worth of shares at a price of AU$0.02 per share. Even though the purchase was made at a significantly lower price than the recent price (AU$0.027), we still think insider buying is a positive. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price.

In the last twelve months BARD1 Life Sciences insiders were buying shares, but not selling. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

ASX:BD1 Recent Insider Trading May 16th 2020

BARD1 Life Sciences is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Story continues

Insider Ownership of BARD1 Life Sciences

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. BARD1 Life Sciences insiders own about AU$12m worth of shares. That equates to 33% of the company. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About BARD1 Life Sciences Insiders?

The fact that there have been no BARD1 Life Sciences insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Insiders own shares in BARD1 Life Sciences and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. Case in point: We've spotted 6 warning signs for BARD1 Life Sciences you should be aware of, and 2 of these are a bit unpleasant.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 2,872 and the number of total positive cases climbed to 90,927 on Sunday, registering an increase of 120 fatalities and a record jump of 4,987 cases in 24 hours, since 8 am Saturday, according to the Union health ministry.

IMAGE: Migrants undergo thermal screening at Radha Swami Satsang Vyas as they wait to travel to their native places in Ghaziabad. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo

The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 53,946, while 34,108 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said.

"Thus, around 37.51 per cent patients have recovered so far," a senior health ministry official said.

The total confirmed cases include foreign nationals too.

Of the 120 deaths reported since Saturday 8 am, 67 were in Maharashtra, 19 in Gujarat, nine in Uttar Pradesh, seven in West Bengal, six in Delhi, four in Madhya Pradesh, three in Tamil Nadu and two in Haryana and one each from Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan.

Of the total 2,872 fatalities, Maharashtra tops the tally with 1,135 deceased, Gujarat comes second with 625, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 243, West Bengal at 232, Delhi at 129, Rajasthan at 126, Uttar Pradesh at 104, Tamil Nadu at 74 and Andhra Pradesh at 49.

IMAGE: A health official collects samples for COVID-19 swab tests from a pregnant women in Srinagar. Photograph: S Irfan /PTI Photo

The death toll reached 36 in Karnataka, 34 Telangana and 32 in Punjab.

Haryana has reported 13 fatalities due to the disease, Jammu and Kashmir has 12 deaths while Bihar has registered seven and Kerala has reported four deaths.

Jharkhand, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha have recorded three COVID-19 fatalities each while Assam has reported two deaths.

IMAGE: A worker sanitises the luggage of migrants who have arrived from Mangalore by a 'Shramik Special' train at Jodhpur railway station. Photograph: PTI Photo

Meghalaya, Uttarakhand and Puducherry have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry data.

According to the ministry's website, more than 70 per cent of the deaths are due to co-morbidities.
Businesses began reopening across parts of Japan on Saturday, as dozens of prefectures entered their first weekend since being released from a state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic.

The government announced on Thursday that it was lifting the measure in 39 of the nation's 47 prefectures.

In the northeastern prefecture of Miyagi, department store Sendai Mitsukoshi reopened on Saturday after closing all sections apart from its food floor for about a month.

Employees are wearing masks throughout the store, which has special cameras installed at the entrance to monitor body temperatures. Disinfectant is also freely available to customers.

A woman in her 70s said she's relieved that her favorite shop is open again.

In Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo, major shopping complex Aeon Mall Takasaki has also reopened its doors. The store is limiting the number of shoppers who can be inside at any time, and plans to close about two hours earlier than usual.

The western prefecture of Osaka is still subject to the state of emergency, but the prefectural government is no longer asking some businesses to remain closed.

Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street in Kita Ward is drawing more people than it has on recent weekends.

The owner of a restaurant in the area said he's grateful that he can now open until 10 p.m. He said he'll comply with physical distancing rules by setting tables sufficiently far apart.
THE Mater Hospital complied with its legal requirement to report coronavirus cases to the public health authorities, HSE boss Paul Reid has said.

A HSE probe was launched after 244 cases were added to the Department of Health's daily announcement of new coronavirus cases on Thursday.

The cases dated back to mid-March.

The Mater Hospital insisted it has reported all cases of Covid-19 to the authorities very day.

Now a draft report into the issue has found that the Mater did comply with it's obligations but there were "data uploading issues" that led to the discrepancy.

HSE boss Mr Reid said he had been concerned at the delay in adding the cases to the total number of people who have contracted coronavirus.

He asked for a review of what happened and he said that facts in the draft report have reassured him.

Mr Reid said the findings of the probe "clearly demonstrates" that the legal requirement for the Mater to report coronavirus cases was met.

He also said that contact tracing was completed in the 244 cases.

Mr Reid said the issue arose because information that was submitted to the labs "at some stage in the process" did not have full details, particularly all of the names involved in the cases.

"Therefore it didnt allow us the complete correlation of the data at the appropriate time," he said.

Mr Reid said he has asked HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry to seek assurances from all hospitals that the data is being submitted to the labs with the full and required details.

He said: "The report will make very clear recommendations in this regard".

Mr Henry stressed that the report was a draft but that it appears the lab was unable to upload all of the information onto the system collating coronavirus cases as the details of the cases were incomplete.

He said that the Mater Hospital did report the full information to the Public Health Department of Ireland East Hospital Group which allowed for assessment of the cases and contact tracing to take place.

Mr Reid said "due process" must be completed in relation to the HSE investigation into what happened with the data from the Mater and it's expected that the final report will be finished shortly.
It was billed to be a Ramzan like no other and it really is, but many devout Muslims apprehensive about not going to the mosque or iftaar gatherings are appreciative instead that the lockdown has helped them stay true to the spirit of the holy month.

Three weeks into fasting, many Muslims feel the coronavirus-forced lockdown has a silver lining after all -- it has left them with plenty of time to read the Quran, attend virtual Quran classes and focus on prayers.

After all, Ramzan is a time for self-discipline and introspection, they point out.

Tanvir Parvez, a lawyer from Ghaziabad, was among those bracing himself for a Ramzan devoid of its usual charms of special prayers in mosques (Taraweeh), sitting with his friends and family to break the fast at iftaar time and gatherings to discuss the teachings of Prophet Mohammad.

Parvez, who has never missed the Taraweeh during Ramzan, said he was gutted to learn that this year prayers would not be allowed in mosques due to the coronavirus lockdown.

"I was mentally preparing for a bad Razman experience with so many restrictions in place, but it has turned out to be a very special one as staying at home with family, discussing religion and reading the Quran with English translation has given me a new perspective on life," the 63-year-old told PTI.

The special prayers, iftaar congregations and spiritual gatherings are being missed, but the benefits have also made it a special "special Razman" this year.

"Earlier Ramzans were just about racing against time from the courts to reach home for iftaar, but now I am involved in making iftaar with my wife and though the spread is very simple, it brings the family closer as everyone is involved," he said.

People are also relishing the time they are getting to introspect and learn more about Islam with no distractions such as grand iftaar parties and shopping sprees.

Hasan Askari, an agriculturist based in Ghaziabad, said the month usually raced by with a string of iftaar parties and endless shopping trips, but not this time.

"The lockdown is proving to be a boon with distractions like shopping and endless iftaar parties not there, allowing me to read books on Islamic teachings which my brother-in-law gets from Jeddah and watching Islamic sermons online," Askari told PTI.

Prominent Muslim body Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind's president Maulana Arshad Madani said it is heartening to see Muslims finding positivity in these difficult times and using the lockdown downtime to learn more about Islamic teachings and Quran.

"Another significant trend witnessed this year is that seeing the sufferings of migrant labourers and the needy, Muslims have undertaken charity at a scale not seen before," Madani told PTI.

Even though everyone's economic future is uncertain, Muslims are helping the poor with money and food in a massive way to realise the true meaning of Ramzan, he said.

Another popular trend this Ramzan has been Muslims watching religious programmes and taking up Quran classes online.

Professor Salim Engineer, vice president of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said his organisation is webcasting many religious programmes on its YouTube channel to explain the meaning of Quranic verses and important Islamic issues.

"We are also webcasting programmes for non-Muslims. Recently, we shot one with religious leaders from different religions discussing the importance of fasting. In mosques, 1,000-1,500 people would listen to the discussions. This year, many thousands are watching these programmes online during Ramzan," he told PTI.

Iftaar food, normally an elaborate feast with kebabs, kormas and much more, have also become simpler.

Sultana Siddiqui, a homemaker from Lucknow, would spend most of her day preparing the meals. Not this time though.

"Making non-vegetarian delicacies during Ramzan takes up a lot of time. But this year with most meat shops closed and lockdown in place, the iftaar menu is very modest and allows plenty of free time to devote to Islamic learning and preaching," Siddiqui said.

"I have enrolled for online Quranic classes to fine tune my Arabic pronunciation and also to enhance my understanding of the Quran. It has been a life-changing experience," she said.

There are also those missing the festive fervour of iftaar parties and sehri (pre-dawn meal at the start of a fasting day) at old Delhi's famous eateries.

"Ramzan is a time when family and friends come together -- praying, fasting and feasting. With many family members stranded in different parts, the festive feel is missing this time," said Qazi Aamir Ali, a corporate employee working in Gurgaon.

Also, the going is not easy for everyone. While middle and upper class homes are finding positivity during the holy month, the poor and the needy are struggling to make ends meet.

"We are fasting through the day and there is hardly anything to eat around sehri. Organisations and people are reaching out, so iftaar is sorted, but we begin our fast just by drinking water," said Shaheen Bano, an out of work house maid and mother of six.

"We pray to Allah and fast that these difficult days will pass, I will go back to work and see smiles on my kids' faces," she said.

Ramzan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar during which Muslims worldwide refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk and end their fast in the evening.The month is in its fourth week now and Eid will be celebrated on May 24 or 25, depending on the sighting of the moon.

For Muslims, this Ramzan is also about hope that their prayers will be answered and a new dawn will emerge in post-pandemic times.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Weeks into the second round of a partnership forged with FreshDirect by Borough President James Oddo, Catholic Charities of Staten Island continues to provide emergency food to Staten Island families in need  with three food pantry services scheduled to be held this upcoming week.

Catholic Charities of Staten Island will hold its regular food pantry services at 120 Andersen Ave. on Monday, May 18 from 1 to 3 p.m., and Friday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Additionally, a mobile food pantry will be utilized on Tuesday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and will stop at multiple locations  including Immaculate Conception R.C. Church located at 128 Targee Street and the Anderson Avenue location.

The food pantry assistance run by Catholic Charities of Staten Island were created in direct response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and will continue to operate to meet the needs of Staten Islanders, according to Michelle LaVignera, the director of Social Services for Catholic Charities of Staten Island.

In addition to an increase in the frequency that people need food, LaVignera said, Were also seeing people coming to us who previously did not need to utilize food pantries.

Even with the expanded food pantry services run by Catholic Charities of Staten Island, the demand has increased so greatly that even on odd days when pantries are not being run, people knock on our door asking for food.

The food pantry services held on Mondays and Fridays are first-come-first-serve, and LaVignera said she has been recommending individuals come at the beginning of the two-hour windows the organization has set in place.

With mitigating the potential spread of the coronavirus a prominent concern, she said the physical layout of the building at 120 Andersen Ave. enables social distancing by allowing only one person come to the front door at a time. She added that people have been very respectful in regard to adhering to social distancing throughout the process.

For the safety of the staff and those lining up for food, LaVignera said masks are required, though she said all but very few people have had their masks" in recent weeks.

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

The rising need of food across New York City during the coronavirus pandemic has been exacerbated by about a third of food pantries closing across the city, reports said, as long lines of those in need have stretched around blocks in recent weeks.

FreshDirect initially delivered 400 free daily meals to various community organizations in the borough, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported in late March, and that effort was renewed by Oddo late last month  upping the daily meal total to 500 across Staten Island.

Other food pantries, mobile markets, and home-delivery services for low-income families on Staten Island have been in operation since the outbreak as well, including Project Hospitality on Staten Islands North Shore and Our Lady of Good Counsel food pantry in Tompkinsville.

FreshDirect is extremely thankful to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York City Sanitation Commissioner and current food czar Kathryn Garcia, and Staten Island Borough President James Oddo for his support of Operation 5-Borough Food Drive, Larry Scott Blackmon, vice president of public affairs at FreshDirect, previously told the Advance/SILive.com. We are very grateful to continue the distribution of food to communities in Staten Island with Borough President Oddo, whose partnership has proven invaluable.

Catholic Charities of Staten Island is currently receiving approximately 1,000 boxes of food each week that contain a mixture of fresh produce and nonperishable food that will allow families to make up multiple meals out of it a week, LaVignera said.

On a weekly basis, about 350 of these boxes are distributed to families with an emergency need for food between the Monday and Friday time slots, and additional bags of nonperishable food are delivered through the use of the mobile station. The organizationss food pantry dates back to March, just weeks after the citys shutdown.

The rest of the boxes of food provided to Catholic Charities of Staten Island are being distributed to other nonprofits and parish-based organizations that are directly serving not only their congregation, but also the rest of their communities.

And thats really our long-term focus  to continue to do work like that  where we act as the organization that receives a quantity of food that we can then distribute to at least partially support some of these organizations, LaVignera said.

According to LaVignera, despite metrics often associated with the coronavirus improving in recent days and weeks, the long-term effects of the virus  specifically regarding how at-need families will be able to cope with financial concerns  will be felt long after precautionary measures are lifted across New York City and the rest of the country.

We are working on our long-term plan now. We know this need is going to last well beyond" the duration of the citys shutdown, LaVignera said. I think this is going to be along the scales of how people were impacted after Hurricane Sandy.

I mean ... that impact has lasted for years, she said.
House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks to the press at the Capitol in Washington on March 27, 2020. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)

Pelosi Says Next Virus Relief Bill Needs to Be Passed Quickly

House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called on the GOP-controlled Senate to pass the HEROES Act, saying that lawmakers need to act quickly to respond to rising unemployment and a potential hunger crisis amid the CCP virus pandemic.

Time is very important. We have lost time. But, again, setting aside how we got here, we can not take a pause, Pelosi said Sunday on CBS News Face the Nation.

They may think its ok to pause but people are hungry across America, hunger doesnt take a pause. People are jobless across America, that doesnt take a pause. People dont know how theyre going to pay their rent across the country. We have to address this with humanity, she added.

On the night of May 15, House Democrats, in large, approved a $3 trillion relief package that would send as much as $6,000 for every household, $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for married couples, and $1,200 for dependents. Other measures, including an extension of relief for small businesses, expanded unemployment insurance, more pay for frontline workers, more funding for state and local governments, and more are included in the legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other top Republicans in the Senate have expressed an unwillingness to pass the legislation, saying there are too many unnecessary provisions included. He described it as a liberal wish-list and a parade of absurdities that can hardly be taken seriously.

Pelosi said that her caucus has no red lines when she was questioned about liability limits on employers.

The fact is the best protection for our workers and for their employers is to follow very good OSHA mandatory guidelines, and we have that in our bill, Pelosi added. And that protects the workers, protects their lives, as well as protects the employer if they follow the guidelines.

The bill would provide $200 billion for essential workers who have been employed during the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. An extension of the Paycheck Protection Program is included in the $3 trillion bill, as well as COVID-19 emergency grants.

The legislation, if signed into law, would also extend a $600-per-week boost in unemployment insurance that was established under the CARES Act, expiring in January 2021, in an attempt to help more than 30 million Americans who lost their jobs amid the pandemic.

The White House said it will veto the measure, saying Democrats are more concerned with delivering on long-standing partisan and ideological wish lists than with enhancing the ability of our nation to deal with the public health and economic challenges we face. according to The Associated Press.
It was reported Thursday that the Founder and leader of the International God's Way Church, Daniel Obinim was rushed to the hospital after policemen with an arrest warrant stormed his church to pick him up for interrogations over an alleged fraud case.



Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong who believes Obinims collapse was staged has thrown a question at him seeking to find out how long Obinim will continue to fake sickness because of an arrest warrant.



He revealed that Obinim is seeking shelter at the Yeboah Hospital in East Legon in the name of receiving medical care for his 'fake' heart attack.



In an interview on Adom FM Friday, the politician said how long are you going to be at Yeboah hospital. I have every detail of each room you slept in. Obinim, you cant run so you better report. You faked that youve gotten heart attack.



Kennedy Agyapong furthered that hes monitoring Obinim closely so he doesnt escape from the hospital.



Meanwhile, the police will be with him at the hospital until he recovers from his high blood pressure.



He will then be moved from the hospital to the station for interrogation into the matter to begin.



Kennedy Agyapong also vowed to make sure Obinim and his complices end up in jail.

Source: Ghanaweb









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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With the formation of cyclonic storm 'Amphan' likely to impact Odisha from May 18, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday put a target of zero casualty before administration, which is in the midst of a battle against COVID-19.

Considering the gravity of the cyclonic storm, the state government during the day urged the Centre to temporarily suspend 'Shramik Special' trains passing through areas falling in the direction of the cyclone.

Since the sea condition will be rough to very rough over south and adjoining central Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, it warned fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Odisha coast from May 18 onwards.

Similarly, fishermen in West Bengal have also been advised not to venture into north Bay of Bengal along and off West Bengal-Odisha coasts from May 18 to 21, and those who are out in the sea were asked to return to the coasts by May 17.

According to the latest India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin, the deep depression over Southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood remained practically

stationary during the past six hours and rapidly intensified into a cyclonic storm 'Amphan' (pronounced as UM-PUN).

It lay centred over the same region at 5.30 pm on Saturday near latitude 10.9N and longitude 86.3E, about 1,040 km south of Paradip (Odisha), 1,200 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1300 km south-southwest of Khepupara

(Bangladesh).

The cyclone is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm by May 18 morning.

It is very likely to move north-northwestwards initially till May 17 and then recurve north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal towards West Bengal and adjoining North Odisha coasts during May 18 to 20, the IMD said.

Patnaik reviewed the state's preparedness to face the cyclone, which according to the IMD will impact the state between May 17 and 20.

"As always, saving lives is our priority. We should put our best efforts to save every precious human life," Patnaik told top officials and collectors of the 12 districts, which are put on alert following the IMDs forecast.

He had a video conference with the district collectors of Ganjam, Gajapti, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda and Nayagarh.

Patnaik also directed the district collectors to prepare an evacuation plan keeping in view the IMD's forecast and shift people living in low-laying area and also from thatched and mud houses in order to save their lives during the possible calamity.

In a bid to boost the morale of the district collectors, who are working day in and day out in the COVID-19 management, Patnaik said,"We have in the past faced many very severe cyclones like Phailin, Hudhud, Titli, Fani and Bulbul. We can also handle the challenge now."

The threat of the fresh cyclone, comes a year after cyclone 'Fani' barrelled through vast parts of Odisha on May 3, 2019, claiming at least 64 lives and destroying infrastructure in power, telecom and other vital sectors.

Odisha was also hit by cyclone 'Bulbul' in October, 2019. With regard to the impact on the Odisha coast, the IMD issued yellow warning (be updated) and forecast squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to commence along and off south Odisha coast from May 18 evening.

The IMD also issued an orange warning (be prepared) for the state, saying squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely along and off the Odisha coast from May 19 morning. The wind speed will gradually increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 75 to 85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph from May 20 morning along and off north Odisha coast. It will gradually increase thereafter, the IMD cautioned.

Special Relief Commissioner P K Jena said the state government has kept all its apparatus ready to meet the eventuality. "All fishermen are now out of the sea as we have been preparing for the eventuality for the last two days," he said, adding all the line departments have been kept in readiness.

The movement of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Fire Service personnel has already started.

"We are also in constant touch with the Indian Coast Guard, IMD and NDRF for any

requirement," Jena said, adding that Chief Secretary A K Tripathy has also apprised the Union Cabinet secretary about the state's preparedness.

During a video conference with Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Odisha chief secretary A K Tripathy made a request to temporarily suspend 'Shramik Special' trains passing through areas in the state that are likely to be affected by the cyclone.

Jena said the impending situation could create problems in receiving the passengers and taking them to quarantine centres as per the COVID-19 guidelines.

He said of the 809 cyclone shelters in the 12 coastal districts, 242 are used as temporary medical camp for the returnees coming from COVID-19 states.

The government has also suspended leave of all government employees in 12 coastal districts.

In West Bengal, Regional Met Director G K Das said, under cyclone impact, the coastal districts of Gangetic West Bengal, including North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, East and West Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly will experience heavy to very heavy rain on May 19 and 20, Das said.
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New York, May 17, 2020 Egyptian authorities must immediately release Mada Masr editor-in-chief Lina Attalah, who was arrested outside the prison where her colleague Alaa Abdelfattah is on hunger strike protesting his detention, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

We hold Egyptian authorities directly responsible for Lina Attalahs freedom and Alaa Abdelfattahs health, said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour. Egypt must immediately release Lina and ensure Alaas safety and his lawful legal rights to family visitation and medical treatment in prison.

Attalah, who is also the co-founder the independent news website, was arrested outside of Tora prison while attempting to interview Abdelfattahs mother, Laila Soueif. Attalah was sent to Maadi police station to be held overnight before being questioned by prosecutors tomorrow, Mada Masr said in a statement.

Abdelfattah, who was arrested in September last year following a critical column in Mada Masr, began a hunger strike more than one month ago to protest his pretrial detention conditions, his family and colleagues said.
By Trend

The Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan has issued a statement on the anniversary of the ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Trend reports on May 16.

May 12 marked the 26th anniversary of the ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Addressing the international community on this anniversary, the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan focuses on the deplorable state of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are still awaiting the restoration of their fundamental rights and freedoms, said the statement.

The military aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan led to the occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts, which make up about one fifth of the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan.

The occupation policy of Armenia doomed every tenth citizen of Azerbaijan to live the life of IDP or refugee. Hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis, including the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, were expelled from their homes, deprived of property, and their fundamental human rights have not been restored for many years, the statement noted.

By a decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Chiragov and Others v. Armenia court case dated 2015, it was once again confirmed that Armenia is directly responsible for the violation of human rights in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

The international community has consistently condemned the military aggression against Azerbaijan and the occupation of Azerbaijani territories. In 1993, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) condemning the use of force against Azerbaijan, the occupation of its territories, as well as recognizing its sovereignty and territorial integrity, thereby confirming the inviolability of its internationally recognized borders. In these resolutions, the UNSC reaffirmed that the Nagorno-Karabakh region is an integral part of Azerbaijan, and demanded the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of occupying forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

But despite the fact that the ceasefire agreement provides for the cessation of all hostilities and the political settlement of the conflict with the withdrawal of Armenian troops from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the conflict remains unresolved. The main factor hindering the settlement of the conflict is that the illegal occupation of Azerbaijani territories by the Armenian armed forces still continues. As the OSCE has confirmed, the ceasefire has reduced the scale of active hostilities, but no progress has been made in resolving the conflict. Armenias lack of political will continues to impede the development of the process, said the statement.

Moreover, another factor directly impeding the peace process is the regular violation of the ceasefire by the Armenian armed forces. The positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on the contact line and on the border with Armenia, as well as the settlements of Azerbaijan are regularly bombarded by Armenia.

Armenias policies and actions in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan during the ceasefire, attempts to distort physical and demographic data, to artificially change the cultural heritage of these territories, illegal resettlement of residents of Armenia and other countries on these territories show that Armenia is not interested in observing the ceasefire, and plans to annex the occupied territories.

"Amid the foregoing, various documents continue to be distributed on behalf of the illegal regime created in the occupied territories, but these steps have no legal basis and legal force. This is nothing more than attempts to evade responsibility for the illegal occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia and atrocities committed against the Azerbaijani civilian population," the statement reads.

Armenia must realize that it will not be possible to achieve any peace contrary to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, the norms and principles of international law. The fact of military occupation of Azerbaijani territories will not allow Armenia to achieve the desired political result. The legal basis for resolving the conflict is enshrined in the relevant resolutions of the UNSC.

Peace, security and stability can only be achieved if the Armenian armed forces are immediately and unconditionally withdrawn from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the right of all Azerbaijani IDPs to return to their homes is ensured, and the internationally recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is fully restored, said the statement.

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.
MINERVA  The Adirondack Park Agency last week approved a one-time use of a new herbicide to treat the invasive Eurasian watermilfoil on a portion of the 79-acre lake Minerva Lake in Essex County.

It is the third time in at least two decades that the APA has approved the use of an herbicide on a lake, but the first time it has approved the use of a substance called ProcellaCor EC.

The herbicide is relatively new on the market, registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2018 and approved for use in New York in 2019. It is already in use on other lakes outside the Adirondacks and in other states like Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Depending on how successful the treatment is on Minerva Lake, other lakes in the Adirondacks could add the invasive-species treatment to their arsenals, including the Queen of American Lakes, Lake George.

Leigh Walrath, a freshwater analyst for the APA, said the town of Minerva has been battling nuisance vegetation in its namesake lake since the 1980s. Eurasian watermilfoil, a particularly pesky invasive plant, found its way into the lake around 2007, making things even worse.

Milfoil grows quickly and outcompetes other native vegetation. Not only can it hurt the ecology of the lake, but it also makes it more difficult to swim and navigate boats.

Working with an environmental contractor called Solitude Lake Management, the town applied to the APA to use the herbicide on 41 acres. Its expected to reduce milfoil in the treated areas by 95% or more. The town plans to spend $25,000 on the treatment, and another $25,000 on continued diver-assisted suction harvesting.

In 2010, the APA approved the use of an herbicide called Renovate on Lake Luzerne. In 2013, officials managing milfoil on Loon Lake also received permission to use Renovate.

We have a pretty good track record here, Walrath said, referring to how chemicals arent heavily relied on. Outside the park, (lakes treat) sometimes every three to four years. It is our hope that that does not become the norm, and I dont believe that would become the norm.

At a Lake George Park Commission meeting last year, Executive Director David Wick brought up the benefits of ProcellaCor EC and how it could be a tool for Lake George down the line.

Milfoil is one of the major invasive species in Lake George, and through grants and other funding mechanisms, the Park Commission spends more than $400,000 a year managing it. The plant is removed mostly through diver-assisted suction harvesting.

Were a long way from even considering anything chemical-wise, Wick said in a phone interview on Wednesday. Right now our solution, while very expensive, does seem to be working.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Whether the funds keep rolling in at the rate needed in the future, however, remains to be seen. Wick said he is keeping an eye on what happens at Minerva Lake.

So are a number of lake association members of the Warren County Water Quality Strategy Committee, said Jim Lieberum, one of the committee chairs and manager of the countys soil and water conservation district.

These are all silver bullets, every time they come out, Lieberum added, about herbicides. Theres the old saying of having it in the tool box, its good. But, you cant go crazy with it.

ProcellaCor EC, Walrath said, appears to be even safer than Renovate. For one, municipalities use much less of it. While pounds and gallons arent compatible comparisons, Loon Lake needed 1,500 pounds of Renovate to treat 15 acres, whereas Minerva Lake will use no more than 8.73 gallons of ProcellaCOR EC to treat 41 acres.

According to the EPA, ProcellaCOR EC is considered practically non-toxic to fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, which is the lowest toxic value that can be assigned by the federal agency. It is considered slightly toxic for invertebrates. It is not expected to affect native vegetation very much, Walrath said. It could cause some browning to native watershield, white waterlily and water stargrass.

The application will be lower than the state Health Departments limits for the herbicide. There will be testing to monitor concentrations downstream.

In addition to APAs approval on Thursday, the DEC approved the use of the herbicide. The application is expected to happen sometime around the end of May, when milfoil tends to be at its peak growth.

A version of this article first appeared on AdirondackExplorer.org, a nonprofit news magazine covering the Adirondack Park.
Firefighters continue to work extinguish a 100-acre forest fire in Manchester Township Sunday afternoon, state officials said.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service is battling the blaze south of Roosevelt City in the township, off Route 539, state Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Caryn Shinske said

The fire started early Sunday morning and was still not contained by late afternoon, Shinske said.

There is no threat to local homes or businesses, and no evacuations were necessary, Shinske said. Nearby residents were warned about the fire in a police alert sent out mid-morning.

More information was not immediately available Sunday afternoon.

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. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that the US governments long-term performance has led to its being abhorred by a major part of the world and the Americans wont stay in Iraq and Syria; theyll be expelled, Trend reports citing IRNA.

He made the remarks in a meeting with the representatives of political, scientific, cultural and student groups on Sunday.

"The US govts long-term performance has led to its being abhorred by a major part of the world, its warmongering, helping notorious governments, training terrorists, unconditional support for oppression and the like," the Supreme Leader said.

"The Americans wont stay in Iraq and Syria; theyll be expelled."

This meeting, which is held every year during the month of Ramadan with the presence of thousands of students, was held via video conference this year due to the health guidelines issued by the National Committee on Combating Coronavirus that has banned gatherings of large crowds.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said there will be an increase in public health expenditure, which currently hovers a little over 1%, as she announced a slew of measures to reform the sector in the country to brace for such pandemic situations in future.

Apart from increasing public health spending, the government has also decided to create a dedicated infectious diseases block at hospitals and establish government diagnostic lab till the block level to strengthen the countrys testing capacity at the grass-roots level.

Special focus will also be on ramping health and wellness centres in villages, she said.

The government will be increasing investments in public health to be absolutely ready for such eventualities in future, said Sitharaman.

The strengthening of government lab network in villages will also help in maintaining robust surveillance. The step has been taken specially to keep in mind pandemic situations in future so that clustering is picked up early and containment measures are put in place immediately for a better outcome.

Increasing testing capacity is the key in better managing any outbreak situation that hinges on test, isolate and treat guidelines. This will be a big plus for the public health system, said an official in the health ministry, requesting not to be identified.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will be contributing to building a national institutional platform for one health that will boost research initiatives.

Also, the implementation of national digital health blueprint will be expedited to make better use of technology in delivering healthcare services in the country.

The health ministry has already released at least 4,113 crore directly for anti-coronavirus disease (Covid-19) activities so far, of the 15,000 crore funds allocated by the Centre for containment. The essential items worth 3,750 crore and testing labs and kits worth 550 crore has also been disbursed.

Another significant step was providing an insurance cover of 50 lakh per person for health professionals under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.

The information technology system will also be leveraged in a big way to meet the demands of the sector, the finance minister said.

So far, issuing guidelines for conducting consultations through telemedicine has worked, with the government rolling out e-Sanjeevani Tele-Consultation Services and building capacity by having introduced e-training modules for healthcare and other workers.

The launch of Aarogya Setu app is another important step that has led to the identification of several potential hot spots in the country. Close to 100 million people have already registered on the app that also tells peoples risk of contracting Covid-19.

We have also taken great care in protecting our healthcare workers by increasing the domestic manufacturing industry for personal protection equipment and N-95 masks. We have identified some 300 domestic manufacturers who from zero kits to now are capable of producing 3 lakh kits in a day, said Sitharaman.

Experts in the field said these are initiatives in the right direction.

The announcements regarding 15,000 cr allocated for Covid-19 containment and treatment including for essential items and testing kits is a much needed support Leveraging of IT services for teleconsultation will help patients with non Covid health issues, who were left stranded due to cessation of all non-emergency health services, Charu Sehgal, partner and leader of life sciences and healthcare at Deloitte India, said in a statement.

Our doctors and health workers have been working under very trying circumstances and without adequate protection. The increase in the supply of PPE (57 lacs already supplied and more than 300 domestic manufacturers producing) N-95 masks (87 lacs have been provided) is the right start but we need many many more supplies given the situation, Sehgal added.
Michael Gove today guaranteed teachers and pupils will be safe when schools are reopened before swiftly backtracking as he said 'you can never eliminate risk'.

The Government is locked in a furious row with councils and teaching unions over its plans to begin the phased reopening of primary schools in England from June 1 as the coronavirus lockdown is eased.

Some teaching unions are blocking the move and have said they will only budge once they are persuaded it is totally safe for teachers and children to go back to the classroom. But others have said they will recommend reopening after talks with Government experts.

Meanwhile, a number of local authorities have said they will not comply with Boris Johnson's lockdown strategy and will exercise caution when it comes to reopening schools.

Mr Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, today tried to assuage concerns as he insisted it will be safe for teachers and students before then performing a screeching U-turn and admitting there will be at least some level of risk.

It came as the Government saw its approval rating take a sharp dip in the week after the Prime Minister set out his strategy for lifting lockdown measures.

A new Opinium survey showed that disapproval for the PM's response to the outbreak is now higher than approval for the very first time.

Some 39 per cent of the nation are supportive of the Government's handling of the crisis, down nine points on the 48 per cent recorded last week, while disapproval rose from 36 per cent to 42 per cent.

Michael Gove today initially guaranteed the safety of returning teachers before then admitting that there will be some 'risk'

Schools across the UK have now been shut to the vast majority of pupils for more than six weeks

Boris Johnson, pictured in Downing Street on Mat 15, is facing a growing backlash over his plans for the phased reopening of primary schools from June 1

The latest Downing Street statistics showed there had been a further 170 coronavirus deaths in the UK today, taking the total to 34,636

Boris Johnson tells Tory MPs he wants return to 'near normality' in July Boris Johnson has told Tory MPs he wants to return to 'near-normality' in July as he hails British 'good sense' over the lockdown and announces 93million to bring forward the opening of a research centre to fast-track a coronavirus vaccine. Speaking to 100 of his colleagues via video link, the Prime Minister said he would take 'grandmother steps' to ease the rules, but only if Britons comply with the current lockdown measures. He also confirmed that Commons discussions will resume on June 2. It comes as Mr Johnson declares British people's 'fortitude' will enable them to survive the Covid-19 crisis and regain 'the freedoms they hold dear'. He says that the epidemic has brought out 'the best in humanity' and that the public's 'perseverance' and 'good common sense' will enable the country to 'inch forwards' out of lockdown and towards 'much-missed normality'. Writing in today's Mail on Sunday, Mr Johnson also announces that an Oxfordshire research centre will be opening a year ahead of schedule in an attempt to fast-track a vaccine against the coronavirus. An MP listening in on the video call told The Sun: 'Boris told us he is determined that the country should be as close to normality again before the end of July. 'But he was clear that it all depends on the country meeting the conditions that have been set for tackling the virus. 'Most importantly that means bringing down the infection rate  and that can only be achieved if we continue to obey the rules on social distancing to help stop it spreading.' Mr Johnson's exclusive article will be seen as an attempt to draw a line under the chaotic days in Westminster which followed his televised address to the nation last Sunday, which left many people confused about the rules about meeting friends and family. The Prime Minister clarifies today: 'You can now spend as much time as you like outdoors, for example sitting and enjoying the fresh air, picnicking, or sunbathing. You can meet one other person from a different household outdoors, provided you maintain social distancing.' Advertisement

The ongoing row over the reopening of schools came as:

Business Secretary Alok Sharma told the daily Downing Street press conference that there had been 170 more coronavirus deaths in the UK today, taking the overall toll to 34,636.

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the World Health Organisation, said world data on the return of schools is 'very reassuring'.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said she supported councils which are not planning to reopen schools to all pupils on June 1 for safety reasons.

Mr Gove has said there are 'big lessons' to be learned from the treatment of care homes during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office revealed 17,000 contact tracers have now been recruited, putting the Government on track to hit its 18,000 target.

Mr Johnson told Tory MPs he wants to return to 'near-normality' in July.

The PM announced 93m to bring forward the opening of a research centre to fast-track a coronavirus vaccine.

Mr Johnson and Sir Mark Sedwill, the UK's top civil servant, were said to have had a 'tense' stand off over who is responsible for implementing the lockdown exit strategy.

Britons flocked to parks and beaches as temperatures moved towards 70F in the nation's first Sunday since lockdown measures were loosened.

The Government's schools plan will see reception, year one and year six pupils return in June with other year groups returning later.

Secondary schools are not due to reopen before the summer holidays but pupils in year 10 and year 12 will be offered time with teachers ahead of them entering their exam year.

Mr Gove was asked this morning during an appearance on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show if teachers should be safe when returning to work.

He replied: 'Yes, teachers will be safe in schools. The programme that has been outlined is a staged and careful return with children in reception, year one and year six of primary coming back to school we hope in the week beginning June 1.

'It is the case that some of the best leaders in current education have said that it is absolutely safe for children to return, absolutely safe for teachers and other staff to return as well.'

Asked if he could guarantee that teachers will be safe, he said: 'Yes. It is the case, as I say, I talked to the chief scientific adviser yesterday for the government Patrick Vallance and running through the figures, the R number, the rate of infection in the community overall, we are confident that children and teachers will be safe.'

However, when asked directly if he could guarantee that no returning teacher will catch coronavirus at school, Mr Gove said: 'The only way ever to ensure that you never catch coronavirus is to stay at home completely.

'There is always, always, always in any loosening of these restrictions a risk of people catching the coronavirus.'

He continued: 'The key thing is that we can make these workplaces safe. You can never eliminate risk but as we know, as we have heard, it is the case that it is extremely unlikely that any school is likely to be the source of a Covid outbreak and if for any reason there are risks then we can take steps to mitigate them.'

Hartlepool Council has now joined Liverpool in saying its schools will remain shut on June 1 as local coronavirus cases continue to rise.

Hartlepool said in a statement: 'Given that coronavirus cases locally continue to rise, Hartlepool Borough Council has been working with schools and we have agreed they will not reopen on Monday 1st June.

Countries including Denmark (pictured) have already begun reopening schools with social distancing measures in place

Michael Gove reveals more than 17,000 contact tracers have now been recruited Michael Gove today revealed the Government has recruited more than 17,000 coronavirus contact tracers putting ministers on track to hit their 18,000 target. The staff will play a key role in efforts to prevent a second wave of the deadly disease as they are tasked with figuring out where people who test positive have been and who they may have come into contact with. Mr Gove's announcement came just days after his fellow Cabinet minister Brandon Lewis said the Government had only managed to recruit people for 1,500 of the roles. However, there are concerns about the long term future of the 'test, track and trace' programme after it was claimed staff are only being hired on initial three month contracts. Health experts believe such a scheme will need to be in place for as long as 18 months. Advertisement

'Whilst we recognise the importance of schools reopening, we want to be absolutely clear that we will be taking a measured and cautious approach to this.'

Liverpool has confirmed that its schools will only be open to vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers on June 1.

Asked for his message to councils blocking the return of schools, Mr Gove said children 'only have one chance at education'.

'Over the course of the last decade we have made significant strides in closing the gap between the richest and the poorest in our schools,' he said.

'This lockdown has put that backwards. If you really care about children you will want them to be in school, you will want them to be learning, you will want them to have new opportunities so look to your responsibilities.'

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said she supported councils in trying to ensure their residents are safe when asked about local authorities which are refusing to reopen schools on the Government's timetable.

She told the BBC: 'If you look at what Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester Mayor, said in the Guardian last night, the communication from the Government - in terms of the safety measures for areas like Greater Manchester, Liverpool, like the north east - has been patchy so the information hasn't been there.

'We believe the R rate is higher in those areas, in those regions, so therefore we want the Government to publish the science behind it and provide the support.'

Pressed on Labour's support for councils not wanting to reopen schools to all pupils, Ms Rayner said: 'I urge the Government to publish the science and to ensure testing and tracing is in place to safeguard.

Boris Johnson and Sir Mark Sedwill clash over lockdown exit plan Boris Johnson and the UK's top civil servant Sir Mark Sedwill clashed over who is responsible for rolling out the Government's lockdown exit strategy, it was claimed today. The Prime Minister and Sir Mark are said to have had a 'tense' standoff when the plans to ease restrictions were being discussed at a meeting last week. Mr Johnson apparently asked the room who was responsible for actually implementing the measures contained within the blueprint. He asked Sir Mark if it was him, but the head of the Civil Service replied it was up to the PM to make sure things happen. The claims came amid reports of growing splits between ministers and senior civil servants. Mandarins fear they are being lined as coronavirus 'fall guys' ahead of an inevitable public inquiry into the Government's handling of the crisis. Meanwhile, a plan to quarantine travellers returning to the UK has prompted a Cabinet split over who it should apply to with aides concerned it is rapidly becoming a 'sh**show'. Advertisement

'Councils want to make sure their citizens are safe. I support them in trying to do that.'

Many teaching unions have resisted the reopening plans but some have said they will urge their members to go back to work on June 1.

The Association of School and College Leaders said it would advise in favour of reopening after talks with government experts on Friday.

The National Association of Head Teachers suggested it would do the same as long as it is given the full expert advice held by the government.

But the British Medical Association has said it is against reopening schools on June 1 on the grounds that 'we cannot risk a second spike' of infections.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has appealed to every teaching union to work with the Government to find 'practical solutions' to enable schools in England to re-open.

He told the daily Downing Street press conference yesterday that his 'door is always open' as he lavished praise on teachers and pledged that school children and their families would be tested for coronavirus if they get symptoms.

Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, welcomed Mr Williamson's commitment to talk, saying it was essential ministers provided the reassurance teachers were seeking.

Kevin Courtney, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union, welcomed a commitment by Mr Williamson to monitor the effects of this week's loosening of the lockdown before going ahead with other measures.

'This is sensible. We will take up Mr Williamson's statement that his door is open in order to seek to engage in discussions about a safe way forward,' he said.

Mr Johnson said he hoped schools could start re-opening from June 1 when he set out his plans last Sunday for easing the lockdown in England.

However the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have refused to follow suit.

A new survey conducted by Opinium found more people now disapprove of the Government's handling of the crisis than approve for the first time since the outbreak started

Britons woke up bright and early to hit parks and beaches across the country before temperatures soar to 70F in another scorching weekend. Pictured: Sunday revellers enjoy Branksome beach, Dorset

Paths in Hampstead Heath, London, were bustling with people who took to the outdoors on the first weekend since lockdown measures were eased

Michael Gove admits 'big lessons' must be learned from care home crisis Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has said there are 'big lessons' to be learned from the treatment of care homes during the coronavirus outbreak. Mr Gove said the Government had taken 'significant steps' to improve the situation of those in care homes. However, amid growing criticism that they had failed to provide adequate support to the sector, he acknowledged the situation remained a 'challenge'. 'There are big lessons to be learned,' he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. 'We are still living through this pandemic and there will be lessons to be learned. We have taken significant steps to improve the care of people in care homes. 'There will be a point in the future when all of us can look back and reflect and make sure we have learned the appropriate lessons.' Advertisement

The UK Government's school reopening plans will see a 'hierarchy of controls' put in place to ensure proper hand-washing, hygiene and cleaning systems within schools while class sizes will be reduced to a maximum of 15.

Expert: World data on reopening schools is 'very reassuring' Data from countries which have reopened schools has been 'very reassuring' but governments need to consider what checks are needed to avoid a spread of Covid-19, a senior global health official has said. Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said decisions on whether to allow schools to open are often being done at a community or city level, based on factors such as whether the virus is under control. She also told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show she believes that 'society has to restart' but that there will be a new normal. Asked about the reopening of schools, and evidence from countries that have done so, Dr Swaminathan said: 'Overall, the data has been very reassuring, though of course it's only a few countries that have done that. 'The guidance that has been put out by WHO clearly lays out the criteria you would use when you consider whether to reopen a school or not.' Dr Swaminathan said this is based on factors such as the progress of the disease - whether it is on the rise or under control and going down, as well as whether there has been time to put measures into place such as rearranging classrooms and ensuring there are handwashing facilities. Advertisement

The Children's Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, has voiced her 'despair' at the continued 'squabbling' between ministers and unions which she said is impacting on children's life chances.

'My worry within all that is that the needs of children and the best interests of children are disappearing from view,' she told the BBC.

It came as Mr Johnson was warned he risks fracturing national unity if he fails to listen to regional concerns about the easing of lockdown.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the Prime Minister did not inform civic leaders of his easing of restrictions in advance and said the dropping of the Government's 'stay at home' message felt 'premature'.

While cases of coronavirus have been easing in the South East, Mr Burnham believes the loosening of restrictions came too quickly for the North.

'On the eve of a new working week, the PM was on TV 'actively encouraging' a return to work,' Mr Burnham wrote in the Observer.

'Even though that would clearly put more cars on roads and people on trams, no-one in Government thought it important to tell the cities that would have to cope with that.'

The manner in which the lockdown easing was announced appears to have hit the Government's approval ratings amid claims the PM's three phase plan was 'confusing'.

There is also disquiet over the decision to replace the 'stay at home' slogan with the 'stay alert' message with more than half people believing the latter is not clear.

Adam Drummond, the head of political polling at Opinium, said: 'In part this was likely inevitable as the relatively simple and almost unanimous decision to lockdown has given way to much more contestable decisions about how and when to open up.

'We have gone from a very simple and clearly understood message to a more nuanced situation with more confused messaging and a sense that the Government don't have as firm a grip on the situation as voters would like.'

As well as pressure over his lockdown exit plan, Mr Johnson is also facing growing pressure from his rival, the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

More than a third of people (35 per cent) said they approved of Sir Keir's response to the crisis as opposed to 20 per cent who disapproved.

Opinium conducted the survey of 2,005 UK adults online between May 13 and 14.
Doctors are concerned about a decline in the number of parents presenting children for routine vaccinations because of Covid-19 fears.

It comes as the HSE admitted delays in recording the number of vaccines administered since the crisis began.

These delays mean there is no new data available to measure the decline in vaccinations doctors are reporting.

Family doctors say there is anecdotal evidence of parents avoiding GP surgeries because of fears of contracting Covid-19.

The HSE said "recording of immunisation uptake records was proceeding but there may be delays in data inputting".

It said immunisation data for the first three months of 2020 will give an insight into the impact Covid-19 has had on the uptake of immunisation, but added this information will not be available "until later in the year".

Community health offices around the country are responsible for recording this information.

Vaccines for babies are recommended at two, four, six, 12 and 13 months and protect against 13 preventable diseases, including measles, mumps, polio and whooping cough.

The HSE also administers measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and the HPV vaccinations to children through its school immunisation programme but this is on hold while schools are closed.

The HSE said it hopes to reinstate the programme when schools reopen.

Doctors are now appealing for parents to make appointments to have their children vaccinated at their local GP surgery.

President of the Irish College of General Practitioners Dr Mary Favier said childhood immunisations were vital.

She has urged parents to contact their local doctor to arrange vaccinations, insisting that GP surgeries are safe.

In many cases, doctors are making early morning appointments for newborn babies so they can attend surgeries immediately after they have been sanitised and before other patients have attended.

"In our surgeries we have put rigorous safety procedures in place to ensure there is social distancing for patients who have to attend in person," said Dr Favier.

"We may not look open but we are here working in this 'new normal' way.

"GPs are prioritising childhood immunisations as an extremely important part of the continuing service that GPs provide.

"GPs are offering parents flexible options such as bringing young babies for childhood vaccinations first thing in the morning ."
Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday said the next coronavirus stimulus package must include greater paycheck security for tens of millions of Americans hit hard by the sudden economic downturn.

Asked on ABC News This Week whether hed vote for the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, the progressive Vermont senator and former Democratic presidential candidate said he would vote for a very substantive piece of legislation.

Sanders, Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Sen. Kamala Harris of California recently proposed a bill that would see millions of Americans receive at least $2,000 monthly over the next few months during the pandemic. For more on that package, read here.

In the last two months, 35 million people have lost their jobs, Sanders said, shrugging off the notion that Republican senators and the Trump administration werent in any rush to pass a fourth coronavirus relief bill. There are millions of people today who are hungry in America. There are people today who cannot afford to go to a doctor, even when they have coronavirus symptoms. There are elderly people who are sitting home alone who are scared to death about the future. If youre concerned about the working class of this country, understand the extraordinary suffering, unprecedented, that is now taking place. Demand that Congress act.

Sanders said the HEROES Act is significant and important but he wanted to see the Senate improve on it. That bill provides funds to local and state government, hazard pay for health care workers and a second round of direct cash payments of at least $1,200 to tens of millions of Americans. For more on the bill, read here.

Among other things, I happen to believe that we should go in the direction of a paycheck security process, similar to what has been done in Europe, which says to every worker in America: you will continue to receive your paycheck and the other benefits which you had when you were on the job, and when this crisis is over, hopefully sooner than later, youre just going to go back to work, Sanders said. I also believe that, during this crisis, instead of funding the COBRA program, what we should do is make sure that all people in this country, including the 87 million who were uninsured or underinsured before the pandemic, have access to health care. And you do that by allowing Medicare to fill in the gaps for the uninsured and the underinsured."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said theres no chance of the HEROES Act passing in the Republican-controlled Senate. But Sanders on Sunday called on GOP leadership to wake up and understand the severity of the crisis that were facing and the suffering that now exists.

President Donald Trump recently told reporters that were in no rush when it comes to a fourth stimulus package. He has previously said he wants to include funding for infrastructure, and his administration has been pushing for a payroll tax cut.

The Democrats have to do what they have to do, Trump said. We want to see what they have.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, in an interview last week with Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace, noted the federal government had already pumped over $3 trillion into the economy," much of it through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed by Trump in late March.

Mnuchin added that were going to be considerate. If we need to help the American people, in every aspect of this ... were willing to spend whatever it takes, but whatever it takes needs to be done carefully.

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Some supporters of the groups have also attacked President Trump for calling the killing horrible and saying Arbery looked like a wonderful young guy. A video clip of the president speaking about the incident was posted on a far-right channel with nearly 3,000 users on the messaging app Telegram. Using racist language, the poster said the reaction to the killing was a reminder that the United States is the Great Satan.
Returning to the office after the coronavirus lockdown might be a welcome step back to normality for many workers, but those who worry about the potential health risks are within their rights to keep working from home, employment lawyers say.

Erin Kidd, a senior lawyer at McCabe Curwood, said employers had a duty to provide a safe work environment and, at a minimum, were expected to follow government directions and recommendations.

Pan Sandar Myint works from her home in Yagoona in her garage. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Hot desking in open-plan offices, shared kitchens and crowded lifts are just some of the hazards companies will have to eliminate if they are to comply with the federal government's COVIDsafe plan for workplaces.

There were many reasons staff were justified to continue working from home, she said, including fear of contracting COVID-19 in the office or a lack of childcare. Others might be reluctant to get back on public transport. She said refusal to return to the office could also be considered reasonable if the employee was in a high-risk category for COVID-19.
Washington: Far-right and neo-Nazi groups are spreading racist and false information about a black jogger who was fatally shot in Georgia to promote their agendas on social media platforms, according to organisations that monitor online extremist activity.

Ahmaud Arbery, 25.

The campaigns gained traction after the release this month of a video showing the moments before Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was shot dead in February. Two white men were arrested and charged in the shooting after the video drew widespread attention to the incident.

Some of the online posts, which include racist language, memes and graphics, claim that Arbery was carrying a hammer and wearing boots when he was killed, as the groups try to create false narratives about his death, analysts said.

In the video, Arbery is wearing a white T-shirt, shorts and running shoes. Security footage shows a man in similar clothing who is believed to be Arbery entering a house under construction just before the shooting. The owner of the property has said nothing was stolen from the site.
By PTI

JERUSALEM: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday announced that a new government led by him will be sworn-in with a pledge of Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank to "write another glorified chapter in the history of Zionism".

On Wednesday, Netanyahu, 70, announced that he has succeeded in forming a unity government in letters sent to President Reuven Rivlin, and Blue and White party Chairman Benny Gantz, who was temporarily serving as the speaker of Knesset (Israeli Parliament).

"It's time to apply the Israeli law and write another glorified chapter in the history of Zionism," Netanyahu, who last year in July became Israel's longest serving Prime Minister surpassing David Ben-Gurion, said ahead of the swearing-in.

The government was to be sworn-in on Thursday but internal squabbles in the ruling Likud party over ministerial claims postponed it.

The new government, which according to the coalition agreement, will see Gantz replace Netanyahu as Prime Minister after 18 months on November 17, 2021, as the per power-sharing deal.

Netanyahu would then acquire the title of "Alternate Prime Minister", something that Gantz would now enjoy while also being the Defence Minister.

"The time has come for anyone who believes in the justness of our rights in the Land of Israel to join a government led by me to bring about a historic process together," Netanyahu said on the Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank.

The issue is "on the agenda" only because I acted on it personally," he stressed, saying he pushed for it for three years, publicly and covertly.

Dismissing claims that it will harm the efforts to strike a peace deal with the Palestinians, the hawkish Israeli leader emphasised that on the contrary it will promote the chances.

"These regions are the cradle of the Jewish people. It is time to extend Israel's law over them. This step won't bring us further away from peace, it will get us closer.

"The truth is, and everyone knows it, that the hundreds of thousands of settlers in Judea and Samaria will always stay put in any future deal," Netanyahu said.

The vast majority of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the region to be illegal under the international law, and as such stands against the proposed annexation of the area and other areas of the West Bank, such as the fertile Jordan Valley.

However, Israel's close ally the US has pledged to support the move as part of its "Deal of the Century" peace proposal unveiled earlier this year.

The plan backs Israel's annexation of most Israeli settlements and the Jordan Valley as long as it enters into peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that the bloc would use "all our diplomatic capacities" to try to dissuade Israel from going ahead with the move.

Some analysts have said that the annexation could prompt a break-down in the 1994 peace treaty signed between Israel and its neighbour Jordan.

A former minister of Jordan, Marwan al-Muasher, during a webinar last week, did not rule out the possibility of his country walking out of the historic agreement if Israel moves ahead with unilateral annexation.

According to the Netanyahu-Gantz pact, the government can begin moves to implement the Trump administration's peace plan from July 1.

"There will be no peace with occupation and apartheid", an Arab lawmaker, Yousef Jabareen, said.

Netanyahu praised the US' support for the move, but added that "Israel should rely only on itself to defend itself".

He also claimed that the unity government between him and Gantz avoided a fourth round of elections, which would have threatened the government's response to the coronavirus crisis.

"The majority of the public is glad to accept a unity government. The public wants a unity government, and that's what the public is getting today," he said.

He also pointed out that his Likud party "received the highest number of votes a party ever received in the history of the country".

Netanyahu was constantly booed by the Opposition members who shouted, "election fraud" and "pathological liar" while he spoke.

The government with 32 ministers initially will swell to 36 in six months, making it the largest government in the Jewish state's history.

Prominent ministerial appointments include Gabi Ashkenazi (Blue and White party) as foreign minister, Israel Katz (Likud) as finance minister, Avi Nissenkorn (Blue and White party) as Justice minister and Likud Yuli Edelstein (Likud) as health minister.

Netanyahu's close confidante Amir Ohana, currently serving as interim Justice Minister, is expected to receive the public security portfolio, which oversees law enforcement.

During his tenure as justice minister, Ohana repeatedly attacked the judiciary and those leading it as they pushed forward with criminal investigations, and eventually indictments, against Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and his trial is set to start later this month.

Ohana's possible appointment as public security minister has sparked speculation among top police officials that he may oppose possible new probes against Netanyahu.

The beleaguered Israeli Prime Minister managed to hold on to his right-wing bloc amid three inconclusive polls to force his main rival Gantz to finally succumb to the demand of a broad national unity government.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 17

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a phone call to President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on May 17, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani presidents press-service.

President Ilham Aliyev congratulated the Kazakh president on his birthday, and wished him the best of health and success in his activity for the development of Kazakhstan.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev thanked President Ilham Aliyev for the attention and congratulations.

During the conversation, the presidents exchanged views on the measures taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Pointing to the recent Summit of the Turkic Council held through videoconferencing, the presidents hailed the importance of the event in terms of strengthening cooperation and consolidating solidarity between the countries.

President Ilham Aliyev and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed prospects for successfully developing bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields.
Genevas Shear Perfection Barber & Beauty Salon, an institution in Northeast Portland for 30 years, has closed its doors. From its location on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the business had built a loyal and expansive customer base that included Portland Trail Blazers, dignitaries, and members of the African American community.

Paul Knauls, Jr., whose parents, Paul Knauls, Sr., and the late Geneva Knauls, opened the salon and barbershop, confirmed Saturday that the closure is effective immediately. He said the news of the closure had come out earlier than he had anticipated, and that, for the moment, he preferred not to go into greater detail.

I think were going to let the community heal right now, Knauls said. The family still owns the property where Genevas is located, he said. Its tough right now, Knauls said. And decisions like these arent easy.

On his Facebook page, Knauls addresses the news of the closure, which he says has to do with the realities of trying to operate a personal care business such as Genevas amid the coronavirus crisis, and the restrictions recommended to avoid spreading the pandemic, which has been hitting African Americans especially hard.

Paul Knauls Jr. is seen outside Geneva's Shear Perfection, his family's barber and beauty shop on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, in this Oregonian file photo. Portland, Ore. (Photo: Oregonian/OregonLive) NNS

The world has changed, Knauls wrote. COVID-19 is a Pandemic and it appears that the poor leadership of the country is not making it a priority to keep 70-80 percent of people that look like us in some areas of the country alive. We have a moral obligation to the village. We have always operated a safe environment for the families and employees in our community, and its one of the many reasons for our success in all of our enterprises.

Knauls goes on to say that, It is absolutely impossible from our point of view to operate our business safely. With the threat of this deadly virus ravishing the people we love it was not an option we were willing to consider. Too many people to track and trace in a business where people are in such close quarters. If you have four barbers who sometime see over 60 clients a week thats at least 240 people in week and could reach 1,000 in a month. Stop and wrap your head around that for just a second. If you consider those numbers COVID-19 will inevitably show up at our doorstep. The science is absolute. Thats too large of a burden to bear if the worst happens. Add stylist and their customers to that including the children of the next generation the risk is just not worth it.

The salon and barbershop is one of many businesses opened and operated by Paul Knauls Sr., and his late wife, Geneva. Knauls Sr. is affectionately known as the Mayor of Northeast Portland, and his career includes running the now-gone Cotton Club (which drew such famous names as Sammy Davis Jr.) and Genevas Restaurant and Lounge, serving as a Portland Rose Festival grand marshal, and remaining an activist in Northeast and North Portland even as gentrification forced many African American residents to move away.

Before he and his late wife Geneva owned Geneva's Shear Perfection, Paul Knauls Sr., owned several clubs on North Williams and North Vancouver Avenues. (Photo: The Oregonian/OregonLive/file) LC- Casey Parks/The Oregonian

On Knauls Jr.'s Facebook page, reactions to the closure of Genevas Shear Perfection are pouring in.

Loretta Smith, a former Multnomah County Commissioner who is currently a second-time candidate for Portland City Council, wrote, You and your family will be missed. I have no words to tell you how you have changed the trajectory to many lives by creating jobs and giving us a safe consistent place that we all can call home. Your family legacy is strong and will never be forgotten.

Jo Ann Hardesty, the former legislator who ran against Smith for City Council in 2018 and won, wrote on Knauls Facebook page, Sending hugs and love to you and your family. Challenging times call for courageous actions.

Genevas Shear Perfection was the definition of a cornerstone in Portlands black community, Chris Johnson, a Portland stand-up comedian, wrote. What Paul Knauls Jr and The Mayor himself created was one of the most important examples of a black business that represented more to the community than just a place to get a haircut. Im lucky to have grown up getting my haircut here. The memories are countless. If youve ever seen the movie Barbershop, thats about how important this shop was to us, even after a lot of us were displaced to other parts of the city. Thank you so much for the years of laughter and passive wisdom I gained absorbing the dialogue and history that held that place together for so long.

Knauls wrote that he intends to compile a list of every employee who has worked at the shop over the 30-year period, to express gratitude. To the children that grew up in the shop and went from little kids to engineers, doctors, lawyers, pro athletes, teachers, mentors, chefs, airline pilots, stylist, husbands and wives, and so much more, he wrote, thank you for making us a part of your life story and you a part of ours.

Of these times, Knauls wrote, Well ride it out together by sharing the love. We all need each other now more than ever.

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
ALCONA COUNTY, MI - A Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officer who recently responded to a report of an injured bear discovered it had been shot and paralyzed by a man who was upset the bear had gotten too close to his home.

A DNR incident report showed Conservation Officer Jesse Grzechowski went out to a call about an injured bear on private property in Alcona County in Northern Michigan and found the animal only had use of its front legs. A later investigation determined the bear had been shot in the spine and managed to drag itself about 150 yards away to an area where the DNR officer found it and put it down humanely.

With the help of Conservation Officer Jeff Panich, Grzechowski started a necropsy of the bear to figure out what caused the severe injury.

While doing so, a property owner in the area arrived on scene and advised he shot the bear," according to a DNR report. The conservation officers conducted interviews and determined the landowner shot at two bears with a .22 caliber rifle the night before, which had come on the property and into his garage. The injured bear had drug itself approximately 150 yards where it was located by the officers.

The DNR investigation showed the landowner had an active turkey feeder on his property, which may have attracted the bears. The officers searched for the second bear the landowner described shooting at, but did not find it.

The necropsy showed the injured bear had been hit twice by a .22-caliber gun. One of the shots hit the bears spine, causing the paralysis.

Charges are being sought through the Alcona County Prosecutors Office for taking a bear out of season.

READ MORE

Michigan man busted for illegally shooting turkey stashed it in old oven, DNR says

Drunken man arrested for driving ORV on Michigan highway with beer in cup holder
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 00:58:18|Editor: huaxia

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SKOPJE, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Rating agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor's reaffirmed the credit rating for North Macedonia with BB+ and BB-, respectively, the Finance Ministry said in a press release on Saturday.

Fitch evaluates North Macedonia with BB+ with a negative outlook due to the global pandemic, while Standard and Poor's with BB- with a stable outlook, said the Finance Ministry.

As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, both credit agencies project a slow-down of the global economy, predicting a contraction of the economic results in 2020 and recovery in the gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2021.

For North Macedonia, Fitch forecasted a contraction of the economy by 4.2 percent in 2020 as a result of the lockdown measures and 5.1 percent GDP growth in 2021, while Standard & Poor's forecasted a contraction of the economy by 5 percent in 2020 and growth by 3.8 percent in 2021.

"The rating agencies noted the measures taken by the government aimed at preserving jobs, supporting the most affected industries, as well as soft regulatory measures," read the press release.

Finance Ministry added that both reports stated that the measures taken by the authorities will contribute to the increase of the budget deficit, which is estimated to raise government debt to 50 percent.

"Fitch and Standard & Poor's rate the banking sector in North Macedonia as stable, as well as the domestic currency, which has a fixed euro exchange rate," said the Finance Ministry. Enditem
Ward six, bed 46. Im alone in a four-by-seven-metre room. A small narrow window in the door provides a glimpse into the inner workings of the hospital. The window to the outside world is filthy, covered by the bleach now used to wash it down between patients, the cleaner told me. It means you can hardly see out.

One overhears the nurses and doctors talking about each patient through the door. "Her obs are OK. Oxygen levels drop when she sleeps. Another chest X-ray ordered. Needs a daily blood test. Check number of breaths per minute."

Breathing difficulties associated with COVID-19 landed Gabriela Domicelj in hospital.

And the dreaded swab test. Ive had six: five positives and one negative (probably a mistake). A long stick up the nostril and another into the back of the throat. I am deeply grateful for the medical staff and systems we have in this country, but why are the hospital swab tests performed at 5am?

One day I heard a senior nurse talking to a junior nurse outside my room before he administered my swab test, his first. "They have to gag and cry out, then you know that youve done it right," she told him. I gagged appropriately and I could tell he smiled under his mask, pleased that he had completed the task well.
While the rest of the world is tentatively coming out of lockdowns, China is taking advantage of the cheapest crude oil in years to stock up as demand is starting to return in the worlds largest oil importer, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing tanker-tracking data it has compiled. At present, a total of 117 very large crude carriers (VLCCs)  each capable of shipping 2 million barrels of oil  are traveling to China for unloading at its ports between the middle of May and the middle of August. If those supertankers transport standard-size crude oil cargoes, it could mean that China expects at least 230 million barrels of oil over the next three months, according to Bloomberg. The fleet en route to China could be the largest number of supertankers traveling to the worlds top oil importer at one time, ever, Bloomberg News Firat Kayakiran says.

Many of the crude oil cargoes are likely to have been bought in April, when prices were lower than the current price and when WTI Crude futures even dipped into negative territory for a day.

Last month, emerging from the coronavirus lockdown, Chinas oil refiners were already buying ultra-cheap spot cargoes from Alaska, Canada, and Brazil, taking advantage of the deep discounts at which many crude grades were being offered to China with non-existent demand elsewhere.

Related: Goldman Sachs: Oil Market Headed For Deficit In June

China was also estimated to have doubled the fill rate at its strategic and commercial inventories in Q1 2020, taking advantage of the low oil prices and somewhat supporting the oil market amid crashing demand by diverting more imports to storage, rather than outright slashing crude imports.

Chinas crude oil imports jumped in April to about 9.84 million bpd as demand for fuels began to rebound and local refiners started to ramp up crude processing, according to Chinese customs data cited by Reuters.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government is eagerly awaiting guidelines from the Union government on lockdown 4.0, expected to be spelt out on Sunday. The state is keen on restarting economic activity in red zones too, considering cities are hubs of commercial activity, but is sceptical if the Centre will give permission for the same.

Karnataka has asked the Centre to identify clusters and localities as red zones, instead of categorising whole districts, so that economic activities can resume. The government is also hoping to allow skeletal public transport with ample social distancing norms.

App-based cab aggregators, however, are unlikely to ply in red zones but a final decision will be taken once the Centre releases guidelines. The government is not keen on opening malls, cinema halls or places of worship. The pre-monsoon season is the time for festivals and village fairs, and the government has its doubts about crowd control if places of worship are allowed to open.

Malls, cinema halls and parks, which attract heavy footfall, are also likely to remain closed. We are confident the Centre will ease restrictions on almost all things by May 17, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said on Friday.
Colonial Regional police are searching for a man they say stabbed a 52-year-old victim multiple times in his Hanover Township, Northampton County home and then fled.

The incident unfolded at 2:12 a.m. Thursday at a home along Stafore Drive. Police Detective Gary Hammer said the suspect was invited to the home by the male victim, but they were strangers. He declined to provide further details about why the pair met up, citing the continuing investigation.

A dispute ensued and the victim was stabbed multiple times before the suspect ran, Hammer said. The victim, who was only person inside the house, was able to call 911 for help, he said.

Hammer said there is no danger to the public at this time. The suspect is believed to have left the area but remains in Pennsylvania, he said.

The victim was listed in fair condition Sunday at an area hospital and is expected to survive his injuries, Hammer said.

Hammer did not provide a description of the suspect. Anyone with information are asked to call Colonial Regional police at 610-861-4820.

The incident remains under investigation by Colonial Regional police.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
The oil industry is in disarray. With few exceptions, this is the sector that investors should avoid right now. Yes, oil prices have gone up since bottoming out in late April, but the situation on the ground, particularly for the companies closest to the well, is still deteriorating. Simply put, every day that passes compounds things, since oil production continues to exceed demand.

Case in point: We asked some of our top energy contributors in late April to predict which oil stocks could go bankrupt in 2020, and we've already seen one of the four file for Chapter 11 and two others hire restructuring advisors. So we decided it's time to take another look at the oil sector, as it becomes more apparent which companies could be in the most trouble.

This time the list includes five oil stocks on the brink of financial disaster: Transocean (NYSE:RIG), Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY), Northern Oil & Gas (NYSEMKT:NOG), Chesapeake Energy (OTC:CHKA.Q), and Denbury Resources (NYSE:DNR). Keep reading to learn why our experts think these five oil stocks are very much at risk of being the next to file for bankruptcy protection.

Liquidity is running dry

Matt DiLallo (Transocean): A bankruptcy wave is starting to wash over the offshore drilling industry. Diamond Offshore Drilling has already filed, while Valaris seems days away. I think Transocean is next in line, given its massive funding requirements through the end of next year.

Credit rating agency Moody's warned that Transocean was is one of the most vulnerable oil stocks to a credit issue because of its upcoming financing needs. Not only does it have $1.7 billion of capital requirements for new drilling rigs, but it also has $1.1 billion of debt maturing through 2021. With junk-rated credit, and the issues in the offshore sector, Transocean will probably struggle to finance these obligations.

On a positive note, it does have some internal funding, with a total of $3 billion of liquidity -- $1.7 billion of cash and $1.3 billion of available credit. It also has a strong contract backlog that should provide it with between $600 million and $800 million of operating cash flow through the end of next year. While those funding sources are enough to cover its financing commitments during that timeframe, its liquidity will slowly drain to as low as $800 million by the end of 2021. Given that tightening situation, and the fact it has more debt maturing in 2022, Transocean seems destined to declare bankruptcy.

You don't hire a restructuring specialist when things are going well

Tyler Crowe (Occidental Petroleum): I can't say with any certainty that Occidental Petroleum will be the next one in line to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but it sure looks like it's on the list.

Last year, Occidental Petroleum made a massive bet on shale drilling when it acquired Anadarko Petroleum for $38 billion. To finance that deal, it took on a mountain of debt and even issued $10 billion in preferred shares to Berkshire Hathaway. At the end of this most recent quarter, the company reported total debt of $38.5 billion, $2.4 billion of which is due by the end of the year.

Occidental's original plan was to sell assets to raise cash, but that avenue is looking more troubled than before. On May 5, the Algerian government failed to approve a deal to sell Occidental's Algerian and Ghanaian assets to Total for $5 billion. Also, Occidental is struggling to find a buyer for its stake in Western Midstream Partners, which was supposed to be a significant source of cash to trim its debt load. With these deals going sideways, management admitted on its most recent conference call that anticipated asset sales won't be enough to cover its debt costs. Now, management has hired Moelis & Co., an investment bank known for handling restructurings, to help find "alternative methods" for trimming its debt load.

There are no instances where hiring a restructuring specialist is a bullish sign. The company has substantial debts and assets no one seems to want to buy right now. With $10 billion in preferred equity in addition to its debt load, there are a lot of people in front of common shareholders looking to get paid. If this oil downturn drags on any longer, Occidental is likely to be pretty high on the "next to file chapter 11" list.

Open the door for your maturity date

John Bromels (Northern Oil & Gas): A company generally doesn't declare bankruptcy unless it has a major debt maturity coming due and no apparent way to pay it, plus no obvious way to stave off creditors by selling assets, issuing additional stock, or using other financial tricks. While there are a bunch of oil companies that fit this profile, they're so small that I'm prohibited from writing about them so I don't influence their share price. Most oil companies with a market cap above $200 million don't have big debt maturities scheduled in 2020, making a bankruptcy this year unlikely. So I'm going with the next-best thing: Bakken Shale producer Northern Oil & Gas.

Northern needs to come up with $65 million by Jan. 1, 2021, to repay an unsecured credit note to VEN Bakken. If it can't scrape together the cash by the end of 2020, it could be a bankruptcy candidate.

Cash is in short supply at Northern -- just $8.5 million at the end of March. Meanwhile, the company has $975.3 million in long-term debt, more than 4.5 times trailing EBITDA. With its share price under $1, raising cash by issuing new shares isn't a viable option, and besides, Northern has already boosted its share count by more than 500% since 2018.

Northern does have $210 million left on its revolving credit line, which it could use to pay off the VEN Bakken note -- but that represents the bulk of its liquidity, so it might have to use that money on something else first.

Bottom line: While Northern may not declare bankruptcy in 2020, it's not in very good financial shape. That could make its next debt maturity in 2022 more problematic.

The end could be around the corner

Travis Hoium (Chesapeake Energy): When oil and natural gas prices crashed last month, there were more than a few companies that found themselves in a precarious financial position. Maybe no company was less prepared than Chesapeake Energy, the highly indebted energy producer.

Chesapeake was only breaking even before the oil crash hit, and once it did, the company counted losses in the billions. Putting that into perspective, last quarter's loss was a whopping $8.3 billion, dwarfing the company's $94 million market cap.

It may only be a matter of time before Chesapeake Energy goes bankrupt. The company has warned investors that it may not be able to continue as a "going concern," the language that often warns of future bankruptcy.

Big bets have always been a big part of Chesapeake Energy's strategy, and for a long time they paid off. But in 2020 the drop in price of oil has brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy. I wouldn't want to be anywhere near shares when that happens.

Never a good sign when a company does this

Jason Hall (Denbury Resources): On May 7, oil producer Denbury Resources filed a notice with the SEC that it wasn't going to file its first-quarter earnings report on time, because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business. The company said it would file by June 25, so investors are still six weeks from getting an update on the independent oil producer's financial position.

Considering the state of its business and balance sheet at the end of 2019, there's serious reason for worry:

Denbury also finished the year with more than $500 in available liquidity, but that amount could be substantially lower now, with its lending base redetermination on May 1 having come and gone. Needless to say, with oil prices down by more than half since the beginning of the year and a protracted downturn in demand likely, the banks that lend to oil producers may not be nearly so generous today, especially with another $615 million in secured debt due in 2021.

In its favor, Denbury had 69% of projected 2020 production hedged at $57.21 per barrel as of late February. But since then, nearly everything has changed in the oil patch. Those hedges will help offset the decline in prices, but won't make up for the crash in demand that could keep Denbury from selling excess production at any price.

Put it all together, and Denbury is caught between a rock and a hard place, with potentially a lot less liquidity than management expected to have, and nowhere to turn but bankruptcy if lenders won't play ball.
The Capital Region is ready to start Phase 1 of reopening with manufacturing, construction and curbside retail businesses to open up this week as soon as more contract tracers are identified.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday that Western New York and the Capital Region  which contains Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties  have both met the metrics for Phase 1 reopening.

The Capital Region needs to identify 166 additional contact tracers to meet the goal of 383 tracers. The tracers are tasked with keeping contact with positive patients and those who are quarantined.

The governor said his office will be working with both the Capital Region and Western New York to get that tracing up, but called that a purely administrative function.

Well be talking to the regional heads today to find those additional personnel to get them trained and get them ready, Cuomo said in his daily press conference. But thats the only function that has to be performed for those regions to open. And again, thats something that we anticipated, and thats just administrative and working together with the regions, we can get that done.

Warren County said Phase 1 of business reopening can start later this week. In the first phase, construction, agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, manufacturing and wholesale trade businesses are allowed to reopen, and retail stores can provide curbside or in-store pickup or drop-off.

The Restarting Washington County Advisory Committee plans to meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday to continue local planning and support efforts.

There were no new deaths in Warren, Washington, Saratoga or Essex counties Sunday.

Also on Sunday:

Warren County reported no additional people tested positive and the total number of cases remains at 220. Of that, 112 involved nursing home residents, 11 in assisted living and 97 in the community. Three other people have recovered.

There are now 139 recoveries.Two people are hospitalized. Two residents are considered in critical condition, one hospitalized and one in a nursing home. There were no additional deaths Sunday. So far 29 people have died.

Washington County reported one new case, for a total of 192 people testing positive, and two more recoveries, for a total of 155 people recovered. No one is hospitalized. There have been 13 deaths, but none reported Sunday.

Essex County continued to report no new cases, for a total of 49. Only one person in the county is in home isolation. There have been no new cases since May 5.

Saratoga County reported no new cases Sunday. So far, 423 people have tested positive. Six people are hospitalized. There have been 14 deaths.

Statewide, there were 374 new hospitalizations on Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in Sundays press conference. There were 139 deaths on Saturday, of which 106 were in hospitals and 33 were in nursing homes.

New hospitalizations are down and intubations are down, prompting the governor to call it a good day.

The governor urged people to get tested and demonstrated how easy it is by getting a test during his press conference.

New York State is doing more testing per capita than several countries, including the United States as a whole. New York is testing 7.1% of residents, double the national average.

This is a very big advantage for us, because testing originally was used to control the virus, Cuomo said. Now testing is really going to be very helpful in monitoring the virus.

There are now 700 testing sites. The state has more testing capacity than it is currently using.

The more tests, the better for the state, the better for society, the better for your family, the better for you, Cuomo said. Who can get a test today? Any individual who thinks they have a COVID symptom.

All essential employees are eligible for tests, and any individual who would return to workplace in Phase 1 is eligible for a test, he said.

Gretta Hochsprung writes hometown news and covers Washington County. You can reach her at ghochsprung@poststar.com or 518-742-3206. Follow her on Twitter @GrettaHoch or at her blog on www.poststar.com.

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In America, some frontline workers battling the coronavirus crisis aren't being given any time off. They're nose to the grindstone, around the clock without so much as a toilet break or a cup of coffee to keep them going.

Even in these strange times, it sounds like the sort of slave labour that would trigger global condemnation. But these are no ordinary workers. They are, in fact, a new generation of robots created to carry out repetitive back-office tasks that would otherwise be done far more slowly by a human.

The US government is using the computer software created by British technology company Blue Prism for so-called digital workers to process a loan application every 90 seconds to keep small businesses alive. Back in the UK, hundreds of the Warrington-based company's digital workers have also been deployed in the NHS to take on clerical tasks and allow staff to focus on saving people's lives.

Vision: Blue Prisms chief executive and chairman Jason Kingdon has helped secure an extra 100 million

For years, companies such as Blue Prism, one of the largest on the junior AIM stock exchange with a market value of 1.1 billion, have faced an uphill battle to convince sceptics that their robot worker technogy is part of the future amid fears of mass redundancies.

But Jason Kingdon, Blue Prism's chairman and now also chief executive, thinks the current crisis will prove a turning point. He believes the public, MPs  and sceptical businesses  will finally start to realise how valuable the service can be as firms look to save money without slashing jobs.

He uses the example of the NHS to explain. 'What this does is allow more nursing and frontline care to take place,' he says of robotic process automation.

'You see exactly the same thing with the police and other services using this technology. What these guys hate the most is when they get bogged down with administration.

'It's all the logistics behind the scenes. How do you keep up with the paperwork? If you're a frontline nurse, you deal with all that stuff, you register all of the administration to do with the patient.

'At the moment that's largely a manual process. You put a robot in there and you actually get time back for frontline activities and take them away from the paperwork that sits behind the scenes.'

Blue Prism's NHS workers  many of which were donated by the company during the crisis and now help more than 50 NHS trusts  carry out an array of administrative tasks from managing beds in wards and decontamination scheduling to signing up new staff quickly to help tackle the crisis and sharing respiratory data across agencies.

Its workers have also been tracking cases of Covid-19 in prisons. Last year, the Office for National Statistics found that 1.5 million people were at risk of losing their jobs to automation. Tech bosses have argued that the Government needs to do more to train workers to use technology so they are not left behind when it is commonplace.

But Kingdon, a pioneer of artificial intelligence, argues that these digital workers will not displace staff, but create new roles and increase productivity.

'We don't see digital workers being a replacement for human beings. We don't see it as a zero sum thing where it's 100 digital workers in and 100 people out,' he says.

By Blue Prism's reckoning, the business of the future will be made up of a third humans, a third digital workers, and the final third existing IT.

Giant corporations such as Coca-Cola, Telefonica and Npower already use its robots.

It might sound like complicated tech only for computer whizzes, but Blue Prism's robotic software is actually designed for the average person. Kingdon says it should be as easy as operating Windows  not like cracking the Enigma code.

'It's automation technology, but it's aimed at operational business users. So not people with technical degrees or backgrounds, it's aimed at generalists,' he explains.

'Any systems can be used by these digital workers. Anything becomes operable by these so-called robots. The way we do that is we get the piece of software to mimic a human being. It does this by reading the screens and using the user's interfaces in just the same way a human would. You have a piece of technology which is like a human being  you show it what it is you want it to do and then it can carry out those actions in the same way.'

This is how the company has been helping the US government process loan applications for small businesses. The government sets the criteria and Blue Prism's robots verify whether or not an application is suitable using artificial intelligence  and then issue it.

They are helping process mortgage holidays in the UK, but Kingdon says the company would love to be doing more here to help small businesses. His calls have fallen on deaf ears though.

'We've been trying to get through to the various relevant people to say we might be able to help,' he says.

'We think there's a lot more we could be doing in the UK. We've tried, we're putting various proposals in, specifically around these schemes to support businesses. HMRC  we'd love to be helping them.'

Kingdon, a computer scientist by background, has been involved with Blue Prism since 2008 when he joined as executive chairman.

He then took a backseat when the company floated in 2016 to focus on other things, including launching a nonprofit programme for AI research start-ups with University College London, helping the brightest PhD students turn ideas into companies.

But he has now returned full-time and taken over as chief executive from founder Alastair Bathgate, who remains an adviser.

'He's been doing this job for 19 years so nobody's going to begrudge him some downtime!' Kingdon jokes.

It means Kingdon has taken on the job during a huge crisis, but he doesn't appear daunted by the proposition and seems eager to take on as much new work as possible.

The company certainly has capacity to help more after it became one of the first firms to tap shareholders for more funds. It is now armed with an extra 100 million, which was a resounding endorsement of the company and its technology, Kingdon says.

'We still think this market's right at the beginning and that these digital workers are going to become very commonplace. And Covid-19 will put a spotlight on this.'

It's undoubtedly something plenty of companies will be thinking about as they navigate their way through the downturn.
If the scheme must be tied to payroll, there are far better ways to do it. It could instead cover a portion of total payroll up to a ceiling with some additional support for non-payroll costs, of the kind offered in the United States and other countries. To ensure no business got too much, the entire payment could be capped so the business made no more under JobKeeper than it did before the crisis. There has been widespread confusion about eligibility for JobKeeper. Most businesses qualify if they declare that they expect turnover to fall by at least 30 per cent in the coming quarter (or month if turnover is more than $20 million). But reasonable expectations are hard to police. As the Australian Taxation Office puts it: "We will accept your assessment of these turnovers, unless we have reason to believe that your calculation of your projected GST turnover was not reasonable."

Loading If things go better than expected and they end up not needing so much support, they get to keep the subsidy for the entire six-month period, regardless. A better approach would be to pay businesses up front some portion of total payroll for the same time period in the previous year. Then, after the fact, what they are eligible for could be calculated based on actual payroll. Any difference could be reconciled through the ordinary tax return process. Anything overpaid could be taxed back and any extra due could be paid out.

This would be simpler, clearer and better targeted, and solve the cash-flow problems businesses are complaining about, where they need to pay workers before they get the JobKeeper payments, but don't have the cash on hand to do it. The scheme is set to end after six months on September 27 regardless of economic conditions. Some businesses in some sectors are already back at work and others will come back soon. But some, such as those affected by the international travel ban, will be out of action until next year. For those businesses that recover quickly, support will be provided long after it is needed. But for some others, the maximum six-month time frame will be too short. A better approach would be to tie the duration to objective benchmarks tailored to particular sectors (such as the end of the international travel ban, for instance). Short-term casuals, most temporary visa holders, workers at certain foreign-controlled businesses, and employees at most universities were left out despite many of them working in the hardest-hit industries. The reported underspend on JobKeeper makes these omissions all the more puzzling.

There was never a good reason  morally or economically  to exclude these people, and the budgetary constraint has turned out not to be an issue. If changes to JobKeeper are to be made, these people should be included in the scheme immediately. Loading The JobKeeper legislation is merely a shell, with the details at the discretion of the Treasurer. This gives him the freedom to make whatever changes he sees fit. But whether he should do so is a tough call. There are clear flaws in the current system, and for many businesses it could be wound up earlier as the outlook has changed somewhat for the better. But the government made a clear commitment to these millions of businesses and workers to maintain a certain level of support for the full six months.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 01:33:19|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the "crucial role" of the United Nations and its agencies, said Volkan Bozkir, who is slated to lead the historic 75th session of the UN General Assembly which begins in September.

Bozkir outlined his priorities as president of the world's foremost multilateral forum, during a virtual interactive dialogue with UN member states held on Friday.

"The outbreak has coincided with the 75th anniversary of the UN. This is a stark reminder of the importance of effective multilateralism and, particularly, the crucial role of the UN and its agencies," he said.

As the coronavirus does not see borders or discriminate, he stated that the fight to defeat it should not result in stigmatization, inequality or injustice.

"A world free of COVID-19 will require the most extensive public health and social recovery effort all over the world," he said.

Bozkir commended the prompt action undertaken so far by the United Nations in the face of the crisis, including the adoption of several General Assembly resolutions which stress solidarity and cooperation.

"I truly believe that the General Assembly with its universal membership and equal status of all its members, as well as its democratic credentials, is the most appropriate platform to provide political guidance in responding to the pandemic," he noted.

Bozkir, who has served with Turkey's foreign service for nearly 40 years, is the sole candidate for the presidency of the body that brings together all 193 UN member states.

He pledged to work toward consolidating trust and cohesion among countries, major groups at the United Nations, and international organizations, and to ensure that the world's most vulnerable people have a voice.

With countries embarking on a Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, he called for the world's least developed countries, landlocked developing nations and small island developing states to remain a top global priority.

"The needs of the African countries and their special circumstances, including the 2063 Agenda, will continue to receive your attention," he added, referring to the African Union's blueprint to transform the continent.

"Another cross-cutting priority is to improve the living standards and rights of women. Women's full and equal participation in all spheres of life, by strengthening their status within society, is an absolute must in all our endeavors."

As president of the UN General Assembly, or PGA, he will be guided by efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and non-discrimination.

"Consensus building will be one of the core efforts during my tenure. I will use the extent possible, the moral authority and the soft power of the PGA. I will allow continuity with the work of the previous PGAs and make improvements where necessary," he said.

"The overall agenda of our organization requires close coordination among the UN decision-making bodies. I will try to address the gaps and duplications as they relate to the agenda of the General Assembly." Enditem
FREETOWN, May 17 (Reuters) - Police in Sierra Leone have arrested five expatriate staff of a subsidiary of commodities trader Gerald Group on suspicion of inciting unrest, the company and local authorities said on Sunday.

The staff members of SL Mining, who hail from the United Kingdom, South Africa, India and the United States, have not been formally charged.

The officer who ordered the arrests, Deputy Superintendent Theophilous Koroma, said they were suspected of inciting a riot in the town of Lunsar on April 30, in which two people died.

Police said the cause of the riots was not clear, but local media reports said they were sparked by the arrest of a local youth leader.

SL Mining said it had already conducted an internal investigation into the riot, which occurred near the Marampa mine, and found that its staff were not involved "in any way".

"We are naturally very concerned for the health and safety of our employees who continue to be detained at time when the country is in a state of emergency due to Covid-19. We strongly object to their arrest and continued detention," it said.

The arrests come amid a dispute between SL Mining and the Sierra Leonean government over royalty payments at the Marampa iron ore mine that resulted in the government cancelling the company's mining licence last year.

The International Chamber of Commerces emergency arbitration tribunal ruled last year that the export ban should be lifted, but Sierra Leonean authorities refused to do so.

The company estimates that Marampa holds about 1 billion tonnes of iron ore with a potential lifespan of 30 years. (Reporting by Cooper Inveen; Writing by Edward McAllister; Editing by Jan Harvey)
A truck ferrying 51 migrants to



Madhya Pradesh was intercepted near Chakan in Pune on Saturday by RTO personnel, an official said.

They had paid Rs 3,500 each to get to MP amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown, he said.

"They got back Rs 2,500 back but the remaining amount had been paid to an agent who is yet to be identified. The truck was intercepted on Pune-Nashik highway. The labourers had got in at Moshi. All 51 have been sent to a migrant relief camp," the Pimpri Chinchwad RTO official said.

Mayur Ugle, village development officer of Chandoli, where the relief camp is located, said the 51 have said they paid Rs 3,500 each to the driver.

"When we asked him to pay back the money, he could pay only Rs 2,100 per person as Rs 1400 per head has been given to an agent," he said.

Ajay Mudrankit, a senior assistant with the panchayat samiti said arrangements have been made to transport the labourers in buses to the MP border.

Ayush Prasad, the Chief Executive Officer, Pune Zilla Parishad said that RTO has booked a case against the truck driver.

"I have asked them to file a separate case so that the labourers get back rest of their money as well," he said.

Vinod Sagare, deputy RTO, Pimpri Chinchwad said 10 such goods carriers have been intercepted so far.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
While it is pleasing to see more attention being given to the current plight of the arts ("'First out, last back': arts chiefs appeal for support", May 16-17) it is disappointing that no mention is made of the large number of small and middle-sized drama companies, theatres and other venues where many of the workers are normally employed. As well as bringing live theatre to many, particularly in regional areas, these companies provide a training ground for actors, writers, producers and many other performers and tech specialists who later go on to work with the major companies. This lack of interest in supporting the arts is also seen in the exclusion of workers in this sector from the JobKeeper program. Arts companies were the first to be affected by coronavirus restrictions, and ongoing, albeit slowly easing, limits to audience numbers mean they will be among the last to recover. Appropriate government assistance is essential. Without it, the future will be very bleak for arts companies and not very entertaining for the rest of us. - Susan Threlfall, Minto Why has our government failed to provide support to a vital part of workforce, visual and performing artists? These people are essential, not only for the psychological health of the population but also for their contribution to the cultural experience and development of the nation. The arts, and also the neglected university sector, form the beating heart of our nation. Are we governed by a mob of Philistines? - Christine Perrott, Armidale What does rock'n'roll music have to do to be taken seriously as an art form? It is never spoken of or covered in the same tone as opera or classical music and is often relegated as an ephemeral pastime. Rock music is a constant in the lives of many. Yet the article on AC/DC, Australias most successful musical export, demonstrates how little we care about rock'n'roll ("A guide to AC/DC's high voltage Sydney", May 16-17). This is a band formed in Sydney but apparently there is no plaque or monument to record their roots and existence for people to be able to visit and see. Surely its time we acknowledged the importance of rock'n'roll music in our lives. - Con Vaitsas, Ashbury No, Richard Fry, Surf City was at the intersection of Darlinghurst Road and Victoria Street, and had nothing to do with the Metro Theatre, up the road at Orwell Street ("Postscript", May 16-17). Julie Andrews, as Mary Poppins, was probably Step(ping) in Time at one, while Richard was stomping to The Atlantics at the other. - Richard Mason, Newtown For safety, hospitalise the elderly

The push from the government to keep infected residents within aged care facilities is dangerous and misguided (Inside the House of heartbreak, May 16-17). The overall good of all residents and staff must be considered, regardless of whether residents have an advance care directive preferencing no transfer to hospital. Most nursing home staff are nursing assistants who have minimal training. These hard-working carers are risking their health and that of their families for about $23 an hour. There are empty hospital beds waiting for COVID-19 patients. We must stop putting uninfected nursing home residents at risk of transmission and death. - Belinda Stapleton, Roseville All but two of the residents of Newmarch House who died from COVID-19 did so at the home. Defending the failure to send them to hospital, a NSW Health spokesman referred to treatment guidelines that allowed for transfer to hospital only if their condition warrants it. Try telling the grieving relatives of those dead mothers, fathers and grandparents that their condition never warranted transfer to a hospital. - Karen Coleman, Waterloo Short memories George Megalogenis suggests international students will flock here because they cant enrol in northern hemisphere universities ("Back by degrees in road to recovery", May 16-17). Lets hope they have short memories and will forget how weve treated them. We were happy to pocket their fees but then left them unsupported and relying on charity for food, or telling them to go home. - Michael Berg, Randwick Nightingale's legacy

Thank you, Julia Baird ("Crucial professionals too often overlooked", May 16-17) for highlighting the debt that public health still owes Florence Nightingale. What might not be widely known is her influence in this country. The historic Nightingale wing at Sydney Hospital is a tribute by her colleagues, who introduced science-based nursing here in the 19th century. More recently, a window at the Chris OBrien Lifehouse bears her portrait. But there is a sad footnote to her outstanding contribution in the Crimean War. While her male counterparts were awarded knighthoods or peerages by Queen Victoria, Nightingale received a brooch. The nursing profession has come a long way in 200 years but it is still undervalued. - Margaret Johnston, Paddington Despite being university-educated, nurses still play second fiddle to other healthcare professionals. I helped campaign for nurses to move into tertiary education in the 1980s. It was hard won and many proclaimed nurses wont know how to give a bedpan if they train in universities. As Professor Jill White said, clapping and chocolates dont show value to the incredible work that todays nurses do. - Eira Battaglia, Seaforth No commute until safe Discouraging people from using public transport and to use their cars instead while giving over lanes to bicycles is crazy ("Commuter chaos forecast", May 16-17). Twelve at a time on a bus? Who would police this? Increase the supply of masks, hand sanitiser, make them cheaper and more plentiful and legislate they be worn and used, as well as enforcing staggered work times. Until then, the economy should not be restarted if we cannot move all the people safely to and from work. - Lyndall Nelson, South Turramurra Many of the cleaners who swab down our train carriages do not have PPE. Also, they are not being issued masks. They have told me there is a shortage of cleaning products as well. This is not good enough. These workers are providing an essential service. They need to be better protected by their employer to do this essential front line job - Bruce Rowpec, Annandale

Hell's kitchen Granted that restrictions are fortunately being eased in cafes, I fail to see the logic when I can see six to eight staff crammed into a handkerchief-sized kitchen when there are 10 customers widely spaced in an establishment with an indoor area and two large outdoor seating areas ("City cautiously optimistic as sense of normalcy returns", May 16-17). Is there a distinct social distancing rule for staff and clients? - Pastor de Lasala, Seaforth Pubs can now open for 10 seated customers and can serve alcohol only with food. But in Saturdays photo Dominic Perrottet is at a pub, standing with a beer in his hand. Wrong message? - Janet Grant, Mosman Look back with clarity Thank you, Luke Slattery, (Bold state activism drove us from our convict days, and can again, May 16-17). I have never so clearly regarded the occupation and evolution of our penal colony as the unsung hero of the Age of Revolution (1774-1849)". Importantly but briefly, you note it was, after all, founded on the oppression of another race. Lest we forget. But your reminding of the bold state activism which forged a social evolution to elevate a country and people under siege is most timely. Lets hope key policy-makers and decision-makers now see our history with fresh eyes and take heed. - Jennifer Fergus, Manly

They'll come for you Let me refer to the old mantra from World War II Germany, modernised and brought into an Australian Department of Home Affairs context: "They came for the asylum seekers, but I didn't object, I was not an asylum seeker. They came for the journalists, but I didn't object, I wasn't a journalist. They came for the alleged spies, but I didn't object, I was not a spy. They came for the 14-year-old children, but I didn't object, I was not 14 years old. Then they came for me." - Ian Usman Lewis, Kentucky Make psychiatry affordable GPs regularly encounter complex mental health patients who have limited means. Finding a psychiatrist prepared to see them and receive only the Medicare rebate or even slightly more in return (Letters, May 16-17) is very difficult. This care was provided in the past by local community mental health centres. Some psychiatrists charge in the vicinity of $700 for an initial visit. At this time of massive unemployment, government funding must be allocated to provide affordable access to psychiatric assessment and care. - Dr Louise Dolan, Birchgrove Rubbery figures

There were 594,000 jobs lost in April, increasing the unemployment rate from 5.2 per cent to just 6.2 per cent? Something doesn't add up. An extrapolation of 1 per cent suggests a working population of 59,400,000. A case of damned lies and statistics at work? - Rod Milliken, Greenwell Point A matter of taste We had a COVID-19 scare the other day. My partner thought that she'd lost her sense of taste  turns out it was just my cooking. - Malcolm McCallum, Dulwich Hill Strife of Brian I wish Michael Dwyer had checked his facts when writing this otherwise interesting article ("Highway to rock posterity", May 16-17). Brian Johnson is described as an "English singer from Dunston, Lincolnshire". Ummm, I dont think so. Clearly, he has never heard Brian speak or he would know hes a proud Geordie from Dunston, Tyne and Wear. - Lesley Jolly, Croydon
Beijing Exploits Identity Politics to Deflect Pandemic Blame, Expert Says

The Chinese regime has leveraged identity politics in the West to deflect attention from its role in causing the global COVID-19 pandemic, according to historian Victor Davis Hanson.

Over the past few months, Beijing has deployed an aggressive information campaign aimed at shaping the narratives surrounding the pandemic in its favor. That involves trumpeting itself as a global leader in fighting the disease, suggesting that the virus originated from outside of China, and criticizing other countries handling of the outbreak, while obscuring its coverup of the initial outbreak.

One element in this strategy is playing the victim card, Hanson said.

Theyre very manipulative in the sense of tapping into the race, class, gender, progressive identity politics, Hanson, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, told The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program.

They understand the mind of the left, that they can somehow pose as a victimeven though they were the victimizer in this crisis.

The regime in Beijing does this, Hanson says, by branding themselves as part of the American otherthat is, not part of the white majority.

In March, the regime lashed out at President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials for using the phrases Chinese virus or Wuhan virus to describe the disease, calling them racist and xenophobic. During the early stages of the outbreak, Chinese state media had itself used the name Wuhan pneumonia in its reporting.

China is a victim not only of the disease itself, but also of disinformation, Cong Peiwu, Chinas ambassador to Canada, claimed in a recent interview with local media outlet Global News.

The result of this strategy, Hanson said, is that Westerners are much more careful to say anything negative about China, because theyre going to come completely back, and then tap into the identity-politics movement.

Hanson pointed to the regimes hypocrisy, Theyre a monoracial culture for the most part, and theyve been very racist in their policies toward other countries.

He added: They have a million people in reeducation camps. They practice a systematic discrimination against Africans who they ostensibly champion. Theyve destroyed the culture of Tibet, and yet, they pose as shocked and disillusioned with American xenophobia and racism and illiberality.

While the Chinese regime has lashed out at instances of anti-Chinese racism overseas amid the pandemic, its failed to stop racist treatment of Africans at home. As a result of virus-related discrimination, African migrants in the southern Chinese province of Guangzhou have been barred from shops, restaurants, and hotels, and evicted from their homes.

Hanson called out Western media outlets that have repeated the Chinese regimes propaganda in order to criticize Trump.

We had this Orwellian situation where the media was not just anti-Trump, but was actually picking up talking points from China, he said.

By that, I mean, they would say, well, China did much better than Donald Trump and handling the virus, they have fewer cases and few fewer fatalitieseven though we know that none of the information from China could be trusted.

Calls from the United States and Western countries for the regime to provide information concerning the origins of the virus are likely to go unheeded by the regime, Hanson says.

I dont think were going to find that because to get that information would be synonymous with an admission of culpability, he said, noting that the information, at best, would reveal Beijings failure to disclose what it knew about the outbreak in a timely manner, and at worst, could show the virus was leaked from a lab.

Such an act would, in effect, amount to the regime saying, We, the Chinese Communist Party, are responsible for killing a quarter-million people so far  and destroying the economy as we know it, Hanson said.

Were never going to hear that from them. I cant think of a communist government in the history of civilizations thats ever been veracious or transparent.
Judge rejects churches challenge to Ill. worship restrictions, calls exemption request selfish

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A judge has ruled in favor of an Illinois order that prohibits in-person religious gatherings of more than 10 people, rejecting the request of two churches for an exemption.

Earlier this month, Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church of Chicago and Logos Baptist Ministries of Niles filed a lawsuit requesting a temporary restraining order against the enforcement of the state order.

U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman issued an opinion Wednesday rejecting the request, arguing that the churches request for an injunction and blatant refusal to follow the mandates of the Order are both ill-founded and selfish.

An injunction would risk the lives of plaintiffs congregants, as well as the lives of their family members, friends, co-workers and other members of their communities with whom they come in contact, wrote Gettleman.

Their interest in communal services cannot and does not outweigh the health and safety of the public.

Gettleman also rejected the argument that in-person worship services pose no greater risk when it comes to spreading the coronavirus than secular venues such as grocery stores.

Gatherings at places of worship pose higher risks of infection than gatherings at businesses, he asserted. The congregants do not just stop by Elim Church. They congregate to sing, pray, and worship together. That takes more time than shopping for liquor or groceries.

All public and private schools serving pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade students have been closed under other Executive Orders. And under this Order, theaters and concert halls, which clearly resemble the layout of plaintiffs churches, are completely banned from hosting any gatherings.

Pastor Cristian Ionescu of Elim Romanian said he intends to continue to fight the order, posting a statement online Thursday in which he said his church plans to continue holding services.

We will have services this coming Sunday at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., and I invite you to come and see how we take temperatures, how we maintain 6 foot bubble and all other precautions, Ionescu said.

You say that your drastic measures are meant to save lives! We dont want anybody to die either! But if you wait until every place is to be 100% safe, theres no such place; your recovery scheme will last forever!

Earlier this month, a judge ruled against The Beloved Church of Lena, another Illinois church that has held in-person worship despite state restrictions that was suing the state over the restrictions.

U.S. District Court Judge John Lee argued in his decision that the foundational rights secured by the First Amendment are not without limits and that an April 30 order by Gov. Jay Pritzker did allow for in-person worship under certain circumstances.

The Court is mindful that the religious activities permitted by the April 30 Order are imperfect substitutes for an in-person service where all eighty members of Beloved Church can stand together, side-by-side, to sing, pray, and engage in communal fellowship, wrote Lee.

Still, given the continuing threat posed by COVID-19, the Order preserves relatively robust avenues for praise, prayer and fellowship and passes constitutional muster.
Home  Just In  Minister prepares to forward new Nepal map, with Kalapani, to cabinet

Kathmandu, May 17

Sources in the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation say the ministry has already finalised the new map of Nepal that also incorporates the disputed Kalapani region and Minister Padma Aryal soon forward it to the cabinet.

After India published its new political map in November last year incorporating the disputed region, the government of Nepal had also ordered the ministry to publish the new map so as to give an encounter, owing to a widespread protest of the Indian move and Nepals inability to resist.

As India inaugurated a link road to Manasarovar via the disputed land earlier this month, the government is again under the pressure to publish the new map as soon as possible.

As President Bidya Devi Bhandari announced to publish the new map next fiscal year in the governments annual policy and programme on Friday, minister Aryal is preparing to table it in the cabinet seeking approval soon, according to the sources.

Earlier last week, Aryal had told Onlinekhabar that her ministry was always ready to publish the new map, but was delaying the publication hoping the issue could be resolved through talks first.
President Emmanuel Macron is to lead commemorations of Nazi Germany's invasion of France on Sunday in the department of Aisne. He will pay tribute to the "spirit of resistance" of Charles de Gaulle, who on 17 May 1940 led an armoured division in the Battle of Moncornet as an unknown colonel  his first steps towards becoming the leader of the French Resistance.

Macron's highly symbolic visit to northern France is his first presidential trip in more than two months, coming a week after his government began easing the two-month lockdown put in place to combat the coronavirus.

He is to visit Dizy-le-Gros, a small village northeast of Laon, where a monument pays tribute to those who fought in the Battle of France  a battle which, despite 60,000 deaths, remains "a blind spot in French military memory", according to the Elysee Palace.

President Macron will then make a speech in La-Ville-aux-Bois-les-Dizy, remembering Charles de Gaulle, who on 17 May 1940 led the 4th Armored Division in a bid to slow the rapid advance of the Nazi forces in the Battle of Montcornet.

The attempt was short-lived but would later be considered a "courageous defeat"  one of the few examples of a counterattack where France showed its armed forces could put the Germans in trouble.

De Gaulle, returning to the scene a quarter of a century later as President of the French Fifth Republic, said in that defeat were sown the seeds of hope that eventually grew into the liberation of France.

'Year of de Gaulle'

The founding president was an inspiration to the incumbent, according to Macron's entourage at the Elysee. With his visit to Aisne, the president kick starts the "year of de Gaulle", a series of commemorations leading up to the 50th anniversary of the death in November of the founder of the Fifth Republic.

Macron has made it a key part of his presidency to remember French heroes, often leaning on themes of unity and combativity as a means to overcome times of crisis.
Almost 50 years ago, an unknown writer produced an epic novel focused on the pivotal Civil War battle of Gettysburg. Historical fiction though it was, Michael Shaaras The Killer Angels painted a vivid Pulitzer Prize-winning picture of what its like to be pitched into a large raging battle with confusion reigning. What is the enemy throwing at the other side? Exactly where, and in what numbers with what firepower? Is this a major push or only a feint with the main offensive being directed elsewhere? Valid intelligence is unavailable, and meanwhile, soldiers are confronted with a world of smoke, noise, and screams and rifle fire pointed in their general direction.
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Thousands of people drove past St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester on Saturday in solidarity with Rutland Police Officer John D. Songy and the healthcare professionals that are treating him and others for COVID-19.

John is still in critical condition but is showing signs of improvement, Joanne Songy told MassLive.

He is currently being treated at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester and as a show of solidarity, Rutland Police Officer Jesse Catino, Johns colleague at the Police Department organized the drive for Saturday.

Catino was surprised at the number of people that turned up. Originally, he had planned for 100 or 150 vehicles from Johns car club.

According to Rutland Police Officer Jesse Catino, who organised the drive past said the procession took 42 minutes to drive pass without stopping. A lot more people came to show solidarity than he was expecting. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Its overwhelming the amount of love and support that everyone is showing us right here today, you know, we all want John to get better, said Joanne. To come home and to come back to his community. Theyre just showing that with this love and support for this cruise today.

Catino is part of a group called Cruise For Sanity, that each week while observing social distancing by staying in their vehicles, go for a short drive as a group. This week its for John and the healthcare workers.

John and his wife Joanne, a nurse, both tested positive for the coronavirus on April 23. Joanne was able to overcome the virus quarantining at home, she said. John did not recover as quickly and was admitted to St. Vincent Hospital around 1 a.m. Saturday, May 2 for shortness of breath, a major symptom of COVID-19.

I feel amazed that as many people want him to get better, said Johns daughter Katelyn Songy. I love my dad and I just want what's good for him and it seems like everybody else wants him to get better as well.

Rutland Police Officer John Songy's daughter Katelyn Songy, Mark Carlson and their son Wyatt John Songy show the thanks to the healthcare professionals that have been working to save her fathers life. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Katelyn usually works on Saturdays but wants to attend the drive-by and join potentially thousands of others to show the support of John and the healthcare professionals at St. Vincent Hospital.

As an essential worker at the Big Y in Amherst, Katelyn is worried about the exposure to the virus that she and her family endure daily as a result. She tries to put the worries she has to the back of her mind to be at the drive-by.

Johns father, Alfred Songy came with a plaque that the Rutland Police Department gave him before he became ill. Alfred told MassLive that his wife, Johns mother couldnt attend because the worry about her son became too much and she needed to rest.

Rutland Police Officer John Songy's father, Albert Songy show thanks to the Healthcare workers at St. Vincent Hospital and across the U.S. for the work they are doing during the pandemic. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

My wife's not dealing very well with it. That's why she's not here. But she's holding her own, said Alfred. That's the way it goes. All you can do is pray and hope for the best and hope the best of everybody else.

John has been on a ventilator since Saturday and is still in critical condition at St. Vincent Hospital after his body rejected the medication remdesivir, used in some cases to treat COVID-19 symptoms.

He has been fighting coronavirus since he and his wife Joanne, a nurse, both tested positive on April 23.

Joanne overcame the virus quarantining at home. John, however, did not recover and was admitted to St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester on Saturday, May 2, around 1 a.m. for shortness of breath.

John has a lot of family in Louisiana and I have some family thats in Florida that couldnt be here today, said Joanne. This covid-19 is scaring everybody. People have sent me messages, theyre afraid to come out but they send their love and support.

Video is 35 minutes long! What an amazing show of love and support! So glad we were able to be there! Continued prayers and well wishes for John! Feel free to save or share  Posted by Christina Halbedel on Saturday, May 16, 2020

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Sam Wood and Snezana Markoski welcomed their daughter Charlie in July.

And on Sunday, the doting mother shared adorable photos of the nine-month-old at their Melbourne home, to Instagram.

Little Charlie looked cute as a button as she beamed for the camera in a bear onesie.

Unbearably cute! Sam Wood's wife Snezana Markoski, 39, shared adorable photos of their nine-month-old daughter Charlie in an animal onesie, to Instagram on Sunday

In the pictures, Snezana's baby girl made a number of animated facial expressions as she played on a fluffy rug inside a beautifully set-up room.

Snezana told fans in the post's caption how Charlie loves animals so much, that she pats them on the wall paper in her nursery.

'Charlie loves this wall art so much that she pats the animals which is the cutest thing I've ever seen,' she penned online.

Too cute: In the pictures, Snezana's baby girl made a number of animated facial expressions as she played on a fluffy rug inside a beautifully set-up room

Adorable: Snezana told fans in the post's caption how Charlie loves animals so much

Animal lover: 'Charlie loves this wall art so much that she pats the animals which is the cutest thing I've ever seen,' she penned online

'I tried to get a photo of her doing just that but this is what she gave me!'

Meanwhile, earlier this month, Snezana and Sam, 39, revealed how they celebrated Charlie taking her first steps.

Appearing on Channel Seven's The Morning Show, Sam said: 'Little Charlie took her first steps on the weekend, so that was a big milestone.'

'That means she's more mobile than ever,' the personal trainer added with a laugh.

On the move: Meanwhile, earlier this month, Snezana and Sam (pictured), 39, revealed on Seven's The Morning Show that Charlie took her first steps

Host Larry Emdur then asked the couple: 'Was Charlie's first step a normal step or more of a lunge?', to which he jokingly answered: 'It was a one-legged burpee with a clap.'

Snezana and Sam met on the third season of The Bachelor in 2015, and married late last year in Byron Bay.

They are proud parents to three children: Charlie, daughter Willow, two, and 14-year-old Eve - Snezana's daughter from a previous relationship.
Chaffee County Sheriffs Office

Authorities said theyve found a personal item belonging to a missing Colorado womanthe first break in a fruitless five-day search for the mom-of-two that has so far stumped investigators.

Suzanne Morphew, 49, disappeared last Sunday while on a bike ride outside Maysville, Colorado. She was first reported missing by a neighbor that evening. Search crews of more than 100 investigators, eight tracking dogs and four drones, as well as members of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, South Ark Swiftwater Rescue and Reach Air Ambulance have been unable to find her. The investigation is still open, and authorities have yet to rule out foul play.

The Chaffee County Sheriffs Office announced Friday that they had found a personal item belonging to Morphew on Thursday, but did not say what the item was or where exactly it was found. The sheriffs office did say that nearly 90 investigators searched a 2.5-mile area around where the item was located in hope of finding more clues, and were still soliciting tips.

The Chaffee County Sheriffs Office, with support of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will continue to follow-up on tips forwarded to investigators, the office said in a statement.

Morphews husband, who was reportedly out of town on the day she went missing, has offered a $100,000 reward for information regarding her disappearance. The reward was increased to $200,000 on Thursday after a friend matched the donation, according to The Denver Post. A GoFundMe started by Morphews nephew to aid searchers had also raised more than $28,000 by Saturday afternoon.

Morphews nephew Trevor Noel told CBS4 that her bike was found the evening she disappeared but the family dont know what condition it was in. Sheriff John Spezze told the TV network Morphew had probably not been taken by animals.

Shes a beloved member of her family and the sweetest person that youve ever met, Noel told CBS4, adding that family members had been out searching the hilly terrain. We want to leave our options open and we want to make sure that we cover every hill and know that everyone out here is doing everything they possibly can to find her.

Story continues

Others have established a Facebook page to share updates and articles about the search. The page was flooded with comments from friends, relatives, and former students at Hamilton Heights, a middle school in Indiana where Morphew taught from 1995 to 1999.

My thoughts and prayers are with you! Her students from Hamilton Heights are hoping and praying for her safe return! wrote one former student. My heart has broken in a million pieces and I wish I could stand with you in the search!

She was my sixth grade English teacher at Hamilton Heights, another wrote. One of the sweetest most caring teachers I've ever had.

Anyone with information about Morphews disappearance is asked to call the dedicated Colorado Bureau of Investigations tips line at (719) 312-7530.

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A woman and a young boy drowned in a pool at the home of former Los Angeles Dodgers player Carl Crawford on Saturday afternoon.

Crawford was hosting a gathering of six people at his home in Houston, Texas, at about 2.40pm when the tragic incident occurred.

Police told the Houston Chronicle that the boy was five years old and that he had been in the backyard pool when he started having trouble breathing.

A woman, 25, and a boy, five, drowned in the backyard pool at MLB star Carl Crawford's (pictured) home in Houston, Texas, on Saturday afternoon

Crawford was said to have been hosting a small gathering of six at his home (pictured) that day

A 25-year-old woman then jumped into the pool to try to save the boy.

Neither the woman or the boy were able to get out of the pool and were unresponsive when first responders arrived.

TMZ reported that Crawford tried to resuscitate them before authorities arrived, but was unsuccessful.

Houston police said the victims were taken to the hospital where they were declared dead.

The boy was in the backyard pool (pictured under construction) when he started having trouble breathing, police said. That's when the woman jumped into the pool to try to save him.

Footage obtained by KHOU showed Crawford talking with police after the incident.

It's unclear what the relationship was between Crawford and the victims, or between the woman and boy.

Sources told TMZ that the woman was taking care of the boy that day.

Fox 26 reported that forensic teams and police were still at Crawford's hone late Saturday evening.

Gatherings of under 10 are currently allowed under Houston's stay-at-home order.
Job offers revoked. Internships canceled. The next chapter of life on hold.

The class of 2020 started college eight semesters ago during the fall of 2016. Donald Trump was elected president that semester, and political tensions on campus were high.

Four years later, the class of 2020 is again seeing their college experience defined by another watershed event: A global pandemic that has killed tens of thousands in the United States, infected more than 1 million people and widened the political divide.

Part of me feels selfish for being upset, said Alec White, a graduate of media studies at the University of Houston. The other part of me realizes, Youve been looking forward to this for four years. But public safety is more important.

White, who planned to work as an actor this summer before productions were canceled, is one of millions of graduates who have had post-college plans turned upside down by the pandemic. The new graduates are being forced to reevaluate everything from moves across the country to career decisions.

Just a year ago, the class of 2019 graduated into one of the tightest labor markets in history and found themselves in high demand as employers fought for workers. Now, the rapid economic downturn caused by the coronavirus and mandated business closures to stop it have resulted in what is perhaps the worst job market for high school and college graduates since the Great Depression.

Even the financial crisis that started in 2007 was not nearly as deep, sudden and quick. More than 36 million Americans have applied for unemployment benefits in a little under two months. The unemployment rate soared to a post-World War II high of 14.7 percent  a record that would be 5 percentage points higher if those who are furloughed were counted.

HARD TIMES: Long, difficult Houston recession ahead

In Houston and across Texas, a historic oil bust has made conditions even tougher for local graduates. Bankruptcies, layoffs and spending cuts are not only battering the oil industry but also the sectors that support it, from manufacturing to professional services to restaurants.

They may not get their first best job in this labor market, said Pia Orrenius, a labor economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. People who start in a recession have persistently slightly lower wages than people who start in a boom. Theyre going to have to be more aggressive later in their career to make up for starting in this economy.

Back to the drawing board

As the economic crisis has unfolded, university career centers had to rapidly adapt to help students navigate situations that would have been unthinkable just a few months ago. What should they do if their job offer is revoked? What about delayed? What if their employer is not responding?

Monica Thompson, executive director of University Career Services at the University of Houston, said job postings on the universitys vetted job search site have dropped by around 45 percent from December to the end of April.

The situation is taking not just a financial toll on students but also an emotional one, she said.

Its not always just that they graduated and need a job, Thompson said. You have anxiety and some grief that goes with their job loss, or maybe their parents job loss. Were in crisis mode advising students.

For some students, the pandemic has upended plans made months ago. Daniel Pham, a Rice University computer and cognitive sciences senior, was offered a tech job in Seattle for a cybersecurity company last fall. He accepted, relieving him of the stress of looking for a job during his senior year.

Until April. Thats when the company told him that they couldnt honor the offer due to the economic impact of the pandemic. Pham said the company helped him connect to computer science recruiters but resuming a job search has not been easy.

Ive had my days, he said, trying to remain positive. Eventually Ill get a job, maybe not right now, but the market will open back up. I have my parents' support. I know things are going to be OK for me, and a lot of people dont have that.

NIGHTMARE SCENARIO: Unemployed Texans hit snags, panic in claiming jobless benefits

Even Ph.D. mathematicians are having trouble in this job market. Hyunkyu Jun, who received his doctorate from Rice on Saturday, said he was applying for software engineering jobs at companies such as Airbnb, Uber and TripAdvisor, only to see them slash spending and lay off workers. He went back to the drawing board.

My favorite (field) is software engineering, he said, but I feel like in this pandemic, I cant really stick to that.

In limbo

Other students, who didnt have job offers lined up but expected to find projects for the summer or jobs within a few months of graduation, find themselves stuck in unemployment limbo.

Gabriel Theis, who graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in media production, had plans to move to Los Angeles in the fall to begin working in the film industry. Now, his plans to get started working toward a career as a screenwriter are on hold. A job with the Census Bureau that he had lined up to make extra cash during the summer was postponed until at least June, he said.

Production jobs in Los Angeles have dried up as films are postponed or canceled. So instead of saving money to move this fall, hell push back his plans by at least a year while he picks up freelance video-editing work from his bedroom in his familys home in Eastwood.

I consider myself very fortunate, so I dont want to sound like Im complaining, its just not what the plan was, he said. Its surreal for sure to finish this four-year journey inside my house.

Even among those who are not graduating this year, students are beginning to reevaluate their plans, since the unfolding economic crisis has meant canceled or postponed internships and fellowships. Blake Fishbeck, a rising senior majoring in chemical engineering at Texas A&M University, had lined up a summer internship paying $20 an hour at a liquefied natural gas company in The Woodlands.

But as the coronavirus depressed energy demand and prices, Fishbeck, 21, began to see friends lose internships. He got the dreaded call revoking his internship a day before his first final exam last month.

I was so excited to land that job, he said.

SLOW GOING: Houston businesses tentatively reopen

Kiersten Potter, president of the Student Engineers Council at A&M, said a survey of her organizations members found that more than one-fourth had internship offers rescinded. As a result, the group launched its own internship program, which will encompass teams of five students, guided by professors, working on projects from a company or the university.

My hope, said Potter, also a rising senior, was that people could go into the career center next fall and have something tangible to put on their resume.

Dont take a gap year

While university career centers are working diligently to connect job opportunities to their graduating students, theres no way around it: The job market is terrible. Unemployment is high and getting worse as companies furlough and lay off workers. Companies avoiding layoffs have frozen hiring.

Orrenius, the Dallas Fed economist, said that perhaps the best thing for graduating seniors to do is acquire skills  and wait.

Just go to a masters program and dont take a gap year, she said, if the student can afford it. If not, she said, find another way to stay competitive: Take a skills training course, do volunteer work, try to find a project.

The most important thing is that you do something, Orrenius said, whether it is taking a class or doing training, because your skills begin to depreciate.

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Regardless of what graduates do to adjust their plans, they should make sure it keeps them focused on long-term goals while also recognizing the massive challenge of todays labor market, said Ivette Mekdessi, assistant director of career development at Rice.

There are many different ways to gain and use transferable skills, Mekdessi said. With students, sometimes, they are their harshest critic. Job loss grief is real.

L.M. Sixel contributed to this report.

erin.douglas@chron.com

twitter.com/erinmdouglas23
Two police personnel were



killed and three others injured in an encounter with Naxals in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district on Sunday morning, an official said.

The exchange of fire took place in Poyarkoti-Koparshi forest area between 6 am and 6.30 am when a Quick Response Team from Bhamragadh and C-60 commandos of Gadchiroli Police were out on a joint anti-Naxal operation, a release from the office of Gadchrioli superintendent of police said.

Sub-inspector Dhannaji Honmane and constable Kishore Atram were killed in the skirmish, while three other personnel received injuries, the release said.

Police said four to five Naxals were also possibly killed in the encounter.

The injured police personnel were rushed to a nearby hospital and the bodies were brought to Gadchiroli city in a helicopter.

Honmane was a native of Pandharpur in Solapur district while Atram hailed from Bhamragadh in Gadchiroli, sources said.

C-60 is a specialised anti-Naxal unit of state police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Letter to the Editor:

Being an old guy I realize I have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. However, it seems some factions of the government and the main stream media are attempting to terrorize my age group. The virus is going to kill us all! Of course, the flu or pneumonia would do the same. Governor Cuomo of New York greatly assisted the virus by forcing nursing homes and assisted living facilities into taking back virus victims from hospitals and causing the deaths of many residents. Who knows, this might help with his pension problems.

Other far left state governors such as Pritzker in Illinois, Whitmer in Michigan and Newsom in California and others will do us all in with a forever shut down. In the case of Illinois there are more cases of Covid-19 in the City and County of St. Louis than in ALL of Southern Illinois. Yet Governor (Pritzker) wont let any counties in the state of Illinois open at all. Madison County is defying the Governor and he is threatening to withhold federal COVID funds from them.

I suppose these governors could round up the seniors and march them to an isolated part of Oklahoma like the Trail of Tears. It would be for our own good and they would enforce social distancing. Or maybe send us to concentration camps like the socialists did in World War II. Again it would be for our own good. After all, citizens should never be allowed to make their own decisions.

If re-election is difficult for these governors they can probably find similar employment in China.

Kenneth L. Deal

Elsah
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 16:42:34|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Members of a Chinese medical team pose for a photo upon their arrival at the airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Shoubao)

By upholding the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, China has been

- providing updates on COVID-19 in a timely manner

- unreservedly sharing its experiences in epidemic response and medical treatment with the WHO and the international community

- strengthening cooperation on scientific research

- providing assistance to all parties to the best of its ability

BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant loss of life, disrupting livelihoods, and threatening the development and prosperity of the world.

As solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to fight the pandemic, China has been boosting international cooperation in an open, transparent and responsible manner since the onset of the unprecedented health crisis.

By upholding the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, China has been providing updates on COVID-19 in a timely manner, unreservedly sharing its experiences in epidemic response and medical treatment with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international community, strengthening cooperation on scientific research, and providing assistance to all parties to the best of its ability.





UNPRECEDENTED, EFFECITVE MOVE

In the face of a ballooning epidemic, the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Jan. 22 ordered Hubei province, the center of the outbreak at the time, to impose comprehensive and strict control over the outbound population flow, an unprecedented but effective move in modern Chinese history.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks at a daily briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, March 9, 2020. (Photo by Li Ye/Xinhua)

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the serious lockdown measures not only protected the Chinese people, but also prevented the spread of the virus to other countries.

"China has rolled out perhaps the most ambitious, agile and aggressive disease containment effort in history," said a report released in late February by the WHO-China Joint Mission on COVID-19, consisting of 25 experts from eight countries and the WHO itself.

"Because of this strategy, if it weren't for China's efforts, the number of cases outside China would have been very much higher," he said at a WHO Executive Board meeting in Geneva.

After a nine-day field trip in Beijing and other Chinese provinces, the China-WHO expert team concluded that China's unprecedented responses to the COVID-19 outbreak have yielded notable results in blocking human-to-human transmissions of the virus, preventing or at least delaying hundreds of thousands of cases.

Medical workers transport a COVID-19 patient to the CT room at the Zhongfaxincheng campus of Tongji Hospital affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, March 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

The Chinese people stand on the frontline of defense in the fight against the pandemic, and have made huge contributions and sacrifices in order to safeguard the health and safety of people around the world, which deserves the respect of all countries worldwide, said Ivica Dacic, president of the Socialist Party of Serbia.





CHAMPION OF MULTILATERALISM

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his address to the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit in March, proposed that a Group of 20 (G20) health ministers' meeting be convened as soon as possible to improve information-sharing, strengthen cooperation on drugs, vaccines and epidemic control, and cut off cross-border infections.

He also proposed a G20 COVID-19 assistance initiative for better information-sharing and policy and action coordination with the support of the WHO.

In a phone conversation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday, Xi said that China firmly supports the United Nations and the WHO in playing their due roles in international cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the same day, he urged the international community to step up support for Africa's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. There are currently 75,498 cumulative COVID-19 cases in 53 African countries, with 2,561 deaths, according to WHO data.

China, on top of paying its assessed contributions to the WHO on time and in full, has recently donated a total of 50 million U.S. dollars to the WHO to support its response to the pandemic.

Photo taken on May 16, 2020 shows medical supplies from China at Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Egypt. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)

Besides, Chinese medical teams have conducted some 400 training sessions in Africa to share its anti-epidemic experiences and have trained 20,000 local medical workers, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday.

As of mid-May, the Chinese government has provided anti-epidemic supplies to more than 150 countries and international organizations, held over 120 video conferences with more than 160 countries and international organizations, and sent 21 teams of medical experts to 19 countries.





TECHNICAL EXCHANGE

Since the beginning of the outbreak, China has not only promptly shared with the world such critical information as the whole genome sequence of the virus, but also its diagnostic and therapeutic experiences.

It has also established close technical-level communication mechanisms with international organizations such as the WHO, the European Union, the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

A member of the medical team of the Second Military Medical University puts on protective clothing at Hankou Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Starting from Jan. 3, China has begun to inform the United States of the novel coronavirus outbreak and response measures on a regular basis. When an expert evaluation team from China's National Health Commission identified a novel coronavirus on Jan. 8, heads of Chinese and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention talked over the phone to discuss technological exchanges and cooperation.

By carrying out timely technical exchanges with the international community, such as the WHO, the United States, and countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America, Chinese scientists and health experts worked with their global peers to share their knowledge about the virus to help countries develop testing kits and adopt response measures.

Chinese scientists and political leaders have made efforts to help the world understand the virus and contain its spread, said Fabrizio Pregliasco, a researcher at the Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health at the University of Milan.

China sets "an excellent example of 'peer to peer' experience-sharing," said Maria van Kerkhove, technical lead for the WHO's Health Emergencies Program, adding that the WHO looks forward to seeing more direct interaction of that kind. 
The Delhi Police on Sunday arrested Delhi Congress president Anil Chaudhary for allegedly violating lockdown orders. He was later released on bail. According to the police, Chaudhary was asked to remain home and refrain from visiting the Ghazipur border in east Delhi, but he is alleged to have mobilised migrant workers and visited the spot.

The deputy commissioner of police (east), Jasmeet Singh, said Chaudhary was booked under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for violating the provisions of the lockdown.

Chaudhary said he was at Ghazipur to help migrant workers with food and water. If this is the crime that I am being booked for, then all the Congress workers and I will keep committing this crime, he said.

A senior police officer, who did not want to be named, said Chaudhary and his workers had visited Ghazipur on Saturday night, after which the gathering of migrant labourers swelled suddenly. Many of them had also hidden in trucks and tempos arriving at the Ghazipur vegetable market, according to the officer.

After a lot of efforts overnight, we managed to disperse the crowd and the situation was controlled. There were allegations that many migrant workers were being transported across Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border with the help of people with links to political parties. As a precautionary measure, we placed Chaudhary under preventive detention and asked him not to visit the area until the situation is completely under control, the officer said.

Chaudhary said that on Sunday morning, a team of police officials came to his house and detained him without any reason. They kept asking me why I went to the Ghazipur border yesterday (Saturday). I was there with some Congress workers to try to help the migrant labourers there with food and water. We saw that one of the women there was pregnant and went into labour, and our workers took her to Dr Hedgewar Arogya Sansthan, which was nearby, said Chaudhary.

He said, We have been working to help the migrant labourers for several weeks now. We have also converted our state unit office into a shelter facility for them.

The Delhi Congress lashed out at the police and the Central government for taking action against those helping the poor during the ongoing crisis. This (helping the migrant labourers) is the job that the government should be doing. But they are not even allowing other people to help them. This is the time when the migrant workers need our help and support. Help from anywhere should be accepted and appreciated. Instead of doing that, you are sending the police after them, said Abhishek Dutt, vice-president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee.

The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) national secretary, RP Singh, said that help from all quarters is welcome, but people have to follow the law. If they want to help people, then they should. But they should take necessary permission from the subdivisional magistrate. There is no point blaming the Centre or the police, as law has been put in place to fight the contagious disease. Police officials are just following the law. The Congress is unnecessarily politicising the issue. The present rules in Delhi have the approval of the state government, which is not under the BJP.
Add it to the list of terrors of the natural world  including murder hornets and feral hogs  that have been disrupting life these days: The Argentine black and white tegu, an invasive lizard species from South America, has taken root in Georgia, where it poses a threat to native wildlife, according to state officials.

We are trying to remove them from the wild because they can have negative impacts on our native species, John Jensen, a biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, said in a recent video while holding one of the lizards. They eat just about anything they want.

Eggs are one of the tegus favorite foods, and its not picky about which kind, whether alligator, quail, turkey or gopher tortoise (Georgias official reptile).

Tegus, which can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh 10 pounds or more, also eat fruits, vegetables, plants, pet food and insects. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources said that Florida, which has been dealing with tegus for more than a decade, is not aware of any predatory attacks on pets in that state.

First spotted in the wild in South Florida in 2008, the lizards quickly expanded and found their way into the Everglades, where they encountered a bountiful menu of native wildlife. The reptiles have been trapped and killed as nuisance animals in southern Miami-Dade and Hillsborough counties.

Mr. Jensen said that the lizard, native to Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina, has become established as an exotic invasive species in areas of South Florida and in Toombs and Tattnall counties in Georgia.

Since 2018, the departments wildlife resources division has been looking into reports of the tegu in parts of eastern Georgia.

Department officials say it is most likely the lizards in the state originated with captive animals that either escaped or were released. Although Georgia permits the ownership of tegus as pets and they are popular in the animal trade, it is illegal to release nonnative species into the wild without a permit, according to the state.

Because they are more tolerant of cold than many reptiles, tegus are likely to spread through Georgia and cause bacterial contamination of crops and spread exotic parasites to native wildlife, the department said.

The invaders are also squatters. Although tegus will make their own burrows, they will also use the burrows made by other animals, including our native gopher tortoise, and they may displace gopher tortoises in doing so, Jensen said.

The Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Geological Survey and Georgia Southern University are trapping the tegus, tracking reports and assessing the population. The department is asking that people who see any tegus in the wild, dead or alive, to photograph their location and report them online.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Health workers prepare to receive overseas Vietnamese people repatriated on a flight at Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh province (Photo: VNA)

The male patients were repatriated from Russia on Flight VN0062 on May 13. After landing at Van Don International Airport in northern Quang Ninh province, they were immediately kept in quarantine at the military school of Thai Binh province.

Patient 319, 26 years old, is being treated at the Hanoi-based National Hospital for Tropical Diseases No. 2. Meanwhile, Patient 320, 29 years old, is under treatment at the General Hospital of Thai Binh province.

They added up to 320 patients of COVID-19 in Vietnam at present, including 180 imported cases who were quarantined upon their arrival in the country.

As of 6pm of May 17, Vietnam had not recorded any COVID-19 infections in the community for 31 consecutive days.

There are 10,962 people under quarantine now, including 293 at hospitals, 8,631 at other quarantine facilities, and 2,038 at home.
Whilst it may not be a huge deal, we thought it was good to see that the Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (SGX:S63) Independent Non-Executive Director, Chin-Hu Lim, recently bought S$99k worth of stock, for S$1.32 per share. Although the purchase is not a big one, by either a percentage standpoint or absolute value, it can be seen as a good sign.

See our latest analysis for Singapore Technologies Engineering

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Singapore Technologies Engineering

In fact, the recent purchase by Chin-Hu Lim was the biggest purchase of Singapore Technologies Engineering shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. We do like to see buying, but this purchase was made at well below the current price of S$3.27. Because it occurred at a lower valuation, it doesn't tell us much about whether insiders might find today's price attractive.

Chin-Hu Lim bought a total of 94.40k shares over the year at an average price of S$1.88. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

SGX:S63 Recent Insider Trading May 17th 2020

There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Insider Ownership

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Insiders own 0.3% of Singapore Technologies Engineering shares, worth about S$33m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

So What Do The Singapore Technologies Engineering Insider Transactions Indicate?

Story continues

The recent insider purchase is heartening. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. Insiders likely see value in Singapore Technologies Engineering shares, given these transactions (along with notable insider ownership of the company). While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Singapore Technologies Engineering you should be aware of.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
New Delhi, May 17 : A Delhi court has sent a Jamia Millia Islamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha to judicial custody till May 31 in connection with the December 15 violence in the Jamia Nagar area in the city, police said on Sunday.

The third-year student of Persian language was presented in court after his arrest in connection with the violence during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Protesters had clashed with police near Jamia varsity on December 15, leaving at least 40 people, including students and policemen, injured.
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIAAt the first meeting of the World Health Organizations governing body since COVID-19 stormed the globe, China is set to be challenged on two of its most sensitive issues: the Communist Partys initial handling of the virus and the status of Taiwans participation.

While the U.S. has launched a daily barrage of attacks on China, including suggesting the virus escaped from a laboratory in the central city of Wuhan, the European Union and Australia are set to play a key role pushing for a probe into the viruss origin when the World Health Assembly  the WHOs decision making body  gathers Monday for an annual meeting in Geneva.

A U.S.-backed bloc is also pushing for Taiwan, whose handling of the virus has been a rare success story, to attend the meeting as an observer. The move  aimed at strengthening Taiwans official and unofficial diplomatic relationships  has angered China, which views the island as a province and has long sought to isolate it on the world stage.

The showdown reflects a broader geopolitical struggle pitting the U.S. and its allies against China, whose authoritarian system has come under scrutiny in the wake of a pandemic that has killed more than 300,000 people and devastated the global economy. The U.S. has suspended funding for the WHO, claiming its biased toward China, and even suggested setting up an alternative body.

Yet for all the noise, most analysts expect China to command support from a large swathe of the nearly 200 countries taking part in the assembly that need good relations with the worlds second-biggest economy to shore up domestic growth. And any effort to replace the WHO is also unlikely to gain traction.

As much as the WHO has struggled and been the subject of criticism in this crisis, any replacement would look remarkably similar to what we have today, said Natasha Kassam, a former Australian diplomat in China who is now a research fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. It is hard to imagine an effective global health institution that excluded China, and its hard to imagine the United States making Taiwans participation a red line.

Still, the anger in some parts of the world over Chinas response to the pandemic is still fresh, and will likely play out this week. Apart from an initial coverup, the world has become increasingly upset with Chinas heavy-handed response to any criticism.

Australia in particular has felt the heat from Beijing, which threatened a boycott of its goods and also suspended meat imports from four processing plants for technical reasons. The government in Canberra called the boycott threats economic coercion and hasnt backed down on its calls for a virus probe.

You cant let the trail go cold, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters on May 8. And I think Australia and the United States and the United Kingdom and countries all around the world would like to know what happened, because we dont want to see it happen again.

While the EU was still working out the wording of the proposal in the run-up to the assembly, the European Commission has said a draft resolution envisaged calling for an independent review on lessons learned from the international health response to the coronavirus.

Australia has said that could happen through the WHOs Health Emergencies Program, which was set up after the Ebola crisis in 2014, and the International Health Regulations Review Committee, which assessed the response to the H1N1 pandemic in 2009.

The building acrimony has also made more countries willing to pressure China on Taiwan, which is a red line for authorities in Beijing. President Tsai Ing-wens government in Taipei has made a vocal pitch to be included in the proceedings this week, saying it needs access to firsthand information about the spread of the disease.

The WHO has said its Ethiopian director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has no mandate to offer Taiwan an invitation to the assembly because there is no clear support among member states. He in April had accused Taiwan of being behind a racist campaign against him and Africans in general  a charge that Taipei rejected as slander.

A proposal backed by 13 member states has called for the assembly to make a call on whether Taiwan can attend. China has blocked Taiwans participation in the organization since the independence-leaning Tsai was elected in 2016 and refused to accept that both sides belong to one China.

The U.S. is determined to see Taiwan participate in the meetings as an observer, with a spokesperson at the U.S. Mission in Geneva saying that lessons from its successful experience fighting COVID-19 would be of significant benefit to the rest of the world.

The Peoples Republic of China would rather that success not be shared, no doubt to avoid uncomfortable comparisons, the spokesperson said.

For its part, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said it firmly rejects countries proposal to invite Taiwan to attend the assembly, and has also blasted the call for an independent probe into the virus origin as political manoeuvring.

Certain countries insisted on discussing proposals involving Taiwan to politicize a public health issue, Zhao said Friday. This consequence can only severely interfere with the progress of the conference and undermine international co-operation.

China is confident that the majority of countries wont allow Taiwan to participate as an observer, and Beijing would never allow an independent investigative team inside its borders, said Shi Yinhong, an adviser to Chinas cabinet and also a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing.

Its becoming clear that Chinas basic stance is to reject criticism, and focus on the efforts it has made in the global fight, Shi said. This is a position that China wont change, hence posing a sharp opposition to the voices accusing its coverup and claiming accountability.

Legally, theres no provision in the WHOs constitution, resolutions or rules of procedure that would prevent the WHO director-general from inviting Taiwan to the assembly as an observer, said Julian G. Ku, a distinguished professor of constitutional law at Hofstra University who studies Chinas relationship with international law. Since nobody is asking the WHO to invite Taiwan as a member state or to recognize Taiwan as the representative of China, the bodys citation of a 1971 United Nations decision recognizing Beijing is irrelevant, he said.

Still, a majority of assembly members are likely to block Taiwans participation, according to Kharis Templeman, an adviser to the Project on Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution.

Its just a fact of international politics now that most countries arent willing to risk their relationship with the PRC to take symbolic actions in support of Taiwan, he said, referring to Chinas formal name. As long as Beijing makes countries choose between them, Taiwan is going to lose.

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Over 400 people from the Northeast, including at least 87 from Tripura, are stranded in Bangladesh, Russia and Ukraine, and the Centre is taking necessary measures to bring them home, a minister here said.

Addressing a press conference at the civil secretariat, Tripura education minister Ratan Lal Nath said the Ministry of External Affairs, in association with the Home Ministry, was making all efforts to ensure the safe return of the people stuck abroad amid the COVID-19-induced lockdown.

The High Commissioner of India in Dhaka is coordinating with the Union government to arrange for transit of 53 people from Tripura stranded in the neighbouring country, Nath said on Saturday.

A total of 198 people from the northeastern states, including 25 from Tripura, will be brought back from Ukraine, while nine from the state were among the 177 set to fly home from Russia, the minister said.

"Those stuck in Ukraine and Russia would fly down to Guwahati in Assam, while 53 from Dhaka would directly reach Agartala in a bus. Their travel itinerary would be available soon," Nath added.
Washington, May 17 : A Committee in the Democrat-led US House of Representatives has announced that it had launched an investigation into President Donald Trump's firing of the State Department's Inspector General Steve Linick.

The Foreign Affairs Committee said in a statement on Saturday that the investigation was launched by its chairman Eliot Engel, and senator Bob Menendez, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, reports Xinhua news agency.

The two Democratic lawmakers requested that administration officials preserve all records related to the firing and turn the information over to the committees by May 22.

"Chairman Engel and Ranking Member Menendez requested that the administration turn over records and information related to the firing of Linick, information about Stephen J. Akard, whom the State Department has announced will lead the OIG (Office of the Inspector General), and records of all IG investigations involving the Office of the Secretary that were open, pending, or incomplete at the time of Linick's firing," said the statement.

The probe was launched after Trump's removed Linick on Friday. A former prosecutor, he was appointed to the role in 2013 by then-President Barack Obama.

According to media reports, Trump said in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that he "no longer" had the "fullest confidence" in Linick and promised to send the Senate a nominee "who has my confidence and who meets the appropriate qualifications".

In an earlier statement, Engel said that the OIG had opened an investigation into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, noting the removal of Linick "strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation".

Citing a Democratic aide, The New York Times reported that Linick was probing whether Pompeo had misused a political appointee at the State Department to perform personal tasks for himself and his wife.

A State Department spokesperson said that Director of the Office of Foreign Missions Stephen Akard would lead the OIG in an acting capacity.

Akard previously served as senior foreign affairs advisor to several governors of Indiana, including Vice President Mike Pence, according to his profile on the State Department website.

This is the latest in a series of dismissals of independent government watchdogs, the BBC reported.

Last month, Trump dismissed Michael Atkinson, the inspector general of the intelligence community.

Atkinson first alerted Congress to a whistleblower complaint that led to Trump's impeachment trial.
Kathmandu: The COVID-19 lockdown that has brought the whole world to a standstill, has let the natives in Kathmandu Valley (Nepal) to witness Mount Everest for the 'first time in many years'.

The pictures clicked by Abhushan Gautam and shared by Nepali Times on Twitter have gone viral on social media platforms and resulted in comments like "Nature always healed herself" and "Let nature takeover".

Nepali Times shared the pictures and wrote, "The COVID-19 Lockdown has cleaned the air over Nepal and northern India. So much so that for the first time in many years, Mt Everest can be seen again from Kathmandu Valley even though it is 200km away."

The #COVID19Lockdown has cleaned the air over #Nepal and northern #India. So much so that for the first time in many years, Mt #Everest can be seen again from #Kathmandu Valley even though it is 200km away. More breathtaking images by @AbhushanGautam: https://t.co/IqFZw39haC pic.twitter.com/ErTJa7kPJo  Nepali Times (@NepaliTimes) May 15, 2020

"The reduction of vehicular emission due to the COVID-19 lockdown has cleaned the air over Nepal and northern India. So much so that the Himalaya is visible from Chandigarh, Kangchenjunga is visible from Siliguri. And for the first time in many years, Mt Everest can be seen again from Kathmandu Valley even though it is 200km away," the photographer was quoted saying in the Nepali Times.

Earlier in May and April, pictures of Mt Everest being visible from a village in Bihar, several mountain ranges been seen from Uttar Pradesh and Punjab also went viral on social media.

Meanwhile, a Chinese government-backed team has planned to summit Mount Everest this week to measure the mountain's current height.

"As long as the weather holds, the team expects to reach the summit by Friday morning", Wang Yongfeng, deputy director of the mountaineering administrative center of the General Administration of Sport, was quoted by Xinhua News Agency.






On May 4, world leaders gathered for a virtual vaccine summit.

Most of America's allies took part in the donor event organized by the European Union.



Some nongovernmental organizations participated, too, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Overall, about $8 billion  and a sense of solidarity  was raised.



The United States was a no-show.



It is true, as Trump administration officials stressed in an off-the-record briefing with Washington reporters (which is telling in itself), that America is a significant and generous contributor to global health efforts (until it is not, as seen in the decision to suspend World Health Organization funding).



But it is counterproductive, from a health and geopolitical perspective, that the U.S. has abdicated its global leadership position on the most significant crisis since World War II.



"The more we pull together and share our expertise, the faster our scientists will succeed," said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, channeling the can-do spirit of the summit.



Pulling together is key to accelerate vaccine development that can saves lives, and livelihoods, worldwide. "Almost every major advance that the scientific community has made in a number of areas, not just COVID-19, has relied on international collaboration  it's so critically important," Dr. Timothy Schacker, vice dean for research at the medical school at the University of Minnesota, told an editorial writer.



"That position of keeping the United States away from that kind of collaboration is likely to impede the speed in which things can get done," Schacker said. "The best idea could emerge from anywhere in the world, but it's going to take a lot of countries to take that idea forward."



This collection of countries has historically been led by the U.S. through military, diplomatic, economic or medical responses to transnational challenges, including health crises like Ebola and AIDS.



But the Trump administration has consistently conceded this leadership to others, and even questioned some of the very alliances and international institutions America helped develop  often to the country's great benefit  in the postwar era.



The administration's stance "reinforces the perception that the United States is not interested in working with others to tackle global challenges," Richard Haass, president of the Council of Foreign Relations, told an editorial writer.



Haass, a former diplomat who is the author of "The World: A Brief Introduction," among other books about foreign policy, added that the administration's stance has potential health ramifications, too.



"It probably slows down the search for a potential vaccine because there is not the pooling of resources that there could or should be," Haas said. "And if it turns out an effective vaccine were to emerge from this effort it disadvantages the U.S. because others would claim they deserve to take care of their citizens first."



A vaccine, by definition, is preventive. One is needed, of course, for the virus. But there's also a need for a geopolitical vaccine to prevent a loss of international coordination and common purpose. It's not too late for President Donald Trump to rise to the gravity of the crisis and position the country to provide leadership in both pursuits.





The above editorial appeared in the Star Tribune (Minneapolis). It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency.




The Center of Public Associations hosted a conference dedicated to Day of Constitution and National Flag of Turkmenistan, marked on May 18. The forum was organized by the Mejlis (parliament) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. It brought together members of the government, parliamentarians, representatives of political parties and public associations, heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Ashgabat, journalists and students of the higher education establishments.

Speakers at the conference stressed that Turkmenistan's independence and the key vectors of development of the Turkmen state and society were enshrined in the Constitution, which was adopted 28 years ago.

The conference participants paid much attention to issues relating to the implementation of the country's foreign policy strategy. It was emphasized that the principles of peaceful coexistence, good neighborliness and mutually beneficial cooperation set out in the Constitution of Turkmenistan serve as the foundation of the Turkmenistan's foreign policy.

Speakers at the conference also emphasized the importance of the National Flag of Turkmenistan as a symbol of the country's independence. It was noted that the Turkmen flag embodies the basic principles of the policy of peacefulness, good neighborliness and international cooperation pursued by neutral Turkmenistan.

 TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2022
Toronto police have arrested a suspect in the death of a man whose body was discovered early Thursday in the laundry room of a midtown apartment building.

The victims body was discovered on May 14 at around 2 a.m. after police responded to reports of a fire at a building near Balliol and Yonge Sts.

The body was found in the buildings laundry room, Toronto police said, and had obvious signs of trauma.

Later Thursday, police identified the victim as 52-year-old Peter Elie of Toronto.

A cause of death has not been released.

On Friday, police arrested Rico Harvey, 27. He was charged with second-degree murder.

Harvey was scheduled to appear in a Toronto court on Saturday morning.

Elie, who was known as DJ Blue Peter, was a prominent figure in Toronto's gay community.

For more than two decades, he was the disc jockey for Sunday night drag show parties at Woodys on Church St., and he also played a number of bars and clubs in the Church-Wellesley area.

People dropped off flowers and mementos on the bars front steps late Thursday afternoon after Elie was identified as Torontos latest homicide victim.

He was the sweetest. He always saw the good in people, said Woody's bar manager Dean Odorico, who called Elie a good friend.

The 519 grieves with our Church Street community this evening after learning of the loss of Peter Elie. DJ Blue Peter was the heart and soul of many of our gathering spaces for over 20 years, where he shared his passion for music and bringing our communities together, read the note from The 519, a city organization dedicated to advocacy for the inclusion of LGBTQ communities.

As a community, we will remember the vibrance he brought to The Village over the years.

With files from Raneem Alozzi and Joanna Lavoie.
Representative image

Hareesh V

The outbreak of COVID-19 has adversely hit the global economic activities and the demand of industrial metals. Many non-ferrous metals which are widely used for industrial applications are currently placed at their multi-year lows.

Aluminium plunged to a four-year low in the key London Metal Exchange recently. The commodity has been under pressure since mid-2018 when US and China began setting tariffs and other trade barriers on each other. In addition, a sharp drop in demand due to the negative economic effect of coronavirus and hopes of a massive supply glut contributed to the fall in prices.

Aluminium demand declined drastically since many countries imposed nationwide lockdowns to prevent the spread of the virus. A sharp plunge in industrial activity especially in the areas like automobile sector adversely hit the metal.

However, despite a huge decline in demand, refiners continued to keep output levels steady due to a fall in input costs. Almost 40 percent of the cost of production is accounted for by electricity, which is cheaply available due to low oil prices.

Growing supplies coupled with weak demand is likely to leave the markets with a huge surplus. As per studies, the market surplus will continue for the current year and next. The increased stocks are currently reflected in warehouses monitored by London and Shanghai exchanges.

China is the worlds leading consumer and producer of the commodity. As per the International Aluminium Institute, China accounts for almost 55 percent of the metal produced globally.

The recent massive selloffs in the metal lead Chinese aluminium prices to four-year lows but have since recovered swiftly. Chinas domestic prices outpaced other international markets by gaining more than 10 percent since April. The robust recovery was due to the increased need for re-stockpiling as buyers considered current prices were low.

Government-subsidised stocking programs also lent support to Chinese aluminium prices. As per reports, many Chinese provinces are considering commercial stockpile plan to support domestic industries. However, there are expectations that the price gain in Chinese markets may be short-lived due to weak global economic growth. A large glut in stocks may also dampen the sentiments.

Economic slump due to the deadly pandemic in the top commodity consumer China was even larger than analysts feared. The same sour economic numbers have now started to come out from other virus-infected countries. Feeble economic releases from the largest economies like the US, China, Japan and the European Union are signalling that the global economy is heading into a recession.

Looking ahead, a swift turnaround in demand is least expected. Global industrial activities continue to be on the lower side due to the negative impact of the pandemic. New tensions brewed in the markets about termination of a trade deal between the US and China and this will perhaps influence the trend of commodities in the coming days. Meanwhile, massive economic boosting measures from Central Banks could offer lower-level support to the metal. If demand collapses further, smelters may be forced to cut production which may weigh the present oversupplied market as well.

On the price side, LME stiff support is placed at $1,450 a tonne. A direct drop below the same would trigger further liquidation pressure. On the domestic futures, MCX prices having strong supports at Rs 128 and Rs 122 levels. Upside turnaround point is seen at Rs 136.

The author is Head of Commodity Research at Geojit Financial Services.

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Texas health officials have awarded up to $295 million to a private technology company to quickly grow and manage a large fleet of contact tracers as the state braces for up to two years without a coronavirus vaccine.

The 27-month contract, signed late this week with MTX Group, comes as more businesses begin to open and the number of new daily COVID-19 cases in much of Texas continues to grow. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has said new outbreaks may be inevitable as restrictions loosen, and has vowed to bring on at least 4,000 tracers by the end of this month to help contain them.

There were about 2,000 tracers active across the state this week. Tracers track down close contacts of those infected, monitor them for symptoms and provide them with instructions on testing and quarantine or isolation.

FOR THE LATEST: Interactive maps, charts show spread of coronavirus in Texas

Texas is now one of more than a dozen states to rely on contact tracing technology from MTX, an Albany-based firm that recently set up a second headquarters in Frisco. But it will be among the first  if not the first  states for whom the company will also hire, train and manage thousands of tracers, according to Chris Van Deusen, a spokesman for the Department of State Health Services.

Van Deusen said the agency plans for MTX to hire up to 1,000 tracers, in addition to the 2,000 state and local tracers already operating. Several hundred state health employees have volunteered to do tracing in lieu of their regular jobs. Cities and counties are also in the process of hiring hundreds of tracers.

MTX's primary role will be building and overseeing a virtual call center.

"The overall strength of their bid and their experience with call tracing in various states are what led us to choose them," Van Deusen said in an email.

Bidding documents obtained by Hearst Newspapers say the contractor would oversee and provide support for a corps of epidemiologists, case investigators, and contact tracers.

The deal appears to have been put together within just a few days. On Wednesday, MTX hired Austin-based lobbyists Andrea and Dean McWilliams for up to $50,000 each, according to public disclosure documents. Others who submitted bids include contracting giants Accenture and Maximus, representatives of the companies said.

IN-DEPTH: Texas pushes to double its force of health detectives

This appears to be MTX's first contract with the state.

The company declined to comment on the deal. CEO Das Nobel has said it specializes in messaging applications and artificial intelligence to help government and agencies respond to emergencies.

Vanguard Law Magazine called MTX Group a $10 million company  that has been self-funded to this point in a story published last September. The firm grew from three employees in 2015 to 200. Vanguard also reported the company was poised to go after a billion dollars in revenue by 2025.

The company reportedly first rolled out a disease monitoring and control application in early March in New York. Van Deusen said it is also managing contact tracers there, and that MTXs experience was a major draw for Texas.

Van Deusen said MTX also has expertise in Salesforce, the cloud-based software that powers the states online tracing application called Texas Healthy Trace.

The state also set up a call center late last month, but was using the community health hotline 211, which quickly became inundated. MTX will be in charge of building a more longterm solution.

The agency aims to have the new call center up by next week. It will be staffed 12 hours per day, seven days per week, according to a copy of the bid that was obtained by Hearst Newspapers.

The contract is being paid for with federal emergency relief dollars.
Rajiv Gauba to hold video conference with states at 9.00 pm tonight for further elaboration: Senior government official

With 391 new Covid-19 cases in Gujarat, state tally rises to 11,380

Prohibition on domestic passenger flight operations and scheduled international commercial passenger services extended till 31st May

242 new Covid-19 cases and 5 deaths reported in Rajasthan today

Ajay Bhalla writes to all states asking them to ensure strict compliance of lockdown guidelines issued this evening

Rajiv Gauba has requested state officials to cooperate in running of more Shramik Special trains

So far more than 1300 trains have run with more than 17 lakh migrants: Railways

Preeti Sudan has described parameters such as active Covid-19 cases, cases per lakh population, doubling and fatality rates for states and UTs to follow

Rajasthan extends Covid-19 lockdown in the state till 31 May

New guidelines issued by MHA will be applicable based on risk profiling of districts with restrictions imposed: Himachal Pradesh Govt

9 more persons have tested positive for coronavirus in Goa taking total number of confirmed cases to 29

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday asked ministries, departments of Government of India, state governments and state authorities to continue Covid-19 lockdown measures till May 31. PM Narendra Modi, in his address earlier this week, said that this phase of the lockdown will be very different in nature with new rules.

This comes on a day when India recorded the highest single-day spike in Covid-19 infections with 4,987 new cases in the last 24 hours as the national tally crossed the 90,000-mark, according to the Union health ministry.

Meanwhile, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman today announced the fifth tranche of Centre's 20 lakh crore fiscal stimulus package which attempts to cushion the economy reeling under the effect of coronavirus and the lockdown situation in the country.





Click here for complete coverage of coronavirus





Here are the latest updates on coronavirus from India and the world:
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-18 01:54:10|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday said that the U.S. attempts to disrupt the course of Iranian tankers carrying fuel for Venezuela are "dangerous" and "provocative" acts, Press TV reported.

In a letter to the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Sunday, Zarif described "the illegal, dangerous and provocative U.S. threats" against the Iranian tankers as a form of piracy and a big threat to international peace and security.

"The United States must stop acting as a bully at international level and respect the rule of international laws, in particular the right to free shipping in free waters," he said in his letter.

Zarif noted that the U.S. administration would be responsible for the consequences of any "illegal move" in this regard.

Iran preserves the right to adopt appropriate and necessary measures in the face of such threats, he added.

On Wednesday, Western media reported that "at least one tanker carrying fuel loaded at an Iranian port has set sail for Venezuela ... which could help ease an acute scarcity of gasoline in the South American country."

Accordingly, the White House announced on Thursday the United States was considering measures it could take in response to Iran's shipment of fuel to crisis-stricken Venezuela. Enditem
Bombay High Court last week ruled that once an arbitrator is appointed at the request of a disputing party and he recuses from the post, the ...
With increased demand for immunity and nutrition products during the coronavirus lockdown, direct selling major Amway is gearing up for enhanced focus on the category and expecting up to 65 per cent of its total business to come from it going forward, a top company official said.

The company, which is taking a look at its "portfolio in a big way" in India as part of planned global investments, is studying how to readjust the portfolio more towards immunity and nutrition here in the country.

Amway India also expects its business to come back to at least 80-90 per cent of pre-lockdown levels by July.

During the lockdown, a consumer trend has been observed with demand moving towards immunity and nutrition products, Amway India CEO Anshu Budhraja told PTI.

"People are more attuned to consuming for their own self-care...During the lockdown the classic case is that people did not want to go to hospital, otherwise people earlier wanted to go to doctors for true curative (treatment). People have now moved to preventive and they see see value in preventive," he said.

Therefore, he said, "the need for supplementation is leading to the heightened awareness for stronger immunity. I think that is one big mega trend which we see. We have coined the term 'What's IN' and IN stands for immunity and nutrition."



Budhraja further said the emerging consumer trend is also "helping our ayurveda line" in which the company has six stock keeping units (SKUs) out of which tulsi-based supplement saw a huge demand.

Asked if the company would ramp up production of such immunity and nutrition products, he said, "Good companies always follow consumer demands and consumer needs. If consumer demands and needs towards immunity supporting range goes up, obviously we will support that."



Predicting that this market will grow over a period of time, he said, "It will grow more than the market in beauty (category) in the mid-term at least. We do see a mix change in our portfolio where immunity and nutrition will move up to almost 60-65 per cent of the total business as compared to almost 56 per cent at present."He further said,"We envisage that these categories will grow at a much faster pace because consumer is evolving and naturally inclined to migrate into those segment."Reiterating the company's focus on the segment as part of planned global investments, Budhraja said, "We are looking at portfolio in a big way, how we can readjust our portfolio more towards immunity and nutrition. We are looking at multiple things around that."Commenting on business resmuption after the lockdown, Budhraja said after being immediately impacted, operations of the company are scaling back gradually to achieve business continuity.

The company's plant in Tamil Nadu has already been producing immunity and nutrition products which were included in essential items category, although beauty and home durable products were impacted.

Out of 140 shops that Amway has in India, 90 per cent are open and a similar percentage of warehouses have also started functioning following government guidelines. Offices are also back with 33 per cent of employees, he added.

"We have achieved business continuity in 60 days. After 90 days we will try and see how fast we can come back. By July I do expect us to come back to at least 80-90 per cent of where we were in pre-lockdown,"he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In 2013, Matthew Jeffs was appointed CEO of Arcontech Group plc (LON:ARC). 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 we will reflect on how common stockholders have fared in the last few years, as a secondary measure of performance. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO.

Check out our latest analysis for Arcontech Group

How Does Matthew Jeffs's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

According to our data, Arcontech Group plc has a market capitalization of UK22m, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth UK237k over the year to June 2019. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at UK165k. We examined a group of similar sized companies, with market capitalizations of below UK165m. The median CEO total compensation in that group is UK275k.

Next, let's break down remuneration compositions to understand how the industry and company compare with each other. On a sector level, around 71% of total compensation represents salary and 29% is other remuneration. So it seems like there isn't a significant difference between Arcontech Group and the broader market, in terms of salary allocation in the overall compensation package.

So Matthew Jeffs receives a similar amount to the median CEO pay, amongst the companies we looked at. This doesn't tell us a whole lot on its own, but looking at the performance of the actual business will give us useful context. You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Arcontech Group has changed over time.

AIM:ARC CEO Compensation May 17th 2020

Is Arcontech Group plc Growing?

Over the last three years Arcontech Group plc has seen earnings per share (EPS) move in a positive direction by an average of 37% per year (using a line of best fit). It achieved revenue growth of 15% over the last year.

Story continues

This shows that the company has improved itself over the last few years. Good news for shareholders. It's also good to see decent revenue growth in the last year, suggesting the business is healthy and growing. It could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future.

Has Arcontech Group plc Been A Good Investment?

I think that the total shareholder return of 142%, over three years, would leave most Arcontech Group plc shareholders smiling. So they may not be at all concerned if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for companies around the same size.

In Summary...

Matthew Jeffs is paid around what is normal for the leaders of comparable size companies.

Shareholders would surely be happy to see that shareholder returns have been great, and the earnings per share are up. Although the pay is a normal amount, some shareholders probably consider it fair or modest, given the good performance of the stock. Moving away from CEO compensation for the moment, we've identified 3 warning signs for Arcontech Group that you should be aware of before investing.

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.
Indias worst Covid-19 affected state, Maharashtra, on Sunday announced a two-week extension to the lockdown clamped to contain coronavirus pandemic. The state government said the guidelines governing the relaxations for lockdown 4.0 will be issued in due course.

The extension was widely expected after chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and health minister Rajesh Tope suggested the same over the last two days. The state government is waiting for the centre to issue new guidelines for the 4th phase of nationwide lockdown, beginning tomorrow, before it releases a Maharashtra specific plan, said an official from the state government.

Maharashtra, while backing an extension to the lockdown, has asked the Centre for more relaxations including resumption of suburban trains in Mumbai for the exclusive use of essential services. The state may, if the train operations start, increase the workforce in government offices from existing 5%. The state has also sought permission to conduct commercial and industrial activities in Green and Orange zones and also Red zones outside the containment areas.

The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19

We are in favour of allowing activities in the non-affected Tehsils of the Red zone districts, health minister Tope had said on Saturday.

Activities in Green zones will be fully permitted by keeping district boundaries sealed. It will be applicable to the Orange zones, excluding the containment zones. We cannot give relaxations beyond Central guidelines and hence we are waiting for the Centre to clear its stand, an official added explaining the state governments position on relaxations.

For Coronavirus Live Updates

Maharashtra chief secretary, who is also the de-facto chairperson of state executive committee of the disaster management authority, has issued the orders using his powers under the Disaster Management Act and also the Epidemic Diseases Act.
New Delhi/Raipur, May 17 : The Chhattisgarh government has arranged free food, health tests and transportation of migrant labourers passing through the state. Raipur's self-help groups and social organisations are also taking part in relief work on Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel' instructions.

The migrant labourers of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal and UP working in various districts of Maharashtra, MP, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are reaching Tatibandh near Raipur every day.

The Chhattisgarh government has decided to take the migrant workers to their state borders safely. Arrangements have also been made to send labourers reaching Chhattisgarh on way to their home states to their native district.

"A stall has been set up at Tatibandh by the Health Department to monitor health of migrant workers. Food, breakfast and drinking water are being provided free to them under the banner of Smart City, on behalf of the Raipur District Administration," the Chief Minister said.

The migrants are also being provided slippers. The Tatibandh Gurudwara Management Committee too is providing free food.

All these are proving a pleasant surprise for workers reaching Tatibandh through trucks and other vehicles from Pune and Hyderabad and other places.

Anand Gop and Kaate Kumbhakara, hailing from Aasura village of the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, said they worked in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Due to the lockdown, they became jobless and reached the Baganadhi border in a truck.

They were brought to Tatibandh by bus, arranged by the state government. Chhattisgarh had arranged buses for people like them to go to different parts of Jharkhand, they said.

The state government has also decided to provide Chhattisgarh migrants, arriving from different states, free 5 kg grain per family member in May and June.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday hailed a power-sharing deal struck between Afghanistan's political rivals and urged them to renew their efforts to bring peace.

President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah signed an agreement on Sunday to end a bitter feud that had plunged the country into political crisis for months.

"I welcome the decision taken by Afghanistan's political leaders to resolve their differences and join efforts to form an inclusive government," Stoltenberg said in a statement.

The breakthrough comes as Afghanistan battles a rapid spread of coronavirus and surging militant violence that saw dozens killed in brutal attacks last week.

"In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued Taliban violence against their fellow Afghans, it is more important than ever that all Afghan leaders unite and work towards enduring peace in Afghanistan," Stoltenberg said.

"All parties should seize this unprecedented opportunity for peace."

Under the agreement, Abdullah will lead future peace talks with the Taliban, who have already signed a landmark accord with Washington to pave the way for the withdrawal of foreign forces -- including NATO's training mission -- from Afghanistan.

But the chances of peace are uncertain, with fighting still raging between the Taliban and Afghan forces in the provinces.

NATO ended combat operations in Afghanistan at the end of 2014 but maintains a 16,000-strong mission to train, advise and support local forces.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 13:51:37|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Former President Barack Obama took a jab at the U.S. government on Saturday over its response to the coronavirus pandemic.

"More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they're doing," Obama said during a virtual commencement speech for historically black colleges and universities, without naming specific officials.

"A lot of them aren't even pretending to be in charge," he added.

In a virtual commencement speech for the high school class of 2020 hours later, Obama said "the world is turned upside down" by the pandemic and that it "has shaken up the status quo and laid bare a lot of our country's deep-seated problems -- from massive economic inequality to ongoing racial disparities to a lack of basic health care."

"If we're going to save the environment and defeat future pandemics, then we're going to have to do it together," he noted. "Leave behind all the old ways of thinking that divide us - sexism, racial prejudice, status, greed - and set the world on a different path."

More than 1.46 million people in the United States have infected with the coronavirus, with at least 88,754 deaths, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University on Saturday. Both numbers are far higher than those in any other country or region.

The current administration of the United States has aggressively defended its handling of the public health crisis, while critics have pointed out that its leaders and some officials ignored early warnings, were slow to act and not responding adequately, and tried to politicize the situation to shift blames.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, in a statement on Saturday, said that President Donald Trump's response against the coronavirus "has saved lives."

McEnany also accused Obama, Trump's predecessor, of leaving a depleted stockpile.

Obama, a Democrat, served as the 44th U.S. president from 2009 to 2017. Enditem
SANTIAGO, May 17 (Reuters) - Two of Chiles top Cabinet ministers said on Sunday they would quarantine after coming in close contact with Chilean lawmakers who tested positive for the coronavirus during negotiations in Congress.

Ignacio Briones, Chiles finance minister, and Felipe Ward, secretary-general of the presidency, both said on Twitter they had tested negative for the coronavirus but would remain in quarantine until a second test confirmed they had not been infected.

At least 23 lawmakers will also begin a quarantine period after meeting with the infected legislators in Congress, the local daily El Mercurio reported.

"From home, we will continue working hard on the long list of issues that we must confront with urgency during this difficult time," Briones said late on Sunday on Twitter.

Briones has been central in crafting a sweeping stimulus package worth nearly 7 percent of the South American nations gross domestic product. Ward is a close confidant of Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.

Chile, the worlds top copper producer, has reported 43,781 cases of the coronavirus and 450 deaths.

Health authorities on Friday put the capital, Santiago, a city of more than 6 million people, under full lockdown as new cases have flared with the approach of the Southern Hemisphere winter. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Workers from the Iztapalapa government talk to people trying to enter the cemetery to explain that only are allow two persons at a time outside Pantheon of San Lorenzo Tezonco in Mexico City, on May 14, 2020. (ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)

Mexico Registers 47,144 Cases of Coronavirus and 5,045 Deaths

MEXICO CITYMexico registered 47,144 cases of coronavirus on Saturday, with the countrys death toll rising to 5,045, health authorities said.

Mexico has seen a slightly higher death rate from coronavirus than the global average so far.

Mexicos leftist leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Brazils right-wing populist President Jair Bolsonaro are both intensifying attempts to reopen their economies even as the spread of the virus in Latin America is seemingly gathering pace.

Mexico, the second most impacted nation in the region, reported 2,409 new infections on Thursday, to bring its total confirmed coronavirus cases to 42,595. An additional 257 coronavirus deaths brought total fatalities to 4,477.

We are in the most difficult moment of the first wave of the epidemic, Mexicos coronavirus tsar, Hugo Lopez-Gatell, said on Thursday.

He said Mexico was at the peak of its pandemic cycle and could not relax measures, warning that the country needed to embrace a new normality amid threats of virus resurgence. On Thursday, government data showed more than half of hospitals in the capital were saturated with coronavirus patients.

Lopez-Gatells comments jarred with intensifying preparations to ease restrictions and reopen Mexicos economy, especially the automotive sector and factories near the U.S. border to help supply chains vital for U.S. manufacturing companies.

Similar efforts to fire up the economy were gathering pace in Brazil, as Bolsonaro urged business leaders to push for lifting lockdown orders in Sao Paulo, the financial center.

Brazil, the hardest-hit country in Latin America, registered a daily record of 13,944 new cases, bringing its total to 202,918 confirmed cases of the virus and 13,933 deaths since the outbreak began, according to health ministry data.

In a videoconference, Bolsonaro told a gathering of business leaders to play tough with Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria, who has issued social distancing orders and said he will not comply with Bolsonaros latest decree to reopen gyms and beauty salons.

One man is deciding the future of Sao Paulo, Bolsonaro said, referring to Doria. He is deciding the future of Brazils economy. With all due respect, you have to call the governor and play toughplay toughbecause its a serious issue, it is war. Brazil is at stake, the president said.

Sao Paulo, Brazils most populous state and home to a third of its economic output, has seen hospitals pushed to the limit as it records the worst outbreak in the country.

In Nicaragua, where leftist President Daniel Ortega has faced criticism for not enacting any lockdown measures, the United States on Thursday told American citizens there and their families to shelter in place.

U.S. citizens remaining in Nicaragua must ensure they have an adequate supply of food, water, and medicine to shelter for at least two weeks, the embassy said in a statement.

Nicaragua has 25 reported cases, but doctors in swamped hospitals have told Reuters the number of cases is significantly higher.
Construction on Brisbane's new 1500-seat theatre is set to begin by the middle of this year despite the release of a $2 million master plan for South Bank being delayed.

In May 2018, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a new $150 million venue would be built at the Playhouse Green as a new extension of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre at South Bank.

A design concept image for the new South Bank theatre.

Concept drawings of the theatre were released when architects Blight Rayner + Snhettain won the bid in May 2019.

Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said there had been a "strong focus" on health and safety at the site to ensure construction could begin during the coronavirus pandemic.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reportedly said that a total of eight candidates were in the stage of a clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine. In addition to that, the geneva based organisation also added that another 110 were in various stages of development. This comes as the lethal respiratory illness has infected 4,636,173 people across the world.

As countries around the world scramble to contain the spread of COVID-19, pharmaceutical brands in countries including France, US, UK, China are racing to develop a vaccine. According to reports, countries like the US and China have also announced a date for tentative vaccines to be released.

Read: US Will Donate Ventilators, Cooperate On COVID-19 Vaccine Development To Help India: Trump

Meanwhile, tobacco manufacturer, British American Tobacco has claimed to have developed a potential COVID-19 vaccine and that the drug is ready for human trials. As per reports, the company has been conducting pre-clinical trials and claims the potential COVID-19 vaccine has shown to produce a positive immune response. In April, the company had announced that its biotech subsidiary, Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP), was developing a potential vaccine for COVID-19.

'Vaccine by March 2021'

This comes as French pharmaceutical brand Sanofi is also expecting to release a vaccine soon. On May 16, Chinese health official Zhang Wenhong reportedly said that a successful vaccine against the novel coronavirus could be administered to humans as early as March 20121. Earlier, US President Donald Trump expressed his confidence in announcing that America would have a vaccine by the end of the year. Trump formally announced "Operation Warp Speed" to develop the COVID-19 vaccine as his administration mounted an unprecedented effort that involves the countrys military to get a vaccine for the deadly disease before the end of the year.

Read: COVID-19 Vaccine: Tobacco Company Develops Potential Anti-viral Drug, Set For Human Trials

It is called Operation Warp Speed that means big, and it means fast a massive scientific industrial and logistical endeavour, unlike anything our country has seen since the Manhattan Project. You really could say that nobody has seen anything like we are doing, whether its ventilators or testing nobody has seen anything like we are doing now within our country since the second world war incredible, he said at a White House briefing.

Read: Trump Hopes For COVID-19 Vaccine By End Of This Year, Launches 'Operation Warp Speed'

Read: French Government Summons Sanofi CEO For Saying US Would Receive COVID Vaccine First
As the pandemic continues to spread illness and destruction across the globe, the health of Jason Sellyns friendships has only gone one way: up.

Its the same shooting the shit, but also, [youre] making sure that your friends are OK, says Sellyn, an East Malvern owner of a recruitment firm, noting that hed never previously been in the habit of inquiring about friends emotional wellbeing.

Jason Sellyn, pictured right, with friend Adam Lang and their dogs Archie and Ringo, is experiencing a deepening of his friendships during COVID-19. Credit:Joe Armao

The virus has even erased some of the friendship barriers that existed previously.

Normally people would say how busy they were, maybe they are still busy but Ive got some friends that have been stood down, some friends on JobKeeper from people who have been incredibly successful, driving businesses, now their businesses have stopped, he says. Everybody seems to be on a level playing field. Everybodys in, there seems to be a bit more cohesion. Nobodys too busy to talk.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  If this is a trial balloon, its going over like a lead zeppelin.

MTA chief Pat Foye the other day had quite the interesting notion for mass transit service in the age of coronavirus: Requiring passengers to make a reservation before hopping on a bus or a subway.

Say what?

Foye has spoken about this possibility during media appearances over the last few days, including during a podcast with the Wall Street Journal. Hes not just spit-balling from the podium here.

Everything is on the table when it comes to ensuring passenger safety, Foye said, acknowledging that a reservation system would be difficult to achieve.

Ya think? The MTA has trouble enough just keeping the trains running on time as it is.

Weve heard for years that the system needs billions of dollars to update its creaky, century-old signal system and to make other improvements.

Where are we going to get the money for a state-of-the-art reservation system? The pot of money coming from congestion pricing is only so big, and that whole effort is on hold for the duration of the pandemic anyway.

Even forgetting all that, how is something like this going to be enforced?

How is anybody supposed to know who has a reservation for what train or bus? How will we be asked to prove that weve made reservations? How will we settle disputes between people who claim that they have reservations for the same bus or train?

This is a sprawling mass transit system where we cant even stop people from jumping subway turnstiles or breezing by the fare box (or entering by the back door) when they get on the bus. There was zero enforcement even before the pandemic, and zero desire to ramp up enforcement.

More importantly, are we supposed to expect the homeless who use the subways as rolling shelters to make a reservation? Will they be charged extra for bringing their belongings aboard?

Look, Foyes got a tough job. People rarely applaud the MTA for anything.

Plus, in managing the subways as part of his job, Foye has to live the shadow of Andy Byford, the recently exiled head of the New York City Transit Authority.

Byford was attentive. He was relatable. He was a transit lifer. Riders and elected officials, including here on Staten Island, trusted him when it came to buses and trains. He wasnt playing politics. He was actually trying to do the job of making the system serve its customers better.

Imagine that.

But Byford clashed with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and left the job. Remember the applause that Byford heard from grateful New Yorkers as he took his leave?

Foye knows how the politics work. Hes a former Port Authority executive director, and a former president of the MTA. Which means that hes spent a good chunk of the last few years with Cuomos white-hot breath on his neck.

When youre at that level, you know that you get all the blame when things go wrong, and none of the credit when things work out. Thats why you get the big money.

The best and likely only way to ensure proper social distancing on mass transit is to add more trains and buses. Just keep them rolling, one after the other. Same goes for the Staten Island Ferry, even if that isnt under the MTAs control.

How we handle this is a real concern: The city subway system has been fingered as one of the spreading mechanisms of the virus.

That being said, itll probably be a long time before masses of people are comfortable jamming onto subways and buses again. Unless they absolutely have no choice.

So Foye and Cuomo and the MTA have a bit more time before they have to figure this out. But a reservation system isnt going to work.
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The lockdown was implemented due to the corona. Due to this, every job has come to a standstill. On May 13, two reports of relief for film-stricken film-makers who were stalled for almost two months across the world came from Japan. The first news came from Japan that theaters are opening from May 15, while the second news according to India Post production of films has started in two southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala after getting permission from the governments there.

Checkout the new look of Kylie Jenner

Although around 500 Chinese cinemas were opened in late March, they were closed again after four days when new cases of Corona surfaced. Cinemas in Japan were closed in the middle of April. Japan is the fourth largest film market after USA, China and India. Emergency has been lifted in the rest of Japan except for two cities, Tokyo and Osaka. Toho Cinemas, the largest exhibitor company there, has decided to open 10 theaters from May 15, while another similar company Aon Cinemas will open theaters from May 18.

Filmmaker Danny Boyle to direct this actor in 'Mathuselah'

According to the guidelines of the government there, they will have to make security arrangements. The audience will be seated leaving a seat, the staff of the theater will wear masks and sanitizers will be placed at the entrance. Due to not having new films at the moment, theaters will be used to work with old films from Hollywood and Japan. The eyes of film traders from all over the world will be on Japan for the next few days. If the performance of films there is smooth, then cinemas can be opened in other countries as well.

Legendary actor Fred Willard died at age of 86
By Mike Spector NEW YORK(Reuters) - J.C. Penney Co Inc filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday with plans to permanently close some stores and also explore a possible sale, making it the latest brick-and-mortar retailer to crumble as prolonged store closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic drive a final stake through long-troubled businesses.

By Mike Spector

NEW YORK(Reuters) - J.C. Penney Co Inc filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday with plans to permanently close some stores and also explore a possible sale, making it the latest brick-and-mortar retailer to crumble as prolonged store closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic drive a final stake through long-troubled businesses.

The U.S. department store chain, known for selling family apparel, cosmetics and jewelry at roughly 850 locations, said it reached an agreement with existing lenders for $900 million of debtor-in-possession financing to aid operations while it navigates bankruptcy proceedings in federal court in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The loan consists of $450 million in fresh financing, the company said. The balance is made up of existing debt being "rolled up" to be given the same legal status as the new funding that J.C. Penney obtained, people familiar with the matter said. The retailer said it had an additional $500 million in cash on hand before the bankruptcy filing.

While J.C. Penney plans to reorganize and emerge from bankruptcy proceedings after eliminating several billion dollars of debt, it will also explore a sale as part of the terms of its new financing, the company said. Reuters earlier reported that the company was nearing a bankruptcy filing and negotiating the financing.

The company on Friday said it would begin closing some stores permanently in phases and would disclose further details in coming weeks. People familiar with the matter previously told Reuters that the company initially plans to permanently shutter roughly 200 stores, saying the figure could fluctuate depending on negotiations with creditors.

The bankruptcy filing caps a long decline for the 118-year-old department store chain, which once operated more than 1,600 locations that became fixtures in U.S. malls. The company at one point employed nearly 200,000 people.

Even before the coronavirus outbreak, J.C. Penney was struggling with nearly $4 billion of debt and pressure from both discount retailers and e-commerce companies.

Larger retailers such as Walmart Inc and Target Corp have squeezed smaller rivals by offering bargain-price apparel, including online.

IN THE FOOTSTEP OF OTHER BANKRUPTCIES

The coronavirus outbreak, which has resulted in more than 80,000 deaths in the United States, is now forcing a financial reckoning among an array of retailers that had to temporarily close their doors under states' orders. Other retailers already grappling with customers' abandonment of traditional stores for online shopping have also resorted to bankruptcy filings.

Earlier this month, both luxury department store chain Neiman Marcus Group and clothing retailer J. Crew Group Inc filed for bankruptcy protection after alternative attempts to rework their finances failed. Stage Stores Inc, a U.S. department store chain selling mid-priced apparel at hundreds of stores in mostly rural areas, said earlier this week it would liquidate unless it finds a buyer.

Like other retailers, J.C. Penney has started reopening its stores in stages as many states have begun to loosen coronavirus restrictions. But with U.S. unemployment now at the highest level since the Great Depression of the 1930s, there are serious concerns that consumer spending will remain dampened for a prolonged stretch.

Against that backdrop, J.C. Penney faced a looming $105 million debt payment in June and $300 million of annual interest expenses. Adding to pressure was an unprecedented span of lost sales and uncertainty whether shoppers concerned about their health would return to stores.

J.C. Penney negotiated with creditors earlier this year for more financial breathing room, hoping to give its new chief executive, Jill Soltau, additional time to forge a turnaround focused on the company's roots as a seller of affordable apparel for middle-class families. The talks did not bear fruit.

The coronavirus crisis forced J.C. Penney to prepare for a bankruptcy filing to address its strained finances, which on the horizon included more than $2 billion of debt coming due in 2023.

In March, the company drew down $1.25 billion from its credit line. It later skipped debt payments, triggering grace periods to make good before defaulting that expired this week. The company made one of those overdue payments before filing for bankruptcy.

Under one plan being discussed, J.C. Penney would emerge from bankruptcy as two separate companies, the sources said. One would own some of the company's real estate and serve as a landlord to the other entity that would operate the retailer's business, they said. Creditors, many of them Wall Street hedge funds, would control the businesses in exchange for forgiving debt, they said.

The company earlier this month resolved a legal dispute with Sephora, the French beauty chain owned by LVMH that had threatened to end its agreement to sell cosmetics inside J.C. Penney stores.

Days before seeking bankruptcy protection, J.C. Penney paid nearly $10 million in bonuses to top executives. The company said it was "taking necessary steps to retain our talented management team," which made strides on the company's turnaround plan before the COVID-19 pandemic.

FROM RURAL ROOTS TO U.S. MAINSTAY

James Cash Penney founded the eponymous retailer with partners in 1902. Averse to the haggling that was common at the time, he believed prices should be low, set and marked, an attitude that served as a precursor to modern shopping, according to the J.C. Penney Museum in Hamilton, Missouri, the founder's hometown.

The company's first store, opened in Wyoming, was called "The Golden Rule," a reference to what the retailer viewed as its standard for customer service, according to its website.

J.C. Penney stores initially dotted Main Streets in rural towns dominated by farmers. After expanding to operate more than 30 stores, it went public in 1929.

By the 1970s, J.C. Penney had become a mainstay across the United States. The following decade, it acquired a bank, and later drugstores before eventually divesting both businesses.

The e-commerce revolution that took root in the 21st century rocked nearly every corner of the traditional retail landscape and eroded J.C. Penney's business much as it did those of its rivals. In recent years, J.C. Penney has closed hundreds of stores and cut thousands of jobs.

The company has also faced fierce competition from discount chains including TJX Cos Incs Marshalls and T.J. Maxx chains.

J.C. Penney suffered a significant setback after a failed transformation attempt spearheaded by former CEO Ron Johnson, the one-time pioneer of Apple Inc's retail stores. Johnson launched expensive renovations of J.C. Penney locations and eliminated coupons, resulting in a customer backlash that led to plunging sales. He was replaced in 2013.

Soltau took the reins in late 2018 after a revolving door of executives, and attempted to return J.C. Penney to its roots as a seller of affordable apparel for middle-class families. She jettisoned the company's appliance business and mostly abandoned its furniture offerings.

(Reporting by Mike Spector in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
On April 10, Gov. Ralph Northam announced he had assembled a task force to protect frail, elderly Virginians after 32 of them had died while in long-term care and a Richmond-area home was in the grips of one of the nations deadliest outbreaks.

The virus has since swept through 170 nursing homes and assisted living centers, killing 589 Virginians  at least 13 of whom lived in the Roanoke Valley  and infecting nearly 4,000 workers and residents.

As of Saturday, their deaths accounted for nearly 60% of the 1,002 Virginians claimed by the virus.

During all this time, Northam has held thrice-weekly COVID-19 briefings that begin with points he wishes to address. Not once since announcing the task force has he used his opening statements to specifically address the plight of long-term care residents and their families who hunger for information.

Northams administration has refused to name the homes where cases have been identified, or even to say where they are located.

Dr. Norman Oliver, the states health commissioner, said he has relied on the attorney generals staff for advice on this. He said government lawyers told him that state code extends the same health privacy rights to nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other group homes as it does to human beings  meaning state agencies cannot disclose health-related information about them.

Virginia posts to its website totals for outbreaks.

You can see there is an outbreak almost everywhere in Virginia. But you dont know if they have two cases, or if they have dozens of bodies. There is absolutely no idea of the extent, said Patricia Williams of Virginia Beach.

The nursing home where her sister lives lets Williams know how she is doing, but Williams said she is frustrated with the lack of transparency in Virginia. Families feed on rumor rather than facts, she said.

Because of the code interpretation, Virginia is an outlier among its neighbors. North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland and West Virginia all routinely publish the names and locations of facilities with the virus, along with the number of residents and staff infected, and the number who have died.

Virginia lists the number of outbreaks  defined as at least one person becoming infected by another without any other means of contracting the illness  that have occurred in local health districts. But most districts include multiple cities and counties.

For example, the health department reports two outbreaks in long-term care facilities for the Alleghany Health District. They could be anywhere in Salem or Covington or Roanoke, Botetourt, Craig or Alleghany counties.

When asked if the department could publish the numbers by locality, spokeswoman Julie Grimes said, If VDH determines that we can share additional information about these individuals, without compromising their protected health information, we will include the data on our website.

Individuals means the homes.

Salem attorney Ross Hart, who practices elder law and serves as a guardian for a number of people living in long-term care, said Virginia code treats businesses as individuals throughout the code.

If it is capable of a tax identification number, it is a person, he said.

Some lawmakers said they want to change the state code, but the earliest that could happen is August.

Joani Latimer, director of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, said the governor should immediately ask the attorney general to reconsider his interpretation of the code. After all, the code was relaxed to allow absentee ballots without witness signatures, and for hospitals and nursing homes to add beds without going through a lengthy regulatory process.

I think its in the public interest to look really carefully again at that, she said. Part of what is concerning here, and a legitimate question is, there have been lots of flexibilities created in this COVID-19 situation in terms of how our regulations and standards are being implemented. This seems so clearly one that needs some flexing to serve the overarching interest of the commonwealth.

Why are so many dying?

The Kaiser Family Foundation has been gathering information reported by the states about cases and deaths in long-term care. Five states do not report this data, and not all provide the numbers of deaths.

In 36 states that report deaths, an average of 41% of their deaths were linked to long-term care. Virginias percentage was 59.

We did what we were supposed to do. We locked the facilities down in terms of visitors. We already had infection-control measures in place, but we put in additional measures, said Keith Hare, CEO of the Virginia Health Care Association and Virginia Center for Assisted Living. We knew that once the virus entered a facility, we really had lost half the battle.

Hare said the majority of the people living in Virginias nursing homes are very poor and incredibly sick and frail, and they have multiple illnesses.

From the beginning we have paid a fair amount of attention, as I think we should have, to hospitals and their ability to have supplies and testing and the support they need to meet the crisis. Meanwhile, the clear epicenter has been nursing homes, Latimer said.

These homes arent hospitals and did not have stockpiles of masks, gowns and other protection needed to keep staff and residents from contaminating each other. They are often understaffed, relying heavily on certified nursing assistants, who are among the lowest-paid health care workers. Many CNAs work multiple jobs to make ends meet, increasing the likelihood for cross-contamination across homes.

At the beginning of the outbreaks, Virginias health department, again citing privacy, did not allow homes to be notified when any of their staff were exposed to the virus at another facility. That restriction has since been lifted.

We started in this virus without the level of personal protective equipment we needed. We tried to obtain additional supply lines. We were cut off, Hare said. Then on top of that there had been significant lack of testing.

Virginia has lagged nearly all states in testing per capita. Until mid-April, its testing strategy did not place long-term care residents on the priority list. A month before, the first residents of the Canterbury Rehabilitation & Healthcare in Henrico County were infected with the coronavirus. More than four dozen residents have died in that outbreak.

When the virus first appeared in the state, Virginia shipped its tests to the Centers for Disease Control. Slowly the state initiated its own testing in the states consolidated laboratory, but found that swabs, reagents and other supplies were difficult to get.

On April 20, Northam brought in Dr. Karen Remley, a former health commissioner, to coordinate the testing being done by the state, its universities, hospitals and commercial labs. Since then capacity has grown from about 2,000 tests a day to about 7,000 a day.

The additional capacity permitted homes with outbreaks to ask local health departments to do so-called point prevalence surveys, when all residents and staff are swabbed on the same day in order to determine how many are affected.

South Roanoke Nursing Home was one of the first in the state to ask for this survey after three staff members and a resident developed symptoms. The tests were administered April 23, but results were not known for nearly a week, and even then some were inconclusive.

By then, seven residents who tested positive had died. Three more were in a hospital and 33 others had tested positive. At least 10 residents have died.

Earlier this month, Northam said Virginia now has the capacity to do more of these surveys and is using the National Guard to help administer them. The health department said that it had identified 100 facilities that should be tested, but that they could do only a handful of surveys each week.

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the department reported that it conducted 42 point prevalence surveys from April 21 through May 10. Of these, 29 were in long-term care facilities. The others were in prisons, schools and workplaces.

The agency said that it had results for 13 of the surveys, and that an average of 230 tests were given for each survey. It did not provide information as to the total number of tests or the number of positive results, as it said that information is still being analyzed.

When asked last week if Virginia would test all nursing home residents in two weeks as recommended by the White House, Northam said, That perhaps is a bit of an ambitious goal.

West Virginia began on April 20 testing every resident and every staff member at every long-term care facility and posting the results. As of Friday, the state had reported 335 cases of COVID-19 in the homes that resulted in 32 deaths.

While South Roanoke waited for its results, it faced an additional problem: Dozens of its staff members were also infected, and the facility said it was advised not to bring in workers from other homes until it understood fully who was contagious.

Some family members praised the staff who continued to show up but expressed fear that there werent enough people to care for their relatives.

Hare said Virginias hospital association and the states volunteer Medical Reserve Corps are helping with staffing across Virginia.

The state has also helped to provide personal protective equipment and training staff on how to use it.

I think the state has been frustrated that they couldnt provide enough PPE because it could have prevented the spread, he said.

About 50,000 Virginians work in long-term care.

I am amazed at the courage of these individuals on the front lines. They went in to fight the battle. Take a step back and think about that. Its one thing to know I have all the protection I need and weve got testing, he said. We dont have the PPE. They knew it. We dont have the tests. They knew it. We were learning how to isolate individuals after they contract the virus. They still went in, did their jobs and protected these residents and patients. Thats heroic.

Latimer said that many of the homes have been overwhelmed and that communicating with families who cannot physically check on their relatives might have taken a back seat. Thats why its important for the state to provide the information from the homes.

They are truly under siege. No one wants to be attacking them. They are at the battle lines and in many cases just heroically supporting the needs of the residents as best they can. They are in a tough situation, too, she said. We are all caught in this legal bind here that doesnt seem to be serving the health interests of individuals.

The code

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has mandated that starting this month, all nursing homes must report cases of COVID-19 to the Centers for Disease Control. They are also to report on staffing and supplies of personal protective equipment, and to notify families about new cases and clusters of cases.

The CDC will then forward the information to Medicare, where it will be posted online. The first batch that is now being submitted is expected to be public by the end of May.

Nursing homes are already required to report infections to the health departments licensing division.

Assisted living facilities and group homes are not considered health care providers. They are overseen by the Department of Social Services and will not be required to report COVID-19 information publicly.

Thats why its important to address this at the state level, because the federal opening of data for nursing homes is good, but it doesnt help out assisted living at all, Latimer said.

Hares association has called for its members to be transparent, but there are no laws prompting them to do so.

The Alzheimers Association, Virginia Chapters, last week called on policymakers to implement necessary reporting.

It starts with, we are trying to ensure people in assisted living and nursing facilities are in a safe environment, said Carter Harrison, the associations senior director of government affairs. We need to know where the baseline is and where there are infections so we can then respond appropriately. Reporting is part of that for the public transparency and so we can find these hot spots and we can get the resources to them.

Oliver, the health commissioner, has cited several sections of state code that define person as businesses and say the health department cannot disclose health information about a person.

Attorney General Mark Herrings spokeswoman cited attorney-client privilege in declining to provide the opinion or offer more of an explanation.

Oliver said in an phone interview Friday that he had not talked directly with Herring but has had ongoing discussions with members of Herrings staff who are assigned to the assist the health department.

If the attorney general were to issue some decision around this that instructed us to act otherwise, I would certainly abide by that, Oliver said.

Lawmakers interviewed last week either disagree with the interpretation or acknowledge that its a correct reading of the code  but a code in need of amending.

Theres no reason this information shouldnt be made available to the public, said Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke.

There has been a bipartisan consensus that this critical information can and should be released to the public. The governors opinion has been an outlier, said Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County.

Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, said he suspects the Northam administration is taking a conservative approach to its reading of the law, but he doesnt agree with it.

The more information the public has, the better government we get and the better operation of these institutions we get. If these institutions knew this data was releasable and would be released, I would think they would take better measures to ensure their customers dont get infections and die, Surovell said.

Northam plans to call the General Assembly back to Richmond in August for a special session to address the upheaval that the pandemic has had on the state budget.

It is possible they could allow other bills to be discussed. If not, the issue would need to wait until the regular session in January.

We need to take a good long look at that to ensure that we protect people, said Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke. The system should be serving people, not these institutions.

Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax, chairman of the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee, said he is drafting legislation.

I take Northams people at their word that they believe their interpretation is the law, so if thats the case, we need to change the law, Sickles said. I think at this point, anybody considering using a nursing home would want to know the history of it and what theyre doing about it now.

Northam has said he could support amending the code to allow for naming the homes, but it would depend on the bills language.

The nursing home and assisted living industry has donated a substantial amount of money in recent years  more than $1 million each year, according to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project  to lawmakers and political action committees.

Northams PAC, The Way Ahead, has accepted $48,000 from the nursing home industry since 2018. Other legislators have accepted tens of thousands of dollars each from the industry in the past few years.

Legislators who have been vocal about wanting to change the law said they arent anticipating immense pushback from the nursing home industry. A few of them said they havent heard from anyone in the nursing home industry asking them to reconsider their position.

I dont expect  and I could be naive here  but I dont expect a lot of debate on the big picture of whether we should be more open with information with this situation we have, Sickles said.

Staff writer Amy Friedenberger contributed information to this story.

This article was written with the support of a journalism fellowship from the Gerontological Society of America, Journalists Network on Generations and the Retirement Research Foundation.

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And that could be good news for property values in the area. I dont own a crystal ball and have no expertise in real estate. (Although I did work my butt off to learn all that math in order to get my Realtors license a thousand years ago.) I am, however, going to rely on common sense to suggest city dwellers may just start looking toward the suburbs, with more open space, bigger lawns and room to stretch out in the wake of this pandemic thats propelled social distancing and sheltering-in-place into a virtual tie for 2020 phrase of the year.
If Max Verstappen wants to set the record for the youngest ever Formula 1 world champion, he has to take the title this season. Still, the Dutchman doesn't need any more motivation, he simply always wants to win and trusts in the engines of Honda.

Since the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix the life of Verstappen hasn't been very exciting. "I have been home the whole time after that. I have ridden and trained on the simulator. Of course there is also a lockdown in Monaco. In the end I didn't do much else", the driver of Red Bull Racing said in a video interview by the Austrian programme Sport am Sonntag.

Verstappen wants to race again as soon as possible, with possibly the first race on July 5th at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. Last year he managed to win the Grand Prix in a surprising way. "I love that circuit, it is of course our home circuit and that motivates me. As a team we have done a good job in terms of strategy, but our car always works well there. If everything is right, you can win the race."

Trust in Honda

It's no secret that 2020 is an important season for Red Bull Racing. Together with Honda as an engine manufacturer, good steps have been taken and the team wants to make Max Verstappen the youngest world champion in the sport, a record still to be set by Sebastian Vettel.

However, the Dutchman doesn't need any extra motivation to give it all in the modified season. "I always want to win, in every season. Of course it is special and extra beautiful if it would happen, but my motivation is to win every race".

"During the winter test the car was very good, everything worked fine. It is always a bit of a wait and see, but the team is very motivated and really wants to go for the title. I have a lot of confidence that we have a strong package with Honda", Verstappen concludes.
New Delhi, 17 May (IANS) Barring a few incidents, the role of police in dealing with migrating labourers has been better than political leaders and local civil administration, feel former top cops. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, 17 May (IANS) Barring a few incidents, the role of police in dealing with migrating labourers has been better than political leaders and local civil administration, feel former top cops. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, 17 May (IANS) Barring a few incidents, the role of police in dealing with migrating labourers has been better than political leaders and local civil administration, feel former top cops. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, 17 May : Barring a few incidents, the role of police in dealing with migrating labourers has been better than political leaders and local civil administration, feel former top cops.

"The Police have been on the frontline of this battle. They have been more or less lenient with them (labourers)", says former DGP, Uttar Pradesh Prakash Singh. On sporadic incidents of police force being used on labourers, former Chief of Border Security Force Ajay Raj Sharma said, "Such incidents are an exception. The role of police during this pandemic is better than netas (politicians). I can quote several instances, where police are serving food and arranging transport for labourers out of their pocket." Senior police officers feel that men in khaki have a limited role to play in a situation which leads to one of the biggest-ever exodus of people in recent times.

"Poor labourers are dying from dehydration. They have been killed in road accidents. Kids are suffering from heat, humidity. And almost all of them are battling hunger and have been left penniless. Tell me in such a pathetic situation what can the police do? The primary responsibility is of the civil administration and state governments to take care of the workers marching on foot for hundreds of kilometers", says Neeraj Kumar, former Police Commissioner of Delhi.

Reacting to a story of a labourer who set out on bicycle from Bangalore, carrying his old mother to Kota in Rajasthan, former IPS officer, Neeraj Kumar said, "The man crossed several states. It took him weeks to cycle on various highways. But the state governments, local administration did not intervene. The story remains the same for the rest. I feel bureaucracy has turned out to be a mute spectator (to mass migration)." The lack of in-depth planning while strategising implementation of lockdown is one reason behind a large-scale reverse migration of labourers.

"The overall concept of lockdown and its initial implementation was fine. But on the issue of migration of labourers, policy-makers seem to have lacked the foresight on the exodus front....They just missed the point that such a large-scale migration can take place as a fallout of complete lockdown," says Prakash Singh. "The response to run trains and buses for the migrating labourers came a bit late. The decision (of providing transport) was taken when millions of labourers have already set out on foot to reach home. Now in such a chaotic situation, and that too during a pandemic, how can police prevent this exodus?" Whenever the administration fails, often the police is made the scapegoat, feels Kashmir Singh, the 1978 batch IPS officer who was the first police officer to serve as Joint Secretary in Ministry of Home Affairs.

"When thousands of labourers from Delhi broke lockdown norms and flocked to the Anand Vihar bus terminal a month ago, then police were blamed for the disorder. But I believe lack of coordination between state governments and a disconnect with the executives (on the ground) and decision-makers was more responsible for what went wrong on Anand Vihar terminal," says Kashmir Singh, one of the well-known police officers of Uttar Pradesh.

According to him, while chalking out public policies and norms, it should be kept in mind what could be the fallout of such policies or the problem faced by the last man on the street.

The police have been shown using force on migrating labourers, in several videos going viral on social media. Top police officers feel that sometimes, some policemen do lose patience and react in an inhuman way. "Often the lower-rung constable, who performs an arduous duty in such hot temperatures, gets irritated. Such incidents can be counted on fingers. But if we take a comprehensive view of the role of police, the image has gone stronger...as a covid warrior, they have braved the menace of the pandemic," says Rajnikant Mishra, former DG BSF.

"Nevertheless, the police should be compassionate and extend a helping hand to these labourers. The district police chiefs should interact with the constabulary and guide them to be more empathetic towards the poor, who are facing the actual fallout of the lockdown. But allow me to say that the role of police in these depressing moments needs appreciation," said Mishra.
Addressing the event, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, said the reform of UNC working methods would help the council to perform well in its mission assigned by the UN Charter, especially in the context of increasing challenges to multilateralism and difficulties caused by instabilities in the world.

The ambassador welcomed recent efforts of the UNSC in building documents on working methods and principles toward raising transparency and efficiency, as well as to maintain operation amid the difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He voiced the opinion that the UNSC should further enhance its inclusiveness, including optimising the participation and contribution of non-permanent members in their two-year tenure.

He also highlighted the need to continue ensuring the adherence to set working principles and press on with discussions on reforming the working methods of the council and its subordinate agencies as well as efforts to reform the council.

The ambassador reiterated the commitment of the E10 to the goal of enhancing the efficiency of the UNSC and expressed the hope for more recommendations from UN member nations.

This is the second time that the E10 has presented their common statement on the issue. E10 countries have led the efforts to promote the reform of the UNSCs working methods with certain results.

At the debate, UNSC members shared the resolve to continue reforming the councils procedures and working methods to ensure the goal of maintaining international peace and security along with the balance in increasing transparency, and increasing consultation and discussions among the councils members to promote efficiency.

Participants proposed increasing discussions with UN member nations, enhancing cooperation with other UN agencies and promoting the involvement of regional and non-governmental organisations.

As E10 coordinator in May, Vietnam plans to hold a video conference between E10 representatives and the UN Secretary-General, and several other activities to strengthen the coordination and cooperation among the group.
Man Dead in Light Plane Crash in Australia

A solo pilot has died after crashing his home-built amphibious light plane into a backyard in Australias NSW Hunter region.

New South Wales Police confirmed the plane crashed short of a runway about 10:15 a.m. on Sunday and into the yard of a property on Denton Close in Windella. The street is next to the Royal Newcastle Aero Club.

The pilot is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be a 44-year-old man. He was removed from the wreckage by witnesses but attempts to resuscitate him failed and he died at the scene.

A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman told AAP firefighters were on the scene to clear fuel spills and hazardous material from the crash site. One firefighter had been injured during this process and transported to hospital, with his condition unclear.

A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman told AAP the plane was an amateur-built Osprey 2 amphibious aircraft, possibly built by the pilot himself from a kit.

By Angelo Risso
The South African government and leading scientists advising it on the COVID-19 pandemic are at loggerheads over the implementation of the lockdown, now in its 52nd day and at level 4 of a five-level risk-adjusted approach.

The disagreement came as the scientists joined business leaders and labour unions in warning that the delay in easing the restrictions is destroying the economy as millions of jobs are shed and poverty increasing.

A comment in an interview with website News24.com by Dr Glenda Gray, a member of the ministerial advisory committee (MAC) on coronavirus, has earned support of other members of the panel.

Gray, who is also chairperson of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and an internationally recognised HIV researcher, called for a complete removal of the lockdown, saying it is not based on sound scientific advice.

Gray said instead interventions such as handwashing, wearing masks, social distancing and prohibitions on public gatherings, should be put in place.

Some of Gray's colleagues on MAC have come out in support of her, citing that a false impression was being created about the level of consultation with scientists on the lockdown, the Sunday Times reported.

MAC member Prof Shabir Madhi from Wits University, who chairs its public health committee, said the government was ill-informed.

He said MAC was not asked about measures involved in lifting the lockdown. In a webinar earlier in the week, Madhi got huge support when he said the lockdown was flawed.

But Acting Director-General of the Department of Health, Dr Anban Pillay, told the weekly that Gray's comments were surprising given that implementation was not within MAC's jurisdiction.

Gray is a professor in infectious diseases, paediatrics and vaccinology, but not in implementation of a lockdown and easing of lockdowns. In fact, there is no expert on this in the world because we are all learning," Pillay said.

But you can't simply say because you are an expert, you are telling us what to do and we should follow it. Because at the end of the day, she is not accountable, she is just an adviser. It is the government that is accountable, it is the president and the minister who will account to the country, Pillay said.

Pillay also emphasised that while the committee was made up of leaders in their fields, their mandate was to advise the Minister of Health, who will decide whether to agree or disagree with the advice.

Pillay said up to 90 per cent of the committee recommendation have been adopted almost verbatim.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize also told the weekly that it was "untrue that we don't take the MAC seriously".

"We have asked the ministerial advisory committee to advise us on a lot of issues and for each issue they set up a team, and research and deliberate before producing their recommendation. Those advisories come to the minister who makes the decision of how to implement. There is a lot of debate that goes into those final advisories," Mkhize said.

"In some instances I attend their meetings and they report to me, and MECs sometimes. So if anybody was unhappy with anything, they could have expressed so directly to me, he said.

MAC chairman Prof Salim Abdool-Karim said none of the about 50 advisories to the Health Department had been rejected.

"In addition, MAC has been working on advisories over the last several days related to 10 issues, including the easing of the lockdown and the alert level regulations, Abdool-Karim added.

The latest statistics showed that there were 14,355 COVID-19 infections across South Africa, with 261 deaths and 6,478 recoveries.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Shiv Sena legislature from Thane, who returned to his bungalow in Yeoor hills after recovering from Covid-19, was admitted to the same private hospital a day later after getting bitten by a snake at his bungalow.

The Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) members health is stable, his party workers informed.

The Sena MLC had tested positive for Covid-19 on May 9 and was admitted to a private hospital in Mulund. His wife too had tested positive in the first week of May. The MLC was discharged on Friday.

A party worker informed, He was advised to self-quarantine and thus decided to stay at his bungalow in Yeoor range of Sanjay Gandhi National Park to avoid party workers who might visit him at his city residence.

Also read: Maharashtra extends Covid-19 lockdown till May 31

On Saturday evening, he was sitting in his lawn when a venomous snake bit him. He was immediately rushed to the hospital. He is now stable, the party worker informed.

Yeoor was declared as a Covid-19 green zone as there were no cases of coronavirus. the villagers had asked the forest and civic officials not to allow anyone inside.

A villager said, Few politicians frequent their bungalows in Yeoor. They come from outside the city and we fear might bring the virus to our village. Apart from the Sena MLC, NCP MLA has also quarantined himself at his Yeoor bungalow. Both were tested positive for coronavirus and should not have been allowed in a green zone.

A forest official requesting anonymity said, We cannot stop people who have their home inside the forest gate. As per the norms, they are allowed to stay there and no other outsiders are allowed.
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has urged China to respond to his calls over a threat to slap 80 per cent tariffs on Australian barley as trade tensions escalate.

China began the anti-dumping investigation into Australian barley exports in November 2018, and it is scheduled to finish on Tuesday.

Australia rejects any suggestion it dumps barley in Chinese markets and has lodged a comprehensive defence against the Chinese allegations.

Senator Birmingham and Prime Minister Scott Morrison have both sought to distance the barley threat from Australia's push for an international probe of the origins of the deadly coronavirus pandemic which began in Wuhan, China.

However, Senator Birmingham said on Sunday that his efforts to discuss the matter with his Chinese counterparts had been ignored.

'We've made a request for me to be able to have discussions with my Chinese counterpart. Now that request has not been met with a call being accommodated at this stage,' he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday.

'The Australian government is always open for thoughtful and engaging dialogue with our international partners, including where we may disagree. And it is ultimately up to them as to whether or not they decide to reciprocate in kind.

'The call ought to be returned. But, as I say, it's not a reflection upon the Australian government. We are open to have that discussion, even where there are difficult issues to be discussed at any time. It's for our counterparts around the world to decide whether or not they agree to the same standards of open dialogue and discussion.'

Australia is China's biggest barley supplier and China is Australia's largest export market worth up to $2 billion a year. Pictured: a field of barley in Victoria in 2010

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Jingye Cheng (pictured) warned Chinese consumers may stop buying Australian products in retaliation over calls for an international coronavirus probe

The World Trade Organisation defines dumping as when exports are sold at a lower price than it costs to produce, and/or lower than it is sold at within the exporting country.

This hurts producers in the importing country who can't compete with the subsidised import.

The Australian Financial Review reported on Tuesday that it had seen confidential documents indicating China would claim a $10 billion rescue plan for the Murray-Darling river system had provided irrigation subsidies to growers.

The $10 billion plan was announced in 2007 by then-prime minister John Howard to modernise irrigation infrastructure as part of a national plan to revitalise the ailing river system.

The Murray-Darling is Australia's biggest river system but it has been frequently hit by devastating droughts and disputes between states over water rights.

The critically important river supports the nation's biggest food producing region, with the Murray-Darling basin producing a third of Australia's food supply and containing more than 40 per cent of all Australian farms.

When the investigation ends on Tuesday, China's Ministry of Commerce will use a 'lack of co-operation from barley growers' to justify imposing a dumping margin of up to 73.6 per cent on Australian barley imports plus a subsidy margin of up to 6.9 per cent, according to the Australian Financial Review.

Senator Birmingham firmly rejected the idea that Australia's barley was subsidised by the Murray-Darling initiative.

'The idea that somehow the payments that the Australian government makes to upgrade irrigation infrastructure in the Murray-Darling Basin in any way impacts on barley prices in China, just doesn't stand the test of any analysis,' he told Insiders.

China's allegations that Australia is dumping barley will rest on claims a $10 billion package to rescue the drought-stricken Murray-Darling river system and improve irrigation is a 'subsidy'. Pictured: Barley being loaded at a grain depot in Victoria, 2017

Barley (pictured) is 'fungible' which means 'interchangeable' and thus easily moved from one buyer to another, prompting business experts to say other markets may be found

Sheep drink from a water storage canal along the Darling River in February 2019 when droughts affected 98 per cent of New south Wales. The Murray-Darling basin produces a third of Australia's food supply

'Our barley that goes to China is largely a product of dry land irrigation, predominantly coming out of Western Australia and the west coast of South Australia. It's not coming out of the irrigated areas of the Murray-Darling Basin.'

Senator Birmingham said Australia would not hesitate to take its dispute to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for independent arbitration should the tariff be imposed.

'We reserve all rights in that regard,' he said.

'We will have a look - if they do proceed to put duties in place - at the arguments they make, and the rationale they give, and based upon that we'll decide the next steps which may involve a WTO dispute.

'Australia has used WTO disputes with other valued partners around the world in recent years'

China is Australia's largest barley export market and Australia is the largest supplier of barley to China.

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

Australia exports between $1.5 billion and $2 billion worth of barley to China each year in an export relationship turbo charged by a free trade agreement that came into force in December, 2015.

China's Foreign Ministry has denied the anti-dumping probe was politically motivated, saying instead that it was a 'normal trade dispute investigation'.

However the decision is coming at a time of increasing tension between the two nations as 62 countries have backed Australia's call for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic, and are set to vote on the motion on Tuesday at the World Health Assembly.

On Monday, China suddenly banned imports of meat from four Australian abattoirs citing technical issues such as discrepancies in labeling and certification.

WHAT IS 'DUMPING'? The World Trade Organisation defines dumping as when exports are sold at a lower price overseas in the markets of the producing country. When it is sold for less than its 'normal' value then it can be considered dumping, including when it is sold for less than it normally costs to produce, for instance if government subsidies are used to lower production costs artificially. Assuming a level playing field, this hurts producers in the importing country who can't compete with the subsidised import. Advertisement

Australia's diplomatic calls for an international investigation into the origins of the deadly coronavirus have angered China.

China has been accused by some of covering up the severity of the pandemic after it started, costing the world vital weeks of preparation time.

China's President Xi Jinping knew about the coronavirus on the 7th of January yet China only shut down the epicentre of the outbreak, Hubei province, on the 23rd of January, after five million people had left to travel through China and the world, spreading the virus.

Australia has called for the World Health Organization (WHO) to support an independent review into how the coronavirus started and spread, and has been lobbying world leaders.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Jingye Cheng (pictured) warned Chinese consumers may stop buying Australian products in revenge

This angered China which is conducting its own investigation through the Chinese Communist Party, which it says should be enough.

China's ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye warned of a consumer boycott against Australian industries including beef, wine, tourism and foreign students as retaliation last month.

The coronavirus dispute came on top of China's anger over Australia's rejection of Chinese Communist Party owned telco Huawei from involvement in Australia's 5G network due, to security concerns.

Australia's export markets in 2019 1. China: $135 billion (33% of total Australian exports) 2. Japan: $36 billion (9%) 3. South Korea: $21 billion (5%) 4. United Kingdom: $16 billion (3.8%) 5. United States: $15 billion (3.7%) Source: Worldstopexports.com Advertisement

The supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus including shortages of critical medical protective equipment has exposed Australia's over-reliance on imports, particularly from China.

Business writer and Macrobusiness editor David Llewellyn-Smith said Australia should simply ignore the bullying and push back, saying all commodity markets will diversify over time.

'The barley will get shipped anyway, just somewhere else, at lower prices for a while,' he wrote last Monday.

'Commodity markets are wonderfully fungible.'

Mr Llewellyn-Smith said Australia should not be spooked by a threat of fewer fee-paying university students and tourists from China, as this would mean a lower Australian dollar which would help agricultural exports in other markets to take up the slack.
A handout photo released showing Felicien Kabuga - AFP

French police seized the man regarded as the intellectual and financial mastermind behind the Rwandan genocide on Saturday, ending a transcontinental 26-year manhunt for the Eichmann of Africa.

Felicien Kabuga, Africas most wanted fugitive, was arrested in the northern outskirts of Paris after a dawn raid on his flat in the commune of Asnieres-sur-Seine. Officers said the 84 year-old had been living there under an assumed identity.

French authorities released few details about the operation, beyond hailing the capture of one of the worlds most wanted fugitives. It is believed that a series of simultaneous raids were carried out on addresses across France, some linked to Kabugas children, to ensure that he did not escape.

Those familiar with the investigation suggested that the operation, at least in terms of the painstaking intelligence work involved, had echoes of the Mossad mission to seize the Nazi war criminal Adolph Eichmann from Buenos Aires in 1960.

The British security services played an essential role in the operation that led to Kabugas capture, according to United Nations prosecutors. So, too, did investigators in the United States, which has long had a $5 million (4.1m) bounty on his head, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

Kabuga will not be sedated and spirited away to Rwanda in the way Eichmann was smuggled into Israel, where he was tried and hanged for his role as a primary architect of the Final Solution.

Instead he will eventually be handed over to a United Nations tribunal to answer longstanding charges of crimes against humanity.

A general view of the apartment building where Felicien Kabuga has been arrested - EPA

Even so there will be considerable relief in Rwanda, where 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were butchered over a 100-day period in 1994  a massacre carried out by a cabal of Hutu extremists with Kabuga, one of the countrys richest men, allegedly at its core.

Without the fortune he acquired through his tea and coffee estates, the genocide might never happened have happened.

Story continues

In 1992, Kabuga ploughed money into Radio Television Libres Milles Collines (RTLM), a radio station that steadily dripped hatred towards the countrys Tutsi minority.

The following year, he allegedly began to import into the country hundreds of thousands of machetes, which were doled out to the Interahamwe, an extremist Hutu militia accused of overseeing much of the slaughter.

As the genocide began, Interahamwe militiamen, wearing uniforms reportedly provided by Kabuga, were transported from killing site to killing site in his organisations vehicles, investigators say.

Meanwhile, Radio Milles Collines provided the soundtrack of the genocide, urging Hutus to hunt down and kill the Tutsi inyenzi, or cockroaches. The graves are only half full, the stations presenters would warn. We must complete the task.

After the genocide, which ended when Tutsi rebels led by Paul Kagame, now Rwandas president, swept into the capital Kigali, Kabuga vanished.

After a quarter of a century of leads that grew ever colder, many had given up hope of bringing him to justice.

Family photographs of some of those who died hang on display in an exhibition at the Kigali Genocide Memorial centre in Rwanda - AP

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which tried 76 key genocide suspects, ceased operations on New Years Eve 2015 without ever laying its hands on the suspect many prosecutors most wanted to put in the dock.

Instead, Kabuga will now be tried by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, an obscure body created to mop up the unfinished business left behind by the war crimes tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.

For the bodys chief prosecutor, Serge Brammertz, the capture of Kabuga is a triumph as unalloyed as it is unexpected.

The arrest of Felicien Kabuga today is a reminder that those responsible for genocide can be brought to account, even twenty-six years after their crimes, he said.

This arrest demonstrates the impressive results that can be achieved through international law enforcement and judicial cooperation.

But amid the relief in Rwanda there will also be anger that it has taken so long to hunt Kabuga down. According to UN officials, he had lived in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya during his years on the run. His move to France is thought to have happened in the last three years.

How one of the worlds most wanted men managed to cross international borders with such ease remains an unanswered question. But money and connections almost certainly had something to do with it.

The bulk of Kabugas years as a fugitive are thought to have been spent in Kenya. Here he is said to have enjoyed the protection of officials close to Daniel arap Moi, the former Kenyan president, who died in February.

Moi was a close friend of Juvenal Habyarimana, the Hutu president whose killing on 6th April 1994 triggered the long-planned genocide. Two of Kabugas daughters married President Habyarimanas sons, giving the tycoon close access to the Kenyan leader.

According to a Kenyan government source, the FBI came close to arresting Kabuga shortly after Moi retired in 2002 when a local journalist, William Gichuki, walked into the US embassy in Nairobi and said he knew where the Rwandan was hiding.

But before the FBI could act, Gichuki was murdered. Whether Kenyan intelligence had tipped Kabuga off is unclear. The US embassy never acknowledged its connection to Gichuki but it did release a pointed statement after Kenyan police showed reluctance to investigate his murder.

The embassy still believes that [Gichukis] death is directly related to his willingness to come forward with information on the whereabouts in Kenya of Felicien Kabuga, the statement read.

Kenyas apparent refusal to hand over Kabuga strained relations with the United States. In 2009, Barack Obama sent Stephen Rapp, his adviser on war crimes, to Kenya to deliver a public and pointed message to Mois successor, Mwai Kibaki.

Readers look at a newspaper on June 12, 2002 in Nairobi carrying the photograph of Felicien Kabuga wanted by the United States - REUTERS

The US, Mr Rapp said, had credible information on the fugitives location and the powerful people protecting him.

But the Kenyan government would not budge.

In late 2017, a prominent human rights activist, Ken Wafula, told The Daily Telegraph that Kabuga had been tracked down to the Kenyan town of Eldoret by two men, the editor of a local newspaper and a whistleblower who had previously worked as an agent for the International Criminal Court.

Both men were murdered. Wafula said he had approached the US embassy to share the fugitives whereabouts but was told that nothing could be done because they didnt trust the Kenyans.

They were afraid I would be killed.

There is no way of corroborating Wafulas account. Four months after speaking to The Telegraph, he died from a short illness. Although there is no suggestion of foul play, it was common knowledge in Kenya not to look too closely into Kabugas whereabouts.

Anyone who looked too closely, anyone who got a tip and tried to act on it tended not to live too long, a Kenyan senator said. He had powerful connections and deep pockets.




The battle for the control of Zimbabwes mainstream opposition party pitting Nelson Chamisa and Thokozani Khupe will be fought in the courts once again after four legislators approached the High Court challenging their expulsion from Parliament.





Members of Parliament Chalton Hwende, Prosper Mutseyami, Tabitha Khumalo and senator Lillian Timveous were recalled from Parliament a fortnight ago after Douglas Mwonzora initiated the process.





Mwonzora defected to the Khupe camp following the March 31 Supreme Court judgement that said the former deputy prime minister was MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirais legitimate successor.





Mwonzora said the legislators were fired for insisting that they belonged to the MDC Alliance. Hwende and Timveos on Friday filed a High Court application challenging National Assembly speaker Jacob Mudenda and Senate president Mabel Chinomonas

decision to recall them based on a letter by Mwonzora.





Unconfirmed reports last night said seven more legislators faced the same fate on Tuesday.





Hwende, who was the Kuwadzana East MP, in the application supported by Mutseyami and Khumalo said Mudenda cited as the first responded lacked objectivity.





The first respondent, a politburo member of Zanu PF, has abandoned all objectivity and has descended into a political arena, with the sole purpose of destroying our party the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance, he said in the court application.





This is regrettable, embarrassing and unbefitting for a man with alleged legal qualifications.





Hwende said since their election in 2018 they had been treated in Parliament as members of the MDC Alliance and they were baffled why they were now being referred to as MDC-T members.





Our party, the MDC Alliance fielded candidates in constituencies for election as Members of Parliament in terms of section 46 of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], submitted Hwende through his lawyers, Mafume Law Chambers.





In our case, our forms were filed and signed for as is required by the law. At all material times we were MDC Alliance.





In all our communication with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission [ZEC] we were MDC Alliance. We registered election agents through the MDC Alliance.





They were accredited for as MDC Alliance. At no stage, were we ever anything other than the MDC Alliance.





The legislators said Mudenda and Chinomona acted illegally by apportioning themselves powers of the courts.





It is our contention that this speaker and Senate presidents actions were wrong and unlawful, they added.





In so announcing our expulsion by a party other than the MDC Alliance, the speaker exercised a quasi-judicial function under circumstances where he unlawfully failed to hear us or respect our due process rights.





Further, having dealt with us for two and a half years as MDC Alliance, he was stopped and barred from treating us any differently or giving us a new label or name without due process.





He very well knew that he has no authority to represent the MDC Alliance or anyone for that matter.





The legislators also said Mwonzoras term as MDC-T secretary-general had expired.





In the March 31 ruling the Supreme Court ordered the party to hold an extraordinary congress to elect Tsvangirais successor using the 2014 structures.





In any event, having been elected at a congress in October 2014, his term of office as an office bearer expired in October 2019, the legislators argued.





Factually, we never ceased to belong to the political party that we have been members of at the time we participated in the election, namely the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance [MDC Alliance].





The legislators that remain loyal to Chamisa said their seats could not be donated to Khupe, who was also a candidate in the elections and contested using a different party logo and name.





The four argued that they were expelled without any due process. The MDC-T expelled us without due process and without complying with the provisions of any law or its own purported constitution, Hwende and Timveos argued.





It made a false declaration on April 3, 2020, communicated to Parliament, regarding our membership in terms of section 129 (1) (k) of the constitution of Zimbabwe.





It purported to exercise jurisdiction over us when we are members of the MDC Alliance.





It carried out an unconstitutional coup detat by usurping, and giving itself authority over our party the MDC Alliance itself.





It ignored the fundamental legal position that a political party is a voluntary association whose rights and interests are protected by section 56, 58 and 67 of the constitution of Zimbabwe.





In 2018 we voluntarily chose to be part of the MDC Alliance.





The legislators said according to the Electoral Act, the MDC Alliance was recognised as a political party when it took part in the 2018 elections.





[We] need to make the point further that the Electoral Act itself defines a political party to mean any political organisation.





In other words, a political organisation known as the MDC Alliance participated in the 2018 harmonised elections, they argued.





[We] also need to state that the fourth respondent and her party, performed poorly in the said election. She polled 45 573 votes, which was less than 1% of the total vote.





Her party also performed poorly.





It did not win a single constituent seat but by hook and crook, managed one seat in the Senate and one proportional seat in the National Assembly.





Zec has accepted us as a political party. We have received funding from the government in terms of the Political Parties Finance Act because we are a political party.





Every other organ of the state has recognised us as MDC Alliance. For instance, the minister of Finance and the minister of Justice continually disburse funds to us in terms of the Political Parties Finance Act.





The speaker could not exercise quasi-judicial functions in making a finding that we belong to the MDC-T without affording us protection of the law, the right to a fair hearing, [and] the right to administrative justice.





The MDC Alliance has also approached the High Court seeking to bar the government from disbursing money entitled to it under the Political Parties Finance Act to Khupes party. Standard




By PTI

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday said that as many as 500,000 people could be left unemployed in the country due to the COVID-19 economic crisis, urging the government to come up with a credible stimulus package to help the island nation's economy ravaged by the pandemic.

Criticising the government's decision to impose a blanket ban on imports to stabilise the country's economy, he said that Sri Lanka is facing a negative economic growth and the government needs to allow the market to operate in order to increase the revenue.

He said that with the uncertain future, as many as 500,000 people could be facing job losses in the country.

"The increase in unemployment will affect all sections of society," he said.

Terming the government's response to the COVID-19 economic crisis as inadequate, he said that 50 billion rupees (USD 26 million) set aside by the government as economic stimulus was only 2 per cent of the GDP as compared to other countries.

He urged the government to present to the country a credible economic package.

He also criticised the government for printing money to the value of rupees 200 billion (USD 2.6 billion).

To ensure financial stability of the country, the Cabinet last month approved a proposal made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to enter into an agreement with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a currency swap worth USD 400 million to boost the country's foreign reserves.

Meanwhile, the ministry of defense on Sunday said that security forces and police personnel are not required to donate their salaries to help the government face the COVID-19 economic crisis.

The government had earlier this month appealed to the state sector employees to donate their salaries for the month of May in full or in part to the government.

The defense ministry said that security forces personnel are exempted from this requirement.

According to the Johns Hopkins University data, Sri Lanka has so far reported 960 COVID-19 cases and 9 deaths.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 22:32:27|Editor: huaxia

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SHENYANG, May 17 (Xinhua) -- "Keep your body straight when you are walking, and remain this way when you stop at the end," said Wang Leilei, an entrepreneur and ex-model, as she demonstrates how to walk the catwalk at an art school in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Currently in her forties, Wang remains elegant and graceful in her every move, making it easy to forget that she suffers from near-blindness.

Wang began her career as a model at the age of 16, but six years before that, she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, an eye illness that causes a gradual loss of eyesight.

The illness did not keep Wang from choosing her dream career. "When I was in junior high school, I underwent surgery and regained some of my eyesight," said Wang. "Later I decided to study to be a model."

Wang treasured her years on the catwalk, but the worsening illness still took its toll. "Sometimes I had to clutch on the sleeves of my fellow models so not to stumble," Wang recalled. "Later it became so bad that I couldn't see myself clearly even when standing close to a mirror."

In 2004, Wang had to leave behind her beloved world of spotlights and catwalks. But luckily for her, she was then accompanied by her newly married husband Ai Shuyi, whom she met a year before.

"I knew her troubles, and I said I would be her eyes," said Ai. It was these words that touched Wang's heart.

With their first son born in the next year, the two started a business of their own. "We trained models and service personnel in etiquette," said Wang, who took great pride and pleasure in seeing her students on the catwalk.

Yet in 2011, the business hit a bottleneck. Moreover, Wang was grief-stricken by the passing of her father and grandmother. "The future looked so dim at that moment," said Wang.

It was her father's words from his sickbed that gave her strength. "You must make your life shine, for every day you live," she remembers him saying.

And that was exactly what Wang did. After shedding her tears, Wang carried on with the business along with her husband.

In 2012, Wang found solace in the birth of her second son. "I couldn't see his face, but I managed to guess what he looks like."

Since then, Wang has had three pairs of eyes to see for her.

In supermarkets, Wang always has her elder son as her guide. The boy, now 15, often offers to describe the goods to his mother when she makes purchases.

The younger son, who is now eight years old, has learned to watch over his mother as well. "My eyes are my mom's eyes too," said the boy.

Wang made a brief return to the catwalk in a TV program in 2017. Behind the scenes, her husband and two boys took up the responsibilities of dresser and make-up artist. With the love of her family, Wang's brief return was impressive.

Wang's illness is worsening all the time. By the time of her interview, her left eye had gone completely blind and her right eye could barely sense the light.

"Every evening I leave the curtains open a little, so when the sunlight comes in the next morning, I will know if my right eye is still light-sensitive," said Wang.

Nevertheless, Wang never felt desperate. "I still have my husband and boys there for me, and I always dream of them."

Wang is now making more out of her life than ever. Apart from tending to her business, she has also taken up the work of proofreading with the help of screen-reading apps, finished a biography of more than 100,000 Chinese characters, and established a service center for the disabled in 2017.

Wang's resilience and kindness was repaid by kindness from people around her. Over the years, the Liaoning Provincial Women's Federation and Disabled Persons' Federation have been helping with her life and career.

"I got to know a lot of friends through these two organizations, and we are inspired by each other's experience," said Wang.

For netizens who are touched or inspired by her story, Wang always replies to their praise in person. "I tried to convince her to send pre-written replies to these messages, but she wouldn't," said Ai.

Although Wang is slowly losing her ability to sense light due to the illness, to her, she can always see the light in her life.

"Life put a wall in front of me, but I climbed up," Wang said. Enditem
A contract security guard who worked at Maple Leaf Foods plant in Brandon tested positive for COVID-19, but the company says there are currently no workers at the plant with the illness.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 16/5/2020 (613 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Maple Leaf Foods plant is seen at the east end of Brandon. (File)

A contract security guard who worked at Maple Leaf Foods plant in Brandon tested positive for COVID-19, but the company says there are currently no workers at the plant with the illness.

The contractor last worked at the plant on April 28 and tested positive on May 6, said a statement from Maple Leaf vice-president of communications and public affairs Janet Riley.

"We understand from the security company that the worker believes that he was exposed to a COVID-positive acquaintance on April 30, immediately self-quarantined, and received confirmation that he tested positive on May 6," Riley said.

Everyone is talking about Manitobas low numbers and talking about how were on the other side of the curve and the weather is beautiful this weekend  but I think this shows us how close this could have been to a similar situation to what weve seen in Cargill plants

The company the guard worked for learned about it on May 14, Riley said, and informed Maple Leaf.

"Given the length of time since the person has been at the plant and the security role the person fills with so little contact with our team members, our physician medical adviser has indicated that is an extremely low-risk situation," the statement reads.

Employees on the day shift had been informed by Friday afternoon and afternoon employees were also expected to be informed when they arrived.

Reached Friday, Riley said the company has lots of health and safety measures already in place to counter COVID-19.

"We clean every day, and then we do deep cleanings. We clean the operating areas where were actually handling animals and producing food  but then we also do deep cleanings where were going through all the welfare areas where the employees might interact, like a locker room or a lunchroom," she said.

So much cleaning had been done that there wasnt anything more the company could do after it learned someone who worked at the plant had tested positive.

The plants work differently than before the pandemic, she said. There are markers for social distancing on the floor and some plants have plastic shields between work stations. Workers also have their temperatures checked before starting work and complete a verbal health screening.

They also wear face coverings while on the job.

The case at the Brandon plant was a "close call," said UFCW local 832 president Jeff Traeger, who represents workers there.

"It speaks to us how important it is to be diligent," he said.

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There have been large COVID-19 outbreaks in food-processing plants in Alberta, Quebec and the United States. At a Cargill plant in High River, Alta., more than 940 workers were infected, which led to 1,500 cases in the community.

"Everyone is talking about Manitobas low numbers and talking about how were on the other side of the curve and the weather is beautiful this weekend  but I think this shows us how close this could have been to a similar situation to what weve seen in Cargill plants," Traeger said.

The only outstanding health and safety issue the union has at the Brandon plant is the lack of plexiglass shields between workers, he said. Maple Leaf is working on a solution, but the fact that animals are also slaughtered at the plant complicates the issue.

"Its a close call, and we need to learn from it; we need to make sure that were absolutely diligent, and when there is a case people need to know a lot quicker than the two weeks it took this time."

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
The rights issue price has been set at Rs 1,257 a share, a discount of nearly 14 per cent to the last closing price of Rs 1,459.

The company has set May 14 as the record date for the rights issue, which means shareholders as on that day would be eligible to apply. Shareholders will be able to apply for one share for every 15 shares held.

IMAGE: RIL Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani. Photograph: PTI Photo.

Reliance Industries (RIL) on Saturday said its 442.6-million share rights offer would remain open for subscription between May 20 and June 3.

Indias most valuable firm is looking to raise Rs 53,125 crore in fresh capital through the rights issue. RIL will initially issue partly paid-up shares to raise Rs 13,250 crore and the balance will be raised later.

The rights issue price has been set at Rs 1,257 a share, a discount of nearly 14 per cent to the last closing price of Rs 1,459. The company had set May 14 as the record date for the rights issue, which meant shareholders as on that day would be eligible to apply. Shareholders will be able to apply for one share for every 15 shares held.

They will have to pay Rs 314.25 a share initially and the remaining Rs 942.75 in one or more subsequent calls as determined by the board, the company said. The partly paid shares will be traded separately till the time they are converted into fully-paid shares.

RILs rights issue -- the first after almost three decades -- is part of its strategy to become a zero net-debt company by March 2021.

Made in India, for and by Indians, says Reliance Industries on rights issue.

As of March 2020, RILs gross debt stood at Rs 3.36 trillion and net debt at Rs 1.61 trillion.

At Rs 53,125 crore, the rights issue will be Indias biggest-ever equity fund raise. However, it remains to be seen when the company will mobilise the entire amount.

The current record for the biggest-ever rights issue is held by Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel, which compete with RIL in the telecom business. Both the telecom operators had raised Rs 25,000 crore each through their rights offer last year.

Over half of the Rs 53,125 crore will be invested by promoters, who currently hold 50.07 per cent stake in the company. The promoters have also fully underwritten the rights issue -- pledging to make up for any demand shortfall.

RIL currently has over 2.6 million public shareholders. Market experts said the success of the rights issue hinges on participation from large institutional shareholders. Some of them include Life Insurance Corporation (six per cent); Europacific Growth fund (3.05 per cent), SBI MF (1.34 per cent) and Government of Singapore (1.24 per cent).

Due to the covid-19 lockdowns, certain rules governing rights issue have been relaxed. The ministry of corporate affairs \has said not sending notices through postal or courier services would not be seen as a violation of Companies Act 2013. Also, market regulator Sebi has allowed for electronic transmission of offer letter, application form and other issue material to shareholders.

Shares of RIL are down three per cent on a year-to-date basis. The stock has been on a roller-coaster ride this year, hitting a low of Rs 873 in March and then rebounding 78 per cent to Rs 1,557. Shares of the company fell nearly six per cent this week ahead of the rights issue open.
Bombs hit a shelter for displaced people in Libya's capital Tripoli, killing at least seven people including a 5-year-old child from Bangladesh, health authorities said Sunday.

The shelling of the facility in the city's Furnaj district late Saturday also wounded at least 17 people, including a 52-year-old Bengali migrant and his 5-year-old child, Malek Merset, a spokesman for the capital's ambulance services, said. The man is also the father of the dead child.

It was the latest attack on civilians in the fighting over Tripoli between the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) led by military commander Khalifa Hifter and an array of militias loosely allied with the U.N.-supported but weak government in the capital.

A fire broke out in parts of the shelter housing people displaced by previous clashes in Tripoli, Merset said.

The ambulance services did not say which side was responsible for the shelling.

The LAAF launched an offensive to take Tripoli in April last year. In recent weeks, the fighting has intensified as foreign backers of the two sides stepped up their military support.

LAAF is backed by France and Russia, as well as Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and other key Arab countries. The Tripoli-allied militias are aided by Turkey, which deployed troops and mercenaries to help shore up their allies earlier this year, as well as by Italy and Qatar. Mercenaries, mainly from the Syria battlefield, are now fighting on both sides and complicating an already complex proxy war.

Earlier this year, Tripoli-allied militias took several western towns from LAAF and stepped up their attacks using drones supplied by Turkey on a key military base and the town of Tarhuna.

LAAF said Saturday it shot down a Turkish drone that was trying to attack the al-Watiya airbase.

The Tripoli-allied militias claimed they destroyed a Russian-made anti-aircraft system, a claim dismissed by the LAAF.

Libya has been in turmoil since 2011, when a civil war toppled and later killed long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The country has since split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each backed by armed groups and foreign countries.

The Tripoli fighting has threatened to push Libya into a major conflagration on the scale of the 2011 civil war.

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China's PLA beefing up talent pool by hiring new university graduates

Global Times

By Dong Feng Source:Global Times Published: 2020/5/16 15:03:41

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has launched online applications to officers' positions on Friday, marking the first time to recruit graduates from non-military universities across the country in 2020, which experts believe will fill the talent gap.

The recruitment for non-commissioned officers will be synchronized with voluntary enrollment in the second half of the year, which will be from August 1 to September 30.

Su Hainan, a research fellow at the China Association for Labor Studies, told the Global Times that measures are taken from different levels to deal with the employment pressure against the backdrop of coronavirus epidemic this year.

More importantly, the PLA needs more well-educated talents to help realize its transformation into information operation, Su stressed.

Targeting non-military college graduates, the notification stipulates that the positions should match the applicants' majors, and college graduates will get the priority.

Yang Yucai, a professor at the PLA National Defense University, noted that previously university graduates, after enrollment, needed to start from solider-level before being promoted to officer ranks; however, now the starting level is raised, which reflects an improvement in the demand for talent in the army.

"Noncommissioned officers are backbones of the army; their education background and leadership will help empower our army," Su said.

In addition, college graduates might find the positions more friendly to their own career path, without worrying that their majors might not be relevant to positions; the two-way choices would be beneficial to both individuals and the army, Yang said.

The noncommissioned officers will be entitled to a salary system and a regular adjustment option.

College students who meet the funding requirements, when they enlist in the army, will be compensated with the one-time reimbursement of the tuition paid during the school or the national student loan, according to the notification.

The funding policy will cover either the tuition fee or the national student loan; the higher amount of the actual tuition fee will be paid. The maximum reimbursement of the college students will not exceed 8,000 yuan ($1,126) per year per student, with a maximum of 12,000 yuan for each postgraduate student each year.

Yang said that the funding policy would help the students' families reduce education cost, and the salary system will also help the recruits to support their families.

"By doing so, positions in the army will be more attractive to graduates," Yang said.

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A 25-year-old man, who was staying in a quarantine facility after returning from India on May 12, died on Sunday due to COVID-19, becoming the second casualty of the novel coronavirus in the country, officials said.

The man, who had a fever and was suffering from diarrhea since Saturday night, died on Sunday morning in quarantine at Narainapur in Banke, Health Ministry's spokesperson Bikas Devkota told reporters.

"His swab specimen was collected for testing, which has come out positive, Devkota said.

The man from Narainapur Municipality of Banke district in Western Nepal was in the quarantine facility after returning from India to Nepal on May 12, said Dr Samir Adhikari, the health ministry's deputy spokesperson.

Nepal registered its first COVID-19 death on Saturday after a 29-year-old woman died following breathing difficulty.

The woman from Bahrabise Municipality of Sindhupalchowk district who died on Thursday was confirmed as coronavirus positive during PCR test at the National Public Health Laboratory here, the ministry said in a statement.

As of Sunday, 292 people tested positive for coronavirus in the country. So far, 28,160 tests have been conducted and there are 254 active cases while 36 have recovered in the country. Two persons have died.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Some politically-aligned Staten Islanders will have the opportunity to cast primary ballots in late June amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A court decision in early May reinstated New Yorks Democratic presidential primary after the state BOE effectively cancelled it. A provision in the recently-passed state budget allowed for the board to remove candidates who had ended their campaigns.

BOE co-chairman Douglas Kellner said former Vice President Joe Biden effectively won the New York Primary as the only candidate remaining on the ballot after Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) suspended his campaign in early April. He endorsed Biden shortly after.

Manhattan Federal Court Judge Analisa Torres wrote in her opinion that, had the BOEs decision been left in place, New York Democratic voters would have been "deprived of the right to cast a vote for an otherwise qualified candidate and the political views expressed by that candidate.

CONGRESSIONAL RACE

Local Republicans will have the opportunity to vote choose their partys candidate in the race against incumbent Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn). Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) is facing former Brooklyn prosecutor Joseph Caldarera.

A Republican primary race is taking place for the seat in New Yorks State Assembly Malliotakis needed to vacate to run for higher office. State Sen. Diane Savinos Deputy Chief of Staff Brandon Patterson is running unopposed on the Democratic side.

Republican voters can cast a primary ballot for either U.S. Marine Marko Kepi, and former Richmond County Assistant District Attorney Michael Tannousis.

Attorney Anthony DeGuerre is running unopposed as a Republican in his challenge against incumbent Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island), but is being challenged on the Conservative Party line by Abraham Monheit.

In addition to the Democratic presidential primary, Staten Island Dems on the North Shore will have the chance to cast a primary ballot in the race for the 23rd District of the State Senate. Mariners Harbor resident Rajiv Gowda, a union leader and engineer, is challenging the incumbent Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn).

Elected officials, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, have raised concerns about the safety of in-person voting in the middle of a pandemic.

The governor has issued an executive order mandating that all New Yorkers have the right to vote by absentee ballots, and another that such ballots be automatically sent to all state voters. In-person voting will still be available on June 23.

A list of local contests from the New York Board of Elections can be found here, and information about the Democratic presidential primary can be found here.
South African traders with China are illegally selling thousands of wild animals threatened with extinction and endangered, under the guise of legal exports, according to an investigation.

Monkeys have been stolen from the wild, and together with cheetahs, tigers, rhinos, lions and meerkats, they have been trafficked to circuses, theme parks, laboratories, zoos and safari parks, researchers found.

Their report says at least 5,035 live wild animals were exported to China from 2016 to last year  an extremely conservative estimate  including chimpanzees and a bewildering number of giraffe, which are also eaten in China.

The researchers uncovered how some traders have links to international organised crime syndicates and the system is riddled with fake permits, but not a single offender has been prosecuted.

After arriving in China, where laws on captive-animal welfare are non-existent, South Africas animals often become untraceable or disappeared, suggesting they either died or were sold on, the report says.

Wildlife of the world Show all 19 1 /19 Wildlife of the world Wildlife of the world A macaque monkey family Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A vulturine guinea fowl in Maasai Mara Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A lilac-breasted roller in Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world An African elephant family in Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A male lion sits in the shade in Maasai Mara, Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Ostrich in Maasai Mara, Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Three macaque monkeys at a temple In Nepal Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A baby monkey clings to its parent in Nepal Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Giraffes at the Soysambu Conservancy northwest of Nairobi Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Zebras in a conservancy in Nairobi, Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Orphaned Southern White Rhino in South Africa Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Two rescued grey-headed flying foxes in Sydney, Australia Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A bull frog in a marsh in the US Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Two orphaned Southern White Rhinoceros at Rhino Revolution in Hoedspruit, South Africa Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world An African elephant and her calf in Maasai Mara, Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A macaque monkey with blossom in Nepal Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Thomson's gazelle graze antlers in Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A juvenile male lion on tree branch in Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A wild bird at Ngamba Island Sanctuary, Uganda Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals

To make matters worse, in a trade that is expanding, treating wildlife as if it is merely a commodity to be farmed risks unleashing myriad Covid-type diseases.

The South Africa-based groups Ban Animal Trading (BAT) and the charitable EMS Foundation, which examined wild animal exports from 2016-19, hit out at the supposed myth that legal trade crowds out the illegal trade and that animals are treated well in legal deals.

Recommended Wildlife trade continues in Asia amid calls for restrictions

The legal and illegal trade are so intertwined as to be functionally inseparable, the report states. The research demonstrates that South Africas live wild animal trade with China is riddled with irregularities that are exploited by traffickers. There are gaping loopholes in the global permitting, enforcement and oversight system.

Zoos, as well as brokers and wholesale companies, are behind the trafficking of animals caught from the wild, going to destinations that are often pure fiction; most permits are in breach of regulations, and their verification largely absent, meaning most wild animal exports in 2016-19 were probably illegal, according to the report authors.

Regulation is failing dismally, imparting a false sense of security for those who believe that the international trade in wildlife is justified and sustainable while such security is wildly misplaced and, far from contributing to conservation, the legal trade is one of the single biggest factors currently undermining conservation.

The two groups examined the scope of South Africas trade with Beijing by visiting the claimed destinations, examining licences and analysing data from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Our investigation of theme parks and zoos revealed that nearly all trained primates are not bred in captivity, but were wild-caught and illegally traded out of Africa and Indonesia, according to the study, which also says South African exotic primate breeders export hundreds of marmosets to Chinese laboratories or breeding farms each year.

And the trade in chimps violated several regulations, yet there were no repercussions, the groups said.

More than 100 South African giraffes were sent to a Chinese zoo that holds the world record for having the highest number of hybrid animals which have zero conservation value.

But a global system of paper export permits allows for pervasive fraud, with widespread false declarations by traders, agents and exporters, the research found, and once animals leave South Africa it is impossible to identify where they will land up.

The South African government says the country ranks as the fifth-richest in Africa and the 24th richest in the world for numbers of endemic species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. It says rhino horn sales are subject to strict regulation including documentation.

Recommended China bans eating wild animals including pangolin in coronavirus blitz

South Africa is not the only country that sells wildlife to Asia. Zimbabwe has regularly exported young elephants to zoos in China since 2012  108 in all, according to Humane Society International.

Zimbabwe has previously said it has more elephants than it can cope with, and must be allowed to benefit from their numbers.

Demand in China for products made from all types of wildlife remains high, with a 2018 investigation finding tiger wine openly sold in shops. The report authors note that consumption of animals including tigers, threatening wild populations, is legitimised by captive breeding. There are more tigers in captivity in the world than in the wild, WWF figures show.

The report authors say photos taken at Chinese importing centres, showing barren enclosures, tell their own story of animal welfare violation and naked greed, while the wildlife trade allows Covid-type disease to spread.

Calling for transformative changes to prevent more wildlife exploitation, and prevent more coronaviruses, the study warns: Nothing short of a global paradigm shift is necessary if we are to prevent further planetary disruption that unleashes Covid-type viruses.

Tigers trained to beg in a Chinese circus (Getty)

The changes would include a ban on wet live animal markets, captive wild animal breeding and the stigmatisation of wildlife trade and consumption.

Certainly there is no clear evidence that the legal trade somehow crowds out illegal trade, the report says. If anything, the presence of a legal trade  normalises consumption and triggers demand for wild-origin animals for commercial use and consumption. And it condemns the idea of well regulated markets as a smokescreen for vested interests.

Animals confined to life in captivity are welfare-deprived to the point that we are eroding our own humanity by continuing to endorse this system, the document says.

Two years ago, a report by the same groups concluded South Africas growing trade in lion bones should be halted, and keeping and breeding lions and tigers should be curbed.

The Independent is campaigning for tighter regulation of the worlds wildlife trade.
An earlier start to the school year will be part of the Midland ISD school board discussion at Monday's meeting.

Superintendent Orlando Riddick told trustees last week at the school boards budget workshop that the Texas Education Agency was working on options for school districts to consider in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

One option, according to Riddick, was to start the school year in July and have longer breaks during the school year, including two weeks in the fall, during Christmas break and for spring break. Those breaks could then be used for campuses if coronavirus resulted in a halt to learning at a particular point.

It leads into a six-week summer, he said, and then you rotate into the schedule again.

The intersessional calendar is something Midland ISD staff has thought about for the last couple years, the superintendent said during last weeks board workshop.

We might have to move that and have an earlier start, knowing that we could have what I call micro-closures, Riddick said last week.

Micro-closures, he said, is when someone  a staff or student becomes ill and the district might have to close that building down, and there is a two-week window before it can reopen.

So if you have these intersessional calendars and you have a two-week closure, you can make that two weeks within your calendar, Riddick said.

The Houston Chronicle reported last week that officials with the Texas Education Agency believe that school shutdowns caused by the pandemic could have a devastating impact on students and lead to some returning nearly a full year behind what normally occurs.

The Chronicle also reported the intersessional calendar would include:

-- an earlier start date and a later end date;

-- extended breaks throughout the year, including during winter when COVID-19 may spike;

-- six weeks of intersessional breaks that may be used for remediation or enrichment for struggling students;

-- built-in remote learning time and staggered in-person attendance;

-- spread-out school days into the summer to minimize loss of learning; classes would be held in 11 out of 12 months.

The article and Riddick both mentioned that House Bill 3, includes an Additional Days School Year (ADSY) incentive with formula funding for school districts to add up to 30 instructional days for elementary schools.

These 30 additional days may be included in the intersessional calendar, and can also be used in an option summer learning period model or a full year redesign model that would include daily schedule changes.

Riddick said he shared a 180-day calendar with MISD leaders at a previous school board meeting when leaders approved the current calendar. Riddick said last week there is a benefit to the longer calendar with more school days because of the additional funding that the state would give you.
With Abdullahs appointment as chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, the deal reached Sunday also raises questions about who will have the ultimate authority to make decisions once talks with the Taliban begin. The United States began engaging with the Taliban in peace talks years ago, and some credit Khalilzads success to the degree of autonomy he was given by President Trump.
President Trump waves as he walks across the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday on his return from nearby Camp David, Md. (Alex Brandon/AP)

A coronavirus vaccine by years end is possible, but not something to bank on, a leading public health expert warned Sunday as the Trump administration continued to push for swift business reopenings in a bid to revive the battered U.S. economy.

Aides to President Trump have touted vaccine prospects, but they've also tried to de-couple significant progress toward an immunization protocol from the need to return to workplaces, schools and public life, as many states are now moving to do.

Everything does not depend on a vaccine, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on CNNs State of the Union, echoing language used two days earlier by Trump when he announced an ambitious public-private initiative to achieve widespread inoculation by January.

Vaccine or no vaccine, were back, Trump said Friday.

With the U.S. death toll approaching 90,000, public health experts described the presidents vaccine timetable as ambitious  perhaps overly so.

Everything would have to break in the right way, and there are many ways that it might not work, said Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University, interviewed on NBCs Meet the Press.

So I dont think we should bank on it, he said, calling a vaccine this year far from a sure thing.

Similar caution was voiced by Tom Frieden, a former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interviewed on Fox News Sunday, he said a vaccine was the single most important weapon we could develop against this virus, but we dont have one yet.

We hope we will, Frieden said. We hope it will be soon, but we cannot count on it.

Even if a vaccine is developed, logistical challenges to mass inoculation would be daunting, said former Food and Drug Administration head Scott Gottlieb.

A lot of things can go wrong, Gottlieb said on CBS Face the Nation. A lot of things can be delayed. It's very hard to get to the point where you're manufacturing at high, high quantities.

Story continues

The U.S. has the worlds highest known tally of coronavirus infections, with more than 1.5 million confirmed cases. But Azar said an overall plateau in cases and deaths was ample grounds for moving ahead with restarting the economy.

We are in a position to be able to reopen now, Azar said on CNN. He also played down any alarm over televised images of packed bars and restaurants in states that have eased shutdowns, casting those who fail to follow physical-distancing guidelines as a minority.

In any individual instance, you're going to see people doing things that are irresponsible, he said. That's part of the freedom that we have here in America.

Other Trump allies used similarly benign language to describe crowding in public places and newly reopened establishments.

Well, I certainly see a small subset of Wisconsinites celebrating a little freedom, said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), interviewed on CNN. But he said most people were being very responsible in terms of mask-wearing and physical distancing.

Azar also said that predicted spikes of infection had not materialized in states such as Georgia and Florida, which moved quickly to reopen, although he acknowledged that it was still early days. An upsurge in illness probably would take a couple of weeks to detect since many people don't develop symptoms right away.

Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio, a Republican who has sometimes challenged Trumps push for a speedy end to shutdowns, said he hoped to avoid a resurgence in his state as restrictions are eased.

We certainly hope we dont see that, he said on CNN, noting that so much is in every individuals control.

Experts such as Inglesby said an easing in the growth of the U.S. caseload should be seen as proof that shutdowns worked, rather than a signal that they should not have been imposed in the first place.

I think lockdowns were necessary, he said. They actually have changed the course of the epidemic in the United States.

He said with the curve moving in the right direction, it was now appropriate for states to be thinking about how to very carefully reopen, and do it as safely as possible.

Frieden, the former CDC head, predicted a long and uneven course for outbreaks in individual states, warning that too-rapid lifting of restrictions could bring painful new setbacks.

Were likely to see multiple waves in different parts of the country, he said. If we go too fast, it will backfire.

Trump spent the weekend at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, holding strategy sessions on subjects including the vaccine push.

"We did a lot of terrific meetings," he told reporters upon returning to the White House on Sunday. "Tremendous progress is being made on many fronts, including coming up with a cure for this horrible plague that has beset our country."

At the same time, a senior aide unleashed an angry new tirade at Richard Bright, a vaccine expert turned whistleblower who told Congress last week that the administration ignored early warnings about the perils of the virus.

White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, appearing on ABCs This Week, said Bright, who was ousted from his post as the head of a federal medical research agency and refused reassignment to a lesser post, had deserted the administration at a moment of tragedy.

We could have used him on the battlefield, said Navarro, who refused an invitation to testify before the same congressional subcommittee as Bright did.
By Trend

Various types of Azerbaijani-made products are now available in Polands retail chains, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy told Trend.

According to the ministry, the products of Azersun Holding LLC, AzGranata LLC, Astarachay LLC, Aspi Agro LLC, Marandi Wine Company, Sharg Ulduzu LLC, Absheron-Sharab OJSC and the Goygol Wine Plant OJSC, were put up for sale at Made in Azerbaijan stands with the support of Azerbaijans Trade House in Warsaw, Poland.

Work is underway to increase exports of the country's non-oil sector, promote Azerbaijani products abroad, and bring them to new export markets. For this purpose, as a result of negotiations held at the initiative of the Azerbaijan Trade Representative for Central Europe, Made in Azerbaijan stands were placed in three Carrefour supermarket networks in Warsaw and Kielce, the ministry said.

Various kinds of Azerbaijani-made grape and pomegranate wines, jams, compotes, pomegranate juice, salads, and tea are presented at Made in Azerbaijan stands. At the same time, advertising banners were posted in the trading floors, attracting buyers to the stands. Some of our products are also available on regular shelves in the trading floors, noted the ministry.

It was initially planned to place stands for two months with the option of extending the period depending on sales. During the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in European countries and quarantine measures, this initiative of the office of the Azerbaijan Trade Representative for Central Europe is extremely important, since it serves to increase the export of non-oil products of our country and diversification of export markets, the ministry added.

The French Carrefour S.A. company is one of the leading retail companies operating in many countries of the world. The company opened its first store in the Polish market in 1997 and currently has a network of more than 80 hypermarkets, over 160 supermarkets and more than 650 small grocery stores.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Thirty-six French mayors, including Paris' Anne Hidalgo, have urged the government to hold the second round of municipal elections in June. "Democracy can't remain locked down any longer," they said, as thousands of municipalities across France are still waiting to elect their local representatives in a vote delayed by the coronavirus lockdown.

"Let's not transform the sanitary confinement into a confinement of democracy," the mayors said in a column published by Le Journal du Dimanche. "This would be damaging to France's future.

"Millions of French people are waiting to elect their mayor, to establish a municipality capable of making crucial decisions for our schools, our transport, our jobs," said the group, also including Christian Estrosi (Nice), Francois Rebsamen (Dijon), Nicolas Florian (Bordeaux) and Martine Vassal (Marseille).

25 million people in waiting

Some 5,000 municipalities representing more than 25 million French people are waiting for the second round, with 30,000 mayors already decided after outright victories in the first round on 15 March.

The government is expected to decide next week if it is safe to hold the run-off by the end of June, after consultations with health experts. If it is not the case, the whole election would have to be re-run for the municipalities in question.

"How can we ask people who already came out to vote on 15 March to come out and vote again?" asked the mayors in the column. "It is imperative to close this electoral process as soon as possible, before the summer.

"We cannot ask mayors to reopen schools for education but keep them closed for elections," they argued, with most voting in France taking place in schools.
MIDDLETOWN  Three people were injured in a shooting at McCarthy Park on Sunday, according to Middletown Police.

Lt. Heather Desmond said the shooting, which occurred at about 4:25 p.m., left the three victims with non-life threatening injuries.
A scientific study challenged the claims of China, that the coronavirus pandemic emerged from a wild animal market in the Chinese city of Wuhan last December.

Analysis of COVID-19 done by special biologists suggested that the available data pointed to the possibility that the virus was brought into the Huanan Seafood Market by a human host who is already carrying COVID-19.

They also emphasized that they were shocked to find the virus was 'already pre-adapted to human transmission, unlike the other coronavirus which evolved quickly as it spread across the world in a previous epidemic.

The ferocious claims followed as Beijing contradicts global efforts to establish the source of the virus. The revelation will fuel concerns over the Communist regime's cloak since the disease arose late last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

Molecular biologist, Alina Chan and evolutionary biologist, Shing Zhan shared that the new research has clear findings as the publicly available genetic information do not point to cross-species transmission of the virus at the market.

The study of Chan and Zhan also insists all routes for zoonotic transmission, in this case from bats, must be studied as the paper emphasizes the consideration of the possibility that a non-genetically engineered precursor could have adapted to humans while being examined in a laboratory.

The revelations added to the rising call for an international investigation into the emergence.

Even Commons' Foreign Affairs Select Committee member, Tory MP Bob Seely stated that they need to get to the bottom of many COVID-19 related things specifically where the virus began, why the initial relayed information implies that there was no human transmission and what was the role of the Chinese Communist Party.

Read also: Asymptomatic Cats May Spread Coronavirus to Humans

Health authorities from Beijing have repeatedly insisted that the virus did not leak from a laboratory but they were almost certain that it was transmitted to humans from an animal in the wet market. They also stressed that it would only take a matter of time before they will be able to identify the species that linked the transmission from bats to humans.

The World Health Organization (WHO), also supported China's claims, saying that evidence available highly points to the outbreak being associated with exposures in Huanan Seafood Market.

However, the latest study with SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, says that the new strain of the virus has remained very stable instead of adapting to humans rapidly. According to the team, the genetic examination on the samples containing the virus taken from the Huanan Seafood Market and other patients was identical by 99.9%. They explained that this might mean that the virus was imported to the wet market by a human, thus the reason why it has not evolved since then.

According to the authors of the paper, they found no evidence that cross-species transmission occurred in the market. The paper was authored by scientists from Broad Insitute, which is affiliated to MIT and Harvard, Chan and Ben Deverman; and Zhan who hailed from the University of British Columbia.

Related article: China Conducts Nucleic Acid Testing on Entire City of Wuhan Amid Potential Second Wave of Coronavirus

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
S Lalitha By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's announcement to make India a hub for Maintenance and Repair Overhaul (MRO) for aircraft has offered the much-needed relief to an aviation industry gasping for survival in the Covid-19 era. It will open up a huge foreign market as well as generate much domestic employment, the industry says.

Bharat Malkani, president of the MRO Association, said there are 600 aircraft in India and their maintenance and repairs is a billion-dollar affair annually. He said, The big centres for the MRO industry are in Mumbai and New Delhi. The biggest chunk of operational expenses of any aircraft goes towards maintenance as it ensures safety of the aircraft and passengers.

READ| Cheaper air travels, space access to start-ups among major reforms announced by FM

We have a good domestic market. Hence, these moves will help make us much more effective. D Anand Bhaskar, CEO of Air Works, Indias largest and oldest maintenance concern which is into its 70th year now, said, We presently have only 1% of the global MRO industry share. Making India a hub means the engine, as well as the components, can be overhauled here once the infrastructure is in place.

At present, the parts have to be taken to Europe for repairs. We have expanded our maintenance services beyond the shores of India and are servicing aircraft from Vietnam, Burma, UAE, Turkey, Nepal etc in our region. Creating an MRO hub will generate huge employment in India, Bhaskar added.

Another major move announced for the industry which did not come into public space was the slashing of GST for the domestic sector of MRO from 18% to 5% and the doing away with the 10% GST on international components. The order was issued on March 28.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-15 19:07:41|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, May 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 24 people have died while 858, 667 others have been affected by heavy rains and riverine floods since the Gu (April-June heavy) rains started in Somalia a month ago, the UN agency said on Friday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said some 330,905 people have been displaced in 24 districts as humanitarian agencies ramp up responses to reach those affected by the flooding.

"As of May 14, the number of people affected by flooding in Somalia has risen to more than 858,667, of whom 330,905 have been displaced and 24 killed, in 24 districts," OCHA said in its latest update on flooding in Somalia.

According to the UN humanitarian agency, the people affected by floods this year are doubled compared to the Deyr rains (average October-December) in 2019 which affected 400,000 people.

OCHA said the most affected district is Beledweyne in Hiran region, where riverine flooding caused by a sharp rise in water levels on River Shabelle, has displaced an estimated 180,000 people.

"Humanitarian partners and authorities are scaling up their responses, reaching at least 182,830 people with life-saving assistance," it said.

"More rain is forecasted in the coming week in the Juba and Shabelle river basins, while there will be a slight reduction in the northern regions," said OCHA.

The heavy flooding comes at a time Somalia is facing the COVID-19 pandemic and a threat of desert locust infestation. Enditem
Bella Vista children's music school Mister John's Music posts fun new videos on their YouTube channel on Sundays. Read more

Anyone remember when the stay-at-home order kept us up at night and made us believe we might accomplish something interesting during the day?

While the past weeks  months?  have been historic and life-altering, as this point, for those of us living and working and raising kids at home they have not been exactly ... productive. As one day bleeds into the next, as our childrens bodies merge into family couches, were all in need of a bit of waking up.

Best a.m. revival song: Good Mornin to the Mornin, courtesy of fantastic Mister Johns Music, best followed by several segments of the Bella Vista treasures weekly video. Also colorful: Crayolas weekly craft lesson. Also energetic: Southern California SPIDERFit Kids livestreams for littles. Weve got the details.

Also, in case youre not one of the 10,000 people who are already watching the Philadelphia Zoos daily animal meet-and-greets, its time to tune in.

Memories are made of these. Maybe.

Mister Johns Music

New shows posted Sundays on the Mister Johns Music YouTube channel and archived at misterjohnsmusic.com (ages 210)

Pre-COVID, parents and kids loved going to classes at John Franciscos Bella Vista music school because each session was the delightful opposite of their stereotypical competition: Boomers intoning ancient folk dirges while waving frayed silk scarves. Mister Johns Music was fun, funny, educational, inclusive, and accessible. His weekly contributions to the playlist on his Mister Johns Music YouTube channel are equally great. In wig and stubble, Francisco often intros the show as Insta influencer Ewenee. A trio of teachers might perform classic Journey, play tic-tac-toe, teach drums, or offer essential information on bathroom etiquette. This week, theyre giving a lesson we all could use: How to set and reach goals, featuring I Will Survive and You Get What You Give (which, by the way, also describes the schools as-you-wish payment request).

SPIDERFit Kids

11:3011:50 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays on SPIDERFit Kids Facebook Live (ages 48)

Superstar SoCal kid trainer Brett Kilka and rising star 6-year-old daughter Madison lead an extra-interactive, extra-little-kid-friendly morning fitness class on Facebook Live. Each living room-based workout has a theme  sunglasses, beach, Disneyland (its the West Coast, yall)  and ends with a challenge: Clean your room! Eat your green veggies!

Philly Zoo at 2

2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on the Philadelphia Zoo Facebook page (all ages)

For approximately 17 (but whos counting?) glorious minutes each and every weekday, educator Dani Hogan introduces viewers to different Philadelphia Zoo residents via Facebook, also home to the attractions excellent animal high jinks videos. Each meet-and-greet has an anything-could-happen vibe (Will the giraffe bite the zookeeper? Will the Amur tiger brothers ever acknowledge human existence?), which only makes it more fun. Coming up this week: hawks (Monday), Amur leopard (Tuesday), sloth bear (Wednesday), mystery guest (Thursday), and eagle (Friday), all subject to change. Ten thousand viewers per episode arent wrong.

Hair Braiding and String Art

3 p.m. Monday (braiding) and 3 p.m. Wednesday (string art) on Girls Nite In Online, at gnionline.com (tweens and teens)

Girls Nite In Online isnt only for grown-ups seeking interval training or cocktail pro tips. The popular pink platform also hosts workshops by and for actual girls (and boys). Monday, Doylestown 11-year-old Margot Chase hosts a hair braiding workshop  French, Dutch, fishtail  where donations go to the Fiaria Project, supporting foster families. Wednesday, sisters Riley and Taylor Schwarz, of Havertown, teach string art in their workshop, with donations going to the Gladwyne Fire Department.

Crayola Crafting

1 p.m. Tuesday on Crayolas Facebook channel (preschool  with parents  through teens)

From Easton, Pa., the crayon capital of the world, come these simple, colorful weekly Facebook Live craft lessons with Pinterest princess and glue gun goddess Lynn Lilly. Last week, she made and answered questions about Popsicle stick bracelets, Popsicle stick frames, and paper Popsicles made with  Popsicle sticks. This week: Memorial Day projects. On May 26, we paint. Crayola also has craft videos, coloring sheets, and more on its website, crayola.com.
GST on textiles will not be increased from 5 to 12 per cent: FM Sitharaman

It is not BJP money: Nirmala Sitharaman on IT raids on 'Samajwadi perfume' trader

Budget Session 2022 to commence on January 31; Union Budget to be tabled on February 1

FM Nirmala Sitharaman to address press conference at 4:30 pm, likely to clear air on Antrix Devas issue

FM Sitharaman on Devas-Antrix issue: Cong has no moral right to speak about crony capitalism

Centre to decriminalise sections of Companies Act, drops 7 compoundable offenses

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, May 17: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced decriminalisation of the Companies Act in violations involving minor technical and procedural defaults including shortcoming in CSR reporting, inadequacies in board report, filing defaults and delay in holding AGM.

Under the Companies Act, Sitharaman said the government is trying to decriminalise most of the sections. Compoundable offences can now be tried under internal adjudicating mechanisms, she said.

Majority of the compoundable offences sections will be shifted to internal adjudication mechanism (IAM), she said adding that amendments will be brought through an Ordinance and will de-clog the criminal courts and NCLT.

Govt to privatise non-strategic PSUs: FM Sitharaman

Seven compoundable offences under the Companies Act altogether dropped and five to be dealt with under alternative framework, the finance minister said.

Earlier in the day, Finance Minister said reforms will be the focus of the fifth and final tranche of economic stimulus package to deal with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said the package would focus on MGNREGA, healthcare and education, businesses, de-criminalisation of the Companies Act, ease of doing business, public sector undertakings, and resources related to state government.
If California is really the global tech capital, why is it so hard for our small towns to get the internet service they need?

One answer to that question is in Gonzales, a Salinas Valley settlement of 9,000.

While Californias biggest cities now struggle to provide internet access for people to work and study from home, Gonzales solved that problem a few months ago. Before the pandemic hit, the town offered broadband service, free of charge, to all its residents. The story behind this rare achievement  Gonzales is the first Central Coast city to do this  offers lessons about power and how communities can beat the odds.

Gonzales leadership is not a surprise. The town, surrounded by fields, is a small wonder, with low crime, innovative health services, extensive supports for children and a diverse industrial base employing local residents.

But even for a nimble city, securing broadband has been difficult. Gonzales long path to universal broadband suggests how hard it will be to turn temporary internet measures of the pandemic  like Googles hotspot donations or short-term service discounts  into long-term bridges over our digital divides.

When Gonzales started its broadband quest, in 2005, internet service was slow and unreliable, and municipal officials couldnt get service providers attention. So city officials joined the Central Coast Broadband Consortium and started visiting the San Francisco headquarters of Californias Public Utilities Commission to press for rural broadband.

At some PUC meetings, Gonzales was the only city represented. The small town didnt have much leverage  until officials discovered how to advance their case for rural broadband by protesting corporate mergers and acquisitions.

In 2015, when Charter Communications sought to merge with Time Warner in a $78 billion deal, Gonzales moved to block California from approving Charters acquisition of Time Warner and Bright House cable systems, on the grounds that the deal wouldnt help small towns. Charter was forced to negotiate with Gonzales, which dropped its opposition after Charter upgraded the towns internet, bumping Gonzales upload speeds from 1 Mbps to 60 Mbps, and download speeds from 5 Mbps to 100 Mbps.

A tech backbone was in place, but access to the internet at home still remained a problem for many poor families. On my visits to Gonzales, I often saw kids sitting outside McDonalds, Starbucks or even City Hall, using the free Wi-Fi to do their homework. In 2017, such scenes inspired the city to approve a strategy for achieving Universal Broadband for All.

Gonzales asked for proposals from internet providers, and then rejected them all as insufficient. Instead, the city began individual negotiations with providers.

T-Mobile proved well-suited for Gonzales needs. The company has a program called EmpowerED to get students online. T-Mobile has a dense network of cellular towers in the area  providing coverage to drivers on Highway 101.

The T-Mobile/Gonzales partnership was approved by the City Council in October. T-Mobile upgraded wireless internet infrastructure and donated 2,000 Wi-Fi hotspots  one for every city household.

The city, not residents, pays monthly service charges, at a discounted rate of $12.50 monthly per household device. The total annual cost to the Gonzales government is $300,000  paid for with general-fund revenue and a special sales tax approved in 2014.

Anyone presenting proof of residency in Gonzales received a hotspot; so did households outside the city whose students attend Gonzales schools. Since COVID-19 forced shutdowns, the city has offered drive-by service for equipment pickups. Residents tell me the devices are already activated when you get them, so they are easy to use. Grandparents sing the hotspots praises, and college students from Gonzales, now back at home, say their city internet connections are better than their campus ones.

They work really, really well, even with all the people suddenly online  Google docs, Google Classroom, Zoom, are all working, says Gonzales High senior Isabel Mendoza, 17. Before, because we have five people in my house, and a number of electronics, the internet was really slow.

Rene Mendez, the longtime city manager, has been fielding calls from other towns asking for broadband advice. I think this is doable across the state, Mendez says, if cities push internet providers to make deals that mix new broadband investment and cost-sharing. Why cant you provide broadband for the whole community, just like you do with sewer and water and streets?

Of course, it should be much easier for poor towns and people to secure internet access in California, which invented our tech world, than it was for Gonzales.

But the city doesnt dwell on past struggles  its moving forward. Gonzales deal with T-Mobile is for two years, but its renewable. City officials are planning a trip to T-Mobile headquarters, and plotting the next chapter of universal broadband. It starts with 5G.

Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square.
Nine Entertainment Co is in discussions with regional media proprietor Antony Catalano about an extension of its multimillion-dollar printing deal.

Australian Community Media prints newspapers, including The Age and The Australian Financial Review, in areas such as Victoria and Western Australia as part of an arrangement it negotiated with Nine when Mr Catalano bought the regional publishing business last year.

Australian Community Media and Nine are discussing a potential extension to a printing deal. Credit:Louie Douvis

The deal has more than two years left to run, but industry sources, who asked to remain anonymous, said the two parties are already trying to renegotiate the contract. Conversations are in the early stages but involve the way in which the deal is priced and the length of the agreement, sources said. Nine and Mr Catalano declined to comment.

Nine (owner of this masthead) and News Corp Australia both have commercial arrangements with Mr Catalano through his print centres and pay millions for the production of their newspaper titles. Nine's deal with Mr Catalano was originally planned to be "for a short transitional period", but if extended could give ACM an alternative source of revenue to advertising. For large organisations like Nine and News Corp, outsourcing print production is a way to save costs.
This is an opinion column.

Lewis Grizzard once said you cant read a newspaper from the 1930s without the urge to shout Look out for Hitler!

Likewise, its difficult now to read or watch anything from February without screaming.

The COVID is coming! Wake up, stupid! Wake up!

The Alabama 2020 Legislative Session ends next week, and Im looking back at a column I wrote in February after lawmakers first day back in Montgomery. That day the Alabama Senate passed a resolution recognizing the great looming public health emergency  porn.

Thats right. The thing they thought would get us all was pornography.

3M is under federal investigation for dumping toxins in the Tennessee River, toxins that have been found in drinking water downstream. But the Alabama Senate says the public health emergency is ... porn. pic.twitter.com/3LnOFoFiPY  Kyle Whitmire (@WarOnDumb) February 10, 2020

State Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, introduced the resolution moments after lawmakers gaveled in, and the Senate passed it easily on a voice vote.

The outrage I had then was real, but it seems so naive now. There were real public health emergencies Alabama needed to deal with, I said. And then I listed a few.

Like OBGYN services, for instance. More than half of Alabama counties dont have hospitals where a woman can give birth to a baby 

Or get treated for coronavirus! Do you even have any idea what that is yet?

Pollution still tainted the soil in north Birmingham neighborhoods, despite one lawmaker and two powerful lobbyists convicted in a bribery scheme to cover it up.

Why are they going outside? Somebodys probably walking around with corona right now and you gotta get a mask, man! And some toilet paper.

Hookworm, a parasite everybody had thought eradicated, had recently reemerged in Alabamas Black Belt, but lawmakers dont care about that.

Dude, you dont even know. Testing! Youre going to need a lot of tests. And PPE! And a whole new vocabulary so you know what the heck PPE is.

Or the Legislature could try to rescue rural hospitals and make health insurance affordable for 300,000 Alabamians by expanding Medicaid.

What are you even  wait  OK, that one is still a thing.

After the Senate passed the porn resolution, reporters asked state Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh whether the Legislature might finally expand the program. Three months ago, Alabama had record low unemployment and the Legislature anticipated a fat general fund to play with. If there was an opportunity to draw down the feds 10-to-1 matching funds, it seemed this would be it.

But Marsh said his caucus was not in the mood to even talk about it.

Lawmakers were in session for a month before everything changed.

Well, almost everything.

The coronavirus came to Alabama. Lawmakers, already on a two-week spring break, took another month off before returning to a State House closed to the public. When they came back, the country was facing Depression-era unemployment and state revenue projections were useless. But the federal government had given Alabama $1.8 billion to help cover coronavirus-related costs.

Reporters put the question to Marsh again. Is now the time to expand Medicaid?

Nope. His caucus wasnt in the right mood, Marsh said again.

But then Marsh changed his mind.

Oh, not about that. Rather, about something else entirely.

With $1.8 billion lying on the table, lawmakers couldnt just let Gov. Kay Ivey spend that money on things she felt important. House and Senate leaders sent Ivey a list of projects they wanted funded, including $200 million for a brand new Alabama State House.

For that kind of money, the Legislature could pay Alabamas share of Medicaid expansion for the next two years, at least, and maybe as many as eight years, depending on whose projections you use.

But nope. New offices for lawmakers took priority.

Ivey made lawmakers wish list public, and Marsh made a u-turn  after the proposal turned into a national embarrassment and a talking point for federal officials who said states would waste the money.

In the end, the 2020 session proved Marsh could be publicly shamed into changing his mind about one thing.

Just not things that would help people and hospitals and whole communities.

Not Medicaid expansion. Not something that matters.

If this legislative session has taught us anything its that the present can be as impossible to change as the past.

And all we have left to do is scream.

Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group.

You can follow his work on his Facebook page, The War on Dumb. And on Twitter. And on Instagram.

More columns by Kyle Whitmire

Alabamas secret prison plan puts public information into quarantine

And now we play American Roulette

Its not the Alabama State House that needs replacing

The immutable weirdness of Troy King

Alabama Legislature, same as it ever was

Alabama AG needs something to do

As cases there lead state, Mobile mayor wants to reopen

Hey, Georgia! Our governor is better than your governor.

The John Merrill Show is on again. Somebody change the channel.

Mo Brooks spouts nonsense, Ivey finds her nerve

A love letter for the Post Office

The time to expand Medicaid is now. When will Alabama? How about never?

Finding meaning in the ruins of coronavirus and Legos

This is the most dangerous election. And the most important.

Alabamas governor went on Twitter for a coronavirus Q&A. It was a disaster.

Alabama is stuck on autopilot

What Ill take from the quarantine: My daughters first steps

Stop with the California comparisons, Kay Ivey

Lieutenant governor demands Alabama coronavirus task force do its job

If Alabama has to go back to work, so should the Legislature

In grief for normal life

The truth will tell itself


Human bones from Bulgaria suggest human beings first arrived in Europe thousands of years earlier than previous studies have shown. This means humans shared the continent with Neanderthals, our closest relative, much longer than experts had believed.

Scientists studied four pieces of bone and a tooth. Detailed radiocarbon and genetic testing show they came from four Homo sapiens, the oldest of which is dated to about 46,000 years ago.

Two separate reports on the study appear in the scientific publications Nature and Nature Ecology & Evolution.

Helen Fewlass was a lead author of one of the reports. She is with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany.

Fewlass told The Associated Press the previous oldest European human bone pieces were found in Romania. Efforts to date these bone pieces resulted in problems, she added. But they were likely from sometime around 40,000 years ago, give or take a few thousand years. And that bone material had Neanderthal genes in it, suggesting that Neanderthals and Homo sapiens had mated about 200 or so years earlier.

The researchers said they now think Europes ancestors came from Africa about 47,000 years ago during a short warming period.

This means that for about 7,000 years or so, humans and Neanderthals lived on the same continent, interacting a little, but probably not so often. So says Jean-Jacques Hublin, another study lead author and the director of the Max Planck Institute.

Hublin said Neanderthals completely died out about 40,000 years ago. We know that when  (humans) arrived, there were Neanderthals, he noted. The Danube Valley might have been a way for modern humans  by the way, at different periods  to move into this part of Europe.



This early group of humans probably never made it west over the mountains known as the Alps, Hublin added. It was likely only a few hundred people and they may have died off. Modern Europeans came from a second later wave of humans out of Africa, he said .

The remains were found in Bulgarias Bacho Kiro cave, which has been open to scientists and the public since 1930. The cave is hard to reach and contains animal bones, including those of a rhinoceros and lions, Fewlass said.

How would they get into that cave  unless humans brought parts of the animal, the body, into the cave? she asked.

Researchers have recovered a large amount of bones from cave bears. These early Europeans made jewelry out of cave bear bones, not other animals, showing a connection to the bears, Hublin said.

He added that the discovery suggests Neanderthals, who until this time period had not shown jewelry making skills, learned the skill from human beings.

The study makes a very strong argument and greatly strengthens the hypothesis that modern humans dispersed into Europe before 45,000 years ago from Western Asia, said Katerina Harvati. She is a paleoanthropologist at the University of Tuebingen. She was not involved in the study.

Harvati agreed with Hublin that it is likely that Neanderthal jewelry found in Western Europe was something that species somehow learned from humans. Other researchers praised the dating of the newly found bones. But they said they were unsure about whether the teaching of skills did happen.

Im Pete Musto.

Seth Borenstein reported on this story for The Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

previous  adj. earlier in time or order

radiocarbon  n. the scientific way of finding the age of something that is very old by measuring the amount of radioactivity in certain forms of carbon in it

author  n. a person who has written something

interact(ing)  v. to talk or do things with other people

cave  n. a large hole that was formed by natural processes in the side of a cliff or hill or under the ground

jewelry  n. decorative objects, such as rings, necklaces, and earrings, that people wear on their body

hypothesis  n. an idea or theory that is not proven but that leads to further study or discussion

disperse(d)  v. to go or move in different directions : to spread apart
The rural Central Valley city of Atwater has declared itself a sanctuary city for businesses and churches that want to reopen in defiance of the California shelter-in-place policy aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

The City Council heard from a parade of business owners, pastors and residents on Friday who described pandemic-related hardships. Many insisted they could be responsible and keep the Merced County community safe by following safe practices like wearing face masks and keeping social distance.

A tearful Donald Covington, president of the Old Town Atwater Association, said businesses need to get up and running. People are starving. Two family members have two small businesses, with small children and no income, he added. We need to do this today.

If they dont open up, theyre going to be in a really bad state, and were going to have bankruptcies and foreclosures and were just going to have families that are decimated financially, said Chamber of Commerce President Don Borgwardt, who is also a local pastor and made a plea for people to be allowed back inside houses of worship.

Resident Caleb Hampton  a lonely voice for upholding the shelter order  said there was little proof people would be responsible in protecting public health, as evidenced by those attending the council meeting, most without masks, including the council members and staff. (Hampton wore a mask.)

How many people came up and touched this lectern, and then was it ever disinfected? he said. The council has pressed this narrative that small businesses can be responsible to implement these guidelines on their own. ... But I dont see evidence of that in daily activities even here.

Like many rural areas, however, Atwater  which has nearly 30,000 residents  is frustrated with Gov. Gavin Newsoms phased reopening schedule, with the job losses that have accompanied the weeks of closures of nonessential businesses. Council members applauded those who pressed for reopening, and without discussion voted unanimously to approve the resolution affirming the citys commitment to fundamental constitutional rights and declaring the city of Atwater a sanctuary city for all businesses. Council members said the measure also applied to churches.

Its time to do the right thing and listen to the people who put us here, Mayor Paul Creighton said. We want you guys to survive and thrive. Its really critical that the electeds in this country and especially this state start listening to you.

Creighton told the Merced Sun-Star that while the city would take no action against anyone who reopened outside the states guidelines, local businesses were taking their own risks by reopening.

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.

If you do have a state (business) license, thats between you and the state of California, he said.

Merced County has recorded 200 coronavirus cases and six COVID-19 deaths. On Saturday, the county sheriff, Vernon Warnke, posted on Facebook that he will not be taking any enforcement action in this county for any of the COVID-19 violations.

The citizens themselves can make informed decisions on how to proceed and protect their lives and livelihood and not the governor of a state, he wrote.

Rita Beamish is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email rbeamish@sfchronicle.com
Unbelievable bounty offer

SHEER HATE OR MOSTLY PRANK? It is not yet ascertained if most of the incidents involving recent threats in social media against President Rodrigo Duterte were inspired by intense hatred against the president.

Initial disclosures say they were not: the teacher in Zambales did it out of a stupid notion it would increase the number of likes for his Twitter feed. A woman in Cordova, Cebu said her Facebook account was hacked by a prankster.

The offer of P50 million to P75 million, the impossibility of the bounty, from persons who could not raise a tiny fraction of the money in their lifetime, should wave the red flag that says crazy.

Be it the work of a nutcase or a jokester though, threats against the chief executive are taken seriously by any country.

Not warrantless arrest issue?

TABOGA CASE ABOUT CONFESSION TO A REPORTER. The Department of Justice, through its inquest fiscal, Assistant State Prosecutor Jeannette Dacpano, found and ruled that (1) the warrantless arrest of Ronnel Mas, a 25-year-old schoolteacher, who posted on Twitter an offer of P50 million to kill President Duterte, was invalid, and (2) inciting to sedition, the charge filed against Mas, is not a continuing crime.

Yet the invalid arrest would not take down the case, Dacpano said, because the defect was ultimately cured by the admission of Mas that he indeed posted the text in his own Twitter account.

The fiscal cited People vs Taboga, which must be People of the Philippines vs Edralin Taboga (GR 144086-87, Feb. 6, 2002). In that case, a widow in her 70s was robbed and killed, with her body charred beyond recognition in the house that the robber, one of her farm workers, set on fire in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur on April 1, 1998. The issue of warrantless arrest was not raised.

Initial reading of Taboga does not list the issue of warrantless arrest among the two issues the court tackled: the contended errors of the trial court in admitting in evidence Tabogas confession to a radio reporter and in finding him guilty of robbery with homicide although it was not proven by evidence other than the confession.

Story continues

Most people dont check the cases cited by lawyers. In talking to media, lawyers need to explain how a case would apply to the current dispute.

Why is the arrest of schoolteacher Mas not covered by the general rule against warrantless arrest? The police couldve secured the warrant and thus avoid the mess that warrantless arrests usually create.

And the public needs to know more than the one-line citation of the case: People vs Taboga. The reporter has to do the digging if the lawyer doesnt provide it.

Furor over ECQ, MECQ

QUICK EO, DELAYED IATF RULING. The national government, through the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and the office of the president, announced on May 12 its ruling that Cebu City would stay under MECQ or modified enhanced community quarantine until May 31.

On the same day of May 12, the tri-city alliance of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu appealed to the IATF that it would want to remain under enhanced quarantine until May 31.

On May 15, the day the ECQ was set to expire, Mayor Edgar Labella issued Executive Order 77, which would implement the MECQ. That night, however, after the EO was already publicized, IATF partly granted the tri-city appeal: It ruled that Cebu City and Mandaue City would keep their enhanced quarantine category, while Lapu-Lapu City would go with Cebu Province in the shift to general quarantine.

The following day, May 16, Mayor Labella announced IATFs change of mind and revoked EO 77.

But only after a number of potshots on social media slammed with such complaints as People are confused by the orders and Is anyone in-charge at City Hall?

The lesson is that those who lead must be as quick in responding with explanation as some people are in throwing accusation.

Unwilling GCQian

THEY STILL DONT KNOW STATE OF HEALTH. Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Ahong Chan is specific about his wish, along with that of mayors of two other cities (Cebu and Mandaue), to remain under GCQ, at least until May 31. They dont know the actual state of health (ang tinuod hulagway sa sitwasyon) in their cities until the rapid diagnostic tests are completed and the results known and studied.

But the IATF ruling is their command and so he and Lapu-Lapu must bear the shift, with Cebu Province, from ECQ to GCQ.

Being tested here, during the second half of May, is whose strategy is the better move: Which will save more lives, the continued lockdown under ECQ or the partial return to business under GCQ?
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday ordered issuing job cards to all the migrant workers returning to the state from different parts of the country.

At a high-level meeting held here, Sonowal directed various departments to ensure employment of those labourers, who are already "skilled" and were working in other states.

"The chief minister directed the panchayat and rural development department to allot job cards to returning migrant workers and provide them jobs under MGNREGA at the earliest," an official release said.

He asked to ensure that each and every labourer coming back home gets work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), it said.

Sonowal also ordered the Skill Development Department to take steps for imparting training to the migrant labourers coming back to Assam for harnessing their skills.

He also issued instructions to identify the skills of the returning labourers and provide training at block-level through a digital platform, the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hayden Quinn was eliminated from MasterChef Australia: Back To Win on Sunday night.

The chef was undone when he failed to make horseradish and beetroot the starring ingredients in his final dish.

Fans were upset to see their favourite go, describing the laid back 34-year-old as a positive force on the show.

Gone: Hayden Quinn (pictured) was eliminated from MasterChef Australia: Back To Win on Sunday night

One person Tweeted: 'That's it. I'm rioting. Hayden brought so much joy and positivity to MasterChef'.

Another person watching at home chimed in: 'Thanks Hayden - some of the fun just left with you.'

One fan wrote: 'Hayden you will be missed! You're the only one that made dishes I'd actually eat! I'll definitely still be attempting your recipes for years to come.'

Oh well! The chef was undone when he failed to make horseradish and beetroot the starring ingredients in his final dish

Miss him! His departure left his fellow contestants devastated and they raced to embrace him

Another fan Tweeted: 'Wearing a pen behind my ear tomorrow in honour of Hayden.'

'Yes. He will be missed. His attitude and positivity are really inspiring. And I like how he left the kitchen with big smile on his face. Gracefully,' wrote one at-home fan.

Another keen viewer added: 'Mum's full on crying watching Hayden leave. I'll definitely miss what he brought to the show. A good energy and willing to try new things always'.

Upset: Fans were also upset to see their favourite go, describing the laid back 34-year-old as a positive force on the show

After his departure, the Family Food Fight star and cookbook author said that he found being on MasterChef again a rush.

Hayden told Ten Daily: 'MasterChef is such an amazing opportunity, it's a little bit addictive, the adrenaline rush, all that is suddenly very hard to say no to'.

The chef, who is currently filming the second season of his outdoorsy series Taste Of Australia, added: 'I think my time in the kitchen is very much over, I'll stick to cooking food in a goat paddock.'
A chief Constable whose force controversially used drones to spy on walkers during lockdown is retiring after a police watchdog probe into his personal conduct.

Peter Goodman was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct days after the stay at home restrictions were introduced.

The complaint related to an off-duty personal conduct matter. The IOPC carried out an investigation but ruled there was no breach of professional standards.

Peter Goodman was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct days after the stay at home restrictions were introduced

Mr Goodman, 53, announced his retirement from Derbyshire Constabulary just days later on May 6.

The divorced father of three will leave the force at the end of July, almost two years before his original five-year contract was due to expire.

An IOPC spokesman would not reveal what the complaint against the countys top officer was about.

They added: Following a referral from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Derbyshire, we looked into a potential off-duty conduct matter concerning the Chief Constable.

'Having assessed the available evidence we considered that there was no indication of any breach of professional standards, and consulted with the PCC who agreed with our assessment.

'We have since advised the PCC and chief constable that our inquiries have ended.

Derbyshire Constabulary has been behind a series of controversial actions during lockdown.

Its drone unit filmed walkers in the Peak District on March 26, three days after restrictions began.

Derbyshire Constabulary drone unit filmed walkers in the Peak District in March as part of its 'stay at home' message

It claimed the footage showed the stay at home message which was then in force was still not getting through.

Officers also put black dye in the Blue Lagoon, near Buxton, to deter swimming.

At the start of the lockdown in March, Chief constable Goodman defended his officer's tactics and blamed the government, saying the emergency laws were 'unclear'.

He also defended using drones to shame walkers, saying the methods were 'slightly unusual' but claimed other forces were implementing 'more draconian measures'.

'It is only in the event of people acting completely stupidly and not taking that advice that we have to use our powers,' he told the Derby Telegraph.

Former Supreme Court justice Lord Sumption likened Derbyshires activities to a police state.

He said at the time: The behaviour of Derbyshire police in trying to shame people into using their undoubted right to travel to take exercise in the country and wrecking beauty spots in the fells so people dont want to go there is frankly disgraceful.

This is what a police state is like. Its a state in which the government can issue orders or express preferences with no legal authority and the police will enforce ministers wishes. Derbyshire Police have shamed our policing traditions.

Derbyshire Police dyed the 'blue lagoon' in Harpur Hill, Buxton, black (right) but Peter Goodman (left) has defended his force's actions and insisted they were not out of line

Civil liberties group Big Brother Watch described the force as sinister. And former justice secretary David Gauke said the polices actions were badly misjudged.

Elsewhere there was more confusion as to what would lead to members of the public receiving a fine.

Some officers told off corner shops for selling easter eggs and threatening to fine a bakery owner for putting chalk on the pavement outside her shop.

A week into lockdown Lancashire Police issued 123 fines for breaches of the rules over the weekend, while officers in Cheshire summonsed six people for various offences, including multiple people from the same house going out to buy 'non-essential' items.

South Wales Police also hit out at MP Stephen Kinnock for visiting his father, former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, on his birthday;

Neil Kinnock's son, Steven keeping a safe distance as he delivered supplies and wished his father Happy Birthday. After posting this image on social media he was contacted by police

Hardyal Dhindsa, Police and Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire, said: Under the current regulations, I was required to refer a possible conduct matter relating to the Chief Constable to the IOPC.

Following a swift investigation, they found that there was no indication of any breach of professional conduct. The matter is therefore closed, and I have nothing further to say at this time.

Derbyshire police insisted Mr Goodmans decision to retire was not related to the watchdog investigation.

A spokesman added: Any concerns that are raised over the conduct of the Chief Constable are dealt with by the Police and Crime Commissioner who employs him and not the constabulary. These are then referred to the IOPC.

Unless there are matters of public concern Chief Constable Goodmans personal life is just that. No allegations were made against him.

Chief Constable Goodmans initial notification to retire was given at the beginning of March.

A decision was then made to stay to deal with the immediate issues relating to the Covid crisis. The decision to retire was not in any way related to this.'
By Ismail Yusuf Adan

Graduate student at the University of Nairobi

Stories Continues after ad

Nairobi, Kenya

Email: ismaelshirwac@students.uonbi.ac.ke

The former British Protectorate in the Horn of Africa, officially known as the Republic of Somaliland is a nation, arguably the most democratic state in East Africa, with many success stories that hardly imaginable to happen in the continent, yet the world is insisting NOT to recognize and turned a blind eye. Somaliland has managed to build peace in the flaming and volatile region, the Horn of Africa; right next to Somalia which tops the list of the failed states, in the world. It has established a fully functional and democratic government with NO international assistance, conducted series of elections which was confirmed as free and fair by the international community, in a continent where people barely vote for their presidents and maintained the Montevideo criteria of statehood including; defined territory which is built upon the Anglo-Italian, Anglo-French and Anglo-Ethiopian treaties, having a functioning and forceful government which is democratically elected by the people, a permanent population of 5 million and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

This former British Protectorate was the 12th African nation to become independent resulted from a Royal Proclamation of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This means Somaliland became independent way before 42 African countries which, now, are sitting in the African Union (AU) and have the right to decide the fate of whether Somaliland becomes recognized by the AU or not. Soon after the independence, 34 members of the UN, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, recognized Somaliland as an independent and as a sovereign country. Unfortunately, that sovereignty didnt last long and within 5 days the country, prematurely, got into an unrewarding union with their neighboring Somalia to make the Somali Republic. This unification was a preamble to the Greater Somalia ambition inspired by the Somali people in the region. That Union was never legal and formal. On the contrary, it was a turbulent and unsatisfactory, marriage.

After 31 years of difficulties, injustice, inequalities, and prejudice, that union ended horribly with 11 years of War which claimed the lives of a quarter of a million of the Somaliland people after civilians were shelled and cities were bombed and leveled it to the ground by the military aircraft of their government.

In 1991, Somalilanders defeated and destroyed the military deployed to their land by the military government, declaring their withdrawal from the failed union they have been part of, for more than 3 decades. This is where the miraculous and phenomenal African success story starts, and the most democratic country in east Africa begins its extraordinary journey, but before that let us have a glance at the history and some interesting incidents back in time.

The pre-colonial era of the Somali inhabited territory in the Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa, because of its strategic location which is conducive to trading, has given the Somalis to involve in trade businesses and interact with different cultures. They used to export animal products, rare gums, ostrich feathers, and other products. Having access to both the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, the Horn Africa became a trade hub and coiling station to the ships going to India. Thus, European interests began to crop up in the region, and in the 1880s The British, French, and Italians competed for the Somali territory, which later agreed to share. In 1887 Britain declared Somaliland a protectorate, leading to an Anglo-French agreement to define borders between the countries of new colonies of British Somaliland and French Somaliland (current Djibouti). While Italy found its fair share to colonize Somalia as La Somalia Italiana. The British also colonized Kenya and right before the disbanding of the British colony in the region, they granted the Somali inhabited North Eastern Province administration to Kenya, as well as the Hawd and Reserve Area or Ogaden region to be part of Ethiopia. From there on, Somalis were divided into 5 administrative borders.

The colonial dissolution and the outcome of the greater Somalia Dream

The concept of Greater Somalia protrudes back to the beginning of the 20th century, and the idea was to unite all Somali speaking nations, comprising regions in which ethnic Somalis live or historically inhabited, encompassing not only Somaliland, Somalia, and Djibouti, but also the North Eastern Province of Kenya and current Somali state of Ethiopia included. Thats why the blue light flag which was originally comprehended and served as an ethnic flag, has a five-pointed star at the center, each point representing an area where the Somali ethnic groups have resided.

Shortly, after Somaliland got independence from Britain, they tried to practice what they had been preaching for decades and voluntarily united with their counterpart, La Somalia Italiana which got independence from Italy only four days after Somaliland. Although the two entities united as a single nation, British Somaliland and the Italian Somalia were, from an institutional perspective, two separate countries. Italy and the United Kingdom had left the two with separate administrative, legal, and education systems in which affairs were conducted according to different procedures and in different languages. Police, taxes, and the exchange rates of their respective currencies also differed.

At first, the newly formed parliament of the two united countries promptly created a new Act of Union but it was widely rejected in the State of Somaliland. This was exactly where the confusion started but it was not limited to that. Somalia turned the tables and took advantage of their kind-hearted brothers. A huge injustice and disparities in the power-sharing followed where Mogadishu benefited all state resources. As a result of this, in December 1961, a group of Somaliland junior Officers attempted a coup detat intended to restore the independence of the Republic of Somaliland, however, it was unsuccessful.

That dream of a greater Somalia died after Djibouti received independence from France and refused to join the union, preferring to stand separate and establish their own different country. Having said that, the NFD and the Hawd & Reserve area remained to be parts of Kenya and Ethiopia, respectively. Furthermore, the union between the other two wasnt hale and hearty.

That dissatisfaction of the Somalilanders with the Act of Union and power-sharing was a subject that the successive civilian governments ignored and the situation was completely exacerbated when the despotic Siad Barre came to power in a coup following the assassination of President Sharmake of the Somali Republic. Barre not only politically marginalized Somaliland, but economically deprived their cities, and later on, started killing anyone from these part of the country who speaks against injustice. That worsened situation derived a group of students, business people, former civil servants, and former politicians to found the Somali National Movement (SNM) which then turned to be an armed liberation front. According to Human Rights Watch, with the formation of the SNM, Somaliland people have seen the worst atrocities. Serious and series of grave human rights violations, including extra-judicial executions of unarmed civilians, detentions without trial, unfair trials, torture, rape, looting, and extortion, have been a prominent feature of life in the towns and countryside in Somaliland.

During the ongoing conflict between the forces of the SNM and the Somali Army, the Somali governments genocidal campaign against the people of Somaliland took place between May 1988 and March 1989, where the governments military aircrafts maneuvered by South African and Rhodesian mercenaries were bombing schools, hospitals and residential areas of Somaliland cities and killed more than 200,000 civilians indiscriminately.

The rebirth of British Somaliland

In 1991, the Siad Barre regime was defeated by SNM forces. On the 18th of May, at a conference held in Burao; the second-largest city in Somaliland, in which traditional leaders of all clans that dwell the country attended, Somaliland declared its independence and withdrawal from its union with the Somali Republic.

A new journey began, and a series of reconciliation and peacebuilding conferences has been conducted. The peace that Somaliland has been enjoying for almost 30 years was home-grown and completely free from any external influence and intervention. It was a traditional and indigenous conflict resolution method, which also lead to the implementation of the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration processes. However, the country remained peaceful for thirty years and was free from acts of terrorism, piracy, and any other form of social and political instabilities.

Although Somaliland is not internationally recognized, the country enjoys symbolic trappings of statehood: it has a national flag, a currency, a national anthem, organized and powerful army with a mandate to defend the independence and territorial integrity of Somaliland, a passport thats accepted by several countries including the UK, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, UAE, etc, and demarcated borders which are based on the colonial lines as per the Cairo Declaration on African borders in 1964.

Over the years, Somaliland, lacking any international assistance, has conducted a series of democratic free and fair elections where five different presidents succeeded the office. Sometimes an opposition leader won over an incumbent president and the transition of power was completely peaceful. Not only they have managed to hold presidential elections, but also a national referendum before that as well as parliamentary and local council elections were conducted. These elections were termed as free and fair by international observers. Moreover, Somaliland was the worlds first country to use iris recognition to register its voters.

Somaliland is also an example of freedom of press and expression. According to the last report of Freedom House, a US-funded organization based in the US, Somaliland is the most freedom country in the Horn of Africa, superior and way better than Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, and many other African countries.

Somalilands quest for recognition

The pursuit of Somaliland for recognition remained strong for many years, despite being overlooked by the International community. Somaliland will remain independent even if we dont get our rightful recognition for the coming 100 years  the former president H.E Ahmed Silanyo echoed at an occasion of 18th May commemoration, and thats what every Somalilander of every age is going to tell to other parts of the world. The people are not hopeless, and despite their aspiration to be part of the International community, they also believe they can continue living and rising without recognition comparing their living standard with many countries which enjoy recognition from the outside world.

Also, an AU fact-finding mission visited Somaliland on the 30th of April 2005 and stayed the country for four days. They made a thorough assessment of the Somaliland situation and remarked in their report that Somalilands search for recognition is historically unique and self-justified, as such they recommended the AU to find a special method of dealing with this outstanding case.

As per the AU fact-finding report, there was an evident conviction and emotion among the Somalilanders that their country has all the attributes of an independent sovereign State, which they say the international community should objectively consider. Not only Somaliland satisfied the Montevideo criteria of statehood, but also achieved what most of the African and Arab countries failed to achieve.

In conclusion, as stated by the AU fact-finding mission to Somaliland, The lack of recognition ties the hands of the authorities and people of Somaliland as they cannot effectively and sustainably transact with the outside to pursue the reconstruction and development goals. The will of the people has to be respected and their accomplishment deserves to be rewarded, but it is never too late. Somalilands recognition could be a potential antidote to the problems of the Horn of Africa, and to that of their neighboring Somalia, in particular.

Ismail Adan is a sociologist and social scientist based in Nairobi. He is specializing in Disaster Management at University of Nairobi.
So another impeachment-show liar rolls out.

The highly vaunted Trump-hating U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, has been caught lying through her teeth, under oath, to Congress. John Solomon at JustTheNews, who conducted a Freedom of Information Act query, has the goods:

During her testimony last fall, the ambassador told lawmakers her knowledge about Burisma and its relationship with Hunter Biden was limited mostly to a briefing before she went to Kiev as the top U.S. diplomat and what she read in news reports. When pressed she said it was possible she learned other information but could not recall it. The newly released memos state Yovanovitch had a direct meeting with a Burisma representative in December 2016, and received a detailed letter from the company's lawyer and received a staff briefing after she arrived in Ukraine.

The old 'don't recall' dodge, plus a lot of hooey about knowing nothing. Someone that politically attuned to hating Trump is virtually certain to have paid close attention to all matters regarding his political opponents. But somehow she's sweet little know-nothing, which at this point isn't believable.

It's also pretty rich, given the copious praise she drew for her 'bravery' when she was giving her testimony, wiping tears, and playing martyr for the cameras, a victim of wicked President Trump, who supposedly terrified her.

Remember this barrage of praise?

And this?

House Democrats have since accused Trump of witness intimidation -- an accusation they said might be considered for potential articles of impeachment. During her hearing, Yovanovitch said she found Trumps tweets "very intimidating."

Actually, she had very little terror at all, at least for a perjury charge. Unlike quite a few others in the failed impeachment scam, pompous asses such as Alexander Vindman who said one thing on television, and another in congressional testimony so as to protect themselves, Yovanovitch lied like a rug, convinced she had nothing to fear.

She ought to be brought up on perjury charges, given the raw lying, and the damage she attempted to inflict onto President Trump because of it, all the while telling everyone she was his faithful envoy.

Dave Bossie, at Citizen's United, which uncovered the lie certainly thinks so.

"She should be made to answer for what she has done here," Bossie, the deputy campaign manager for the 2016 Trump presidential campaign, said on the John Solomon Reports podcast. Bossie pointed out that records recently obtained through the Freedom of Information Act reveal Yovanovitch's knowledge of issues pertaining to Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings may have been more extensive than she admitted while testifying before the House Intelligence Committee impeachment inquiry chaired by California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff. "In a normal, serious world," said Bossie, "there should be a criminal referral from both the House Judiciary Committee or the House Intelligence committee as well as the Senate committees that oversee this because those are the ones that heard testimony, and there should be a criminal referral on perjury for Ambassador Yovanovitch, and she should be held accountable."

Better people have been prosecuted for less, as the railroading of presidential aides Michael Flynn and George Papadapoulos shows. What would these exonerators be saying if a Republican had uttered such lies?

And yes, Trump called it right in firing her - anyone who lies to the boss has to be -- Michael Flynn, who wasn't entirely forthright with Vice President Mike Pence about his Russian ambassador meetings, certainly got himself fired from his National Security Agency position for as much. Yovanovitch not only lied, she lied under oath, to Congress -- to Get Trump.

If nothing else comes out about this, it's that Trump has an ultra-fine sense for knowing who's genuine and who isn't, as well as the appropriate kill instinct. Trump was right about firing FBI Director James Comey, who had been plotting against him, and he certainly was right to see through Yovanovitch and get rid of her, too. That's not paranoia. That's recognizing reality. And with reality should come consequences.

Image credit: shareable Instagram, via Wikpedia
The skulls and bones of some of those who were slaughtered as they sought refuge inside the church are laid out as a memorial to the thousands who were killed in and around the Catholic church during the 1994 genocide in Ntarama, Rwanda. (AP)

Paris/Kampala: Rwandan genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga, who is accused of funding militias that massacred about 800,000 people, was arrested on Saturday near Paris after 26 years on the run, the French justice ministry said.

The 84-year-old, who is Rwandas most-wanted man and had a $5 million US bounty on his head, was living under a false identity in a flat in Asnieres-Sur-Seine, according to the ministry.

French gendarmes arrested him at 0530 GMT on Saturday, the ministry said.

Kabuga was indicted in 1997 on seven criminal counts including genocide, complicity in genocide and incitement to commit genocide, all in relation to the 1994 Rwanda genocide, according to the UN-established International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT).

Rwandas two main ethnic groups are the Hutus and Tutsis, who have historically had an antagonistic relationship and fought a civil war in the early 1990s.

A Hutu businessman, Kabuga is accused of funding the militias that massacred some 800,000 Tutsis and their moderate Hutu allies over a span of 100 days in 1994.

Since 1994, Felicien Kabuga, known to have been the financier of Rwanda genocide, had with impunity stayed in Germany, Belgium, Congo-Kinshasa, Kenya, or Switzerland,

the French ministry statement said.

His arrest paves the way for the fugitive to come before the Paris Appeal Court and later be transferred to the custody of the international court, which is based in the Hague, Netherlands and Arusha, Tanzania. He would then be brought before UN judges, an IRMCT spokesman said.

Two other Rwandan genocide suspects, Augustin Bizimana and Protais Mpiranya, are still being pursued by international justice.

The arrest of Felicien Kabuga today is a reminder that those responsible for genocide can be brought to account, even twenty-six years after their crimes, the IRMCTs Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz said in a statement.

He added the arrest was the result of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in France and other countries including the United States, Rwanda, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and others.

Rwandas justice minister, Johnston Busingye, told Reuters that a statement on the arrest would be issued but did not specify when.

Kabuga, who controlled many of Rwandas tea and coffee plantations and factories, was part-owner of Radio Television Milles Collines which ran a radio station that fanned ethnic hatred against Rwandas Tutsis, told Hutus where Tutsis were to be found and offered advice on how to kill them.

He is accused of being a main financier of the genocide, paying for the militias that carried out the massacres.

His arrest is an important step towards justice for hundreds of thousands of genocide victims...survivors can hope to see justice and suspects cannot expect to escape accountability, Mausi Segun, Africa director at Human Rights Watch, told Reuters.
>>> Joining hands to stimulus tourism



>>> Vietnam seeks to boost tourism following COVID-19



>>> Programme encourages Vietnamese people to travel domestically

The programme calls for tourism enterprises to build new and unique tourism products and services at affordable and discounted prices while ensuring the quality of services.

Permanent Vice Chairman of VITA Vu The Binh said that more than 150 enterprises representing Vietnamese tourism in all three regions of the country are determined to restore tourism activities and gradually bring Vietnams tourism sector back to the growth rate of the past four years.

Under the "Vietnam Tourism - Bright Destination" programme, Vietnam Airlines in coordination with the VITA and prestigious travel companies, including HanoiTourist, Saigontourist, Vietrans Tour, Vietravel, and Redtour, will build tours with discounts of up to 40% applied for groups of tourists with at least six people.

The programme will be applied to all domestic routes operated by Vietnam Airlines with departure dates from May 15 to December 31, 2020.

The programme is expected to create an opportunity for tourists to newly experience all the regions of the country and visit their famous and safe destinations.

Vietnam Airlines in partnership with other travel agencies have implemented various tourism stimulus programmes, promising lots of attractive options for visitors.
With many retailers back in business, the Weekend Sun takes a look at the challenges and opportunities facing them.

Rosalie Liddle Crawford talks to the mainstreet managers about how they have been adapting, what they are doing now and how people can help support the businesses that make up the heart of our shopping precincts.

Mount Mainstreet vibe

Locals are looking forward to Mount Mainstreet getting its popular vibe back, as retailers, cafes, bars and restaurants open up under Level 2.

Its been a fence sitting time, says Mount Mainstreets Mandy Gillgren, who also owns Zeytins.

There could be hiccups and its just either going to go smoothly, or services are going to be stretched as businesses start to reopen at the same time.

Mount Mainstreet has a diverse range of retail shops from boutique fashion stores through to trendy surf shops. The seaside town has been a popular shopping and dining destination with Thai, Mexican, South American, Italian, Mediterranean, Turkish, Indian and Asian cuisines to select from on a night out.

Retail shops reopened their doors on Thursday, but the bars have to wait until Thursday May 21, opening under strict Level 2 requirements.

"The pharmacies have been open right through the lockdown, supporting the community, making sure people have their scripts," says Mandy.

"The tattoo artists have been chomping at the bit to get back to work. Theyre working out their PPE.

Hairdressers are in the same boat.

At Level 3, some of the cafes were able to open their doors, with shoppers phoning ahead to arrange click and collect purchases. A couple of Thai and Indian restaurants, One Tree Bakery, Ours, Luca, and Mexacali were among those making the most of the opportunity to partially reopen, serving their customers through the door.

Many of the Mount Mainstreet businesses have an online presence, allowing them to engage with their customers and Mandy expects they will use as many platforms as possible to let people know when they are reopening.

Its going to be interesting. We need to do this together. Everyone needs to support each other and network in, plug for each other so that we get our beautiful Mount vibe back.

Greertons heart beating strong

Sally Benning, Greertons Mainstreet manager found her phone was running hot as the public called her office to see which businesses were open at Level 2.

There are a lot of challenges for many of our small businesses who are having to adapt to a new way of working with regards to online click and collect and contactless deliveries.

Whilst that might be relatively easy for big national chains, it can be quite a challenge for many small businesses.

Many of them have had no income for many weeks and theyve got the additional pressure of adapting their own business to Level 2, with social distancing and getting their businesses online.

When the country returned to Level 3, Greerton Mainstreet produced a video that showcased which businesses were open and kept their Facebook page continually updated.

Cafes, pharmacies, bakeries and takeaways were kept busy with online ordering and contactless purchasing through their doorways.

A Facebook promotion is also running, continuing on the popular #greertonhasheart and Random acts of Kindness activities, this time including a competition to win vouchers and goods from the Greerton retailers.

Sally is usually busy planning the promotions that run over Easter and during winter. Mass gatherings of people at large events is now a complex issue, however the popular Greerton Yarn Bombing can still go ahead.

People have been busy working on yarn bombing all year, says Sally.

We are looking forward in Greerton to having our winter trees dressed and adorned. This year our theme is Aotearoa - what it means to you.

Te Puke businesses bouncing back

Prior to Easter, Epic Te Puke was preparing for the New World Easter Egg Trail.

All the children were going to go through the downtown area counting eggs in windows, says Epic Te Pukes Rebecca Larsen. We had egg rock painting, Te Puke Art Society activities, and the painted rocks to be hidden on a trail for kids to find, collect, bring back in and receive prizes.

The Easter bunny was even booked, but everything was canned when the country went into lockdown.

Rebecca is flexible and optimistic though. And adaptable.

The nice thing is we can still pick up these activities later on. The rock painting can be a school holiday activity when were allowed to. We can have smaller groups and run more sessions.

Like Rebecca and the Easter bunny, the town too is displaying adaptability as it bounces back.

The lockdown has been an eye opener for a lot of businesses, says Rebecca. Its given us all time to reflect and work on our businesses rather than just in them.

For the team at Epic Te Puke, its meant looking at how the organisation can provide support in the vastly different climate. Rebecca notes that the world has been heading in the direction of online shopping for quite some time and the lockdown resulted in many Te Puke retailers taking swift action.

As well as needing to be online, our traditional retail businesses are having to look at how to attract customers back in, in a unique way that online cant compete with. Many have adapted quickly, making changes and theyll pull through.

Ive been making phone calls to the businesses and will continue over the next wee while as I havent been able to reach all of them yet. But My Pharmacy in Te Puke told me that the free delivery service they have been offering during lockdown out to the wider Te Puke community will continue after lockdown has ended. Great adaption!

Giftrapt - a gift shop in Te Puke have quickly updated their online business.

She wants to see local money kept local.

Its cool seeing our community supporting local businesses at this time. If people buy here, it provides jobs, and then that money gets fed back in.

Were also proud to support the Lets Keep it Local Te Puke campaign just released in the district by the Te Puke Economic Development group, and the online website built during lockdown by Vector Group Charitable Trust www.tepuke.travel which highlights click and collect options, and local business.

During the Alert Level 3 period, Rebecca was in contact with other Mainstreet managers, exchanging ideas and learning what was happening in other towns.

Its been invaluable for getting the Mainstreet groups around the country to connect which I think is going to be awesome for the future.

Things are always changing, always growing and always on the move. Were always going to change, theres no such thing as staying the same.

She remembers back to the changes that retailers experienced with the upgrade to Jellicoe St.

When they put the road in they were worried about the impact on retailers but at the end of the day those businesses that can adapt and change with the climate were in are those that are going to be successful. And it brings about new opportunities.

Those that were quick to start making key decisions for how to survive as we came out of lockdown have been already planning well how they can serve a wider audience. We know that people can work anywhere these days. In a lot of cases where they can access internet, they can still do business. It doesnt have to be confined to where customers live.

The Easter Bunny may not have been able to bounce into town, but Te Pukes slogan Goodness Grows Here is reflected in the warm welcome and friendly smiles of the locals as they strive to bounce back.

Downtown Tauranga

Mainstreet Downtown Tauranga has been busy through the whole lockdown period with a raft of new initiatives designed to provide pivotal support to their more than 650 members.

As well as our almost daily emails with COVID-19 updates, our Mainstreet Manager Millie Newitt has been phoning and contacting as many businesses as possible, so we could continue one-on-one contact through such a challenging and stressful time. says Downtown Taurangas Sally Cooke. Weve been checking in on them, and seeing how theyre doing with health and wellbeing, and stress levels.

In addition Mainstreet Downtown Tauranga has been running webinars on a range of topics and set up Thrive Tauranga, a weekly platform for businesses to get together digitally for problem solving and developing new ways to do business.

We have also kept the Downtown Tauranga website updated with what businesses were operating and how they were operating through Level 3 and were now updating that for the Level 2 phase.

Owners of The Barrel Room, Carolyn and Stewart Gebbie says they are thrilled to be open again and happy to be back doing what they love.

Carolyn says the silver lining is the highly successful new takeaway service that they developed over the lockdown period. They would be continuing to offer this service to customers

Sally has been also liaising with other Mainstreet managers around NZ to share ideas and insights, and problem-solving around the issues that retailers have faced during the national lockdown.

One big positive that has come out of lockdown is the even stronger collaboration, says Sally. As mainstreets, were focused on the same primary goal of how to reboot our business community and our city town centres, so that we can save the livelihoods of our business owners, their teams, our communities and whanau.

At Downtown Tauranga, we have our own unique set of challenges, as well as the common challenges that all cities, town centres, commercial and business sectors face.

Sally says it will continue to be a challenge for a long time to come.

Were always here to support our members and have ramped up and wrapped around that support, so it's proactively responsive to our members' needs. We want them rebuilding a sustainable business model as quickly as possible and our role is to actively support that as much as we can.

Along the Strand, some of the restaurants came up with innovative ways to open during Level 3. The Crown & Badger teamed up with Smokey Joes and The Italian Job to provide three offerings from one spot. In First Ave, Alimento changed their open hours to cater to a dinner contactless pickup or delivery.

Ive been absolutely amazed at the good old Kiwi ingenuity, and the grit and determination that came into play with our downtown Tauranga members, says Sally. They're all having to change their models and break down the bricks and mortar mentality.

She says that the retail sector needs to take an innovative and adept approach to the new normal.

Retailers traditionally open their doors at eight-thirty or nine in the morning and people wander in. They are looking into how they can do digital browsing, using phones to Facetime and talk their customers around their shops so they can choose items. Were here to help them as they evolve and adapt to come up with new ways to get their product out to the marketplace.

They dont have to be absolute maestros at digital enablement, and we can help them find what they need to speak to their customers and get whatever digital technology they need in play as quickly and effectively as possible.

Downtown Tauranga are also working in strong collaboration with Greerton and Mount Mainstreets on a new Buy Local. Buy Tauranga collective campaign.

We can do a lot more collectively together for the betterment of our region as a whole and our independent centres as well if we collaborate.
- Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said retired president Mwai Kibaki was very tolerant to his political foes

- Murkomen said he never voted for Kibaki in 2002 and instead voted for Uhuru and in 2007 voted for Raila Odinga

- He said of all the people he voted for, Kibaki stood out among those people he has voted for in the past elections

Embattled Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen has now expressed his regrets for voting for President Uhuru Kenyatta in three elections.

The ousted Senate majority leader said compared to other presidents, Mwai Kibaki stands out as the most effective leader that Kenya ever heard.

READ ALSO: Miguna calls for resignation of 145 MPs to deny Uhuru-Raila chance to impose BBI on Kenyans

Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen ws recently ousted from Senate majority leader post. Photo: Kipchumba Murkomen

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: MP Kimani Ngunjiri accuses Uhuru, Raila of inflating COVID-19 numbers for political gain

In a Twitter post on Sartuday, May 16, Murkomen said Kibaki was the best leader because he was the most tolerant to his foes despite the fact that he was also the most underrated.

"In 2002, I voted for Uhuru Kenyatta and in 2007 I voted for Raila Odinga but this man president Mwai Kibaki is a great man. The most underrated yet most effective leader. One of the most tolerant human beings," said Murkomen.

Murkomen's latest sentiments are part of his onslaught on President Uhuru Kenyatta after he ousted him as the Senate majority leader.

However, his comparison of the presidents that Kenya has had was not taken lightly with some indicating Kibaki was also another failed president just like the others.

Retired President Mwai Kibaki served as Kenya's third president as from 2002 -2012. Photo: Daily Nation

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi threatens to lift the lid on Chris Msando's murder

Some Kenyans were quick to remind Murkomen that Kibaki also betrayed his allies just like President Uhuru Kenyatta did to him and Senator Susan Kihika.

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
Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the First State Democratic Dinner in Dover, Del., on March 16, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Why Biden and the Democrats Are Going to Lose Big

Commentary

One of the crucial differences, if not the crucial difference, between the United States and Europe is that Americans, on balance, are more optimistic.

Its been that way, really, since the founding. The Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville famously recognized this American trait in the early 19th century.

Its also been validated by a Pew poll as recently as 2015. Americans are upbeat while Euros are a bunch of gloomy Guses.

Europeans who came here in waves, escaping the poverty and totalitarianism of their continent, tended to be among the more hopeful and ambitious types of their group, the optimistic risk-takers, amplifying the contrast between the Old and New Worlds.

It may be a bit simplisticand, yes, a counter-narrative exists exemplified by this years, again nauseating, Pulitzer winner 1619but American positive thinking accounts, as well as anything, for the great expansion of the United States into the most powerful country in the world.

And therein lies the basic problem for Joe Biden and the Democrats in the Year of the Pandemic 2020. (They obviously have others, including the candidate himself, who appears to have reversed the recent trend and made 87 the new 77.)

Since what seems like time immemorial but is actually only three and a half years, Joe and the Dems have largely built their political opinions and virtually everything else on 24/7 attack dog criticism of President Donald Trump.

First, it was TrumpRussia collusion (erased), then it was an impeachment about  what was it?  oh yes, about 30 seconds of a phone call to the president of the Ukraine (also erased)  and now, its about mishandling the pandemic.

All three reflect a tremendous misjudgment of the American people that de Tocqueville could have explained to the Dems 200 years ago. They, and their media friends, have turned into, if they werent already, what Spiro Agnew (no de Tocqueville, clearly, but this at least was memorable) referred to as the nattering nabobs of negativism.

Stuck in their basements figuratively and literally, Biden and the Dems have little positive to offer.

With $3 trillion, or is it $6 trillion, already spent on the pandemic and more to come, the trillions and trillions of further free everything spending proposals from their house leftists Bernie Sanders and AOC seem so bizarre its almost impossible to wrap your mind around where the money could possibly come from. (Gold mining expeditions to Alpha Centauri? Elon Musk, call your office.)

How does this all add up for Trump, an eternal optimist if there ever was one, who wants us all to get back to work in the American way? (Besides being optimists, were also workaholics.)

A pile of good news has recently appeared for Trumpthe best of which is a new CNN poll of the battleground states showing Trump ahead, 52 to 45. Even though Biden is still ahead, for now, in the popular vote, that portends a bigger electoral college advantage for Trump than he had in 2016, when it was substantial.

Bidens vaunted lunch bucket appeal with the working class doesnt seem so great after all, especially since his alliesDemocratic governorshave contracted severe cases of stay-at-home-itis, locking up their citizens with no end in sight.

With blue collar folks losing their jobs by the millions while white collar rich Dems continue to earn their high salaries working from home, the once peoples Democratic Party is branding itself, consciously or not, as the party of elites. Trump, not Biden, turns out to be the tribune of the working class.

So its not surprising the president has an even bigger lead in the only poll that really counts since it is still early days, the poll that has the greatest reputation for accuracythe betting odds.

There Trump is up by a solid 9.1 over Biden, according to the Real Clear Politics average. And if you look at their graph, you see, in the view of people putting their money up (i.e., not pundits), the presidents lead is expanding.

A couple of months ago, before the pandemic had really hit, he was slightly behind. Where is this going? Are we headed for a blowout?

Analysis: yes.

Roger L. Simonthe Epoch Times senior political columnistis also a novelist, an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, and co-founder of PJ Media. He tweets @rogerlsimon.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Industry bosses are urging the Government to begin planning flights between 'low risk' countries in order to rebuild the economy.

Heathrow Airport chief executive John Holland-Kaye said he believes the UK should adopt a risk-based approach in order to determine where flights can travel to and from, as he warned the UK economy will suffer if quarantine measures continue for longer.

He said it is more than 'just about going on holiday' because 40 per cent of the UK's exports go on passenger planes from Heathrow.

Passengers wearing face masks as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, at Terminal Two of London Heathrow Airport in west London, on May 9, 2020

'Aviation is the lifeblood of the UK economy, so many manufacturers rely on the supply chain coming by air, their exports go by air,' he told Sky News.

Mr Holland-Kaye described how Heathrow Airport will be using thermal imagining as a screening process to detect Covid-19 among passengers.

The temperature checks are set to begin next week, starting at Terminal 2.

'We are working with Public Health England to see if that could be part of the solution to health screening at airports,' Mr Holland-Kaye said.

With passenger numbers plunging 97%, from an average of 250,000 a day to between 5,000 and 6,000, Mr Holland-Kaye warned: 'This is a very minimal level of traffic and I think that as long as the quarantine is in place, that will continue at those low levels.

Heathrow was due to begin temperature screening of passengers early May, several weeks after the measure was deployed by many other major airports around the world. Pictured: May 6, 2020

'The quarantine cannot be in place for more than a relatively short amount of time if we are going to get the economy moving again.

'This is where we are urging the Government to have a common international standard, working with other countries so that traffic can start to flow in a normal way between low-risk countries.'

Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), backed his position.

London Heathrow Airport CEO John Holland-Kaye giving evidence to an online remote session of a Parliamentary Transport Committee hearing on the 'Implications for Transport' during the Coronavirus COVID-19 Outbreak, on May 6, 2020

Asked about the Government's plan to have international travellers self-isolate for 14 days when they arrive in the UK, Dame Carolyn told Sky News: 'We would like to see an international standard. At the moment you've got different countries doing different things and that is very bad for global trade.

'We do ask the Government to think very carefully about how this is introduced so that it doesn't put the brakes on our economy in this fragile recovery.'

Pictured: An undated image of a thermal imaging camera at Bournemouth Airport, which was the first UK air travel hub to employ the technology to check passengers for signs of Covid-19

Pictured: The camera at Bournemouth Airport uses thermal imaging to detect signs of Covid-19

Mr Holland-Kaye suggested there should be a 'free flow' of passengers between the UK and countries that have very low risks of transmission.

He said: 'I think that if the UK Government, with one of the biggest aviation sectors in the world, were to get together with the European Union and the United States, between them they have the heft and the global, diplomatic and economic power to set that international standard.

'I think the approach to take is the risk-based approach as we do with security, where if two countries are very low-risk free of transmission, there should be a free flow of passengers between those countries.'

On antibody testing and the potential for a so-called immunity passport, Mr Holland-Kaye welcomed the idea but said there needs to be consistency between countries for it to work.

He said: 'It's no good the UK having a health passport if another country has an entirely different system.

'We need to have that commonality between markets so that we know your health passport is accepted in the country you're going to.'

He said Heathrow 'desperately' needs a third runway in order to expand the UK's ability to access global markets.

He called for more flights to markets in India and China as well as increased services to UK regions so 'businesses can plan in confidence' and access global markets from Heathrow.

'We will desperately need that third runway within the next 10 to 15 years, which is about the length of time to build it,' he said.

'We've got more coming to use Heathrow with the few flights that they have and that just underpins how vital Heathrow is to the UK economy.'
The House passed a historic $3 trillion coronavirus relief package on Friday night -- a bill that would put more money directly into Americans' pockets -- but the massive piece of legislation is likely headed straight to the Senate legislative graveyard.

The measure is not expected to be taken up in the Republican-controlled Senate, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled Thursday that she is open to negotiating.

One Republican -- Rep. Peter King of New York -- supported the bill because of the relief the measure would provide to state and local governments.

Fourteen Democrats voted down the bill, many of them claiming the measure didnt go far enough to provide relief to millions of Americans who are economically struggling due to the public health crisis.

"Were putting our offer on the table, were open to negotiation," Pelosi said Thursday, acknowledging the long odds of the bill becoming law.

In a letter sent to House members Thursday, Pelosi maintained that Republicans had previously supported many priorities that were included in this latest legislation.

"It is important to note that more than 80 percent of the priorities in the Heroes Act have been supported by the Republicans in the four previous COVID-19 acts of Congress. We are proud of how we built on that bipartisanship and look forward to negotiations For The People," Pelosi wrote.

The proposed legislation includes a second round of direct cash payments to Americans, $1 trillion in aid for local, state and tribal governments drowning under the strain of the novel coronavirus, assistance for essential front-line workers, an extension of unemployment benefits and various other Democratic measures.

MORE: House Democrats unveil new $3T relief bill with aid to states, direct payments to Americans

The proposal, if it clears both chambers, would become the largest, most expensive spending package in U.S. history -- surpassing the $2.2 trillion measure Congress passed in March.

Story continues

"This will not pass. It's not going to be supported," Sen. John Barrasso, a member of Republican leadership, warned earlier this week.

GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters the bill is "dead on arrival" in the Senate and pointed to the price tag, saying there are too many unrelated provisions included in the bill.

"I see that the House is going to move on a measure maybe as soon as Friday," Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, told reporters Wednesday. "Without even looking at it, I really question whether that approach is really the way to go right now. We have put a lot out there, and we need to make sure it is getting to where it needs to go."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on his way to Marine One, May 14, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The coronavirus legislation is largely viewed as a "messaging bill" for Democrats and an opening bid in negotiations with Senate Republicans, who have blasted the bill as a "liberal wishlist."

"This week, the Speaker published an 1,800-page seasonal catalog of left-wing oddities and called it a coronavirus relief bill," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor Thursday.

"Here we go again," he added, before slamming House Democrats for not reconvening as a chamber in recent weeks.

Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis.

The Capitol attending physician advised House leaders last week not to return to Washington as coronavirus cases are still on the rise in the nation's capital.

"House Democrats have been missing in action for months. While the Senate was passing the CARES Act, the Democratic House was on the sidelines  substantively, and literally. They had already gone home. Nearly two months later, senators are back at our duty stations, with new precautions. We've been back two weeks. We're holding major hearings on the pandemic, legislating, and confirming nominees. But the House is still at home. And when they do contribute, it's not serious," McConnell said.

MORE: As coronavirus rolls on, Republicans hit 'pause' on new aid

President Donald Trump weighed in on the Democratic-led effort Thursday, calling the legislation "DOA."

"DOA. Dead on arrival. Of course, Nancy Pelosi knows that," Trump told reporters Wednesday at the White House.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer endorsed the House Democrats' bill and said he is "hopeful" Congress will strike a deal.

"Despite my worry and concern that our Republicans are sitting on the sidelines, I am optimistic we can get something done," the New York Democrat said Thursday during an interview with CNBC.

Schumer also slammed McConnell for wanting to wait and see how the previous stimulus packages Congress has passed will effect the economy before working on another bill.

"What alternative universe is he in?" Schumer said.

PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks to members of the press, May 12, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

In their proposal, House Democrats have also pushed for expanded ballot access ahead of the November election in the case that the public health crisis makes in-person voting dangerous.

Trump on Wednesday bemoaned that the legislation was a "voting package" that would expand access to mail-in ballots, and he complained that it would disadvantage Republicans in future elections if passed into law.

"They want to be able to make sure that Republicans can't win an election by putting in all sorts of mail-in ballots," Trump said.

The House is also expected to vote on a remote-voting resolution Friday, which does not appear to have Republican backing.

What to know about coronavirus:

How it started and how to protect yourself: coronavirus explained

What to do if you have symptoms: coronavirus symptoms

Tracking the spread in the US and Worldwide: coronavirus map

House passes $3 trillion relief package, bill 'DOA' in Senate originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Jammu, May 18 (UNI) Security forces on Sunday gunned down one terrorist in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Police spokesman said that acting on specific inputs on Sunday morning, joint teams of police, army and para-military forces launched a search operation in Gundna area of Doda.

"The patrol party established contact with the terrorists and encounter started," said the spokesman.

He added that one terrorist has been neutralised so far and the operation is still in progress.

"There are unconfirmed reports of killing of the second terrorist but details are awaited," he added.

UNI VBH RHK1240
A migrant worker from Ganjam district in Odisha was allegedly beaten to death by police in Surat for violating social distancing norms during the lockdown induced by coronavirus.

Representational Image

According to various reports, the deceased, identified as Satya Swain, had gone to a police station for registration to return home with other migrant workers on the day of the incident.

Swain, is said to have been a native of Kullada village near Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district and had been working in Surat for the past two years.



According to a report in India Today, Satya was reportedly accompanied by few other migrant workers, who also wanted to register themselves for return. The group had assembled in front of the local police station as registration was mandatory for train travel to their respective states.

Representational Image/PTI

Police, however, rebuked their requests and in a bid to drive away the people the forces charged at them. The group dispersed and rushed into their respective quarters.



The police personnel entered the house where Swain was staying with other workers, and indiscriminately beat them up. They were then hauled up to Amroli police station for reportedly violating social distancing norms.



Satya Swain, one of the migrant workers beaten mercilessly, had reportedly succumbed to the injuries while being taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Satya, who was in his 30s, is survived by his wife and a five-year-old mentally-challenged son.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Volunteers, survivors and supporters for the American Heart Association will gather virtually for the annual Pee Dee Heart Ball Silent Auction from home May 2022.

Heart Ball virtual bidders can participate in the auction online by registering at http://ahancf2020.ggo.bid and join the online conversation about the event on the Pee Dee Heart Ball Virtual Auction Facebook event page at facebook.com/AHASouthCarolina. There, virtual guests can learn about milestones in the fight against heart disease and stroke, hear from volunteers and survivors and bid on auction items.

All proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association, which recently announced a $2.5 million fund for rapid response scientific research projects to investigate the specific cardiovascular implications of coronavirus.

The annual Heart Ball highlights the need to advance scientific research and expand community programs that protect the cardiovascular health of Pee Dee residents. The association is working to provide reliable, science-based information for the approximately 120 million people in the United States who have one or more cardiovascular conditions which could put them at higher risk for COVID-19 complications.
Thirty migrant auto-rickshaw drivers from Bihar and their family members, around 150 in all, have left for their home state from Nagaland's Dimapur in their three-wheelers, officials said.

The auto-rickshaw drivers had secured inter-state travel permits from the office of the deputy commissioner in Dimapur, they said.

The migrants left Nagaland on Saturday through the Dillai check-post, Dimapur District Auto Drivers' Union president Tito Yepthomi said.

They were finding it difficult to make ends meet due to the lockdown, he said.

"The auto-rickshaw drivers, who are from different districts of Bihar, had become jobless due to the lockdown and they were so desperate to return to their native places that they did not mind travelling around 1,200 km in their vehicles," Yepthomi said.

They did not pay heed to our requests to stay back but the Union members have urged them to return once the COVID-19 crisis subsides, he said.

"They will have to travel through several states. On behalf of the Union, we request people to support them till they reach their destinations," Yepthomi added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Terming the BJP governments in the Centre and Uttar Pradesh as hawa-hawai sarkar, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday asked why are the poor not vandaniye (respectable) in Vande Bharat'.

"Uttar Pradesh, which gave the country its president and the pradhan jee' (prime minister), has sealed its borders for the poor. How will the migrant labourers be able to reach Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bengal and the North-East without road? Akhilesh Yadav asked in a tweet in Hindi.

"The order of the BJP government is that migrant labourers will neither be allowed to enter UP nor walk on roads or rail tracks, or travel in trucks or two-wheelers, he said in another tweet.

Let this hawa-hawai sarkar' (aerial government) itself suggest some aerial route for migrating workers, said the SP president.

Why are the poor not 'vandaniye' (respectable) in Vande Bharat? Yadav asked further, making dig at the mission, launched by the Centre to fly back Indians stuck abroad amid the COVID lockdown.

In another sarcastic tweet, Yadav suggested the government to impose National Security Act on lives of the poor itself.

The anti-poor policies of the BJP have compelled the people to indulge in illegal work. You may well do something like imposing NSA on lives of the poor itself. (Aisaa karo baabu, gareeb kee zindagi par hi raasukaa lagaa do).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress on Sunday accused the government of misleading people in the name of an economic package and said the measures announced by the Centre amounted to only 1.6 per cent of India's GDP, i.e. worth Rs 3.22 lakh crore instead of Rs 20 lakh crore as claimed by the Prime Minister.

Congress' senior spokesperson Anand Sharma Sharma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must "walk the talk" and announce themeasures required by giving money in the hands of the poor and small and medium enterprises to help reboot the economy.

He noted that there was a difference between providing stimulus to the economy and merely giving loansand credit to people.

Sharma, a former union minister, challenged the finance minister for a debate on the package while raising questions about the announcements made by the prime minister.

"The government's economic package is only of Rs 3.22 lakh crore and is only 1.6 per cent of India's GDP and is not worth Rs 20 lakh crore as announced by the prime minister," Sharma said while addressing a press conference through video conferencing.

"I am questioning the Finance Minister, disputing the announcement of Prime Minister and challenging the government to disprove me on the numbers given by me and am ready for a debate with the finance minister," he said.

The Congress leader further said the Finance Minister should answer questions and not ask questions instead. He also demanded that the government provide answers to the country on the plight of migrants forced to walk on roads due to lack of planning on the part of the central government.

Sharma hit back at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her attack on the opposition party and termed it as "frivolous", saying the country expects some seriousness and gravitas from the finance minister.

He also asked the government to apologise to the poor citizens of the country who have been abandoned and their fundamental rights and legal rights violated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[Thumbs down] Giving new meaning to the term bottomless brunch, a Houston strip club asked a federal judge to rule it could reopen as a restaurant under Gov. Greg Abbotts guidelines. While sexually oriented businesses must remain closed for now, Club Onyx says its really a full-service restaurant, as its city health permit says  only with scantily clad accompaniment. Something akin to a steak house with a piano player, explained owner Eric Langan. Of course, a G-sharp is different than a G-string  even if the dancers in recent days had been donning their version of full COVID-era PPE: mask and swimsuit. The judge wasnt entirely swayed. He allowed the club to serve up wings but hold the breasts.

[Thumbs down] Were not sure if it was strip steak, T-bone or ribeye, but were just glad no ribs or eyes were injured when an angry customer allegedly hurled a packaged steak and a bag of lettuce at an H-E-B cashier in Leander. The mans beef was apparently over the grocers new limits on meat purchases. The suspect was quickly identified by police, banned from the store and cited with criminal trespassing and misdemeanor assault. The cashier was shook up but it could have been worse. At least the mans dinner plans didnt include a 10-pound ham.
Bengaluru, May 17 : In the second phase of Vande Bharat Mission, national carrier Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express will fly in more Indians stranded abaroad to Karnataka in 18 evacuation flights from Monday to June 3, an official said Sunday.

"The first flight in the second phase of the mission to Karnataka will be from Dubai to Mangaluru by Air India Express on Monday evening and the remaining 17 flights will land in Bengaluru over the next 17 days," an Air India official told IANS here.

In the first phase of the mission from May 7-17, the airline and its arm flew 6 flights to the state from May 11-15, bringing in 800 passengers, including 623 to the state capital and 177 to Mangaluru from London, Singapore, San Francisco and Dubai.

"In the second phase, Air India will operate 15 flights and its arm 3 flights to Bengaluru and Mangaluru from May 18-June 3. Some of the flights will be via New Delhi and Mumbai from different overseas destinations," said the official.

As per Union Ministry of Home Affairs' guidelines, priority to fly back is given first to the stranded citizens in various countries the world over since March 23 when international flights were suspended and due to the nationwide lockdown since March 25 and its extension twice till May 17.

"Besides stranded citizens of the state, priority is being given to distressed Indian expatriates stuck after job loss, especially in the Gulf region, students, tourists, senior citizens, pregnant women and medical emergency cases," the official said.

The 15 foreign destinations from where passengers will be ferried back are Melbourne (Australia), Toronto and Vancouver (Canada), Paris, Frankfurt (Germany), Jakarta, Dublin, Kuala Lumpur, Male, Muscat, Manila, Doha, Dammam (Saudi Arabia), Singapore, Dubai and New York, San Francisco and Washington DC.

"Though only asymptomatic passengers are being flown in, they will be screened and tested on landing and quarantined for 14 days before going home as per the mandatory of the Union Health Ministry to ensure the virus is not spread," added the official.

The state government has booked star hotels, resorts, guest houses and hostels across the city to quarantine the overseas returnees for 14 days.

Of the 18 flights, 7 will terminate service in Bengaluru and 11 flights will go to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Kochi after a stop-over for the passengers from the state to alight.
Montana health officials are keeping an eye on outbreaks of COVID-19 in oil sands work camps in northern Alberta, Canada.

An outbreak last month in the Kearl Lake camp had spread to four other Canadian provinces and grown to 107 positive cases, Albertas chief medical officer of health reported.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw on Wednesday declared a second outbreak after five cases were linked to the Horizon Oil Sands camp.

Canadian media reported the outbreaks have sparked calls to limit the use of fly-in workers in the remote mine fields.

Jon Ebelt, spokesman for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, said Friday there are no known COVID-19 cases in Montana connected to the outbreak in the Canadian oil sands.

Montana is working hard to curb the spread of COVID-19 in our state, while monitoring outbreaks occurring near our borders and around the country, Ebelt said in an email message to the Missoulian. We continue to be concerned overall about the COVID-19 public health emergency and its impact.
Unidentified marauders on Sunday gunned down a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader at Begusarai, around 135 kms from the State Capital. The killing in broad daylight took place at a time when the Bihar Police claimed that crime in the State has drastically come down in the wake of lockdown.

Perceived as a political killing in an election year (Bihar will have Assembly polls in October-November this year), the assailants pumped in six bullets when Dheeraj Bharadwaj, a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leader, was holding confabulations with his acquaintance Anil Yadav, an RJD leader. Dheeraj died on the spot, while Yadav sustained bullet injuries.

On hearing gunshots, the locals gathered and gave the criminals a chase. In the melee, the assailants fired at the locals in which one Bittu Kumar too sustained gun-shot injuries.

The motive behind the murder is not clear. But we are trying to identify the culprits, said DSP, Rajan Sinha.

Begusarai is represented by senior BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh in the Lok Sabha, but it has been a Left stronghold as well. Giriraj had defeated CPI leader and former JNU Students Union leader Kanhaiya Kumar during 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Sundays killing could be a fallout of political rivalry in the NDA-ruled Bihar where the BJP is an alliance partner of Nitish Kumars JD (U). The State will witness Assembly elections soon in the next four-five months. Bihar, in fact, will be the first State which will have polls this year post-lockdown.
New Delhi, May 17 : Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan wrote to the Chief Secretaries of all states/Union Territories on Sunday informing the Centre's decision to allow states/UTs to demarcate green, orange and red zones while giving a sense of things to keep in mind as they venture to take a serious responsibility to contain the pandemic.

Sudan, in her letter, informed that any area, be it a district or a sub-division can be categorised as one of the zones but of course after considering geographical spread of the case. She reiterated the parameters which the states should consider while going ahead with identifying zones.

Giving a sense on when and how to gauge the seriousness of the situation, Sudan cited a graph that says that total active cases in an area of more than 200 should be considered as "critical" as more than 15 active cases per lakh individuals should also be considered the same. She even said that whenever the fatality rate is more than 6 per cent or confirmation rate of positive cases are more than 6 per cent, states/UTs should consider the situation as "critical".

"The most important task, once the zones are identified, is field action in terms of implementation of a containment plan of action," she said.

The Health Secretary also stressed the need to determine the buffer zones inside the red and orange zones that can prove to be crucial in this fight against Covid-19. Telling the states the importance of the containment zone and its surveillance, Sudan noted how vital it is for enforcing a perimeter control which curbs people moving in or out of that area.

Citing the need for "stringent action" in these areas, she reminded the states and UTs the importance of special teams, testing and contact tracing.

"A containment operation (large outbreak or cluster)is deemed successful when no cases reported in 28 days from the containment zone," she said.

While she urged the states and UTs to be equally mindful of scanning the buffer zones and engaging a vast array of health workers to determine Covid-19 cases frothier, Sudan said the success mantra remains "effective field action".

On Sunday, the Centre extended the current lockdown by another couple of weeks till May 31.

"Under the new guidelines, States and Union Territories (UTs) will now categorise Red, Green and Orange zones taking into consideration the parameters shared by the Health Ministry," said the MHA on Sunday. It added that the zones can be a district, or a municipal corporation or municipality or for that matter even smaller administrative units such as sub-divisions, which will be decided by States and UTs. This has been a long standing demand which was vociferously put forward by Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee among other CMs.
Mr Jerry Ahmed Shaib, the Chief Executive Officer of the Coastal Development Authority (CODA), has performed a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a modern market at Ada Kasseh in the Ada East Constituency of the Greater Accra Region.



The project formed part of the Constituencys allocation of one million dollars support under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme.



The CEO was assisted by the Ada East District Chief Executive, Madam Sarah Dugbakie Pobee, and some traditional leaders of the area to cut the sod.



It is expected to accelerate economic and social development in the area and boost trade, empower communities and strengthen families.



Most residents in the Constituency engaged in petty trading, farming, fishing and other informal sector activities to earn income, making the construction of the market most welcoming.



Mr Shaib said the project was expected to be completed within six months by Rock Solution Company Limited, the contractor.



The new market will have 40 lockable shops with an open area designed to take about 500 people with sheds and a creche.



In addition, all the shops, creche and interior structures will be paved with an open space.



CODA is also undertaking other development projects in the Constituency to promote education, health and social inclusion and protection.



For education, CODA is constructing a two-storey dormitory block at the Ada Senior High School being undertaken by Afrach Co Ltd.



Upon completion, it would give students a more conducive accommodation and environment to learn.



A new Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound will also be constructed by Mack Sam Co Ltd to improve the quality of health services in the community.



To ensure greater social inclusion and protection, CODA has awarded the construction of a 20-seater Water Closet Toilet facility for physically-challenged persons (PWDs) to be constructed by Ultimate Impressions.



This is in line with CODAs commitment to eliminating social inequalities and empowering the vulnerable in society by making public facilities user friendly, Mr Shaib said.



It is also undertaking special development projects in 109 constituencies in six regions; Greater Accra, Central, Western, Western North, Volta and Oti regions to accelerate socio-economic development.



CODA is an implementing agency of the Ministry for Special Development Initiatives and collaborates with MDAs to carry out its mandate through constant engagements with the assemblies, traditional leaders and community groups to build consensus.

Source: GNA









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By May Masangkay, KYODO NEWS - May 17, 2020 - 15:40 | Feature, All, Japan, Coronavirus

Families gather at a community hall where volunteers serve meals for the disadvantaged. Here and there laughter can be heard, the smiles of diners proving contagious -- a scene typical at Japan's many children's cafeterias.

But with the outbreak of the new coronavirus, previously unimaginable social distancing practices have forced many such cafeterias to shutter temporarily or to look for different ways to provide their low-cost or free meals to those that need them the most, especially during the current crisis.

This cafeteria, one in the network of independent providers known as "kodomo shokudo" in Japan, is managed by Shoko Momma.

Operating since 2016 in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai, the Sendai Kodomo Shokudo normally provides dinner on two Sundays of every month for 10 to 40 diners. When they last met in mid-February, however, they did not expect their next gathering would be months away.

Momma said a bad situation after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made his bolt-from-the-blue request in late February that schools nationwide close temporarily -- meaning kids did not have access to school lunches -- was made worse because the children's cafeterias could not step into the breach with the declaration of an emergency.

Ever prepared, Momma foresaw the situation. "Early on, I thought about what would happen to us should we face a similar situation as in the lockdown in Wuhan," she said, referring to the Chinese city considered the original epicenter of that nation's outbreak.

As their services fall afoul of the three "C" situations Japanese people are asked to avoid -- closed spaces, crowded places and close contact -- Momma's group began providing supplies to 300 households in March via their food pantry scheme.

That changed, though, when in early April a state of emergency was declared initially in certain areas including Tokyo, and later expanded to the entire nation.

The scheme, offering food items for free, serves as a grocery service for struggling families.

After the state of emergency declaration, Momma and her team began home delivery of parcels of rice and other food items. The temporary suspension of some businesses due to the state of emergency also put a squeeze on the earnings of single parents who work in eateries or impacted part-time jobs.

To keep the children who are regulars at the Sendai Kodomo Shokudo connected, they also came up with a unique pen pal-like project, in which blank postcards are sent to 50 children so they can write down their thoughts.

"I want the children to feel that they are not alone, that things won't stay the way they are now, and that someday, we will meet again," she said, adding messages they receive in support of their efforts give a much needed emotional boost.

Another children's cafeteria, Mainichi Kodomo Shokudo Takashimadaira, in Tokyo also shut after the government's initial state of emergency decision on April 7.

"We felt it risky to gather children in a small space," group head Shinji Rokugo said. Usually, about 30 diners come in per day, but for now they have shifted to distributing "obento" lunch boxes for takeaway.

The two cafeterias reflect the dilemma faced by other cafeterias across the country during the pandemic, the total of which has now mushroomed into around 4,000 since the first opened in 2012.

Initially, the cafeterias were opened to serve low-income households and children who would eat alone because their parents had to work late, but over the subsequent years they have evolved to become a place for local community exchanges.

A survey by a nonprofit organization Japan Kodomo Shokudo Support Center Musubie, conducted in mid-April among about 230 groups in 35 prefectures, showed that nearly 40 percent of the cafeterias had halted operations entirely.

The vast majority of the remainder continued in different forms, some as food pantries others distributing boxed lunches or parcels.

The survey also found that some services had received complaints from local residents who said they are violating social distancing recommendations.

"An understanding of why children's cafeterias exist is still lacking in society. For those who need it, the children's cafeteria and food pantries are just as essential a service as that of day care centers and grocery stores," said Makoto Yuasa, president and CEO of Musubie.

Yuasa stressed that volunteers know very well the risk of infection, but they "still carry on because the necessity to provide such services supersedes the risks."

Government data showed that in Japan in 2015 one in every seven children under 18 years of age were living in households that earned less than half the national median disposable income, putting them under the child poverty line.

Yuasa said just as the 2011 disaster in northeastern Japan prodded people to rethink their lifestyles, the same goes for the current crisis. "It is now a time to be keenly aware that the regular things in life are what we should be grateful for."

Momma's group, which includes volunteers who want to repay society for the support they received during the trying times in 2011, is one of seven to receive COVID-19 emergency funding from the Fish Family Foundation, a Boston-based NPO behind the establishment of the Japanese Women's Leadership Initiative program.

Founder Atsuko Toko Fish hopes their support will be "a beacon of hope" for the women working directly with the most vulnerable during the pandemic and their communities.

While Abe has lifted the state of emergency for 39 of Japan's 47 prefectures including Miyagi, one of the worst-hit during the 2011 quake-tsunami disaster, people have been asked to continue social distancing.

For Yuasa, he sees a need to explore new frontiers, given that such cafeterias are not only a "lifeline" for some households but also a vital place to build community.

"We hope to create a scheme in which the children's cafeteria will be the hub in a local area," he said.

The idea is for cafeterias to buy food from struggling eateries to help them weather the virus fallout and distribute it to children. Thus, by helping both local eateries and children, it can build a groundswell of support and trust within the local community.

As Momma imagines it might be August at the earliest before the cafeteria can provide service at a pre-COVID-19 level, her group will continue sending food parcels and conducting letter-writing through October.

"Eating together breaks down barriers for people to open up. The cafeteria caters not only to children but also provides comfort and encouragement to parents," Momma said. "It is not only about filling one's stomach but also one's heart."

Related coverage:

Educational support for children of foreign descent hit by coronavirus

Coronavirus, stay-home request hit girls with no place to go

Coronavirus forces 1 in 13 students in Japan to consider quitting: survey
A ruptured ulcer nearly killed Rosie Cook in February and left her hospitalized for a month.

The 80-year-old great grandmother vowed to survive and to return to her Brays Oaks home of nearly half-a-century, her family said Sunday.

She made it, said Dawn Cook, the womans daughter-in-law. She said, I was not ready to die.

On Saturday morning, Cooks son received a phone call from a Houston police detective revealing that his mother had been fatally stabbed after picking up a prescription in the Walgreens in the 8600 block of South Braeswood. The detective wanted to make sure he knew before he saw news coverage of the incident, she said. Her assailant attacked her, rifled through her belongings and tried stealing her car, as witnesses rushed to save her.

A police officer who stopped at the pharmacy to use the bathroom confronted the man, believed to be in his 30s. The officer opened fire on the suspect, killing him when he allegedly stepped toward the officer with a 6-inch blade. The fatal shooting is the fifth since April 21 involving a Houston police officer.

The suspect is believed to be the same knife-wielding man who was scaring customers at the nearby Fiesta Mart. Without identifying him, Houston Police Officers Union officials said he was released from the Harris County Jail on bond earlier this month for a felony charge. As of Sunday afternoon, authorities were still looking for his family in order to publicly reveal who he was.

Police Chief Art Acevedo said that after reviewing footage from the officers body camera and surveillance video, he believes the officer to have been justified. The officer will be placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

A woman has lost her life because some guy decided he wanted whatever she had on her, and to think a guy stabbed a little old lady, Acevedo told reporters on Saturday. I cant tell you the emotions Im feeling right now.

The circumstances behind Cooks death has rattled her family.

I (didnt) want her to be scared or hurt or alone, said the daughter-in-law, who grew up on the same street as the Cook family. She was all by herself.

She would like to remember Cook  a Sears department store retiree  as her blunt, but funny, mother-in-law who was willing to feed everyone.

Shed just add one more potato to the pot, she said.

Cook is survived by three children, six grand-children and three great-grandchildren. Her husband died in 2015.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
Four more new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on May 16 among Vietnamese returning from abroad, taking the total number of cases to 318 as of 6 pm May 16.

Taking samples for testing. Illustrative image





All the four new patients have been quarantined immediately after their entry, thus posing no risk of community infection.

Among them, one returned from Cambodia through a small trail across the border. He is now receiving treatment at Tay Ninh provincial hospital. All 17 people having close contact with him have also been quarantined.

Two other cases were passengers on flight VN0062 from Russia to Vietnam on May 13. They are hospitalized at Thai Binh provincial hospital.

The fourth one came back from the Philippines on May 14 on flight QH 9352. He is hospitalized at Sa Dec hospital in Dong Thap province.

So far 27 passengers on flight VN0062 from Russia to Vietnam on May 13 have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

A total of 9,161 people are being quarantine or monitored across the country. Meanwhile, 260 COVID-19 patients have recovered./.

Vietnam enters 31st straight day without COVID-19 community infections

Vietnam has no new COVID-19 cases to report on May 17 morning, the 31st straight day the country is clear of coronavirus infections in the community, according to the national steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control.

Among the 318 confirmed patients, 178 are imported and quarantined upon their arrival in the country.

Meanwhile, 9,161 people are currently kept in quarantine, including 302 at hospitals, 7,179 at other facilities, and 1,680 at home.

As many as 260 patients have recovered from the disease, and the rest are being treated at eight central and provincial-level healthcare establishments nationwide.

Four of those still under treatment have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, once and 12 others negative at least twice.

Patient No. 91, a British man and also the most severe case at present, is receiving treatment at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. He is still in critical condition but has shown certain improvement. He has tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 for five consecutive times, the treatment sub-committee said./.VNA
THERE has been an outpouring of grief in Kilmallock following the death of a hugely popular and valued local character.

Brendan "Jacko" Lewis, who was a retired fireman, died at Milford Care Centre on Friday.

In a tribute on social media, Kilmallock Fire and Rescue paid tribute to Brendan, who served as a fireman for more than 30 years  up to his retirement in May 2009.

His knowledge and skills played a big part in his 32 years service. He will be fondly remembered for his great sense of humour, his stories and his one liners. After a traumatic or protracted incident, Jacko had a great way of lifting Firefighters spirits, read the post.

Colleagues at Houlihans bar in Kilmallock, where Brendan worked for two decades, have also expressed their sadness at his death.

Jacko was our friend, our colleague but more than that he was family. He has been with us through every milestone though all our lives. Jacko was the most loyal person you could cross paths with in life, his honesty and integrity is unquestionable, they said.

Beloved husband of Bernie, Jacko is survived by his children, Fiona and Brendan and his grandchildren, Eoghan and Saoirse.

In line with public health directives, his Funeral cortege will leave his home on Monday morning at 11.30am and pass through Kilmallock for 12 noon requiem Mass (strictly private) at SS Peter & Pauls Church, Kilmallock,

Burial will take place afterwards in the local cemetery.
Under the agreement, Abdullah will lead council for peace talks and members of his team will be included in the cabinet.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing deal on Sunday, signalling the end of a months-long stalemate that plunged the country into a political crisis.

The breakthrough, which sees Abdullah heading peace talks with the Taliban, comes as Afghanistan battles a rapid spread of the deadly coronavirus and surging violence that saw dozens killed in brutal attacks last week.

Images released by the presidential palace showed Abdullah and Ghani sitting side-by-side for the signing ceremony, while leading Afghan figures, including former president Hamid Karzai, looked on.

Ghani said it was a historic day for Afghanistan and the agreement was reached without any international mediation.

We will share the burden and our shoulders, God willing, will be lighter, he said, addressing Abdullah at the signing ceremony broadcast on a state-run television channel.

In the days ahead, we hope that with unity and cooperation, we would be able to first pave the ground for a ceasefire and then lasting peace.





Abdullah said the deal commits to forming a more inclusive, accountable and competent administration.

Its meant to ensure a path to peace, improve governance, protect rights, respect laws and values, he said on Twitter after signing the deal.

Abdullahs spokesman, Fraidoon Khawzoon told AFP news agency the agreement ensures Abdullahs group gets 50 percent of the cabinet and other provincial governors posts.

Abdullah had previously served as Afghanistans chief executive under an earlier power-sharing deal but lost that post after he was defeated in a presidential election that the incumbent Ghani won in September.

But Abdullah rejected the election results, alleging fraud. He declared himself president and held his own swearing-in ceremony on March 9, the day Ghani was reinstalled as president.

The Political Agreement between President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah has just been signed. Dr. Abdullah will lead the National Reconciliation High Council and members of his team will be included in the cabinet. Details will be aired shortly by RTA. pic.twitter.com/VZ95m5DfJq  Sediq Sediqqi (@SediqSediqqi) May 17, 2020

The agreement further says that Ghani will make Abdul Rashid Dostum, his former vice president turned ally of Abdullah, a marshal of the armed forces. Dostum, a notorious military commander, was accused of ordering the torture and rape of a political rival in 2016.

The agreement names Abdullah to lead future peace talks with the Taliban, which has already signed a landmark accord with the United States to pave the way for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday welcomed the power-sharing deal.

Secretary Pompeo noted that he regretted the time lost during the political impasse, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

He reiterated that the priority for the United States remains a political settlement to end the conflict and welcomed the commitment by the two leaders to act immediately in support of prompt entry into intra-Afghan negotiations.

NATO, which maintains a training mission in Afghanistan, hailed the deal and urged Afghan leaders and the Taliban to work for peace.

We call on the Taliban to live up to their commitments, reduce violence now, take part in intra-Afghan negotiations, and make real compromise for lasting peace, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement.

Despite 18 years and billions of dollars in international aid, Afghanistan remains desperately poor. The poverty level soared from 35 percent of the population in 2012 to more than 55 percent last year.

Poverty in Afghanistan is defined as a person who survives on $1 or less a day. Successive Afghan governments, including Ghanis, have been accused by international watchdogs of widespread corruption.
Deaths linked to mouth cancer will soar if the government refuses to allow dentist to reopen, a friend of Kate Middleton has claimed.

Sam Waley-Cohen, 38, who owns 300m worth of oral health practices, told the Sunday Telegraph, it was 'inexplicable' that dentist's offices remained closed as 'most have higher hygiene standards than hospitals'.

The former Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey also said the closure has led to up to 10million missed appointments.

Despite his prowess in business and sports, he is perhaps most famed as the man whose magic brought Prince William and Kate Middleton back together after their split in March 2007.

Sam Waley-Cohen, 38, who owns 300m worth of oral health chains, told the Sunday Telegraph , it was 'inexplicable' that dentist's offices remained closed as most have higher hygiene standards than hospitals. He is pictured with Kate Middleton in 2008

He said: 'One of the things dentists do is diagnose mouth cancer - that's a big risk.

'The second risk is as you get mouth infections, the pain and discomfort stops you from being able to eat, so nutrition declines, it has a very close relationship with other healthcare problems.

'The third is children's oral care, which is really important to establish when they're young.'

British Dental Association guidelines say all routine, non-urgent dental care including orthodontics should be stopped and deferred until advised otherwise due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The former Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey also said the closure has led to up to 10million missed appointments. He is pictured with Kate Middleton at the Cheltenham in 2008, he is a close friend of both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

WHAT IS MOUTH CANCER? Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer, is where a tumour develops in the lining of the mouth. It may be on the surface of the tongue, the insides of the cheeks, the roof of the mouth (palate), or the lips or gums. Tumours can also develop in the glands that produce saliva, the tonsils at the back of the mouth, and the part of the throat connecting your mouth to your windpipe (pharynx). However, these are less common. Symptoms of mouth cancer include: sore mouth ulcers that don't heal within several weeks

unexplained, persistent lumps in the mouth that don't go away

unexplained, persistent lumps in the neck that don't go away

unexplained looseness of teeth, or sockets that don't heal after extractions

unexplained, persistent numbness or an odd feeling on the lip or tongue

sometimes, white or red patches on the lining of the mouth or tongue  these can be early signs of cancer, so they should also be investigated

changes in speech, such as a lisp See your GP or dentist if these symptoms don't heal within three weeks, particularly if you drink or smoke heavily. Source: NHS Advertisement

But they have also warned patients needing dental care in England are being left in agony because they are unable to get emergency care amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Another concern is a surge in DIY dentistry as people attempt to treat themselves at home.

A NHS spokesperson told FEMAIL: 'As soon as PHE and CMO advise it is appropriate, routine dentistry will be able to restart. In the meantime 500 Urgent Dental Care hubs are available across the country for those who need their care.'

Mouth cancer rates soared in the UK last year to hit a record high before the pandemic.

Sam owns more than 100 dental chains worth more than 300 million across the UK. He is pictured at Cheltenham

While rates of most cancer types are falling, disease of the mouth has bucked the trend and has shot up by 135 per cent over the past 20 years.

Last year seven people died every day from the illness, which affected a total 8,337 patients in the UK.

The worrying findings were laid bare in a report by the Oral Health Foundation charity published in November, which is pleading with people to wise up to the causes of the 'devastating' disease - chiefly the sexually transmitted virus HPV, alcohol and smoking.

Mr Waley-Cohen, 38, who is also close with Prince William, owns more than 100 practices across the UK. He is pictured at a roller disco with Kate Middleton in 20018

Mr Waley-Cohen, who is also close with Prince William, owns more than 100 practices across the UK.

As well as a very successful dental business he unexpectedly won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Long Run in 2011, the first ammeter jockey in more than 30 years to win the race.

It was at a party thrown by Sam at his family's 17th Century mansion in Oxfordshire in June of that year that Kate and William were spotted deep in conversation and within a few weeks they were holidaying together in the Seychelles.

Despite his prowess in business and sports, he is perhaps most famed as the man whose magic brought Prince William and Kate Middleton back together after their split in March 2007. He is pictured in 2008

Sam, however, is quick to deny his match-making powers and play down his part in the history of Britain's most celebrated couple.

Speaking to the Mail in 2011 he said: 'There's an idea that I was like Cupid with a bow and arrow. People love the idea that somebody put them back together but they put themselves together far more,' he said.

The son of leading racehorse owner Sir Robert Waley-Cohen and his wife Felicity, the daughter of Viscount Bearstead, Sam is the product of a privileged background.

However, tragedy struck his family while he was a teenager.

In 1995, his brother Thomas, younger by two years, was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

He died in 2004, just days after his 20th birthday.

For Sam, horse-racing helped him through his grief.

In 2005, he unexpectedly won at the Cheltenham Festival, riding his father's horse Libertine.

And in 2011, he also won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on another of his father's horses, Long Run.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- A new partnership with CityMD Urgent Care will provide about 6,000 additional coronavirus (COVID-19) tests per day for New Yorkers across the five boroughs, officials said Sunday at the mayors daily press conference.

The tests will be offered seven days a week at 123 sites, and walk-ins are welcome. If patients are uninsured, City MD will cover the cost.

This is the central question of this whole dilemma weve been through, where has the testing been? said Mayor Bill de Blasio. But again, when the federal government doesnt come through, when the international markets dont come through...we do it right here in New York City.

The partnership will allow for 20,000 tests per day, a benchmark for city officials that should be reached ahead of schedule.

Testing also will be offered at three schools on Staten Island, starting May 25, along with other schools across the city in a continued effort to meet a short-term goal of 50,000 tests per day.

The state-run drive-through testing site at South Beach Psychiatric Center in Ocean Breeze also continues to accept clients.

The criteria for tests continues to evolve as more tests become available.

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

In terms of hospitalizations and testings tracked by the city, the latest data shows a drop in two of the three indicators.

As of Friday, 77 new suspect COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals, which mirrors the number reported on Thursday.

Patients treated in intensive care units was down by more than 30%, while the percentage of people tested who are positive dropped to 11%, after a report of 13% a day prior.

20 Photos: Staten Island coronavirus drive-through testing opens

TRACERS

Additionally, an army of 1,000 virus tracers will be deployed by the end of May to help identify more unidentified cases based on social interactions with a person who has tested positive.

The tracers are being trained at Johns Hopkins University, then will undergo field training before handling cases, de Blasio said. Members of households who are infected could be asked to isolate themselves, de Blasio said.

If the patients home isnt large enough to self-isolate, hotel rooms and other resources including food and medical services will be available with help from newly trained workers the city has dubbed resource navigators.

We think that if people see it as a service to them, in recognizing our only concern is that they be healthy and their family be healthy, they will accept the idea that they need to be isolated, said Dr. Mitch Katz, CEO of NYC Health and Hospitals.

CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED

As of Sunday, 137 cases of children with the multi-system inflammatory syndrome were reported across New York City, officials said.

Of those cases, 66 had either tested positive for the virus or had antibodies.

One child has died of the illness in New York City, as of Sunday, while three deaths have previously been reported state wide. The fatalities were a 5-year-old boy, a 7-year-old boy, and an 18-year-old girl.

Health experts have said the key to avoiding the worst-case scenario is early detection of symptoms by either calling a family pediatrician or 311 for help.

Symptoms could include a rash, vomiting, fever or upset stomach.

NEW: Case definition for Kawasaki-like syndrome created based on 102 children in New York. First standardized criteria for a condition that is being called pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome: pic.twitter.com/q3TCnlSB3Y  Matt McCarthy (@DrMattMcCarthy) May 14, 2020

TIMELINE FOR BUSINESSES

City officials say they plan to release a set of guidelines in the next few days showing what the first-phase of a possible re-opening small businesses would look like.

The earliest some of those businesses could open would be some time in June. But under social distancing guidelines and only if indicators being tracked by the city show more progress, de Blasio said.

Responding to questions about restaurants and other non-essential businesses seen operating over the weekend, he said law enforcement will be called to enforce the violations if they continue.

Deputies from the New York City Office of the Sheriff distributed 3,000 masks at the FDR Boardwalk Sunday in South Beach. May 3, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon) Jason Paderon

BEACHES

New York City beaches will not open Memorial Day as they traditionally have in the past.

Beaches could potentially open some time this upcoming summer, contingent on the hospitalization and infection rate data tracked by city officials, de Blasio said.

Staff with with citys Parks department will have fencing at their disposal, if needed to block entrances. Officials say theyre not only concerned about social distancing on the beaches, but also on public transportation to get there.

Said de Blasio: After all the progress weve made, youve made, fighting back this disease, were not taking that chance."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday that beaches in New York state could open ahead of Memorial Day, but that its up to localities within the state to determine if they will.
An at-home coronavirus testing project in Seattle backed in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said on Saturday it was working with U.S. regulators to resume the program after being suspended by the Food and Drug Administration.

The Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network (SCAN), which aims to monitor the spread of the novel coronavirus in the region, had said it was suspending its testing of patient samples collected at home after the Food and Drug Administration tightened guidelines to require emergency approval first.

"The FDA has not raised any concerns regarding the safety and accuracy of SCAN's test, but we have been asked to pause testing until we receive that additional authorization," SCAN said.

The Gates Foundation in March said it was providing technical assistance for SCAN, which had been approved by regulators in Washington state, one of the first U.S. states to be hit hard by the outbreak. Bill Gates has also privately funded SCAN, according to the foundation.

On Thursday, SCAN in a statement said it has been in talks with the FDA since March 1 and initiated its request for emergency use authorization (EUA) on March 23, submitting data on April 13.

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 been notified that a separate federal emergency use authorization is required to return results for self-collected tests," SCAN said.

Representatives for the Food and Drug Administration did not have an immediate comment on SCAN's status. Representatives of King County Health Department referred questions to SCAN. SCAN said it did not have an update on specific timing for when testing would restart.

Separately, the FDA on Saturday approved a standalone at-home sample collection kit for Everlywell Inc, a health and wellness company, which launched its kit in March.
A looming question is if college students will be allowed to go to campuses this fall. Yes, there are reasons to worry, but parents can help make this fall better and safer by asking the right questions.

Schools should want you to ask questions, and Im proposing five that institutions must be able to answer.

1. Testing. Can my child be tested for COVID-19? (The answer should be yes.). Are you testing faculty and staff? Where does testing happen and at what cost? What are your processes for managing a positive result?

2. Online instruction. Are faculty members and instructors required to teach in person? What support is available to my student for help with managing online classes? You want to know help and tutoring is available regardless if online or in person, and what hours will help be available.

3. Outbreak. If an outbreak happens, what is your plan to manage it?

4. Attendance/withdrawal. If we decide the campus isnt safe, what are the policies for allowing him or her to take classes online or withdraw for the term?

5. Communication. What updates will you share with students and family members, and how often? Who is the point person?

I know schools cant have all the answers, but they should be able to answer these with confidence. You want to know theyve thought through the health and learning issues.

The rest? Thats a discussion between you and your child. It will be a work in progress.

CATHERINE WATT

Wren Street

Clemson

Virus lawsuits

Isnt it amazing how, as we hopefully emerge from some very dark days, attorneys see an opportunity? The May 8 Post and Courier articles on virus lawsuits and online college are the tip of the iceberg. I cant wait to hear attorney talking heads on TV blaming everyone.

SEYMOUR ROSENTHAL

Sharpestowne Court

Mount Pleasant

Were all vulnerable

Everybody cant wait for things to get back to normal is a frequently heard phrase these days.

The coronavirus threat is real, as is the dreadful sickness it causes and the hardships that arise from our attempts to reduce the spread of infection.

And it is certainly true that every effort must be made to help and sustain all who are sickened and all who are being hammered into poverty and homelessness.

However, we also need to be honest in admitting that the pandemic has dramatically revealed how very vulnerable business and politics as usual has made us.

Furthermore, we cannot forget that this pandemic is taking place against a backdrop of another serious crisis.

Failure to take action to mitigate and adapt to the growing climate crisis will eventually force many into poverty and homelessness as swaths of the country become unlivable and low-lying coastal cities, including Charleston, are inundated by sea level rise.

So perhaps we really dont want to get back to normal. Perhaps we need to open our hearts and minds to different, better, more adaptive and more sustainable ways of living.

Perhaps the virus, in spite of its awful immediacy, is calling for us to keep the big picture in mind.

DAVID STONEY

Venning Street

McClellanville

Appreciate parents

Without a doubt, these are trying times. Everyday we hear about, talk about and honor front-line responders. I personally agree and support this, but I would like to add parents to this list.

In most situations, parents dont have a choice about the roles they must take on.

For example, some parents trying their best to teach third-grade math might have difficulty even trying to spell third-grade math.

Parents must wake up each day during this crisis and be ready to perform their duties.

Most will not see their faces on TV or hear their names on the news for doing a good job.

There will be no thank-you or parade for them, but we cannot get by without them.

America, we will get through these tough times because tough times are not new. But lets take a few minutes to remember that if we all do a little, together we can do a lot. This includes parents.

My message to all parents is this: Remember youre very important. Dont stop doing what you are doing. You are making a difference. We need you and we appreciate you. Please stay safe.

WENDELL J. RODGERS

Retired, School of Education The Citadel

Deep Sea Circle

Mount Pleasant

Medical records

Im a bad mom. I cant remember the time of day one of my children was born 31 years ago. I remember it was around breakfast time.

So here begins my search. I figured it would be easy to find and looked through all the paperwork in boxes in the attic. Nothing with the time of day.

I called the S.C. Department of Vital Records, but the time of day isnt required on birth certificates in this state.

I went to my OB-GYNs office, but its not on anything they have archived.

I went to the hospital where my child was born, but was told my records were destroyed after so many years.

Wait, my medical records have been destroyed? What if there was some piece of my medical history that could be used to diagnose a problem I have now?

I find this ludicrous that I was not offered a copy of these before they were destroyed. I would like to see the law changed so no medical records are destroyed. I understand the cost of archiving old paper records, but these are my records.

They should not have the right to destroy them without my permission.

If they can find you anywhere in the country when you owe them money, they could surely have tried to find me for this.

PATRICIA NICHOLAS

Widows Court

Johns Island
New moderate income housing program could be on the way to Long Beach
The concerned Farmers Association of Ghana have commended the government and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) for the swift interventions in the rice industry, which has brought the industry to an appreciable level.



The commendation in a press statement signed by Nana Opambour Boateng Bonsu II, President of the association and copied to the GNA, indicated that before President Akufo-Addo called on Ghanaians to patronize made in Ghana rice, the rice industry was neglected and faced many challenges including, post-harvest loses and lack of ready market.



The Association was happy that the government through MOFA had taken delivery of thousands of slashers and thresher machines to be distributed to rice farmers across the country.



The move, the Association noted would help local rice farmers to produce more rice for local consumption to reduce the amount of money spent on the importation of rice annually.



"We express our gratitude to the President and the Agriculture Ministry for revamping the local rice industry since farmers will no longer use traditional methods of farming and harvesting of rice."



The statement encouraged rice farmers nationwide to form associations since that was the only way for them to benefit from the governments interventions.

Source: GNA









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The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has urged Christians to win more souls for Ch...

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has urged Christians to win more souls for Christ during and after the lockdown.





Adeboye stated this on Sunday during a live broadcast to his members on Dove TV.





The cleric said every Christian should be committed to soul winning to enjoy Gods blessing.





He said, Some people are already getting consumed by freight because of the lockdown. The flood will come sooner or later. My advice for you is to be wise

As soon as the lockdown is over. You better spread your wings and win more souls for christ.





When you rededicate yourself to soul winning, you will begin to enjoy all round blessings and success .
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The summer showers in the state are all set to gain momentum as the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has sounded a yellow alert in nine districts for Sunday and Monday, followed by a warning of isolated heavy rains. The weather models issued by the Indian Metrological department has also forecast moderate rainfall across the state for the next four days.

The alert has been sounded in Kollam, Pathnamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram.

Kerala has already received 10 per cent excess summer rain from March 1 to May 14. During this period, the state recorded 234.2 mm rainfall as against the normal of 213.7 mm.

Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts have recorded 60 and 55 per cent, respectively excess rainfall, while Kasaragod district registered a deficient rainfall of 57 per cent. Meanwhile, the Cyclonic Storm AMPHAN (pronounced as UM-PUN) formed over the Southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbouring states has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the same region.

It is very likely to intensify further into a 'very severe cyclonic storm' during the next 12 hours and is expected to cross West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) during the afternoon or evening of Wednesday as a very severe cyclonic storm. Though Kerala was not directly influenced by the cyclonic storm, various agencies are monitoring if the rainfall in Kerala was the result of cyclonic influence.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 01:40:24|Editor: huaxia

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People are seen alongside a COVID-19 warning sign in Morecambe, Lancashire, Britain on May 16, 2020. Another 468 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Friday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 34,466, the Department of Health and Social Care said Saturday. (Photo by Jon Super/Xinhua)

LONDON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Another 468 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Friday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 34,466, the Department of Health and Social Care said Saturday.

The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.

As of Saturday morning, 240,161 people have tested positive for the virus in the country, said the department.

Charing Saturday's Downing Street press briefing, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson addressed the safety concerns over the phased reopening of primary schools in England starting from June 1.

From that date, the government would be deploying track and tracing with students and school staff to prevent any dramatic rise of coronavirus cases, Williamson said.

"We will be carefully monitoring the impact this first phase has," he said. "This approach is based on the best scientific advice with children at the very heart of everything we do."

According to Williamson, pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 will be allowed to return to schools in England on June 1. Policies such as reduced class sizes, keeping children in small groups and "rigorous hygiene" will be implemented when schools reopen, Williamson said.

The government recognizes "the important role education plays in pupils' lives", he said, adding that reopening schools benefits the children "not just educationally, but physically and emotionally" as well.

Dr Jenny Harries, deputy chief medical officer for England, said early testing results show that children usually don't get as sick as adults.

She speculates that for younger children "there may be some evidence that they are less likely to pass it on".

However, teachers' unions have called for more answers from the government about the safety of reopening primary schools after a meeting with the government's chief scientific advisers on Friday.

The teachers' union NASUWT claimed evidence it received from the government during the crunch talks on COVID-19 was "flimsy at best", Sky News reported.
New Delhi, May 17 : Ecommerce players on Sunday welcomed the government's decision to allow the delivery of non-essential items in the red zones across the country.

The new guidelines for lockdown 4.0 announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) paved the way for a broader resumption of economic activities across most parts of the country.

"At Snapdeal, we are ready and equipped to now start serving customers all across India - in red, green and orange zones - by providing them access to the entire selection of millions of products,a a company spokesperson said in a statement.

This would enable lakhs of medium and small online sellers to start rebuilding their businesses as they serve the needs of users in cities and towns across the country.

Srinivas Mothey, Senior Vice President, Paytm Mall said that the move will help them deliver to most of the metro cities which presently fall in the red zones.

"We have received a sizable number of consumer electronics wishlist orders from metro cities where people have been waiting to buy laptops, mobile phones, as well as other daily use items for the last several weeks now," said Mothey.

"The government's decision will also help in opening up supplies of consumer electronics from warehouses which are in the red zones," he added.

The company has had discussions with its merchant and logistics partners and will start taking orders and delivering from Monday.

While some states have supported extension of the lockdown, most have asked for easing restrictions as well as more autonomy in deciding demarcation of areas as red, green, orange zones which as of now is determined by the Centre.

Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of India Cellular And Electronics Association (ICEA) said that the nation and industry will now gradually go back to normalcy.

"Ironically our nation's biggest strength of labour availability will now be a challenging factor.

"An all-out effort has to be made to bolster their confidence by ensuring and communicating that all health related measures have more than sufficient capacity and they are at minimal risk," he elaborated.
Migrant workers are undoubtedly the hardest hit amid the ongoing lockdown; with loss of income and homes, many have no choice but to take on an arduous journey back home on foot.

Source/BBC

Every day, social media is filled with videos and pictures of the unspeakable misery that these people are going through. One such report by a BBC journalist throws light on their sorry plight,

According to the video that's doing the rounds on social media, BBC journalist Salman Ravi recently spoke to a group of migrant workers who were on their way to Chhatarpur on foot.

The journalist noticed how one of the labourers was barefoot. He asked him where his slippers were. The labourer said that his slippers had torn. Without a second thought, the journalist takes off his shoes and asks the migrant worker to check if it fits him.

BBC

In the video, the labourers reveal that they have been walking for six days. They also claimed that they were beaten by the police while attempting to cross state borders.

Finally followed them n managed to find shelter for migrant family. See the smile on the kids faces. Did my duty. Thanks to @FBDPolice  https://t.co/wwTPZIM0A7  SALMAN RAVI (@salmanravi) May 15, 2020





In a follow-up tweet, Ravi also said that with the help of Faridabad police, he was able to find shelter for the labourers.

For the migrants who are struggling for days on end, the smallest gestures matter and people like Salman Ravi prove that a little help goes a long way.
In a nation where there is no standard numbering of houses, how do you get the food to the beneficiaries? This is more than laughable. It is tragic, George lamented.


Some Americans have strong opinions about attending religious services during the coronavirus health crisis.

I dont give a rats tail who John Bel Edwards thinks is essential and who isnt, said Tricia Slaughter. She attends Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

John Bel Edwards is Louisianas governor. He announced a stay-at-home order for the state on March 23. The order remains in effect. It limits the operation of businesses and other activities that government and health officials consider nonessential.

Of all the activities restricted, religious services have been among the most debated.

Louisiana joined more than two-thirds of the 50 states in barring or substantially restricting in-person religious services to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Edwards has limited the number of people permitted at such services to 10.

Many religious groups across the United States have temporarily moved to online services. Still, some people argue that the restrictions violate their Constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.

Among them is Tony Spell, who leads the Life Tabernacle Church. He continues to hold weekly in-person services with hundreds of followers. The clergyman has been placed under house arrest for violating the order.

Many religious Americans sympathize with the desire to gather and pray together. But they also worry that churches like Life Tabernacle are unnecessarily putting the public at risk.

Surely theres a way to worship without sacrificing the wellness of the world, said Amanda Pitts of Texas. She has attended online services with her church since the coronavirus pandemic began.

But Tricia Slaughter says it is Life Tabernacles in-person services that have kept her and other members well during the health crisis.

What is essential?

Slaughters defense of her churchs right to hold services is more personal than a debate about the U.S. Constitution.

Slaughter said she suffers from drug dependency. She said she turned to Alcoholics Anonymous to end her dependency, but it did not work for her.

I told Pastor Spell all of this, she said, adding, and he told me, You are welcome here.

For three years, Slaughter went to Sunday morning services, but she says her worry about COVID-19 makes her fearful she will return to alcohol. So, she started attending additional services at the church.

I never imagined Id live a day without vodka, but now my family at Life Tabernacle is helping me stay sober during a very difficult time, she said.

Slaughter says she has nothing against those who enjoy online religious services. But she says that method might not meet the needs of the weakest.

Health risks

Many people say, however, that the larger public health risks should outweigh individual desires.

Yuria Orihuela attends church in Miami, Florida. The states government has removed major restrictions on attending religious services. But Orihuelas church, like many others in the state and country, has decided to continue with online-only services for now.

She says she would not attend in-person services, even if her church offered them.

To put yourself and your family in danger, when scientists are telling you it isnt wise, is being careless and uncaring, or simply ignorant, she said. I think it would be an irresponsible choice.

Since the pandemic began, the virus has infected worshippers at several religious centers. For example, more than 40 people developed signs of COVID-19 after attending a March 15 service in Illinois.

And in Virginia, a clergyman died of the disease after holding in-person services in late-March.

Slaughter says Life Tabernacle is not ignoring the risks of COVID-19. She says she knows of nine church members who have the disease. The East Baton Rouge Coroners Office confirms one member died of COVID-19.

The media is creating this story of us being careless or rebellious, said another Life Tabernacle Church member, Courtney Tobias. She added, but thats not true.

Tobias said church members have their temperature taken before they enter the building. She said members are asked to wear face masks, clean their hands and to sit only with their family. She said many of the older members have chosen not to attend for a while.

This is something we are taking seriously, she said.

Online services not available to all

Tobias says a lot of Life Tabernacle members lack the technology to make online services work. Slaughter knows the truth of this.

I dont have high-speed internet or a smartphone, she said.

Many members dont have cars either. Life Tabernacle has 27 buses it sends around the area to take people to church each Sunday. Members say it would not be possible to organize the transportation for 10-person services.

Jen Olano of New Orleans, Louisiana, has enjoyed her churchs online services and says her Bible study meets online also. She says it angers her to see people going against the stay-at-home order.

However, she thinks the issue can be complex, especially for those seeking church to better their mental health condition.

You wouldnt deny a cancer patient treatment during coronavirus, she said.

Tobias says she understands that governments are trying to balance the health needs of all their citizens, but she agrees with Slaughter that some government policies are questionable.

Theyre making it so hard for me to go to the place I need to fight my alcoholism, Slaughter said. But do you know where they make it really easy for me to go? The liquor store. The liquor store is considered essential.

Im Caty Weaver.

Matt Haines reported this story for VOA News. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

essential -adj. extremely important and necessary

worship -v. to honor or respect (someone or something) as a god

pandemic -n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world

vodka -n. a strong, clear alcoholic drink that is originally from Russia

sober -adj. free of alcohol or drugs

mask -n. a covering used to cover your mouth and nose to prevent disease spread

liquor -n. a strong alcoholic drink

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Israel's new government was sworn in on Sunday under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, bringing an end to the longest political deadlock in the country's history which saw a caretaker government in charge for over 500 days and three back-to-back general elections with no clear verdict.

The vote of confidence in the new government was passed with 73 votes in favour and 46 against in the Knesset or the Parliament.

Netanyahu, who succeeded in forming a unity government with his rival-turned-partner Benny Gantz of the Blue and White party after failing to secure a clear mandate in the elections, will have the most bloated ministry in Israel's history with 36 ministers and 16 deputy ministers.

"Stability is acquired with broad governments," 70-year-old Netanyahu told Army Radio, immediately after the swearing-in ceremony.

Gantz was sworn in as defense minister and alternate prime minister, to replace Netanyahu in 18 months as per the controversial power-sharing deal.

The new ministers include the first female ultra-Orthodox minister, Omer Yankelevich (Diaspora affairs), and the first Ethiopia-born minister, Pnina Tamano-Shata (Immigration and absorption), in Israel's history. The Knesset also elected Yariv Levin, from Netanyahu's Likud party, as its new Speaker.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid lashed out at the new government and particularly at his old associates, Gantz and Gabi Ashkenazi, who broke their pre-poll alliance to join hands with Netanyahu.

"Two IDF (Israel Defence Forces) Chiefs of Staff surrendered to a man with three serious criminal indictments," Lapid said in reference to his former associates Gantz and Ashkenazi, who would be serving as the foreign minister.

"You are swearing loyalty today to a man who in a week will start a criminal trial for breach of trust, for bribery and for fraud. In the real world you don't let your children play with a man like that. In this building, he is the Prime Minister," he said at the Knesset in scathing comments against the new government.

Netanyahu has been indicted in three criminal cases and faces trial that is set to begin on May 24. He has denied any wrongdoing.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu announced that he has succeeded in forming a unity government in letters sent to President Reuven Rivlin.

"It's time to apply the Israeli law and write another glorified chapter in the history of Zionism," Netanyahu, who last year in July became Israel's longest serving Prime Minister surpassing David Ben-Gurion, said ahead of the swearing-in.

The government was to be sworn-in on Thursday but internal squabbles in the ruling Likud party over ministerial claims postponed it.

"The time has come for anyone who believes in the justness of our rights in the Land of Israel to join a government led by me to bring about a historic process together," Netanyahu said on the Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank.

The issue is "on the agenda" only because I acted on it personally," he stressed, saying he pushed for it for three years, publicly and covertly.

Dismissing claims that it will harm the efforts to strike a peace deal with the Palestinians, the hawkish Israeli leader emphasised that on the contrary it will promote the chances.

These regions are the cradle of the Jewish people. It is time to extend Israel's law over them. This step won't bring us further away from peace, it will get us closer. The truth is, and everyone knows it, that the hundreds of thousands of settlers in Judea and Samaria will always stay put in any future deal, Netanyahu said.

The vast majority of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the region to be illegal under the international law, and as such stands against the proposed annexation of the area and other areas of the West Bank, such as the fertile Jordan Valley.

However, Israel's close ally the US has pledged to support the move as part of its "Deal of the Century" peace proposal unveiled earlier this year. The plan backs Israel's annexation of most Israeli settlements and the Jordan Valley as long as it enters into peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that the bloc would use "all our diplomatic capacities" to try to dissuade Israel from going ahead with the move.

Some analysts have said that the annexation could prompt a break-down in the 1994 peace treaty signed between Israel and its neighbour Jordan. A former minister of Jordan, Marwan al-Muasher, during a webinar last week, did not rule out the possibility of his country walking out of the historic agreement if Israel moves ahead with unilateral annexation.

According to the Netanyahu-Gantz pact, the government can begin moves to implement the Trump administration's peace plan from July 1.

"There will be no peace with occupation and apartheid," said an Arab lawmaker, Yousef Jabareen.

Netanyahu praised the US' support for the move, but added that "Israel should rely only on itself to defend itself".

He also claimed that the unity government between him and Gantz avoided a fourth round of elections, which would have threatened the government's response to the coronavirus crisis.

"The majority of the public is glad to accept a unity government. The public wants a unity government, and that's what the public is getting today," he said.

Netanyahu was constantly booed by the Opposition members who shouted, "election fraud" and "pathological liar" while he spoke.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

Boeing unveiled a design concept for its 737 Max aircraft shortly before its grounding that upends traditional aircraft interior designs.

The Genesis concept was designed by Argentinian firm SkyStyle and introduces a futuristic look to the aircraft's interior, incorporating technology in the furnishings.

Five passenger compartments are included in the concept including a galley, dining area, living room, office space, and master bedroom, as well as a master bathroom.

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Boeing's line of private jets is reserved for a special kind of wealthy. Known as Boeing Business Jets, or BBJs for short, they're the private jet equivalent of airliners.

With sticker prices for the cheapest just shy of $100 million, even the average millionaire likely couldn't afford to have one in their stable.

Notable owners of the converted jets include Tony Robbins with his newest private jet, a BBJ 737, and President Donald Trump, who flew on a Boeing 757 filled with gold-plating before being elected president. When the super-rich buy an aircraft of Boeing's size, the process of designing the interior is comparable more to decorating a home as they seek to personalize the jet.

Owners of the jets frequently turn to design firms to craft the intricate interiors of their homes away from home. While there's no shortage of luxurious ideas, one firm teamed up with Boeing for a new futuristic design that for its 737 Max aircraft that looks more like a science fiction spaceship than it does a private jet.

Take a closer look at the Genesis concept by Argentina's SkyStyle.

The new interior was destined for the Boeing 737 Max aircraft, the newest narrow-body jet to come from the American manufacturer.

A Boeing 737 Max 8 taking off.

JASON REDMOND/Reuters

While traditional concepts for aircraft interiors are traditional and light...

The interior of Tony Robbins' BBJ 737 private jet.

Silver Air

Argentina-based design firm SkyStyle's concept is very space-age with enhanced use of onboard technology and LED lights integrated into the furnishings that complement new design features.

Story continues

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

Source: Robb Report and Runway Girl Network

The layout is anything but ordinary, departing from traditional configurations and incorporating wavy lines into the layout. Still, there's room for five compartments including a galley, dining area, living room, office, and bedroom.

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

Source: Runway Girl Network

SkyStyle's concept takes full advantage of the benefit that Boeing's jets have over its Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault, and Embraer competitors, which is and will always be an abundance of open space.

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

Even the smallest of Boeing's narrow-bodies feature more space than most know what to do with, creating endless possibilities for their owners. After all, the jets were designed for airline customers and intended to fit as many people as possible.

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

Open concept is also a key feature of the design but strategically placed pillars contain foldable barriers to offer on-demand privacy when needed, whether it be for an important meeting or just a getaway from the other passengers.

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

Source: KiPcreating

Even the partition that separates the galley and dining room can be opened and the countertop moved between the galley island and dining room table to easily transport meals between the two sections.

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

Source: KiPcreating

"From an aviation designer's perspective, the BBJ Max is incredibly appealing because there is so much more interior space to realize one's vision," SkyStyle co-founder Max Pardo said in a press release. "Since the Max flies ultra-long-distances, the owners are looking for a comfortable lounge, multi-function conference area and a large master suite."

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

Source: Boeing

The aircraft is also large enough to house a large bedroom with a king-size bed and opposite wardrobe.

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

The star-shaped LED lights in the ceilings also give the appearance of sleeping under the stars while flying directly under them in the upper altitudes.

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

Source: Robb Report

And like most Boeing private jets, a full shower can be installed to further make it into a home-like environment.

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

This particular interior is intended to mirror a tropical beach landscape but like the aircraft's other features, the color palette is customizable.

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

A desert-inspired design can also be installed incorporating the colors of the region.

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

The Middle East is a large market for Boeing's private jets, including the largest private jet in the world, the Boeing 747-8i.

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

Read More: See inside the the world's largest private jet: a Boeing 747 with an interior so large it took 4 years to design and build

The onboard technology is also customizable to Arabic or any other language that the end-user prefers.

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

While the design isn't the most luxurious, it offers an ultra-modern alternative to traditional configurations not currently found on most aircraft.

The Genesis interior design concept for Boeing's 737 Max aircraft.

Courtesy of Boeing/SkyStyle & KiPcreating

The concept, unfortunately, may not see the skies any time soon as the Max jets are grounded indefinitely. But previous-generation 737 jet owners can opt for the interior.

Undelivered Boeing 737 Max planes are parked at a Boeing property in Seattle, Washington.

David Ryder/Getty Images

Read the original article on Business Insider
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Welcome to the slow return to normalcy  pandemic-style.

And the new norm as of this weekend is all about covering your face in public places, state officials say.

If enough people do it, up to 1,800 people who might otherwise die of coronavirus infections over the next year may be saved, a top state official said. If New Mexicans dont mask up, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham warns, the state will likely stumble on the road to a full reopening of its economy.

As of Saturday, the state had recorded 259 coronavirus-related deaths, the majority in senior care facilities and in northwestern New Mexico.

Beginning this weekend, there is a partial reopening of businesses that have been closed for weeks by the COVID-19 crisis. In the coming weeks, if people wear masks, more high-risk activity  such as dining in restaurants  could get the green light, the governor said last week.

But theres a trade-off that could last until a vaccine is developed: a state mandate to keep your nose and mouth covered in public settings, except for eating, drinking, exercising and if a health provider advises otherwise.

These are not political statements, the governor said Friday of mask wearing. I know its not popular in a way I wish it was. Yet since the state offered to furnish masks to the public, about 8,000 requests have been received online at the states COVID-19 website, she said.

The state recommends masks for children ages 3 and older. New Mexicans arent expected to wear them in their cars, but masks are required in the workplace, along with social distancing, said Dr. David Scrase, secretary of the state Human Services Department.

We know theres some protective benefits. Theres evidence that wearing a mask can protect other people from you and from spreading the disease, said Scrase, a top COVID-19 adviser to Lujan Grisham. This is a very, very serious virus and a very infectious virus, and anything we can do (to prevent transmission) is probably worth the inconvenience.

Critics question the timing and effectiveness of the order. The also question whether the mask mandate can be enforced.

New Mexico Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce told the Journal that elsewhere around the country, requirements for face coverings in public have been meeting a lot of resistance. 

That is just a foreshadowing of, I think, what youre going to find in the state of New Mexico. Moreover, he said, since the outbreak began, there have been mixed messages as to whether the public should wear masks.

But this evolution, he said, people see through that and they say, Wait, if it was unsafe to be outside without a mask, what have we been doing for the last six weeks? Why did they wait until now to tell us? 

New Mexico has joined 38 other states, including Michigan and Hawaii, and entities such as Los Angeles County, that have issued mask mandates. Other countries have imposed mandates, and in Japan, the government is issuing masks to 50 million households.

After weeks of calling for only voluntary face coverings, Lujan Grisham announced the new public health order requiring the wearing of face coverings last week in conjunction with a gradual reopening of nonessential business.

She also announced an online competition, a takeoff on NCAA March Madness, called Mask Madness for the best homemade mask. Photos of face masks can be submitted at http:cv.nmhealth.org/mask-madness.

The governor said the masks are an extra precaution to slow the virus spread now that New Mexicans will likely be moving around more to go to reopened retail stores, parks and churches. The openings are limited to 25% of capacity, for the most part.

If you want businesses to stay open, then you have to have face masks, she said. Because if I cant get folks to do this, thats the enforcement tool, then we cant stay open, I cant mitigate, I cant stay the long course.

A contemplated reopening in the coming weeks of higher-risk businesses, such as those with dine-in service where people congregate and social distancing is difficult, also would rely on people wearing masks, she said.

So I need everyone to do it, she said.

Scrase said: Ultimately, your mask mainly protects other people from you, not you from other people.

White House cases

Nationally, the White House held off requiring masks of staff until two employees tested positive for the virus last week. And Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations leading infectious disease expert, is now recommending that people wear masks in public after telling the 60 Minutes news show at the onset of the virus outbreak in March that there was no need to wear a face covering if you were healthy.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends wearing basic cloth masks in public.

This is very different than what I said last week, Lujan Grisham said in announcing the public health order requiring coverings on Wednesday. I was really concerned about enforcement. I still am.

She said the idea of citing violators is a waste of precious first responder time. Businesses wont be expected to enforce the order when unmasked patrons enter the premises, but they can if they choose to do so.

The means of enforcement will be positive peer pressure, because, she said, fines and other legal action dont seem to have worked elsewhere. She said she is counting on business and elected leaders in New Mexico to wear masks and become role models for the rest of the state.

I implore New Mexicans to wear these face coverings, and it is foreign, and I will tell you that it feels awkward, and its difficult to speak with these on. Its hard to hear.

But every day I wear it is an easier day, and the more we do this, the better prepared we are not to have to go backwards. We must live in a COVID-safe world pending a vaccine, and these are an incredible tool to that end.

Evidence lacking

Theres not a lot of data on the effectiveness of wearing cloth face protections or masks to keep infections down, Scrase said.

Part of the problem is the lack of scientific evidence about masks because really the issue only comes up in a pandemic, right? Theres no reason to think about what the effectiveness is of everyone wearing masks unless youre in a situation where youre trying to do something about a fairly desperate medical situation.

But he points to two new studies backing the value of facial coverings in a respiratory pandemic:

 A study released May 1 in India showed masks were reported to be more effective in viruses that transmit easily from asymptomatic people. A significant percentage of COVID-19 cases are in asymptomatic people. Theres a significant benefit in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses, but its utility is limited by inconsistent adherence to mask usage, the study concluded.

 A mathematical assessment by a team of scientists from schools that included Arizona State University, Harvard Medical School, and the University of New South Wales concluded that 80% adoption of moderately effective masks could prevent 17% to 45% of projected deaths over two months in New York, while decreasing the peak daily death rate by 34% to 58%, absent other changes in pandemic dynamics.

In Washington state, 80% adoption could reduce mortality by 24% to 65%, the study said. The communitywide benefits are likely to be greatest when face masks are used along with other practices, such as social distancing, and when compliance is high.

Based on that modeling data, Scrase said New Mexico hypothetically could cut its projected 4,000 or so COVID-19 fatalities over the next 12 months by 1,800.

But, Scrase said, even with people wearing masks, we will see more cases, and more hospitalizations. Theres just no question.

Yet a 2010 study cited in a Journal guest column found that many fabric materials that could be used for masks were unlikely to be effective protection against virus-size aerosol particles.

In sum, very poor filter and fit performance of cloth masks and very low effectiveness for cloth masks in health care settings led us to conclude that cloth masks offer no protection for health care workers inhaling infectious particles near an infected or confirmed patient, wrote Dr. Lawrence Gernon, an attending physician at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center, emergency medicine department.

Scrase said he doesnt believe the study applies to the general public because  unlike health care workers  most New Mexicans arent being exposed to the virus daily at work.

Health care workers also wear surgical masks and other medical protection to keep from contracting the disease.

But masks have to be worn correctly over the nose and mouth.

I think were going to have to do a lot of public education on how to make a mask. Its going to take instruction. Its going to need a lot of role modeling from leaders, Scrase said last week. Our journey to whatever the maximum reopening can be while were waiting for a vaccine, whatever that journey is, it will take a lot longer and there will be a lot more detours if people dont wear masks and dont maintain six foot distancing.

Every case can be the start of a new local epidemic, he added. One person can create over time over 1,000 cases potentially. I think were talking about interventions that will last until we have the vaccine.
Meghan Markle is a known feminist who does not shy away from speaking her thoughts. It is precisely this reason why she found life as a royal not as suited to her she thought it would, given the many protocols to mind one's thoughts and words.

However, according to a new report, Meghan Markle has never been as well-read or as well-spoken as she is now. In fact, she made a massive error in the past that shows just ignorant she could be at times, or too lazy to do her own research when quoting people she admires.

According to Daily Mail UK, Prince Harry's wife thought she was quoting Eleanor Roosevelt back in her high school yearbook in 1999 when she made the declaration that read, "Women are like teabags; they don't realize how strong they are until they're in hot water."

Many believe she wrote it certainly because she is a feminist. What they are unclear of is whether Markle really thought Roosevelt did say this. Regardless, critics said this was already a gross oversight from the staunch feminist, and showed how ignorant she was. At least it was done back in high school, but still.

According to a new TV series, Mrs. America, the infamous line is not really Roosevelt's, but Phyllis Schlafly's. Worse, not only it is not by the woman Markle admires, it is actually by a woman that the Duchess can potentially despise. Schlafly is a Republican who backed Donald Trump before she died back in 2016.

IN all sense, it can be expected that Schlafly is not a feminist. Itis also not the right image for Meghan, who many are criticizing for being fake "woke" in the first place.

For all that she has said and done though, there's no denying that Meghan Markle is a true-blue feminist. She could have made a mistake in this part, but this does not erase her ideologies.

In an article by Insider, Meghan Markle reportedly had at least seven major moments where she proved how much of a feminist she truly is. She even called out sexism in the television show that made her a household name before she became a royal, "Suits." She said there is rampant sexism in the show's set.

Obviously, the Duchess of Sussex has campaigned for gender equality for as long as she has become a public figure, or even before that.

As early as 1993, she already campaigned against a sexist dish soap commercial. She was just 11-years-old then, where most girls are likely not to be as mindful as she was. The commercial had a line that states "women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans" and that did not sit well with young Markle. She was so incensed with the commercial she even wrote a letter of complaint to not just the company, but to the First Lady of the time, Hilary Clinton!

Both even replied to her and P&G changed the tagline of the commercial after a month!

READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth Abdication: Kate Middleton and Prince Harry Signalling Date is Near
The boyfriend of a young pregnant woman killed in a horror head-on crash in Perth is out of intensive care but remains in a serious condition.

Maddie Morgan, 21, was the passenger in a Nissan Skyline with her boyfriend Jack Bryant, 23, when it was struck by a Ford Falcon at an intersection east of Perth on Friday night.

The Skyline split in two when it was hit by the Falcon at the corner of the Great Eastern Highway and Homestead Road in Mahogany Creek at about 7.45pm.

Jack Bryant, 23, has been taken out of intensive care after surviving a horror crash which killed his heavily pregnant girlfriend Maddie Morgan, 21, (pictured together)

Miss Morgan was killed and Mr Bryant was seriously injured when the Nissan Skyline they were travelling in (pictured) was struck by a Ford Falcon at an intersection east of Perth on Friday night.

Friends paid tribute on social media Miss Morgan and Mr Bryant who were expecting their first child in less than three weeks.

Mr Bryant suffered serious head and chest injuries and was taken to Royal Perth Hospital.

He has since left intensive care and his condition has improved from critical to serious but stable.

One friend told the Nine Network the tragedy was 'so unfair'.

'He was happy to be a dad, and happy to be starting this new stage in his life,' he said.

The 23-year-old male driver of the Ford Falcon and a 19-year-old passenger were taken to Royal Perth Hospital with serious injuries.

The Skyline split in two when it was hit by the Falcon (pictured) at the corner of the Great Eastern Highway and Homestead Road in Mahogany Creek at about 7.45pm

One remains in hospital in a stable condition while the other has been discharged.

Another teenage passenger was uninjured.

An off-duty nurse who was travelling behind them witnessed the crash and helped the couple before paramedics arrived.

First responder John Walker said: 'My heart goes out the to the family, it really does.

'It didn't need to happen. It's a waste.'

He also told 9News that the sound of the crash was like 'a bomb going off'.

Miss Morgan, who was the front seat passenger was taken to Midland Hospital but died a short time later.

Friends of Miss Morgan and Mr Bryant visited the crash scene on Saturday and lay flowers for them.

Miss Morgan (pictured with Mr Bryant), was rushed to Midland Hospital but died a short time later

'He was happy to be a dad and happy to be starting this new stage in his life,' one friend told 7News.

'To just take it away like that, it's not even fair.'

Tributes poured in on Facebook.

Kala Kinley said: 'Rest in Peace Maddie...you will be missed you beautiful girl. I'm so sorry this happened to you.'

Mirelle Veenhoven-van Gemeren said: 'So horrible, rest in peace Maddie, was shocked when your son told us about it, both close mates of him. Condolences to the family and all friends.'

Petrina Tennent said: 'So very sad such a tragedy! RIP. Young life cut so very short. Condolences to all family and friends.'

Anyone with information, including dashcam footage, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.
Ghanaian actress and social commentator, Lydia Forson has stated that she has been receiving daily threat messages just because she speaks about issues affecting the country.

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Lydia Forson also stated that anytime she condemns the government when its at fault people with unknown numbers flood her Whatsapp with threat messages.

Lydia Forson is one of the outspoken people in Ghanas Creative Arts industry who expresses her opinions through blogs she writes and on various social media platforms.

READ ALSO: 10 Beautiful photos of Nana Yaa Brefo that show she will be missed dearly by her colleagues at Multimedia

She has always maintained that until the average Ghanaian is provided with basic needs, she will continue to put the government on its feet.

As a result, the award-winning actress has gained enemies in both Ghanas governing and opposition political parties.

READ ALSO: Nana Ama McBrown speaks for the 1st about Nana Yaa Brefo's resignation

Commenting about the issue, Lydia Forson shared one that threat messages that had been sent to her Whatsapp.

The message sighted by YEN.com.gh read shut up who the f*ck do you think you? You there vomiting nonsense. We surely take you to dry cleaners. Lydia Forson Lydia Forson so you there poking your nose everywhere just wait we will surely visit your case and you will like kwasiaa kwa.

READ ALSO: 5 celebrities who stood with KiDi after he was sacked from Accra FM

See the photo below:

READ ALSO: Medikal defends KiDi; says he is respectful

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Lydia Forson had taken a swipe at the Vice President for comparing the current coronavirus pandemic to the power crisis the country went through under the NDC.

According to Lydia Forson, she is utterly disgusted and extremely disappointed that we are comparing COVID-19 to the power crisis.

Lydia Forson made the comments following a press conference organized by Dr. Bawumia to respond to former President Mahamas criticisms of how President Nana Akufo-Addo has managed the economy.

Ghana's COVID-19 cases hit 5,127 | #Yencomgh

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Source: YEN.com.gh
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday (May 17) outlined the final tranche of the Rs 20 lakh crore economic package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to boost economy in the view of coronavirus crisis.

Beginning her press briefing, she said "As a nation, we stand at a very crucial juncture. Such a big disaster is a signal for India, it has brought a message and opportunity," adding "We need now to build an #AatmaNirbharBharat."

She said, "Soon after lockdown, we came with #PMGaribKalyanPackage, we provided food grains to those who needed it, we did not want to scout for money to search for grains," adding "#PradhanMantriGaribKalyanPackage used technology to do direct benefit transfer to people, we could do what we did because of the initiatives taken during the last few years."

"Pulses too were given 3 months in advance. I appreciate the concerted efforts of FCI, NAFED and states, giving pulses and grains in huge quantities, despite logistical challenges," she added.

The FM added that today's attempt is to make sure that environment is all right for the businesses to resume, adding that steps will focus on these seven areas: MGNREGA, Health and Education, Businesses and COVID, decriminalisation of Companys Act, ease of doing business, Public Sector Enterprises related matters and state governments and resources related to state governments.

In her fourth address on May 16, the Finance Minister announced structural reforms in the sectors of coal, minerals defence production, airspace management, MROs power distribution companies, space sectors, and atomic energy sector.

Sitharaman yesterday said that FDI limit in defence manufacturing will be hiked to 74 per cent from 49 per cent while some weapons and platforms will be banned for imports. This step was to give a major boost to 'Make in India' in defence sector.

The government also stated that it will rationalise stamp duty in mining sector, eliminate the difference between captive and non-captive mines, introduce seamless composite exploration-cum-mining-cum-production regime and auction 500 mining blocks.

Key Highlights of 4th tranche announced on May 16:

1. Commercial Mining introduced in Coal Sector

2. Diversified Opportunities in Coal Sector

3. Liberalised Regime in Coal Sector

4. Enhancing Private Investments and Policy Reforms in Mineral Sector

5. Enhancing Self Reliance in Defence Production

6. Policy Reforms in Defence Production

7. Efficient Airspace Management for Civil Aviation

8. More World-Class Airports through PPP

9. India to become a global hub for Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO)

10. Tariff Policy Reform in Power Sector; Privatization of Distribution in UTs

11. Boosting private sector investment through revamped Viability Gap Funding Scheme in Social Sector

12. Boosting private participation in space activities

13. Reforms in Atomic Energy Sector
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday announced that a new government led by him will be sworn-in with a pledge of Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank to write another glorified chapter in the history of Zionism".

On Wednesday, Netanyahu, 70, announced that he has succeeded in forming a unity government in letters sent to President Reuven Rivlin, and Blue and White party Chairman Benny Gantz, who was temporarily serving as the speaker of Knesset (Israeli Parliament).

"It's time to apply the Israeli law and write another glorified chapter in the history of Zionism," Netanyahu, who last year in July became Israel's longest serving Prime Minister surpassing David Ben-Gurion, said ahead of the swearing-in.

The government was to be sworn-in on Thursday but internal squabbles in the ruling Likud party over ministerial claims postponed it.

The new government, which according to the coalition agreement, will see Gantz replace Netanyahu as Prime Minister after 18 months on November 17, 2021, as the per power-sharing deal.

Netanyahu would then acquire the title of "Alternate Prime Minister", something that Gantz would now enjoy while also being the Defence Minister.

"The time has come for anyone who believes in the justness of our rights in the Land of Israel to join a government led by me to bring about a historic process together," Netanyahu said on the Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank.

The issue is "on the agenda" only because I acted on it personally," he stressed, saying he pushed for it for three years, publicly and covertly.

Dismissing claims that it will harm the efforts to strike a peace deal with the Palestinians, the hawkish Israeli leader emphasised that on the contrary it will promote the chances.

These regions are the cradle of the Jewish people. It is time to extend Israel's law over them. This step won't bring us further away from peace, it will get us closer. The truth is, and everyone knows it, that the hundreds of thousands of settlers in Judea and Samaria will always stay put in any future deal, Netanyahu said.

The vast majority of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the region to be illegal under the international law, and as such stands against the proposed annexation of the area and other areas of the West Bank, such as the fertile Jordan Valley.

However, Israel's close ally the US has pledged to support the move as part of its "Deal of the Century" peace proposal unveiled earlier this year. The plan backs Israel's annexation of most Israeli settlements and the Jordan Valley as long as it enters into peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that the bloc would use "all our diplomatic capacities" to try to dissuade Israel from going ahead with the move.

Some analysts have said that the annexation could prompt a break-down in the 1994 peace treaty signed between Israel and its neighbour Jordan. A former minister of Jordan, Marwan al-Muasher, during a webinar last week, did not rule out the possibility of his country walking out of the historic agreement if Israel moves ahead with unilateral annexation.

According to the Netanyahu-Gantz pact, the government can begin moves to implement the Trump administration's peace plan from July 1.

There will be no peace with occupation and apartheid, an Arab lawmaker, Yousef Jabareen, said.

Netanyahu praised the US' support for the move, but added that "Israel should rely only on itself to defend itself".

He also claimed that the unity government between him and Gantz avoided a fourth round of elections, which would have threatened the government's response to the coronavirus crisis.

"The majority of the public is glad to accept a unity government. The public wants a unity government, and that's what the public is getting today," he said.

He also pointed out that his Likud party "received the highest number of votes a party ever received in the history of the country".

Netanyahu was constantly booed by the Opposition members who shouted, "election fraud" and "pathological liar" while he spoke.

The government with 32 ministers initially will swell to 36 in six months, making it the largest government in the Jewish state's history.

Prominent ministerial appointments include Gabi Ashkenazi (Blue and White party) as foreign minister, Israel Katz (Likud) as finance minister, Avi Nissenkorn (Blue and White party) as Justice minister and Likud Yuli Edelstein (Likud) as health minister.

Netanyahu's close confidante Amir Ohana, currently serving as interim Justice Minister, is expected to receive the public security portfolio, which oversees law enforcement.

During his tenure as justice minister, Ohana repeatedly attacked the judiciary and those leading it as they pushed forward with criminal investigations, and eventually indictments, against Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and his trial is set to start later this month.

Ohana's possible appointment as public security minister has sparked speculation among top police officials that he may oppose possible new probes against Netanyahu.

The beleaguered Israeli Prime Minister managed to hold on to his right-wing bloc amid three inconclusive polls to force his main rival Gantz to finally succumb to the demand of a broad national unity government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cody Marie Mitchell (pictured) died when her car rolled in western NSW on Saturday

A young mother who died in a horror single vehicle crash while driving with her twin daughters along a remote stretch of road has been praised for saving their lives.

Cody Marie Mitchell was killed when her car veered off the road and rolled along the Silver City Highway near Anabranch, in western NSW, about 1.30pm on Saturday.

Ms Mitchell, 29, was thrown from the car and died instantly while her 12-month-old daughters were unharmed in the back seat of the car.

NSW Police set up a crime scene and are now investigating the crash.

Ms Mitchell's cousin Karleasha said the mother-of-two was driving home across the Victoria and New South Wales border from Mildura to Menindee when the tragedy occurred.

Ms Mitchell, 29, died instantly while her 12-month-old twin daughters (pictured) escaped the crash unharmed and were found sitting in their safety seats in the back seat of the vehicle

'It's a tragedy, it's shaken absolutely everyone. I just feel so sorry for those two little girls who have lost their mother,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'I saw her on Friday, she dropped in to Mildura to see my brother and I.

'She was really good, she was just herself and enjoying time with the kids. She told us she was heading home to Menindee.

'The last thing we said to her was "travel safe"... I just can't believe that's the last time I will ever see her.'

It is understood the twin girls are currently being cared for by Ms Mitchell's mother.

Shattered friends and family paid tribute to Ms Mitchell on Facebook, many praising her for strapping her daughters in safely - ultimately saving their lives.

'So heartbroken. I can't even come to understand it all... (it) just doesn't make sense. Angels were watching over the girls that is for sure, thank God they are OK,' Amanda Stone wrote.

'Such a shocking and heartbreaking call to receive tonight. Love to all the family back home. Fly high in the dreamtime,' Ms Mitchell's relative Corey Payne said.

Officers investigating her death will now prepare a brief for the coroner.

Two passersby discovered the toddlers on Saturday afternoon when they happened upon the crash on the Silver City Highway (pictured) near Anabranch, in western New South Wales

'I just feel so sorry for those two little girls (pictured) who have lost their mother,' Ms Mitchell's cousin Karleasha told Daily Mail Australia

Shattered friends and family paid tribute to Ms Mitchell on Facebook, some praising her for strapping her daughters in safely - ultimately saving their lives

Ms Mitchell's death was one of three fatal incidents across NSW over the weekend.

A 45-year-old man died in a single vehicle crash at Port Macquarie on Saturday, while a 25-year-old man was killed instantly when his Ford Falcon collided with a 4WD at Campbelltown.

His passenger, 26, was taken to hospital in a stable condition while the driver of the 4WD, a 27-year-old woman, was also taken to Liverpool Hospital with a broken arm.
A TV grab taken from a video released by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attending a virtual news briefing on COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) from the WHO headquarters in Geneva on April 6, 2020. (-/AFP via Getty Images)

WHO May Prevent Taiwan From Sharing at Meeting Success in Preventing Spread of CCP Virus

Taiwan might be barred from attending the World Health Assembly (WHA) this month and sharing there about the methods it used to successfully battle the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

According to a Johns Hopkins University study in January, Taiwan was expected to be the second most at-risk area outside mainland China for the virus. However, it turned out that Taiwan had one of the most effective responses globally.

Taiwan, which is not a member of the United Nations, has been excluded from the World Health Organization (WHO), a U.N. agency, due to objections from China. The island has not been allowed to take part in the WHA, the decision-making body of WHO, since 2016.

The leaders of U.S. congressional foreign affairs committees wrote a letter to 55 countries on May 8 to support Taiwans WHA bid. The lawmakers stated in their letter that as the world fights the pandemic, it is more important than ever to put global health above politics.

Chen Shih-chung, Taiwan minister of health and welfare, said in a press release: WHO will truly understand that infectious diseases know no borders, and that no country should be excluded, lest it become a major gap in global health security. WHO should not neglect the contribution to global health security of any nation.

Taiwan implemented aggressive border quarantine measures to control the epidemic and also increased laboratory testing capacity by a tiered hospital system. In the meantime, Taiwan still has a functioning economy, with the first quarter GDP expanding 1.54 percent over the same period last year.

Taiwans battle with the CCP virus began on Dec. 31 last year, when a Taiwan public health official saw that people were chatting on a website forum about a novel pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan. Taiwan immediately implemented onboard quarantine of direct flights from Wuhan that same day.

Taiwan Centers for Disease Control also sent an email to WHO about the outbreak the same day, warning about the possibility of human-to-human transmission. Taiwan experts went to Wuhan in January to conduct a field study, and they concluded that there was transmission between humans.

During the pandemic, Taiwan has ramped up the mask production daily capacity from 1.8 million in January to around 19 million in mid-May. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco donated 100,000 masks to California in mid-April.

Since Taiwan has been dealing with the CCP for such a long time and was cheated many times, Taiwan has deeply learned how the CCP is not trustable. So Taiwan would not follow outbreak information from the CCP or WHOs numbers, Twu Shiing-jer, who was the head of Taiwan public health in 2003 when the SARS outbreak spread from China to Taiwan, told the Taiwanese edition of The Epoch Times.

The CCP hid SARS for three months and caused the virus to spread to Taiwan at that time. That made Taiwan strongly experience the result of being deceived by the CCP, said Twu. We are very clear about the CCPs nature of deception.

Taiwans death toll from SARS was 73 in 2003. As of May 4 this year, Taiwans death toll from COVID-19 was 6.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of WHO, said on Jan. 23 that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 outside China. Tedros also denied on April 10 that Taiwan ever alerted WHO to the possibility of human-to-human transmission.

From 1997 to 2008, Taiwan applied for observer status in WHO every year but failed due to Chinas objections. In 2009, Taiwan finally gained observer status and was allowed to participate in the WHA, but it lost this status again in 2017 when Tedros became the director general.

Before becoming the head of WHO, Tedros was the health minister and then foreign minister of Ethiopia. He was a member of the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), in which the Marxist-Leninist League of Tigray (MLLT) held a leading role in the 1980s.

A McKinsey report in 2017 stated that Ethiopia had participated in Chinas Belt and Road initiative and was one of Chinas most robust partners in Africa.
New Delhi:

A video shot for Independence Day celebrations left many in the government red faced as it featured a Pakistan fighter jet flying with Indian flag.

The video, posted on Twitter, was however removed after the Twitterati pointed out that the jets were in fact Pakistani aircraft.

The opening portion of the Culture Ministry's over one- minute video celebrating '70 years of Independence' featured an animated sequence of the two JF-17 flying with the Indian flag.

A government source said it was an inadvertent mistake as the JF-17 looks similar to India's Tejas light combat aircraft and it is difficult for an ordinary citizen to know the difference between the two types of aircraft.

However, realising the mistake, it was removed promptly, the source added.

The JF-17 jet was jointly developed by Pakistan and China and both are promoting it big time to garner global supply orders.

Incidentally, Sri Lanka, which was in talks for the JF-17, has rejected the aircraft and is now eyeing Tejas.

Pakistan intends to make it the main stay of its fighter fleet.

In March 2011, Pakistan Navy had issued a full-page advertisement, which appeared in several Pakistani newspapers, featuring the Indian Navy's Delhi, Godavari and Talwar-class warships for the Aman-11 multi-national exercise.

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BY KENNETH NYANGANI

A LOCAL economist Prosper Chitambara has described Finance minister Mthuli Ncube as a scholar, who is not fit to be Finance minister, because he has an academic and theoretical approach to financial and economic matters.

Chitambara made the remarks in Mutare on Monday while addressing the Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe-organised media workshop.

I think our Finance minister Mthuli Ncube is a scholar. I believe when he came in as the Finance minister he believed that he knew everything and that was wrong. He has not done well as the Finance minister of this country, Chitambara said.

At the same time, it is also difficult to judge him because he might be running someones vision. If President Emmerson Mngangagwa said no to a policy, what would he say? he pondered.

When Ncube was appointed to head the Finance ministry in 2018, he promised to turn around the countrys economic fortunes, but has not succeeded.

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Chitambara also said the country needs at least US$12 billion for infrastructure development.The government needs to scale up infrastructure development in the country, mainly targeting rural areas and we will be focusing on agriculture, building roads, irrigation and energy, which is key to any development in the country, he said.

We need about US$12 billion to develop our infrastructure into the modern era, but we have a lot of political divisions, we have not yet reached political maturity; leadership should not be feared, he said

Development should not divide us, but should unite us. Our resources have not benefited us Zimbabweans.

Zimbabwe is losing billions of dollars to corruption and has been ranked 160 out of 180 countries in the 2018 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index.

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Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Siddaramaiah has called a meeting of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Tuesday to discuss the situation arising out of coronavirus and other related matters. The meeting will be held at 4 pm on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah's office said in a statement. COVID-19 situation in the state, packages announced by state and central governments, amendment to Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act, gram panchayat elections, among other issues will be discussed at the CLP meeting, it said.

Track live updates on coronavirus here

The meeting will also discuss measures taken by the government and decide on the strategy for agitation in this regard, it added. Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah in series of tweets has hit out package announced by the Centre. Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases

He claimed that the stimulus announced by Union Finance Minister in the name of coronavirus shall definitely not address the fallout from the pandemic, and termed it a "hideous route" to fulfill BJP and crony capitalists' agenda during the health crisis. "History will remember @PMOIndia @narendramodi as a 'Failed Prime Minister who betrayed poor & middle class people by creating fools' paradise' The actual spending by the govt out of 20 lakh Cr claimed is not even 25%," he tweeted.
152 Ubi Ave 4 industrial land presents a rare opportunity to acquire industrial real estate in Singapore with a long tenure.

The Ubi Ave 4 industrial land also offers a strong tenant covenant and excellent site dynamics.

The Ubi Ave 4 industrial land offers long term leaseback with fixed annual escalation of 2.0%: Provision of steady income stream with fixed annual rent increases

The Ubi Ave 4 industrial land presents strong tenant covenant: The current tenant (a subsidiary of the Vendor) is a SGX Mainboard listed company with focuses that include telecom value-added services, high-end consumer mobility products as well as IT related professional and managed services

The Ubi Ave 4 industrial land is a rare industrial land with long tenure: Today, industrialists who have been allocated sites by the authorities or acquired them through GLS, generally have a land tenure of 20 to 30 years with no option to extend. This investment offering provides a rare opportunity to acquire an asset that has a longer land tenure

The Ubi Ave 4 industrial land offers excellent site dynamics: The Property is highly accessible via Pan-Island/ Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressways and within a short distance to Ubi and Tai Seng MRT Stations on the Downtown Line and Circle Line respectively. Situated within existing industrial clusters and with surrounding infrastructure largely developed, the Property enjoys unparalleled site dynamics

Age/ Condition: Having refurbished in 2011, the Ubi Ave 4 industrial land is relatively new, and has been very well maintained.

Ubi Ave 4 industrial land

Image: JLL

The JTC industrial property market statistics showed that overall rents across Singapores industrial sector remained unchanged quarter-on-quarter (QOQ) in Q4 2019, the second straight quarter of no-change. For the full year 2019, industrial sector rents were up 0.1% year-on-year (YOY), mainly due to the improvement in business parks.

Commenting on the industrial market performance in the last quarter of 2019, Mr Desmond Sim, CBREs Head of Research for Southeast Asia, said, the factory submarket displayed mixed performances this quarter. The JTC Single-User Factory Rental Index inched up by 0.1% q-o-q, whereas occupancy rate fell by 0.3 percentage points q-o-q to 90.8%, partly because of excess supply from previous quarters which is still in the midst of being absorbed by the market.

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The JTC Multiple-User Factory Rental Index on the other hand eased by 0.1% q-o-q, which can be mainly attributed to the West region where a large pool of existing vacant stock remains; this is despite that the islandwide occupancy rate increased by 0.4 percentage points q-o-q to 87.5%.

Mr Sim added, The warehouse sector saw an improvement from its slowdown from preceding quarters, with the JTC Warehouse Rental Index edging up by 0.1% q-o-q. However, it was also noted that warehouse occupancy dipped marginally by 0.1 percentage points q-o-q to 88.0%. Nonetheless, it is likely that the tight upcoming warehouse supply will lend support to occupancy.

CBRE said that moving forward, with overall industrial rents remaining unchanged this quarter, there is some optimism that rents may have bottomed out in the industrial market.

CBRE Research is of the view that warehouse rents are poised to be more resilient, supported by a limited supply pipeline. Meanwhile, factory rents are expected to stay flat in 2020, suppressed by a prevailing vacancy volume of 40.1 million sq ft and a substantial amount of upcoming multiple-user factory stock.

Dominic Peters, Senior Director of Industrial Services at Colliers International, commenting on industrial market said:

The Singapore manufacturing sector is expected to improve slowly in the coming quarters on the back of a gradual recovery of the global electronics cycle, driven by the normalisation of inventory in the global electronics supply chains, and the adoption of 5G technologies in telecommunication equipment and smartphones. However, with new supply of factory space in 2020 remaining sizable at around 15.6 million sq ft (net)  equivalent to about 4% of current factory stock  we anticipate that overall factory rent will likely remain subdued as supply outstrips demand in 2020.

Warehouse supply is set to increase to 3.6 million sq ft in 2020 (net)  equivalent to about 3% of current warehouse stock. Given the challenging global trade outlook and the elevated vacancy rate of 12.0% at the end of 2019, we expect warehouse rent to remain soft, stabilising in 2020-2021 before recovering from 2022 as supply diminishes.

Meanwhile, we forecast the flight to quality in business park and high-specs segments to continue due to limited supply amid higher demand for premium space. Centrally-located business parks and high-spec buildings with good amenities should attract healthy demand while those older and further away from MRT stations in the suburbs could face more difficulty in finding tenants, despite lower rents. Overall, we expect business park and high-specs rents to see slight upticks in the coming quarters, increasing by 1-2% YOY by the end of 2020.

Mr Paul Ho, chief mortgage officer at iCompareLoan, said, commercial properties obviously command more rents than real estate like the Ubi Ave 4 industrial land.

He added, any newer industrial properties sitting on Business 1 (B1) zones are increasingly sophisticated and looking like Commercial buildings. In fact you might not even tell them apart unless you refer to the URA Zoning Master Plan. Since industrial B1 zones are better located nearer to housing estates or regional centres and no longer mainly in Jurong, there is substantial advantage to break the zoning rules.

Mr Ho noted that with the rolling out of the 5G wireless network and with Singapores being at the forefront of smart nation initiatives, the industrial market as a whole will remain optimistic.

The industrial property market remains exposed to downside risks in 2020. While there are nascent signs of a turnaround in the manufacturing sector and economic growth is expected to pick up in 2020, this could be derailed by unexpected external events such as the Covid-19 crisis.

The post Ubi Ave 4 industrial land with rare long tenure for sale appeared first on iCompareLoan Resources.
Sophia Bush stocked up on snacks and beer with a hunky mystery man in Malibu on Friday.

The 37-year-old One Tree Hill alum and her pal stayed close together, while covering their mouths and noses with protective gear.

On their trip to Whole Foods, the Teen Choice Award winner sported a black face mask that read 'Support Healthcare workers' and a pair of high-waisted jeans.

Holding hands: Sophia Bush stocked up on food with a hunky mystery man on Thursday

Bush's unknown pal joined her at home, where it can be assumed the pair enjoyed their new purchases.

The beauty has been cooking up a storm under quarantine, and not just for herself.

'Last week I spent two days cooking more chicken stewand cooking down 24 hour bone broththan I can keep track of,' she told her 3.6 million Instagram followers last month. 'I froze mason jars of it, and have been distributing it to neighbors and neighborhood essential workers like my main man right here.'

In her post, she snapped a selfie with a UPS driver, who she described as being one her 'favorite people to see' at the front door.

Cozying up: The 37-year-old One Tree Hill alum and her potential new love interest stayed close together, while covering their mouths and noses with protective gear on Friday

She added: 'Cooking and serving reminded me that we can steer our own ships at any time.'

While practicing social distancing, she also promoted her 'sisterwife' and former One Tree Hill co-star Hilarie Burton Morgan's new book.

'When I first met her I couldnt believe she wanted to talk to me, let alone invite me out to bars,' she said of her longtime friend. 'Hil was always ahead of her time. When the rest of us were reading magazines, Hilarie was toting around copies of Ray Bradbury & Flannery OConnor.'

Making a statement: On their trip to Whole Foods, the Teen Choice Award winner sported a black face mask with the message: 'Support Healthcare workers' and a pair of high-waisted jeans

Pals: In her post, she snapped a selfie with a UPS driver, who she described she said was one of her 'favorite people to see' at her front door

Her pal replied: 'Aw h*ll! How did we make it this far?? I love you, Soph. I love our romance and how far weve come together. I will always celebrate you. And it feels d**n nice to know I can always count on you.'

Bush previously took her romance off-screen with Chad Michael Murray.

The actors married in 2005 after meeting on set, but subsequently broke things off only a few months later before their divorce was finalized in 2006.

Murray starred in the first six seasons of OTH as Lucas Scott, who had an on-again, off-again relationship with Bush's character, Brooke.
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Tomorrow marks 100 days since the general election and the country still doesn't have a properly functioning government.

It means no laws can be passed, nor can there be any decisions taken on some of the most fundamental economic and societal issues that will face us in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis.

To say this is causing major frustration among the general public would be an overstatement. Most of us are just worried about the current crisis and its impact on our health, our family, our friends and our mental and financial well-being.

But the politicians are certainly vexed. They range from the Fine Gael TDs who strongly oppose going in with the old enemy and the Greens, to the Fianna Fail TDs who are struggling to convince their own members to go along with the idea (one TD privately suggested to me last week that Fianna Fail is finished, no matter what happens) to Sinn Fein TDs who think a rotten dirty deal is being cooked up by Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

The frustration also extends to those stuck in Government despite no longer being members of the Dail.

Children's Minister Katherine Zappone had a tough week as her proposed childcare scheme for frontline workers fell apart. There was little sympathy from members of the Cabinet who privately criticised her handling of the issue in Friday's Irish Independent. It prompted Ms Zappone to take them to task before the Cabinet meeting on Friday morning. She is said to have read out some of the quotes attributed to some of them in the newspaper before telling those present that she would be available afterwards if anyone who has a problem with her wanted to say it to her face. For those appearing via video link, she gave out her phone number, saying they could call her.

The bizarre intervention raised eyebrows to say the least. Ms Zappone has done some formidable work in the childcare sector over the last four years and secured unprecedented levels of State support for creches and childcare facilities. But she lost her Dail seat in Dublin South-West more than three months ago and the job of addressing the current crisis should be someone else's.

Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens held several rounds of negotiations last week but the progress is slow, all sides report. There were specific policy meetings on housing and justice issues as well as a broad economic overview in which Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe painted a fairly bleak picture of the fiscal and unemployment situation facing the country over the coming years.

Neither justice nor housing issues are expected to derail the talks although the nitty- gritty of housing policy is likely to throw up ideological battles that will have to be resolved. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail see a role for the private sector in building houses, the Greens want public housing on public land.

One of the more interesting sub-plots of the talks is the presence of Mr Donohoe for Fine Gael and Neasa Hourigan, the finance spokesperson for the Greens.

They share the same Dublin Central constituency and allies of Mr Donohoe claim there is "increased tension" between the pair as a result.

Many in Fine Gael suspect she is not negotiating in good faith, having voted against bringing the Greens into talks, but they note, too, that her seat is on a knife-edge so it is arguably in her interest to get a deal and avoid an election. The emergence of a three-year-old tweet from the Green TD, in which she suggested Fine Gael TDs had a "personal interest" in keeping rents high because more than a third of them are landlords, has not helped matters

It prompted Fine Gael minister John Paul Phelan to declare that some Green Party members "openly hate private property and free enterprise". Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admonished Mr Phelan for his remarks and urged the parties not to focus on what they might have said about each other in the past. "I think the best thing we can all do is maybe set aside and forget about some of the things that we may have all said about each other," he said.

Mr Varadkar knows only too well the difficulties that arise from going back over old comments, given the nasty remarks he has aimed at Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and the Green Party leader Eamon Ryan in the last three years alone.

The irony in Ms Hourigan's case is that her father, Michael Hourigan, is a former long-serving Fine Gael councillor and Limerick mayor, for whom she canvassed when she was younger. She has said she did not get her politics from him, rather they have been informed by her experience as an architect who specialises in sustainable development.

Ms Hourigan, who had not responded to requests for comment last week, is greatly liked in the Green Party. "There's one thing with Neasa that lots of people don't realise. She's really well regarded in the party and lots love her," said a party figure.

Her verdict on whatever deal is hammered out will be crucial to gaining the two-thirds' support of party members that will be needed for Greens to enter government.

This coming week is seen as crucial to advancing progress on a programme for government. The exchange of policy papers and the formulation of position papers endorsed by all three sides is expected to ramp up. The convoluted process at the moment involves a series of modular meetings on specific policy areas at which papers are exchanged before the rapporteurs for each party - special advisers John Carroll for Fine Gael, Deirdre Gillane for Fianna Fail and Anna Conlan for the Greens - try to agree a common text. "We need to move to a point where we have two or three modular meetings a day. It needs to intensify," said one senior figure in the talks. "There is a view among everyone that it needs to step up next week."

There have been hiccups which could lead to bigger problems in the coming days.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are annoyed at the pace at which the Greens are moving, with some grumbling that they must refer back to their party structures too often. The presence of Eamon Ryan at the briefing from Mr Donohoe earlier last week took some of those involved by surprise, given that Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin have yet to show up at Agriculture House.

The Greens are annoyed about leaks. "These negotiations are only going to work if we respect the confidentiality of the process," said one of the party's negotiators.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail was more than a little upset to learn yesterday morning that Eoghan Murphy's officials are working on contingency planning for elections and referendums which may need to take place under public health restrictions.

"Imagine prioritising nursing homes for election plans instead of worrying about dead and sick residents," said one seething Fianna Fail TD. "As usual Fine Gael go a step too far in their spin."

A senior Fine Gael figure shrugged: "It's the responsibility of the government to protect the integrity of our most important democratic process. What's there to be angry about?"

But everyone will be angry if they don't get on with it and form a government soon.
A rain warning has ended for Hamilton but a flood watch is still in effect along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

Warnings calling for heavy rain were issued for Hamilton, Haldimand-Norfolk and Brant County were issued Sunday calling for percipitation totals of up to 50 millimetres.

Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) posted a flood watch Saturday, warning of strong shore-bound winds Monday and Tuesday, increasing the risk of flooding and erosion.

Sustained winds from the north east of up to 40 km/h and gusts of up to 70 km/h is expected to produce waves of up to 2.1 metres.

HCA is warning residents along the shoreline to monitor the situation and to exercise caution near lakefront areas.

The flood watch is in effect until May 20. The conservation authority will update or cancel the flood watch at that time.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 18:51:06|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A new Israeli unity government was sworn in on Sunday after three previous elections yielded no conclusive results in more than a year.

The unprecedented power-sharing government was agreed on in April by Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing Likud party, and his former rival Benny Gantz and his centrist Blue and White party.

The 35th Israeli government will have Netanyahu as its prime minister for 18 months before he is replaced by Gantz who will first serve as an alternate prime minister, a title that has never existed before in Israeli politics.

The swearing-in ceremony was initially scheduled for Thursday but was postponed because of political infighting in the Likud.

The new government was inaugurated amid wide criticism and protest against the high number of ministers and the financial cost incurred.

Much of the fire was aimed at Gantz over his agreement to sit in a coalition with Netanyahu after his promise not to do so for Netanyahu's suspected corruption was a key part of his election campaign in March. Enditem
Certified nursing assistant Rosa Arenas has been home quarantining since May 2 after testing positive for COVID-19 at her apartment in Orange. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

For Lupe Martinez, who does the laundry at a Riverside nursing home, each day presented an agonizing choice: Go to work and risk getting the novel coronavirus or lose the $13.58-an-hour paycheck her family relies upon.

Martinez went to work.

Even after the masks started running low. Even, she said, after a patient whose room she had entered without protective equipment fell ill and was put into isolation.

Martinez, 62, tested positive for COVID-19 last month, followed by her 60-year-old husband, who had to stop working after having a heart attack last year. Her adult son and daughter, who live with them, also tested positive.

"There were many times I didn't want to go to work," said Martinez, coughing heavily as she spoke. "I didn't want to get sick. My husband said, 'Don't.' I said we can't live. We have these bills. ... I had to push myself to go. I had a commitment to my family."

For low-paid employees whose work is rarely if ever glorified  the people who clean the floors, do the laundry, serve fast food, pick the crops, work in the meat plants  having the jobs that keep America running has come with a heavy price. By the odd calculus wrought by the viral outbreak, they have been deemed "essential." And that means being a target.

Rafael Saavedra at his home in Alhambra. The truck driver, whose pay has been cut in half, fears infecting his daughters at home. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Along with blacks, Latinos have borne the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic in California and other parts of the United States, becoming infected and dying at disproportionately high rates relative to their share of the population. Health experts say one of the main reasons Latinos are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 is because many work in low-paying jobs that require them to leave home and interact with the public.

Latinos comprise about 40% of California's population but 53% of positive cases, according to state data. In San Francisco, Latinos comprise 15% of the population but make up 43% of the confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Saturday.

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UC San Francisco researchers tested thousands of people in the city's Mission District for COVID-19. While Latinos made up 44% of the people tested, they accounted for more than 95% of the positive cases. About 90% of those who tested positive said they were unable to work from home.

A Los Angeles Times data analysis last month also found that younger Latinos and blacks were dying at disproportionately high rates, belying the conventional wisdom that old age is the primary risk factor for death.

Latinos in California are significantly less likely than whites, Asians and blacks to say that working from home amid the pandemic is an option, according to a new poll of California voters from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies.

Some 42% of Latinos polled said they could work from home, compared with 53% of blacks, 59% of Asians and 61% of whites. The poll also showed that Latinos were nearly three times more likely than whites to be concerned about their jobs placing them in close proximity to others. This was a particular problem in the first weeks of the pandemic, when masks and other protective gear were in shorter supply and many businesses were still trying to implement social distancing policies.

"They feel essential; they're trying to do their part to get us out of this crisis," said Jose Lopez, a Los Angeles-based spokesman for the Food Chain Workers Alliance. "Yet we can't provide face masks. We can't give them the space to give them six feet of separation between their co-workers."

A Times analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data shows that Latinos make up just under 40% of the workforce across all industry sectors deemed essential by the California state government, consistent with their share of the statewide population. But in some sectors, they are greatly overrepresented.

In essential agriculture jobs, the workforce is more than 80% Latino. They also hold more than half of essential food jobs and nearly 60% of construction jobs deemed essential. At the same time, Latinos in the U.S. are more likely than the overall population to say they or someone in their household has experienced a pay cut or lost a job amid the pandemic, according to a Pew Research Center survey in April.

For weeks, Dr. Marlene Martin, an assistant clinical professor at UC San Francisco and a physician at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, has watched as Latino patients with COVID-19 have streamed into the emergency room. More than 80% of the hospitalized coronavirus patients at the facility were Latino as of last month.

They have been roofers, cooks, janitors, dishwashers and delivery drivers. Many were under 50. They lived in households where social distancing is difficult, sometimes with two or three other families. For Martin, a 36-year-old Latina, stepping into the intensive care unit sometimes feels like being confronted with an unsettling mirror.

"It was already full of people who look like me," she said, "who share a common language and similar cultural backgrounds."

"You see the extremes of what happens when someone can shelter in place or someone can't. It's not that people don't want to stay home. It's not that they're not listening. It's not that they're not educated. It's that they don't have an option."

The coronavirus' heavy toll on Latinos raises questions about whether employers across the U.S. and the government are doing enough to protect these workers.

In Iowa, Latinos make up about 6% of the population but have accounted for a quarter of all positive cases, according to the state's tally. In Washington state, Latinos represented 35% of all positive cases, even though they only make up 13% of the population.

The balance between keeping Latino essential workers safe and depending on their labor is being tested in the city of Hanford, where a coronavirus outbreak at a meat-packing plant now accounts for half of the confirmed cases in Kings County.

About 180 employees at Central Valley Meat Co. had tested positive as of Tuesday, according to County Supervisor Doug Verboon. Most of the employees at the facility  who work in close proximity amid "moist and wet working conditions"  are Latino, he said. Central Valley Meat did not respond to calls or emails from The Times.

Karla Barrera is a deli manager at a grocery store in Sun Valley and the mother of two. "I'm so scared for my babies. I'm praying that I don't have it," Barrera said. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Verboon said the county is depending on even more Latino workers during the current cherry-picking season, which lasts until mid-June. He said one Hanford fruit-packing company that employed 800 workers to pick cherries told him that an outbreak similar to the one at Central Valley Meat Co. would be "catastrophic."

We cant have those people get ill because we have a short window of work, Verboon said.

Lupe Martinez started at Alta Vista Healthcare & Wellness Centre in Riverside last July after her husband, a sheet metal worker and the family breadwinner, had a heart attack and had to stop working.

In the laundry room, Martinez  a member of the Service Employees International Union Local 2015, which represents some 400,000 home care and nursing home workers in California  was surrounded by mostly Latinos and Filipinos. A lot of her colleagues work two jobs or pull double shifts, washing heavy comforters and blankets, cleaning shower curtains, handling patients' linens.

Martinez's family asked her not to go as the virus began spreading in California.

"I told them, 'I'm going to trust God. I'm not going to get it,'" she said. "I'd go to work. I'd worry."

A few weeks ago, Martinez said, she walked into the room of an elderly woman to bring her clean clothes. Usually, there is a notice on the door if a patient has an illness that requires staff to put on gloves, masks or other gear, she said. There was nothing posted, Martinez said, so she entered unmasked.

Martinez said the woman told her she was feeling sick. A few days later, a sign on the door said she was in isolation.

Alta Vista Healthcare & Wellness Centre did not return calls or emails seeking comment.

On April 13, Martinez came home with a sore throat, dry cough and aching body. She couldn't taste the tea her son brought her. She struggled to breathe. She went to the hospital before and after a positive COVID-19 test and was sent home, told to try and self-isolate.

When her husband, son and daughter who live in the house tested positive, she lay in bed, crying out to God.

Another son and his wife live in a back house on the property. He's a barber. She's a dental hygienist. They are not currently leaving home to work. They have not gotten COVID-19.

Because she had not yet worked at the nursing home a year, Martinez said, she was not eligible for sick pay. She has applied for state disability but has not yet heard back. Martinez said she feels she has to return to work.

"My kids don't want me to go back," Martinez said. "But I have bills. I know it's my life, but  I don't know."

Rosa Arenas, another union member and certified nursing assistant at an Orange nursing home, said she got tested after learning a patient had tested positive for COVID-19 last month. On May 2, Arenas tested positive.

Now, she is isolated in one bedroom of her family's apartment, away from her husband and two children, ages 12 and 6, who have tested negative. She spent Mother's Day reading the Bible alone and video-chatting with her children and husband from the other side of the door.

My kids told me they were sad they werent going to give me a Mothers Day hug, Arenas, 32, said. "It broke my heart."

She said there was not enough personal protective equipment at work and that colleagues have become infected. Her husband, a landscaper, recently was sent home by his employer to quarantine and be tested, and she has burned through all her paid vacation and sick time while quarantining at home. And she misses working.

Rafael Saavedra, 40, outside his home last week in Alhambra. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

When Rafael Saavedra, a 40-year-old truck driver from Alhambra, returns home from work, he undresses in his garage, throws his clothes in the washing machine and rushes to the shower, careful not to touch anything inside. His greatest fear is infecting his daughters, ages 16 and 6.

At a San Pedro dispatch center, where he and hundreds of other drivers drop off paperwork and take breaks, he hardly ever finds soap or hand sanitizer.

Employees who normally work in the center are now working remotely, and there's little communication with drivers about how they can stay safe, Saavedra said. Drivers were given a single, thin mask about a month ago and nothing else, he said.

Saavedra said the vast majority of drivers he works with are Latino immigrants who are struggling to navigate the pandemic because of language barriers and a lack of resources.

"They don't know their rights. They're scared of talking. They stay in their cocoon," he said.

Saavedra has carved out a comfortable life for his family. He travels often with his wife and daughters, who attend private Christian schools. But his paycheck has been cut in half due to reduced hours. He fears losing his house.

His wife, a nurse at a Pasadena homeless shelter, cut down her own hours out of fear of catching the virus and infecting their daughters.

Sonia Hernandez, who raised four children as a single mother, has worked as a cook at a McDonald's in Monterey Park for 18 years and makes just over $14 an hour, said her daughter, Jenniffer Barrera Hernandez.

In early April, Hernandez was hospitalized with COVID-19 and went into an induced coma for weeks.

They told us she wasn't going to make it through the day and we had to decide whether she wanted to go in peace or do chest compressions to try and get a pulse, Barrera Hernandez said. It was really hard to make that decision.

Miraculously, Barrera Hernandez said, her mother woke up.

After her diagnosis, Hernandezs co-workers walked off the job to demand safety supplies, including masks, gloves, soap and hand sanitizer. Barrera Hernandez said after she called McDonalds to alert the company her mom had tested positive, she did not get a call back.

Thats really sad, because my mom really liked that job. You provide for a company for so long, and at the end youre just a number.

Hernandez is recovering in her South L.A. home. She is extremely fatigued and unable to walk or even hold a phone for very long, her daughter said. She feels guilty she cant go back to work yet.

David Tovar, McDonald's U.S. vice president of communications, said many of Barrera Hernandez's and some employees' statements were false.

He said McDonald's restaurants, including the one where Hernandez worked, have had an ample supply of soap, hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies and close overnight once per week for deep cleanings. Tovar said restaurants have been open for takeout only, with social distancing requirements enforced and bathrooms closed.

When McDonald's learned of Hernandez's diagnosis on April 8, the company immediately informed four crew members who she had been in contact with, he said.

"We have the utmost respect for Ms. Hernandez and all the employees at McDonald's, but it's unfair to let them try to tell a story to you that's simply not true," Tovar said. "We are a very large employer of diverse employees, particularly Latinos. We want everyone who comes to work for McDonald's to have a good experience."

When Mariana Lui's mother got a letter from her employer in March that labeled her an essential worker, she announced it with a sense of pride.

Lui's mother, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who works at a San Fernando food production warehouse that makes meals for schools, told her daughter that she had never before been deemed "essential." Now, she said, people needed her.

But then her colleagues, many of them undocumented Latinas, started getting sick. They stopped showing up on the assembly line, where, she said, they stack ingredients onto sandwiches while standing shoulder to shoulder.

Lui's mother spoke to The Times on the condition of anonymity because she feared losing her job. Lui, who also spoke to The Times, is a 31-year-old legal administrative assistant in Whittier with a different surname than her mother.

Lui's 50-year-old mother said colleagues were taking aspirin and continuing to work, despite having fevers and headaches. Then she started showing symptoms.

I was getting tired at work and I had a little bit of a cough, she said. I didnt think it would be something so serious, so I kept going to work for three or four days.

A few days later, she tested positive for COVID-19.
In February of 1722, Mark Catesby sailed for the Carolina colony. With funding from a group of Fellows of the Royal Society of London, he planned to spend the next four years examining the natural world of Carolina, Coastal Georgia, and the Bahamas. He landed in Charleston on May 3, 1722. This was Catesbys second trip to North America. He accompanied his sister to Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1712 and stayed for seven years. During that time, he collected botanical samples and seeds and sent them back to England. When Catesby returned to London, the Royal Society was inspired by what he had gathered and worked to finance a return visit.

Catesby stayed in Carolina for approximately four years. He later wrote: As I arrived at the beginning of the Summer, I unexpectedly found this Country possessed not only with all the Animals and Vegetables of Virginia but abounding with an even greater variety. He travelled throughout the colony, documenting reptiles and amphibians, fish, birds, and mammals along with their natural habitats. The second year of this adventure took him to the upper uninhabited country near the mountains where he hunted Buffaloes, Bears, Panthers, and other wild Beasts. Combining science and art, he frequently added notes to his sketches, and made a point to illustrate plants immediately after they were gathered. He also portrayed birds with those Plants on which they fed, or have any relation to.

The watercolors that Catesby produced as a result of his trip were published in two volumes titled The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands. The set is one of the most significant accomplishments in natural science during the colonial period and gave Europeans their first view of the flora and fauna of the new world. Catesby was not a trained artist, but his illustrations of animals, particularly birds, were beautifully detailed and lifelike. He later boasted that he had missed very few species of birds, but he did admit that he preferred to sketch Males of the Featherd Kind, as they have brighter plumage.

Once he returned to London, Catesby found it difficult to obtain sponsors for his publication. He was determined to complete the project and learned to engrave the copper plates required to print the images. He made all but two of the final plates and painted them himself in order to guarantee that the details and colors were correct. Few artists have been so personally involved in the publication of their work. To finance the publication, Catesby took subscriptions. The final product was well received and, although it never brought him a great fortune, it did provide an income for Catesby until his death in 1749. Purchased by King George III of England in 1768, the original plates are now housed in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle.

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Since its founding in 1954, Tinton Falls-based Warshauer Electric Supply has illuminated countless homes and businesses throughout New Jersey, including bars and restaurants where the company not only supplies the light fixtures, but also creates lighting designs to set just the right mood or achieve the desired ambiance.

Now, the family-owned company is shining a light on the crippling impact that anti-coronavirus measures have had on many of its clients, while also raising funds for their bartenders, servers and other employees who have now been out of work since an executive order by Gov. Phil Murphy prohibited walk-in or sit-down service as of March 16.

With its Stronger Together campaign, Warshauer says its giving those unemployed workers 100% of the profits from the sale of custom-designed T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies bearing the campaign logo on the front and the names of the hobbled businesses it supports on the back. The merchandise  available for purchase on a website created especially for the campaign  includes T-shirts going for $29.99, sweatshirts, $39.99, and hoodies $49.99.

In its first two weeks, the campaign raised about $3,500 and counting, according to Jim Dunn, a vice president at Warshauer, who said the company plans to run the campaign all summer long.

We have a lot of bars and restaurants as clients of our company, and we decided right when they were doing the stay-at-home order and bars and restaurants were shut down, that we were going to support them, Dunn said.

Dunn said the decision to sell original merchandise was meant to distinguish the Stronger Together campaign from other coronavirus-related fund drives using more common methods.

I heard people doing the Go Fund Me thing, and stuff like that, but I figured, God, theres got to be a lot of that, he said.

But the wearable manifestations of the campaign, with their breaking-wave logo designed by Warshauers marketing director, Kennie Marie Blanck, are also intended to boost morale and create a sense of community for the company, its Shore clients, their employees and supporters.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

In fact, one of the out-of-work bartenders who stands to benefit from the campaign, 30-year-old Alex Friedman of McLoones Pier House in Long Branch, said he planned to buy a Stronger Together shirt for himself.

Im waiting for my next unemployment check, he said.

Friedman had founded his own charity, Diabetic Avengers, which also raises funds through online clothing sales, in his case diabetes-themed tees, hats and hoodies that he designs. He reached out to Stronger Together offering to link their campaign to his, apart from any personal benefit he might see as an unemployed bartender, as frustrating as that situation may be.

Its definitely frustrating, Friedman, an amateur boxer who has diabetes himself, said of his involuntary time off. Im used to working 15 hours a day and now Im, like, sitting in the house not knowing what to do with myself, and going for two-hour car rides just to get out of the house.

Alex Friedman, founder of the Diabetic Avengers charity and designer of its clothing line, is also a bartender who was put out of work by anti-coronavirus measures.Alex Friedman

Dunn said the proceeds of the Stronger Together campaign will go to employees of about 40 bars and restaurants that agreed to be part of the campaign, most of them along the Jersey Shore. They include about a dozen each in Long Branch and Asbury Park, where the campaign was initially focused.

One of the first to sign on was the Nip N Tuck Bar & Grill in Long Branch.

Co-owner Christine Murphy said she and her business partner, Jaime Healy, had to lay off all seven of their bartenders, because the little business they still do via takeout orders and deliveries doesnt bring in nearly enough to pay what they would make in a shift, which normally comes mostly from tips anyway.

We are barely scratching by to pay the rent, said Murphy, 37, a New Jersey native who now lives and works in Los Angeles as the creative director for an ad agency. This has been pretty crazy for us.

Murphy  no relation to the governor who clamped down on her business  said she bought her half of the bar from Healys former partner. It was Healy who had hired Murphy to work at the Nip N Tuck years ago. Murphy signed the purchase agreement on March 12, four days before the governors order took effect, and sure enough, whatever could have gone wrong did.

Talk about Murphys Law, right? Murphy said. You would think the last name would cancel out the curse.

Warshauer Electric Supply's Briana Gdanitz models a 'Stronger Together' campaign sweatshirt at the backdoor of the Nip N Tuck Bar & Grill in Long Branch.Courtesy of Stronger Together

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GST on textiles will not be increased from 5 to 12 per cent: FM Sitharaman

It is not BJP money: Nirmala Sitharaman on IT raids on 'Samajwadi perfume' trader

Budget Session 2022 to commence on January 31; Union Budget to be tabled on February 1

FM Nirmala Sitharaman to address press conference at 4:30 pm, likely to clear air on Antrix Devas issue

FM Sitharaman on Devas-Antrix issue: Cong has no moral right to speak about crony capitalism

The fifth and final tranche in-depth

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, May 17: Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today announced the fifth tranche of the economic package.

The Finance Minister said that during the lockdown, the government had catered to all sections of society. Sitharaman also said that the package today would focus on seven sections. The focus was on MGNREGA, Health and Education, Businesses and Covid, decriminalisation of Company's Act, ease of doing business, Public Sector Enterprises related matters and state governments and resources related to state governments.

Health related Government has committed Rs. 15,000 crore for health related measures so far for containment of COVID19 MNREGS To provide a fillip to employment, Government will now allocate an additional Rs 40,000 crore under MGNREGS Health reforms Health reforms & Initiatives Education and equity India is changing and so is our way of education Ease of doing business With an eye on further enhancement of Ease of Doing Business Government announces suspension of fresh initiation of insolvency proceedings up to one year; Decriminalisation Government moves to decriminalise Companies Act defaults For corporates Ease of Doing Business for corporates Public sector A new AatmanirbharBharat will stand on a new Public Sector Enterprise Policy Support for states Supporting state governments Promoting state reforms Supporting state governments & promoting State level reforms

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, May 17, 2020, 13:15 [IST]
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: As feared, some states in the Northeast are witnessing a spike in COVID-19 cases as the stranded people have started arriving home from different parts of the country.

Also, some people who had no travel history in recent times tested positive thereby complicating the situation.

On May 1, the total number of cases in the Northeast was 61. The figure rose to 286 on Sunday. The cases include three deaths  two in Assam and one in Meghalaya.

With 167 cases, Tripura tops the table, followed by Assam (96), Meghalaya (13) and Manipur (7). Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh recorded one case each. A businessman from Nagaland had tested positive at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. But he was disowned by both states as none of them counted him as its case.

As of Sunday, there are 158 active cases in the Northeast  101 in Tripura, 51 in Assam, five in Manipur and one in Meghalaya.

A 9-year-old boy in Assam is the Northeasts youngest to have tested positive. Assams Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the minor had returned from Delhi. He was being treated at the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital.

Assam recorded over a dozen cases in the past week. Most of these people, including cancer patients, had arrived from other parts of the country. Given the situation, the state government has already urged the Centre to extend the lockdown by two weeks.

Of Tripuras 167 cases, 159 were reported from two BSF battalion headquarters. The cases include over a dozen family members of the personnel. A woman and a jawan of Tripura State Rifles were the states first two cases. Subsequently, cases were continuously being reported from the two BSF headquarters until Saturday when some civilians were found positive.

A girl student from Bristol University in the UK and another person were Manipurs first two cases. After both recovered, the state did not record any case for about a month until the arrival of people from outside.

Over the past three days, a nurse was among five people who tested positive. They had come from Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata. The spurt in the cases made a committee on COVID-19 to recommend to the government to test every person arriving from outside.

The rest of the states in the Northeast have not recorded any fresh cases.


Lisa Freeman and Catherine Riddell dont know each other.

But both women believe the justice system has failed them during the COVID-19 pandemic, victimizing them all over again.

Freeman is still reeling from the fact that not only did social-distancing restrictions keep her from attending last months remote parole hearing for the man who bludgeoned her father to death in Oshawa almost 30 years ago, she wasnt allowed to participate virtually.

I had mentally prepared myself through the winter to face this guy, Freeman said this week from her home in Oshawa. I was 21 when my dad was killed. I identified his body at the morgue  he was axed to death, so you can imagine what my life has been.

She added: Hes been incarcerated for 29 years, so I know my opportunities to face him are getting reduced. Never would I have thought  a global pandemic would affect all of this.

Riddell, meanwhile, spent her winter getting ready to go to court to face Alek Minassian, the man who drove a rented van into pedestrians on Yonge Street on April 23, 2018, killing 10 people and injuring 16 others, including Riddell, a lifelong North York resident.

It took a lot to prepare just for the thought of going to a courthouse for the first time, Riddell said. She had even postponed surgeries to her injured hip and knee  enduring extra pain after two months in hospital  so she could attend the trial at a downtown Toronto courthouse.

But then COVID-19 shut down all trials, including Minassians judge-alone case set for April.

Ridell has been told it might go ahead in November  but thats tentative, she said.

Adding to her frustration is the fact the trial had already been postponed several times to determine if Minassians mental state made him criminally responsible for the carnage.

Even before the pandemic, the trial had been due to start two years after the attack. To me that alone is unacceptable, she said.

Im, can I say, pissed? Im really angry about it, said Riddell, almost 70. On the phone, she sounded energetic, friendly and upbeat, frequently erupting with laughter, despite the situation.

I can only talk about my personal experiences in this case, but I know it applies in all cases, we dont matter ... justice is a game, she said. Its a contest between defence and prosecution and who can outwit each other, and were just all pawns in the show.

Victims of crime often feel their interests have been ignored and that the criminal process itself exacerbates their trauma, said Aline Vlasceanu, executive director of the Ottawa-based Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime.

Victims have always been in this position, the pandemic is simply highlighting an imperfect system, Vlasceanu wrote in email.

The public health emergency has also underscored that crime victims have no recourse if their rights are infringed. The Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, made law in 2015, is a great start but doesnt have any teeth, she added. This creates an imbalance as offenders have very real, legislated, enforceable rights.

Freeman feels she has been denied her statutory right to participate in the criminal justice process.

Last fall, the Parole Board of Canada notified her that John Terrence (Terry) Porter had applied for day parole at a hearing with a date to be announced. In March, she learned it was scheduled in early April at the William Head Institution in B.C.

She wrote and submitted a victim-impact statement about the anguish of losing her father in 1991. Roland Slingerland was 58 when Porter bludgeoned him to death in an Oshawa rooming housing after going there to hunt down a woman he had earlier beaten. Slingerland was minding the home for the owner, who was away. Porter was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole eligibility for 25 years.

Freeman also booked a plane ticket to Victoria for the hearing  using her vacation time from her job as a nurse at a long-term care facility. Then the pandemic hit. She soon received word that due to COVID-19, penal institutions were closed to visitors, so no observers  a term she finds offensive as a victim  would be allowed to attend the April 3 hearing.

She sent a flurry of letters and emails to the parole board and correctional officials urging them to include her, or postpone it until it was safe for all parties to attend. As a victims advocate, Freeman says she is aware of countless of other crime victims who were also unable to attend parole hearings.

She was told an offender has a legislative right to have a hearing six months after his parole application. The Parole Board of Canada confirmed in an email to the Star that legislated time frames meant the hearing couldnt be postponed.

The hearing came and went; I wasnt there, he was granted day parole, Freeman said. She received a written decision and audio recording after the fact.

While an audio recording of her victim-impact statement was read at the hearing, Freeman feels her voice wasnt heard. This was my opportunity for him to listen to me and face me, she said.

This pandemic will end, my opportunity is gone forever. What is even worse, in six months time the parole board has authority to grant full parole without a hearing, so I will miss that opportunity again, she said.

Its retraumatizing and revictimizing and its just so unfair.

On April 22, three weeks after the parole hearing Freeman missed, the parole board announced that because it was committed to ensuring victims voices are heard during this unprecedented situation, it had implemented enhancements to provide victims with the ability to participate at hearings via telephone as an interim measure during the pandemic.

Not good enough, Freeman said, noting the board is conducting video conferencing with offenders while victims only have access y phone.

She and Riddell resent that during the pandemic, so much focus has been given to releasing prisoners from jails and prisons  where diseases can spread like wildfire  while they feel forgotten.

But at least Riddell and 26 other families impacted by the van attack will still have the opportunity  whenever that might be  to attend the court hearing of the man who ruptured so many lives.

And you can bet a lot of us want to be there, and we have every right to be there and hear all the evidence. I need to hear it, because I need to live with the decision, one way of the other. She was referring to whether the judge will accept his defence that he was not criminally responsible for the devastation he caused.
At least 1,416 lives have been lost to violence in the first quarter of this year in Nigeria, a new report by Global Rights Nigeria has revealed.

These are unrelated to deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging almost all the 36 states of the country. Nigerias coronavirus-related deaths stood at 171 as of Saturday evening.

The report said no fewer than 1,141 civilians and 275 security agents were killed between January and April  totalling 1,416, due to the increasing spate of insecurity in the country.

Among the 275 security operatives killed in the first quarter, 219 were soldiers, 43 were police officers, eight were naval officers, three were customs officers and two were of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Within the first four months of 2020, at least 1,416 lives have been lost to violent killings in Nigeria. Yet, Nigeria is not at war, Global Rights said in the report.

The report titled Mass Atrocities Casualties Tracking 2020 attributed the majority of civilian casualties to banditry in the Northern part, followed by the Boko Haram insurgency or Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacks.

Other sources of violent death include cult clashes, herdsmen attacks, extra-judicial killings, communal clashes, political violence, pirate attacks, mob action and isolated deaths.

Violence map

Insurgency-ravaged Borno State in the North-east ranked top among states with the highest number of casualties, followed by Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau states while Kwara and Bauchi recorded the least casualties.

Further breakdown of the trend of killings revealed 342 deaths in Borno  the highest in Northeast, 72 in Yobe, 34 in Taraba, 21 in Adamawa and Bauchi (1) .

Kaduna State recorded the highest deaths in Northwest with 198, followed by Katsina (139), Zamfara (77), Sokoto (22) , Kano (10) While Jigawa recorded the least in the region3.

In North Central, Plateau, which is the hotpot of ethnic conflicts, has the highest casualties in the region with 92 deaths, followed by the banditry-ravaging Niger State with 90 deaths. Others include: 48 deaths in Kogi, 19 in Benue, four in Nasarawa with Kwara recording the least in the regionone death.

Topping the list in the South-south is Delta State with 57 deaths, followed by Edo (25), Rivers (24), Bayelsa (19), Cross River (12) and Akwa Ibom (five).

In Southwest, Ondo and Lagos states recorded 15 and 14 deaths respectively. Ogun recorded eight deaths, then Ekiti (five), Oyo (four) and Osun (three).

Southeastern states with casualty figures are Anambra State (18), Abia (12), Ebonyi(11) and Imo (four).

Violence breakdown

According to the report, banditry/pillage claimed the highest number of deaths 776; Boko Haram/ISWAP killed 342; cult clashes claimed 69 lives; herdsmen atrocities killed 58; followed by 56 cases of extra-judicial killings while communal clashes caused 55 deaths.

Other categories are isolated deaths which claimed 47 lives, political violence (6), pirate attacks (4) and mob action (3).

Global Rights Nigeria describes itself as a Human Rights organization working to build grassroots movements that promote and protect the rights of marginalized populations.

The scourge

The spate of insecurity in Nigeria has drawn grave concerns from the citizens and the international communities, especially over the decade-long terror caused by Boko Haram insurgents.

The Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria has caused the death of tens of thousands of people and the displacement of millions of others, mainly in Northeastern Nigeria.

The terrorists have been restricted to Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states by the security forces since 2016.

International organisations such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), Amnesty International have expressed worry on the rising number of casualties, including the rise of other violent crimes like banditry, kidnapping and human rights abuse among other security challenges.

The worrisome state of security in the country has led some regions to consider individual security apparatus such as the Western Nigeria Security Network known as Amotekun Corps.

Mark of failure

According to the deputy director, Institute of Peace and Governance, Ekiti State University, Azeez Olaniyan, the increasing spate of insecurity in the country signposts the failure of the state to protect its citizens

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It means the country is not secure and that life is very cheap. In a way, it signposts a reverse to the state of nature which Thomas Hobbes captures as one where life is poor, nasty, brutish and short.

It is a mark of failure, because the primary duty of the state is to secure life and property. Once a state fails to discharge this primary duty, then we say such a state is weak. So, you can say that, based on the level of insecurity in the land, Nigeria is a weak state, he said.

He said most violent crimes are caused by unemployment, adding there is a linkage between joblessness and criminal activities.

One major way to tackle crimes, he said, is to get the youth engaged in productive activities.

He called for technologically equipped training for the security forces.

You fight crime through technology and intelligence gathering, he said.
CAIRO  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ratified amendments to the countrys Emergency Law, granting the armed forces the power of judicial oversight across all governorates, which means the army now has the right to arrest and investigate with citizens before the military prosecution  powers previously limited to the countrys law enforcement officers (security forces) and the public prosecution.

The amendments, which were published in the Official Gazette May 7, also expanded Sisis prerogatives, including more decision-making powers such as suspending classes at schools and universities, postponing tax payments and amending official working hours across the country during the state of emergency.

Article 4 of the amended Emergency Law specifies that security or military forces will enforce the orders of the president of the republic or his representative. It continues, If the armed forces assume this task, their officers and noncommissioned officers shall have the powers of the judicial police officers.

The second part of the article states that the non-civil, military prosecution should be granted the power to carry out investigations. It continues, The military prosecution shall be competent to investigate the facts and crimes reported by the armed forces. Under this article, the amendments give Sisi the power to authorize the military prosecution to investigate crimes violating the Emergency Law.

Judicial oversight is a state-granted prerogative to law enforcement authorities empowering them to arrest civilians legally accused of the commission of crimes. The Egyptian Criminal Code of Procedure defines the powers of judicial officers. It set forth that "the judicial officer shall search for crimes and perpetrators thereof and shall gather evidence necessary to conduct an investigation with respect to the lawsuit.

It further states that judicial officers shall act under the command of the Public Prosecution and be subject to its supervision in executing their function.

The new amendment seems to be in violation of the Egyptian Constitution, which prohibits the trial of any citizen except before their natural judge, and specifies that only military men can be prosecuted before the military prosecution.

Article 97 of the 2014 Egyptian Constitution stipulates, Litigation is a safeguarded right guaranteed to all. The state shall bring together the litigating parties and work toward speedy judgment in cases. It is forbidden to grant any act or administrative decision immunity from judicial oversight. Individuals may only be tried before their natural judge. Extraordinary courts are forbidden.

This is not the only legal article that the newly ratified amendments contravene. Article 204 of the constitution excludes civilians from the scope of the military jurisdiction.

The article reads, The military judiciary is an independent judiciary that adjudicates exclusively in all crimes related to the armed forces, its officers, personnel and their equals, and in the crimes committed by general intelligence personnel during and because of the service. Civilians cannot stand trial before military courts except for crimes that represent a direct assault against military facilities, military barracks or whatever falls under their authority; stipulated military or border zones.

Article 23 of the Code of Criminal Procedure lists judicial officers as police officers, the members of the Public Prosecution and security officers of all grades. It makes no mention of the members of the armed forces.

The amendments come at a time when human rights organizations and human rights advocates accuse the Egyptian authorities of exploiting the coronavirus crisis to further repress public freedoms and political life, and launch expanded detention campaigns.

A joint statement published April 29 and signed by eight Egyptian human rights organizations, some of which are based in Cairo and others outside Egypt, said, Arrests, imprisonment, enforced disappearance and other acts of political retaliation have been inflicted upon ever-increasing numbers of peaceful dissidents.

It continued, The presidential pardon and conditional release defy logic in that they both show that legally the peaceful exercise of fundamental rights and/or political participation is considered as a greater threat to public safety than is either violent crimes or prison overcrowding. It is unconscionable that amid the coronavirus crisis, the Egyptian government is prioritizing political retaliation over concerns of public safety.

Sisi had issued a presidential pardon in April, which according to the above-mentioned statement, did not include political prisoners.

A lawyer residing in Egypt told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the new amendments are tantamount to measures of repression and aim to expand the powers of the military authority to allow it to repress civilians.

Several human rights lawyers in Egypt will examine how to confront the decision of granting the prerogatives of judicial officers to the armed forces members. We will be challenging this decision before the Constitutional Court, he said. The Egyptian authorities are exploiting the coronavirus crisis to control the lives of Egyptians.
Late last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-unwho since mid-April had been rumored to be either dead, brain-dead, or otherwise incapacitatedmade a return to the public eye (surprise!) when he appeared at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new fertilizer plant. His reemergence has put concerns about his health on the backburner (for now), which means North Korean observers can go back to worrying about how coronavirus is impacting North Korea.

Why It Matters:

Coronavirus is the kind of multidimensional crisis that hits a countrys economy, political stability, and relations with other countries all at the same time. And for a country like North Korea, such a triple-punch could lead Kim to lash out internationally (think: missile tests, brash rhetoric, cyberattacks, etc), the last thing the world needs during a pandemic.

For the record, North Korea claims that there are no coronavirus cases in the country. Obviously, that should be taken with a whole mountain of salt (North Koreas neighbor China says hi). But if worries about North Koreas handling of the worst pandemic the world has seen in over a century werent enough, it also comes on the heels of a poor harvest season. The last time North Korea had widespread famine in the 1990s, hundreds of thousands of people starved to death (at least).

Coronavirus compounds concerns about food supplies, as the pandemics impact on global supply chains combined with international sanctions limits the ability of North Korea to secure the critical items it needs to feed itself; there are already reports that fertilizer and other critical farming inputs arent reaching North Korea because of quarantine precautions (which explains why Kim decided to make his return at a fertilizer plant).

In normal circumstances, North Koreas first port of call is China, but China is busy trying to control its own epidemic. China is also likely feeling less generous with aid given its own economic squeeze during the pandemic and wary of engaging in trade for fear of importing Coronavirus from North Korea not to mention wanting to avoid ticking off the U.S. more than it already has. To that end, China has tightened border restrictions, making it even more difficult for North Korea to conduct businesslegitimate or otherwisewith its main access point to the outside world.

Story continues

There are rumblings that prices of imported goods have increased in North Korea, and that Pyongyang is leaning on businesses to accept government bonds as payment for what they supply to it. Thats never a good sign; if North Koreas economy deteriorates significantly alongside a poor harvest season, that boosts the risk that Kim will act up and out.

What Happens Next:

If North Korea were any other country in the world, it would ask for help in times of crisis. But aid is tricky since North Korea is in the power projection business, and asking for international assistance undercuts that image. And truth be told, even if Pyongyang receives aid from abroad, its more likely than not that the bulk of it ends up in the pockets of the countrys elites rather than the pockets of ordinary North Koreans.

That puts Kim in the unenviable position of being at the mercy of the global economy, hoping it picks up in short order so that key countries, China chief among them, emerge relatively intact and are able to offer Pyongyang more economic and trade assistance. Should that happen, it would lessen the likelihood that Kim feels a need to ratchet up engagement in extortion, cybercrime, or missile test threats.

If the global economy doesnt pick up though, thats where the real difficulty begins for Kim. He will have to decide how the North Korea story is playing for U.S. President Donald Trump domestically; Kims more likely to make aggressive moves in an attempt to gain more attention and force more concessions from Trump, especially if he thinks he has leverage because Trump needs to keep North Korea as a win ahead of the presidential election in November.

But that also depends on Trumps own reading of his political situation. If a frustrated Kim causes problems on the world stage that Trump thinks make him appear weak, he might take a harder line against any North Korean provocations and also lash out at China and South Korea (two of the most sympathetic governments to the Kim regime these days). If, on the other hand, Trump thinks its in his interest to show himself extending a helping hand to North Korea, and that it pushes Pyongyang closer to an acceptable resolution, hell do that despite the inevitable criticism hed face from his political opponents.

This all assumes the situation in North Korea doesnt deteriorate so significantly and so quickly that an economically- and food-starved North Korea prompts Kim to press even harder for international sanctions be lifted once and for all, backing up his demands with rhetoric, missile tests, and whatever else he has in his arsenal. Should that come to pass, the world may be looking at its first (though by no means last) coronavirus-induced geopolitical crisis.

The One Thing to Say About It on a Zoom Call:

The country most disconnected from the global economy is now one of the most dependent on its returning to health, and quickly.

The One Thing to Avoid Saying About It on a Zoom Call:

The U.S. dodged a bullethow embarrassing would it have been if North Korea got a female leader before the U.S. did?
The arrest of an Australian man with links to child abuse in the Philippines has triggered an international police bust which resulted in three children being rescued and a woman arrested.

The paedophile ring bust is part of an ongoing investigation by the Australian Federal Police into the sexual abuse of children in the Philippines.

The children being removed from the crime scene in Manila.

The raid was sparked after the AFP arrested a 63-year-old Sydney man in January who is accused of live-streaming child abuse online.

An investigation by the AFPs child-protection unit in Sydney then used intelligence provided by the financial crimes watchdog, AUSTRAC, to discover the man had made 395 transactions, totalling $113,000, to individuals in the Philippines over many years.
May I respectfully still maintain that the NOTICE OF SWEARING IN OF NEW JUDGES issued by the Kaduna State judiciary/government is a grossly unnecessary protocol/notice/advert, and serves no useful purpose. We all are already aware of the appointment of these judges. Why organize any special ceremonies for their swearing in? Why not swear them in in the CJs chambers or courtroom, and then post them to courts and assign cases to them so that they start work immediately? What is the motive behind giving Notice of Swearing in?Are they elected Governors being sworn in ? Why not our leaders come off all these needless shows, grandstanding and adverts that serve no real purpose; why not they learn to face true governance and to take seriously the business of leadership?

On that very day set aside for the advertised swearing-in ceremony of these New judges, the CJ of the state might close down all courts and then require all other judges to be in attendance at the event - if this doesnt happen this time, then its just because of COVID-19 social distancing. All cases for that day stand automatically adjourned. Who bears the brunt? Clients. Add this to the following: (1) Governors visitations day; no court sittings for days before and on that that date and the day after, because the judiciary is preparing to receive Governor. (2) Almost the whole of July in every year is wasted adjourning cases and preparing for the annual vacation. (3). End July to end of September in every year is wasted on annual vacation. (4). End of September to early October in every year is wasted on activities and ceremonies marking commencement of new Legal year. All sorts of useless ceremonies and frivolous events. I ask myself, What would happen if by the end of the legal year, courts just begin sitting without those ceremonies? Would Nigeria collapse? Would justice cease to be justice? (5). There is the one they call, in Lagos, settlement week. No court sittings throughout the week. What for? (6). Then comes the judges annual conference. All doors close on court proceedings until conference is over and done with. (7). Easter Vacation consumes at least two weeks in every year. (8). Christmas vacation takes out another two weeks or more in each year. (9). Opening of new court complexes. Recently, all roads led to Asaba, then to Awka for commissioning of the newly-constructed Court of Appeal complexes Divisions in those states: Justice Bulkachuwa unveils 17th Court of Appeal in Delta (https://m.guardian.ng). Appeal Court President, Bulkachuwa commissions new Anambra court (https://www.google.com/amp/s/dailypost.ng). Why the unnecessary ceremonies? (10) industrial action may (indeed, do) sometimes come up. And for weeks, no court sitting. (11) Plus all sorts of other frolicking, distractions and unnecessary miscellaneous events and excuses that needlessly take the judges time away from serious adjudication business for which there were employed and being handsomely remunerated .

Now, please subtract all these from the twelve months that we have in each one year, and then tell me what time we have left to hear and determine the tens and hundreds of thousands of cases pending in the various courts in Nigeria.

DO NOT GET ME WRONG: I am not saying judges should not go on break; all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Besides, proper rest helps one to work more effectively and efficiently. But one month or not more than six weeks in each year, is not too short. Then you can add one week for each of Easter and Xmas. A total of about 2 month altogether. Isn't this enough? Why would courts spend almost five months every year not sitting?

In the Lagos State judiciary, as an example, there are about 60 (sixty) high court judges, altogether having no fewer than 12,000 on their Cause List in every month. Multiply this number by the 12 (twelve) months in each year and tell me whether and tell me how any progress could be made with almost 5 months struck out from the time for court sittings every year. The wise, old, saying goes that one whose house is on fire should not be pursuing rats. Ironically, exactly that is what the leadership of the Nigerian judiciary is currently doing!

Cases filed as far back as 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 up to 2025, are still pending in the Lagos High and other Courts! How to speedy up hearing in order to decongest the courts and instill or regain peoples confidence in the administration of justice, is not our priority. Again, the rules of court provide for a 3-month Case Management Conference (CMC) (pretrial conference). How many CMCs have lasted below six months to twelve months? Some even last more than 15 months. Why would there be CMC when the case has passed through what the Rules describe as *ADR screening? Is this not an unnecessary duplication since the ADR screening is meant to screen (out) cases that ought to not go for litigation? Then, it is argued that during the CMC, preliminary/interlocutory applications are taken to make the main trial seamless and uninterrupted. Ironically, experience has shown that more interlocutory applications are filed and taken during the main hearing then during the CMC. These applications, mostly frivolous, delay main trial, and frustrate the ends of justice. Then, one alludes to settlement of issues during the CMC! Really? Of what use is this exercise when the Rules od Court have made it clear that the CMC judges report is not binding on the trial judge? So, the trial court can throw away the issues formulated by the CMC judge and formulate new issues as he or she may choose. What about the time wasted from conclusion of the CMC to return of the case file to the CJ, assignment of the case file to a new judge?

Then, of what use is the CMC , especially in view of all these, considering that cases are ever settled at that stage? I think very little.

Whats more? Why would any serious court adjourn a case beyond one or two weeks? Yet, in our courts, cases are adjourned for as far as one month, two months, three months and even more. Look at the Supreme Court of Nigeria that ought to lead by example, it is worse; adjourning cases from year to year, with some getting up to 15-month adjournment or more. Yet the same court heard the UDEOGU appeal (in re ORJI UZOR KALU) within one month: Breaking News: Supreme Court quashes conviction of Orji Kalu, others. (https://www.sunnewsonline.com). Different strokes for similar situations. Someone said its because the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, requires accelerated hearing of criminal cases and appeals. Why cant the same requirement be made uniform, applying to both civil and criminal proceedings? Why cant we adopt, for all regular court proceedings, the Election Petition style, whereby a case, say, a governorship petition, is concluded within a total mandatory period of twelve months from the trial court through the apex court? Are regular cases more complicated than election petitions? Experience has proven that the latter are much more complicated. If such mandatory requirements could be sustained in election petitions, why not in regular proceedings? Why must we keep litigants in court for years without any end in sight? How is that justice? Shouldnt there be an end to litigation? Are we not aware that public confidence in the judiciary has badly dwindled? Most Clients now prefer to approach the Police, the army, thugs, louts, and hoodlums for simple recovery of debts and land disputes while most other clients take the law into their own hands, since going to court is, to majority of them, a waste of time; as the cases would be in court for years.

A couple of years ago, the Lagos judiciary claimed it had started E-Filing of cases. E-Filing means from your office, you send the processes, pay filing and service fees, and get your suit number assigned to your case the same day. If you or your secretary has to be physically present in the court premises for any aspect of the filing, even if its payment of fees, then that is not E-FILING. One can therefore safely say that, there is no court in Nigeria that does e-filing, as of today. The Lagos State judiciary is very far from E-FILING properly so called. Quote me!

In the Lagos State judiciary, there is what they call temporary suit number and permanent suit number. Why would that duplication be? Why cant you assign a permanent suit number to a suit as soon as it is filed? Why would I have to wait for two three weeks to get a permanent suit number? And thereafter wait for another one to three weeks to get the case assigned you a judge/court; and another one or two weeks to get the papers served (sorry for you in the hands of a bailiff); and then a 42-day period (in Lagos) for the defendant to react? Most times, the defendants comes out of time with loads of reasons.

Before the new filing system (so-called E-System) was introduced in Lagos, Lawyers used to file their cases and get suit numbers assigned instantly  same day.

The new system, that was purportedly brought in to accelerate  justice has in reality dragged administration of justice far backwards, leaving us far worse than it had met us .

Instead of taking concrete steps and adopting honest measures to address all these ugly anomalies, we have now begun an unplanned peregrination into a virtual hearing. How would virtual court hearing help to accelerate justice dispensation, considering the immense obstacles it would face? Shouldnt we do first things first? Where do we start?

The truth is our leaders hardly listen to or take advice. We do not want to call a stakeholders meeting to plan how to start deploying the internet and the ICT in the courts towards ensuring that they serve the purposes for which they are being deployed. We dont want to do proper planning and due diligence to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in justice dispensation using the ICT. We dont care; the unplanned peregrination must begin by all means! But, where it takes us to, we dont care to consider. Workability, and practicability, we care less about. Our leaders and the virtual hearing by all means promoters advise that we keep our fingers crossed because virtual hearing has come to stay. Anyway, I cross mine fingers  like this- and siddon dey look 
A major fire structure explosion occurred on Saturday and 11 firefighters got injured in downtown Los Angeles, according to a recently published article.

The Los Angeles Fire Department initially received a call that a fire occurred at a one-story building in downtown Los Angeles. Firefighters responded immediately and when they entered the building there was nothing unusual until the explosion occurred.

11 firefighters got injured due to the unexpected explosion and the department immediately sent more than 200 firefighters who responded to the fire. The department issued a "mayday" call and the fire incident as a major emergency because it spread to several buildings nearby.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department Spokesperson Nicholas Prange, "We know we're at risk when we go to any emergency, but we never want to see this happen. So we're hoping that all these firefighters can recover," In a developing report, the condition of the 11 firefighters is not yet known but the department said that they were hurt with the unexpected explosion.

However, a local media confirmed that the firefighters suffered a degree of burns and two of them have critical injuries. They were immediately rushed to the nearest hospital nearby.

Moreover, dozens of fire trucks responded to the fire incident as firefighters aimed their hoses at the building while others could be seen standing next to the wheeled stretchers that have been made ready for the injured firefighters.

Additionally, there are reports of damages due to the explosion and the aerial video of the fire incident showed blackened windows and debris on its roof.

The Los Angeles Fire Department believed that the explosion originated at Smoke Tokes Warehouse Distributor, it is a warehouse that distributes and makes butane honey oil. On its website, the warehouse offers a variety of products and that includes "puff bars," pipes, "dab" tools, vaporizers, "torches and butane," and cartridges.

Moreover, the company claims that they are "an international distributor and wholesaler of smoking and vaping products and related accessories."

According to the people nearby who heard the explosion that it sounded like a freight train or a jet engine. Additionally, the firefighters who initially inspected the building tore off their protective equipment that had burned and helmets were melted according to the Fire Department's Capt. Erik Scott.

In another published report, that what ignites the fire was the odorless butane that is typically used to extract the high-inducing chemical THC from cannabis plants to create to what is known as hash oil.

This is a highly potent concentrate oil that is used in vape pens, waxes, and other products. The fire lasted and was declared under control after one hour.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti posted on his Twitter account on late Saturday "My thoughts are with our brave @LAFD firefighters. Closely tracking this situation as we continue to get more information."

There are no reports yet as to the cost of damage to the said fire incident and if there were any casualties aside from the 11 firefighters who were reportedly injured.

Read related articles:
Vijay Kumar, a jobless factory worker, waited for hours along with his wife and two children under a flyover at Ghazipur, hoping to get a bus to his home town Sitapur after police stopped them at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border on Sunday.

The 28-year-old, who said he was not paid since March by the footwear factory in Tikri, Gurgaon where he was employed, started the 600-km journey to his hometown on Saturday evening, walking with his wife Suman, daughter Arushi (2) and son Sunny (4).

Kumar was among the hundreds of migrant factory workers, daily wagers, street vendors, all rendered jobless due to the coronavirus lockdown, who were heading towards their homes in states like UP and Bihar but were stranded on the Delhi border after the police stopped them from walking on foot for their onward journey.

With worry and despair writ large on their faces, many said there was no reason for them to stay back.

"There was no way but to go back to Sitapur because I was paid nothing since March," said Kumar.

"I thought I will catch a bus on the UP border. But there is no transport here. I just have around Rs 700 and there is little help from anyone. If nothing is available, I will walk with my family to go to Sitapur," said the desperate man.

Anil Soni, a house painter by profession, too tried to cross Delhi-UP border along with his family when the policemen stopped them.

"I lost work because of lockdown and coronavirus, because people do not want any unknown person to enter their homes," he said.

Accompanied by his wife and three children, the youngest just ten months old, Soni hoped to make it to his home in Badayun in UP.

"I will not come back here even if I have to beg at home. This is no life. Can you tell me what am I supposed to do. Policemen do not allow us to go ahead and there are no buses or trains even if one is ready to buy a ticket," he said, the frustration palpable in his voice.

The dirt and filth covered area under the flyover at the border served as a temporary shelter for the stranded migrants as policemen did not allow them to enter Ghaziabad.

"We have been directed to ensure that no person without proper authorisation crosses the border. There is nothing we can do for these people," said a Delhi police officer present on the spot.

Food and water was arranged by some social organisations and members of Youth Congress for the stranded people whose only worry was to reach home.

Among them was a group of eight farm labourers trying to reach Bahraich in UP on their cycles.

"I have nothing with me now, because I used Rs 4,000 for purchasing this bicycle. Now the policemen are saying to keep it at the police station and go to a shelter of Delhi government. I am not going anywhere, I will not move from here," said 21-year-old Babloo.

The group worked at a farmhouse in Najfagarh from where they were evicted by the owner after the wheat crop was harvested.

"We have our own fields in Bahraich but we came here to earn some cash. I will not do this ever again, even if I starve at home," said Naresh, one of the eight sharing five bicycles.

Two teenagers walked from Panipat in Haryana, hoping to reach their home in Gorakhpur.

"Can I get a train? We walked from Panipat thinking we will catch a bus or truck. I have heard that government has started trains," said 18-year-old Ankit who ran a food stall in Panipat before the coronavirus lockdown started on March 25.

Shramik special trains are being run since May 1 to take the migrants back to their native states, but a large number of people have not been able to avail the facility.

Buses have also been arranged by some states, still they have been inadequate forcing the migrants to trek for hundreds of kilometres or travel in crowded trucks and other vehicles on long perilous road journeys.

After a collision between a truck and trailer, which were ferrying migrants, left at least 26 dead in Auraiya, the Uttar Pradesh government had directed border districts to not allow any such movement, and to make provision of buses for such stranded people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Britain has announced a further 170 deaths from coronavirus today on the first Sunday since draconian lockdown measures were eased, taking the UK's total death toll to 34,636.

The latest daily figure is the lowest since March 24, however numbers released on Sunday are usually smaller due to a delay in processing over the weekend.

Speaking in today's daily Downing Street briefing, Business Secretary Alok Sharma also confirmed that there have been 3,142 more Covid-19 cases.

The drop in death toll marks a 36.8 per cent decrease on last Sunday's 269 figure.

The numbers follow a tumultuous week for the Government in which approval ratings took a sharp dip after Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out his strategy for lifting lockdown measures.

In this evening's briefing, which was delayed by 30 minutes, Mr Sharma has said the clinical trial for a coronavirus vaccine at the University of Oxford is progressing well.

He said: 'In order to definitively conquer this disease we need to find a safe, workable vaccine.

'Last month I announced a new vaccine task force to co-ordinate the efforts of Government, academia and industry in the critical mission to find a vaccine.

'I'm very proud of how quickly our scientists and researchers have come together in their efforts developing a vaccine that will combat coronavirus.'

He added: 'The first clinical trial of the Oxford vaccine is progressing well with all phase one participants having received their vaccine dose on schedule earlier this week.

'The speed at which Oxford University has designed and organised these complex trials is genuinely unprecedented.'

The UK announced a further 170 deaths from coronavirus today on the first Sunday since draconian lockdown measures were eased

Speaking in today's daily Downing Street briefing, Business Secretary Alok Sharma confirmed that a further 170 people have died from coronavirus

The latest figures come as:

Business Secretary Alok Sharma told the daily Downing Street press conference that there had been 170 more coronavirus deaths in the UK today, taking the overall toll to 34,636.

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the World Health Organisation, said world data on the return of schools is 'very reassuring'.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said she supported councils which are not planning to reopen schools to all pupils on June 1 for safety reasons.

Mr Gove has said there are 'big lessons' to be learned from the treatment of care homes during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office revealed 17,000 contact tracers have now been recruited, putting the Government on track to hit its 18,000 target.

Mr Johnson told Tory MPs he wants to return to 'near-normality' in July.

The PM announced 93m to bring forward the opening of a research centre to fast-track a coronavirus vaccine.

Mr Johnson and Sir Mark Sedwill, the UK's top civil servant, were said to have had a 'tense' stand off over who is responsible for implementing the lockdown exit strategy.

Britons flocked to parks and beaches as temperatures moved towards 70F in the nation's first Sunday since lockdown measures were loosened.

The drop in death toll marks a 36.8 per cent decrease on last Sunday's death toll of 269. Figures released on Sunday are usually lower due to a delay in processing over the weekend

Earlier today, results of a new Opinium survey showed that disapproval for the PM's response to the outbreak is now higher than approval for the very first time.

Some 39 per cent of the nation are supportive of the Government's handling of the crisis, down nine points on the 48 per cent recorded last week, while disapproval rose from 36 per cent to 42 per cent.

Yesterday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson outlined the plans for reception, year 1 and 6 to return from June 1.

The plan has faced mass criticism from from ministers, unions and local authorities alike with Labour MP Rachel Reeves stating this morning that the government 'has got a lot more work' to make sure parents and staff are confident about bringing students back.

Almost a third of negative coronavirus tests could be WRONG, expert warns By VANESSA CHALMERS HEALTH REPORTER FOR MAILONLINE Almost a third of negative coronavirus test results could be wrong, scientists say, leaving thousands believing they are virus free. People who are wrongly told they don't have the virus when in fact they do - called a 'false negative' - could be spreading the disease if they think they are safe to return to work. False negative results would mainly be the fault of incorrect swabbing, experts say. Health chiefs have also admitted the test itself, called a PCR test, is 'not perfect'. Health workers are trained on how to swab a potentially infected person, while home kits come with instructions - but experts say there are bound to be mistakes. Scientists say it is 'dangerous' to rely on test results to solely steer the handling of the pandemic, in which at least 34,466 Britons have died. They argue symptoms should not be brushed aside just because a person has a negative result and they should be told to self isolate just in case. There have been almost 2.5million tests across the UK so far, according to the Department of Health, of which 240,161 have been positive. Some 40 per cent of tests have been repeat tests to clarify if someone has got rid of the virus, for example when a patient leaves hospital. Public Health England have not revealed how many test results could be incorrect. But experts believe false negatives are in the region of 10 to 30 per cent. Two metres is considered a safe distance by health chiefs because the coronavirus predominantly spreads in respiratory droplets in a sneeze or cough. These large droplets fall to the floor due to gravity within a short distance, around one metre, from the person who expelled them. The 'safe' distance is double that in order to optimise protection. Two metres is not a 'magical number' according to John Simpson, a medical director at Public Health England. He said 'there is a duration and distance element to exposure that has to be worked through', as scientists continue to work out how the coronavirus spreads in different conditions. But Professor Robert Dingwall, who sits on the government's scientific advisory body New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, which feeds into SAGE, said the two metre rule 'does not have validity and has never had much of an evidence base', suggesting it is safe to stand closer to someone. He said: 'There may be elements of a job where there is exposure for a short period, the risk is so low it can be managed.' Advertisement

Ms Reeves said the Government has two weeks to put in place the test and trace approach, hold talks with the relevant parties and publish the science before schools are due to welcome more pupils through their gates.

She added: 'The Government has got a lot more work to do to give that confidence that it'll be safe to have more children coming into school in two weeks' time.'

But Michael Gove - the Minister for the Cabinet Office - today guaranteed that teachers and pupils will be safe when schools are reopened before swiftly backtracking as he said 'you can never eliminate risk'.

Some teaching unions are blocking the move and have said they will only budge once they are persuaded it is totally safe for teachers and children to go back to the classroom. But others have said they will recommend reopening after talks with Government experts.

Meanwhile, a number of local authorities - including Hartlepool and Liverpool - have said they will not comply with Boris Johnson's lockdown strategy and will exercise caution when it comes to reopening schools.

When asked about regional differences in the opening of schools, Mr Sharma - at today's coronavirus press briefing - said: 'The reason that we of course have said we want to see primary schools back first is because we all know that early learning is absolutely vital.

'This is aimed at children who are benefiting from getting those core skills of reading, writing, arithmetic and that is why we set out that at the earliest we would do this by June.

'We will continue to have discussions with teachers, head teachers - we want everyone to feel safe but what we have set out is something that we're talking about across the whole country.

'There are academy chains across the country who have said that they will look to return primary school kids to school when the Government says it is safe to do so.'

Mr Gove today tried to assuage concerns as he insisted it will be safe for teachers and students before then performing a screeching U-turn and admitting there will be at least some level of risk.

The Government's schools plan will see reception, year one and year six pupils return in June with other year groups returning later.

Secondary schools are not due to reopen before the summer holidays but pupils in year 10 and year 12 will be offered time with teachers ahead of them entering their exam year.

Mr Gove was asked this morning during an appearance on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show if teachers should be safe when returning to work.

He replied: 'Yes, teachers will be safe in schools. The programme that has been outlined is a staged and careful return with children in reception, year one and year six of primary coming back to school we hope in the week beginning June 1.

'It is the case that some of the best leaders in current education have said that it is absolutely safe for children to return, absolutely safe for teachers and other staff to return as well.'

Asked if he could guarantee that teachers will be safe, he said: 'Yes. It is the case, as I say, I talked to the chief scientific adviser yesterday for the government Patrick Vallance and running through the figures, the R number, the rate of infection in the community overall, we are confident that children and teachers will be safe.'

However, when asked directly if he could guarantee that no returning teacher will catch coronavirus at school, Mr Gove said: 'The only way ever to ensure that you never catch coronavirus is to stay at home completely.

'There is always, always, always in any loosening of these restrictions a risk of people catching the coronavirus.'

He continued: 'The key thing is that we can make these workplaces safe. You can never eliminate risk but as we know, as we have heard, it is the case that it is extremely unlikely that any school is likely to be the source of a Covid outbreak and if for any reason there are risks then we can take steps to mitigate them.'

Hartlepool Council has now joined Liverpool in saying its schools will remain shut on June 1 as local coronavirus cases continue to rise.

Scotland and Wales have announced a further 21 coronavirus deaths today. The figures follow a tumultuous week for the Government in which approval ratings took a sharp dip after Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured) set out his strategy for lifting lockdown measures

Michael Gove today initially guaranteed the safety of returning teachers before then admitting that there will be some 'risk'

Paths in Hampstead Heath, London, were bustling with people who took to the outdoors on the first weekend since lockdown measures were lifted

Police are patrolling Brighton beach today as visitors take advantage of warmer weather on the first weekend since lockdown measures were eased to allow people out of the home to sunbathe or visit public spaces

Spending a few seconds one metre from a colleague is equivalent to an hour two metres away By VANESSA CHALMERS HEALTH REPORTER FOR MAILONLINE Spending a few seconds one metre from a colleague is equivalent to an hour two metres away, and talking loudly makes it worse, it's been warned. Government scientific advisors are considering telling workers exactly how strong the risk of catching the coronavirus is depending on how close they stand next to someone. The fresh advice would help employees 'manage' their risk of the killer infection where social distancing is difficult. Companies are wrestling with new safety rules to allow employees to return to work as Prime Minister Boris Johnson sets out steps to restart the economy. Social distancing is paramount, but there are growing concerns this won't be possible for some employees in confined spaces, including construction site workers. Ministers are hoping for a gradual re-opening of schools from June 1, but there are fears children will be unable to properly social distance. It follows a study last week that showed talking loudly for just one minute can produce a high load of viral particles that stay in the air for eight minutes. Other simulations show how far infected particles from a cough or sneeze can travel in confined spaces. Employers in the UK have been told to re-design workspaces to ensure workers are at a two metre distance from others as much as possible. The new 'COVID-19 secure' guidance covers eight workplace settings which are allowed to be open, including construction sites, factories and takeaways. Where social distancing is difficult, there should be barriers in shared spaces, staggered start times and one-way walking systems, the guidance says. But where social distancing is seemingly impossible, a sub-group of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) is examining how workers can 'manage' the risk, the Sunday Telegraph reports. Andrew Curran, chief scientific adviser at the Health and Safety Executive said being exposed to someone for 'a few seconds' at a one metre distance could equate to around an hour of being two metres away from the same person. He said: 'If the exposure at a distance of less than two metres is going to be for a short period of time, you manage the risk in the context of duration and orientation. 'There is some physics in this and the Sage sub-group is looking at that to provide better information. 'For example, if you were exposed for a few seconds at one metre, that is about the same as being exposed for a longer period of time - an hour, say - at two metres. It is that order of magnitude. 'There may be elements within a job where there is exposure for a short period, but where the risk is so low it can be managed.' Advertisement

Hartlepool said in a statement: 'Given that coronavirus cases locally continue to rise, Hartlepool Borough Council has been working with schools and we have agreed they will not reopen on Monday 1st June.

'Whilst we recognise the importance of schools reopening, we want to be absolutely clear that we will be taking a measured and cautious approach to this.'

Liverpool has confirmed that its schools will only be open to vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers on June 1.

Asked for his message to councils blocking the return of schools, Mr Gove said children 'only have one chance at education'.

'Over the course of the last decade we have made significant strides in closing the gap between the richest and the poorest in our schools,' he said.

His statements come on the first weekend since lockdown measures were partially lifted, allowing Britons to travel away from their homes to enjoy the outdoors.

Britons woke up bright and early this morning to hit parks and beaches across the country before temperatures soar to 70F in Britain's first Sunday since lockdown restrictions were eased.

While crowds of people were pictured enjoying Dorset's picturesque coastline and Londoners took to the city's green spaces, it appears most are heeding the stark warnings issued by rural country spots this weekend.

In Brighton, Britons were photographed taking a dip in the sea as dozens of others strolled along the clifftop at Beachy Head, near Eastbourne amid climbing temperatures - which are expected to hit 28C on Wednesday.

Several tourist boards have warned that people would be turned away if they became too busy and urged visitors to be careful and respectful of the rules.

Yesterday saw cautious Britons begin to step outside as traffic congestion data across the UK crept up by three per cent. But the predicted stampede of 15million day trippers on the first weekend since lockdown was partially lifted failed to materialise as most decided to enjoy the weather closer to home.

The lower-than-expected numbers could have been down to 'coronaphobia' - the fear of travelling too far during the pandemic.

It is unclear whether Saturday's toe-in-the-water attitude will follow through to today, or whether braver Britons will venture further afield.

The South Downs National Park said people must 'observe the three Rs by exercising restraint, responsibility and respect', and urged people to avoid popular areas and keep 2m away.

The Peak District National Trust said although staff are 'working hard' to welcome back visitors after weeks of restrictions amid the UK's coronavirus crisis, they 'aren't quite ready yet.'

'Like this hare with his ears pricked up, you've probably heard the Peak District has been busy this weekend! We're hopping to it and working hard to welcome you back, but aren't quite ready yet. Our main car parks at Longshaw and Ilam remain closed,' a tweet said.

A couple sit on the cliff-edge above the lighthouse at Beachy Head, near Eastbourne following an easing of lockdown rules

Several groups walk along the cliff-top toward the former lighthouse Belle Tout at Beachy Head near Eastbourne today

In Brighton the local council was asking people to stay away from its seafront, with Carmen Appich - chairwoman of Brighton and Hove city council's equalities, communities and culture committee - saying: 'If thousands of people travel to our city on a sunny day and don't or are unable to maintain safe physical distancing because of overcrowding, this increases the risk of a Covid outbreak and puts everyone at risk.'

National Park Authority chief executive Richard Leafe said: 'For now, we're asking people not to rush back to the Lake District - help protect our communities, the fells will still be here when this passes.

'When the time is right, we look forward to welcoming visitors back to the Lake District and have been working with partners to put measures in place that will help keep people safe, such as new car park information and availability to help plan ahead.'

Their advice comes as the weather is set to soar next week with highs in the mid 20s leading to concerns that lockdown-crazy Britons will rush to the outdoors.

The Met Office has forecast highs of 20C today, with temperatures expected to surpass those in Malibu, California on Wednesday when the mercury hits 28C in parts of Britain.

Members of the Marlow Rowing Club take to the River Thames at Marlow, Buckinghamshire, after some lockdown restrictions were lifted this week

Another rower in Chiswick took to the Thames in a more unusual vessel to enjoy the warm spring sunshine today

Computer code for Prof Lockdown's model which predicted 500,000 would die from Covid-19 and inspired Britain's 'Stay Home' plan is a 'mess which would get you fired in private industry' say data experts

BY VANESSA CHALMERS HEALTH REPORTER and LUKE MAY FOR MAILONLINE

Scientists have levelled a flurry of criticism against Professor Neil Ferguson's modelling which warned 500,000 people could die from coronavirus and prompted Britain to go into lockdown.

Modelling from Imperial College London epidemiologist Professor Ferguson, who stepped down from the government's Sage group at the start of May, has been described as 'totally unreliable' by other experts.

The coding that produced the sobering death figures was impossible to read, and therefore cast doubts on its strength, The Telegraph reported. It is also some 13 years old, it said.

When other scientists have tried to replicate the findings using the same model, they have repeatedly failed to do.

Prof Ferguson's model is understood to have single-handedly triggered a dramatic change in the Government's handling of the outbreak, as they moved away from herd immunity to a lockdown.

Competing scientists' research - whose models produced vastly different results - has been largely discarded, they claim.

Modelling behind Professor Neil Ferguson's claim that 500,000 Brits could die from Covid-19 has been criticised by scientists

David Richards, co-founder of British data technology company WANdisco said the model was a 'buggy mess that looks more like a bowl of angel hair pasta than a finely tuned piece of programming'.

He said: 'In our commercial reality we would fire anyone for developing code like this and any business that relied on it to produce software for sale would likely go bust.'

WHAT DID PROFESSOR FERGUSON'S WORK SAY? The scientific paper published by Professor Ferguson and his colleagues on the Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team was credited for persuading Boris Johnson's Government to ramp up their response to the coronavirus. The paper, released on March 17, and titled Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID19 mortality and healthcare demand, predicted that the Government's original plan to 'mitigate' the outbreak instead of trying to stop it could have led to a quarter of a million people dying. Using data from Italy and China, the scientists predicted how different Government measures would have different impacts on the outbreaks. If no action at all had been taken against the coronavirus it would have claimed 510,000 lives, the team's report said. Had the Government stuck with their strategy of trying to 'mitigate' the spread  allowing it to continue but attempting to slow it down  with limited measures such as home isolation for those with symptoms this number would be roughly halved to 260,000. If the strictest possible measures are introduced, the number of deaths over a two-year period will fall below 20,000, the scientists said. Other points in the Imperial College report, titled Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID19 mortality and healthcare demand, included: Lockdown measures could be brought back if the virus resurfaces after this epidemic is over

The coronavirus outbreak is worse than anything the world has seen since the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic

Dramatic measures to suppress an outbreak carry 'enormous social and economic costs which may themselves have significant impact on health and well-being'

Virus transmission happens evenly  one third of cases are caught in the home, one third at work or school, and one third elsewhere in the community

People are thought to be infectious from 12 hours before symptoms start, or from four days after catching the infection if someone doesn't get symptoms

Patients who do get symptoms are thought to be 50 per cent more infectious than those who don't

People are thought to develop at least short-term immunity after catching the virus, meaning they can't catch it again

Approximately 4.4 per cent of patients need hospital care. 30 per cent of those need intensive care, and 50 per cent of intensive care patients can be expected to die, according to data from China

The average length of a hospital stay for a coronavirus patient is 10 days  eight days for those who recover quickly; 16 days for those who need intensive care Advertisement

Today marks a week since Boris Johnson addressed the nation and changed England's coronavirus message from Stay Home to Stay Alert, with 34,636 deaths recorded by the Government.

The easing of measures comes almost two months after Britain was placed in lockdown, with government making the decision on, at least in part, the advice of Imperial College London and Prof Ferguson's model outlining the potential harm coronavirus could do to the country.

On March 17, just days before the country was placed into lockdown, Imperial College London published research titled urging a lockdown to be put in place to stop the virus spreading.

Researchers from the university warned 510,000 people could die from the virus if no action was taken.

Had the Government stuck with their strategy of trying to 'mitigate' the spread  allowing it to continue but attempting to slow it down with limited measures such as home isolation for those with symptoms - this number would be roughly halved to 260,000, the report said.

It showed that mitigation would not be insufficient to prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed by looking at bed capacity.

If the strictest possible measures are introduced  including school closures and mandatory home quarantine  the number of deaths over a two-year period will fall below 20,000, the scientists said.

As a result, the Government announced people should stop travelling, stop socialising and work from home.

But critics have today described the coding used by Imperial as 'totally unreliable'.

John Carmack, an American developer who helped refine the code before the paper was published online, said some parts of the code looked like they were machine translated from Fortran', an old coding language.

After growing pressure, the Imperial team released their code, which simulates homes, offices, schools and people movement, and sceptics were quick to point out it was 13 years old.

Furthermore, when analysing the validity of the staggering death estimates, scientists have claimed that it is almost impossible to reproduce the same results from the same data, using the same code as Imperial, The Telegraph reported.

University of Edinburgh researchers reportedly found bugs when running the model, getting different results when they used different machines, or even the same machines in some cases.

The team reported a 'bug' in the system which was fixed - but specialists in the field remain staggered at how inadequate it is.

Four experienced modellers previously noted the code is 'deeply riddled with bugs', has 'huge blocks of code  bad practice' and is 'quite possibly the worst production code I have ever seen'.

Weeks after the model's grim prediction, the University of Edinburgh's Professor Michael Thursfield criticised Professor Ferguson's record as 'patchy'.

He was referring to Professor Ferguson's predictions in the early 2000s that up to 136,000 people could die from mad cow disease.

The Imperial College teams modelling led to the culling of 6million livestock and was later criticised by epidemiological experts as severely flawed and a tragedy for rural Britain's economy.

Professor Ferguson stepped down from his role on Sage, the board of scientists advising the government through coronavirus pandemic, at the start of the month after it was revealed he had broken lockdown rules he helped to inspire. Antonia Staats (pictured) visited Professor Ferguson at his London flat while Britons were being told to stay home

The team also predicted 200million could die from bird flu and a further 65,000 from swine flu. The final death toll in each case was in the hundreds.

Dr Konstantin Boudnik, the VP of architecture at WANdisco, told The Telegraph: 'The facts from the early 2000s are just yet another confirmation that their modelling approach was flawed to the core.'

Professor Ferguson defended Imperials foot and mouth work, saying they were doing 'modelling in real time' with limited data. He added: 'I think the broad conclusions reached were still valid.'

The true death toll of COVID-19 has far exceeded what was predicted by Imperial under the total lockdown scenario (20,000 over two years).

The Government's total death toll currently stands at 34,466. Using data that collects death certificates, it is more in the region of 39,000.

The Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team came to their predictions with a number of mathematical calculations.

They looked at the most vulnerable people deemed to be 'at the greatest risk of death,' typically elderly people or those with serious underlying health conditions.

The model simulated transport links, population size, healthcare provisions and social networks to predict how the pandemic would spread.

Professor Ferguson and other Imperial College researchers predicted these measures would reduce demand on the healthcare system while protecting those who were most at risk:

Close schools and universities

Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should isolate at home for seven days

Anyone living with someone who has shown symptoms should quarantine for 14 days.

Social distancing: 'a broad policy that aims to reduce overall contracts that people make outside the household, school or workplace by three-quarters'

Speaking at the time of the paper publication, Professor Ferguson said: 'No country in the world this far has seen an epidemic that large [250,000 deaths], this is an early extrapolation of an early epidemic that was suppressed in China.

'But we have no reason to believe that's not what would happen if we frankly did nothing, and even if we did all we could to slow, not reverse, the spread, we'd still be looking at a very large number of deaths and the health system being overwhelmed.

'Initially when we came up with these kid of estimates they were viewed as what's called the reasonable worst case.

'But as information has been gathered in recent weeks, from particularly Italy but other countries, it has become increasingly clear that actually this is not the reasonable worst case  it is the most likely scenario.'

He added: 'It is likely such measures  most notably, large scale social distancing  will need to be in place for many months, perhaps until a vaccine becomes available.'

While there was overwhelming praise for the research for triggering a much-needed lockdown, criticism of Professor Ferguson's research was voiced at the time.

Professor John Ashton, a former regional director of public health for North West England, accused No 10 of relying on a little clique of researchers and failing to consult a wider pool of academics.

These guys are being regarded as demigods, he said in April.

Here we are talking about science but this research is being given a kind of religious status, like tablets of stone from the mountain.

When the COVID-19 model was made, it used the best data available at the time - from the outbreaks in China and Italy. Information has largely changed since then.

The model uses a string of assumptions, including that 0.9 per cent of those infected will die.

Research in Germany, the US, Sweden and Finland has since estimated the death toll to be much lower - between 0.19 and 0.79 per cent.

Researchers from Australia settled on an overall estimate of 0.75 per cent after collecting information from 13 global studies.

The figure from the University of Wollongong and James Cook University chimes with data emerging from New York, where random antibody testing last month suggested a quarter of the city of eight million people had been infected with the illness, meaning the 16,000 fatalities equaled a death rate of 0.79.

Other assumptions made by the Imperial team included that children are able to spread infection with equivalent efficiency to adults, although little data exists in this area.

Professor Carl Heneghan and Dr Tom Jefferson at the University of Oxfords Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine questioned the lockdown policy because the virus may already be more widespread than commonly thought.

Modelling by Oxfords Evolutionary Ecology of Infectious Disease group indicates that COVID-19 reached the UK by mid-January at the latest.

The team's research presents a very different view of the epidemic to the modelling at Imperial College London.

It's findings merely a week after Imperial's suggested the coronavirus had already infected far more people in the UK than scientists had previously estimated  perhaps as much as half the population.

The Oxford results would mean the country had already acquired strong herd immunity because COVID-19 had spread for one or two months before a first case was diagnosed.

The herd immunity strategy was abandoned by Government ministers and reversed to a full-scale lockdown due to the model presented by Imperial.

'I am surprised that there has been such unqualified acceptance of the Imperial model,' said Sunetra Gupta, professor of theoretical epidemiology, who led the Oxford study, told the Financial Times.

Since the Oxford study, however, Government-led research has indicated that no-where near half the population have been infected.

Sir Patrick Vallance, Number 10's chief scientific adviser, revealed recently that around four per cent of Britain and 10 per cent of London has developed antibodies against COVID-19.

The estimate - based on data from antibody testing across the home nations carried out a fortnight ago - means only around 2.64million Brits have had the infection.

Meanwhile, the current level of infection is estimated to be about 0.27 per cent.

The findings came from the first round of random public testing of households by the Office for National Statistics. A total of 33 positive cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed out of a sample of 10,705 people.

England's top statisticians estimate that 0.27 per cent of the population has been infected with COVID-19 on any given day over the past fortnight - equal to around 148,000 people and certainly between 94,000 and 222,000

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, said at Thursday's Downing Street briefing that the data represented 'really quite a low level of infection' in the community.

Professor Ferguson stepped down from his role on Sage, the board of scientists advising the government through coronavirus pandemic, at the start of the month after it was revealed he had broken lockdown rules he helped to inspire.

It was revealed Professor Ferguson had invited his lover Antonia Staats to his London flat, while the British public was being told to stay home.

A spokesman from the university's Covid-19 response team said: 'The UK government has never relied on a single disease model to inform decision-making.

'As has been repeatedly stated, decision-making around lockdown was based on a consensus view of the scientific evidence, including several modelling studies by different academic groups.

'Multiple groups using different models concluded that the pandemic would overwhelm the NHS and cause unacceptably high mortality in the absence of extreme social distancing measures.

'Within the Imperial research team we use several models of differing levels of complexity, all of which produce consistent results. We are working with a number of legitimate academic groups and technology companies to develop, test and further document the simulation code referred to.

'However, we reject the partisan reviews of a few clearly ideologically motivated commentators.

'Epidemiology is a not a branch of computer science and the conclusions around lockdown rely not on any mathematical model but on the scientific consensus that COVID-19 is a highly transmissible virus with an infection fatality ratio exceeding 0.5% in the UK.'
Personnel



of the NDRF were deployed on Sunday in West Bengal and Odisha, which said it was ready to undertake massive evacuation of 11 lakh people likely to be severely hit by the cyclone 'Amphan', officials said.

The cyclone, according to an IMD report early Sunday, is developing into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal and can potentially become a very severe cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours, S N Pradhan, the chief of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said in New Delhi.

"The trajectory is mostly towards West Bengal, Sagar Islands and probably towards Bangladesh.... But we have to watch the trajectory very closely. NDRF has deployed the teams well in advance. They are either deployed or moving towards the destination," he said.

As it rolls in towards the Indian shores ominously, the cyclone is likely to unleash heavy rain and high-velocity winds in large swathes of coastal Odisha and West Bengal.

It is likely to cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Islands in West Bengal and Hatiya islands in Bangladesh between afternoon and evening of May 20 as a very severe cyclonic storm, Regional MeT Director in Kolkata G K Das said.

Odisha, which has been ravaged by a string of cyclones over the last few years, including the cyclone Fani last year, has made arrangements to shift 11 lakh people from vulnerable areas, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena said.

Twelve coastal districts--Ganjam, Gajapti, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda and Nayagarh-- are on high alert.

He said of the 809 cyclone shelters in the 12 coastal districts, 242 are currently being used as temporary medical camps for the returnees from different states amid the COVID- 19 lockdown.

"We have 567 cyclone and flood shelters available to house the people in case evacuation is required. In addition, we have arranged 7,092 buildings to keep people if required," Jena said.

"Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), NDRF and fire service personnel have already been sent to the districts. We are also in constant touch with the Indian Coast Guard, IMD and NDRF for any requirement," he said, adding "saving lives is our priority".

Under its impact, the coastal districts of Gangetic West Bengal, including North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, East and West Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly are likely to experience light to moderate rain at many places with heavy downpour at isolated places on May 19, Regional MeT Director in Kolkata G K Das said.

Pradhan said seven teams of the force have been deployed in West Bengal. These teams are in six districts -- South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly.

In Odisha, 10 teams have been deployed in seven districts -- Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj.

One team of NDRF consists of around 45 personnel.

Odisha has already chalked out the strategy to restore power and water supply, clear roads, start rescue and relief operations immediately after the cyclone peters out.

About the large number of migrants returning to Odisha from other states, many of them on foot, Jena said personnel at border checkposts have been asked to take appropriate steps keeping the cyclone situation in mind.

According to Ministry of Home Affairs, the cyclone will make a landfall in West Bengal on Wednesday.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) met under Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Saturday to review the preparedness for minimising the loss of loss of lives and property at a time when the country is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Egypts parliament  the House of Representatives  resumed on Sunday discussing a new government-drafted law on the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and the banking sector.

MPs approved articles 64 and 65 which regulate the licensing of foreign banks in Egypt.

Article 65 states that for a foreign bank to be licensed in Egypt, its branch should have a capital of $150 million, be subject to the supervision of the central bank of the country in which its headquarters are located, that it receives permission from this central bank as a precondition to perform in Egypt, and that it accepts that its activities in Egypt be overseen by the CBE.

It also states that the activities of a foreign bank in Egypt should not go in conflict with the states general economic interests.

It shouldnt be involved in any monopolistic and anti-competition practices, Article 65 says, adding that a foreign bank should also have a clear structure of ownership and its money must come from legal sources.

To achieve this objective, a foreign bank asking for a licence in Egypt should submit a feasibility study showing the nature of its activities and services, and also submit a study on the local market showing how it will be able to mobilise savings from individuals and how it will use them.

The name of a foreign bank operating in Egypt should be distinct and not be similar in any way to the names of any other banks.

Egypts parliament began on 4 May discussing a new 294-article law regulating the performance of the CBE and the banking sector.

The law, which has been in the works since 2017, was approved in principle.

According to a report prepared by parliaments economic affairs committee, the law aims to reinforce the supervisory powers of the CBE in terms of raising its capital to EGP 20 billion to help it exercise its financial obligations.

The law also tackles the CBEs roles in licensing foreign banks and representation offices in Egypt.

It stipulates that banks operating in Egypt should have capital of at least EGP 5 billion and branches should have capital of at least $150 million.

The law is expected a get a final approval from MPs on Sunday.

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By PTI

KOCHI: More than 580 Indian citizens stranded in Maldives due to the COVID-19 pandemic arrived here on board a Naval ship on Sunday, in the second phase of the Vande Bharat repatriation mission, officials said.

The Indian Navy ship INS Jalashwa under "Operation Samudra Setu" with 588 evacuees from Maldives arrived at the Cochin Port at 11.30 am on Sunday, official sources said.

The Cochin Port Trust tweeted a photo of the third group of Indian expatriates evacuated from the Island nation arriving at the port.

The third group of Indian expatriates evacuated from Maldives as part of 'Operation Samudra Setu' arrives at Cochin Port by INS Jalashwa. pic.twitter.com/8yKjn23wjn  Cochin Port Trust (@cochin_port) May 17, 2020

There are 568 repatriates of Kerala, 15 of Tamil Nadu and three belonging to Telangana and two persons from Lakshadweep, officials said.

This is the third naval ship operated as part of the Vande Bharat mission to the city. On May 10, the vessel had brought home 698 Indian nationals from Maldives.

Two days later, another Navy Ship INS Magar had evacuated 202 Indian citizens from Maldives to here.

As Jalashwa carrying 588 evacuees left Maldives on Saturday morning, the High Commission of India there expressed its gratitude to the government of the island nation for ensuring safe repatriation of stranded Indian citizens.

"We are extremely grateful to the Govt.of #Maldives and all concerned agencies in ensuring safe and secure repatriation of nearly 1,500 Indian nationals from the Maldives under Op.#SamudraSetu," it had tweeted.
Teachers check and clean an air conditioner at a classroom of Yangjin Elementary School in Seoul in this May 7 photo. Yonhap



By Bahk Eun-ji



The arrival of summer is raising questions among the public about how to continue to follow preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic amid the rising heat.



The health authorities have urged citizens to keep vigilance in the coming summer season, amid growing concerns about whether using air-conditioners is safe because of the coronavirus outbreak. As the weather warms up across the country, many are unclear about how to cope when indoors given the increasing temperature.



Namely, is it safe to use air-conditioning? Can they open the windows for a cool breeze? Is it safe to use KF80 or a dental mask instead of KF94 masks that makes it harder for users to breathe?



Here are guidelines from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and preventions (KCDC) to fight a possible second wave of the pandemic.



Wearing mask



Koreans don't argue with whether wearing masks are helpful in stemming the spread of the virus anymore. But more people have started to complain about wearing them during the hot and humid summer months.



A 33-year-old office worker Kim Seung-won said he often feels suffocated when he walks around outside wearing a mask during the day.



"As the weather gets hotter, wearing a mask becomes more challenging as it makes it harder to breathe. When I was in the sun, I sometimes felt dizzy," Kim said.



The respiratory muscles come under stress, resulting in shortness of breath and making it easier for heat to build up inside the body as wearing masks in hot weather makes it difficult for cool air to reach the lungs.



Kim said he can't give up wearing for the sake of public safety, but he is already worrying about how he can cope with it during the peak of summer.



Regarding the issue, the government advised that it is okay to wear a KF80, dental and cotton masks instead of KF90 ones that make it more difficult to breathe in hot weather.



"In the summer when it gets hotter, there are some people who prefer the KF80 mask that is easier to breathe in. If you don't have a KF80 or dental mask, a cotton mask is also helpful," said Yang Jin-young, deputy director of the division managing supply and demand for masks at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (KFDS) during a recent regular briefing.



KF in the mask names stands for "Korean filter." Masks produced in Korea are required to be certified by the KFDS, and the number represents the filter performance. The higher the number, the higher the filtration action.



Among the masks currently distributed on the market, products for specified health use include "KF80," "KF94" and "KF99." KF94 and above level masks are necessary for caregivers and medical staff who are at high risk in taking care of patients with infectious diseases, but the general public can safely use KF80 or dental masks.



However, in order to prevent infection in pregnant women, children, the elderly and patients with respiratory problems it is recommended to immediately stop the use of masks if they create difficulty in breathing, Yang said.



Using AC is okay but ventilate often



The use of air conditioners has become a new source of concern in Korea as millions of people recommence using public transportation and as students prepare to go back to school gradually. With summer already knocking on the door, many are wondering if it is safe to switch on the devices which have traditionally been the go to answer for instant cooling in the oppressive heat and humidity of Korean summer.



Last week during a regular press briefing, the KCDC director Jung Eun-kyeong said experts view using air conditioning as okay as long as the room is frequently ventilated. The next day, the Ministry of Education also released a guideline to keep all windows at least one-third open at all times while running air conditioning.



Use of air conditioners has been a contentious issue as a Chinese research team raised the possibility of the device contributing to droplet transmission. In a research letter published in the U.S. Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal, a Chinese team of researchers traced 10 COVID-19 patients back to an air-conditioned restaurant that they had all dined in, in January, in Guangzhou, China. They found that one of the diners who had visited Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, was the primary transmitter of the virus to the others via airflow of the air conditioner.



However, the quarantine authorities believe the possibility has not yet been sufficiently studied or tested, so are recommending when using air conditioners to ventilate frequently.



The Chinese study analyzed one example from a restaurant yet while the restaurant used an air conditioner it was reported that there was no window for ventilation," Jeong said.



"More research and experimentation is required to verify the study but, for now, experts are considering this possibility, and we are collecting opinions from experts on using air conditioners and will be able to give more detailed guidelines as the information comes to hand," she added.




New Delhi: Hours after the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the fifth and final tranche of Aatmanirbhar stimulus package, FICCI welcomed the announcements noting that the giving states more room for market borrowing is a step in the right direction.

In a statement, FICCI also appreciated the governments decision to amend the Companies Act, 2013 to decriminalise bona fide defaults under the Act through the Ordinance route, which would help companies to take benefit of this provision immediately. It urged for similar decriminalisation provisions to be extended to other legislations that impact businesses. FICCI has been working with the Government towards the same objective.

The press note said that the additional boost of Rs 40,000 crore towards MGNREGA will help provide work to the migrants who returned home and will support rural demand. The government also needs to plan for more support for the migrant workers and the more vulnerable sections of society.

On the announcement to ensure that management of companies do not have to undue stress about the company being dragged into insolvency and liquidity proceedings for non-payment of debt owing to economic losses incurred during the COVID-19 lockdown will help assure business continuity and also in line with industry's request for a breather for a year.
AFP via Getty Images

The suspect in a shooting at an Illinois motel which left one person dead and two others injured has died following a stand-off with police, authorities have said.

The shooting started in the early hours of the morning at a Super 8 motel in Rockford, Illinois, according to the citys police.

Dan OShea, the police chief, said in a statement that a SWAT team was sent to the scene and that officers had found two victims with gunshot wounds.

He said that a third victim was pronounced dead, also from gunshot wounds.

Rockford Police said that the stand-off finished on Sunday morning local time with the death of the suspect.

The force said in a tweet: The stand-off at the Super 8 Motel has ended with the suspect found deceased from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A formal release will follow once more details become available.

Another fatal shooting occurred in the same city just hours before the motel shooting started, with local media reporting that a 21-year-old man had died from his injuries.
After a hiatus of nearly two months, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is planning to restart its out-patient clinics on Wednesday with restricted consultations, according to the hospital administration.

The clinics were shut on March 24, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19). Before that, at least 10,000 patients visited the OPD clinics each day, with around 40% of the patients arriving from other parts of the country.

The OPD services were stopped on March 24, just a few days after the second phase of the services were moved to a new, spacious block. Eight clinical departments, including pulmonary medicine, rheumatology, and radiology, were moved to the new Rajkumari Amrit Kaur OPD block in the Masjid Moth facility on April 16. The first phase of the services was moved to the new block earlier this year in February.

We are planning to restart the out-patient clinics sometime this week. The number of people who will be allowed in the clinics every day will be restricted to maintain social distancing. All the departments will open up the clinics in a phased manner, beginning this week, Dr DK Sharma, the medical superintendent of the hospital, said.

According to doctors of the hospital, the clinics are likely to resume services on Wednesday.

The hospital has been contemplating restarting the services from April-end, however, taking care of Covid-19 patients is drawing on most of the hospitals manpower and resources.

With the hospital treating Covid-19 patients in its trauma centre on Ring Road and the cancer centre in Jhajjar, the main hospital has been handling emergency services, including the emergent and semi-emergent surgeries. Three operating theatres have been running round-the-clock in the hospital. The hospital has admitted at least 447 Covid-19 patients.

The doctors are, however, providing teleconsultation to patients who registered with them at the beginning of April.

Along with OPD, surgical services are also likely to be scaled up. Several patients who come to our OPD need admission and surgeries, hence we need to open up these services too, Dr Sharma said.

AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria had earlier told HT that simple surgeries such as gall stone removal and hernia will be started in the first phase as they require fewer days of hospital admission and minimal use of ventilators.

Earlier this month, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain had asked Union health minister Harsh Vardhan to intervene to scale up non-Covid-19 services at the four Central government hospitals. He had requested the minister to covert one of the hospitals completely into a Covid centre and let the others resume normal services.

I request that the central government dedicate one of its hospitals in Delhi for the treatment of Covid-19 patients and the others for non-Covid treatment. There have been cases of patients being refused routine treatment. Also, AllMS has taken a good step and dedicated the trauma centre and the cancer centre in Jhajjar to the treatment of Covid-19 patients but all its other services have been stopped. I urge you to restart the other facilities for non-Covid patients, Jain had said in the meeting held in the first week of May.

While AIIMS had shut its OPD services completely, the other three central hospitals  Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, Safdarjung, and Lady Hardinge Medical College  had restricted their out-patient clinics and stopped routine surgeries.

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Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 226 Thanked: 1,223 Times

Re: Replace China: India looks to lure over 1,000 US businesses In my mind, this is how things will turn out.



Group of foreign companies wanting to exit China and enter India (assuming there are such companies), lets call them person A.



Our extremely agile and efficient government representatives who are eager to welcome new investments, employment opportunities and associated growth and development; lets call them person B.



Person A: Hello mister B. We want to get out of China and come to India. We want to invest $XYZ. We would like to build a factory to produce ABC units of something per year. Can we build one?



Person B: So, you want to build a factory here. You are coming here. Interesting. Well.. let me see if I can find a piece of land for you. Oh yes, you can build a factory here, where there is intermittent supply of electricity, absolutely no water and drainage, and go figure yourself transportation.



Person A: Oh.. hmm.. Okay, let me make the best of what I get. How do I get this piece of land?



Person B: Simple. Fill up form 226B, 348D, 724A, and some more forms and come back. BTW, you will also have to fill up form ABC, DEF and GHI for the state government.



Person A: Jaws drop. Okay. Where do I find these forms.



Person B: Do I look like a servant to you. Go figure yourself.



Person A: (probably still being hopeful) I have money. I am a multi-billion dollar company. Let me hire a private law firm that will help me establish this. Hello law firm, can you help us figure the eight thousand three hundred and forty two forms to be filled in and help us get a piece of land? We would like to build a factory.



Law firm, given its private, and looking to generate revenues and attract more customers who want to set up plants, does a diligent job.



Now with the huge bundle of forms, Person A goes to Person B's office.



Person B: It seems like a miracle that you have got all the forms. (Goes through a couple of forms). Hey! There is a comma missing here. A full stop there. Rejected.



Person A and law firm correct it and resubmit.



Person B: Submit only two thousand six hundred and thirty two forms here. Rest in different departments.



Person A: Okay. Where are the other departments?



Person B: Again.. do I look like your servant. Go figure out.



Person A: But the government said there is a one stop shop for all investors moving in from China to India.



Person B: Oh.. they did? Go to the person who said so and ask him how to do this.



Peron A: Now.. exhausted.. walks around. Figures the electricity department, water department, labor department, environment department, revenue department, PWD department, day dreaming department, just there for the heck of being there department, etc and gets all his forms rejected at least once. Why.. you know, just so that Person A acquires new skills of filling forms and pleading.



And the long story ends in a very simple fashion.



Person A says - chuck this sh*t. China with Corona is much better. Lets continue with whatever we have invested!



World goes back to being where it was.



Person B is successful in avoiding any future work that would have landed on his table had the company actually got through and set up a plant.



Vast majority of this nation would not even realize what happened. Will continue to read articles such as a magical western company having huge operations will be shifting to India. And gets happy!
Around half a dozen workers on COVID-19 duty at a quarantine centre in Noida on Sunday allegedly threatened to jump off the terrace of the high-rise building and kill themselves over non-payment of their salaries.

The protesting workers were later pacified and brought down after some time, the police said, even as the district administration took note of the matter and an inquiry has been initiated, according to officials.

A video of the incident shot on a mobile phone also surfaced on the internet, purportedly showing a male and two female workers sitting on the railing on the terrace of the new district hospital building in Sector 39, while two other male colleagues stood next to them.

"We are not getting our payment and nobody is listening to us. Whoever we approach for the payment redirects us to somebody else and asks us not bother them. Who do we go to," one of the women is heard saying in the video.

When asked why they did not seek police's help, the male worker sitting on the railing said, We have approached the police also but nobody has helped us till now. The policemen also keep watching.

The man shooting the video is then heard urging help from the administration.

It's a request to the administration, please help them otherwise they are prepared to go to any level and are not ready to get down, he said.

The incident took place around 1 pm and later the protesting workers were pacified and brought down from the terrace of the building, the police said.

Meanwhile, the district administration said in a statement that it has taken note of the incident and payment of salaries to all workers will be ensured.

An inquiry has been initiated and Chief Development Officer Anil Kumar Singh and Additional Chief Medical Officer Amit Vikram will carry it out. Payment of valid salaries to all workers will be ensured, Chief Medical Officer Deepak Ohri said.

Earlier on April 30, around a dozen sanitation workers had 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 DM Suhas L Y who later said that the matter was being looked into and assured that the workers will be provided with safety kits.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A former minister for aviation, Fani Kayode has raised alarm over the whereabouts of the 14 Chinese doctors who recently came into Nigeria to help in the fight against the deadly coronavirus.

Read Also: Nigeria Is In Trouble, Fani Kayode Raises Alarm

Speaking via his official Twitter handle on Saturday, he queried why the ministry of health is reluctant to disclose their whereabouts.

He wrote:

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Where are the 14 Chinese doctors? Wlhat is their mission? Who invited them? Is it true that they are spreading & infecting our people with Covid 19 & testing new vaccines on us? Are we Guinea pigs? Why did the Min. of Health tell us to stop asking questions about the Chinese?
Argos has unveiled plans to reopen some of its stores in Ireland from Monday, May 18, in line with the latest guidance from government.

From Monday, Argos stores on high streets and in retail parks will start to reopen. Stores in shopping centres will remain closed, in line with government guidance.

The company says it will start with usual store opening hours and will review these over the next few weeks as it sees how people are shopping with. Open hours may extend opening hours in the future if it is safe to do so.

For more details, you can visit the Store Locator and opening hours page on the company's website from Monday, May 18 by clicking here.

There will be a range of measures in place in each store including a limit on the number of customers allowed in store at any one time. Customers will need to queue a safe distance away from each other outside the store and there will be staff on hand to help with this.

All stores will have perspex safety screens at the tills and staff will be following social distancing guidelines at all times, including when they pick items from the store warehouse and bring them to the collection counter.

RELATED STORY: What shops and retail outlets can open in Phase 1 of the easing of the Covid-19 restrictions
Politicians from across the political divide united yesterday to warn that union opposition to re-opening schools next month risks devastating the life chances of the UKs poorer children.

Former Education Secretaries joined forces to raise fears that the progress made over the past decade in closing the academic gap between children from high and low income households could be wiped out in just a few weeks of lockdown.

Left-wing unions are opposing plans for a partial re-opening of schools from June, citing fears that neither children nor teachers will be safe from catching the virus.

Many schools have been open throughout the crisis to cater for vulnerable children and the children of key workers. But the teacher unions, led by the main National Education Union, have raised fears that it is too early in the course of the pandemic to proceed to a general re-opening of schools [File photo]

Yesterday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson issued an impassioned plea for unions to realise it is children who will lose out most from further delays.

He said: I dont want children missing out on getting back into class next month, to see their teachers and friends again, to learn and thrive, when the scientific advice suggests we should be in a position to do that.

The poorest children, the most disadvantaged children, the children who do not always have the support they need at home, will be the ones who will fall furthest behind.

He also insisted the Government was taking cautious, careful steps in gradually re-opening schools.

Lord Blunkett, a former Labour Education Secretary, writing in todays Mail on Sunday, says the opposition of the teaching unions to a return to the classrooms was both destructive and wrong

One of his Conservative predecessors, Nicky Morgan said: If we dont start to get schools in England back up and running soon, their hard work over the last ten years to ensure disadvantaged children keep up with their peers could be lost in just ten weeks.

Ms Morgan warned that the children who were missing out on the most schooling were the ones the unions should be looking out for.

She said: We know there are children who are struggling to even get online  three kids sharing mums phone.

I know the disadvantage gap  if you miss those crucial months in primary school, it becomes harder and it becomes more challenging for the teachers to help those kids catch up.

Damian Hinds, another former Tory Education Secretary, said: Some of the most vulnerable children in society are losing out the most from not being at school. Children from less well-off families are the ones who may not have access to broadband for vital online lessons at home, or indeed the space.

One of his Conservative predecessors, Nicky Morgan said: If we dont start to get schools in England back up and running soon, their hard work over the last ten years to ensure disadvantaged children keep up with their peers could be lost in just ten weeks'

Theres a real risk here that by blanket opposition to getting just some primary school pupils back from the start of June, teaching unions would hurt the children and families that need help the most.

After all, children in better-off households are probably more likely to be able to have on-line tuition, while their mums and dads are also more likely to be in the sort of jobs that allows them to work from home during the lockdown.

Damian Hinds, another former Tory Education Secretary, said: Some of the most vulnerable children in society are losing out the most from not being at school

Lord Blunkett, a former Labour Education Secretary, writing in todays Mail on Sunday, says the opposition of the teaching unions to a return to the classrooms was both destructive and wrong, because preventing children from getting an education will not only undermine dedicated teachers and the economy, it will punish some of the most vulnerable children in the country.

Lord Blunkett adds: Many of those pupils from disadvantaged homes have no access to a quiet place in which they can learn, let alone a suitable computer.

Only one in seven of the vulnerable children currently entitled to a temporary classroom place has taken up the offer.

And last night, Tory MP Tom Hunt, a member of the Commons education select committee, accused the teaching unions of engaging in some bizarre reverse class war which would only widen the gap between poorer pupils and middle-class children.

He said: From the head teachers I talk to, its the ones from schools in the poorer areas or with children at most need who are keenest at getting back into class.

And its the better-off, middle-class families who are most able to survive the lockdown.

Theyre the children whose parents can provide them with the broadband  and the space at home  to do vital online tuition.

The less well-off kids are probably the ones that are suffering most, with less access to wifi and less participation in distance learning. By fighting a return to school, teaching unions are only hurting those they should help the most. Its like the unions are for some reason engaged in some bizarre reverse class war where they are essentially ganging up against the interests of the less well-off and widening the education and wealth gap with the middle-class.

Many schools have been open throughout the crisis to cater for vulnerable children and the children of key workers.

But the teacher unions, led by the main National Education Union, have raised fears that it is too early in the course of the pandemic to proceed to a general re-opening of schools.

Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, sought to calm fears  suggesting that in the next fortnight, infection rates could come down. She told the daily Downing Street briefing: I think parents and teachers should not be thinking that every school is likely to be swarming with cases

This weekend, the British Medical Association threw its weight behind the unions, warning that we cannot risk a second spike of the pandemic.

However, Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, sought to calm fears  suggesting that in the next fortnight, infection rates could come down.

She told the daily Downing Street briefing: I think parents and teachers should not be thinking that every school is likely to be swarming with cases.

Were moving in quite a different direction now.

The NEU union denied it was being obstructive and insisted safety for children, their families and school staff remained the key issue.

Joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said: The NEUs approach is not political but instead turns on the science.

The NEU has engaged with Government, laying out the questions we are seeking reassurances on and also suggesting five tests the Government could meet.
Turkey will accept patients from 31 countries as of May 20 as it loosens coronavirus restrictions, according to the countrys Health Ministry. An official letter from the ministry lists acceptance conditions for patients, entry to the country, admission to hospital, treatment, discharge and isolation rules. It also notes the measures to be taken for the patients and their attendants. As Anadolu agency reports, the countries include Iraq, Libya, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Greece, Ukraine, Russia, Djibouti, Algeria, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Somalia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The patients of orthopedics and traumatology, general surgery, pediatric surgery, urology, eye diseases, cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, surgical oncology, gynecologic oncology surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, brain and nerve surgery, hematology, intensive care, assisted-reproduction treatment applications, organ transplantation and bone marrow transplantation, will be accepted into the country.

The patients will be registered to the patient chart of the International Health Services Inc. (USHAS) and following the pre-approval, their permission letter will be sent to the related institutions. Documents needed for the pre-approval will be announced by USHAS.

At most two attendants per patient will be allowed into the country. The patients and the attendants will go through COVID-19 PCR test or samples will be taken for the PCR test for a fee, when entering Turkey from the airports or border gates.

If there is a COVID-19 test available in their home country, patients are required to take the test within 48 hours prior to their travel and bring negative COVID-19 PCR test result paper along with them.

Only COVID-19 negative individuals will be accepted into the country.

After entering Turkey, the patients and their attendants will be directly taken to the hospital where they have an appointment and they will not be accommodated anywhere else.

One floor or corridor of the hospital will be allocated only for the patients coming from abroad.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Flagship Brewing Company used Ralphs lemon, orange creamsicle and watermelon-flavored ices as the backbone for a new hard seltzer line. Offered on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. via the brewerys website the 12-can variety pack of spiked suds sold out in a stunning 31 minutes.

On Friday afternoon Flagship co-owner Jay Sykes said the product was available for direct-to-home delivery.

We felt that selling it out of the taproom in the pandemic would be irresponsible and create lines or a crowd, said Jay.

Based on the tidal wave of demand he guessed correctly.

Flagship Brewery and Ralph's with hard seltzer collection. (Flagship Brewery/ Instagram)

Ralphs Ice owner Larry Silvestro personally delivered the iconic cool stuff to the Tompkinsville brewery about a week before its distribution. With that product Mark Szmaida, the head brewer, Jay and fellow co-owners Matt McGinley and Sam Angiuli had calibrated the brews flavor profiles.

Matts wife, Janine, said that Friday afternoon felt like an avalanche in progress as people clamored for the creation. By noon the brew crew pulled down the gates because curious Staten Islanders hoped to grab sneak peeks and early bird orders. But the business wasnt ready to sell just yet.

In the afternoon workers pulled cans off the assembly line as Union Beer Distributors came to pick up their shipment of 550 cases. These will be delivered to Staten Island, Brooklyn and Manhattan supermarkets and beer stores like Holiday Beverage in Eltingville, available to shoppers on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Janine said that by 5 p.m. on that inaugural offering day: We were sitting, anxious, waiting to hit the button to allow the orders to come in. The brewery limited sales to two cases per order to be sure everyone had a chance at scoring some.

The orders were non-stop and the system crashed twice, Janine reported.

On Friday evening, popular DJ Garrett Vogel of Z-100 chatted about the Flagship-Ralphs seltzer in a broadcast with American Idol rising star Julia Gargano. She, too, anticipates a taste of the special sipper. Garrett said a case might be delivered to her doorstep following the interview.

A mirthful Gargano said the idea of Ralphs and Flagships collaboration was too good to be true.

Did Janine think the hard seltzers phenomenal debut had anything to do with the pandemic? Maybe the world needs something shiny and new right now?

I think the close-knit communities of Staten Island, even Brooklyn and Long Island are the reason for the popularity. I think the famous Ralphs, that people were so happy we did this collaboration they just had to try it, said Janine. Another 500 cases will be underway in the next two weeks.

Janine wants Flagship followers to know that the brewery is still dedicated to its traditional styles. And this coming week it will be business as usual with batches of Blood Orange, Fresh Kills, Kolsch, Summer Ale and Pizza Rats Pilsner.

The Flagship family on their fifth anniversary. Saturday, May 16, 2020 marks its sixth year in business.

That news is encouraging especially after a week of hearing restaurant owners express fears of the future, when dining rooms will open. One South Shore proprietor wondered if the quarantines were politically motivated and said he felt politicians keep a rope around your neck. He was alarmed that unemployment benefits were so grand for his staff that it exceeded their normal paychecks, incentive for them not to come to work for five weeks so far.

Other entrepreneurs worried about reopening: going forward, they worry about Staten Islanders disposable income as they continue on unemployment, muddle through furloughs and trim expenses with less income coming into households. The words Great Depression" are tossed around in the news as it looks like unemployment could hit 25 percent in the U.S. and cause a shrinking world economy.

Lines for propane as Staten Islanders get ready to grill in the pandemic.

It may sound odd but I am encouraged by the lines at the hardware store for propane at Costellos Ace Hardware. With the warmer weather well have some nice barbecue aromas at night kicking around our neighborhood. Down the block in my West Brighton 'hood restaurants are shutting down early these days and the cooking scents will be a welcome sign of life around us.

Keep in touch.

Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
President Donald Trump's adviser Peter Navarro on Sunday downplayed the firing of the State Department's top internal watchdog, saying the 'deep state' has caused problems for the administration and those who are not loyal must go.

Trump fired Inspector General Steve Linick, an Obama administration appointee, late on Friday but gave no reason for the move.

Linick is the fourth inspector general to be fired by Trump in the past two months, following his acquittal by the Republican-controlled Senate in his impeachment trial.

Navarro, the Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, reacted to the ouster during an interview with ABC's This Week on Sunday morning.

'We've had tremendous problems with, some people call it the 'Deep State'. And I think that's apt. So I don't mourn the loss,' Navarro said.

'There's a bureaucracy out there. And there's a lot of people in that bureaucracy who think they got elected president and not Donald J Trump.'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned that Trump's firing of the State Department's top internal watchdog 'could be unlawful' if it was intended to retaliate against one of his investigations.

'The president has the right to fire any federal employee, but the fact is if it looks like it's in retaliation for something the IG, the inspector general, was investigating, that could be unlawful,' Pelosi said on CNN's 'State of the Union.'

Scroll down for video

Trade adviser Peter Navarro suggested that ousted State Department Inspector General Steve Linick was a member of the 'deep state' during an ABC News interview on Sunday morning

President Donald Trump fired Linick (pictured) late on Friday but gave no reason for the move

The top Democrats on the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Saturday began a probe into the firing, saying it was their understanding that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo personally recommended Linick's sacking because the inspector general 'had opened an investigation into wrongdoing by Secretary Pompeo himself.'

Trump and his allies have long attacked what they refer to as the 'deep state', career bureaucrats meant to be nonpolitical that, they say, are working to undermine Trump.

Navarro's comments are only likely to further inflame tensions with Democrats, who on Saturday launched an investigation into Trump's late-night ouster of Linick, the latest in an escalating pattern by Trump of firing watchdogs whom he views as a threat to his presidency.

In April, Trump removed a top coronavirus watchdog, Glenn Fine, who was to oversee the government's financial relief response to the coronavirus pandemic.

He also notified Congress that he was firing the inspector general of the US intelligence community, Michael Atkinson, who was involved in triggering the impeachment investigation.

Linick was the fourth inspector general to be fired by Trump in the past two months

Then earlier this month, Trump ousted Christi Grimm, who led the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, after accusing her of having produced a 'fake dossier' on American hospitals suffering shortages on the frontlines of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Top Democrats on the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees said over the weekend that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo personally recommended Linick's firing because the inspector general 'had opened an investigation into wrongdoing by Secretary Pompeo himself'.

Rep Eliot L Engel (D - New York) and Sen Robert Menendez (D - New Jersey) announced their investigation in an open letter which told the Trump administration to preserve all records related to Linick's dismissal and to turn information over to the committees by Friday, May 22.

'Reports indicated that Secretary Pompeo personally made the recommendation to fire Mr. Linick, and it is our understanding that he did so because the Inspector General had opened an investigation into the wrongdoing by Secretary Pompeo himself,' the letter said.

'Such an action, transparently designed to protect Secretary Pompeo from personal accountability, would undermine the foundation of our democratic institutions and may be an illegal act of retaliation.'

Top Democrats on the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees on Saturday said that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (pictured) personally recommended Linick's firing because the inspector general 'had opened an investigation into wrongdoing by Pompeo himself'

Rep Eliot L Engel (pictured) and Sen Robert Menendez (right) announced their investigation into Linick's firing in a letter to the Trump administration on Saturday

In a letter to Congress, Trump said Linick, who had held the job since 2013, no longer had his full confidence and that his removal would take effect in 30 days.

The move was met with immediate backlash as Democrats in Congress cried foul.

Engel, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was the first to suggest that Linick was fired in part in retaliation for opening an unspecified investigation into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

'This firing is the outrageous act of a president trying to protect one of his most loyal supporters, the secretary of state, from accountability,' Engel said in a statement.

'I have learned that the Office of the Inspector General had opened an investigation into Secretary Pompeo. Mr. Linick's firing amid such a probe strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation.'

Engel offered no details of the investigation, although two congressional aides said it involved allegations that Pompeo may have improperly treated staff.

According to a Democratic aide, Linick's office was looking into Pompeo's 'misuse of a political appointee' at the State Department to perform personal tasks for himself and his wife, New York Times reporter Edward Wong said.

The New York Congressman announced his investigation into the firing with Menendez, a ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, calling on administration officials to preserve all records related to the firing and to turn information over to the committees by Friday, May 22.

'President Trump's unprecedented removal of Inspector General Linick is only his latest sacking of an inspector general, our government's key independent watchdogs, from a federal agency,' Engel and Menendez wrote in their letter.

'We unalterably oppose the politically-motivated firing of inspector generals and the President's gutting of these critical positions.'

'Shameful. Another late Friday night attack on independence, accountability, and career officials,' Menendez, a ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, added in a tweet.

'At this point, the President's paralyzing fear of any oversight is undeniable.'

Sen Menendez was among the first to slam Linick's dismissal on social media

Rep Engel announced the launch pf the investigation on Twitter

Engel added that it was an 'unprecented removal' and was only the 'latest sacking'

Rep Engel and Sen Menendez published the letter above Saturday in which they said that Linick's firing 'would undermine the foundation of our democratic institutions and may be an illegal act of retaliation' if it was found to be a move to protect Pompeo

Linick's office has issued several reports critical of the department's handling of personnel matters during the Trump administration, including accusing some political appointees of retaliating against career officials.

'If Inspector General Linick was fired because he was conducting an investigation of conduct by Secretary Pompeo, the Senate cannot let this stand,' said Democratic Senator Chris Murphy.

'The Senate Foreign Relations Committee must get to bottom of what happened here.'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also condemned Linick's ouster, saying he had been 'punished for honorably performing his duty to protect the Constitution and our national security.'

'The president must cease his pattern of reprisal and retaliation against the public servants who are working to keep Americans safe, particularly during this time of global emergency,' she added.

Under Linick, the State Department's inspector general office was also critical of former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's hiring freeze and attempts to streamline the agency by slashing its funding and personnel.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and wife Susan Pompeo are seen at a state dinner in September. Linick was reportedly investigating whether they used an appointee to run errands

Linick, whose office took issue with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she served as America's top diplomat, played a minor role in the Ukraine impeachment investigation into Trump.

In October, Linick turned over documents to House investigators that he had received from State Department Counselor T Ulrich Brechbuhl, a close Pompeo associate, which contained information from debunked conspiracy theories about Ukraine's role in the 2016 election.

Linick will replaced by Stephen Akard, a former career foreign service officer who has close ties to Vice President Mike Pence, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Akard currently runs the department's Office of Foreign Missions. He had been nominated to be the director general of the foreign service but withdrew after objections he wasn't experienced enough.

By law, the administration must give Congress 30 days' notice of its plans to formally terminate an inspector general, in theory giving lawmakers time to study and potentially protest the move.

But previous such firings have gone through unimpeded, and inspectors general previously dismissed have been replaced by political allies of the president.

Pompeo, Washington's top diplomat, has raised eyebrows for frequently traveling the world on his government plane with his wife, who has no official role.

CNN reported last year that a whistle blower had complained that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, which guards US missions overseas as well as the secretary of state, had been assigned questionable tasks for the Pompeos, such as picking up takeout food or tending to the family dog.

The State Department confirmed Linick's firing but did not comment on the reason or on whether Pompeo was under investigation.
Express News Service By

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Saturday announced a slew of reforms which promised to catalyse investment in eight key sectors including defence industries, coal, aviation, power distribution, space and atomic energy. For starters, the government will set up an Empowered Group of Secretaries to fast track clearances in all sectors. A Project Development Cell in each ministry will prepare a list of investible projects, coordinate with investors  both Indian and foreign  and liaise with central ministries and states to bring in and handhold investors.

The government would also invest in upgrading infrastructure in industrial clusters along with states and rank states on their investment attractiveness to help investors decide on locating their businesses. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who announced the reforms as part of the fourth tranche of measures taken to counteract the crippling economic impact of the pandemic, said: The structural reforms being announced today will impact those sectors which are new horizons of growth, unleashing new investment, boosting production and creating jobs.

The FM said an incentive scheme would also be brought for new champion sectors such as solar PV manufacturing and advanced cell battery storage. Saturdays announcements were the fourth tranche of the package which is expected to be concluded by final package on Sunday. The government also brought in a revenue sharing model for commercial coal mining, which it had allowed earlier and wowed to auction some 50 coal blocs without any entry norms immediately to bring in fresh investments into the sector to reduce Indias coal import dependence.

The central government will also invest some Rs 50,000 crore in coal sector evacuation logistics and come up with a new auction for coal bed methane extraction rights. Sitharaman said some 500 non-coal mining blocs would be offered on auction in a seamless exploration-cum mining right and that the government would bring in joint auction of coal and bauxite blocs, mostly found in eastern India. Analysts pointed out that till now major global mining majors have given India a miss and its auctions had drawn responses from local firms only. Government officials, however, said they hoped following the global economic slowdown and with the right incentives, they may be induced to bring in fresh investments in the Indian mining space as also large Indian groups.

Will auction 6 more airports to promote India as aircraft hub

Government officials, however, said they hoped following the global economic slowdown and with the right incentives, they may be induced to bring in fresh investments in the Indian mining space. While some of the decisions had been taken earlier, the intention of the government in packaging them here as part of the economic counteraction measures seems to be to invite both foreign and Indian investors to come in with projects as soon as the lockdown ends, said Prof Biswajit Dhar of the JNU, a well known trade and investment expert.

It has also been wooing defence and mining majors to foray into India, a bait which they have resisted till now by investing in driblets. The government also said it would auction six more airports and promote India as a global hub for Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul. We will be able to get to our destination in shortest possible time saving fuel and time (by removing curbs on flight routes).

It will entail benefits to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore per year for the aviation sector, Sitharaman said. The FM also said the government will bring in a new power tariff policy to ensure that cross subsidies across the industry are reduced. The government also proposed to allow private companies in the space sector. Firms will be able to access ISRO facilities, participate in projects for planetary exploration and outer space travel.

Social infra

A8,100 crore revamped Viability Gap Funding Scheme for projects proposed

Drawing in investments

India has been trying to woo factories and firms relocating from China through policy incentives. It has also been wooing defence and mining majors.
Ninth Circuit revives church's lawsuit against Calif. abortion insurance mandate

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A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has revived a California churchs lawsuit against a state law mandating insurance coverage for abortion.

Skyline Wesleyan Church of La Mesa sued the California Department of Managed Health Care over letters from 2014 stating that insurance companies could not limit abortion coverage.

Previously, a district court had ruled against Skyline Wesleyan Church of La Mesa in its lawsuit over a state mandate on abortion coverage, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction and the issue remained hypothetical.

The panel vacated the earlier district court ruling in a unanimous decision released Wednesday, sending the case back to the lower court for further proceedings.

Circuit Judge Michelle Friedland authored the panel's opinion, concluding that Skyline has suffered an injury in fact.

Before the Letters were sent, Skyline had insurance that excluded abortion coverage in a way that was consistent with its religious beliefs, Friedland wrote.

After the Letters were sent, Skyline did not have that coverage, and it has presented evidence that its new coverage violated its religious beliefs. There is nothing hypothetical about the situation.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative law firm that represented the church before the Ninth Circuit, celebrated the panel's decision.

The agency has unconstitutionally targeted religious organizations, repeatedly collaborated with pro-abortion advocates, and failed to follow the appropriate administrative procedures to implement its abortion-coverage requirement, said ADF Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus.

The 9th Circuit rightly recognized the harm that the state has inflicted on Skyline Church in subjecting it to this unprecedented mandate.

In August 2014, the California Department of Managed Health Care sent an official letter to major insurance providers stating that insurance companies in California could not restrict abortion coverage.

"The purpose of this letter is to remind plans that the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 (Knox Keene Act) requires the provision of basic healthcare services," the letter stated.

" [T]he California Constitution prohibits health plans from discriminating against women who choose to terminate a pregnancy. Thus, all health plans must treat maternity services and legal abortion neutrally."

The announcement led to multiple churches filing legal action against the California Department of Managed Health Care, arguing that the mandate violated their religious objections to abortion.

In January, the Trump administration warned California that it will revoke federal funding over its requirement that all health insurance plans in the state cover abortion.

The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights warned that California cannot impose universal abortion coverage mandates on health insurance plans and issuers in violation of federal conscience laws.

The Office for Civil Rights concluded that the mandate violated the Weldon Amendment, which bans government agencies from requiring healthcare providers to pay for or refer patients for abortions.
BARCELONA, Spain  Every five days, Daniel Ordonez opens 1,400 pipe taps in a waterfront hotel here in Barcelona that locals call The Sail because of its shape.

Each tap has to run for about five minutes, so the task takes him a full day. Its probably the most boring part of my job, but its needed, he said, to avoid a form of pneumonia that can be spread by bacteria in the water: Legionnaires disease.

Mr. Ordonez, who is in charge of maintenance at the hotel, has been its sole continuous occupant for the past two months, wandering its ghostly halls because of another illness that has ravaged the country and the globe: Covid-19.

When the hotel closed in mid-March as part of a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Mr. Ordonez, an industrial engineer, agreed to self-isolate inside in order to avoid any deterioration of the premises that could delay its reopening, whenever that might be.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 16:43:04|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Business travelers in China have been urged to be vigilant about epidemic control as business trips become necessary and the risks of COVID-19 remain.

Those who plan to travel for business should first check if new cases have been reported recently in their destination cities, said Feng Luzhao, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, at a press conference in Beijing on Sunday.

Business trips to regions categorized as having high risks for COVID-19 should be suspended, Feng said.

Business travelers should take face masks and hand disinfectant with them, keep a safe social distance and try not to eat on public transport such as planes or trains, said Feng, adding that they should also choose higher-end hotels, dine separately and use serving chopsticks and spoons to minimize the risk of infection.

Those who develop suspected symptoms such as fever, dry cough and fatigue should seek medical help at nearby institutions as early as possible, Feng said. Enditem
Netanyahu has been called a political Houdini. On his way to forming the new government, he skillfully outmaneuvered almost all of his political rivals. Initially, it was Gantz who was tasked with forming the next government. But after failing to pull together enough support for a coalition, he shocked his political partners and supporters when he announced last month he was forming an emergency unity government with Netanyahu.
LONDON  The World Health Assembly is usually a sedate annual gathering of senior government health officials in Geneva attracting scant attention outside health care specialists.

Monday is set to bring a summit like none before.

Not only has the coronavirus killed at least 300,000 people globally and brought a wrenching economic recession, but it has also triggered a drastic escalation in tension between the world's two largest economies, the United States and China.

Embroiled in the dispute is the World Health Organization, the U.N. agency for which the assembly in Geneva acts as a decision-making body.

"The principal spoiler at this event, I think, is going to be the United States," said Mukesh Kapila, a former adviser to the WHO's previous director-general. Kapila has also worked at a slew of other U.N. agencies and for the British government during his 30-year career.

"It may well use this forum to grandstand its attacks on China and, of course, the leadership of the WHO  in fact, I'm quite sure they will do so," said Kapila, who is now a professor of global health and humanitarian affairs at the University of Manchester in England.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

That's if the U.S. shows up at all.

President Donald Trump has already moved to withdraw U.S. funding from the WHO, which advises its 194 member countries but has no actual power to enforce health care policy. The president also declined to attend a recent European Union summit that raised $8 billion for a global fund for vaccines and treatments.

The WHO's assemblies usually tackle a plethora of world health issues, but this time the decks have been cleared to focus on one: COVID-19.

The EU has drafted a resolution to boost international cooperation on vaccines, treatments, testing and medical supplies. Many observers expect another one calling for an investigation into the origins of the virus, which China is likely to oppose.

Story continues

But given the political tension, the unprecedented global scrutiny and the fact that this year's virtual format rules out any backroom diplomacy over coffee, there is no telling how the event will work in practice.

"We are really in uncharted territory," said Charles Clift, who has worked as an adviser to the WHO and the British government and is now a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House, a London think tank. "We don't know how the U.S. will behave and whether it will say inflammatory things now that the U.S. and China have entered into a sort-of cold war."

There is plenty of blame to go around.

Many experts say Trump was far too slow to prepare the U.S. and risks further lives by pushing for the country to reopen too quickly.

The president has been Beijing's chief accuser, but he is far from the only one to have alleged that Chinese officials covered up the virus during its early stages and exacerbated its spread into a pandemic.

China has vehemently denied the allegations. Its Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, told reporters Thursday that "a lie repeated a thousand times is still a lie. We should stick to facts."

The U.S. and China have also clashed over whether to allow Taiwan, which has been praised for its response, to take part in the assembly.

China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province, has said it can participate only if it accepts that it is part of China, which Taiwan was always going to reject. The U.S. has backed including it, with the U.S. Embassy in Geneva alleging that Beijing would rather that Taiwan's "success not be shared, no doubt to avoid uncomfortable comparisons."

There has been recrimination, too, aimed at the WHO. While they may not use Trump's harsh rhetoric, many expert observers say the agency was at least far too credulous in believing Beijing's reassurances, which it then amplified uncritically to the wider world.

The most notorious example was a Jan. 14 tweet from the WHO that read, "Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus."

Under particular scrutiny is the WHO's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

He heaped praise on Beijing's coronavirus response even while there was evidence that Chinese authorities had underreported cases and tried to silence those sounding the alarm.

Tedros, 55, who like many Ethiopians goes by his first name, has been accused of kowtowing to undemocratic regimes before.

IMAGE: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Fabrice Coffrini / AFP via Getty Images file)

He is a former government minister in Ethiopia, which, despite recent reforms, is still classified as "authoritarian" by the Economist Intelligence Unit research group.

Shortly after he took the helm of the WHO, Tedros was criticized for appointing the then-president of Zimbabwe  Robert Mugabe, who often traveled abroad to receive health care  as a WHO "goodwill ambassador."

Plenty of experts say the WHO has done an admirable job when facing an impossible task: corralling the world into a unified coronavirus response. But even those sympathetic to the organization say there have been missteps.

"Clearly, a charge has been made, and the charge has to be answered," Kapila said of allegations that the WHO was complicit in a misinformation campaign by China. "I don't know the answer unless we have an independent inquiry."

Download the NBC News app for full coverage and alerts about the coronavirus outbreak

For Karol Sikora, an ex-WHO adviser who is dean of medicine at the University of Buckingham in England, the assembly must produce a resolution that gives "more direction from the WHO."

"They've not been prescriptive in their advice. That's what governments need," said Sikora, who has accrued more than 200,000 Twitter followers as a prominent promoter of positive news related to the pandemic. "They need to have some clear answers on things like face masks, distancing, international travel and schools."

Because the conference is a virtual one, "they are not going to be able to go out to the bars of Geneva at the end of it," he said. "They are going to have to deal with the practicalities of how we can get back to a near-normal world in the future."

Others are not optimistic. "All they can do is pass resolutions," Clift said. "It has a rather indirect effect on what happens in the real world."
Whats remarkable is how well suited, in philosophy and form, Sea Wall is to this moment, and how almost unmediated it feels onscreen, viewed through a stationary lens. Alex, like all of us right now, has seen the once solid ground beneath him abruptly fall away.

Stephens, who directed the film with Andrew Porter, wrote Sea Wall for Scott to perform onstage. After he did it in London and Edinburgh, they filmed it one day in a borrowed studio: the script the same, but spoken to a camera, not an audience.

Even the airy setting seems to anticipate present anxieties. With natural light spilling through a wall of windows, Scott stands at what looks like a healthy distance from the camera. If it is very 2020 to take note of that, it is also reassuring  and even more so when you know that the filmmakers shut themselves off from him, behind a screen, so that he would feel alone in the room.

I warn you that this Sea Wall left me in a puddle of tears, but also feeling something akin to that hallowed sense of connection we get from live theater. Ive watched it three times so far.

And if I should want to experience Sturridges performance again, too, the audio version of Sea Wall/A Life is on Audible.

Shows that closed too soon

When theater is shape-shifting in shutdown, trying to reach audiences digitally, it seems like a cheat to exalt a piece from pre-pandemic times. But a lot of what were bingeing lately is: all those National Theater Live shows (including the stage version of Fleabag, streamable on Amazon, where you can also find the hot priest in Season 2 of the TV adaptation) and all the productions recorded right before stages went dark.
Nairobi  Kenyan soldiers under the African Union Mission to Somalia Saturday quelled a planned attack on Somalia National Army by Al Shabaab militants at Bilis Qoo-qani, a town in the Afmadow district of the Lower Juba region of southern Somalia.

Kenya Defence Forces Spokesperson Colonel Zipporah Kioko indicated that 20 militants attacked a Somalia National Army camp from three directions.

Five militants were killed in the ensuing battle with five AK47 rifles recovered.

"KDF will continue to work closely with SSF in support of operations to restore peace and reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab. Additionally, KDF will continue to build the capacity of SSF as well as assist them in stabilization, reconciliation and peace building in Somalia," Colonel Kioko said in a statement.

The KDF mans Sector Two which is the southernmost AMISOM frontline sector based in the border town of Dhobley which sits across the common border between Somalia and Kenya.

Kenya Defence Forces have forward operating bases in 10 other towns apart from Billis Qooqani which came under attack.

"KDF will continue to work closely with SSF in support of operations to restore peace and reduce the threat posed by Al-Shaab. Additionally, KDF will continue to build capacity of SSF as well as assist them in stabilization, reconciliation and peace building in Somalia," read the KDF statement.
Desperate international students are still waiting for promised Victorian government help, relying on food programs and vouchers to sustain themselves.

In late April, the state government announced an emergency relief fund promising vulnerable students without work due to the COVID-19 crisis a one-off payment of up to $1100 .

Almost three weeks later, applications have still not formally opened for students.

International students and Melburnians impacted by the COVID-19 shutdown line up for food assistance earlier in April. Credit:Penny Stephens

This week Melbourne City Council will make available coupons of up to $200 to international students for groceries at the Queen Victoria Market.
A country house in this photo was bought in 2013 by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, to provide shelter to the surviving victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery. But criticism is abounding as the victims were never allowed to stay there. Korea Times photo by Kim Young-hoon



By Jun Ji-hye



A civic group advocating for Korean victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery has acknowledged that its use of a "healing center" went against the original purpose of providing shelter to the surviving victims.



"We are sincerely sorry about our failure to properly carry out a project to support the wartime sex slavery victims," the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan said in a statement, Saturday.



The healing center is a country house built on 800 square meters of land in Anseong, Gyeoggi Province.



The group spent about 750 million won ($608,000) to buy the property in 2013, using donations from Hyundai Heavy Industries.



But suspicions have recently arisen that the surviving victims, who were forced to serve soldiers in brothels during World War II, were never afforded the opportunity to live at the healing center in the past seven years, while the father of Yoon Mi-hyang, who led the group until she won a proportional representation National Assembly seat in April for the Civil Together party, has been residing there and acting as a "property manager."



Civil Together is a satellite party of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea.



Critics claimed the healing center has been sometimes used as venues for retreats and workshops of other groups such as political parties and churches.



"Drinking and barbecue parties have taken place at the healing center that was supposed to be used for the victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery," the main opposition United Future Party vice spokesman Hwang Kyu-hwan said.



The Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan said Yoon's father resided at the healing center to serve as a building manager, acknowledging that it was inappropriate to appoint a family member of the group's executive to such a post.



Yoon's father has received 75.8 million won over the past six years for "managing" the building, the group noted, adding that he performed his job sincerely.


T hree small boats carrying 35 migrants have been intercepted by the Border Force off the Kent coast as they tried to cross the English Channel.

More than 50 people were also stopped by French authorities trying to make the crossing.

The incidents bring the number of migrants detained over the weekend to more than 125.

On Sunday, 10 men and three women who presented themselves as Iraqi and Iranians were found on a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (Rhib) at about 3.35am.

At 6.54am, a second boat carrying 13 men who said they were Syrian, Yemeni, Iraqi and Palestinian was intercepted, while a third boat was stopped at 1.15pm with nine people on board.

All of those detained were brought to Dover to be dealt with by the immigration authorities.

A Home Office spokesman said French authorities dealt with several incidents, with more than 50 migrants either prevented from leaving France or returned to the country after being picked up in the Channel.

The incidents follow a total of 90 migrants being detained on Saturday aboard six boats.

More than 900 migrants have been intercepted since the start of the UK lockdown, with a new single-day record set on VE Day when 145 migrants attempted the dangerous crossing.
Every Monday morning since remote learning began, year 7 student Chloe Skinner has sat at her desk downstairs at home and made a to-do list for the week ahead.

"I go through and write everything down for each subject. I choose what I know and can get done, with the easiest first. Each day I might work on three subjects and get them out of the way," she said.

"When Im at my desk Im just in a zone. I still like talking to my friends during the day, but Im not distracted at all. I feel accomplished, because I know I can get stuff done in the time I have."

Chloe Skinner is a year 7 student who is thriving during remote learning at home. Credit:Jacky Ghossein

Remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic has challenged many students. But educators are finding some have flourished, and they will need to be accommodated as NSW schools transition back to face-to-face teaching.
China on Saturday launched a campaign to solicit literary and art works created during the country's fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, which will be exhibited in a digital museum.

Co-organized by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the China Literary and Art Volunteers' Association (CLAVA), the digital museum will display the works as well as the stories behind them to mark the people's fight against the epidemic.

Many outstanding literary and art works have been created to pay tribute to those who have been devoted to fighting the epidemic and to inspire the public, said the CLAVA, adding that the museum is set up to promote the volunteer spirit among the public.

The public can view the exhibits and submit their own works via the museum's official website.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This past week, President Donald Trump exhibited more signs of Fauci Fatigue in his debate with Dr. Anthony Fauci over a prompt reopening of schools in the fall.

Somewhat surprisingly for the non-studious Trump, he is pushing Governors to open schools ASAP while Dr. Fauci called for caution during his Senate hearing, warning that a vaccine being among the back to school supplies for fall will be a bridge to far.

We dont know everything about this virus and we really better be pretty careful, particularly when it comes to children. The idea of having treatments available or a vaccine to facilitate the re-entry of students into the fall term would be something that would be a bit of a bridge to far.

If this were a situation where you had a vaccine, that would really be the end of the issue in a positive way. But as I mentioned in my opening remarks, even at the top speed were going , we dont see a vaccine playing in the ability of individuals to get back to school this term.

In interviews with Fox News and reporters at the White House, President Trump, with his arms folded, let it be known he doesnt feel the same as Dr. Fauci.

I totally disagree with him on schools,"

Fauci is wanting to play all sides of the equation.

" I think they should open the schools, absolutely. I think they should. Our countrys got to get back and its got to get back as soon as possible. And I dont consider our country coming back if the schools are closed."

The president also talked about the Coronavirus being less of health threat to younger people.

These are young people. These are students, young students. Theyre in great shape. Theyre in great shape. Now when you have an incident, one out of million, one out of 500, that something happens perhaps. You can be driving to school and some bad things happen, too. So no, were going to open our country. We want it open.

He did make an exception for older teachers of those young students.

The only thing that would be acceptable as I said, is professors, teachers, et cetera, over a certain age, I think they ought to take it easy for another few weeks, five weeks, four weeks. Who knows whatever it may be. But I think they bb have to be careful because this is a disease that attacks that age.

Former Vice President Joe Biden put his faith in Dr. Fauci.

I would trust the guy whos one of our top public health experts, not one who pondered injecting disinfectant into the body and looked directly at a solar eclipse.

So look to see a reopening of Trump University, but with over a certain age professor Donald Trump staying at the golf course for another few weeks, five weeks, four weeks. Who knows whatever it may be.
Milan: Italy will throw open its arms to European tourists again from early June and scrap its 14-day quarantine period as it eases one of the strictest coronavirus lockdown regimes in the world.

The move, announced on Saturday, is expected to lead to a resurgence in bookings by travellers emerging from their own lockdowns. As restrictions began to ease across Europe, the Italian government said that from June 3 all visitors will be allowed in with no requirement to self-isolate.

Italian Army and Rome's street cleaning task force personnel sanitise a church ahead of resumption of public masses. Credit:AP

Giuseppe Conte, Italy's Prime Minister, enforced strict measures from early March in a bid to stem the COVID-19 pandemic which has killed more than 31,500 people in the peninsula.

With shops as well as bars and restaurants due to reopen from Monday, the government has also announced that people will no longer have to justify travel within their own region and will be able to meet friends as well as family, though local authorities can limit travel if infections spike.
Seven weeks after Congress unleashed more than USD 2 trillion to deal with the coronavirus crisis, an oversight commission intended to keep track of how the money is spent remains without a leader.

Four of the five members of the Congressional Oversight Commission have been appointed, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have not agreed on a chair, leaving the commission rudderless as the federal government pumps unprecedented sums into the economy.

Without a leader, the panel's remaining members can still do some oversight work, but cannot hire staff or set up office space.

The four members have not met as a group since the economic rescue law was passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in late March.

If the commission is not functioning which it is not then there is no oversight on a huge part of the economic rescue law, said John Coates, a professor of law and economics at Harvard Law School.

So far, it's a non-oversight, oversight commission,? added Kimberly Wehle, a visiting professor at American University Law School. Lawmakers trying to oversee the spending law "are surging down the rapids without a raft,'' she said.

Congress created the panel to watch over $500 billion in lending to distressed industries backed by the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve. The Fed has said the money can be leveraged to offer more than $2 trillion in loans to U.S. companies.

But without a chairman, the panel's activity has been reduced to tweets and letters by individual commissioners and a May 8 statement in which it pledged to publish a required report "soon.

The failure by Pelosi and McConnell to agree on an oversight head is the latest example of a broken Congress, marked by partisanship and polarization.

Even as both sides acknowledge the importance of overseeing the sprawling economic rescue law, lawmakers are immobilized by a larger political fight, with no resolution immediately in sight.

It's disappointing but not surprising" that the oversight panel lacks a leader nearly two months after the emergency law was adopted, said Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight.

We've all seen how Congress operates,'' she added, saying it was difficult to see Pelosi and McConnell agreeing on an appointee in the near term, given their level of mutual distrust.

The dispute between the two leaders far transcends this particular problem,'' Brian said, but oversight should not suffer because these two can't agree.

Representatives for Pelosi and McConnell said they had no update on when the oversight position would be filled, although Pelosi has told reporters she and McConnell have been talking "and hopefully we'll have a decision soon. Meanwhile, they have engaged in a high-profile war of words over a new, $3 trillion rescue law pushed by House Democrats.

McConnell called the bill "an 1,800-page liberal wish list,'' while Pelosi lambasted McConnell and other Republicans who have said they want to hold off on more relief spending.

It's amazing to me how much patience and how much tolerance someone can have for the pain of others, she said.

The House approved the bill on Friday, setting up negotiations with the White House and Senate Republicans that could go on for weeks.

Wehle, who teaches courses on the separation of powers, said congressional dysfunctional goes back decades.

There used to be a Congress that worked across the aisle to get things done,'' she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has marked the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War, in a ceremony shorn of its usual military parade and pomp by the coronavirus pandemic.

In neighbouring Belarus, however, the ceremonies went ahead in full, with tens of thousands of people in the sort of proximity that has been almost unseen in the world for months.

Mr Putin laid flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier outside the Kremlin walls in Moscow and gave a short address honouring the valour and suffering of the Soviet army during the war.

Victory Day is Russias most important secular holiday and this years observance had been expected to be especially large because it is the 75th anniversary, but the Red Square military parade and a mass procession called the Immortal Regiment were postponed as part of measures to stifle the spread of the virus.

The only vestige of the conventional show of military might was a flyover of central Moscow by 75 warplanes and helicopters.

The ceremony was the first public appearance in about a month for Mr Putin, who has worked remotely as the virus took hold.

In his speech, he did not mention the virus  Russia has nearly 200,000 confirmed cases  or how its spread had blocked the observances that were to be a prestige project for him, but he promised that full commemorations would take place.

We will, as usual, widely and solemnly mark the anniversary date, do it with dignity, as our duty to those who have suffered, achieved and accomplished the victory tells us, he said.

The Kremlin Wall on Victory Day (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

There will be our main parade on Red Square, and the national march of the Immortal Regiment  the march of our grateful memory and inextricable, vital, living communication between generations.

The sharply reduced observances this year left a hole in Russias civic and emotional calendar. The war, in which the Soviet Union lost an estimated 26 million people including 8.5 million soldiers, has become a fundamental piece of Russian national identity.

Story continues

Beyond the stern formalities of the Red Square military parade and smaller parades in other cities, Russians in recent years have turned out in huge numbers for the Immortal Regiment processions, when civilians crowd the streets displaying photographs of relatives who died in the war or endured it.

Russian officials routinely bristle at criticism of the Red Armys actions in the war, denouncing the comments as attempts to rewrite history.

An online substitute for the processions was taking place and many people were expected to display relatives photos from their balconies and windows in the evening.

Belarusian soldiers perform during the Victory Day military parade (Sergei Grits/AP)

A full military parade of some 3,000 soldiers was held on Saturday in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, which has not imposed restrictions to block the viruss spread despite sharply rising infection figures. Tens of thousands of spectators, few of them wearing masks, watched the event.

President Alexander Lukashenko, who has dismissed concerns about the virus as a psychosis, said at the parade that Belaruss ordeal in the war is incomparable with any difficulties of the present day.

Belaruss more than 21,000 recorded infections is higher than in neighbouring Ukraine and Poland, both with populations about four times the size.

In the capitals of Latvia and Estonia, both former Soviet republics with large ethnic Russian populations, small groups were seen arriving throughout the day to lay flowers on Soviet war memorials.
New Delhi: The government opening coal mining for the private sector would ensure better availability of coal and attract foreign investment in the sector, industry experts said on Saturday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her fourth tranche of the economic package announced that commercial mining will be done on the revenue sharing mechanism instead of the regime of fixed rupee/tonne.

"Commercial mining of coal on a revenue-sharing basis would help more coal availability at market prices. So this will be far more efficient...Liberalised entry to allow people to participate for a range of coal blocks and those who produce well before the deadlines incentive would also be given," the finance minister said.

Welcoming the announcement Arvind Sharma, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas said that the "government had recently permitted 100 per cent FDI in commercial coal mining and, pursuant to the recent announcement, I understand be that the auction process for commercial coal mining is to be kickstarted.

"This is a good measure and should ensure better availability of coal. We will also see a lot of foreign investment in this sector as global players will also participate in these auctions." "Since the auction seems to be based on revenue share and not a fixed price model, we should see better participation," he said.

On CBM-based initiatives, Essar Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Ltd (EOGEPL) MD & CEO Vilas Tawde said, "Rs 50,000 crore in evacuation infrastructure would facilitate unlocking CBM potential in Coal India's leased area, which is estimated to hold 90 TCF of CBM gas (unrisked)," he said.

The introduction of competition, transparency and private sector participation in the coal sector will automatically build transparency of mine valuations, force rigorous mine planning and compliance, invite investments for enhancing operational efficiency to justify the bids made at the time of mine acquisition, Saurabh Bhatnagar, Partner and National Leader, Metals & Mining, EY India said.

Government's big plan to push coal gasification to replace natural gas in the fertilizer sector would help square energy and food security objectives,

Tirtha Biswas, Programme Lead at Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) said. "However, ammonia produced from coal gasification has a carbon footprint that is 1.8 times higher than that produced from the conventional process using natural gas. This could potentially offset the emissions intensity reductions achieved through investments in renewables," Biswas said.

Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) Managing Director V R Sharma said, "Government has acknowledged the long pending demand of the steel industry. Incentivising the coal gasification process is a welcome move. We are proud of the fact that JSPL is the first company in the world to produce DRI through the Coal Gasification route.

"India has third-largest reserves of coal in the world. Its gasification can help our country to reduce the import of metallurgical coal and crude oil substantially." Coal gasification technology will also enable a cleaner way of using coal, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 19:51:35|Editor: huaxia

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Iraqi Health Minister Hassan al-Tamimi on Saturday praised China's role in Iraq's fight against coronavirus. His comments came as Iraq has been importing medical supplies to support the diagnosis capacity in the country.
In February, 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery was shot dead in the south Georgia neighborhood of Satilla Shores. In the two months that followed, no arrests were made. But local residents and lawmakers protested what they said was a deadly combination of racial profiling and flawed self-defense laws. When they stop you, make sure you got your cameras on. Make sure you got a video. Police did eventually arrest 2 suspects, but it was days after this video of the fatal shooting emerged. Gregory McMichael and his son Travis were charged with murder and aggravated assault. The case has reignited the national debate over racial violence. Im sure you saw the news about Ahmaud Arbery. It looks like murder. The American public saw the video. What exactly happened in the last moments of Mr. Arberys life? Using security camera footage, cellphone video, and 911 calls and logs, The Times has reconstructed the critical 12 minutes from when Mr. Arbery appeared on Satilla Drive to his death, less than 300 yards away. Its around 1 p.m. on Feb. 23 when Ahmaud Arbery is out, less than 2 miles from his home. A security camera at 219 Satilla Drive is recording when Mr. Arbery enters the frame at around 1:04 p.m. He may have been jogging in the area, but he stops on the front lawn of 220 Satilla, a house being built across the street. Arbery glances around and wanders into the open construction site. Inside, security footage briefly captures him looking around. Meanwhile outside, a neighbor walks from Jones Road towards Satilla Drive and calls 911. The neighbor waits by the street corner. He will later tell the dispatcher that Arbery resembles a recent trespasser in the area. On multiple occasions before Feb. 23, several trespassers were caught on camera at 220 Satilla. The owner routinely alerted the police. On four occasions, what appears to be the same man was filmed. Its unclear if this was Arbery, but even if it were, this does not justify his shooting by neighbors outside on the street. The sites owner says nothing was ever stolen from the house during these incidents or on Feb. 23, and no property was ever damaged. But neighbors were aware of the trespasses and the community was on alert. Now, back to the day in question. Its 1:08 p.m. and Arbery is walking around inside the house. Four minutes after he entered, he walks out and runs off. In the top corner of the security footage, we can see down the street to 230 Satilla, the home of Travis McMichael. At 1:10 p.m., Travis and his father, Gregory, grab their guns, jump in a white truck, and leave the house to pursue Mr. Arbery. We dont have footage showing the next 3 minutes, but testimony Gregory McMichael gave police at the scene, and interviews by another witness, Roddy Bryan, indicate what happened. Gregory and Travis McMichael follow Arbery onto Burford Road. Their neighbor Roddy Bryan sees the pursuit, gets in his car and follows. The McMichaels try to cut Arbery off. Arbery doubles back and passes them. Bryan tries to block Arbery, but Arbery runs past him and toward Holmes Road. Gregory McMichael climbs from the cab to the bed of the truck armed with a handgun. We dont know exactly what happens next. But Bryan and the McMichaels end up following Arbery on Holmes Road. And we next see Arbery at 1:14 p.m. running back down Holmes Road away from Roddy Bryan and toward the McMichaels. Roddy Bryan is filming and  a warning  these scenes are distressing. Gregory McMichael dials 911 at this time. Lets watch this back and break down what happens. This is Arbery. He has been running from the vehicles for almost 4 minutes. Travis is standing by the drivers side of the truck, armed with a shotgun. Gregory is in the bed of the truck on the 911 call. Arbery doesnt know where to run. He veers right, then left and then darts around the right side of the vehicle. Arbery comes around the front of the truck. We see his white T-shirt through the windshield and here is Travis now leaning toward him. This is the instant the first shot is fired. Arbery is hit in the chest, his right lung, ribs, and sternum are injured. The two men wrestle over the gun. Gregory shouts: Travis! Arbery punches Travis. In the back of the truck, Gregory drops the cellphone. A second blast goes off out of frame. But we see the shotgun smoke here. Arbery is heavily bleeding. He throws another punch. Travis fires a final shot, which hits Arbery in his left upper chest. Travis walks away holding his gun. Gregory gets off the truck clutching his .357 Magnum. According to the police report, Gregory rolled Arbery over to see if he had a weapon. He did not. Police officers arrive within seconds of the shooting, and a minute or so later at 1:16 p.m., Police Officer R. Minshew reports: Two subjects on Holmes Road. Shots fired. Male on ground bleeding out. The police took Gregory McMichaels testimony and let the two men go. But now the McMichaels both face serious charges. Hi, this is Malachy and I reported this story. For transparency, a note about the security footage used in this video, which was first published by The Atlanta Journal Constitution. The time code you see here is incorrect. We know this because we lined up what we see in this video with what we hear in two 911 calls and we confirmed the time of those calls. These details and police logs also allowed us to determine that Gregory McMichael called 911 from his sons phone just before the fatal shooting. So in this video, we used the real time that events happened. Thank you for watching.
At memorial, pastor says Darrin Patricks recovery process was flawed, talks grief

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As the South Carolina-based Seacoast Church remembered Pastor Darrin Patrick, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound earlier this month, at an online memorial service held Sunday morning, Pastor Greg Surratt shared biblical ways to grieve a friends death.

At the beginning of his message, the founding pastor recalled how he met Patrick, who founded The Journey in Missouri and later served as a teaching pastor at Seacoast and died at the age of 49 on May 7.

Surratt said he first met Patrick in New York City at a gathering of church planting organizations. He sat at the dinner table with Pastor Mark Driscoll, founder of Mars Hill Church, and Pastor Patrick. They both were young, great communicators, and had written books, he said. Surratt and Patrick exchanged numbers, and Patrick started seeing Surratt as his spiritual mentor.

Four years ago, Surratt said, he received a call from Patrick after the church asked him to resign.

In 2016, Patrick was fired from his position as pastor at The Journey for what his church described as deep historical patterns of sin. Patrick also resigned from his position as vice president of the Acts 29 Network, which plants churches globally.

Surratt admitted that Patrick entered into a deeply flawed recovery process of which I was a part of.

"At times, honestly, I wanted to pull him out," he noted. "I felt like it was destructive at times. I would talk to Darrin about that but Darrin would say, 'I want to stick it out.' The landscape was littered at that point with leaders who fell and chose not to submit to a process of restoration. And he didn't want that. He felt like that maybe, somebody sometime can benefit from his story."

Patrick began sharing his testimony and eventually joined the staff at Seacoast. He and Surratt started The Pastors Collective to reach out to pastors, helping them have a safe place to process challenges they go through.

Earlier this month, Patrick was target shooting with a friend at the time of his death. Surratt said its still not known whether the gun going off was intentional or not. The circumstances are complicated, but theres an ongoing investigation. We may know soon, or we may never know. We're learning to trust God and we will be honest with you in the process but the bottom line is that our friend is gone and our hearts are broken, he said.

In his sermon, titled What to do when you lose a friend? Surratt shared that the first thing to acknowledge is that God weeps when you hurt.

He quoted John 11:35, which reads, Jesus wept, and refers to the death of Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus.

We need to give time to ourselves to mourn, the pastor continued. We dont need to do anything but sit and mourn, he explained.

Surratt also said we need to learn to focus our anger in the right place.

There are five stages of grief, though not linear, he said. At first, theres denial and isolation, then comes anger, then bargaining and guilt, then sadness and depression and then acceptance.

But these normal responses are based on incorrect subconscious thoughts and feelings, he stressed. They are normal, but we cannot let those thoughts become hardened, he said.

Concluding his message, the pastor underlined, Remember that death is not the final word.

Pastor Patricks family also joined the service remotely.

The police investigation into the May 7 incident is ongoing and its unknown whether the self-inflicted gunshot wound was intentional or unintentional, a representative from the church earlier told The Christian Post. The church stated earlier that no foul play is suspected.

We are heartbroken beyond belief, terribly confused, and missing Darrin in ways that feel unbearable, Patricks wife, Amie, wrote on Instagram last week, adding that the congregations kind remembrances of him, photos, stories, and encouraging words are healing to our souls.

Amie said Patrick was the rock of our family, the great love of my life, and a fiercely devoted father to our amazing children. He was a dynamic force of nature, deeply passionate and so, so fun. Mostly though, he loved God and people in ways that will challenge me for the rest of my days. And he loved me so well... I learned so much about how God loves me through the ways that my husband saw me, knew me, and cared for me. We will be a mess for a good while, but we will be ok. We grieve deeply with unwavering hope that this world is not the end and that we will see our Darrin again.

In 2016, the elders at The Journey said while Patricks sins did not involve adultery, he did violate the high standard for elders in marriage through inappropriate meetings, conversations, and phone calls with two women.

Patrick said he was devastated by his sins and apologized to the church.

I am utterly horrified by the depth of my sin and devastated by the terrible effects of it on myself, my family and so many others, including all of you. I am so deeply and terribly sorry for the pain that my sin is causing you, as well as the broken trust that my sin has clearly produced. In short, I am a completely devastated man, utterly broken by my sin and in need of deep healing, he said.

The church has started an online fundraiser to support the Patrick family. As we process our grief and heartache, we want to provide a way for others to give assistance to the Patrick family, and show their deep love and appreciation for what Darrin meant to them, it says.
A couple and their two minor daughters were killed and three others injured on Sunday after an oil tanker overturned and hit their motorcycle at Badi Bijasan Ghat on Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra border, police said.

The three injured, including two other daughters- aged one and two years- of the couple, and the lorry driver, have been admitted to a hospital,district superintendent of police (SP) D R Tenivar said.

Kamal (32), his wife Norja (30) and their daughters aged three and five years died on the spot in the accident, which occurred on Mumbai-Agra National Highway-3 under Sendhwa police station area in Barwani district, he added.

The oil tanker was on its way to Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh from Tamil Nadu when it overturned and hit the motorbike on the highway, some 80 km off the district headquarters, he said.

Prima facie, the accident occurred after the tanker driver lost his control over the vehicle, the SP added.

He said the deceased were returning after meeting a relative, who is a resident of a town located near the Maharashtra border.

A case has been registered, the SP said.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced an aid of Rs 14 lakh for the kin of the deceased who are survived by two injured daughters.

"While Rs 1 lakh will be given to the two girls as an immediate help, rest Rs 13 lakh will be deposited in their names in a bank fixed deposit," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Indian Army is considering a proposal--'Tour of Duty' (ToD) or 'Three Years Short Service' scheme, under which civilians could be allowed to join the force for a three-year tenure as officers and in other ranks for a variety of roles, even frontline fighters.

New Delhi: Industrialist Anand Mahindra has backed a proposal by the army to allow civilians, including young working professionals, to join the force for a three-year tenure while stating that the Mahindra Group would be happy to consider for employment those who have served the term.

The Indian Army is considering a proposal--'Tour of Duty' (ToD) or 'Three Years Short Service' scheme, under which civilians could be allowed to join the force for a three-year tenure as officers and in other ranks for a variety of roles, even frontline fighters.

The proposal aims to tap the "resurgence of nationalism and patriotism" among the youths who do not want to join the Army as a profession but wish to experience the military life for a temporary duration.

"I recently learnt that the Indian Army is considering a novel proposal, the 'Tour of Duty'. The young, fit citizens of India will get an opportunity to gain operational experience in the Army both as soldiers and Officers through this voluntary three year programme," Mahindra, who is the chairman of the Mahindra Group, said in a statement.

He further said, "I definitely think military training will be an added advantage for Tour of Duty Graduates as they enter the workplace. In fact, considering the rigid standards of selection and training in the Indian Army, the Mahindra Group will be happy to consider their candidature."

The army's proposal is a part of broad reforms envisaged for the force. It is expected to be discussed at a conference of top commanders of the Indian Army following which the process would be taken forward.

At present, the Army recruits young people under short service commission for an initial tenure of 10 years which is extendable by another four years.
UNITED NATIONS, May 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday called for unity and mutual trust among members of the United Nations Security Council, while stressing that international community needs multilateralism more than ever before.

"We should strengthen unity and mutual trust and engage in constructive cooperation," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Council's open video teleconferencing (VTC) meeting on its working methods.

"This year marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. More than ever, we need multilateralism, a strong United Nations, a robust Security Council, and solidarity and cooperation among member states," he said.

"Council members should take the lead in upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the international system with the UN at its core, and the international order underpinned by international law," the envoy added.

"Strengthening communication and cooperation among Council members is the basis for the Council to promote political settlement of hotspot issues. It is fundamental to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Council's work," said Zhang.

The ambassador said that "China calls on all Council members to take a responsible and constructive attitude, commit to equal-footed consultation, increase mutual trust, dispel misgivings, and seek common ground and resolve differences. On major issues concerning international peace and security, Council members should build broad consensuses, accommodate the concerns of all parties, prevent politicization, and make sure the Council plays a crucial role at critical moments."

Speaking about the Council's responsibilities, Zhang said that "we should focus on the responsibilities of the Council to address prominent and pressing issues that threaten international peace and security."

"The world today faces many problems that are related to peace and security in one way or another. The Council should be focused on its priorities, results-oriented, keep to the right direction, and not become a grocery store that tries to offer everything," he said.

The envoy noted that the Council should concentrate on regional and international hotspot issues, promote political settlement of disputes and continue to keep Africa as its priority.

"We must be committed to addressing root-causes of conflict together with other bodies, ensuring development through peace and promoting peace through development," Zhang added.

"Regarding thematic issues that go beyond the mandate of the Council, the Council should work in close coordination with other UN bodies like General Assembly and ECOSOC (the UN Economic and Social Council). At present, it is imperative to conduct international cooperation against COVID-19, support the secretary-general's appeal for a global ceasefire and immediately lift unilateral sanctions," said the ambassador.

"Bearing in mind the expectation of the international community, the Council should adopt a responsible and constructive approach, prevent politicization and take actions in addressing the negative impact on maintaining the international peace and security," he said.

Talking about the specific working methods of the Council, Zhang said that "we should adhere to impartiality and transparency, and enhance communication and coordination with relevant parties and bodies."

"The Security Council belongs to all UN member states, and discharges its mandate on their behalf. We should heed the views and recommendations of member states, especially the countries concerned, and increase their engagement," he added.

"We should strengthen coordination and communication with other UN bodies, in particular the General Assembly and ECOSOC and other specialized agencies, so as to create synergy in our cooperation. We should work closely with the Secretariat, counting on its professional support and meanwhile providing necessary political guidance," said the ambassador.

As for the role of the Council's rotating presidency, Zhang said that "president of the Council plays a leading role in this regard."

"During Council presidency in March, China reached out to countries concerned and regional organizations for their views before the Council meetings on relevant issues. China maintained close coordination with president of the General Assembly, president of ECOSOC and the secretary-general. Such practices proved conducive to the Council's work, and would be helpful if continued," he said.

"We encourage the presidencies for different months to better coordinate with each other, so as to enhance integrity and synergy, and avoid duplication," said Zhang.

As for the capacity building, the ambassador said that "we should strengthen capacity building to be better prepared in handling emergencies."

"The Council's work is crucial to peace and security of the world. All actions of the Council must be based on rules and have solid legal basis. Meanwhile, China supports the Council in improving itself on the basis of observing the UN Charter and its provisional rules of procedure to better address new circumstances and challenges in discharging its mandate," he said.

Referring to the challenge caused by COVID-19, the envoy said that COVID-19 is posing a formidable challenge to the work of the Council. "The good thing is the Council keeps working and never stops."

"In March, with joint efforts of all Council members and China, we devised new working modalities for emergencies. For the first time, the Council held video conferences and adopted resolutions through written procedures. These practices have enriched the Council's working methods and improved its working mechanism, enabling the Council to deliver tangible results at a difficult time," said Zhang.

"We need to further explore ways to strengthen capacity building of the Council and increase its preparedness for emergencies in the future. Further efforts should be made to provide stable technical support and sufficient conference service," he added.
Budapest, May 17 : The Hungarian government has decided to lift restrictions on movement in the capital, Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared.

"The number of new cases also decreased in Budapest, therefore the government is ending the restrictions on movement in the capital as well," Orban said on his Facebook page on Saturday, following a meeting with experts and members of his government, Xinhua news agency reported.

Orban added that the regulations for the capital would follow the easing measures introduced in the countryside two weeks ago, meaning that from Monday, the open spaces of restaurants and hotels can open, along with playgrounds, baths and zoos, and the shops will be allowed to stay open as long as they want.

"We brilliantly won the first battle against the epidemic thanks to the measures introduced early, and to the discipline of citizens in the countryside and in the capital," Orban stressed.

In order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, restrictions on movement were imposed in Hungary from March 28 and citizens have only been allowed to leave their homes and places of residence for the purpose of going to work or meeting other essential needs.

According to official figures, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Hungary stood at 3,473 on Saturday, with 1,371 recoveries and 448 fatalities.
Africas young and fit population will help the continent avoid an enormous death toll from Covid-19, according to figures from the World Health Organization.

Analysis from the UNs international public health body predicts more than a quarter of a billion Africans will contract the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus within a year.

It claims that the Covid-19 death toll will likely reach up to 190,000  significantly fewer than the forecast loss of life in America, and roughly on a par with Europe.

Africa has a population of around 1.2billion people whereas Europe is home to just 700million individuals. Africa has around 900million more residents than the US.



The US has already recorded more than 86,000 fatalities related to the pandemic, and the death toll could reach 225,000 by August, according to the US-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

The WHOs mathematical model studied 47 nations and expects over a fifth (22 per cent) of Africans to contract COVID-19, a figure totalling around 264 million.

Of these infections, up to 44million people will express symptoms of COVID-19 and up to 5.5million will likely be admitted to hospital.

Approximately 140,000 people would express severe COVID-19 symptoms, with 89,000 becoming critically ill.

Some 150,000 lives would be lost as a result, but this figure could be as high as 190,000, the estimates indicate.

Scientists also warn the virus will be hard to eradicate completely in Africa and may linger in communities for several years.

Egypt is the African country with the highest death toll so far, with 571 Covid-19-related fatalities. South Africa has the most infections, with almost 13,000 confirmed cases.

Data analyst Humphrey Karamagi told The Guardian that Africa has a young population compared to other parts of the world and this will help keep the transmission rate down and reduce deaths.

Africa also has low levels of obesity which doubles the risk of dying from COVID-19, according to a recent British study.

The biggest factor that plays out in our numbers is age, explained Mr Karamagi. We also have very few people who are obese, although the numbers are rising. But not at the levels in the US.

The piece of research, powered by the UNs dedicated health branch, did not include data from Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan and Tunisia.

Researchers say their analysis takes into account variation in cultures, societies and healthcare systems.

The WHO study, which has been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication in BMJ Global Health, claims the spread of COVID-19 throughout Africa will be considerably slower than Europe and the US.

Despite a lesser impact than other parts of the world, the knock-on effect on public health will be significant, the analysis claims.

A rise in hospital admissions will strain services, and programmes dedicated to tackling other health concerns such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and malnutrition, will suffer most from the added strain induced by COVID-19, the study authors say.

Smaller African nations will be most at risk, with Mauritius likely to be the hardest hit.

Seychelles and Equatorial Guinea will also be severely affected, with the scientists expecting them to the second and third most infected countries per capita, respectively.

Of Africas largest countries, the research predicts Cameroon, South Africa, and Algeria would be most at risk from severe outbreaks.

Nigeria is set to have the largest number of infections overall but not the most per capita, by virtue of having by the largest population in Africa with almost 200 million individuals, approximately a sixth of all Africans are from Nigeria.

Algeria and South Africa will have the second and third highest amount of infections.

However, less urbanised countries such as Angola, Botswana and Mozambique are poorly connected and infection spread is therefore likely to be limited.

But if the virus does spread in these countries, they are likely to be harder hit.

Previous research conducted by a team of African scientists found Djibouti  a country with a high population density  is predicted to be the African nation with most infections per capita. The most recent WHO analysis did not include Djibouti.

This previous study, released last month, found that more than 16million Africans will likely be infected by the end of June.

It expects 32.8 people per 1,000 in the East African nation to be infected.

Swaziland (26.8), Morocco (11.97), Algeria (9.8) and Cote dIvorie (6.65) make up the five countries with the most predicted infections per capita, according to this independent analysis.

Researchers agree that the most urbanised and wealthy countries will experience a faster growth of the epidemic.

Countries such as Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt were singled out as fitting this criteria, but none of these likely hard-hit nations featured in the WHO analysis.

Limited capacity to test and diagnose patients and poor data collection will hinder efforts to stamp out the disease, especially in rural areas, according to the World Health Organization.

These system capacity challenges highlight the need to ensure the success of the containment measures to avoid the need for mitigation measures that, despite relatively fewer cases expected in the Region, will be difficult to institute, the researchers write in their study.

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Rami Makhlouf was part of the presidents inner circle and played a signifcant role in financing al-Assads war effort.

Syrian tycoon Rami Makhlouf said on Sunday that authorities set a deadline for him to resign from top mobile operator Syriatel or they would revoke its licence  but he vowed not to step down.

Makhlouf said the government was piling pressure on him and threatening to arrest him unless he handed over company profits.

In a 16-minute Facebook video  the third he has issued publicising a rift with his cousin Syrian President Bashar al-Assad  Makhlouf said the collapse of Syriatel, a main revenue earner for the government, would deal a catastrophic blow to the economy.

Makhlouf was part of the presidents inner circle and has played a big role in financing al-Assads war effort, Western officials say, citing his business empire that includes telecoms, real estate, construction and oil trading.





If you dont comply  the licence will be revoked, and they said you have until Sunday to either comply or the company will be taken and its assets seized, Makhlouf said.

It was not clear when the video was taken and if he meant this Sunday or next.

You are, by this, destroying the economy of Syria, said Makhlouf.

He added authorities were demanding we  hand over 120 percent of the profits to the state or else we will be arrested.

Power struggle

This month Makhlouf accused security forces of arresting his employees in an inhumane way in an unprecedented attack from within the system by one of the countrys most influential figures.

Syrias largest mobile operator, Syriatel, has been embroiled in a power struggle with the al-Assad government since last summer when authorities seized his Al-Bustan charity and dissolved militias affiliated with him.

When the finance ministry in December froze the assets of several businessmen over tax evasion and illicit enrichment, the Syrian press said Makhlouf, his wife and companies were included.

At the end of April and again in early May, Makhlouf, who had kept a low profile throughout Syrias nine-year-war, posted scathing attacks against authorities online.

He said they were demanding $185m in payments from Syriatel, urging al-Assad to intervene and reschedule the payment.

Makhlouf has also accused security services of detaining employees to intimidate him into stepping down from his businesses.

According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, about 40 Syriatel employees and 19 from Al-Bustan have been arrested since April.

Condemning the arrests, Makhlouf claimed authorities would release the employees if he paid the $185m and resigned as head of Syriatel.

Makhlouf said he would be willing to pay the amount demanded by authorities but the issue of his resignation was a red line.

Whoever thinks I will resign under these conditions, doesnt know me, he said.

Makhlouf has long been seen as a pillar of the Syrian government since al-Assad rose to power in 2000, succeeding his father Hafez.

But rumours have swirled in recent months of souring ties between Makhlouf and al-Assad, who is spearheading an anti-graft campaign in a bid to shore up state finances.

In an interview with Syrian state TV in October, the Syrian president said he has called on everyone in the private sector who has squandered state funds to return the money.
The six-year-old boy who was seriously injured when he was thrown from the 10th floor of London's Tate Modern art gallery is taking his first steps, his family have said.

The French infant has 'has continued to make progress' after he was attacked by autistic teenager Jonty Bravery at the tourist attraction on August 4, according to his relatives.

In a post on a GoFundMe page, which has raised more than 206,000 for the boy's treatment and rehabilitation, his family said: 'Despite appalling conditions of confinement at the hospital, we are happy to announce that we are holding on and that our little knight has continued to make progress.

The six-year old boy was seriously injured after he was thrown from the viewing platform of the Tate Modern art gallery in London (pictured). He has taken his first steps, his family have said

'Finally, as he has muscled his thighs well, he can now carry his own weight.

'He does not yet have balance and needs to be maintained and guided, but he is now standing with a walker and manages to advance a few meters with the physiotherapists additional help.

'He is very happy to discover his room and the world while standing! And he is very impatient to be able to walk on his own as before.

'His sentences are always hashed, syllable by syllable, because he still lacks breath and muscle tone.

'We don't always understand everything he says, especially when he's tired but he expresses himself more and more.'

Despite the child's magnificent recovery, the family have been warned that it could take up to three years before he is able to eat as normal.

Jonty Bravery, 18, from Ealing, west London , said to detectives after he was arrested that he had planned in advance to hurt someone at the art gallery on that date

He is still in two boot-shaped splints and confined to a wheelchair for the majority of the day, but his mental recovery has been positive.

The family said: 'Memory seems to work a little bit again, very slowly.

'We help him to train it as much as we can, respecting his rhythm because he is always very tired.

'For instance, every day, we ask him to remember the activities of the day, and some times, it works a little bit.

'He also begins to remember new things, which means that the connections are gradually being re-established in his brain.

'This is positive because it means that the brain gradually repairs itself.'

The victim fell from the observation balcony of the Blavatnik Building at the art gallery

The boy, who can not be named, was thrown from a viewing platform at the gallery.

He suffered a bleed to the brain, fractures to his spine and broken legs and arms following the fall.

The boy was visiting London with his family at the time and spent several weeks in intensive care.

Bravery, now aged 18, of Ealing, west London, admitted a charge of attempted murder at the Old Bailey in December.
In continued support to the efforts of Kuwait in the fight against Covid-19, Jazeera Airways has converted its Park & Fly facility in record time for free use by the Ministry of Health to perform the first drive-through virus tests in Kuwait.

Jazeera Airways design and engineering team reconfigured the facility to comply with the stringent requirements of the local health authorities.

Speaking of the preparations for the centre, Jazeera Airways Chairman Marwan Boodai said: Our Park & Fly facility was an ideal location and scale to build the testing centre and equip it to the needs of the Ministry of Health. We are very thankful to be able to contribute in every way possible to the tremendous efforts made by the State of Kuwait to combat the virus. Our assets and human resources are at the disposal of Kuwait.

A second drive-through testing facility is being constructed as well by the Jazeera Airways team at the Jaber Al-Ahmad national stadium for the Ministry of Health to operate.

Testing procedures:

Testing procedures are solely performed by the Ministry of Health and will be announced on its official channels on social media. - TradeArabia News Service
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro launched an attack on Barack Obama after the former president criticized the Trump administration's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

During a televised commencement speech to high school seniors on Saturday, Obama charged that the 'folks in charge' of the coronavirus response don't know what they're doing - and 'a lot of them aren't even pretending to be in charge'.

Navarro hit back in an interview with Fox News' Judge Janine Pirro that night.

'Was that a speech or was that a political ad?' he quipped when asked about Obama's scathing remarks.

'I want to congratulate the former president on his new job as press secretary for the candidate locked in the basement. Good job.'

He went on to call the Obama-Biden administration 'a kumbaya of incompetence'.

'This was the guy, on his watch, that we saw over 50,000 factories disappear to China - didn't mention that in his speech,' he said. 'And to the American workers, it was always "let them eat arugula" - you'd have to wave a magic wand to get manufacturing back.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro launched an attack on Barack Obama after the former president criticized the Trump administration's handling of the coronavirus pandemic

'Donald J Trump got half a million manufacturing jobs back. So I'm a little surprised at the former president coming out like that, but again, as Biden's press secretary he's going to do that.'

'Here is the challenge. I have two challenges,' Navarro continued. 'The dog that didn't bark in that speech - there was absolutely no mention of the role of China in this pandemic.

'I'll start counting the days that we don't hear from Joe Biden and Barack Obama on the fact that that China caused this pandemic and basically unleashed trillions of dollars of damage on this world and, to date, 80,000 Americans' lives.

'And here's another challenge: Do you any the Obama-Biden administration could have put up ventilator factory in 17 days? Do you think the Obama-Biden administration could have built two factories making N95 masks in five weeks instead of the usual nine months? I don't think so.'

Navarro then shifted to praise his boss's handling of the pandemic.

'If you move forward to what this president is going to do, this week I did see a turnaround. History will mark this week was the turn around. We got the economy back open in 48 of the 50 states. President Donald J Trump announced a strategic stockpile in his image: stronger, smarter, more resilient,' he said.

'We have a vaccine Manhattan project that is going to basically get us to a vaccine in what I call Trump time, which is as soon as possible, with a goal in December.

'These are the things along with building the best economy in the last 50 years that Barack Obama and Joe Biden couldn't have done and Joe Biden never will do in his lifetime.'

Navarro sarcastically congratulated Obama on becoming a 'press secretary' for his former vice president Joe Biden (pictured together in 2008)

Navarro is seen speaking during a White House briefing on coronavirus on March 22 as President Trump, CDC Director Robert Redfield and Vice President Mike Pence look on

Navarro continued railing against Obama and Biden's 'kumbaya of incompetence' during an interview with ABC News' This Week on Sunday morning.

He said that Trump had built the 'most beautiful economy in modern history' - noting that China 'did take that down in about 30 days'.

That statement served as a segue into Navarro's next target - the Chinese government.

Navarro continued railing against Obama and Biden's 'kumbaya of incompetence' during an interview with ABC News' This Week on Sunday morning (pictured)

He said that the 'China virus' could have been isolated in Wuhan, if Beijing hadn't intentionally hidden information and sent its citizens to other countries to 'seed' the virus.

Navarro said he did not believe China deliberately released COVID-19, but pointed to FBI warnings that Beijing has been hacking intellectual property in an apparent effort to steal vaccines.

'And what would they do with it? It wouldn't be a benign experience. They'd use that vaccine to profiteer and hold the world hostage,' he said.

'So yes, I do blame the Chinese.'

Navarro asserted that Trump is the only one to 'stand up to China', while Biden has '40 years of sucking up' to that government.

He also pushed the false claim that Biden's son, Hunter Biden, took a billion dollars from the Chinese.

When host George Stephanapoulos interrupted to say the claim was 'just not factual', Navarro replied: 'Be that as it may, I do think this election is going to be a referendum in many ways on China.'
George Poikayil By

Express News Service

KASARAGOD: In the first week of May, 10-year-old Hazarika SR phoned her father Ravindran Pulikkal (52) and asked, "Why don't you check whether we are alive!"

Two days before the call, a summer storm had destroyed the tin roof of Pullikal's house in Madikai.

Pulikkal, a junior health inspector (JHI) in Chemnad panchayat -- 30km away -- last visited his house on Vishu on April 14 for a day. He is making an RCC house nearby and knows he will have to shift his wife Sheeja and two daughters to the new house before the monsoon sets in.

But Pulikkal has little time for that or his family now. Hazarika was lucky to get through her father, for his phone is always engaged, if he is not in a meeting.

Malayalees across the world -- from doctors in the US to labourers in Qatar -- call him to clear doubts on COVID, quarantine, and on how to get back to Kerala. The beneficiaries of his kindness had made his phone number go viral. "Some days, I have attended to 600 calls," he said.

Pulikkal -- who stays near the Chemnad panchayat office building -- wakes up at 2.30 am, disinfects his room, office, take bath, prepare and has breakfast, and will be ready for the public service at 6 am. From pregnant women seeking assistance to go to hospitals to kidney patients needing medicines, he attends to all the peoples needs. When he saw six migrant workers walking on the highway, he found a place for them to stay. For the past 40 days, he is arranging food for them. "I am able to do this because the panchayat has a lot of kind-hearted people. No one knows about them," he said.



In the first phase of COVID-19 when Kasargod had 178 confirmed cases, Chemnad was a hotspot and in triple lockdown. It had 39 COVID cases, the highest in a panchayat in Kerala.

To be sure, helping people is not part of his job. The JHI has to disinfect houses where suspects are in quarantine, trace contacts, help prepare route maps, and even clean up hospital waste.

When active cases fell to zero in the district, the borders were opened for inter-state travel on May 4. On the first day, only one person registered with NORKA to come to Chemnad, but 13 persons arrived. On May 15, 12 persons landed unannounced. "People are coming in vegetable and container trucks, and on foot. We have to prepare quarantine facility for them in short notice, and begin contact tracing," he said.

Hazarika will have to wait for long.
A law student whose two younger sisters were murdered by her mother still blames herself for not doing more to protect her family nine years on from the horrific crime.

Grace Cuzens was just 13 when her mother Heather Glendinning murdered her sisters, 12-year-old Jane and 10-year-old Jess, before killing herself inside the family home in Port Denison, north of Perth on December 5, 2011.

At the time, the now 22-year-old was visiting her grandparents. She is haunted by the thought that she could have potentially saved her siblings' lives if she was home.

'There are still days when I can't help hating myself because I wasn't there and I didn't save Jane and Jess,' Ms Cuzens told The Australian.

Grace Cuzens is now studying law and has spoken out about the deaths of her mother and two sisters nine years ago

Jane Cuzens (left) and Jessica Cuzens (right) were killed by their mother in a murder suicide in 2011 which their father says could have been prevented if the courts had listened to him

'And now I'll never know if I could have made a difference. Or whether I would be dead too.'

Ms Cuzens has pleaded with the government to amend laws surrounding family separation.

Ms Cuzens, who is studying law at Notre Dame University, believes the system fails Australia's most vulnerable people - including her family following the breakdown of her parents' marriage in 2001.

'This is an issue that concerns each and every one of us. We are all accountable for what happened to my sisters; we are all accountable for what happens to every child in our community and it is well past time that we acknowledge this,' she said.

Glendinning resorted to drug use during the 10-year court battle for custody over the girls, and Ms Cuzens' father repeatedly warned of his ex-wife's deteriorating mental health.

Coroner Barry King said in 2016 the system failed Jane and Jessica (pictured) and urged all agencies to 'proactively share information' when it is necessary

Ms Cuzens' father (pictured) repeatedly warned of his ex-wife's deteriorating mental health

'Their mother was not sane and fit to have custody of them - and no one wanted to hear that until it was too late,' he said in 2019.

Ms Cuzens said children are under too much pressure to 'choose' a parent following a divorce, which can lead to them making the wrong decisions out of fear or loyalty.

As a young girl, she felt she was choosing between her mother - who had limited rules and allowed her to eat junk food - or the strict routine and rules with her father.

Since the horrific murder-suicide, Ms Cuzens has been determined to move on with her life, and said she'd almost entirely forgotten any memories shared with her mother.

But the untimely deaths of her sisters still 'haunts her', she said.

'I push myself hard because if I sit in a hole and don't do anything, and don't make my life count for anything, then why was I the sister that lived,' she said.

'When they died, a part of my identity died with them. I carry around my grief and I overload myself with work because I have a crippling fear that if I stop, I will never start again.'

Mr Cuzens said he is astonished by the wonderful person his sole surviving daughter has grown into - despite the deep scars she has from her past.

At an inquest into the deaths in 2016, Coroner Barry King determined the tragedy was potentially avoidable.

He said the outcome could have been different if Glendinning's declining mental state had been discussed between the Family Court, mental health authorities and government agencies.

Heather Glendinning (pictured), 46, a West Australian nurse, suffered a mental breakdown before killing her two daughters and herself

Mr King said the system failed and urged all agencies in the future to 'proactively share information' when it is necessary.

Glendinning's partner up until a few days before her death, Gary Renwick, told the inquest she began keeping bats under her bed and carried knives around the house as her drug use became more frequent.

'The scene, and the manner in which the deceased died, can only be described as horrific, and it is not my intention, nor the purpose of this inquest, to examine them in any detail,' counsel assisting the coroner Kate Ellson said in her opening address.

Ms Ellson said the couple were involved in 'prolonged and complex legal proceedings, sullied by high levels of conflict' when she was exhibiting signs of stress and medical professionals noted their concerns for her mental well-being.'

There were no documented comprehensive mental health assessments.
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday (May 17) provided a tranche-wise break up of the Rs 20 lakh crore economic package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to boost the economy in view of the coronavirus crisis. Here is the summary of all the announcements so far, totaling over Rs 20 lakh crores:

Earlier measures: Rs 1,92,000 crore

Tranche 1: Rs 5,94,550 crore

Tranche 2: Rs 3,10,000 crore

Tranche 3: Rs 1,50,000 crore

Tranche 4+5: Rs 48,100 crore

Total: 20,97,053 crore

Here is the summary of all the announcements so far, totalling over Rs 20 lakh crores (5/5)#AatmaNirbharApnaBharat pic.twitter.com/i2HVhYabj2  PIB India #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) May 17, 2020

Tranche 1: Rs 5,94,550 crore

Emergency working capital facility for businesses: Rs 3 lakh crore

Subordinate debt for stressed MSMEs: Rs 20,000 crore

Fund of fund for MSMEs: Rs 50,000 crore

EPF support for businesses and workers: Rs 2,800 crore

Reduction in EPF rates: Rs 6,750 crore

Special liquidity scheme for NBFCs, HFCs & MGIS: Rs 30,000 crore

Partial credit guarantee scheme 2.0 for liabilities of NBFCs and MFIs: Rs 45,000 crore

DISCOMS: Rs 90,000 crore

reduction in TDS/TCS rates: Rs 50,000 crore

Tranche 2: Rs 3,10,000 crore

Free food grain supply for migrant workers for 2 months: Rs 3,500 crore

Interest subvention for MUDRA Shishu loans: Rs 1,500 crore

Special credit facility for street vendors: Rs 5,000 crore

Housing CLSS-MIG: Rs 70,000 crore

Additional emergency WCF through NABARD: Rs 30,000 crore

Additional credit through Kisan Credit Credit: Rs 2 lakh crore

Tranche 3: Rs 1,50,000 crore

Micro food enterprises (MFEs): Rs 10,000 crore

PM Matsya Sampada Yojana: Rs 20,000 crore

TOP to TOTAL: Rs 500 crore

Agri infra fund: Rs 1 lakh crore

Animal husbandry infra development fund: Rs 15,000 crore

Promotion of herbal cultivation: Rs 4,000 crore

Beekeeping initiative: Rs 500 crore

Tranche 4+5: Rs 48,100 crore

RBI measures: Rs 8,01,603 crore

Revenue lost due to tax concessions announced since March 22: Rs 7,800 crore

PM Garib Kalyan Package: Rs 1,70,000 crore
After weeks of lockdown was eased, thousands of Greeks returned to the church as of May 17 for the mass gatherings for the first time in the courtyard of Ayios Spiridonas Church in Piraeus since the pandemic hit the country, as per local media reports. The melodious chants of the Sunday liturgy were broadcasted on the loudspeakers and could be heard down at the seaport as people attended the service in the church.

Weekly congregations in Greece were reportedly banned and people had to spend the highlight of the religious calendar, Easter, which fell on April 19 indoors. In mid-March, the government imposed a total movement ban and suspended the assembly at the religious sites, including the churches, to stem the novel coronavirus transmission among the communities. However, the services resumed as adjoining pews were replaced with chairs inside the church area and in its courtyard as social distancing rules were adhered to by the mass. Also, the chairs were kept at least two meters apart with boundaries marked with red and white masking tape to avoid close contact among the public, media reports confirmed.

Customary in the Greek Orthodox religion, some people were spotted touching and embracing the holy emblems in the church. However, a woman stood disinfecting the icon with the sanitizer as another individual walked in to touch it, as per the reports. Disposable gloves and antiseptic were also kept for the visitors to avoid catching the strain of the virus. Churchgoers were also seen reciting the Creed, a declaration of faith in God and Jesus.

Read: Coronavirus: 7,200 Inmates Released From Odisha Jails

Read: Russia Reports 9,709 New Coronavirus Cases, 94 Fatalities In 24 Hours

Retail businesses resume

Churchwarden Petros Anagnostakis was quoted as saying that the arrangements to reopen the church had been ongoing for about a week. However, today (May 17) was supposed to be a great celebration. He added, the community was overjoyed to have the mass organized, and everyone was visibly moved, a news agency reported.

Over 2,819 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus have been recorded so far, out of which, at least 1,374 recovered in Greece. Retail shops and businesses were allowed to resume operations as the nation entered its second phase of the lockdown imposed to curb the transmission of the COVID-19 disease, according to reports. However, shopping malls and departmental stores still remain shut.

Read: New Zealand Set To Reopen After 'eliminating' Coronavirus In Seven Weeks

Read: British PM Says He Understands People 'feel Frustrated' By New Coronavirus Rules

(Image Credit: AP)
- At least 20 militants are reported to have attacked the Somali Security Forces (SSF) in Bilis Qooqani

- Kenya Defence Forces soldiers who were nearby responded to the attack and killed five gunmen

- The soldiers also recovered five guns from the militants as several others ran into the forest

The Kenya Defence Forces soldiers operating under AMISOM have successfully foiled an attack by the al-Shabaab militants on Somali Security Forces (SSF) stationed in Bilis Qooqani.

At least five terrorists were gunned down and several others escaped with gun injuries during the early Sunday morning gunfire in Bilis Qooqani.

READ ALSO: Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi threatens to lift the lid on Chris Msando's murder

The KDF soldiers working under AMISOM responded to the attack and killed five soldiers. Photo: KBC

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Miguna calls for resignation of 145 MPs to deny Uhuru-Raila chance to impose BBI on Kenyans

Confirming the incident, KDF spokesperson Zipporah Kioko said about 20 militants had attacked the SSF station from three directions prompting the KDF unit stations in the area to respond by dispatching a special platoon of soldiers.

After the gunfight, KDF troop had killed five al-Shabaab terrorists. They also recovered five AK 47 rifles and several rounds of ammunition, said Kioko.

Kioko said KDF will continue to work closely with SSF in support of operations to restore peace and reduce the threat posed by the militants.

KDF soldiers during a past operation in Boni Forest. Photo: KDF

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: William Ruto should resign from government, vie in 2027 - Herman Manyora

KDF will continue to build capacity of SSF as well as assist them in stabilization, reconciliation and peacebuilding in Somalia, she added.

The attempted attack on soldiers came barely hours after the militants attacked a police station in Wajir county and also destroyed a communications mast owned by Safaricom.

At least 26 officers were forced to flee the station after they were overwhelmed by the militants, three of them are still missing.

Also, al-Shabaab militia are suspected to have abducted two milk traders in Sanaa village, Mandera county.

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
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-16 22:54:18|Editor: huaxia

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Students of grade 9 attend a class at the No. 1 Middle School Affiliated to East China Normal University in east China's Shanghai, April 27, 2020.(Xinhua/Liu Ying)

SHANGHAI, May 16 (Xinhua) -- First, second and third-graders of elementary schools in Shanghai will return to school from June 2 as the epidemic wanes, and the city's public kindergartens will also reopen on the same day, local authorities said Saturday.

The junior students can choose to continue their online education at home if necessary, said the municipal education commission. The online course will last till the end of this semester.

From June 2, private kindergartens in Shanghai can decide their own time to resume classes after getting approval from the district education administrations.

The commission said elementary schools and kindergartens should meet the epidemic prevention requirements before resuming classes.

Training institutions, after meeting relevant requirements for epidemic prevention and control, can also resume offline service in open space from next Monday.

Previously, middle and high schools in Shanghai have resumed classes partially for senior and sophomore students. 
No one can lawfully embark on any type of protest action unless they notify the Commissio
Following the detection of its first omicron case Saturday in Haidian district of Beijing, the Chinese capital locked down certain communities and office buildings just weeks before the Winter Olympics and the Lunar New Year holiday. The city opened 30 emergency testing points in Haidian on Monday as it rushes to contain the spread

Jan 19, 2022 05:37 PM
New Delhi, May 17 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman may have announced all relief and reform measures as part of the Rs 20 lakh crore economic package to tide over the coronavirus crisis, but a major segment of the economy - the retailers and the trading community -- are feeling left out as no specific support came in for them.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) in a statement said that the seven crore traders of the country have been totally ignored while announcing the economic package.

"Confederation of All India Traders(CAIT) has expressed deep disappointment and resentment against the Government on behalf of the 7 crore traders of India who have been completely ignored while announcing the Economic package," the traders' body said in a statement.

Describing the government's approach as a "step-motherly" treatment towards retail traders, the CAIT statement said: "Every trader is anguished and registers their protest today because they have been completely sidelined by the government while preparing the much awaited economic package." CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that the organisation will seek immediate intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As per the traders' body, the community will be landing into great financial crisis on lifting of lockdown as they will have to pay salary, interest, bank loans, taxes and various other financial obligations.

"It is expected that nearly 20 per cent traders will have to wind up their business and another 10 per cent traders dependent on these 20 per cent traders will have to close their business," the statement said.

Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of Retailers Association of India (RAI), said that the steps taken under the 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' economic stimulus will help the country in the long term but the emergent issues facing the retail industry have not been addressed.

In a statement, he noted that retailers needed wage support, moratorium for payment of principal and interests and support in the form ofworking capital. These measures are critical to survive, Rajagopalan added.

"Even the relief measures offered to MSMEs by the government do not help retailers as retail is not covered under the MSME sector," the RAI CEO said.

He said that retailers need working capital in their hands to retain employment as lack of support will result in closure of businesses, and jeopardise livelihoods and jobs of 4.6 crore employees in modern retail out of which 2 crore work in non-essential retail segment.

"With no income and zero support from the government, the industry doesn't have the ability to support them. This will lead to a massive slowdown in consumption that will further harm the economy and the country," Rajagopalan said.

Along with extension of the loan moratorium, the sector had sought support for employee wages and rent among other demands but these did not form part of the package.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared that a combination of funds from public and the private sectors are reserved for state workers who are treated as ineligible recipients of the federal government's stimulus checks. The Disaster Relief Fund amounts to $125 million.

The state's emergency assistance plan will allow each immigrant family to receive as much as $1,000 cash assistance in lieu of the federal government's coronavirus relief package.

Program to support undocumented immigrants

The new program launched by the California government seeks to support the undocumented families residing in the state who are considered unqualified for the stimulus checks by the federal government.

According to Public Policy Institute of California, there are over 2 million undocumented immigrants in California alone, and most of the population that accounts for this are Latin Americans. Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees estimated that $7 billion in taxes were paid by unauthorized immigrants, who comprised about 10% of the workforce.

To support more undocumented immigrants, the California government is said to contribute $75 million for the Disaster Relief Fund and private charity groups are to accumulate $50 million. State social services say this can be distributed to as many as 150,000 qualified individuals.

Those wishing to apply for the fund must be a legal adult recognized by the U.S. government and must present proof of financial difficulties that are related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The applications for the state funding are deliberated on a first-come, first serve basis.

Before applying, undocumented immigrants must first contact the nearest of the twelve organizations working with the state department of social services for the application process.

Check these out:

Undocumented students not included in the CARES program

Some organizations started to sue the federal government for the exclusion of the immigrants in the CARES program.

Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley and the Board of Governors at California Community Colleges have already filed a lawsuit against officials in the Department of Education because of the "unconstitutional restrictions" placed on the coronavirus aid for students in the CARES Act.

Oakley believed that the intent of the distribution of the stimulus packages was to financially support students during the pandemic. However, 800,000 students in the schools were excluded from the emergency grants, which were supposed to go to higher education relief worth over $14 billion.

The Department of Education in turn said that only those who qualified for the program were eligible for federal financial assistance, meaning, those who finished high school, enrolled in credit programs, and had satisfactory grades.

Based on a report by the chancellor's office at the community colleges, more than half a million of the students enrolled for the semester alone were regarded as ineligible for the coronavirus aid. This number included 70,000 undocumented immigrant students.

In response, Angela Morabito from the Department of Education said in a statement that there was no legal support that said the U.S. Congress intended the CARES Act to go to "entitled DACA recipients" that they deemed ineligible for the financial aid from taxpaying citizens.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 04:40:07|Editor: huaxia

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RABAT, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Morocco recently received a medical donation from the China Development Bank (CDB) to help the North African country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDB said.

The donation including respirators and medical protective masks, arrived on Thursday night in Morocco's Casablanca airport by a flight of Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc from China's capital Beijing, the CDB said on Friday.

Through this kind of initiative, the CDB intends to support the cooperation between Morocco and China in fight against the pandemic and also in bilateral economic and social fields, the CDB said. Enditem
Australian model Megan Blake Irwin, 25, appears to have announced her engagement to Riverdale star Skeet Ulrich, 50.

On Sunday, the blonde beauty, who was once linked to Kourtney Kardashian's ex-boyfriend Scott Disick, sent fans into meltdown when she posted a photo of herself sporting a diamond ring on her wedding finger.

In the black-and-white photo, Megan was pictured draping her arm around her much older beau's shoulders, as they posed in formal attire.

Wedding bells? Megan Blake Irwin, 25, hinted she's engaged to her Riverdale star boyfriend Skeet Ulrich, 50, on Sunday after she debuted a diamond ring on Instagram while declaring he's 'mine forever'

'Always & forever mine,' she simply wrote in the caption alongside a love-heart emoji.

Megan made sure to get her ring finger in focus by resting her palm on top of Skeet's hands.

Fellow model Delilah Belle immediately commented on the post to ask the question on everyone's mind: 'Does always and forever mean ENGAGED!?'.

'Mine forever': Megan also shared several photos of herself posing and with her new ring via Instagram Stories

Is she? Fellow model Delilah Belle immediately commented on the post to ask the question on everyone's mind 'Does always and forever mean ENGAGED!?'

Ring-a-ding-ding! Megan beamed with joy as she showed off her new ring while posing for a selfie with her beau on Instagram Stories

Picture perfect couple! Megan and Skeet were dressed in formal attire as they posed for what could have been an engagement announcement photo shoot

However, Megan kept her cards close to her chest by simply replying with five kissing-face emojis.

Meanwhile, Megan also shared several photos of herself posing and with her new ring via Instagram Stories,.

'Mine forever,' she wrote next to one photo of the couple sweetly cuddling after what could well have been the moment he proposed.

It comes days after Megan and American actor Skeet (real name Bryan Ray Trout) reportedly moved into her Los Angeles home together.

Taking things to the next level: It comes days after Megan and American actor Skeet (real name Bryan Ray Trout) reportedly moved into her Los Angeles home together

On May 10, Megan posted a clip of Skeet attempting to help her sort her designer shoe collection, on what she described as a 'packing and moving day'.

Other clips saw the pair eating pizza together, and Megan complimenting Skeet on 'folding her washing'.

Megan has certainly had her fair share of high-profile relationships in the past.

Online: The Adelaide-born beauty told fans that it was 'packing and moving day' at her Los Angeles home

The Adelaide-born beauty was linked to American reality TV star Scott Disick, 36, in early 2016.

The pair were spotted on date nights in Los Angeles shortly after his split with the mother of his three children, Kourtney Kardashian.

In May 2016, Megan refused to confirm her relationship with Scott, telling The Daily Telegraph: 'He is a lovely guy but that's about all I'm going to say about that.'

By her side: One clip saw Skeet, real name Bryan Ray Trout, playfully helping Megan sort her designer shoe collection

Megan has also previously been linked to $2 billion sugar heir David Mimran, Australian publisher Oscar Martin, artist manager Ashley Wilson and Miami-based socialite Nicolo Knows.

Meanwhile, Skeet was married to English actress Georgina Cates from 1997 to 2005.

They share two children together, daughter Naiia Rose Ulrich, 19, and son Jakob Ulrich, 19.

Skeet went on to wed English actress Amelia Jackson-Gray in 2012, divorcing in 2015.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  PNP Calabarzon has started its probe on the alleged mauling incident in General Trias, Cavite involving policemen.

PNP Spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac said the investigation aims to determine the truth and look for possible culpability of the involved policemen.

"...the PNP adheres to standard police operational procedures, upholds rule of law and respects human rights and does not tolerate any wrongdoing of its personnel. We are confident the truth will be told," Banac told CNN Philippines.

Ronald Campo, a factory worker was allegedly beaten black and blue by police officers in General Trias, Cavite.

He was arrested for violating quarantine policies in Tropical Village, Barangay San Francisco on May 12.

Defense wounds

In a viral Facebook post, Campo's brother posted photos of the victim showing the wounds and bruises all over his body.

Forensic pathology expert Dr. Raquel Fortun told CNN Philippines that based on the injuries Campo sustained, he may have experienced multiple blows to the head.

And the gushes and wounds on his forearm could be defense injuries.

"And forearm abrasions/contusions. Mukhang defense injuries," Fortun said.

Cavite police have earlier denied that Campo was mauled by their personnel.
Boris Johnson and the UK's top civil servant Sir Mark Sedwill clashed over who is responsible for rolling out the Government's lockdown exit strategy, it was claimed today.

The Prime Minister and Sir Mark are said to have had a 'tense' standoff when the plans to ease restrictions were being discussed at a meeting last week.

Mr Johnson apparently asked the room who was responsible for actually implementing the measures contained within the blueprint.

He asked Sir Mark if it was him, but the head of the Civil Service replied it was up to the PM to make sure things happen.

The claims came amid reports of growing splits between ministers and senior civil servants.

Mandarins fear they are being lined as coronavirus 'fall guys' ahead of an inevitable public inquiry into the Government's handling of the crisis.

Meanwhile, a plan to quarantine travellers returning to the UK has prompted a Cabinet split over who it should apply to with aides concerned it is rapidly becoming a 'sh**show'.

Boris Johnson, pictured in Downing Street on May 15, is said to have had a 'tense' stand off with Sir Mark Sedwill over who is responsible for implementing the Government's coronavirus plan

Sir Mark, pictured with Mr Johnson inside Number 10 on July 24 last year, apparently told the PM at a meeting last week that it is the premier's responsibility to roll out the plan

Mr Johnson and Sir Mark clashed early last week after the PM had used an address to the nation to set out his lockdown exit strategy, according to two sources cited by The Sunday Times.

During a meeting Mr Johnson is said to have listened as the specifics of the plan were discussed before asking: 'Who is in charge of implementing this delivery plan?'

One of the sources said that silence followed before the PM looked at Sir Mark and said: 'Is it you?'

Sir Mark then reportedly replied: 'No, I think it's you, prime minister.'

Sir Mark's role in the Government's handling of the crisis has faced intense scrutiny in recent days after it emerged he had coronavirus at approximately the same time as the Prime Minister.

Downing Street only revealed his illness six weeks after the fact, sparking a furious secrecy row.

Sir Mark worked from home when he was unwell and Downing Street insisted he was carrying out all of his duties as normal.

Some MPs believe Sir Mark, who also serves as the Government's National Security Adviser, is spread too thinly and should hand over his NSA brief to someone else.

One aide told the newspaper: 'People are not such fans of Sedwill.

'He's doing three or four jobs: head of the Civil Service, National Security Adviser, adviser to the Prime Minister and leading the Covid stuff.

'He never quite articulates what he's up to.'

There is a growing fear in Whitehall that ministers could blame civil servants for mistakes made during the outbreak with all eyes now turning to a future public probe which is viewed as inevitable.

One source said: 'There is frustration in the system that they are not sure how to deliver this plan. They think it's a bit of a mess.'

It came amid a growing Cabinet split over the Government's plan to quarantine returning travellers to the UK.

The row between Sir Mark and Mr Johnson, pictured at a Cabinet meeting in February, came after it emerged the top civil servant had coronavirus at approximately the same time as the PM

Full details are expected to be announced within the next two weeks with people coming back to Britain told to self-isolate for two weeks.

However, a row is rumbling within Government over who should be exempted from the policy.

Some ministers want numerous exemptions amid fears a firm clampdown will spook business but others are in favour of more stringent controls to stop a second wave of the disease.

It was originally thought travellers from France would be exempt but Downing Street has now rowed back on that.

It is thought lorry drivers and scientists involved in coronavirus-related work will not be subject to the rules.

One adviser told The Sunday Times the quarantine plan is 'a sh**show' with ministers struggling to agree on the details of the policy.
A gun battle broke out between security forces and terrorists in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday morning, officials said. An Army jawan laid down his life in the encounter which is still underway, officials said on Sunday.

IGP Jammu, Mukesh Singh said that one terrorist has also been killed in the ongoing encounter. The slain terrorist belongs to Hizbul Mujahideen. Another terrorist has been injured in the exchange of fire, police sources informed.

According to inputs from sources, a terrorist has been identified by the forces by the name Auqaaf - an associate of slain Haroon Abbas Wani.

On a specific police input, an operation was launched late last night in Doda district. An encounter has started just now, police spokesperson and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manoj Sheeri said. He said further details shall be shared later.

There has been a spurt in terror activities across J&K amid the coronavirus pandemic. Jammus Dodacomprising Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts which have been declared militancy freehave also witnessed terror attacks and related activities amid the lockdown.

A day after Hizbul Mujahideens chief Riyaz Naikoo was killed in Kashmir, security forces on May 7 arrested an overground worker of the outfit from Doda district. He was identified as Raqib Alam, 22, son of Seeraj Din of Swanda village.

Also read: In Hizbuls Kashmir terror team, military adviser is most brutal

Security forces on April 17 eliminated two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, who had hacked a special police officer (SPO) to death with an axe and critically injured another on April 13 in Dachhan area of Kishtwar district.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a charge sheet against six people, including three slain Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists and three arrested overground workers of the terror group, for providing support to Pakistan-based terrorists to kill BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet Parihar in Jammus Kishtwar.

Also read: Saifullah Mir aka Ghazi Haider is Hizbuls new face of terror in Kashmir

The charge sheet has been filed in the special NIA Court, Jammu against the six accused under Sections 302, 120B, 109 and 34 of the Jammu and Kashmir State Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), Sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 25(1A) and 25 of the Arms Act.

The Parihar brothers were shot at point-blank range outside their house on November 1, 2018, when they were returning home after closing their shop.

Meanwhile, Pakistan also violated ceasefire in Malti and Digwar areas of Poonch district on Sunday morning prompting Indian Army to retaliate in equal measure.
"I will not judge you, if you don't judge me," says a character to another in Amazon Prime Video's latest offering Paatal Lok. Sadly, if it were that simple to comprehend and adapt, most of the shows being made today in India or internationally would not be overtly replete with social messages and world would have been a utopia.

Good thing about Paatal Lok is that most of its characters draw some or all of their traits from the 'netherworld'. Jaideep Ahlawat, who plays a cop named Hathi Ram Chaudhry, makes it very clear that the story will tackle 'scums' of the world. As the drama steadily unfolds, we find out that in dealing with a crime scene, the narrative is also giving us a naked and thorough view of the socio-political systems. One which first identifies, then isolates and discriminates on the basis of religion, caste, sex, region of belonging, medical conditions et al. It oppresses the others.

Islamophobia, gender fluidity, caste and religious discrimination, violence against women, corruption, greed and deceit are recurring themes in the show but what it achieves through portrayal is the sensitisation of its viewers.

Lets take a look at some of the instances and characters that help Paatal Lok in channeling the defiance and sheer rage of those in the periphery.

Tope Singh

Jagjeet Sandhu plays the character of Tope Singh. Through Tope, we survey discriminatory practices prevalent in Punjab where lower caste has been exploited and violated. Tope refers to himself as Manjhar, a term of insolence he is never able to disassociate from. He is called 'paagal' (mad) by his girlfriend because he is volatile. But what she is unaware of is the past Tope is hiding from, one which is filled with anguish, not just for him but for his community at large.

Dolly Mehra

Dolly is played by Swastika Mukherjee. She suffers from medical anxiety that requires her in need of constant companionship. Her ever absent husband Sanjeev, played by Neeraj Kabi, fails to romantically connect with her. This pushes Dolly to the verge of a breakdown, but she manages to bounce back by providing for a stray dog. In this, both Dolly and the dog become the emotional support for each other that the world denied them.

Imran Ansari

The most problematic state of affairs are faced by Imran Ansari, a character played by Ishwak Singh. While Ansari looks away from the religious bigotry he faces within the administration and from his friends, he does it for the larger cause. During a scene, when Hathi Ram utters cuss words for the community in front of Ansari, he smilingly responds with "It worked, Sir."

In a way, he is the moral compass of the entire show. Despite being the 'other', Ansari is never one to let religious identity interfere with the case and security of the people, and country at large.

Cheeni

Cheeni, played by Mairembam Ronaldo Singh, is one of the groundbreaking characters in LGBTQ representation in Indian shows and movies. In being submissive, Cheeni lets us relate to her the most. What adds to her cause is that unlike the caste, region or religion she was born into, it is her natural gender, which she opts to not relate to.

Kabir M

Aasif Khan plays Kabir M. What does M stand for is why he is tortured and killed. The uncertainty around his identity fuels people to make assumptions and eventually treat him like the other. His fate is sealed right from the beginning since he is knowingly separated from his identity and that makes him an easy target for anyone and everyone. He is a Pakistani, a Madrasi and depending on who sees him, not even human.

Apart from these central characters, Paatal Lok tries to be subversive in its portrayal of victims at all points. Since the oppressor and oppressed are mostly shot under similar tones and backdrops, it becomes unidentifiable who is who, and sooner or later, everyone becomes the target.

Follow @News18Movies for more
Sister Wives fans have watched as the Brown family made poor decision after poor decision during the most recent season of the show. The bad decisionmaking has seemingly left the family in a precarious financial position. Well, at least most of them seem to be in a precarious financial situation. Kody Brown appears to be one step away from filing for bankruptcy, again, but his first wife, Meri Brown, seems to be doing just fine. Between a successful bed and breakfast, and an MLM job that appears to be lining her pockets, Meri appears to be doing well, at least financially. Fans are left to wonder if thats the reason Kody keeps her around, even though he seems to despise her.

Meri Brown is bringing home the bacon

Meri has never released her earnings report, and Lularoe doesnt share exactly how much their consultants make, but we can ascertain that the reality TV star is pulling in over $100,000 per year from the MLM. Meri qualified to take a Lularoe cruise multiple years in a row. The cruise is only offered to consultants who moved $12,000 of merchandise for four months in a row. She was also one of the companys top 100 earners in 2017, according to a Reddit user.

Lularoe works like any other multi-level marketing company. The seller earns money not only by selling merchandise but by having other consultants work under them. Meri has a group of consultants that work with her. She gets a cut of those consultants earnings, too. Its safe to assume that Meri could be earning more than $200,000 per year from sales.

Lularoe isnt Meris only revenue stream. She also has a successful inn in Utah. While the Bed and Breakfast only has a few rooms, it looks like those rooms are pretty consistently booked. Even if she hasnt made her initial investment back just yet, shes well on her way, and Lizzie Heritage Inn appears to be doing well. The small business has a plethora of positive reviews and has won several awards.

Kody Brown seems to be in dire financial straits

The Brown familys financial troubles are no secret. They openly discussed their lack of liquid cash repeatedly during the most recent season of Sister Wives. It seems that Kody and his wives may have bitten off more than they could chew when they fled Las Vegas without selling their four homes. In the months it took to sell the houses in Vegas, they purchased additional property in Flagstaff and fell behind on taxes.

Hindsight is always a game changer. There are so many things I would have done differently. Yet, here we are doing the best we can with the information we have.#SisterWives  Kody Brown (@realkodybrown) April 13, 2020

More recently, Kody burst into a Live event Meri was hosting for Lularoe and demanded Meris signature on some paperwork. While its unknown what that paperwork was for, several fans who saw the stream surmise that Meri was lending her name to a loan application. It would make sense that Meri would be a co-applicant. Shes the Brown family member with the highest income, or, at the very least, it seems like she is.

Is Meri sticking around to keep the family afloat financially?

During the last three seasons of Sister Wives, several of the wives expressed concern that Meri was going to leave the family. Concern was first raised when Meri wished to purchase a property in Utah without adding any of her family members to the deed. Later, several wives voiced concern that Meri would choose to stay behind in Las Vegas when the family moved to Flagstaff, Arizona.

Meri Brwon, Janelle Brown, Kody Brown, Christine Brown and Robyn Brown | Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Admittedly, fans were a little taken aback by the level of concern both Christine Brown and Kody showed about Meris potential departure. Neither appears particularly bonded to Meri, and, frankly, she seems to make both of them uncomfortable. Fans are now forced to wonder if Meri is being kept around because she offers the family an influx of cash that they desperately need.

Without Meris earnings, the only cash theyd have to fall back on is the money from Sister Wives. Christine doesnt appear to be involved in Lularoe any longer, and Janelles real estate business doesnt seem to be booming. Kodys employment history is spotty at best, and Robyn Brown recently shuttered her jewelry business. Frankly, Meri appears to be the only Brown with a job outside of reality TV.
A Delhi court on Saturday dismissed the bail plea of former CMD of Religare Enterprises Limited (REL) Sunil Godhwani. There are money laundering charges against him in a case regarding the misappropriation of Religare Finvest Ltd's (RFL) funds.

Additional Sessions judge Vipin Kumar Rai rejected Godhwani's bail plea, ANI reported.

Godhwani had sought bail from the court on the grounds that he was suffering from sleep apnea, which is a medical condition where breathing stops frequently and starts during sleep.

Also Read: Delhi Police books Godhwani brothers in Rs 18.8 crore Religare fraud complaint by Malvinder Singh

He also stated that due to COVID-19, his disorder may have serious implications. Regardless, the ED's special public prosecutor Nitesh Rana opposed Godhwani's bail plea, saying that sleep apnea was not a grave health problem and the jail authorities were taking care of concerns due to coronavirus threat, the news report added.

In January this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a charge sheet against former Fortis Healthcare promoter Malvinder Mohan Singh, Shivinder Singh and Sunil Godhwani (former CMD, Religare Enterprises Ltd) in relation to a money laundering case concerning alleged misappropriation of funds at Religare Finvest Limited.
By Akbar Mammadov

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva has said that Azerbaijan has experienced Armenian terrorism and fascism first hand and therefore is not surprised by the newly-revealed US Congressional document exposing Armenian Dashnak organizations links to terrorism and fascism.

Abdullayeva made the remarks to local media, while commenting on the document found in the archives of the US Congress as a result of the investigation of the consulate of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles and revealing the fascist nature of the Armenian Dashnaks.

Unfortunately, we are well aware of the terrorist nature of the Armenians. Azerbaijan has experienced the bitterness of Armenian terror since the beginning of the 20th century, Abdullayeva said.

The numerous terrorist acts committed in Azerbaijan in the late 1980s, the brutal murder of 613 civilians during the night in Khojaly in 1992, the ongoing attempts by the adversary's armed forces to attack Azerbaijani civilians - all these are bloody terrorist acts committed by Armenians, the spokeswoman said.

Abdullayeva highlighted the fact that the basis of the occupation policy of Armenia is terrorism.

I would like to emphasize that the end of all this is nothing but self-destruction, she noted.

It should be noted that on May 14, Azerbaijan's Consulate in Los Angeles shared with the local media a document it found in the archives of the US Congress dating to 1945 and exposing Armenian Dashnaks sympathies for Hitler and Holocaust. The US government's document described terrorism as Dashnaks' "main political tool" and also quoted Dashnaks justifying the killing of Jews.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Aer Lingus chief executive Sean Doyle is seeking a "change agenda" from trade unions and warned them it is "likely to take years" for air travel to recover to 2019 levels.

An expected redundancy programme - with recent reports suggesting 900 job losses - would not happen until later this year and would be based on the success of this change agenda, as well as the airline's "resourcing need", according to an update sent to staff by trade union Siptu.

The airline had agreed to continue paying 50pc of wages until June 21 when it would cut this to 30pc of wages - although this would be in return for agreement on the change agenda.

The airline has sought major changes in work practices from staff - including the removal of demarcation - to deliver what Doyle described in a letter to ICTU industrial officer Liam Berney as "structural and lasting change".

The Aer Lingus boss warned "the pace at which recovery of air travel is likely to occur will be slow" and was unlikely before 2023. "We must also consider that the industry that returns will be vastly different in many respects from what we previously knew, be that from the perspectives of regulation, logistics, operations and competition."

The Aer Lingus approach to a return to normality is much less bullish than Ryanair's promise to restore 40pc of its scheduled flights by July 1. In his letter, Doyle noted a comment by the ICTU official that whilst the current situation was challenging, Berney believed it to be "temporary with improvement likely later this year".

The Aer Lingus CEO told Berney that the company was also hoping for "the earliest possible return to air travel. Given that we are currently operating only 5pc of our schedule, a meaningful return is essential".

But Doyle said that what that return looked like would depend on "the size and duration of the immediate challenge and the permanent legacy it will undoubtedly leave".

"The clear messaging to date from Government as advised by Nphet and indeed quarantine measures such as those proposed by the UK government, offer little by way of confidence of any meaningful increase over the medium term. Therefore the prospect of the improvement that you refer to in your letter is very uncertain," he said.

"This presents us with a very immediate challenge in that we have significant immediate costs, including people costs - and little operations or incoming revenue. We are significantly over-resourced in most parts of our business for our existing level of operations. Therefore, there is an imperative to take further immediate steps."

An Aer Lingus spokeswoman told the Sunday Independent that it was "continuing to engage with the relevant representative bodies and communicate directly with our employees".
The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has expressed excitement over the appointment of Ibrahim Gambari as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The forum also expressed its readiness to work with Mr Gambari for the progress and development of the country.

In a congratulatory message signed by its Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, in Abuja on Sunday, the NGF expressed confidence in Mr Gambaris competence for the job.

As you know, this appointment comes with great responsibilities and unconventional demands, requiring candor, discipline, professionalism, loyalty, focus, diligence and the highest level of service.

Your credentials, pedigree, experience and career trajectory both locally and globally speak to your capacity. As State Governors, we are excited about this appointment.

We are available at the sub-national level to work with you as you strive to make a positive difference in our country.

This is even more so now with the exacerbation of our circumstances precipitated by the volatility of oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic, Fayemi said on behalf of his colleagues.

Mr Fayemi wished Mr Gambari Gods guidance and the best of luck in the important and challenging assignment.

(NAN)
President emphasized that modern and future generations should do everything for sake of not repeating such crimes

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Bykivnia Graves National Historic Memorial and took part in the measures dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repressions. The press service of the Office of the President reported this.

The Head of State laid flowers at the mass grave, put an icon lamp, and honored the memory of the victims of totalitarianism near the central monument of the Bykivnia Graves.

"The colossal scale of the crimes and their inhumane nature are shocking. Absolutely unnatural to both the laws of normal human existence and the social order of the civilized world. The totalitarian machine destroyed human lives and destinies on its way without hesitation," the President of Ukraine said.

In addition, the president laid flowers at the memorial sign of the Polish graves.

"In an independent democratic Ukraine, the life and health of citizens will always be my unconditional priority," the President said.

As we reported before, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky published an appeal on the occasion of Europe Day, in which he said that building a successful Europe cannot be considered complete without Ukraine.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is challenging a Home Office decision to force ministerial and royal bodyguards to swap their guns for Tasers  despite last year approving the move.

The U-turn comes days after Mr Wallaces close protection officers arrived for duty without their firearms, the result of a policy he signed off while Security Minister.

The Mail on Sunday understands he has sought reassurances about the wisdom of the new rules from Home Secretary Priti Patel, who is herself set to lose armed guards.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured) is challenging a Home Office decision to force ministerial and royal bodyguards to swap their guns for Tasers  despite last year approving the move

Under new guidelines for VIP security, only Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the most senior members of the Royal Family will get armed protection. Other Cabinet Ministers and Royals, including Princess Anne and Prince Edward, will be shadowed by police carrying Tasers unless they are subject to a specific threat.

Taking pistols from officers on routine VIP protection duties is a very risky move, said a police source. Tasers have a limited range of five metres and often they dont even affect the target. Stripping us of our guns puts us and those we protect in greater danger.

The Mets Royal and VIP Executive Committee has designed a seven-grade system to assess risk with only those deemed five or above assigned a firearms team. Mr Wallace is concerned about whether the system is flexible enough to deal with sudden changes to the threat level.

The measures are part of efforts by the Metropolitan Police to save money.

The Home Office declined to comment, saying it did not provide detailed information on security arrangements for protected individuals.
On any given day as executive director of Catholic Cemeteries for the Archdiocese of Newark, Andrew Schafer spends time troubleshooting for the vast network of land he oversees: 800 acres divided into 11 cemeteries in six counties.

But once Gov. Murphy issued Executive Order No. 107 limiting the number of people who can be gathered together due to the coronavirus pandemic, Schafer had to craft a policy that could continue to bury the dead while protecting his staff of 163 full-time employees, the mourners who would enter the cemetery grounds for a burial and the clergy and funeral home staff who would bring the body.

First, only one witness or family member was allowed in, then two and now 10.

Schafer knows that families are still unhappy and acknowledges: In my soul, it was very difficult.

But he had no time to stew or look back.

Schafer had to be vigilant despite pushback from some clergy, family and funeral directors, especially at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, the busiest of the archdioceses cemeteries, which is located in Bergen and not far from Hudson and Essex counties, the states three counties hardest hit by the virus.

Initially during the pandemic, Holy Cross was burying an average of 25 people a day, more than double, or 112% higher, than the same period in 2019. Its 600 interments since early March would exceed what most cemeteries do in one year, Schafer said.

A Hudson County funeral director empathized with Schafer. There is a protocol with the funeral cortege entering the cemetery and there was no way, he said, that it could continue with such volume. Swift changes had to be made regardless of anyones feelings.

Schafer noted that the cold and rainy spring, along with the high numbers of burials, this year has posed particular ground changes that would have threatened safety for people who have to traverse the land to get to a grave in the center. Additionally, some staff members could not work or would have to be dispatched to other cemeteries depending on need.

The ministry to bury the dead is a corporal work of mercy but was made more difficult by protecting all parties involved, he said.

Mausoleum entombments were suspended because of the confined spaces.

Schafer also noted that New York funeral directors were coming over to New Jersey because of backlogs.

Since all houses of worship were closed, the only service could be held in funeral homes with a strict limit of attendees. That posed another problem as many immediate family members were excluded.

Dr. Pamela Pater-Ennis, a Reformed Church minister as well as a certified psychotherapist, presided at a wake for a large Indian family. Relatives were angry that they were told to stay home. She recommended that some form of group ritual online -- whether Zoom or FaceTime -- so people could express and process their grief.

These disruptions complicate grief a lot, she noted. Delaying the grief adds layers of bereavement.

Pater-Ennis is also a clinical social worker and has practices in Hoboken and Englewood. She does not only mine psychological material but explores the individuals spiritual and religious issues without proselytizing.

Jewish mourners cannot sit shiva, she said, and worries that people are being pushed out of a grieving process at the most intense time. It will undoubtedly extend the time it will take for individuals to come to grips with their loss.

I empathized with a large family originally from St. Aloysius Church in Jersey City. One of the five siblings died and only her husband was able to witness her burial -- not even her two daughters, let alone the four remaining siblings.

They are all good Catholics still worshiping regularly and are active in their respective parishes.

Schafer worries that, even now, people are pushing for more than 10 to enter cemeteries for graveside services. Despite this, Schafer said, We make a heartfelt effort to ensure there is no disruption to the respectful burial of loved ones.

Visitors at Fairmount Cemetery as seen from Central Avenue in Newark's West Ward on Sunday, May 10, the first day Archdiocese of Newark Catholic cemeteries reopened to visitors after the coronavirus outbreak. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comAndrew Mills | NJ Advance Media

All cemeteries were open to visitors on Mothers Day and I was happy to visit Holy Name in Jersey City.

They will be open on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekdays starting tomorrow after 3 p.m., when burials for the day are done, until the cemeteries close at 6 p.m.

The funeral director reflected, The family brings their loved one to his or her final resting place. It is usually a time for final reflections and sharing of grief and love.

They usually are in no hurry to leave, he said.

After the comforting and reassuring prayers, the family often lingers to support each other and share memories.

During these difficult days, that camaraderie and support have to occur in out-of-the way places.

The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken.
Obama Unsatisfied With COVID-19 Response: 'A Lot of Them Aren't Even Pretending to Be in Charge'

Sputnik News

22:33 GMT 16.05.2020

The United States remains the country worst affected by COVID-19, having registered over 1.4 million cases and over 88,400 deaths, the US-based Johns Hopkins University says.

Former President Barack Obama has criticised the government's response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

"More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they're doing", Obama said during a virtual address to graduates at historically black colleges. "A lot of them aren't even pretending to be in charge."

This is not the first time the ex-US president has slammed the current administration for its handling of the pandemic recently. Last week, he lashed out at the authorities, calling their response to COVID-19 "an absolute chaotic disaster".

Back in March, President Trump blamed the lack of tests and vaccines in the US on the previous administration.

"No, I don't take responsibility at all. Because we were given a  a set of circumstances, and we were given rules, regulations, and specifications from a different time. It wasn't meant for this kind of  an event with the kind of numbers that we're talking about", the president said.

Trump has also denounced the House's efforts to investigate his administration's COVID-19 response, saying Democrats want the administration to be unsuccessful. Earlier in April, he stressed that the death numbers would have been much higher if not for the government's measures.

"They frankly want our situation to be unsuccessful, which means death. And our situation is going to be very successful," Trump said on 5 May.

 Sputnik

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One man is dead and the other in a critical condition after being rushed to hospital by a friend in Melbourne's north.

Emergency services were called to Nolan Drive in Epping just before 9pm on Saturday to treat an injured 37-year-old Epping man but he died at the scene.

Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man on Saturday night. Credit:Paul Rovere

Homicide squad detectives are investigating the circumstances that led to the mans death.
An 80-year-old head of a dera was found murdered at his ashram here on Sunday, police said.

The dera chief, Shri Maha Yogeshwar Mahatma, had been living alone in his 'Shri Muni Desham Ashram' here since the coronavirus-triggered lockdown began in March, they said.

One of his followers visited him on Sunday and found the ashram gate broken open. He also found Mahatma murdered in his room, police said.

Kathgarh Station House Officer Parminder Singh said the body was found in a decomposed state, indicating that Mahatma might have been killed at least a week ago.

A case has been registered and investigations are underway, police said.

Local Shiv Sena leaders expressed anguish over the killing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
People from all walks of life took to the streets in August 1988 in a popular protest to demand democracy in what later became known as the 8888 pro-democracy uprisinga turning point in Myanmars history that ended Gen. Ne Wins 26-year repressive rule.

Economic hardship and political repression began to fuel antigovernment sentiment, which came to a head after the government brutally quelled a number of student protests in March and June of 1988.

The dictator demonetized banknotes again in 1985 and 1987. When the regime conducted the third demonetization of banknoteswhich accounted for around 80 percent of the money in circulation in Myanmar at the timeit offered no compensation at all.

The move, according to Gen. Ne Win, was intended to address a slump in the value of the Myanmar kyat. Following the demonetization, the regime announced that people could exchange their demonetized notes for valid notes up to a total value of 500 kyats. But it ceased the exchanges after just a few days, thus creating economic chaos.

YANGONOn this day in 1964, the military regime led by dictator General Ne Win demonetized the countrys 100- and 50-kyat notesthe first of the three demonetizations under the socialist regime.

One of the two kyat denominations that were demonetized in May 1964.

One of the two kyat denominations that were demonetized in May 1964.

On This Day The Day Myanmar Experienced the Socialist Era's First Demonetization

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Five Civilians Injured by Shelling in Muslim Villages in Rakhine

Different Laws Applied to Myanmar COVID-19 Restrictions Lead to Inconsistent Punishments for Violators

For Many in Myanmar, Working From Home Amid COVID-19 Poses Unexpected Challenges

Residents Fined for Failing to use Face Masks in Myanmars Yangon

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What Will it Take to Bring Struggling Myanmar Migrant Workers Home from Thailand?

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ST. LOUIS  The city needs more help identifying people potentially infected with the new coronavirus  and, in the interest of public health in the region, St. Louis County should step up, local public health advocates and some city leaders say.

The countys health system is robust, so they are in a different position to move forward, said Dr. LJ Punch, an associate professor of surgery at the School of Medicine at Washington University, an anti-violence activist and St. Louis County police commissioner. Does the county recognize the vulnerability will directly impact the county or does the county simply want to move forward and its taking a posture that says well work with the city but the city has what the city has?

The disparity between the efforts being mounted by the two governments has taken on new urgency as both begin the process of lifting stay-at-home orders, and allowing more businesses to reopen this week.

Familiar commuting patterns will return. City residents will go into the county and county residents will go into the city. As more people across the region interact, opportunities for the virus to spread are likely to increase.

But the city  which has had a higher rate of infection than the county  is ill-equipped to address the need. While the county is in the process of hiring 100 contact tracers  the people who interview those who test positive for COVID-19 and track down their contacts to get them tested, too  the city has just 10 to 13.

That reflects, in part, the disparity in resources available to the two governments. The county, because of its size, was able to get some $173.5 million in direct aid from the federal government under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act.

The city, which has less than a third of the population of the county, is getting just $35 million in assistance through the state.

At a meeting of the citys Joint Boards of Health and Hospitals on May 7, chairman Dr. Will Ross noted that a critical step toward opening businesses in the city was the health departments ability to interview people who test positive for the coronavirus and track down and test their contacts.

But Ross and Dr. Fredrick Echols, the citys health director, agreed the city didnt have millions of dollars to spend on that task like its well-funded neighbor.

We cant sit back and say woe is us, we dont have all the funding, Ross said. We have to make it happen with the resources we have.

At the city hearing, Echols explained the city didnt need more staff members, because it has software to automate much of the process. Rather than having a contact tracer call a person twice a day for temperature checks, he said, the person being monitored could respond to automatic notifications. He reiterated in an interview on Friday that the citys technology  which cost $12,000  is saving hundreds of staff hours.

Shortages all over

A national organization of city and county health officials recently recommended that health departments have 30 tracers per 100,000 residents. In St. Louis, that would mean 90 contact tracers. There are no immediate plans to hire more, but Jacob Long, a spokesman for Mayor Lyda Krewson, said on Friday the city would hire more if it needed them.

A review by the Associated Press found states are often hundreds  even thousands  of people short of targets for their contact tracing programs. Public health experts have consistently said robust programs to test more people and trace their contacts are needed for states to safely reboot their economies and prevent a resurgence of the virus.

Cook County, Illinois, has just 29 contact tracers serving 2.5 million people living in suburban communities around Chicago. Los Angeles County, which at more than 10 million people has a population slightly greater than Michigan, has just 400 of the estimated 6,000 contact tracers it will need under Californias criteria for a broader reopening.

Some areas of the country have used aggressive contact tracing to root out cases of asymptomatic carriers of the disease. A team of 12 contact tracers in Fremont County, Wyoming, for example has found 180 cases, the most in the state.

The state of Illinois is hiring 3,800 contact tracers. But Missouri is offering no help to local governments with hiring tracers.

Many are worried the city cant make it happen, and that will make it difficult for the region to emerge from the pandemic. Because of that concern, they say, St. Louis County should have an interest in lending a hand.

Alderman Cara Spencer, D-20th Ward, last week scheduled an aldermanic hearing to look into the citys readiness for contact tracing. She said on Saturday that Echols had initially agreed to attend but had backed out.

There is no excuse right now for not having a regional approach to contact tracing and testing, Spencer said. And by regional approach, I mean collaborating, sharing resources, recognizing that the city doesnt have the level of funding per capita that the county has. And recognizing that we have a higher infection rate in the city.

Spencer, who is running for mayor, added, We should never under any circumstances be out of step with each other on at least those issues.  We cannot continue to operate in these silos.

Alderman Megan Green, D-15th Ward, said that on the calls that the aldermen have with the mayor and Dr. Echols, probably once a week somebody asks, Do you have enough contact tracers? We have constituents of ours who seem to be pretty knowledgeable who are willing to volunteer their time to help with this, and, what weve been told is that theres not a need for volunteers, that we have everything covered.

I dont know that thats true. I dont know that its not true. But when we see what the county is doing versus what the citys doing, you know, it has to give us pause about whether we do have the mechanisms in place to be able to do this.

Across the state, Jackson County is weighing a $5 million investment in contact tracing, including renting a building for its staff, although the board chairman wants to include some firefighters already on fire district payrolls. Jackson County includes most of the states biggest city, Kansas City.

Bridgette Shaffer, the Jackson County health director, told the county legislators that her existing staff has been handling contact tracing but she needed them to get back to their regular duties providing immunizations and preventing other diseases that will spread when the economy resumes.

Quarantine question

Quarantine data posted on the citys online portal raise questions about whether the city is identifying close contacts of COVID-19 patients.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that any person who had contact with a positive person should stay home for 14 days and maintain a six-foot distance from others at all times.

There were 451 city residents who tested positive for COVID-19 from May 1 through May 14. But, on Thursday, the city had just 61 people under quarantine due to exposure. Echols said the low number was a reflection of people being isolated during the stay-at-home order.

By comparison, between May 1 and 14, St. Louis County had 900 positive cases, and had 393 people under quarantine on Thursday. St. Charles County added 88 cases over that time and had 370 in quarantine.

Some St. Louis officials are saying the county should do more to help the city make it happen  or else.

It does St. Louis County no good to have all the contact tracers just focusing on St. Louis County, Lewis Reed, president of the Board of Aldermen, said in an interview. A virus that has traveled the globe, he said, isnt going to have any problem going between St. Louis city and St. Louis County.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said Friday that county officials were regularly working with and talking to city health officials, but the county would not be sharing any of its federal relief funds.

Humanitarian relief is coordinated regionally, he said. Our public health departments work regionally. So Im sure theres some overlap and resources, but as a general rule, the requirements from the federal government for the funds that were given directly to St. Louis County is that they should be spent within St. Louis County.

As for contact tracing, he said, I am familiar with whats happening in St. Louis County. Were working very vigorously to set up our contact tracing program. I would expect that the city, St. Louis, would have a responsible program as well. I just dont know the details of it.

Punch said the result of any failure to trace contacts in St. Louis would be that the virus spreads, and that black and brown people across the region would continue to suffer inordinate harm.

This is a financial and manpower issue, and the question I have for the city is, how are you appropriating funds to properly support the hard workers that are doing their best in the city health department? Its clear to me that it just doesnt have the staff it needs to be able to do this enormous job.

This story has been updated to correct the title for Dr. Punch.

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Norm Knight started his NASA career in the '90s with the space shuttle, impressed by the engineering marvel that launched like a rocket, hauled space station parts like a truck and then landed like a glider.

When space shuttle Atlantis touched down for the last time on July 21, 2011, Knight was on Houstons mission control management team overseeing that landing. Nine years later, hes helping with the May 27 liftoff where NASA and SpaceX will resume astronaut launches from Florida. But this time, the vehicle will be reminiscent of the compact Apollo capsule that inspired his youth rather than the massive shuttle that nurtured his career.

It was sad to see the shuttle retired, he said. It was a winged glider coming home that was like no other.

Yet hes excited for the SpaceX launch. NASA has spent years working with SpaceX, founded by billionaire Elon Musk, and Boeing to develop vehicles that could ferry astronauts to the International Space Station. The government agency provided funding and expertise but the companies designed the spacecraft that they own and operate. NASA will buy seats as a customer.

More about the launch: NASA discusses its first astronaut launch from U.S. soil since 2011

Compact capsules are simpler and faster to design than the bulky shuttle orbiter, which was 122 feet long with a 78-foot wingspan. A capsules placement on top of the rocket, rather than alongside it like the shuttle, can help keep astronauts safe.

Still, Knight said it was difficult watching the shuttle retire after flying 30 years and 135 missions. NASA was suddenly dependent on Russia for reaching the International Space Station. And around that same time, President Barack Obama canceled the agencys prior moon mission, the Constellation Program, where Knight and others had placed their post-shuttle hopes.

That was a very hard time at NASA, Knight said. It really left the agency in a lot of turmoil relative to, What are we doing? What is NASAs role now?

But he sees a vision again. The launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, the final major test before SpaceX receives NASA certification for more regular flights to the space station, is a successful milestone for NASA collaboration with the private sector. That will be crucial in the agencys new moon program, Artemis  NASA plans to buy seats on vehicles that will lower astronauts to the moon.

More leeway

NASAs Commercial Crew Program, established as a standalone program on April 5, 2011, takes a very different approach from the Space Shuttle Program where NASA made all the design decisions and then owned and operated the vehicles.

NASA would give its contractors 10,000 to 12,000 requirements for a shuttles design. These requirements ranged from the ability to reach a certain orbit to how much stainless steel was included in bolts, said Phil McAlister, director of commercial spaceflight development at NASA headquarters.

For Commercial Crew, NASA only had 300 requirements. And they were mostly related to safety, such as an abort system to carry the spacecraft away from the rocket should a problem occur during launch and a statistical calculation that placed loss of crew at no more than 1 in every 270 flights.

NASA did not care if the Commercial Crew companies proposed a winged vehicle or a capsule, as long as the system was safe, reliable and cost effective. Sierra Nevada Corp., one of the final three contenders, proposed a winged vehicle.

McAlister said the companies entire systems were evaluated, and the Sierra Nevada proposal was very strong. Still, wings did factor into the decision.

Both Boeing and SpaceX use a capsule spacecraft, which is a lower complexity design than (Sierra Nevadas) winged spacecraft, according to a 2014 document explaining the Commercial Crew selection, and therefore minimizes the work and time required to complete development.

NASA chose SpaceX and Boeing in September 2014, and the two companies have contracts and Space Act Agreements worth $8 billion; NASA has thus far provided just under $6 billion to help with development.

Keeping it simple

Boeing and the companies its acquired over the years have experience building capsules and space shuttles. It picked the capsule design for the CST-100 Starliner.

It was a shorter road to get that fully developed and in use, Boeing spokesman Steven Siceloff said, and it met NASAs needs.

SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment. But during a May 1 news conference Benji Reed, SpaceX director of crew mission management, said the Crew Dragon was built on decades of capsule heritage as well as the companys uncrewed cargo capsule, which began delivering supplies to the space station in 2012.

Update on Boeing: Boeing to redo its Starliner spacecraft test that failed to dock with the space station

Phil Smith, a space industry analyst at Bryce Space and Technology, said capsules are structurally simpler than winged spacecraft when designing and modeling how a vehicle will behave while landing. A capsule comes in like a cannonball. Fixed wings, however, act one way at a certain speed or air density and then a completely different way at other speeds or air densities, presenting design challenges.

Flying a winged vehicle back from orbit is more complicated than bringing back a capsule, said Jeffrey Hoffman, a retired shuttle astronaut and professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

But winged vehicles havent disappeared. Sierra Nevada Corp. is still developing its Dream Chaser spaceplane, retooling it to deliver cargo rather than people to the International Space Station. Steve Lindsey, a former space shuttle commander and the senior vice president of strategy at Sierra Nevada, said the Dream Chasers ability to land on airport runways gives it global reach. And the force of gravity during this landing is gentler than in a capsule that lands in the ocean or on airbags in the desert. Some experiments, such as growing protein crystals, are delicate and sent into space specifically for its lesser gravity.

Ultimately, Sierra Nevada is still working toward flying people.

Virgin Galactic is likewise planning to use a winged vehicle for suborbital space tourism. WhiteKnightTwo is a custom-built, dual-fuselage jet aircraft and attached to its belly is the winged SpaceShipTwo, where passengers will sit.

Virgin Galactic has launched its pilots and an employee into weightlessness, but it has not yet flown paying customers.

Safety

Space travel is risky, with two space shuttle accidents killing 14 people, but designs using capsules can have features to help minimize risk, especially during launch, said Scott Hubbard, adjunct professor in Stanford University's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and former director of NASA's Ames Research Center.

The Columbia shuttle broke apart during reentry in 2003, but the damage that caused this accident occurred during launch. A large piece of insulating foam fell off the shuttles external tank, which held fuel for the main engines, and punctured a hole in the wing of the space shuttles orbiter. This caused the vehicle to overheat during reentry.

Placing a capsule on top of the rocket prevents it from being pummeled by launch debris.

The Challenger space shuttle broke apart 73 seconds after launch in 1986. One of its solid rocket boosters had a leak in the O-ring that caused an explosion and destroyed the orbiter vehicle. The orbiter could not escape the boosters during this part of the ascent.

You could lose almost one of anything and you could get back safely, Hoffman said. Obviously, they didnt plan for a major explosion or failure of the solid rocket booster.

For Commercial Crew, NASA required an ability to remove crew from dangerous launch situations. SpaceX, Boeing and Sierra Nevada included this in their proposals.

SpaceX and Boeing are using a pusher system with specific abort motors to push the crew up and away from the rocket. Its a feature astronaut Doug Hurley, who will be one of two astronauts on the May 27 flight test, addressed during a news conference. Its a pretty safe design, Hurley said. It gives us abort capability from the pad all the way up into space, which the space shuttle, I think has been well publicized, didnt have that capability in all phases.

Hubbard, who helped investigate the Columbia accident, felt the space shuttle was retired partly due to its safety concerns. He said the vehicle was so complex that there could have been more failures NASA was lucky to not encounter.

New era

Not everyone thought this was a fair opinion. Knight, for instance, felt that NASA was managing the shuttles risks.

Promoted from chief flight director to the deputy director of flight operations in 2018, Knight will be at Kennedy Space Center on May 27 representing NASAs astronauts and flight operations by providing a go (or no-go) to the agencys launch manager. Both NASA and SpaceX must give the green light before liftoff.

Another winged vehicle: Mysterious spaceplane prepares for launch

After the launch, Knight will return to Houston to assist with other portions of the flight test, which is being run by teams in Florida, Houston and the SpaceX headquarters in California. Astronauts Hurley and Bob Behnken could spend between 30 days and 119 days on the space station before splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean.

Knight hopes this is part of a longer road NASA is paving into space, partnering with commercial companies to bring the rest of us along.

Im excited to see this thing lift off, Knight said. Its going to be a bright shining star for our future in space. Its really the beginning of a new era.

andrea.leinfelder@chron.com

twitter.com/a_leinfelder
A Mpumalanga taxi driver has been sentenced to almost four decades behind bars for raping passengers.

Police say this will send a stern message to men to stop abusing women, especially during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The 37-year sentence was handed down to Collen Mandla Ndala, 43, on Friday, and has been welcomed by Mpumalanga's police chief, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma.

Police said in a statement the Mkobola Regional Court in Kwaggafontein convicted Ndala "for various charges, including rape, assault with intention to cause grievous bodily harm, attempted rape, kidnapping as well as compelled self-sexual assault".

"The court heard how between December 2013 and January 2015, Ndala, who by then worked as a taxi driver, took advantage of his victims by targeting vulnerable and unsuspecting women who were hitchhiking at night," said police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi.

"He would then offer them a lift, enquire about their destinations and, after a short distance, would make an excuse that he needed to pass by his house first to switch on the lights, to which his victims would agree. Ndala would then take a detour, drive to a secluded area and brutally rape his defenceless victims.

"The incidents came to light when two victims, aged 15 and 24, separately reported the matter to the police, who immediately opened cases, upon which investigations commenced."

2015 arrest

Detectives investigated and arrested the taxi driver in February 2015. He had remained in custody while the court process had taken place.

The police explained in their statement: "During the trial, Ndala pleaded not guilty to all the charges put before him. He told the court that the victims were his girlfriends and he never had sexual contact with the first one, who was 15 years old at the time, but conceded sleeping with the second one, who was 24 at the time."

Police noted that Ndala's legal representative had argued Ndala was a breadwinner with three children, was a first-time offender and suffered from a chronic illness.

But the prosecutors had countered that taxi drivers held a duty of care to protect their passengers - not harm them.

"When handing down sentence, the Regional Court magistrate said that the type of sentence to be imposed should fit the crime committed, and also indicated that crimes against women and children occur almost every day, including during the period of the nationwide lockdown," police said.

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Possible deterrent

Ndala was finally sentenced to 37 years imprisonment for the five counts.

On count 1, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, he was sentenced to seven years. On count 2, attempted rape, Ndala was sent packing to three years, whereas on count 3, kidnapping, he was sentenced to five years. On count 4, the rape charge, he was sentenced to 25 years and on count 5, compelled self-sexual assault, he was sentenced to two years.

Lieutenant General Zuma said he hoped the sentence would deter others.

"I am elated... This is another step towards the realisation of a safe environment for children and women in our society.

"We believe that the sentence will serve as a deterrent to would-be rapists... We urge men to desist from perpetuating violence against women."

Source: News24
Do we care about India's Nowhere People, asks Sunil Sethi.

IMAGE: Migrants from Rajasthan travel to the Kozhikode railway station before boarding a train to their villages, May 13, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo

'Let me go home' is the desperate cry common to stories of the thousands of migrants stranded in cities, corralled in detention centres en route, or somehow dodging inter-state barriers and highway patrols to reach their villages thousands of miles away.

After weeks of hard-to-control crowds taking to the streets to find a way home, more chaos is likely to ensue as reluctant governments piece together plans to transport them home after ensuring safety procedures.

This was inevitable, given the growing restiveness among this workforce, and the grim accounts unfolding before our eyes.

Like some gritty neo-realist tale of a doomed protagonist from black-and-white cinema, one particularly tragic story was front paged in the Indian Express recently.

It sums up a daily wager's plight more that any statistic.

IMAGE: Migrants board a truck in Jabalpur to travel to their villages, May 13, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo

Insaf Ali, a 35-year-old mason's helper in Mumbai, began his two week-long trek on April 13 to reach his home in district Shravasti, bordering Nepal in northeast Uttar Pradesh.

With just a few thousand rupees, he walked, bribed truckers, and escaped police checks, surviving for days on biscuits.

But in the end, there was no justice for Insaf Ali.

Physically exhausted and mentally distraught, he was caught and quarantined a few miles from home.

He collapsed and died not far from his village.

His wife Salma spoke to him before his phone battery ran out.

Breaking down, she said: 'He had no work for weeks. He said that in the village, he would at least be around familiar people and manage.'

'He kept saying he only wanted to come home. And when he nearly did, he could not live for more than a few hours.'

IMAGE: Migrants at the Central railway station in Chennai wait to board trains to Assam and Meghalaya, May 13, 2020. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI Photo

When, one day, the spectre of coronavirus is behind us and life begins to edge back to the new normal, policymakers, urban planners, social scientists, and creative thinkers such as fiction-writers and filmmakers will probe two questions that the overwhelming wave of 'reverse migration' (for that is what it is) has brought home to us.

One is the extent and depth of urban poverty.

The other is a definition of 'home' -- a place a migrant leaves in the first place in search of opportunity, a better livelihood, or simply a assured chance survival.

All urban agglomerations are propelled by migrants, many escaping the hinterland's grinding deprivation to fuel commerce and the massive construction boom; and to fulfil the demand for services by a voracious new middle class.

But how much do we really know about them?

A colleague has recently been taking a sample of one such segment -- the ubiquitous security guards in their flimsy cabins posted outside Delhi's well-off homes and neighbourhoods -- and finds that labour contractors extract up to a quarter of their salaries as commission, about Rs 3,000 of Rs 12,000 per month.

They are expected to live off Rs 8,000, remitting a portion to support families back home.

IMAGE: Migrants at the Bandra railway terminus in Mumbai wait to board a train to Jaunpur, UP, May 13, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo

A scattering of recent labour ministry statistics (1.8 million migrant workers; 1.04 million living in shelter homes; 600,000 trying to walk home) cannot convey the degree of alienation and shock that force daily wagers like Insaf Ali to reach their families when they are laid off and homeless.

It is a reflection of the widening chasm between the rich and the poor worldwide that two of the most celebrated prize-winning films of 2018-2020 are punishing accounts of urban poverty.

Ironically, they come from two wealthy Asian nations, Korea and Japan, both strong welfare states that have successfully battled the coronavirus pandemic in recent days.

IMAGE: Migrant workers try to board a truck on the Lucknow-Faizabad road to reach their villages, May 14, 2020. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

Bong Joon-ho's Parasite (Palme d'Or at Cannes 2019; four Academy Awards, 2020; available on Amazon Prime) is an account of a poor family that fraudulently infiltrates a rich household, leading to the violent destruction of both.

The Shoplifters, by Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda (Palme d'Or at Cannes, 2018; available on Netflix), concerns a similar family of petty crooks on mean streets who kidnap children and teach them how to shoplift.

Shot in the cramped space of airless single-room tenements, both are infused with black humour.

Crucially, they pose questions of rootlessness that haunt displaced people everywhere: What constitutes a 'family'?

And how do you define a place called 'home'?

Nor has the theme of urban destitution left Indian art and cinema for more than half a century.

The late abstractionist Ram Kumar's earliest art was of dark figurative canvases depicting urban migrants.

And in the 1958 movie Phir Subah Hogi, as a hard up Raj Kapoor wanders among the starving pavement dwellers of Mumbai, Sahir Ludhianvi's lyrics echo the pandemic's global grip today:

Cheen-o-arab hamaaraa, Hindostaan hamaaraa;

Rehne ko ghar nahin hai, saaraa jahaan hamaaraa.

Kholi bhi chin gayi hai, benchein bhi chin gaye hai;

Sadkon pe ghoomtaa hai, ab kaarvaan hamaaraa.

(China and Arabia may be ours, and Hindustan too;

But we have no home to go to; all the world belongs to us.

Evicted from our hovels, not even benches for rest;

Our weary caravan now roams this city's streets).
President Barack Obama, Lebron James, Malala and others celebrated the high school senior class of 2020 in the virtual webcast Graduate Together: America Honors The High School Class Of 2020. Photo Courtesy of EIF and XQ
Italy Ready to Reopen to Travel, Tourists

By Sabina Castelfranco May 16, 2020

The Italian government will begin lifting coronavirus limits on Monday, but tourists will face stringent rules in hotels, restaurants and on beaches.

Very strict COVID-19 lockdown measures have been in place in Italy since early March. The government has established general guidelines for reopening for the entire country, while each region may adopt its own changes depending on the particular situation.

The national government may decide to close certain areas again at any time should there be a spike in new coronavirus infections.

The first death from the coronavirus in Italy occurred February 21. Since then, according to Johns Hopkins University statistics, more than 31,700 people have died in the country from the virus, third highest among the world's nations.

Italians can now be seen again walking the streets of their cities, wearing protective masks and gloves, and beginning Monday, all shops can reopen to the public, with new rules. Social distancing of at least one meter must continue to be maintained, and only a designated number of people at a time will be able to enter stores.

Italians will be able to return to bars, restaurants and beauty salons. Social distancing rules apply, and waiters and owners will have to wear face masks at all times.

Italians can travel within their regions starting Monday, and from region to region and abroad beginning June 3. Tourists can return starting June 3, as well.

Additionally, church services will resume, though only a certain number will be allowed to attend. Churches will be completely sanitized at the end of every day, one parish priest reported.

Schools, universities, cinemas and theaters will remain closed for the time being.

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New Delhi: The 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting is going to be held in Geneva on 18-19 May. Explain that the WHA is the decision making body of the World Health Organization (WHO). All the member countries will participate in this meeting through video conferencing. The meeting will consider health challenges and the way forward to fight the corona virus epidemic.

After this, there will be an executive board meeting on 22 May. All WHO member countries will attend this meeting of the WHA and will consider the health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The major functions of the WHA include organization policies, appointment of director general, monitoring economic policies, approving and reviewing proposed program budgets.

Let us tell you that this month, India is to be elected as the President of the WHO Executive Board for three years. Before this, there will be an annual board meeting. Taiwan hopes that India will help Taiwan achieve Observer status. Taiwan had this status between 2009 and 2016. Although India has mostly supported Beijing's 'One China Policy', India has always had good relations with Taiwan.

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On May 15, Mexico has added another 290 fatalities in its rising death toll and just a few days ago on May 12, the country experienced its highest death toll since the start of the pandemic with 353 recorded deaths in a single day. The country has now surpassed China's mortality rate as it copes with the rising number of daily infections.

Mexico now has 45,032 confirmed cases and a total of 4,767 deaths. Millions are on lockdown which had devastating effects to the country's economy as the majority of the sectors are on a stand still.

The public demands for increased mass testing

Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell, an epidemiologist and considered as the face of Mexico's COVID-19 response has insisted that the country has enough funds to purchase more test kits, in fact hundreds of thousands are arriving from China in the next few days.

Lopez-Gatell maintained that only those who are expressing severe symptoms of the coronavirus are the only ones who will be tested. He firmly rejects the idea that mass testing is a must and should only be used through a carefully planned approach.

Since the beginning, Mexico's testing strategy has remained the same and the Health Minister believes that it would be futile to conduct test after test if it will only yield negative results. In Puerto Vallarta, only 483 tests have been conducted during the past two months and only 20 tests were done in the last 24 hours. The same goes with Jalisco which only registered 139 tests in the past 24 hours.

Mexico's former health minister, Dr. Julio Frenk believes that the situation is quite worrisome because without massive testing we will never know the true extent of the COVID-19 outbreak in Mexico.

Check these out:

Phase three of the fight against COVID-19

Last month, Mexico has already reached phase three of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic which the government describes as the worst period of the pandemic. All public events have been canceled. Hugging, kissing, and shaking hands are strictly prohibited and everyone is reminded of the importance of staying at home and practicing social distancing.

At present the government has revealed another three-phase plan, which are steps to be taken in order for them to safely reopen the country. Phase one starts as early as May 18 by opening 269 municipalities with the lowest number of COVID-19 cases. Phase two also begins on May 18 but will run until May 31, and on June 1 physical distancing measures will be lifted.

Phase three begins on the first day of June and a color-coded mapping system will be used as a guide to show which restrictions will be lifted. Mining, construction, and automotive industries in red states will be allowed to operate. Non-essential activities will be allowed in orange colored states and elderly people will be allowed to return to work. Churches, theatres, museums, and restaurants will be allowed to open partially in all yellow colored states. And for green colored states, all restrictions will be lifted as long as civilians will follow sanitary measures.
Questioning the government over the death of migrants in various road accidents and on the issue of stranded migrants, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that Centre and state should provide proper compensation to the kin of the deceased. Taking to Twitter, the Congress leader shared a tweet by former party chief and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi wherein he had paid his tributes to migrants killed in Auraiya accident on Saturday. Singh further said that there should be proper management to arrange for transport, food and water facilities of the stranded migrants.

                                                  ? https://t.co/AZqrNmSwc7  digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) May 17, 2020

READ | Amit Shah meets MHA officials ahead of announcement of lockdown 4.0 guidelines

National migrant Information System

Singh's remarks comes even as the Centre on Saturday evening launched the National migrant Information System (NMIS)- based on the existing National disaster management authority (NDMA)'s GIS portal to streamline the movement of stranded migrants across the nation travelling via 'Shramik' trains and buses. The portal will maintain a central repository of the migrants travelling from one state to other and aid in contact tracing. As of date 1074 Shramik special trains have been operated ferrying more than 14 lakh workers.

READ | Centre rolls out 11 measures for farmers, fishermen & animals in third economic tranch

Auraiya accident, ex-gratia, and steps taken so far

On Saturday, a truck collided with a DCM van in Uttar Pradesh's Auraiya around 3.30 AM killing as many as 15 migrant workers and injuring more than 20. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives. The Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal also offered compensation for the family of the deceased as some of the victims are reportedly from Bengal.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister had expressed grief over the death of eight migrant labourers in Madhya Pradesh's Guna after the truck they were travelling in collided with a bus, and the deaths of six migrant workers in another mishap on Muzaffarnagar-Saharanpur highway in his own state. He had then announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia each to the next of kin of the deceased and compensation of Rs 50,000 each to injured in both the accidents.

Meanwhile, CM Yogi instructed all district magistrates to arrange buses for migrant workers, who are found walking on foot, to send them to their homes. Moreover, the government has also banned the entry of any migrants on foot and trucks in the wake of the tragedy. He also directed the district officials to seize vehicles carrying migrants without prior permission. The UP government ordered the district administration to file cases against the vehicle owners and drivers.

READ | Centre rolls out structural reforms in 8 Indian sectors in its fourth economic tranche

Stranded migrants issue

After PM Modi had announced the first phase of lockdown, on March 28, thousands of migrant workers were seen thronging the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border at Delhi's Anand Vihar Interstate Bus Terminal in the hope of reaching their homes, defying lockdown and creating a health hazard. Similarly, after PM Modi announced the extension of the lockdown till May 3, on April 14, around 2,000 migrant workers gathered at Bandra station, under the illusion of boarding 'Jansadharan Express' trains to UP, Bengal and Bihar. Apart from this several visuals have been seen of thousands of migrants walking across state borders to reach their native homes due to loss of income amid lockdown. Three major accidents have also occurred killing 82 such migrants.

READ | Centre announces 9 steps to benefit migrants, farmers, vendors in second economic tranche
Evidence shows virus is almost exclusively spread by droplets, Letters, May 9

The COVID-19 pandemic is a case of deja vu all over again. When the pandemic was declared, there were assurances that Ontario had learned the lessons of SARS. Unfortunately, this has not been the case.

For nurses, this has been made crystal clear by the letter to the editor from a group of infectious disease specialists.

During SARS, nurses were repeatedly assured by a group of infection control specialists that SARS was spread by droplet transmission and that N95 respirators were unnecessary.

Only later did some of these same infectious disease specialists admit that the virus was airborne, and only later did they reverse their stance on proper protective equipment.

That was far too late for many who had unnecessarily been infected. Two registered nurses and a physician died, and dozens of health-care workers were infected unnecessarily.

Fast forward 17 years and we are back to those dark days. Although there is considerable discussion regarding how COVID-19 is transmitted that points to droplet transmission, there is an equal amount of literature that shows evidence of aerosol transmission.

The specialists cite the lack of widespread outbreaks in hospitals as proof that good hand hygiene and other measures point to droplet transmission.

Are they aware of the five outbreaks at Toronto Western Hospital? The argument that they are not seeing large and widespread outbreaks in places adhering to droplet protection is not convincing when their own hospitals have outbreaks, and when outbreaks at long-term-care homes are uncontrolled.

Nurses are on the front lines of health care. We learned during SARS that we could not afford to wait until the science was clear  and that the lives of our patients and of nurses depended on it.

We need to make it loud and clear that the precautionary principle must be used.

The willingness to put front-line workers health, and lives, in the hands of others took far too high a price during SARS.

All health-care workers want to see an end to the pandemic. Discounting the concerns of those on the front lines is condescending and disrespectful.

Vicki McKenna, president, Ontario Nurses Association

As occupational hygienists, we have concerns with this letter from Dr. Ari Bitnun and 18 other infectious disease doctors.

We are not conspiracy theorists, but have examined evidence about virus-containing particles in air, which has implications for protection of workers who are potentially exposed to the coronavirus.

When infected people cough, sneeze, talk or even breathe, they can release infectious particles. These particles come in a range of sizes, from droplets that tend to settle rapidly to smaller aerosols that can remain airborne longer, disperse more widely, and be inhaled by those in the vicinity.

Recent research is providing increasing evidence for aerosols containing the coronavirus.

We can understand that given the regrettable shortage of sufficient PPE, hard decisions must sometimes be made about distribution of approved respirators to those at greatest risk. But this does not mean we should dismiss evidence of possible sources of transmission.

One does not need to resort to conspiracy theories to keep an open mind where uncertainty remains, and take reasonable precautions to protect exposed workers.

Marianne Levitsky, Dr. Kevin Hedges, Toronto

Once again, the provincial government has left front-line workers in long-term-care homes frustrated and dejected.

The government set up the Ontario Long-Term Care Staffing Advisory Group to provide advice on how to deal with the chronic shortage of personal support workers (PSWs) in long-term-care homes.

One would presume therefore, that direct input by active PSWs would be of utmost importance. It appears that it is not so.

The advisory group is composed of academics, researchers and directors of for-profit LTC companies. It shuts out the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association and PSW unions, which are the voice for these front-line workers.

My fear is that any report this group submits to the premier will read well, but will result in no substantive changes to improve the crisis.

It appears that profits come before quality care in too many homes.

About 80 per cent of COVID deaths in the province have occurred in LTC and retirement homes, so it is imperative that officials engage and listen to the comments of PSWs who have horror stories about the directions they were given and their working conditions.

When changes are made, we do not need more regulations and bureaucracy to hamper the care that workers want to provide and that residents deserve.

This is the time for the advisory group to listen to PSWs and front-line workers and heed their suggestions and advice.

Terry Martyn, Sudbury, Ont.

Community spread is confusingly persistent, May 9

Dr. David Williams is perplexed that major headway isnt being made reducing person-to-person spread of the virus. Perhaps I can help with that.

A person close to me tested positive for the virus at St. Josephs Health Centre in Toronto.

She was asked both if she went out to work every day  she didnt  and also if she lived with anyone else  she lives with her daughter  and was told they should both self-isolate and use different washrooms if possible.

No other questions were asked. The daughter wasnt tested.

The daughter works at a bakery-cafe. Toronto Public Health didnt know that until I pointed it out when I wrote to them to express my dismay at the followup to the test. It didnt concern them.

Why was it not, at the very least, strongly recommended that the daughter be tested? She could be asymptomatic and still spread the virus.

It seems that the only thing that was accomplished by the test was to have one more case to add to the tally.

Sean Moore, Toronto

As many of your writers warn, we cannot return to the old normal, and must be cautious about any easing up of restrictions.

All the more reason to address other potential factors in flattening the curve, that have lots of evidence regarding health outcomes.

These include: poverty and inequity, housing, water, nutritious food, air and chemical pollution, soul-destroying and hazardous working conditions and violence.

Dr. James Deutsch, Toronto
HS2 bosses have been 'blindsided by contact with reality' with the project 'badly off course', according to a damning report from MPs.

Fresh concerns were raised in the new report, published by Westminster's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over both the transparency and handling of the project.

Committee chair, Labour MP Meg Hillier, accused the Government of having made a 'wealth of mistakes' over the major transport infrastructure.

She blasted officials involved in the project and said 'there is no excuse for hiding the nature and extent of the problems the project was facing from Parliament and the taxpayer.

The Committee warned the process so far had 'undermined public confidence in the programme'

The report said the DfT and HS2 were 'blindsided by contact with reality - when Phase One started moving through Parliament, the predicted costs of necessary commitments to the communities affected have exploded from 245 million to 1.2 billion.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the project the green light in February despite conceding its final cost would 'probably be north of 100 billion', The Telegraph reported.

'The Government unfortunately has a wealth of mistakes on major transport infrastructure to learn from, but it does not give confidence that it is finally going to take those lessons when this is its approach.'

The Committee warned the process so far had 'undermined public confidence in the programme'.

Both the DfT and HS2 Ltd were aware of the magnitude of issues plaguing the programme as early as October 2018, but 'withheld' the information, the report found.

'In March 2019, HS2 Ltd formally notified the Department that it could not deliver Phase One to budget and schedule', the report said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the project the green light in February despite conceding its final cost would 'probably be north of 100 billion'

The report said that despite being aware of issues, DfT Permanent Secretary Bernadette Kelly 'withheld' vital information that the programme was facing 'significant difficulty' when she appeared before the previous Committee both in October 2018 and May 2019 - even when responding to specific questions about delivery timeline and budget.

'HS2 Ltd's annual report and accounts for the year ending March 31 2019 similarly failed to give an accurate account of the programme's problems' it added.

It added that: 'The Department and HS2 Ltd defended their actions, stating that there were commercial sensitivities, and that options were still being pursued to remedy the situation.'

Kelly's appearance with HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Thurston and chief financial officer Michael Bradley before the Committee in March 'raised questions about the previous picture provided by the witnesses of the project's health'.

The HS2 route would initially link London and Birmingham with the second phase of the project then heading north to Manchester and Leeds

The report said: 'While we recognise that ministers had not yet decided how to proceed, no adequate excuse was provided for not disclosing to this Committee and Parliament the risk and uncertainty the programme was facing.

'We are disappointed by the Permanent Secretary's response to our concerns about her failure to explicitly inform the Committee of the programme's delays and overspend when asked about the general health of the project.'

Committee deputy chair, Conservative MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, said the PAC was 'in the dark' about serious cost overruns.

What is HS2 and how much will it cost? HS2 (High Speed 2) is a plan to construct a new high-speed railway line linking London, West Midlands, Leeds and Manchester. The line is to be built in a 'Y' configuration. London will be on the bottom of the 'Y', Birmingham at the centre, Leeds at the top right and Manchester at the top left. Work on phase one began in 2017 and the government's original plans envisaged the line being operational by 2026. The HS2 project is being developed by High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd. The project was originally estimated at costing approximately 34 billion. But the final bill for the project has been repeatedly revised upwards. It jumped to 42 billion in 2012 and then to 56 billion in 2015. An official estimate published last year put the cost at 88 billion. But the Oakervee report suggests it could end up costing as much as 106 billion. HS2 has already spent billions of pounds despite not yet actually laying any track. Advertisement

He said: 'This PAC report on HS2 is one of the most critical, in both the transparency of Government and the handling of a project, that I have seen in my nine years in total on the committee.

'The Permanent Secretary appeared before the committee in October 2018 and again in May 2019.

'In March 2019, HS2 Ltd formally told the Department it had breached the terms of the Development Agreement, and would be unable to deliver the programme to cost and schedule - yet the Permanent Secretary did not inform the committee on either appearance that the programme was in trouble.

'This is a serious breach of the department's duty to Parliament and hence to the public, which as the report says, will undermine confidence.

'Furthermore, the PAC was in the dark about serious cost overruns and was therefore unable to do its duty to inform Parliament that value for money on the project was at risk.

'The cost overruns have been blamed partly on the speed that the hybrid Bill committee for Phase One proceeded with.

'I was a member of that committee, which lasted for 20 months: this is complete nonsense.'

Hillier added that she wanted to see an 'honest, open account, and evidence of learning from past mistakes being applied to bring this project under control' in the six-monthly reports the Department has agreed to provide.

Responding to the report, a DfT spokesperson said: 'The current Secretary of State has been clear that this project must go forward with a new approach to Parliamentary reporting, with clear transparency, strengthened accountability to ministers, and tight control of costs.

'We have comprehensively reset the HS2 programme, introducing a revised budget and funding regime, with significant reforms to ensure the project is delivered in a more disciplined and transparent manner.

'This includes appointing the first dedicated HS2 minister, bi-annual updates to Parliament and establishing a monthly ministerial task force, chaired by the Secretary of State, to ensure the project has a rigorous scrutiny like the 2012 Olympics.'
WASHINGTON  As the nation begins to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, some people are looking to the skies  and experts dont necessarily like what they see, arguing there are not enough safeguards in place to protect passengers and crew.

While air travel has fallen sharply due to the virus, the airports are open and planes are flying both domestically and internationally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued travel guidelines encouraging air passengers to wear face coverings, keep 6 feet of physical distance from others and only board planes for essential travel. However, these guidelines are merely suggestions.

There is no requirement for masks, and there have been multiple reports of crowded conditions in airports and on planes, which have left passengers alarmed. The Transportation Security Administration, which screens passengers and luggage at airports, has also experienced over 560 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and six deaths from the illness.

Despite these concerns, there are currently no coronavirus screening procedures for domestic air travelers, and a congressional investigation has also raised questions about the level of screening being conducted for international passengers. Speaking in the Oval Office on April 28, President Trump told reporters his administration is working on implementing a procedure for temperature checks and COVID-19 tests for air travelers.

Were also setting up a system where we do some testing, and were working with the airlines on that, Trump said.

A TSA officer wears a protective mask while screening travelers at Orlando International Airport. (Paul Hennessy/Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

According to a May 6 government document reviewed by Yahoo News, the CDC was developing a tool for predicting risk of importation of COVID-19 among international travelers and meeting with the White House National Security Council to discuss strategies for screening arriving international passengers from countries with substantial COVID-19 transmission.

However, there have been reports of discord between the CDC and the White House. On May 9, USA Today reported CDC officials were overruled by the White House after they raised concerns about a potential plan to establish temperature checks at the airports. While some COVID-19 patients do have high fevers, many do not and others are entirely asymptomatic.

Story continues

USA Todays report included an email Dr. Martin Cetron, the CDCs director of global mitigation and quarantine, sent to officials with the Department of Homeland Security criticizing the temperature checks as a poorly designed control and detention strategy.

Cetron, the CDC and DHS did not respond to requests for comment. The White House did not respond to questions about the reported disagreements from the CDC or whether the Trump administration believes temperature checks are an adequate screening measure for airports.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the chairman of the House oversight subcommittee on economic and consumer policy, has investigated coronavirus screening procedures at airports. Earlier this week, the Illinois Democrat told Yahoo News he was concerned by the report that the White House is pursuing a temperature screening plan over the objections of CDC officials.

The White House has been ignoring and sidelining Americas public health experts at the CDC, instead relying on nonexpert political appointees to make public health decisions, Krishnamoorthi said. I am troubled by reports that officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could raise this public health concern and be essentially overruled by presidential aides. The desire to lure Americans back into traveling by making them feel like they are safe cannot outweigh the need to actually keep this country safe.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi on Capitol Hill last year. (Jacquelyn Martin/Getty Images)

Krishnamoorthi has previously raised concerns about what he described as lax screening procedures for international travelers coming into the United States from coronavirus hot spots in March as the pandemic exploded around the globe. Trump has repeatedly pointed to restrictions he imposed on travelers from China  where the virus originated  on Jan. 31 as evidence of his strong efforts to curb its spread in the United States.

However, the restrictions on China contained exemptions that allowed over 400,000 people to subsequently travel from that country to the United States. And on May 7, Krishnamoorthis subcommittee released the results of an investigation that focused on two other early coronavirus hot spots  Italy and South Korea. Krishnamoorthi said he believes Trump has focused on rhetoric and bluster rather than actually effective screenings.

Just from what we found with Italy and South Korea, there was no border closing. There was no screening. Unfortunately, the lack of screening probably had some very serious consequences at a time when cases were exponentially rising in the United States.

Krishnamoorthis investigation, which included extensive briefings from officials, found that the White House National Security Councils Policy Coordination Committees decided in March to rely on South Korean and Italian officials to screen passengers in those countries who were headed to the United States. The probe further found the U.S. had limited oversight for those screenings in Italy and that only 69 passengers were prevented from coming to the U.S. from those two countries in March. Once they arrived, the investigation found passengers entering from the two countries did not receive additional health screenings.

Potentially thousands and thousands of people came across without screenings from what were two of the leading coronavirus hot spots at the time, Krishnamoorthi told Yahoo News. It doesnt take a lot to believe that folks came over and seeded further outbreaks here in this country.

An Italian Red Cross volunteer measures the temperature of a colleague in Gavirate, Italy. (Mattia Ozbot/Soccrates Images/Getty Images)

Jonathan Ullyot, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, responded to questions about Krishnamoorthis investigation with a statement touting the governments steps to screen international arrivals earlier this year.

The reality is that the United States government took early and decisive action to mitigate the risk from global hot spots, including China, Iran, South Korea, and the Schengen area of Europe, Ullyot wrote. After restricting travel from China on January 31  the security directive put forth by the administration required enhanced medical screenings for all passengers before they departed on flights to the United States from Northern Italy and South Korea.

According to Ullyot, the screenings in Italy and South Korea included checking the passengers temperature, visual observations to detect signs of illness, and questionnaires. While Ullyot did not dispute Krishnamoorthis contention that the U.S. relied on officials in those countries to conduct the screenings and that few passengers were denied boarding, he said U.S. mission staff visited airports in both countries to observe these screening procedures.

A senior Trump administration official, who requested not to be named, said all international arrivals to the United States are subject to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) screenings that are following CDC guidelines. The official explained that those guidelines require CBP officers to refer travelers to the CDC, DHS contract medical screeners, or local health authorities for health screening if they are exhibiting symptoms or have traveled from countries that have experienced major outbreaks.

According to the official, the CBP has established processes to identify travelers who have traveled to the United States directly or indirectly from areas that are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks.

Randy Babbitt, former administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty images)

Domestic air passengers, however, are treated differently.

With regard to domestic travel, theres not more screening beyond what TSA normally does, Krishnamoorthi said.

He said that lack of screening for domestic travelers is particularly worrisome as areas of the country are beginning to lift lockdown restrictions. He suggested this could lead to a situation where business people go back and start traveling and then transport these cases everywhere.

We have to look at the science of it more closely, and we have to develop a more precise way of screening, Krishnamoorthi said.

Randy Babbitt, a former administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, said the lack of new screening procedures is not as much of a problem right now since nobodys flying. However, he said it will become a pressing issue as the country reopens and airports become more crowded.

People are going to start flying and as it ramps back up, that becomes a different question, Babbitt told Yahoo News.

Babbitt further explained that one difficulty with establishing comprehensive procedures for airports is that so many different government agencies are involved in air travel. However, he pointed to proposals generated by Stonebriar Strategy Group Thought Leadership Initiative, a nonprofit consultancy, as a realistic potential road map.

Howard Thrall, the president and senior partner of the group, said the organization is comprised of multiple retired consultants and executives who have worked in the industry. According to Thrall, a veteran executive who has worked for multiple aviation and aerospace companies, the group came together because they were totally amazed a coronavirus airport screening system has not yet been established.

This is really a pro bono exercise for a bunch of old graybeards, Thrall said.

Terminal 1 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The Stonebriar Strategy Groups proposal calls for screening perimeters to be established outside airports, where rapid COVID-19 tests, questionnaires and temperature checks could be administered to travelers and workers. Setting up a screening perimeter would mean that even if passengers ended up in close proximity during boarding or on planes, they could have a higher degree of confidence those around them were not contagious.

Along with addressing safety concerns, Thrall said implementing these screenings could help the economy since aviation is a substantial part of the nations gross domestic product and boosting consumer confidence is crucial to returning the industry to normal levels. He pointed to the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, when the TSA was formed and security screening procedures were transformed, as evidence that airport procedures can quickly be revamped.

The Stonebriar Strategy Groups detailed proposal estimated it would cost approximately $6.8 million per airport, per year, to establish coronavirus screening perimeters. With approximately 5,000 public airports in the country, that would mean a total cost of about $34 billion.

However, Thrall argued that cost is realistic relative to the urgent need and the trillions of dollars the government is spending to address the coronavirus.

Thats why we wrote it up. It wasnt happening and it could happen. This is not a big deal, Thrall said. I mean, its not going to be free by any means, but this is very, very manageable.

_____

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:
Du Wei previously served as Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine for four years

Du Wei Open source

Chinese Ambassador to Israel, Du Wei, was found dead at his residence in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv, according to The Jerusalem Post.

On-site are ambulance officers and also police officers who have begun investigating the circumstances of the incident. The version is currently being checked, according to which the ambassador died in a dream of a heart attack. The Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of the Chinese ambassador.

According to BBC, the diplomat was found dead in his bed.

Du Wei, 57, took over as ambassador to Israel in early 2020, a few weeks before the outbreak of coronavirus worldwide. Before that, he served as the ambassador of China to Ukraine for four years. He left a wife and a son.

As we reported before, Japan would call for an investigation into the World Health Organization's initial response to the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated.

"With the European Union, (Japan) will propose that a fair, independent, and comprehensive verification be conducted," Abe noted.
The government will announce a new public sector policy to make India self-reliant (Atmanirbhar) in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday.

Sitharaman underlined the need for a new coherent policy where all sectors are open to the private sector, while public sector enterprises (PSEs) play an important role in defined areas.

Now, Indian public companies can list their securities directly in foreign jurisdictions. Private companies which list Non-Convertible Debentures on stock exchanges will not be regarded as listed companies, Sitharaman announced.

Also read: Borrowing limit of states raised from 3% of GSDP to 5% - Sitharaman

Govt to announce a new public sector policy- a list of strategic sectors requiring presence of PSEs in public interest will be notified. In strategic sectors,at least 1 enterprise to remain in public sector but pvt sector to be allowed. In other sectors,PSEs to privatised: FM pic.twitter.com/1dEdFyrRNN  ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2020

The finance minister said that as per the new policy which will be announced by the government, a list of strategic sectors requiring the presence of PSEs in the public interest will be notified.

Also read: Debts related to Covid-19 to be excluded from default under IBC, says FM Sitharaman

In strategic sectors, at least one enterprise to remain in the public sector but the private sector to be allowed. In other sectors, PSEs to privatised, she said.

The finance minister said that timely action was taken during coronavirus pandemic to reduce compliance burden under various provisions of Companies Act.

Board meetings were allowed to be online, rights issues can be done digitally, major reform in corporate governance, she said.

Sitharaman on Sunday opened her address on the final tranche of the economic package by quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She said that prime minister Narendra Modi, in his address earlier this week, has said that the coronavirus crisis has brought an opportunity to build a self-reliant (Atmanirbhar Bharat).

Sundays announcements on Centres economic stimulus package focussed on seven steps taken by the government - MGNREGA, health & education related steps, business & Covid-19, decriminalization of Companies Act, ease of doing business, public sector enterprises, state government resources.
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MI  St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough, who was arrested for alleged drunken-driving, told emergency officials he suffered a coughing fit before crashing his vehicle May 11.

According to a 911 call audio obtained by WWMT-TV (Channel 3), McDonough told dispatchers he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a homeowners fence in St. Joseph Countys Lockport Township after the coughing fit.

Related: St. Joseph County prosecutor arrested after alleged drunken-driving crash

"Hey, this is John McDonough, the countys chief prosecutor told dispatchers. I had a coughing fit and went off of Lovers Lane and ran over a fence.

The dispatcher asked if McDonough was injured, to which he replied: Yeah, I'm fine. The fence is not. He told the dispatcher his Mercedes SUV would need to be towed.

The crash was reported at 7:03 p.m. Monday, May 11 in the 17000 block of Lovers Lane. The crash only involved McDonoughs vehicle, and he was not injured, deputies said.

McDonough was arrested following the crash for allegedly operating while intoxicated and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle, St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said in a statement.

Lillywhite confirmed McDonoughs name to MLive on May 12 but not that he was the countys prosecutor, an elected position. The sheriff confirmed that detail to The Sturgis Journal.

After the initial call to dispatchers, McDonough called back again, this time saying he smoothed everything out with the homeowner whose fence he crashed into.

I got out of there, McDonough said in the 911 call audio. I was able to talk to the homeowner. I think everything is alright.

The dispatcher told McDonough that a police officer was en route and that he should stay so the officer can talk with him. McDonough agreed to wait.

Following the arrest, McDonough was lodged in the Cass County Jail and released early the next day, according to online records. He has an arraignment set for May 21 in St. Joseph County District Court.

Read more:

Girl, 15, missing since Friday from Comstock Park in Kent County

Significant flooding expected in Lake Michigan beach towns beginning today

Longtime Grand Rapids police and fire chaplain dies
By PTI

LAHORE: Four ISIS terrorists have been killed in an encounter with the security forces in Pakistan's Punjab province, officials said on Sunday.

The militants were tasked by the Daish's (ISIS) top leadership to attack places of worship for minority Shias in Bahawalpur, which is around 400 km from provincial capital Lahore, to start sectarian conflict in the country, officials said.

In a statement, the Punjab Police's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) said they launched an intelligence-based operation along with the local intelligence agencies.

"A big and deadly terrorism plan has been defeated. Four terrorists belonging to the Daish were killed in the operation," the CTD said.

According to intelligence inputs, seven ISIS terrorists were hiding in Zakhira Jungle near Azam Chowk Bahawalpur.

They were armed with explosives and heavy weaponry.

"On this information, the CTD Multan team, in collaboration with intelligence agencies, raided the hideout late on Saturday night and demanded the terrorists surrender. Instead, they started indiscriminate firing," the CTD said.

The killed terrorists were identified as Aman Ullah, Abdul Jabar, Rehman Ali and Aleem.

Three of their accomplices escaped in the dark.

Eleven hand grenades, three rifles, one pistol and ammunition have been recovered from the crime scene.

Search is on for the escaped terrorists, while a bomb disposal unit has been called to inspect the area, the CTD said.

According initial reports, the department said, "The four were very dangerous terrorists who started with banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) but later joined Daish. They came from south Punjab to start sectarian terrorism on the directives of the Daish leadership."

On Tuesday last, the CTD had arrested two ISIS terrorists who were planning to attack a 'sensitive' installation in Bahawalnagar in Punjab, around 400 kms from Lahore.

The Pakistani government denies presence of the ISIS on its soil but often security agencies nab terrorists affiliated to this banned militant group.
Maharashtra on Sunday extended lockdown till May 31 to contain the spread of life-threatening coronavirus. The relaxations will be allowed with guidelines in areas demarcated as green and orange zones, the Maharashtra government said in an order released Sunday. "Government has taken measures to contain the spread of coronavirus and expedite the work, the lockdown has been extended in Maharashtra," the order states.

"The calibrated phase-wise relaxation/lifting of lockdown orders will be notified in due course," the order added. The move came amid the rising number of positive cases of coronavirus in the state. Among all the states, Maharashtra is worst hit by coronavirus.

One-third of the country's coronavirus cases have been reported in Maharashtra. On Saturday, the coronavirus cases in the state crossed the 30,000-mark as it reported 1,606 new cases in a single day. With a jump of 884 cases, Mumbai's total cases reached 18,555. Mumbai, the worst-hit city, saw a jump of 884 cases on Saturday.

India has been under a lockdown since March 25. India reported 4,987 fresh coronavirus cases in 24 hours, the highest 1-day spike, with 120 deaths in a day as the country gears to enter its fourth phase of lockdown. Moreover, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is likely to announce the lockdown 4.0 guidelines today.

Earlier today, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made announcements under the economic stimulus package about seven steps taken by the Centre related to MGNREGA, health and education related steps, business and COVID-19, decriminalisation of the Companies Act, ease of doing business, public sector enterprises, and state govt resources.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Maharashtra extends lockdown till May 31; India records 4,987 cases in 24 hours

Also read: Economic stimulus Tranche IV: Old wine in new bottle
Chunks of electromagnetic frequency spectrum known as Television White Spaces (TVWS) can be used to provide affordable broadband Internet to South Africans.

The potential of this spectrum has been boosted by ICASAs decision to authorise the use by TVWS operators for the duration of the COVID-19 State of Disaster.

This measure was implemented along with the temporary emergency allocation of spectrum to mobile operators.

To support this, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has announced an initiative to provide the technology it has developed to assist with the deployment of TVWS networks, free of charge.

This is in an effort to improve the national broadband Internet capacity and provide relevant and up-to-date information to the public in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, CSIR Impact Area Manager Ntsibane Ntlatlapa said.

These networks are ideal for delivering broadband to underserved communities and to supplement connectivity in locations with heavy mobile network congestion.

In South Africa, analogue television programming is broadcasted over radio waves within the lower ranges of EMF spectrum.

TVWS are portions or gaps of unused radio spectrum left between bands allocated to TV broadcasters in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Range.

These gaps are found between the frequencies of 470MHz and 694MHz, and appear as the snow viewers would see when searching for analogue TV channels.

TVWS spectrum can be especially useful for providing mid-speed connectivity over large areas.

The characteristics of waves in this band make them capable of transmitting over long distances and penetrating both man-made and natural objects.

These waves can transfer data at speeds of approximately 24Mbps over a 10km distance.

Geo-location spectrum databases

In order to transmit broadband connectivity over TVWS, there needs to be control of which channels can be used within specific geographic locations to avoid overlapping or interference of signals with incumbent users.

For this, ICASA has determined a three-tiered ecosystem in its TVWS regulations published in March 2018.

Two types of geo-location spectrum databases (GLSD)  the Reference GLSD (R-GLSD) and Secondary GLSD (S-GLSD)  occupy the first and second tier, respectively.

ICASA operates a single R-GLSD to perform baseline calculations for South Africas TVWS availability maps in order to set appropriate regulatory limits.

Multiple S-GLSDs are managed by qualified GLSD providers, of which the CSIR is one. The S-GLSD delivers automated control of spectrum by determining the exact frequency of unused spectrum in the UHF range.

It therefore acts as a Spectrum Switch that ensures the radio equipment used to provide TVWS broadband connectivity does not interfere with channels in use.

How to access Internet connectivity

Radio equipment known as White Spaces Devices (WSDs) is used by operators to provide Internet connectivity without an exclusive broadcast license within ICASA-certified spectrum bands.

Two types of WSDs are defined by ICASAs TWVS Regulations  namely Fixed and Nomadic, which are also called Master and Client WSDs.

Former Senior Engineer at Internet Solutions Roger Hislop has explained TVWS is especially suitable to low-cost operators, such as members of the Wireless Access Providers Association (WAPA).

This includes Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs), who use unlicensed spectrum allocated for Wi-Fi use to provide connectivity.

Operators do not need vast capital reserves to install TVWS networks in the way that our mobile network operators need to fund their infrastructure, he said.

Hislop noted that this equipment is power-efficient and can be easily powered by solar energy. Additionally, providers dont have to pay for the licensing of spectrum.

In other words, for TVWS operators the barriers to entry and operating costs are low. This means that the possibility for an entirely new generation of disruptive network service providers to enter the sector is very real, Hislop stated.

The CSIR provided a breakdown of the typical pricing of the equipment needed to roll out a TVWS base station with Master WSD and CPE with Client WSD.

A three-sector base station kit works out to just under R85,400, while a CPE costs around R15,400.

CSIR and TIA partnership

The CSIR has been working in the fields of Dynamic Spectrum Access and Spectrum Management since 2009 and has developed its own S-GLSD platform.

The CSIR S-GLSD is a crucial technology for enabling Internet service providers to deploy TVWS broadband networks rapidly on a geolocation basis to hard-to-reach and underserved communities during the COVID-19 pandemic period, the council said.

The CSIR has invited interested TVWS network operators approved by ICASA to use its S-GLSD services free of charge.

It has partnered with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) to provide the funding needed to make GLSD technologies freely available to SMMEs who are interested in providing broadband Internet services by deploying TVWS networks.

CSIR chief researcher Dr Fisseha Mekuria said this collaboration will support the provision of life-saving information and enable online learning for populations, particularly in previously disadvantaged and rural communities.

An image of the CSIRs Spectrum Sensing Tool and an example of its TVWS Planning Tool software are shown below.
Suja Verghese, a nurse working in Saudi Arabia for the last 10 years, had come home to Kottayam on a five-month leave in March to complete a list of pending work. But it was not to be.

The hospital called requesting her to join work immediately. And on Saturday, she was among 239 medics who took a special flight to Saudi Arabia from Cochin.

Earlier on Thursday another flight carrying 219 medical professionals, mainly nurses, had left for Saudi Arabia. Last week 89 health workers flew to the United Arab Emirates. Three more such flights carrying nurses are expected this week.

Many Gulf countries who are desperate have cancelled leaves of medical workers and some of experienced who had left their jobs were called back.

It is fact the nurses from Kerala are most sought after all over the world. Like Prime Minister Modi said we should convert crises into opportunities. There is a great demand for trained nurses these days, especially from the Gulf. If they are willing the country should allow them to go, said a senior government official involved in facilitating the return of medical workers.

This initiative reflects the relationship between India and the Middle East countries and their commitment to support each other in time of crisis. It is our duty to provide best medical professionals during the Covid crisis, said Dr. Azad Moopen, managing director of Aster DM Healthcare that sent 60 of their trained nurses to the UAE last week.

According to the Nurses Council of India among 20 lakh registered nurses at least 15 lakh are from Kerala. At least two lakh of our nurses are abroad. Other than the Gulf, they are also in the US, Europe, Australia and other countries. Nurses from Kerala are most sought after. It is one of the least paid jobs in the country which is why so many leave for greener pastures, said United Nurses Association general secretary Sujanapal Achuththan. Besides being service-oriented, nurses from Kerala like to take challenges head on, he said.

In health and hospitality the state has a glorious history. Nurses are ready to go to any place if service calls. In 2014 the country had saved 46 nurses from the Islamic State-held areas in Iraq. It was only then that people realised that Keralas nurses were serving in hostile areas also, he said.

Nurses may be frontline warriors in the fight against Covid-19 but they say their cries are often not heard. Like the case of nurses in Israel. At least 82 stranded nurses in Israel, some of them in advanced stage of pregnancy, are set to fly back next week after their plight came to light during a phone-in programme conducted by a Malayalam news channel Asianet. Some of them had broken down during the programme.

Service is in our blood. Keralas social background has helped us to imbibe true spirit. Monetary part apart, we love to take challenges and duty comes first to us. If the Gulf needs more health workers we should despatch the willing ones, said Marina Jose, one of the nurses who was evacuated from war-torn Iraq.

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Schools reopened on Monday in the West African state of Benin, but many students and their parents worried that mask-wearing and social distancing rules would fail to keep coronavirus at bay. "The virus is still present and they're making us attend classes," complained Merveille Gbaguidi, a high school student in the capital Cotonou. "They could have let us stay home." Benin is among a growing number of African nations relaxing measures that have battered their fragile economies and large numbers of poor. The government at the weekend launched mass coronavirus testing of teachers hoping to reassure parents. But many parents turned up at the schools to see for themselves whether anti-pandemic measures were in place. "If everything is not done in strict accordance with the rules, I'm taking my daughter back home with me," said Hermine Adanzounon, whose daughter attends a private elementary school. The reopening of the schools -- all but nursery schools and universities -- after more than six weeks of lockdown has been a sensitive subject in the former French colony. In late March students at Abomey-Calvi University north of the capital staged a demonstration to demand the closure of all educational institutions. The demonstration turned violent, and one protester died. - A question of means - Under pressure, the government finally closed schools and universities and places of worship on March 22 and 23, but complained that it did not have the "means of rich countries" to enforce strict confinement measures. Benin was one of the first African countries to make wearing masks obligatory in public when it introduced the measure in main cities and towns on April 8. But on Monday, many students were not wearing masks. "It's a question of money," said final-year student Fred Amanvi, adding that the government should hand out masks at the entrances to schools. The government in the country of 11 million has subsidised the cost of masks at the equivalent of around 30 US cents (25 euro cents) but that expenditure remains high for many on a daily basis. "We were told not to turn away any student for not wearing a mask," the director of a Cotonou middle school said on condition of anonymity. Government-issue masks were available at least at one school, Sainte-Rita, where classes began at 7:00 am. The school, like many others, has painstakingly prepared its spaces for social distancing. "In the classrooms, the benches have been set out to observe the one-metre (three-foot) social distancing rule," said Sainte-Rita director Maurille Monde. As of Monday, Benin had officially recorded 284 cases of COVID-19 and two deaths. The figure of those infected quickly doubled as screening was ratcheted up. The authorities said that almost 14,000 tests were carried out between May 3 and 7, with the focus now on teachers and health workers. The government subsidises the cost of masks at the equivalent of around 30 US cents, a high price for many on a daily basis We were told not to turn away any student for not wearing a mask," the director of a Cotonou middle school said on condition of anonymity
Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2020 > Prof Anisuzzaman: One more light goes out

The Business Standard (Dhaka), 14 May, 2020

by Mir Mohammad Jasim

Bangladesh has lost one of its most respected scholars, pre-eminent academic and luminary in the passing of National Professor Anisuzzaman

He was one of Bangladeshs brightest stars, through thick and thin, whose light shone on many.

Eminent educator, writer, national professor, and luminary Anisuzzaman passed away on Thursday.

The 83-year-old, who was suffering from several complications, breathed his last around 4:55pm at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka, his son Ananda Zaman told The Business Standard.

The CMH doctors performed a coronavirus test on Professor Anisuzzaman, taking a sample from his body and the result came positive.

"My fathers body will be kept at the CMH morgue tonight. His burial will be done following the standard procedure of health authorities," Ananda said.

"We will try to bury him at Azimpur Graveyard on my grandfathers grave," he added.

The national professor was admitted to the Universal Cardiac Hospital in the city on April 27 with several complications. As his condition worsened, he was taken to the CMH.

Anisuzzaman was a professor emeritus at the University of Dhakas Bangla Department. He was made a national professor in 2018.

He participated in the 1952 language movement, the 1969 mass upsurge and the 1971 liberation war. After the countrys independence, he became a member of the Kudrat-E-Khuda National Education Commission, the first of its kind in Bangladesh.

Anisuzzaman also became a member of the Planning Commission during the liberation war.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, expressed their deep shock at the death of the luminary. They also conveyed sympathy to his bereaved family.

Foreign minister Dr A K Abdul Momen, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, UGC Chairman Professor Kazi Shahidullah, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Akhtaruzzaman, Sher-E-Bangla Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Professor Kamal Uddin Ahmad and many other personalities expressed shock at his demise.

Born in Kolkata in 1937, Professor Anisuzzaman and his family moved to Bangladesh soon after the partition of 1947.

He was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Chicago during 1964-65 and a Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellow at the University of London during 1974-75.

Professor Anisuzzaman was also associated with research projects of the United Nations University during 1978-83.

He taught Bengali literature at the University of Dhaka during 1959-69 and 1985-2003 and at the University of Chittagong during 1969-85.

Anisuzzaman was a visiting fellow at the University of Paris in 1994 and North Carolina State University in 1995 and a visiting professor at the Viswa Bharati during 2008-09.

He authored many books in Bangla and English, including "Swaruper Sandhane", "Factory correspondence and other Bengali documents in the India Office Library and Records"; "Creativity, Reality and Identity", "Cultural Pluralism" and "Identity, Religion and Recent History".

His "Muslim Manash O Bangla Sahitya", "Swaruper Sandhane", "Purono Bangla Gadya", "Bangali Nari: Sahitye O Samaje", "Kal Nirabadhi", and "Ihajagatikata O Anyanya" are considered seminal works by academics working on Bangla literature and language.

Anisuzzaman had been a recipient of the Bangla Academy award for research in 1970 and the EkushePadak for his contribution to education in 1983.

The Rabindra Bharati also conferred on him an honorary DLitt in 2005 and the University of Calcutta honoured him with the Sarojini Basu Medal in 2008.

Anisuzzaman played a significant role by actively participating in all democratic movements  from the Language Movement of 1952 to Liberation War in 1972, for the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh in the 1980s, and for the trial of war criminals later.

He appeared as a witness before the International Crimes Tribunal. He remained a champion for the cause of secularism.

He was a pivotal figure in translating the Constitution of Bangladesh in Bangla in 1972. He also served as chairman of the Trustee Board of the Nazrul Institute and also was the president of Bangla Academy from 2012 till the last day of his life. He was elected a fellow of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.

Renowned academic, author, critic and columnist Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury said that the nation lost an asset as National Professor Anisuzzaman passed away.

"It is very rare that a man is a famous scholar and at the same time is a very effective writer. Professor Anisuzzaman was also a good teacher."

"I personally lost a friend and a companion," Serajul Islam Choudhury said, adding that Professor Anisuzzaman was a socially committed person and he played a vital role during every national crisis.

"I knew him from my university life. He was an immediate junior to me. He was also dedicated to the students."

Vice-Chancellor of the Sheikh Hasina University Rafique Ullah Khan was a student and also a colleague of Professor Anisuzzaman at Bangla Department of the University of Dhaka.

"I am fortunate enough that I was one of his students and also a colleague. It is very difficult to express him in a few words," said Rafique Ullah Khan.

"Until his last breath, Professor Anisuzzaman tried to uphold the Bangla language and the people of this land internationally."
FREMONT, Neb. - U.S. Sen. Ben Sasses attempt at humour during a speech at a Nebraska high schools online commencement  which included jokes about students fitness and psychologists and also blamed China for the coronavirus outbreak  drew strong criticism.

The Republican senators speech on Saturday was panned by a Fremont High School board member and his Democratic opponent in the November election. Sasses spokesman, James Wegmann, told the Omaha World-Herald Sunday the senator was joking during the graduation speech.

Sasse said during the speech 95% of all gainfully employed psychologists  and Im serious there are dozens of them that are gainfully employed - their job is really just to help people forget high school ... If youre headed to college, do not  do not  major in psychology. That parts not a joke.

Sasse, who was unshaven and wore a loosened red tie and white dress shirt, also said that in life, the graduates would at times be asked to climb giant ropes. If you dont get that joke, talk to your mom and dad. Back in the day when we were a lot fitter than you people are, we used to have to climb ropes all the way up to the ceiling of the gym all the time.

Sasse suggested that the graduates would remember their senior years at their future reunions as that time when China started a big global pandemic that created the worst public health crisis in over a century and brought the economy to its knees and we had to stay home and everybody was hoarding toilet paper.

Near the end of the speech, Sasse mixed in some serious encouragement for students with another shot at China.

Nobody knows exactly how were going to beat this thing, but you know what, were Americans, were Nebraskans, weve got grit and were going to beat this thing, he said. We will bring the economy back. We are going to beat the virus ... Were going to have to have a serious reckoning with the thugs in China who let this mess spiral out of control by lying about it. he said.

Fremont school board member Michael Petersen called on Sasse to apologize. On his public Facebook page, Petersen said, You deserved better than the graduation remarks from Senator Ben Sasse. The racism, implying that our graduates are fat and lazy, disparaging teachers, and attacking the mental health profession are despicable.

Sasse graduated from Fremont High School in 1990 and also was president of Midland University there before running for the Senate. He is running for a second term in the Senate and in November hell face Omaha Democrat Chris Janicek, who also criticized the speech.

Its hard for me to believe that a U.S. senator would make remarks like he did in that speech, said Janicek. Ridiculing mental health care specialists, suggesting that the graduates are lazy slackers and using the platform to blame China for the pandemic we have now is beyond reprehensible.

Wegmann, Sasses spokesman, responded to the criticism Sunday.

Like he said in the video greeting, Bens proud of each of the graduates  and he believes their generation is tough enough to help lead us through the bumpy economic times ahead. Its ridiculous that some politically addicted folks are complaining about Ben calling out China in a joke. Hes said this for months, because its true: The Chinese Communist Partys coronavirus coverup wasted time that could have contained the spread  those lies cost innocent lives in China and around the world. Pretending graduates are too fragile to hear the truth is silly, Wegmann said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 21:02:12|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes the lastest U.S. export controls targeting Chinese tech giant Huawei, said spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce Sunday.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Friday that it will impose new restrictions on Huawei's acquisition of semiconductors.

The United States has used state power to persistently suppress and contain a specific foreign firm in the name of national security and abused export controls. It is a violation of market principles and fair competition, a disregard for basic international economic and trade rules, and a severe threat to the security of global industrial and supply chains, according to the spokesperson.

"The move not only undermines Chinese and U.S. firms' interests, but also hurts the interests of enterprises from other countries," the spokesperson said.

The Chinese side urges the U.S. side to immediately cease such actions and create conditions for normal trade and cooperation between enterprises, the spokesperson said, adding that China will take any necessary measures to defend Chinese firms' legitimate rights and interests. Enditem
The Northern Regional Health Director, Dr. John B. Eleeza, has told DGN Online that a five year old child is among the 12 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19 in the region.



According to him, the infected child is a contact of a Covid-19 patient in the region.



The Northern Region has confirmed 12 more Covid-19 cases, bringing its total to 31 with one death.



The Health Director disclosed the the 12 new cases involved 9 males , two females and one child.



The confirmed cases do not have traveling history which tells us that our community transmission is expanding which is not good for us,  he said.



The Health Director indicated that the new cases are resulted from the enhanced contact tracing in Tamale.



He said theirvsamoles were sent to Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) on April 22,2020 for testing before a testing center was established in Tamale.



We received the results yesterday May 15,2020 and it was positive .



He noted that they have started contact tracing of the new confirmed cases to isolate them.



Dr. Eleeza however was worried about the contacts of the confirmed cases adding that they might spread the virus due to the delay in releasing the results.



He appealed to residents to adhere to the health directives to help stop the spread of the Covid-19.



Help us send the message to the people that the virus is real and its in Tamale with us so they should adhere to the health directives,  he said.

Source: Daily Guide









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Just a few months ago there had been growing consensus among scientists, activists, economists and even investors that 2020 would be pivotal in the fight to stave off the worst impacts of climate change.

Around the world global warming had become manifest in the intensity of fires and floods, droughts and storms, prompting politicians to catch up with the view of voters on the urgency of the problem.

In November, world leaders were to meet in Scotland for the 2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference to set even more ambitious emissions targets and outline concrete plans on how to meet them in the effort to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees.

Projects that will use hydrogen in transport, such as this hydrogen-power bus in France, are among those potentially eligible for the CEFC funding.

But the Glasgow meeting has been cancelled and politicians are now focused on keeping citizens alive in the face of a more immediate threat.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16)  At least 2,300 Filipino seafarers are stuck in various quarantine facilities, waiting for coronavirus test results.

Philippine Transmarine Carriers Executive Director Restituto Padilla, Jr. told CNN Philippines on Saturday that some Filipino seafarers have been staying in various quarantine facilities and cruise ships for nearly a month already.

Sa amin lang kumpanya, sa mahigit na halos 4,000 na ang PCR test merong nananatili pang 2,300 plus na nagaantay ng resulta, Padilla said in an interview. Diyan sa ating Manila Bay ngayon ay nakalutang diyan ang napakamaraming cruise ship, mahigit bente na cruise ship nagaantay para maibaba yung kanilang mga Filipino crew na sa ganun makauwi na, pero hindi pa natatapos ang kanilang PCR testing.

[Translation: In our company, out of the 4,000 who have been tested, more than 2,300 are still waiting for their results. More than twenty cruise ships are waiting in Manila Bay for their Filipino crew to disembark and return home, but they are still waiting for their PCR testing.]

Padilla clarified that the actual figures may be more because the numbers they have include only those covered by their company, which they have provided for.

More than 1,300 Filipino seafarers have returned to their homes after completing 14-day quarantine and testing negative for COVID-19, Padilla said.

Returning Filipino seafarers undergo RT-PCR testing, which gives a definitive diagnosis for COVID-19 patients. While it is the gold standard test," it takes at least 24 hours to process, sometimes even longer due to bottlenecks.

Deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon earlier said that the government will prioritize 25,000 returning OFWs for testing this month, so that those who do not have the coronavirus will be allowed to return to their hometowns as soon as possible.

The Department of Foreign Affairs reported Thursday at least 19,064 Filipino seafarers have been brought home to the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with thousands more expected in the coming weeks.

However, Filipino seafarers experienced challenges even after returning home, with some being asked to pay the hotel bills where they underwent the mandatory 14-day quarantine, because their manning agencies did not.

When CNN Philippines raised this with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac said they are prepared to help affected seafarers, but clarified that the manning agencies should have shouldered the cost for quarantining their workers.

"Tinutulungan nating yun, sinasalo natin sila sa OWWA," Cacdac said. "Under the 'Tulong Marino Program' we provide food and accommodation."

[Translation: We will help them, OWWA will cover them. Under the 'Tulong Marino Program' we provide food and accommodation.]

Cacdac added that more seafarers from cruise ship lines are expected to arrive, as the industry is among the hardest hit by the global health crisis and it will take some time before they resume operations.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Filipino cruise ship workers in Germany have asked the government to help them return home to the Philippines.

CNN Philippines' correspondent Tristan Nodalo contributed to this report.
Police in some parts of the country are handing out up to 26 times more coronavirus lockdown fines than officers in others amid a postcode lottery of enforcement, figures reveal.

Analysis by The Independent shows stark differences between neighbouring forces, leaving people 10 times more likely to be fined in North Yorkshire than Humberside, or in Northamptonshire than Warwickshire.

National police leaders pledged to improve consistency in the way new coronavirus laws were being applied following a string of early mistakes and miscarriages of justice.

But campaigners said the figures showed a worrying postcode lottery of policing that must be addressed urgently after fines were increased to 100 in England.

More than 14,000 penalties have been handed out in England and Wales since lockdown laws came into force.

All police forces have been given the same official guidance on the Health Protection Regulations, which tells them to use fines and arrests as a last resort after explaining the law.

But analysis shows that officers in some regions are fining the public at disproportionate rates, even when population figures and other factors are taken into account.

The Metropolitan Police has given out the highest number of fines (906), but several other forces covering much smaller areas have reached similar totals.

When calculated as a rate against the population of police force areas, North Yorkshire is at the top of the table, followed by Dyfed-Powys, Cumbria, Dorset and Lancashire.

Police in Dyfed-Powys fined people at seven times the rate of neighbouring South Wales, while the figure was four times higher in Dorset than Hampshire  despite the joining coastal counties sharing a similar combination of beaches, rural beauty spots and urban conurbations.

Officers continue to police the Covid-19 regulations as UK prepares for minor changes to the lockdown (Getty)

The police force with the lowest rate of fines per population was Staffordshire, where officers were handing out 26 times fewer fines than North Yorkshire, followed by Kent, Essex and Greater Manchester Police.

The privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch said the figures showed a worrying postcode lottery of policing under emergency powers.

Director Silkie Carlo told The Independent: It means these extraordinary laws are being applied incorrectly and disproportionately across the country.

Weve seen inconsistent and sometimes heavy-handed policing, even leading to unlawful prosecutions. With police in England now able to issue even larger fines this urgently should be looked at and all fines issued so far should be reviewed.

The Liberty human rights organisation called for the government to narrow the scope of the Health Protection Regulations.

If they dont do this soon, public trust could be undermined for good, a spokesperson added.

Such broad powers were inevitably going to lead to inconsistent, postcode lottery policing.

Parliaments human rights committee warned that people were being punished without any legal basis last month, and a Home Affairs Committee report told police to stop overstepping their powers by enforcing government guidelines rather than the law.

There is no route to appeal the penalties without refusing to pay and risking prosecution, and a barrister previously told The Independent that errors were likely to have gone unchallenged.

North Yorkshire Police was among a handful of forces that stopped vehicles at the start of lockdown, before new guidance was released (AFP/Getty)

A Crown Prosecution Service review found that 175 out of 187 charges under the regulations were correct, although all 44 prosecutions under the separate Coronavirus Act were unlawful.

The Health Protection Regulations make it illegal to leave home without reasonable excuse or spend time outside in groups of more than two people not from your household.

The law also forced the closure of some types of businesses and recreation facilities, although it was relaxed last week.

Recommended Public must risk prosecution to challenge lockdown fines

Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, said police had handed out a small number of fines in comparison with the number of interactions with people violating the lockdown.

Speaking at a virtual press conference on Friday, he admitted that mistakes had been made but insisted officers were improving their understanding of the unprecedented laws.

Mr Hewitt said differences between regional forces were inevitable, adding: It will depend on the demographics, the number of sites  beauty spots and other places like that  where you get large influxes of people from elsewhere.

Its all those individual circumstances that will end up with the number weve had.

Mr Hewitt said lessons had been learned from previous mistakes and predicted that fewer fines would be handed out following the relaxation of lockdown restrictions in England.

A spokesperson for Cumbria Police, which covers the Lake District, said the top five force areas are popular with tourists.

The per-head of the population figures are a little misleading in that they assume the people receiving Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) are all from that county or area, a statement added.

However, many of the FPNs issued were during the initial restrictions  particularly over the VE Day weekend  where we saw people ignoring the government rules and travelling to the county from as far as London and beyond.

The statistics cover the period from 27 March to 11 May, and predate changes to the Health Protection Regulations that saw the rules relax in England but remain almost unchanged in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Independent excluded the City of London Police from its analysis, because of its low number of residents but high footfall, as well as British Transport Police and the Ministry of Defence Police because a population rate could not be calculated.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 00:22:07|Editor: huaxia

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VILNIUS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for school and college students was held online via Zoom in Lithuania on Saturday amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ten contestants of five high schools and one university from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, the second-largest city Kaunas and port city Klaipeda participated in the competition at home.

Before the contest, Balys Astrauskas, acting Lithuanian director of Vilnius University Confucius Institute, said this year's "Chinese Bridge" competition is different from the previous ones. "We are not in one place today, instead at our own homes in various places in Lithuania."

"But I hope the atmosphere of the competition will be just the same as every year. At the Confucius Institute, we are all friends and family, so don't be afraid of making mistakes and don't be shy in the contest. Wish you all good luck with good results today."

Eight contestants participated in the contest for school students, while the other two competed in the contest for college students.

Agne Burneikyt, a 16-year-old student from VGTU Engineering Lyceum, won the competition, and the second place was secured by Simona Erminaite from Klaipeda Azuolyno Gymnasium.

In the contest for college students, the winner was Akvile Radauskaite, a third-year (junior) student from Vilnius University, who was attending the competition for the third time in a row.

"Why do I insist on attending, because I have a lot of interest in Chinese culture. Through the contest, I could know more Chinese people and get more Chinese friends and I will participate next year," Radauskaite told the judge.

Since 2002, the headquarters of the Confucius Institute in Beijing has organized a series of Chinese Bridge language competitions. Enditem
Just days after nearly a month's worth of rain fell over the course of a few hours across parts of the Midwest, the region is enduring another soaking storm through Monday.

"A widespread storm is bringing heavy rain across much of the Midwest as it slowly moves eastward," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Edwards said.

The storm had already produced 1-2 inches of rainfall and incidents of localized flooding across portions of the Mississippi Valley by Sunday morning, with soaking rain continuing to fall.

A wide swath of rain is seen soaking the central U.S. on radar during Sunday evening, May 17, 2020. (AccuWeather)

This storm is likely to produce widespread flash flooding conditions, mainly for the Great Lakes and portions of the Ohio Valley.

The heavy rain threat will increase as the storm becomes better organized and eventually slows down and stalls for a time.

During the day on Sunday, tornadoes were reported in Macon, Grundy, and La Salle counties in Illinois and Cameron County in Louisiana, according to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center.

Chicago; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and South Bend, Indiana, were all under the greatest threat for flash flooding into Sunday evening.

Heavy rain has proved to be particularly challenging for Chicago, which encountered more than its fair share of flash flooding issues late last week. On Thursday, Chicago O'Hare International Airport recorded 3.53 inches of rain, most of which fell over the span of a few hours. Thursday's rain was just 0.15 of an inch shy of the normal rainfall total for the entire month of May.

On Sunday evening, the National Weather Service warned of widespread, major flash flooding ongoing across the southwestern suburbs of Chicago along with many flooding issues across the Chicago Metro itself.

Some areas adjacent to the Chicago River, which will continue to rise into Monday morning, have already seen the river overflow its banks. The River City Indoor Garage, a parking garage in River City area of downtown Chicago, unfortunately lived up to its name as water rushed into the structure Sunday evening.

Story continues

River flooding straight into river city garage yikes pic.twitter.com/nVHFPFiLAj  Mario Castro (@mariodointhings) May 18, 2020

As of early Monday morning, the 24-hour rainfall totals of 2-4 inches were rather widespread from Wisconsin and Illinois to western Michigan and Indiana.

Through the day Monday, the greatest threat for heavy rain capable of producing flash flooding will encompass the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, along with portions of Indiana and Ohio.

This rain will be extremely heavy at times, Edwards warned. Monday night the flooding threat will begin to shift south out of Michigan, focusing more on the Ohio Valley.

An AccuWeather Local StormMax of 6 inches can occur where storms repeatedly move over an area.

Flash flooding is especially likely to impact low-lying and poor-drainage areas, Edwards added.

Residents who must travel will need to be vigilant for any ponding or flooding on roadways and remember to never drive through floodwaters.

There is the potential for a few locally severe storms to develop Monday afternoon to Monday evening.

A few of these stronger thunderstorms could produce damaging wind gusts and even an isolated tornado or two.

The storm will attempt to exit the Midwest during the day Monday, but will be forced to slow almost to a halt by the first named tropical system of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Tropical Storm Arthur.

The influence of Arthur off the East coast will prevent the Midwest storm system from progressing any farther east, and instead it will begin to shift south, toward the Tennessee Valley, pushed by high pressure moving in to the north.

Rain will linger over the region into Tuesday afternoon before dry conditions begin to win out.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

Following early week wet and cooler conditions, there is hope on the horizon for warm weather lovers in the area.

After temperatures generally linger in the 50s and 60s for those under rainy skies early this week, conditions will begin to slowly warm up on Tuesday. By Thursday, much of the Midwest will experience temperatures in the upper 60s to lower 70s, and these more seasonable conditions will last into the weekend.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Older members of the struggling Royal Canadian Legion are wondering when or if they will be able to gather again.

As the coronavirus claims the lives of seniors across the country, Clifford Ferguson, a 92-year-old veteran, has been holed up in his Scarborough apartment worrying about Canadas largest volunteer organization dedicated to veterans. The organization has already been grappling with dwindling membership and yearly branch closures.

Like many other not-for-profit organizations, the Royal Canadian Legion, is banking on some level of government relief for its struggling branches nationwide.

While they wait, Ferguson, 92, said locations like his Highland Creek Branch 258 face questions on many fronts, ranging from how much assistance they will be able to give to initiatives for veterans, and the fate of commemorative events like Remembrance Day.

Its tough because of the uncertainty, said Ferguson, who enlisted during the Second World War but didnt see action because the armistice was declared before he could be deployed overseas. I feel were going to pull out of (COVID-19), but its going to take a while.

With revenue from hall rentals and fundraisers drying up, some branches have launched online campaigns through sites like GoFundMe to offset the losses.

Founded in 1925, the Legion is Canadas largest veteran support and community service organization, with roughly 250,000 members. Its poppy campaign raises about $20 million annually.

Gerry Morgan, district commander of 21 branches in Toronto, acknowledged we now have a big problem with the future, with the uncertainty of what social rules will apply during the coming months. Morgan said keeping a membership is one of the most difficult obstacles we have.

Morgan said the prolonged isolation is hard on older members because right now their lives are being shut off, he said. Many members who are older utilize much of their social time there.

Age will be a big factor in member retention for an organization where the majority of our members are over 60 years old, said Royal Canadian Legion Dominion president Tom Irvine. Were going to lose members after this but hopefully they will come back.

The Legions national command, which allocated $3 million in emergency funding to its 1,350 branches (roughly $3,000 per branch), has expressed concern about branch closures and has written to the federal government seeking clarity about whether the Legion qualifies for aid.

We have never gone to the government for a handout, Irvine said. But in this particular case were going to struggle and if we dont get assistance many more of our branches will go.

Pre-COVID, anywhere from two to four branches closed yearly.

Some of the branches we wont be able to save, he said.

Toronto branches support a host of veterans causes, such as the Tony Stacey Centre for Veterans Care, a 100-bed nursing home; and Finchurst, a rental apartment for senior veterans.

About 97 per cent of the proceeds from the $1 million in annual poppy campaign donations in Toronto go toward the immediate needs of veterans or their spouses.

Other than visiting the Legion a handful of times each month, for recreational and social activities like the Friday night dinners, Ferguson prides himself on being part of the ceremonial colour guard, a fixture during commemorative events.

The Legion served as a place where you could go and talk to guys who had been through the same thing, said Ferguson, a member for 32 years.

For most of his time as a member, Branch 258 was a vibrant place, but in recent years things kind of died down and we were pretty much bankrupt until recently, when we sold the property at 45 Lawson Rd. Branch 258 has about 460 paid members, a big drop from the roughly 2,500 in 1999.

Ferguson, who was discharged from the Canadian Forces soon after enlisting in 1944 after the fighting ended, has witnessed the folding of many branches over the years.

It happens quite often, he said. This will definitely hurt the weaker and smaller rural branches.

Veterans at Bellevilles Branch 99 had to cancel D-Day ceremonies planned for June. The branch is losing out on the roughly $5,000 a month it would make from fundraisers, dinner dances, dart leagues and other revenue generators like hall rentals.

Were not getting any income, said Branch 99 president Shirley Stewart.

With the lions share of its members being seniors, a group deemed the most vulnerable to the virus, she said upcoming marquee ceremonies like Remembrance Day, which involves large gatherings at cenotaphs, hang in the balance.

Like Branch 258, its Belleville counterpart is active on the local scene, putting together care packages for veterans in nursing homes and donating to facilities such as the Perley and Rideau Veterans Health Centre in Ottawa and the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre in Toronto. But much of that support is now in limbo.

Its not the future she envisioned for a branch launched in 1927. Still, were doing everything we can to keep it together and we dont want to fold.

Jason Miller is a breaking news reporter for the Star and is based in Toronto. Reach him on email: jasonmiller@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @millermotionpic

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Kuwait City, May 17 : Kuwait has launched its first drive-through coronavirus testing centre at the Kuwait International Airport to beef up the country's COVID-19 testing capability.

On the sideline of the centre's inauguration on Saturday night, Health Minister Bassel Al-Sabah said it will help increase the number of tests to discover unreported cases, reports Xinhua news agency.

The centre will randomly select 180 citizens and residents for testing per day, he said, adding it can receive 15 cars at a time.

The Ministry will cooperate with the Public Authority for the Civil Information to send the selected individual a text message with full details to conduct the testing, Al-Sabah noted.

The Kuwaiti government has imposed a full curfew in the country to curb the rapid rise in coronavirus cases.

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.

Kuwait has so far reported 13,802 COVID-19 cases, with 107 deaths.
Civil society organisations want the federal government to ensure details of the beneficial owners of prospective bidders are included among key conditions for those interested in participating in the licensing round for the marginal oil and gas assets planned for later this year.

Rising from a one-day online workshop on Urgent Case for Reforms in the Petroleum Industry, the groups said publishing beneficial owners information would promote transparency in the process and encourage serious bidders to show interest in the bid.

The workshop held on Wednesday in Abuja was hosted by the Media Initiative on Transparency in Extractive Industries (MITEI), a non-profit group of media practitioners committed to the promotion of transparency in the extractive industries.

Facilitated by the Facility for Oil Sector Transformation (FOSTER II), the workshop was attended by representatives of other groups, including Publish-What-You-Pay.

Beneficial ownership principle

Beneficial Ownership disclosure is a principle by the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) for all its member-countries to ensure information about the ultimate beneficiaries of the ownership of assets in the extractive industries are disclosed to the public.

As of April 2017, Nigeria was among the 25 African countries that expressed commitment to disclose the natural beneficial owners of the companies bidding for, operating or investing in the extractives sector.

READ ALSO:

In December 2019, Nigeria became the only country in Africa, Asia and the Americas to actually open a Beneficial Ownership Register for the extractive industries, outside the United Kingdom, Netherland, Denmark and Ukraine.

At the unveiling of the register by the Nigeria Extractive industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the Nigerian government said the register aligned with the anti-corruption mandate of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Also, the government said the opening of the register was in fulfilment of the commitment by President Muhammadu Buhari at the London Anti-Corruption Summit in 2016 towards a transparent exploitation of the countrys extractive industries assets.

On Thursday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipreye Sylva, announced that the federal government is planning to hold another oil licensing round to auction marginal oil assets in Nigeria.

It will the first of such exercise in recent history since the last bid round was held in 2007, almost 13 years ago.

Case for beneficial ownership disclosure

At the workshop, the lead energy expert and Senior Partner, Energy & Commercial Contracts, Primera Africa Legal, Israel Aye, highlighted the negative impact of awarding the countrys oil and gas assets to persons whose identities and capacity are unknown to the public.

He blamed such awards on the discretionary powers exercised by the Minister of Petroleum Resources under the Petroleum Act, saying steps must be taken to define due processes and procedures in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to ensure transparency and accountability, to end arbitrariness and abuse.

The absolute powers granted the Minister of Petroleum Resources to grant the licenses for the oil assets arbitrarily should be removed, Mr Aye said.

He lamented that, at the moment, if the minister cancels any oil license for whatever reason, there is no room to seek redress, as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) lacks the legal backing to enforce its guidelines.

For a transparent oil licensing round that will help realise the national objective of increase oil output, he said there must be a framework for the granting of licenses to guide and regulate the entire process.

Nigerians must demand that beneficiary ownership disclosure must be included as one of the intrinsic requirements and conditions spelt out in whatever guidelines the DPR will be putting out for the bidders. This is the only way we can guarantee only serious investors with genuine plan and capacity to exploit the national asset for the benefit of the all Nigerians will be attracted to participate, he said.

Framework for transparent fuel pricing

In the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, Mr Aye said Section 6(1) of the Petroleum Act, which empowers the Minister of Petroleum Resources to fix petroleum products prices, must expunged and replaced with a framework for price modulation under a deregulated petroleum products market.

He said what the country needs is a framework that would moderate the price modulation mechanism by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

We need a framework that prescribes the role and responsibilities of each institution taking decisions at every point in the petroleum producing pricing process. We need a framework that show how the pricing template was arrived at, the intervals of the price modulation adjustments, whether monthly, quarterly, weekly or daily.

There must be an agency legally empowered to handle the responsibility of modulation of petroleum products prices in the country outside the NNPC, which should be allowed to face its responsibility of handling the operations side of the business.

We must demand for an open and transparent process to handle all the issues in the price modulation value chain to remove arbitrariness and exploitation, the energy expert said.

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This combined photo shows Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, left, and Hyundai Motor Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun, Sunday. Korea Times file



By Kim Yoo-chul



Last week's rare high-profile meeting between Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun at a local battery plant operated by Samsung's battery affiliate Samsung SDI was loaded with surprises given their long yet relatively mediocre relationship.



The relationship between Samsung and Hyundai business group isn't comparable to that of Apple and Samsung Electronics, both of which are undeniably the champions of the smartphone race. However, given Samsung's earlier failed attempts to produce finished cars, it's worthwhile to observe that both are apparently praying for each other's success, senior industry sources contacted by The Korea Times said.



Samsung launched Samsung Motors in 1997 thanks to technical assistance from Japan's Nissan, and began selling cars in 1998 just before the country was hit by the Asian Financial Crisis. At the time of the Samsung move, Hyundai Motor tried to block Samsung's business expansion into the automotive industry, but the effort was in vain. Later, Samsung had to sell its major stake in the enterprise to Renault to save the corporation amid the financial crisis, while Hyundai acquired a major stake in Kia Motors.



"Samsung-Hyundai's so-so relationship was mostly due to Hyundai's dissatisfaction over Samsung's move to advance into the automotive industry. Despite Samsung's repeated commitment that it will not re-enter the automotive industry, Hyundai has been maintaining a step back stance toward Samsung as common thinking among by Hyundai management was that Samsung was a company that actually threatened its bread-and-butter business," one industry executive said.



Years ago, Samsung approached Hyundai reportedly asking it to test Samsung's early version of so-called "automotive semiconductors" to see how these chips worked and functioned in vehicles. At the request of the then government, senior Samsung and Hyundai executives agreed "tentatively" to make joint efforts on the emerging business, however, no actual partnership was ever made.



But things appear to be changing.



The ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) landslide victory in the April 15 general election is strengthening President Moon Jae-in's grip on core state affairs and the victory also helped the South Korean leader avoid lame-duck status for the remainder of his presidency. Right after the election win, Cheong Wa Dae said President Moon would focus more on ways to rev up the virus-hit local economy.



Two days before Moon's special speech marking the third year since he took office in 2017, Samsung head Lee told the public that he didn't intend to pass down core management of the country's top conglomerate to his children.



Lee apologized over past wrongdoings related to a power transfer plotted by some Samsung executives. In a televised apology, Lee also said Samsung would invest in businesses that it "did well" and actively seek out new growth opportunities that are promising but haven't been actively explored by the company before. President Moon previously indicated that logic-chips, hydrogen-related value chain, electric vehicles and OLEDs were some of South Korea's "next things."



When President Moon made state visits to European countries years ago, he used Hyundai's Nexo hydrogen sedan to visit a hydrogen gas-fueling station in downtown Paris. On a related note, Moon congratulated Hyundai Motor several times for its efforts to create an ecosystem for the "hydrogen economy." Also, the President visited Samsung's local EUV research center and OLED manufacturing line.



Not surprisingly, the meeting between Samsung and Hyundai's top management, therefore, could provide a fresh impetus for both to find businesses which will be beneficial to them. Regarding details of last week's meeting, representatives at Samsung and Hyundai downplayed its significance.



But sources familiar with the issue said Hyundai may use Samsung's small battery technology in its next electric vehicle which will probably be released in 2022.



"Usually, when the top management of companies meet, they directly touch on issues and plans that bring visible results. As the demand for electric vehicles will rise further, Hyundai is looking for new alternatives in battery sourcing. Samsung would be a good fit from this business standpoint and others," another senior industry executive said adding Hyundai is on track to develop its next electric vehicle platform to function with pouch-, solid- and round-type batteries.



LG Chem is the major battery supplier for Hyundai with the country's top automotive group procuring some inventory from SK Innovation. Meanwhile, reports said Hyundai may test Samsung's automotive application chip  tentatively named Exynos Auto  in its next electric vehicle.



"It remains to be seen whether or not Hyundai will use Samsung's automotive application processors because if it does, then Samsung would learn core factors of Hyundai's future electric vehicle roadmap. I believe the prerequisite about an expansion of ties between Samsung and Hyundai, is Samsung's commitment that it will not make its own vehicles," the executive said by telephone.



Samsung is the global leader in DRAM and flash-type memory chips, but is chasing Taiwan's TSMC and other custom design chip makers. Some analysts expect Samsung will acquire companies related to automotive and bio-health technologies.


Prabhu Chawla By

Now we have to move forward with a new resolve and determination. When ethics are filled with duty, the culmination of diligence, the capital of skills, then who can stop India from becoming self-reliant? We can make India a self-reliant nation. We will make India self-reliant. Prime Minister Narendra Modi

As far as brands go, India is a brandmaker. From Ayurveda to Khadi, it has over the millennia given the world myriad products with generic impact. Last week, Indias most powerful globalised brand Narendra Modi invoked Bharatiya as the formula for Atma Nirbharta (self-reliance.) He has given a unique marketing spin to Indian heritage, culture, traditions and socio-economic philosophy. The COVID-19 pandemic compelled him to reassert his swadeshi roots when during a 31-minute speech he announced a mammoth relief package of Rs 20 lakh crore to revive indigenous talent and hidden skills.

Paradoxes expose opposite nodes; it was evident that the prime ministers faith in one-way global connectivity has turned out to be more of a liability than an asset. Like many past economic packages, it gave headlines an adrenaline rush but, in reality, was more complex for bottom lines and implementation. Yet, it revealed directional and ideological correction. Modi appealed to Indians to think local and become vocal. He defined the five pillars of the colossal edifice of self-reliance.

The Indian economy should move away from the concept of incremental growth to a quantum

jump trajectory

Create world-class infrastructure that defines the identity of India

Set up an ecosystem created by technology and not just conventions

Redefine Indias healthy demographic contours to ensure a vibrant democracy, which will accelerate the

massive demand for goods and services.

Establish a demand-led and not supply-induced economic model

This isnt the first time that Modi mooted the revival of swadeshi model. He launched MII aka Make in India campaign in September 2014, barely three months after he received an unprecedented single party majority mandate that junked the Congress welfare ideology. His vision envisaged a 12-14 per cent growth in the manufacturing sector so that its contribution to GDP would rise from less than 20 per cent to about 25 per cent by 2025 and create an additional 100 million jobs by 2022. The objective was to fertilise a favourable environment for FDI investment in 25 specific sectors. The new policy was meant to transform India into a global design and manufacturing hub. Six years later, the country is stuck in the quagmire of vested interests even though it was meant to move machines, and not minds, from the West and the Far East.

Many international business houses announced fancy plans promising huge investments. If all the promises are totalled, the deal would cross half of the US GDP. From manufacturing cars, defence equipment to technology parks and more, there was hardly a global corporate house, which wasnt bitten by the Modi bug. After all, he was opening up the gargantuan Indian market. The Prime Minister and his team must be now auditing the success of the MII dream. In reality, the foreign companies were pumping money out of the country as royalty payments rather than making profits through local partners and subsidiaries, instead of giving to India. The Indian bureaucracy has converted Make in India into Take From India .

Even after the coronavirus forced economic apartheid on China, there are no signs of multinationals making a beeline for Indian shores. The perception balance is counterproductive to the MII dream. India possesses a strong leader but has an equally vulnerable and weaker ecosystem for ease of doing business. Foreign investors have always taken advantage of its vulnerability in Research and Development (R&D). Over 70 per cent of our service and large industrial sector survive on technology borrowed from abroad. India may boast of having produced global technology companies like TCS, Wipro and Infosys, but has hardly created an indestructible and prestigious international brand.

From bicycles to computers, it still survives on foreign raw material and components. The irony is that almost every rural housewife uses needles made in China; her child plays with toys made in China. Even the priests in Indian temples use the sacred thread and diyas made in China. Our netas wax eloquent about the nations glorious past but for non-Indians, India is still a country where half the population is semiliterate and over two-thirds earn less than $500 dollars per year. For poverty perpetuating liberal intellectuals, the only visible Indian brands are snake charmers, beggars, under-nourished children and the romantic Taj Mahal.

Sorry to spoil the fable but in spite of its enormous brain capital, the nation has failed in its R&D goals, which would have made it economically muscular and an internationally sustainable saleable model.Modi is the first political doctor to prescribe holistic transformation by saying When the Corona crisis started, there was not a single PPE kit made in India. The N-95 masks were produced in small quantity in India. Today, we are in a situation to produce 2 lakh PPE and 2 lakh N-95 masks daily. We were able to do this because India turns this crisis into an opportunity.

In terms of total manufacturing capacity, these numbers look ridiculous. But it says a lot about Indias capacity to create wonders in a short time. Why are we unable to manufacture world-class ventilators, premium healthcare and defence equipment, machinery for road building and mining, and first-class components for computers and cell phones in large numbers? Our pharma companies are performing in a stellar way but have failed to invest enough in R&D.

Because, Indias R&D story is pathetic. According to official figures, it spends just around 0.7 per cent on R&D against 2.1 per cent by China, 2.8 by the US and 4.2 by South Korea. While the government spends about Rs 1 lakh crore on R&D, the private sector has contributed less than C6,500 crore. In contrast, Amazon spends over $22 billion, Alphabet $16 billion, Volkswagen $16 billion and Samsung $9.15 billion.

No comparable figures for top Indian corporate are available. They find it financially feasible to connect with foreign collaborators rather than spending on research at home. Dreaming of an atma nirbhar India would be futile unless Modi is able to push the Indian establishment, its corporate leaders and academics to Think India, Love India and Feel India. The saying that the earth of Bharat smells the sweetest will ring true only if patriotic passion prevails over the seductive perfumes on duty-free shelves and embedded liberal internationalists in the system.

PRABHU CHAWLA

prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com Follow him on Twitter @PrabhuChawla
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-18 01:18:09|Editor: huaxia

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SHENZHEN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- An Airbus A330-200 loaded with masks and other epidemic prevention materials took off from Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport for Los Angeles, the United States on Sunday.

According to the preliminary plan, its operator China Eastern Airlines will fly the passenger-to-cargo flight twice a day before the end of June.

This will increase direct passenger-to-cargo flights from Shenzhen to Los Angeles to three every day, airport sources said.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has tremendously cut international travels, demands for international air cargo have surged sharply.

Shenzhen airport has operated more than 20 passenger-to-cargo routes to some international hubs, including Los Angeles, Paris, Melbourne, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.

The airport has seen increasing international freight business, with the highest international cargo volume exceeding 1,400 tonnes for a single day.

To help fight the pandemic and secure the supply chain, Shenzhen airport has provided services to temporary charter cargo flights from other countries and regions, and cooperated with airlines to start passenger-to-cargo routes.

Up to date, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport has served more than 500 international temporary charter cargo flights and passenger-to-cargo flights, transporting more than 10,000 tonnes of epidemic prevention materials to 37 countries. Enditem
Candidates looking to secure a Canadian immigration visa will soon be able to find official language tests more readily available as coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions ease in Canada and around the world.

More IELTS and CELPIP test dates becoming available

More IELTS and CELPIP test dates becoming available Candidates looking to secure a Canadian immigration visa will soon be able to find official language tests more readily available as coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions ease in Canada and around the world.

More IELTS and CELPIP test dates becoming available Candidates looking to secure a Canadian immigration visa will soon be able to find official language tests more readily available as coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions ease in Canada and around the world.

More IELTS and CELPIP test dates becoming available Candidates looking to secure a Canadian immigration visa will soon be able to find official language tests more readily available as coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions ease in Canada and around the world. Kareem El-Assal Alexandra Miekus Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

Sans Font Size A

A

Completing an English or French language test that is officially recognized by the Canadian government is mandatory for skilled worker candidates that want to secure a permanent residence (PR) visa to move to Canada.

In fact, obtaining high language test scores is among the best ways of increasing your odds of successfully immigrating to Canada.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts the following four language tests:

CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program

IELTS General Training Test: International English Language Testing System

TEF Canada: Test devaluation de francais

TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du francais

Most immigration applicants speak English, and hence, choose to either take the CELPIP or IELTS General Training Test.

Candidates with knowledge of English and French and who want to obtain additional points (e.g., under Express Entry) may choose to take tests in both languages.

Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and the rest of Canadas immigration system continue to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in recent days, there have been numerous Express Entry and PNP draws held.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

However, the coronavirus has led to lockdowns in Canada and around the world, which has made it difficult for immigration candidates to complete their language tests, such as the CELPIP and IELTS General in recent months.

The official language test providers are subject to local laws, which they are complying with to ensure the health and safety of immigration candidates as well as their employees.

As lockdowns ease, more CELPIP and IELTS test centres are opening

In recent weeks, Canadian provinces have been releasing plans to ease their lockdown restrictions. For instance, Canadas largest province, Ontario, has announced plans to further expand the list of business that can reopen within the coming days.

Language test providers are responding by making their tests more readily available.

In Canada, IELTS tests are currently available in British Columbia (BC), Alberta, and Manitoba.

CELPIP is also currently being delivered in BC. Paragon Testing Enterprises, the company that administers CELPIP, anticipates that it will be delivering tests in Alberta, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador within the coming weeks.

Abroad, CELPIP is currently available in Hong Kong.

We monitor the situation with COVID-19 daily and will have more locations in Canada and internationally delivering the CELPIP test as soon as it is safe to do so, Michelle Avelena of Paragon Testing Enterprises, said to CIC News.

IELTS is currently operational in 29 countries. These include significant source countries of immigrants to Canada, such as Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and Vietnam. IELTS has set tentative test dates in more countries in the weeks and months to follow.

Monica Aguirre of IDP IELTS Canada explained to CIC News that as more places start to open up, we will be assessing the situation following local mandates to make sure we are complying with the health authorities. IDP is one of the three co-owners of IELTS, along with the British Council, and Cambridge English Language Assessment.

Both Avelena and Aguirre stressed that extra health precautions are in place at CELPIP and IELTS test sites to protect the health and safety of test takers, employees, and test centre personnel.

Canada still accepting immigration applications

In the meantime, coronavirus-related disruptions should not discourage immigration candidates from still going ahead and preparing themselves and their applications.

Candidates may wish to capitalize on the opportunity to spend more time studying for their CELPIP or IELTS exam to improve their chances of achieving their Canadian immigration goals.

Finally, IRCC and numerous provinces have stated they will not reject applications if candidates provide an explanation that their application is incomplete because of COVID-19 interruptions.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs
The announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of an economic policy package amounting to Rs 20 lakh crore, described by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman as a stimulus, to counteract the impact of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has turned out to be a case of flattering to deceive. It had been received with shock and awe as it had appeared substantial and bold. Even though it had been stated that the package included the financial counterpart of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)s measures and the governments outlay under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana in March, the assessment was that the resulting stimulus would yet be substantial. The details, however, were revealed days later, and there is widespread disappointment at the contents. There is now shock that given the severity of the crisis, the central government has done so little after having remained silent for over seven weeks.

Before the details were announced, the guessing game had been to figure out the allocation of the enhanced fiscal outlay assumed to be coming. This is because the economic impact of government spending will vary, depending upon whether it is used to rebuild Lutyens Delhi, build roads and bridges in the four corners of the country and in its middle, recapitalise public sector banks or retire public debt. Now that the contents of the economic package are public knowledge, this has turned out to have been a futile exercise. There will be negligible additional spending by the government.

Over and above the commitments already made by the government and RBI, the largest item in the package is a provision of Rs 3 lakh crore to guarantee loans to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector to be made by commercial banks. While this is creative from a financial viewpoint, it is similar to RBIs existing liquidity-enhancing initiatives. Thus, a little over half the package comprises liquidity provision, by RBI and the Government of India, and the governments relief package of March 26. The rest is a ragbag of funds aimed at various sectors of the economy. These, such as the proposal aimed at expanding infrastructure for agriculture, cannot be faulted, but their impact may reasonably be expected only in the medium-term. The provision of loans amounting to Rs 90,000 crore from power public sector units to distribution companies in the electricity sector is imaginative too, but it remains a supply side intervention.

The guarantee for bank lending to the MSME sector, its largest and most applauded part, best demonstrates the unbalanced nature of the package. Though important in terms of employment, the sector is dependent on the rest of the economy for its market. Unless the rest of the domestic economy is revived, the MSME sector may face a shortage of demand, and its production may soon sputter to a close.

It is for this reason that an economic package for the economy emerging out of the lockdown requires a stimulus enhancing demand across the economy. The best way to have done this would have been to spend on infrastructure. Infrastructure spending uniquely creates structures that raise productivity and extends spending power to the section of the population most affected by the lockdown, namely daily wage labourers. The crucial difference is that while liquidity infusion in the form of credit is an input made available, a stimulus is an injection into the income stream. The substantial increase in the allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is a stimulus all right, but cannot, by itself, make much difference.

The lockdown has lowered aggregate demand, and a fiscal stimulus is needed. However, much of what we have seen by way of a policy response is something akin to a backstop in finance. This is unequal to the task of reviving an economy that has experienced a shock valued at around Rs 28 lakh crore, the estimated direct loss of output during seven weeks of lockdown. Only a fiscal stimulus of approximately Rs 20 lakh crore could have achieved this in relatively quick time.

Many observers, including this writer, had imagined the package announced on May 11 to be just that stimulus. We have been proven wrong. The conclusion is that the government is keen on signalling fiscal prudence by sticking as far as possible to the deficit in the budget announced. We can now see that behind the finance ministrys announcement last week that it is raising the public borrowing limit for the financial year is the reality that the governments revenues are set to fall behind its expenditure, and not any preparation for the stimulus to come. This is mere rearguard action rather than acting on the imperatives of the present.

Now that the governments package is unpacked, we may surmise that the adverse economic impact of the lockdown will last longer than the lockdown itself. This because of the likely presence of hysteresis effects in market economies, whereby low output today depresses production for some time into the future. The missing plan for economic revival is a governance failure. By declaring the lockdown, the State took away access to livelihood. Even if this was done to save lives, the social contract behoves the State to restore the livelihoods lost.

Pulapre Balakrishnan is professor, Ashoka University, Sonipat , and senior fellow, IIM Kozhikode

The views expressed are personal
(Newser)  "See you later, alligator" is one thing"In a while, pedophile" is quite another. But Donald Trump Jr. posted both messages on Instagram along with photos of Joe Biden touching children at public events in what amounts to an "incendiary" accusation, the New York Times reports. Confronted online, Trump Jr. responded that his ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing) emojis "in the caption should indicate to anyone with a scintilla of common sense that I'm joking around." But he also reiterated his accusation, saying Biden "should stop the unwanted touching & keep his hands to himself." Business Insider notes that he then retweeted messages supporting his accusation, including from pro-Trump conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich.

story continues below

Trump Jr's post sparked a partisan Twitter war that includes images of Biden with other children and of President Trump in suggestive poses with his daughter, Ivanka. But it's all old hat for Trump Jr, who's been posting cutting memes on social media to boost his dad's presidency. Back in March, he told Axios that papa Trump had gotten upset with his son's "aggressive" attacksbut Trump Jr "learned it by watching" his dad, he said: "He just wanted the material. He was mad I beat him to the punch." For the record, some women have accused Biden of inappropriate touching, but there's been no word of misconduct with a child, while President Trump is facing a couple dozen sex-misconduct allegations. Biden's camp called Trump Jr's post a "repulsive, manipulative tactic." (Read more Joe Biden stories.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 17

By Fidan Babayeva - Trend:

In accordance with the rules of subsidizing, if the amount accrued for the sown area does not exceed 5 percent of the amount set as a result of monitoring, the subsidy for sowing is provided on the basis of the results of the analysis in Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Agrarian Credit and Development Agency Mirza Aliyev said, Trend reports.

If as a result of monitoring, the difference is more than 5 percent and less than 20 percent, the amount of the subsidy decreases by 30 percent, Aliyev said. If the difference is 20-50 percent, then during the current year the subsidy is not paid. If the difference between the declared information and the real one exceeds 50 percent, the subsidy is not paid to the farmer during the current year and further years.

"The monitoring is carried out in accordance with the rules of subsidizing approved upon the Azerbaijani presidents decree dated June 27, 2019," the chairman said.

To ensure the effective operation of the subsidy mechanism, monitoring is carried out in several directions, the chairman said. The accuracy of farmers' applications related to the sowing process will be assessed by checking, comparing images determined by using satellite and other technical capabilities, with e-declaration data and conducting the field inspections by using selective methods by comparing e-declaration data with other data in e-agriculture information system (EKTIS).

Aliyev also urged farmers to be careful and responsible in their applications about the sowing process.

"During the autumn sowing, we revealed many inaccuracies due to the inexperience of farmers, and gave them the opportunity to renew the information by clarifying the situation, the chairman said. We expect farmers to take a more responsible approach to spring sowing. The more accurately the applications are filled in, the sooner farmers will be provided with subsidies."

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on April 14 on the allocation of funds to improve the process of providing agricultural producers with microloans during the coronavirus pandemic and in the further period.

In accordance with the decree, 30 million manat ($17 million) will be allocated from the Azerbaijani Presidential Reserve Fund to the Agrarian Credit and Development Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture for issuing the non-guarantee loans in the agricultural sector to meet the needs of agricultural producers for funds during the coronavirus pandemic and in the further period.

----

Follow the author on Twitter: Fidan_Babaeva
Eight more sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive a second time for the new coronavirus, raising to 13 the number who appear to have become infected again while serving aboard the sidelined aircraft carrier.

All the sailors had previously tested positive and had gone through at least two weeks of isolation.

Before they were allowed to go back to the ship, all had to test negative twice in a row, with the tests separated by at least a day or two.

On Saturday, a Navy official confirmed eight additional sailors had tested positive again.

A day earlier the Navy had said in a statement that five had tested positive a second time. The Navy official was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As many as 4,088 migrant workers returned to Jharkhand on Saturday in three 'Shramik Special' trains from Karnataka and Maharashtra, officials said on Sunday.

A government release said 2,663 migrant labourers arrived at the Jasidih Railway Station in Deoghar district in two special trains from Karnataka.

The third train carrying 1,425 migrant labourers reached the Koderma Railway Station from Maharashtra's Ratnagiri, it said.

The returnees were screened and provided with food, before being sent to quarantine centres, the release added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In what would have been a windfall year had the Olympic Games proceeded as planned, Japan's hotel chains are instead facing an existential threat after the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on the travel industry.

Just before Japan's annual Golden Week holiday began, Osaka-based WBF Hotels & Resorts, filed for bankruptcy on April 27. The company had racked up debts of 15.7 billion yen ($146 million), making its case the largest coronavirus-induced bankruptcy in Japan so far. Typically, around 25 million people travel domestically and abroad during Japan's the weeklong spring holiday which ended last Thursday.

The WBF chain operates 27 hotels in the country and was expanding to meet growing demand. It booked 4.7 billion yen in sales for fiscal 2019. However, the spread of coronavirus, subsequent lockdowns and travel bans have taken a toll on its business.

WBF Hotels is not the only company suffering. Oyabe Service Station, a Toyama-based operator of highway rest stops, became one of the latest to file for bankruptcy on May 8, while capsule hotel operator First Cabin filed for bankruptcy protection on April 24.

First Cabin operates around 25 hotels that are aviation-themed with first-, business- and economy-class rooms. When it filed for bankruptcy, it and four affiliates had booked 1.1 billion yen ($10.2 million) in liabilities.

According to research company Teikoku Databank, 139 companies filed for bankruptcy as of May 12, after facing serious cash flow issues. The numbers had been rising over the last few months. April saw 92 coronavirus-related bankruptcy cases, 26 in March and only two in February.

By industry, hotels were the worst affected with 34 coronavirus-induced bankruptcy cases to date, followed by restaurants with 14 and apparel and household goods at 13. Yoshihiro Sakata, an analyst at Tokyo Shoko Research, said bankruptcies are likely to top 100 by the end of the month.

Since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency on April 7, many businesses including retailers and restaurants had taken the decision to temporarily close or reduce opening hours as demand fell away. The government has now extended the state of emergency until the end of May in some areas, including Tokyo and Osaka.
'The spirit of cooperation between the Centre and states has been diluted in many ways.'

'The level of consultation which used to be there earlier has reduced significantly.'

IMAGE: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, top left, and other chief ministers interact with Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, May 12, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo

"We have seen the federal structure of the nation, which is a key constituent of the Constitutional framework, come under stress in recent months," Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh tells Archis Mohan and Sanjeeb Mukherjee.

What is the assistance Punjab expects from the Centre?

We are in the midst of an unprecedented crisis and unfortunately the central government has not so far come out with any special relief package to help us despite our repeated requests.

We are in the second month of the nationwide lockdown. Revenue sources have completely dried up.

Punjab's revenue shortfall in April was 88 per cent. Against the estimated revenue of Rs 3,360 crore, only Rs 396 crore was received.

There are critical issues facing us, including handling transportation of lakhs of migrants, completing harvest and procurement on time, supporting poor and needy, and above all, combating the spread of the pandemic.

Then there are lakhs of corona warriors who need our support in addition to the routine regular expenses of the government.

And the bottom line is we have no money, and only the Centre can come to our rescue.

We want the Centre to immediately clear our pending GST arrears of Rs 4,365.37 crore.

It should, in addition, provide revenue grant to meet the revenue shortfall. We need support to ramp up our medical and healthcare facilities to tackle the pandemic, particularly testing facilities.

Some have bemoaned erosion of the powers of states in recent months. Do you think there is a concern of weakening of federalism?

Unfortunately, yes.

We have seen the federal structure of the nation, which is a key constituent of the Constitutional framework, come under stress in recent months.

The spirit of cooperation between the Centre and states has been diluted in many ways.

The level of consultation which used to be there earlier has reduced significantly.

Lots of major decisions have been taken by the central government in recent past without taking the will of the states into account, even on matters that directly impacted the states.

Though every state supported the central government's decision to impose a national lockdown in March as the right and best decision in the circumstances, the fact remains that it was done without consulting the states.

The erosion of the fiscal powers of the states is another issue of concern.

With the goods and services tax coming into play, the states were left with no fiscal options and all powers were vested in the Centre.

Under the new regime, the Centre has the first right on the GST collections.

In fact, the Centre has total powers not to distribute funds that remain after all central expenditures are met, when in fact it should be the other way round.

Further, Constitutional powers of the states to levy fee and cess have been withdrawn.

These funds collected by the Centre are not kept as part of the divisible pool, but are completely retained by the central government.

This has caused cooperative federalism to come under massive stress.

The fiscal crisis faced by the states especially in the light of the pandemic could lead to serious problems between the Centre and states going forward unless some Constitutional remedy is found.

How do you view the new rules of the Union government and its officials sitting in New Delhi classifying districts into green, orange and red zones?

Frankly, it is illogical for officials sitting in New Delhi to undertake this exercise. After all, they are not familiar with the nuances of each district in each state.

How can they possibly know which ward or village in which district is affected, and to what extent!

Putting an entire district in red zone makes no sense when it is a small pocket that is badly affected; or it is an area that can easily be fenced and isolated from the rest of the district without any significant effect on the whole district.

Similarly, you could end up with a green district that has scattered pockets of widespread infection which cannot be completely separated without risking the unaffected areas.

Frankly, this is a decision best left to the district collectors and senior superintendents of police/commissioners of police on the ground who know their districts better than anyone.

With migrants leaving, how would the state ensure that labour shortage does not impact the forthcoming kharif growing season and ensure availability of labour for industry?

We do not foresee a major problem in kharif cultivation since we have sufficient rural labour in the state to support agricultural operations, as we saw in the rabi harvesting and procurement season.

In any case, we have been increasingly shifting away from paddy and my government has already decided to shift another 2.5 lakh hectares to alternate crops this year (last year paddy cultivation took place over 29.30 lakh hectares).

So the pressure on paddy cultivation will reduce further.

Also, a new method of paddy sowing, called Direct Seeding of Rice, has been recommended by the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and we propose to bring five lakh hectares under the system, which does not require intensive labour.

I am confident that with the active involvement of farmers, we shall be able to plant paddy by the target date of July 30, 2020.

How will the state ensure that farmers who shift to maize or cotton from paddy during the kharif season get adequate return on their investments?

Look, the farmer will sow what gives him good returns. So, as long as we can assure him of sufficient returns on his investment in maize and other alternate crops, he will be ready to make the shift.

Maize is used both as fodder and grain in the state. A large number of fodder-baled silage units have come up in Punjab, which take maize crop from the farmers at reasonable price and turn it into baled silage.

This is then used as fodder in various states in India as well as abroad. There are many animal feed units in Punjab, which use maize grain as a major raw material.

The grain-based distilleries are also being roped in to purchase maize for converting it into ethanol.

In addition, we have set up two specialised food parks where the maize will be used as starch and a processed food item.

We have already decided to double the area under maize cultivation this year. I have asked the concerned department to ensure abundant supply of certified varieties of maize seed duly approved by the Punjab Agricultural University to the farmers.

It is all about making the shift to maize and attractive proposition for the farmers, and we are taking several proactive measures to do that.

We are doing that with cotton too, and that is being grown this year on five lakh hectares of land in Punjab as against 3.9 lakh hectares last year.

Even though there is a strong mechanism of private trade procuring cotton in the state, the Cotton Corporation of India is also engaged in procurement at minimum support price.

Punjab really cannot afford to continue with its wheat-paddy cycle, given the severe water crisis we are facing.

Our depleting groundwater levels make it impossible for us to go for large-scale cultivation of the water-guzzling paddy crop, which is no longer proving to be lucrative for the farmers.
Henry Ford Brief History







by Bob Hagin

March 6, 2001

Recently there was an article in an auto trade journal about how the Ford Motor Company is conducting a worldwide search for the first racing trophy the company ever won. It capitalized on the fact that the Ford Motor Company has been actively engaged in auto racing for 100 years and that on October 10, 1901, Henry Ford won a cut-glass punch bowl as a prize for beating Alexander Winton in a 25-mile race at a Detroit horse track. Unfortunately, it was disposed of to an antique shop when Ford died in 1947. "It's probably being used in someone's kitchen," said Edsel Ford II, grandson of Henry Ford, "and we want it back."

That race marked the beginning of the era of Henry Ford, a self-taught engineer who had more to do with shaping our contemporary culture than any other American of the past century. An often used cliche is that "...he put America on wheels.." And while that statement is not entirely true, he can be credited with putting our average citizenry behind the steering wheel.

One hundred years ago, the automobile was a flashy plaything of the rich and only occasionally used for serious transportation. Pioneers like Ford and Winton (he's credited with making the first commercial sale of an automobile in 1897) had to prove their products to a skeptical public and demonstrate that they were devices to be taken seriously. And since the American public was as sports-minded then as it is now, events like the Detroit race captured its imagination.

Ford had no formal training as an engineer, but he fell into it naturally, even though he came from a traditional farming family. Born during the Civil War, Ford was part of the American industrial expansion which held that anyone could become rich and celebrated if he had a good idea and the tenacity to pursue the dream.

Most didn't make it of course. Alexander Winton is now just a footnote in our automotive history. But Ford had one important thing going for him: He worked as an engineer for the Edison Illuminating Company and its founder, Thomas Edison, encouraged Ford to experiment with high-speed, lightweight, self-contained engines. Ford finished his first self-propelled auto in 1897 and legend has it that he had to break down a brick wall in his shed to get it out and onto the street. Although he was married and had a family, he quit his job as chief engineer at Edison to pursue his own dream.

Ford was also a daredevil and in 1904 he took his huge "999" race car onto the ice on Lake St. Clair and established a land speed record of 91 mph. Although the record lasted less than a month, Henry Ford, founder of the huge and prestigious Ford Motor Company, is officially listed as being the fastest man on earth at that time.

Ford initially built his business on his racing reputation. He sold the "999" to the fabled Barney Oldfield, who successfully barnstormed it in match races around the country.

Ford started the Ford Motor Company in 1903 with 11 investors. Ford's partner in the development of the mechanics of those first cars had been a graphic artist and he fashioned the Ford Blue Oval and gave the first letter a particularly fancy flourish. This same logo is used on Ford cars today.

The 1920s were a time of unparalleled posterity in this country and everyone wanted an automobile to show off their prosperity. Although the company made some large and prestigious cars in its early days, Ford made his mark on the automobile world and on the American genre when he introduced the famous Model T in 1908. It was a semi-stark touring car that sold for around $800. It wasn't necessarily cheap compared to some of the slap-dash cyclecars that were on the market but it was affordable and best of all, it was reliable.

The Model T stayed in production until 1927, and while the last version differed greatly from its ancestor of 19 years before, the changes to the car were made through evolution rather than through radical changes. Through Ford's use of the new and revolutionary assembly line technique of mass production, by the mid-'20s, a frugal buyer could by a plain Ford roadster for just a bit over $260.

Henry Ford was a complex and enigmatic person. Although professing to be a populist and a man of the people, he was one of the world's most autocratic capitalists. It was felt by many in his circle of family and friends to have literally hounded his son Edsel to death. He led the industry in paying a "living wage" of $5 per day to his factory workers early on, but as times and economic conditions became better, he brutally put down collective bargaining by the use of goon squads and billy clubs. He was fanatically anti-semitic to the extent of publishing his own monthly magazine to perpetuate his position. He ruled the family-owned Ford Motor Company with an iron hand until well into World War II, when the company was all but moribund. Grandson Henry Ford II had to be called from naval duty to take control of Ford management. Under those war-time conditions, the government was on the brink of taking over the company and its production capacities.

Devil or angel, Henry Ford was and is many things to many people. So search your attic and your basement to see if you have that cut-glass punch bowl inscribed and presented to Henry Ford for his win at that horse track near Detroit nearly 100 years ago. If you find it, you have a pivotal piece of American automotive history.
Papa John's has been forced to apologise after Brits received leaflets advertising the brand's ill-timed 'Pizza in the Park' initiative.

The American pizza empire sent out their latest offer, encouraging groups of people in the UK to have pizzas delivered to enjoy in parks as part of their buy one free initiative.

However as the country enters its eighth week of lockdown, the latest guidelines only allow for two people from different households to enjoy a social distancing walk - not a picnic.

As of yesterday, the UK counts 240,000 confirmed cases of the disease, and 34,466 deaths.

The leaflets, which read 'pizza in the park? No probs,' angered dutiful Britons who had been observing social distancing rules, as it showed a group of four people hugging, The Sun reported.

Femail has contacted Papa John's for comment.

Brits were bewildered when they sorted their mail, finding flyers from the pizza empire offering to deliver pizzas in UK parks as the country enters its eighth week of lockdown.

A spokesperson for Papa John's said the brand apologised 'unreservedly' and explained the leaflet had been put up for distribution before the coronavirus pandemic escalated, prompting a national lockdown.

They told The Sun on Sunday: 'We apologise unreservedly for our leaflet. It was put into distribution before all our lives changed so suddenly.

'We can assure your readers that anyone following the link in the leaflet finds a clear message that the service has been suspended.

'Meanwhile, we remain committed to delivering safe, high-quality food directly to customer's homes.'

The pizza brand said it 'apologised unreservedly' for the blunder, and explained the leaflet had been put up for distribution before the coronavirus pandemic escalated

The brand said that their website has been observing social distancing guidelines, by offering contact-free deliveries only across the UK and refusing cash payments.

They explained that the delivering to specific locations service had been suspended, and that the brand's drivers were only delivering to people's homes.

This comes days after Papa John's CEO John Schnatter showed off his helicopter and $11million mansion in a series of TikTok videos.

Since April 22, Schnatter has been sharing a glimpse at his life of luxury online, despite resigning in 2018 from the pizza chain after using the N-word during a media training call.

This comes days after Papa John's CEO John Schnatter showed off his helicopter and $11million mansion in a series of TikTok videos, including this bizarre statue of two eagles mating, which doubles as a clock

In one of his first videos, Schnatter, who has a net worth of $1billion, is seen driving his 1971 Camaro Z28.

Another clip shows him walking toward a chopper with the caption: 'Did you know I have my own helicopter?'

In one of his most recent videos, Schnatter is seen showing off his massive, $11million Kentucky mansion.

Elsewhere he shares his plush mansion's entrance hall, complete with a huge statue of two eagles mating.

Schnatter says the bizarre sculpture also functions as a clock.

In one of his most recent videos, Schnatter is seen showing off his massive, $11million Kentucky mansion

The former CEO of Papa John's opened the door to his house. He stepped down from his position in 2017

The property, which sits on the edge of a lake, also features ornate carved wooden doors and mosaic floors.

A fourth video compilation, shows Schnatter advertising three t-shirts. One shirt reads, 'Papa Bless,' the second says, 'Papa' and the third has 'Papa The Day of Reckoning' written across it.

All three shirts are being sold for $35 each on the website GiveBackWithPapa.com with the proceeds going to COVID-19 relief efforts, according to Schnatter.

Schnatter stepped down as the company's chief executive in December 2017, after drawing criticism for blaming disappointing sales on the NFL's handling of player protests during the national anthem.
The Haryana Congress on Sunday condemned the use of force against migrant workers in Yamunanagar, terming the police action inhuman.

Police on Saturday used mild force' to disperse a group of migrants who had blocked a national highway, demanding that they be sent home.

Former chief minister and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said the lathicharge on migrant labourers was highly condemnable.

It is inhuman to beat up poor labourers who are victims of circumstances. The government should treat the them with empathy, Hooda said in a statement.

Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala and state party chief Kumari Selja also condemned the police action.

Surjewala alleged that they were chased and thrashed.

He said the BJP had 'sold dreams' to the poor to come to power and now it was insensitive towards their plight.

Selja said if the government had any concrete policy, the migrant workers would not have been forced to walk hundreds of kilometres to reach their homes.

Rather than providing relief to them, what these poor migrants are getting is lathis. We strongly condemn the lathicharge on them, which shows the insensitive attitude of the Khattar government, she said.

Police had on Saturday said a group of migrants had blocked the Yamunanagar-Panchkula highway, causing traffic disruptions.

The police said they tried to convince them to lift the blockade but the migrants persisted with their demand.

Hooda said in addition to taking care of their stay and food, the government should ensure that migrant workers are provided with immediate monetary relief or alternate employment.

If the government is not able to do this or poor labourers want to go home, then proper arrangements should be made for their journey back home, he said.

The government should fulfil both its administrative and humanitarian responsibilities towards them, Hooda said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
El-Aaiun (Occupied Territories), 17 May 2020 (SPS) - The Association for the Monitoring of Resources and the Protection of the Environment in Western Sahara (AREN) has denounced the illegal activities carried out by Indian Larsen & Toubro, along with other foreign companies, in the occupied parts of Western Sahara by Morocco.



The Sahrawi Association said that the aforementioned company is seeking to build a power plant in the occupied city of Dakhla, considering such activities only perpetuate the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara and support the Moroccan regime and encourage it to continue to commit more serious violations of human rights, looting and depleting the Sahrawi wealth and prolonging the conflict.



The Sahrawi Association reminded all companies that any economic activity in Western Sahara was illegal and violated international law in view of the legal status of Western Sahara. (SPS)



062/SPS/T
For more than two months now, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted economic activity to a degree we've never previously witnessed. All told, the U.S. unemployment rate is nearing 15%, which is a level unseen since the Great Depression.

With the understanding that things may not be "normal" for a while, Congress passed and the president signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law on March 27. Among other things, the $2.2 trillion CARES Act provides $100 billion to hospitals, $500 billion for distressed industries, almost $350 billion for small business loans, and $260 billion for a four-month expansion of the unemployment benefits program.

But the most memorable aspect of the CARES Act is the $300 billion directed toward stimulus payouts.

A second round of stimulus payments has been proposed

These payouts, officially known as Economic Impact Payments, were sorely needed by Americans and their families to help purchase essential goods, as well as pay rent, mortgage, or utility bills. Unfortunately, surveys have shown that the vast majority of stimulus recipients burn through their payout in four weeks or less. Thus, for many folks, a second round of stimulus is very much needed.

Understanding these concerns, the Democrat-led House of Representatives introduced the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act last week. At $3 trillion, it would surpass the CARES Act as the biggest relief package in history, if approved.

The HEROES Act puts money to work in a variety of ways. It provides $1 trillion to at-need states, creates a $200 billion Heroes' fund to provide hazard pay to essential works, extends the unemployment benefits program expansion through January 2021, and allots $175 billion to help struggling families pay their rent, mortgage, or utility bills.

Additionally, the HEROES Act would mark round two of direct stimulus payouts. Using the same adjusted gross income eligibility requirements as the CARES Act, another maximum payout of up to $1,200 would head toward single taxpayers. However, changes in the bills' language, as well as in how much dependents can add to what a parent or household receives, could boost household payments to as much as $6,000.

But putting money into the pockets of Americans isn't all the HEROES Act would do. A deeper dive into the 1,815-page bill uncovers, of all things, cannabis banking reform legislation.

Surprise! The SAFE Banking Act is contained within the 1,815-page HEROES Act

For those who may recall, the House made history in September 2019 when it passed the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act in a landslide (321 yea votes to 103 nay votes). It was the first piece of stand-alone cannabis legislation to ever reach any congressional floor for vote -- and it passed.

As the name entails, the SAFE Banking Act would provide permanent protections to financial institutions that want to offer basic banking services, such as a checking account, line of credit, or term loan, to marijuana businesses in legalized states. Although some states are currently allowing banks and credit unions to provide these traditional forms of access to financial services, marijuana remains a Schedule I substance at the federal level, and is therefore illicit. Since most financial institutions report to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a federally created entity, they risk criminal or financial penalties by offering services to businesses engaged in a federally illicit activity.

In addition to many pot stocks being unable to access lines of credit or loans, they've been forced to deal in cash, which is both a security concern and a growth inhibitor.

Further, since cannabis is a federally illicit substance, marijuana businesses haven't been eligible for any of the federal assistance tied to the CARES Act or other small business loan initiatives.

But beginning on page 1,066 of the HEROES Act, and continuing through page 1,091, you'll find the exact language used in the SAFE Banking Act that passed on the House floor in September. In other words, as the HEROES Act is written now, its passage would free up banks to provide financial services to pot stocks without the fear of federal prosecution or monetary penalties, as well as make pot businesses eligible for COVID-19 financial relief.

Sorry, but cannabis banking reform won't pass muster

On paper, it sounds great. But the reality is that the HEROES Act contains numerous provisions that the Republican-led Senate and/or President Trump are unlikely to agree with. This makes the chance of the SAFE Banking Act becoming law very slim.

Putting aside the numerous other provisions contained within the HEROES Act that primarily concern the COVID-19 relief effort, the SAFE Banking Act would first have to get by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Following Jeff Sessions' departure as attorney general, there's probably not a more ardent opponent to reforming cannabis legislation than McConnell. As Senate Majority Leader, he can block the HEROES Act from coming to vote, or block the addition of certain riders to legislation.

Another key concern would be Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). Like McConnell, Crapo has long had reservations about marijuana. In December, Crapo offered up an amended version of the SAFE Banking Act, calling for financing to only go to businesses that retail products containing less than 2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive cannabinoid that gets users high. This limitation would, effectively, eliminate almost all pot businesses from gaining access to traditional forms of financing.

About the only means of obtaining consistent financing for U.S. multistate operators (MSO) of late has been through sale-leaseback agreements via Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE:IIPR). Innovative Industrial has taken advantage of Capitol Hill's unwillingness to reform cannabis banking laws to become a core provider of cash to MSOs. In a sale-leaseback arrangement, an MSO sells a cultivation farm or processing site to Innovative Industrial in exchange for cash. IIP then turns around and leases the property right back to the selling party, thereby locking in a renter for an extended period of time. As long as the SAFE Banking Act remains a proposal and not a law, IIP will continue to hold this financing arrangement advantage.
Public art has the power to inspire curiosity.

It also encourages contemplation.

Not to mention it facilitates dialogue.

And it helps build community engagement by giving a sense of place.

This is the exact reason the Bernalillo County Public Arts Program continues to add to its collection.

With over 450 public art pieces, the programs purpose is to help energize public spaces, inspire thought, and transform live, work and play places.

As social distancing becomes part of the new normal, Kent Swanson, public art project coordinator, took some time to highlight five public art pieces around the county.

Swanson says one of the great things about public art is that you can experience it in so many different contexts.

Public art can be found in our parks and open spaces, on streets medians, at bus stops, at community and senior centers, libraries, and municipal buildings throughout the county, Swanson says.

By taking the time to stop and truly be present with an artwork we can experience where we live, work and play in a totally different way. Public art is known to have health benefits as well. There are studies that show that people in medical facilities that feature art can experience less anxiety, lower pain levels and faster healing.

The pieces are in the open, so visitors can social distance responsibly.

District 1

Located on the Alameda Drain Trail, west of Second NW between Willow Road and Vineyard Road NW, sits Grr-Hiss Masquerade.

The piece is by Evelyn Rosenberg and Steve Borbas.

Swanson says it is one of the newest pieces in the county public art collection and was dedicated on Aug. 1, 2019.

The work is part of the Outposts public art project, a Bernalillo County Arts Board initiative, which aims to place 25 new public art works throughout the five districts of the county over several years.

So far, four sculptures have been installed, located on Second Street on a new multi-use trail along the Alameda Drain, Swanson says. I encourage people to park their cars and walk the new trail, read about the history of this unique waterway on the plaques found on the trail.

District 2

Travel down to the Rio Bravo Skate Park, 3912 Isleta SW, and visitors will find La Corriente del Valle: The Flow of the Valley by Joe Stephenson and Working Classroom.

The mural was completed in 2014.

Swanson says the mural is striking in that it captures so much of the history, culture and iconic places of the South Valley with vibrant colors and realistic imagery.

Its also an immersive experience, he says.

Native plants and wildlife such as sandhill cranes and sunflowers, images of local farms and farmers markets, La Llorona, the old Sunset drive-in movie theater, theyre all here, Swanson says. Walking the length of the mural is akin to a history lesson of the region and its cultures. This mural is great for kids who may recognize places and people from their neighborhoods in the murals panels.

District 3

Located in front of the Hiland Theater, 4800 Central SE, is RT 66 Reels and Wheels.

The steel sculpture by Howard Meehan became part of the public art program collection in 2016.

Swanson says the two-part art piece is a combination sculpture/bus stop.

He says the piece was inspired by the shape of an old movie reel, and a stand-alone sculpture adjacent to the bus stop looks like a hot rod shooting flames as it reeves up.

The two wheels of the sculpture are shaped like sixes, a reference to Albuquerques connection to the Mother Road/Route 66, he says The entirety of the piece is a love letter to a city known as a destination for film production and a love of car culture.

District 4

Head back to the west side to Skyview Park, 1200 Andrea Circle NW, and visitors will find Gambels Quail.

The bronze sculptures were installed in 2019 and were made by artist Tim Mullane.

Swanson says Mullanes piece references Albuquerques diverse wildlife as Gambels quail are found throughout the Albuquerque area.

You might spot a group of them when hiking the trails of the West Mesa or east mountains, Swanson explains. The work is playful and larger than life, and is perfectly situated in a small park just outside of Corrales. If you love bronze sculpture, this piece is a must-see.

Mullane is the Dean of Fine Arts at Albuquerque Academy.

District 5

At 20 feet in diameter, Common Ground by Cassandra Reid is a big piece of public art.

The mosaic tile piece is located at the Public Safety Memorial Park, 49 Public School Road in Tijeras. It was completed in 2017.

Swanson says the work serves to honor the women and men who work in public safety.

The design features a compass centered in a labyrinth, with paths and seating areas around the compass that invite meditation and reflection, Swanson says. Experiencing the entirety of the mosaic is exquisite, but one of the joys of the piece is getting lost in the beauty of each individual tile and stone.
The cold war between the Future Movements leader, Saad Hariri, and his older brother, Bahaa, is not new, but it has taken a new turn as the latter seems determined to enter politics. In an attempt to reclaim a weakened Sunni community, Bahaa Hariri tries to defend the values of the October 2019 uprising. He criticizes his younger brother for the compromises he agreed to make in recent years in favor of Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement, especially the deal that allowed Michel Aoun to accede to the presidency at the end of 2016.

Bahaa Hariri, 54, is a businessman whose fortune is estimated at $2 billion, according to Forbes magazine. The man has never been involved in politics before. On the day after the February 2005 assassination of his father, former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, he was clear: He was not interested in succeeding his father, hence, paving the way for his younger brother, Saad. Fifteen years later, the eldest brother presented himself as a supporter of political renewal who listened to the people protesting in the streets. His arrival into the political scene may mean a split in the Sunni community, between his potential supporters and those of his brother.

Bahaa Hariris political project is not linked to a heritage he claims. He wants to address the grievances of the Lebanese who are revolting and are opposed to compromises and corruption, Nabil Halabi, a lawyer close to Bahaa, told OLJ. Bahaa Hariri will not accept any compromise. He will embark on political life after the fall of the current political class, as the people want.

Halabi said Bahaa supports the (October 17) popular uprising by backing the young people who took part in the demonstrations and held forums for discussions and debates. These forums began their activities in the Bekaa, then in Beirut, Tripoli and Iqlim al-Kharroub, said the lawyer, referring to the readiness of these forums to become a political party. In a statement released in recent days, Bahaa Hariri, who lives abroad, stressed his support of the revolutions just demands, including a radical change in the structure of the Lebanese system.

His criticisms of the political class  of which his brother is a part  are not lacking as he believes that since 2005, most of the politicians and parties in Lebanon have amassed power and fortune at the expense of the country and the interests of the citizens." He also denounced alliances under which certain parties he chose not to name have decided to remain silent regarding illegal weapons and violation of national sovereignty, in return for Hezbollah, which he did not name either, remaining silent about their deals and their plunder of public funds.

According to our correspondent Mounir Rabih, Bahaa Hariri has made timid appearances, via social media, since the beginning of the uprising, when his wife began posting photos of him posing as being on the side of the demonstrators. At the same time, he expressed certain views, calling even for the fall of the government led by his brother, before the latter resigned on October 29.

Disoriented Community

The name of Bahaa was mentioned when Saad Hariri was forced to resign during a trip to Riyadh in November 2017. When he concluded the so-called presidential compromise, Saad Hariri made a commitment to Saudi Arabia that it would regain its longstanding influence in Lebanon in the face of Iran, but that did not happen, Rabih said. "Saad's failure led to his summoning by the kingdom then to his forced resignation. At this moment, Bahaa was suggested for inheriting Rafic Hariris political project. But many international, regional and local interventions prevented this at the time, Rabih added. Saad Hariri returned to Beirut where he withdrew his resignation.

Bahaa is trying today to position himself by taking advantage of the fact that the Sunni community has become weaker and its role has declined on the Lebanese political scene as a result of Saad Hariris policies, a political analyst critical of the Future Movements leader, told OLJ.

(Saad) voluntarily abandoned his prerogatives. He had bet that his political deal with Michel Aoun and Hezbollah would be beneficial for him, the analyst added. That allowed the traditional opponents of the Hariri family to re-enter the political scene, thanks to the new electoral law which caused Saad Hariri to lose a large number of Sunni and Christian lawmakers, not to mention that his supporters were left scattered. There have also been internal conflicts within the Future Movement, which led to the resignations of party officials." But the analyst said he feared that Bahaas strong return to the Sunni community may push Saad even more into Hezbollahs arms. He might once again be tempted to find a compromise with Michel Aoun and Gebran Bassil.

In predominantly-Sunni regions, which constitute the traditional popular base of the Hariris, people seem a bit disoriented and question this cleavage between the two brothers. Everyones talking about it here. They talk about a possible return of Bahaa. They are divided, with some supporting Saad and others Bahaa,  said a resident of al-Tariq al-Jadideh neighborhood in Beirut, a traditional Future Movement stronghold, speaking on condition of anonymity. In the meantime, pictures of Rafic Hariri carrying his nickname, "Abu Bahaa", started to appear in some neighborhoods in the capital, notably near the home of Bahaa in Verdun street.

 Why now?

Among the alleged supporters of the older Hariri on the local scene, some include former Minister Ashraf Rifi, a retired police general who fell out with Saad Hariri for a while, before coming to terms with him in early 2019. Contacted by OLJ, a source close to Rifi, denied this allegation. We are not concerned with what is happening. We are not taking a stand with anyone. General Rifi has nothing to do with this matter, the source said.

Asked by OLJ about the timing chosen by Bahaa to enter politics, Mustapha Alloush, a Future Movement official, was particularly critical. Bahaa Hariri could have engaged in politics three, four or even 15 years ago, but he did not. Why now? Is there a particular event he is preparing for? asked Alloush, also a former lawmaker. He denied that he was referring to the forthcoming verdict by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) concerning the attack that claimed the life of Rafic Hariri. Last week, the STL announced the postponement of its verdict, initially scheduled for this month.

There are people who try to take advantage of Bahaa Hariri and his generosity to create a place for him. We will be able to judge his seriousness when he presents a practical program, Alloush said. We are the political inheritors of Rafic Hariri because we are the ones who fight for his cause on the ground... You will not hear Saad criticize Bahaa; he is his brother in the end, he added.

The visit of the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Boukhari, to Saad Hariri last Sunday evening may mean that Riyadh has not yet completely abandoned the Future Movements leader. Beit al-Wasat, Saads residence, sweeps away all doubts.This visit had a clear objective. Saudi Arabia continues to support Saad. Riyadh does not support Bahaa or his actions on the Lebanese scene, a pro-Saad source told OLJ.





(This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour on the 14th of May)












BOZEMAN, Mont.  The only reason to be a Democrat running for statewide office in Montana is that, alas, you are one. Just keep in mind that there will be none of that heady, audacity-of-hope-type jazz. In this cold, conservative state, your mission is to persuade the skeptics east of the Rocky Mountain Front that you are a levelheaded, friendly, capitalist adult who wont be levitating the Pentagon  a task that has gotten considerably easier since the Republican establishment lost interest in basic empiricism.

Privately, feel free to enjoy normal liberal thoughts like that Al Sharpton makes a lot of sense. Publicly, assume that everyone you talk to is a Republican or an independent unless you are chatting with the Butterfly Herbs cashier ringing up your bulk Korean ginseng or you happen to bump into Jeff from Pearl Jam. If anyone asks, your favorite artist is the Great Falls cowboy painter Charlie Russell, though nobody will, because it goes without saying.

If you believe in abortion rights, and tragically, you do, follow the lead of the states senior senator, Jon Tester, a Democrat and third-generation farmer from Big Sandy. Frame the issue as the rugged individualism of a womans right to make her own health care decisions, preferably while seated on a tractor. All Democratic officials in the Central and Mountain time zones surely envy the rural romance of Mr. Tester, whose three missing fingers, mangled in a meat grinder on the family farm, are the Montana electoral equivalent of being a Kennedy. A good rule for politicians still shackled with all 10 fingers is to trust Senator Testers instincts on everything but haircuts. He understands that a westward conscience (and a passing interest in re-election) sometimes compels a Montana Democrat to question coastal leftist groupthink  just ask Bernie Sanders about Max Baucus, but not if there are ladies present.

The exemplar remains the most powerful Montana Democrat in American history, Mike Mansfield. The longest-serving Senate majority leader, he quietly egged on his Republican counterpart, Everett Dirksen, to help pass the Great Society laws, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (back when, according to the 1960 census, the black population of Montana was 0.2 percent).
HOUSTON  Driving in the United States and Europe is picking up a little. Refineries in China are buying more oil as that countrys economy reopens. Saudi Arabia and Russia ended their price war and slashed production, and American oil companies are decommissioning rigs and shutting wells.

All those developments have helped push up oil prices modestly in recent weeks. On Monday, U.S. oil futures climbed 8 percent to settle at $31.82 a barrel, a price that would allow some of the best oil wells in the United States to break even.

That may seem like a minor miracle given that the price is more than $60 above where it was about a month ago. On April 20, the U.S. oil futures contract fell below zero for the first time as some traders paid buyers to take oil off their hands.

May, it seems, is a month when traders can finally sit back more comfortably for a moment and take a breath, said Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil market research at Rystad Energy, a research and consulting firm. But we warn that the second half of the year will not be met with precrisis oil prices again, as the gigantic oil stock overhang must first be worked down.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 07:35:19|Editor: huaxia

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Two Tibetan antelopes are seen in Hoh Xil, northwest China's Qinghai Province, May 15, 2020. Pregnant Tibetan antelopes have begun their annual migration to the heart of northwest China's Hoh Xil nature reserve to give birth, according to the statement released on Friday by the reserve's management bureau. On April 30, the first group of 43 Tibetan antelopes passed the Qinghai-Tibet highway en route to Zonag Lake and other breeding areas in Hoh Xil, about a week earlier than last year. Every year, tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes start to migrate to Hoh Xil in May to give birth, after mating in November or December, and leave with their offspring in around August. In July 2017, Hoh Xil became a world heritage site and is home to about 60,000 Tibetan antelopes. (Xinhua/Wu Gang)
Police responded to an unknown 911 call at a residence on E. 27th Street. An officer met with a woman who was not cooperating with police and only gave her name. She stated she wanted her kids out of the house and no one was listening. All the kids had left once the police arrived. The woman then went inside and shut the door refusing to speak with police further.



* * *



An officer was dispatched to a suspicious party sleeping inside a coin laundry mat. Upon arrival police spoke with Tyrone Crowther, who said he was washing his clothes.

However, he could not show police where his clothing was that he was washing. Police asked him to leave at the owner's request and he did so without incident.* * *Police were dispatched to 1315 E 36th St. for an unknown 911 call. Upon arrival, an officer met with Mr. Samuel Kreger and Ms. Brenda Daniel-Gossett. Both said they were just arguing because they thought each other were cheating. They both agreed that they would go to separate rooms and not cause any more problems. There were no signs of distress nor visual physical harm.* * *Police checked out a harassment complaint at an adress on Brainerd Road. A woman said that while she was driving on Lee Highway to go see her mother there was a vehicle behind her that was acting erratically. She said she believed that it was her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend. She told me that she had previously made a report of harassment on the ex and warrants were taken out. Asked how she knew it was the ex she said she had her on video. She also said the other woman had a gun and was waving it around and that was on video as well. When the woman showed an officer the video footage, "all that was recorded was a vehicle following behind her."* * *Police spoke with a man who said he had lost his Pay Pal Mastercard. He said there were a total of five illegal transactions on his card, but Pay Pal refunded two of them for about $23. He said there were three transactions that Pay Pal would not refund - $271.75, $229.91 and $55.94, all at Walmart in Chattanooga. He said he does not know which Walmart and Pay Pal would not tell him any further information. He said he is therefore currently out the $557.30.* * *An officer spoke to a woman on Anita Drive. She said a few months ago, she got a call from who she thought was her school. She said she gave out her personal information to the caller including her TVFCU account number and her Social Security number. She said that recently there were two $500 checks deposited in her account. She said she does not know where the checks came from. She said she thought nothing of it and spent about $500 of the money. She said later the checks bounced as bogus. She said as a result, she is out $500.

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A man on Sylvan Avene said he and his mother got into it. He said his mom got mad and left the house with his car. He said he did not want her to take his car, but he did not want to enter it into as stolen yet. He also said she took his 40" TV.










Google announced that it had disabled 210 YouTube channels that were uploading videos "in a coordinated manner" about the ongoing protests in Hong Kong, on Aug. 22, 2019. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

YouTube Automatically Deletes Some Terms Critical of Chinese Regime

YouTube automatically deletes comments that mention some Chinese phrases commonly used to criticize the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Chinese netizens have discovered.

Comments that contain such phrases are deleted within seconds, which suggests that its the work of an algorithm.

One apparently banned phrase is gongfei (), which can be translated as communist bandit. It seems to date back to the Chinese civil war era.

Another phrase that has been deleted is wumao (), which literally means fifty cents and is commonly used to describe the army of internet trolls the CCP uses to spread its propaganda online. Its rumored the trolls used to be paid around 50 cents per post.

The Epoch Times tested both phrases repeatedly under different YouTube accounts and different videos, always obtaining the same resultthe comments were deleted in roughly 20 seconds.

A spokesman for Google, which owns YouTube, asked for evidence of the deletions, in response to a request for comment emailed by The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times provided extensive evidence, including links to YouTube videos where such comments were deleted, links to individual comments that have been deleted, and videos that capture the comment deletion in real-time.

A company official who asked not to be identified told The Epoch Times that Google isnt aware of auto-removals of comments, and noted that comments and videos on YouTube are required to follow the platforms Community Guidelines.

The disappearance of comments was noted on May 13 by Jennifer Zeng, a blogger and creator of YouTube content with a focus on China news and commentary.

She posted a video of a person demonstrating the comment deletion; others confirmed the observation. The issue has also been reported by Taiwan News.

CCP Connection

Google has repeatedly come under fire for allegedly creating a cozy relationship with the CCP.

Since 2018, the company has been cooperating with a leading artificial intelligence (AI) research body at Tsinghua University, a prestigious Chinese academic institution that also conducts AI research for the Chinese military.

Google also faced criticism after it was revealed in 2018 that it was secretly developing a censored search app for the Chinese market, as part of a project dubbed Dragonfly.

According to insider information leaked to The Intercept, the Google app was designed to link users search history with their phone numbers, making it easier for the regime to target dissidents.

Lawmakers, human-rights advocates, and even some Google employees spoke out against the project, which, it appears, has since been shelved.

Google ran a censored version of its search engine in China from 2006 to 2010, but exited after the company said a cyberattack originating from China had targeted Google email accounts of dozens of Chinese rights activists.

Widespread Abuse

China is one of the worlds worst abusers of human rights, according to watchdogs. In recent decades, the regime has killed hundreds of thousands of prisoners of conscience to sell their organs for transplants, based on extensive research conducted since allegations of the crime first surfaced in 2006.

In 2019, an independent tribunal in London concluded that state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience had taken place for years in China on a significant scale, and continues today.

The CCP runs the worlds most sophisticated system of internet censorship, employing tens of thousands of people to manually delete content and make negative or positive posts and comments based on the regimes instructions.

The regime requires foreign companies that operate in China to censor topics it deems sensitive, such as democracy, human rights, and the ongoing persecution in China of Falun Gong practitioners, underground Christians, Uyghurs, rights activists, and others. Companies are also forced to share with the regime any of their data stored in China.

Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai has previously said that the company has invested in China for years and plans to continue to do so.

The Trump administration has placed significant emphasis on pushing back against the CCP, particularly in the tech and cyber sector.

We need to make sure that our companies dont do deals that strengthen a competitors military or tighten the regimes grip of repression in parts of that country, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in January.

Bowen Xiao, Cathy He, and Nathan Su contributed to this report.

Update: The article has been updated with a response from a Google spokesman and a comment from a Google official.
LOS ANGELES, May 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft ("Deutsche Bank") (NYSE: DB) investors that the firm has initiated an investigation into possible securities fraud, and may file a class action on behalf of investors.



Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy , by phone 310-692-8883 or email : lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com.

Various media outlets have reported that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has sharply criticized Deutsche Bank's U.S. operations in an internal audit. The audit reportedly found that Deutsche Bank has failed to address multiple concerns identified years earlier, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York continues to rate Deutsche Bank at the second-worst grade on the regulator's ratings scale.

On this news, Deutsche Bank's stock price fell $0.31 per share, or 4.49%, to close at $6.60 per share on May 13, 2020.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

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A video link arrived into my WhatsApp messages a few days ago. My daughter, who lives in Dubai with her family, sent me their version of the TikTok dance. Not only was it hilarious, but I also saw the potential in three-year-old Freddie's moves. Watch out Michael Flatley!

That video was very welcome at the end of a busy week where I had already spent more than 30 hours on video calls. Some of that time was spent in a culture refresh programme, briefing teams across Europe to ensure we maintain momentum. I also presented several one-hour masterclasses to various clients and industry associations. Now none of that was particularly taxing, until I got a call from a UK-based corporate. It asked me to facilitate its strategy for returning to work and for the rest of 2020.

That was a challenge. We agreed to hold a full-day video conference with the full executive team. I was concerned about how to ensure strong levels of participation, protocols to ensure one person spoke at a time, wifi consistency and so on. I'm delighted to say it worked way better than I expected.

As a consultant and keynote speaker, I have always had a hands-on approach. After all, people are at the core of all that I do. I was never a big fan of virtual meetings or conferences, but circumstances have converted me. Although I can't wait to get back out there to the real world, I also believe the foreseeable future will be a hybrid model of business interaction.

I spoke this week with Des O'Leary, the managing director of Catapult, which started out in life 21 years ago as a production company for corporate events. As time went on, it developed a full-service offering that includes creative and production. In the corporate world, it now hosts full-service events for Mastercard and its customers around the world. It also supports Samsung in bringing its brand and products to consumers.

When the crisis started, Catapult was stopped in its tracks. Its very packed pipeline was put on hold and the company was facing some hard decisions. After the initial shock, the team came together - virtually, of course. Over the following few days, they brainstormed how they could continue to support their customers.

They now have a new business that is groomed for stardom. Rather than fall under the proverbial bus, the team came up with a new offering that would ensure their customers could continue reaching out to their customers, in a new normal. Building on its past experience of streaming, the company invested further in new virtual technology that enables customers of Catapult to reach their own customers and people in a new way.

In the last few weeks, the company has run global online events for several corporate clients. Those events included webcasts, conferences and other information-sharing events. Other events in the near-future include summer parties, with interactive games and streaming to TVs in the home.

Benefits of a hybrid conference model

 Organisations that normally have events can continue to do that. The restrictions are, of course, a barrier, but one to be overcome. Don't be afraid to try virtual.

 Virtual events have a lower cost than live events. We're all familiar by now with the casual video interviews on TV where we find ourselves looking up the nostrils of celebrities or we see work colleagues working from home, with terrible lighting. But it doesn't have to be like that. You can have a professional event and achieve great results with proper advice from experts, simple at-home guidelines, and quality production.

 Virtual events have a wider reach. If you want to reach a global audience that normally entails significant travel costs, you can do that online. That medium also ensures consistency of message.

 Hybrid events are the new future. While virtual events on their own will never have the same impact as a real event, a hybrid model will offer a great solution in a future new world where social-distancing will prevail. The combination of a hotel or a conference centre, coupled with live streaming is not a new idea. But it will come to the fore as soon as restrictions are lifted.

The last word

There are two distinct messages that I am taking from the Catapult story. Firstly, I'm highly impressed with the tenacity shown by this young and creative team.

In the face of adversity, they kept their cool and rose above the negativity. They embraced the new reality and pivoted their business model in order to adapt. Rather than going under, they re-invented themselves without changing their core business. They just got on with it.

The second piece of learning for me is that a hybrid model is the new norm for the foreseeable future.

In preparation for the new realities of a post Covid-19 world, embrace a hybrid model that involves hotels, conference venues and digital steaming.
A top Hizbul Mujahideen commander wanted in the killing of an RSS functionary and his PSO was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, officials said.

An Army personnel also lost his life in the five hour-long encounter which started when the security forces launched a joint search operation in Posta-Potra village in Gundana area, 26 kms from Doda town, following information about presence of some terrorists, they said.

The officials said the search operation is going on as security forces are searching the debris of the three-storied house which was raised to the ground during the encounter.

"We have recovered the body of a terrorist from the scene of the gunfight so far who was identified as Tahir Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Malangpora village of south Kashmir's Pulwama district. The deceased was a close associate of newly appointed Hizbul Mujahideen operational chief Saifullah and was assigned the task of reviving terrorism in Chenab valley region," Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh told reporters in Jammu.

Describing his killing as a major setback to Hizbul Mujahideen and a big success for the security forces, he said the slain terrorist was part of the group which shot dead an RSS functionary along with his personal security officer in nearby Kishtwar district in April last year.

He was also behind the fabrication of an IED which was used in an abortive attempt to target a CRPF convoy at Banihal along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in March last year, the officer said.

"Bhat's killing will create a huge deterrence to the revival of militancy in Chenab valley, in its infant stage. The Doda district has virtually been cleared of terrorism once again and the plan of the terrorist to carry out attacks on security forces has been thwarted," Singh said.

The senior police official said the AK assault rifle, which was seized from the dead terrorist, was the same which had been taken away by militants after killing the RSS functionary and his PSO.

Briefing about the encounter, the IGP said a joint operation was launched late Saturday night following information about presence of the Hizbul Mujahideen commander in a house in the village.

"The village is about five to six hours of walk from the last motorable road. The search parties came under fire from the target house around 7 am, triggering an encounter which lasted for five hours and resulted in the killing of the Hizbul commander," he said.

Officials said an Army jawan was critically injured in the initial firing from the holed up terrorists and later succumbed to injuries while being evacuated to hospital.

The IGP said Bhat had joined terrorism early last year and was directed by his mentors to target the security forces and carry out some "sensitive and sensational" attacks in Chenab Valley to create insecurity among the people and disturb the peaceful atmosphere.

"He had the capacity to organize well planned attacks on the forces. He has been wanted by law for complicity in several crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities in Pulwama and Shopian districts of Kashmir as well," Singh said.

This was the second encounter between security forces and terrorists in Doda district this year.

Earlier, Hizbul Mujahideen commander Haroon Abbas was killed in the same area by security forces on January 15.

Earlier this month, two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were arrested along with some arms and ammunition in the district.

Doda along with nearby Kishtwar district has witnessed increased terrorist activity lately.

These Chenab valley districts were declared terrorism-free over a decade ago.
Trump administration officials acknowledge our 45th president thinks re-opening America is the only way hell be re-elected. On May 7, Trump refused to release a 17-page scientific-based document created by the Centers for Disease Control detailing what Americans should do to safely reopen houses of worship, schools, child-care programs and businesses. Politics before people; how perverse.

Trumps explicit manner of purposely hiding scientific recommendations from Americans as they cope with COVID-19 displays his vileness, baseness and depravity. His callous behavior clearly violates the standard weve experienced from presidents since 1789.

Gov. Kim Reynolds approach to handling COVID-19 is analogous to her White House mentor. On May 7, Reynolds stated Iowa is leading by example and were looking at a variety of things. She could not explain what she meant by things, which is consistent with refusing to tell Iowans the specifics of her COVID-19 canary-in-the-coal-mine metric. Iowa is experiencing the nations sixth-fastest increase in COVID-19 cases.

Why do some people reject basic scientific findings, whether the topic relates to vaccine safety, climate change or COVID-19? Research has proven people purposely ignore facts to protect all kinds of personal, religious and political beliefs. Its known as confirmation bias.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed life and death matters at everyones doorstep. Trumps refusal to work hand-in-glove with CDC officials is a first since its founding in 1946. The stakes are too high to continue with confirmation bias and ignore CDC recommendations. Embracing science is what saved Americans from prior health scares.

For those who believe with COVID-19 the economy supersedes health care, Paul Romer, a Nobel Prize-winning economist who served as World Banks chief economist, offers sound advice: The key to solving the economic crisis is to reduce the fear that someone will get sick if they go to work or go shop. Its really about building confidence (The New Yorker, May 6). What are citizens confidence levels with Reynolds and Trump? According to Morning Consult, a nonpartisan data intelligence company that interviews 6,000 Americans daily, from New Years Day to May 1, Iowans consumer confidence dropped 25.6 percent, the 15th worst state. Reynolds metric and policies are not consoling. Likewise, only 24 percent of Americans are very confident with Trumps approach to COVID-19 (Pew Research Center).

Furthermore, nearly two out of three Americans say CDC officials should take an active role in public policy with scientific issues like COVID-19. Why are Trump and Reynolds ignoring CDC recommendations? The nonpartisan Pew Research Center reveals 66 percent of Republicans downplay scientific findings while Democrats are just the opposite. Ignorant decision making from the White House and Iowas Capitol is void of scientific facts, and the result is inhumane.

If Trump and Reynolds had only embraced science, put health care as a priority to build citizen confidence and started a coordinated 50-state approach when Trump first learned about COVID-19 (Jan. 3), wed have results similar to Hong Kong (four deaths out of 7.4 million population) or Taiwan (six deaths/23.8 million population). Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease for six presidents, and epidemiologists fear returning to work now will extend our pandemic for another 18 to 24 months.

Anyone who believes this virus is contained and reopening America now is proper while ignoring 26,000 new COVID-19 cases occurring daily is engaged in confirmation bias. By reopening America, Trump and Reynolds are rolling the dice on tens of thousands of lives.

May the scientific method  sooner than later  land on America and Iowas policymakers minds and subsequent CDC-based decision making process permit us to regain confidence and return to a safe work, school and social environment. Well deal with Trumps re-election obsession on Nov. 3.

Steve Corbin is an emeritus professor of marketing at the University of Northern Iowa and former Denver Board of Education member. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not reflect those of the University of Northern Iowa.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.Hustler Hollywood has announced that it has begun to officially open stores across the country in select locations that had been closed due to the COVID-19 virus, with the most recent openings including New Orleans, Louisiana and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Each Hustler Hollywood location will be regularly cleaned and sanitized per the CDC guidelines, as well as offering hand sanitizing stations upon entrance and throughout the boutiques. Social distancing guidelines will continue to be followed by limiting the number of customers in-store. The retailer kindly asks all customers who wish to enter the store to wear a face mask and encourage them to pay with credit cards to minimize contact. Trying on apparel and lingerie is prohibited as fitting rooms will remain closed to customers.

We have been helping people with intimacy and relationships for years, and right now, many people have the extra time to do some exploration, and that is where we come in. We have new guidelines and protocols in place for our employees, along with customers, and we will do everything we can to continue to provide a safe and clean environment in which to shop," said Philip Del Rio, vice president of retail.

The retailer will also provide customers with curbside pick-up service that will be available daily from Noon to 8 p.m. at both its New Orleans location at 111 Bourbon Street and the Albuquerque location at 7017 Menaul Blvd NE for those customers who chose this option. Customers can phone the New Orleans store directly at 504-561-9969, or the Albuquerque store at 505-884-0699 to place an order and have it delivered to them curbside without having to leave their car or enter the store.

For those not sure as to what they might want to purchase, they can visit the company's website HustlerHollywood.com for products.

Hustler Hollywood will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and make updates as needed. For more information and a full list of store re-open dates, visit its store closure updates page.

The first Hustler Hollywood opened in 1998 on the famed Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, making this the company's 21st year in business.
It looks like China New Higher Education Group Limited (HKG:2001) is about to go ex-dividend in the next 3 days. Ex-dividend means that investors that purchase the stock on or after the 21st of May will not receive this dividend, which will be paid on the 5th of June.

China New Higher Education Group's next dividend payment will be HK$0.035 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed HK$0.068 to shareholders. Last year's total dividend payments show that China New Higher Education Group has a trailing yield of 1.7% on the current share price of HK$4.32. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! So we need to investigate whether China New Higher Education Group can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow.

See our latest analysis for China New Higher Education Group

Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. That's why it's good to see China New Higher Education Group paying out a modest 27% of its earnings. That said, even highly profitable companies sometimes might not generate enough cash to pay the dividend, which is why we should always check if the dividend is covered by cash flow. It paid out 17% of its free cash flow as dividends last year, which is conservatively low.

It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

SEHK:2001 Historical Dividend Yield May 17th 2020

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Businesses with strong growth prospects usually make the best dividend payers, because it's easier to grow dividends when earnings per share are improving. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. It's encouraging to see China New Higher Education Group has grown its earnings rapidly, up 39% a year for the past three years. Earnings per share have been growing very quickly, and the company is paying out a relatively low percentage of its profit and cash flow. Companies with growing earnings and low payout ratios are often the best long-term dividend stocks, as the company can both grow its earnings and increase the percentage of earnings that it pays out, essentially multiplying the dividend.

Story continues

We'd also point out that China New Higher Education Group issued a meaningful number of new shares in the past year. It's hard to grow dividends per share when a company keeps creating new shares.

The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. China New Higher Education Group has delivered 17% dividend growth per year on average over the past three years. It's exciting to see that both earnings and dividends per share have grown rapidly over the past few years.

Final Takeaway

Has China New Higher Education Group got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? China New Higher Education Group has grown its earnings per share while simultaneously reinvesting in the business. Unfortunately it's cut the dividend at least once in the past three years, but the conservative payout ratio makes the current dividend look sustainable. There's a lot to like about China New Higher Education Group, and we would prioritise taking a closer look at it.

While it's tempting to invest in China New Higher Education Group for the dividends alone, you should always be mindful of the risks involved. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for China New Higher Education Group you should be aware of.

If you're in the market for dividend stocks, we recommend checking our list of top dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

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India has achieved a major milestone in its fight against COVID-19 as two large companies Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and Johnson & Johnson collaborated as part of a social contract with National Institute of Virology and Textiles Ministry to get a Made in India testing swab in 10 days at 10 per cent cost of what was being imported from China.

This is the story of how the government and private sector have worked on a war footing for a breakthrough in a crucial testing input of nasal and throat swabs at affordable pricing which were being imported from China until just 10 days back.



This is seen a major achievement for the Vocal for Local campaign announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.





Sandeep Makkar, Managing Director, Johnson and Johnson Medical India told IANS, "Manufacturing of the test swabs in a record seven days from conceptualization to production under the Make In India initiative required ingenuity and rapid action. In this design, Reliance provided the raw material and Johnson & Johnson India provided pro bono scientific expertise of research, development, engineering for manufacturing of the test swabs. Production has already started on May 6, 2020 by the manufacturer Adi Enterprise, an Indian MSME in Mumbai."



Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said in a tweet, "Government efforts & our industry's prowess have proved that our Nation has capacity & ability to tide over every obstacle. India's success in the production of PPE & Testing Swabs has already put our Nation on the path of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' as enunciated by PM @narendramodiJi."



Varun Jhaveri, Officer on Special Duty, Ayushman Bharat said in a tweet, "We used to import collection swabs at Rs 17 frm China. Govt contacted the largest Indian polyester manufacturer to locally design swab. Got the design & material approved from NIV & gave manufacturing orders to MSMEs. Today, India manufacturers these at Rs. 2! Vocal for

Local!."



The ball was set rolling 10 days back for the indigenous project for nasal and throat swabs when Ravi Kapoor, Secretary, Textiles contacted J&J and RIL to check whether India can manufacture swab required for testing purpose.



The video conference was held between Ravi Kapoor and his team, J&J and their team and RIL officials. A question was raised whether in shortest time period whether such swab can be manufactured in India in required quantity.



Since ear buds are manufactured by J&J, the issue raised was whether such swab can be manufactured, which are suitable for carrying out corona testing.



It was also stated that Chinese swabs were costing Rs 17 and difficult to get hence this swabs can be manufactured with the help of J&J and RIL?



It was also stated whether the cotton used on surface can be replaced with polyester so that the tissues taken out on swab can be sent to testing labs.



RIL agreed to this requirement swiftly and sent polyester staple fibre to National Institute of Virology in Pune for testing. This was tested by NIV and the material was approved.



However, more demanding requirements were on the anvil in this short journey. The J&J unit at Vasai which was manufacturing ear buds needed sliver made out of PSF to feed to their automatic machines to manufacture these swabs. These slivers were made from PSF of 38mm usual cut length.



This was done in the RIL RTG Patalganga having prototype machine to produce sliver. This sliver was sent to MSME at Vasai to try out on their automatic machines. Since machines to produce ear bud could accommodate cut length up to 25mm (cotton) this sliver supplied of 38mm fibre could not meet their requirement.



Thereafter, RIL was asked to supply sliver to meet machine requirement. "Our scientist worked overnight on right type of PSF of cut length 22mm with change of certain characteristic to produce sliver to meet requirement of automatic machines. This was done within 12 hours from the intimation received," officials from RIL said.



These sliver were approved and were suitable for this machine and sample was prepared to be sent to NIV for their final approval by J&J team and this was approved by NIV within 12 hours of time.



It was also a challenge to move the cartons to Vasai plant in view of locked down conditions. Special passes and other arrangements were made to move the material from PG to Vasai.



The target of the exercise was to manufacture this swab at the lowest cost. The present cost of making swab based on material supplied by RIL is in the range of Rs 1.70 to 1.75/swab, as against imported cost of Rs 17/pc. Officials said this cost can be further brought down once the Vasai unit get their new machine to accommodate longer stick rather than using adaptor which required manual intervention.



Officials said this does not make commercial sense to make the swab but it is doing it in national interest.



"This swab requires .03 grams of PSF/swab hence commercially does not make sense for RIL to get involved for such a small quantity. However, our commitment to India for providing swab was the ultimate goal because without swab no test could be carried out," RIL officials said.



"We in RIL spent day and night to provide sliver required for manufacturing swabs at Vasai with the help of J&J in shortest time period of 8 days, which normally would have taken a few months to complete the project. We in Reliance take pride to work for nation's need rather than looking into commercial aspects," they added.



"This is one of the targets for Make in India project rather than made for India project. This also eliminates some of the over dependence on China for such critical item required for national interest. Our target will be to manufacture super speciality fibres required for defence and other critical end uses which are being imported and India is vulnerable for such imports and dictation from the supplier," they added.
At least 230 children have been infected and 2 killed so far from new life-threatening inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 in Europe, according to Swedish-based European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) report. The two fatalities occurred at one each in Britain and France. The rare syndrome in children feared to be linked with COVID-19 has raised fears about the health safety of the kids worldwide, as per ECDC.

With symptoms similar to toxic shock and Kawasaki disease, this rare syndrome is known as a paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS). It reportedly causes fever, rashes, swollen glands and, in severe cases, heart inflammation in kids. WHO issued a preliminary definition of the syndrome, that, in an unusual development, also appeared in children who did not test positive for COVID-19. The rare syndrome caused the patients to experience like their blood vessels are on fire that can even lead to rare complications in the body, WHO warned.

Read: China: Over 8,000 Quarantined Due To Newly Discovered Coronavirus Cluster

Read: US Records 25,060 New Coronavirus Cases, 1,224 Fatalities In 24 Hours

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was quoted saying that the clinicians had to remain alert to the rare syndrome. He added, clinicians worldwide that work with national authorities and WHO had to research and better understand this syndrome in children.

17 children admitted to a Paris hospital

Earlier, French researchers reported Kawasaki disease-like symptoms in 17 children admitted to a Paris hospital between April 27 and May 7, as per media reports. France's health minister Olivier Veran was quoted as saying that all the paediatricians and critical care medical workers are trying to establish whether the syndrome was linked with COVID-19. And while the data shows that there wasnt significant spike and children were not overall at risk of the infection, research into the disease is being carried out. According to official data released earlier this month, only 0.4 per cent of children were hospitalized due to the syndrome, media reports confirmed.

Physician at Cohen Children's Medical Centre in New York, Sunil Sood, was quoted saying that only three or four cases came up to him and his colleagues in past three weeks. He added that the syndrome was witnessed in slightly older kids, than the usual age for the children that get ill with the Kawasaki disease. A disease that primarily impacts the kids, Kawasaki affects children from the age group one to five, Sood reportedly said. US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported more than 100 such cases in the state of New York and 3 deaths so far.

Read: Four Killed As Small Plane Carrying Coronavirus Positive Doctor Crashes In Brazil

Read: Protests In German Cities Against Coronavirus Restrictions

(Image Credit: AP)
Medical workers from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University pose for a group photo in "Wuhan Livingroom" makeshift hospital in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, March 7, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic is a major public health emergency that has spread the fastest, caused the most extensive infections and been the hardest to contain since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, China has taken the most comprehensive, the strictest and the most thorough prevention and control measures to battle the epidemic. In their tenacious fight against the coronavirus, 1.4 billion Chinese people have pulled together in tough times and paid a tremendous price and sacrificed a lot.

With the joint efforts of the whole nation, the positive trend in preventing and controlling the epidemic in China has been constantly consolidated and expanded, and the restoration of normal production and everyday life has been quickened.

The pandemic has recently been spreading rapidly across the world, posing a formidable challenge to global public health security. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 had affected more than 200 countries and regions with over 1.13 million confirmed cases by April 5, 2020.

Virus knows no national borders, and the epidemic distinguishes no races. Only with solidarity and by cooperation can the international community prevail over the pandemic and safeguard the common homeland of humanity. Upholding the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, China has been timely releasing information on COVID-19 since the onset of the epidemic in an open, transparent and responsible manner, unreservedly sharing with the WHO and the international community its experience in epidemic response and medical treatment, and strengthening cooperation on scientific research. It has also provided assistance to all parties to the best of its ability. All these efforts have been applauded and widely recognized by the international community.

Based on media reports and information from the National Health Commission, scientific research institutions and other departments, Xinhua News Agency sorted out the main facts China has taken in the global joint anti-virus efforts to timely release epidemic information, share prevention and control experience, and advance international exchanges and cooperation on epidemic response.

The following timeline was arranged in chronological order.

Late December 2019

-- The Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in central China's Hubei Province detected cases of pneumonia of unknown cause.

Dec 30, 2019

-- The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission issued an urgent notification to medical institutions under its jurisdiction, ordering efforts to appropriately treat patients with pneumonia of unknown cause.

Dec 31, 2019

-- The National Health Commission (NHC) made arrangements in the wee hours, sending a working group and an expert team to Wuhan to guide epidemic response and conduct on-site investigations.

-- The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission released a briefing on its website about the pneumonia outbreak in the city, confirming 27 cases and telling the public not to go to enclosed public places or gather. It suggested wearing face masks when going out.

-- Starting Dec 31, 2019, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission released briefings on the pneumonia outbreak in accordance with the law.

January 2020

Jan 1

-- The NHC set up a leading group to determine the emergency response to the epidemic. The group convened meetings on a daily basis since then.

Jan 2

-- The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) received the first batch of samples of four patients from Hubei Province and began pathogen identification.

-- The NHC came up with a set of guidelines on early discovery, early diagnosis and early quarantine for the prevention and control of the viral pneumonia of unknown cause.

Jan 3

-- Starting Jan 3, China has been regularly informing the WHO, relevant countries and regions and China's Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan about the pneumonia outbreak.

-- China began to inform the United States of the pneumonia outbreak and response measures on a regular basis.

-- The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission updated briefing on its website about the situation of viral pneumonia of unknown cause, reporting a total of 44 cases of viral pneumonia of unknown cause.

-- The NHC organized the China CDC and three other institutions to carry out parallel laboratory testing of the samples for pathogen identification.

-- The NHC and the Health Commission of Hubei Province jointly worked out nine documents on the outbreak, including a trial version of guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of viral pneumonia of unknown cause.
The relentless assault on liberalism is a thing to behold with fear and loathing. And not least because one-time liberals themselves, repackaged as progressives, are leading the assault.

Real liberals were once the passionate champions of liberty, as the label suggests. Real liberals fought for the right to speak out, to dissent, to voice unpopular  even offensive  views.

Liberals article of faith was the Bill of Rights. The American Civil Liberties Union was liberalisms fierce and often reviled champion on these issues.

In court case after court case, the ACLU resisted even incremental and well-meaning encroachments on the individual rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights, first 10 amendments to the Constitution.

The Bill of Rights had been added to persuade skeptical and wary colonists to accept a national government by clearly limiting its powers for abuse.

From the day the Constitution was proposed and every day since, Americans have debated where to draw the line between individual freedom and public concerns  between securing the blessings of liberty for individuals and promoting the general welfare of the people, as the introduction to the Constitution says.

As for conservatives, they were long inclined to neglect the general welfare of the people in favor of the blessings of liberty for individuals  and then to proceed further to shirk the blessings of liberty for individuals in the name of enforcing political, social or religious conformity.

Liberalism  bless it  strived to be a voice for both securing the blessings of liberty and for promoting the general welfare, including for example, legislation outlawing, first, slavery, and subsequently, racial discrimination.

But for all that, liberalism was no less a stalwart advocate of the individual liberty safeguards enshrined in the Bill of Rights  particularly the First and Fifth Amendments. Was. Note past tense.

Now once-liberal voices, relabeled progressive, not only excuse but advocate government encroachment on individual liberties. Progressive, an old term, is a relatively new label, one that pushy leftists picked for themselves when liberal lost its political appeal.

Progressive has a snooty connotation suggesting that those not part of the clique lack the requisite sophistication and enlightenment. They are deplorables, mouth-breathing cretins in flyover land clinging to their guns and bibles.

Todays progressives press to impose their agenda via a haughty activism that prefers scorn over persuasion and regulatory or court edicts over popular consensus.

Progressivisms solutions entail, in every instance, no exceptions, more authority and a longer reach of power for government.

Thus two heralded law professors, one from Harvard, one from U. of Arizona, recently welcomed the erosion of the First Amendment with these words: 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 societys norms and values.

One-party, authoritarian, Communist China is the trendsetter here.

The two professors made their call for capping the First Amendment with a piece published in, of all places, The Atlantic, once a venerable voice of liberalism.

Yet there is, perhaps, nothing odd in the least that its now academics who boldly make the case for performing an orchiectomy on the First Amendment.

Brown Shirt-style mobs have long had the run of university campuses, driving away speakers whose views they find objectionable, and the higher education community seems inclined to acquiesce as long as the banished voices are conservative ones, as they virtually always are.

Meanwhile, on the ground that public discourse is being overrun with bigotry and hate speech, liberals remodeled as progressives are eager to turn supervision of the internet over to busybody activist chaperones. These chaperones are all too eager to play the role of Saturday Night Lives pinch-faced Enid Strict, the Church Lady, shushing speech not to their liking.

First Amendment limitations are always a sword that can cut two ways and inevitably will, as the old ACLU used to point out.

But academia today seems slow to grasp the concept, as are much of the media too, despite the reality that their very existence hangs in the balance.

An ironic outgrowth of this trend is the fundamentalist Muslim demand for speech-restricting anti-blasphemy laws. The demand has found surprising support among the secular progressives of Europe and Canada, and increasingly, also here.

The sellout of liberalism received maybe its biggest boost of all in the great, partisan hysteria of the Russia collusion hoo-ha. Old-time liberalism was steamrollered flat when progressives rationalized misconduct in the Department of Justice and the upper tiers of the intelligence Deep State. The aim was to drive Donald Trump from office, and the sentiment was that the ends justified the means  any and all means.

Liberals of previous times would never have stood still for the bullying McCarthyism that the Russia scare has entailed and continues to entail.

But the neo-McCarthyism of the Russia collusion hysteria looks to be just the start of the trend to dismantle the fundamental protections of genuine liberalism.

Liberalism in the guise of progressivism is now aggressively at work turning due process of law  the premier safeguard of liberty  into a reviled concept.

Due process of law is now dismissed, indeed denounced, as an obstructive technicality, as a phony dodge to prevent abusive, lecherous males from being held accountable for their offenses against females.

Old-time liberalism was sensitive to issues of due process, which are delineated in the Fifth Amendment. The amendment states in unmistakable terms that no American may be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.

Due process of law once enjoyed a sacrosanct status among liberalism. It was on this issue that the ACLU won many a court case, some of them historic landmarks of jurisprudence.

The ACLU of today, and much of former liberalism with it, now opts for partisan Trump-trashing over the broad legal principles for which liberalism once stood. Trump himself, admittedly, makes Trump-trashing a temptation easy to yield to. But this hardly excuses legal corner-cutting and the subversion of law enforcement with partisan politics.

The erosion of the core principles of liberalism is nowhere better exemplified than by a recent piece in The Nation. Its a magazine proudly and assertively of the left, boasting of being Americas oldest political journal.

In a recent piece on the Tara Reade allegations against Joe Biden, the magazine baldly disparaged due process.

Reade, an aide to Biden when he was a senator, belatedly charges that in 1993 he committed sexual assault by putting his hand up her skirt and penetrating her.

Heretofore, until he became a target of accusations himself, Biden was a politician inclined to toss gasoline on the fire of such controversy, providing the accused were Republicans.

He declared that women who level accusations of sexually inappropriate conduct against men should be given the benefit of the doubt, that their allegations should be accepted as real until proved otherwise  the very reverse of ancient traditions of law.

You would think that Joe Biden, who has a law degree, might have grasped this even if, as his critics suggest, hes in his doddering twilight years.

Biden was an aggressive supporter of the Obama administrations Title IX campus reforms. These measures all but stripped accused male students in university-handled sexual harassment cases of the elementary protections they would be entitled to in courts of law. Biden, in fact, despite his own current predicament, sharply condemns the Trump administrations efforts to restore due process protections to the campuses.

The allegation against Biden is highly unlikely ever to be proven at this distant point in time, 27 years after the offense allegedly occurred. Yet the proudly progressive Nation favors running Biden through the accusatory wringer anyway  favors subjecting him to a full, all-out Bret Kavanaugh-ing, you might say.

Surely more than a few right-wingers are in odd agreement with the staunchly leftist journal on this matter. (Maybe its no coincidental bit of information that The Nation has been one of Bernie Sanders most ardent supporters.)

Still, despite his flagrant hypocrisy in demanding full legal protections for himself but not for others, Biden is entitled to fair treatment. And theres simply no way hes ever going to get fair treatment if hes to be held answerable to a now likely unprovable charge made all those years after its alleged occurrence.

In cases such as the Tara Reade allegation, real liberals once usefully fretted about protections that exist to assure that justice is done without railroading the accused or without otherwise gratuitously smearing the reputation of the accused. A 27-year-old, virtually unprovable allegation, if given a full hearing today, almost certainly would serve only to spread anti-Biden innuendo which could be neither confirmed nor refuted.

But now one-time liberals, transformed into progressives, instead fret about a new concept entirely outside the bounds of law: survivors rights.

The very term suggests the accused is guilty as charged before any proceeding is conducted to adjudicate the matter. Note that the words are always survivors rights, never alleged survivors rights.

In the Reade-Biden matter, The Nation belittles due process as an irksome technicality calculated to avoid accountability and scrutiny. The magazine adds: When politicians and other powerful people strategically call for due process to defend their political allies, what they tend to mean is no process.' The Nation goes on: The fact that a fair investigation may expose Biden to public shame and potential repudiation does not implicate his due process rights.

That assertion is as ominous as it is illogical. It is exceedingly doubtful, nearly three decades after the alleged event, that Bidens accuser can make anything remotely approaching a provable legal case against him.

At this distant point, if given a fair hearing, shes likely only to make a case that subjects him to embarrassment and casts unproven doubt on his character.

Shes unlikely to be able to make a case based on persuasive, credible evidence examined in the light of longstanding precepts of law. (Witnesses who say she told them about the alleged Biden offense years ago fall considerably short of constituting case-clenching proof.)

Statutes of limitation are a familiar feature of our law and have long existed for sound reasons of elementary fairness, not as mere technical frivolities. Now liberals, re-branded progressives, would erode this protective bastion of liberalism too.

Biden, despite his own past words and actions, is entitled to due process. And 27 years after the alleged event the only way for him to have it is for Tara Reades allegation to be dropped from public discourse and ignored.

If she had a case to make, she should have made it in 1993, or within a reasonable time-frame thereafter. She waited 27 years and spoke out only in the midst of a presidential campaign. She thereby forfeited her own credibility. By waiting all those years to speak out, she made it all but impossible for the controversy ever to be resolved one way or another.

Yet the Nation and other progressive voices are ready  indeed eager  to waive due process, to put Biden in the public stocks, to subject him not to carefully weighed evidence but more likely to public scorn and vituperation.

These progressives voices seem not to grasp the implications of the position theyre taking. What theyre really advocating is their own ultimate denial of basic rights.

In Robert Bolts book A Man for All Seasons, Thomas More contemplates what would happen if the protections of the law were eliminated. Do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, Id give the Devil the benefit of the law, for my own safetys sake.

That was the voice of liberalism speaking. Today the voice of progressivism says: No legal protections for the Devil  and maybe none for you either, depending on the political climate.
Successful vaccines against coronavirus as early as March 2021: Chinese experts

Global Times

By Liu Caiyu Source:Global Times Published: 2020/5/16 18:14:11

A successful vaccine against the coronavirus can be administered to humans as early as March in 2021, and difficulties of vaccines research and development are beyond people's imagination, Chinese experts said, urging the US to let its defense down and stop irresponsible actions.

As Chinese researchers are working round the clock to accelerate vaccine development, some US politicians are jeopardizing bilateral and scientific cooperation by hurling irrational words, playing the blame game, and smearing China, experts warned, noting that the "surprising" political comments of the Trump administration like "cutting off ties" may also pose threats to the research and development of vaccines.

After the US President Donald Trump's pledge claiming coronavirus vaccine could be available by the end of the year, Zhang Wenhong, a Shanghai-based infectious disease expert, made relatively prudent comments - vaccine is available as soon as possible in March 2021.

"There are uncertainties in developing vaccines. Coronaviruses, including MERS and SARS, have not seen a particularly reliable one so far the best scenario is that if one of the vaccines that people are making is effective and progressing relatively fast, it should be available as soon as possible from March to June next year," Zhang said.

Zhang added that currently, there are 108 vaccine candidates registered under the WHO, which are in the process of development, and unregistered vaccine candidates exceed 200. If the first batch is invalid, another batch might be put on the agenda, so the timeline for a successful vaccine may come out from June to September in 2021 or even the end of 2021.

A Beijing-based immunology expert, who requested anonymity, told the Global Times on Saturday that people are overly optimistic about the availability of a vaccine against the coronavirus, which in reality is much more complicated than SARS. A vaccine is effective only when it can prevent people from contracting the virus infection.

Despite the urgency in developing vaccines, politicians in the US continue to make surprisingly irresponsible comments and play blame games, which harm bilateral scientific researches. "Words of politics are jittering US scientists and generate a sense of hesitation on cooperating with Chinese researchers," the immunology expert said.

Rumors cannot defeat the virus; smearing cannot overcome the pandemic, Chinese Foreign Ministry said Thursday after the FBI released an announcement claiming that China is stealing US information regarding the research on COVID-19 drugs, vaccines, and treatment.

This outbreak is not something any organization can face independently, and only cooperation can better combat the pandemic, said George Q.Daley from Harvard Medical School, who is part of a US-China joint research team. China's top respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan is also a part of this team.

Since its inception in February, the team has been conducting regular weekly video seminars, besides they have activated 92 scientific research so far in fields of coronavirus tests, pathogenesis, clinical trials and vaccine development, news site thepaper.cn reported.

Not only the US but Germany, France and all other countries should take off guards and work together in the face of the virus that threats everyone, Chinese experts noted, adding that it is of utmost urgency to develop an effective vaccine as all countries in the world still have meager antibody rates.

Zhang refuted the herd immunity approach that has been adopted by some Western countries, saying not a single country in the world has a high rate of antibodies, and relying on herd immunity to recover from epidemic-hit recessions is unreliable.

Less than one percent of the population in China have antibodies, so vaccines are still a top priority, He Jianxing, the head of Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, said on Saturday to thepaper.cn.

Five vaccine candidates, including four inactivated candidates, have been approved by China's State Food and Drug Administration for clinical trials, which so far reported no major adverse reactions. If all goes well, the aforementioned candidates will complete Phase II clinical trials in July, Zeng Yixin, a deputy director of the National Health Commission (NHC), said on Friday during a press conference.

More candidates are to be approved by the NHC for clinical trials from June, Zeng revealed.

At an event on Friday, Trump said the US is eyeing for the vaccines by the end of the year or maybe even earlier.

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In an apt way to start the week, Ian McNeilly of Darlinghurst answers the calls to name something after Jack Mundey to commemorate all that he did for Sydney. "May I suggest renaming 'Monday' to 'Mundey'? After all, that is how that day is pronounced." Indeed it is. Happy Mundey, everyone!

In the large Sydney hospital where Jack Dikian of Mosman works: "there are conspicuous signs alerting visitors and staff to strict limits on the number of people using the elevators, typically no more than two. Its astonishing how many people forget to count the patient on the gurney when deciding whether to enter the elevator."

"In my experience, the person who snores the loudest (C8) is the only person who goes to sleep," grumbles Colin Campbell of Coogee.

Upon notification of the suspension of her exercise classes, Lynne Poleson of Kingsford expressed her concern about her exercise teacher's continuing employment possibilities. "My teacher emailed me that she was attending webinars (C8). I misread it as 'winebars'. By far the better choice. Maybe Peter Riley would agree?"

Further to the comments about push-starting aircraft (C8), Roger Foy of Turramurra relates a story he heard about a US Air Force Liberator plane during WWII. "The Liberator had trouble starting its fourth engine and was thus unable to take off. The pilots solution was to run down the strip until the engine was started due to the wind-milling propeller rotating the engine, then returning to the end of the strip and taking off normally. This might be as close as you could get to push starting an aircraft!"
(Natural News) In his rush to develop one, two, or even seven different vaccines for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), billionaire software tycoon Bill Gates openly admitted that upwards of 700,000 people could become injured or die from these jabs.

The Microsoft co-founder and prominent eugenicist has been more outspoken in recent days than perhaps ever before about his desire to vaccinate the entire world, in this case as soon as possible for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). And the reality is that many more will die from the vaccine than from the virus itself.

Speaking during a recent segment on CNBC, Gates admitted that in order to make vaccines work for the most vulnerable groups, they have to be super-charged, in a sense. And this super-charging means that some people are going to be injured or killed as a result.

We clearly need a vaccine that works in the upper age range because theyre most at risk of that, Gates stated about his plans for Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination.

And doing that so that you amp it up so that it works in older people, and yet you dont have side effects, if we have one in 10,000 side effects thats way more, 700,000 people who will suffer from that.

Bill Gates also says flu vaccines do not work for older people

During this same interview, Gates admitted something that we, too, have reported on: that influenza vaccines are pretty much useless in older people.

Though supposedly high-risk seniors are pushed to get their flu shots annually, Gates confessed to the fact that this yearly ritual does nothing to protect them against the flu.

The efficacy of vaccines in older people is always a huge challenge, Gates stated. It turns out the flu vaccine isnt that effective in elderly people.

And that actual decision of, ok, lets go and give this vaccine to the entire world, governments will have to be involved because there will be some risk and indemnification needed.

In his own analysis, Martin Armstrong of Armstrong Economics crunched the data and found that the number of deaths around the world that are being attributed to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pales in comparison to the number of people who will be injured or killed by Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, based on Gates own admission.

While the worldwide death count associated with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is currently right around a quarter-million, the roughly one percent of people who could potentially die from a Gates-funded Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is about triple that.

This suggests that society is better off telling Gates to hit the road and letting the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) run its course  with proper nutrition, of course.

Vaccine experiments like the ones Gates is pushing for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) have been tried before, by the way. Back in the 70s, the United States rolled out a vaccine for swine flu that was administered to some 45 million people over the course of 10 weeks.

This vaccination effort was halted, however, after it was discovered that no cases of swine flu were even detected outside of the military base where it was said to have originated. Meanwhile, one in 100,000 vaccinated individuals ended up suffering from side effects that included Guillain-Barre syndrome, while another 53 died.

Because of the horrors caused by this vaccination campaign, Guillain-Barre is supposedly monitored every single flu season to ensure that influenza vaccine safety meet certain safety thresholds.

The side effect of treason is lead poisoning or rope burn, but not usually both, joked one Big League Politics commenter in reference to Bill Gates.

John the Baptist paved the way for Jesus, wrote another. Bill Gates is paving the way for the antichrist.

Sources for this article include:

BusinessInsider.com

BigLeaguePolitics.com

YouTu.be

NaturalNews.com
KAMPALA Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, Frank Tumwebaze has dismissed as malicious propaganda allegations linking him to Rwanda schemes.

Tumwebaze said the campaign linking to subversive activities to undermine President Museveni by schemers started way back in 2012 when he was appointed cabinet minister.

All those malicious schemes against me started in 2012 after I was appointed cabinet minister. So they arent new. Their vendors and sponsors are known. I have chosen to ignore them and focus on my work, said Mr. Tumwebaze.

The God who appointed me into leadership will surely defeat them. I however, demand that the security and intelligence agencies of this country help us to act on these criminal networks. Trying to soil our names isnt a big deal, but may be the next step will be to target our lives, he emphasised.

Tumwebaze is targeted along other army officials

Mr. Tumwebaze was instrumental in spearheading reforms at Ministry of ICT including revamping UBC, introducing funding schemes for innovators and the broadband policy which sets tough conditions for licenced telecom operators with a view to regulate them and improve on quality of service.

In December last year, Tumwebaze dismissed allegations by Rwanda National Police that they had seized several properties belonging to him in Rwanda.

Just rubbish or call it fake news of cheap and illogical propagandists. I never waste time with those who invest in propaganda to serve their malicious schemes. I am never diverted by such and their sponsors, Mr Tumwebaze wrote on his Twitter page on Tuesday, December 03, 2019.

Tumwebaze was responding to a statement by Rwanda National Police which claimed to have properties linked to him in an operation.

The joint forces responded to a threat at the intersection of several streets and that they were alerted at 7.35 am. Police will communicate and confirm the exact nature of the threat but a search warrant was executed because activities the said properties are related to the threat. Several electronic devices, including mobile phones and computers, were seized in the search and police are speaking with a number of youths over the incident, No one has been charged at this time, a statement allegedly from Rwanda Police Force indicated.

Related
The Ministry of External Affairs (MHA) was found engaged in an unusual public spat with the Trinamool Congress three days ago over the arrival of flights under mission Vande Bharat bringing back stranded Indians from abroad.

The TMCs Partha Chatterjee accused the MEA of not including West Bengal as a destination for any of the repatriation flights.

Soon after, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava wrote on Twitter that the West Bengal government had not shared quarantine facility and other details to support repatriation of Indians in the state.

However, within days, a flight to Kolkata is being facilitated and is scheduled to reach the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport on Monday (May 18) from Dhaka.

Sources said the flight will bring back 169 Indians, including 73 students, 16 elderly people, 45 stranded tourists, 16 cases of medical emergency and one pregnant woman. Indians in need for repatriation are being brought from 18 different districts of Bangladesh, said sources.

After a compulsory quarantine of 14 days, the repatriated Indians will go back home in the states 20 different districts, including Paschim Bardhman, North 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur and Jalpaiguri.

On May 15, the state home department tweeted a letter dated May 11t wherein it had communicated to the MEA details of landing and quarantine facilities as well as the name of the nodal officer for coordinating the same.

It included a list of 12 paid quarantine facilities with a total of 738 rooms and three government quarantine centres free of cost with 700 beds.

The MEA spokesperson retweeted this and welcomed "the willingness of GoWB to accept returnees from abroad who are from West Bengal. Earlier, the Union ministry had said that it will help in the return of WB residents through land borders with neighbours.

The repatriation of Indian nationals through land border will be from Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Besides Dhaka, flights from Bangkok, Yangon, Kathmandu, Singapore, London, Dubai and New York could soon land in Bengal.

The state government was also engaged in a confrontation with the Union Home Ministry over the return of migrant labourers to the state when Home Minister Amit Shah wrote to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accusing her government of not facilitating the process.

However, the Trinamool Congress responded by saying that they had already sought special trains from the Railways and Derek OBrien claimed that 80,000 labour had already returned to the state.

Within a day of the spat, the Railway Ministry had also announced that West Bengal government had requisitioned eight trains for ferrying migrant workers.
The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana is the supreme law of the land under which other subsidiary legislations derive their powers. So, any subsidiary legislation or law which contravenes any standing provision or article of the 1992 is ultra vires and must be thrown away.

-Chapter 3 of the 1992 constitution unambiguously spells out who is qualified to be a citizen of Ghana. So, any subsidiary law or legislation like the C.I 126 as laid before the Parliament of Ghana by the Jean Mensahs Electoral Commission which seeks to redefine citizenship and the right of Ghanaian taxpayers to vote, is in contravention of the 1992.

-The CI 126 as laid before Parliament is proposing amendments of regulation 1 of C.I 91. This is the proposal:

1. The public elections (registration of voters) regulations, 2016 (C.I 91) is amended in regulation 1.

a) by the substitution for sub-regulation (3) of;

(3) a person who applies for registration as a voter SHALL provide as evidence of identification one of the following:

a) a passport

b) a national identification card issued by the NIA.

-As per this proposed amendment to the C.I 91, a traveling passport or the NIA card are the only identification materials that can serve as evidence or show of citizenship. And only the two can qualify anybody to register as a voter.

-Per this, the three regions (Northern, Savannah and North East) will have as much as 571,976 eligible voters deliberately disenfranchised by the NIA and the EC.

-The Electoral Commission of Ghana did a limited voter register in 2019 for the District Assembly Elections. A total of One million, four hundred and fifty eight thousand, four hundred and fifty seven (1,458,457) voters were captured in the final electoral register for the three regions (NR, SR and NER). The breakdowns are:

NR-919,935, SR-270,123 and NER-268,399.

-The NIA enrolled only Eight Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand, Four Hundred and Eighty One (886,481) in these three regions. The breakdowns are:

NR-510,988, SR-178,266 and NER-197,227.

-From the above, the difference between the number of voters in the Jean Mensahs ECs register and that of the NIAs suppressed register is 571,976. This number of people by default cannot register and by extension are not Ghanaians as per the ECs redefinition.

-It is worthy to note that the NIA registration in these three regions was done simultaneously, with limited registration materials, faulty registration machines and within a very limited time. At some points, for about 48 hours, not even one person was able to register at some centres. Even the promise made to the people that a mob up exercise will be done to enroll those who were not able to register, remains a scam. Also the promise made by the NIA that permanent registration offices will be designated in all Districts in these regions by March of 2020 has not been fulfilled.

Interestingly, not all the 886,481 persons were even issued their cards. The card issuance in these regions was as poor as the registration exercise itself. Out of the 886,481, those who have not being issued their cards are 264,924.

-In Savannah Region alone, about 91,857 eligible voters wont be able to register if the EC is allowed to go with the current arrangement. In Northern, over 408,947 eligible voters wont be recognized as taxpayers who have the right to vote if Jean Mensahs wish of using the NIA card and the Passport as the only identification documents for the registration. Likewise, as much as 71,172 eligible voters cant register if the EC is allowed to go with the process with this C.I 126.

I ask this question: Who am I now? I, Issifu Seidu Kudus Gbeadese, is a Ghanaian; I have voted since 2004; I dont have a traveling passport; I dont have a Ghana card from the NIA, so, does this mean my citizenship has been nullified by the NIA and the EC? Many other taxpayers out there like me who do not have either NIA cards or Passports wont be able to register and by extension, their citizenships are being redefined by the EC and the NIA. Bad for Ghanas growing democracy.

Issifu Seidu Kudus Gbeadese

(A loud citizen from Laribanga)

[email protected]
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UPDATE Monday, May 18: ATF agents from the Los Angeles office have now been assigned to help in this investigation.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said Sunday it may call on federal help for its probe into Saturday night's massive fire and explosion downtown that injured 12 firefighters, including two who remain in critical condition.

"This is certainly one of the most significant incidents that our department has gone to in recent history," Capt. Erik Scott, the department's spokesman, told LAist.

Scott said the department's Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section was working with the Los Angeles Police Department's Major Crimes division.

"There's discussion that we might even bring in (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) if needed," Scott said. He said investigators were spending Sunday combing through debris, looking at burn patterns, talking to witnesses, and examining surveillance footage.

An LAPD patrol car blocks the scene of a massive fire on May 16 in downtown L.A. (Josie Huang / LAist)

Asked whether the department suspected arson, Scott said "there's nothing to indicate a suspicious cause at this point, but that's all under active investigation."

Three firefighters have been discharged from Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center. Eight are still being treated, including two in critical, but stable, condition. A 12th firefighter was treated in the emergency room and released Saturday for a minor injury.

Firefighters responded to a call at Smoke Tokes Warehouse Distributor on Boyd Street near the intersection with San Pedro about 6:30 p.m. Saturday. After they entered the building, there was what a fire department spokesman called a "significant" explosion.

LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas said the incident had shaken many in his department. Authorities said the injured firefighters were trying to reach the origin of the fire when the explosion took place.

"A lot of our firefighters were traumatized. I spoke to them directly, and they're holding up. But when one of your own is injured...you can imagine the amount of emotional stress."



Terrazas, speaking at a news conference last night, said what he knew about the lead-up to the explosion was based on an account by a member of Station 9, whose firefighters were the first to respond.

"We'll have a more in-depth significant incident investigation team look at this incident to learn everything possible, so that we can learn from this event and share this information with all our firefighters within the LAFD as well as throughout the region," he said.

Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters work the scene of Saturday's structure fire (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

Firefighters brought the fire Saturday night under control in about 90 minutes, with more than 230 personnel working the incident.

Scott said there were canisters of butane and CO2 inside Smoke Tokes Wholesale Distribution.

"Butane being highly flammable is what certainly added and fueled those flames to come out," Scott said. "The explosion has spread those canisters in at least a two block radius." He said preliminary information indicated that Smokes Tokes supplied butane honey oil and other materials for "cannabis-type operations."

Major fire in Little Tokyo/downtown Los Angeles at San Pedro and Third. Dangerously close to Skid Row residents, senior and low income housing. Major smoke screen, ash is raining for blocks. pic.twitter.com/s4coh3xbgq  sean typos miura (@seanmiura) May 17, 2020

He said investigators were looking into a September 2016 fire connected to Smoke Tokes at a "slightly different location." That fire, at 330 E. 3rd Street, took about 160 firefighters more than two hours to extinguish.

In that incident, according to the 2016 news release, firefighters "forced entry into Smoke Tokes," where they found "intense fire in dense and highly flammable storage that included pressurized flammable gas cylinders, several of which were heard to explode."

The 3rd St. address appears on a map to be a block behind the location of Saturday's fire.

On Saturday night, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti expressed the relief the city felt after learning that all the injured firefighters were expected to recover.

"We were all, I think, frightened when we heard the initial news and raced here as quickly as possible," he said at a late evening news conference. "We got a lot of firefighters that are shaken up. And we have, of course, social workers and our departmental mental health professionals to make sure everybody's okay."

Station 9, where the injured firefighters are based, serves the downtown area, including Skid Row. The station was profiled this year by our friends at KCET, with a behind-the-scenes look at the very busy firehouse:

Tammy Trujillo contributed to this report.
WILMOT TOWNSHIP  Earlier this month Rory Farnan sent a letter to Wilmot Township asking why it is continuing to extract aggregate below the water table.

The Township of Wilmot owns a sand and gravel pit at the corner of Queen and Huron Streets west of Kitchener, and has been operating below the water table for approximately 10 years.

Farnan is concerned the Townships continued extraction below the water table sets a dangerous precedent for future aggregate project applications, contradicts the Region and creates adverse conditions for protecting our critical water asset, the Waterloo Moraine.

Township council met virtually on May 4th and unanimously passed the motion to award a below-the-water-table extraction contract to Joe Kerr Ltd, a sand and gravel company. The material extracted will be used for road improvement projects deemed essential, including Wilmot Line and Cedar Grove Road.

It says to current, and potential future operators that Wilmot accepts the risk of dangerous extraction practices, the Mannheim resident wrote.

Region of Waterloo is trying to convince the province to allow some municipal control over extraction activities with the potential to contaminate drinking water. It is recommending all below-water-table extraction activities be prohibited within category A and B wellhead source protection areas. These are areas where contamination could reach municipal wells within two years.

According to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Townships extraction site is partially within a class D wellhead protection area, meaning contaminants will take approximately 25 years to reach a well.

Most of the site, however, is in a significant ground water recharge area, according to the ministry. This means rain that falls on the ground there flows into the groundwater that supports municipal supply wells, and surface water features like streams, rivers, wetland, ponds and lakes.

Jeff Molenhuis, director of public works and engineering at Wilmot Township says the Townships gravel pit has been operating below the water table since approximately 2010, extracting 3,000 to 5,000 tonnes of gravel each year between June and October.

Eric Hodgins, manager of hydrogeology and source water for the Region of Waterloo, says the Official Plan requires all applications for aggregate extraction to complete a hydrogeologic study. Regional support is determined on the outcome of the study.

The cities and townships look to the Region for direction, but the ultimate decision to go ahead with a project rests with them.

Hodgins is not aware of a hydrogeologic study for the Townships site, though he does not believe it is close enough to a supply well to have an impact on municipal drinking water supplies.

Molenhuis says a study has been conducted and that the Township continues to monitor and report on the pits risk to groundwater.

Everything we do in operations and life comes with some form of risk, he says.

A gravel pit extracting below the water table, within a low wellhead protection area with minimal operations activity, would be considered low risk to impacting groundwater sources, Molenhuis says.

Farnan says he is not opposed to the township having its own gravel pit.

Roads have to be paved, and sidewalks need to be built. But on the other hand, drinking water is more important.
Imperial Valley News Center

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Individuals to Key Administration Posts

Washington, DC - Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key positions in his Administration:

J. Mark Burkhalter, of Georgia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Norway.

Mr. Burkhalter is a Senior Advisor in the Public Policy and Regulation practice at Dentons U.S. LLP, and plays a significant role in Dentons public affairs and economic development initiatives in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Burkhalter represented the Atlanta suburbs of north Fulton County in the Georgia General Assembly for 18 years, where he focused on promoting economic development, business growth, and quality of life in the greater metropolitan Atlanta area. He left office as the Speaker Emeritus, having served as Speaker of the House and Speaker Pro Tempore.

Parallel to his government service, Mr. Burkhalter built a successful career in real estate development. He received his B.A. at the University of Georgia with a double major in German and Slavic Languages, and Global Studies/Political Science. He is conversant in German.

William A. Douglass, of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

Mr. Douglass is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded K2 Advisors in 1994 and managed it for more than two decades. He sold K2 Advisors to Franklin Templeton Investments in 2012 after building its holdings from $5.4 million in 1994 to nearly $11 billion and remained a Senior Advisor and board member until 2017.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Douglass was Managing Director of Caspian Securities LLC. He also was a managing director for Tiedemann International Research for whom he first managed their office in Tokyo, Japan, and then co-managed their United States business in New York.

Mr. Douglass has served on multiple non-profit boards, including those of the Jazz Foundation of America, CitySquash, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Outward Bound USA.

Mr. Douglass received his B.A. degree from Vanderbilt University.

Eric J. Soskin, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of Transportation.

Mr. Soskin has served as Senior Trial Counsel for the United States Department of Justice in the Federal Programs Branch since 2006. He has spearheaded a multi-office defense of complex litigation across the Civil Division and has experience with a wide range of executive and legislative branch agencies and statutes. Mr. Soskin has also served as a Policy Counsel in the Office of the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, where he supervised input on legislation and rulemaking, and in the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Soskin clerked on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for the Honorable Paul S. Diamond.

Mr. Soskin earned a B.A. in Mathematics and Political Economy, magna cum laude, from Williams College, and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School. He was the Submissions Editor for the Harvard Journal of Law and Technology and the Notes Editor for the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy. Mr. Soskin is a recipient of the Attorney Generals Award for Distinguished Service
Amazon reported another case of COVID-19 at its Troutdale warehouse Sunday, the second infection there in just over a week.

The online retailer notified Troutdale employees Sunday and said the infected person was last at the site on Friday, according to a copy of the message viewed by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Amazon sent a similar notification to employees about a separate coronavirus case in the same facility last Sunday.

While this case is separate from the one reported earlier in the week, we continue to support the individual who is recovering while following guidelines from health officials and medical experts, Amazon spokeswoman Brittany Parmley said in an email. We also continue to take extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site.

Amazon calls its $180 million, 855,000-square-foot Troutdale facility PDX9. It employed 2,000 there before the outbreak but has hired hundreds more to meet a surge of orders that accompanied the pandemic.

Amazon has continued operating throughout the coronavirus outbreak, delivering products even as many stores across the country shut down. Amazons warehouse workers have become increasingly vocal about concerns that working conditions dont allow for adequate spacing, and The Verge and other news outlets have tallied seven deaths among the companys workers.

Photos that Troutdale employees sent to The Oregonian/OregonLive this week showed employees standing close to one another, frequently without masks.

Our top concern is ensuring the health and safety of our employees, and we expect to invest approximately $4 billion from April to June on COVID-related initiatives to get products to customers and keep employees safe, Parmley wrote Sunday. This includes spending more than $800 million in the first half of the year on COVID-19 safety measures, with investments in personal protective equipment, enhanced cleaning of our facilities, less efficient process paths that better allow for effective social distancing, higher wages for hourly teams, and developing our own COVID-19 testing capabilities.

Amazon says it has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to develop its own capacity to test employees. PDX9 in Troutdale was among the first sites where Amazon began piloting those internal tests last month.

Its not clear whether the two Troutdale infections were uncovered through that testing or if those two workers were showing any symptoms of COVID-19.

Oregon has fielded more than 3,700 complaints of unsafe working conditions during the coronavirus outbreak, including more than 20 about Amazon.

But there have been only a few documented cases of large, workplace outbreaks in Oregon. Those include seafood processing plants in Astoria and a frozen food processor in Albany.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway |

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Shares of PriceSmart, Inc. PSMT fell 6.2% since it reported soft sales for April on May 7. The company also broke its three-month positive comparable net merchandise sales (comps) trend in April. Apparently, comps for the four weeks ended Apr 26, 2020, plunged 19.2% for 41 warehouse clubs. The metric was also hurt by foreign currency fluctuations to the tune of $4.8 million or 2.1%. However, comps rose 15.7%, 1% and 0.3% in March, February and January, respectively.



Net merchandise sales during the month under review declined 10.9% to $216 million from $242.5 million a year ago. This follows a respective increase of 17.1%, 11.7% and 3.9% for March, February and January. Currency-rate fluctuations negatively impacted the metric by $5.5 million or 2.2% in April. The dismal top-line performance in April mainly stemmed from the ill impact of COVID-19, which resulted in lower traffic at the companys warehouse clubs.



Nevertheless, the company has been working to brave such challenges and is evaluating ways for convenient shopping. Impressively, management started rolling out the 'Click and Go' program across most of its Central America and Colombia markets during April. The latest program enables consumers to shop and place orders online, and then pick-up at club. In addition, its Assisted Shopping Program provides product information online as well as helps deliver orders quickly. Moreover, the company has been boosting its delivery capabilities. These initiatives are minimizing human-to-human contact and in turn containing the spread of the virus.



Encouragingly, net merchandise sales grew 4.9% to $2,172.5 million for the fiscal till Apr 30. The metric was hurt by foreign currency fluctuations to the tune of $28.2 million or 1.3%. For the 34-week period ended Apr 26, 2020, comps increased 0.2% from the year-ago period. The metric was also hurt by foreign currency fluctuations to the tune of $26.3 million or 1.3%.

Story continues





Shares of this membership shopping warehouse club operator have fallen 13.9% in the past three months compared with the industrys decline of 9.4%.



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According to a Tweet released by the French company Naval Group on May 14, 2020, Egyptian Alexandria shipyard has launched the 4th El Fateh-class Gowind-2500 corvette Luxor L986.

According to a Tweet released by the French company Naval Group on May 14, 2020, Egyptian Alexandria shipyard has launched the 4th El Fateh-class Gowind-2500 corvette Luxor L986.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

The official launching ceremony of the 4th El Fateh-class Gowind-2500 corvette Luxor L986. (Picture source Twitter account Mahmoud Gamal)

The Gowind is a family of steel monohull frigates, corvettes and offshore patrol vessels developed since 2006 by France's Naval Group, formerly known as DCNS. The Gowind 2500 multi-mission corvette is designed to conduct surveillance, surface and subsurface combat, protection and escort naval missions. It can also perform presence, maritime surveillance and policing missions against trafficking and piracy.

In 2014, Egypt signed a 1bn contract with Naval Group to buy four Gowind 2500 corvettes with an option for two more. Three of the corvettes are to be built locally by Alexandria Shipyard within a technology transfer agreement. Egypt is in talks with France to acquire another two Gowind corvettes which, if ordered, would be produced by France in Lorient.

Alexandria Shipyard started cutting metal for the second Gowind corvette intended for the Egyptian Navy in April 2016, it is the first corvette to be built locally in Egypt. Naval Group sent supervision and technical assistance teams, technical data and necessary components to Alexandria for assisting Egypt in the local construction of the three corvettes. The company also provided training for the Egyptian staff at its site in Lorient.

The standard Gowind 2500 corvette is armed with an OTO Melara 76mm main gun, two Nexter Narwhal 20mm cannons, a vertical launch system (VLS) for 16 VL Mica surface-to-air missiles, eight MBDA MM40 Exocet anti-ship missile launchers and two triple torpedo launchers.

The Gowing 2500 corvette also has a helicopter deck able to host and deploy a 10 tons helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It also provides a hangar facility for embarked helicopter. Through 360 sensor coverage and deployable assets, GOWIND 2500 can simultaneously detect, track and engage multiple airborne, surface and submarine threats, providing the best performance in all warfare domains.

The GOWIND 2500 offers exceptional stealth capabilities with reduced radiated noise and Radar Cross Section (RCS) significantly improving the tactical advantage over other ships of her class.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Todays archive page is from March 6, 1969.

A photo shows three lion and two jaguar cubs born recently at the Staten Island Zoo, West Brighton.

The cubs are shown cuddling with Zoo employees befoe being turned over to an animal dealer.

Holding the cubs are Anthony Milazzo, Donald Sullivan, John Bontempo, Donald Miranda and Arthur Dorian.

If you have trouble viewing the below page, click here to enlarge it.
Mashreq, one of the leading financial institutions in the UAE, has appointed Mufazzal Kajiji as the new Head of Mashreq Gold and Executive Vice President of Mashreq Bank, to take over from Ishrat Kiyani.

Kajiji joins Mashreq from Noor Bank, where he was the Head of Retail Banking Group, responsible for overseeing the banks retail banking franchise across personal, business banking and wealth management segments, branch and digital channels as well as the groups marketing function.

In his new role, Kajiji will be responsible for driving Mashreq Golds value proposition, overall financial performance and further enhancing customer experience and service quality. He will also oversee Mashreq Golds investment mortgage and insurance product segments as well as its team of investment advisors.

Commenting on the appointment, Subroto Som, Executive Vice President  Group Head of Retail Banking Group, Mashreq Bank, said: I am pleased to welcome Mufazzal Kajiji as the Head of Mashreq Gold and Executive Vice President at Mashreq. Mufazzal is a seasoned professional and has multi-functional experience across a variety of senior leadership positions in leading institutions across the Middle East and India. As we look to grow our wealth proposition, we strongly believe that Mashreq will benefit from his knowledge and expertise within the consumer banking space; particularly in the wealth and asset management.

On behalf of everyone at Mashreq, I would also like to thank Ishrat Kiyani for his valuable contributions in leading Mashreq Gold. Under Ishrats leadership, Mashreq Gold grew significantly over the last five years, demonstrating our commitment to being a trusted wealth management provider in the region. He was also integral in building and nurturing a talented wealth management team  and we wish him and his family the best for the future, added Som.

On his part, Kajiji said: I am pleased to be joining Mashreq Bank at what is an important time for the industry. In todays digital-first banking world, utilising new technologies such as AI and data analytics as well as consistently pursuing innovation have become more critical in the wealth management space, than ever. As a bank that places customer-centricity at the heart of its strategy, I look forward to leveraging as well as building on Mashreqs digital capabilities, to offer our clients with a superior and bespoke experience.

Kajiji is a senior consumer banking professional with over 20 years of experience. Prior to his role at Noor Bank, he was the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Wealth Management and Affluent Banking at First Gulf Bank, a position he held for more than 10 years. He has also held numerous senior roles across multinational institutions including Citibank, Standard Chartered and Alliance Capital (Bernstein). - TradeArabia News Service
Mired in uproar and panic, Taiwan's DPP a clown in their self-directed political soap opera: experts

Global Times

By Wang Qi Source:Global Times Published: 2020/5/16 21:11:23

Mainland analysts warned Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on the island of Taiwan not to step any further of declaring independence amid the pandemic, as both the mainland's deterrence and US' purported sincerity are rattling the island's ruling party.

The warnings ensued after a DPP legislator withdrew a proposal to remove the mention of the reunification of China as the "national aim," from the "Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area."

Tsai Yi-yu, the DPP legislator who proposed the move recently, said the withdrawal was due to safety concerns of the island and destabilizing Cross-Straits relations, especially before May 20, the "presidential inauguration" of Tsai Ing-wen, media from the island reported.

Several people from the island will realize that it is only a pawn of the US to make the mainland uncomfortable, as the DPP authorities are incapable of competing with the mainland, Yang Lixian, a research fellow at the Beijing-based research center of cross-Straits relations, told the Global Times on Saturday.

Yang noted that pro-secessionist moves would never succeed. Taiwan will face a massive economic blow when ECFA stops without extension this year. Chinese People's Liberation Army's recent drills have already sparked discussion of taking over Dongsha islands, which is controlled by Taiwan, in the South China Sea. Since Tsai Ing-wen took over the reins of the island, seven countries have cut off "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan.

The Trump government is in hot water due to its botched anti-pandemic efforts and domestic economic crisis; therefore, they will not break up with the mainland over the Taiwan question, analysts said.

How can these US politicians help secessionism when they don't even have any real powers to help Taiwan participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer, questioned Yang.

Xu Xue, a professor on Taiwan issues with the Institute of Taiwan at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Saturday that DPP authority should not dare to declare independence, and the withdrawal of the proposal showed their panic when more people are aware of US' unreliability.

According to Xu, the proposal and its withdrawal are just like a political show by clowns, which hardly affects the mainland's direction but only deceiving Taiwan residences.

Compared to the political soap opera directed by the DPP, the mainland cares much more about China-US relations and the understanding and support of Taiwan residents, said Xu.

Taiwan secessionists have misread situations and repeatedly challenged the bottom line of the mainland, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, commented after DPP legislators proposed to remove the mention of the reunification of China.

DPP's acts are extremely dangerous. No one should underestimate the will and determination of 1.4 billion Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he added.

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New York  A judge rejected the request of convicted pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli to be let out of prison to research a coronavirus treatment, noting that probation officials viewed that claim as the type of delusional self-aggrandizing behavior that led to his conviction.

U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto said in a nine-page ruling Saturday that the man known as the Pharma Bro" failed to demonstrate extraordinary and compelling factors that would require his release under home confinement rules designed to move vulnerable inmates out of institutions during the pandemic.

The low-security prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, where the 37-year-old Shkreli is locked up has reported no cases of coronavirus among inmates and staff, and there's no evidence in his medical files to suggest a childhood bout with asthma continues to pose a significant health problem, Matsumoto wrote.

Disappointed but not unexpected, Shkrelis lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said.

Shkreli is serving a seven-year prison sentence for a 2017 conviction for lying to investors about the performance of two hedge funds he ran, withdrawing more money from those funds than he was entitled to get, and defrauding investors in a drug company, Retrophin, by hiding his ownership of some of its stock.

A judge ordered Shkreli to forfeit $7.3 million.

Brafman filed court papers last month asking federal authorities to release him for three months and allow him to live at his fiances New York City apartment so he could do laboratory work under strict supervision.

In a research proposal posted online, Shkreli called the pharmaceutical industrys response to the pandemic inadequate and said researchers at every drug company should be put to work until COVID-19 is no more.

He wrote that his background as a successful two-time biopharma entrepreneur, having purchased multiple companies, invented multiple new drug candidates would make him a valuable asset.

Matsumoto rejected that, relaying concerns of probation officials that Shkrelis claim that he could develop a cure for coronavirus that so far eluded the best medical and scientific minds in the world working around the clock is delusional self-aggrandizing behavior.

Shkreli first gained notoriety by buying the rights to a drug used to treat an infection that occurs in some AIDS, malaria and cancer patients and raising the price from $13.50 to $750 per pill. He is also known for attacking critics on social media and offering a bounty to anyone who could give him one of Hillary Clintons hairs.

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New York City residents who flouted social distancing restrictions for a night on the town got the mayors wrath Sunday. The citys embattled health commissioner is staying on the job. Gov. Andrew Cuomo played the part of a model patient, getting swabbed for coronavirus on live TV as he announced all people experiencing flu-like symptoms are now eligible for testing.

Meanwhile, two more state regions  Western New York and the Capital District  have met criteria to move into the first phase of reopening but still need to hire several hundred more people for contact tracing programs.

In the first phase, construction, agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, manufacturing and wholesale trade businesses are allowed to reopen and retail stores can provide curbside or in-store pickup or drop-off.

Here are the latest coronavirus-related developments in New York:

SATURDAY NIGHT FERVOR

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio admonished people seen crowding outside bars Saturday night  many with drinks in hand but no masks on their faces  for putting lives in danger. Officials may shut down establishments that break distancing rules, de Blasio said.

City bars and restaurants have been restricted to takeout and delivery since mid-March, when coronavirus cases started to soar, but some in Manhattan were allowing people to dine and drink inside on Saturday.

Were not going to tolerate people starting to congregate. Its as simple as that, de Blasio said. If we have to shut places down, we will.

After a rash of violent social distancing arrests involving people of colour, the city this week eased distancing enforcement by no longer having police break up small groups of people or confront citizens failing to wear a mask.

As the weather heats up, though, more and more New Yorkers are flocking to public spaces and familiar haunts for a sense of normalcy after spending most of the last two months cooped up inside  and not always policing themselves.

Parks, boardwalks and beaches attracted big crowds on Saturday, though city beaches arent officially open and wont be for Memorial Day weekend.

Other beaches in the region will be open for the holiday, but de Blasio said opening the citys strands is not the right thing to do in the epicenter of this crisis.

The citys beaches could be closed off completely to public access if people dont follow social distancing rules, he said. Fences being installed at entrances could be rolled out if beaches  meant now only for nearby residents to exercise  get overcrowded or people violate swimming bans, he said.

De Blasio said beaches could open for wider use sometime in the summer, with lifeguard training over the next few weeks for a possible return to duty.

___

GLUT OF TESTING CAPACITY

All New Yorkers experiencing flu-like symptoms or other coronavirus signs, such as dry cough or chest pains, are now eligible to be tested, along with people who returning to work as part of phased reopenings, Cuomo said Sunday.

The state is expanding eligibility as it deals with a surplus of testing capacity. Drive-thru and walk-in testing sites are performing about one-third of the 15,000 tests theyre capable of each day, Cuomo said.

An agreement with CVS will allow samples to be collected at more than 60 of the chains pharmacies across the state, Cuomo said. Testing in New York City is being expanded to 123 CityMD walk-in clinics.

De Blasio also made an urgent appeal Sunday for blood donations, saying supplies have dwindled to about two days worth because of blood drive cancellations, which could mean postponing some surgeries.

___

HEALTH CHIEF TO STAY

De Blasio is standing by his health commissioner after a report she used crass language in a March phone call with a top police commander about supplies of protective face masks. Several police unions and a congressman called for Dr. Oxiris Barbots firing.

Barbot has been absent from de Blasios recent news conferences and her department was bypassed last week in favour of the citys public hospital system to run a contact tracing program, fueling questions about a possible rift.

De Blasio said Sunday that he has spoken with Barbot to clear the air on some of the recent issues and that she would remain in the role shes held since 2018.

Were going to move forward together, de Blasio said.

Barbot caught heat this week for a previously unreported clash with NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan, who wanted more masks for officers.

The New York Post, citing an anonymous source, reported Wednesday that Barbot retorted, I dont give two rats asses about your cops. The newspaper didnt say what Monahan said to prompt that response.

A health department spokesman said Thursday that Barbot apologized to the chief for her contribution to a heated exchange between the two where things were said out of frustration, but no harm was wished on anyone.
In early May, White House aides had seemingly settled on Derek Lyons as President Donald Trumps next top domestic policy adviser. They told reporters as much.

A week later, though, Brooke Rollins got the job, according to five people familiar with the situation, including two White House officials. And Lyons got a promotion to counselor to the president, while keeping his job as White House staff secretary.

The abrupt shuffle at the Domestic Policy Council was the result of several typical Trump-era factors: an announcement that got out early, conservative anger and differing internal messages.

Nothings done until its done, and thats always been true in Trump world and this is yet another of many examples, said a person close to the White House.

The DPC is a little-known but influential office within the White House. During Trumps tenure, various White House power centers have vied over installing allies to lead the council. The latest jockeying came after Joe Grogan, who had worked closely with departed acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, recently announced he would leave his position.

Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser, floated several people for the role, including both Lyons and Rollins. Newly installed chief of staff Mark Meadows floated his own name, Stephen Miller, an influential immigration policy aide. It was expected that the domestic policy chief would play a significant role in the presidents efforts to reopen the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.

From left, White House staff secretary Derek Lyons, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, and White House social media director Dan Scavino, walk on the South Lawn of the White House to join President Donald Trump aboard Marine One in Jan. 2020.

After several days of deliberations, it appeared Kushner and Meadows had selected Lyons to serve as acting DPC director for the rest of Trumps term, while continuing in his current role as White House staff secretary, a key official who manages document flow to the president.

POLITICO reported on May 6 that Lyons had been selected, citing four people familiar with the decision, including two White House officials. The next day, another White House official didnt dispute the appointment and provided a comment.

Story continues

Derek is a loyal and highly respected member of the Trump White House who has worked to implement Donald Trumps policy agenda for three and a half years as staff secretary, the official said May 7.

But the decision apparently wasnt final. And the news of Lyons likely appointment frustrated some conservatives, given his former affiliation with Jeb Bushs 2016 presidential campaign.

Lyons, a lawyer and Harvard Law School grad, started his career as a law clerk to Brett Kavanaugh when the Supreme Court justice was still a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals. He later worked on Capitol Hill.

But it was his time with Jeb Bushs campaign that made some conservatives suspicious. His affiliation with Kushner also raised some eyebrows, given that Trumps son-in-law has pushed for some more moderate policies, including business-friendly immigration changes that hardliners say are too lenient.

This is not what #AmericaFirst voters signed up for, tweeted conservative commentator Michelle Malkin May 6 using the hashtag #JaredKushnerIsNotMyPresident. Malkin described Lyons as someone who comes from Jeb Bushs Illegal Immigration Is An Act of Love wing of the GOP.

Trump has picked Derek Lyons as the head of the Domestic Policy Council...- hes a former Jeb! Person, tweeted Ryan Girdusky, a conservative writer and political consultant.

This past Friday, that White House official said Lyons was never officially offered the job. But others in the White House thought Lyons had the gig. They noted that on an internal White House deregulation policy call several days earlier, Rollins even congratulated Lyons on his reported new policy role, according to a White House official familiar with the call.

The first White House official said Meadows received praise internally about Lyons but some in the White House worried that criticism from influential conservative pundits, such as Ann Coulter and Tucker Carlson of Fox News, would soon follow.

A senior White House official pushed back on conservative complaints about Lyons ideology, noting he has been directly involved in crafting, finalizing and executing the staunchest border security measures and most rigorous immigration control measures that we have put in place. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who worked with Lyons in the White House during impeachment, called him "a true conservative" who has "an excellent relationship with the president."

In a statement Friday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany praised Lyons.

"Derek Lyons is an invaluable member of the White House and a highly impressive and respected colleague, she said. He has been elevated to one of the highest titles in the White House, and for good reason."

There was another problem that arose during deliberations: Meadows and Kushner had yet to have Trump sign off on Lyons appointment when the news broke, according to two White House officials.

The first White House official said Lyons and Rollins were finalists for the job, but the job ultimately went to Rollins in part because she would be able to appear on television as part of the public facing role of DPC director.

There was talk of [Lyons] doing both roles, but it was decided the roles shouldnt be combined, the official said.

By the end of this week, Rollins had been tapped to head the DPC in an acting capacity. The New York Times first reported Rollins appointment Thursday night. Rollins introduced herself as DPC director on at least two calls with White House staff Friday, according to two people. A formal announcement is expected Monday, according to the White House.

Brooke is really Jareds person. ... I think that played a big part in it, said one person close to the White House.

Rollins didnt respond to a request for comment. Lyons had no comment.

After the White House settled on Rollins to lead the DPC, Lyons was elevated to the title of counselor, making him one of the closest advisers to the president alongside Hope Hicks and Kellyanne Conway, who have similar titles, although Conway is senior counselor. The move was seen internally by some as a face-saving measure and by others as a Kushner attempt to diminish Conways status. But the White House said Lyons was promoted to give him an expanded role on policy issues.

"Derek does extraordinary work in his role as Staff Secretary," Meadows said in a statement. "Given his large portfolio, elevating him to Counselor to the President made the most sense. This is an expansive role that will put him in an additional advisory role to President Trump on a wide range of legal, policy, and strategic matters."

Rollins also serves as director of the Office of American Innovation, a Kushner-launched office that handles various policy issues. Rollins and two others in that office, JaRon Smith and Theo Wold, were similarly considered for the DPC job. All three worked with Kushner on criminal justice reform and his long-stalled push to overhaul the immigration system.

Rollins, Grogan said, is a committed conservative, shes a team player, shes very smart, not just on policy but also on communications. I dont know that theres a better choice.

Previously, Rollins served as president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a think tank based in Austin partly funded by the Koch Brothers, and as a top aide to Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who went on to become Trumps first Energy secretary.

Kushner previously suggested Rollins for the DPC job in late 2018, before the job ultimately went to Grogan.

Rollins has more credibility with some conservatives than Lyons on a number of issues, such as fiscal policy. But not everyone was satisfied.

Picking the former leader of a faux nonpartisan research institute funded by corporations and billionaires like the Koch brothers speaks for itself, a conservative close to the White House said.

Meridith McGraw contributed to this report.
Actress Monique Mercure, whose performances helped elevate Quebec cinema to the international silver screen, has died at 89.

Simon Brault, director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts, said on social media that his friend of 30 years died Saturday night after a battle with throat cancer.

A versatile actress, Mercure was known for her work in film, television and theatre, with a repertoire spanning everything from Greek tragedies to contemporary classics.

In 1977, her performance in J.A. Martin Photographer earned her best actress awards at both the Cannes Film Festival and Canadian Film Awards.

But it was Mercures devotion to theatre that set her apart, according to Lorraine Pintal, the artistic director of the Theatre du Nouveau Monde in Montreal.

Fittingly, Mercure spent the night of her best actress award at Cannes on the Montreal stage instead of collecting her trophy in person, Pintal said.

The place I needed to be tonight is here, before you, Mercure told the audience, who responded with a massive ovation.

Brault said Mercure left a distinctive and indelible mark on every screen and stage she graced.

Fiery, brave and determined, she had verve and outspokenness that many feared, wrote Brault, who succeeded her as the head of the National Theatre School of Canada.

She also had a sense of humour and self-deprecation far too rare in a world that takes itself so seriously.

Mercure was born Monique Emond in Montreal on November 14, 1930.

She initially studied music and aspired to become a cellist. In 1949, she married composer Pierre Mercure, and they had three children before separating in 1958.

By the 1950s, she turned her attention to acting, taking roles in both film and theatre. She eventually gained widespread attention for her performance in Claude Fourniers Deux Femmes en Or.

A string of successful films followed, including Claude Jutras Mon oncle Antoine, as well as Naked Lunch, The Red Violin and Conquest.

She continued to log numerous film and TV appearances in more recent years, including the role of Edith Beauchamp in Providence.

Her death has prompted an outpouring of tributes, including from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who described her as a great Canadian actress.

Monique Mercure has had a profound impact on generations of Canadians, Trudeau wrote on Twitter.

She helped promote Quebec cinema beyond our borders and her legacy will live on through her work.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault also extended his condolences to Mercures family on Twitter.

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Madhya Pradesh agriculture and



farmer welfare minister Kamal Patel on Sunday said Narmada river was a living entity and therefore collectors have been told to register attempt to murder cases against sand miners for causing harm to the water body.

Narmada, which originates from Amarkantak in Anuppur district in MP and merges in Gulf of Khambhat (Arabian Sea) in Gujarat after traversing a distance of 1,312 kilometres, was declared a "living entity" in May, 2017 by the MP government.

"Narmada River is the lifeline of MP and the government has termed it a living entity. It is said that Ma Narmada ka kankar kankar is Shankar (Lord Shiva) and Narmade Har-Jeevan Bhar," Patel told PTI on Sunday.

"As the Supreme Court, High Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) have banned the excavation of sand with the help of machines in all rivers, those indulging in it are trying to kill the river.

"Therefore, I have directed collectors of 11 districts under Narmadapuram and Jabalpur divisions to register attempt to murder FIRs against those indulging in illegal sand mining with machines," he said.

"They should be treated like any person accused of attempt to murder as Narmadaji is a living entity for us," Patel, who is the minister in charge of the Narmadapuram and Jabalpur divisions, said.

He said he would shortly be writing to collectors of other districts as well through which the river passes to register attempt to murder cases against illegal sand miners.

Patel said he had ordered for the installation of CCTVs along the routes leading to the river and asked police to take action if trucks are found overloaded.

Collectors have been asked to send daily reports in the action taken against sand miners, he said, adding that such moves would go along way in curb illegal sand mining and protecting and conserving the river.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 14:17:29|Editor: huaxia

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NEW YORK, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Life came to a grinding halt for about 8.3 million residents in New York City when a statewide "PAUSE" order went into effect to curb the spread of COVID-19 nearly two months ago. So far, schools, businesses, and Broadway theaters have been shuttered, with health care workers fighting tirelessly to save lives in overwhelmed hospitals.

On Friday, five regions in the central and northern parts of New York state reopened following a phased strategy. Those regions, largely remote and account for less than one-fifth of the state's population, have not been hit hard by the pandemic.

New York City still has to wait, as it has not met the requirements for reopening in new hospitalization, share of total hospital beds and ICU beds available -- three of the seven benchmarks set by the state government.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said this month that the city would not see eased restrictions before June, and a true reopening will be "a few months away at minimum."

LIMITED TESTING CAPACITY

Despite a flattened curve, the data in New York City remain staggering. By Saturday afternoon, the city's health department has reported 189,031 cases, more than those of countries including France and Germany. A death toll of 20,576 accounts for nearly a quarter of the national total.

"While the (daily new) case count appears to be decreasing, there is still a need for it to go lower, and to have the ability to detect and trace the contacts of cases to prevent a major resurgence in the virus," Jeff Schlegelmilch, deputy director for the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University's Earth Institute, told Xinhua.

"In a densely populated place like New York City, none of these things are simple, and all of this needs to be done at a large scale with quick reaction to changes in conditions," he noted.

Experts and officials underlined the significance of testing at the beginning of the crisis in early March. Both the mayor and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo have repeatedly vowed to expand testing capacity, especially in lower-income and minority communities.

After more than two months' efforts, however, the supply still falls short of the demand. "Lack of widespread testing was our Achilles' heel from day one," said de Blasio on Thursday. "We're still playing catch-up."

Also on Thursday, the mayor announced that any person with COVID-19 symptoms as well as anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case is now eligible to receive a test in New York City, which means these basic containment measures have never been fully conducted in the epicenter of the pandemic.

Notably, the importance of contact tracing was largely ignored or deemed a mission impossible by local officials. During a press briefing on April 3, New York City's Health Department Commissioner Oxiris Barbot said contact tracing was "not a good use of our resources" and the city has gone "past the point of contact tracing."

It was not until late April that both Cuomo and de Blasio announced their plans to hire thousands of people to get trained to be contact tracers.

The tardy response at the local level reflects the whole picture of the nation. "The United States in general is behind the curve, literally and figuratively, in terms of testing and contact tracing," said Schlegelmilch.

PARTISAN FIGHT

The city has also been embroiled in an ever-growing partisan fight in the nation at a time when cooperation is needed the most. De Blasio, a Democrat, has repeatedly lashed out at President Donald Trump for his reluctance to lend a helping hand to his home city.

"Unfortunately the help we needed from the federal government never was there in the beginning, still isn't here," said de Blasio on Thursday's briefing.

"The only limitation we face is the amount of lab capacity available. And again, we need the federal government to step up," he added.

De Blasio and the Democrat Governor Cuomo both expressed support for a 3-trillion-U.S. dollar coronavirus stimulus bill passed by the House of Representatives on Friday, which could allocate much more funding to New York state and local governments than the previously passed CARES Act.

"Right now, if we don't get a massive infusion of federal support, we cannot go through this recovery. We cannot get our city back on our feet because we won't be able to pay for the basics," said the mayor on Thursday.

But the Republican-held Senate has thrown cold water on the House Democrats-proposed bill, making it unlikely to be approved eventually. In a tweet posted on Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called it a "3 trillion left-wing wish list."

"NEW NORMAL"

Meanwhile, a lack of coordinated government efforts in the country's reopening process complicates New York City's recovery. According to CNN, around 48 states will have total or partial reopening by Sunday, some of them have not seen essential mitigation of COVID-19 within itself.

"Areas of the country that are opening sooner than they should will almost certainly have new transmission of the virus, which will spill over into other parts of the country," said Schlegelmilch.

Even after the city reopens one day, New Yorkers will have to accept a "new normal" in their lifestyle until a vaccine or effective treatment is widely available.

Schlegelmilch believes there will "almost certainly be some kind of social distancing in place" for at least the next 12-18 months, and possibly longer.

"The extent of this will depend on a lot of varying conditions, so we need to be prepared to reinstate and relax certain measures as conditions change," he said.

Steven Cohen, senior vice dean of Columbia's School of Professional Studies, said that tourism would probably the slowest industry in New York to recover as "it will take a while before people have the confidence to come back."

Just like the surge of security screenings in New York airports after 9/11, there will be more "biological scanning to make sure people don't have pandemic diseases" in the future, said the professor at a Zoom briefing with reporters on Friday.

"So we're gonna reopen first with testing and tracing and isolation until the prevention and the cure will be discovered," said Cohen. "Right now, we're all afraid. But eventually, our fear will go away and the risk level will become tolerable." Enditem
Three alleged drug peddlers were arrested on Sunday along with a cache of narcotic substances in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

In the first incident, Ajay Singh and Mohinder Singh were arrested after seven grams of heroin was recovered from their possession during checking at Shiv Nagar near Udhampur town, a police official said.

Separately, he said 4.6 kg of poppy husk was recovered during checking from a bus at Motorshed Chenani in the district.

The bus driver, Rakesh Kumar, was arrested and the contraband substance was seized, he added.

All three persons were booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China's ambassador to Israel Du Wei speaks during a news briefing in Kiev, Ukraine, on Aug. 30, 2019. (Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters)

Chinas Ambassador to Israel Found Dead in Tel Aviv Home, Heart Failure Suspected

JERUSALEMAn Israeli police spokesman has said that Chinas ambassador to Israel was found dead in his Tel Aviv home on Sunday.

Police have launched an investigation into his death, the spokesman said.

Magen David Adom paramedics told Israeli media that 57-year-old Du Wei was found dead lying in his bed. He appeared to have died in his sleep of natural causes.

People and Israeli police are seen at the door of Chinas ambassador to Israel, Du Weis home in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv, Israel May 17, 2020. (Nir Elias/Reuters)

The suspected cause of death is heart failure, Times of Israel reported.

Police did not immediately comment on the cause of death of Du, who became ambassador to Israel in February, according to the embassys website.

Before that, Du served as Chinas ambassador to Ukraine.

He leaves behind a wife and son.

Reuters contributed to this report.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Msgr. Joseph P. Murphy, 91, Pastor Emeritus of St. Clare R.C. Church, has died after suffering from coronavirus (COVID-19), according to a post on the Great Kills churchs website.

It is with a very heavy heart that we share with you that our beloved Pastor Emeritus, Msgr. Joseph P. Murphy, affectionately known as Monsignor, has returned to the lord, said the post.

He died on Saturday, two days after he celebrated his 66th anniversary of priestly ordination.

Monsignor bravely battled and defeated COVID-19 but had a long recovery, the post said.

Msgr. Murphy is the second clergy member from St. Clares R.C. Church to have died after contracting coronavirus. After several priests affiliated with the church were reported to have the virus. Msgr. Richard Guastella, 73, pastor of St. Clare R.C. Church, died last month in Staten Island University Hospital, Princes Bay, after battling COVID-19 for a little over a week.

Monsignor Joseph Murphy did a quick dance, as a farewell reception held in his honor at the parish center of St. Clares R.C. Church, Great Kills, in 2008. The churchs pastor is retiring. (Advance photo)

STRONG SPIRITUAL LEADER

Murphy was the pastor of St. Clares Church from 1985 to 2008.

Msgr. Murphy was a strong spiritual leader and visionary, said the church website. Msgr. Murphy arrived at St. Clares after 17 years of service as the Archdiocesan chancellor for Cardinals Terence Cooke and John OConnor, according to St. Clares.

It was Msgr. Murphy who foresaw the importance of engaging lay ministers in the church, especially women ministers, the St. Clares website post said. Monsignor was the first to enable women to become active ministers in the church. He had a particular gift at identifying the talents of others and encouraging them to use their talents to serve the church.

Monsignor Joseph Murphy and parish manager Bobby Bulger are shown in a classroom that doubles as an art room inside the Cardinal Cooke Center in 2001, when a major renovation of the facility was completed. (Advance photo)

A 2008 Staten Island Advance story chronicled his retirement celebration.

This is a family affair, he told the crowd gathered in the Cooke Center at the event. You have all become my family after 23 years. But dont worry, he reassured them. I wont be going too far away.

Born in Manhattan, Monsignor Murphy was ordained by Cardinal Francis Spellman on May 14, 1954. When he celebrated his 50th anniversary in 2004, he told the Advance he had always wanted to be a priest, and began studying for his life of service as a freshman in high school. Before being named to St. Clares in 1985, he served in the chancery office of the Archdiocese of New York for 25 years, overseeing financial and legal interests.

At the final mass he celebrated in St. Clares on June 29, Monsignor Murphy chose a poignant song by Irish balladeer Enya to explain his spiritual path and to comfort and encourage parishioners: Pilgrim, in your journey, you may travel farFor pilgrim, its a long way to find out who you are.
Jorge Armenta, director of media outlet Medios Obson, was reportedly under govt protection after receiving threats.

Journalist Jorge Armenta has been killed in an armed attack in Mexicos northern Sonora state, according to authorities.

The office of Sonoras attorney general said in a Twitter post that a municipal police officer was also killed in the attack in Ciudad Obregon, while a second officer was wounded.

Armenta, who was the director of digital media outlet Medios Obson, had received threats and was under government protection, the media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) was quoted as saying to AFP news agency.

In a Twitter post, Sonora state Governor Claudia Pavlovich Arellano said she had asked the prosecutor  to immediately initiate investigations to establish and find those responsible for the reprehensible attack.

RSF regularly ranks Mexico alongside war-torn Syria and Afghanistan as the worlds most dangerous countries for news media.

Violence linked to drug trafficking and political corruption is rampant, and many murders go unpunished.

According to RSF, Armenta was the third journalist to be killed in 2020

The body of journalist Victor Fernando Alvarez was found on April 11 in the port of Acapulco, after he disappeared on April 2.

He was confirmed as the second journalist to be murdered in Mexico this year following Maria Elena Ferral, who was shot dead by two assailants on motorbikes when getting into her car in the eastern state of Veracruz in March.

In 2019, 10 journalists were killed in Mexico, according to an RSF count.
Egyptian authorities arrested the editor of one of the countrys few remaining independent news outlets as she worked outside a notorious prison, releasing her hours later on bail.

Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of the online news outlet Mada Masr, was speaking with the mother of prominent activist Alaa Abdel Fattah outside Cairos maximum-security Tora prison on Sunday morning when Egypt regime enforcers detained her, according to the news outlet.

The 37-year-old was released on of bail of around 105, Mada Masr said.

The outlet added she was scheduled to be questioned by prosecutors Monday morning.

The detention underscores the wretched state of press freedoms and civil liberties under the rule of Egyptian strongman Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, who has been in power since toppling the countrys first freely elected government nearly seven years ago.

The 20 worst countries for press freedom Show all 20 1 /20 The 20 worst countries for press freedom The 20 worst countries for press freedom 20. Tajikistan Due to government pressure worsened by an economic crisis, most independent news outlets have closed, many journalists have fled the country and those who remain self-censor. Tajikistan has dropped 12 places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 19. Libya Due to the instability of recent years, journalists are at great risk when working in Libya. One journalist has been killed so far this year in the country. Libya remains in the same place as 2018 in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 18. Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has further damaged press freedom in Egypt. The government often bans media outlets and has blocked over 500 websites. There are currently 25 journalists in jail in Egypt making it one of the worst countries for imprisoning journalists in the world. Egypt has dropped two places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 17. Somalia Three journalists were killed in Somalia in 2018 while a further three survived or eluded attempts on their life. Journalists also risk torture or the closure of their media outlets at the hands of the government. Despite this, Somalia has risen four places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 16. Equatorial Guinea The media in Equatorial Guinea is closely controlled by the government. Coverage of the Arab Spring, fighting in Mali and Syria and the fall of Burkina Faso's president was completely banned. Despite this, Equatorial Guinea has risen six places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 15. Azerbaijan Independent journalists are often detained and later jailed if they do not submit to beating, blackmail or bribes. The government also blocks access to independent media websites. Azerbaijan has dropped three places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 14. Bahrain Journalists, particularly photographers, are often jailed, sometimes for life. In detention, journalists have been mistreated and even stripped of their citizenship. It is difficult for foreign journalists to access the country. Bahrain has dropped one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 13. Yemen The ongoing war in Yemen makes working there risky for journalists. The Houthi rebels are holding at least 16 journalists and Al-Qaeda holds one. Yemen has dropped one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 12. Cuba The Cuban government has maintained control over the media since the now-deceased Fidel Castro came to power in 1959. Privately-owned media is prohibited by the constitution. Improved access to the internet and the election of Miguel Diaz-Canel as president in 2018 are thought to spell hope for the future of press freedom in the country. Cuba has risen three places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 11. Iran Iran has been one of the world's most oppressive countries for journalists ever since the revolution of 1979. Journalists are often handed lengthy jail sentences in unfair trials. Iran has dropped six places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 10. Laos The government of Laos exercises complete control over the media. Use of the internet is heavily regulated by the state and less than 10% of the population are online. Since 2016, foreign news outlets have only been able to set up offices in the country on the condition that they submit all content for censorship by the ruling Lao Revolutionary people's party. Laos has dropped one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 9. Saudi Arabia Independent media are not permitted in Saudi Arabia. Saudi journalists working abroad are kept under close surveillance as demonstrated by the murder of New York Times reporter Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey in October 2018. Critical journalists are often jailed on arbitrary terms and likely subject to torture. Saudi Arabia has dropped three places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 8.Djibouti No private media operate in Djibouti. The government uses state media solely for propaganda purposes. La Voix de Djibouti, the only independent media outlet dedicated to the country, operates from Belgium, but it is blocked online in Djibouti. The country remains in the same place as 2018 in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 7. Syria Due to the ongoing civil war, working as a journalist in Syria is extremely dangerous. At least ten journalists were killed in 2018, three of whom were victims of murder. All parties involved in the conflict are hostile to journalists. Despite this, Syria has risen three places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 6. Sudan Journalists bore the brunt of the regime's crackdown on protests that have been ongoing since December 2018 with over 100 in jail at the time of Omar al-Bashir's overthrow. The situation for journalists has not improved since the military coup in April as the new rulers quickly moved to shut down the offices of Al Jazeera and banned its staff from working in the country. Sudan has dropped one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 5. Vietnam All major outlets are tightly regulated by the government. Independent journalists are persecuted and jailed under laws outlawing "activities aimed at overthrowing the government, anti-state propaganda and abusing the rights to freedom and democracy to threaten the interests of the state." Vietnam has dropped one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 4. China While state owned media are allowed in China, they are closely controlled by the government and the most widely circulated new source in China is entirely state owned. The internet is tightly regulated. Over 60 journalists are currently detained and held in poor conditions, two recently died from cancers that were left untreated after their capture. China has dropped one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 3. Eritrea Independent media is not permitted in Eritrea. Reporters without Borders believe that there are at least 11 journalists in jail here but the government will not confirm this nor will it allow the suspected prisoners any access to their families or lawyers. Despite this, Eritrea has risen one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 2. North Korea Kim Jong Un's regime exercise near total control over all media and communications. More foreign media have been allowed access the country in recent years albeit under extremely strict conditions set by the government. Despite this, North Korea has risen one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 1. Turkmenistan All media in Turkmenistan are controlled by the government. The few internet users can only access a strictly censored web. Journalists are harassed, arrested and tortured. Authorities have recently taken to removing satellite dishes around the cities, ostensibly to make the cities prettier but in reality to cut off citizen's potential to access uncontrolled news coverage. Turkmenistan has dropped two places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018.

Mada Masr was shut down and Ms Attallah and other members of the staff were arrested last November, prompting a global public outcry and their subsequent release.

In March, The Guardians Cairo correspondent was forced to leave the country after authorities revoked her press accreditation over a story which cited a report suggesting Egypt was underreporting its coronavirus cases.

It remains unclear whether Ms Attalah was targeted or that Egyptian police were acting on what appear to be standing guidelines to arrest, intimidate, and harass any journalists.

The International Press Institute, an advocacy group, said in a report issued late last year that conditions were worsening.

The government stepped up its intimidation tactics, raiding offices of news organisations and arresting journalists, it said. Altogether, more than 60 journalists are languishing in Egyptian jails in inhumane conditions.

Earlier this month, a young filmmaker died of illness inside Tora prison, which houses hundreds of political prisoners, sparking calls for a hunger strike throughout the facility. Prosecutors claimed he died from drinking medical alcohol which has been falsely touted as a cure for coronavirus.

Ms Attalah was arrested around noon as she was interviewing Laila Soueif, the mother of Mr Abdel-Fattah, who is on a 35-day hunger strike protesting the authorities cancelling all his family visits

Ms Soueif she was making her 22nd attempt to deliver supplies, including medicines and rehydration salts.

The activist, who served five years in prison on specious national security charges, was re-arrested last September amid a rare outbreak of protests against Mr Sisis rule.

Mr Abdel-Fattahs sister Mona Seif spoke to police officers at the scene who told her they arrested the prominent journalist as they were worried she might write something about what she saw.

I argued with them that many friends of ours come here regularly. They write and post photos, all of it is published on the news, she wrote on Twitter.

Not only do they not let us check up on Alaa, but also they arrested Lina, as if its against the law to come to [Tora].

Mr Sisi has squashed all opposition to his rule and sought to shutter independent media. His regime is accused of grave human rights violations, including forced disappearances, torture, extrajudicial killings and war crimes against civilians in Egypts Sinai Peninsula.

The leaderships of the United States, United Kingdom and France continue to back Mr Sisi despite the countrys violation of human rights norms that they condemn in other countries.

Both Egypt and its Arabian Peninsula backers, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, purchase advanced weapons from powerful western firms with political connections in Washington, London and Paris.

US president Donald Trump referred to Mr Sisi as his favourite dictator ahead of a meeting with him in New York last year.
People around the world were marking the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia on Sunday 17 May.

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, sought to 'highlight the particular challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons in many parts of the world.'

These have only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as members of the LGBTI community often encounter discrimination and restrictions in their access to healthcare.

Borrell further promised that the EU 'will work with all our partners both inside and outside the EU, joining forces with international organisations, civil society and human rights defenders in defending the human rights of LGBTI persons and in promoting equality and respect for diversity.'

As Luxembourg MEP Marc Angel highlighted, rainbow flags have been flown in EU buildings in various countries in solidarity with the LGBTI community.

European Parliament buildings in Strasbourg, Brussels & Luxembourg all have the flag out #IDAHOBIT2020 @

Great sign of SOLIDARITY with the LGBTQI Community!  Marc Angel (@MarcAngel_lu) May 17, 2020

Rosa Letzebuerg, an LGBI organisation based in the Grand Duchy, explained in a blog post why this day is so important.

Today is #IDAHOBIT!

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.



In today's #StayAtHome we want to explain to you a little bit about what this day is about and also provide information about it.https://t.co/cLUhbgikaB pic.twitter.com/hZAuTDsQTd  Rosa Letzebuerg (@RosaLetzebuerg) May 17, 2020

To mark the day, the UN LGBTI Core Group, a coalition of 55 states including Luxembourg presented a joint statement highlighting the continuing threats LGBTI people face across the world.

On #IDAHOBIT2020,  joins 54 signatories in condemning those who target #LGBTI persons w hate speech, discriminatory acts + violence due to #COVID19. #HumanRights are universal + apply equally 2 all people regardless of who they #love  #loveislove

https://t.co/yMWo7yYrcz  Luxembourg ONU (@LuxembourgUN) May 17, 2020

According to the Rainbow Index, Luxembourg ranks third for LGBTI rights worldwide.
Over two months after his



appointment as the Karnataka Congress President, D K Shivakumar is likely to take-over the reigns of the party officially on May 31.

"There are two dates,May 31 and June 7. He is most likely to officially take over as KPCC President on the 31st," sources close to Shivakumar told PTI.

After remaining in a virtual vacuum for nearly three months, the party high command on March 11 appointed Shivakumar, known to be the Congress' chief troubleshooter in crisis situations, replacing Dinesh Gundu Rao as KPCC chief.

Rao had quit the post in December 2019 after the party's dismal show in the bypolls when it won only two of the 15 seats and yielded 12.

Congress sources said once the appointment letter came from the high command, he has been KPCC president and officially taking charge was just a formality.

"He will be officially handed over the party insignias and responsibilities relating to bank accounts and cheques, among other things, that has been traditionally followed," they said, adding the official take over was delayed by the coronavirus.

After his appointment as KPCC president, Shivakumar has been meeting a host of senior party leaders and leading the party in the fight against coronavirus.

These include setting up of Congress' COVID-19 task force, alerting the government in its management of the crisis, holding weekly video conferencing with leaders of party's local units to gather information, among other things.

Sources close to Shivakumar said the official take over would be a simple event, looking at the current situation due to the pandemic.

"Very few select party leaders and office bearers, say about 50 odd people, are likely to be in attendance at the simple event at KPCC office," they said, adding that arrangements may be made to telecast the event live for the benefit for party workers and local leaders.

A six-time MLA, Shivakumar had a long wait for his appointment to the coveted post, due to opposition within.

There were reports that Congress Legislature Party leader Siddarmaiah had lobbied in favour of one of his confidants for the top job.

In a first, appointment of three KPCC Working Presidents- Satish Jharkiholi, Saleem Ahammed and Eashwar Khandre, was seen as an attempt by those apposing Shivakumar, to weaken his hold on the party.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A young girl and elderly woman have been seriously injured after being trampled by cows on a farm south-west of Melbourne.

Emergency crews were called to a Dickens Road property in Freshwater Creek on Victoria's Surf Coast Shire south of Geelong just after midday on Sunday.

Several ambulances and two emergency helicopters were sent to the scene 97 kilometres south-west of Melbourne.

A Victoria Ambulance spokesman told Daily Mail Australia paramedics treated a eight-year-old girl for injuries to her head, pelvis and arm.

Emergency crews were called to a property (pictured) south of Geelong on Sunday after a young girl and woman aged in her 70s were seriously injured

The girl was airlifted to Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

A woman aged in her 70s sustained back and chest was flown to Royal Melbourne Hospital, also in a serious but stable condition.

No one else was treated for injuries at the scene, the spokesman added.

The girl and the woman were airlifted to hospital after being trampled by cows, pictured on the Freshwater Creek property following the incident

Photos from 7 News shows a herd of cattle roaming around the property following the incident.

Investigations into the incident are now underway.

The woman and girl were injured on the same weekend a boy and male teen were tragically killed in separate farm accidents in the Geelong region.

A 10-year-old boy died in a quad bike accident on Saturday morning, hours before a 15-year-old was killed in a ute crash on a property in Batesford.
Dharamsala, May 17 : Tibetan authorities here on Sunday asked China to honour its claim of ethnic harmony and fulfill the aspiration of the Tibetan people by releasing the 11th Panchen Lama along with his family.

"Today marks the 25th anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama's disappearance," the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) said in a statement.

"Twenty-five years is a significant time in an individual's life. For a person to spend the prime of his life or quarter of a century in enforced captivity is an irreparable loss.

"The disappearance of the Panchen Lama is not only an injustice to one person, but it is an injustice to six million Tibetans and their right to religious freedom," it said.

China must honour its claim of ethnic harmony in China by fulfilling the aspiration of the Tibetan people. It must right the wrong and release the 11th Panchen Lama along with his family, Chadrel Rinpoche, and all Tibetans unjustly imprisoned.

Taking this opportunity, the CTA thanked all nations and their Parliaments founded on the principles of freedom and justice, international human rights organisations and individuals for their continued support.

"We appeal to the international community to make a concerted effort to press China to release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and resolve the critical human rights situation in Tibet," the CTA led by President Lobsang Sangay said.

"We proudly acknowledge and thank the Tibetan non-governmental organisations and the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery for continuingly undertaking various initiatives to ensure the release of the 11th Panchen Lama," it said.

"Finally, we pray and hope that His Eminence the 11th Panchen Lama will soon be able to return to his rightful place at Tashi Lhunpo monastery in Shigatse. We pray that under the auspicious presence of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and His Eminence the 11th Panchen Lama, peace will shine soon over Tibet," it added.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama recognized Nyima on May 14, 1995, as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama. Within three days of the announcement, he was abducted making him one of the youngest political prisoners in the world.

The Dalai Lama has been living in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959. The Tibetan government-in-exile is based in this northern hill town of Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh.
By Trend

On the occasion of 18 May - International Museum Day, "Icherisheher" Museum Center under the Administration of the State Historical-Architectural Reserve "Icherisheher" for the first time ever presents the Maiden Tower - architectural monument through the "World Heritage 3D Scanning" program, "Icherisheher" Museum Center told Trend.

The project was implemented in collaboration with Germany based company EK? Global Consulting GmbH. (www.ekmgc.de) and startuper on cultural heritage Sabina Zulalova (sabinazulalova.com).

This year is highlighted with the 20th anniversary of Icherisheher's inclusion (together with the Shirvanshahs' Palace Complex and Maiden's Tower) in the UNESCO's World Heritage List. In this regard, "Icherisheher" Museum Center has launched a new project, such as a scan of the cultural and historical heritage of the Old City, starting with the Maiden Tower.

The World Heritage 3D Scanning programme is a visualization and documentation of historical monuments, where special files are created for the digital archive of cultural heritage site. A DWG file is a 3-D file for any 3-D Software.

This software stores data in digital media that can be professionally used to rebuild and restore an object if a monument or object is collapsed as a result of a cataclysm while scanning at full size.

3-D (360) virtual tour on Maiden Tower is for the first time ever presented with information desks in two languages on all floors, a visualization of panoramic view of the city from the top of the tower and a link for virtual tour of embed code that can be placed on the website.

In the field of cultural heritage management, in which the accuracy and professional documentation of data on sites is very important, the availability 3-D scanning plays an exceptional role. This function creates more accurate and detailed data about the monument, will assist in future conservation and restoration work, and will have a major impact on further archaeological research.

Maiden Tower, the first 3D Scanned monument, is the most majestic and mysterious architectural monument of Baku's historical buildings. Maiden Tower is 28 meters high on its northern side and 31 meters high on its southern side. The walls are 5 meters thick.

The appearance of the tower conforms to a cylindrical shape completed by the counterfort of the same height with the construction. The eight storeys are separated from one another by stone flooring and connected by means of stone staircases.

Many researchers state that Maiden Tower was initially built for religious purposes and that it was a temple where religious ceremonies were held. For some scholars it was a "hut" of the Zoroastrians. On this basis they date Maiden Tower to the 8th -7th centuries B.C. According to some hypotheses this monument was used as an ancient observatory. Some scholars believe that the Tower was a fortified part of the Shirvanshahs defensive structure and was used to send signals from the top to other towers in times of danger.

You can view the 3D virtual tour on Maiden Tower at: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=fCqwS9zmrY7
A former U.S. President, Barack Obama, on Saturday took aim at officials dealing with the coronavirus pandemic in a rare public rebuke of the current administration.

More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what theyre doing, the former Democratic president said in an address to college graduates.

He did not name his successor Donald Trump or specific U.S. officials in the address, which appeared to be pre-recorded.

A lot them arent even pretending to be in charge, Obama said during the speech, which capped a two-hour event for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) broadcast on social media.

In a second address to the high school Class of 2020, Mr Obama told graduating students that the pandemic means they would have to grow up faster than some other generations, and urged them to do what you think is right.

Doing what feels good, whats convenient, whats easy. Thats how little kids think.

Unfortunately, a lot of so-called grown ups, including some with fancy titles and important jobs, still think that way, which is why things are so screwed up, Mr Obama added, in what appeared to be a dig at Trump and administration officials.

The White Houses response to the coronavirus pandemic has come under the spotlight amid sharp criticism by Democrats, who have bashed Mr Trumps fairly lax approach through February and lingering testing shortages.

Since leaving the White House in early 2017, Mr Obama has largely refrained from criticising thea Trump administration, following a convention among former U.S. presidents.

READ ALSO:

Last week, comments Mr Obama made in a private conference call, in which he called the U.S. handling of the pandemic an absolute chaotic disaster, were leaked by Yahoo News.

In the call, Mr Obama also reportedly said that the rule of law was at risk after criminal charges against former national security adviser Michael Flynn were dropped.

In the university commencement speech, the former president also addressed racism in the U.S. and the case of a 25-year-old black man killed while jogging in February.

Ahmaud Arbery suffered two shotgun blasts to the chest and was grazed by a gunshot on his wrist, according to an autopsy report released by authorities in the U.S. state of Georgia earlier this week.

His case has roiled the nation after video emerged showing two men confronting Arbery in broad daylight while brandishing weapons.

Lets be honest: A disease like this just spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black communities have historically had to deal with in this country.

We see it in the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on our communities, just as we see it when a black man goes for a jog and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him if he doesnt submit to their questioning, Mr Obama said.

On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered to protest the handling of the case, according to local reports.

(dpa/NAN)
After months of feuding, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing agreement on Sunday

- a step that could smooth efforts to end the country's long-running war.

At a signing ceremony in Kabul Ghani called it a historic day while Abdullah said that though the agreement had not been easy, a big step been taken because instability, quote, "could have plunged Afghanistan into crisis."

Abdullah had disputed the results of an election in September, and announced the formation of a parallel government earlier this year

- undermining Ghani's administration at a time when the US was trying to advance a peace process with the Taliban to end 19 years of war.

Washington has been frustrated by the growing impasse and had announced plans to cut $1 billion in aid because the men couldn't agree.

Shortly before the deal was signed sources said Abdullah had wanted to control a major government portfolio such as finance or foreign affairs and that while Ghani had not agreed to this, he could offer control of the interior ministry.

Officials say a lasting deal between Ghani and Abdullah is crucial to launching peace talks, as Abdullah's camp represents much of the country's north-west.

But the talks face a number of stark challenges, as highlighted by an attack on a Kabul maternity ward this week.

The Taliban has denied involvement but the government has remained skeptical and angry at ongoing Taliban attacks against the Afghan military.
The proverbs related to environmental issues traditionally used by the local population in rural areas of Spain are currently considered imprecise and unreliable due to climate change impacts. This is the result of a study carried out by the Institut de Ciencia i Tecnologia Ambientals of the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) that presents a novel way of using the local knowledge embodied in popular proverbs to explore climate change impacts at local scales.

The study, published in the journal Regional Environmental Change, took place in Sierra Nevada (Granada, Southern Spain); a perfect location to study climate change through the view of local people for two main reasons. First, because high mountainous regions are some of the most vulnerable ecosystems in the world to climate change, and second because Sierra Nevada historically has been a region in which local knowledge has been of great importance for water management and agricultural production.

Traditionally weather forecasting methods were critical to better cope with weather variability. "I was particularly impressed by the numerous indicators (clouds, wind patterns, animal behaviour) that, still nowadays, people in the area use for weather forecasting", says Maria Garteizgogeascoa who led the study that also included the involvement of ICTA-UAB researchers Victoria Reyes-Garcia and David Garcia del Amo. Although these indicators are still used by local people, their perceived reliability is changing. "I no longer pay attention to water signals because they are no longer credible" or "In the past, cattle used to announce the rain; but now they only know when it rains after they get wet, as rain now is unpredictable", are some of the statements made by the inhabitants of Sierra Nevada who participated in this study.

The study used information contained in local proverbs to explore the impacts of climate change on climatic aspects of the environment such as precipitation, on physical aspects like snow cover; and finally, on biological aspects, such as flowering periods.

For example, the proverb por Todos los Santos la nieve en los altos, por San Andres la nieve en los pies indicates the arrival and abundance of snow cover. So, according to the proverb, at the beginning of November (Todos los Santos is celebrated on November 1st) snow can be found on the peaks of the mountains, and by the end of the month (November 30th) it normally reaches lower altitudes. When they asked participants about their current perception of the accuracy of this proverb, many stated that the proverb barely reflects the current situation, as snow arrives now later and it is less abundant. And indeed, the scientific data and literature for the region shows a delay in snow periods.

The proverb "Septiembre o lleva los puentes o seca las fuentes", describes rain variability during the month of September. In this way, September could be a time of the year in which it either rains a lot (the bridges are washed away) or barely rains (the fountains dry up). Participants explained that the proverb is no longer accurate, as there is hardly any rain in the month of September now.

Certainly, the scientific data and literature for the region shows that precipitation has decreased during that time of the year. The same could be said for 19 of the 30 proverbs used in the study.

Moreover, some of the proverbs examined provided information about climate change impacts not yet described by scientists. For example, "Cuando vienen los vilanos es conclusion del verano" encodes knowledge of the flowering period (end of August, beginning of September) of the cardus flower and other plants of the same genus that produce thistledown (small fluffy seeds that are transported by the wind). This proverb was considered not accurate nowadays by most of participants due to variations in flowering periods. However, we could not find local literature reporting those variations.

The study reveals that although the selected proverbs were still generally well recognized, many informants considered them not accurate nowadays. Specially, older informants and people working in the primary sector thought that the proverbs they use to guide their decisions in the past are not reliable anymore. The study documents how this perception of lack of accuracy goes in line with trends documented by local, regional and scientific literature and impacts of climate change documented through a Global Change Observatory established in the area in 2007. And how for others, the perceived accuracy provides novel information for scientifically undocumented climate change impacts in the area.

"Very few studies, and none in Spain, have ventured to study climate change at local scales through songs, stories or proverbs. However, this work shows that, despite some limitations, these traditional ways of encrypted local knowledge could be a useful source to do so and a window of opportunity to engage with local communities. During my work in the field, proverbs proved to be a useful tool to engage participants in discussions about climate change issues", says Maria Garteizgogeascoa. She hopes that this study, together with the increasing literature around climate change and local knowledge, will "contribute to bring visibility to the benefits and needs of having a climate change science that integrates different knowledge systems in part to develop a more democratic and targeted policy making".

According to researcher Victoria Reyes-Garcia, "in the absence of meteorological data from the past, traditional knowledge collected in proverbs and other forms of popular knowledge can be an alternative source of information to understand the impacts of climate change."

###
In isolation together, an extended family agreed to share a quarantine bubble, meaning they can hang out together as normal while avoiding contact with others. They are Wynnewood residents Peter Liston (far right) and Brigid Maguire (seated next to him), and their three daughters, two of their grandchildren, and their daughters' partners. At far left is Caitlin Liston and her 3-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Pop; Elizabeths father, Armin Pop; and Caitlin's sister, Kellie Liston, seated with Caitlin's 14-month-old daughter, Amelia Pop. Behind Brigid are Ben Simon (Kellie's fiancee) and Caitlins sister Maya. Read more

After months quarantined at home, caring for three young children while her husband worked long hours in his home office, Andrea Ulloa de Gallois felt herself sinking, slowly, into the depths of isolation-induced depression.

Then, a friend in a similar state threw her a lifeline, by text.

It was a modest proposal: The two families could buddy up, staying in isolation except for one another. This double bubble would be exclusive  increasing risk, yes, but in what felt like a controlled fashion.

We agreed instantly, Ulloa de Gallois said. They discussed terms and agreed on twice-weekly meetups, in their homes or yards, without masks or other extra precautions.

The relief has been enormous. Seeing our friends is just the mental support we all needed," she said. In particular, shes noticed the benefits for her oldest, who is 4, and had been anxious, not sleeping or eating well. I am always telling her, Dont do this, dont do that! Its a lot of no. So at least in this moment, I dont have to say no. She can be a little kid with other kids again.

As offices extend work-from-home plans through Labor Day and parents brace for a summer without camp, many families and individuals are looking to enlarge their sphere just enough to create breathing room. Some provinces in Canada have approved exclusive, two-household pods as part of their stay-at-home orders.

Here, people are making their own rules.

Some, such as Mark Rekant, a Moorestown orthopedist, are doing so casually  hanging out with five or so families in their homes or by his swimming pool, letting his teenage kids attend gatherings of up to 10 or 20 friends, with the understanding that, if Im saying 20, there are probably instances where its been 30.

 READ MORE: No, you cant expand your quarantine circle just yet

Others are undertaking such decisions soberly, engaging in detailed conversations about one anothers social interactions, hygiene, shopping practices and more before deciding to join their quaranteam.

For some, the pod includes extended family: a mishpodchah, a play on the Yiddish word for family, one Jewish Mount Airy woman called the arrangement with her daughters West Philly family and their nanny. They all share grocery shopping, twice-weekly visits, and group decision-making.

 READ MORE: Exes sheltering in place together? Parents withholding visitation? Co-parenting during a pandemic gets messy, fast.

Others are singles who, staring down months of isolation, decided to grab a partner.

That was the case for Joan Fanwick, 24, of Point Breeze, and Elizabeth Drellich, 33, of Graduate Hospital. Fanwick, who has immune deficiencies, first came to stay with Drellich because her own roommate wasnt taking the same safety precautions that Fanwick was.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus fears ignite a civil war as families, friends, neighbors clash over whats safe

Since then, Fanwicks roommate left town to be with family  but Fanwick stayed, on a futon in a room off of Drellichs kitchen. Its not luxurious. But, Fanwick said, Neither of us want to be alone.

Drellich agreed to follow Fanwicks lead as they set protocols on everything from face coverings to footwear (no outdoor shoes allowed), and began sanitizing grocery packages as they arrived. Fanwick, an autism language instructor for the school district, teaches online in one room, while Drellich, who taught high-level math to Haverford students, another.

Having another person who exists in 3D every day is really important, said Drellich  given that everything else, from work to dating her boyfriend of a few months, is done through a screen.

Karolina Lazarov, an Ardmore-based psychotherapist, said shes urging her clients to find ways to connect as the prolonged stay-at-home orders exact a toll on mental health. To her mind, that does not have to include in-person contact.

What I encourage my clients right now is to learn how to coexist. If you cook dinner, put someone on FaceTime and cook dinner together. I find its really comforting, she said. It doesnt have to be a deep conversation.

Still, people of all ages are choosing to co-quarantine in real life, for very different reasons.

Janet Goldwater wanted to be able to help her daughter when her newest grandson was born  but she was a risk vector while living with her husband, a neurologist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Her solution was to move in with friends of 50 years, Fitler Square residents who are not even leaving home to go grocery shopping.

For Goldwater, that meant the pod could include her daughters family. But it excludes her husband, whom she now sees only on socially distanced bike rides or sunset dates on opposite ends of a park bench.

Its not exactly easy, but she believes that shes making the best choice she can for her family.

Were all picking and choosing what were afraid of, she said. My circle of friends, weve all made the same decisions. Maybe were overreacting, but we feel safe.

 READ MORE: Can I hang out with my friends if we stay six feet apart for social distancing?

One key to podding is finding like-minded people, said Jessica Villanueva-McCollum, 41, a West Philadelphia mother of three, who agreed to pair up with another family for visits once a week or so. We knew what their exposure was and what their comfort level was, she said.

Even though theyre limiting the visits to outdoors only, theyre still a source of solace for the adults and especially for her kids. (Though, she warned, It does open that door: Can we stay longer? Can we go to their house?)

Its also important to accept that, as difficult as it is, other people will have to be excluded from the circle.

For Caitlin Liston, 31, of Wynnewood, that decision was not easy. She and her husband, and their 1- and 3-year-old daughters moved in with her parents and her 15-year-old sister last year. In April, they decided to become socially monogamous with Listons sister and her fiance, too.

The price was that the couple could not see other friends or family, just as Liston is avoiding contact with her own in-laws for now.

Ive definitely been feeling some of the in-law guilt, she said.

In the end, though, getting to see someone who does not live in the house has been profoundly important.

Now we can sit together on a couch! she said, halfway between joking and sincere enthusiasm. Its amazing!

 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.
USNS Mercy Arrives to Naval Air Station North Island, Prepared for Future Tasking

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS200516-01

Release Date: 5/16/2020 8:32:00 AM

From Commander, U.S. Third Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived to Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, May 15, after supporting the Department of Defense (DOD) response efforts in the greater Los Angeles area during the coronavirus outbreak.

Mercy spent nearly 50 days pierside at the Port of Los Angeles, serving as a referral hospital treating non-COVID-19 patients, and in effect as a 'relief valve' for local hospitals as they were able to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases. The ship will take the necessary steps to return to a "Ready 5" status to be prepared for future tasking including COVID-19 or other humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.

"The entire crew was invested in this mission and it showed, from the medical professionals who cared for patients in the ICUs and wards, to those who performed life-saving surgeries in the operating rooms, and to the support staff of every specialty, including those who made sure the patients and crew had good food to eat," said Capt. John Rotruck, commanding officer of Mercy's medical treatment facility. "Now as we return from this mission, I couldn't be more proud of the work everyone did."

Capt. Dan Cobian, commodore Destroyer Squadron 21 and the mission commander, echoed those sentiments.

"This team of professionals came together as a unit very quickly and were ready to meet the mission objective when we reached Los Angeles," he said. "That was a monumental task and it was amazing to watch it unfold."

Mercy supported the lead agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the Department of Defense's Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission. The ship, which arrived in Los Angeles March 27, was tasked with providing care to non-COVID patients, bringing the first aboard March 29. While on mission, 77 patients were provided care ranging from basic medical/surgical care to critical care, to trauma, as the ship served as a 'relief valve' for state and local healthcare providers. Additionally, the medical professionals on board conducted 36 surgeries, 77 X-ray exams, 26 CT scans and administered hundreds of ancillary studies ranging from routine labs to high-end x-rays and blood transfusion support.

While in Los Angeles, Mercy personnel worked closely with FEMA, state, and local public health authorities to help protect the health and safety of the American people.

"Relationships are critical during a crisis response," said Vice Adm. Scott D. Conn, commander, U.S. Third Fleet and Maritime Command Element-West said. "Our response was greatly aided by the relationships and trust we have been able to foster with FEMA, the State of California, Los Angeles County, and the City of L.A. through annual Defense Support to Civil Authorities Senior Leadership Seminars and Los Angeles Fleet Week. Whether at home or abroad, we can surge capability but we can't surge trust."

Approximately 60 personnel assigned to Mercy's MTF will continue to provide support at select skilled nursing facilities in support of FEMA, state and local healthcare providers.

For more information, visit https://navylive.dodlive.mil/2020/03/26/usns-mercy-usnscomfort- 2020-covid-19-deployment/

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By Trend

The Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan has issued a statement on the anniversary of the ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Trend reports on May 16.

May 12 marked the 26th anniversary of the ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Addressing the international community on this anniversary, the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan focuses on the deplorable state of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are still awaiting the restoration of their fundamental rights and freedoms, said the statement.

The military aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan led to the occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts, which make up about one fifth of the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan.

The occupation policy of Armenia doomed every tenth citizen of Azerbaijan to live the life of IDP or refugee. Hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis, including the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, were expelled from their homes, deprived of property, and their fundamental human rights have not been restored for many years, the statement noted.

By a decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Chiragov and Others v. Armenia court case dated 2015, it was once again confirmed that Armenia is directly responsible for the violation of human rights in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

The international community has consistently condemned the military aggression against Azerbaijan and the occupation of Azerbaijani territories. In 1993, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) condemning the use of force against Azerbaijan, the occupation of its territories, as well as recognizing its sovereignty and territorial integrity, thereby confirming the inviolability of its internationally recognized borders. In these resolutions, the UNSC reaffirmed that the Nagorno-Karabakh region is an integral part of Azerbaijan, and demanded the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of occupying forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

But despite the fact that the ceasefire agreement provides for the cessation of all hostilities and the political settlement of the conflict with the withdrawal of Armenian troops from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the conflict remains unresolved. The main factor hindering the settlement of the conflict is that the illegal occupation of Azerbaijani territories by the Armenian armed forces still continues. As the OSCE has confirmed, the ceasefire has reduced the scale of active hostilities, but no progress has been made in resolving the conflict. Armenias lack of political will continues to impede the development of the process, said the statement.

Moreover, another factor directly impeding the peace process is the regular violation of the ceasefire by the Armenian armed forces. The positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on the contact line and on the border with Armenia, as well as the settlements of Azerbaijan are regularly bombarded by Armenia.

Armenias policies and actions in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan during the ceasefire, attempts to distort physical and demographic data, to artificially change the cultural heritage of these territories, illegal resettlement of residents of Armenia and other countries on these territories show that Armenia is not interested in observing the ceasefire, and plans to annex the occupied territories.

"Amid the foregoing, various documents continue to be distributed on behalf of the illegal regime created in the occupied territories, but these steps have no legal basis and legal force. This is nothing more than attempts to evade responsibility for the illegal occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia and atrocities committed against the Azerbaijani civilian population," the statement reads.

Armenia must realize that it will not be possible to achieve any peace contrary to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, the norms and principles of international law. The fact of military occupation of Azerbaijani territories will not allow Armenia to achieve the desired political result. The legal basis for resolving the conflict is enshrined in the relevant resolutions of the UNSC.

Peace, security and stability can only be achieved if the Armenian armed forces are immediately and unconditionally withdrawn from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the right of all Azerbaijani IDPs to return to their homes is ensured, and the internationally recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is fully restored, said the statement.

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.

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The centres stimulus package may have an impact of only 1-1.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on the exchequer, with the government relying more on liquidity support measures. With the government further extending the lockdown till May 31 to curb the coronavirus pandemic, the lack of substantial demand stimulus may further deepen the economic downturn in the short run.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the fifth and last tranche of measures with a Rs 40,000 crore increase in allocation for the rural jobs scheme. With earlier announcements by the government, including the Rs 1.7 lakh crore under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, most analysts put the total fiscal impact between Rs 2-3 lakh crore in FY21. The total package, however, exceeded PM Narendra Modis announcement of Rs 20 lakh crore, with the finance ministry factoring in Rs 8.01 lakh crore liquidity infusion by the Reserve Bank of India.

Also Read: NREGA outlay, cap on state borrowing hiked in fifth round

The announcements, however, failed to enthuse many economists who said the absence of a robust stimulus programme may fail to reinvigorate economy.

In the absence of a proper stimulus, we are looking at a contraction of 9% in GDP in FY21, former chief statistician Pronab Sen said. The announcements will help a little but are not enough to change the projection. We should actually have a proper fiscal stimulus of Rs 8-10 lakh crore. Even before covid-19, we had a demand problem and we were talking about fiscal deficit should be closer to 5% of GDP.

Asked whether the threat of a rating downgrade prevented the government from going for a larger package, Sen said: If in a crisis of this kind, you are worried about rating agencies, then something is wrong with you. Who cares more about foreign money than about your own people, he said.

Also Read: Economic package will have multiplier effect: Nirmala Sitharaman

Fitch Ratings and Moodys Investors Service have cautioned that the countrys sovereign rating could be downgraded if its fiscal metrics weaken materially. However, batting for pump priming of economies across the world, International Monetary Fund chief economist Gita Gopinath last month said while a substantial fiscal stimulus will push up the fiscal deficit and debt-to-GDP ratio of economies, lack of proactive fiscal policy could put them in a worse place with collapse of economic activity.

DK Srivastava, chief policy adviser at EY India, said the limited demand stimulus of about Rs 2 lakh crore would imply a lowering of growth than what otherwise would have been possible and, therefore, a lowering of tax revenue, and in general, a delay in the overall recovery. It would be low growth at least for six quarters before a clear upward trend in growth emerges. More direct stimulus should have been given rather than relying on credit guarantee schemes where the impact depends on private sector behaviour, he said.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

Pranjul Bhandari, chief economist at HSBC India, said as the lockdown eases gradually, postponed consumption demand and inventory restocking demand could provide a growth push. Once that wave is gone, India may not have a strong driver of growth, especially given weak labour markets.
Trials are going ahead to see if dogs could provide a non-invasive way of detecting the coronavirus. Six dogs - labradors and cocker spaniels - will be given samples of the odour of COVID-19 patients from London hospitals, and taught to distinguish their smell from that of people who are not infected. The British government has allocated 500,000 in funding for the trials, which will be part of research into possible ways to detect the virus early.
Precious Dragon Technology Holdings Limited (HKG:1861) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in 3 days time. This means that investors who purchase shares on or after the 21st of May will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 10th of June.

Precious Dragon Technology Holdings's upcoming dividend is HK$0.025 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of HK$0.049 per share to shareholders. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, Precious Dragon Technology Holdings has a trailing yield of approximately 3.8% on its current stock price of HK$1.29. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. So we need to investigate whether Precious Dragon Technology Holdings can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow.

Check out our latest analysis for Precious Dragon Technology Holdings

If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Precious Dragon Technology Holdings is paying out just 24% of its profit after tax, which is comfortably low and leaves plenty of breathing room in the case of adverse events. Yet cash flow is typically more important than profit for assessing dividend sustainability, so we should always check if the company generated enough cash to afford its dividend. Precious Dragon Technology Holdings paid out more free cash flow than it generated - 148%, to be precise - last year, which we think is concerningly high. We're curious about why the company paid out more cash than it generated last year, since this can be one of the early signs that a dividend may be unsustainable.

Precious Dragon Technology Holdings does have a large net cash position on the balance sheet, which could fund large dividends for a time, if the company so chose. Still, smart investors know that it is better to assess dividends relative to the cash and profit generated by the business. Paying dividends out of cash on the balance sheet is not long-term sustainable.

Story continues

Precious Dragon Technology Holdings paid out less in dividends than it reported in profits, but unfortunately it didn't generate enough cash to cover the dividend. Were this to happen repeatedly, this would be a risk to Precious Dragon Technology Holdings's ability to maintain its dividend.

Click here to see how much of its profit Precious Dragon Technology Holdings paid out over the last 12 months.

SEHK:1861 Historical Dividend Yield May 17th 2020

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Companies with falling earnings are riskier for dividend shareholders. If earnings decline and the company is forced to cut its dividend, investors could watch the value of their investment go up in smoke. From this viewpoint, it's unfortunate that earnings per share have declined 10% over the last year.

Precious Dragon Technology Holdings also issued more than 5% of its market cap in new stock during the past year, which we feel is likely to hurt its dividend prospects in the long run. Trying to grow the dividend while issuing large amounts of new shares reminds us of the ancient Greek tale of Sisyphus - perpetually pushing a boulder uphill.

Given that Precious Dragon Technology Holdings has only been paying a dividend for a year, there's not much of a past history to draw insight from.

Final Takeaway

Is Precious Dragon Technology Holdings worth buying for its dividend? It's disappointing to see earnings per share declining, and this would ordinarily be enough to discourage us from most dividend stocks, even though Precious Dragon Technology Holdings is paying out less than half its income as dividends. However, it's also paying out an uncomfortably high percentage of its cash flow, which makes us wonder just how sustainable the dividend really is. It's not the most attractive proposition from a dividend perspective, and we'd probably give this one a miss for now.

Having said that, if you're looking at this stock without much concern for the dividend, you should still be familiar of the risks involved with Precious Dragon Technology Holdings. For example, we've found 4 warning signs for Precious Dragon Technology Holdings (2 are concerning!) that deserve your attention before investing in the shares.

We wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see, though. Here's a list of interesting dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
A British pilot who is in a critical condition due to novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has tested negative for the virus five times in a row, while his health had slightly improved as of Saturday, according to Vietnamese doctors.

The 43-year-old patient no long had a fever, while doctors had stopped performing chest drains  a method of removing air and fluid substances from the pleural space  on him, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control confirmed on Saturday.

He still needed support from a ventilator, although his pulse and blood pressure had stabilized.

A lung transplant is necessary as 90 percent of the Britons lungs had collapsed, the steering committee stated.

The Hanoi-based Viet Duc University Hospital and Vietnam National Coordinating Centre for Human Organ Transplantation (VNHOT) have been in charge of the search for a compatible donor and making necessary preparations for the operation.

The Ministry of Health is estimating costs for the transplant and calling for sponsors.

Meanwhile, doctors at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City, where the patient is being treated, are focusing on dealing with infections at several of his organs.

According to the VNHOT, nearly 50 people aged from 21 to 71 have volunteered to donate parts of their lungs for the transplant.

However, doctors and experts still prioritize finding compatible lungs from a brain-dead registered donor.

The Briton, who works as a pilot for Vietnam Airlines, was diagnosed with COVID-19 in mid-March and has been receiving treatment at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City.

He is currently the most severe COVID-19 case in Vietnam.

His treatment has been a roller-coaster ride, with tests for the virus alternating between positive and negative.

As the patient's body has become resistant to all domestically available medicine for blood-clotting disorders, the health ministry has had to import medicine from abroad for his treatment.

He has also been on life support in the form of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for more than 30 days.

Vietnamese authorities have been able to establish contact with one of his relatives in the UK, who has been coordinating with doctors and experts in Vietnam in making decisions regarding his treatment.

The number of COVID-19 patients in Vietnam is at 318 as of Sunday morning, with 260 having recovered. No death from the disease has been reported.

No infection in the community has been confirmed in the country for the past 31 days.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
There has never been overcrowding in



jails in Tamil Nadu and over 6,000 inmates were granted bail recently to prevent coronavirus spread, bringing down the present strength to a little over half of the capacity, authorities said on Sunday.

More than 6,000 inmates, a big chunk of themundertrails and remand prisoners, were released on bail from different prisons, they said.

As a result, the present strength of prisoners in 135 plus jails, including nine central and five special prisons for women, in the state is approximately 13,500 as against the authorised capacity of about 23,000, prison sources told PTI.

From as early as March, jail authorities, in association with the judiciary and police, began preparations to facilitate eligible remand prisoners andundertrailsavail bail and convicts to go onleave.

"Considering the infrastructure and regulations in force, there has never been overcrowding in prisons in Tamil Nadu," an officialsaid.

Duration of leave of those, who were let out of prisons before coronavirus cases surfaced in Tamil Nadu, was periodically extendedand as of now, their leave is effective till June 1, sources added.

Those who returned after the expiry of their leavewere given furtherextension and as and when prisoners applied for leave, their petitions were being processed expeditiously as per rules, theysaid.

To avoid the crowd of visitors, central prisons were also provided with smartphones and inmates make video calls to their family members.

In Tamil Nadu, there also nine district jails, 85 plus sub-jails for men, eight for women andseparate special sub- jails for both the gender besides borstal schools and open air prisons.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tatoyan commented on Public Council heads Facebook post regarding Azerbaijani Studies specialist

The dangerous habit of insulting, degrading each others dignity must be stopped. The Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, noted this in a Facebook post, and regarding the recent Facebook post by Styopa Safaryan, Chairman of the Public Council.

This is especially applies to those who engage in public activities, especially those who hold public office (...).

In the case of public officials, the requirements are more stringent, as they have a specific status and are limited within the boundaries of that status.

It is a phenomenon of great concern when the chairman of the Public Council of the country makes a post that insults, degrades human dignity.

The study of the post of the head of the Public Council proves that it was done by insulting a woman by targeting her gender.

To note, Styopa Safaryan, Chairman of the Public Council of Armenia, hade made a Facebook post with obscene expressions addressed to Azerbaijani Studies specialist Anzhela Elibegova.
International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is being marked in Ireland today.

The Junior Minister for Equality, David Stanton says the day ensures LGBTI+ people are heard and supported.

Minister David Stanton is joining the international community in sharing the vision of 'Breaking the Silence' on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

He says evidence shows marginalised groups are increasingly vulnerable during the global pandemic.

Minister Stanton says many LGBTI+ people can feel more at risk due to rural isolation, loneliness, separation from peers, anxiety, health issues and domestic violence.

He says it is now more important than ever to allow their voices to be heard, particularly during the planning and implementation of our response to Covid-19.

President Higgins has expressed worry at the isolation and stress being felt by the LGBT community during the current pandemic.

In a statement, Michael D Higgins says the public has shown support for equality, however, he says there is more to do.

He says he hopes we can craft an Ireland that celebrates all identities.

He says: "The Irish people have, in recent years, shown their support for LGBTI+ equality.

"Many support structures have been put in place, legal obstacles have been gradually removed, and awareness of LGBTI+ rights has increased significantly.

"As President of Ireland I invite all of our citizens to support and build on these initiatives."
Future Saskatchewan residents will be able to look back on the COVID-19 era, thanks to community archive projects being done by the Western Development Museum (WDM) and the University of Saskatchewan.

At the U of S, professors are launching a virtual space where people can upload things that are important to them or have helped them hope during the pandemic. Anyone in Saskatchewan can participate.

"We're all living under some of the same policies but  our communities are shaping our experiences," Professor Erika Dyck said. "We'd like to try and capture some of the diversity."

Saskviews/Website

Dyck is a history professor at the University of Saskatchewan and the Canada research chair in the history of medicine. She said she has two hopes for the project: fostering connection and documenting this historical time.

"We kind of want to get a flavour of all the different experiences that people are having throughout these really strange moments," she said. "Just being able to witness other people's innovative ways of coping, whether that's through writing poetry or getting out."

Saskviews.ca/Website

Dyck said she's influenced by looking back at the 1918 pandemic. She said the majority of people who lived through it aren't alive anymore to share the experience of what it was like.

"We want to do this for future historians and for students of history," she said.

Dyck said she is hoping for a variety of perspectives, from young students who are learning at home to people who have had to return to work in person.

Saskviews/Website

The University of Saskatchewan is also partnered with the WDM on a community archive launched April 15, 2020.

"The novel coronavirus has already caused an unprecedented crisis  a global shock that will be remembered for many lifetimes to come. You can help to document the impact of the pandemic here," the WDM website reads.

People can submit photographs showing things like self-isolation, physical distancing, changing ways to work, communication, caring for each other and more.

Story continues

Dyck said she hopes that, if another pandemic hit in 102 years, people could see beyond the initial panic of a pandemic.

"Maybe this is a bit optimistic, but I would hope that by looking at the archive we can see things beyond the fear and the panic that often or almost invariably accompanies these moments," she said.

"And I hope that we'll also be able to retain something hopeful and see how communities come together and actually survive and move through these moments together."

Submissions can be made to the University of Saskatchewan community archive at COVID19archive.usask.ca, or the Western Development Museum community archive at saskviews.ca.
New Delhi, May 17 : Following extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 31 during which metro train services will remain shut across the nation, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Sunday announced that it will continue to remain shut for commuters till this date.

The DMRC tweeted: "In light of the extension of the lockdown, Metro services will remain closed for commuters till May 31. Our helpline services 155370 shall also not be available. You may reach us at helpline@dmrc.org." The Delhi government had written to the Centre, urging it to allow the Metro services in the city. However, it has demanded that only employees of the Union and city governments, Central and state PSUs, local bodies/government autonomous bodies, and persons providing essential services be allowed to travel on production of ID cards and passes. However, the Centre did not allow for the same and barred Metro services across the nation.

The DMRC was ready to resume its services, as and when approved by the Centre. With a network of 389-km across the national capital region, the Delhi Metro had ferried about 60 lakh people per day in February.

The Delhi Metro has been closed since March 22.
Before she was even a teenager, Malicka Barro saw more hardship in her homeland than most people will see in a lifetime.

Born and raised in Ivory Coast, a French-speaking nation in southern West Africa, Barro lived through a period in which her nation, a major producer of coffee and cocoa, twice descended into civil war.

At 13, Barros father, then an analyst for the United Nations, moved most of her family to New Jersey and settled them in Burlington County where Barro started life anew, excited but unable to speak even rudimentary English.

But for Barro, a supply chain and logistics major who graduated in December from the Rohrer College of Business but is participating in Rowans virtual Commencement May 9, a new environment and completely new language to learn were just minor setbacks. Ahead of graduation she started her own Ivory Coast-inspired spice company and is headed to St. Josephs University in Philadelphia in September for graduate school.

In 2011, I moved to the U.S., two months after the war ended, she said of the Ivorian Civil War, the nations second since 2000. (During the war) I wasnt afraid, really. At the time my biggest fear was that I wasnt going to be able to go back to school, because I always loved school.

Barros family, except for her mother who remained in Ivory Coast, settled in Mount Laurel, which her father felt was a safe community with a reasonable commute to New York. She attended Doane Academy in Burlington City and started at Rowan as a freshman in 2016.

Though clearly resilient, Barro said there is one element about living on the East Coast that shes never warmed to.

I lived for 13 years without seeing snow, and I can still live without it, she laughed. But there are some things I really do miss about Ivory Coast. I miss my mom, I miss the food, and I miss the weather.

Barro said the village she grew up in was not just physically warm. Neighbors looked out for one another, and parents tended not to stress about children not being home at a given time.

One of the things I miss the most is the communal feel, she said. Everyone is fraternal, theres a very strong family drive, so if youre not home youre at a friends house, and its OK.

Deeply involved with the Rowan community during her time here, Barro was a building manager for the Recreation Center, tutored fellow students in French and Spanish, was treasurer of the Management Information Systems club and was active with the Muslim Student Association and African Student Association.

Though fully Americanized (Barro speaks without even a hint of French accent), a love for her homeland inspired her to start both an Ivory Coast-inspired online company, Konay Spice Shop (watch the YouTube video!) and a non-profit fundraiser for children in her familys village.

Her nascent spice business, which is inspired by flavors from her home country, India and Thailand, has filled orders from Canada, Italy, France and Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, her non-profit, Backpack Girls Nation, is raising money to provide school supplies for girls in Tafire (pronounced taferay), the town in northern Ivory Coast where her mother still lives.

When I was younger, school was very important to me so I decided to try to use my position here as a platform to create opportunities for girls, she said. Our backpack drive collects supplies for girls and were going to start sending them to Tafire this year.
By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijans Consulate General in Los Angeles has circulated a document from US Congressional archives that exposed Armenian Dashanks as a terrorist organization.

The document in question details Dashnaks sympathies for Hitler and the Holocaust, their racist tendencies, as well as terrorist acts carried by them in the United States.

The document was presented to the plenary session of Congress on May 4, 1945 by Congressman Frank Hook, a member of the US House of Representatives from Michigan and was included in the US Congressional Record and published by the US government.

The article describes the Dashnaks a well-organized "gang" with a long record of terrorist-fascist acts. The article notes that Dashnaks adopted terrorism as a main political tool. It reminded that Dashnaks committed a number of terrorists acts against some American Armenians who refused to donate to the Dashnaktsutyun party or did not share the organizations radical ideology, including the one against Archbishop Leon Tourian, the head of the Armenian Church in the United States, who was assassinated by Dashnaks in 1933 during a Christmas service at a church in New York.

Emphasizing the Dashnaks' sympathy for Nazism, the article refers to the September 17, 1936 issue of the Armenian-language Hairenik newspaper published in Boston, which calls Hitlerism and Fascism "a gift to humanity" and "successful systems that gave new life to Germany and Italy."

Moreover, the article states that the Dashnaks were fiercely anti-Semitic and quoted the anti-Semitic statement by Dashnaks published in Hairenik in August 1936.

Referring to Jews, Dashnaks said: Sometimes it is difficult to eradicate these poisonous elements when they have already struck deep root like a chronic disease. And when it becomes necessary for people to eradicate them in an uncommon method, these attempts and methods are regarded revolutionary. During a surgical operation the flow of blood is a natural thing.... Under such conditions dictatorship seems to have the role of a savior.

Apparently, the Armenian Dashnaks call the Holocaust - the murder of six million Jews by the Nazis a "surgery to eradicate poisonous elements, the article reads.

The document also touches upon Armenian Nazi collaborator Garegin Nzhdeh, who was also the founder of Tsegakronism theory that emulated Hitlers racism ideology and promoted racism mainly among the Armenian youth.

The article also presents an appeal made by Nzhdeh and his Armenian Dashnak allies to the Armenian youth to adopt and remain committed to these racist ideas, which was published in the January 11, 1935 issue of Hairenik Weekly.

It should be noted that Armenias main diaspora organization in the US - the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) - is the Dashnak organization.

It is interesting that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans grandfather also collaborated with Nazis during the WW2, according to the document circulated in the Armenian media recently.

Armenias current authorities have refused to demolish Armenian Nazi collaborator Garegin Nzhdehs monument erected in Yerevan in 2016. Nzhdeh collaborated with the Third Reich and was involved in Holocaust, based on documented evidence.

Garegin Nzhdeh was also former general of the Dashnak army that was responsible for massacring hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis and Jews in Azerbaijan back in 1918.

In 2016, the former Armenian authorities unveiled a monument to Garegin Nzhdeh as the hero of the national liberation movement in the center of Yerevan, opposite one of the government buildings. In addition, a street and a metro station are named in honor of Nzhdeh in Armenian capital. Armenians also have built memorial and tombstones to honor their most famous Nazi activist Garegin Nzhdeh.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
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Sharekhan's research report on Cipla

Cipla reported weak numbers for Q4FY2020 impacted by the operational challenges due to COVID-19 pandemic. While the topline was flat, Adj PAT dropped 52.7% yoy. Ciplas move to merge three segments (prescription, trade generics and consumer health) in the Indian business are expected to yield synergies and would boost the performance of the India business. South Africa business is also expected to clock a healthy growth. US business is likely to gain traction backed by new products / fillings lined up. This would strengthen Ciplas respiratory franchise in the US market.

Outlook

We maintain our Buy recommendation on the stock with an unchanged PT of Rs. 650.

For all recommendations report, click here

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Food-tech startup SmartQ on Sunday saidit willlaunch a"slot-based booking system" in June to decongest cafeterias across organisationsin India, as they gear up to commence operations with easing of COVID-19 lockdown.

For companies, ensuring a safe environment for employees and consumers, especially at highly crowded areas such as the office cafeteria and IT park food courts, is theirtop-most priority, SmartQ said in a statement.

The initiative called 'Smart Pass' is a slot-based booking and allocation system, focusing on the safety and convenience of the user while providing the authority and flexibility of booking time slots based on their schedule, it added.

The user can book the desired slot and also pre-order the food, it added.

"We are all set to launch 'Smart Pass' in India from June onwards and globally across seven countries including New Zealand, USA, Germany and a few other European Countries,"SmartQCo-founder and CEOKrishna Wage said.

In India, the company is initially enabling the 'Smart Pass' technology in the cafeterias of leading Indian multi-nationals including GoldmanSachs, Boeing, Compass Group, Airtel, Siemens, Boeing, Razorpay among others, he added.

"We are in talks with many other companies to expand the 'Smart Pass' service in India and outside India. We have also got a nod from a few corporates in Germany where we will be going live in the next couple of weeks," Wage said.

The company also sees future opportunities for this technology in areas like malls, airports, IT park food courts, and even large retail chains, the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-16 21:50:04|Editor: huaxia

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KUWAIT CITY, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait on Saturday reported 942 new cases of COVID-19 and 11 more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 13,802 and the death toll to 107, the health ministry said in a statement.

Currently, 9,852 patients are receiving treatment, including 169 in ICU, according to the statement.

The ministry also announced the recovery of 203 more patients, raising the total number of recoveries in the country to 3,843.

The Kuwaiti government has imposed a full curfew in the country to curb the rapid rise in coronavirus cases.

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
While Chinaas tensions with the United States and Australia have been sharply intensifying over its handling of the new coronavirus outbreak, the Asian power has been apparently aiming to bolster ties with its neighbors a Japan and South Korea.

As relations with Washington are expected to worsen at least until the U.S. presidential election later this year, Beijing has been making friendly overtures toward Tokyo and Seoul with an eye on economic revival after the pandemic passes, diplomatic sources said.

Many foreign affairs experts are carefully watching what kind of foreign policy China will adopt at the postponed annual session of the countryas parliament, the National Peopleas Congress, scheduled to be convened next Friday.

Recently, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Beijing of failing to curb the spread of the virus, first detected late last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, and of not sharing relevant information in a timely manner.

Trump has said the United States could even acut off the whole relationshipa with China, while threatening to impose tariffs as punishment for Beijingas alleged mishandling of the epidemic in the critical early months.
- Lawyer Miguna Miguna said the latest COVID-19 figures were exaggerated to justify curfew extensions

- He said the motive was to allow President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga to pass the BBI recommendations in parliament

- He said the best way to counter the president is for half of the MPs to resign so that government can be dissolved

Exiled lawyer Miguna Miguna has called on the National Assembly to take action before President Uhuru Kenyatta and his ally Raila Odinga impose the highly hyped Building Bridges Initiative on Kenyans.

The revolutionist, who is well know for shooting straight at his critics from his hideout in Canada, said at least 145 members of the National Assembly should resign to deny the duo a chance to pass constitutional changes in parliament.

READ ALSO: Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi threatens to lift the lid on Chris Msando's murder

Lawyer Miguna Miguna, the self-proclaimed general of the defunct National Resistance Movement. Photo: Miguna Miguna

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Wakazi Turkana watumia mkojo wa ngombe kuosha mkono ili kuzuia COVID-19

Taking to his Twitter page on Sartuday, May 16, the man with the same name twice said the two political heavyweights were using the coronavirus pandemic to their advantage, as Kenyans are busy fighting the COVID-19 menace.

He said Uhurus extension of the curfew was motivated by that factor so as to allow quick passing of the changes in the Constitution.

You are using COVID-19, curfews and lockdowns in order to scheme and execute your evil plans of clinging to power. YourMurathe stated that We are lucky that coronavirus came and has allowed Uhuru to rule by decree. We shall defeat you! said Miguna Miguna.

According to the former Nairobi county gubernatorial aspirant, there are only two options to defeat the political dynasties in their game.

A past sitting in the National Assembly. Miguna wants 145 MPs to resign in order to deny Uhuru chance to implement BBI. Photo: Daily Nation

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Sierra Leon singer Muzay Man wows world after giving scholarships to help poor kids after COVID-19

The first option is to have half of the MPs resign so as to render government dysfunctional because, as by article 97 of the Constitution, there must be three-quarters of MPs for the Assembly to function normally.

145 MPs or more unilaterally resign from parliament and precipitate fresh elections before Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga get a chance to impose the BBI,

Article 97 stipulates that there must be 290 MPs for parliament to function. When half of parliament resigns, parliament and the government must be dissolved for fresh elections, which Uhuru Kenyatta is disqualified to contest and Raila cannot win, said Miguna Miguna.

According to the I am not boarding politician, the second option is for one to five million Kenyans to take the matter into their hands and march on the streets demanding for the end of Uhuru Kenyattas regime.

Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and Raila Odinga (right) outside President Uhuru Kenyatta's office in March 2018. Photo: State House

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Kilifi: KSh 270 million stalled govt sewer project is now a death trap

Kenyans must not wait for 2022! We must not wait even until 2021! The year 2020 is the time for Kenyans to demonstrate to oligarchs and tyrants that power belongs to the people and that the people - not the crooked and rotten dynasties - are sovereign! The time is now! he said.

Following the rift and tension in the Jubilee Party, the presidents close allies are reported to have made approaches to some MPs to side with the head of state. The intentions of these campaigns are still unclear.

Some of those who have been approached include nominated MP David Ole Sankok who was a well-known supporter of the Deputy President William Ruto until Friday, May 15, when nominated MP Maina Kamanda visited him.

Sankok later shifted his allegiance to the head of state saying he will be supporting him going forward.

READ ALSO: Lilian Muli pours her heart to Robert Burale."I love you longtime"

"In politics we agreed that we are loyal to Jubilee - our nominating authority. We will fight anyone blocking the implementation of the Jubilee manifesto and the president big four Agenda," said the nominated MP via his Facebook page.

Notably, by Saturday, May 16, there were reports that things were to go back to normalcy with many private schools sending messages to parents on a possibility of resuming learning by June.

Many parents expected the head of state to announce end of the curfew and other stringent measures for life to resume normally but this never came to be as Uhuru announced extension of the curfew and maintained the cessation of movement.

As reported by TUKO.co.ke, MP Kimani Ngunjiri claimed the figures for COVID-19 were exaggerated to allow the president and his allies to control the political space.

National Assemblys Constitution Implementation Committee, which is led by Jeremiah Kioni, has already come up with a motion that is expected to be debated in the coming week to give clear guidelines on the referendum.

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
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-18 00:15:13|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Djibouti's Ministry of Health on Sunday announced 70 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Horn of Africa nation to 1,401.

The Djiboutian Ministry of Health, in a statement issued on Sunday, disclosed that from a total of 426 people who were tested over the last 24 hours, 70 were tested positive for the virus.

The ministry also announced that some 972 people who have been infected with the COVID-19 have recovered as of the stated period, of whom 22 of the COVID-19 patients recovered over the past 24-hours period.

Djibouti has so far conducted a total of about 17,532 COVID-19 tests, according to the Djibouti Ministry of Health, which has reported four COVID-19 deaths.

Djibouti reported its first COVID-19 case on March 18.

The Red Sea nation, which lies on a key location connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, hosts a number of foreign military bases. Enditem
Back in the days before multiple cameras, before periscope lenses and NPUs, the only way smartphones knew how to zoom was digitally and usually with poor results since they had small low-resolution sensors (well, there was that one Nokia, but were not going there now).

The Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom opted for the classic approach to zooming  having a lens that can change its focal length. From the back, this device was nigh impossible to tell apart from your typical point and shoot camera.



Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom official photos

From the front, however, it was clearly a Galaxy S4 mini. The S4 zoom is not the first phone-camera hybrid, its not even Samsungs first. The W880 AMOLED 12M (just take a second to admire that name) was released in 2009  a 3G phone with a 12MP camera on the back, complete with 3x zoom optics and xenon flash (and yes, an AMOLED screen). Then in 2012 Samsung revealed the Galaxy Camera, which ran Android, though it missed the phone part.

The S4 zoom from mid-2013 is one of the earliest Android-powered phone-camera hybrids. Modern social networks were still in their infancy (especially on mobile), but the advantage of coupling the superior image quality (and zoom capabilities) of a point and shoot camera with the app selection of a smartphone showed great promise.



Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom up close  The lens ring

Lets see what we have to work with. The lens could sweep from 24mm to 240mm, 10x optical zoom. And it was a smooth transition too, unlike modern tele cameras with fixed focal lengths that jump between zoom levels and use digital zoom for the intermediate steps.

This is the feature that gave the phone its name and there are still no phones that can match its 240mm focal length. The Huawei P40 Pro+ is supposed to get there later this year, but it will have a much smaller sensor sitting behind that periscope lens.



What a difference 10x zoom makes

The Galaxy S4 zoom packed a 16MP sensor that was fairly large for the time, 1/2.33. For comparison, the Galaxy S4 had a 1/3.1 sensor, the iPhone 5s a 1/3.0 sensor. The camera also benefited from Optical Image Stabilization, which was almost non-existent back then  the Nokia Lumia 920 released a few months before was the first phone to have it.

The Samsung also had xenon flash, a feature that phones evolved out of as they strove to be thinner and thinner. But that was not a concern for this phone, the mechanized retractable lens put a lower limit on how thin the device can be. It ended up 15.4mm thick (though, impressively, it was the same height and width as the S4 mini).



The Galaxy S4 zoom was not a thin phone

The camera interface was borrowed from the Galaxy Camera. It imitated the rings on a DSLR lens and it managed to be both intuitive and quick.

Actually, the phone had a lens ring of its own. It could be used to zoom in and out (strangely, it could not be configured to change the manual settings). It also served as a quick launch shortcut, letting you dial in a specific mode instead of digging for it in the settings menu.



The lens ring can be used to launch the camera in a specific mode

You could change the lens aperture . It only had two steps, but that was still twice as many as most phones offered. At 24mm, you could set it at either f/3.1 or f/8.8, at the longest focal length of 240mm your choices were a dim f/6.3 and properly slow f/17.8.

Still, you had control over that, the shutter speed and ISO and so on. Samsung included detailed explanations in the menus to help newcomers. This was never going to replace a DSLR, but it made for a great practice camera.



There was an Info button that explained the basic terminology  Manual controls in Expert mode

If you just wanted to shoot on Auto, there were several Smart and Expert modes that configured the relevant settings and let you just enjoy the moment.



Smart Modes  Smart Suggest

The Remote Viewfinder feature allowed you to connect to the Galaxy S4 zoom over Wi-Fi and control the camera with another phone (complete with a video stream of the viewfinder).

In the end, the image quality benefited from the large sensor and good quality optics, but it was not spectacular. The zooming capabilities were unrivaled, however. The camera even offered the Quiet zoom feature, which allowed you to zoom in and out freely during video capture, without worrying that the sound of the lens motor will be recorded as well.

Phew, it took a while, but the camera part is covered. What about the phone? The external similarities to the S4 mini are obvious and the screen was the same too  a 4.3 Super AMOLED with 540 x 960px resolution. The excellent sunlight legibility really helped with outdoor photography (there was no viewfinder, the screen was all you had to frame your shot).

The phone was powered by a different chipset, however, with a dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU, which was tangibly slower than the dual Krait 300 processor of the minis Snapdragon chipset. The Mali-400 GPU actually held its own against the Adreno.

Battery was another difference, this time the advantage goes to the S4 zoom  2,330mAh vs. 1,900mAh. The extra capacity was needed since there was a lens zoom motor and a xenon flash to feed.

The lens sticking out of the back made this pretty clunky to hold like a phone, but the grip made it perfectly pleasant to operate as a camera. There was even a tripod mount on the bottom, making it clear that the hardware design is more camera than phone.



The S4 zoom was clunky to hold as a phone, but comfy as a camera

Inside was Android 4.2 Jelly Bean (and later 4.4 KitKat), topped with TouchWiz, so every smartphone feature was at your fingertips. An advanced image editor and a simple but capable video editor were just a couple of advantages over a typical point and shoot camera.



The pre-loaded photo and video editors

And if you were not happy with the ones that Samsung pre-installed, the full Play Store was open to you. Snapseed arrived on Android the year before as did Instagram. What else might you find in there? Facebook and Twitter, of course, allowing you to share photos and videos directly. WhatsApp, Skype and Viber too, you name it.

There were follow-ups to the zoom, like the Galaxy K Zoom (based on the S5) and the Galaxy NX, an Android-powered mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor and interchangeable lenses using the NX mount. That one was more of a Galaxy Camera sequel, though, as it lacked telephony.

After that things petered out, even Sony dropped its lens-style cameras, which debuted in the same year as the S4 zoom. Those also used traditional point-and-shoot camera hardware, though packaged as an external accessory instead of building them into a phone. That offered more flexibility, but the demand just wasnt there.

We cant say for sure why the Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom and similar phones failed. Was it the clunky hardware? That smartphone cameras kept improving, even without the retractable lens? Or just that running Android apps on a point-and-shoot camera (that is also an awkward phone) wasnt all that great after all?
Firefighters received a call about 6:30 p.m. Saturday about a structure fire in the 300 block of Boyd Street south of Little Tokyo, said Erik Scott, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)

A criminal investigation is underway into an explosion in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday that injured 12 firefighters and left several buildings damaged, several law enforcement sources told The Times, and officials are looking at whether oils stored there might have sparked the blast.

The Los Angeles Police Department along with local fire investigators and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are working together on the probe.

An initial investigation of the scene identified the business where a fire broke out as Smoke Tokes, a warehouse distributor with supplies for butane hash oil. The law enforcement sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, stressed that the probe is in its early stages and that it's unclear if there was any criminal conduct.

The cause of the fire has not been determined. The owners of Smoke Tokes could not be reached for comment.

Nicholas Prange, an LAFD spokesman, said carbon dioxide and butane canisters were found inside the building but that it was still not clear what caused the blast.

"We are in the early stages of an investigation. We are looking at every aspect at this stage. We havent determined a cause, LAPD Assistant Chief Horace Frank said. The explosion was massive and those firefighters are very lucky to be alive. Skill and awareness is the reason they were able to get out from an incredibly dangerous situation.

The Criminal Conspiracy Section of the Major Crimes Division and the Lab Squad of the Gang Narcotics Division are leading the LAPD's part of the investigation, Frank said.

The explosion occurred in a stretch of downtown dubbed by police as "Bong Row" because of the high number of cannabis, CBD and pipe businesses.

In 2016, there was another major fire at a business called Smoke Tokes at an address nearby on 3rd Street.

It took more than 160 firefighters about two hours to put out that blaze, with the flames largely confined to the wholesaler and distributor of smoking paraphernalia, the Los Angeles Times reported at the time.

Story continues

Firefighters encountered pressurized gas cylinders that exploded amid the inferno, fire officials said. It was a tricky fire for us, LAFD Battalion Chief Mark Curry said back then. We had multiple explosions going off inside the fire while it was burning due to the butane containers releasing.

There were no injuries in the 2016 fire. The LAFD later said in a statement that firefighters who entered the building found intense fire in dense and highly flammable storage that included pressurized flammable gas cylinders, several of which were heard to explode.

It was unclear whether that business and the one that burned Saturday were connected.

In March, an explosion at another business nearby left three people injured. Witnesses said there was a loud boom and fireball at 743 Kohler St. The blast sent a plume of black smoke hundreds of feet into the air that could be seen for miles. Officials at the time did not reveal the kind of business involved, and the cause was unclear.

In the lastest explosion, firefighters first received a call about 6:30 p.m. Saturday about a structure fire in the 300 block of Boyd Street south of Little Tokyo.

The explosion that followed damaged several storefronts, melted fire helmets and left one fire truck burned and covered in debris. Officials said firefighters had to pass through a fireball to escape.

Firefighters were coming out with obvious damage and burns, said Erik Scott , a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

They ran straight through that ball of flame to get to safety across the street, Scott said.

Eleven firefighters received treatment for burn injuries at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, according to the LAFD. A 12th firefighter was treated and released at the emergency room Saturday night for a minor extremity injury, said LAFD spokesman Prange.

As of Sunday morning, three firefighters had been discharged from the hospital. Eight remained hospitalized, including two in critical but stable condition.

All were expected to survive, officials said. Doctors at the medical center said one of the firefighters would likely need skin grafts.

The fire was put out an hour and 42 minutes after the call came in, authorities said.

LAFD Chief Ralph M. Terrazas said the firefighters responding to the call sensed something was wrong inside the building but could not escape before the explosion.

Initially, officials could not account for all the firefighters.

In an LAFD radio transmission, an official is heard screaming, Mayday! Explosion! I have two down firefighters.

When one of your own is injured ... you can imagine the amount of mental stress, Terrazas said. A lot of our firefighters were traumatized.

Times staff writer Liam Dillon contributed to this report.
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Thousands of people flocked to Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday as coronavirus lockdown restrictions were relaxed for the first time since March.

Surfers, joggers and swimmers made the most of their first weekend of freedom despite ominous clouds lingering and tops of 20C in the city's eastern suburbs.

New South Wales recorded just one case of coronavirus in the 24 hours until 8pm on Saturday, but authorities have warned residents to brace for a spike in numbers and not to become complacent.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned that several cases of the virus are still being reported from unknown sources, and with the eased restrictions that number is expected to jump.

'We all deserve it (going outdoors), we've all worked very hard at it. So I don't want to dissuade people from enjoying what is a fantastic state, and at the moment, fantastic weather for this time of the year,' he said.

'But I also do want to remind people that this virus is extremely dangerous, and we are all  every one of us  sitting ducks for this virus.'

Bondi Beach is enjoyed by all ages during an sunny Autumn day with COVID-19 rules relaxed to allow for play and fun, not just exercise

Hundreds of people have flocked to Sydney's most famous beach as residents are taking advantage of New South Wales easing the coronavirus lockdown restrictions for the first time since March

While the chilly temperature made it a bit cold for a swim, others enjoyed being outside and lounging on the grass without the fear of being told to leave by police

Many took advantage of the luxury of being able to gather outside in groups of ten, having picnics and catching up with friends and family without fear of breaking the law.

The beach was enjoyed by people of all ages on Sunday, with the relaxed rules allowing people outdoors for leisure - not just exercise.

Swimmers enjoyed the beautiful 21C water temperature, while huge crowds of surfers competed for waves as children played by the shore with body boards.

Sunbathers lounged on the sand for the first time in almost two months despite dark grey clouds looming over the water.

The path above the beach was crowded with people in gymgear while others sat on benches enjoying their time out of the house.

Australians across the nation have been enjoying some new found freedoms over the weekend after weeks of isolation and rigid social distancing.

Those that didn't want to swim took to the grass and the walkways, finally taking advantage of the vast seating available and perching on the hill, overlooking the ocean

Heaps of surfers took to the water on Sunday with many excited about the relaxed restrictions at the popular beach

People on the sand maintained the 1.5metre social distancing rules and were not allowed to gather in groups of more than ten

On the other side of the city in the CBD hundreds of people flocked to shopping centres to spend their Sunday out of the house.

Crowds were seen in Sydney's Pitt Street Mall with shopping bags in hand as they took advantage of the relaxed rules.

Businesses opened their doors for the first time on Friday after being closed for dining service for nearly eight weeks.

Mr Hazzard said NSW residents deserve the eased restrictions as it is a reward for 'many weeks locked inside'.

However, he was 'bitterly disappointed' that several cases of the virus were found to have been spread after people left their homes while having symptoms.

Contact tracing teams found several cases of the virus had spread because people went out into the community thinking they only had a cold.

The beach was enjoyed by all ages on the sunny Autumn day as the relaxed rules now allow people outdoors for fun and play, not just exercise

Many took advantage of the luxury of being able to gather outside in groups of ten, having picnics and catching up with friends and family while on the grass

Swimmers took to the water in groups enjoying the sun with some swimming while children used body boards and enjoyed the taste of freedom despite the chilly 18C temperature

On the other side of the city in the CBD hundreds of people flocked to shopping centres to spend their Sunday out of the house

'One particular person, who had a runny nose went with that person's partner to dinner at a friend's place, and it turned out that the person with the runny nose did have COVID. The partner has COVID,' Mr Hazzard said.

'It's been said 1,000 times, probably more than 1,000 times, if you have any symptoms of a cough or a cold, cough, runny nose, temperature - don't go to work, but don't go out, and certainly don't go and put your friends at risk, and definitely don't put anybody over the age of 70 at risk.'

'Stay home. Stay home until you're better. Go and get tested.'

Exercise groups and churches were also allowed to operate again under the first stage of the government three-step plan to kick-start the economy and return daily life back to normal.

Cafes, restaurants and bars have only been allowed to offer takeaway service under the restrictions which were introduced on March 23 to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Now that the curve of infection rates has flattened in Australia, the federal government gave the green light for states to begin easing restrictions within their own timeline.

Sunbathers lounged on the sand for the first time in almost two months despite dark grey clouds looming over the water

Those that didn't want to swim took to the grass and the walkways, finally taking advantage of the vast seating available and perching on the hill, overlooking the ocean

Bondi Beach is enjoyed by all ages during an sunny Autumn day with Covid19 rules relaxed to allow for play and fun

Bondi Beach, in the city's eastern suburbs, was packed with people who were making the most of their first weekend of freedom on Sunday despite the chilly weather

Shoppers seen at Pitt Street Mall in Sydney on Sunday among hundreds of other people who took to the popular shopping area

But Gladys Berejiklian warned that the tough restrictions could return if a spike in the coronavirus infection rate is seen again.

NSW recorded only one new case of the virus on Sunday and Ms Berejiklian said it will be likely that there will be a number of new infections.

'But at least we have a path forward and now every state can move with confidence,' she told Sky News on Sunday in reference to the three-stage plan to free-up the economy agreed by the national cabinet.

'Given we have the overall framework, we can all move at our own pace in how we open up our economies.'

Australia has now tested over one million people for COVID-19.

The number of cases in Australia is now around 7050, but the death toll from the pandemic remains at 98.

NSW was the first state to allow indoor dining with a limit of 10 customers permitted inside the venue at any one time.

Large groups braved the cold to line up to get a seat at a cafe in Bondi early on Friday morning with dozens of punters rugged up in their winter warmers as they waited to be seated inside the trendy cafe.

Gladys Berejiklian warned that the tough restrictions could return if a spike in the coronavirus infection rate is seen again. Pictured: Hundreds of shoppers in Pitt Street Mall
Tactical Change Or Withdrawal? Iran's Syria Strategy Analyzed Amid Reports Of Force Reductions

Golnaz Esfandiari May 16, 2020

Some nine years after Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) deployed military advisers and fighters to Syria to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, Israeli and U.S. officials have said Tehran is reducing its presence in Syria.

Analysts told RFE/RL that amid the reports of a movement of forces, there are no indications Iran is changing its regional strategy, which is driven by political, ideological, and security interests.

Israeli military officials said recently that Tehran has pulled some of its forces from Syria and evacuated military bases near the border with Israel due to an increase in Israeli air strikes on Iranian targets.

Israel does not discuss its military operations but officials have vowed to maintain pressure on Iran with Defense Minister Naftali Bennett saying on May 5 that "Iran has nothing to do in Syria[and] we won't stop before they leave Syria."

Speaking earlier this week at a virtual event, U.S. special envoy for Syria James Jeffrey said Tehran has been scaling back its presence in Syria, which he linked to tough U.S. sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.

Lack Of Cash

The coronavirus pandemic has also hit the Islamic republic hard -- officially infecting more than 116,000 people and killed nearly 7,000 -- and record-low oil prices have added to Iran's economic challenges.

On the military front, the January 3 assassination by the U.S. military of top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani -- who led the regional activities of the powerful IRGC -- has dealt a heavy blow to the Islamic republic.

"We do see some withdrawal of Iranian-commanded forces. Some of that is tactical because they are not fighting right now, but it also is a lack of money," said Jeffrey at a May 12 panel hosted by the Washington-based Hudson Institute.

But analysts say there are no signs Iran is quitting Syria, the only Arab country that sided with the Islamic republic during the 1980-1988 war with Iraq.

Tehran has been key in providing Syria with financial and military assistance in the country's nine-year-long civil war while using Syrian territory to push forward its regional goals.

Raz Zimmt, an Iran analyst at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv, told RFE/RL that comments by Israeli officials about an Iranian withdrawal from Syria "are very much exaggerated, partly due to political considerations."

"In fact, the number of cargo flights between Iran and Syria seem to [have] increased since April 2020," he said. "It is, therefore, a tactical withdrawal or redeployment at most, rather than an Iranian withdrawal from Syria."

Zimmt said that since the beginning of its involvement in Syria, the IRGC has adapted its modus operandi to the circumstances at hand.

"For example, we have seen in the past that when Israel increased its air operations against Iranian targets in Syria, Iran shifted some of its activity to the northern parts of Syria and the Syria-Iraq border to protect its targets from Israeli attacks. There is no doubt that in the last two years Iran has been reducing the IRGC presence in Syria, which is much less required than before," he added.

Local Hires

Zimmt said that while the number of IRGC forces has decreased from a few thousand to a few hundred, Tehran has continued to recruit Syrians and Shi'a fighters to hold the Iranian forces' places.

"Iran has always favored using local proxies over direct military involvement," he said. "It is less risky for Iranian fighters and cheaper."

He said U.S. sanctions have to some extent restricted Tehran's ability to assist its allies in the region. But that does not mean a change of course.

"Our experience with Iran has shown that economic considerations have never been the main engine in its regional policy," he said. "Iran has continued to assist its allies and intervene in the region even under severe economic constraints, because it considers its regional involvement and influence a vital national interest."

Ali Alfoneh, a senior fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington who has closely monitored IRGC activity in Syria, said he is not aware of credible reports about an Iranian military withdrawal from Syria.

"What I see is troop movements within Syria: from Deir al-Zor to a larger headquarters in Palmyra, along with some other tactical moves in the wake of the latest round of Israeli air strikes," he said.

Speaking earlier this week, former Israeli military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin questioned reports about a full Iranian pullout from Syria.

"The Iranians are not leaving -- I am not buying this argument," Yadlin was quoted by The Jerusalem Post as saying, adding that Tehran could be relying increasingly on Shi'ite militia in Syria.

Haaretz strategic blogger Shemuel Meir, a former analyst with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and a Tel Aviv University researcher, says IDF briefings about Iran have reported "a decrease in organized Iranian military forces and the evacuation of military forces from Syria," which is separate from the Shi'ite fighters the IRGC has recruited.

He said Iran could be adapting its policies to a changing reality on the ground.

"It is still too early to definitely determine, but it is possible that this is an indication of what the future will bring: the possibility of a dramatic reduction in the Iranian presence in Syria but without relinquishing Lebanon, which is the core of Iran's interests," Meir said.

Speaking on May 8, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker suggested that Israeli attacks on Iranian assets are making Iran's presence in Syria "increasingly costly."

"Iran has been persistent in its efforts to establish this beachhead basically on Israel's border and to bring in advanced weaponry and assets targeting Israel and moving equipment, of course, through Syria to Hizballah [in Lebanon] with this sort of land bridge," he said.

"And we see repeatedly, often times with no claims of responsibility, that these assets are being hit with great regularity, just pounded, and it would make sense at a certain point that Iran would want to cut its losses and downsize its presence there just because it's increasingly costly to them in terms of life and property," he added.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/tactical- change-or-withdrawal-iran-s-syria- strategy-analyzed-amid-reports-of-force -reductions/30615460.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Longtime Grand Rapids Police and Fire chaplain Dennis Morrow died late Saturday at the age of 72.

Grand Rapids Police Sgt. John Wittkowski confirmed his death with MLive early Sunday afternoon.

Wittkowski said Morrow had been sick for some time and was dealing with a myriad of health issues.

RELATED: Father Dennis Morrow celebrates 40 years as priest, historian, police and fire chaplain

The Grand Rapids Police Department posted a video tribute in Morrows honor shortly after noon.

The GRPD is saddened to announce the passing of one of its own. Father Dennis Morrow returned to the Lord this morning after recently celebrating his 72nd birthday. The Chaplin for the department since 1976, Father Morrow was a member of our family and will be sorely missed. We pay tribute to his time with us here, and hope to celebrate his life together soon. Car 910, you are cleared to 10-42 for the last time. God Speed and you will never be forgotten. Posted by Grand Rapids Police Department on Sunday, May 17, 2020

Morrow was a Pastor at SS. Peter and Paul Parish on Myrtle Street NW at the time of his death, according to the parish website.

We are deeply saddened to share the news that Father Dennis passed away on Saturday, May 16 at 11:30 p.m," a Facebook post from the church states. Father Den was surrounded by people who loved him as he passed very peacefully.

Service details are yet to be finalized, the church stated.

The GRPD is saddened to announce the passing of one of its own, a Facebook post by that accompanies the GRPD tribute video reads. "Father Dennis Morrow returned to the Lord this morning after recently celebrating his 72nd birthday. The chaplain for the department since 1976, Father Morrow was a member of our family and will be sorely missed.

We pay tribute to his time with us here, and hope to celebrate his life together soon. Car 910, you are cleared to 10-42 for the last time. God Speed and you will never be forgotten.

Morrow, in addition to being a priest, was a noteworthy historian, according to a 2015 story by Grand Rapids Press/MLive reporter John Tunison.

The Father Morrow Collection can be viewed on the Grand Rapids Historical Commissions website.

Morrow, Tunison wrote, compiled and organized historical collections about local theaters, railroads, the stories behind local street names, and structures that have been demolished over the years. He also helped gather information about every firefighter ever to serve in Grand Rapids for a book published more than a decade ago.

Morrow served on the Grand Rapids Historical Commission from 1981-87, and received the Grand Rapids Historical Societys Albert Baxter Award in 2000 for his contributions in preserving and interpreting local history.

Morrow also served as the Grand Rapids Catholic Diocese archivist.

Also on MLive:

Father Dennis Morrow celebrates 40 years as priest, historian, police and fire chaplain

Sunday, May 17: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Father of previously missing 5-day-old baby, arrested after fleeing scene of alleged domestic assault

8-year-old boy rescued from fast-moving river after kayak capsizes
OP SAMUDRA SETU PHASE 2 - INS JALASHWA DEPARTS MALE WITH INDIAN NATIONALS EMBARKED

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 16 MAY 2020 11:25AM by PIB Delhi

Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa completed embarkation of 588 Indian citizens on 15 May 20, at the port of Male, Maldives as part of Operation Samudra Setu - the Indian Navy's contribution to India's national effort to bring home our citizens from foreign shores by sea. Her manifest of 588 includes six expectant mothers and 21 children.

Braving rain and winds gusting to 30-40 knots at Male, the ship staff ensured completion of all formalities for the manifested passengers while observing safety and medical protocols at all times. The inclement weather hampered the planned embarkation process requiring various pre-embarkation activities to be done onboard the ship itself.

The ship cast off today morning from Male for Kochi.

***************

VM/ MS

(Release ID: 1624293)

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WASHINGTON, May 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday said it had come to his attention that the Chinese government had threatened to interfere with the work of U.S. journalists in Hong Kong, and said any decision impinging on Hong Kong's autonomy could affect the U.S. assessment of Hong Kong's status.

"These journalists are members of a free press, not propaganda cadres, and their valuable reporting informs Chinese citizens and the world," Pompeo said in a statement. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
The Bombay high court (HC) on Friday rapped the University of Mumbai (MU) for not releasing the salary of Satish Ratnaparkhi  the director of the varsitys Alkesh Dinesh Mody Institute for Financial and Management Studies  despite the court order towards the disbursal.

Justice SJ Kathawalla said he was aghast by the contemptuous conduct of MU and the fact that despite specific direction given by HC last year in December to allow Ratnaparkhi to continue as a director of the institute and pay his salary, the university has fragrantly disregarded the direction and not paid him a single rupee till date.

It is an acknowledged and a well-recognised fact that the University of Mumbai is one of the oldest and premier universities of India, imparting education to millions of students over the years. It is incomprehensible to this court as to how an institute of such stature, which seeks to imbibe in its students, inter alia values of honesty, discipline and good governance, can justify breaching the order of this court, justice Kathawalla said.

The dispute began last year on February 21, when MU registrar informed Ratnaparkhi that he had retired on the date, as he had completed 60 years of age. Ratnaparkhi then moved the college tribunal, challenging the order of retiring him before the due date. He said he was entitled to continue till 65 years of age, subject to a review on attaining 62 years of age. On September 20, the tribunal struck down the registrars order.

MU then moved HC to appeal against the tribunals order and sought a stay on it. However, HC not only refused to stay the tribunal order, but also directed MU to allow Ratnaparkhi to continue as director of the institute and continue to pay his salary.

Ratnaparkhi then filed a plea in the pending MU appeal, complaining that he was not paid his salary since long and his financial condition had started deteriorating day-by-day, as he had exhausted all his savings and it had become difficult for him to sustain any further.

MU replied to his plea stating his salary was stopped, as the university wanted to challenge the HC order of December 2019, but could not do so owing to the Covid-19 lockdown.

The excuse annoyed justice Kathawalla, who directed the university to deposit all the arrears of salary in Ratnaparkhis bank account by Tuesday and continue to pay him future salary by fifth of every month.
USC's Jet Propulsion Lab Announces Patent For Methanol Fuel Cell (1997)

Cool, Safe, Compact, Light, Efficient, Non-Polluting New JPL-USC Methanol Fuel Cell Shows Promise For Zero-Emission Vehicles

PASADENA, CA - February 25, 1997: A revolutionary design for a cool-process, zero-emission methanol fuel cell just patented by Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Southern California is already under fast-track development for a wide range of uses.

In one major project, developers believe they can create a unit about the size of a thick paperback book that can run continuously for weeks at a time, producing 50 watts of power, consuming about a pint of methanol fuel per day, and emitting only water and carbon dioxide.

The technology, whose development was funded by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and private sources, is easily scaleable into larger units capable of powering portable non-polluting electronic equipment or, eventually, zero-emission motor scooters or cars. The U.S. military is interested in the technology for its potential of providing portable power to soldiers in the field.

A private sector corporation, DTI Energy, Inc., headquartered in Los Angeles, has licensed the technology and intends to develop and sublicense various prototypes and applications. It has initially designed units of up to 5 kilowatt output, powerful enough to run a light-duty vehicle.

"This fuel cell may well become the power source of choice for energy- efficient, non-polluting electric vehicles," said JPL fuel cell team manager Gerald Halpert.

"This invention also has vast potential to improve the environment by providing clean energy in portable form, " noted Nobel prize-winning chemist George Olah of USC, one of the co-inventors.

Like all fuel cells, the JPL/USC device, called a "Direct Methanol, Liquid Feed Fuel Cell," converts the chemical energy of its fuel directly into electrical current without burning the fuel. It has many remarkable advantages:

 It uses the common and widely used substance, methanol (a liquid also known as methyl alcohol) as the base fuel mixed with water. Methanol is inexpensive (currently, approximately 40 cents per gallon), easily manufactured from coal or natural gas, and safe to store -- existing gas stations could easily sell it.  It runs relatively cool -- below the boiling point of water -- and is compact. Existing fuel cells typically operate at high temperatures, some at temperatures hot enough to melt many metals, thus requiring bulky thermal insulation and structural reinforcement to mitigate safety hazards.  It creates no toxic byproducts whatsoever. The methanol fuel is completely converted to carbon dioxide (CO2) and water.  It is simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, consisting of little more than a membrane coated with platinum or other noble metals. The cell itself has no moving parts. Its precious metals are used in small amounts and can be completely recovered and recycled at the end of the device's life.  It is efficient. In its existing configuration, it converts more than 34 percent of the theoretical energy content of the fuel into usable power. This is twice the efficiency of existing gasoline engines. Developers believe that improvements now on the drawing board will push the efficiency to more than 45 percent of theoretical energy content.

A U.S. patent for an "aqueous liquid-feed organic fuel cell using solid polymer electrolytic membrane" was issued early this month with Caltech, JPL's parent organization, and USC as joint patent holders.

"In addition to not polluting the environment," noted JPL's Dr. Subbarao Surampudi, who supervises JPL's Electrochemical Technologies Group, "we believe that cells of this design can replace batteries in many applications and provide reliable emergency power in disasters." Battery manufacturing involves toxic materials, so the disposal of used batteries has become a major problem, scientists note.

Prototype cells have been assembled and tested at JPL. According to Dr. Halpert, these models have run for more than 200 hours continuously at JPL and for more than 3000 hours intermittently -- equivalent to approximately 150,000 miles -- at partner Giner Inc.'s labs without loss of performance. Current design goals envision units that can operate continuously for 1000 or more hours, and, eventually, units that can produce the 40 kilowatts or more required to power a full-sized car. "The system's simplicity as a clean- energy alternative to the use of fossil fuel-powered combustion engines will generate widespread appeal in the automotive industry," predicts Halpert.

The fuel cell's design is quite simple. A membrane divides the cell in half, with methanol fuel in water on one side and gas, either oxygen or air, on the other. The membrane is coated on both sides with a special, electrochemically active catalytic coating developed by JPL. The liquid side is the anode. Methanol -- a molecule consisting a single carbon atom linked to three hydrogen atoms and one oxygen-hydrogen (hydroxyl) group -- spontaneously reacts at the catalytic surface. In this reaction, the carbon- hydrogen bonds are broken. The hydrogen atoms lose their electrons and become protons, also known as hydrogen ions, and migrate across the membrane to the gas side, the cathode. There, on the cathode's catalytic surface, they combine with oxygen from the air to produce water. The electrons given up on the anode side generate the current.

The carbon left on the liquid side is completely converted into non-toxic carbon dioxide. The cell is fuel-versatile, operating on methanol-derived fuels.

"A major problem with the existing device, however, is that the membrane used allows not just protons to cross to the cathode side, but also methanol, thus degrading performance and shortening the life of the cell," according to Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, who spearheaded the catalyst development work.

The Loker Institute's Drs. Prakash, Olah, Qungie Wang and Marshall Smart, along with JPL's Drs. Narayanan, Surumpudi and Halpert, have pioneered the development of improved proton membranes that will permit the construction of a new generation of cells achieving greater efficiency by blocking methanol migration. USC and JPL have applied for patents on these new membranes. The research team also hopes to drastically cut the cost of the proton exchange membrane, which is currently very expensive, the major economic roadblock to widespread applications.

Prakash, a professor in the department of chemistry in the University of Southern California's College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and at the Donald P. and Katherine T. Loker Hydrocarbon Institute, has collaborated with Dr. Olah, the Institute's director, for decades. Olah was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1994 for his work with superacids, similar to substances used in the creation of the methanol fuel cell membrane.

Olah has long maintained that chemistry can provide solutions to environmental problems while maintaining economic growth without destructive effects. "Both George and I think that this fuel cell is a prime example of this belief," said Prakash.

It was Prakash who in 1989 approached Surampudi of JPL seeking expertise in electrochemistry to design the cell and electrocatalysts to make the system work. Anthony Laconti, John Kosek and Cecilia Cropley of Giner Corp. were also involved in the development of the cell. "We think this new technology will bring the fuel cell down to earth for good," Prakash added.

JPL/USC, together with Giner Corp., is working on a contract from the Department of Defense to develop a 50-watt methanol fuel cell to replace lithium batteries used in various Department of Defense applications; a 150- Watt development program will begin in April, 1997. Other government entities involved include the Army Research Office and the Army Research and development command.

Harvey Frank, one of the co-inventors, has been working on fuel cells since 1960. Starting in 1989, the methanol fuel cell work was conducted by chemists Olah and Surya Prakash of USC and developed in cooperation with JPL researchers Halpert, Surampudi, Narayanan and Eugene Vamos, as well as the support of JPL team members Thomas Valdez, Andrew Kindler, Elizabeth Yen, William Chun, Barbara Nakamura and Albany Lee.

Licensee DTI Energy Inc. intends to develop a hybrid system for vehicular applications, according to President Todd Marsh. The fuel cells will be used to recharge continuously both conventional batteries and more advanced batteries, extending the range of the vehicles they power. "As we develop expertise in this area," he explained, "we will concurrently be developing a full range of applications, including stand-alone power, power generators, uninterrupted power supplies, and consumer electronic battery replacement, among others."

JPL's Technology Affiliates Program, which made the technology available for license to DTI Energy Inc., is designed to help U.S. companies improve their competitive positions in the global economy by transferring JPL technology into the marketplace. U.S. industry may tap the commercial potential of JPL's technology development activities via mechanisms ranging from reports, seminars, patent and software licenses to direct interaction with laboratory technologists. The nine-year-old JPL program now includes nearly 120 companies and has facilitated more than 200 technology transfer projects to benefit companies and the public. SOURCE Jet Propulsion Laboratory

CONTACT: John G. Watson of Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 818-354-5011, or http://www.jpl.nasa.gov; or Eric Mankin of the University of Southern California, 213-740-9344/ CO: Jet Propulsion Laboratory; University of Southern California ST: California
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-18 01:47:56|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Nigel Adams, Britain's minister of state at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development, said it is important for Britain and China to cooperate closely in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic.

Adams made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming on Friday. The two exchanged views on China-Britain relationship and joint response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the talks, Adams gave an update of the latest situation regarding COVID-19 in Britain. He also thanked China for facilitating Britain's procurement of medical supplies in China, which played a significant role in Britain's fight against the pandemic.

For his part, Liu said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had two telephone conversations in February and March, in which they reached important agreement on promoting China-Britain relationship and enhancing bilateral cooperation on fighting COVID-19 pandemic.

Liu mentioned the webinar that took place earlier Friday between senior public health experts from both countries. Ma Xiaowei, minister in charge of China's National Health Commission, and Matt Hancock, Britain's secretary of state for health and social care addressed the event, emphasizing that China and Britain should actively implement the consensus between the two leaders, deepen bilateral and international anti-epidemic cooperation and work closely to safeguard global public health.

During the webinar, health officials and experts of the two countries had in-depth discussions on a range of topics including epidemic prevention and control, trend prediction and lockdown easing strategy, among others.

A closer and stronger cooperation between China and Britain, which is mutually complementary and beneficial, is not only the consensus between the leaders of the two countries but also a common aspiration of all sectors from both sides, Liu said.

Liu expressed the hope that China and Britain can work together to continuously increase mutual trust, resist disruptions and deepen cooperation so as to bring more benefits to the peoples of the two countries.

Attaching high importance to the Britain-China relations, Britain is committed to developing a constructive and friendly relationship with China and is ready to work together with China to implement the key consensus reached between the two leaders and further expand cooperation with China in various sectors, Adams said.

The conversation was joined by Menna Rawlings, director-general economic and global issues at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Enditem
Extraction brings big action to the small screen

He plays one of the most recognisable action heroes on our big screen, now Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has turned to the small screen to deliver the film that may just launch another franchise. While the Netflix released Extraction may not be one the films that finds itself in the running for the one newly revamped Oscars it is one of the better action films to have surfaced over the past few years.

World-Entertainment

By David Griffiths

Sunday 17 May 2020, 11:00AM

Chris Hemsworth delivers in the Netflix-launched Extraction, directed by Sam Hargrave. Photo: IMDB

Hemsworth plays Tyler Rake, a psychologically and emotionally damaged Australian soldier who now heads up a covert mercenary team that also consists of Nik Khan (Golshifteh Farahani  Paterson), who seems to virtually run the team while Rake recovers from the last journey they have been on.

Rake finds himself thrown into the world of underworld crime though when he and his team are hired to rescue a young boy named Ovi (Rudhraksh Jaiswal  The Tenant) who is the son of a jailed Indian gangster. However, when Rake and his team begin the rescue they realise that everything isnt as it seemed and they are now the hunted  trapped in a situation where every move means they are closer to death. However Rake decides that he will see Ovi get to safety no matter the cost or risk.

If you are looking for a film with a strong storyline then you should really look elsewhere. The plot itself is pretty basic  in fact you can pretty much sum it up as Chris Hemsworth vs The Bad Guys  but having said that, this is a film where the thrill of watching it comes from the amazing action sequences delivered to screen by rookie feature film director Sam Hargrave.

Hargraves stunts are not simply good stunts. They are pure cinematic masterpieces. Think of the stunts that you have seen in films like Mission Impossible and John Wick 3 and that is pretty much what you get from Extraction. Hargrave has worked on the stunt team for a tonne of Marvel films and here it feels like the reigns are thrown off and he gets the opportunity to experiment to his hearts content. The result is a film that has its audience on the edge of their seat as it just bounces from action sequence to action sequence  the pinnacle being an 11-minute long sequence that just leaves you totally breathless. This is possibly the film that shows that Hargrave could well be one of the most exciting directors to hit the action genre in the past decade.

Unlike many action films that put stunts over plot Extraction does put a heavy emphasis on creating strong characterisation for its hero  Tyler Rake. Yes there are times in this movie where it seems the motivation behind Rake is to cause carnage and a body count wherever he goes, but there are moments in this film when you realise that the filmmakers are determined to explore his character a little more in depth. They might be few and far between but the film does explore the emotional scars that Rake covers  even down to the post traumatic stress that seems to have torn is life apart.

Extraction is the perfect cinematic vehicle for Chris Hemsworth. With his Thor character becoming more and more the comedic relief of the Marvel franchise it has become very easy to forget that under all that muscle (and the occasional fat suit) is a good actor. He is more than capable of mixing up action with acting ability. His performance in 2018s 12 Strong saw him have to match the acting ability of Michael Shannon, something he did with complete ease. Here Hemsworth again gets the chance to show his acting ability as he goes into the inner darkness of Tyler Rake  a darkness brought about by family tragedy.

Extraction could well be one of the biggest sleeper hits of 2020. It certainly was not expected that a Netflix action film being released while the world was in lockdown would be one of the most exciting films of the year but that is exactly what has happened. With amazing action sequences that keep your eyes glued to the screen the only disappointing thing about Extraction is that we havent had the chance to see it on the big screen. If you love action films then you certainly dont want to miss this one.

4/5 Stars

David Griffiths has been working as a film and music reviewer for over 20 years. That time has seen him work in radio, television and in print. You can follow him at www.facebook.com/subcultureentertainmentaus
Published on 2020/05/17 | Source

Coronavirus infections traced to clubbers in Seoul's party district of Itaewon are being spreading across the country.

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One 25-year-old crammer instructor in Incheon who had been to a club in Itaewon is thought to have infected at least 10 other people, including seven teenage students, one parent and one co-worker. He apparently had no or very mild symptoms himself. Two of the students then attended services in churches in Incheon with over 1,000 believers, causing concern of a fresh spike in infections.

The instructor did not inform authorities of his occupation, making it difficult for health officials to respond swiftly.

An official at the Incheon city government said, "The man lied that he was unemployed. We will file charges against him for violating the law on preventing the spread of infectious diseases". The offense carries a maximum prison sentence of two years or a W20 million fine (US$1=W225).

Infections traced to Itaewon clubgoers have also been found in Busan, South Gyeongsang Province and North and South Chuncheong provinces, raising the total number of related cases to 126.

Jung Eun-kyeong, the chief of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, "Coronavirus is an extremely vicious virus. If one person is infected, they could end up causing even more damage to those close to them and the entire community through secondary and tertiary infections".

The government has sped up screening for potential carriers. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said the government will trace mobile phone records, CCTV footage and credit card data to track down all Itaewon visitors and have them tested within this week.

But the search is proving difficult because many wrote false information in the visitors' logs of nightclubs and bars. One nightclub called Made, which is among nine in Itaewon where infections have been detected, submitted a visitors' log of 1,410 names. But 22 percent of them cannot be reached, because they left false contact numbers.

"Around 36 percent of Itaewon clubgoers are displaying no symptoms, so it is extremely difficult to quarantine them", Jung said.
Theres Tobey Maguires classic take on Peter Parker. Then there was Andrew Garfields turn as the web-slinger, and finally Tom Hollands ongoing run as Tony Starks protege. In short, many actors have taken on the beloved Spider-Man.

Andrew Garfield attends the screening of Under The Silver Lake | Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

Though weve seen a few different incarnations of the character, not every Spidey actor boasts the most positive experience. For one, Andrew Garfield came to The Amazing Spider-Man franchise all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but he left heartbroken. During an interview with Amy Adams for Varietys Actors on Actors, Garfield explained why, as a fan of the character, he felt betrayed as the series progressed.

RELATED: Why Spider-Man Tom Holland Says Writing a Script Was More Nerve-Wracking Than Joining the MCU

Andrew Garfield on Marvels The Amazing Spider-Man franchise

While working on Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield was still a bit new to the showbiz world, and likely a bit naive. In short, the value placed on money, often over character and narrative, was likely not a challenge he had come to personally confront. Yet, Spider-Man would change that. He learned while working on The Amazing Spider-Man that the top of the priority list is not always what you want it to be  the art itself. He explained to Amy Adams:

I found that really, really tricky. I signed up to serve the story, and to serve this incredible character that Ive been dressing as since I was three, and then it gets compromised and it breaks your heart, he said. I got heartbroken a little bit to a certain degree. Variety



RELATED: Tom Holland On Why His Spider-Man Is More Interesting Than Tobey Maguires Portrayal

Andrew Garfield grew up adoring Spider-Man; he grew up dressing up as the character and pretending to shoot webs from his wrists.

Andrew Garfield had to accept one of Hollywoods most disappointing qualities while working on The Amazing Spider-Man franchise

Not only did Garfield learn one of the hardest lessons Hollywood often teaches an artist, but he also had to learn it through a character to close to his heart  a character he loved and admired since childhood.

Spidey was a hero he yearned to emulate. And then, when all was peach keen, and he was in the suit for real, those behind the production sacrificed the art in favor of money-making sequels and potential side-hustles tied to the franchise, as ScreenRant argues.

In the end, Hollywood is a business, and such a fact sometimes leads the material to get compromised, as Garfield says. Maybe, if Garfield had more say in the whole thing, his run as Peter Parker would have been a bit more appreciated, as many often argue that Tobey Maguire and Tom Hollands films compete for top dog.

Adams went on to note that she deals with a similar struggle when playing Lois Lane in the Henry Cavill-led Superman movies. Unfortunately, Lois often serves the movie  the greater narrative  and never comes to boast a story serving the character. Instead, she is merely a character serving the story. Despite all the love Adams holds for Lois Lane, the fact is hard to accept. Though their problems are different, they overlap, as both see aspects of their art  aspects they yearn to see in ten-fold  amiss.
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During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, hospital edicts issued to protect patients would expose institutional frailties. The drastic implementation of nationwide telehealth measures would detrimentally affect patients who lacked access to health care and were unaccustomed to using digital technology. Many of these digitally unprepared patients were single, older, low-income, black patients who relied on landlines and flip phones to independently access the health care system.

My 82-year-old grandmother was alone when the hospital staff instituted the COVID-19 checklist. Do you have a cough? Fatigue? Weakness? Shortness of breath? She answered, yes. In an instant, the biopsy for an invasive lung mass was canceled, and an immunocompromised, coughing patient was whisked away to the COVID clinic.

She protested, Im here for a biopsy  for something in my chest. I know I cant breathe, but its not corona. Six months prior and 60 pounds heavier, she had been fiercely independent, employed, and adventurous. Now, a shell of her former self, her 90-pound body was deemed invisible and voiceless in an overburdened medical system. After sitting in the COVID clinic for hours and testing negative, she was escorted outside and left alone in a wheelchair unattended. Another hour would pass before a concerned security guard asked if she needed anything.

Call my granddaughter. I dont have a phone.

My grandmother was a part of the digital gap. A widow that was now social security-dependent, she canceled her cell phone service because it was an unnecessary expense she could no longer afford. She is amongst the blacks, Hispanics, and lower-income cell phone users who are twice as likely as whites to disconnect service because of the cost. She is also among the 41 to 47 percent of elderly Americans, most likely to need chronic disease management, that lack smartphone or home internet access.

Restrictive visitor policies, unconscious biases, and dismissive thoughts had defeated the best practices of trained medical professionals. As a physician, I was able to intervene and get my grandmother the attention she desperately needed. She was readmitted and subsequently hospitalized. However, when she was released several days later, no one was notified again.

While I wanted to believe that COVID-19 was responsible for the alarming errors in her management, a part of me questioned: Was it because she old, black, and alone?

In her possessions was her discharge summary comprising several pages of medications, treatment plans, and her follow-up virtual visits. Before she was discharged, no one assessed if she had a smartphone or broadband internet access at home. No one asked if she had an email account or ever sent an email. No one asked if she video chats. No one even asked if her landline was still in service.

My grandmother had no idea of what virtual visit meant. She is part of that vulnerable American classelderly, low health literate, and low-incomethat has been thwarted into a tech-savvy matrix amidst a national health pandemic. Yet she was scheduled for three virtual visits. And I was scared. If the patient-provider relationship buckled in the conventional hospital setting, what would happen to the care of the vulnerable in the digital interface?

As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services changed its telemedicine reimbursement policies to accommodate the medical necessity for social distancing, and hospitals scrambled to transition patients to telehealth services, no one was addressing the obvious disconnect.

COVID-19 illuminated the impact of allostatic stressors, disparities in health care access, and race-based discrimination on the increased likelihood of mortality in minority communities nationwide. Yet, millions of minorities, low-income, elderly, and rural patients were now being segued into telemedicine applications that were intrinsically biased and exclusionary. As a partner in a telehealth investment startup, I work with a team that focuses on providing female health and allied health practitioners in developing economies with methods to connect with indigenous and rural communities remotely. We routinely assess the challenges in utilizing technology to connect with these vulnerable populations in low health index countries and offer viable solutions tailored to the unique ethnic, community, or tribal needs. Yet, this wasnt being done in one of the wealthiest nations where payers and providers were eagerly pushing patients into telehealth management.

Smartphones and computers in households are not ever-present. One study reported 42 percent of black library users rely on libraries for computer and internet access compared to only 25 percent of whites. Hence, as access points for internet service remain closed, the impact of relegating the marginalized to telehealth serves can be lethal.

I rushed to order my grandmother a smartphone and tablet before her first scheduled appointment. But I was fooling myself. My grandmother struggled to proficiently use a flip phone. She could not check voicemails or store phone numbers. FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, and virtual are not in her index of familiarity. Simply put, she does not possess the requisite skills to navigate or troubleshoot the virtual health care system without assistance. Yet, she wasnt given another safe alternative.

Thus, I commute every two weeks for her virtual visits and attend to all application messages and results.

Although technology and disruptive innovation theoretically diminish systemic barriers and geographic isolation, in practice, they frequently widen chasms in access for vulnerable populations. The reality is telemedicine disproportionately caters to younger, wealthier, and more educated patients.

Hospital systems need to ensure every patient has access to remote health care services, whether through offering landline phone visits, examining pitfalls in digital skill requirements, providing devices and/or application tutorials, or simply assessing if patients are capable of sending or replying to an email. Telehealth applications need to be designed for equitable usage and accessibility instead of automatically expecting rural, poor, minority, and elderly people to just get with the digital program during a crisis.

Shantel Hebert-Magee is a pathologist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
You can now watch our TV Series 'The Autoblog Show' online.

The Autoblog Show returns for its second episode, featuring our sub-compact crossover comparison test in picturesque northern Michigan. We drive four of the most popular, the Kia Soul, Jeep Renegade, Honda HR-V, and Hyundai Kona, on the twisty roads and dusty trails outside Traverse City to decide which deserves the crown. Join editors Joel Stocksdale, Jeremy Korzeniewski, John Snyder and Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore as they spend a week behind the wheel to decide which hatchback deserves the crown.

Afterwards, West Coast Editor James Riswick travels to the snow-covered mountains of Utah to test the Toyota Camry. This isnt your mothers Camry, this sedan now features all-wheel drive.

Check out episode two of "The Autoblog Show" above. It originally aired on Verizon Fios TV, the Yahoo! Finance Channel on the Roku TV app and SamsungTV+.
New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the arrest Saturday of one of the worlds most wanted fugitives, his spokesperson said in a statement
A 22-year-old fisherman has been



arrested for allegedly killing a colleague over a Rs 150 dispute in Sewri in the metropolis, police said on Sunday.

Hussain Shaikh (22) killed Riyaz Shaikh (28) on Saturday after the latter refused to give him his share of Rs 150 from the fish business, an official said.

"The incident happened near Orange Gate in Mazgaon. Hussain was nabbed from a boat in Ferry Wharf. He confessed and has been charged with murder," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Funeral directors could see up to 85,000 extra deaths by the end of the summer if a second wave of Covid-19 hits after the easing of lockdown restrictions.

That stark prediction was the result of analysis commissioned by the National Association of Funeral Directors to predict what might happen in the coming months to the country's mortality rate.

The modelling - carried out by Europe Economics - also suggested that 33,000 people could still die in the best case scenario, where lockdown proved to be effective and those with Covid-19 infected less than one person each.

This graph, commissioned by the National Association of Funeral Directors, shows predicted deaths post-lockdown from June to September in the UK in the event of a second wave

This graph shows predicted deaths post-lockdown from June to September in England

Different parts of the UK could also see a second wave bring more deaths in one area than another.

The research suggests that in a successful easing of lockdown, Scotland, Wales and the North East and Yorkshire would bear the impact of more deaths than in other regions.

In the worst case scenario, the north-west and south-west would be adversely affected, while London, the East of England, Midlands and Northern Ireland would fare much better.

Researchers were able to come up with the predictions by analysing two different views of the Infection Fatality Rate, one promoted by Oxford University, the Swedish government and Stanford University and the other by Imperial College London and others.

They also looked at the reporduction rate in different parts of the UK during lockdown and weekly deaths data from the four nations of the UK.

To date, there have been just over 34,000 confirmed Covid-19 deaths in the UK.

Commenting on the findings, Andrew Lilico, who led the team at Europe Economics, said: 'Although a number of overall figures for expected final fatalities from COVID-19 are discussed in the press, that is of limited value to funeral directors who need to understand how many deaths there might be in their regions at particular dates, and about deaths from causes other than COVID-19.'

Jon Levett, chief executive of the NAFD, added: 'What is striking about the modelling is that, based upon the most cautious model of how many Britons have already become infected, different parts of the UK and different regions within England would see significant second peaks with even a successful lifting of the lockdown.

'If lockdown is lifted less successfully, the impact is even more striking, with the potential for those regions to see a second peak that is actually higher than the first.

The National Association of Funeral Directors commissioned the research to help the industry better prepare for the expected rise funerals in the event of a second Covid-19 wave

'Funeral directors in many parts of the UK need to prepare themselves for a significant potential second peak in the death rate, should the government's easing of lock down measures not go as well as they are hoping.

'It is a further indication of just how volatile the situation remains and the importance of working together to get this right as a nation, be that as individuals, as organisations or as governments.'

The NAFD said it had repeatedly asked the Government to release modelling data on deaths so it can better prepare for the expected rise in demand for funerals.
Business groups and economists have slammed unions jostling to secure a higher minimum wage during the coronavirus pandemic as tensions rise over the best way to help workers and revive the economy.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions has continued pushing for a $30-a-week increase to the minimum wage during the pandemic, saying it would help boost spending, while the Greens' economic recovery plan released on Monday doubled down on moves to increase the minimum wage to at least 60 per cent of the median wage.

Peter Strong, of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, has criticised unions for continuing to call for a minimum wage increase. Credit:Pat Scala

But with almost 600,000 workers losing their jobs in April, Council of Small Business Organisations Australia chief executive Peter Strong has warned this figure could climb higher if employers are forced to pay more.

Mr Strong said union-driven moves to raise the minimum wage were extraordinary given the country's current economic challenges.
Hyderabad: Hyderabadis sure do love their haleem. There is a bustling underground market for the dish in Hyderabad, in spite of the lockdown during which the sale and delivery of cooked food is prohibited.

Indeed, the meaty dish is quite easy to buy. There are multiple sellers who take orders on the phone. Some of them require the customers to pick up their haleem; many others will deliver it home for a little extra. A single portion of haleem from a reputable seller can cost around Rs 300, and a family pack over Rs 1,000.

A family from Banjara Hills, who has been selling haleem since May 15, said they have been receiving massive response from the people. They received over 30 orders the day they opened for business. Khalida (name changed), who runs the operation, said they deliver as far as Secunderabad.

When asked about the legality of her operation, she said, We are taking all the necessary precautions. At all stages of our operation cooking, packing and delivery we are maintaining cleanliness. We havent faced any trouble from anyone.

Khalidas family has an Instagram account through which they reach out to customers. However, this is an exception. Most haleem-making outfits are depending on word of mouth to find customers. You have to know a customer to even know of a sellers existence.

One woman from Tolichowki who has been selling the dish out of her home for many days said she did not entertain cash payments. On a call with this reporter, who was posing as a customer, she said, I take cash payments only from people I know personally. Others have to pay in advance via other modes. I have a limited quantity to sell everyday so you have to book in advance. She claimed even senior GHMC officials were her customers.

Almost all the sellers were in denial about the rules governing the sale of cooked food. For instance, a prominent five-star hotel in Somajiguda has been selling haleem at least since the first week of May. They have been advertising the same on their Twitter account. A representative of the hotel, on calling the number mentioned in the Twitter post, said the hotel was doing nothing illegal. We have the pass for essential services. We can deliver food. Dont worry about that, he said.

Police officials have refuted this claim. A. Ravi Kumar, station house office of the Moghalpura police, who had recently taken action against people selling food, including haleem, in his jurisdiction, said, It is illegal to sell cooked food. Action will be taken against offenders.

Mohammad Abdul Majeed, president of the Haleem Makers Association and owner of Pista House, admitted that this was a huge problem for the citys health. I have indeed been hearing a lot about these people who are selling haleem to the public. It is atrocious. Can we let our love for a dish jeopardise our health and safety, he asked.

Majeed said that many restaurants were selling food and it was impossible for them to guarantee the safety of the employees and customers. There are a lot of factors here. For instance, animals whose meat is used in making haleem are transported into the city at places like Jiyaguda, where we know there are many Covid-19 cases. From there the animals go to the slaughter houses and the meat then reaches the kitchens. A lot of people figure in this chain, and it is impossible to check all of them. It is simply too risky, he said.

Majeed said he had himself found a person selling haleem on a cart near his home in Attapur, at just Rs 50 a plate. God knows what is in that haleem if it costs just Rs 50, he said.
Though Rice University senior Eric Shi was sitting alone at his computer Saturday afternoon for his graduation, he had a whole community behind him  albeit, a virtual one.

The private Houston university streamed online graduation ceremonies in the form of prerecorded feature-length films for its undergraduates, doctoral students and those earning advanced degrees Saturday afternoon, as more than 2,000 people watched on their devices from around the world and cheered in the comments section. The undergraduate commencement received more than 12,000 views on Facebook and more than 5,600 on YouTube.

It was definitely a mix of a lot of emotions, said Shi, who studied sociology and policy studies at Rice.

Shi enjoyed the company of his friends in a large group chat during the ceremony. His parents, who live in China, planned to watch later.

Rices films captured memories, harking back to when students were on campus with clips of move-in and orientation week, of students conducting research and lectures in classroom, and the last few moments on campus. The video also included student speakers and profiles, encouraging messages from the university community and the reading of each graduating students name by their respective college leaders.

HIGHER ED DURING COVID-19: Texas colleges plan virtual celebrations in lieu of postponed spring commencements

It was quick, but it was also nice because after your name gets called, you get messages from friends or a picture of your slide, saying My family and I cheered for you, Shi said.

Uncertainty and resilience were resounding themes, with references to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the class of 2020s experience with Hurricane Harvey.

I believe because of your sacrifices and your determination to finish what you started and achieve your goals regardless of the hardships of this spring, you and Rice will come through this pandemic even stronger, more resilient, more knowledgeable, more grateful, more technically adept, more compassionate, more giving, and wiser than we were before, Rice President David Leebron said during the video. This was, we know, not the ending you envisioned, but we call todays event a commencement for a reason. And let us hope and indeed believe that it is the beginning of things even greater than what you imagined. So take these difficult circumstances to celebrate all the more the accomplishments we recognize today.

Like other colleges around the country, the Houston university closed its campus, resumed classes online and postponed its in-person spring commencement to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Many Texas colleges have offered students the option to walk across the stage later in the year, and some to attend a virtual celebration or commencement.

Obviously, (Im) still sad its not in person and that Im not hugging my friends, Shi said, but for what it was, it turned out really well.

Rice graduate Gabrielle Falcon celebrated commencement Saturday with a full-on watch party with her family in Fort Worth

So well done

It was actually so well done, Falcon said of the video, adding that she appreciated Leebrons comments that recognized the effects people might be experiencing during the pandemic, while also emphasizing his pride and the students achievements.

You can just tell from having the adults speak, there really is a big connection between anyone and it really is difficult to say goodbye without saying goodbye. ... Im really glad they had our magisters do speeches, Falcon said, adding that she cried once they announced that the students had officially graduated.

My family went all out, said Falcon, the second child in her family to earn a degree. Her family dressed up and decorated the house with balloons and streamers. Her grandmother also catered the event with hors doeuvres, and the family celebrated with cake.

To replicate some of Rice traditions, which typically include festivities during Senior Week, Falcon said the celebrations will continue into the night.

They tried to make it as normal as possible, but they treated it as a normal graduation with the whole shabang, Falcon said.

Ellie Mix, who studied English and art history, watched the ceremony with her housemates  also graduating seniors  and her mother, who drove in from San Antonio, at a hotel restaurant in Houston. The seniors, wearing their graduation stoles, celebrated with champagne.

While Mix said she thought Rice did a good job by complementing speeches with videos of students and campus, she found the constant mention of the coronavirus slightly off-putting.

We all know why were online. Every new speaker doesnt have to address it, Mix said, but she was encouraged by Leebrons mention that students accomplishments cannot be undermined and his advice for graduates to celebrate when and how they can.

Its a lot of emotions combined. At first, I was very disappointed that classes were canceled and we were all sent home, Mix said. Now, Im a lot more grateful for the time Ive had at Rice.

Though the virtual commencement wasnt able to fill all the voids, some students said they held their own versions that helped commemorate their last days at Rice.

When Rice announced in mid-March that campus would close and classes would resume online, seniors organized an impromptu quasi-graduation, where students  many sporting their caps and gowns  led processions through campus with flags, printed mock commencement programs and music from Rices Marching Owl Band. Some also made what might be their final official walk through the Sallyport  an archway that by tradition students pass through once during their matriculation and only again as seniors during their graduation. Leebron, other faculty members and some parents on campus witnessed the moment.

HIGHER ED DURING COVID-19: Rice to reopen campus in the fall with in-person, remote classes

Falcon and Shi both said they felt fortunate to participate in the last-minute ceremony.

It definitely helped minimize the sadness of not having commencement this weekend. We kind of had a symbolic graduation, walking through Sallyport and taking pictures with friends. But its definitely still sad, Shi said.

Mix said she and her roommates celebrated their graduation by hosting a day filled with their favorite things. They played card games, made a charcuterie board, watched the sun set on a bridge in the city and made slideshow presentations about their experiences at Rice that were filled with pictures and funny commentary. Mix said they also partook in a quasi-form of the Sallyport tradition using an archway in their home, and announced their names, leaving extra time in between each so as to give the feel of their names being called on graduation day.

Still, students are looking forward to celebrating at the ceremony to be held for students later this year.

Im glad theyre still doing an in-person commencement later on. Obviously we dont know whens that happening. Its a little up in the air, but I will try to come back regardless where I am, said Shi, whose job is postponed indefinitely.

Mix said shes also looking forward to an in-person commencement, which will likely feel like a much-needed reunion after this years events.

I hope we can collectively look back about it and laugh about it in a few years and not take away too much bitterness or sadness.  I understand why it has to be this way, Shi said. In the grand scheme of things, (having a graduation ceremony) is not the most important thing right now, but I appreciate theres still effort being to put in.

Others go online

Prairie View A&M University similarly hosted an hourlong virtual celebration, themed Stronger Together, with more than 25,000 guests on May 9, during which Prairie View officials conferred degrees to 873 students, according to a university release. The celebration featured messages from current students and alumni and kicked off with well-wishes from Texas A&M University Chancellor John Sharp, board of regents chair Elaine Mendoza and Prairie View A&M President Ruth J. Simmons.

Like every other sector, education has been disrupted and transformed, perhaps permanently, by this (COVID-19) contagion, Simmons told students. Such an occurrence could have delayed or even curtailed your progress toward degree completion. The fact that you are celebrating your graduation is a testament to your determination, flexibility and adaptability. These are qualities that you have honed over the past several weeks and, believe me, they will take you far in life as you face both obstacles and opportunities.

University of Texas at Austin plans to host its virtual celebration with Brene Brown, a UT alumna and renowned University of Houston researcher, as commencement speaker starting at 9 p.m. May 23.

Houston Community College will hold virtual, livestreamed commencement options for all ceremonies on May 22 and has invited graduates to attend a ceremony in the fall.

brittany.britto@chron.com
On Canal Street: Not much traffic and plenty of storefronts are for rent. (Images: Sharon Butler)

Contributed by Sharon Butler / Hows everyone doing out there? The streets of New York have calmed down in the past few weeks, with far fewer sirens, although the neighbors still hang out the windows to make a racket at 7pm, celebrating the quietly heroic medical personnel and other essential workers. Governor Cuomo announced that the lockdown will continue through June 13, or possibly longer, depending. Alternate side parking is in effect this week in order to run the street sweepers and tidy up a bit. Ive gathered articles from around the internet, including a few notable posts from the blogsphere, accompanied by some images I snapped on my ride to the studio. The building is so quiet, I feel as though Im the only one here. And for once theres plenty of parking in DUMBO.

At Bloomberg, Noah Smith suggests that the golden age of academia, when MFA programs have supported artists at all levels of their careers, may be over. [I]f universities were on shaky ground before coronavirus, they will be crushed by this pandemic and the resultant depression. The first blow will come from even deeper cuts in state funding. With tax revenues in free fall, states are already running huge budget deficits while their borrowing ability is limited. Spending will surely be cut. If the 2008 crisis is any indication, cuts to higher education spending will not be quickly restored even when recovery begins. Tuition also will be crushed. The pandemic itself is already depressing enrollment because students dont know when classes will be reopened. But even when that threat is gone, mass unemployment will reduce the ability of many American households to pay steep college prices. Read more.

On the corner of Jay and Water Streets in DUMBO. The food trucks are gone. (Image: Sharon Butler)

Living on the Upper West Side across the park, I like to take a stroll every now and then to visit the tomato plants at the Guggenheim. Yes, they are growing. In the NY Times this week, Elizabeth Harris reports on the guy who tends the plants while the rest of the museum is on lockdown. David Litvin, an indoor crop specialist, tends the plants in a temporarily shuttered exhibition, Countryside, The Future. He moved to New York from Tel Aviv in February, along with his wife, Stefanie, and their Dutch shepherd, Ester, with a plan to stay six months harvesting the Guggenheim tomatoes that are growing in a greenhouse outside. He was going to see the city, too. Read more.

Should you stay in New York? Or if you left, should you come back? In the NY Times, Mary T. Bassett, director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard, says its a bad idea for people to stay in their country houses indefinitely. First, Covid-19 will be with us for some time. It has reached all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It has reached the White House. It sped to virtually every country in a few short months. It could just as well make inroads in the vacation communities and remote outposts where the wealthy have sought refuge. Next, when the affluent seek separate communities, it is not good for democracy or, in the long run, societys stability. The way to ensure both is instead to invest in affordable housing and safer workplaces. Read more.

At New York Magazine, Jerry Saltz pens My Appetite, a courageous tell-all essay about his first trip to a museum, his mothers suicide, his bad grades in high school, his troublemaking stepbrothers, his first apartment, his issues with food, and, of course, his life with Roberta. Not surprisingly, whether in the city or in their Connecticut rental, they spend most of their time writing. Read more.

Piles of household debris on the sidewalk are common. Im not sure if people are breaking their leases from afar or have died.or what. (Image:Sharon Butler)

Blogs report:

If you want to know how other artists are coping, check out Art Spiel, a Brooklyn-based, artist-run platform for contemporary art. Artists are reporting on their new routines, from teaching online to time in the studio. Paul Behnke, Leslie Kerby, Ellen Hackl Fagan, Barbara Friedman, and Julian Kreimer are among the artists included. Read more.

Painters on Painting just kicked off an Art in Isolation series with an email from Helen OLeary. Are ye feral yet? We definitely are, Helen writes. This morning Dan had a moment of realization that he should clean himself up for a Zoom call. I told him he was grand, as indeed, to my eyes all of this informality is just rounding the corporate corners off of everyone, and he, for a moment, believed me. He opened photo booth, and said, Jesus, no, I have to clean myself up, and has gone now on a long odyssey of a search for an extension cord so he can shave near a mirror and find a non-crumpled shirt. Read more.

Talking Pictures blog continues their excellent The Collector series in which artists talk about one piece of work they own. This edition features a post from Bob Seng and Lisa Hein about The Graveyard, a Kerry Law painting that they got during Bushwick Open Studios long before death counts and images of mass burials were part of our daily lives. Read more.

Greg.org is thinking about salt and pepper shakers. And Charles Sheeler. I am just cruising along through the utterly riveting, hilarious, and outrageous and insightful interview the American Art dealer Edith Gregor Halpert did for the Archives of American Art, when she just offhandedly mentions Charles Sheeler is the one who invented putting the S and P on the top of salt and pepper shakers?? Read more.

Joanne Mattera Art Blog has curated an expansive two-part exhibition called Art in the Time of Pandemic that focuses on artists in their studios. Life for artists has been more difficult than usual, sheltering in place exacerbated by fear of disease and severe loss of income, magnified by the deathly horror of the nightly news (all made worse, I scarcely need to note, by a woefully inept president). Still we try to make the best of it. Read more.

Stay tuned for some news about NADA Art Fair, which launches on May 20.

On Houston Street: Stay Safe, New York. (Image: Sharon Butler)

Related posts:

Quick study: How the world is changing

Ideas and influences: Mike Cloud

Rainy day in New York
Harold E. Igoe, Jr., a former Charleston harbor pilot, entrepreneur, innkeeper and farmer known for his extensive collection of material on Shakespeare, died on Tuesday at the age of 83 of complications from Alzheimers disease.

A Charleston native who went by the name Skipper, Igoe was regarded as an adventurous, individualistic man who donned numerous professional hats and who chased his far-ranging, eclectic interests around the country and around the world.

According to family members, he was known to drive a pickup truck with a chainsaw in the back and books of poetry in the cab. His insatiable thirst for knowledge frequently involved scaling the highest pinnacles of scholarship and also found him penning his own poems and writings. At the same time, his hands were regularly found deep in the Lowcountry soil, much of it on Wadmalaw farmlands.

He was a very, very curious person, said Franklin Sams. A friend since the two met as teenagers, Sams often joined Igoe on trips around the world, whether to meet a paleontologist in Africa or to pay respects to his favorite author, the archaeologist T.E. Lawrence, in England. Sams noted the attention to detail Igoe applied to his many pursuits, from his fastidious upkeep of the soybean plants in earlier years on his Wadmalaw farm to his ability to spot an undervalued work by an important artist at a New York City gallery.

And, while Igoes career trajectory included interims as a successful stockbroker, real estate agent, investor, innkeeper and farmer, it was perhaps his early days in the 1960s as a third-generation Charleston harbor pilot that were seared most proudly into his life's work. Well after he switched gears, the name Skipper, which distinguished him from his harbor pilot father, Captain Igoe, remained. Even as he battled Alzheimers disease in later years, he never lost the meaning of that chapter in his life.

The job of harbor pilot was in the family water, with both his father and grandfather having been pilots before him. After receiving a philosophy degree from the University of North Carolina, Igoe went to work in the rough-hewn days of the job in the 1960s, an era often characterized by its wooden ships, iron men.

"He was a smart guy," said Robert "Rabbit" Lockwood, a harbor pilot who was three years younger than Igoe and who grew up on South Battery around the corner from Igoe's Gibbes Street home. Lockwood, who also hails from a long line of harbor pilots, marveled at Igoe's ability to be able to move onto a different career that he fully enjoyed. "He had a great time."

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Igoes wanderlust was as legion as his inquisitive nature. According to family, it was manifest early when he ran away from Episcopal High School to perhaps work with Albert Schweitzer in African to his refurbishing of the Phenix Inn in Bangor, Maine, as well as taking up residence in Santa Fe, N.M., Santa Barbara, Calif., and Charlottesville, Va., before returning to Charleston where he spent his final years.

All the while, over 50 years he continued to augment a collection of original rare books and portraits pertaining to Shakespeare and the Elizabethan era. It was sufficiently extensive to populate a part of the Charleston Library Society, which in 2019 was named the Igoe Shakespeare Library room. He donated other works to the College of Charleston.

"He brought his laser focus to the task, always searching for volumes that were beautiful and possessed important provenance," said Anne Cleveland, executive director of the Charleston Library Society.

Cleveland added that Igoe's deep desire to understand Shakespeare led him to ultimately embrace learning about anything Elizabethan, collecting pristine histories, pamphlets and writings from the period, wanting to hold and read the same works to which Shakespeare would have had access. Before finding a permanent home in Charleston, many have been loaned to the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C.

"He was a brilliant polymath who was as comfortable at the Globe Theatre as he was in knee-deep pluff mud," Cleveland said of Igoe, who was known by many for his hallmark eccentricity. "He loved keeping the people around him a little off balance."

Harold Eustace Igoe, Jr. was born in Charleston in 1936 to Harold Eustace Igoe and Lottie Wise Igoe. He attended the Gaud School in Charleston, Episcopal High School in Virginia and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating with a degree in philosophy. He previously served as president at the Gibbes Museum of Art.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years Ann Boatwright Igoe, his daughter Ann Bacot Daughtridge and son-in-law Belk Daughtridge of Charleston, his son Harold Eustace (Sam) Igoe III and Beth Pratt of Charlottesville, Va., his grandchildren Elizabeth Ann Bacot McGehee and MacGregor van Wyck Hoke McGehee, his first cousins Charles Scott Aldinger and Thomas Igoe Aldinger, and his loyal friend Dennis Schmidt.

A memorial service will be held at a future date. Arrangements by James A. McAlister, Inc.
Spending a few seconds one metre from a colleague is equivalent to an hour two metres away, and talking loudly makes it worse, it's been warned.

Government scientific advisors are considering telling workers exactly how strong the risk of catching the coronavirus is depending on how close they stand next to someone.

The fresh advice would help employees 'manage' their risk of the killer infection where social distancing is difficult.

Companies are wrestling with new safety rules to allow employees to return to work as Prime Minister Boris Johnson sets out steps to restart the economy.

Social distancing is paramount, but there are growing concerns this won't be possible for some employees in confined spaces, including construction site workers.

Ministers are hoping for a gradual re-opening of schools from June 1, but there are fears children will be unable to properly social distance.

It follows a study last week that showed talking loudly for just one minute can produce a high load of viral particles that stay in the air for eight minutes.

Other simulations show how far infected particles from a cough or sneeze can travel in confined spaces.

Government scientific advisors are considering telling workers exactly how strong the risk of catching the coronavirus is depending on how close they stand next to someone as Britain slowly returns to work. Pictured, construction workers in south London on May 12

It follows a study last week that showed talking loudly for just one minute can produce a high load of viral particles that stay in the air for eight minutes (stock)

Employers in the UK have been told to re-design workspaces to ensure workers are at a two metre distance from others as much as possible.

The new 'COVID-19 secure' guidance covers eight workplace settings which are allowed to be open, including construction sites, factories and takeaways.

Where social distancing is difficult, there should be barriers in shared spaces, staggered start times and one-way walking systems, the guidance says.

But where social distancing is seemingly impossible, a sub-group of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) is examining how workers can 'manage' the risk, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

CAN SARS-COV-2 DROPLETS LINGER IN THE AIR? Airborne diseases are those where germs from a person's breathe, sneeze or cough can linger in the air and travel because the droplets are very small in size. According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 virus is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets, which are much larger in size. Larger droplets only travel short distances before falling to the floor, which is why it the 'safe social distance' recommended between people is two metres. Aerosols, on the other hand, are small and can linger in the air for longer and travel further. Aerosols include tiny particles like smoke, which can stay airborne for up to eight hours. But there is some compelling evidence to say that SARS-CoV-2 is airborne, despite most of it not being subject to peer review. Or at least, air conditioning systems are to blame for fuelling the virus round a room. For example, scientists in the US have shown in the laboratory that the virus can survive in an aerosol and remain infectious for at least three hours. However, the conditions were argued by the WHO to be highly artificial and did not represent what happens if someone coughs in real life. Evidence is emerging that air conditioning may propel infected droplets round confined spaces - such as an airplane. One report in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal on April 2 explained how a cluster of cases in Guangzhou, China, may have been fuelled by air-conditioning. Ten people in three families were diagnosed with the virus after eating at the same restaurant. But the researchers said droplets from coughing and sneezing alone could not explain the spread of the virus. Jianyun Lu and colleagues concluded that 'droplet transmission was prompted by air-conditioned ventilation. The key factor for infection was the direction of the airflow.' Advertisement

Andrew Curran, chief scientific adviser at the Health and Safety Executive said being exposed to someone for 'a few seconds' at a one metre distance could equate to around an hour of being two metres away from the same person.

He said: 'If the exposure at a distance of less than two metres is going to be for a short period of time, you manage the risk in the context of duration and orientation.

'There is some physics in this and the Sage sub-group is looking at that to provide better information.

'For example, if you were exposed for a few seconds at one metre, that is about the same as being exposed for a longer period of time - an hour, say - at two metres. It is that order of magnitude.

'There may be elements within a job where there is exposure for a short period, but where the risk is so low it can be managed.'

Two metres is considered a safe distance by health chiefs because the coronavirus predominantly spreads in respiratory droplets in a sneeze or cough.

These large droplets fall to the floor due to gravity within a short distance, around one metre, from the person who expelled them. The 'safe' distance is double that in order to optimise protection.

Two metres is not a 'magical number' according to John Simpson, a medical director at Public Health England.

He said 'there is a duration and distance element to exposure that has to be worked through', as scientists continue to work out how the coronavirus spreads in different conditions.

But Professor Robert Dingwall, who sits on the governments scientific advisory body New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, which feeds into SAGE, said the two metre rule 'does not have validity and has never had much of an evidence base', suggesting it is safe to stand closer to someone.

He said: 'There may be elements of a job where there is exposure for a short period, the risk is so low it can be managed.'

The risk is not entirely removed, however.

Last week researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) showed just talking in a confined space could spread the coronavirus.

Ministers are hoping for a gradual re-opening of schools from June 1, but there are fears children will be unable to properly social distance. Pictured: Countries including Denmark (pictured) have already begun reopening schools with social distancing measures in place

Despite the belief that standing within a metre to an infected person is somewhat safe, the risk is not entirely removed. Pictured: In Belgium, a teacher wears a visor to protect herself as she teachers her class in Sint-Marten-Latem

Research is continuously being published to indicate how far the virus could spread over wide distances, suggesting two metres is not safe enough. Experts at Florida Atlantic University conducted an experiment to show how far microscopic particles from a cough could spread

Laser lights illuminated how far the gas and the droplets it contained could travel. After 12 seconds it had reached six feet, and after 41 seconds, the particles had moved nine feet. 'For a heavy cough, the researchers found that particles can even travel up to 12 feet'

US government scientists used lasers to illuminate droplets of saliva flying from people's mouths as they talked, yelled or sang.

TEACHERS ARE NOT MORE AT RISK OF VIRUS, HEAD TEACHERS UNION SAYS Britain's head teachers' union has backed plans for schools to reopen on June 1 following meetings with key government advisers. The Association of School and College Leaders claim teachers were no more at risk than any other profession heading back to work as coronavirus lockdown restrictions ease. The National Association of Head Teachers said it would support government plans to reopen primary schools following advice from scientists. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson yesterday outlined the plans for reception, year 1 and 6 - as well as years 10 and 12 - to return from June 1. He outlined measures schools will take avoid a surge in the killer disease which has killed 34,500 people in the UK and infected 241,000. Measures include small classes and keeping children in small socially-distanced groups. A group of five former education secretaries - Labour's Alan Johnson and Charles Clarke and Conservatives Nicky Morgan, Damian Hinds and Justine Greening - all support the government's plans for reopening schools in phases, The Times reports. Plans have been met by criticism from trade unions, ministers and local authorities over the safety of sending children back to school. Advertisement

They found that spit can travel through the air for between eight and 14 minutes, with particles that come from people who are yelling lasting longer.

It includes people who haven't started showing symptoms yet, who can also leave a trail of coronavirus in the air after talking.

One person talking loudly for just one minute can produce at least 1,000 viral particles that stay in the air for eight minutes.

'These therefore could be inhaled by others and...trigger a new SAR-CoV-2 infection,' the researchers wrote, referring to the virus that causes COVID-19.

The new study 'demonstrates how normal speech generates airborne droplets that can remain suspended for tens of minutes or longer and are eminently capable of transmitting disease in confined spaces,' the study authors wrote.

On average, however, speakers had a lower concentration of virus in their spit particles, making it unlikely that they could infect someone else.

The likelihood that any given particle of spit emitted while one of these people was talking would contain coronavirus, then, was low: only 0.01 percent. Nonetheless, it raises considerable concerns.

In contrast, research is continuously being published to indicate how far the virus could spread over wide distances, suggesting two metres is not safe enough.

Experts at Florida Atlantic University conducted an experiment that showed microscopic particles from a cough could spread double that length.

They used a mannequin and laser lights to show how gas and the droplets it contained travels after a 'light' and 'heavy cough'.

Particles from a 'heavy' cough or sneeze in the experiment travelled three feet in a matter of seconds. After 41 seconds, the particles had moved nine feet.

'For a heavy cough, the researchers found that particles can even travel up to 12 feet,' a statement from Florida Atlantic University said.

A lighter cough was found to travel up to nine feet.

These particular findings emphasised the importance of social distancing as much as possible, and may explain why the virus spread so rapidly in busy cities.

But the study was artificial, meaning it did not use real people with the virus.



Various other research has attempted to warn of how far a virus can spread in restaurants and offices using real cases.

A study published on April 23 shone light on the 'alarming' spread of the coronavirus in an office in Seoul, South Korea.

One person who was infected led to 97 other cases in a building, according to the early findings published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Health officials traced thousands of people who were at risk of infection after coming close to the person who unknowingly had COVID-19.

The team tested 1,143 people and 97 tested positive, 94 of whom were working on the 11th floor of the call centre. The first patient worked on the 10th floor.

There were 216 employees on the 11th floor, meaning the virus attacked 43 per cent. All those infected were on the same side of the room.

Shin Young Park and authors wrote: 'This outbreak shows alarmingly that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be exceptionally contagious in crowded office settings such as a call center.

'The magnitude of the outbreak illustrates how a high-density work environment can become a high-risk site for the spread of COVID-19 and potentially a source of further transmission.'

A study in Seoul, South Korea, showed how one infected person led to 97 other cases, 94 of whom were working on the 11th floor of a call centre. There were 216 employees on that floor, meaning the virus attacked 43 per cent. All those infected were on the same side of the room (pictured)

One report in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal on April 2 explained how a cluster of cases in Guangzhou, China, may have been fuelled by air-conditioning.

Ten people in three families were diagnosed with the virus after eating at the same restaurant. But the researchers said droplets from coughing and sneezing alone could not explain the spread of the virus.

Jianyun Lu and colleagues concluded that 'droplet transmission was prompted by air-conditioned ventilation. The key factor for infection was the direction of the airflow.'

There are still a number of questions that need to be answered about how the coronavirus transmits between people, including whether it lingers in the air.

Aerosols are tiny particles which can linger in the air for longer and travel further than large respiratory droplets.

The World Health Organization says SARS-CoV-2 is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets.

But there is some compelling evidence to say that SARS-CoV-2 is airborne, despite most of it not being subject to peer review.

For example, scientists in the US have shown in the laboratory that the virus can survive in an aerosol and remain infectious for at least three hours.

The WHO argued the conditions were highly artificial and did not represent what happens if someone coughs in real life, however.
Albanian police clashed Sunday with opposition supporters who were protesting the demolition of the country's National Theater building in the capital.

Police pulled a group of artists and some opposition leaders away from the building in Tirana early in the morning before heavy machinery started to bring it down.

The country is in a lockdown because of the coronavirus outbreak and no mass gatherings are allowed.

The government's decision to destroy the old National Theater, built by Italians when they occupied Albania during World War II, was opposed by artists and others who wanted it renovated instead.

Workers started building the theater in 1938 and finished it the following year before it opened as a cultural center in 1940. Albania's government took the decision to tear it down two years ago and shuttered it. Actors and artists continued to use it even after that.

The theater had many names over the years. When it first opened, the Italians named it Savoia, and then during the German occupation it was called Movie Theater Kosova before being renamed the People's Theater during communist times and finally the National Theater.

Hundreds of protesters continued to stay near the building still being demolished trying to break the police cordon and chanting Down with the dictatorship!



President Ilir Meta denounced the move of the left-wing government of Prime Minister Edi Rama as a constitutional, legal and moral crime.

In a Facebook post, the prime minister compared old and renovated views from the capital, saying, They cannot stop Tirana! A statement from the European Union office in Tirana deplored the demolition of the theater at a time when they had called for negotiations with civil society, and for political parties to avoid an escalation of the situation.

Police said 37 people, including a journalist, were briefly detained before being released and reminded that mass gatherings were prohibited because of the virus outbreak.

Two policemen were injured and television stations showed a blooded citizen too.

Television footage showed Monika Kryemadhi, leader of a small opposition party and wife of the country's president, being put into a police van. The position of president is mostly a ceremonial post in Albania. Kryemadhi was later freed.

The leader of the opposition Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, urged residents to topple the government over the theater's destruction.

Basha called on all citizens to start nationwide protests to get rid of this bandit and this great evil, adding that demonstrations would be held respecting the hygienic conditions.

Albania, which earlier this year got approval from the EU to launch full membership negotiations to join the bloc, has been in a tense political situation since last year when opposition parties left their seats in the parliament.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
STATEN ISLAND., N.Y. -- Despite the heartbreak behind the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the community continues to work together to raise spirits and support each other.

Whether its donating meals, hosting a fundraiser online or drawing in front of a school, Staten Islanders are doing it all to keep each other sane.

Check out some good news stories below to brighten your day.

NICKS LOBSTER HOUSE DONATES TO RUMC

Meals from Nick's Lobster House in Brooklyn were donated to RUMC. (Courtesy Nick's Lobster House)

Nicks Lobster House, in Brooklyn, partnered with Rep. Max Roses office to donate over 400 meals to Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC).

On Monday, staff from the restaurant delivered 215 hot meals at noon for the day staff and another 215 in the afternoon for the late staff.

Stories like this are a constant reminder that theres nothing New York cant overcome, and thats what gives me so much confidence that well get through this crisis," said Rose. "Small businesses like Nicks Lobster House have no shortage of their own challenges, but still theyre showing incredible generosity towards their neighbors, and Im just happy we were able to help connect them with our front-line healthcare heroes.

MISS RICHMOND COUNTY FUNDRAISES VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

When Miss Richmond County Gabrielle Ryans fundraisers for March and April were cancelled, she knew she had to do something to give back.

Initially, Ryan was planning a fundraiser at Board and Brush in March and at DJ Got Me Fit in April. A portion of the proceeds from each event was supposed to go to Childrens Miracle Network and Hope for the Day.

She also already had items donated from local businesses - Amazing Lash, Barios Pizzeria, City Curl Studio, Eternal Roses NY, and Laura London Jewlery - to be raffled off.

When the stay-at-home order was put into action, she knew she wouldnt be able to hold her fundraisers. So, instead, she moved virtual.

I still wanted the chance to hold the fundraisers, so I decided to hold the raffles virtually, Ryan told the Advance/SILive.com. For three weeks now, I have been raffling off one item per week through social media.

Using her social media, Ryan posts the item thats up for raffle at the beginning of each week. Throughout the week, people can use Venmo to purchase raffle tickets. At the end of each week, she randomly selects a winner.

The first week, Ryan decorated letters for each winner. She told the Advance/SILive.com that people are still asking her to make letters for the fundraiser despite that raffle being over. The proceeds from this raffle went to Childrens Miracle Network.

The second week, Ryan raffled off items from Eternal Rose NY. Those proceeds also went to Childrens Miracle Network.

In the past week, things were a little different. She raffled off a gift card to Barios Pizzeria, raising $105 in raffle ticket donations.

The winner, however, donated the gift card back to Ryan for her to use for another cause. Using the gift card, proceeds from the raffle tickets, and some of her own donations, she bought lunch for workers at Staten Island University Hospital and delivered them.

Throughout the coming weeks, she will continue to raffle off other items that were donated by local businesses to support front-line workers.

DRIVE TO END HUNGER PROVIDES FUNDS FOR MEALS ON WHEELS

As a part of Giving Tuesday Now, Auto Pro Collision announced a new fundraising campaign: Drive to End Hunger. The auto shop, which has one location on Staten Island, created the campaign to support the community through meal distributions across the Island and New Jersey.

Auto Pro Collision partnered with Fulfill NJ and Meals on Wheels of Staten Island to make the drive possible.

Here on Staten Island, were proud to announce that weve partnered with Meals On Wheels to help feed home-bound seniors, said Corrado Cina, general manager of all Auto Pro locations. Our senior community has shown to be the hardest hit by the pandemic, and Meals On Wheels is on the front lines, ensuring that their recipients get the food they need.

Meals on Wheels of Staten Island regularly delivers meals to more than 1,400 homes annually, but the coronavirus outbreak has increased the need for the organizations services. With a steady increase of people applying for meals, the organization has taken on a heavy financial burden.

The initial goal of Auto Pro is to raise $10,000 and split it between the New Jersey and Staten Island organizations. Donations are being made through its website.

PS 6 STUDENTS CHALK THE WALK

First grader Antonia Genzale and third grader Victoria DePalo pose in front of P.S. 6, where they participated in Chalk the Walk. (Courtesy Allison Genzale)

Despite school not being in session, P.S. 6 in Tottenville gave students a chance to get creative on the sidewalks of the school.

To spread some positive cheer, P.S. 6 Principal Elizabeth Walters and Assistant Principal Dennis Forde reached out to the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to create a Chalk the Walk event.

On Tuesday, students were invited to come to the school and, while remaining socially distant, draw on the sidewalks outside of the school. The students left heartwarming messages for teachers and staff of the school.

My daughter and her best friend couldnt be more happy outside their second home, said PTA member and parent Allison Genzale. Just bringing them there was amazing. This was truly beautiful.

JCC RECEIVES DONATION FROM LOCAL DEVELOPERS

Flowers are dropped off in front of a JCC member's home, courtesy of David and Murray Berman. (Courtesy JCC)

On Monday, local developers David and Murray Berman made the day of program members and staff at the Joan and Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center (JCC).

The father and son duo purchased meals, flowers, and candy from their tenants, who have been struggling due to coronavirus. To continue to give back, they donated everything they bought to the JCC.

The donation consisted of 60 roast chicken dinners for families who attend JCC programs at the Gerard Carter Center, Todt Hill Community Center, and Richmond Terrace Community Center; 40 flower arrangements to be donated to Holocaust survivors in the JCCs Cafe Europa program; and 50 candy baskets for JCC staff who are doing essential work through the crisis.

Donations were bought from La Rosa Chicken & Grill, Langdon Florist, and Rocket Fizz Candy Store.

Since the coronavirus crisis began, the JCC has continued some programs and extended others to meet the needs the pandemic has caused.

We are so thankful for this generous donation to our program participants and staff, said Orit Lender, the JCCs deputy executive director and incoming CEO. We appreciate David and Murray Bermans commitment to the JCC and to local businesses on Staten Island during this difficult time.

More good news:

Have an uplifting story to share? Email rhumbrecht@siadvance.com.
The Brazilian state of Sao Paulo has overtaken China when it comes to the number of deaths from the novel coronavirus.

According to data released by Brazils health ministry on Saturday, there have been 4,688 coronavirus-related deaths in the countrys most populous state, which is home to more than 40 million people.

Official figures from China, which has a population of more than a billion, show the country has had 4,637 deaths.

In the country as a whole, Brazil had recorded 15,633 deaths and 233,142 cases of infection as of Saturday.

Data from the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University puts Brazil in sixth place worldwide in terms of deaths from the coronavirus.

READ ALSO:

Tensions over the virus response are growing in the country, as Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro continues to push for the countrys economy to reopen.

On Friday, his health minister Nelson Teich resigned after less than a month in the job.

(dpa/NAN)
(Natural News) A new petition by LifeSiteNews already has almost 400,000 signatures from folks who are saying no to mandatory vaccination for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

Within the first four days of the petitions launch, more than 350,000 people signed it, followed by another 50,000 people over the past three days. And with your signature added to the petition, LifeSiteNews will easily exceed its next benchmark.

The petition states that while people of goodwill have varying opinions on the safety, efficacy, and religious implications of a new vaccine for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), everyone should be in agreement that forcing people to get jabbed is not okay.

No government can force anyone who has reached legal adulthood to be vaccinated for the coronavirus, the petition states. Equally, no government can vaccinate minors for the coronavirus against the will of their parents or guardians.

Over the next several weeks, LifeSiteNews is planning to deliver the petition to governments around the world, showing them that people everywhere are against coercive medicine that threatens punishment for no compliance.

The enormous response to this petition shows that many people around the world absolutely will not accept a mandatory vaccine for the coronavirus, says Gualberto Garcia Jones, the director of advocacy for LifeSiteNews.

You can sign the petition at this link.

Listen below to The Health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how President Trump has betrayed Americans with his Operation Warp Speed plan for a fast-tracked Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine:

Share petition with White House by posting LifeSiteNews story as comment

The Trump plan to deliver a Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine before the end of 2020 has shocked many who believed that the president was against vaccination. Consequently, there is concern about how this vaccine might be pushed on Americans, possibly without consent.

Because there remain many unknowns as to what the future holds, LifeSiteNews is urging its readers to share the story and petition on the Facebook page of the White House by posting it as a comment under a White House post. Natural News readers can do the same with this article.

Signing the petition, and getting other people to sign it, is important because the rush to develop and release a Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is both disturbing and unethical, seeing as how it normally takes several years to develop, safety test, and release a new vaccine.

There is also talk of microchip implants that will go along with these vaccines, allowing the government to track and spy on Americans who receive it.

In California, Governor Gavin Newsom has promised that he will not open the state back up for business until there is a Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine available, which some worry could imply that people will be forced to receive it. Billionaire eugenicist Bill Gates agrees that society should not reopen until there is a vaccine.

We can now see more clearly that some of our politicians  people who are supposed to work for the public  are attempting to use this health crisis as an excuse to curtail our personal freedoms, Jones adds, pointing to efforts that seek to make human guinea pigs out of American citizens.

We cannot allow them to achieve that goal.

Keep in mind that continued mutations of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) mean that any vaccine developed for it will be certifiably worthless, as well as dangerous. And it is simply not good policy to resort to compulsory medicine as the solution to this crisis, especially when there are already safe and natural alternatives.

More of the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is available at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

LifePetitions.com

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com
Up to 20 per cent of patients who have contracted coronavirus caught the disease while seeking treatment in hospital for another illness, senior NHS figures have revealed.

During a national briefing in April, medical directors and nursers were told that between 10 and 20 per cent of those with the virus had contracted it while being treated for another health problem.

The figures, which come as the number of people who have died from the virus in the UK reaches 34,636 today, were confirmed to The Guardian by senior figures at several NHS trusts.

The telephone conference, which concerned infection control and Covid-19 in the UK, saw a senior official at NHS England alert members of staff to the number of people who had become infected with the virus during their visit to acute hospitals in England.

During a briefing last month, medical staff were told that up to 20 per cent of patients who had coronavirus caught the disease while seeking treatment for another illness. (Stock image)

Senior staff were told that some inpatients had caught the virus after being inadvertently exposed to the illness by members of staff who had not been tested for the virus.

In other cases, the virus has been passed on by healthcare workers who did not have effective personal protective equipment.

One anonymous surgeon told The Guardian: 'Multiple patients my department treated who were inpatients pre lockdown got the bug and died. Obviously the timeline supports that they acquired it from staff and other patients.'

In March, grandmother Marita Edwards, 80, who went into hospital for gallbladder surgery was thought to be the first Briton to die by catching coronavirus on a ward.

The former cleaner, from Bulwark, Monmouthshire, was admitted to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, South Wales, for the routine operation on February 28, but died almost three weeks later after testing positive for Covid-19.

Following her death, her son Stuart Loud said: 'Once they had suspicions there might be the corona, they isolated the ward. We then had to go through a protocol, with masks, gloves and aprons.

Some patients were inadvertently exposed to the illness by members of staff who had not been tested for the virus or who did not have effective personal protective equipment. (Stock image)

'If she had not been in hospital she would still be alive. Clearly there was a coronavirus infection in the hospital which claimed my mum's life.

'We couldn't kiss her... couldn't hold hands. We took it in turn to hold a mask to her face. She died the most horrific death.'

Earlier this year, virology expert, Professor Giorgio Palu, warned how Covid-19 could spread through the UK and European health systems.

He warned: 'One mistake made in Italy (where cases began in January) was clogging up hospitals with Covid and non-Covid patients.

'To reduce transmissions, other European countries should keep virus-positive people in their homes as much as possible. Otherwise, hospitals will clog up and become a boiling point for the spread.'

Grandmother Marita Edwards, 80, from Bulwark, Monmouthshire, went in for the routine operation on February 28, but died almost three weeks later after testing positive for Covid-19

Ms Edwards was admitted to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, South Wales, for the routine operation

The findings come as the Business Secretary Alok Sharma today announced a deal has been agreed between Oxford University and the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to allow Britain to be given first access to a Covid-19 vaccine.

Mr Sharma, said the Oxford project was 'progressing well' and pledged an additional 84 million to accelerate the development of the vaccine - which is currently in clinical trials.

Mr Sharma said: 'In order to definitively conquer this disease we need to find a safe, workable vaccine.

'Last month I announced a new vaccine task force to co-ordinate the efforts of Government, academia and industry in the critical mission to find a vaccine.

'I'm very proud of how quickly our scientists and researchers have come together in their efforts developing a vaccine that will combat coronavirus.'

MailOnline has contacted NHS England for comment.
Two people and 14 dogs are dead after a truck filled with rescue animals headed for adoption in Calgary crashed in Idaho.

Idaho State Police said at 6 a.m. Friday, a Ford Econoline box truck crashed west of Shelley, a small city south of Idaho Falls in the eastern part of the state.

The truck veered off the left shoulder of Interstate 15 at mile marker 105, going into the median and striking an embankment, police said.

Driver Christopher Kracht, 40, and passenger Ann Watson, 38, both of Phoenix, Ariz., were killed.

Idaho State Police

Police said the rented truck was being driven as part of a non-profit animal rescue network and 48 dogs of various breeds and sizes were on board in kennels.

The truck was headed to Calgary where the animals were set to be adopted, but 14 dogs were killed in the crash and 16 are still missing.

Local veterinarians are assisting Idaho's Blackfoot Animal Shelter and Rescue in caring for dogs that were injured.

Watson was the founder of Who Saved Who Rescue in Phoenix.

"Ann was tragically killed in an auto accident on her way to rescue animals, that was her passion. She saved so many dogs and passed doing what she loved. She leaves behind two little girls whom unfortunately lost their father in the accident as well," a statement posted to an online fundraiser for her family reads.

Police said a representative of the animal rescue network is heading to the area to pick up the surviving dogs and bring them to Calgary.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 17:30:27|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

- Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States surged to nearly 1.4 million, with fatalities exceeding 80,000, in just over 100 days since the country reported its first case on Jan. 21;

- Critics have attributed the crisis partly to the White House's failure to act in a timely way, even as alarm bells were ringing from late December onward;

- While battling the unknown virus, the White House, critics say, has constantly diminished the role of scientists in its decision-making, ignoring their suggestions about enhancing testing capacity.





WASHINGTON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Having been blocked from testifying to a House committee examining the White House's controversial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as being absent at the daily COVID-19 task force briefings for days, top U.S. infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, along with three other medical experts on Tuesday testified remotely to the Senate, the Republican-controlled chamber of the Congress.

Before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Fauci rebuked the White House, but "even so, the totality of his testimony undermined talking points (President Donald) Trump has used to downplay the pandemic," commented U.S. media outlet Vox.

Washington's early neglect toward the virus, ill-preparedness, indifference to science and facts, and its recklessness of only serving political interests may partially explain why respected experts including Fauci preferred to speak less of the "absolute chaotic disaster," a harsh phrase used by former President Barack Obama to blast his successor's handling of the coronavirus.

The U.S. Capitol building is seen in Washington D.C. May 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

BARRED FROM TESTIFYING

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States surged to nearly 1.4 million, with fatalities exceeding 80,000, in just over 100 days since the country reported its first case on Jan. 21.

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in the Senate hearing that he suggested states pump the brakes on reopening until the number of new cases per day starts to decline -- a viewpoint totally contradicted by Trump, who has urged states to relax COVID-19 restrictions and even encouraged protests in states that have rejected his advice.

On Trump's remarks that the coronavirus would "disappear miraculously," Fauci noted "that is just not gonna happen, because it's such a highly transmissible virus."

"Most of us (experts) feel that the number of deaths are likely higher than that number, because ... there may have been people who died at home who did have COVID-19 who were not counting as COVID-19, because they never really got to the hospital," said Fauci.

The 79-year-old expert who has served under six presidents pushed back on the claim that schools should be reopened because the coronavirus does not appear to be as lethal to young children.

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a teleconference hearing hosted by a Senate panel on the White House's response to the coronavirus in Washington D.C., the United States, May 12, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

It would be "a bridge too far" to expect a vaccine or treatment to be available by fall to facilitate students returning to college campuses, he said.

Trump was quick to oppose Fauci's comments. "I think you should absolutely open the schools. Our country has got to get back, and it's got to get back as soon as possible," Trump told reporters on Wednesday.

A month ago, Trump made headlines for sharing a tweet with the hashtag "#FireFauci" after a series of reports detailed his administration's slow response to the pandemic, though the president has denied wanting to fire Fauci.

Earlier this month, Trump's administration barred Fauci from testifying at a hearing on the U.S. coronavirus response in the Democratic-held House, claiming that the key health official was too busy.

It was "easy to foresee the presidential eruption" because the esteemed health care scientist told senators what "Donald Trump did not want them to hear," and "they conflict with the president's insistence that we set the virus aside, get back to normal and accept the alarming number of deaths that will continue to occur," wrote observer Oren Spiegler in a letter to The New York Times.

"Most of the American people are not gullible. That is why we trust Dr. Fauci and distrust what we are told by the president," Spiegler said.

Medical workers transport a patient from an ambulance to George Washington University Hospital in Washington D.C., the United States, May 13, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

WHISTLE-BLOWER OUSTED

At a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health on Thursday, Rick Bright, a whistle-blower who had been ousted as head of a federal medical research agency, further underscored the gulf between the Trump administration's approach and scientific rationality on handling the COVID-19 crisis.

The former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) told the panel that his warning about the nation's shortages of masks and other personal protective equipment had been ignored multiple times by top officials in January and early February.

"I was met with indifference, saying they were either too busy, they didn't have a plan, they didn't know who was responsible for procuring those," said Bright, adding that there were "a number of excuses, but never any action."

In a whistleblower complaint filed earlier this month, Bright alleged he was forced out of his job in April, a post key to vaccine development, for opposing the broad use of chloroquine, a drug which has been frequently touted by the White House as a coronavirus treatment but has been cautioned against by the Food and Drug Administration due to a risk of heart rhythm problems in use outside of a hospital setting or clinical trial.

People walk near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., the United States, April 26, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

"When I spoke with the government and shared my concerns for the American public, that, I believe, was the straw that broke the camel's back and escalated my removal," he said, urging the leadership to allow scientists to "speak without fear of retribution."

"We need to be truthful with the American people. Americans deserve the truth. The truth must be based on science," the official said.

"If we fail to improve our response now, based on science, I fear the pandemic will get far worse and be prolonged. There will be likely a resurgence of COVID-19 this fall that will be greatly compounded by the challenges of seasonal influenza," he said. "Without better planning, 2020 could be the darkest winter in modern history."

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump again reiterated his claim that Bright was a "disgruntled" employee, U.S. political news outlet Politico reported Thursday.

A man walks past an electronic screen showing COVID-19 prevention guidance in Brooklyn of New York, the United States, May 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

DIMINISHED ROLE OF SCIENTISTS

As the world's most powerful country that leads in medical and biological fields and boasts a well-equipped and accomplished public health system, what went wrong with the U.S.' handling of the pandemic?

Critics have attributed the crisis partly to the White House's failure to act in a timely way, even as alarm bells were ringing from late December onward.

On Dec. 31, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Chinese health officials had reported a cluster of cases of acute respiratory illness in China's central city of Wuhan.

The Chinese and U.S. CDCs talked over the phone about the outbreak on Jan. 3 and since then, the U.S. side has received information on the disease from China on a regular basis.

As early as January, the White House received advice from experts and intelligence services about the need for urgent mitigation measures against the spread of the virus. However, the federal government decided to engage in petty political feuds and over-optimistic predictions, minimizing the significance of the outbreak, according to The Washington Post.

People wait at a COVID-19 community testing center during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, May 14, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

It was not until March 16 that the White House reversed its previously dismissive stance and announced anti-epidemic guidelines.

Fauci argued that had the guidelines been implemented earlier, a crucial period in the exponential spread of the virus would have been mitigated and American lives saved.

"Leading epidemiologists have put a finer point on this, estimating that 50 to 80 percent of COVID-19 deaths in New York and approximately 90 percent of all American COVID-19 deaths can now be attributed to the administration's delay between March 2 and 16," he was quoted by The Washington Post as saying.

While battling the unknown virus, the White House, critics say, has constantly diminished the role of scientists in its decision-making, ignoring their suggestions about enhancing testing capacity.

It removed Nancy Messonnier, a top CDC official, from overseeing the agency's COVID-19 response in February, after he urged preparation for a "significant disruption." Later in April, Bright was ousted.

(Video reporters: Hu Yousong, Tan Yixiao; Video editor: Zhu Cong)
Personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed on Sunday in West Bengal and Odisha, which said it was ready to undertake massive evacuation of 11 lakh people likely to be severely hit by the cyclone 'Amphan', officials said.

IMAGE: Marine police personnel patrol Puri beach to prevent tourists and fishermen from venturing into the sea due to Cyclone Amphan, in Puri, Sunday, May 17, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo

The cyclone, according to an IMD report early Sunday, is developing into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal and can potentially become a very severe cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours, S N Pradhan, the chief of NDRF said in New Delhi.

"The trajectory is mostly towards West Bengal, Sagar Islands and probably towards Bangladesh.... But we have to watch the trajectory very closely. NDRF has deployed the teams well in advance. They are either deployed or moving towards the destination," he said.

As it rolls in towards the Indian shores ominously, the cyclone is likely to unleash heavy rain and high-velocity winds in large swathes of coastal Odisha and West Bengal.

It is likely to cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Islands in West Bengal and Hatiya islands in Bangladesh between afternoon and evening of May 20 as a very severe cyclonic storm, Regional MeT Director in Kolkata G K Das said.

Odisha, which has been ravaged by a string of cyclones over the last few years, including the cyclone Fani last year, has made arrangements to shift 11 lakh people from vulnerable areas, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena said.

12 coastal districts--Ganjam, Gajapti, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda and Nayagarh-- are on high alert.

He said of the 809 cyclone shelters in the 12 coastal districts, 242 are currently being used as temporary medical camps for the returnees from different states amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

"We have 567 cyclone and flood shelters available to house the people in case evacuation is required. In addition, we have arranged 7,092 buildings to keep people if required," Jena said.

"Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), NDRF and fire service personnel have already been sent to the districts. We are also in constant touch with the Indian Coast Guard, IMD and NDRF for any requirement," he said, adding 'saving lives is our priority'.

Under its impact, the coastal districts of Gangetic West Bengal, including North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, East and West Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly are likely to experience light to moderate rain at many places with heavy downpour at isolated places on May 19, Regional MeT Director in Kolkata G K Das said.

Pradhan said seven teams of the force have been deployed in West Bengal. These teams are in six districts -- South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly.

In Odisha, 10 teams have been deployed in seven districts -- Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj.

One team of NDRF consists of around 45 personnel.

Odisha has already chalked out the strategy to restore power and water supply, clear roads, start rescue and relief operations immediately after the cyclone peters out.

About the large number of migrants returning to Odisha from other states, many of them on foot, Jena said personnel at border checkposts have been asked to take appropriate steps keeping the cyclone situation in mind.

According to Ministry of Home Affairs, the cyclone will make a landfall in West Bengal on Wednesday.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) met under Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Saturday to review the preparedness for minimising the loss of loss of lives and property at a time when the country is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2019, India handled 2.6 million commercial air traffic movements. That is, approximately 7,000 flights criss-crossed the Indian skies daily. Yet in most cases the flights did not take the most direct path (which is a straight line) because of a number of reasons. These include, navigation aids, radar coverage and above all airspace restrictions.

In one of the aviation sector reforms announced on Saturday as a part of the stimulus package, the finance minister has highlighted that these restrictions on airspace will be eased. The outcome: more direct routes for airlines (read: shorter) which consequently means lower emissions and fuel burn.

Airspace over India to only get busier

The airspace of India covers 2.8 million square nautical miles including 1.04 million square nautical miles of continental airspace and another 1.74 million square nautical miles oceanic airspace (Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea & Indian Ocean). Of this airspace, 65 per cent is controlled by the military while the remaining is controlled by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). As air-traffic has expanded by double digits, more aircraft have taken to the skies. Concurrently, the challenge of routing these aircraft, managing air-traffic flows and ensuring the system functions smoothly have compounded.

From 2010 to 2019, the number of air-traffic-movements over the Indian skies doubled from 1.36 million to 2.60 million. And as fuel and emissions became critical points of competitiveness and as technology grew exponentially, there was a push by several stakeholders to optimise the use of the airspace.

That is, all flights want the most direct paths to their destination. One method of doing this was allowing the use of restricted air-routes for civilian fights subject to safeguards. Termed as: flexible use of airspace or FUA.

Challenge of coordinating flexible use of airspace

The challenge of flexible use of airspace is the coordination amongst diverse stakeholders. These include the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Indian Air Force (IAF), Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI) and also Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

Each organization has a different priority and varied mission profiles. Coordinating all of these functions towards a cohesive and collaborative shared use of a national strategic resource, namely airspace, is challenging to say the least.

As early as 2012, there was discussion between the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Ministry of Civil Aviation for flexible use of airspace (FUA). The implementation was to be subject to safeguards given the national security implications.

To this end the National High Level Airspace Policy Board was formalized in 2013. The boards mandate was to establish procedures for allocation of airspace and develop a manual on the flexible use of airspace. The manual was published in August 2014. The full implementation is likely to now see light of day.

How flexible use of airspace works

FUA allows both military and civil users to share airspace that traditionally has been exclusive to military users. For instance flights on routes such as Kolkata  Chennai, Bengaluru  Vizag or Mumbai - Srinagar were planned around a somewhat circuitous route to avoid military airspace.

The result was additional flight time which in some cases was up to 25 minutes. And with aircraft consuming fuel at a rate of 60  70 litres per minute, it makes for a big impact. With each extra minute in the air, the aircraft burns more fuel and puts out more emissions. Consequently, it results in a higher cost of operations to the airlines.

With flexible use of airspace, airlines will likely get a more direct routing for several routes. It may be noted that FUA is not a blanket approval to use the routes rather is dependent on coordination and collaboration between the stakeholders. The armed forces priority is not compromised in any manner.

When done effectively, FUA translates into more direct routings for civilian flights, lesser fuel burn and better cost effectiveness as significant flight volumes between cities, and especially metro cities, are in proximity to an air-base (such as Yelahanka in Bengaluru) or where significant portion of the airspace is restricted (for instance in Delhi up to 70% of the airspace is restricted).

With FUA there are key city pairs that will now get more direct routings including the heavily travelled Delhi-Mumbai sector which will see a reduction of approx. 15  30 minutes on average.

For airlines with razor thin margins and where each element of cost adds up exponentially, the numbers put out indicate a savings of Rs 1,000 crores per year. While the numbers can be debated as they are dependent on a variety of inputs, including the price of fuel and other assumptions, industry experts agree that the move towards flexible use of airspace is certainly a step in the right direction. If the implementation goes well, future flyers can expected to see shorter flight times  at least once they are airborne.
Residents of Bujagali village in Budondo Sub County in Jinja District were thrilled by a modified bicycle as an alternative ambulance to assist in transportation of sick patients to health centres.

The bicycle ambulance was donated to the community by First African Bicycle Information Organization (FABIO) Non-Government Organisation in Jinja, to assist in transporting expectant mothers and sick persons who need ambulance services on Saturday.

Mr John Mugulusi Kanakulya head of the Village Health Teams in Budondo said using bicycle as ambulances in the rural area will save many lives of expectant mothers during this pandemic lockdown period as there are limited means of transport.

Mr Mugulusi said even before coronavirus pandemic expectant mothers in the area were facing challenges of transporting themselves to health centres and hospitals to deliver.

"During this lockdown, we have used the bicycle ambulance to transport expectant mothers and 20 mothers have successfully given birth in this one month. When you call for a vehicle ambulance, they don't respond in time and yet this is time for life and death", said Mr Mugulusi.

Ms Victoria Muwanguzi, an expectant mother and resident of Budondo said the idea of introducing a bicycle ambulance in the rural area is a good adventure because it is more comfortable than on boda-boda motorcycle although it requires manual ridding.

"As an expectant mother in this community, most of the times we face challenges to transport ourselves in the health centres when labour pain begins especially during this lockdown period. Boda-bodas don't want to take us even after knowing we need their services", said Ms Muwanguzi.

Ms Silvia Mukyala resident of Lwanda said government ambulance services are limited to particular patients and they don't respond in time of need.

About 20 bicycle ambulances have been distributed in Jinja and Iganga districts, according to FABIO.

Mr Patrick Kayemba, the founder of FABIO said there is need for government to consider planning bicycle lanes in newly created cities to avoid bicycle riders getting involved in accidents while competing with vehicles.

The each bicycle reportedly costs between shs250, 000 and shs300, 000.
Actor Aansh Arora has filed a case of fraud against unknow people after he was offered the role of the antagonist in Tiger Zinda Hai 3 by a person claiming to be a representative of Salman Khan Films banner. He realised he was being defrauded after Salman Khan tweeted that his production house is not casting for any film at present.

Aansh received several casting calls, messages, and email from one Shruti - pretending to work with Salman Khan Film aka SKF - with the mail ID shruti@salmankhanfilm.com.

Ansh was offered a negative role in Salman Khans next Tiger Zinda Hai 3 and he was told a meeting and audition was also scheduled for the same as per mutual convenience for March 3 at 11 am with the filmmaker-choreographer Prabhudheva. He had been asked not to pick any project as the shoot would begin in a month.

Also read: Jasleen Matharu reveals Anup Jalota played Cupid for her and Bhopal surgeon: We are taking one day at a time

The actors rep claimed that the meeting was cancelled on the pretext of the director being busy and Aansh was promised a meeting at a later stage. He was also told that the filmmaker liked his profile and he had been finalised for the role. The chats and email asked Aansh to visit the office premises of Salman Khan Films and also requested for his shirtless body profile, because his said role was that of a wrestler.

Salman Khan took to Twitter to call out such fraudulent people and wrote, This is to clarify that neither I nor Salman Khan Films are casting for any film currently. We have not hired any casting agents for any of our future films. Please do not trust any emails or messages received by you for this purpose. Legal action will be taken if any party is found falsely using SKF or my name in any unauthorized manner.

After the tweet, Aansh realised the reality and lodged a complaint at Oshiwara Police Station, Mumbai, against the imposter as she was cheating him.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 23:42:07|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Agriculture Ministry said that the army will help fight locust invasion in the south of the country, Tehran Times daily reported on Sunday.

Mohammad Reza Mir, a spokesman for the ministry's Plant Protection Organization, said "the army has promised to help fight the desert locusts by providing all-terrain vehicles for use in areas which are hard to access."

"Last year, the army provided personnel and vehicles, and that was a big help," Mir was quoted as saying.

The desert locusts have attacked more than 200,000 hectares of orchards and farmland in seven provinces in the southern part of the country, he said.

The affected areas, stretching from eastern Iran on the border with Pakistan to the southwestern border with Iraq, were likely to soon increase to 1 million hectares, he added.

Gerold Bodeker, the representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to Iran, said last month that FAO had boosted its emergency technical cooperation project to help Iran battle swarms of desert locusts.

FAO would grant Iran with a total of 500,000 U.S. dollars under an "urgent action for capacity building" to control desert locusts infestation in Iran, Bodeker said.

On March 10, Iran announced that huge swarms of desert locusts arrived in the southern region of Iran. Enditem
A top Hizbul Mujahideen commander wanted in the killing of an RSS functionary and his PSO was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, officials said.

An Army personnel also lost his life in the five hour-long encounter which started when the security forces launched a joint search operation in Posta-Potra village in Gundana area, 26 kms from Doda town, following information about presence of some terrorists, they said.

The officials said the search operation is going on as security forces are searching the debris of the three-storied house which was raised to the ground during the encounter.

We have recovered the body of a terrorist from the scene of the gunfight so far who was identified as Tahir Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Malangpora village of south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

The deceased was a close associate of newly appointed Hizbul Mujahideen operational chief Saifullah and was assigned the task of reviving terrorism in Chenab valley region, Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh told reporters in Jammu.

Describing his killing as a major setback to Hizbul Mujahideen and a big success for the security forces, he said the slain terrorist was part of the group which shot dead an RSS functionary along with his personal security officer in nearby Kishtwar district in April last year.

He was also behind the fabrication of an IED which was used in an abortive attempt to target a CRPF convoy at Banihal along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in March last year, the officer said.

Bhat's killing will create a huge deterrence to the revival of militancy in Chenab valley, in its infant stage. The Doda district has virtually been cleared of terrorism once again and the plan of the terrorist to carry out attacks on security forces has been thwarted, Singh said.

The senior police official said the AK assault rifle, which was seized from the dead terrorist, was the same which had been taken away by militants after killing the RSS functionary and his PSO.

Briefing about the encounter, the IGP said a joint operation was launched late Saturday night following information about presence of the Hizbul Mujahideen commander in a house in the village.

The village is about five to six hours of walk from the last motorable road. The search parties came under fire from the target house around 7 am, triggering an encounter which lasted for five hours and resulted in the killing of the Hizbul commander, he said.

Officials said an Army jawan was critically injured in the initial firing from the holed up terrorists and later succumbed to injuries while being evacuated to hospital.

The IGP said Bhat had joined terrorism early last year and was directed by his mentors to target the security forces and carry out some sensitive and sensational attacks in Chenab Valley to create insecurity among the people and disturb the peaceful atmosphere.

He had the capacity to organize well planned attacks on the forces. He has been wanted by law for complicity in several crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities in Pulwama and Shopian districts of Kashmir as well, Singh said. This was the second encounter between security forces and terrorists in Doda district this year.

Earlier, Hizbul Mujahideen commander Haroon Abbas was killed in the same area by security forces on January 15.

Earlier this month, two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were arrested along with some arms and ammunition in the district.

Doda along with nearby Kishtwar district has witnessed increased terrorist activity lately.

These Chenab valley districts were declared terrorism-free over a decade ago.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over the past month, the number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Southeast Texans younger than 40 has more than doubled.

At the same time, the region has not seen a virus-related death in about a week, after recording at least two each week since the beginning of April. Nor is it seeing any increase in cases severe enough to warrant admittance to the ICU or a ventilator to breathe.

This dichotomy illustrates a key to one of the ways scientists think can suppress the virus: Keeping seemingly healthy people  generally younger, often unaware they have the virus  from infecting higher-risk individuals who managed to steer clear before the reopening.

Beaumont Public Health Director Sherry Ulmer summed up the danger of being lulled into a false sense of security even as businesses and social habits return.

Just because everything is opening doesnt mean that this virus has gone away, she said. Theres confusion. People are interpreting that if things are opening, Were good. The virus is gone.

But its not gone, and until there is a vaccine and treatment we need to be cautious.

The Enterprise conducted a statistical analysis of the age of individuals who have been confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, the highly transmissible disease caused by the virus. The paper examined the period between April 21, when public testing sites began accepting individuals regardless of their symptoms, and Thursday.

More Information Age breakdown of increases in positive coronavirus tests between April 21 and May 14: Jefferson County (103.8% overall) 0-10: 233.3% 10-20: 900% 20-30: 158.3% 30-40: 139.3% 40-50: 85.7% 50-60: 84.2% 60-70: 70% 70-80: 38.5% 80-plus: 60% Hardin County (27.5% overall) 0-10: No cases 10-20: 0% 20-30: 66.7% 30-40: 25% 40-50: 36.4% 50-60: 3.9% 60-70: 46.2% 70-80: 62.5% 80-plus: 28.6% Orange County (46.7% overall) 0-10: No cases 10-20: 133.3% 20-30: 42.9% 30-40: 80% 40-50: 66.7% 50-60: 20% 60-70: 27.3% 70-80: 66.7% 80-plus: 100% Data source: Southeast Texas Regional Operations Center See More Collapse

During that time, as many businesses reopened their doors, the number of positive cases among residents under 40 in Hardin, Jefferson and Orange counties grew more than twice as fast as the total number of cases.

The growth rate among this demographic was three times faster than among individuals 40 or older.

While the public health departments havent broken down how many individuals in each age group actually are being tested, the overall number of people tested every day stayed relatively consistent over the timeframe.

And the rise in the number of younger people who have contracted the virus is to be expected at this point as testing no longer is limited to people who are checked in to a hospital, said Dr. Ray Callas, a Beaumont doctor who serves on the Texas Medical Association board.

Theyre not as desperately ill as someone thats 50 or above with co-morbidities and didnt get tested in the beginning, said Callas, who has advised local officials on the pandemic and response efforts.

I also believe the reason youre seeing a lot more younger people, and will continue to see more young people become positive, is that the country is trying to get the economy back up and running.

Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames said recently that the cases the citys seen in the past few weeks are comparable to the flu in severity.

That tracks with national stats from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that show adults with the virus who are older than 65 are at least 31% more likely to be hospitalized. They are between 4% and 27% more likely to die from it.

As asymptomatic people begin to move around freely, however, the more likely it is for them to infect someone more vulnerable.

Jefferson County Public Health Authority Dr. Cecil Walkes said last weeks upward trend in positive cases is to be expected as businesses reopen. For now, he said, he hopes to see the region level out soon.

But he and other experts stress continued vigilance. If this spike is followed by a similar increase in deaths or hospitalizations, that would signal a spread beyond just younger, relatively healthy individuals eating out, getting haircuts and forgoing masks and 6-foot buffers.

Its not time to start congregating and going back to the tendencies of Southeast Texans, Callas said. Im a big hugger. I like to shake your hand. But continuing to social distance and keep our hands clean is going to be important the more we reopen.

What I dont want to see is Southeast Texas or Texas overall have to go back where we were.

Thats largely why Ulmer continues to wear a mask. The mask isnt as likely to protect the wearer as it is any person they come into contact with. And if everyone wears some type of face covering, the likelihood that anyone getting infected plummets.

Its not 100%, but its more effective than wearing nothing at all, Ulmer said. Apparently this virus is highly transmissible, but if we all have a face covering on, we all have some level of protection.

Callas said hes advised his elderly patients and those with other complicating factors such as obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes to continue to limit their exposure to large groups.

Instead of going out to a restaurant, he suggests inviting friends or family over for a smaller gathering.

And if an individual feels the least bit sick  cough, fever, ringing in the ears, a change in the way things taste, etc.  they should contact a physician immediately.

Thats where we have to be, he said. Im a big proponent of having a very big economy. Right now, if we dont do something, Im more worried about the economy not being able to turn around.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/KaitlinBain
On a sunny 86-degree day last weekend, Pat Cheung walked his dog through Fields Park -- with its one-acre patch of grass, a rarity in Portlands mostly concrete Pearl District.

Cheung wasnt prepared for what he encountered.

Shocked and disappointed (about) what I saw today, he later posted to Instagram.

Probably more than 150 young beautiful dumb idiots frolicking in the park. I saw about 4 other people wearing masks... me being one of them, he wrote. If Portland ever has an outbreak, this will be the epicenter.

He finished with this warning: People were not out of the woods yet.

The scene Cheung chanced across embodies the challenge the state faces as Gov. Kate Brown this past week lifted her statewide stay-at-home order and gave the OK for many residents to journey out again.

Brown allowed gyms, barber shops, hair and nail salons and dine-in restaurants and bars to reopen in 31 and 36 counties -- after more than seven weeks of mandated closures to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. Although Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties arent among the 31, the governor also allowed virtually all retail stores across the state  including in the Portland area  to open for business. Malls must remain shuttered for now.

But the governor also cautioned that part of the success of these next steps depends largely on the decisions each of the states residents makes about wearing masks, staying at least 6 feet from others whenever possible, working from home if their jobs allow, traveling the minimum distance necessary for shopping and finding safe places and times to exercise or recreate.

We are venturing out onto thin ice and we need to step carefully and cautiously, Brown said.

Bill Griesar, who teaches psychology and neuroscience at Portland State University, said we know that social distancing is incontrovertibly essential for slowing the spread of the virus.

But Griesar said some of us are being pushed to leave home by economic forces  the need to earn a living. Meanwhile, others simply want, desperately, to go to the park, the beach, the barber, to see our family and friends.

Were experiencing an extraordinary collision of biology and psychology, Griesar said. But do we want to save lives? The facts of biology  not our personal needs and desires  determine the viral spread, illness and death rates.

Can the state reopen now while keeping the coronavirus from making a vicious resurgence?

Only time will tell.

***

Even before Brown rescinded her stay-at-home order Thursday, Oregonians were already going out in greater numbers.

Each week for the past few weeks traffic counts have steadily risen by up to 7% on most every freeway in the metro area. Traffic on Interstate 405 North across the Fremont Bridge jumped a remarkable 22 percent during the first week of May.

Mobility data collected by Google from cellphones shows Oregonians have increasingly been leaving home in recent weeks to pick up or buy groceries in person, shop at hardware stores and get outside. Trips to Oregons parks, beaches and outdoor plazas have nearly doubled since Google started making its data public in late March.

As the high topped out at 74 degrees along the northern Oregon coast a week ago, Cannon Beach police told 700 mostly out-of-towners that they had to leave because they were violating an emergency directive closing the beach because of a past problem with visitors practicing proper physical distancing.

Since Browns March 23 stay-at-home order, Oregon hasnt been able to stomp out new known cases of coronavirus, consistently reporting between about 50 to 90 new cases each day.

Oregon so far has seen a relatively low number of cases overall compared to other states with dense populations and much busier international airports. As of Saturday, the state had identified more than 3,600 cases and recorded 137 deaths.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

Scientists say the challenge of how to keep the novel coronavirus under control while millions of Oregonians -- and hundreds of millions of Americans nationwide -- begin mingling with each other once again will be an especially difficult one.

The governor has strongly recommended that the public wear face coverings. Under her phased reopening of the state, she has requested but hasnt required that Portland area residents stay at home except for essential tasks and urged them not to venture out to other open counties to get haircuts or enjoy tourist destinations such as the Oregon coast.

State officials have asked people not to travel more than 50 miles from home for recreation.

Brown said she wont ask police to stop Portlanders headed to the beach. She hasnt had to use a hammer, she said, because the vast majority of the states residents have cooperated.

At the same time, she didnt hesitate to say shell order closures again if necessary.

This is another reason why everyone -- everyone -- across the state should continue to practice physical distancing and wear face coverings, Brown said.

***

A poll in April found 82 percent of Oregonians questioned backed the governors order to stay home, but its been almost a month since the survey was done and cabin fever and financial strain for some appears to have set in.

Some people believe the crisis is overblown and the governor has overreacted with a flurry of restrictions, wreaking devastation across even rural parts of Oregon with far lower numbers of infection. The states unemployment department has fielded more than 382,000 jobless claims since the first COVID-19 case was diagnosed.

On the flip side, thousands of people who still have jobs have complained to state regulators that their workplaces are disregarding physical distancing or other safety measures and theyre terrified theyre going to get sick.

Some others cite the testimony this week of the federal governments top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who warned about an out-of-control resurgence caused by the haste to reopen. Scientists have said states across the nation need much more robust testing and contact tracing systems.

More than 130 Oregon physicians sent the governor a letter Friday urging her to not just ask but require that the public to wear masks while at businesses where safe physical distancing isnt practiced. Brown so far has said only employees must wear face coverings.

The group, led by Democratic Oregon House candidate Lisa Reynolds, noted that close to half of the people infected by the new coronavirus get the disease from others who are showing no symptoms, according to some studies. Cities such as Los Angeles are requiring the public to wear masks in public, including outside, and states such as New York are requiring them whenever people are within 6 feet of someone outside of their household.

As medical experts and state officials debate best practices, everyday people have been moving forward with their plans.

Tammy Wallace, co-owner of a Beaverton dance clothing store called Dance Togs, said she reopened more than a week ahead of the governors order lifting restrictions on boutiques such as hers because she needs the cash flow.

Every penny helps because we have a hefty rent to pay as well as paying vendors back, Wallace said. Its a very big struggle and very stressful.

She said she adopted strict practices: No more than three customers in the business at a time, they must wear masks, the front door is left open for ventilation and the cash payment pad is cleaned between each use.

Even so, several days into the stores reopening, Wallace said customers seemed hesitant to shop. She said only one customer had come in the store and that person didnt buy anything.

***

Concerns over the actions of others  that theyre putting Oregon in jeopardy -- have fueled a steady stream of social media posts and emails to The Oregonian/OregonLive from readers. Some worry that the state isnt prepared.

Mothers Day sparked a spate of complaints about extended families from different households gathering at each others homes for a meal. One Vancouver woman said she noticed her neighbors invited about eight guests over of all ages, and she later saw them hugging and posing for photos together in the front yard.

One man emailed in a photo he took from a distance of George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego. As the temperature crept into the 80s, more than 40 people sunbathed, picnicked or frolicked along the small stretch of sand. He wondered if some people, who looked as if they might be strangers, were congregating too closely together.

A reader took this photo of George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego on Saturday, May 9, 2020. (Submitted photo)

Here is this beach where people are enjoying themselves as if nothing is going on at all, said the man, who asked not to be identified out of fear people who disagreed with him would retaliate.

Some metro area residents have posted that they dont feel safe on TriMet, which has reduced the number of buses and trains in service. Even though ridership has dropped, they say theyve encountered buses or trains with too many people on them.

Thank you for share your suggestion with us regarding crowded trains. Ive forwarded your suggestion to the appropriate department for review and possible future implementation.  TriMet Rider Support (@trimethelp) May 14, 2020

Others have felt stifled that they can no longer carry out regular exercise routines, like running or hiking on beloved trails, without encountering people who dont safely distance themselves.

Im up the hill. In the Before Times I did all my running along the Trolley Trail starting just on the other side of McLoughlin but its far too crowded lately.  Erik Grove (@ErikGrove) May 14, 2020

Still others groan as they feel that runners or cyclists zip too closely by them.

Some residents have noted that going out to pick up a favorite food without encountering crowds hasnt always been possible. One father who went out to indulge in some shave ice with his daughter said they wont be doing that again.

This is me. My daughter really wanted to support a place that makes Japanese-style shaved ice. It was great as a treat, but the place was crowded and hard to get into. First time out in 3 weeks, and I wont be doing it again for this. https://t.co/9ow7kcMcys  Alphastream (@Alphastream) May 14, 2020

Cheung, the Pearl District dog walker, said when he encountered the 150-plus people at Fields Park, he noticed some of them lying in the sun in clusters no more than 4 or 5 feet from each other.

He also chanced across a friend and her dog among them, although she was about 6 feet from the next group.

She said, Should we be doing this? Cheung recalled her sheepishly asking.

Then another friend walked up, he said, and the group wondered aloud: Dang, whats going on here? Even if we were partaking in it.

Cheung said he left within minutes.

He chalks up the crowded park to the captivity many have felt after having been cooped up for nearly two months and the overwhelming joy Oregonians feel going outdoors in spring and summer after the long, dark, wet winter.

That euphoria is going to be so hard to battle, Cheung said. ... The average citizens think OK, we played nice. We obeyed the orders. Reward us by lifting the orders again.

He worries cases will rise as people return to their old daily habits, and a portion shun masks.

As a country, Cheung asked, are we OK with that?

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
DUSHANBE -- Dozens of Tajiks affected by some of the worst flooding and mudslides in years have blocked a key road in a rare instance of public protest in the authoritarian Central Asian nation.



The protesters halted traffic on May 17 along the Bokhtar-Dushanbe road, which connects the nations capital with the center of Khatlon Province. The road continues on to a border bridge with Afghanistan.



Residents of the Khuroson district have been severely impacted by devastating floods and mudslides in recent days with dozens of homes in three villages partially or fully destroyed.



One person has died and several have been injured from the natural disaster.

Meanwhile, residents have been forced to spend nights outside without emergency aid, they said.



The head of the local police is negotiating with the protesters.



Large demonstrations have been rare in Tajikistan -- which has been run for more than a quarter century by authoritarian leader President Emomali Rahmon -- since the end of its civil war in 1997.



The protest comes amid complaints over the governments response to the COVID-19 pandemic.



Tajik authorities, who for weeks denied that the coronavirus had reached the nation, claim that only 204 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and only 36 have died as of May 16 .



However, civil activists claim that the number of deaths alone already exceeds 200
Photo credit: Hyundai

From Car and Driver

The new keyword is: clean.

Car companies want you to feel like there's no chance that you'll expose yourself to COVID-19 if you decide to buy a new car during the pandemic, so they're changing the normal ways of doing business.



GM has started a new CLEAN dealership program, Ford is expanding employee testing for COVID-19, and Hyundai is even looking at self-sanitizing vehicles, but that's several years from practical use.

Numerous automakers have introduced new methods to their vehicle delivery processes in an effort to emphasize sanitized vehicles and contactless delivery. Here are a few of the early efforts, and surely many more will follow across the car-buying landscape.

GM: Extra-Clean Dealerships

For General Motors, the keyword isn't clean, but CLEAN. That's not an acronym, but a voluntary program that GM dealerships can sign up for if they agree to follow CDC guidelines for regular business operations and to use CDC- or EPA-approved disinfectants to clean the building and vehicles, both in the showroom and before delivery to customers.

Photo credit: General Motors

Fair warning, though. The Chevrolet CLEAN website says, "Neither the Chevy Clean Program nor a dealer's enrollment in the Program should be deemed to state or imply that any dealer's cleaning activities can eliminate or prevent transmission of any virus, illness or disease."



Photo credit: Ford

Ford: Worker Testing

It's not just dealerships where automakers are changing their policies. As manufacturing starts to ramp back up in some areas, Ford announced this weekend that it would expand COVID-19 testing for hourly and salaried employees who have suspected symptoms in four areas: southeastern Michigan; Louisville, Kentucky; Kansas City; and Chicago, with more to come. The tests should produce results in 24 hours and, if an employee tests positive, they and other workers who had close contact with them will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Story continues

Hyundai: Clean by UV



Hyundai is thinking about ways to keep future cars clean as well. Antimicrobial interior surfaces have been included in some vehicles since 2011, but the company says that the most promising technology it has investigated for the future is ultraviolet lamps. UV lights are "medically and scientifically proven to be effective," Hyundai says, even though "direct UV rays are well known to be harmful to human skin."

Photo credit: Hyundai

The idea right now seems to be adding a UV lamp to the dome light and have it turn on when no one is in the car. This would not help areas where the light rays don't reach, Hyundai says it is planning to develop interior cabin lights with a sterilization feature, and might combine UV rays with a photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to sterilize the air in the vehicle cabin.

Other parts of the Hyundai corporate empire have also thought about new cleanliness features. Hyundai Engineering & Construction, for example, will soon showcase its fine dust solution called "H Clean 2.0," a way to kill all germs and viruses in an enclosed area, like an apartment or elevator.

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The Guardian

The Steelers quarterback is headed to the Hall of Fame. But he was unloved outside Pittsburgh for understandable reasons Ben Roethlisberger almost certainly played his final game in the NFL on Sunday. Photograph: Ed Zurga/AP Ben Roethlisberger is lucky that football legacies are not decided by finales. If Sunday night was indeed Big Bens last ever NFL game, as he has strongly hinted, it wasnt exactly a mic drop. In the 42-21 beatdown by the Chiefs, Roethlisberger struggled with rollouts, and l
A jet from the Canadian air force's Snowbirds exhibition team crashed into a residential neighborhood in the city of Kamloops northeast of Vancouver on Sunday after the pilot ejected.

The air force confirmed on Twitter that one of its Snowbirds had crashed, but gave no details.

Local media reported at least one house was on fire in a neighborhood in Kamloops, a city with a population of more than 90,000.

The crash was the second recent accident involving the Snowbirds. One of the team's jets fell into an unpopulated area last October before a show in Atlanta, after the pilot ejected.
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Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks during the daily Covid-19 briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on April 21.

Public companies that took advantage of the government's small business loan program are likely to avoid repercussions from the agencies running the effort, according to legal experts.

Businesses have until May 18 to return funds taken from the Paycheck Protection Program with amnesty, but most of the public companies that got PPP loans are keeping them, including ones with access to other forms of fundraising like stock sales or bank credit lines, according to a CNBC analysis of regulatory filings.

That is despite a threat from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that borrowers face "severe consequences" and even criminal liability if they didn't really need the government money. Mnuchin's warning came at the height of an uproar last month over large companies using the PPP. Companies that could raise money elsewhere were given a deadline to return the funds.

"I want to be very clear," Mnuchin said in a CNBC interview on April 28. "It's the borrowers who have criminal liability if they made this certification and it's not true."

But lawyers advising corporate boards on their use of the PPP, a cornerstone of the $2 trillion CARES Act passed in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic, said that the certification required is so vague and open-ended that most companies qualify for the program.

"I don't see anybody being convicted for this, honestly," said Scott Pearson, a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. "What will scare people away is the threat of being accused. The suggestion there is criminal liability for a company that has a good argument that they were eligible for these loans based on the structure of the CARES Act is ludicrous."

Mnuchin's threat of criminal prosecution sowed confusion and anxiety among companies that had gotten funds and discouraged others from applying, said Pearson and other lawyers. People who knowingly make false statements to get PPP loans face up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, according to the PPP application form.

The threat also succeeded in nudging some companies to return funds. As of May 15, 62 loans totaling $412 million were returned, out of the $1.3 billion that public companies received, according to data analytics firm FactSquared.

That was the point of Mnuchin's campaign, according to Matt Axelrod, a top aide to former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates during the Obama administration. Public companies that filled out their applications in good faith, met the legal criteria as detailed in the CARES Act, and use the funds for approved expenses like payroll don't have exposure to criminal charges, the former Justice Department official said.

"They're trying to use public shaming mechanisms to embarrass companies into giving money back that, technically, they're allowed to take under the program," said Axelrod, now a partner at law firm Linklaters.

A Treasury spokesman declined to respond to a question about whether companies faced penalties for unjustifiably tapping PPP, instead pointing to Mnuchin's public comments and the SBA's guidance.

At the heart of the matter is a one-sentence certification in the PPP application form that "current economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the Applicant."

When the emergency program began in early April, businesses of all kinds were encouraged to avail themselves of the forgivable loans to maintain workers they might otherwise lay off. Since most companies have been hurt by the widespread shutdowns meant to blunt the progress of the coronavirus, this certification was seen as purposefully broad.

Once news hit that large companies like Shake Shack got loans while hundreds of thousands of small businesses were left in limbo, Mnuchin and the Small Business Administration worked to tighten controls on the effort, issuing new guidance that it was unlikely that public companies with "substantial market value and access to capital markets" could make the certification in good faith.

As the program stretched into its sixth week, however, the agencies updated their guidance again, effectively backing off from their earlier threats. The SBA said on May 13 that PPP loans below $2 million would be assumed to have been made in good faith, clearing the vast majority of legitimate businesses from scrutiny.

The move was ostensibly so the government could focus its resources on examining loans that were bigger than $2 million. But even in cases when an audit reveals that a borrower shouldn't have taken the loan, the SBA will simply ask for repayment of the money. If a company does that, the SBA said it "will not pursue administrative enforcement or referrals to other agencies."

That change lowers the risk even further that companies keeping PPP loans will have cases referred to the Department of Justice or the Securities and Exchange Commission, legal experts said.

Still, companies may be vulnerable to whistleblowers who file lawsuits under the False Claims Act, used to combat companies that defraud the government, as well as the actions of state attorneys general who may be looking to make a name for themselves, according to Ed Zimmerman of Lowenstein Sandler.

Overall, the latest changes may give ammunition to critics who charge that the government is too lax in its oversight of this historic stimulus effort. Lawmakers and news outlets have pressed for a full list of companies that have tapped the PPP; so far only public companies have had to disclose their use of the program.

When it comes to blatant criminal activity like fraudsters who fabricate employees or whole businesses, the Justice Department has said it is reviewing data from the SBA and banks for anomalies in payroll information.

The agency has already moved to charge four applicants for inventing non-existent companies and workers or using PPP money for unapproved purposes like buying jewelry.
A Domino's Pizza shop in Fairfield has closed for cleaning after a staff member tested positive to COVID-19.

Dominos Pizza in Fairfield has closed for COVID-19 cleaning. Credit:Photo: Luis Enrique Ascui

Domino's was notified on Friday of the positive test, and immediately closed the store, notifying all Fairfield store team members and their families.

The store is closed for two weeks for thorough cleaning and all 16 staff members will be tested and quarantined for 14 days.

In a statement, Domino's said it was going "above and beyond" what was required to put the health and safety of its team members, customers and community first.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Kazakh counterpart, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, discussed issues on the bilateral agenda in a Sunday phone call, timed to the latter's birthday, the Kremlin said in a statement, Sputnik reports.

"During a telephone conversation, Russian President Vladimir Putin warmly wished happy birthday to President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. [They] touched upon topical issues on the bilateral agenda," the statement read.

Earlier in the day, the Kremlin also published a congratulatory telegram sent to Nur-Sultan for Tokayev's birthday.
Return Of Crimea 'Difficult And Slow Process,' Says Ukraine's Parliament Speaker

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 16, 2020

The speaker of the Ukrainian parliament says efforts to return control of Crimea to Kyiv are part of "a difficult and slow process," that Ukraine is determined to resolve.

Dmytro Razumkov, head of the Verkhovna Rada, made the remarks in an interview with RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that was published on May 16.

Russia forcibly took over Crimea in March 2014 after Russian forces seized control of strategic sties on the Black Sea peninsula and organized a referendum that was not recognized by the international community.

Shortly thereafter, Russia began supporting separatists in two eastern Ukrainian regions, Donetsk and Luhansk. The conflict in eastern Ukraine has left around 13,000 people dead, tens of thousands more injured, and uprooted well over 1 million Ukrainians, according to UN and Ukrainian officials.

The West has sanctioned Russia for its seizure of Crimea and its support for the separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow denies supplying fighters, weapons, and financing to the separatists, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. It also claims that the referendum in Crimea was legitimate, and has ruled out handing control back to Ukraine.

Razumkov said Kyiv would not abandon efforts to return Crimea to Ukrainian control, nor efforts to regain control of separatist-controlled areas of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, also known as the Donbas.

"It is a difficult and slow process, but at the same time we can take this issue off the agenda and [cannot quit] trying to resolve it in all sorts of ways on various levels and neither can we lose means of communication with the occupied territories -- both Donbas and Crimea," Razumkov said.

Ukrainians in separatist-controlled areas of Donbas who have accepted passports offered by Russia often had no choice, Razumkov explained.

"There are many -- very many -- people who were, are, and will remain citizens of Ukraine. The conditions they find themselves in force them to take steps you are referring to [taking Russian citizenship]. But, you know, God forbid we ever had to find out what it is like in their shoes," Razumkov said.

U.S. and other Western officials have condemned Russia's move to fast-track the granting of citizenship to all residents of Donetsk and Luhansk as running counter to efforts to achieve peace.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/crimea-return- difficult-slow-process-razumkov-ukraine- parliament-speaker/30615823.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine calls on the international community to pay special attention to the massive and systematic repressions that have been taking place in the Ukrainian territories, occupied by Russia for the sixth consecutive year, and to take all measures to put an end to this. The Foreign Ministry stated on the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repression.

For the recent sixth year, human rights of the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar national communities have been massively violated in Crimea. Murders, kidnappings of activists, fabricated trials, illegal detentions, unjustified arrests, searches, intimidation. Currently, more than a hundred Ukrainian citizens are detained for political reasons in Russia and the occupied Crimea, most of them Crimean Tatars. The situation in the occupied areas of Donbas is even worse. Executions and killings of Ukrainian prisoners of war and local patriots, kidnappings, torture and humiliation have become commonplace here," the statement said.

As we reported before, May 17, Ukraine honors the memory of the victims of the totalitarian ideology in the Soviet Union. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Bykivnia Graves National Historic Memorial and took part in the measures dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repressions. The Head of State laid flowers at the mass grave, put an icon lamp, and honored the memory of the victims of totalitarianism near the central monument of the Bykivnia Graves.

"The colossal scale of the crimes and their inhumane nature are shocking. Absolutely unnatural to both the laws of normal human existence and the social order of the civilized world. The totalitarian machine destroyed human lives and destinies on its way without hesitation," the President of Ukraine said.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said that the public would not take kindly to being asked to return to the polls in an election.

He said: "The economic situation is so serious that anyone who is seen to be trying to [....] favouring an election, I don't think the public would look too kindly on that. I don't read too much into that."
The big concern is whether customers will follow the rules. Early evidence is that many of us will not. When Florida and, briefly, California opened their beaches -- warning beach-goers to maintain at least six feet of distance from other folks -- thousands of people jammed the waterfront, maintaining no distance whatsoever. More than 350,000 people crammed into Galveston, creating gridlock and turning the island city into a giant parking lot. The people didn't care -- social distancing was the last thing on their mind. In Wisconsin last week, bars reopened -- Texas bars may be allowed to reopen later this week -- drinkers crowded in, cheek by jowl. Every conversation, every sneeze spread droplets on people nearby, and some of those droplets could have contained COVID-19. Shoppers at a Target broke and employee's arm when he told them they needed to be wearing a mask while shopping.

Our health experts and our political leaders can do only so much to keep us as safe as possible. The rest is up to each of us. Just because we can leave our home doesn't mean we have to. If you are one of the people in a especially threatened category -- older, with a weakened immune system or other underlying health conditions -- stay home. Hopefully, your boss will allow you to continue to work from home if possible. If you don't yet feel comfortable sitting in a restaurant with other diners, go through the drive-thru or available yourself of curbside pickup. Many grocery stores and pharmacies will deliver groceries and prescriptions to your home or you can pick them up curbside with no contact with employees.
A beer shop manager (L) disinfects a customer's hands on Bui Vien beer street in HCMC, which reopened on May 7, 2020 after social distancing eased. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa.

With no new case confirmed, Sunday morning marks day 31 that Vietnam has gone without a new Covid-19 infection caused by community transmission.

The nations Covid-19 tally now stays at 318, including 58 active patients.

In the last 24 hours, five more cases were confirmed, all Vietnamese citizens returning from abroad. Four returned on flights organized by the government to repatriate citizens. The other illegally returned to the southern province of Tay Ninh from Cambodia and was quarantined the next day.

Nearly 9,000 people are currently quarantined in the country  returnees from abroad and those who have come into close contact with the arrivals and Covid-19 patients.

More than 7,000 are quarantined at centralized facilities, 302 at hospitals, and the rest at home or other accommodation facilities.

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected 213 countries and territories, with more than 312,300 deaths reported.
South Africas national lockdown includes a blanket ban on the sale of cigarettes, which economists show has been a massive failure.

According to a report by the Sunday Times, the ban has been a spectacular failure, with more than 90% of 12,000 smokers who responded to an online questionnaire stating they had purchased cigarettes despite the lockdown ban.

A study conducted by the University of Cape Town found that the ban has resulted in an average daily increase in the price of cigarettes of 4.4%, as well as the creation of a large black market.

The ban has made a cigarette price war after the lockdown inevitable, the report added, and will allow illegal cigarette traders to be more competitive.

According to the report, the study also found that South Africans were angry about the logic behind the cigarette ban.

Respondents do not understand the economics of health rationale for the sales ban, the researchers said. The continuation of the ban is illogical, one smoker responded.

Everyone is still smoking, just doing it illegally and at great cost while the government loses tax income and criminals make a fortune.

WhatsApp groups and online petitions

Many South Africans continue to buy cigarettes over platforms such as WhatsApp.

This holds unique risks for the administrators of WhatsApp groups where this takes place, as they could be held liable for illegal cigarette and alcohol sales.

Legal experts have warned people that, independent of their feeling towards the ban, it is currently law and people who break this law face harsh penalties.

If you are putting adverts for cigarettes or alcohol on your Facebook feed or WhatsApp group, you are contravening the lockdown regulations.

While the government has banned cigarettes in an attempt to reduce exposure to COVID-19, the results of research linking smoking to a higher likelihood of hospitalisation due to COVID-19 are still uncertain.

Some studies found that smokers may be at lower risk than non-smokers, while others suggest that a history of smoking can have a negative effect on COVID-19 patients.

Many South Africans have argued for the ban on cigarette sales to be lifted, with an online petition calling for the end of the ban reaching over 525,000 signatures at the time of writing.

The government has remained unyielding in its position, however, stating that the ban will remain in force.
Britney Spears can't believe it's been 20 years since her iconic sophomore album, "Oops!...I Did It Again" was released  and neither can we.

Spears took to Instagram on Saturday, the anniversary of the record's release, to share a nostalgic video featuring footage from back in Spears' heyday.

"Thank you to whoever made this .. I just nearly dropped my phone I wasnt expecting it!!!!!" the singer, 38, captioned the post. "20 years since the Oops! album . the anticipation and the butterflies I felt before it came out were crazy . all of my expectations were exceeded!!!!"

Spears also acknowledged the fans who've supported her through the ups and downs of her career over the past two decades.

"Its all thanks to you folks . thank you for sticking with me and growing with me," she wrote. "I am one Lucky girl. God Bless and thank you all !!!!!! PS you see even 20 years ago I still liked to twirl !!!!"

The Instagram video starts with the pop star as a younger woman talking about the album before its release.

"I think it's better than '...Baby One More Time,'" she told her interviewer. "Hopefully everyone else will think it's better."

Britney Spears

The Instagram montage also includes glimpses of the "Oops!...I Did It Again" music video, which featured Spears' unforgettable, red latex jumpsuit. Not included, though, is the famous scene in which the she pretends to perform on Mars. (Naturally, she encountered a hunky astronaut who was a little too into her.)

Spears had some fun with that memory on Saturday, tweeting at NASA about her past interplanetary explorations.

Hey @NASA .. I received your gift. I know its been 20 years since we met on Mars and I just wanted to say .. aww you shouldnt have  !!!!! Have fun up there @NASAPersevere !!!!!  Britney Spears (@britneyspears) May 16, 2020

"Hey @NASA .. I received your gift. I know its been 20 years since we met on Mars and I just wanted to say .. aww you shouldn't have!!!!! Have fun up there!!!!!" the mom of two wrote.

Story continues

It might seem like a crush... https://t.co/2kUlIYERaF  NASA (@NASA) May 16, 2020

NASA replied, slightly flirtatiously, with a line from her song: "It might seem like a crush..."

In March, Spears revealed her honest opinion about the red jumpsuit on Instagram to mark the anniversary of the release of the song "Oops!...I Did It Again."

"Oops!.how did 20 years go by so fast ?!??! I cant believe it," she wrote. "I remember that red suit was so freaking hot . but the dance was fun and it made the shoot fly by !!!!! And now were sitting in quarantine wishing we were on Mars .. of course I am just kidding !!!!! But seriously you have all shown so much support for this song and I thank you for it . sending love to you all !!!!!"

According to Billboard,"Oops!...I Did It Again" held the record for 15 years for the most album sales in a week by a female artist, with more than 1.3 million copies sold. Spears has sold almost 34 million albums to date in the U.S.
Rosibel Alvarengas job as a cook at a restaurant in downtown Washington provided steady income and job security for 15 years.

When the American bistro closed temporarily in the coronavirus shutdown, she continued receiving a paycheque. Once operations resume, her pre-virus earning potential may not.

Weve been told that each of us may only be needed one or two days a week, says Alvarenga, who typically worked five. Were worried, because we simply dont know what the future holds.

The pandemic is reshaping the job market for millions of immigrants in the U.S. Consumers may be slow to return to the hotels, office buildings and manicure parlours where many are employed.

Over time, the very nature of the work some immigrants do is likely to change as businesses enforce new social-distancing and related requirements. Meat workers, the backbone of the food-supply chain, toil in close quarters and at least 30 have died of coronavirus, with more than 10,000 infected or exposed.

The reduced job opportunities, combined with United States President Donald Trumps hard-line policies, mean the number of undocumented immigrants is likely to tumble, said Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington think tank.

They contribute about three per cent to U.S. gross domestic product annually and account for five per cent of employment, according to a 2016 paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Removing all of them would cost the economy as much as $5 trillion (U.S.) over 10 years, the report found.

Were probably going to have low immigration, particularly low illegal immigration, for a while, Selee said. There just isnt the jobs magnet that was present for so long.

Undocumented immigrants face the double hit of unemployment and a lack of access to social safety-net programs, including the stimulus cheques the U.S. government sent out, said Juan Navarrete, director of programming for Casa, an immigrant-aid organization in the Washington area.

A lot of these people are out of work  they cant pay for rent, they cant pay the utilities, Navarrete said. Many of them dont have health insurance, and they cant get the government cheques.

The U.S. labour market is in the throes of the harshest downturn in history. Employers cut an unprecedented 20.5 million jobs in April and the unemployment rate more than tripled to 14.7 per cent, the highest since the Great Depression era of the 1930s. The initial losses were concentrated in lower-wage labour, from hospitality to retail and restaurants, and surveys show that many small businesses may never reopen.

Trump last month suspended most immigrant visas for 60 days in what he described as a bid to limit competition for jobs. Separately, lengthy detentions of undocumented migrants crossing the Mexico border fell by half in April to fewer than 17,000. Thats because U.S. Customs and Border Protection used its emergency public-health authority to expel migrants within hours of their arrival, rather than housing them in American border stations as before.

There are signs that some immigrants already are deciding to leave. Those from Mexico sent family and friends a record $4.02 billion in remittances in March. But that partly reflects repatriation of savings by people whove lost hope for their job prospects in the U.S. and plan to go home, said Michael Clemens, director of migration, displacement and humanitarian policy at the Center for Global Development.

It could be a sign that more and more people are at least temporarily giving up on their future here, he said.

In the longer term, remittances are expected to drop as immigrants who remain in the U.S. deal with the viruss impact on the job market. The World Bank forecasts a record 20 per cent decline globally in transfers to low- and middle-income countries.

Alvarenga, 53 years-old and a legal permanent resident, says shes reduced by one third the money she usually sends her mother and sister in El Salvador because shes uncertain about her job.

Amid the earnings uncertainty, Alvarenga has started cooking food on her back porch  including pupusas, a Salvadorean flatbread stuffed with cheese and pork  on weekends to sell to friends and neighbours.

David Perez, 43, has struggled to pay the bills since the Elkridge, Md., flea market where he sells leather goods from his native Mexico shut down in March. He already lost his car because he couldnt make the payments. The single father hasnt paid this months $1,095 rent for his apartment outside Baltimore and doesnt know how hes going to afford it.

Perezs 14-year-old daughter, Maria, has had trouble keeping up with her school work because her father cant afford internet at home. Given the challenges, Perez has completely halted the cash transfers that help put food on the table of his mother back home in the state of Puebla.

Ive thought about leaving, he said. If the situation remains as complicated as it is, Im going to need to return.
Nepal on Sunday thanked India for providing medical supplies, including testing kits, as part of the bilateral cooperation to fight the coronavirus pandemic in the country, which reported the first death from the deadly disease on Saturday.

A total of 281 people have tested positive for the COVID-19 as on Saturday night. So far, 26,691 tests have been conducted and there are 244 active cases while 36 have recovered in the country. One person has died.

Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Gyawali in a tweet thanked the Indian government for the medical supplies.

"Sincere thanks to the Government of India for providing medical logistics and testing kits for 30,000 tests which were handed over to the Ministry of Health and Population today as a part of ongoing cooperation to fight the pandemic, Gyawali wrote on Twitter.

India on Sunday gifted the medical supplies to Nepal to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic.

India's Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra handed over the Pathodetect COVID-19 Qualitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test kits manufactured in India to Nepal's Minister for Health and Population Bhanubhakta Dhakal.

The consignment, as a gift from the people of India to the people of Nepal, will enable Nepal's health professionals to conduct PCR tests on about 30,000 people, according to a statement by the Indian embassy.

On April 22, India gifted Nepal 23 tonnes of medicines.

Gifting of medicines and test kits manifests the continuing cooperation of our leaders and people of the two countries to prepare, act and fight together the common challenge of COVID-19 pandemic," according to the statement.

These initiatives stem from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video conference of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Leaders on March 15 2020, when the coronavirus outbreak just started, it said.

"India stands in solidarity with the Government, Health Professionals and people of Nepal in this hour of challenge, it added.

The Nepal foreign minister's tweet thanking India for the medical assistance came days after he summoned the Indian Ambassador on Monday and handed over a diplomatic note to him to protest against the construction of the key road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand.

The 80-Km new road inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on last Friday is expected to help pilgrims visiting Kailash-Mansarovar in Tibet in China as it is around 90 kms from the Lipulekh pass.

On Friday, President Bidhya Bhandari, addressing Parliament, reiterated that Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh belong to Nepal and appropriate diplomatic measures will be adopted to resolve the existing issues.

India has said that the recently-inaugurated road section in Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand lies completely within its territory.

"The road follows the pre-existing route used by the pilgrims of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra," spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava said in New Delhi last week.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police were forced to break up a 70-person rave this weekend as revellers insisted they are 'sick of self-isolation' - and dozens more flouted social distancing rules to attend a baby shower.

Officers in Telford said they shut down a 'mass gathering' at the Granville Country Park in Shropshire on Saturday amid the coronavirus lockdown.

In a series of tweets, officers explained they were 'shocked that people would care so little' about the restrictions on social gathering, which have been in place for weeks due to the pandemic.

It comes as the UK announced a further 114 deaths from coronavirus today on the first Sunday since draconian lockdown measures were eased.

Under the new guidelines, Britons can now meet with one person from outside their immediate household so long as they are outdoors and stay two-metres apart.

Officers in Telford said they shut down the 'mass gathering' at the Granville Country Park in Shropshire on Saturday amid the coronavirus lockdown

In a series of tweets, officers explained they were 'shocked that people would care so little' about the restrictions on social gathering, which have been in place for weeks due to the pandemic

'We are attending a mass gathering/rave at the Granville park. I'm told 70 people here! We have worked so hard and sacrificed so much and this group decide it doesn't apply. I'm shocked that people would care so little,' a post said.

The force added that when officers asked revellers why they attended the event, one person said: 'I'm sick of self-isolation.'

'They had a DJ set up and appears to be pre planned. We dispersed them for now,' another tweet added. 'I couldn't take pictures of them close up as we don't name and shame.'

When asked if the group was fined, Telford Police explained: 'We don't fine unless there is no other action open.

'We engage and explain. We asked the group to disperse and they did. We would ask anyone who is thinking of organising one of these events to think of the bigger picture.'

When asked if the group was fined, Telford Police explained: 'We don't fine unless there is no other action open'

Meanwhile, Morecambe Police found 'dozens' of revellers from different households gathered together for a baby shower in a communal play area outside their homes

Meanwhile, Morecambe Police found 'dozens' of revellers from different households gathered together for a baby shower in a communal play area outside their homes.

The partygoers, who were set up with a buffet and a bouncy castle, became abusive towards officers when they arrived at the gathering, telling police it didn't matter they were together because 'schools were going back in June.'

The force said it first believed reports of '30 people on the street having a baby shower' were 'exaggerated' - but 'on this occasion it was accurate.'

'Quite often we attend reports like this which are exaggerated,' it said on Facebook. 'However on this occasion it was accurate, with dozens of people from different households sitting together on the communal play area outside their houses, complete with balloons, a tasty looking buffet and even a bouncy castle full of children from nearby houses.

'When the PCSOs politely explained that they should be not congregating like this, three particular individuals in the group became abusive.

'They stated that it didn't matter because the schools were going back in June.

'It was pointed out that if everyone acted like them then the schools would probably have to remain closed.'

The UK has announced a further 114 deaths from coronavirus today on the first Sunday since draconian lockdown measures were eased

The force added: 'One particularly uncaring individual stated, "well we're all going to get it so what's the point" and refused to follow the PCSOs' advice.

'When police officers were called to assist, the three courageously decided to run away, presumably more concerned about receiving a fine than giving someone else a potentially fatal disease.'

Warning others of the danger of spreading the deadly virus, the force went on: 'We understand that everyone is making sacrifices, including missing out on family occasions and seeing friends and loved ones.

'However, no-one is above the law and we will continue to engage and encourage people to act sensibly and to follow the guidance when meeting friends or family.

'It is a only a minority of people who decide to ignore this advice.

'Giving abuse to people for doing their job and trying to keep everyone safe is not acceptable and will be dealt with robustly.'
What can patients do to lower the risk of errors in their electronic medical records?

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In a perfect world, an electronic medical record would aggregate a patients medical information from all health care providers into a single, comprehensive record that could be easily accessed by any provider with the patients permission. This information could reduce the risk of medical errors, duplicate testing, and inappropriate treatment and the associated cost of these mistakes. It could also be lifesaving in the event of a medical emergency that left the patient unable to communicate with providers. But, of course, the world is not perfect, and neither are electronic medical records.

Errors in electronic medical records and systems occur more frequently than many patients know. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey noted that one in five people surveyed reported finding an error in their electronic medical record. The errors included incorrect personal information and incorrect information about medical history, diagnostic test results, and prescriptions. Quantros, a health care analytics firm, reviewed data from 18,000 safety events related to electronic health records over an 11-year period. Of those events, 540 caused patients harm, and seven deaths resulted.

Medications are another hotspot for errors. A report from Castlight Health and the Leapfrog Group found that approximately one in 20 patients in the hospital experiences an adverse drug event. In 39 percent of the cases reviewed, the hospitals online system did not flag potentially dangerous orders. A study in the journal Patient Safety reported that health information technology was listed as a contributing factor in 889 medication error reports submitted to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority over a six-month period.

There are several causes for these errors, including:

Health care provider error (inputting incorrect or incomplete information, cutting and pasting incorrect information, misidentifying patient)

Electronic health record (EHR) systems that do not communicate with each other, which can lead to fragmented and incomplete records

EHR system failures

Lags in data (such as test results, new prescriptions, and hospitalizations) being updated

Steps to lower the risk of errors in your electronic medical record

There are several steps patients can take to reduce the risk of medical errors related to problems with electronic medical records:

Be a proactive partner in your care. Regularly request a copy of your records from all health care providers you see, including primary care, specialists, urgent care, hospitals, and outpatient or ambulatory care centers. Start by ensuring that all the basic information is correct (name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, health insurance information, emergency contacts). Then review your medical history (allergies, symptoms reported, diagnoses, prescription medications, diagnostic test results, medical and surgical procedures performed). Check this information to ensure its current. For example, does your record still list medications you no longer take?

Have a medical home. Having one health care provider who acts as your point person can help ensure not only that the care you receive is coordinated among providers but can also help keep your medical records consolidated. Choose a provider you see regularly, usually your primary care provider, to act as your medical home. Youll need to let your provider know what other doctors you see and have those providers share your records and test results with your medical home.

If you find an error, get it corrected. If you do note an error in your medical record, contact the provider and ask what the practices or facilitys procedure is for making a change to your record. Some providers use a form  or you can write a letter that outlines the error, provides the correct information, and includes a copy of the page of the record with the error highlighted.

Providers have 60 days to correct an error, although they can request an extension. Your provider should send you a notification that the error has been corrected. After the 60-day period, request a corrected copy of your record and review it. If the provider does not agree that there is an error, he or she should send you a denial notice, explaining why the correction is not being made. You can respond in writing, explaining why you dont agree with the decision, and a copy of your letter should be included in your record.

Miles J. Varn is chief executive officer, PinnacleCare, and can be reached on LinkedIn.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
April 21, 2020



The grim headlines that the COVID-19 pandemic are bringing to us each day serve to highlight the promise of remote patient monitoring. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 6 in 10 American adults live with at least one chronic disease and 4 in 10 adults have two or more. Conditions such as heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease, diabetes, and kidney disease are leading causes of death and disability in the U.S., and also contribute the most to the country's $3.5 trillion annual health care bill.

In an unprecedented time like this, when healthcare resources are stretched in ways we've never experienced in modern times, these patients may face challenges in accessing our traditionally centralized healthcare services. In some cases, they may suffer additional discomfort if care gets delayed, or face risks if they visit a facility where care is also being given to COVID-19 patients.

The time is now to embrace and accelerate the deployment of remote patient monitoring to ensure that chronic conditions are managed in a way that can improve outcomes and reduce the need for regular healthcare facility visits. And in the event of pandemics such as COVID-19, remote monitoring can be a valuable tool to help healthcare professionals triage incoming cases based on each patient's condition. We certainly have the technology to support a more decentralized, yet personalized, model of healthcare. From sophisticated sensors to advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI), the underlying technologies are now available to enable accurate wearable medical devices that collect and transmit data to support remote patient monitoring.

There are certainly challenges with deploying technology at the point of use, but as society becomes more technology-oriented, if individuals are not able to apply the solution to themselves, there is often a care network of family members or professionals who can assist. Connectivity challenges and ensuring that data is being collected reliably by the device can be solved with careful product design and simple set-up requirements. Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved four Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for the reimbursement of remote patient monitoring (RPM). (CPT is a medical code set that is used to report medical, surgical, and diagnostic procedures and services to entities such as physicians, health insurance companies, and accreditation organizations for reimbursement.) So, the incentive is there to move toward more remote monitoring.

Figure 1. The use of telemedicine tools like virtual doctor visits is increasing during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Emerging Use Cases for Wearable Remote Patient Monitoring

Wearable devices in their varied formsrings, wristbands, earpieces, patchescan provide continuous remote monitoring in a convenient, unobtrusive manner. Many of us are accustomed to wearing smart watches that track our daily activities and provide general wellness metrics. It's not at all uncommon now for these smart watches to keep tabs on key biometric signals, such as heart rate, blood-oxygen levels (SpO 2 ), and body temperature. In the future, blood pressure and blood-glucose levels will likely be added to the list. Monitoring this data has opened new use cases, from assessment of sleep quality to detection of different types of diseases and chronic conditions such as sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation (Afib). This is paving the way for general acceptance of clinical-grade wearables that are prescribed by your primary-care physician.

Already, as the current pandemic unfolds, we're seeing healthcare technology companies pivot in response to the urgent needs. They're accelerating the deployment of the infrastructure needed for remote patient monitoring and also integrating their solutions into the healthcare providers' electronic medical record (EMR) systems. Companies developing remote monitoring patches are receiving a call to action from their local governments to procure and deploy their products that measure cardiac and respiratory parameters for higher risk individuals that have been diagnosed with COVID-19. ECG patches can be designed with very low-power, clinical-grade analog front-end devices that also provide bioimpedance measurements (a clinically recognized way to assess respiration). Similarly, makers of sleep apnea detection devices are being asked for units to be used in monitoring blood-oxygen levels (SpO2) in COVID-19 patients. (SpO2, along with heart rate and heart-rate variability, are key markers used in sleep apnea monitoring.) And, with high temperatures being an indicator of the new coronavirus, not to mention the presence of infection, devices that include human body temperature monitoring can be essential tools.

Health-monitoring wearables provide another set of eyes and ears, so to speak, to healthcare professionals, enabling them to remotely keep tabs on their patients. This can be useful in a time such as now, when telemedicine is experiencing a boon. Recent news reports note that doctors are, where possible, asking patients to carry out phone and video appointments as everyone tries to adhere to social distancing guidelines. While physicians can provide some level of guidance virtually, their assessment is primarily based on what each patient communicates, which can be rather subjective. Certain conditions are most accurately assessed when there is a continuous record of datawhich is where wearables can provide value. Let's consider high blood pressure as an example. The clinically recognized approach is to measure blood pressure at rest, ideally at the same time each day. But various factors, such as anxiety, can cause blood pressure to spike at the doctor's office (the "white coat effect") or even be elevated at home (masked hypertension). By collecting blood-pressure and other vital-sign data continuously and in real time, wearable medical devices can provide insights that are more telling than what is revealed from the periodic measurements performed during periodic doctor's visits. Imagine that after your phone call/video conference, your physician prescribes a patch that monitors vital signs including blood pressure. You receive this patch in the mail and either apply it yourself or have a caregiver do it. You wear it for a week to 10 days before either returning it in the mail or, ideally, uploading real-time data to your healthcare provider's EMR system.

Figure 2. Wearable medical devices can be used by patients at home to monitor blood pressure.

For chronic disease management, a wearable medical device can alert a doctor on whether the patient needs to go to the hospital or can manage the condition at home. Such devices can be used in a similar fashion for prescription drug monitoringfrom overseeing whether someone is taking their medication as prescribed, if they're having an adverse reaction from the drug, or if the dosage needs to be adjusted. Going a step further, what if general practitioners, rather than specialists, made it a more common practice to prescribe continuous monitoring wearables? With this approach, insights could be gathered earlier on and the data could reveal whether the patient is doing fine or if he or she does, indeed, need to see a specialist. This could help healthcare providers manage usage of their facilities without impacting the quality of care. Indeed, in a pandemic such as the one we're experiencing, triaging becomes an even more critical activity as healthcare facilities become overwhelmed. Imagine if most patients entering a healthcare facility wore a a basic vital-signs wearable medical device. By tapping into the data collected, healthcare professionals could quickly assess each patient's condition and more accurately prioritize them at the point of care.

Summary

While making remote patient monitoring more commonplace does call for a change in our traditionally centralized healthcare model, the time is ripe to do this. Clinical-grade sensor ICs offering low power and small size with the ability to monitor an array of vital signs are enabling wearable medical devices to deliver accurate, real-time, and continuous monitoring. Applying sophisticated algorithms and AI to this treasure trove of data yields insights that can foster a decentralized model of care where patients and doctors can be more proactive about predictive/preventive care, management of chronic conditions, and much more. Ultimately, it's all about delivering more personalized healthcare to improve outcomes and at a lower overall costwith the goal of creating a healthier world.

Stay safe and be well!

Additional Resources

Learn more about remote patient monitoring by reading these customer testimonials:
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 17:42:07|Editor: huaxia

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DHAKA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The number of new COVID-19 infections in Bangladesh rose by 1,273 on Sunday, the highest daily increase since March 8.

Nasima Sultana, a senior Health Ministry official, told an online media briefing that "1,273 new COVID-19 positive cases and 14 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh."

She said the number of confirmed infections totalled 22,268 while fatalities stood at 328.

Previously Bangladesh recorded highest 1,202 cases in a 24-hour period on May 15.

According to the official, 8,114 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh.

She said the total number of recovered patients in the country now stands at 4,373 including 256 on Sunday. Enditem
The South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) has issued a pastoral statement on COVID-19. The SSCC also announced the formation of an ecumenical task force with the purpose of complementing the efforts of the countrys National High-level Taskforce on COVID-19.

Andrew Kaufa, smm  Nairobi, Kenya

The developments in South Sudan come amidst concern regarding the threat of the coronavirus pandemic spreading if not controlled. The Church leaders have observed that the pandemic has the potential to derail the progress of the peace process and undermine the stability of the nation.

Church leaders commend governments timely intervention

In the statement, the Church leaders appeal to the people of South Sudan to observe public health measures, guidelines and directives put forward by the government and World Health Organisation (WHO).

A call for heightened awareness about COVID-19 in the country

The Church leaders express appreciation of the quick action by the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) in establishng the High-level Taskforce on COVID-19 to lead a sustained national response and intervention on prevention of this pandemic.

They also appreciate the role played by donors, international and local partners in supporting the efforts of the government to address the challenge.

Formation of a Church-led taskforce

Announcing the formation of the SSCC taskforce on COVID-19, the Church leaders called upon the people of South Sudan to adhere to the direction and guidelines given by the authorities. They also reminded citizens that the country is just emerging from a devastating civil war that almost tore us apart.

The church leaders further call upon all religious networks, media houses and civil society organisations to educate the people in both urban and rural areas and let them (people) know that the solution is with them.

Appeal for COVID-19 donor support

Encouraging the government to set aside more resources aimed at effectively facilitating a robust response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the country, the ecumenical association appealed to donor partners to support the worlds youngest nation.

You have always stood with the people of South Sudan. You held our hand during our most trying moments. We plead with you to continue supporting us, more specifically in regard to preventing the spread and managing the trauma and impact of COVID-19, reads part of the statement.

Issued, this week, the South Sudan Council of Churches statement bears signatures of the leaders of the ecumenical association which includes the chairperson of SSCC Bishop Arkanjelo Wanilemi and his deputy Right Rev. James Par Tap Hon, the Catholic Archbishop of Juba Most Rev. Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, the primate of Episcopal Church of South Sudan Most Rev. Justin Badi Arama, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan Right Rev. Peter Gai Lual Marrow, the General Overseer of the South Sudan Pentecostal Church Bishop Dr Isaiah Majok Dau and of the Area Regional leader of the African Inland Church, Bishop William Muzee Weresen.

According to the latest United Nations report, despite the high number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), South Sudan has so far weathered the pandemic relatively well. Nevertheless, the number of people diagnosed with the coronavirus is increasing day by day.
Firefighters rushed to contain a massive fire engulfing Gulf Point Condominiums building Saturday morning on South Padre Island, a Facebook video shows.

Ben Hill streamed video of the flames engulfing the condominiums around 8 a.m. Saturday, describing the firefighters who scrambled to put out the blaze.

"This is a crazy day," Hill said. "We have a lot of damage to our building. A lot of odor. Thank God the storm blew through and it's helping the firefighters get control of the structure...This has been the craziest morning....You never know what's gonna happen in Texas."

Some of those in the Facebook post comments said that they could see smoke all the way from Port Isabel.

Hill mentioned in the video that the Island had been struck by storms earlier in the morning.

Another witness, Tommy Saenz, also captured video of the massive fire.

"We've been hearing cars explode on the ground. The biggest fire I've ever seen on this island...This is horrible," Saenz said.

This is a developing story.
The Yogi Adityanath governments decision to seal the states borders took hundreds of migrant workers at the Uttar Pradesh heading home by surprise, leading to chaos at many points.

After the deaths of 26 migrant workers in a road accident in Auraiya district on Saturday, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had ordered not allowing any migrant worker travelling in trucks, cycles or on foot to enter the state. Instead, the government ordered they be provided buses and trains for their home journey. However, these took time to be arranged.

In the mean time, in the 13 UP districts that shares borders with Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana chaos reigned. District and police officers struggled to convince the irate people that arrangements were being made to take them home.

The migrant workers had made long and arduous journey to reach this far. They also became restive as many were close to their destinations. We travelled over 1,000 kms with little to eat and drink in this scorching heat and now when our homes are barely hundred kilometers away, we are being told we cant move ahead, one said.

In Saharanpur, over 3,000 migrant workers who arrived from Punjab and Haryana came out on roads and created ruckus over the delay in arranging transport for their onward journey. Police used mild force to quell them, and to pacify them, announcements were made that buses and trains were being arranged.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Saharanpur, Dinesh Kumar P said trouble erupted after rumours among the migrants at Radha Swami Satsang Ashram on Ambala Road that they would be held there for two to three months. Police informed them that 1,320 migrants were already sent on a train, and that buses were being arranged for the rest. The situation is now under control, he said.

In Jhansi, police were seen asking migrant workers on trucks at the border to deboard. But the unconvinced workers shouted slogans against the state government and police. There was chaos due to confusion among migrants that we were not allowing their entry, but when they were told that the administration was arranging buses for their safe journey, the matter was sorted out. They were taken to a nearby shelter and later boarded buses to their destinations, said SP City Jhansi Rahul Srivastava.

At Agra and Mathura border, migrants entering the state from Rajasthans Bharatpur and Dholpur were agitated over the interruption. A group set fire to a garbage dump. The situation was controlled when Mathura administration officials arranged buses.

Similarly, long queues of trucks and trolleys ferrying migrants, apart from some on bicycles, were seen in other bordering districts like Gautambuddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Baghpat, Shamli, Lalitpur and Mahoba. Chaos was also reported from some non-bordering districts like Lucknow, Kanpur, Unnao, and Fatehpur.

Director general of police (DGP) H C Awasthy said there was an unprecedented turn out of migrants. He, however, said that the situation was defused in a few hours after they were convinced of buses and trains for their safe onward journey. He said the aim of sealing the borders was to ensure safety of migrants and not to interrupt their movement.

Additional chief secretary, home, Awanish Awasthi said trains from Jhansi, Mahoba, Agra, Mathura, Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Saharanpur and Prayagraj were likely to start from Sunday. He said the UP state road transport corporation deployed 10,000 buses and districts magistrates had been told to hire private buses. The state had requested the Railways to operate trains between Kanpur- Varanasi via Prayagraj, he added.
Since the 1960s, telehealth cheerleaders have been predicting that video visits with doctors would soon become common for many U.S. patients. That became true only weeks ago, six decades later, when the coronavirus pandemic essentially shut down the world.

"Since about mid-March, it's become a reality and even a likelihood for millions of patients," said Lori Uscher-Pines, a senior policy researcher at the Rand Corp., whose research includes innovations in telehealth. "Before then, less than 10 percent of U.S. adults had ever had a telemedicine visit. But covid-19 [is changing] all that, likely permanently."

The terms telehealth, telemedicine and e-health have nuances when used legally, but for consumers, they are usually used interchangeably and refer to health care provided by a professional in a non-face-to-face manner, says Mei Wa Kwang, executive director of the Public Health Institute's Center for Connected Health Policy in Sacramento. Options can include a phone call, email, text, video visit or even a video email.

Before mid-March, Jay Mazel, a cardiac electrophysiologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, gave little thought to telemedicine. His specialty involves the treatment of heart rhythm problems. While he's still doing emergency procedures, with enhanced safety protocols, two days a week, maintenance visits are largely by video.

"Even though it's brand new for my patients - who tend to be older - and their doctor, they love it and so do I," says Mazel, who handles many of the televisits from home.

Mazel says the first visit with a new patient should be in person if possible, "to help us establish rapport." But for now, both he and his patients are happy with the information they can exchange during virtual appointments for uncomplicated routine follow-ups.

Nationally, telehealth visits, including for symptoms of covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, are projected to climb to 1 billion by the end of 2020, according to Forrester Research. The uptick started in mid-March when state stay-at-home orders began. Partners Healthcare, for example, a Massachusetts-based health-care system that includes Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women's hospitals, had 1,600 televisits for outpatient care in February, 89,000 in March and 242,000 in April. Jefferson Health, a health-care system in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, saw a 11-fold jump from February to end April.

Telemedicine was largely ready for the influx.

The past decade or so has been full of telehealth demonstration projects, including video visits with specialists, for people living far from academic medical centers. Several dedicated telehealth companies have sprung up, often catering to people with no insurance or high deductibles. Each telehealth company has different offerings - but a common visit such as checking symptoms for flu, generally costs under $100 per visit. The limiting factor, Kwang says, had been that most people have little or no health insurance coverage for video visits and doctors often have not been able to be reimbursed for telehealth services.

Amid the covid-19 outbreak, that has changed.

The increase in telehealth visits has been bolstered by decisions to cover them by Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurers, some of whom have even waived co-pays and deductibles for some visits, especially for ones related to covid-19 symptoms, according to information from the industry's association, America's Health Insurance Plans. Aetna, for example, is "offering zero co-pay telemedicine visits for any reason," and Humana is "waiving member cost share for all telehealth services delivered by participating/in-network providers."

Emily Shevitz, 30, of Kendall, Florida, was grateful for her first televisit in mid-March when she couldn't get a headache under control, a chronic condition since a near-fatal car accident in 2012.

"Because of a weak immune system, I didn't want to go to urgent care or my primary-care clinic, out of concern I could contract the virus," she said. Shevitz accessed a telehealth visit through Baptist Hospital in Miami. "I was able to talk to an ER doctor who asked me about my medical history and prescribed . . . medication until I could see my neurologist. It was reassuring that I was able to be seen from the comfort of my own house."

Joe Kvedar, vice president of Connected Health at Partners HealthCare and president-elect of the American Telemedicine Association, which represents the industry, recommends calling insurers to determine telehealth coverage and options. If a doctor does not offer televisits, the insurer may be able to connect the patient to a firm that does, often at no charge or a small co-pay.

Other tips include checking whether any information or forms must be signed, having an ID number or password ready if a practice requires them to connect to the visit, finding a quiet and private place for the visit, and charging the device the patient is using.

In March, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a notice that because of the covid-19 emergency, Medicare would pay doctors and hospitals for a broad range of telehealth services, including those delivered by nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists and social workers at the same rate as in-person visits.

The guidance also allows doctors to use any technology they choose to deliver care and treat patients via telehealth even if it's not related to the virus outbreak.

For Medicaid, run by each state individually, waivers can be submitted to change to telehealth delivery. In Colorado, the state has added telephone and live chat visits to video visits that were already allowed.

"If Medicaid continues to allow these visits, as we hope, after the emergency is over, many of my patients can access care without the need to travel or take time from work," said Kyle Knierim, a family physician in Colorado and associate director of Practice Transformation in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Telehealth, however, hasn't been, and can't be, a replacement for every health visit.

An April 23 study, published by the Commonwealth Fund, analyzed data on changes in visit volume for more than 50,000 health-care providers and found that the number of visits to physician offices declined nearly 60 percent in mid-March from Feb. 1 and has remained low through mid-April. Telehealth accounted for only 30 percent of visits that were still happening, but it did not make up for the much larger decline in visits.

For the week of April 5, for example, ophthalmology saw the biggest drop in in-person visits, a loss of 79 percent. Behavioral health was least affected, but still saw a drop of 30 percent. Alarmingly, pediatric in-person visits saw a drop of more than 60 percent.

"Telemedicine volume has grown too modestly to make up for lost in-person visits," said Eric Schneider, senior vice president for policy and research at the Commonwealth Fund. He says that in-person visits will still be needed for diagnosis and testing of some complex conditions.

"It really is important to be very aware of the limitations," says Anthony E. Magit, a pediatric otolaryngologist and chief of physician integration at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, where telehealth visits have jumped from just a few before the pandemic to as many as 800 per day recently.

Those limitations include brief visits that focus on a single issue and may not include questions that lead to other health concerns as often happens during in-person visits, lack of privacy for some patients and lack of certain tools sometimes used in visits, such as smartphone cameras that allow doctors to see throats and ears, and pulse oximeters or blood pressure monitors that give doctors critical patient data.

"We don't want to create a solution that makes the situation for underserved individuals worse," Magit said. "It's our responsibility to advocate through legislators and payers to make sure that the divide doesn't get wider because of telemedicine."

In a report published May 11, researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation said that "service parity and payment parity for telehealth across all insurers would help increase access for patients."

Once the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released the new rules on telemedicine visits in March, the American Medical Association and other medical societies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists kicked into high gear to advise their members on the rules and telehealth best practices. Wide use of telemedicine is so new that the AMA released a primer in March.

The AAP, for example, has posted clinical suggestions on its website including "consider[ing] . . . adjustments to . . . clinical operations [such as] only conduct[ing] well [in person] visits for newborns, and for infants and younger children who require immunizations and to reschedule well visits for those in middle childhood and adolescence to a later date."

The same is true for patients who need urgent follow-up testing. But if recent screening exams, such as a mammogram, were normal, physicians are likely to wait for the outbreak to abate in their communities before recommending additional testing, said Mark B. Woodland, OB/GYN chair at Reading Hospital/Tower Health and Drexel University College of Medicine and the chair of the Council on Resident Education for the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists.

Analysts and doctors do not expect the "genie of telemedicine to be put back into the bottle" once the crisis ends, Woodland said.

"The silver lining is that we will learn how to do it well, and our patients will help us learn how to do it even better."

Schneider said he expects that even once the pandemic ends, physicians will probably create "hybrid practices" that mix telemedicine and office visits.

Therapydia DC, a physical therapy practice in Northwest Washington, had offered only telehealth visits since mid-March but expects to offer both televisits and office visits - once the city begins to allow offices to reopen.
In the meantime, though, I have accepted that there are many things we elect to forgo in order to have the privilege of doing this job. Its not really about your feelings or your struggles or your stardom; its about getting the paper out.

If theres one thing that UC Berkeley has taught me the most about, its communication. And when theres no one to hold your hand through the trials generously supplied by campus, sometimes you have no choice but to fall back on your own voice.

Ive made progress toward being less jittery about confrontation and more sensitive to compromise  developments that I owe to everything Ive encountered here in Berkeley. The Haas School of Business promises us that if you communicate effectively, your perspective and point should be crystal clear, even to someone you just met.

As I watched Berkeley sculpt me into a communicator, there was one place where I hit a snag. That place, The Daily Californian, is structured in a way that is unquestionably effective at strengthening internal relationships but is harshly unforgiving to what lies beyond its Northside office walls. Especially during my senior year, there was a very precise line between people inside and outside the paper. It was a distinction that came with a reality check  the people who could make sense of my Daily Cal experiences were a finite few. Its the kind of group in which the tears weve shed from office pressure have lost their novelty  breaking down comes with no surprise, no questions, just immediate movement to comfort the person who needs it.

The offices obscure and unrelatable infrastructure is at the heart of why its so hard for me to talk about this publication. There are the absurd theatrics, such as advertising to anyone wholl listen that youre about to start your seventh meeting of the day or knowing that youll be in the office so frequently that you decide to bring in a 50-pack of knockoff Yakults.

But fundamentally, as an outsider, there is the jargon youll never recognize, the processes youll never witness and the rules youll never have to abide by. There are so many delicate and often contradictory nuances  such as the whiplash you get from an arduously long but also unforgivingly rapid production cycle  that I constantly wish I had a more straightforward way to explain.

Dont get me wrong, these things only insiders are privy to drive home my sense of belonging in an office that took four enduring semesters to finally feel comfortable in. The roundabout remark that there are worse things youve seen, the jokes about the look inside that flew too close to the sun, the faint sound of Le Festin that echoed from the media room  these all became familiar currency. Euclid Avenue held memories of tongue twisters at Greek restaurants and burning hot shovels in tortilla chip dispensers. But despite all of this, the trade-off was that communicating my Daily Cal triumphs and woes to anyone on the outside proved to be a nearly impossible task.

For someone whose biggest fear is being misunderstood, that was terrifying. There have been countless times when others have mistakenly assumed that I write articles for the Daily Cal. And even the people that knew with certainty I was not a writer still struggled to explain what I did instead. In my efforts to clarify, it never seemed like I did a very compelling job. Maybe it was me not being able to find the right words or others not being able to grasp it without years of context, but Im convinced that its some equilibrium between the two. The nature of my work was elusive  not because I was being secretive but because it was veiled behind incomprehensibility.

Ive come to the realization that working at the Daily Cal is very fulfilling, yet very isolating.

Theres probably some brilliant solution to remedy all of this, one in which I can somehow communicate the incommunicable and alleviate the isolation. In the meantime, though, I have accepted that there are many things we elect to forgo in order to have the privilege of doing this job. Its not really about your feelings or your struggles or your stardom; its about getting the paper out. When it gets tough, you take a lap to the corner store, passing all the dark and empty cafes that closed hours ago. And then you get back to work, because if we miss that 2 a.m. deadline, nothing else matters.

I ended high school with a love letter to room H53, and Im ending college with one to 2483 Hearst Ave. There are so many things that run true in any publication, but the Daily Cal has surpassed the others in teaching me how to balance the needs of the paper with my own. For any given emotion I have felt for this place, I was resentful that I couldnt convey it to the world. But the fact that the papers needs always took precedence over my personal wallowing required me to constantly recalibrate my priorities. It taught me how to get over myself. And, actually, that its not always about endless, noble self-sacrifice, but rather about finding little windows within the chaos of duty to care for the individuals that make up the paper.

So I walk away from college with people in mind for whom I have more love than I could ever express. And while I have to concede that the Daily Cal cannot be forever, the brilliance of the papers impact will shine for a long, long time before it fades.

Its been a while since the start of my term, and it wasnt until it ended that Ive been able to put this feeling into words. This inside-outside divide, though complicated and infuriating, builds an organic unity within the paper. Im glad we all take care of one another because sometimes, theres no one else who can.
Shivpuri : , May 17 (IANS) This is the tale of stark contrasts in human behaviour. One part shows how a friend put his life at risk to save another. The other shows how governments are looking the other way while truck operators make a killing out of the migrant workers' misery.

Having failed to save his friend Amrit Kumar, Mohammad Saiyub awaited a verdict on his health status in an isolation ward on Sunday as the doctors also prayed he tested negative for the dreaded virus. They were touched by the strong bond between the friends. Till the reports arrive, doctors and staff who treated Amrit have been quarantined. Shivpuri Chief Medical Officer Dr A L Sharma said samples were taken because Amrit and his friend had arrived from a red zone.

Amrit Kumar had a fever when he along with Saiyub and other migrant workers boarded a truck at Surat early on Thursday. The two friends, both 23, from Devri village in Basti district in Uttar Pradesh, worked in different textile units but shared a room.

Amrit had taken paracetamol tablets but it did not help much. The journey for which the two had to shell out Rs 8,000 to travel cattle class in a fully loaded truck with more than 40 others was going to be treacherous in the hostile sun. When the vehicle reached Kolaras in Madhya Pradesh on Friday, Amrit's health deteriorated.

The truck crew, who had already charged over Rs 1,60,000 from the passengers, refused to break journey midway to help Amrit get medical assistance. Neither workers nor the truck driver wanted to wait. The others insisted that Amrit be offloaded as he could be a risk to the others.

"I wanted him to get better so that we could reach home safely. Our parents were waiting for us. I will stay with him till he is cured," Saiyub said. Having forced Amrit to get off, the driver asked Saiyub to hand him his luggage and stay aboard. "How could I leave him in such condition," Saiyub said he realized the gravity of the situation and tried to speak to Amrit who was too weak to make sense through some sounds.

Local journalist Samuel Das, who had helped the two friends, said Amrit's father was handicapped. Saiyub said, being the sole breadwinner, Amrit was always tense. He earned around Rs 10,000 and had to send enough money to support his five siblings and parents.

Saiyub had asked the driver to pay some money back as they were being dropped midway and needed some money for Amrit's treatment. But he refused to pay.

As Amrit continued to sink, Saiyub sat cradling his friend by the roadside. Some bystanders clicked an image that went viral on social media. A half-empty water bottle and a red backpack lay next to the two friends. When an ambulance arrived a few minutes later, another image showed Saiyub hurrying to move his friend inside. Saiyub kept sponging his friend's forehead with a kerchief till the ambulance arrived.

The doctors who untiringly tried to save Amrit had to give up on Friday night. Amrit's lungs were clear but he had severe dehydration. He was shifted to ICU and was kept on a ventilator but he died around midnight.

Amrit was taken to the community health centre in Kolaras where Dr Vivek Sharma tried to revive him. "His sugar was low. I gave him ORS. His temperature was high. I thought it was a case of heat stroke. He had febrile convulsions,'" said Dr Sharma, who took Saiyub for Amrit's brother because he was constantly touching his friend. "Even ward boys are scared to touch patients these days. They had to be pushed to do so."
>>> Hanoi eligible to announce the end of COVID-19



>>> 24 new imported COVID-19 cases confirmed, tally at 312

According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Health, since the first COVID-19 infection case was detected in Vietnam (January 23), the nations total count now stands at 314 positive cases of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. So far, 260 COVID-19 patients in Vietnam have been given the all-clear. Among the 54 patients still receiving treatment, three have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, and 10 have tested negative at least twice.

Of the three most severely ill patients, one has been announced as recovered, while another is recovering miraculously with her health progressing better thanks to the efforts of doctors and the expertise and support of medical experts in consultation and treatment. The third and most critically ill patient is receiving full support with the best medical equipment, medicines and human resources in Vietnam working to save him.

Up until now, it can be said that Vietnam has basically controlled and repelled the COVID-19 epidemic, ensuring the safety of life, people's health and social security. These results have been recognised and highly praised by the international community. Notably, from April 16 until now, the country has gone almost 30 days without any infection in the community, a positive signal for the Prime Minister to adjust social policies to adapt to a new normal state, which features both disease prevention and control combined with boosting socio-economic development.

Dr Kidong Park, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Vietnam, assessed that the countrys prevention and control measures are very fast and effective, from transparent and timely capturing and sharing information to the application of effective information technology in epidemic prevention and control. The WHO Chief Representative in Vietnam also said that he would analyse and synthesise the lessons and experiences learnt from the COVID-19 prevention and control in Vietnam to share with the international community.

Although the risk of COVID-19 infection in the community is already very low, international experts believe that the situation in the world is still complicated and the epidemic is forecast to last for months, or even one to two years. Moreover, while there is no specific medicine nor preventive vaccine, Vietnam is always in a very alert position because the risk of infection still exists.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long informed that Vietnam continues to implement strict management policies for entry from abroad to prevent infection sources from outside, while at the same time focusing on zoning, early detection, isolation, and stamping out any new infections from within. Anti-epidemic forces such as healthcare, the army and the police are not allowed to rest as they must always be in a ready state. The core concept in the prevention of imported infection cases now is: do not allow entry for tourists, isolate all cases of entry at concentrated insolation camps, and take specimens as prescribed.

The domestic monitoring and prevention activities in the country will also be strengthened to timely detect and handle any cases arise to prevent the spread of disease in the community. Monitoring activities are implemented for all risk groups, such as people with cold, flu, cough and fever symptoms at health facilities; places with a large number of workers; and areas at risk of epidemiology.

The Ministry of Health also proposed localities to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in the community and health facilities to timely detect any new cases and take samples for testing and organise quarantine according to regulations, as well as zoning and thoroughly treating outbreaks, in addition to carrying out surveillance for COVID-19 in key areas across all regions in the country.

The testing plan for detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the new situation is being boosted under the direction of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, combined with consolidating and maintaining mobile teams to be ready to investigate, localise and thoroughly handle outbreaks, while continuing to provide information and mobilise the community to implement hygiene and preventive measures for themselves, their families and the community.

Although the risk of epidemic transmission in the community has decreased, the National Steering Committee still recommends that the public continue to wear face masks on public transport vehicles, in public places and outside of schools and offices. Public offices, factories, supermarkets, hospitals, wet markets, public transport and shops are suggested to continue to take preventive measures. People have been warned to not be subjective and should follow measures to maintain personal hygiene and avoid crowded places to prevent the risk of infection.

Regarding the announcement of an end to the COVID-19 epidemic in Vietnam, Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said that his ministry would propose that the Prime Minister not call an end to the epidemic at the present time. Although no new cases have been recorded in the community, imported infections from entry from abroad have been detected. In addition, as the disease continues to occur in most countries around the world, along with the continuing of flights to repatriate Vietnamese citizens and welcome hi-tech experts to Vietnam, it is possible that more imported infections could be recorded in the near future, thus increasing the risk of infection in the community. In addition, the announcement of the end to the epidemic may cause a neglect within the community, leading to not fully implementing hygiene and disease preventive measures, and making it difficult for the authorities to mobilise support and sources for the disease prevention and control work.

The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control suggested that the public continue to effectively carry out the following five measures: minimising going out and only going out when really necessary; always wearing face masks when going out is necessary, while keeping safe distance from others, preferably 2 m; washing hands with soap or antiseptic solution often; regularly cleaning houses and surfaces and practicing healthy living; making medical declarations, updating daily health situation, and keeping regular contact with health workers and health facilities.
A fresh diplomatic row as reportedly flared up between the UK and the US over Northamptonshire teenager Harry Dunn.

The Mail on Sunday said Washington officials were furious to learn UK police had put an international wanted notice out for Anne Sacoolas, the American woman charged over 19-year-old Harrys death last year.

Mr Dunn was killed when his motorbike collided with a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year.

Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official based at RAF Croughton, claimed diplomatic immunity after the crash and was able to return to her home country.

Dominic Raab (back left) and Boris Johnson were reportedly in crisis talks after Trump administration officials reacted angrily to the Interpol notice (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

She was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December, but an extradition request submitted by the Home Office was rejected by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in January, a decision the State Department has since described as final.

The Mail says bilateral tensions have erupted after British police enacted an Interpol Red Diffusion Notice, which was sent to certain countries including Canada, seeking Sacoolass arrest if she left the United States.

Washington was reportedly not notified about the move in hope Sacoolas would leave the country and be arrested.

US officials were said to have been furious on learning of the notices existence and confronted British counterparts, prompting crisis talks last Thursday involving Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, and Home Secretary Priti Patel.

The Mail said Northamptonshire Police are being blamed by the Government for news of the notice emerging.
The N.J. Labor Department, as of last week, said it paid out $2.5 billion in unemployment benefits to more than 725,000 workers since the coronavirus crisis shook the states economy to the core.

Thats out of 1.1 million workers who have applied.

That includes another 70,000 new workers who filed for benefits last week.

The pressure on the system isnt going away any time soon. Workers say theyre worried about the possibility of 100,000 furloughed state workers clogging up an already crowded system.

But anecdotal evidence  conversations with dozens of unemployed workers and reviews of social media messages of those who lost their jobs  shows the agency may be making a dent in its record backlog.

For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic shut the state down, weve seen an increase  however unscientific  of New Jerseyans who report they are finally getting their unemployment benefits.

That doesnt mean people arent still waiting. They are, and we hear desperate cries for help from hundreds of people every day. They say they call and email the agency dozens, if not hundreds, of times a day, they say, without getting the assistance they need.

Those who recently received benefits are angry and relieved at the same time, and they want to share hope for those who are still waiting. Here are some of their stories.

PAID AFTER 53 DAYS

Tasha Trusdale is a single mom of two children, one with special needs.

It took 53 days for her to get her first unemployment payment.

Trusdale, a W-2 employee for five years, was sent home from her job because of the coronavirus pandemic and first filed for unemployment benefits on March 20.

I had a hard time reaching unemployment after I was trying to certify weekly and it said my claim wasnt payable, the Newark woman said.

On April 1, she said, she was asked for more information and she sent it in immediately. She received an email saying she was approved 40 minutes later, she said, but each week when she claimed her benefits, it said the same thing.

Not payable.

I didnt understand why. I was approved. I had all my emails and eligibility paperwork in order and mailed to me. she said.

She would call and couldnt get through. She would email and only got automated responses that didnt get her any closer to a live person who could process her claim.

People need to eat, pay their bills, feed their kids and Gov. Murphy never wants to address this issue, Trusdale said. People are really suffering and down to their last dollar and Im really saddened because no one should have to live like that.

Trusdale said she kept trying to call without success, so she reached out to her assemblyman, Kevin Rooney, who she said was a help.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

Then she heard from the agency and learned something new.

I never made a mistake. The DOL never put my paperwork through to a supervisor for review, she said.

Her unemployment benefits showed up in her account on May 11.

I pray for everyone else to get answers on their claims and be able to stay afloat through all of this, especially those that have been waiting since the very beginning, she said.

57 DAYS OF NOT PAYABLE

Samantha Finnegan said she waited 57 days to get her unemployment benefits.

The Northfield woman applied for benefits on March 16 after she was furloughed from her call center job, she said. She was a W-2 employee.

She said at the end of March, she received notice that her benefits had been approved and she could start to certify benefits on April 1.

But when she tried, she said, the system said her claim was not payable. She figured that was because she had worked some hours in the week she was furloughed, so she was patient.

But when she went to claim the following week, she got the same message.

This is when I began calling, she said. I called every day and never was able to get through. I continuously emailed as well and never received a response.

That was her daily routine. Call. Get nowhere. Email. Get nowhere.

She said she sent more than 1,000 emails to different Labor addresses in one day.

On May 11, she finally received an email response saying an agent paid her claim and she would get her eight weeks of back pay, she said.

When I read that email, I almost started crying, Finnegan said. Finally I know how I am going to be able to pay my bills. It is a weight that has been lifted off my chest.

She said she still doesnt know why there was a delay in her case, but she wants those who are still waiting not to lose hope.

I just want to let everyone know to keep trying, she said. We need to make our voices heard because the N.J. unemployment system is broken and something needs to be done about it. People are counting on this system and it is failing them.

UBER DRIVER WAITS 49 DAYS

Rick McEvilly expected hed see a delay in getting benefits. He just never imagined it would be this long.

The Uber driver from Belford said he first filed for unemployment benefits on March 24.

Every week, the unemployment system told him his benefit was $0.

I assumed the delays were system-related, he said. He didnt learn until April 29 that payments for gig workers under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program hadnt yet been processed.

The Department has worked hard over the past month to get this program up and running despite the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, and it is now available, state Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said in a statement. While it will take time to determine eligibility for everyone who seeks PUA benefits, the process has begun to get billions of additional dollars into the wallets of eligible self-employed workers.

McEvilly said when the system went online for workers like him, he had trouble claiming benefits multiple times because of changed windows for his time and system outages. But then something changed, he said, and he was able to claim.

McEvilly said he received notice on May 9 that the first payment was processed for direct deposit to my account, he said. Of course I was relieved. (On May 11) that money appeared in my account along with five weeks of the supplementary PUA.)

He tells people who are still waiting to keep trying.

Log on to access your existing claim during your half hour time slot that is based on the last four numbers of your Social Security number. Answer the seven questions honestly. Repeat for subsequent weeks, he said. Smile and let out a sigh of relief when funds are in your hands!

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Karin Price Mueller may be reached at bamboozled@njadvancemedia.com.
Family nurse practitioner Geraldine Kennedy, who has been working with the Pioneer Valleys homeless population for 18 years, regards the novel respiratory illness pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 as another challenge to be faced together.

The pandemic provides definite challenges as it came quickly and as a new virus, we dont know an awful lot about it, Kennedy says. But, in our profession, no day is the same. We come to work every day, face challenges every day and we work together so that really helps get us through.

Kennedy and Holle Garvey, another family nurse practitioner, coordinate medical, nursing, behavioral health and social services for the Health Care for the Homeless program at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield.

The numbers of homeless remain high, especially in states like Massachusetts with a shortage of affordable housing, and are expected to grow as a result of the pandemic.

Federal grant money, now administered by the city, supports collaborative work between Springfields Health Services for the Homeless and its members like Drs. Andrew Balder and Jessica Bossie and the Health Care for the Homeless team in providing care at various sites, including at the Worthington Clinic at the Friends of the Homeless.

I love the flexibility of my job and being able to work at different sites and having the support of a dedicated staff, says Garvey who has been working with homeless patients for 14 years. It is an amazing team of doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, a dedicated mental health counselor, a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, community health workers, medical assistants and support staff. We are a small practice with big dreams.

A continuity of care continues during the pandemic in a variety of ways at the Worthington Clinic, according to Garvey. We are still seeing clients in our clinic as needed for dressing changes, medication (re)minder fills and we take walk-ins for other issues, she explains.

The clinic includes a triage area at which nurses screen clients for COVID-19 and other issues and then determine if they need to be seen by physicians. There are designated exam rooms for well and ill clients and one designated for clients under investigation for the coronavirus. This allows us to disinfect exam rooms appropriately according to Center for Disease Control guidelines, Garvey says.

Several dozen patients are seen weekly and those who have the capability of engaging via telehealth have been offered that option as a way of trying to limit office visits to provide safety against the COVID pandemic, Kennedy notes.

We maintain contact with patients to make sure they have everything they need for what they are going through, she says. We can do care over the phone if we are able to contact an individual by phone. Some things, like lab work, cant be done that way.

Donated cloth masks are distributed to those coming to the Worthington Clinic, where patients see staff wearing their protective masks and doing frequent hand washing as preventative coronavirus transmission measures. Patients can be tested for the virus at the clinic, and those testing positive can be provided a safe place to quarantine.

To date, Springfield has found limited community spread of COVID-19 among homeless tested. The health care team, according to Garvey, is also going to satellite sites, some also associated with shelters, in Northampton, Amherst and Westfield to provide testing and education on COVID-19 to staff and residents.

Patient education and concerns around COVID-19 during telehealth conferences run the gamut, from basic hand hygiene, social distancing and cough etiquette to the signs and symptoms of whether clients need hospital care.

They want to know how to isolate from someone who is positive for COVID-19 if they live in a studio apartment or an encampment or a shelter, Garvey says. They want updated information on where to find food, water, hygiene facilities, regular health care, and behavioral health resources if there have been local closures or changes. They want information about how they can attend an Alcoholics Anonymous (or) Narcotics Anonymous meeting online.

Garvey had been working as an oncology nurse for 10 years when she decided she wanted to do an advanced practice degree in nursing and took a job as an emergency room nurse to broaden her experience as she studied. It was during this time she became interested in working with patients whose challenges included being homeless.

There are so many stories about becoming homeless. Some people are homeless for brief periods due to loss of a job, being evicted, divorce, domestic violence, says Garvey, who recently completed an additional degree as a nurse practitioner in psychiatric mental health. Some of our clients are chronically homeless often due to behavioral health issues, adverse childhood events resulting in lifelong trauma, substance use issues. Often these are co-occurring.

First-time patients can be a little gun-shy about the whole medical system, according to Kennedy, who says an approach of acceptance helps build trust.

We treat them with respect and listen to their stories, she says. We accept them where they are no matter what and try to work with them to reach not my goals but their goals.

Garvey echoes that sentiment: We always strive to make this an equal relationship. The client guides the process, she says. I may wish a client would stop smoking to improve their asthma, but unless they are committed to change, we will not get very far. It does not mean I wont discuss cessation options and plant the idea in their heads for when they are ready to act. I am ever the optimist.

A continued engagement process, Garvey says, (is sometimes) just about listening, offering underwear or socks, letting them know about our services and slowly gaining trust. I think because we show up on regular schedule at different sites, we gain trust and also through peer recommendations.

She adds, I have been amazed at what people can do when faced with many challenges and the absolute resilience I have witnessed.

Garvey cites an individual with whom she had once regularly discussed personal challenges and encountered years later to learn the individual was doing well and grateful for the support received. At the time I had no idea that what I was doing was making any difference, it made me really pause and think, she says. Sometimes clients just need to be listened to. This is the art of nursing.

The system of care provided to todays homeless population grew out of the vision of a Sister of Providence  Julie Crane  who was a nurse practitioner working in 1983 at what is now Loaves & Fishes Community Kitchen started by Sister of Providence Mary Peter Meckel. The 1980s were a time of increasing homelessness across the country for a variety of reasons.

Crane provided medical care at the soup kitchen and then to others from the back of her station wagon. Mercy Medical Center, founded as a hospital by the Sisters of Providence and now part of Trinity Health Of New England, applied for a federal grant, along with the Springfield Public Health Department and Open Pantry Community Services, to expand Cranes work in 1988.

Crane is regarded, Kennedy says, as our mother by those working in the Health Care for the Homeless program at Mercy that is under the supervision of Doreen Fadus, Mercys vice president of mission integration and community health and well-being.

We are so proud that she worked as a nurse practitioner and had the courage to ask Mercy to start the Healthcare for the Homeless program, says Kennedy of Crane. It has been chugging along quietly in the community and helping this population on day-to-day basis since 1983.

Kennedy regards the program a wonderful opportunity to work with people and to help empower them to have the wherewithal to do the best for themselves. I treat the patients with the respect I would want for my family members, she says. I tell them what matters is that you are here and we work together.

Garvey adds that she is ever hopeful that clients are able to realize their potential and meet their own needs. We are all human, we have the same need to be loved and appreciated, we can all suffer from loneliness and we all strive to belong, she says. I have learned more from my clients than they will ever learn from me.
ALBANY  The state court system has expanded its virtual operations to allow defendants jailed on felony charges the right to have preliminary hearings where their attorneys can question evidence and argue for their clients release.

On March 7, in response to the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order which suspended preliminary hearings  a decision that Cohoes City Court Judge Thomas Marcelle later suggested could be unconstitutional.

Two months later, a May 7 executive order from the governor has enabled the hearings to once again be held, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore noted last week.

In the absence of grand juries, a secret process which remains suspended during the pandemic, preliminary hearings, which are open to the public, allow judges to evaluate the sufficiency of evidence defendants are facing to determine if they should be held.

Turning to the impact of the pandemic on our criminal justice system, we had expressed our growing concern about the number of individuals who have been arrested for serious crimes and are being held in jail without a review of the charges pending against them by a court or a grand jury, DiFiore said in her weekly address on May 11.

The chief judge said the court system has trained judges and staff and worked with prosecutors and defense attorneys to schedule the preliminary hearings via video-conference. All participants can appear electronically, she said, noting measures were taken to protect the confidentiality of participants when necessary.

We look forward to working with our partners in the criminal justice system to provide accused individuals being held in jail with the independent and timely judicial review they are entitled to, DiFiore said.

The virtual hearings began last week in the 4th Judicial District, which includes Schenectady, Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Montgomery, Fulton, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton and St. Lawrence counties.

Two preliminary hearings had been held in Schenectady County as of Thursday morning, with more than 15 referred to the districts supervising judge, said Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the state's Unified Court System.

He said many defendants were waiving the time for the hearings but reserving their rights to have one, which he said could account for the low number of hearings.

Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney said one of the preliminary hearings was held Wednesday for Julio Duran, a defendant charged with possessing a weapon. Carneys office called three police officers to testify via Skype video. In the end, Carney said, City Court Judge Mark Caruso found reasonable cause to hold Duran in jail awaiting action by a grand jury.

In two other cases, Carney said, his office filed motions with acting Supreme Court Justice Kate Hogan to adjourn preliminary hearings on the grounds that they were cases prosecutors would present to a grand jury but not at a public hearing where vulnerable witnesses would be exposed. He said the judge agreed to adjourn both cases. He said Hogan declined to adjourn a third case, but the defendant waived his right to the hearing and agreed to plead guilty at a later date.

The virtual hearings will start Monday in the states 3rd Judicial District, which includes the counties of Albany, Rensselaer, Schoharie, Columbia, Greene, Ulster and Sullivan counties.

Cecilia Walsh, a spokeswoman for Albany County District Attorney David Soares, said office prosecutors are ready and available for the hearings.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

"We anticipate several 'E-Lims' to proceed this week for a variety of felony cases," the spokeswoman said. "With the assistance of investigators and victim witness specialists, our staff has tested the available technology and set polices and procedures in place to secure the virtual appearances of victims, witnesses, and lay persons that would be required to participate in these hearings."

Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly said about seven defendants in custody are awaiting preliminary hearings next week.

With public safety as our primary goal, the hearings will take place virtually and every precaution will be taken to avoid person-to-person contact, she said. In certain circumstances, however, witnesses will testify via Skype from a location within our office. Enhanced cleaning protocols will be employed and stringent physical distancing requirements will be enforced."

On April 20, Marcelle ruled on arguments from nine defendants whose attorneys sought to compel preliminary hearings. Marcelle noted in his ruling that judges must set a preliminary hearing within 120 hours or 140 hours from the time of arrest so defendants can test the evidence they face. He rejected the defendants' arguments because of a March 22 order from the state's chief administrative judge, Lawrence Marks, which limited criminal courts to essential functions that did not include preliminary hearings.

"While the court might be inclined to suspect that the executive order is unconstitutional as applied to (criminal procedure law)." Marcelle stated in the decision, "it will not and cannot override the order from Judge Marks."

Lee Kindlon, an Albany defense lawyers, signaled approval of the latest turn of events.

We should all be concerned about the suspension of due process, and the court system figured out a solution" he said. "There have been radical changes to how we practice law in the past ten weeks. Ive been taking part in these virtual hearings and they work. Theyre not perfect, but they work."
President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping / Korea Times file



By Kang Seung-woo



Amid a deadlock in denuclearization talks between North Korea and the United States that were much anticipated to bring peace and stability to the Korean Peninsula, China sees its presence as a facilitator in the stalled inter-Korean relations increasing.



The development comes as re-election-seeking U.S. President Donald Trump has been putting engagement with the North on the back burner, leading President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to reach out to Chinese President Xi Jinping.



However, it remains to be seen whether China can live up to such expectations as it is currently engaged in a struggle for hegemony with the U.S.



Last week, Moon had a phone conversation with Xi, during which the latter agreed to visit the South within this year.



The government has been pushing for Xi's visit Seoul, which could help expand bilateral trade. But apart from the economic considerations, it is also seeking support from the Chinese government for Moon's "Korean Peninsula peace process" given that China is regarded as the lone nation that can exert influence on the North as the country's chief diplomatic protector and economic benefactor.



According to Cheong Wa Dae, Moon and Xi discussed the situation on the peninsula during the phone talks, with Xi expressing unwavering support for the peace initiative.



"While the North is closing its borders due to the coronavirus, China is highly likely to be its first country to exchange with. In that respect, China can play a significant role in inter-Korean relations and we need to secure its support," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.



Ahead of Moon, the North Korean leader reached out to his Chinese counterpart. One week after making a public appearance after a 20-day hiatus, May 1, Kim sent a message to Xi praising his COVID-19 fight success.



While congratulating Xi on winning the war against COVID-19, Kim expressed hope that their bilateral relations will be even closer and further develop on good terms.



Xi replied, May 9, saying, "I am ready to work with you  to enhance strategic communication and deepen exchanges and cooperation."



In February, Kim also wrote to Xi to extend his sympathy on COVID-19, which the latter said was a vivid example of the strong foundation and vitality of the traditional friendship between the two countries.



Many believe that Kim is trying to revitalize the virus-dented bilateral economic ties. Also, amid growing tension between Beijing and Washington over the origins of the coronavirus, Pyongyang is siding with its traditional ally to confirm their "blood alliance" that would ensure various forms of cooperative engagement between them.



Given that the North Korean regime has turned a deaf ear to the Moon administration's suggestions for cooperation for inter-Korean quarantine, speculation is arising that the government here could take advantage of the Sino-North Korea ties, hoping Xi will broker the quarantine proposal.



In addition, China itself has repeatedly expressed hopes that it will play a key role in matters related to the peninsula.



However, critics question whether China will act on Moon's hopes.



When the Chinese government announced the phone conversation, it was focused on their COVID-19 response and cooperation without mentioning Xi's support for Moon's peace initiative.



China is also expected to have little room to work for inter-Korean matters due to its clash with the U.S. over responsibility for the outbreak of the coronavirus.



"Amid intensifying tensions with the U.S., China is likely to put the North under its influence rather than playing a mediating role," said Park Won-gon, a professor of international politics at 0Handong Global University.


A fourth-year philosophy student at the University of Queensland is facing the threat of expulsion this week after speaking out against the Chinese Communist Party.

Drew Pavlou is an elected member of the university's senate and is now facing 11 accusations of 'prejudicing the reputation' of the institution.

The 20-year-old led a series of campus demonstrations last year, in support of Hong-Kong's pro-democracy movement.

He also posted messages to social media criticising China's authoritarian regime and denounced the university's close financial ties with the Communist Party.

However the University of Queensland claim the breaches are not for criticising China but for positioning the statement's as if they were on behalf of the university.

Mr Pavlou believes he is being unfairly targeted.

University of Queensland student Drew Pavlou (pictured) is facing the threat of expulsion this week after speaking out against the Chinese Communist Party

The fourth-year philosophy student led a series of demonstrations on the campus last year, in support of Hong-Kong's pro-democracy protests

'I am being threatened with this unprecedented move because of UQ's particularly close relationship with the Chinese party-state; UQ enjoys perhaps the closest relationship of any university with the Chinese government in the Anglosphere,' he wrote in an article for Foreign Policy.

'In addition to funding and controlling a Confucius Institute on campus, the Chinese government funds at least four accredited UQ courses that present a party-approved version of Chinese history to students, glossing over human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, and mainland China.

'In addition to these state-backed courses, the Chinese consul general in Brisbane, Xu Jie, serves as an honorary professor at the university.'

Mr Pavlou recently took Mr Xu to court after being attacked at a rally by Chinese nationalists.

'In July 2019, I led a peaceful campus sit-in calling for UQ to completely cut ties with the Chinese state until Tibetans were freed, Uighur detention camps were closed, and Hong Kongers were afforded greater democracy,' he said.

'Masked pro-CCP heavies violently attacked our rally, assaulting me and choke-slamming other pro-Hong Kong students to the ground.'

Following the ugly incident, Mr Pavlou was named in a Chinese state media article by Mr Xu and accused of being 'anti-China'.

As a result, Mr Pavlou claims he then received death threats, unsettling phone calls and letters.

Chinese consul general in Brisbane Xu Jie (left) serves as an honorary professor at the University of Queensland

Mr Pavlou was named in a Chinese state media article by Mr Xu (pictured) and accused of being 'anti-China'

The University of Queensland said in a statement, it rejects the 'unsubstantiated' claims and is not attempting to prevent students from expressing their personal political views or trying to limit their right to freedom of speech.

'The University is an active defender of freedom of speech - it has adopted the principles of the French Model Code into its policy framework,' the statement said.

'Everyday life at UQ demonstrates our ongoing commitment to its protection and promotion.'

The university says any decision at the disciplinary hearing will be made on the basis of fact and evidence and that the process provides a fair and confidential course of action.

The University of Queensland has approximately 10,000 Chinese students bringing in about $150 million to the university in student fees each year.
Serbia Deploys Army To 'Secure' Three Migrant Camps

May 16, 2020

Serbia has deployed troops near a town not far from the border with Croatia where hundreds of migrants are located, hoping to reach the European Union.

In a statement issued on May 16, the Serbian Defense Ministry said that President Aleksandar Vucic sent the troops to "secure" three migrant camps near the western town of Sid that are housing some 1,500 people, mostly from Syria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Vucic said he ordered the deployment to protect the local population from alleged harassment and robberies committed by the migrants.

He told TV Prva that, after a state of emergency imposed to fight the coronavirus spread in Serbia was lifted earlier this month, the migrants started venturing outside the camps, committing "petty crimes and illegal entries into houses."

"Because of that people are feeling unsafe," Vucic said.

There are an estimated 4,000 migrants stranded in Serbia, one of the main transit routes through the Balkans for people fleeing wars and poverty.

Based on reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-deploys- army-migrant-camps/30615755.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Photo credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Cothrane

From Popular Mechanics

The Howell torpedo was used by the U.S. Navy in the 19th century.

Only 50 of the torpedoes were ever built, with just three in existence today.

One of the three torpedoes that was discovered was actually recovered in 2013 by navy dolphins during a routine training exercise.

No. 24 isn't any normal torpedo. With only 50 every being built, three are only in existence todaythanks to a commando of Navy dolphins.

Photo credit: U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Marcos T. Hernandez

The Howell Torpedo, according to the museum, was one of the Navys first torpedoes. Thirteen feet long and 14.2 inches wide, the Howell carried a 100-pound guncotton charge. The torpedo, launched from surface ships, was powered by a unique system that used a steam powered turbine to wind up a flywheel to 10,000 RPM. The stored energy in the flywheel was enough to send the Howell a distance between 400 and 800 yards.

Of the 50 Howell torpedoes ever built, only two survived as display pieces. But in 2013, a U.S. Navy dolphin on a routine training mission in San Diego, California, discovered a third torpedo on the bottom of the ocean. The dolphinofficially a Mark 7 Marine Mammal System discovered the torpedo despite it being in pieces and largely buried in sea floor sediment.

Navy divers, acting on the Mark 7s urging, investigated and discovered two pieces of a Howell torpedo. The torpedo featured an engraving on the nose cone that identified it as No. 24. The Underwater Archaeology Branch used the information to discover the identity of the torpedo :

(The branch) conducted extensive archival research, leading to the discovery of a 20 December 1899 entry in USS Iowa's deck log that stated, "Lost H. Mark I, No. 24 torpedo...". USS Iowa had anchored off the coast of San Diego to conduct target practice. A practice warhead was used in training exercises, fastened onto the torpedo with only four pins and a screw. The practice head may have become detached from the torpedo body, which could explain why it was never recovered.

Story continues

Heres a local news report about the discovery from 2013:

The torpedo pieces were shipped to the Naval History and Heritage Commands Underwater Archaeology and Conservation Laboratory in Washington, D.C., to begin a lengthy preservation process. The pieces were immersed in a series of chemical baths to stabilize them. Next, 220 pounds of mineral buildup were painstakingly removed from the torpedo with pneumatic chisels and hand tools.

No. 24 is currently on temporary display at the U.S. Naval Undersea Museum along with a complete Howell torpedo.

Source: U.S. Naval Undersea Museum

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By Trend

Supporting the EUs carbon neutrality target, Total commits to become a Net Zero Emission Company for all its European Businesses by 2050, a source in the company told Trend.

Through a joint statement developed between Total S.A. and institutional investors  as participants in the global investor initiative Climate 100+1  Total takes three major steps towards achieving this ambition:

Three major steps to get Total to Net Zero are:

Net Zero across Totals worldwide operations by 2050 or sooner (scope 1+2);

Net Zero across all its production and energy products used by its customers in Europe by 2050 or sooner (scope 1+2+3); and

60 percent or more reduction in the average carbon intensity of energy products used worldwide by Total customers by 2050.

"As the EU has set the target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and thereby lead the way for other regions to become carbon neutral over time, Total takes that commitment to become neutral for all its businesses in Europe," the message said.

Total confirms its target of a renewable generation gross capacity of 25 GW in 2025. Total currently allocates more than 10 percent of its Capex to low carbon electricity, the highest level among the Majors. To actively contribute to the energy transition, Total will further increase its allocation of Capex in favor of low carbon electricity to 20 percent by 2030 or sooner.

Total and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic SOCAR participate in the Absheron fields joint development project. The field is located in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, southeast of Baku. Its development is carried out by JOCAP, a joint venture of SOCAR and Total. The drilling operations are conducted by SOCAR CDC.

Absheron field is one of the biggest gas condensate fields in Azerbaijan, as well as the biggest discovery by Total over the past 10 years. Its development will make an important contribution to ensuring growing domestic demand for natural gas in Azerbaijan and increasing the export revenues.
In the fourth tranche of a Rs 20-lakh-crore stimulus package, the government focused on structural reforms of key sectors --- coal, minerals, defence, power, civil aviation, space, atomic energy and social infrastructure. Meanwhile, road accidents killed 35 migrant workers in two states, the latest in a string of fatalities.

Government picks defence, coal among key reform areas

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced structural reforms across eight key sectors -- coal, minerals, defence, power, civil aviation, space, atomic energy and social infrastructure -- while announcing the fourth tranche of a Rs 20 lakh crore relief and stimulus package to help companies and individuals cope with the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and the ongoing lockdown to fight its spread. Read more

Fiscal cost of package Rs 1.5L-crore to Rs 4L-crore

Till Saturday evening, the government had announced Rs 18.8 lakh crore of the Rs 20 lakh crore relief and stimulus package promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. Read more

35 more migrants die in accidents across states

Road accidents claimed the lives of 35 migrant workers in two states on Saturday, the latest in a string of fatalities among some of the most vulnerable sections of the population who left urban centres in the hundreds of thousands and are on treacherous journeys back home after the nationwide shutdown since March 25 dried up jobs and wages. Read more

Centre sets up an online database to monitor, facilitate workers journey

As tens of thousands of migrant workers continue to walk back home, the Centre on Saturday created an online repository to monitor and facilitate their movement in coordination with the state governments. Read more

Dont act as moneylender, give cash aid, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the government should not be a sahukar [money lender] and argued in favour of cash assistance instead of loans to tide over the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis while warning of an impending economic crisis. Read more

US will send ventilators, PM Modi thanks Trump

The United States will airlift 200 mobile ventilators to help Indians combat Covid-19, people familiar with the developments said on Saturday, hours after US president Donald Trump made the announcement on Twitter. Read more

Tracing the Nanded cluster trail

In the span of four days, Hardeep Singh Kahlons life turned upside down.The 38-year-old bus driver was hailed as a hero in his village in Punjabs Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar district when he ferried back 40-odd stranded Sikh pilgrims from Maharashtras Nanded town on April 29. Read more

Govt issues Covid-19 response norms for slum clusters

The Union health ministry on Saturday released coronavirus disease (Covid-19) preparedness and response guidelines for slum clusters and unauthorised colonies, a development that comes amid increasing infections in Mumbais Dharavi  believed to be Asias largest slum which houses an estimated one million people. Read more

Govt advises buddy system for doctors

The Union health ministry has advised hospitals to start a buddy system wherein a team of two or more staffers is formed that covers for each other in terms of ensuring that infection control practices are adequately followed while managing patients. Read more
Venture capitalist Rick Baker is preparing to invest in a company without ever meeting the founders in person. It's not how things are usually done in the venture capital world but COVID-19 has flipped the playbook for all in the sector.

And Baker, the 47 year old co-founder of Australian venture capital heavyweight Blackbird Ventures, isn't too concerned about vetting his next investment through teleconferencing either.

"Obviously it is really important for us to get to know the founders so we spent a lot of time on Zoom trying to do that," he says. "It's in due diligence at the moment and is looking pretty positive."

Blackbird Ventures co-founder Rick Baker.

It's all part of the agile mantra long espoused by technology investors and startups, which Baker says will play an important role in helping the economy plot a course through the pandemic.
Motorists traveling along Nacogdoches Road on Saturday afternoon received a glimpse of a social distancing pep rally that honored a local teens donation to the Autism Treatment Center. Adrian A.J. Ortiz, beamed as the participants of the mini-parade crowded into the centers parking lot.

Lets make some noise! said his mother, Deseri Ybarra, 43, sparking the start of the motorcade.

Drivers beeped their horns and flashed headlights as they rolled past a reveler clanging a cowbell. Ybarra hugged her son as the procession passed in front of him, bearing colorful signs, decorative flourishes and Autism Awareness and American flags flapping in the wind.

I was in shock and awe, said Ortiz, 18.

The teen, who has autism, sold 200 handmade key chains during a three-week period to benefit the center. Before the rally, he presented Cynthia Hamilton, development director for the center, with a $576 check. It was 30 percent of the proceeds and is slated for the centers residential program.

On ExpressNews.com: New center in Northeast San Antonio to boost services for children and adults with autism

He really has a great heart, Hamilton said. Hes an amazing young man. Hes doing this to help individuals with autism who cant do the things that he can do.

Hamilton said that because of the coronavirus, the center currently isnt open. It has 43 children and adults with autism residing at seven group homes and 18 students in its school who are in distance-learning classes.

Family members said that in the past, they took part in the Fishing for Autism event in Corpus Christi but that because of the coronavirus, they stayed home this year. Ortiz told his family that he wanted to still contribute, and he came up with the idea to sell Autism Awareness puzzle key chains.

The teen began making the chains after an online video tutorial peaked his interest. Each chain can take between 20 and 45 minutes to make.

Ybarra said the project not only gave her son an outlet but also a way to continue making contributions to his chosen cause.

She said Ortizs younger brother, Jeric, 17, supports him and is always there to lift him up and help whenever he is feeling down.

He wakes up in the morning with a smile because he knows hes going to make people happier and help out a cause that hes involved with himself, said Jeric, an incoming senior at Antonian College Preparatory High School. Its only the beginning. Im excited to see what else is to come.

Related: S.A. Gives - Autism Treatment Center

Ortizs tight-knit family surrounded him during the event.

His grandparents Paula and Rolando C. Salas said the family is blessed to have Ortiz in their lives.

Paula Salas, 62, said that when the parade started to roll, so did her tears. She said theyre so proud of their grandson, whom they raised while his parents were at work.

Hes the one thats helped us become better people, said Rolando Salas, 63, and appreciate life more. Sometimes when we see things that are a struggle, it ends up being a blessing. Thats what A.J. is for us. Hes a blessing.

Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Vincent, become a subscriber. vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 10:10:19|Editor: huaxia

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Health workers carry the body of a COVID-19 victim at an electric crematorium in Kathmandu, Nepal, on May 16, 2020. The Nepali government on Saturday confirmed the first death from the COVID-19. In a statement, Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population said a 29-year-old woman from Sindhupalchwok, a district in the country's central region, died while being brought to a hospital on the outskirts of capital Kathmandu. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)

KATHMANDU, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali government on Saturday confirmed the first death from the COVID-19.

In a statement, Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population said a 29-year-old woman from Sindhupalchwok, a district in the country's central region, died while being brought to a hospital in the outskirt of the capital city Kathmandu.

"A detailed investigation and a series of tests confirmed that this is the first death due to COVID-19 in the country," read the statement of the ministry.

The woman, who gave birth of a child on May 6 at the Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, was discharged from the hospital on May 7 after a normal delivery.

After returning home at the Barhabise Municipality in Sidhupalchwok, she developed a fever and respiratory problem and was undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

"After her situation (got) complicated, she was brought to Dhulikhel hospital on May 14 but she died on the way," Sameer Kumar Adhikari, joint spokesperson at the ministry told Xinhua on Saturday evening.

"After the death, she was tested for COVID-19 at the Dhulikhel hospital and the National Public Health Laboratory in Kathmandu and the results showed she was suffering from COVID-19."

According to the District Administration Office of Sindhupalchwok, a meeting of the District COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre has decided to seal her village and the village where her parents live.

The meeting also decided to conduct tracing of the people who were in contact with the woman and put them in quarantine, the office said in a statement posted on its website.

Sushila Pakhrin, deputy mayor at Barshabise Municipality told Xinhua on Saturday that the woman's family members including her child were put into quarantine at the Dhulikhel hospital. They were in normal condition as of Saturday.

Meanwhile, Adhikari also confirmed that two Nepal Army personnel contracted the COVID-19 virus.

Nepal has so far 281 confirmed cases, according to the ministry.
Initially, when we started this evacuation process, people were estimating there were about 5,000 Americans interested in going, and now were at 6,800, Chung said in a telephone interview from the U.S. Embassy in Lima shortly before she left for the airport to return to Washington. So I think we have now at this point gotten the majority of those who want to leave out.
Donations have poured in for the family of a teenager who died this month, throwing his family into a world of pain.

CJ Page of Springfield Court, Ballymakealy, Celbridge passed away at Our Ladys Childrens Hospital in Crumlin on May 3 and a GoFundMe fundraising page was set up to help pay for the 17 year olds funeral costs  but has since evolved into a hospital fundraiser.

Over 9,000 has been donated. Some 360 people have made donations and the fundraiser is now closed.

His parents Clive and Leixlip woman Michelle and siblings Leigh and Alannah are heartbroken at the passing of the teenager, who along with his dad was a member of the Dublin 15 Liverpool supporters club.

CJ and Clive loved following their favourite team and through their mutual love of Liverpool FC they met many new friends and caught up with many old ones that all shared the same passion for the team they loved.

We did it for the funeral costs but the money kept coming in, said organiser Aisling Carey.

Were really happy with how it turned out and for the support that was forthcoming and the family want to give something back to the hospital.

We couldnt have known what the reaction would be like but we are all very grateful to everybody for the response to this.
T he Government is to invest 93 million to bring forward the opening of a new vaccine-manufacturing centre to ensure it is ready to begin production if a coronavirus vaccine is found.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said the Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC) in Oxfordshire will now open in summer 2021  12 months earlier than planned.

The not-for-profit facility, based at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxford, will have the capacity to produce enough doses for the entire UK population in as little as six months.

A further 38 million is being invested in a rapid deployment facility which will be able to begin manufacturing at scale from the summer of this year if a vaccine becomes available before the new centre is complete.

UK returns to work as Coronavirus restrictions are eased - In pictures 1 /38 UK returns to work as Coronavirus restrictions are eased - In pictures Londoners returning to work near London Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Emergency as Lockdown is slowly lifted at Victoria Station Nigel Howard Cyclists travel in central London AFP via Getty Images Emergency as Lockdown is slowly lifted at Victoria Station Nigel Howard Alan Price on his Penny Farthing this morning on Battersea Bridge Jeremy Selwyn Delivery men are seen outside a reopened McDonald's with take-out only deliveries in Dalston Reuters Jubilee Line tube commuters as lockdown eases Nigel Howard Worlds End Nurseries in Chelsea opens for business. Customer Nika Kucifer is shown flowers by Janson Lotery Nigel Howard Londoners going back to work at Waterloo Jeremy Selwyn People ride bicycles in a cycle lane in Chelsea PA Jubilee Line tube commuters as lockdown eases Nigel Howard Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Jubilee Line tube commuters as lockdown eases Nigel Howard Jubilee Line tube commuters as lockdown eases. Nigel Howard Matt Writtle Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Vehicles are seen on the M56 motorway near Manchester, Reuters Londoners going back to work at Waterloo Jeremy Selwyn Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Monty's first day back. West Highland Terrier Monty commutes to work on his bike on his first day back with owner Darragh McElroy. Monty, who's Instagram account is @monty_whitehall_westie, works at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall with his owner Darragh who is Deputy Director of Coronavirus Communications at the Cabinet Office Matt Writtle Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn A commuter wears a mask at Canning Town station Reuters Rush hour on the M6 at the junction for Birmingham/Walsall on the first morning of the eased Coronavirus lockdown PA Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Commuters, some wearing masks are seen on a London Underground tube, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease Reuters Londoners going back to work at Vauxhall Jeremy Selwyn Commuters, some wearing masks are seen at Stratford station, Reuters Cyclists in Chelsea today. Nigel Howard

Officials said the VMIC would also boost the UKs long-term capacity for dealing with future viruses and accelerate the production of vaccines for existing illnesses such as the flu virus.

Announcing the investment, Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: Once a breakthrough is made, we need to be ready to manufacture a vaccine by the millions.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) chief executive Sir Mark Walport, said: The Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre is an essential new weapon in the UKs arsenal against diseases and other biological threats, ensuring sufficient vaccines get to the public in the fastest possible time.

The UKRI-funded teams at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London have developed potential coronavirus vaccines at unprecedented speed.

By working with partners including Government, VMIC and the Vaccines Taskforce to fast-track the manufacturing capability, we are ensuring that momentum will continue all the way from lab to patient.

The Director General of WHO said work has been accelerated to develop a vaccine for Covid-19 / AP

Across the pond, President Donald Trump has said that he is hopeful of having a coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year.

Moncef Slaoui, a former pharmaceutical executive who Mr Trump has appointed as a virus tsar, said that early trial data suggests that a few hundred million doses of vaccine will be delivered by late 2020.
Almost 200 hundred years ago the genius Alexis De Tocqueville observed how the distribution of power and law enforcement mitigated tyranny in the United States.

The national majority does not pretend to conduct all business  Is obliged to employ the town and county magistrates to execute its supreme decisions. I have already pointed out the distinction which is to be made between a centralized government and a centralized administration. The former exists in America, but the latter is nearly unknown there. If the directing power of the American communities had both these instruments of government at its disposal, and united the habit of executing its own commands to the right of commanding; if, after having established the general principles of government, it descended to the details of public business; and if, having regulated the great interests of the country, it could penetrate into the privacy of individual interests, freedom would soon be banished from the New World. But in the United States the majority, which so frequently displays the tastes and the propensities of a despot, is still destitute of the more perfect instruments of tyranny. In the American republics the activity of the central Government has never as yet been extended beyond a limited number of objects sufficiently prominent to call forth its attention. The secondary affairs of society have never been regulated by its authority, and nothing has hitherto betrayed its desire of interfering in them. The majority is become more and more absolute, but it has not increased the prerogatives of the central government; those great prerogatives have been confined to a certain sphere; and although the despotism of the majority may be galling upon one point, it cannot be said to extend to all. However the predominant party in the nation may be carried away by its passions, however ardent it may be in the pursuit of its projects, it cannot oblige all the citizens to comply with its desires in the same manner and at the same time throughout the country. When the central Government which represents that majority has issued a decree, it must entrust the execution of its will to agents, over whom it frequently has no control, and whom it cannot perpetually direct. The townships, municipal bodies, and counties may therefore be looked upon as concealed break-waters, which check or part the tide of popular excitement. If an oppressive law were passed, the liberties of the people would still be protected by the means by which that law would be put in execution: the majority cannot descend to the details and (as I will venture to style them) the puerilities of administrative tyranny. Nor does the people entertain that full consciousness of its authority which would prompt it to interfere in these matters; it knows the extent of its natural powers, but it is unacquainted with the increased resources which the art of government might furnish. This point deserves attention, for if a democratic republic similar to that of the United States were ever founded in a country where the power of a single individual had previously subsisted, and the effects of a centralized administration had sunk deep into the habits and the laws of the people, I do not hesitate to assert, that in that country a more insufferable despotism would prevail than any which now exists in the monarchical States of Europe, or indeed than any which could be found on this side of the confines of Asia.

Of course, in the passage of time, the federal government and the administrative state have grown substantially, but his central point  that we do not have uniform enforcement of the rulings by a central government  is still valid.

If we substitute for central national authority (the federal government) the power of state governors, we see his wise point: sheriffs and local courts are needed to enforce their authority and will not -- and should not under the Constitution -- bow to despotism.

The increasing rebellion of the people against the state-ordered lockdowns confirms to me the wisdom of this observation.

The Lockdown Rebellions

For reasons not based on science, but on fearmongering by the press and autocratic leanings of some governors (for the most part, Democratic Governors Cuomo, Newsom, Whitmer, Evers, Northam, and Inslee) draconian lockdown measures were instituted by executive order. These orders were often backed up by health commissioners, themselves ill-equipped by education or experience to offer sound advice. The consequences of these actions have been to jeopardize the health of the poorest and most vulnerable and destroy the livelihoods of those not able to work from home or on academic and government payrolls. At the same time, they released from prison some really hardcore prisoners, ostensibly to protect them from the virus. In sum, they have most harmed the members of the very lowest tranches of the economy, which they have always claimed to represent. The rebellion against the orders by affected citizens and courts continues.

Counties, municipalities, and sheriffs are refusing to enforce these orders. My favorite is the sheriff of Fresno, California, who said she was too busy rounding up the criminals Governor Newsom had released to bother enforcing his lockdown edicts. In Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer pursued a vendetta against a barber who, denied compensation for his loss of income, kept his shop operating. There a local judge denied Michigan a temporary injunction against him.

The stupidity of these orders is clear. We now believe that the number of infections in China from the Wuhan virus was 640,000. "What makes that 640,000 infections number even more shocking is the brutal Chinese shutdown, unheard of anywhere else in the world, should have limited the number of infections dramatically. It didnt.

Elsewhere doctors and dentists, who offices are certainly sanitary, are challenging the orders preventing them from seeing patients except on an emergency basis. Some are challenging them on the ground that their patients health is being jeopardized by the prohibition on elective surgeries. It seems to me that unless the government can establish that lockdown orders can halt the viruss spread and that there are no less onerous means to limit contagion, it should lose. As I wrote:

Are rules less restrictive of liberties options available? If there are, then the restrictions should fail. So many of the restrictions, it seems to me, require defending in transparently open court proceedings. Does the requirement we wear masks really prevent the spread of the disease? Expert opinion is divided. Is it wise, in fact, to restrict movement of citizens or should we allow greater mingling to build herd immunity? Again expert opinion is divided. Is it better to prevent people from using parks and beaches, or is the sunlight, exercise and fresh air a better antidote to the spread of the virus or at least its virility? Our courts deal with such issues every day. Lets have the governors defend their actions instead of blindly following along or listening to one set of experts and ignoring conflicting views. So many of the restrictions seem ill considered and incomprehensible, if not totally indefensible. Let the state persuade a court that it's perfectly reasonable to shut down my dentists and doctors enterprises even though both can and do sanitize all surfaces and can arrange it so patients will be notified by mobile phone of readiness to see them so that patients will not enter their offices and have to sit with others in the waiting room. Let the states defend arresting a surfer, far from anyone else, while permitting shopping in big box stores. Let Michigan defend refusing to permit Detroit residents from going to their vacation homes in rural areas less densely populated, or permitting kayaking but not motor boating. Waiting to see any defense of actions like arresting a father for playing in a deserted park with his two children or worshippers praying in a church parking lot while sitting in their cars with the windows up.

The Flynn Case

Tocquevilles observations on criminal justice also bear on the Flynn case.

Scarcely any question arises in the United States which does not become, sooner or later, a subject of judicial debate.

The Flynn case was instituted for purely political reasons and its dismissal challenged for those same reasons.

This week, Judge Emmet G. Sullivan responded to the governments motion to dismiss the case against General Michael Flynn in a most astonishing and, to my knowledge, unprecedented way. Tweets by undercover Huber show the way the prosecution manipulated the Flynn guilty plea with media connivance.

Beginning on November 1, 2017, his then lawyers sought the recorded FBI notes of his interview (FD-302). The notes indicated those who interviewed him believed he was not lying. The special counsels office refused to provide them on the ground that it would reveal parts of their investigation into Russian Collusion. Those notes, even after illegal editing by Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, reveal that he was never even asked about Russian interference or collusion. Indeed, the FBI recommended closing the case, until political considerations by people including Strzok and Page led to prolonging it for reasons of partisan animus. The refusal to turn over this exculpatory report, mandated by the Brady doctrine, was purely pretextual to keep him from fighting vigorously the charges, charges his lawyers adamantly believed were unfounded. Instead, on November 5, the special counsel lawyers leaked to the press (NBCs Julia Ainsley, Carol E. Lee and Ken Dilanian) that unless he pled guilty his son would be charged with a felony. Their report, they said, relied on three sources close to the matter and received wide press coverage.

By the time Covington followed up with the [Special Counsels Office] after this weekend of light reading of veiled threats for the Flynn family, theyve already agreed to bring Flynn in for a proffer -- a prelude to pleading guilty to the false statements offense.

In sum, special counsel lawyers used the media, leaking a threat to Flynn, to induce him to plead guilty when he wasnt, and did so to avoid turning over documents in their possession which established his innocence.

As his present counsel Sidney Powell showed, the prosecutors also made a deal at the time not to prosecute Flynns son in a side agreement which they made in such a way as to avoid having to reveal it to the court as they were required to do.

Powell presented a spirited case that the prosecution was not properly founded and the attorney general appointed a U.S. Attorney, Jeff Jensen, to investigate the matter. Based on Jensens review, including newly discovered documentation, he recommended that the case be dismissed and the government joined the defense in seeking dismissal.

Following their usual tactics of smearing anyone who interferes with their agenda by capturing media and public attention and distracting from the evidence, the left rounded up thousands of DoJ alumni and some former Watergate prosecutors to object to ending the years-long pillorying and financial ruination of Flynn. As well, they obviously hoped to avert attention from the special counsels teams malfeasance and the lack of a justiciable criminal claim. It seems briefly to have worked on the court. Judge Sullivan entered an order indicating that hed allow some friend of court briefs. Additionally, he appointed an outside counsel, John Gleason (who had earlier written an op-ed asserting the dismissal motion was occasioned by improper political influence) to argue that Flynn should be charged with perjury for having earlier admitted guilt. Due to a judicial error, however, Flynn never admitted that whatever he said to the FBI was material, and the main thrust of Barrs action was that nothing Flynn said was material to a claim of election interference or collusion. There was none, and he was, as weve shown, never even asked about it.

The procedure Judge Sullivan has outlined will doubtless drag this case on for months if not halted. Particularly ridiculous is the judges suggestion in the appointment of outside counsel that pleading guilty to a crime you didnt commit is perjury.

Some 95% of felony convictions in America [per the Innocence Project] are obtained through guilty pleas. Among persons known to be exonerated, it reports, a staggering 18% pleaded guilty to crimes they didnt commit. It is a humbling statistic for those of us who cover the courts. The filing of a guilty plea by an innocent party occurs at a pace that leaves GuiltyPleaProblem.com saying: theres no telling how many are behind bars as a result. So where are the liberals now? Wheres the logic of Judge Sullivan getting up on his high horse over the idea that someone in his court might move to withdraw a guilty plea? The idea that General Flynn was uncomfortable with his own plea deal cant be a surprise to the judge. It was already in the air when the judge erupted at the general at a now-infamous hearing in open court back in December 2018. Thats the hearing at which the judge declared, Im not hiding my disgust, my disdain, for this criminal offense. With the judge listing the generals misdeeds, the Washington Post reported at the time, was not how Flynns supporters or Trump thought Tuesdays sentencing hearing would unfold. Theyd hoped Judge Sullivan would be the one who would reveal overreach by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and the FBI. At the time the Post noted, Some Flynn allies even speculated the judge might toss out Flynns guilty plea and clear his name. Instead, the judge balked. So imagine how humiliated Judge Sullivan must feel now. He failed, after all, to see, or unearth, the abuses by the FBI brass and the Special Counsels prosecutors. The Justice Department itself beat the judge to the story of the abuses by the Justice Departments own officers.

Two cases, one by the Supreme Court, another penned by chief of the D.C. Court of Appeals Sri Srinivasin, an Obama appointee, suggest that the judge -- perhaps just for reasons of pique -- is way over his skis. The first case is a unanimous Supreme Court decision written by Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg: in U.S. v. Sineneng-Smith, in which the Supreme Court reversed a Ninth Circuit ruling striking down a criminal statute involving immigration as unconstitutionally overbroad. The case was overturned because instead of adjudicating the issues raised by the parties, the Ninth Circuit panel invited outside groups to brief them about a defense the defendant never raised. In the second, U.S. v. Fokker, Judge Srinivasin swatted a lower court judge who refused to accept a deferred prosecution agreement.

[D]ecisions to dismiss pending criminal charges -- no less than decisions to initiate charges and to identify which charges to bring -- lie squarely within the ken of prosecutorial discretion, said the court. It quoted the courts 1967 precedent, Newman v. U.S.: [f]ew subjects are less adapted to judicial review than the exercise by the Executive of his discretion in deciding when and whether to institute criminal proceedings, or what precise charge shall be made, or whether to dismiss a proceeding once brought.

The Fokker case arose upon the petition for a Writ of Mandamus, a procedure which allows a higher court to compel a judge to do something -- in the Flynn case, dismiss it. There is another extraordinary writ, a Writ of Prohibition, by which the upper court can prohibit a lower court from acting on the basis that court does not have jurisdiction to do so -- here it would be against the appointment of Gleason to argue that Flynn committed perjury in pleading guilty, something the government has never contended.

I expect that very early this coming week, we can expect the defense and the government to seek extraordinary writs and get them.
'Trump puts US at risk of open-ended coronavirus infections'

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 16 May 2020 1:47 PM

US President Donald Trump has come under scrutiny for his scattershot approach toward the handling of the coronavirus outbreak, which puts the United States on the top of the list of the worst-affected nations across the globe.

The coronavirus, which was publicly reported in the US at the end of February, has now infected some 1,484,287 and killed 88,507 others nationwide, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Health experts warned that Trump administration's handling of the virus, which causes the respiratory illness COVID-19, has put the country at serious risk.

Rick Bright, who led the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority until he was demoted in late April, said that the country is left vulnerable to a potentially open-ended wave of infections this fall.

According to Bright, the US faces the "darkest winter in modern history" if the Trump administration does not develop a more coordinated national response.

"Our window of opportunity is closing," Bright said.

"We don't have a single point of leadership right now for this response, and we don't have a master plan for this response. So those two things are absolutely critical," Bright added.

Bright also said that the country still lacks a "comprehensive strategy" involving testing and tracing, which is essential for preventing future outbreaks in the country.

He said Washington still lacks a plan for what to do once a vaccine is developed.

In the meantime, Trump, who is seeking reelection in November, has begun to reopen the stricken economy in several states, without even clear federal guidance.

Chief policy officer with the US Chamber of Commerce, Neil Bradley, said even scaled-down guidance from federal agencies is critical for providing a road map for state and local leaders and for businesses considering how best to resume operations.

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By PTI

PANAJI: The tally of COVID-19 patients in Goa reached 22 after nine such cases were reported on Sunday, a health department official said.

Six of the total number of patients are passengers of the Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram Express train, who tested positive in the last 24 hours, the official said.

"All the 22 patients have been admitted to a specially-designated COVID-19 hospital in Margao town," he said.

On May 1, Goa had been declared as green zone after all the seven COVID-19 patients previously found in the state recovered.

However, the coastal state has witnessed a spurt in the number of cases over the last few days.

However, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has claimed that there is no community transmission in the state.

As per the data available, six passengers from the Rajdhani Express train that arrived on Saturday have tested positive during last 24 hours.

Three workers, who were brought to Goa from neighbouring states as a part of resumption of industrial units, have also tested positive, the official said.

During the day, the state tested 997 samples that were drawn on Sunday.

Of them 527 tested negative, while nine were found positive, the official said.

"However, results of 456 others, including the train passengers who arrived on Sunday from Delhi, are still awaited," the official said.

The state government swung into action after passengers of the Rajadhani Express, which arrived on Saturday, tested positive.

State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said the co- passengers, who travelled with the positive patients, have been taken to institutional quarantine of 14 days.

The state has moved to strengthen its testing facilities by installing additional rapid testing (TrueNat) machines at its district hospitals in Margao, Mapusa and sub district hospital in Ponda.
As the coronavirus continues to rage through nursing homes, accounting for a staggering proportion of overall deaths here and across the country, Pennsylvania and New Jersey finally announced last week that all residents and staff of nursing homes in their jurisdiction will be tested for the coronavirus. The total of COVID-19 infections and deaths in nursing homes in the two states is horrific; according to a recent Inquirer report, Philadelphia care homes alone accounted for 1,800 infections. In Pennsylvania, nursing home patients or staff account for two-thirds of the more than 3,800 deaths so far. And in New Jersey, 53% of the states more than 9,000 deaths were nursing home-related. Last week, the cruel toll finally sparked investigations by the attorneys general of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Its about time. But why did it take so long?

The danger the coronavirus presents for older people was well-known as early as February  before the pandemic erupted nationwide. That disease can spread easily in congregate living facilities like nursing homes was no secret, either. Its been a month since the discovery of 17 bodies of deceased patients in a makeshift nursing home morgue in North Jersey. And its been a week since The Inquirers recent story about drugs typically used to treat other conditions being given to some COVID-stricken nursing home patients in Pennsylvania without consent.

Its inexplicable for any state, and for the nation, to have been so slow to protect this vulnerable population. A flawed testing rollout, unconscionable shortages of personal protective equipment, contradictory White House messages, and a lack of transparency in both state capitals have contributed to the pandemics brutal toll in nursing homes.

Both states still lack the testing capacity necessary to safely emerge from lockdown, let alone launch universal testing in nursing homes. And both states have been reluctant to release much information about the spread of the virus in these facilities. New Jersey finally relented last month and began reporting on infections and deaths by facility. Since February, Pennsylvania has refused to release information by facility, but announced it will start this week. This information is vital not only for nursing home residents, staff, and their families but for the public.

The COVID-19 crisis has only served to shine a spotlight on problems in this sector that have gone untended for too long. Some of the issues have been well-documented, including in a 2019 report by Eugene DePasquale, Pennsylvanias auditor general. DePasquale performed a 2018 audit of the state Department of Health oversight of nursing homes and followed it with an update a year later. The key finding was related in stark terms: We are not paying enough attention to the needs of older adults in Pennsylvania. The report highlighted issues including the need for better training for surveyors who conduct annual inspections and the challenge of maintaining adequate staffing levels.

Researchers in New Jersey and national advocacy organizations such as LeadingAge also have long raised red flags about chronically short staffing  and lately, about chronically insufficient supplies of personal protective equipment for workers. Meanwhile, lax sanitation and ineffective enforcement of regulations in some Pennsylvania and New Jersey facilities predate the pandemic but are generating headlines because of the toll of death and disease. While the pandemic may be unprecedented, the deficiencies it has brought to light are not.

At care homes, much of the heavy lifting is done by poorly paid, often poorly trained, staff who often work long hours for temporary agencies. These workers are at risk of being infected by their patients, and unknowingly infecting their own families. The problems facing care homes  which are dominated by for-profit corporations  are of a piece with the larger equity and affordability issues plaguing health care in America.

As DePasquale points out, in 20 years nearly one-quarter of Pennsylvanias population will be 65 or older. Millions more will be needing the kind of care requiring great numbers of well-trained, well-paid workers.

The pandemic has been a devastating crisis for nursing home patients and workers, and a heartbreaking one for their families. But its only the beginning of what well be facing if we dont learn these lessons now, for the benefit of current and future nursing home patients. And to better prepare all of us for whatever lies ahead.
On the afternoon of May 15, in Hue City, the Department of Foreign Affairs of Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri provinces, together with that of Da Nang city held a signing ceremony of cooperation agreement on foreign affairs between 3 localities through Foreign Service Centers (FSC) belonging to Department of Foreign Affairs of the 3 provinces.

Representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs of 3 provinces signing a memorandum of understanding

The agreement aims to cooperate in implementing effectively the foreign services in Da Nang, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue through cooperative activities and experiences exchange to improve the quality of public services in foreign affairs as well as in advising on foreign affairs in the localities.

Accordingly, the signing content includes: Coordinating in implementating the contents of document translation and interpretation for international events, conferences, seminars; organizing seminars and conferences with foreign elements in the 3 localities; building and employing each others team of translators and collaborators; studying and coordinating the implementation of foreign affairs consultancy services; coordinating in enhancing the promotion of image and culture of Vietnam in general and of the 3 localities in particular abroad are also included in the signing content.

Besides, the agreement also contains the contents of connecting and mobilizing overseas Vietnamese communities to participate in trade promotion, investment, advanced science and technology transfer activities ...

Story and photo: Thai Son
Fitbit is planning to shift supply chain resources to make emergency ventilators. Fitbit CEO revealed that the ventilators will be used to treat critical COVID-19 patients.

Fitbit known for its fitness bands and smartwatches is planning to shift supply chain resources to make emergency ventilators. The CEO of Fitbit, James Parkin conversation with CNBC, revealed that the ventilators will be used to treat critical COVID-19 patients.

Fitbit will also be submitting the technology for review to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the coming weeks, according to the report. Fitbit said a team in the US has already started working on the ventilators in consultation with physicans from Massachusetts General Brigham and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), among others.

One of the big advantages Fitbit has, according to Park, is the infrastructure and manufacturing capability required is already available. We already make 10 million (wearable) devices per year, and we plan to leverage that to make deliver product at whatever volumes are needed, he said.

Fitbit is not the only one planning on manufacturing emergency ventilators, however. US space agency NASA have made a low-cost ventilator specifically for COVID-19 patients while General Motors and Ford have opened up manufacturing space for ventilator companies to produce more.

COVID-19 cases worldwide stands at 4.6 million with over 3.1 lakh succumbing to the infectious disease.
Less than a week after dropping out of the presidential race, Michael Bloomberg announced his next major initiative: an online network of mayors and public health experts to help communities deal with the coronavirus.

Why it matters: Two months in, it's serving as a welcome reset for Bloomberg after a rocky campaign. He's welcomed high-profile speakers  Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Bill Gates and Nancy Pelosi  onto weekly calls with mayors to share their own lessons learned while dealing with crises in office. Joe Biden is expected to give remarks on Thursday's call.

This allows the billionaire businessman and philanthropist to revisit his most successful political role  longtime New York City mayor  while re-establishing himself as a champion for cities in crisis mode.

Details: For a network of nearly 400 mayors from around the world, the weekly two-hour Zoom calls have become their primary avenue for getting public health updates and sharing successes and hurdles in their own communities.

Experts from Harvard and Johns Hopkins  which have partnered with his foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, on the effort  have led discussions on best practices for dealing with mental health challenges and tips for managing conflict and reaching consensus with colleagues.

Mayors on the call use a chat box to ask each other questions, make comments or ask for ideas for a particular problem they're facing. That often leads to offline collaboration between cities and running text-message conversations, participants said.

Bloomberg said the local response initiative is more of a continuation of his foundation's longtime work with cities than a change in direction. In emailed responses to questions from Axios, he said that the effort is about leadership, not politics.

"The insights that come with crisis management experience are useful to every mayor. Partisan politics is a very dangerous thing in a crisis ... Mayors are leading with facts and data and science."

 Michael Bloomberg

What they're saying: "Even though we're all battling the same virus and the same monster, there are so many differences across the country in how it's going and what mayors are being asked  or in some cases, told  to do," said Paul TenHaken, the Republican mayor of Sioux Falls, S.D.

The discussion, he said, "reassures me that there are other people trying to figure out this response as we go just like me."

Other mayors  Scott Brook of Coral Springs, Fla., Rick Kriseman of St. Petersburg, Fla., Andre Sayegh of Paterson, N.J., and Melvin Carter of St. Paul, Minn. (all Democrats) say they've put to use the advice offered on effectively communicating with their constituents and using data to drive policies.

"It seems cliche now to say these times are unprecedented but they really are," Carter said. "Having a real playbook is dependent on learning the lessons of other mayors."

Bloomberg Philanthropies has spearheaded several other efforts focusing on the urban response to COVID-19.

For example, it's partnered with the National Association of City Transportation Officials to launch a resource hub connecting local officials with real-time information about transportation strategies cities are adapting as a result of the virus.

With the National League of Cities, it launched a local action tracker to share new COVID-19-related policies put in place across the country.

The local response initiative has filled a void where federal and, in some cases, state officials, have fallen short, participating mayors tell Axios.

The network is an extension of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, which started in 2016 and has had three classes of mayors and city leaders participate in a year-long program.

The other side: Bloomberg received endorsements during his presidential campaign from the mayors of cities his foundation has helped over the years through grants and other strategic support  but also some criticism that he was calling in favors for past assistance.

Some residents have expressed concern that the platform is pushing a political agenda down to local leaders, said TenHaken of Sioux Falls.

"I've had to explain that there's not a Bloomberg political agenda, it's just a desire to give us the tools to lead," TenHaken said. "The coronavirus is not an R or a D issue  it's a public health issue. We're all paddling the boat in the same direction."

Behind the scenes: Columbia, S.C., Mayor Steve Benjamin, who was a co-chair of Bloomberg's national campaign, said it wasn't a surprise for Bloomberg to shift so quickly to the coronavirus response after dropping out of the race.
OTTAWA - Frustration is growing within Canada's veterans' community as many disabled ex-soldiers continue to wait for federal support and benefits even as the government rushes to approve millions of claims for assistance related to COVID-19.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/5/2020 (612 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

People wait to be tested for COVID-19 at a mobile clinic in Montreal, Sunday, May 17, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

OTTAWA - Frustration is growing within Canada's veterans' community as many disabled ex-soldiers continue to wait for federal support and benefits even as the government rushes to approve millions of claims for assistance related to COVID-19.

The growing frustration among veterans comes as Canada passed a new milestone Sunday, with more than half the country's roughly 76,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 now listed as recovered. More than 5,700 people have died from the respiratory illness.

It also coincides with a growing war of words between Jason Kenney and the Chinese consulate in Calgary, after the Alberta premier suggested China will soon face a "great reckoning" for downplaying the dangers posed by the novel coronavirus when it first emerged.

Veterans and their advocates have been calling for Ottawa to automatically approve roughly 44,000 claims that have been sitting in the backlog at Veterans Affairs Canada, a request that the federal government has so far rejected.

Yet many are now questioning why the government is refusing to act following reports federal officials have been told to approve payments through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit even in cases of suspected fraud or abuse.

Frustration is growing within Canada's veterans community as many disabled ex-soldiers continue to wait for federal support and benefits even as the government rushes to approve millions of claims for assistance related to COVID-19. A Canadian flag sits on a members of Canadian forces that are leaving from CFB Trenton, in Trenton, Ont., on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Federal officials have suggested that roughly 200,000 of the estimated eight million CERB payments made so far have been flagged as a concern. The government has said it wanted to get money to Canadians quickly during the pandemic, and will crack down on abusers at a later date.

The purpose and legal requirements around the CERB are different from Veterans Affairs Canada's disability benefits programs, department spokesman Josh Buekert said, adding officials are looking at ways to help process disability claims during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are making it easier for decision makers to use available evidence to reach their decision as quickly as possible," Buekert said in an email. "We are reviewing all processes used during these challenging circumstances and will use them to continue to improve production in the future."

Frustration has been boiling over on social media and elsewhere, however, with numerous veterans demanding to know why the government can fast-track millions of claims for assistance related to COVID-19 but not those injured while serving in uniform.

"Veterans are pissed because we are always put to the back of the bus," said retired master corporal Dave Toy, who has been waiting more than 18 months for his claim for benefits related to post-traumatic stress disorder to be processed. "This is just another reason to be pissed off."

The National Council of Veteran Associations, which represents more than 60 veteran groups, has been leading calls for the government to automatically approve the outstanding applications for disability benefits from injured veterans to help them deal with the COVID-19 crisis.

Not only are approval rates for most categories of injuries  including post-traumatic stress disorder  extremely high, council chairman Brian Forbes said the pandemic has created new hurdles for processing claims because of the need for doctor's assessments and other requirements.

"The government is taking the view  and it's kind of hard to criticize  that to put people through a bureaucratic approval process would be hard to justify," Forbes said of the CERB.

"In these times, the same philosophy should apply to both. We're talking about disabled veterans, people who are in need."

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Forbes did suggest the idea of automatic approvals has been gaining some traction within the department, where there have been questions about how to manage payments and the optics of clawing back money from veterans who are later found not to qualify for assistance.

Yet so far, the government has refused to pull the trigger.

"There is some movement in Veterans Affairs on what we're calling a form of automatic entitlement to try to deal with the backlog and the longstanding adjudicated delays," he said. "I'm a little biased, but I don't see disabled veterans quite in the same classification as fraud artists."

NDP veterans affairs critic Rachel Blaney said she has heard the concerns and complaints from veterans about the backlog, and that she hasn't heard any compelling reason why their applications for assistance shouldn't be automatically approved and verified afterward.

"Let's just approve," she said. "This is a group of people that have already served our country. So I would say it's probably not a high-risk group of people trying to trick the system."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2020.
Former Coronation Street actress Catherine Tyldesley is reportedly being lined-up to replace Holly Willoughby on Celebrity Juice.

Holly shocked fans earlier this month after revealing she had quit the ITV2 show after 12 years as one of the show's team captains.

And now bosses apparently have their eye on the actress, 36, with Catherine reportedly saying she would be 'up for it'.

Successor? Former Coronation Street actress Catherine Tyldesley is reportedly being lined-up to replace Holly Willoughby on Celebrity Juice (pictured in 2018)

It's said that Catherine, who is pals with the show's host Keith Lemon, would be the 'ideal' replacement' for the This Morning presenter.

A source told The Sun: 'Cath is brilliant fun, naturally very sharp and witty, and already has chemistry with Keith as they're pals.

'She's also got a girl next door appeal, much like Holly.

'Producers have got a short list of around eight stars, and Cath is very much up. For her part, she has told pals she would be up for it.'

Gone: Bosses apparently have their eye on the actress, 36, with Catherine reportedly saying she would be 'up for it' after Holly quit the job earlier this month after 12 years

Catherine, who played barmaid Eva Price in Corrie, has previously made an appearance on Celebrity Juice and is therefore very aware of the hilarious goings on.

Fellow Coronation Street alumni Michelle Keegan was also in the running to join the panel.

It comes after host Keith Lemon admitted that the future of the programme is uncertain following Holly's exit as he admitted: 'I don't know what the future of Celebrity Juice is at the moment.'

'Ideal': It's said that Catherine, who is pals with the show's host Keith Lemon, would be the 'ideal' replacement' for the This Morning presenter

Experience: Catherine, who played barmaid Eva Price in Corrie, has previously made an appearance on Celebrity Juice and is therefore very aware of the hilarious goings on

The comedian, 47, also revealed that he believes Holly and former captain Fearne Cotton left Celebrity Juice because they 'grew up'.

In an interview on HELLO! magazine's Instagram show HELLO! Let's Gab, the presenter told how he's been inundated with queries about who will be replacing Holly.

However, he's still uncertain what's next for the comedy panel show as he's been in lots of 'meetings' with show bosses.

He explained: 'Everyone keeps asking me who the new captain is but I don't know what the future of Celebrity Juice is at the moment, it's a lot of meetings.'

Unsure: Celebrity Juice host Keith Lemon admitted that the future of the programme is uncertain following Holly Willoughby's exit

Moving on: Holly shocked fans earlier this month after revealing she had quit Celebrity Juice after 12 years (pictured in 2012)

When asked if the show would definitely be coming back for another series, the star hesitated before answering.

He then said: 'It's a lot of meetings. I'm probably supposed to say it's meant to come back, lead with positive words but we've got to get it right, the next phase has to be right I guess.'

Meanwhile Keith went on to discuss both Holly and Fearne's departures, with the latter quitting the show in 2018.

Time to go: The comedian, 47, also revealed that he believes Holly and former captain Fearne Cotton left Celebrity Juice because they 'grew up' (pictured in 2008)

He explained that he 'wasn't surprised' by their decisions as they have both 'grown up'.

'It wasn't a surprise if I'm honest,' he said of Holly's choice to leave.

'She's so busy, she's doing This Morning, Dancing on Ice, a new show with Bradley Walsh and she has been doing Juice for 12 years and I think what happened is Holly and Fearne grew up, and I didn't.

'They have to go and do what they have to do as grownups but I still have fun on a Wednesday night filming Celebrity Juice.'

Future unknown: He explained: 'Everyone keeps asking me who the new captain is but I don't know what the future of Celebrity Juice is at the moment, it's a lot of meetings;'

Farewell: 'I think what happened is Holly and Fearne grew up, and I didn't. They have to go and do what they have to do as grownups but I still have fun on a Wednesday night filming Celebrity Juice'

Meanwhile, Holly revealed that she fully intends to return to the show as a guest, in scenes from Thursday's Celebrity Juice.

The TV presenter promised co-star Keith she would be back for 'special occasions' as they reflected on her time in the special episode, titled Show Us Your Best Bits.

Speaking to each other via video-link from their homes, Keith said: 'We've had some fun times over the past 12 years, haven't we?'

While Holly reminisced: 'We really have, we've laughed a lot.'

Keith added that he was going to miss Holly, and she gushed: 'I know, I'm going to miss you too... lots!'

Assurance: Meanwhile, Holly promised Keith she WILL return for a special appearance on Celebrity Juice in scenes set to air on Thursday night's episode Show Us Your Best Bits

Hoping she would return, Keith asked: 'Will you come back on special appearances on my birthday or something like that?'

To which Holly promised: 'Absolutely, like try and keep me away, I will be back.

'Obviously I wont be team captain anymore because that will go to someone very very lucky but I will be back on the panel, I'll come and play stupid games with you.'

It comes after Keith admitted that he nearly quit Celebrity Juice after he was left 'gutted' over Holly's shock exit.

Keith and Holly started presenting the show alongside Fearne, who left in 2018, in 2008 - meaning Keith is the last man standing from the original lineup.

Request: Hoping she would return, Keith asked: 'Will you come back on special appearances on my birthday or something like that?'
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the Islamic Republic of Iran supports the continued alignment of all Afghan groups, Mehr news agency reports.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held separate phone conversations with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah and welcomed the progress made in the national reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

Iranian Foreign Minister further voiced Irans readiness to support the continued alignment of all Afghan groups.

Today, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi also welcomed the accord reached between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah and expressed Irans readiness to assist in the process of inter-Afghan political talks and the continued alignment of Afghan groups, including the Taliban.

After months of conflict over the Afghan presidential election, a political agreement was signed on Sunday between President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah in an effort to end the crisis.

Under the agreement, Abdullah will chair the High Reconciliation Council, which has five deputies and have an independent budget along with specific powers. Moreover, He will retain a right to introduce 50 percent of the government's cabinet.

The agreement states that Afghanistan's 34 governors will be appointed on the basis of mutual agreement and that any change, adjustment, or removal of individuals from important government positions will be conducted due to proper reasons.

Afghanistan Election Commission declared Ashraf Ghani president on Jan. 20, 2020 which was later rejected by Abdullah.

On March 9, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah held simultaneous inauguration ceremonies at the presidential and Sepidar palaces with their supporters, effectively giving Afghanistan two presidents and a parallel government that created the crisis.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Beacon Christian Community Health Center hosted a coronavirus (COVID-19) testing event Saturday in its Mariners Harbor parking lot, with dozens being tested in a three-hour window.

The by-appointment-only event, in partnership with Quest Diagnostics, offered priority to: those with coronavirus symptoms; those who are asymptomatic but in contact with someone who tested positive for the illness in the last 14 days; anyone working in a nursing home, adult group home, or shelter.

We are happy that many Staten Islanders came out to get tested today. We continue to offer testing at the center throughout the week. Anyone needing testing can call the centers main number to schedule an appointment for testing, said Dr. Janet Kim, chief medical officer at the site, which operated independent of the citys testing efforts.

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

If a patient does not have insurance, the center provides testing at no cost, according to Kim.

The non-profit Beacon Christian Community Health Center was established in 2006 as a response to the lack of health-care access for those Mariners Harbor and surrounding areas.

Food donations and literature were available to those who were tested on Saturday.

More information could be found on the centers website at http://beaconcchc.com.
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Deborah Lujans Taos Pueblo gallery nestles within her familys ancestral home.

The photographers images capture the pueblos coral light at sunset against a mountainscape sugared in snowfall. Or the way the turquoise in a womans traditional dress mirrors a doorways hue.

Lujan grew up straddling homes in both Albuquerque and at the pueblo. Her parents worked for the federal government here. They spent their weekends and vacations in Taos.

A violinist since she was 8 years old, Lujan accidentally discovered photography when a Sandia High School guidance counselor suggested she take a class in something other than music.

In the old days of chemical printing and darkrooms, she quickly grasped the steps needed to produce a print.

It was fascinating to me, Lujan said, because it was method, like playing music; like practicing for hours on end and the satisfaction of seeing a print come to a fruition in the darkroom.

She never took another photography class.

After Lujan graduated from the University of New Mexico with dual degrees in music and sociology, she returned to the pueblo to open her own gallery of Native American art.

Its said the secret of a successful business is to find a niche and fill it.

Lujan realized no one at Taos Pueblo was taking landscape photographs.

The job was left to mostly white male outsiders.

People kept asking me about postcards, she said. Nobody had that. How come nobody from the pueblo was doing landscapes?

So it was very much a niche; I fell into it. Im still surprised there arent more Taos people doing this.

A framed reproduction that hung in her parents Albuquerque living room offered early inspiration.

When I was a kid, my folks moved here in 1969, Lujan said. When they opened a checking account, (the bank) gave them an Ansel Adams print. It was called Woman Winnowing Wheat. I was always enchanted by it.

Adams took the photo at Taos Pueblo.

Lujan juried into the Santa Fe Indian Market in 2014 with New Mexico Sunset, an unedited digital print awash in natural color and light.

It won her first place for color photography.

Last year, she took a best of division award as well as a first-place award for black-and-white photography.

Today, Lujan sells her work at all the important juried native art shows, including the Heard Museum in Phoenix, the Autry Museum in Los Angeles and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

In April, she launched her website, deborahlujanphotography.com.

The pandemic cancellation of the 2020 Santa Fe Indian Market was a blow. Sales there account for half her income.

It was stunning to hear that news, Lujan said. You do your best work for Indian Market. But were trying to make do. And who knows when the pueblo will reopen?

Loyal customers continue to call, and shes getting help from an artist relief grant at the Poeh Cultural Center at Pojoaque Pueblo.

She will occasionally shoot portraits for friends, but she doesnt consider that her forte; she prefers landscapes.

The buildings dont talk back, she said, giggling.

She mused about the nearly universal appeal of Taos Pueblo.

One of my friends at the Smithsonian said, Its the most interesting way people react to your work. They either have been there or they want to go there. 

People tell their stories, Lujan said,  I remember being in Taos and sitting by the river or I went to your church. Its a very personal connection.
Starting May 20, Ankara will provide the right to cross the Turkish border with the aim of treating citizens of 31 countries, including Ukraine. The Turkish government made this decision as part of measures to simplify quarantine, Anadolu reports.

"Among others, the permit is valid for citizens of Iraq, Libya, Azerbaijan, Greece, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Djibouti, Qatar, Germany, UK, and the Netherlands," the statement said.

Foreigners in Turkey can use such medical services as orthopedics, traumatology, general surgery, pediatric surgery, urology, eye diseases, cardiology, oncology, neurosurgery, hematology, reproductive therapy, organ, and bone marrow transplantation.

The condition for crossing the border is a negative test for coronavirus.

As we reported before, during the past 24 hours, Boryspil Airport admitted flights with passengers from Istanbul, Sharm El Sheikh, and Dubai. The border guards of Kyiv checkpoint processed over 400 people.

As a matter of course, the border guards held the temperature screening of each passenger. People with fever were not observed. Any of the passengers complained about bad feelings, the message said.
Bengaluru, May 17 : A 54-year-old man from Udupi succumbed to Covid-19, even as 54 new positive cases in the past 19 hours raised Karnataka's tally to 1,146, said an official on Sunday.

"Positive case number 1,093, a 54-year-old male resident of Udupi died due to cardiac arrest on Thursday. Tested positive for Covid on Saturday," said a health official.

This is Karnataka's 37th death due to coronavirus and Udupi's first.

Udupi is a coastal town by the Arabian Sea on the west coast of India, 404 km west of Bengaluru.

"New cases reported from Saturday 5 p.m. to Sunday noon are 54," said the official.

Currently, there are 611 active cases in the state, 497 discharges and 37 deaths.

Cases have been reported to have spiked in Mandya and Kalaburagi districts.

Of the 54 new cases, Mandya contributed 22, followed by Kalaburagi (10), Hassan (6), Dharwad (4), Kolar and Yadigiri (3 each), Dakshina Kannada and Shivamogga (2 each) and Udupi and Vijayapura (1 each).

Of all the new cases, 40 had inter-state travel history, majority of them to Mumbai in Maharashtra, including 20 from Mandya alone.

All Hassan cases had a travel history to the same place.

Only nine cases were contacts of earlier cases. A 49-year-old man from Kolar is also suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).

Among the new cases, 36 are men and the rest 18 are women, including 10 below 20 years of age.

Meanwhile, green zones in the state are seven -- Raichur, Koppal, Kodagu, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Ramanagara and Bengaluru Rural.

Of the 1,146 cases, 12 per cent patients were senior citizens, 65 per cent men and 35 per cent women with a discharge rate of 43 per cent.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A clash between members of two Islamic sects for the position of Imam of Okene Central Mosque position in Kogi State has left eight people injured.

The clash which reportedly occurred on Friday was said to be a spillover of the lingering crises between Tijaniyya and Sunni sects over who would become the chief imam, following the demise of the former imam, Musa Galadima who died in 2019.

According to report, the clash occurred few minutes before the jumaat sermon began when Ustaz Bello Hussaini, a sunni referred to Sheik Salihu Abere, who has been superintending over the mosque as the acting chief imam.

The comment reportedly angered a member of Tijaniyya group who demanded for an apology from the sunni member for being rude to the chief imam  leading to a free-for-all fight.

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A civil servant, Abdulsalam Mohammed Bashir who spoke to journalists on the matter, described it as an unfortunate and sad development.

I was there when the chief imam entered the mosque to preside over the jumaat prayers.

To the surprise of many people in the mosque, Bello Hussaini stopped his pre-hutuba sermon and announced that the acting imam is around instead of referring to him as the chief imam. This was the cause of the mayhem that lasted for more than an hour before the intervention of the police, he explained.

However, the sunni member who was at the center of the altercation, Ustaz Bello Hussaini said he did no wrong by referring to Sheikh Salihu Abere as the acting imam since the substantive imam has not yet emerged.

Read Also: Yahaya Bello Asks NCDC Officials To Go On 14-Day Isolation Or Leave Kogi Immediately

According to him, following the death of the late chief imam, Sheik Salihu Abere who was the deputy was directed by Governor Yahaya Bello to step in on acting capacity.

Momoh Jimoh challenged me for referring to Salihu Abere as acting chief imam and altercation and crisis followed. Four of our members were seriously injured while their shops was vandalised, he said.

He said he referred to Abere as acting chief imam because, since he was directed to takeover on acting capacity, there has not been a pronouncement making him the substantive chief imam.
Dear Citizens of Dade County and Northwest Georgia,

I will be endorsing Colton Moore for State Senate. Colton isnt afraid to challenge political power on behalf of the people he represents. He championed legislation to protect our gun rights, while Senator Mullis steered clear of offending his Atlanta support. Rep. Moore authored legislation to bring discipline back to our public schools, without any acknowledgement from our all powerful Senator. These political games drag our system down.

Over a year ago Dade County purchased a half a million dollar plot of land to build a water reservoir with assurances from Senator Mullis that grant money would be available to complete the project. After meeting with Senator Mullis, my opinion is these claims are nothing more than political smooth talk. As a County Commissioner, I prefer a State Senator to refrain from sugar coated political ego.

I have quickly learned as Dade County Commissioner that other local elected officials are more concerned with making Senator Mullis happy than the concerns of the constituents they represent. As elected officials, constituents should come first, not political pecking order.

I am glad Rep. Moore is challenging Senator Mullis. I find Mr. Moore to be thoughtful in finding solutions with policy and using common sense when resolving controversial issues. Mr. Moore will tell you his opinion without a warm, fuzzy political doublespeak, unlike Mullis who speaks to what you want to hear. Maybe Moores challenge should help Senator Mullis make good on the loose promises of state grant money. Its time to find a solution to Dade Countys reservoir debacle.

Personally, I can understand why Mr. Moore decided to run for state Senate. If reasonable policy has been overlooked or hindered by those with higher office, I see no reservations in making a challenge for that higher office.

I encourage you to vote for Colton Moore to be our next State Senator. Early voting starts Monday.

Dade County Commissioner Phillip Hartline
Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia has revealed what late actor Irrfan Khan had said before the release of Haasil. He said that his character in the film is not going to die soon.

Tigmanshu had posted an emotional tweet on Saturday which marked 17 years of the film which is one of the most critically acclaimed films of the late actors filmography.

Tigmanshu told News18 in an interview, Haasil was a very tough film to make and a very tough film to release also. And right from when I got the idea till when the film was released, Irrfan was a part of the journey. He had faith in the film. When he saw the first cut, he said this character is not going to die soon. Which was so true.

Talking about Irrfans performance in the film being National Award-worthy, Tigmanshu told the channel, He did not get the National Award because I had a fight with the producer. So out of revenge, he (producer) did not send it (Haasil) for the National Awards, which was a huge blow. Im sure Irrfan would have got it in 2004. So that delay of nine years, I think thats what he must be talking about.



Also read: Bharti Singh says she talks to Kapil Sharma everyday: Bond between us is like brother and sister

I dont know what was going on in his mind. In the beginning, the struggle for him was also very hard. He was capable of achieving much more. Whatever he did achieve internationally, nobody, no Indian actor has achieved so much. Thats a huge leap from the other contemporary actors, he added.

Irrfan, after being diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour in 2018, had undergone treatment in the UK and returned to India last year. He died in a Mumbai hospital on April 29 and is survived by his wife and two sons.

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Shelley King attends the British Soap Awards at The Lowry Theatre on June 01, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Coronation Streets Shelley King has revealed her harrowing abuse storyline has impacted on her private life and her ability to unwind while not filming.

The scenes in question see her character Yasmeen Metcalf being emotionally abused by husband Geoff, culminating in her stabbing him with a wine bottle when he attacked her with a knife.

But the storyline has taken its toll on the 64-year-old actress, who said the two years portraying the victim in an abusive relationship were tiring and left her feeling a heaviness when not on set.

Read more: Shelley King says Corrie character is like 'cornered animal' as she finally fights back

Talking to The Sun, King said: The past few months were tiring to film. The storyline has been going on for two years and at times it was difficult to unwind.

I felt a heaviness. It was a feeling that not everything is right in the world.

But in a strangely positive way, I am getting messages from people all the time.

Trilby James and Shelley King attend the Pride Of Britain Awards 2019 at The Grosvenor House Hotel on October 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Ive heard the most distressing stories from women and men from so many different backgrounds and cultures.

The storyline reached its peak recently when Yasmeen used a wine bottle to stave off Geoff, played by actor Ian Bartholomew.

The hard-hitting scene was graphic by Corries usual standards, and prompted 270 Ofcom complaints from viewers.

However, King is not concerned about such criticism as she revealed she loved the storyline as it is such an important issue to tackle.

Speaking on This Morning earlier this month King compared her character to a cornered animal.

Read more: Coronation Street welcomes back a much-loved character

She said on the ITV morning show: This has been going on, it started two years ago. And if you look back at Geoffs first introduction, he is a hail-fellow-well-met and we seem to love him. We all love him, because hes great.

But its been a slow drip, a gradual escalation of abuse so its not an attack, shes defending herself.

Its her instinct, shes a cornered animal She doesnt even know in that instance what is actually happening to her.

Coronation Street is on ITV from 7.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
BEIRUT - Unknown warplanes attacked Iran-backed fighters in eastern Syria near the Iraqi border, killing several of the Iraqi militiamen, Syrian opposition activists said Sunday.

The strikes late Saturday targeted a base near the border town of Boukamal, killing seven fighters, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor.

Omar Abu Laila, a Europe-based activist from Syrias eastern Deir el-Zour province, confirmed a strike hit Iran-backed Iraqi fighters in the area but had no exact word on casualties. The strikes came days after reinforcements were brought into the area from Iraq, the Observatory and Abu Laila said.

Abu Laila, who runs Deir Ezzor 24, an activist collective that reports on news in the border area, said Israel was most likely behind the attack, but gave no evidence.

Israel rarely comments on such reports, although it has acknowledged carrying out airstrikes inside Syria on numerous occasions over the course of Syrias nine-year conflict, saying it was going after Iranian military targets in the country.

There have recently been several reports of suspected Israeli strikes inside Syria, including one on May 4 that left 14 Iranian-backed fighters dead, according to the Observatory.
(CNN)  China's Ambassador to Israel, Du Wei, was found dead inside his official residence Sunday morning, a spokeswoman for Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told CNN.

At this stage, the 57-year-old's death is not being treated as suspicious.

Police are outside the ambassador's residence in Herzliya -- to the north of Tel Aviv -- as part of standard procedure, the spokeswoman said.

His death comes less than a week after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Jerusalem, openly criticizing China's actions during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as calling on Israeli leaders to stop signing major infrastructure and communications deals with Chinese companies.

There has been no comment on the ambassador's death from the Chinese embassy in Israel or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing.

Ambassador Du assumed his current role in Israel in February 2020, according to the embassy's webpage, as the coronavirus pandemic was sweeping across the globe. He wrote in an article in the Jerusalem Post in mid-March that he immediately had to enter two weeks of mandatory self-quarantine on his arrival.

Ambassador Du was married with one son.

This story was first published on CNN.com. "Chinese ambassador to Israel is found dead in his home, Foreign Ministry says."
New York: A federal grand jury has indicted a Pakistani doctor and former Mayo Clinic research coordinator for providing support to a terrorist group after he told paid informants that he planned to carry out attacks against the US, media reports said.

The Pakistani doctor was identified as Muhammad Masood.

Masood was formally charged Friday for his alleged ties to the Islamic State but has been in custody since he was arrested at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on March 19, reported New York Post.

Federal prosecutors said Masood told informants that he was working for the jihadist group, which controls large swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq. They said he was in the US on a work visa, the newspaper reported.

From January to March, Masood made several statements to informants he believed were members of the Islamic State, expressing a desire to fight for the group in Syria and carry out attacks against the US, the newspaper reported quoting court papers.

In one instance, Masood messaged an informant: there is so much I wanted to do here  lon wulf [sic] stuff you know  but I realized I should be on the ground helping brothers sisters kids, according to court papers as reported by New York Post.

The doctor was arrested in March at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

According to the allegations in the complaint, Masood, a licensed medical doctor in Pakistan, was formerly employed as a Research Coordinator for a medical clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, under an H-1B Visa.

Between January 2020 and March 2020, Masood made several statements to others, including pledging his allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) and its leader, and expressing his desire to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS. Masood also expressed his desire to conduct lone wolf terrorist attacks in the United States, read the statement issued by US Department of Justice earlier.

On Feb. 21, 2020, Masood purchased a plane ticket from Chicago, Illinois to Amman, Jordan, and from there planned to travel to Syria. On March 16, 2020, Masoods travel plans changed because Jordan closed its borders to incoming travel due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Masood made a new plan to fly from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to meet up with an individual who he believed would assist him with travel via cargo ship to deliver him to ISIS territory.

On March 19, 2020, Masood traveled from Rochester to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to board a flight bound for Los Angeles, California. Upon arrival at MSP, Masood checked in for his flight and was subsequently arrested by the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force, read the statement.

The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, it said.
Nine people, including a nine-year-old boy, tested positive for COVID-19 in Assam as the state's total number of cases touched the 100-mark, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The boy, who is a resident of Ward Number 3 of Jorhat town, tested positive after returning from Delhi. He is undergoing treatment at the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, he said.

The boy is the youngest COVID-19 patient in Assam where the infection was also detected in three other minors. One of them, a 16-year-old girl, was found to be positive after she died in Guwahati last week.

The other two minors are a 16-year-old girl from Bongaigaon, and a 13-year-old girl who tested positive after returning from Mumbai where she underwent a heart surgery.

Three of the fresh cases were detected among those at the Sarusajai quarantine centre. While two of them arrived from Mumbai, the other one returned from Bihar, Sarma said.

Among the fresh cases was a 28-year-old man from Cachar who returned from Chennai on Saturday. He is undergoing treatment in the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, the minister said.

There are 55 active cases in Assam at present. While two persons have died and two have migrated out of the state, 41 have recovered, he said.

Four other cases were reported late Saturday night. Two of them are from Guwahati and one each from Sonitpur and Sivasagar.

Two of the four patients were in quarantine centres in Guwahati and Jorhat, Sarma said.

The patients from Guwahati have been admitted to Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH), the one from Sonitpur at Tezpur Medical College and Hospital and the other person is being treated at the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital.

Assam has so far tested 34,376 samples for COVID-19. Out of them, 100 were found to be positive, 32,035 were negative and the results of the remaining are awaited.

Meanwhile, two persons who stayed in rented accommodations in Guwahati tested positive after going back to Tripura, following which the Kamrup (Metro) district administration declared parts of the Rukminigaon and Katahbari areas as containment zones.

The district administration also declared the Fatashil Tiniali area as a containment zone as a person who tested positive lived there.

Meanwhile, the Congress Assam unit made arrangements to send back 120 migrants from West Bengal to their state in five buses from the Inter-State Bus Terminus in Guwahati, the party's state president Ripun Bora said.

Thirty workers from Assam are also returning from Siliguri in a bus arranged by West Bengal Congress MLA Shankar Malakar. They will go back to their homes in Jorhat, Golaghat and Lakhimpur.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UK's media watchdog Ofcom has fined controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik's Peace TV network 300,000 pounds for broadcasting "hate speech" and "highly offensive" content in the country.

The London-based regulator for the communications services in the UK has fined licence holders of Peace TV Urdu 200,000 pounds and Peace TV 100,000 pounds for breaking its broadcasting rules.

"Our investigations found that programmes broadcast on Peace TV Urdu and Peace TV contained hate speech and highly offensive content, which in one instance was likely to incite crime," it said.

"We concluded that the content represented serious failures of compliance with our broadcasting rules, which warranted fines. Ofcom has today fined the former licence holders of Peace TV Urdu 200,000 pounds and Peace TV 100,000 pounds for breaking our broadcasting rules," Ofcom said in a statement.

Peace TV is owned by Lord Productions Limited, and Club TV holds the licence of Peace TV Urdu. Both have the Universal Broadcasting Corporation Limited as their parent company which is owned by Naik, a 54-year-old televangelist and Islamic preacher from Mumbai.

"The former licence holders, Club TV and Lord Production must now pay 200,000 pounds and 100,000 pounds respectively to HM Paymaster General," said the statement issued early this month.

Peace TV is a nonprofit satellite television network broadcasting free-to-air programs in English, Bengali and Urdu languages from Dubai. The founder and president of Peace TV is Naik.

The controversial preacher has been wanted in India for money laundering and inciting extremism through hate speeches. He left India in 2016 and subsequently moved to Malaysia, where he was granted permanent residency.

Last week, India made a formal request to the Malaysian government for his extradition. He was banned from entering into the UK in 2010 due to his "unacceptable behaviour".
Published on 2020/05/17 | Source

Elementary schoolchildren in Seoul will be allowed to study at home for up to 34 days without losing points for attendance even after schools reopen, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced Wednesday.

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The exemption came amid a decision to close schools for another week after a fresh surge in coronavirus infections. It will remain effective even if the coronavirus alert level is lowered.

The number is 20 percent of total school days. Under normal circumstances, children are allowed to skip school for certain private learning experiences for 10 percent of school days but cannot use them all at once.

Children in first and second grade will go back to school on May 20, while third and fourth graders will follow on May 27 and fifth and sixth graders on June 8.

The lockdown has reduced the number of school days to 171 for first through third graders and 173 days for fourth through sixth graders. Normally there are supposed to be 190 school days and up to 19 days set aside for private learning experiences.

With the exemption of 34 days they could now stay home until the end of the first semester if parents want.

But critics say this looks like education authorities are shifting responsibility to parents by letting them decide whether to allow children to go back to school.

The education office said the decision "aims to protect children's safety and health".
Thousands of Greeks returned to church on Sunday after weeks of staying away as a ban on mass gatherings to curb the spread of the coronavirus was eased.

It was a special moment for those who gathered from early Sunday morning in the courtyard of Ayios Spiridonas Church in Piraeus, where the melodious chants of the Sunday liturgy were broadcast on loudspeakers and heard down to the sea port.

I cant describe my feelings.

After two and a half months of quarantine, we are in our church again, said Stella Kasimati, 76.

We are allowed what we were deprived of for two and a half months, going to church and Holy Communion, she told Reuters.

Greeks were not only deprived of weekly congregations but had to spend the highlight of their religious calendar, Easter, which was on April 19, indoors.

The lockdown was introduced in mid-March.

Normally adjoining pews were replaced with chairs inside the church and in its courtyard as social distancing rules applied.

Chairs were set two metres apart with boundaries in the courtyard marked with red and white masking tape.

Disposable gloves and antiseptic were available at the entrance.

Some individuals kissed icons, as is customary in the Greek Orthodox religion.

A woman wiped the icon with an antiseptic before the next person approached.

Church warden, Petros Anagnostakis, 74, said preparations to reopen the church had been ongoing for about a week.

Today is a great celebration, we are overjoyed and touched; its a great celebration for us, he said, visibly moved.

In unison, churchgoers recited the Creed, a declaration of faith in God and Jesus.

Greece has recorded a lower number of COVID-19 cases and deaths than many other countries.

By Saturday evening, it had recorded 2,819 cases and 162 deaths.

I think its a miracle that Greece didnt have that many deaths or people sick, said Kasimati.

I believe that was help from God.

(Reuters/NAN)

AIB
Looking to find your personal happiness, your personal history or your personality type, and in the process, find yourself? Or do you simply want to take your sudoku skills up a notch?

But how can you, when youre housebound and tethered to the computer all day?

Heres your guide  the first of several as the days pile up  to some helpful, fun, stimulating, enlightening, maybe even self-enlightening online places you can go to and virtual activities you can do, all at your fingertips.

1) Have you heard of the Yale happiness course? Its the most popular course the famous university has ever offered in its 300-year history.

Originated several years ago by Yale psychology professor Laura Santos, the course was designed to address what Santos noted were almost viral levels of stress and mental health issues among students on campus.

The course begins with insights from psychology and neuroscience about well-being, the good life, satisfaction and happiness; then students were challenged to undertake behaviour change exercises.

Almost one in four students on campus ended up taking the course. What? Youre saying you dont want to travel to New Haven, Connecticut, even if you could? Dont have to. Now, in response to the coronavirus crisis, its being offered free online, through Coursera, to those who simply want to audit it or for a small fee for those who want a happiness certificate at the end.

2) Its true, distance means almost nothing online, but isnt it nice to know that youre supporting a local virtual initiative? The Hamilton Public Library, in response to the coronavirus crisis (oh, it again), has been offering access to Ancestry Library, the popular genealogical search engine containing Canadian, American, and British records. The HPL has subscribed to it for years and it is making it available free from peoples homes to keep customers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

HPL customers are also doing things like learning a new language through the librarys Mango Language courses. HPL.ca has seen a 175 per cent increase among customers using this free resource over the past month. (Comparing March 1-15 to April 1-15.)

Lynda.com, the librarys portal to hundreds of online learning videos, has also seen spikes in visits. Over the same period, there has been a 700 per cent increase in customer traffic, as users access the sites business, software, technology and creative courses. Free with an HPL card.

3) How well do you know yourself? Have you ever heard someone say, You must be an ENTJ, and you didnt know what they were talking about? Welcome to the world of Myers-Briggs and other such personality tests.

If you dont take them too seriously (some critics consider them bogus, and those critics are probably at least somewhat right), or even if you do, they can be quite fun. Compare yourself against your own expectations of what kind of person you are, and against other peoples perceptions, if youre brave enough to ask them.

Myers-Briggs (Google to find online) is Jungian in its roots but there other tests that stem from different approaches. One that is popular now is the so-called enneagram, which essentially breaks us down into nine types and is steeped, if not in Carl Jung, then in a pastiche of Buddhism, yoga-ism and, well, take your pick. Yes, the philosophies behind them might be woo-woo for some, but if nothing else, in practice they are a fun parlour game kind of a thing. Do the enneagram test free online

4) One of the best guides to Sudoku strategy that I have found is the engaging, easy-to-follow puzzlemaster Simon Anthony. He has a pleasant manner and a soothing, relaxed speaking voice (the accent doesnt hurt), and even if nothing else appeals to you about it, enjoy the transcendently satisfying sound of the numbers getting clicked into the squares. Its absolutely hypnotic, almost ASMR.

5) The Night Watch is one of the most interesting and beloved art works of all time. Painted by Rembrandt in the 1640s, the masterpiece is enormous, almost 12 feet by 15 feet, and you can see it at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam or you could until the viral crisis.

Um, no you cant. The museum is closed like everything else. But you can see it at home, in the museum in our computer, by visiting Operation Night Watch. This is a live stream of one of the most ambitious and large-scale art restorations ever undertaken, being presented by the museum and Dutch broadcaster NTR.

There has probably never been a more restored painting. Why? It seems the more powerful an art work, the more it attracts vandalism, and The Night Watch has been deliberately gashed in 40 places, splashed with acid and defaced in various other ways over the centuries, two of the most violent occurrences having happened since the 1970s.

It is a testament to the art and science of restoration that one can hardly tell But the complete restoration (not just spot fixes) that began last year, 2019, is one of the most exhaustive You can also view The Night Watch and other highlights of the museum on Rijksmuseum Masterpieces Up Close
~ Tension and difference of opinion by Dutch and French on border reopening.~

MARIGOT/PHILIPSBURG:--- The containers and barriers placed at the Oyster Pond and Low Lands French and Dutch borders were removed by Dutch Law enforcement on Sunday morning.

The barriers that were placed at the Bellevue and Belle Plaine (Belvedere) Borders were also removed however, gendarmes that were taking shelter at the Belvedere crossing under the various sheds were forced out of the shelter since huge blocks were placed at the entrance and exit avoiding the gendarmes from entering the Dutch part of the border. This leaves the gendarmes in the hot sun and no place to rest their legs as they continue to monitor the movement of people entering the French side of the island. Persons desiring to cross over to the French side must produce their identification cards and the C waiver that were issued by the Prefecture of St. Martin and St. Barthelemy.

What was described as friendly closer by Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and Sylvie Feucher when the borders were closed on March 6th, 2020 certainly did not end on a friendly note on Sunday.

The French and Dutch residents have been co-existing for decades at least since the treaty of Concordia of 1648 however, the coronavirus allowed authorities on both sides to infringe on the freedom the island nation once enjoyed, residents on both sides have relatives residing on either side and they were all prevented from taking care of elderly family members during the lockdown and border controls. Residents on both sides including elected officials objected to what Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs did when she agreed to close the borders without considering the effects it would have had on the people.

What made matters worst this past week is when the Minister of Justice Anna Richardson decided to place customs officers at the border to search all vehicles crossing the borders. These custom officers that are supposed to lead by example with the measures in place to flatten the curve on the coronavirus were the ones searching vehicles without even sanitizing their hands. At no time the customs officers were getting assistance from the French customs (Duane). The customs controls were the sole initiative of the Dutch authorities. SMN News contacted Minister of Justice Anna Richardson on Saturday and she said that the authorities received tips that residents were not only exchanging food items at the border but much more than meets the eyes were being exchanged. Richardson said it has been a while now Dutch law enforcement officers have not been doing their duties and that these controls will continue whether or not the people like it, that however changed on Saturday evening when the Prime Minister sent out a press statement stating the Dutch law enforcement were going to be pulled away on Sunday, May 17th, 2020.

On Sunday morning some residents gathered at the Bellevue border in a silent protest of the border closers. Among those that protested was Member of Parliament Rolando Brison who said that he never supported the closing of the borders because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brison said there is something special about the borders on St. Maarten/St. Martin and there have to be reasons why the State of France and the Dutch Government wants to maintain the closing of the borders. Brison said COVID-19 is a pandemic that affects the world and while no one has a handbook on how to deal with the pandemic one thing he is sure of is that the borders in Spain and Germany are not closed even though the death rate in France is much higher.

During the border controls, many residents on the French side had to suffer due to the fact they were unable to access their money at banks on the Dutch side of the island, while this issue was raised by SMN News not much was done to assist those persons residing on the French side and have their money on the Dutch side.

While the Council of Ministers took a stand this weekend after several Members of Parliament including the Chairman of Parliament Rolando Brison openly objected to the decisions taken by his government, the damage is already done and those that did it will certainly pay at the polls come next election.

Today its good for the French State to take responsibility border management with the Dutch side

"The Minister of Sint Maarten, Mrs. Silveria Jacobs, kept me informed on Saturday, May 16 in the morning, of the decision of the government of Sint Maarten to lift border control as of Monday, May 18, the containment phase having taken effect late Sunday, May 17 in the evening, on the Dutch side.

During preliminary discussions in a tripartite meeting, Thursday, May 14, Prime Minister Jacobs had already expressed her willingness to end border controls with Saint Martin, as of Monday, May 18, while the local representation of the State, madame the prefect, wished to continue these checks.

The Community has no decision-making power in this area. However, from the start of the crisis, as elected representatives of Saint-Martin, I, with my First Vice-President Valerie Damaseau, participated in the weekly tripartite meetings in a spirit of cooperation and fraternity and in order to bring our vision.

We, therefore, communicated to our counterparts, during this meeting on Thursday, May 14, our favorable opinion as to the principle of stopping the controls. We have proposed to the competent authorities that their decision may take place during the following week, depending on the results of the last screening campaigns of the two parties, while the whole island has now started the phase of deconfinement.

After Minister Silveria Jacobs' official announcement on Saturday morning following the vote on Parliament's motion, I immediately contacted the Minister of Overseas Territories, Ms. Annick Girardin, to brief her on the situation in Saint Martin and inform her of the position of all the elected representatives of the Collectivity. I therefore asked her, also by post, that France put an end to border controls, in harmony with Sint Maarten; even if the decision was taken earlier than planned in a tripartite meeting.

The Collectivity plays its role in this cooperation between sovereign states, with the aim of harmonizing decisions as much as possible, in the context of this crisis.

But it is now up to the French State alone to take responsibility for border management.

Today, our common challenge with Sint Maarten is to revive the economy of the island and successfully complete the deconfinement stage jointly. This is a challenge that we must take up together, in the interest of the health of the inhabitants of the two parts of the island.

We will then have to prepare together for the opening of international air borders to boost tourism on the island.

Saint Martin and Sint Maarten are inseparable and must go hand in hand to face deconfinement in the context of this health crisis, but also so that the population of the island can relive and resume their habits of work and life while respecting the barrier gestures that are now part of our daily lives. Border control was instituted for reasons of health emergencies which no longer exist today. In fact, the current health resources, both French and Dutch, have been reinforced and must henceforth make it possible to deal with the occurrence of new cases. The health situation on the island was managed jointly, in good intelligence, with a common desire to face up together. Today, the government of Sint-Maarten and the French state services, in collaboration with the community of Saint-Martin, must be able to continue to manage the future health situation together and take the necessary decisions in the event of need.".

Press Release from President of COM Daniel Gibbs.
Hollywood action star Dwayne Johnson says it's a proud moment for him to see his daughter Simone following in his footsteps and join WWE.

Johnson, who had a long career in professional wrestling before becoming a Hollywood star, said Simone, 18, will be the youngest signee in the history of WWE.

"She signed her contract with the WWE, it just blows my mind," Johnson told Jimmy Fallon via video chat on The Tonight Show.

"First of all, I mean, what an honour that my daughter wants to follow in my footsteps. But more importantly, follow in my footsteps sounds clich, but she actually wants to blaze her own path, which is just so important. She wound up being the youngest signee in the history of the company, by the way, he added.

Johnson, who shares Simone with former spouse Dany Garcia, said his daughter started training at the age of 16.

"She was working her a** off. Quietly, under the radar, in the ring, getting thrown around, and all the bumps and bruises that go with pro wrestling. And she hung in there, I'm very, very proud of her."



WWE had announced in February that Simone has officially signed with the company.

She is the fourth generation from her family to join pro-wrestling. Her father, under the name The Rock, was a 10-time world champion, while her late grandfather, Rocky Johnson, and her great-grandfather,High Chief Peter Maivia, were both inducted into the Hall of Fame.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This looks like it belongs under legislation that sounds good at first but doesnt bear scrutiny and probably wont go anywhere.

Linda B. Rosenthal, a member of the state Assembly who represents the Upper West Side and Hells Kitchen neighborhoods of Manhattan, recently introduced a bill that, according to a news release sent out by her office, would prohibit delivery companies like GrubHub, Seamless and Door Dash from charging New York restaurants any fee during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It seems indicative of the lack of care that went into preparation of the bill and its introduction that Rosenthals announcement incorrectly represents the names Grubhub and DoorDash. (The bill memo itself gets DoorDash right, as one word, but still capitalizes the h in Grubhub.) Its also evident that insufficient thought went into the bill as it is inconsistent about whether the banned fees are strictly for restaurants or include those for customers. Also, terminology about such fees sometimes refers to them only as commissions, which are not paid directly by consumers.

Note: the bill would prohibit the charging of all fees, to both customers and restaurants, though Rosenthals news release mentions only the banning of charges to restaurants. In its current form, the ban would be lifted at the end of 2021 or when the governors state of disaster emergency expires, now set for Sept. 7.

The news release makes much indignant noise about how delivery services are multibillion-dollar companies imposing charges that amount to usury. In an interview, Rosenthal told me, They make out like bandits. She didnt seem to realize the bill would ban fees to customers as well.

I dont disagree that the current fee structure is indefensible (unless youre a stockholder). Grubhub and the like often charge restaurants 30 percent or more of the cost of an order, and customers get hit for an average of 22 percent in fees, according to Rosenthals announcement. Thats in line with my own research and what local restaurateurs have told me.

I ran the same $30, two-item order through DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats, which added customer service and delivery fees of 18 to 22 percent, not including tip. On that hypothetical $30 order, the company makes a combined $15; after the restaurant pays its fees, the restaurant keeps $20. Thats unconscionable. As a customer, sure, I should pay more to have food brought to my door, and I agree that the company deserves something from a restaurant for running the platform that connects restaurants to customers, managing drivers, etc. However, to reap the equivalent of 50 percent of an order cost, between customer and restaurant fees, is obscene.

The State Liquor Authority agrees the matter should be addressed. Last August, well before the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency announced that the SLA board was considering a measure that would impose a 10 percent cap on fees charged to restaurants by delivery services. (This would apply only to restaurants with liquor licenses, as the SLA has no authority over those that dont.) And then nothing happened for nine months. An agency spokesman told me a few days ago, This item was put aside by the members of the authority for consideration of comments. It is still under consideration.

Rosenthal explained why her bill finally came along now, more than eight weeks after restaurants were limited to takeout/delivery. First we thought there was the SLA proposal, she said. When it became clear that had stagnated, We thought it would get attended to by executive action. In other words, that Gov. Cuomo would "Make It Happen," much like after decades of restaurants being unable to sell wine, spirits or cocktails for takeout - poof - it suddenly was permissible within a day. But no executive action on delivery fees was forthcoming. So she came up with this bill.

I asked Rosenthal how her no-fees-at-all law would work in practice. Its preposterous to be believe that a delivery company would choose to continue in a business where it was prohibited from making money.

They can charge more for the food, Rosenthal told me. They usually do  a dollar more, per item if you order through a delivery app - versus the price for a phoned-in pickup order. This is generally true. Looking at 30 items from places in Albany, Saratoga Springs and Troy that all offer direct-order pickup as well as delivery via one of the big services, I compared delivery-app prices with menus on restaurant websites and found around half of the items were about a dollar more via the apps - though the remaining half were the same or, weirdly, less.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

Even so, Rosenthals bill would seem to disincline apps from doing business. On my hypothetical $30 order, Grubhub/DoorDash/etc. currently get $15. If Rosenthals bill were to pass, the companies take would fall to $2  a buck for each item, or an 87 percent drop. Rosenthal wouldnt say whether she thought per-item surcharges should be capped, too, or what would happen if the state of emergency ends at the beginning of September but restaurants, still doing high takeout volume, are being required to operate at significantly diminished seating capacity. (Theres speculation that New York City restaurants may not be allowed to host dine-in customers until some point in the fall, and one of the citys top restaurateurs expects not to open his dining rooms until theres a vaccine for the novel coronavirus.)

Maybe thats a drafting issue, Rosenthal said, which seemed to suggest the bill was hurriedly introduced and could be rewritten later to address, you know, everything important. In other words, she wanted to get it out there, garner interest from the public and plaudits for herself for standing up for consumers and independent restaurants against the greedy corporate giants that are exploiting the little guys during a crisis.

I know Im unseasoned in the ways of lawmaking. Colleagues who cover the Capitol have for years told me that it is commonplace for legislators to vote for, or even introduce, bills they havent read themselves but simply absorbed talking points from their staff. This still strikes me as a lousy way to make law. Or maybe the point was simply to posture.

To be clear: Official action seems required to regulate delivery charges. If the public and lawmakers are serious about getting it done, it should be pursued in a responsible, considered way that actually has a chance of becoming a law thats fair for all affected.

To read more of Steve Barnes' blog, go to https://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/
Harry Dunn was killed outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire last year. (PA)

Harry Dunns mother has called on Britain to face up to the "bullying" US government in the diplomatic row over the extradition of her sons alleged killer.

Charlotte Charles said the UK faces the "road to ruin" if it concedes defeat in the fight to bring Ann Sacoolas, the wife of a US diplomat, to justice.

It comes after it emerged that Britain has agreed to extradite two fugitives to the US, despite their refusal to allow Sacoolas to face trial in the UK.

Sacoolas was charged with causing the 19-year-old's death by dangerous driving in December after he was killed outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27.

Charlotte Charles, the mother of Harry Dunn. (PA)

Police in Britain have issued an international wanted notice for Sacoolas, 42, and an extradition request submitted by the Home Office for her was rejected by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo in January.

But Ms Charles said she hopes the UK government will keep fighting on her behalf, despite Mr Pompeo saying the January ruling was final.

"We don't want any problems with the US Government. But we can see that the US Government is behaving like a bully, she said.

"It will be a road to ruin if we back down as a country now and we have to stand up to them.

"I agree with calls that no-one should be extradited until the US Government agrees to play by the rules, starting with sending Anne Sacoolas back.

"She did not have diplomatic immunity."

The row over Sacoolas flared up once again this week after it emerged Home Secretary Priti Patel approved the extradition of Jabir Motiwala, 53, and Colin Wilkinson, 54, to the US from Hull last month.

Acting on behalf of Mr Dunn's parents, spokesman Radd Seiger added: "Arrangements for sending wanted people across the Atlantic are hopelessly weighted in favour of the Americans.

"As we have seen in the case of Anne Sacoolas, the American Government didn't even bother to go through the motions of putting the case through the legal and court system.

Story continues

"Pompeo just said no, it's not happening and that his decision is final.

"In my numerous visits to Washington and speaking to leaders there, I sought to impress upon them just how stupid, reckless and short-sighted that stance would be.

"No-one would be going in the opposite direction and I have made it clear to leaders in Westminster that no-one is to go the other way until Anne Sacoolas is back."
Photograph: Sean Rayford/Getty Images

The local prosecutor who argued two white men were legally justified in chasing down and killing Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed black man, has been at the center of aggressive and flawed prosecutions of at least two black women in recent years.

One of the women was wrongfully imprisoned for over a decade on a murder conviction secured by later discredited forensic evidence, and another woman was unsuccessfully tried twice for helping people vote.

Related: A great embarrassment: records offer insight into Ahmaud Arbery suspect

George Barnhill, the district attorney for the Waycross judicial circuit in south-east Georgia, advised police in April that Gregory and Travis McMichael should not be charged over the death of Arbery, suggesting that the two had attempted to stop and hold this criminal suspect before fatally shooting him.

Arbery had been jogging in the area, with numerous accounts stating there was no evidence of any burglary.

Barnhill eventually recused himself from the case, under pressure from the Arbery family, as his son had worked in the Brunswick prosecutors office alongside Gregory McMichael.

The McMichaels have since been charged with murder after the emergence of video showing the shooting and the intervention of Georgia state investigators. Barnhill faces harsh scrutiny, allegations of racial bias and a state investigation over his handling of the case and why he recommended not bringing charges shortly before officially recusing himself.

Barnhill defended his offices handling of the Arbery case.

As a member of the State Bar of Georgia I am not allowed by State Law and State Bar rules to have any public comment on the facts, or on the law, or on the news stories about the case, to ensure a fair and just trial for all parties, he said in an emailed statement. As far as any investigation into my offices handling of the case; I welcome the investigation and look forward to the review.

Court documents obtained by the Guardian reveal that just months before Barnhill advised against charging both men, his office aggressively opposed a motion filed on behalf of a 53-year-old African American woman, Sheila Denton, requesting a new trial due to flawed forensic evidence used to convict her of a 2004 murder.

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Denton was sentenced to life in prison in 2006 for the murder of 73-year-old Eugene Garner, but she has maintained her innocence. Her prosecution, first brought by Barnhills predecessor in the district attorneys office, relied heavily on bite mark evidence and the account of a sole witness who defense lawyers said gave conflicting evidence and was heavily pressured by local police into testifying against Denton. Court filings indicate police threatened the witness, Sharon Jones, with being charged over murder herself unless she testified that Denton had confessed to her. Jones was a known crack cocaine dealer and drug addict.

An autopsy on Garners body identified a potential bite mark, which was used alongside a photograph of Dentons arm, which prosecutors argued also showed an alleged bite mark, to deduce Denton had carried out the murder. There was no DNA evidence linking her to the case.

Although forensic dentistry experts testified at trial that the markings were probable bite marks that linked the two together, guidance issued by the American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO) in 2016, which strictly limited testimony on probabilistic bite markings, essentially nullified the critical evidence from the 2006 trial.

Despite this, attorneys working for Barnhill argued in court filings in December 2019 that the new ABFO guidance was not evidence at all and the court should continue to rely on the old, flawed testimony because the forensic dentist who testified in 2006 would not change the opinion he offered. The motion was written by the assistant district attorney Michelle McIntire, who reports to Barnhill.

Ultimately, on 7 February this year, just two weeks before the Arbery shooting, Judge Dwayne Gillis disagreed with Barnhills office and allowed Denton a new trial, later ordering her release from prison.

Denton was released on 9 April but remains under indictment.

Sources close to the case told the Guardian that Barnhill indicated, at around the same time he advised against charging the McMichaels, that he would continue to examine pursuing a new case against Denton.

Barnhill said in an email that the original trial was many years ago and he was not personally involved. He said his office had agreed to a low bond for Denton after a new trial was ordered so she could live with family in Atlanta.

In recent years Barnhill also drew national attention for his decision to prosecute Olivia Pearson, the first African American woman elected to the city commission in Douglas, Georgia, and three others for improperly assisting others at the polls during the 2012 general election. The three other people pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges, but Pearson chose to take her case to trial.

Georgia restricts who can get assistance at the polls and Barnhills office brought felony charges against Pearson, saying she had unlawfully helped her nephew and another woman at the polls and signed a form swearing that the voters met the necessary conditions for assistance when they didnt.

I was just blown away that I got indicted on something like that. They aggressively prosecuted me Olivia Pearson

But during the trial, one of the women Pearson helped, a first-time voter, testified that she didnt know how to use the voting machine, according to BuzzFeed News. She said Pearson showed her how to do so without touching the machine or telling her how to vote.

I was just blown away that I got indicted on something like that, said Pearson They aggressively prosecuted me.

All but one of the jurors, a black woman, voted to convict Pearson, resulting in a mistrial. Barnhills office immediately moved to try the case again. In the second trial, held in another town, the jury acquitted Pearson after just 20 minutes of deliberation.

The fact that the group was prosecuted after encouraging people to vote was stunning, said Charlene Green, an attorney who represented one of the men who pleaded guilty. Many saw the prosecutions as an attempt to intimidate minority voters.

These are not people who are a blight on the community. These are individuals who are actively working to galvanize marginalized people in that community, she said.

Some noted it was alarming that Barnhill so aggressively brought prosecutions for minuscule voting infractions but didnt think charges were warranted in Arberys case, where there was video evidence showing two men chasing down an unarmed man and shooting him.

When you look at the fact pattern that has come to light in Mr Arberys case, that this same DA looked at that video and decided that there was no probable cause to prosecute, it says to me that his judgment is informed by race discrimination, said Sara Totonchi, executive director of the Southern Center for Human Rights, which represented Pearson in her second trial.

Barnhill said he did not have an active role in either of Pearsons trials and that if people asked him about the case, he would tell them Pearson was not guilty.

I have a 36-year prosecution history which is open for inspection. Im proud of the work Ive done, he said.

Barnhill has spent almost his entire career as a prosecutor in the Waycross judicial circuit, a jurisdiction situated across six counties in rural south-east Georgia. According to biographies in local news, he began tenure as an assistant district attorney in June 1983, rising to chief assistant district attorney in 1994.

Archives indicate that Barnhill has been a mainstay on the local Republican political scene for many years. He was elected to district attorney in 2014 in a close and, at times, bitterly fought battle with a second Republican candidate, Brad Collins.

Local news reports from the time indicate that Barnhill campaigned on a harsh, tough-on-crime agenda and touted his active support of capital punishment. According to one story in the Waycross Journal-Herald, he also once blamed high numbers of pirates and unfriendly Indians from Georgias colonial past for the states criminal element.
New Jersey now has lost 10,356 residents to the coronavirus outbreak with 146,334 total cases confirmed Sunday as the state slowly starts to reopen from near-lockdown restrictions ordered by Gov. Phil Murphy.

The latest numbers include 107 new deaths and 1,272 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, though officials have warned of lags in getting results over the weekend. Murphy did not hold an in-person coronavirus briefing on Sunday and the numbers were provided online.

New Jerseys 71 hospitals also reported a continued decline in patients with confirmed or suspected coronavirus cases. The 3,411 patients as of Saturday night is the lowest number since the state began publicly reporting hospitalizations on April 4, and marks a 58% from the peak on April 14. Of those hospitalized, 1,030 are in intensive care and 819 are on ventilators - both the lowest in six weeks.

The county-by-county number of cases and deaths include:

Hudson County: 17,447 with 1,057 deaths

Bergen County: 17,361 with 1,455 deaths

Essex County: 16,140 with 1,528 deaths

Passaic County: 15,205 with 838 deaths

Union County: 14,702 with 957 deaths

Middlesex County: 14,668 with 884 deaths

Ocean County: 7,913 with 626 deaths

Monmouth County: 7,339 with 508 deaths

Morris County: 6,036 with 561 deaths

Mercer County: 5,825 with 407 deaths

Camden County: 5,455 with 272 deaths

Somerset County: 4,255 with 375 deaths

Burlington County: 3,937 with 239 deaths

Gloucester County: 1,832 with 116 deaths

Atlantic County: 1,758 with 112 deaths

Cumberland County: 1,608 with 51 deaths

Warren County: 1,078 with 120 deaths

Sussex County: 1,056 with 138 deaths

Hunterdon County: 808 with 52 deaths

Cape May County: 503 with 41 deaths

Salem County: 459 with 19 deaths

Another 949 cases are under investigation to determine where the person resides.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

While the trends continue to move downward, its difficult to get a complete picture of exactly how many people in New Jersey currently have COVID-19 because officials say testing has been backlogged for days. The state also is not reporting significant increases in daily testing, so it is unclear exactly how quickly the virus continues to spread.

On Wednesday, the governor announced he will allow nonessential retail businesses to offer curbside pickup and nonessential construction to resume on Monday, while also allowing drive-in and drive-through events, such as church services.

On Thursday, Murphy announced beaches, boardwalks, and lakes can be open this summer as long as they follow social-distancing rules restrictions. Beginning next week, elective medical procedures  or non-emergency  surgeries and invasive procedures, both medical and dental, will resume at hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.

And he said the state may take more steps to reopen in the coming days. Murphy said that guidance on community and private pools is expected soon.

Only New York has more deaths and cases among U.S. states.

As of Sunday, more than 4.6 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 across the globe, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. Of those, more than 312,000 have died and more than 1.7 million have recovered.

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

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
A third person has been charged with murdering an NHS worker who was stabbed to death in east London just days after his father died from coronavirus.

Vagnei Colubali, 22, was charged last night over the stabbing of marketing graduate David Gomoh, 24, who was attacked outside his home in east London on April 26 while he was on the phone to his girlfriend.

Gomoh's death occurred days before the funeral of his father, Ken, who died from coronavirus prior to the attack on his son.

Two teenage boys - Muhammad Jalloh, 18, from Newham and a 16-year-old boy from Telford- have been charged with the murder of NHS worker David Gomoh (pictured), who was stabbed to death outside his home in Newham, east London last week.

Mr Gomoh's father, Ken (pictured), had died just days before the attack on his son after contracting coronavirus

Mr Gomoh was an NHS worker, like his mother Marian, 53, and helped to supply his colleagues with essential equipment during the global crisis.

Earlier this week, Detective Inspector Tony Kirk said: 'Within days his mother has seen the death of her husband and son, his sister has lost her father and brother. Both are heartbroken.

'At this time we believe the only thing David did to be murdered was walk down the street.'

The 24-year-old's mother, Marian (pictured), is also a NHS worker and works as a labour ward matron in Newham University Hospital

Earlier this week, Ms Gomoh told the MailOnline: 'My son was not able to bury his father and we lost them both so close to each other. You cannot imagine how devastated the whole family is.

'For any family one death is bad enough but to suffer two in short a short space of time is so painful that I cannot put it into words.

'I am devastated, we all are and it's difficult to be strong at this time, but we are trying.'

Colubali, who was arrested on Friday in Cambridge, was remanded in custody to appear before Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday, the force added.

Mr Gomoh, who worked for the NHS in supplies and procurement and whose mother is a nurse, was killed just days before he was due to attend the funeral of his father, who died after contracting Covid-19.

A post-mortem examination gave the case of death as stab wounds to the chest and abdomen.

Muhammad Jalloh, 18, of Stratford, Newham, and a 16-year-old boy, of Telford, Shropshire, appeared at the Old Bailey by videolink charged with his murder on May 6.

Judge Anthony Leonard QC set a plea hearing for July 22 and remanded the defendants into custody.
Officials with Libyas internationally-recognised government say at least seven civilians in Tripoli have been killed in renewed shelling which they blamed on eastern-based forces seeking to seize the capital.

Amin al-Hashemi, a spokesman for the health ministry of the Government of National Accord (GNA), said the shelling late on Saturday by the forces of renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar hit a shelter for displaced people in Tripolis Fornaj district.

A five-year-old boy from Bangladesh was among those killed, according to al-Hashemi who wrote on Twitter that 17 other civilians were also wounded in the shelling.

There was no immediate comment by Haftars forces.

Located near a front line, Fornaj district is home to people displaced during earlier bouts of fighting, according to Usama Ali, spokesman for Tripolis emergency and ambulance service.

The emergency services were attempting to evacuate the shelter of the remaining displaced people and relocate them elsewhere in the city, Ali was quoted as saying by Reuters News Agency.





Oil-rich Libya has been mired in chaos since longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011.

It has since been split between two rival administrations: The internationally-recognised GNA based in Tripoli, and a parallel eastern-based administration allied to Haftar. Both are backed by international actors, who have on numerous occasions pledged to end their support for the warring factions.

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In April last year, Haftars self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive to capture Tripoli.

The United Nations said last month that four-fifths of civilian casualties in Libyas war during the first three months of 2020 were attributable to the LNA, which is backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Russia.

The GNA has this year put the LNA onto the back foot with new help from Turkey, pushing it out of a string of towns west of Tripoli and putting it under pressure in its northwestern strongholds of Tarhouna and al-Watiya airbase.

Turkish support for the GNA has been most effective through its deployment of anti-aircraft defences, and with its drones that have hammered LNA efforts to resupply the northwest battlefronts from the east.

On Saturday, the LNA said it had destroyed a Turkish drone at al-Watiya. The GNA said it had destroyed a Russian-supplied anti-aircraft system at the same location, though an LNA spokesman denied that.
Citing recent bilateral deals, the U.S. and India have become close economic partners in 2020, opines this Indian American writer. Seen above: This photo taken on April 27, 2020 shows a pharmacy employee displaying hydroxychloroquine tablets, which will be exported to the U.S., in his store in New Delhi. (Sajjad Hussain/AFP via Getty Images)
Demanding immediate travel arrangements, migrant workers on Sunday hurled stones at the police and damaged vehicles on a national highway near Rajkot in Gujarat, police said.

IMAGE: Migrants damage a truck demanding means of transport to travel to their native places, in Rajkot, on Sunday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Some police personnel and a local journalist were injured in the incident that occurred in Shapar area near Rajkot, about 215 km away from Ahmedabad.

Rajkot (Rural) superintendent of police Balram Meena said 25 migrants were arrested, including a purported instigator, after identifying them through video footage of the incident.

"A group of agitated migrants resorted to vandalism by damaging vehicles on a national highway demanding arrangement from local authorities for return to their native states," a police official said.

Meena said a first information report was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for rioting, voluntarily causing hurt and for attempt to commit culpable homicide.

In another incident, residents of a COVID-19 containment zone in Rajkot district pelted stones at police and damaged some vehicles when the security personnel tried to stop them from removing barricades placed in the area, an official said on Sunday.

Nearly 68 people were arrested after the incident that took place in Jangleshwar locality of Rajkot around Saturday midnight, he said, adding that police lobbed tear gas shells and baton-charged the rioters to disperse them and bring the situation under control.

Locals pelted stones at policemen and damaged vehicles when the security men tried to stop them from removing barricades placed in the area designated as 'red zone', due to a large number of coronavirus cases found there, an official from Bhaktinagar police station said.

People of the locality were upset as local authorities were not removing barricades in their area, even as barricades in some other areas under containment zone were being removed, Bhaktinagar's police inspector V K Gadhvi said.

Police lobbed six teargas shells and baton-charged the mob to control the situation, he said.

Nearly 68 people were later arrested and booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 147, 148 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to public servant) and 353 (assault on public servant ), among others, he said. Security was stepped up in the area to maintain law and order, he added.
The ASEAN 2020 National Committee convened its fifth meeting in Hanoi on May 15, focusing on preparations for the upcoming 36th ASEAN Summit.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh speaks at the meeting.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, who is chairman of the committee, said the COVID-19 pandemic has largely impacted ASEAN in general and Vietnams ASEAN Chairmanship 2020 in particular.

He, however, described these challenges as opportunities for Vietnam to promote its role as ASEAN Chair 2020.

Vietnam has proactively and promptly organised many video conferences within ASEAN and between the grouping and its partners regarding the fight against the epidemic, and raised initiatives in line with the theme of Cohesive and responsive of the ASEAN Year 2020, he said.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung, who is general secretary of the committee, reviewed the work that has been done so far this year, especially the adjustments and supplements of Vietnams activities and initiatives within the framework of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year under the impacts of COVID-19.

Regarding the implementation of the results of the Special ASEAN Summit and Special ASEAN 3 Summit on COVID-19, as well as Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs initiatives presented at the events, Dung said relevant ministries and agencies are speeding up the building of implementation documents and measures that will be sent to other ASEAN member countries for feedback collection and submitted to the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC).

Representatives of many ministries and agencies also proposed scenarios for activities to be held in the time ahead, with attention paid to ensuring security, safety and disease prevention and control for delegates.

Minh asked the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Industry and Trade; and Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to play a more active role as agencies in charge of the pillars of politics-security, economy and culture-society.

Greater efforts should be made to push ahead with the realisation of the results reaped at the two above-mentioned summits, he said.

Minh assigned the sub-committees and the ASEAN 2020 Secretariat to continue with preparations for the 36th ASEAN Summit, and put forth suitable plans, programmes and scenarios.



The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) consists of 10 member states - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam./.VNA
Juan Guiado, a Venezuela opposition leader has kept on saying he did not have any involvement in the failed raid that aimed to oust President Nicolas Maduro earlier this month from office.

However, a document which news organization, el Nuevo Herald obtain showed that the opposition leader was actively hiring a Florida firm, headed by a former Green Beret to perform the incursion.

Only a few days prior to the raid, Silvercorp USA, a Florida law firm sent Guiado and the other opposition party members a letter, reminding them of the initial payment amounting to $1.5 million which they owed the company on a security contract dated October 16, 2019.

The letter, dated April 28, also indicated that the said contract was "past due." Additionally, it also specified that Guiado's administration was supposed to pay the law firm "the retainer within five days" from the opposition leader, and some of his allies inked the $219.9-million agreement for services that Venezuelan barrels of oil-backed or secured.

Service Contract with Scant Details

The seven-page agreement also called "general services agreement" contains limited details of definite tasks to be executed. It highlights though, the vitality of confidentiality among the parties.

As indicated in the contract, Silvercorp USA, as the service provider, "shall take all measures" rationally essential to shield the "confidential information" it receives from the Guiado's party, at least, as great as the procedures it is taking for the protection of "its own confidential information."

Both, the letter and the agreement which the Washington Post published, contradict the declarations of the opposition leader after the unsuccessful raid that he had no participation in its planning and claimed, he is on the constitution's side.

Guiado, who has been recognized since early 2019, by the US and several other nations as Venezuela's "interim president," has attempted to distance himself from the alleged failed incursion dated May 3 and 4.

He has sought to distance himself as well, from the private security firm based in Melbourne that the opposition party employed for the training of Venezuelan soldiers and others for the execution of movement against the socialist government of Maduro.

The Planned Raid

In an interview, opposition strategist and Venezuelan campaign adviser, J.J. Rendon said that in October last year, Guido signed an initial contract with Silvercorp although within one month, he continued, the opposition leader he lasts interest in pursuing.

While not indicated in the agreement signed by Guiado, Jordan Goudreau, Silvercorp CEO, an ex-Green Beret, and Rendon, among others, the raid group was reportedly "going capture an airport, seize Maduro," as well as his allies, and send them out of the country.

According to Rendon, the contract was also part of a bigger proposal of 42 pages he considered as "an exploration into the idea of seizing the regime's members with existing warrants of arrest "and turning them over to justice."

A couple of months ago, Maduro and the past and present senior members of his administration were instigated with narco-terrorism by the federal prosecutors in New York, offering a $15-million reward for the arrest of the president for his suspected role in authorizing the leftist groups of Colombia to use Venezuela for cocaine shipments to the US.

The proposed raid though, never got a go signal, said Rendon. Someone familiar with the issue told the news organization that Guiado knew the plan although he always delayed the raid.

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Iceland announced this week that it plans to reopen its borders to tourists by June 15. The country will welcome travelers from all over the world, including the United States, but will subject visitors to either testing or quarantine.

Less than two months after limiting arrivals from international travelers, the country announced its reopening plan, which could be moved up if the number of cases stays low. According to Iceland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the timing "depends on when all the practicalities will be in place."

Earlier this month, the European Commission extended its ban on nonessential travel through June 15. Iceland is a member of the Schengen area and, according to the ministry, will confer with other member states about opening its external border. In addition, the government will not allow visitors to venture into wider Europe without permission from the other countries.

Since late February, the Nordic island nation has recorded at least 1,800 confirmed cases of covid-19 and 10 deaths. The number of confirmed cases has dropped to four so far in May, one of the encouraging developments that helped influence the recent decision. Officials have controlled the spread of the virus through such measures as testing and tracing, and will extend these practices to the visiting public.

Upon arrival at Keflavik International Airport, visitors will be tested for the coronavirus at no cost during a two-week trial period. The ministry said the planning group has not yet determined the cost to travelers beyond the initial period. After the test, the visitors can enter the country and start their vacation, but they must provide a contact number in the event of a positive result. Results can be expected in as little as a few hours. Visitors can also use the tracing app as a point of contact.

The ministry said health officials may also accept a certificate of recent test results from the visitor's home country, as long as the document meets the government's standards. Visitors who decline testing will be required to undergo a two-week quarantine.

To prevent a rise in cases, travelers will have to download the tracing app, Rakning C-19. Officials can use the technology to contact visitors about their results; the app also helps investigators pinpoint the source of infection and identify individuals who may have been exposed to the virus. About 40 percent of the country's population of 364,000 has downloaded the app.

The ministry said the app will not misuse an individual's personal information: "The app has been developed following the strictest privacy standards, with location data stored locally on the user's device unless released for tracing purposes in case of an infection." The country will not place any restrictions on healthy travelers beyond its commonly practiced safeguards.

The ministry said the government will likely loosen limits on gatherings from a maximum of 50 people to 200 participants. Patrons at restaurants and other public places must stay about 6 feet apart. Most hotels and attractions are open, or will soon open. The Blue Lagoon's website said the geothermal pool will remain closed until May 26.

For now, airlines are offering limited service from the United States to Iceland. Icelandair is departing only from Boston Logan International Airport but plans to release its summer schedule, including flights from Washington Dulles, in the near future.

"The country is opening, and we are excited to welcome tourists," said Michael Raucheisen, an airline spokesman. "We will have a more comprehensive schedule soon, but it will be a significant reduction from what was anticipated."
Guwahati, May 17 : Over 3,160 prisoners, including inmates lodged in detention camps, have been released from jails across Assam since March on various grounds, including decongesting the prisons in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, officials said on Sunday.

Inspector General of Prisons, Assam, Dasaratha Das said that majority of the prisoners were released for a specific period following a Supreme Court order in the wake of the outbreak, while others were freed as per normal legal procedures and other reasons.

Das said that in Assam's 31 jails, including six central jails, at present there are over 8,500 inmates against the sanctioned capacity of 8,938. The Supreme Court in March, had directed all High Courts, states and Union Territories to constitute high-level committees to consider releasing prisoners and under trials jailbirds with minor crimes on parole or interim bail.

The Gauhati High Court last month had also asked the Border Wing of the Assam Police to release on bail the "declared foreigners" to comply with the Supreme Court's order on who have completed two years in detention camps. Referring to the Supreme Court's April 13 order for releasing the "declared foreigners", a division bench of the High Court comprising Justice Manojit Bhuyan and Justice Ajit Borthakur, passed the order in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

The High Court directed the Superintendents of Police (Border) of all 33 districts to take necessary steps in line with the April 13 direction of the Supreme Court to release the "declared foreigners" on bail who are lodged in any of the six detention centres in Assam.

The four-page High Court order has stipulated six conditions to release the "declared foreigners". In view of the Supreme Court's order, Tripura and Mizoram governments last month had released around 900 prisoners on interim bail or PR bond to prevent the coronavirus pandemic inside the jails In pursuance to the Supreme Court's order, different state governments of the northeastern region have taken several steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus in jails.
Four ISIS terrorists have been killed in an encounter with the security forces in Pakistan's Punjab province, officials said on Sunday.

The militants were tasked by the Daish's (ISIS) top leadership to attack places of worship for minority Shias in Bahawalpur, which is around 400 km from provincial capital Lahore, to start sectarian conflict in the country, officials said.

In a statement, the Punjab Police's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) said they launched an intelligence-based operation along with the local intelligence agencies.

A big and deadly terrorism plan has been defeated. Four terrorists belonging to the Daish were killed in the operation, the CTD said.

According to intelligence inputs, seven ISIS terrorists were hiding in Zakhira Jungle near Azam Chowk Bahawalpur. They were armed with explosives and heavy weaponry.

"On this information, the CTD Multan team, in collaboration with intelligence agencies, raided the hideout late on Saturday night and demanded the terrorists surrender. Instead, they started indiscriminate firing, the CTD said.

The killed terrorists were identified as Aman Ullah, Abdul Jabar, Rehman Ali and Aleem.

Three of their accomplices escaped in the dark. Eleven hand grenades, three rifles, one pistol and ammunition have been recovered from the crime scene.

Search is on for the escaped terrorists, while a bomb disposal unit has been called to inspect the area, the CTD said.

According initial reports, the department said, "The four were very dangerous terrorists who started with banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) but later joined Daish. They came from south Punjab to start sectarian terrorism on the directives of the Daish leadership."



On Tuesday last, the CTD had arrested two ISIS terrorists who were planning to attack a 'sensitive' installation in Bahawalnagar in Punjab, around 400 kms from Lahore.

The Pakistani government denies presence of the ISIS on its soil but often security agencies nab terrorists affiliated to this banned militant group.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Washington:

The top leader of Islamic States branch in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been killed in a US drone strike in a southern Afghan province, the Pentagon has said, dealing a major blow to the dreaded terrorist outfit. Hafiz Sayed Khan along with his senior lieutenants died in the drone strike on July 26.

The Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Gordon Trowbridge said the US and Afghan Special Operations Forces conducted operations against the ISIS in southern Nangarhar province between July 1 and 30.

During this time, US forces conducted an airstrike targeting Hafiz Sayed Khan, the Islamic State in the Levant-Khorasan emir, in Achin district, Nangarhar province July 26, resulting in his death, Trowbridge said.

Khan was known to directly participate in attacks against US and coalition forces, and the actions of his network terrorised Afghans, especially in Nangarhar.

Nangarhar province has been a hotbed for ISIL-Khorasan activity since the summer of 2015.

ISIL-K uses the area to train, equip, disseminate and control fighter pipelines, providing ISIL-K commanders throughout Afghanistan with a continuous supply of enemy fighters from this province.

Khans death affects ISIL-K recruiting efforts and will disrupt ISIL-Ks operations in Afghanistan and the region, he said.

Khan, a former member of the Pakistani branch of the Taliban who swore allegiance to Middle East-based Islamic State, had earlier reported killed last year but the death was never confirmed.

His death is the latest in a series of high-profile targets killed by the coalition forces as the war on terror goes on.

In May a US drone killed Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the Afghan Taliban leader, in a strike in Pakistan.

Khans death is a major blow to efforts by the ISIS to expand its control from its Middle East territory into Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Afghanistans Taliban group has frequently clashed with IS since January 2015.

The Talibans dominance in a region home to numerous local and foreign militant groups is facing a serious challenge from IS, which has been gaining some support.

There has also been evidence that IS is trying to recruit Taliban fighters, with several Taliban commanders declaring allegiance to IS.

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Brasilia: Brazil's confirmed number of coronavirus cases has surpassed those in Spain and Italy, which were once the epicentre of the pandemic, making Brazil's outbreak the fourth largest in the world.

India's confirmed coronavirus cases have also surpassed China's, with the health ministry reporting a spike to 85,940 infections and 2752 deaths.

Victor Nunes da Silva, an intensive care nurse and ICU co-ordinator attends a patient being treated for COVID-19 at Hospital Municipal Victor de Souza Breves in Mangaratiba, Brazil. Credit:Getty Images

Brazil's Health Ministry on Saturday registered 14,919 new confirmed cases in the prior 24 hours, taking the total to 233,142, behind the US, Russia and Britain. Brazil has done just a fraction of the testing seen in those three countries.

The global distinction is likely to pile pressure on President Jair Bolsonaro, who lost his second health minister in a month on Friday as he defies public health experts and calls for widespread use of unproven drugs.
By Express News Service

With a large number of Japanese companies pulling out of China in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, Karnataka is aggressively pitching to attract these firms, but has to face intense competition from within country and abroad

We have earmarked 300 acres of land near Bengaluru: Shettar

After the searing impact of Covid pandemic, Karnataka, the fourth-largest economy in the country, is aggressively looking at Japan for attracting large investments. Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar said, In the recent past, we have worked hard legally to frame an investor-friendly legislation. We have earmarked about 300 acres of land, which is just an hours drive from Bengaluru, which can exclusively accommodate hundreds of Japanese companies.

Jagadish shettarKarnataka

industries minsiter

We can also increase the area if the need be. Any investment of up to Rs 500 crore can be cleared by me in one stroke, while anything over that can be okayed by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. This will eliminate all the bureaucratic red tape that investors usually accuse us of. He said, We have set up a committee of officers under Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar, which has the finance secretary and a few other senior bureaucrats as members.

It can also accommodate representatives of countries where the investment is coming from, including Japan. The committee will iron out any concerns and make the investment process smooth. He said, We are consulting global experts and are keen to enhance Japanese investments in the state. We have the wherewithal and companies can come here and plug and play. Over 1,300 companies from Japan have invested in the country, but it constitutes only 5 per cent of investments abroad by that country. Its investments in China are about $124 billion, but it is committed to divert $2.25 billion from China back to Japan or possibly to other countries.

Can look at 3% of India pie: Expert

Ray vikram nath

Consultant

Ray Vikram Nath, a consultant based out of Delhi who works on Japanese investments in India, said, While Japan is seeking to diminish its dependence on China, its investments of $124 billion are of interest to India. We can look for a large portion of this in Karnataka. I have worked in Japan for many years and understand Japanese concerns. Nomura had said about 3 per cent of $314 billion could come to India. Karnataka will have to work nationally with a new entity, Japan Plus, set up by the central government to deal exclusively with issues concerning Japan. Karnataka has to ensure that we are the preferred investment destination against other states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra and others. At the global level, we have to to compete with Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan and others.

Only the best will get investments: Industrialist

It is a competitive world. Everyone from across the world is trying to get Japans investments. Only the fastest and the one who is able to make the best offer wins, said industrialist D. Muralidhar, who has manufacturing facilities and investments in Vietnam, China, Singapore and other places. He was earlier a member of the Karnataka Planning Commission and member of the IIM Board of Governors.

D Muralidhar industrialist

He said, We need to work in tandem with the Union government and the foreign offices. We have to reach out to Japanese companies and find out their requirements. The state government has to work proactively to provide those requirements here. He said, Look at Vietnam, where the government has offered entire villages.

Japanese companies have taken these vast stretches of land and have built restaurants, schools and other facilities. We have to understand that Japan had a very closed culture. I recall that they were looking for land on the Mysuru-Bengaluru Road for an exclusive township some years ago. But people at the helm were sluggish and the investment never came.
Washing your car could take on a whole new meaning in a post-COVID-19 world.

Car companies are investigating ways to virus-proof their vehicles to win customers concerned about infectious diseases once the coronavirus pandemic fades.

Ideas under consideration include blasting car interiors with ultraviolet light, using foggers to spray disinfectants, having upgraded air filtration systems and employing antimicrobial materials.

One-third of vehicle shoppers recently told Cox Automotive they are more likely to consider air quality features for their next vehicle than before COVID-19.

Safety is definitely top of mind for car shoppers," said Vanesa Ton, Cox senior industry intelligence manager. "Not only are they expecting sanitization and social distancing protocols in place at the dealerships, they also want features in their cars to protect them such as air quality/purifier options."

UV-C sanitizing lamps made by Grand Haven-based GHSP can disinfect vehicle interiors, when no one's inside.

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In a sweeping five-country survey, 80% of respondents in the U.S., China, Japan, Germany and Italy told consultant IHS Markit theyd be willing to pay for systems to disinfect their vehicles.

People want their vehicles to sterilize themselves, said IHS supplier technology expert David Trippany.

Adapting technology

A Michigan tech company has begun making UVC lights to sterilize the inside of ambulances, police cars and other emergency vehicles. UVA light is a component of the natural sunlight we're exposed to daily. Shorter wavelength UVC is more toxic, but normally screened out by the Earth's atmosphere. It can be produced by artificial lights and arc welders.

Weve been working on UVC light to clean and disinfect vehicles for some time, said John Major, director of marketing for GHSP, in Grand Haven, Michigan.

GHSPs grenlite system is in use on vehicles in Grand Rapids, Boston and in North Carolina.

Story continues

COVID-19 has moved this to the forefront, said Todd Fletemier, technology vice president of interior supplier Faurecia. We must combine the quick development and evaluation processes weve learned from the medical community with the auto industrys needs for safety and durability.

Theres a definite need for the systems in mass transit and ride-hailing vehicles. Demand for personal vehicles isnt clear, but automakers are watching.

Ultraviolet disinfecting lights made by Grand Haven-based GHSP are in use in emergency vehicles around the country.

Clearing the air

Recent events have directed us to investigate additional technologies for improving cabin air for our heating and air-conditioning systems. We're also looking at antimicrobial materials and easily-cleanable surfaces for our interiors, a Fiat Chrysler spokesperson said.

COVID-19 will prompt more focus on air filtration and, perhaps, on more segregated climate zones in the cockpit, features there was already movement toward. But more extreme measures, like antibacterial touch surfaces, will be poorly rewarded in the long term if they mean less visually attractive or durable interiors, said Eric Noble of product development consultant The Carlab.

Using UV light to sterilize

UV light cant be used when people are in the vehicle, but its sterilizing effect is cumulative, meaning you dont have to kill 100% at once," GHSP's Major said. "Short bursts every time the vehicle is empty work. You do a full cleaning between shifts or at the end of the day and maintain it with short doses throughout the day.

The lights can be integrated into headliners or existing lighting systems, he said. Irradiating air in the climate control systems ducts is another possibility.

Supplier Faurecia is developing car seats that monitor occupants' health.

Motion sensors and thermometers can determine the vehicle is empty and ready for irradiation, said Fletemier of Faurecia, which is looking at UVA and UVC sterilization.

Fogging interiors with disinfectant

Fogging systems that spray hydrogen peroxide or another disinfectant into the cabin air are another candidate, and another system that would require occupant detection for safety, Fletemier said.

Supplier Magna is evaluating an ozone-generating system it used to disinfect personal protective equipment for automotive use.

We hope to leverage this Magna technology to sanitize ride-sharing vehicles and other future mobility applications, Scott Mitchell, Magnas global director of new technology and innovation, told the SAE Internationals publication Autonomous Vehicle Engineering.

Its still too early to say how wed go about implementing a sanitizing method for a vehicle interior, we have lots of options on the table that are under review, Mitchell said.

Antimicrobials

Supplier Lear makes antimicrobial leather and fabrics that resist viruses, bacteria, mold and fungus. "We are seeing increased interest from our customers on surface materials that repel microorganisms, Lear Chief Technology Officer John Absmeier said.

Antimicrobial treatments dont necessarily remain effective as long as most vehicles stay in use, though. Buyers should find out how long the protection they pay for will last, if it can be renewed, and how much that costs

No-touch technology

Digital payments for gas, food and electric charging can eliminate physical contact with credit card readers and payment counters other customs have touched. Lears Xevo Market and General Motors Marketplace allow you to pay for goods remotely.

Online purchasing apps like supplier Lear's Xevo Market allow drivers to order and pay for goods and services without entering a store and touching counters and credit card readers.

General Motors has also created a program for its dealers to clean their facilities and vehicles to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards.

We know that our customers expectations have changed and that more will need to be done to meet those expectations, said Barry Engle, president of GM North America. Our engineering, service and sales teams have worked closely with our dealer network to develop a program that follows best practices regarding the delivery of new, used or serviced vehicles.

Potential ways to fight the virus

Irradiating the interior with UVA or C light

Fogging the interior with disinfectant

Antimicrobial materials

Surfaces that are easier to clean

Relatively basic features like built-in hand sanitizer dispensers.

Contact Mark Phelan at 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Coronavirus: How your next car could be virus proof
By Associated Press

CAIRO: Bombs hit a shelter for displaced people in Libya's capital Tripoli, killing at least seven people including a 5-year-old child from Bangladesh, health authorities said on Sunday.

The shelling of the facility in the city's Furnaj district on late Saturday also wounded at least 17 people, including a 52-year-old Bengali migrant and his 5-year-old child, Malek Merset, a spokesman for the capital's ambulance services, said.

The man is also the father of the dead child. It was the latest attack on civilians in the fighting over Tripoli between eastern-based forces under military commander Khalifa Hifter and an array of militias loosely allied with the UN-supported but weak government in the capital.

Merset said that a fire broke out in parts of the shelter housing people displaced by previous clashes in Tripoli. The ambulance services did not say which side was responsible for the shelling. The self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces, led by Hifter, launched an offensive to take Tripoli in April last year.

In recent weeks, the fighting has intensified as foreign backers of the two sides stepped up their military support. Hifter is backed by France and Russia, as well as Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and other key Arab countries.

The Tripoli-allied militias are aided by Turkey, which deployed troops and mercenaries to help shore up their allies earlier this year, as well as by Italy and Qatar. Mercenaries, mainly from the Syria battlefield, are now fighting on both sides and complicating an already complex proxy war.

Earlier this year, Tripoli-allied militias took several western towns from Hifter's forces and stepped up their attacks using drones supplied by Turkey on a key military base and the town of Tarhuna. Hifter's LAAF said Saturday it shot down a Turkish drone that was trying to attack the al-Watiya airbase.

The Tripoli-allied militias claimed they destroyed a Russian-made anti-aircraft system, a claim dismissed by the LAAF. Libya has been in turmoil since 2011, when a civil war toppled and later killed long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

The country has since split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each backed by armed groups and foreign countries. The Tripoli fighting has threatened to push Libya into a major conflagration on the scale of the 2011 civil war.
A video shared widely on social media showed Pakistan's Hindu Bheel community members protesting against their alleged forced conversion to Islam by a Muslim group in the interior Sindh province, prompting a Hindu lawmaker to demand an inquiry into the incident.

The Pakistan Hindu Council chief and Tehreek-e-Insaf party lawmaker, Dr Ramesh Vankwani, said the video showed Hindu women and children holding placards and banners and protesting against the Tablighi Jamaat group.

Vankwani said the government's minority council should immediately order an inquiry into the incident as the Hindu community for long had protested against forced conversions in interior Sindh.

Hindus in Sindh province have alleged that the Tablighi Jamaat group tortured them and demolished their properties in villages around Nasurpur area of Matiar in the province.

The video showed some of the protesters shouting that they will prefer to die than leave their religion.

In another video, a Hindu woman is seen protesting that her son has been kidnapped by the Jamaat members. She pleaded them to release her son.

The victims have alleged that when their houses were being demolished they were told that if they want to live there they have to convert to Islam.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has mentioned in its recent reports about the motivated attempts to forcibly convert members of the Hindu and Christian communities.

Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan.

According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country.

Majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with their Muslim fellows.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tesla is telling employees that its Fremont factory has received approval to resume operations this week.

The factorys health and safety plan was approved by Alameda Countys interim health officer after authorities toured the facility last week, according to a letter from Laurie Shelby, Teslas vice president for environmental, health and safety.

We have local support to get back to full production at the factory starting this upcoming week, Shelby said in the letter obtained by The Chronicle. Were excited to continue to get back to work.

Alamedas current shelter-in-place orders do not allow factories, warehouses or manufacturing plants to operate, but an agreement with Tesla could resolve a publicized and contentious back-and-forth with Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Earlier this month, Musk had threatened to move the companys headquarters  which are in Palo Alto  out of California, and Tesla sued Alameda County. The Fremont plant employs about 11,000 people.

Alameda County officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But last week, health officials said they would allow Tesla to reopen this week if it meets certain safety requirements, after the company provided a plan for the Fremont site.

The company letter tells employees to perform self-health checks before reporting to work, and to stay home if they are sick.

Tesla did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

The company had previously restarted operations, with Musk saying on Twitter last Monday that Tesla is restarting production today against Alameda County rules. I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

The county told Tesla to stop.

President Trump tweeted last week that Tesla should be able to reopen its plant.

Gov. Gavin Newsom also weighed in last week, saying that conversations were ongoing between Tesla and the county, but my belief and hope and expectation is as early as next week they will be able to resume.

Rusty Simmons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rsimmons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Rusty_SFChron
Kiera Mooney (14) who is missing from her Meath home

Gardai are seeking the help of the public to locate Kiera Mooney (14), missing from her Co. Meath home.

Gardai in Trim launched the appeal in an effort to find Kiera, who is missing from the Enfield area of Meath since Thursday.

She is described as being 5ft2, with long dark brown hair and of slim build with blue eyes.

Its understood when she left her home she travelled to Dublin.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact Trim Garda Station on 046 9481540 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
Jerusalem, May 17 : Israels Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that the Chinese Ambassador to the country was found dead at his official residence in the coastal town of Herzliya.

According to the Ynet news site, the aides of the 57-year-old envoy, Du Wei's tried to wake him after they found him on his bed, not breathing, reports the Times of Israel newspaper.

The initial assessment was that he had suffered a cardiac arrest during the night.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said Director-Gneral Yuval Rotem spoke with Deputy Ambassador Dai Yuming and expressed his condolences, adding that it would provide any assistance it could.

The Ministry said that his family members were not in Israel with him.

Du arrived in Israel on February 15 to take up his posting, and immediately spent two weeks in quarantine due to coronavirus regulations.

He was unable to present his credentials to President Reuven Rivlin in person due to the pandemic.

There was no immediate comment from Chinese officials.
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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, May 17, 2020 11:39 612 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd895be3 1 World #Rohingya,Rohingya,refugee-crisis,refugee,#refugees,Bali-Process,#Australia,Australia,Indonesia,#Indonesia,COVID-19,#COVID19,#Bali-Process Free

Amid pressure from humanitarian organizations, Indonesia and Australia have moved to follow-up talks under the Bali Process framework to prepare for the possibility of another refugee crisis in the Andaman Sea, where hundreds of asylum seekers died in 2015.

In the past few weeks, hundreds of Rohingya refugees made perilous journeys across the Bay of Bengal seeking refuge in nearby countries, only to be denied entry due to the coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced almost all countries in the region to tighten border controls.

Malaysian and Thai authorities rejected 382 refugees traveling by boats in mid-April, citing coronavirus concerns. The refugees were later rescued by Bangladesh.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her Australian counterpart Marise Payne spoke on the phone about the Rohingya crisis and refugees on Friday, a Jakarta official said.

They have agreed to explore and address this issue through the mechanism and within the framework of the Bali Process. The matter is currently being discussed at the senior official level, ministry official Achmad Rizal Purnama told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The Bali Process, cochaired by Indonesia and Australia, was established in 2002 to facilitate discussion and information sharing about refugees, human trafficking and related transnational issues. Dozens of countries  including Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand  and numerous international agencies are members.

Reports said that boats carrying around 500 Rohingya refugees were recently sighted near Indonesian waters, prompting local Aceh authorities to ramp up patrols across the Aceh waters.

Based on our air patrols, we have not found any boats carrying the Rohingya immigrants. We will continue to carry out air patrols for the next few days, the Aceh Polices water and air police (Polairud) director, Sr. Comr. Jemmy Rosdiantoro, said as quoted by kompas.com on Friday.

When asked whether Indonesia would accept the refugees if they requested to disembark on Indonesian shores, Foreign Minstry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said it was still a hypothetical situation.

Actually, Indonesian policy is to prevent [refugees] from [making the journey] as boat people, right from the beginning. The voyage will jeopardize the safety of anyone on the boats, even more so if there is an element of trafficking in persons, Faizasyah said.

Countries reluctance to accept refugees, especially during the pandemic, has led observers and activists to sound the alarm that the 2015 refugee crisis in the Andaman Sea could be repeated.

Read also: Rohingya refugees rejected everywhere as countries grapple with COVID-19 concerns

According to a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) report, it is estimated that 33,600 refugees and migrants of various nationalities took to smugglers boats in Southeast Asia in 2015. The bulk of them were Rohingya or Bangladeshi refugees. Some 370 people were believed to have died.

The failure to make an immediate response to the crisis prompted Bali Process member countries to agree to the 2016 Bali Declaration, which outlines principles and the way forward to prevent another crisis. They also granted Indonesia and Australia the authority to call a consultative meeting with affected countries in the case of influx crises.

Then-Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop, at that time, cited the lack of a coordinated response in 2015 was because there was no mechanism for the Bali Process to bring members together in a timely fashion.

The UNHCR urged earlier this month Indonesia and Australia to convene high-level discussions among Bali Process members to prevent a repeat of the crisis and to formulate possible regional responses.

But it was not clear whether the output of the ongoing talks between Indonesian and Australian diplomats would trigger a regional meeting or a regional emergency response.

Prior to the phone call between Retno and Payne on Friday, Australian newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Australian side was resisting triggering emergency talks with other countries to address the crisis under the Bali Process mechanism. It reported that Australian officials maintained that the Bali Process was a forum for policy dialogue and information sharing and, therefore, should not be used to trigger an emergency operational response to a refugee crisis.

But, Saad Hammadi from Amnesty International's South Asia office reminded all that the 2016 Bali Declaration encouraged member countries to provide safety and protection to migrants, victims of human trafficking, refugees and asylum seekers.

The declaration was also followed up by the establishment of a task force on planning and preparedness, which made a commitment to saving lives when responding to irregular maritime migration in February this year.

Hammadi estimated at least 1,000 Rohingya were currently stranded at sea, and they could have been sailing for several weeks or even months without food or water, citing information from humanitarian agencies and local news reports.

It's crucial that Indonesia and Australia, the Bali Process cochairs, come together to immediately convene this discussion and ensure that the Rohingya, wherever they are, are given the right to land and provided safety so that we do not see the sea become an invisible graveyard, he said.
'We are making decisions in the dark, in fear.'

'Let us shine the light of science on this.'

'Let us actually get better numbers, so that we make better decisions.'

IMAGE: A passenger is seen under medical care inside an ambulance after arriving from Kuwait by an Air India flight at Calicut International Airport, May 14, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo

"," Jay Bhattacharya, professor of medicine at Stanford University, tells Govindraj Ethiraj, journalist and founder of Boom, a fact-checking initiative.

You are a professor of medicine at Stanford (did an MD) and did a PhD in Economics. Tell us what made you go into economics after doing medicine?

I have always been interested in medicine. I loved science.

In school, I encountered economics and I was amazed to find that you could use the tools of economics to understand questions in medicine -- in a very different, but a very effective way. And that is why I picked both.

And you focus on the economics of health care as a theme around the world. Why is it that you believe that we are overstating what could happen if we were not to have a lockdown?

I want to correct the record slightly -- I actually believe that the epidemic is more widespread than we believe, not less widespread. That is my hypothesis.

I would like to see that hypothesis tested, basically, everywhere. And the reason I believe this is that there are many people -- we are seeing this from studies around the world -- who have been infected with the coronavirus, cleared it (sometimes with no symptoms, sometimes with mild symptoms) and never got tested.

So the case numbers are all cases where there has been a test done to check whether the virus is active in you.

IMAGE: Dr Jay Bhattacharya, professor of medicine, Stanford University.

And in India, we are testing only if there are symptoms to start with.

Right, that is similar to (the protocol followed) all around the world... because why would you go get a test if you have no symptoms, right?

But that means that we are missing, most likely, large numbers of people who have not had symptoms and have not been tested, and yet have had the virus.

The only way to check for that is by doing antibody testing.

Antibodies form in response to the virus and provide evidence that you had previously been infected.

Only by doing that kind of testing do we understand how far along in the epidemic we are. And as I said, my hypothesis is that we are very far along, much further along, than we can tell from just looking at the case reports.

To understand the death rate from the virus, we need to understand the size of the number of cases.

We have some sense of how many people died in the numerator, we also need to know how many people have been infected in the denominator. And that is the piece we do not know.

If my hypothesis is right, and that number is much larger than we realise, then the death rate might also be lower than we realise.

Why would you assume that there are far more people either in the United States or elsewhere carrying this virus already or for a much longer period of time?

That is a good question. Obviously, this is a novel virus, there is a lot that we do not know about it.

The hypothesis is primarily driven by the work that I did during the H1N1 flu epidemic in 2009, and actually just following that literature.

In that literature, the early case reports reported very high fatality rates. And the reason was, they looked at the identified cases in the denominator just like we have been doing now.

And 1 to 2 per cent of the population that were infected with H1N1 in the early days of the epidemic died.

A year later, people started to do these antibody tests and found out that very large numbers had been infected and never knew it.

The fatality numbers went from 1 per cent of the cases to 0.01 per cent. That transformation of our view happened over a year-and-a-half.

It is not unreasonable to say that that same kind of situation may be happening now. Now, this is a hypothesis -- it needs to be tested.

It might be wrong, it might be right; but the only way to find out is to do widespread population-level seroprevalence testing.

IMAGE: A medic checks the temperature of a passenger at a bus stand in Assam's Nagaon. Photograph: PTI Photo

The other number that one hears, including from the medical profession, is that for 85 per cent of the people who are infected, nothing really happens. And it is the 10 to 15 per cent we are worried about, maybe the 3 to 4 per cent who go into intensive care units and ventilation, and then things go south quite dramatically after that.

So is your theory in some ways reflecting that -- that a lot of us may carry it... by now we know people who contracted it, only exhibited mild symptoms or severe symptoms of flu and then it dissipated?

I completely agree with that.

The only thing I would add to that is, we don't know it's 85 per cent of what, because we do not know the denominator. But it does seem to have, in many cases, no symptoms at all.

In Chelsea, Massachusetts, there was a study done just a couple of days ago suggesting very large number of people with antibodies, studies now done in prisons, where they find the virus active in people and most of the prisoners do not have any symptoms at all.

On the other hand, the virus is also deadly, as you say, in many many cases. It presents with a severe viral pneumonia, especially in older people or people who are vulnerable.

So, it is not that we should take the virus less seriously. We should take it more seriously.

We should better understand who is at risk from it, how extensive it is, and then make better decisions as to what to do about it as opposed to now.

I think, to some extent, we are making decisions in the dark, in fear. That is my main call, let us shine the light of science on this. Let us actually get better numbers, so that we make better decisions.

And then the economic conclusion would be that we should not be fretting too much about lockdowns and quarantines, and open things up?

I do not know the optimal policy until I know the numbers -- it is really hard to say. One outcome, I am hoping from this work is, we will quell the fear.

I believe that when I get the virus or if I get the virus, I have a 3 per cent chance of death, I am going to be very scared.

That is essentially what the World Health Organisation said, 3 per cent mortality.

On the other hand, if it is one out of a 1,000, or two out of a 1,000, I am going to be much less scared.

I think making policy in the midst of fear is really a bad idea.

Now, there may be reason to fear. As I said, it is a hypothesis, we need to see these numbers everywhere.

But if you are going to reason and think about policy in fear, it better be well-rounded fear, not fear based on not knowing what the number we can very easily get is.

In a way, you represent both worlds (medicine and economics) to answer the next question. In India, the prime minister has said it is lives versus livelihoods, and it is the same debate everywhere.

It is not just livelihoods though, it is lives.

People talk about economics as if it were a secondary thing. But it is actually lives.

Poor countries are deadly, especially for the poor.

The deaths from the shutdown and lockdown policies worldwide will create (we are already in it) a devastating global economic depression.

That depression will kill people -- large number of people. It's only a question of who will die relative to the Covid deaths.

On both sides of this policy, there are deaths.

It is not dollars for lives. It is lives for lives.
Pakistan's coronavirus cases crossed 40,000 on Sunday after 1,352 new infections were detected, while the death toll in the country has gone up to 873 with nearly 40 more people succumbing to COVID-19, heath authorities said on Sunday.

The Ministry of National Health Services said that out of the total 40,151 cases, Sindh has recorded 15,590, Punjab 14,584, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 5,847, Balochistan 2,544, Islamabad 947, Gilgit-Baltistan 527 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 112.

A total of 39 people have died during the last 24 hours, taking the number of fatalities to 873, while another 11,341 people have fully recovered, it said.

So far, 373,410 tests have been conducted in the country, including 14,175 in the last 24 hours, it added.

Despite the increase in number of infections, the Pakistan government has relaxed the lockdown restrictions and most of the country has been opened up for business.

Selective lockdown policy has been adopted to restrict movement in areas badly hit by the infection, according to Information Ministry Shibli Faraz.

Pakistan resumed domestic flight operations in a phased manner on Saturday and transport services will commence from Monday. The largest province of Punjab has announced that it will allow the public transport to start operations from the start of the week.

Pakistan has also opened its border with Afghanistan and both the Torkham and Chaman border points would be operational for the whole week to facilitate trade and movement of the people.

Ministry of Interior said on Saturday that there would be no limit on the number of trucks crossing from Monday to Friday and on Sunday. Saturdays would be reserved for movement of people.

The deadly coronavirus which originated from China's Wuhan city in December last year has claimed 311,821 lives and infected over 4.6 million people, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

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Lockdown 4.0: Home Ministry likely to announce guidelines today; what to expect
Toyah Cordingley, 24, was killed while she walked her boyfriend's dog

Heartless vandals have trashed the memorial of a young woman who was brutally murdered on a beach.

Toyah Cordingley, 24, was killed while she walked her boyfriend's dog at Wangetti Beach in Far North Queensland on the morning of October 21, 2018.

A monument was constructed at the beach in October 2019 to commemorate the one year anniversary of the pharmacy assistant's death.

Vandals tore down a banner with Ms Cordingley's face on it on Saturday morning.

They also tossed trinkets left at the site by loved ones in a nearby bin.

Family friend Wayne 'Prong' Trimble noticed the banner - which was printed to help catch the killer - was missing.

A woman who had been walking on the beach told him to go and look in the bin.

'She said ''you need to have look near the bin'' and I went over there and found the banner folded up [next to the bin] with all these trinkets and sea shells and a heap of artificial sun flowers,' he told the Cairns Post.

Family friend Wayne 'Prong' Trimble noticed the banner (pictured) - which was printed to help catch the killer - was missing on Saturday

Vandals tore down a banner with Ms Cordingley's face on it and tossed trinkets left at the site (pictured) by loved ones in a nearby bin

'And you could see that it had been pulled down. I just couldn't work it out when I first seen it.'

He pleaded with the culprits to come forward.

'Does anybody know the lowlifes who stole Toyah's banner from near her monument in the last couple of days?' he asked on Facebook.

'That banner was given to Toyah's family to hang there. We want it back ... Just put it back to save your life if it's worth saving. I'm pi**ed off.'

Ms Cordingley's naked body was found battered and bruised by her father (pictured) the morning after she was murdered

Wayne 'Prong' Trimble (pictured) pleaded with the vandals to come forward on Facebook

Steve Parsonage from the Copy Shop Business Centre printed a new banner to take its place.

He also gave one to her devastated parents, Troy and Vanessa Cordingley.

The site also has a memorial stone and an area for visitors to sit on.

Ms Cordingley's naked body was found battered and bruised by her father the morning after she was murdered.

Pictured: Toyah Cordingley walking a dog along a beach before she was murdered in 2018

The 24-year-old pharmacy assistant's killer has never been found, despite a full-scale investigation

The dog, Jersey, was found tied to a nearby tree so tightly it could not sit down.

Residents previously told The Courier Mail the dunes where she was found were often the scene of 'sexually deviant' behaviour by 'odd bods' and vagrants.

A full-scale homicide investigation was launched after Ms Cordingley's body was found, with police urging anyone who knew anything or had been at the beach that day to come forward.

Her killer has never been found.
Civilians hacked to death with machetes and shot in the latest attack by militias that have killed hundreds this year.

An armed group has killed at least 20 civilians in a raid on a village in northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the latest incident in a surge of ethnic violence that has forced 200,000 people from their homes in two months.

Fighters from the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO) militia, which is made up of fighters from the Lendu ethnic group, attacked Hema village in Ituri province at about 1am on Sunday, the army and local authorities said.

They cut with the machetes several of my compatriots, 20 have already died and more than 14 [are] seriously injured, said Solo Bukutupa, a local administrator. Its unbearable to see people die like that.

The attackers fled after United Nations peacekeepers arrived at the village and the militia later opened fire on a nearby UN base, a UN source said.

Women and children were among the victims. Another local official said 22 people were killed.

The victims are of all ages, children, youths, women and old men, killed by machete, by knife or by firearm, Pilo Mulindro, a tribal chief, told AFP news agency.

Fighting by an array of armed groups in the region has complicated the DRCs response to the coronavirus pandemic and an Ebola epidemic that has killed more than 2,200 people since 2018.

CODECO split into several competing factions after the Congolese army killed its leader Justin Ngudjolo in late March.





Earlier this month, Ngabu Ngawi Olivier, who claimed to have taken over the leadership of CODECO, surrendered to the military and called for the militia to lay down its weapons.

Another faction later issued a statement denouncing Olivier as an impostor. No fighters have followed Oliviers orders yet, said army spokesman Jules Ngongo.

Tit-for-tat fighting

CODECO members are mainly drawn from the Lendu ethnic group, who are predominantly farmers and clash repeatedly with the Hema community of traders and herders in Ituri.

Rich in natural resources, including gold, diamonds and coltan, Ituri province was the site of some of the countrys worst fighting between 1999 and 2007, after a power struggle between rebel groups descended into ethnic violence  much of it between the Hema and Lendu.

After several years of relative calm, tit-for-tat fighting erupted again in December 2017, reviving long-standing tensions over land.

The unrest has since evolved into more coordinated attacks by the Lendu community on the army and the Hema ethnic group.

Late last year the army launched a large-scale operation to uproot a constellation of militias operating in the east of the country, sparking a backlash that has seen at least 350 people killed by armed groups in Ituri, the UN source said.
New Delhi, May 17 : In yet another move towards fuller capital account convertibility, the government has thrown open the doors for Indian public companies to directly list their shares abroad and access a larger pool of capital.

It has also allowed private companies that list NCDs on stock exchanges not to be regarded as listed companies.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said direct listing of securities by Indian public companies would be allowed in permissible jurisdictions.

Necessary regulations allowing direct overseas listing by the Indian entity is expected soon after amendments to the Company Act and FEMA regulations are passed.

At present direct listing by the Indian companies on foreign stock exchanges is not permitted. Likewise, foreign companies are also not allowed to directly list their equity shares on the Indian stock exchanges.

Indian companies are allowed to raise capital abroad through the depository receipts (ADR and GDR). But with this window increasingly becoming unpopular, Centre and market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) are exploring other ways to mobilise capital for the corporate and provide larger play for overseas investors in the country.

Unlike direct listing, depository receipts are securities listed overseas against shares of listed domestic companies. At least 15 Indian companies have tapped the ADR and GDR route, including the Infosys, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries.

"The move is also expected to prevent Indian companies to register in other markets such as London, Singapore for raising capital and going global. They can very well do so while remaining a purely Indian entity," said a market analyst, who did not wish to be named.

The debate over direct listing has been going in the government and among regulators for few years now, discussions have reached a stage of finality and time is considered right to give a go ahead to the move.

Though direct listing is expected to benefit all companies looking to raise capital but want to test waters in more mature and stable markets abroad, it is likely to be lapped by start-ups and companies in the technology space which are always looking at raising the capital from the market. The measure could also allow companies to offer an easier exit route to existing investors as well.

The permission, however, will be not without any safeguards and government is likely to go by the suggestions given by a SEBI panel in 2018 for permitting direct listing. It had suggested 10 overseas jurisdictions, including the US, the UK, China, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong for listing by the Indian companies. The selection was based as these jurisdictions are part of the Financial Action Task Force, the global anti-money laundering group, and International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

The SEBI panel had also said that this route should only be available to the financially stable companies so that chances of manipulation could be minimised. It had also said only the companies with at least 10 per cent of their paid up capital listed on the Indian exchanges be permitted to access the overseas listing.

The capital raising exercise abroad may also have impact on the currency market as flow of overseas capital may put pressure on the rupee and lead to volatility. The RBI and SEBI may be involved jointly to check this.
Watching The Great, Hulus gleefully anachronistic take on Catherine the Greats (Elle Fanning) rise to power in Russia, and specifically Nicholas Hoults Emperor Peter, I was struck with what by now has become a familiar observation. Oh god, its Trump.

The parallels are so specific its hard to imagine they were not drawn intentionally. Peter is a thin-skinned narcissist clinging to the belief that everyone around him loves him, even as they are all plotting his death behind his back. He responds to threats with torture and murder. He is fabulously stupid and criminally clueless. He hates women, science, and advice. When asked what its like to rule a country, he shrugs, Its not that hard, actually. In a running gag, whenever he makes an offensive joke and no one laughs, he turns to the crowd of sycophants constantly in orbit and repeats, Did you hear? I said and they all laugh dutifully.

In fact, the character so closely mirrors the current Commander in Chief that the series feels prophetic of Trumps coronavirus response nearly two centuries later. For instance, while Peter is drawing up battle plans with generals, he spitballs, What if we snuck up on them in the dark? When a smallpox outbreak hits the castle, he briefly flirts with Catherines science-backed inoculation idea before going ahead with the original protocol of simply setting all infected and possibly-infected peasants on fire. Receiving word someone is plotting a coup, he takes the practical step of just torturing everybody. Trumps public musings on disinfectant as a virus cure, his outright rejection of scientific expertise, his practice of summarily firing and pillorying anyone he views as a threat, all are represented here.

Several filmmakers have often said, all film is documentary, so its likely that the shows timing isnt a coincidence. Telling, since so much of the plot revolves around a familiar debate  is it possible to influence the emperor from within the administration or is this a blow-the-whole-thing-up situation? I think what makes The Greats version of Trumpian leadership so effective is that it hits at a particularly uncomfortable truth: that President Donald Trump is a joke were forced to take seriously, and how degrading that can actually feel.

Story continues

Since Trump became president, and even before, there has been a proliferation of Trump-inspired or Trump-like characters in popular media (including Trump himself), some intentional and some incidental. But its telling that the depictions of Trump that feel most true to life are comedic.

The Hollis Doyle character in Scandal uses Seedy Businessman Trump as a model. In a review in Time, Daniel D'addario observes that Scandals take on Trumpism fell short of the full-range of Trump excess, unfortunate in a show built around politics in its most off-the-rails imagining. Perhaps by taking the character a little too seriously, in ascribing to him some canniness, the show missed whats most captivating and horrifying about Trump  its not just bad principles, its a lack of principle altogether, compounded by true clownishness that is hard to square with any kind of sober depiction.

Veep comes closer. In her 2016 Best Actress Emmy acceptance speech for playing Selina Meyer, just before the 2016 election, Julia Louis-Dreyfus noted, Our show started out as a political satire, but it now feels more like a sobering documentary. So I certainly do promise to rebuild that wall  and make Mexico pay for it. That it wasnt until three seasons later that the show began to take direct swipes at Trump is a testament to what low-hanging fruit Trump as a figure truly is.

The Greats absurdist framing allows the creators to take Trumpism to its logical conclusion, which is, at its core, dark slapstick. In this world, a cruel joke or passing thought is the same as public policy. And when the joke collides with its resulting horror, the show is briefly jolted into the harsh light of cold reality. When Peter revives after an attempted poisoning, for instance, he cheerily brushes past the four hanging bodies of innocents hed ordered executed for their unintended involvement, an unexpectedly gruesome image that sent me hurtling back to our current political climate gut-first.

Watching characters attempt to temper Emperor Peters alarming and nonsensical ideas brings to mind Dr. Deborah Birxs attempt to explain to Trump, with a straight face, that no, sunlight is not a cure for Covid-19. Its funny, until you remember that people are dying. Liberal pundits and politicians rail against the incompetence of the Trump administration, but this feels like a hollow assessment. Incompetence implies at least a degree of seriousness, if haphazard. Trump is more like a Monty Python sketch come to life.

Hulu

RELATED: Donald Trump Cares What Brad Pitt Thinks About Him, Too

To see the current leader of my country, whose character is already so sinister and absurd it doesnt need exaggeration, reflected so closely in this piece should perhaps make me depressed. But I actually felt oddly comforted.

That the characters in the show, from Peters best friend, to Catherine and her co-conspirators, to the noble whose only crime was keeping his beard, see no way to stop the madness short of military coup feels frankly cathartic. It gives me a sense of you see it too right? that no amount of grave the emperor has no clothes tweets can do. Id like to imagine Melania Trump as a sort of Catherine the Great, quietly plotting a hostile takeover from behind the scenes (even if I dont believe it).

If broad satire is the only genre far-reaching enough to meet the moment now, we might as well call this presidency what it is. A joke.

The Great is now streaming on Hulu.
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May 16, 2020

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The Government of Canada is investing $157.5 million to address the needs of Canadians experiencing homelessness through the Reaching Home program. The funding will cover a variety of needs that can range from purchasing beds and physical barriers for social distancing and securing accommodation to reduce overcrowding in shelters.

is investing to address the needs of Canadians experiencing homelessness through the Reaching Home program. The funding will cover a variety of needs that can range from purchasing beds and physical barriers for social distancing and securing accommodation to reduce overcrowding in shelters. Indigenous Services Canada is currently distributing $10 million to its existing network of 46 shelters on First Nations reserves and in Yukon to support Indigenous women and children fleeing violence through the Family Violence Prevention Program.

to its existing network of 46 shelters on First Nations reserves and in to support Indigenous women and children fleeing violence through the Family Violence Prevention Program. Visit the Gender-Based Violence Knowledge Centre (KC) for access to timely and relevant information, evidence, resources and research in a single platform. The KC also provides a searchable database, which brings together existing data and evidence on content related to gender-based violence .

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Shelter Enhancement Program On-Reserve offers financial assistance for repairs, rehabilitation, and improvements of existing shelters on-reserve for victims of domestic violence. It also provides for the acquisition or construction of new shelters and second-stage housing where needed.

In June 2017 , Women and Gender Equality Canada announced the first-ever federal Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence. To date, the Government of Canada has invested over $200 million to prevent gender-based violence, support survivors and their families, and create more responsive legal and justice systems.

Prime Minister announces further support to help Canadians in need

Ministers Monsef and Charest announce support for women's shelters and centres for victims of sexual and domestic violence in Quebec during COVID-19

during COVID-19 Canada announces supports to those experiencing homelessness and women fleeing gender-based violence during COVID-19

announces supports to those experiencing homelessness and women fleeing gender-based violence during COVID-19 Canadian Women's Foundation

It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence Gender-Based Violence Knowledge Centre

Gender-Based Violence Program

Miramichi Emergency Centre for Women

Emergency Centre for Women Saskatoon Interval House

South Okanagan Women in Need Society

Women's Shelters Canada

Website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Twitter

YouTube

/CNW/ - The Government ofis supportingmost vulnerable people during these times of uncertainty. This includes taking critical measures and making new investments to support shelters that provide a safe space for women fleeing violence and their families, and to ensure the continuing resilience of organizations assisting survivors of sexual assault. Onthe Government ofannounced up tothrough Women and Gender Equality Canada for women fleeing gender-based violence.Today, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, announced that this funding has been disbursed to over 500 women's shelters and sexual assault centres from coast to coast to coast.Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, women's shelters and sexual assault centres across the country required support to manage demand, and these needs have increased significantly over the last few weeks. During these exceptional times, additional resources are needed so that organizations can continue to provide desperately needed support to some ofmost vulnerable.To meet these needs, the Government ofprovidedto Women's Shelters Canada which has, to date, distributed funding to 422 violence against women shelters across. Anotherwas provided to the Canadian Women's Foundation, which has, to date, provided funding to 89 sexual assault centres across the country. An additionalwas given directly to the Government ofand is flowing to women's shelters and sexual assault centres in the province.The Government ofemergency funding ensures the continuity and sustainability of services provided by these organizations, supporting their efforts to adjust to the evolving needs of survivors, while facing sudden and unexpected changes to everyday operations. The many dedicated organizations supported by these investments includein, which will keep crisis lines and emergency shelter services open to survivors,in, which will adapt their shelter to accommodate self-isolation procedures,in, which will continue ensuring safe accommodations for families, andin, which will purchase new equipment to connect remotely with survivors.These and many other inspiring organizations supported by the Government ofhave shown outstanding dedication, perseverance and creativity in their work of supporting survivors of violence in a difficult and unpredictable time. For a full list of organizations receiving funding, click here."If home isn't a safe place for you to be, help is available. Organizations that provide a safe place for survivors of violence are open and ready to provide support and we are deeply grateful for their tireless work at this challenging time. The quick flow of these emergency funds will help ensure that these organizations have the resources they need to continue their lifesaving work. Our first phase of emergency COVID-19 measures has enabled over 420 shelters and 89 sexual assault organizations to stay open and operate with new COVID-safe measures in place. The next phase of our supports is underway.""Women and girls facing violence and poverty have been uniquely affected by the pandemic, and we must not overlook the fact that many of the existing inequalities and hardships have become magnified. The Government ofinvestments are not only helping shelters and sexual assault centres keep their doors open, but are also empowering creative solutions in a time of uncertainty. Thanks to this funding, women and girls in need can continue relying on timely services which will save lives.""A number of shelters and transition homes were struggling prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the numerous adaptations required to continue to provide services while meeting health and safety standards, they have demonstrated commitment and creativity. Having access to the federal emergency funds in a quick and efficient manner made a huge difference to shelters and transition houses, allowing them to continue to support the women and children fleeing violence. This funding, along with the dedicated work of counsellors and support workers, is making a real difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in."SOURCE Women and Gender Equality Canada
BURLEY  Cassia County students who need mental health counseling will continue to get free services over the summer, thanks to the district CONNECT program. Parents or K-12 students can call 800-926-9619 to request an appointment.

The district contracts with two dozen licensed clinicians across the valley to provide free year-round mental health counseling to students and sometimes their families.

Sean Morris, vice president of Blomquist Hale Solutions, a mental health services company based in Utah that tracks CONNECT program usage data for the Cassia County School District, said the need for mental health services has likely increased due to stress during the last three months of the COVID-19 pandemic. It appears, however, across the companies Blomquist Hale provides services for, that the number of people actually getting the help they need has gone down.

The program was piloted in October 2018 using private donations to pay for the counseling sessions after school officials grappled with ways to help curb youth suicide.

My personal interpretation is that people are in a situation theyve never been in before and there is a lot of anxiety in that, Morris said. The people who need help are just trying to manage day-by-day.

In 2019, 132 students used the program and during the first five months of 2020, 34 students received counseling.

Liza Castaneda, a licensed counselor and school counselor at Burley Junior High School, said she has seen an uptick in requests for counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its a high-stress time and a lot of people are struggling, including students, Castaneda said.

What a counseling session may look like has drastically changed during the school closures.

We have had to get creative, she said. We may go to their home and stand in the front yard while maintaining social distancing.

Other sessions are conducted via Google Meet or other video chat platforms and clinicians may chat with clients more through email and phone calls.

Parents really need to make sure the school has updated contact information for them because some students that she wants to check on cant be reached, she said.

The changes have been interesting.

But, it is also difficult because so much counseling is based on non-verbal, Castaneda said.

The increased use of alternative counseling platforms may have lasting benefits and open up mental healthcare for people, who previously could not leave their homes for appointments due to anxiety or other issues, she said.

The district launched Connect as a pilot program in October 2018 at four schools, funded through private donations. After reading about the program when it launched, Mini-Cassia business owner Ryan Phipps stepped up to donate a total of $200,000 over two years to expand the program to all schools in the district and his money kept it running, said Debbie Critchfield, spokeswoman for the Cassia County School District.

Ryan was clearly passionate about the program, Critchfield said. And one of the beauties of it is there was no bureaucracy attached to it.

After tracking numbers through 2019, the program had established a track record of helping students receiving the counseling they may need.

The school board asked voters for $100,000 a year to keep the program running, which was approved in the March supplemental levy.

We could not have done this without Ryans money, Critchfield said. That money allowed us to conduct the pilot program, which is now embedded as part of the school district.

Phipps, who owns Western Mountain Inc., a company that provides services to the energy industry, said the mission of the program touched him.

The professionals involved in this program get all the credit, he said. I did the easy part. I just wrote a check.

Phipps said he grew up in a Colorado community, similar to this one where his children attend school. While growing up he never even heard of any child who died by suicide.

My 16-year-old knows four kids who have committed suicide, he said. I cannot even fathom that. Every kid needs a chance.

Castaneda said the Connect program allows children to get help with mental health issues early on, which like receiving dental health services can prevent more problems later on.

The earlier you can catch mental health issues you can provide intervention and teach children coping and resiliency skills, she said.

Castaneda said she is seeing increased anxiety during the pandemic, which manifests into behaviors like self-injury, depression and difficulty in relationships.

Parents have a lot of power to influence how their children cope with anxiety, she said, and parents need to cope constructively with their own anxiety because their children are watching them.

You have to walk the walk and do things to help your anxiety, she said.

Make sure to get enough sleep, which helps brain function and brings the anxiety baseline down.

Right now everything is so unpredictable, she said. So creating predictability right now is a really important thing to do.

Exercise naturally resets anxiety levels and seek professional help if necessary, she said.

Were not out of the woods with this yet, Castaneda said. I think were going to be working with COVID issues for a while.
Unnao : , May 17 (IANS) A migrant couple, heading to Bihar from Haryana, was killed when a pickup loader hit them in the Unnao district on the Agra-Lucknow expressway, police said.

The accident happened on Saturday when the couple along with their minor son was on the way to their home in Bihar's Darbhanga.

The victims were identified as Ashok Chaudhary ,45, an auto driver, and his wife Chhoti, 36. Both are residents of the Makanpur village in Darbhanga.

Their minor child, who was relieving himself by the roadside, survived the mishap.

According to the Bangarmau police, Ashok along with his wife Chhoti, and their six-year-old son Krishna, had migrated to Haryana a few years ago to work as an auto-rickshaw driver.

Because of the lockdown, Ashok had not been getting any work in Haryana and on Friday, he left for his native village with his wife and minor son in an auto-rickshaw.

As they reached near a culvert in Bangarmau in Unnao on Agra-Lucknow Expressway, they stopped to refuel the tank of the auto.

A speeding pickup loader coming from Agra side hit Ashok and his wife. The two suffered critical injuries and died at the spot. A passersby who saw the accident immediately alerted the police that reached the spot.

Circle Officer Bangarmau Gaurav Tripathi said, "We have informed the family members of the couple in the Makanpur village in Darbhanga about the tragedy and registered a case.

"We are trying to locate the loader and the driver responsible for the accident and further investigation are underway," he said.
Reveal truth about 1980 Gwangju Uprising



Tomorrow marks the 40th anniversary of the May 18, 1980, Gwangju Uprising. It has been referred to as the pro-democracy movement for more than 20 years. But the truth behind the uprising has yet to be fully revealed. Thus it is of urgent importance to get to the bottom of the tragic massacre of around 200 civilians by the military junta under the command of Chun Doo-hwan.



In this regard, President Moon Jae-in emphasized the need to find out the truth about the military's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters. He told a regional MBC broadcasting station in an interview aired Sunday that some key issues remained unresolved after four decades amid continued attempts to conceal or distort facts.



Those issues include who ordered soldiers to open fire on the protesters, how the helicopter shooting occurred, and who was finally responsible for the incident. Past governments had tried to shed light on such issues, but to no avail. Former President Chun, who seized power through the brutal suppression of the uprising after the assassination of then President Park Chung-hee in October 1979, has repeatedly denied his involvement and responsibility. He and his cronies have systematically prevented fact-finding missions from laying the truth bare.



Now President Moon's remarks are drawing keen attention as they raise expectations that his liberal government will dig deeper into the case. He has emphasized the need for the spirit of the democratization movement to be enshrined in the preamble of the Constitution. For this, a constitutional amendment is an imperative. Only the March 1, 1919, Independence Movement and the April 19, 1960, Student Revolution are inscribed in the Constitution.



Yet, a revision to the supreme law is no easy task. In March 2018, President Moon submitted a revision bill to the National Assembly to include the May 18 movement in the Constitution. But it was scrapped due to objections from conservative lawmakers.



The Moon administration and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea should work harder to persuade opposition parties to cooperate in rewriting the Constitution to advocate for the beacon of democracy. Conservative legislators also need to shed their misconceived recognition that the uprising was staged by mobs or even North Korean commandoes.



Also drawing attention is the launch of an independent fact-finding committee last week. This panel, which will operate for three years, is required to deal with unresolved issues. It is important to reveal the truth before it is too late. The purpose of this fact-finding mission is not to punish those responsible, but to find out the truth and promote reconciliation.


Islamabad, May 17 : Pakistan has decided to open its border crossings with Afghanistan for six days a week to facilitate cross-border trade, which has been affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic in both countries.

The National Command and Operation Center, a high level body leading the country's fight against the COVID-19, took the decision on Saturday of opening the Torkham and Chaman crossings with Afghanistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, reports Xinhua news agency.

Torkham border will remain open for 24 hours a day and six days a week (except Saturday) for cross-border trade and unlimited number of trucks will be allowed per day while ensuring proper standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines for both the bilateral trade and Afghan transit trade, the reports said, adding that similar directives were also issued for the Chaman border.

The notification said Saturdays will be reserved for pedestrian move only and the SOPs as applicable for air passengers will be implemented for pedestrians as well, according to the reports.

Pakistan had closed border with Afghanistan, but announced in April to open the two border crossing points thrice a week to facilitate cargo trucks and containers to enter Afghanistan.

However, Afghan traders say that thousands of their containers of transit goods are stuck at the Karachi port, causing them financial losses.

Pakistani and Afghan traders welcomed the newest decision and hoped that it will ensure smooth cross-border trade activities.

Ahmad Shah Yarzada, an Afghan importer and member of the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Xinhua on Saturday that traders and businessmen in both countries have been demanding opening of the crossing points as their closure had badly affected trade activities.

A traders' body in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also hailed the decision and said it will ensure speedy clearance of containers, besides removal of hurdles to bilateral trade and transit trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan had signed a transit trade agreement in 1965 that was revised in 2010.

Afghans traders have also been allowed to import goods via the Gwadar port in southwest Balochistan province besides using ports in Karachi, the commercial hub of Pakistan.
At a multigenerational level of loss, there are the Jones and Brown families. Within weeks, a Flint elementary school principal, Kevelin B. Jones II, lost his father, Pastor Kevelin B. Jones; his uncle Freddie Brown Jr.; and his cousin Freddie Brown III. At the combined burial for her husband and only child, Sandy Brown waved to the parade of cars that drove by quietly as she stood alone next to two freshly dug graves. Reflecting on the difficult losses, a church elder, Keimba Knowlin, spoke on resilience, a quality that Ive long observed and admired in the people of Flint. Were going to rise above this and get past this, he said.

The will to survive and endure can be the deciding factor between a child who overcomes adversity and thrives and a child who never makes it to adulthood. But how long can we ask people born in the wrong ZIP code to rise above and persevere in circumstances beyond their control, no matter how central the idea of overcoming is to our archetypal American identity? When Hazim Hardeman, a 2019 Rhodes scholar, was asked about his journey from public housing in North Philadelphia, where many of his friends were shot or stabbed to death, he spoke a truth that we all need to hear: Dont be happy for me that I overcame these barriers. Be mad as hell that they exist in the first place.

Surviving lifes hardest blows should not be celebrated  or expected. Recovery and reconciliation require reparations and resources. To expect resilience without justice is simply to indifferently accept the status quo.

Just as the New Deal sprang from the Great Depression and public health best practices were born in response to a previous plague, we need to embrace the bold innovations that are certain to arise.

To begin with, we need to establish policies and practices rooted in science. And science tells us that where you live matters. For children raised in places replete with the stresses of misfortune, these adversities rooted in historic and systemic bias are scarring. Just as new Covid-19 cases can represent a time lag from infection two weeks earlier, adversities in early childhood play out later, filling our hospital beds and deteriorating the publics health.

As this pandemic makes painfully visible, medicine alone  ventilators, pharmaceuticals, defibrillators, I.C.U.s  will not save us. Its always an ego-deflating moment for my medical residents when they learn that medical care contributes only 10 percent to 20 percent to positive health outcomes. Our medical interventions are largely reactive measures  and happen too late. Addressing the upstream root causes is the only answer.
A New Jersey-based company that sells caller ID spoofing services and the state of North Dakota are asking a federal judge to decide the fate of North Dakotas new anti-spoofing law.

Attorneys for both sides have filed motions in U.S. District Court asking the judge to decide the case based on their arguments, rather than on a trial.

The decision will fall to new U.S. District Judge Dan Traynor, who took the bench in January, replacing Judge Daniel Hovland, who has moved into semiretirement. Traynor took over the case from Hovland in early February.

Spoofing involves altering or disguising the phone number that shows up on the caller ID of the person being called. The North Dakota Legislature in 2019 unanimously passed a law making it a crime to transmit misleading or inaccurate caller identification information with the intent to defraud or cause harm. It also outlaws using a telephone number the caller does not own or have the consent to use.

Violations carry a maximum punishment of a year in jail and a $3,000 fine. A provision in the law also allows spoofing victims to file a civil lawsuit for up to $10,000 in damages per violation.

The law took effect in August. SpoofCard LLC and CEO Amanda Pietrocola sued in December, arguing that the state law is preempted by federal law that allows caller ID spoofing unless the call is nefarious in nature.

The technique has many legitimate uses, SpoofCard attorney Seth Thompson wrote in his motion asking Traynor to declare North Dakotas law unconstitutional and thus invalid. One example he offers is a doctor or a journalist making a work-related call from a personal phone and wanting to protect their private number.

Many of the legitimate uses of Caller ID spoofing  are criminalized by the Anti-Spoofing Act on both intrastate and interstate telephone calls, Thompson wrote.

Spoofing also is used by scam artists and questionable telemarketers. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has said robocalls and spoof calls are his offices top consumer complaint.

North Dakota Deputy Solicitor General James Nicolai has filed a motion asking Traynor to rule in the states favor.

North Dakotas Anti-Spoofing Act is targeted solely at spoofing activity that is done with the intent to defraud, that is, to take something of value from the recipient of a spoofing call, Nicolai wrote.

Each side recently filed a lengthy argument asking Traynor to reject the other side's position. Court documents dont indicate a timeline for the judge's decision.

Reach Blake Nicholson at 701-250-8266 or blake.nicholson@bismarcktribune.com.

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Some employees will return to work next Monday as the first phase of the Government's roadmap for exiting the Covid-19 lockdown commences.

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said in a statement that it wishes to advise workers who may be returning to work on Monday, May 18, to close their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) on that day, Monday, May 18, to make sure that they will not lose out in getting their payment for this week. This payment is due on Tuesday next.

Read more about Covid-19 cases in Leitrim here

A worker who is returning to work any day the week commencing Monday, May 18, is still entitled to receive a PUP payment for the previous week in which they were unemployed.

Similarly, workers who will be returning to work any time after Monday, May 18, are asked to close their claim for the PUP payment on the actual date that they start back at work.

The easiest way to close a claim for the pandemic unemployment payment is online via www.mywelfare.ie

Should any worker have an enquiry about closing their claim, they can contact the Departments dedicated income support helpline at 1890 800 024 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm).
In a statement, GrubHub said that the driver cleared all of its background checks and had no prior reports of misconduct, but added that the company has stopped working with him and was cooperating with police. We are shocked and appalled by these reports, and our hearts go out to the person injured and her family.
An oil tanker in the Khark Island, on the shore of the Gulf on March 12, 2017. (Marcos Moreno/AP Photo)

5 Iranian Tankers Sailing to Venezuela, Defying US Sanctions

Five Iranian tankers likely carrying at least $45.5 million worth of gasoline and similar products are now sailing to Venezuela, part of a wider deal between the two U.S.-sanctioned nations amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.

The tankers voyage came after Venezuelas socialist leader Nicolas Maduro already turned to Iran for help in flying in chemicals needed at an aging refinery amid a gasoline shortage, a symptom of the wider economic and political chaos gripping Latin Americas one-time largest oil producer.

Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi passed on a message on Sunday to the Swiss ambassador, who represents U.S. interests in the Islamic Republic, warning against any U.S. threat against the Iranian tankers, according to a report on the foreign ministry website.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also wrote a letter to U.N. chief Antonio Guterres warning that any American measures against the fuel shipment would be dangerous, illegal and a form of piracy, according to the report on the foreign ministry website. On May 14, the U.S. Treasury, State Department and Coast Guard issued an advisory warning the maritime industry of illegal shipping and sanctions-dodging tactics by countries including Iran.

The advisory repeated an earlier promise of up to $15 million for information disrupting the Guards finances. It also warned anyone knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport or marketing of petroleum faced U.S. sanctions.

U.S. Army Maj. Rob Lodewick, a Pentagon spokesman, declined to comment on the Iranian vessels. He referred questions to the State Department, which did not immediately respond.

Reuters contributed to this report
India recorded the highest single-day spike in Covid-19 infections with 4,987 new cases in the last 24 hours as the national tally crossed the 90,000-mark on Saturday, according to the Union health ministry.

The jump in the number of Covid-19 cases comes on the last day of the third round of the lockdown, which was first imposed from March 25.

It is scheduled to end on Sunday night and the norms for the next round would be announced before that.

As of 8am on Sunday, the cases in India stood at 90,927, the number of deaths at 2,872 and the number of those recovered at 34,108.

Also read: Odisha tribal walks 160 kilometres with two kids on sling amid Covid-19 lockdown

Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Delhi have three out of every four cases in the country. Maharashtra reported 30,706 cases and 10988 followed by 10,585 in Tamil Nadu. The national capital has 9,333 cases.

The health ministry has told the government that 30 municipal areas, including Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata which account for nearly 80% of Indias coronavirus cases, should have the maximum restrictions under lockdown 4.0 ground rules.

These 30 municipalities are spread across 12 states and Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu account for over one-third of these municipalities. Gujarat and Rajasthan have three cities each in this list and West Bengal has two.

The governments renewed focus on the urban areas comes in the context of data that suggests these 30 cities are home to most of the countrys Covid-19 case.

Union health secretary Preeti Sudan held a special meeting on Saturday with municipal and health officials from the 12 states where the 30 municipal corporations are located. The meeting discussed the high-risk factors and reviewed indices such as confirmation rate, fatality rate, doubling rate, tests per million for these places.

Also Read| Lockdown 4.0: Centres guidelines on the fourth phase of Covid-19 lockdown likely to be announced today

Sudan also updated the states about the health ministrys new guidelines aimed at such urban settlements, particularly informal settlements such as Mumbais Dharavi slums.

The last version of the lockdown that came into effect from May 4 had introduced considerable relaxations in districts that had not reported Covid-19 cases and eased restrictions elsewhere.

The Centres objective, starting from the first round of relaxations from April 21, has been to gradually resume economic activity.

Also read| More people recovered from Covid-19 in Delhi during Lockdown 3: Data

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had this week told chief ministers that the Centre would opt for another spell of the national lockdown but made it clear that lockdown 4.0 would be very different from the earlier three versions.

PM Modi had also indicated that the Centre would let the states decide how to ease the restrictions this time.
By IANS

LONDON:Britain has reportedly refused India's request to extradite Tiger Hanif, a close aide of India's most-wanted fugitive Dawood Ibrahim, accused in two cases of bomb blasts in Gujarat.

Top sources in the Home Office revealed that Tiger's extradition was refused by then Home Secretary Sajid Javid, a British politician of Pakistan origin. Even as Tiger gets relief, Dawood's another close lieutenant Jabir Motiwala, accused of drug financing, is still lodged in British jail and continues to face extradition charges.

While India might request British authorities to find a way to reassess Tiger Hanif's extradition, the refusal by Sajid Javid ostensibly helped the defence lawyers to get Tiger's case discharged by the court. Tiger Hanif, known as Hanif Mohammed Umerji Patel, was arrested in the UK by the Metropolitan police in February 2010, on a tip-off from Indian agencies.

Also linked with Iqbal Mirchi, Tiger was accused in two cases of terror attacks in Gujarat in 1993. Tiger had conspired to launch a grenade attack in a crowded Surat market in which an eight-year-old girl was killed and several people injured.

In another attack, in a bid to avenge the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992, Tiger Hanif was accused of hatching a conspiracy to execute a bomb explosion at the Surat Railway station, injuring over a dozen persons.

The 59-year-old Hanif was traced to a grocery store in Bolton, Greater Manchester, and arrested by the Scotland Yard on an extradition warrant from Indian authorities in 2010. Tiger lost his appeal in the UK High Court in April 2013, following which the case was handed over to the UK Home Secretary.

However, after years of pondering over the files, the UK Home Secretary in 2018-19, Sajiv Javid, reportedly refused extradition of Tiger Hanif. Sajid Javid, son of a Pakistani bus driver who migrated to England, has a strong following in British Pakistani community.

Sources said that Tiger Hanif has been close to Dawood Ibrahim and has been working for D-company, known for its underworld activities.

During his stay in Britain, Hanif had also come in contact with late Iqbal Mirchi, another Dawood aide known for narcotics smuggling in Europe. Mirchi was also wanted by the Indian police but his extradition request was rejected by British courts.

Sources said that Tiger's lawyers have pleaded with the courts and Home office that in case Tiger is extradited he would be subject to torture in Indian jails. Another Dawood aide and alleged financier of D-company Jabir Motiwala is also lodged in British jails facing extradition to the United States of America in case of drug financing.

Motiwala is presently on remand at the crowded Wandsworth prison allegedly affected by a coronavirus outbreak. Lawyers of several inmates at this prison have asked the government to release the inmates to save them from the deadly coronavirus.

Jabir Motiwala was arrested in London in August 2018 during a raid at Hilton Hotel on Edgware Road. However, like Tiger, Jabir Motiwala's lawyers have denied all charges against him and said he has never been associated with Dawood Ibrahim.

On the other hand, US authorities have presented strong legal evidence and several video tapes in the courts to prove that Motiwala was deeply involved in drug trafficking activities and finance operations of the D-company, run from Dawood's hideout in Karachi.
News

Washington, DC - Remarks by President Trump at Presentation of the United States Space Force Flag and Signing of an Armed Forces Day Proclamation:

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. This is a very special moment because this is the presentation of the Space Force flag. So weve worked very hard on this. And its so important from a defensive standpoint, from an offensive standpoint, from every standpoint there is.

As you know, China and Russia, perhaps others, started off a lot sooner than us. We should have started this a long time ago, but weve made up for it in spades. We have developed some of the most incredible weapons anyone has ever seen, and its moving along very rapidly. And we have tremendous people in charge.

And I  what Id like to do is Id like to just start by asking some of those folks to say a few words. And the importance strategically, militarily, and even from a pure civilian standpoint, and from bringing our economy back  everything  its going to help so much. All made right here in the USA. And its going to be very special, very important. Space Force.

First time in 72 years-plus that weve opened up a new branch of the United States military.

And, Mark, maybe Ill start with you. Youll saw a few words. Please.

SECRETARY ESPER: Yes, sir. Let me just say its a very historic moment. The United States has been a spacefaring nation for decades, but we know that our adversaries in the last several years have weaponized space. Theyve made it a warfighting domain. And so with the establishment of Space Force and the establishment of Space Command, the United States is now doing what it needs to do to protect our assets in space and ensure that space remains the heavens by which we not only protect America, but we sustain our economy, we sustain our commercial capabilities, we sustain Americans way of life.

So again, another very historic moment. Im confident that both the Space Force and the Space Command will do what is necessary to defend us in space and to keep America great.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Great job youre doing, too.

General Milley? Please.

GENERAL MILLEY: Sir. Thank you, Mr. President. And as the Secretary said, this is a historic day. Some time ago, we made a decision to establish the Space Force, and thats because were undergoing a changing character of war, which is of historic importance for all nations.

And as part of that, the space part of our universe opened up as a domain of warfare. And its critical that if we are going to sustain our way of life, if were going to defend our nation, that were going to have to defend ourselves in space and therefore the need for Space Force.

And its a great day for the nation, its a great day, really, for the world that the United States of America establishes its first Space Force.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.

Please.

GENERAL RAYMOND: Mr. President, thank you for your leadership.

THE PRESIDENT: Congratulations, by the way.

GENERAL RAYMOND: Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: Number one.

GENERAL RAYMOND: Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: Thats great.

GENERAL RAYMOND: I appreciate the honor.

Sixteen thousand space professionals assigned to the Space Force. Were proud of this flag. They come to work every day focusing on providing space capabilities for our nation, for our joint coalition forces, and for the world. Were proud of this flag. Were proud to have an opportunity to present it to you here for display in the White House.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you.

GENERAL RAYMOND: Thank you for your leadership 

THE PRESIDENT: Appreciate it.

GENERAL RAYMOND:  very much.

Secretary, please.

SECRETARY BARRETT: Thank you, Mr. President. Youve really demonstrated leadership in establishing the Space Force. This is an important moment and an important month, actually.

Most of the Americans, before their first cup of coffee in the morning, have used space, but very few people realize how important space is 

THE PRESIDENT: Thats right.

SECRETARY BARRETT:  to everything that we do, and that its vulnerable, because we need to up our game in space. And youve recognized that and built a force that will help to protect our assets in space and deter aggressive action in space and, if deterrence doesnt work, to be able to defend our assets in space and those of our allies.

So we thank you very much for the leadership youve demonstrated and were excited for this breakthrough moment.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. I appreciate it. Were building, right now, incredible military equipment at a level that nobody has ever seen before. We have no choice. We have to do it  with the adversaries we have out there.

We have a  I call it the super-duper missile. And I heard the other night, 17 times faster than what they have right now.

SECRETARY ESPER: Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: And you take the fastest missile we have right now  youve heard Russia has five times, and China is working on five or six times. We have one 17 times. And its just gotten the go-ahead. Seventeen times faster, if you can believe that, General. Thats something, right? Seventeen times faster than what we have right now. Fastest in the world by a factor of almost three.

So I just want to congratulate everybody and thank everybody. Space is going to be  its going to be the future, both in terms of defense and offense and so many other things.

And already, from what Im hearing and based on reports, were now the leader in space, and that took place. Dont forget, were having a meeting today. This is really to unfurl the flag. But weve been doing this now for quite a while. I have to say that from my standpoint, having a force  a space force, in this case, but to be adding to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which Ive known about and read about and heard about all my life  just like General Milley to be the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is something thats a very special thing.

Well, to add another force into the Joint Chiefs and  and were getting a four star. In this case, were getting a four-star general on your board. So were doing something  right here. So were doing something that is such a monumental task.

So its been more than 72 years. The Air Force, I believe, was the last one. And so we have Air Force. And not since the Air Force has anything like this happened, and now we have Space Force added on with  with full honors, I must add. With full honors.

So today, were here for a very important  its really an important occasion because were unfurling the flag. And with us is Chief Master Sergeant Roger Towberman. And he is  Id like you to say exactly, because his rank is a very special rank. Tell us about that rank.

CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TOWBERMAN: Yes, sir. Im the senior enlisted advisor for the United States Space Force.

THE PRESIDENT: And the highest  highest sergeant by far, right?

CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TOWBERMAN: Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: Theres no 

CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TOWBERMAN: And at the moment, the only one. So I give counsel to the Secretary and to the Chief 

THE PRESIDENT: Thats  thats pretty good.

GENERAL RAYMOND: Mr. President, this rank is custom designed.

THE PRESIDENT: Wow. Thats beautiful. Wow. Thats it.

GENERAL RAYMOND: And hes the only  the only Airman 

THE PRESIDENT: Thats beautiful.

GENERAL RAYMOND:  the only Airman that wears that rank and will be the only Airman that wears that rank. Hes the senior enlisted leader.

THE PRESIDENT: Thats fantastic. And I heard tremendous things about you, Roger.

CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TOWBERMAN: Thanks.

THE PRESIDENT: Its a very important position. And youre with all these generals. But you know what? Hes an important guy, right?

So why dont we go ahead and do it? Lets do it. Yes, please.

CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TOWBERMAN: Thank you.

Thank you.

(The flag is unfurled.) (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thats fantastic, Roger. Ill walk over there. That is great. You stay right there.

Thats fantastic. Isnt that great? Please, get in the picture. Thats beautiful.

SECRETARY ESPER: And, Mr. President, it will stand in your office alongside the other service flags.

THE PRESIDENT: Very, very great honor. Its a great honor. Thats a beautiful flag, too. Roger, hold that up so they can see. Thats really beautiful. Wow.

Its a big  thats a big day.

Q Can somebody explain the logo?

SECRETARY ESPER: General Raymond?

THE PRESIDENT: Please. Go ahead.

GENERAL RAYMOND: So the delta in the middle is a symbol that the space community has used for years and years and years. The North Star signifies our core value  our guiding light, if you will. And the orbit around the globe signifies the space capabilities that fuel our American way of life and our American way of war.

THE PRESIDENT: Thats great. Im going to do this for Roger. Here, Roger. Please dont put this on eBay tonight. (Laughter.) Here, Roger. Come here a minute.

And were going to sign. Okay, Roger, thats for you.

CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TOWBERMAN: Thank you so much.

THE PRESIDENT: Thats for you.

SECRETARY BARRETT: Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. So lets do it. This is great stuff.

(The proclamation is signed.)

Okay. Lets see, I have  I think we have no choice, right? General, come on over here.

GENERAL RAYMOND: Absolutely.

THE PRESIDENT: Good luck.

GENERAL RAYMOND: Mr. President, thanks you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: Good luck. Okay?

GENERAL RAYMOND: Thanks for your  thanks for the honor.

THE PRESIDENT: Fantastic. And these are going for everybody, please. Okay?

(Pens are distributed.)

SECRETARY BARRETT: Thank you very much.

THE PRESIDENT: Roger. Thank you very much. Mark, youre all set? General, come on over here. General Kellogg has been fantastic. Done a great job. Hes working on a special project now, arent you?

LIEUTENANT GENERAL KELLOGG: I am, sir. And were going to get it done.

THE PRESIDENT: Its a very special project. (Applause.)

Okay? Got it? Thank you all very much. Thank you.

Ill be going to Camp David tonight with a lot of different people. We have some big things happening. So Ill be at Camp David tonight with various people.

Q Whos going?

THE PRESIDENT: Various people, including some of the folks on the Hill and some of our great leaders.

Q To talk about what exactly?

THE PRESIDENT: Different things. Different things.

Q Phase four?

THE PRESIDENT: Uh, no, not so much phase four. Phase four could happen, but it will happen the right way. We have all the cards because we have the cards for the American people. I know what they want. And Ive always known what they want. Thats why Im sitting here.

No, phase four is going to happen, but its going to happen in a much better way for the American people.

Okay. Thank you all very much.
More than 580 Indian citizens stranded



in Maldives due to the COVID-19 pandemic arrived here on board a Naval ship on Sunday, in the second phase of the Vande Bharat repatriation mission, officials said.

The Indian Navy ship INS Jalashwa under "Operation Samudra Setu" with 588 evacuees from Maldives arrived at the Cochin Port at 11.30 am on Sunday, official sources said.

The Cochin Port Trust tweeted a photo of the third group of Indian expatriates evacuated from the Island nation arriving at the port.

There are 568 repatriates of Kerala, 15 of Tamil Nadu and three belonging to Telangana and two persons from Lakshadweep, officials said.

This is the third naval ship operated as part of the Vande Bharat mission to the city.

On May 10, the vessel had brought home 698 Indian nationals from Maldives.

Two days later, another Navy Ship INS Magar had evacuated 202 Indian citizens from Maldives to here.

As Jalashwa carrying 588 evacuees left Maldives on Saturday morning, the High Commission of India there expressed its gratitude to the government of the island nation for ensuring safe repatriation of stranded Indian citizens.

"We are extremely grateful to the Govt.of #Maldives and all concerned agencies in ensuring safe and secure repatriation of nearly 1,500 Indian nationals from the Maldives under Op. #SamudraSetu," it had tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kim Kardashian sent the pop culture sphere into a frenzy when she first rocked the look in 2015.

And on Saturday afternoon, the 39-year-old reality star shocked her 170m Instagram followers as she debuted blonde locks once again.

'I am blonde,' announced Kardashian as she proudly showed off her dramatically lightened tresses, though on Sunday she revealed that it was 'just a wig.'

Blonde babe: Kim Kardashian took to Instagram on Saturday to reveal that she had made a bold return to bleach blonde in lockdown

She debuted the 'do, while performing a makeup tutorial using her KKW Cosmetics line on her Instagram Story.

The purpose of the tutorial was for the KUWTK star to shower her fans and followers how she achieves a 'lighter lip' with her products.

In the string of clips, Kim's wig was parted down the middle and styled in an array of effortless beach waves.

To create some added depth to her look, the faux hair featured dark roots for a more realistic look.

Transformation: 'I am blonde,' announced Kardashian as she proudly showed off her dramatically lightened tresses to her 170million followers

Faked: On Sunday, she shared a photo from her closet with a return to her natural raven locks swept back. She revealed 'My blonde hair was just a wig,' as she did some fitting for her SKIMS brand

Once she completed her makeup look, Kim posed in front of an indoor lighting set-up and posted back-to-back videos of herself blowing kisses to the camera.

She appeared to be wearing a black tank top layered over one of her many nude toned SKIMS body shapers.

On Sunday, she shared a photo from her closet with a return to her natural raven locks swept back. She revealed 'My blonde hair was just a wig,' as she did some fitting for her SKIMS brand.

Kim's very first go at blonde came in 2015, when she debuted the look during her appearance at the Balmain fashion show during Paris Fashion Week in 2015.

Sleek: In the string of clips, Kim's hair was parted down the middle and styled in an array of effortless beach waves

Makeup and a makeover: She debuted the 'do, while performing a makeup tutorial using her KKW Cosmetics line on her Instagram Story

'So I went platinum!! I have the best team,' wrote Kardashian on Instagram at the time.

The transformation was met with mixed reactions - with some fans even comparing the star to Harry Potter villain Draco Malfoy.

But Kardashian admitted in March of this year on social media that she was 'contemplating' returning to her blonde status.

'My hair is gonna be so healthy after this quarantined time. Contemplating dying it blonde when we can have human interaction again,' captioned Kim, who shared a throwback photo of her controversial locks.

Switching things up: The purpose of the tutorial was for the KUWTK star to shower her fans and followers how she achieves a 'lighter lip' with her products

Throwback: Kim's very first go at blonde came in 2015, when she debuted the look during her appearance at the Balmain fashion show during Paris Fashion Week in 2015; Kim pictured in 2015

In the photo - which amassed over 2million likes - Kim donned a Fendi dominated outfit as she leaned against a wall.

As early at May 7, Kim was photographed playing around with a blonde wig on the set of a photoshoot.

Though fans were not aware at the time, the wig was clearly a test run at the reality star's impending look.

Contemplation: But Kardashian admitted in March of this year on social media that she was 'contemplating' returning to her blonde status; Kim pictured on Instagram on March 29

Prior to unveiling her return to blonde, Kim posted a slew of self portraits that showed her sporting her signature brown tresses to her Instagram on Saturday morning.

In the snaps, Kardashian lounged around while drawing attention to her $120,000 brown crocodile Hermes Birkin bag which had a wig hanging out of it.

'Where's Wado hair edition!' she captioned the series of photos.

Test run: As early at May 7, Kim was photographed playing around with a blonde wig on the set of a photoshoot

Kim was wearing a grey tracksuit top and matching pants. She teamed the look with white slippers.

Her dark hair was slicked back into a high and tight ponytail and hanging over the couch.

Kim sported a full face of glam complete with a bronzed contoured complexion, a smokey eye and a nude colored lip gloss.

So long: Prior to unveiling her return to blonde, Kim posted a slew of self portraits that showed her sporting her signature brown tresses to her Instagram on Saturday morning

Lounging: Kim was wearing a grey tracksuit top and matching pants. She teamed the look with white slippers

The reality star's photos came just hours after her SKIMS masks sold out on Saturday morning.

Selling four for $25, the shape wear mogul released the items in various different skin tones.

Kim also took to her Instagram Stories to reveal her charitable donation as part of the sales.

Sold out: The reality star's photos came just hours after her SKIMS masks sold out on Saturday morning

'To support the COVID-19 relief work efforts and help protect those on the front line, SKIMS is donating 10,000 face masks to our charitable partners.'

The partners included: Baby2Baby, Good+ Foundation, LA Food Bank, and National Domestic Workers Alliance.

Kim already donated $1 million for coronavirus relief efforts back in late March.
France Arrests Rwandan Businessman Wanted in Connection With 1994 Genocide

By VOA News May 16, 2020

French police have arrested a man accused of funding militias that massacred hundreds of thousands of people in Rwanda 1994 genocide.

The French Justice Ministry said police arrested Felicien Kabuga near Paris Saturday after 26 years on the run.

The 84-year-old was Rwanda's most wanted man and one of the last primary suspects in the 1994 slaughter of some 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus by Hutu extremists.

Kabuga, once one of Rwanda's wealthiest men, was indicted in 1997 on a charge of genocide and six other criminal counts, according to an international tribunal established by the United Nations.

Authorities said Kabuga was living under a false identity in Asnieres-Sur-Seine, north of Paris, with the aid of his children.

Kabuga, a Hutu businessman who had a $5 million U.S. bounty on his head, allegedly funded the purchases of large quantities of machetes and agricultural tools that were used as weapons during the genocide, a U.N. news website said.

The justice ministry said Kabuga will appear before the Paris appeal court before being brought in front of the international court in The Hague.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "Mr. Kabuga's apprehension sends a powerful message that those who are alleged to have committed such crimes cannot evade justice and will eventually be held accountable, even more than a quarter of a century later."

International justice authorities are still pursuing Rwandan genocide suspects Augustin Bizimana and Protais Mpiranya.

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"The success of this mission resulted from collaboration with our customer while working through challenging, and ever changing, health and safety conditions," said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. "We were honored to partner with the U.S. Space Force to dedicate this mission to first responders, front-line workers, and those affected by COVID-19. It is truly a unique time in our history and I want to thank the entire team for their continued dedication and focus on mission success."

Along with OTV-6, this mission deployed FalconSat-8, a small satellite developed by the U.S. Air Force Academy and sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to conduct experiments on orbit. The mission also carried two NASA experiments, including a material sample plate to determine the results of radiation and other space effects on various materials, and an experiment which will assess space effects on seeds used to grow food. Another experiment sponsored by the Naval Research Laboratory will examine the ability to transform solar power into radio frequency microwave energy which could be transmitted to the ground.

This mission launched aboard an Atlas V 501 configuration rocket that included a 5-meter-diameter payload fairing. The Atlas booster was powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine, and the Centaur upper stage was powered by the Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C-1 engine.

ULA's next launch is NASA's Mars 2020 mission carrying the Perseverance rover on an Atlas V rocket. The launch is scheduled for July 17 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

To date ULA has a track record of 100% mission success with 139 successful launches.

With more than a century of combined heritage, ULA is the world's most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully launched more than 135 missions to orbit that provide Earth observation capabilities, enable global communications, unlock the mysteries of our solar system, and support life-saving technology.

For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch.

SOURCE United Launch Alliance

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New Delhi, May 17 : In the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Union Finance Minister Nirmal Sitharaman on Sunday said that health expenditure will be increased and health reforms will be made at the grassroots level.

Speaking at her fifth consecutive press conference regarding allocation of Rs 20 lakh crore economic package in different sectors, the minister said, "To prepare India for any future pandemic, Health expenditure will be increased and investment at the grassroots level will be ramped up for health and wellness centres, with particular focus on aspirational districts. All districts will have infectious diseases block in hospitals. Public health labs will be set up at block levels." Talking about the steps taken by the government so far for the containment of COVID-19 in the country, the minister said that the government has committed Rs 15,000 crore for the health related measures so far for the containment of COVID-19, which includes Rs 50 lakh insurance per person for the health professionals.

"More than Rs 4,113 crores have been released to states," said Sitharaman.

The Finance Minister said that the steps taken so far by the government included releasing 4,113 crore rupees to the states, essential items worth rupees 3,750 crore, Rs 550 crores have been spent on testing labs and kits and Insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh per person for health professionals under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY).

She also said that the government is encouraging research in the health sector through 'National Institutional platform for One health' by the ICMR and through implementation of the National digital Health Mission blueprint.

MoS Anurag Thakur who was also present at the press conference said that the IT has been extensively used in order to enhance health facilities, like roll out of E-Sanjeevani tele-consultation services, capacity building through virtual learning module -iGot platform. "Arogya Setu app, like UPI, was downloaded by a large number of people," he said.

Thakur also said, "we amended the epidemic disease act in order to stop atrocities against the health care workers," adding, "There are more than 300 domestic manufacturers of the PPE kits and N95 masks from zero. We have already supplied PPEs 51 lakh PPEs, 87 lakh N95 masks and Hydroxychloroquine tablets worth Rs 11.08 corers."
Representative Image (Image: Reuters)

Over 400 people from the Northeast, including at least 87 from Tripura, are stranded in Bangladesh, Russia and Ukraine, and the Centre is taking necessary measures to bring them home, a minister here said.

Addressing a press conference at the civil secretariat, Tripura education minister Ratan Lal Nath said the Ministry of External Affairs, in association with the Home Ministry, was making all efforts to ensure the safe return of the people stuck abroad amid the COVID-19-induced lockdown.

The High Commissioner of India in Dhaka is coordinating with the Union government to arrange for transit of 53 people from Tripura stranded in the neighbouring country, Nath said on Saturday.

A total of 198 people from the northeastern states, including 25 from Tripura, will be brought back from Ukraine, while nine from the state were among the 177 set to fly home from Russia, the minister said.

"Those stuck in Ukraine and Russia would fly down to Guwahati in Assam, while 53 from Dhaka would directly reach Agartala in a bus. Their travel itinerary would be available soon," Nath added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 17)  The new directive of the government on the conduct of religious gatherings limiting participants to a maximum of 10 is "laughable" and "unreasonable," a leader of the Catholic Church said Sunday.

Limiting Mass goers to such measly number, even for bigger churches, is another way of saying that the government does not recognize the conduct of religious activities at all, Manila Apostolic Administrator Broderick Pabillo said in a Facebook post.

"It is just another way of saying that you do not have religious activities," he said.

"There are many churches with different sizes. Five persons for such a big church as Baclaran or the Manila Cathedral is laughable! The one-size-fits-all directive is really unreasonable!" Pabillo said.

The government should have instead imposed a one-meter or two-meter distance between persons in a church, he added.

"This is a problem with the government. They make arbitrary decisions without proper consultation with the sectors involved. So they come out with unreasonable directives!" the bishop noted.

Pabillo was referring to the recent decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on the parameters for activities in areas under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ).

Under the omnibus guidelines on community quarantine released on Friday, religious gatherings in areas under MECQ would be limited to not more than five persons.

Meanwhile, religious activities in areas under GCQ allow only a maximum of 10 participants.

Mass gatherings in areas under the enhanced community quarantine are still prohibited.

Malacanang also announced Saturday that priests, imams, rabbis, and other religious ministers may conduct "home religious services" as long as health protocols are practiced such as wearing of face masks and observing social distancing.

Metro Manila and other areas were placed under MECQ starting May 16, while the government continues to address the rising COVID-19 cases.

Movement in high-risk areas is still restricted under the lockdown, while only select industries are permitted to resume operations at a limited capacity.

To date, the Philippines has a total of 12,305 COVID-19 cases, 2,561 recoveries, and 817 deaths.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday accused India of attempting to create an opportunity to conduct a false-flag operation against his country by alleging that Islamabad was supporting terrorism in Kashmir.

Khan once again took to Twitter to allege that the Indian government was trying to deprive the Kashmiris of their right of self-determination by "illegal annexation of their territory." In a series of tweets, Khan alleged that India was trying to show Kashmiris' right to struggle for self-determination guaranteed in UN Security Council Resolutions as terrorism being abetted by Pakistan - to create opportunity for a false flag operation against Pakistan while detracting world attention away from" Kashmir.

Khan's statement came amidst the ongoing war of words between the two countries. Pakistan on Saturday rejected the Indian army chief Gen MM Naravane's recent allegations of organising and supporting a new terror group in Kashmir, known as The Resistance Front'.

"I would like to emphasise that Indian Army will give proportionate response to all acts of infringement of ceasefire and its (Pakistan's) support to terrorism. The onus remains with Pakistan to bring peace in the region," Gen Naravane said last week.

The ties between India and Pakistan strained following the Pulwama terror attack and the subsequent Balakot airstrikes by the Indian Air Force.

The bilateral relations further nose-dived following the Indian goverment's abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in August last that revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The move angered Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties with India and expelled the Indian High Commissioner.
Severe storms battered the Houston-area early Saturday morning, leaving thousands of people without power.

Centerpoint Energy is reporting 14,232 customers are without power as of 8 a.m.

According to ther map, several outages struck the area, including Missouri City, Houston's southside, Santa Fe and Rosenberg. Crews are currently making repairs, but power in some neighborhoods may not be restored until noon.

After the line of thunderstorms pushed through the Houston-area this morning, the severe weather threat has now diminished, according to the National Weather Service. Expect a cool front to push through late Sunday.
China urges food companies to boost supplies on fears of further COVID-19 disruption FILE PHOTO: A worker inspects soybeans during the soy harvest near the town of Campos Lindos

By Naveen Thukral and Hallie Gu

SINGAPORE/BEIJING (Reuters) - China has asked trading firms and food processors to boost inventories of grains and oilseeds as a possible second wave of coronavirus cases and worsening infection rates elsewhere raise concerns about global supply lines.

Both state-run and private grain traders as well as food producers were urged to procure higher volumes of soybeans, soyoil and corn during calls with China's Ministry of Commerce in recent days, three trade sources told Reuters.

"There is a possibility of a breakdown in supply pipelines due to the coronavirus infections. For example, a port of origin or destination might shut down," said a senior trader at one of China's leading food processors, which was on a call last week with authorities to discuss purchases.

"They have advised us to increase stocks, keep supplies higher than we usually have. Things are not looking good in Brazil," he added, referring to China's main supplier of soybeans and a key meat exporter where the number of coronavirus cases has surpassed those in Spain and Italy.

A second source in China who was briefed by a person who attended one of the meetings said China's Ministry of Commerce met with some state companies on Tuesday to discuss how to guarantee supplies during the pandemic.

"One of the main concerns is how the epidemic in South America might impact supplies (of beans) to China," the source said.

China's Ministry of Commerce did not respond to a fax seeking comments on plans to increase food stocks.

(Graphic: U.S. new crop soybean sales to China https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/bdwpkrbgnvm/USNSSoytoChina.png)

SOY SHOCK

Brazilian shipments of soybeans were delayed in March and April due to a combination of heavy rains and reduced manpower as coronavirus containment measures took effect, leading to a plunge in Chinese soy inventories to record lows.

Arrivals from Brazil have since rebounded, but authorities remain wary of fresh disruptions.

Story continues

China's state-owned agriculture conglomerate COFCO and grain stockpiler Sinograin have been stepping up purchases of U.S. soybeans and corn in recent weeks.

Chinese importers bought at least four cargoes, or about 240,000 tonnes, of U.S. soybeans on Monday for shipment beginning in July, two traders familiar with the deals said.

Beijing has also increased its allocations of crop import quotas to major grain buyers, paving the way for further potential purchases.

China is under pressure to buy more U.S. farm products under a trade deal signed between Washington and Beijing in January, and trade sources expect more of China's crops to come from the United States once the South American export season ends and the North American harvests approach in the autumn.

"The effort is to build supplies, not just from Brazil, but from all over," said the senior trader at the food processing company. "U.S. beans are looking attractive from September onwards," he added.

U.S. crop export sales data show that Chinese buyers have accelerated soybean purchases of the upcoming crop, with new crop bookings of 374,000 tonnes already registered, compared with an average of 60,000 tonnes for this period since 2016.

(Graphic: U.S. pork export sales to China https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/qzjvqkzqlvx/CHinaPorkExportSales.png)

China is also a top meat importer and is facing a large domestic supply shortfall following an outbreak of African swine fever which has decimated its pig herd, the world's largest.

Imports from the United States - the top global pork exporter - had been expected to surge as a result, but widespread COVID-19 outbreaks at U.S. slaughterhouses and processing plants have cut national meat output.

China has booked a record volume of U.S. pork shipments already this year, raising concerns about fresh tensions between the countries if U.S. meat production problems curb domestic supplies at a time when shipments to China remain strong.

(Reporting by Naveen Thukral in SINGAPORE and Hallie Gu in BEIJING. Editing by Gavin Maguire and Richard Pullin)


By Michael Shannon





The most remarkable impact coronavirus has on America is the sight of pastors waiting, like dogs anticipating a treat, until Caesar gives them permission to start rendering unto God.



You couldn't have convinced me in March that Baptist preachers would cancel Easter Services. Easter is the central pivot of Christianity. Without the Resurrection, Christianity is pointless. As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:14, "And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty." The birth of Christ (Christmas) is only important because of Easter.



And Christian shepherds surrendered without so much as a whimper.



The 1st Amendment clearly states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." It's as plain as day. Equally plain, "prohibiting the free exercise" is exactly what happened.



Call it a tale of two prohibitions.



When alcohol Prohibition began in 1920 a nationwide movement quickly started to manufacture and consume forbidden booze in spite of legal consequences for both buyer and seller.



In 2020 when the China Flu Church Prohibition began, pastors meekly submitted, along with their parishioners, in fear of the unconstitutional legal consequences.



Preachers were lambs when facing the secular authorities, but lions when facing criticism for doing nothing. Believers can't possibly expect senior pastors to risk arrest or a negative news story just to hold worship services!



The situation is equivalent to the occasional media complaints from harried medical workers as they fight the Kung Flu. Sure, it's tough, but isn't this what they signed up for? The chance to make a difference in a real health emergency?



Or was their commitment only broken wrists and sprained ankles?



Christ died on the cross. Today His worship is prohibited and pastors in general haven't even been willing to risk getting a visit from the Flustapo, much less make a personal sacrifice. Defender of the Faith evidently doesn't include risking the wrath of the bureaucracy.



Two Kansas churches got a judge's permission to gather together. In California, Church United relied on a law firm to host a petition. Michigan churches are suing power-mad Gov. Greta  excuse me  Gretchen Whitmer. And Breitbart found 260 Massachusetts pastors ready to get tough. They sent a letter to the governor begging him to "recognize churches as 'essential.'"



Why you can almost hear the skin being twisted as they wring their hands.



It's simultaneously laughable and pathetic. This is what Christians get when they hire pastors based on compassion and not fire. The lawsuits may make the deacons who are also lawyers happy but it undermines the status of the church.



Lawsuits are defensive, deferential and submissive. Even when the church wins the suit  after months of empty pews  the victory still allows government to set the conditions for worship.



Christ is either King or He's just another activist with an opinion.



Worship does set an example. Not worshiping shows the world church is secondary to secular control. Continuing to worship shows Christ is still in control of the believer's world.



Some pastors know this.



In Chicago, Metro Praise International knows the stakes and has been demonstrating "passive resistance" to the state. The pastor doesn't plan to sue, he plans to preach. GraceBuilt Church in Waynesboro, Va. defied Gov. Blackface Northam before he lifted restrictions on church services.



And Louisiana pastor Tony Spell preached last week with an ankle monitor on as he defied a judge's order to stay home and stay silent.



That is what should be done all along. Worship first then, if necessary, the courts to get the pastor and the parishioners out of jail.



Hold services with social distancing, sanitizer in the baptismal and individual Communion packets. Urge seniors and the vulnerable to stay home. Hold plenty of services each Sunday so everyone who wants to attend can social distance their way inside. For those that can't, the staff can visit them personally and pray through the storm door during the week.



The important point is to demonstrate you believe Christ is important enough to worship regardless of Caesar.



Sure, some churches will flaunt the WuFlu rules  we'll call them snake-handlers  but those congregations were probably dangerous before the epidemic.



Anything is better than what Believers have now. The Great Pandemic Panic is the biggest victory for the secular, Christianity-hostile left in decades.



A victory facilitated by docile, fearful, spiritually-lacking pastors who sat passively while the powers and principalities that rule this earth convinced Christians that God and worship were non-essential.





Michael Shannon (mandate.mmpr@gmail.com) is a commentator and public relations consultant, and is the author of "A Conservative Christian's Guidebook for Living in Secular Times." His article was distributed by Cagle Cartoons Inc.




Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 16:22:57|Editor: huaxia

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Medical workers are ready to test a driver at the drive-through coronavirus testing center in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, May 16, 2020. Kuwait has launched its first drive-through coronavirus testing center at the Kuwait International Airport to beef up the country's COVID-19 testing capability. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

KUWAIT CITY, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait has launched its first drive-through coronavirus testing center at the Kuwait International Airport to beef up the country's COVID-19 testing capability.

On the sideline of the center's inauguration on Saturday night, Health Minister Bassel Al-Sabah said the center will help increase the number of tests carried out by the ministry to discover unreported infection cases.

The center will randomly select 180 citizens and residents for testing per day, he said, adding the center can receive 15 cars at a time.

The ministry will cooperate with the Public Authority for the Civil Information to send the selected individual a text message with full details to conduct the testing, Al-Sabah noted.

The Kuwaiti government has imposed a full curfew in the country to curb the rapid rise in coronavirus cases.

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-18 00:13:22|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government is deeply concerned about Hong Kong residents' financial burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to make all-out efforts to implement relief measures, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR government Matthew Cheung said on Sunday.

Cheung wrote in his blog that most eligible Hong Kong permanent residents will receive the handout of 10,000 Hong Kong dollars (1,290 U.S. dollars) before the end of August as the HKSAR Legislative Council (LegCo) has passed the appropriation bill of the 2020-21 Budget.

An extra month of allowance will also reach the hands of recipients of social welfare payments including the elderly and the disabled, which will cover over 1.4 million residents, Cheung added.

Meanwhile, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR government Paul Chan wrote in his blog on Sunday that under the current difficult circumstances, it is important to provide cash flow for businesses, saying the HKSAR government has started receiving applications for the special loan for small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Chan said a stable social environment is a key factor to boost the economy. He warned that the resurgence of violence will scare away international investors and reduce foot traffic for local shops, bringing no economic recovery in sight even if the COVID-19 outbreak subsides.

Amid an economic downturn, those who hype up the "burn with us" mentality are irresponsible and beneficial for no one, and they are the biggest obstacle to Hong Kong's economic recovery, Chan said.

Cheung, in his blog, also urged members of the public to say no to violence. He said that after a report on the social unrest in Hong Kong was released recently by the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC), some people claimed that the report was used to "support the police" and "whitewash the police."

Those who made such comments are troublemakers intending to undermine Hong Kong's police force, Cheung said, adding that as an independent body, IPCC has laid out facts through careful, indepth, objective and detailed reviewing.

Cheung appealed to the public not to believe the misleading information and false accusations online. Enditem
Almost a third of negative coronavirus test results could be wrong, scientists say, leaving thousands believing they are virus free.

People who are wrongly told they don't have the virus when in fact they do - called a 'false negative' - could be spreading the disease if they think they are safe to return to work.

False negative results would mainly be the fault of incorrect swabbing, experts say. Health chiefs have also admitted the test itself, called a PCR test, is 'not perfect'.

Health workers are trained on how to swab a potentially infected person, while home kits come with instructions - but experts say there are bound to be mistakes.

Scientists say it is 'dangerous' to rely on test results to solely steer the handling of the pandemic, in which at least 34,600 Britons have died.

They argue symptoms should not be brushed aside just because a person has a negative result and they should be told to self isolate just in case.

It follows warnings to ministers that up to one in four COVID-19 cases will be missed because the symptom list is not broad enough.

Health chiefs in the UK told the public to look out for a cough and high temperature for months.

But by missing out aching muscles, loss of taste and smell and headaches, experts fear Britain will not get a grip on the crisis.

Health workers are trained on how to swab a potentially infected person, while home kits come with instructions - but experts say there are bound to be mistakes. Pictured: A health worker takes a swab to test a key worker at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge on May 5, 2020

Nasopharyngeal swabs are the preferred choice of testing for SARS-CoV-2 worldwide because it collects the most concentrated sample. A long flexible cotton bud is supposed to be inserted deep into the nostril and along the nose 'floor' to collect a mucus sample. But the invasive test is so uncomfortable it's been described like 'being stabbed in the brain'

There have been almost 2.5million tests across the UK so far, according to the Department of Health, of which 240,161 have been positive.

Some 40 per cent of tests have been repeat tests to clarify if someone has got rid of the virus, for example when a patient leaves hospital.

Public Health England have not revealed how many test results could be incorrect.

But experts believe false negatives are in the region of 10 to 30 per cent.

Lawrence Young, a virologist and infectious disease expert at Warwick University told MailOnline: 'I'm guessing around 30 per cent of results are a false negative.

'That means for every 100 people you test that are positive, 30 will come out as negative.'

Tens of thousands more people are having swab tests now than at the start of the outbreak as the Government ramps up capacity.

Despite the surge in test numbers, ministers have boasted that daily new cases are levelling off as a sign the outbreak is slowing.

But Professor Young asks: 'Are we accounting for up to 30 per cent of samples we are testing that is negative is actually a positive?

Tens of thousands more people are having swab tests now than at the start of the outbreak as the Government ramps up capacity (see top right). Despite the surge in test numbers, ministers have boasted that daily new cases are levelling off (bottom right) as a sign the outbreak is slowing

WHAT IS THE SWAB TEST FOR CORONAVIRUS? Nasopharyngeal swabs are used to detect respiratory viruses, such as the flu and the new coronavirus. It is the preferred choice for SARS-CoV-2 testing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It involves inserting a long, flexible cotton bud into the nostril and along the nose 'floor'. This is supposed to be done slowly so that it is comfortable. The aim is to reach the posterior nasopharynx, a cavity made up of muscle and connective tissue, covered in cells and mucous that are similar to the nose. It continues down into the throat. The swab is rotated several times in order to get enough cells. The sample is then sent to a lab, where it will be tested to determine if the patients cells are infected with the virus. The coronavirus is a RNA virus, which means it uses ribonucleic acid as its genetic material. A process called reverse transcription is needed to transcribe the RNA into readable DNA. A swab sample doesn't collect much RNA in one go, therefore a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to rapidly make billions of copies so it can be analysed. The DNA is dyed a fluorescent colour, which glows if the coronavirus is present, confirming a diagnosis. Advertisement

'False negatives are for several reasons, but probably the main reason is a sampling error. It's always concerned me and many colleagues there is an issue with swabbing and I think some errors will creep in.'

Nasopharyngeal swabs are the preferred choice of testing for SARS-CoV-2 worldwide because it collects the most concentrated sample.

A long flexible cotton bud is supposed to be inserted deep into the nostril and along the nose 'floor' to collect a mucus sample.

The aim is to reach the posterior nasopharynx, a cavity made up of muscle and connective tissue, covered in cells and mucous. It continues down into the throat.

But the invasive test is so uncomfortable it's been described like 'being stabbed in the brain'. It can cause people to gag and suffer nosebleeds.

The alternative is to take two swabs; one from the nostril and another of the back of the throat through the mouth.

Home testing kits - of which some 35,000 are currently being sent out per day to key workers and their household members - use this method.

Studies from early in the outbreak in China have suggested that test results vary depending on the type and the day the swab is taken in the course of the disease.

One study, published on MedRxiv, showed nasal swabs correctly identified only 73 per cent of severe COVID-19 cases and 72 per cent of mild cases in the first week of symptoms.

The positive rate of throat swabs was even lower, around 60 per cent. When throat swabs were collected more than eight days after symptoms, the positive rate dropped to 50 per cent in severe and 29.6 per cent in mild cases.

Eight days may seem like a long wait for a test. But in the UK, accessing tests has shown to be challenging. Home test kits and slots at facilities have been selling out within minutes online.

Professor Young, who emphasised that nasopharyngeal swabs collect a stronger sample, said he believes there is an 'enormous variability' in how swabs are being collected, both at home and at drive-through testing facilities across the UK.

'You have to go deep into the nose. When you look at some pictures [of testing facilities], that's not happening,' he warned.

'If you're going to make judgements on one swab test, you have to be very careful especially if you are telling people if they can go back to work.'

Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine and infectious disease scientist at University of East Anglia said relying on test results is 'dangerous'.

Home testing kits - of which some 35,000 are currently being sent out per day to key workers and their household members - tell people to take two swabs; one from the nostril and another of the back of the throat through the mouth

Professor Young said he believes there is an 'enormous variability' in how swabs are being collected, both at home and at drive-through testing facilities across the UK. Pictured: A drive-in testing facility at the Chessington World of Adventures Resort, west London

He told MailOnline: 'What I'm worried about is if you've got symptoms, and the test comes back as negative, you can go out. That is dangerous because you get a lot of false negatives with the PCR test.

'I think it's dangerous, and it will get more dangerous, if the government continues to rely on test results as cases decline. Because a wrong result could lead to wider spread, particularly if the person is a super spreader.

Professor Hunter said he 'believes clinical symptoms as well as the test result are important in assessing risk'.

Similarly, Nick Summerton, a GP in East Yorkshire, has raised concerns that people who tested negative were not being sufficiently warned that they might have the disease.

He told The Sunday Times: 'On most days I come across a person who has "barn door" COVID-19 symptoms but a negative result.

'They often know as well as I do that this must be a false negative, but the post-test guidance is pretty useless in helping them with this.'

The most common symptoms of the virus are a persistent cough and high temperature. These are the only signs listed by the NHS and are what Public Health England insists a person must have in order to access a test.

Dr Summerton, who has also acted as an advisor to the Government during the pandemic, has called for symptoms such as tiredness, breathlessness and loss of appetite to be included in key symptom list for Britain.

He said the public may be reassured they don't have the coronavirus if they look at the NHS website, therefore unwillingly go around spreading it to others.

He warned the UK will fail to get 'a grip on the epidemic' by ignoring the presence of symptoms which may have previously been seen as uncommon, The Sunday Times reported last week.

Compared with adults, children are less likely to have the tell-tale symptoms and may not show any signs of the virus at all. Pictured: Around 73 per cent of US children have a fever, cough or shortness of breath, compared with 93 per cent of adults

WHAT SYMPTOMS DO HEALTH OFFICIALS LIST? CDC'S PREVIOUS AND CURRENT LIST OF CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS NHS The NHS lists the following as the main symptoms of the coronavirus: a high temperature  this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) a new, continuous cough  this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual) It also says to use the NHS 111 service if you have those symptoms The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Until recently, the CDC only listed three symptoms of coronavirus on its website: Fever

Cough

Shortness of breath Last week, the CDC expanded its list to include the following signs: Chills

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

Headache

Sore throat

New loss of taste or smell The World Health Organization Most common symptoms: Fever

Dry cough

Tiredness Less common symptoms: Aches and pains

Sore throat

Diarrhoea

Conjunctivitis

Headache

Loss of taste or smell

A rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toe Serious symptoms: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Chest pain or pressure

Loss of speech or movement Advertisement

Ministers have been warned that the virus may be undetected in a quarter of cases because they exhibit symptoms of the virus other than a cough and fever, The Telegraph reports.

Scientists on the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) expressed concern that people with only lesser known symptoms may not be self isolating or getting access to a test.

They raised issues at a Nervtag meeting on March 13, the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson first told the public to self isolate if they developed a cough or high temperature.

According to minutes of the meeting, John Edmunds, professor of infectious disease modelling at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, pointed towards a paper that said 'one in four cases could be missed if the criteria of only a cough and/or fever are used'.

The minutes of the meeting said: 'There was concern that the phraseology might mean that a number of individuals with the virus may not meet the definition.'

Research has pointed towards an array of symptoms SARS-CoV-2 can cause beyond the typical cough and fever. Sometimes these depend on the severity of disease.

On March 31, King's College London researchers said almost 60 per cent of coronavirus patients experienced a loss of taste and smell.

They collected data of more than 1.5million Britons who downloaded the COVID Symptom Tracker App.

Some 59 per cent of those who reported their health by March 29 and tested positive reported a loss of smell and taste, compared with 18 per cent of those who tested negative.

But the Government discarded loss of smell and taste - which Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he suffered with during his illness - as 'anecdotal evidence' on April 3.

The World Health Organization lists 13 symptoms of COVID-19 and the CDC bumped its up to nine in recent weeks.

Both acknowledge muscle pain, loss of taste and smell and headaches as typical signs of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Peter Openshaw, a professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London, who sits on Nervtag, said it was important patients and doctors broadened their perception of how the coronavirus presents itself in different people.

He said: 'In the self reported symptoms, the loss of sense of smell comes out as a very, very frequent one.

'But in terms of how often that would actually lead to a diagnosis of COVID, thats not quite clear.

'The original, very restrictive definition, I think, was not picking up a lot of people who actually might have COVID.'

Professor Openshaw confirmed that one in four cases could still 'easily' be missed as a result of the focus on coughing and high temperatures.

MailOnline have contacted The Department of Health and Public Health England for comment.

Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England said: 'The UK testing system is built on strong foundations using the latest evidence and expert advice. There are many studies currently ongoing into the accuracy of the COVID-19 test and a number of different methods are available to assess this. However, there is no such thing as a perfect test.

'We have made every effort to make testing as strong as possible in line with our high standards.'
London/New Delhi : Peace TV and Peace TV Urdu, the television channels owned by the controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, currently absconding from India, have been fined Rs 2.75 crore or  300,000 in the United Kingdom.

The fine has been levied by UK media watchdog, Ofcom, for broadcasting hate speech and repeatedly inciting murder through the channels.

The UK communications services regulator fined the holding company of Peace TV, Lord Communications, a total of 1 lakh while Club TV which owns Peace TV Urdu was slapped with a penalty of 2 lakh.

Ofcom has today fined the former licence holders of Peace TV Urdu 200,000 and Peace TV 100,000 for breaking our broadcasting rules, a statement by the UK media watchdog read.

Our investigations found that programmes broadcast on Peace TV Urdu and Peace TV contained hate speech and highly offensive content, which in one instance was likely to incite crime, it added.

The Islamic televangelist who is wanted in both India and Bangladesh on financial and terror-related charges has sought refuge in Malaysia. He was accused by authorities there of trying to break the harmony and spreading against the local communities there.

Indias request to Malaysia for Naiks extradition

India on Thursday formally requested the Malaysian government to extradite fugitive Zakir Naik. The news agency ANI quoting unnamed sources said the Indian government is taking it up with Malaysia at the highest level.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), Indias anti-terror agency, has pursued the controversial public figure who had fled the country before the agency took over his case.

Naik fled to Malaysia, a Muslim-majority nation in 2016. Indian agencies have been pursuing Naik on charges of alleged money laundering and delivering hate speeches. His name also surfaced during the probe of 2016 Dhaka serial bombings in which scores were killed.
The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier (right) meeting Britain's negotiator David Frost in March. (Getty)

The government has been accused of quietly stepping up planning for a no-deal Brexit amid the coronavirus crisis.

Ministers have reportedly started moving civil servants who were working on coronavirus-related tasks back to nodeal Brexit planning, according to The Times.

The governments XO (exit operations) no-deal planning committee, chaired by Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, is also said to be meeting more regularly.

Labour MP Ruth Cadbury accused the government of quietly preparing for a no-deal scenario in a tweet on Sunday morning.

Michael Gove is said to be leading frequent no-deal planning meetings. (Getty)

As if the economic shock of Covid-19 isn't bad enough, the Govt is quietly working towards a no-deal Brexit - time is running out, the MP for Brentford & Isleworth tweeted.

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves also urged the government to clarify its Brexit timetable, arguing that they mustnt crash out without a deal.

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

"The last thing our country and our economy needs at the moment is a further shock that could put jobs and livelihoods at risk, Ms Reeves told Sky News on Sunday.

"We're saying they mustn't rush this and if they are not going to secure a deal, they mustn't crash out without a deal.

So that means taking the time that is necessary but it's up to the government to show they can deliver on the promises they've made to the British people.

"That is getting a good deal and a good deal by the end of this year, and if they're not in a position to do that they need to come back and explain a timetable."

Former vice-president of the European Commission Viviane Reding also criticised the governments position on social media.

She tweeted: Unfortunately it looks like no butter, no money but plenty of red tape. The Corona-crisis might be used by GB rulers to provoke a hard Brexit?!

Story continues

Earlier this week, the EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned in a speech that Britain would not be able to leave with the best of both worlds.

Mr Barnier said there was incomprehension on the British side of the conditions for access to our market.

He added: Ive invited the UK to change tactics, to change strategy if they really do want to strike an agreement. There seems to be a real lack of understanding.

Britains lead negotiator David Frost has set a two-week deadline for a compromise to be reached on a number of key issues including fishing rights and trade agreements.

The next round of talks is due in two weeks but it remains unclear whether an extension to the December exit date will be agreed by the legal date June 30 deadline.

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Despite law enforcements efforts to tame Crystal Beach during the annual Go Topless Jeep event following last years chaotic weekend, a shooting left two injured and more than 120 others were arrested on unrelated charges.

By Sunday morning, police had jailed 127 people since Thursday, according to Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset.

Last year, 113 people were arrested on charges ranging from driving without a seat belt and minors in possession of alcohol. More than a dozen people were charged with drunk driving, and at least one person was accused of resisting arrest.

The sheriffs office also is investigating a shooting that occurred around just before midnight Saturday at The Washout, a central location on the beach.

A group of men started fighting and it transferred over to females fighting, Trochesset said. When the women were fighting, a husky male discharged a firearm.

He said the suspect shot two men before fleeing on foot. As of Sunday evening, the man had not been identified and no related arrests had been made.

Nearly 100 yards away, Jason Simpkins said he came up on the aftermath.

As we were heading that, we heard a bunch of sirens, he said. People were running at us away from the scene saying someone had been shotWhen we got up there, we saw it was a chaotic scene. There were two people on the ground and (first responders) were working on them. At the same, they are having to do crowd control, because they have a lot guys out there who are family and friends of the victims and they are flipping out.

Simpkins, who is from the Dallas area, said he, his wife and young daughter came to Crystal Beach for a vacation.

Once we got down here, the person next to us told us it was going to be a crazy weekend, he said. I thought we could handle that. Weve traveled everywhere. It started as one, long row of cars.

Then, it was two rows of cars going in the same direction. Then, there were people cutting in and out of people. Then, it was three rows going both directions. You have people honking at each other and people walking. People were (using the restroom) behind our RV. It was crazy. A lot of underage drinking. We had no idea.

Trochesset said the higher number of arrests compared to last year were due to having more officers on patrol, adding that there were fewer people on the beach compared to 2019.

Whether its COVID-19 or the weather, there is just not as many, he said.

As a response to last years chaos, Trochesset had 80 employees scheduled to work the event. The Texas Department of Transportation also sent reinforcements and 30 additional state troopers were expected, he said.

Despite the weekend coming to a close, the department has no time to relax.

In just a few days, we have Memorial Day weekend, so we dont really get a break, he said.

chris.moore@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/chris_moore09
The Rajasthan government will be running Shramik Special buses for migrants heading home on foot through national highways.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said that it is very painful for the workers and their families to walk hundreds of kilometers to return home. The state government will run special Shramik buses to relieve them from this pain. These buses will be free-of-cost to transport workers after obtaining consent from the states, he said.

The CM continued that this is a poignant and challenging task for the nation and should be resolved early. The Central Government should allow expenditure on buses under the SDRF category, he said.

Reviewing a meeting related to lockdown 4.0 at his residence, he said the migrant workers will be sent through Shramik Special buses to those places where the number of passengers arent adequate for a train.

He appealed to other states that they should also run such buses to send migrant workers of Rajasthan back to their homes.

Gehlot said that in the fourth phase of the lockdown, states have been allowed to run buses for the movement of migrants and workers with mutual consent. In such a situation, the Rajasthan government will take the initiative to ensure that the workers reach their homes without any trouble.

According to the guidelines of the Centre, it has been decided to extend the lockdown in the state till May 31. The detailed guidelines for this will be released on May 18, he said.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to form a separate team for intensive monitoring of the coronavirus infection, which would provide thorough feedback on its spread and other aspects. Based on this, the state government will formulate its strategy.

He said that a large number of migrants from other states have reached villages. Special attention should be given in rural areas as there may be a risk of the infection spreading in such areas, the chief minister cautioned.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami issued a tropical storm warning for North Carolina's Outer Banks on Sunday, as Arthur inched closer to the East Coast.

Arthur formed off the coast of Florida on Saturday, making it the sixth straight year for a named storm to develop before the official June 1 start of the Atlantic hurricane season.

At 11am EDT, the storm's center was located about 345 miles (550 kilometers) south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina at 11am on Sunday, although its impact was expected to be limited to some minor flooding and rough seas along the coast.

Arthur had top sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) and was moving to the north-northeast at 9 mph (about 14 kph).

The National Hurricane Center in Miami issued a tropical storm warning for North Carolina's Outer Banks on Sunday, as Arthur inched closer to the East Coast

At 11am EDT, the storm's center was located about 345 miles (550 kilometers) south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (strong winds batter the area)

North Carolina remained on storm warning Sunday after Arthur developed off the East coast

Sun is up over TS Arthur. Sustained winds 40 mph moving NNE at 9 mph. pic.twitter.com/1aUHhoJS7L  James Spann (@spann) May 17, 2020

Forecasts say Arthur will stay well offshore of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina on Sunday and then approach the North Carolina coast on Monday, where it will drop 1 to 3 inches of rain Sunday night and Monday.

The tropical storm warning was issued for parts of North Carolina's coast, from Surf City to Duck, including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. The heavy rains are not expected to have an impact on central areas.

The National Weather Service said eastern North Carolina should prepare for some localized flooding and dangerous marine conditions along the coast.

'Minor inundation from storm surge is possible for very low-lying areas adjacent to the ocean, sounds, and rivers, with overwash of dunes and flooding of properties and roadways possible for locations where dune structures are weak,' mainly north of Cape Lookout, the weather service said Sunday.

Dangerous coastal surf conditions and rip currents are expected to spread northward from Florida to the mid-Atlantic states during the next few days.

Beachgoers are being advised to stay out of the ocean due to the life-threatening swells. Rainfall at the rate of two inches per hour triggered flash flood warnings in the Miami-Dade area where there was lightning and gusty winds on Saturday night.

While there may be a component of warming waters and climate change in other pre-June storms, Arthur is more of a subtropical storm system than a traditional named storm and its water is cooler than what's usually needed for storm formation, said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach.

At 11am EDT, the storm's center was located about 345 miles (550 kilometers) south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

Arthur had top sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) and was moving to the north-northeast at 9 mph (about 14 kph)

Arthur is more of a subtropical storm system than a traditional named storm and its water is cooler than what's usually needed for storm formation

A lot of these out-of-season storms are weak fleeting ones that meteorologists can see now because of satellites and better technology and would have been missed in earlier times, Klotzbach said.

Like most earlier-than-usual storms, Arthur is likely to remain offshore, but could come relatively close to North Carolina's coast Monday, Klotzbach said.

Hurricane season officially starts June 1. But Arthur joins the likes of Storms Ana (2015) and Andrea (2019) for early formations in the past six years.

In 2016, Hurricane Alex formed especially early in January.

Local forecasters in the Bahamas said showers have lingered over the islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco, which are still struggling to recover after being hit by a Category 5 hurricane last year.

However, no flooding has been reported as the depression swirls just northwest of the archipelago and is expected to head into open ocean as it strengthens.

Officials said they were prepared to evacuate patients currently housed in tents in Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian damaged the islands hospital, but forecasters said the bulk of thunderstorms are located north and east of the depression and are not expected to affect the region.
Iran summoned the Swiss ambassador, who represents U.S. interests in the Islamic Republic, over possible measures the United States could take against an Iranian fuel shipment to Venezuela, the Mehr news agency reported.

A senior official in U.S. President Donald Trumps administration told Reuters on Thursday the United States was considering measures it could take in response to Irans shipment of fuel to crisis-stricken Venezuela.

Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi passed on a message to the ambassador on Sunday warning against any U.S. threat against the Iranian tankers, according to a report on the foreign ministry website.
Winnipegs 15th homicide of the year comes amid concern about domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/5/2020 (612 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipegs 15th homicide of the year comes amid concern about domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Winnipeg police said Saturday said 46-year-old Marie Morin was socializing with her boyfriend Friday morning when she was assaulted.

Morin suffered from a "significant laceration" and was taken to hospital in critical condition. She later died.

Brandon Carl Starnyski, 45, is charged with second-degree murder and failure to comply with a probation order.

On May 6, Battered Womens Support Services, a Vancouver-based violence against women organization, reported nine known cases of men killing women across Canada over a period of 36 days.

Deena Brock, the provincial co-ordinator for the Manitoba Association of Womens Shelter, said that statistic is "horrifying."

Brock said there has been a dramatic decrease in shelter use in the province, but she doesnt believe its because the violence has stopped.

"Women call and they find out we are practising social distancing and that we screen them initially for COVID-19 and then when they actually show up at the shelter they get screened again, just to make sure, because we dont want to expose the rest of the people to COVID," said Brock, who added that some seeking services have called the pandemic "a hoax."

"The shelters are really struggling trying to maintain safety but also educate everybody that, yeah, (the pandemic) is real."

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Regardless, Brock maintains the shelters are the safest places to be because they are following provincial guidelines.

Brock said women experiencing domestic violence may also be having a harder time reaching out for support if they are living in close quarters with their abuser.

If anyone is experiencing domestic violence, Brock said she would encourage them to call or text the domestic violence help line. However, if they are at an immediate safety risk, they should call 911.

The new text lines that have been implemented during COVID-19 are Willow Place, 204-792-5302, and Nova House, 204-805-6682. These lines can be texted by anyone living in the province and the counsellor will connect the person to the closest shelter.

The 24-hour domestic violence help line is 1-877-977-0007.

nadya.pankiw@freepress.mb.ca
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 21:28:57|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China's mobile phone shipments increased by 14.2 percent year on year to 41.73 million units in April, reversing a 10-month decline, a report from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) showed.

Shipments of 5G phones reached 16.38 million units in the same period, accounting for 39.3 percent of the total, according to the CAICT, a research institute under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

In the first four months of this year, mobile phone shipments dropped 20.1 percent year on year to 90.68 million units due to sluggish sales in the first quarter.

Forty-eight new models were introduced to the market last month, up 14.3 percent from a year ago, of which 22 were 5G models, said the CAICT.

The country's domestic brands dominated mobile phone shipments in April, with those made by Chinese manufacturers hitting 37.98 million units and making up 91 percent of the total shipments. Enditem
This week, more of the Journal Norths endorsements in key local races in the Democratic primary.

District attorney: Mary Carmack-Altwies

About a year ago, Carmack-Altweis joined the staff of the Santa Fe District Attorneys Office, an agency that under outgoing incumbent Marco Serna has faced criticism from the public, and fines and scoldings from judges for failures in managing several cases  most significantly, a murder prosecution where delays by the DAs Office led to letting the defendant walk free without facing trial.

So experience in that office would not normally be a selling point for Carmack-Altwies. But she acknowledges the problems in the office, said she saw them first-hand as a defense attorney and that she was brought on board to help fix things in an operation that had no well-defined hierarchy.

Carmack-Altwies has a resume that should help turn the office around. She worked previously as a public defender in Santa Fe and managed her own criminal law firm in Albuquerque. Shes also active in community affairs, serving as a PTA president, a legal advocate for survivors of sexual assault, and volunteering to assist elderly people with legal issues and for the International Folk Art Market.

Carmack-Altwies says Sernas team hired her for her managerial experience. Thats one of the things the office is lacking right now; theres no effective and ongoing management, she recently told Journal North reporter Kyle Land, while noting that none of her own special victims and violent crimes units cases has been dismissed on technicalities. She also would prosecute several cases herself each year as DA, rather than doling all of them out to other staffers. Her priorities include targeting gun crimes and dividing the office into two separate units for violent and low-level crimes.

Serving as district attorney is a difficult and typically thankless job, entailing the management of thousands of cases and a large legal staff. Its not the kind of gig for someone looking for a political stepping stone or popularity. Carmack-Altwies is the best choice to get whats been a rudderless DAs Office back on track.

State House District 50: Matthew McQueen

Incumbent McQueen has been strong on environmental and education issues. He also made a valiant attempt to amend a property tax law intended to provide a break to keep longtime property owners from being priced out the Santa Fe market, but has ended up also benefiting corporate owners of apartment complexes and nursing homes, and some wealthy homeowners.

State House District 45: Linda Serrato

The best choices in this crowded race, with five candidates seeking to succeed retiring incumbent Jim Trujillo, are Serrato and Carmichael Dominguez.

Serrato is a Stanford grad who first came to New Mexico in 2008 to work on Barrack Obamas presidential campaign, then became U.S. Rep Ben Ray Lujans political director and worked in Washington, D.C., before coming back to the state about five years ago and starting a family.

The first-time candidate with good political connections obviously is generating a lot of energy, with successful fundraising and endorsements from prominent Democratic-leaning groups, such as Planned Parenthood, the American Federation of Teachers and the Sierra Club.

Dominguez, a retired state Department of Transportation cartographer, served 12 years on the Santa Fe City Council, four years on the school board and six years on the Planning Commission. Hes never been flashy or controversial, but has always been a solid, thoughtful and decent representative. As a city councilor, he fought for equal treatment for his south side district.

Check out the candidates Q&As, available in the Voter Guide at abqjournal.com, and you will see there is almost no difference between Serrato and Dominguez on the issues. It may be surprising to some that Dominguez checks as many liberal boxes as Serrato does.

But Dominguezs campaign appears to be almost comatose. As of last week, his campaign had raised only $450. So Serrato, who promises to bring a fresh voice to the district, gets the nod here.
The jump of Rs 40,000 crore in allotment to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is more or less what the government had planned at one stage to provide migrant workers as immediate relief, but gave up the idea because of operational difficulties. The plan for cash relief changed as the ground realities altered rapidly in the past two months.

After the end of the first lockdown on April 14, it had become clear to the Centre the migrant workers, cooped up without job, would need a special support programme. The sum was debated and it became clear ...
Indias lockdown, introduced on March 25 and extended several times, had been due to expire at midnight on Sunday.

India extended a nationwide lockdown to May 31 as cases exceeded 90,000 and further clashes erupted between police and stranded migrants.

Schools, malls and other public places will remain mostly closed, though rules will be relaxed in areas with low numbers of cases, according to an order from the interior ministry on Sunday.

New guidelines have permitted considerable relaxations in lockdown restrictions, the ministry said in a tweet accompanying the order.

Large gatherings are still prohibited, but outside of containment zones with high numbers of active cases all other activities will be permitted, it said, potentially allowing commerce and industry to reopen across much of the country.

Decisions on where to set containment zones would be decided by district authorities, the order said.

India has now reported more cases than China, where the virus first emerged late last year, although deaths at 2,872 remain much lower than Chinas 4,600. The death toll in the United States and some European countries is much higher.





Indias lockdown, introduced on March 25 and extended several times, had been due to expire at midnight on Sunday.

The curbs have set off a crisis for the hundreds of millions of Indians who rely on daily wages to survive.

Resorted to violence

With no work and little public transport, many urban migrants attempting to return to their home villages have set out on gruelling journeys on foot or hitched rides in the back of trucks.

In Rajkot in the western state of Gujarat, more than 1,500 migrant workers blocked roads, damaged more than a dozen vehicles and threw stones at police on Sunday, after two special trains that were supposed to take them home got cancelled.

A police official in Shapar said police baton-charged the migrants to disperse them, with several officers injured in the process.

The workers had not gathered with the intention of violence. Two or three trains were rescheduled, but the workers misunderstood that the trains had been cancelled and resorted to violence, Balram Meena, Rajkots superintendent of police, told local media.

We are identifying the people who were involved in the violence, Meena added.

At least 23 migrants were killed trying to reach their homes on Saturday when a truck crashed in northern India.

Sixteen migrant workers died on May 8 after being struck by a train. They had fallen asleep on the tracks while walking back to their village after losing their jobs in a coronavirus lockdown, police said.
Where do you find $3.3 billion?

That's the monumental task faced by the Joint Budget Committee and the rest of the Colorado General Assembly as they seek to keep the wheels of state government from falling off in the wake of a pandemic that has shut down the economy, caused unemployment to soar and left lawmakers with an unprecedented budget shortfall next fiscal year.

And the hole is still getting deeper, as the shutdowns and plunging consumer confidence continue to take their toll.

BUDGET BOX Some of the big-ticket budget items that are awaiting a decision by the Joint Budget Committee, and their cost: $220 million increase | Full-day kindergarten  Holding the budget stabilization factor, the debt to K-12 education, at $572 million $225 million | Public Employees Retirement Association $163.5 million | Senior property tax homestead exemption $59.7 million | Second year of reinsurance for the states highest-risk policyholders $50 million | Transportation payment $1 million | Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, part of implementing last years Senate Bill 181

State Sen. Ray Scott, a prominent Western Slope Republican, said the withered state budget reflects the havoc in peoples lives, financially and emotionally. Recovery will be an evolution, not a revolution, he suggested.

But now it is time to rebuild, Scott said. People have lost their most basic freedoms and truly understand how precious freedom and our health is. The pain of losing loved ones is unimaginable in these circumstances, but we must move forward and begin recovering economically in every way we can, but in a safe manner."

Lawmakers will try to preserve the pillars of education, critical social safety nets and the economy, some of the states sharpest economic minds told Colorado Politics.

Earl Wright, CEO and chairman of the Board of Directors of Colorado-based AMG National Trust Bank and board chairman for the business-minded think tank Common Sense Policy Roundtable, said lawmakers should remember what gave Colorado one of the nation's strongest economies before the coronavirus pandemic.

Above all, we must preserve the foundations of our economy for the long run and the most important is education, he said. We have to give the next generation the tools and knowledge they need to succeed, to be innovators and to continue to grow our economy.

As deep as Colorados cuts go, its hard to imagine many, if any, state programs will be unscathed.

On May 12, economists from the Legislative Council and the governors Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) presented grim news to lawmakers: The state will end its current budget year next month a staggering $895.8 million in the hole, despite the state law that requires a balanced budget. That will be covered by the states general fund reserve and leave a little left over to begin 2020-21.

The budget year that begins July 1 looks even worse.

General fund revenues, which make up a large portion of discretionary spending in state government, will be down $2.43 billion. The Legislative Council economists estimated the total shortfall at $3.3 billion. OSPB economists were more optimistic, estimating the deficit at only $2.1 billion.

Assuming the budget writers use the Legislative Council forecast, as usual, that means the chopping block is a crowded piece of real estate when lawmakers return May 26 to work out a spending plan.

Unprecedented losses

The cuts amount to 25.2% of the general fund.

It wont be anything like what weve ever done before, said JBC member Sen. Bob Rankin, a Carbondale Republican, the senior member on the JBC with seven years of experience shaping the states spending plans. Weve always had extra money and argued about how to spend it.

Colorado has dug out before, but the hole wasnt this deep. In the second year of the post-9/11 recession left a state budget shortfall of $850 million. The third year, it was about $900 million, a cut of about 7% of the then-$13 billion budget. By 2004, Colorados unemployment rate doubled to around 5.7%.

In 2009, the Great Recession produced a $604 million shortfall. As a result, the state furloughed state employees, froze hiring and closed two prisons, including the Fort Lyon facility in Bent County.

The unemployment rate was 6.6%. In addition to cutting budgets, the General Assembly also passed a law ending an annual transfer to the states transportation fund. The state also received about $2 billion in federal aid, some of which was used to backfill budget cuts.

How much the state might get from the federal government this time is still an open-ended question, and one of the drivers of the decision to postpone resuming the session from May 18 to May 26. Democrats and Republicans in Washington, however, seem hopelessly gridlocked, with Colorado Rep. Ken Buck, a Republican from Windsor, questioning the need to spend more federal resources.

Sen. Dominick Moreno, vice chairman of the JBC and a Commerce City Democrat, said on May 13 the state can't just cut its way out of the budget hole, meaning federal aid would be essential. Were pushing the congressional delegation, Moreno said.

But, that said day, President Donald Trump said that a new stimulus proposal from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat,was DOA (dead on arrival). That package would have sent $500 billion to states; Colorados share was estimated at $4 billion, enough to bail out the budget. Gov. Jared Polis met with the president on May 13 about state budgetary needs; Trump wants liability protection for businesses in exchange for help for workers in the next package, and Polis said he is optimistic that the House and Senate will agree on an effort that helps Coloradans.

Other tools and funds available to lawmakers in the past two recessions are largely unavailable now. Far more people are out of work as the numbers continue to climb, putting an enormous strain on the states unemployment fund. Legislative Council economists predict the fund will run out of money next year.

In the eight weeks leading up to May 9, 451,155 Coloradans filed for unemployment insurance, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

Legislative Council staff say they expect the unemployment rate in Colorado to rise to 10.1% this year before declining to 7.1% in 2021. It was 2.8% in 2019, and 2.5% in February, the month before coronavirus shutdowns.

Painful cuts

The Joint Budget Committee has spent long hours poring over documents, looking for potential cuts:

 As a result of 2018 legislation, the state makes an annual payment of $225 million to the Public Employees Retirement Association  the pension plan for teachers and other state employees  to help the struggling plan with its unfunded liability to future retirees. Not making that payment would make PERAs efforts to cover its payouts to current retirees more difficult, a risk of insolvency that drove the discussion of the 2018 legislative session. Insolvency for the state employees retirement plan could endanger the states credit rating and make borrowing more expensive for nearly every facet of local, county and state government.

 One of the states most popular programs, the senior homestead property tax exemption, allows Coloradans 65 and older who have lived in their primary residence for at least 10 years to defer property taxes until they no longer own the home. Counties are reimbursed for those property tax exemptions. This pot of money has been a go-to lifeline for the state budget in past recessions.

 The reinsurance program, another possible target, passed in 2019, helps those in the individual health insurance market get lower premiums  18% on average  with bigger savings on the eastern plains (27%) and Western Slope (30%).

Meanwhile, the Colorado Department of Transportation has to cover an annual $50 million payment tied to 2017 legislation  Sustainability of Rural Colorado  that allowed the state to sell and then lease back state buildings. CDOT has said it could cover those payments out of its existing funds, according to JBC staff.

The governors long-term transportation plan, announced in early March, relied on an extra $500 million annually for a decade to help catch up on the $9 billion in estimated needs for the states roads, bridges and transit. That money was going to be hard to come by before the downturn; now its off the table for the foreseeable future, advocates inside and outside the Capitol tell Colorado Politics.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is due to receive $1 million extra in its 2020-21 budget to hire a professional commission that would continue the work of implementing last years Senate Bill 181.

The law changed the commissions mission as well as changing regulations for the industry. In its response to the JBC, the commisison said that cutting $1 million would effectively end its work on the rules.

An old debt from the last recession is still owed to K-12 education. At its high point, in 2009-10, the debt was more than $1 billion. Since then, the state has repaid $428 million. JBC members discussed letting the debt rise again, but so far have held off.

On March 30 the OSPB ordered state agencies to make 5% across-the-board budget cuts, plus institute a hiring freeze on vacant positions along with delaying some contracts that were authorized by legislators last year.

Lawmakers are carefully weighing the impact to programs that help vulnerable populations.

How do you decide to reduce services for people with (intellectual and developmental disabilities) versus those in the states ... program, which provides medical services to low-income children? asked Eric Kurtz, JBC staff analyst.

Hooked on pot

The first round of budget cuts made during the week of May 4 showed one difference between previous recessions and this one: how much the state now relies on marijuana money. In almost every place where the JBC could swap cannabis cash to cover general fund shortfalls, they took that action.

In 2019, the state took in $302 million in sales and excise taxes, licenses and fees from marijuana businesses. In 2017-18, when the state took in $247.3 million, $30 million went to the state education fund, and $40 million went to the Building Excellent Schools Today program. An additional $2 million each went to fund bullying and dropout prevention services, and $11.9 million funded grants for behavioral health professionals in schools.

In the first week of the budget cuts, the JBC took $1 million from the bullying program, $3 million from the behavioral health grants and $25 million from the BEST fund. All that is headed to the general fund to help with the shortfall.

The JBC took $3 million from enforcement activities tied to marijuana and moved that into the general fund budget. However, JBC staff analysts pointed out that the fund for enforcement activities had more money than it was supposed to by law, so that cut doesnt impact enforcement.

This can be done, said Jeff Hunt, director of the conservative Centennial Institute policy center at Colorado Christian University, of the massive cuts to be made. Spending must be prioritized toward state programs that protect those most in need, efforts to plan for a potential coronavirus resurgence this fall, and those that spur economic activity.

Hunt said lawmakers have spent themselves into this problem. The state budget has grown by the amount of the deficit in just the past two legislative sessions, he pointed out.

Scott Wasserman, president of the left-leaning Bell Policy Center think tank in Denver, said big problems can lead to innovative solutions.

This is like waking up from a bad dream into a nightmare, he said. We were already straining to adequately fund bedrock public priorities like schools and roads and falling short. Unless we change our states fiscal rules and consider making some changes to our tax code, Colorado will end up deepening and worsening this recession with these budget cuts. Budget writers will have to decide if they want to spread the pain or cut off a limb.

Kristin Strohm, executive director of the Common Sense Policy Roundtable, is looking to a future that has solutions and isnt mired in the problems.

The only way this horrible budget-cutting exercise doesnt become a multiyear thing is to dramatically increase testing so the people of this state can get back to work safely and this economy can get rolling, she said. The budget cuts are going to be dramatic, painful and necessary, and we all have to work together to make the numbers balance. But if we can scale testing, and we can more effectively isolate infection in the community, then everyone from Jared Polis on down can feel good about unleashing this economy of ours.

Its not a maybe. Its a must.
Banks and regulators are in talks about extending the length of time lenders can support the one in 10 households who have deferred mortgage repayments once their six-month grace period ends.

The big four banks delayed home loan payments for 424,000 customers worth about $150 billion in the March quarter as coronavirus shutdowns forced people out of work.

About 450,000 Australians have deferred their home loans to get them through the coronavirus downturn. Credit:Gabriele Charotte

Australia's biggest home lender, Commonwealth Bank, deferred 144,000 payments worth $50 billion, while Westpac and ANZ delayed 105,000, worth $39 billion and $36 billion respectively, and National Australia Bank 70,000 worth $26.5 billion.

This represents about 12.5 per cent of CBA's home loan accounts, including Bankwest. About 7 per cent of Westpac mortgagors have deferred payments, totalling 9 per cent of total balances, and about 14 per cent of ANZ's Australian home loan customers are in the same position. NAB declined to provide further data.
Britain's head teachers' union has backed plans for schools to reopen on June 1 following meetings with key government advisers.

The Association of School and College Leaders claim teachers were no more at risk than any other profession heading back to work as coronavirus lockdown restrictions ease.

The National Association of Head Teachers said it would support government plans to reopen primary schools following advice from scientists.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson yesterday outlined the plans for reception, year 1 and 6 to return from June 1.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson yesterday outlined the plans for reception, year 1 and 6 - as well as years 10 and 12 - to return from June 1

Countries including Denmark (pictured) have already begun reopening schools with social distancing measures in place

Parents across the country have been homeschooling their children during coronavirus lockdown (a family in Huddersfield, pictured)

He insisted that pupils 'stand to lose more by staying away from school'.

What safety measures are planned to reduce coronavirus in schools? Ministers have unveiled a raft of measures to keep pupils who do return to school safe from coronavirus. They include: Classes of no more than 15 pupils

Socially distanced desks

Children told to only mix in small groups, with those groups not mixing with others.

Increased and regular cleaning of schools

Staggered lunch and break times

Staggered arrivals and departures

Packed lunches

No shared classroom equipment Advertisement

He outlined measures schools will take avoid a surge in the killer disease which has killed 34,500 people in the UK and infected 241,000.

Measures include small classes and keeping children in small socially-distanced groups.

Michael Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, today insisted it is safe for teachers to return but he was unable to give a cast iron guarantee.

'It is the case as I say, I talked to the chief scientific adviser yesterday for the government Patrick Vallance and running through the figures, the R number, the rate of infection in the community overall, we are confident that children and teachers will be safe,' he told the BBC.

However, he conceded that 'you can never eliminate risk'.

A group of five former education secretaries - Labour's Alan Johnson and Charles Clarke and Conservatives Nicky Morgan, Damian Hinds and Justine Greening - all support the government's plans for reopening schools in phases, The Times reports.

Ms Greening said: 'Despite many parents' best efforts to keep education going in difficult circumstances, this time out of school will create an even bigger opportunity gap later.

'Our children and young people need to be back in school and other countries like Denmark show that it's possible to put in place a workable plan.'

Mr Hinds added: 'The plan to get more children returning from June 1 is a very cautious and gradual one and follows the broad pattern across Europe.'

He said the effects of not being in school have been 'felt by children throughout the country, especially the most disadvantaged'.

Denmark (pictured) was the first country in Europe to reopen its schools for its youngest pupils

Schools have also opened in France (Paris, pictured) with teachers wearing masks as they assist their students

He said it is 'right' that there is transparency about how plans are being made and that is why bodies including the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies has published papers.

On schools, the Department for Education has published a summary of the evidence, he added.

'As parents, we want to know what the background to this is,' Mr Hinds said.

'This is still a couple of weeks away. Over that period, people will have the opportunity to hear more about it and build confidence.

Young children ARE as likely to get coronavirus as adults, says deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries warned children are one of the two groups that are potentially at risk of contracting the virus, but said they 'don't get as ill' and are 'less likely to pass it on', during Saturday's coronavirus news briefing. Previous research has shown infants are not as likely to become infected by coronavirus than adults and, if they do, show milder symptoms, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr Harries said: 'There are two groups that are at potential risk here, one are children. 'We think that children probably have the same level of infection, we are just going through that data now with the ONS (Office of National Statistics) survey, but they don't get as ill. 'We rarely see children in hospital in proportion to the older population. 'And for younger children as well, the evidence is still growing but there may be some evidence that they are less likely to pass it on.' Advertisement

'It is in everybody's best interests that children can go back to school.'

Mr Hinds also paid tribute to the 'extraordinary' job teachers have done in the last few weeks as he said that different children have had different experiences of learning during the lockdown.

Asked about current arguments over whether or not it is too early for children to begin to return to school, Mr Hinds told BBC Breakfast: 'I think ultimately everybody is on the same page.'

He said that among the teachers he has spoken to 'of course there are concerns about safety', adding that is why there is a 'comprehensive plan'.

But Mr Hinds added that 'these teachers really want to be back teaching kids'.

Plans have been met by criticism from trade unions, ministers and local authorities over the safety of sending children back to school.

Speaking on Sky News this morning, Labour MP Rachel Reeves said: 'This isn't just about schools, this is about wider issues around easing some of the lockdown restrictions.

'But the anxiety teachers and parents face would be a lot less if we had that test, trace and isolate strategy in place.

'We want that to be up and running to ease the whole range of the lockdown restrictions.

'But specifically on schools we want the Government to work with the teachers, parents and teaching unions to give them confidence and to publish the science upon which the decision is being made to reopen schools.'

Ms Reeves said the Government has two weeks to put in place the test and trace approach, hold talks with the relevant parties and publish the science before schools are due to welcome more pupils through their gates.

She added: 'The Government has got a lot more work to do to give that confidence that it'll be safe to have more children coming into school in two weeks' time.'

Hartlepool in County Durham joined Liverpool yesterday in saying it would ignore the Government's plan to let some primary school pupils back to the school from June 1.

Concerns have been echoed by The British Medical Association who warned the number of coronavirus cases was still too high to open schools safely.

In Belgium, a teacher wears a visor to protect herself as she teachers her class in Sint-Marten-Latem

In a letter to National Education Union general secretary Kevin Courtney on Friday, the BMA council's chairman , Chaand Nagpau said: 'We cannot risk a second spike or take actions which would increase the spread of this virus, particularly as we see sustained rates of infection across the UK.'

He added: 'Until we have got case numbers much lower, we should not consider reopening schools.'

Furthermore, Boris Johnson has been warned he may cause a fracturing of national unity if he fails to listen to regional concerns about the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham spoke out as a poll reported public support for the UK Government's handling of the Covid-19 crisis had slipped.

Mr Burnham said the Prime Minister did not inform civic leaders of his easing of restrictions in advance and said the dropping of the Stay at Home message felt 'premature'.

While cases of coronavirus have been easing in the South East, Mr Burnham believes the loosening of restrictions came too quickly for the North.

'On the eve of a new working week, the PM was on TV "actively encouraging" a return to work.

Some children returned to school on Friday as Belgium further eased its two-month coronavirus lockdown

'Even though that would clearly put more cars on roads and people on trams, no-one in Government thought it important to tell the cities that would have to cope with that,' Mr Burnham wrote in The Observer.

'The surprisingly permissive package might well be right for the South East, given the fall in cases there. But my gut feeling told me it was too soon for the North.

'Certainly, the abrupt dropping of the clear Stay at Home message felt premature.

'If the Government carries on in the same vein, expect to see an even greater fracturing of national unity. Different places will adopt their own messaging and policies.'

Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Sunday, Mr Burnham called for the Government to publish a regional breakdown of the R value - which measures how many people on average one infected person transmits the disease to - to help local authorities decide when to reopen schools following opposition from unions to Government plans to start sending some primary school children back from June 1.

He said: 'People do not have the R information at the moment. They can get it, but it's not formally published by the Government.'

Meanwhile, only 39 per cent of Britons approve of the Government's response - down from 48 per cent a week ago - according to an Opinium survey of 2,005 adults on Wednesday and Thursday.

Those saying they disapproved rose from 36 per cent to 42 per cent.

The Children's Commissioner for England Anne Longfield asked 'unions to stop 'squabbling' because it would be 'extremely damaging' to keep children away from school.

A group of five former education secretaries - including Damian Hinds (right) and Justine Greening (left) - all support the government's plans for reopening schools in phases

Ms Longfield has urged the sector to aspire for all children to return to school in some form before the summer, and to use school buildings for summer schools and family support over the holidays.

She said: 'We cannot afford to wait for a vaccine, which may never arrive, before children are back in school.

'It's time to stop squabbling and agree a staggered, safe return that is accompanied by rigorous testing of teachers, children and families.'

The President of the National Education Union, Amanda Martin, is planning on joining Jeremy Corbyn at a 'virtual rally' to tell activists how they can 'resist' the Government plans, the newspaper also reported.
Chetana Belagere By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Scientists at Bengalurus National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) have developed a chemical coating that can be applied to personal protective equipment to prevent the virus from sticking to the cloth. NCBS director Prof Satyajit Mayor told The New Sunday Express, This germicidal molecule will provide better protection to frontline healthcare workers. The coating neutralises bacteria or viruses when applied on cotton fabrics.

It neutralises anything that has a membrane. All bacteria and a large number of viruses have membranes, he said. The chemical compound used for the coating is based on quaternary ammonium salts and is the brainchild of Prof Praveen Kumar Vemula, associate professor at NCBS Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (InStem) and lead researcher of the project.

(Quaternary ammonium salts are water soluble compounds that can be used as disinfectants in textiles.)

Masks/PPEs act as physical barriers on which the virus gets deposited. It can remain active at least for seven days. If you coat PPE with this chemical it will be resuable, Vemula said. Lab results show the compound is promising, but regulatory approvals are awaited, he said, adding that once they are obtained, it can be manufactured on an industrial scale in four months.

They are already in talks with chemical manufacturing companies. The chemical can be used on pillow covers, bedspreads, covering sheets etc. It is working very well on cotton materials and will surely help the healthcare sector, explained Mayor said. The compound can be used in two ways. It can be applied through a solution on cloth which must be heated as prescribed for the molecules to get attached. Or, mask/gloves/PPE manufacturers can be given fabric which has been pre-attached to the compound. The molecule is efficient for up to 25 washes of the cloth on which it is used.
An investigation into late reporting of coronavirus test results from the Mater hospital has found it did fulfil legal obligations to alert public health authorities of the cases.

A draft report into the report of 244 positive cases in one batch last week, some dating back to mid-March, has established that timely contact tracing was undertaken by both the hospital and the relevant public health authorities.

The reason for the late reporting of the results was due to the hospital providing incomplete information to the testing lab, which prevented the lab uploading the results into the centralised system for collating Covid-19 data.

It is understood the 244 cases relate to healthcare staff working at the Mater.

Expand Close HSE CEO Paul Reid said he had been reassured by the draft report into the incident (Photocall Ireland/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp HSE CEO Paul Reid said he had been reassured by the draft report into the incident (Photocall Ireland/PA)

While the preliminary investigation found the hospital did provide all the required information to the contact tracing teams, it did not provide staff names with the test samples given to the lab.

Names are required to upload a test result onto Irelands Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting system (CIDR), so the lab could not report those results in the normal way.

Only when the names were obtained from the hospital was it possible to upload the information, which happened on Thursday.

HSE chief executive Paul Reid, who outlined the draft report on Sunday morning, said he had been reassured by the findings.

He said the report clearly demonstrates that the legal requirement to pass information to public health authorities was met.

However, the information that was submitted to the labs at some stage in the process did not have the full details, and particularly all the names etc of those cases, he said.

Therefore it didnt allow for the complete correlation of the data at the appropriate time.

Mr Reid added: So all of the details didnt go in a timely manner and then when that was finally solved on Thursday all of the information went up together.

So it wasnt flowing in a timely aggregated manner, (that) was the impact.

Expand Close Dr Colm Henry, the HSEs chief clinical officer, said he had no indication that the issue had arisen with other hospitals (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Dr Colm Henry, the HSEs chief clinical officer, said he had no indication that the issue had arisen with other hospitals (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Reid said the HSE had been seeking assurances from all hospitals that the required information was being provided to testing labs.

Dr Colm Henry, the HSEs chief clinical officer, said the problem rested with a data uploading issue.

He stressed that the report findings were only preliminary but he said he had received no indication that a similar issue had happened anywhere else.

It was a data uploading issue, and Im not taking away from the significance of it, but it was a data uploading issue on the CIDR, he said.

But the critical information that was necessary to trigger the contact tracing, whether it was in the hospital, which took place through occupation health, or outside the hospital, which took place in conjunction with the public health department, that was given and that was acted upon.
As Mr. Biden surely knows from his years as vice president  most of all the battle over the Affordable Care Act  voters who demand new policies from the government in one moment may not patiently endure the disruptions and unintended consequences that tend to accompany structural change, particularly in times of economic hardship.

Yet Mr. Biden has plainly changed his outlook on the mission he would pursue in office: As a newly announced presidential candidate last year, Mr. Biden presented himself as a tinkerer under whom nothing would fundamentally change.

That spirit was absent from a speech Mr. Biden delivered this month from his porch in Delaware, telling voters that his aim was not just to rebuild the economy, but to transform it.

The task of reimagining the economy is in many respects an unlikely one for Mr. Biden, whose driving interests for most of his career were foreign affairs and criminal justice. His most prominent stint as an economic leader came as vice president, when the Obama administration shepherded a reeling financial sector back to functionality and imposed new regulations on Wall Street  but stopped well short of seeking to overhaul the nature of the American private sector and rewrite the rules of the workplace.

Mr. Biden earned praise for his high-profile role overseeing the distribution of a $787 billion economic stimulus program. But the Recovery Act has come to be seen by many Democrats as something of a cautionary tale about governing in a recession: a law that stitched up a tattered economy but failed to spur a strong comeback, leading to deep electoral losses for the party.

It is a scenario Democratic leaders are determined not to repeat, particularly progressives who have long faulted the Obama administration for paring back the stimulus in the hope of winning Republican support.

Many of Mr. Bidens close advisers are veterans of the Obama administration with similar political scars from the last recession. But the Biden campaign has also begun to recruit and corral scores of other Democratic experts into a web of advisory groups aimed at generating policy faster and with greater ambition. Stef Feldman, Mr. Bidens policy director, said much of the campaigns energy was devoted to mapping out a quick slate of executive actions to address pandemic conditions and carry out other aspects of Mr. Bidens agenda.
Abba star Bjorn Ulvaeus has hailed the Eurovision Song Contest as an escape during the coronavirus pandemic, as it was announced that the event would return to Rotterdam next year.

The final of the 65th edition of the event was due to take place on Saturday night in the city in the Netherlands, but was cancelled due to the outbreak.

Ulvaeus, 75, appeared in a pre-recorded video message during the final moments of Eurovision: Shine A Light on BBC One.

Recalling Abbas win in Brighton with Waterloo in 1974, he said: The ESC is one hell of a launching pad.

And it still remains one of the most genuinely joyous event of the TV era and it is so disarmingly European. It also allows you to escape and be happy.

Everybody knows why there couldnt be the usual Eurovision final this year.

But we hope this show will comfort you in some small way, knowing that it will be back next year.

Very good title by the way  Shine A Light. Im glad they didnt choose Waterloo. Long live the Eurovision Song Contest.

It was also announced that the contest would take place in Rotterdam in 2021, after its producer, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and its Dutch members NPO, NOS and AVROTROS, reached an agreement.

Martin Osterdahl, Eurovisions executive supervisor, said in a statement: We are extremely happy that we can now move forward.

Its vitally important that the Eurovision Song Contest returns next year, and were pleased to have the necessary commitment from our Members in the Netherlands to bring this much-loved show back to audiences across the world.

I firmly believe that all of us involved in the Eurovision Song Contest will stand united through challenges and change to bring the Contest back stronger than ever, ensuring its longevity for decades to come.

Shine A Light was organised to honour all the 41 songs which would have made up this years contest, in a non-competitive format, and featured the acts covering Katrina And The Waves Love Shine A Light.

It also saw host Graham Norton struggle with a time delay as he spoke to the programmes main hosts via video-call.

Afterwards, he said: God, that was awkward. Well, here we are now, back on. But I did mean it, I have found this strangely emotional, this whole evening.

It followed the BBCs replacement coverage, also hosted by Norton, in which viewers voted Abbas song Waterloo as the greatest Eurovision entry.

The track came out top from a list of 19 acts, selected by a panel featuring broadcasters Ken Bruce, Rylan Clark-Neal, Scott Mills and Mel Giedroyc.

The special programme, titled Eurovision: Come Together, saw Norton pay tribute to Sir Terry Wogan, who he succeeded as host of the BBCs Eurovision coverage.

He told viewers: I know this isnt real Eurovision but this is song nine, and it is a tradition that we raise a glass on song nine for the late Sir Terry Wogan.

As we look back over 64 years of Eurovision, I am sure that for many of you, Sir Terry was a highlight over the years. So we think of him and raise a glass.

Norton marked song nine because Sir Terry once warned him not to drink alcohol before that point in the contest, in order to stay alert.

UK entries such as Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz, from 1981, and Love Shine A Light by Katrina And The Waves, from 1997, were among the list.

The series also featured an interview with James Newman, who was due to flag the flag for the UK at this years content.

Newman, brother of pop star John Newman, was hoping to improve the countrys prospects at the annual event after Michael Rice placed last in 2019 with Bigger Than Us.

Expand Close James Newman (Victor Frankowski/BBC/PA) PA / Facebook

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Speaking via videolink, he recalled the moment he found out the contest had been cancelled.

He said: It was before lockdown and me and my wife were just out for a drive actually. Wed just been out to get some shopping and stuff. And then I got a text and they were like: Its cancelled. I had to have a few minutes to myself.

He tipped Icelands Think About Things by Dadi Og Gagnamagnid as the entry he had been looking forward to seeing.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday urged hundreds of graduates of Northamptons Smith College to recognize their own unique power to make progress individually and for the country.

Coming when schools across the nation remained shuttered amid the coronavirus pandemic, Pelosi delivered the address in the first virtual commencement for the private womens college, with more than 700 students, their families and faculty watching a livestream from across the country and around the globe.

Pelosi, the first woman to become Speaker of the House, noted with a smile that the students graduate in the year that women celebrate 100 years since winning the right to vote. We all carry with us the courage of the suffragists.

As you begin the next chapter, in this time of uncertainty, it is even more necessary that you make your own environment, Pelosi said, crediting Smith for its track record of groundbreaking alumni. In the tradition of these iconoclasts and visionaries who came before, I urge you to know your power. Leadership is about having confidence in your vision, your knowledge, your strategic thinking  and how that connects to the aspirations of others. Recognize that you are the unique person you are, with your own special power to shape the future  for yourself and for our country.

Pelosi congratulated the students for several efforts over the last few years, including organizing to protect job opportunities, privacy and legal counsel for undocumented immigrant students known as Dreamers threatened by policies of the Trump administration; combating racially insensitive" campus policing practices; and successfully pushing Smith administration to divest from fossil fuels and reinvest in socially and environmentally responsible companies.

Now, it is up to you to make progress for our America, Pelosi said. The world urgently needs your leadership  in government, in academia, in the military, in business, in sports, in community service and every aspect of our society. Speaking with great certainty, I can say: Nothing is more wholesome to politics and government than the increased participation and leadership of women.

According to the college, Smith awarded 721 degrees on Sunday, including 671 undergraduate degrees and 50 advanced degrees. Students in the class of 2020 came from 41 states and 29 countries, the school said.

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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, stands next to Engine 9, updates the media on the conditions of multiple Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters who were injured in an explosion, in Los Angeles on May 16, 2020. (Stefanie Dazio/AP Photo)

11 Firefighters Injured in Major Emergency as Fire Engulfs Downtown LA Building

A major emergency was reported from downtown Los Angeles on Saturday night, with the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) responding to a massive explosion that was reported around 6:30 p.m.

The LAFD said they received a mayday call from a crew at the site of the explosion. The crew had been passing by 327 E Boyd Street in Little Tokyo when they noticed smoke coming from the building. The explosion occurred shortly after they went inside to inspect for fire.

Multiple buildings were reported as having been set ablaze in the commercial district and at least 11 firefighters were injured, the LAFD said. Two were initially in critical condition and one in serious condition, but all firefighters were later reported as being stable. They all suffered moderate burns from the explosion.

Sounded like a flyover but no. FIRE! A few blocks away from my loft in #DTLA pic.twitter.com/LOUT21pMAW  Celia (@5thandspring) May 17, 2020

LAFD Captain Erik Scott told reporters that the business at the site of the explosion has been identified as Smoketokes Warehouse Distributora wholesale supplier of smoking accessories and a supplier for butane honey oil, otherwise known as marijuana concentrate.

He said that according to witness accounts, the explosion was significant and very high, very wide, rumbling the entire area.

Firefighters were coming out with obvious damage and burns, he said.

Flames from an explosion are seen in Los Angeles on May 16, 2020. (Sean Miura via AP)

Over 230 firefighters responded to the explosion and were at the scene attempting to contain the blaze. They managed to completely extinguish the blaze by 8:08 p.m.

The cause of the fire remains under active investigation and is of paramount concern, Scott said.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Twitter he was grateful for the brave firefighters and first responders on the scene battling these flames tonight.

At 7:15 p.m., the LAFD reported another fire visible from the fourth-story of a building at 812 S Westlake Avenue, also in the downtown area. Another 42 firefighters attended to that fire and were able to extinguish it within 15 minutes.

Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters push ambulance cots at the scene of a structure fire that injured multiple firefighters, according to a fire department spokesman, in Los Angeles, on May 16, 2020. (Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo)
17.05.2020 LISTEN

"Today, I launched the Integrated ICT System of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC). This is another innovation and IT solution in line with President Akufo-Addo's vision to digitalise as much of government machinery as possible and all aspects of the economy, making Ghana the most business-friendly country in Africa."

Those were the words of Ghana's vice president, HE Dr Mahamudu Bawumia after the launching of the MASLOC digitisation project on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 The posture of the second gentleman of the land and other government officials on Ghana's DIGITISATION DRIVE continues to baffle and amaze me. Yes, digitisation did not start today, neither did it start in the last decade under the Mills/Mahama administrations. Other past presidents and governments have contributed their quota in that regard.

Of course, governance is said to be a continuous process, though it depends on how one perceives or sees it to be. It will be recalled that, this current NPP government has been accused several of discrediting the previous JM led government they described in opposition as "incompetent" of numerous projects and policies they (the NDC administration) initiated which are now slowly being continued by the current administration. One would have even thought that, "incompetence" should not have been enhanced, promoted or elevated. But what do Ghanaians see today? Denying the previous NDC government the yields of the investments they made in the digitisation drive of the country's economy.

Indeed, Ghanaians deserve to be told the truth. Though the NDC lost the 2016 elections, JM legacies will continue to bear fruits for national development and growth.

After establishing several electronic platforms such as; the e-Parliament, e-Justice, both under the e-Transform Ghana project; the e-Cabinet, e-Workspace platform, e-Health, e-Register, e-Immigration, the Automated Tax Administration System, all under the e-Government project, a National Data Center (the largest in West Africa) was built near the Kofi Annan ICT centre which is an essential part of the e-Government infrastructure. It's aimed at promoting an integrated use of ICT to improve EFFICIENCY and TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNANCE AND FACILITATE STORAGE, MANAGEMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF DATA FOR BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ESTABLISHMENTS. Those investments were made to ensure the smooth implementation of the paperless system and free flow of information in Ghana's economic, social, political, judicial, legislative dispensations. And we have begun to feel that as an economy.

Furthermore, there were numerous digitisation initiatives introduced by the Mahama administration in 2016 which superseded the coming into office of this Nana Addo/Bawumia government, but were planned to take effect in 2017 and beyond. Thus the Government online Services (e-Services platform) Project. This project IS BEING implemented by the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) in line with former president Mahama's determination to deepen the utilization of online services with Ghana's emerging digital economy. It serves as the one-stop services portal for Government services.

To make these online services more efficiently and effectively, the previous JM led government introduced the Ghana E-Payment Portal (GEPP) which is an online platform for the payment of Government of Ghana (GoG) services by Ghanaian citizens and all other individuals and/or corporate entities conducting business with GoG. It is envisaged THAT WILL SHORTEN QUEUES, ENCOURAGE PAYMENT FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES, INCREASE THE PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY AND EVENTUALLY INCREASE THE VOLUME OF BUSINESS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CITIZENS IN GHANA.

The platform is designed to accept various payment types, such as:

 Debit/credit cards (International) - VISA

 Debit/credit cards (Local - Ghana)

 Cheque

 Cash and voucher

 Mobile payment

 Bank Transfer

 Others - Paypal, etc

Below are some of the e-Services projects, either have already commenced or yet to:

 E-Passport (Online passport application) - In December 2016, this project was launched by the JM administration after several pilots being carried out. and IT'S SET TO BE ROLLED OUT IN JUNE 2017. After its operationalisation, one is expected to have his passport within ten days period after successfully submitting his or her personal data ONLINE to the passport institution. That was not the case before.

 Online renewal of driver's license and vehicle ownership transfer - This initiative commenced in July 2016, and it's aimed at minimizing the frustrations the citizenry go through before acquiring or renewing their driver's license. Before then, it cost a frustrated person GHC 700, GHC 800, GHC 1,000 before acquiring a driver's license instead of GHC 200 or less, due to the middlemen approach. Now, one can apply for a renewal of his driver's license or vehicle ownership transfer on his or her bed.

 Online Application for Birth or Death certificate - In 2016, this intervention was launched to help the Ghanaian citizen acquire a birth or death certificate within the shortest period of time.

 E-zwich payment - In the fight to eliminate ghost names from the public payroll system and reduce the wage bill, the Mahama government initiated the payment of public servants via the E-zwich platform in 2015. National Service Personnel, caterers under the School Feeding Programme, LEAP beneficiaries, and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) programme beneficiaries are currently paid via the E-zwich platform.

 E-billing - The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in June 2016 introduced the electronic billing system on a pilot basis, which was aimed at giving efficient, effective, and transparent services to their over 600,000 customers. It was scheduled then to commence in April 2017 and be fully implemented nationwide in 2018, so that billing will be done electronically to minimize the frustrations customers go through before making payments. It could also be done on mobile phones.

Other online services were:

 online application for police report and finger print check/nominal vetting from the Ghana Police Service CID

 online application for telecom licenses/authorisations and downloadable forms from the National Communications Authority (NCA)

 online application for registration of accommodation and catering establishment from the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA)

 online application for registration as food product importer from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA)

 online application for reconnaissance & prospecting license and cartographic search request from the Minerals Commission (MinCom)

My fellow citizens, if you have ever enjoyed or yet to enjoy the services of the aforementioned electronic or online systems in the acquisition of your passport, birth cert, driver's license, marriage cert, police report, and other licenses and services within a short period of time, REMEMBER that, there was once a president called John Dramani Mahama, who was responsible for those efficient, convenient, fast, and transparent services.

As a citizen H.E Nana Akufo Addo wants me to be, I expect Dr Bawumia to accord Ghanaians the needed respect and appreciate the fact that a lot had been done in the digitisation sector of the economy before this NPP government took office in January 2017. And so, he should give us a break on his digitisation propaganda.

 God bless our homeland Ghana

 Ghanaians must know the truth (Who did what) ..... e-Services, e-Governance, e-Transform projects, JMLegacies

Thank you!

By: Sadiku Katadatu

NDC Youth Activist

Ejura
Ben Ungermann was absent from Thursday night's immunity challenge on MasterChef Australia: Back to Win.

And on Sunday's episode, the judges finally addressed the chef's controversial departure.

As the contestants filed in for their challenge, judge Jock Zonfrillo announced to the group that Ben was out for good.

Gone: Ben Ungermann was absent from Thursday night's immunity challenge on MasterChef Australia: Back to Win. And on Sunday's episode, the judges finally addressed the chef's controversial departure. Pictured: Jock Zonfrillo

He said simply: 'So, before we get to today's challenge, we've got some news. You're probably wondering where Ben is, yeah?

'Due to a personal matter, Ben has had to leave the competition and he will not be returning,' he added.

The contestants looked shocked, however the episode moved on with no further mention of the issue.

Announcement: As the contestants filed in for their challenge, judge Jock Zonfrillo announced to the group that Ben was out for good. He began: 'So, before we get to today's challenge, we've got some news. You're probably wondering where Ben is, yeah?'

Jock continued: 'Due to a personal matter, Ben (pictured) has had to leave the competition and he will not be returning'.

Silence: The contestants looked shocked, however the episode moved on with no further mention of the issue

It comes after MasterChef producers reportedly held crisis talks in March following Ben's arrest over a personal matter during filming.

Executives called the show's editors into an 'emergency meeting' and told them to 'cut him out the best you can', according to New Idea.

The incident apparently came as a shock to network bosses, with a source saying: 'No one could have imagined something like that would ever happen.'

Out: It comes after MasterChef producers reportedly held crisis talks in March following Ben's arrest over a personal matter during filming

Out: On Thursday, viewers concluded that Ben's arrest must have happened right before Katy Perry (centre right) filmed her guest appearance. Pictured with judges Andy Allen (left), Melissa Leong (centre left) and Jock Zonfrillo (right)

On Thursday, viewers concluded that Ben's arrest must have happened right before Katy Perry filmed her guest appearance.

Ben himself has acknowledged his infrequent appearances on screen, saying in an Instagram post that 'it's up to MasterChef' what happens in the editing suite.

News of Ben's arrest surfaced on March 20, prompting a spokesperson for Endemol Shine to issue a brief statement to the media.

'We can confirm Ben Ungermann has left the MasterChef Australia competition. As this is a police matter, we will not be making further comment.'

MasterChef continues Monday at 7.30pm on Channel 10
Emirates Group is considering cutting about 30,000 jobs to reduce costs amid the coronavirus outbreak, which will bring down its number of employees by about 30 per cent from more than 105,000 at the end of March, Bloomberg News reported.

The company is also considering speeding up the planned retirement of its A380 fleet, the report added, citing people familiar with the matter.

An Emirates spokeswoman said that no public announcement has been made yet by the company regarding "redundancies at the airline", but that the company is conducting a review of "costs and resourcing against business projections".

Emirates said earlier this month that it will raise debt to help itself through the coronavirus pandemic, and may have to take tougher measures as it faces the most difficult months in its history. Credit:Bloomberg

"Any such decision will be communicated in an appropriate fashion. Like any responsible business would do, our executive team has directed all departments to conduct a thorough review of costs and resourcing against business projections," the spokeswoman said.
ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria impounded a plane operated by a British company for allegedly contravening a flight ban imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the aviation minister said on Sunday.

Passenger flights into the country, with the exception of ones to evacuate people or repatriate Nigerian citizens, have been banned for weeks. The ban will remain in place until at least June 4.

Flights for essential services, such as the delivery of food supplies and items for humanitarian use, are permitted.

Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika said on Twitter on Sunday that a plane had been impounded after the rules were broken.

Sirika said a UK company "was given approval for humanitarian operations but regrettably we caught them conducting commercial flights".

The message added: "The craft is impounded, crew being interrogated. There shall be maximum penalty."

James Oduadu, an aviation ministry spokesman, told Reuters later in a telephone interview that the plane was operated by a company called FlairJet.

FlairJet, a British private charter company that is an affiliate of Flexjet, in a statement said the matter was an "evolving situation".

"We are continuing to respectfully work with the Nigerian authorities to resolve this situation," it said.

(Reporting by Felix Onuah in Abuja; Additional reporting and writing by Alexis Akwagyiram in Lagos; Editing by Peter Cooney and Daniel Wallis)
An angry Harbhajan Singh called Shahid Afridi unworthy of his friendship, while Yuvraj Singh regretted his call for assistance to the Pakistani players charity, both former India players expressing disappointment at his anti-India comments.

Current Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan also condemned the former Pakistan allrounder.

Afridi had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of committing religious atrocities in India in a video that has gone viral on social media.

Last month, Harbhajan and Yuvraj had posted videos in support of Shahid Afridi Foundation which was raising funds for the underprivileged affected by COVID-19 pandemic.

It was Afridi who requested me and Yuvi to do a video in support of his foundation as the spread of pandemic doesnt see religion or borders. But then he would time and again make anti-India comments," Harbhajan told PTI on Sunday.

I feel terrible that I even called him a friend. He is not a worthy human being who can be called a friend. I am done with calling Afridi a friend," he added.

Yuvraj echoed the sentiment in a tweet.

Yes NEVER AGAIN no matter what https://t.co/PZBWAEoloR Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 17, 2020

Really disappointed by @SAfridiOfficials comments on our Honb PM @narendramodi ji. As a responsible Indian who has played for the country, I will never accept such words. I made an appeal on your behest for the sake of humanity. But never again," he said.

Does he feel that supporting Afridis NGO was an error of judgement considering the sensititive nature of Indo-Pak relationship, Harbhajan replied: The intention was to support a good cause. But then I hear him make unsavoury statements about my country. Here I try to support you despite being viciously trolled and then you show your class."

Asked if the trolling affected him, Harbbhajan said No, I wont say it affected me because these are people who dont matter in my life. I know the kind of person I am. I dont need to prove my love for my country."

Yes, I understand one point. Had this been a charity for Wasim Akram and had I posted a video supporting him, I wouldnt have been criticised or trolled. Because, Akram never insulted my country. So no one would have bothered. But here is a person, who asked for support for a cause and then lectures us on our country speaks more about him than me."

Does he want Afridi to know his opinion on the recent comments, Harbhajan said: Jis gali jaana hi nahin uske bare mein sochna hi kyun (if I am not going to tread that path, why should I even bother thinking about it)." Dhawan also took to Twitter to vent his anger and wrote:
Eighty-five thousand dollars in jewelry. A 2019 Rolls-Royce Wraith luxury coupe. Forty-thousand dollars in child support payments.

Maurice "Mo" Fayne, a trucking company owner who appears regularly on the reality show "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta," has been charged with using more than $1.5 million in Small Business Administration stimulus funds to enrich himself rather than for paying workers and small business expenses as the program requires.

According to the U.S. attorney's office in the Northern District of Georgia, Fayne is the sole owner of a Georgia corporation called Flame Trucking that received a $2 million bank loan through the SBA's relief package for small businesses, the Paycheck Protection Program.

On May 13 Fayne was arrested and then charged with bank fraud. Prosecutors alleged he used more than $1.5 million on unauthorized purchases including the car, jewelry and child support.

"The defendant allegedly took advantage of the emergency lending provisions of the Paycheck Protection Program that were intended to assist employees and small businesses battered by the Coronavirus," said U.S. Attorney Byung J. "BJay" Pak. "We will investigate and charge anyone who inappropriately diverts these critical funds for their own personal gain."

Fayne appeared in federal court on the day of his arrest in front of magistrate judge Justin S. Anand of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Fayne's lawyer, Atlanta attorney Tanya Miller, says he will fight the charges. She issued a statement to The Washington Post saying that she would not try the case through the media and that the government needed to clear up confusion about the stimulus program's rules.

"We will provide the appropriate response in the proper forum once all the information has been provided to us," said Miller in the statement. "There has been considerable confusion among small business owners about PPP guidelines - particularly around the question of whether and how business owners are permitted to pay themselves a salary or owner's draw. This ambiguity and confusion for business owners needs to be addressed immediately as the PPP program is still in its infancy."

Although some PPP applicants have had difficulty navigating the program's rules and some larger employers have decided to return funds, Fayne is charged with using the money for much different purposes than he allegedly stated on his application.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Fayne, 37, stated on a loan application to United Community Bank that his trucking company had 107 employees and a monthly payroll of $1.5 million. He allegedly certified that the loan proceeds would be used to "retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments, as specified under the Paycheck Protection Program Rule."

The FBI assisted with the investigation, along with the SBA's Office of Inspector General. Agents searched Fayne's home in Dacula, outside Atlanta, on May 11 and seized "approximately $80,000 in cash, including $9,400 that Fayne had in his pockets." They also used seizure warrants to take control of approximately $503,000 of remaining PPP funds from three of Fayne's bank accounts, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

"The defendant allegedly egregiously sought personal gain from a program intended to assist hard-working Americans in this challenging time," said Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kupperbusch of the SBA's Office of Inspector General.

Fayne, known as "Arkansas Mo" on the show, is one of the only people to be charged with a crime for misuse of funds from the SBA program.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza have heralded PPP as a success, as more than 4.2 million businesses and nonprofit organizations have received a total of more than $531 billion in funding for the program through May, according to recent data.

The SBA has so far refused to release the names of companies that have received PPP loans. The Washington Post and several other news organizations have filed a lawsuit against the SBA for access to these records.

SBA officials say they rely on the good faith of applicants to self-certify that they are in need of the funds because of uncertainty created by the coronavirus, though officials plan to audit loans of more than $2 million. Loans will be forgiven so long as they are used appropriately.

The ninth season of "Love & Hip Hop" premiered in March. Spokespersons at VH1, which produces the show, did not return a request for comment.
The strength of communicative action lay in discussions, and not in being forced to accept what a small minority of leaders felt was good for all.





by Kazi Anwarul Masud





Time and again credible intellectuals have told the global audience that the world we had been used to since the great world war that ended in 1945 would no longer be there after the unpredictable and viscous coronavirus has left us. It is as yet unknown with the best scientific brains trying to find out when this unpredictable will become predictable and the people of the world will have a weapon to fight this demon.





Covid-19

Another battle also would have to be fought on the question of who gets the first shot of the nectar, will it again be distributed along the lines of the rich and the poor, the haves and the have-nots, the privileged and the underprivileged, the developed and the underdeveloped world. Any kind of justice requires that the claims of all be considered equally.





As Amartya Sen elucidates in his Theory of Justice by giving an example of three competing claims on a flute one claim based on his being the best flutist; another claim based on his being the poorest; and the third because of his expertise in making the flute. Sen argues that the three arguments are based, in turn, on principles of utility, economic equity, and the entitlement to the fruits of ones unaided efforts. Each can be defended with strong, impartial arguments. But is the outcome necessarily arrived at the most optimum result? At least one can be satisfied that all claims were discussed and the decision was arrived based on the claims put forward at the time of discussion.





If an eventual or at least temporary palliative for coronavirus is discovered then its availability should be based on the necessity of all the people of the world because as yet no scientific basis has been found to base necessity except Angela Merkels advice to the Germans of  testing, testing and testing which alone can detect the contagious from the non-contagious. This testing. is possible more easily for the rich countries than the poor who are equally affected but have little to cope with the fallout both justice and necessity demands that the nectar be equally made available to all. While equitable distribution is being debated Sino-US conflict has taken a turn for the worse.





In an article James Palmer (Chinas Coronavirus Success Is Made Possible by Xis Brutality-May 14th) writes: After an initial and disastrous cover-up, the systems that allowed the government to successfully act are the same ones that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses to maintain its control over citizensand that are currently being used as part of a campaign of mass imprisonment and cultural genocide against Uighurs and other minorities in the western region of Xinjiang. This omnipresent domestic control apparatus is funded out of a so-called stability maintenance budget larger than that for national defense. These systems are not necessary for success, as Taiwan and South Korea have shown, but in China they proved critical.)





A contrary view has been expressed by The Economist casting doubt on Trump administrations coherent accusation that China is responsible for the pandemic, its birthplace is in Wuhan laboratory, the contagion did spread from an animal market in Wuhan which helped transmission from animal to human being though no direct allegation has yet been made of Chinese malfeasance. The Economist chided US Secretary of State for his unwavering loyalty to Trump administrations which has resulted in Mike Pompeos demotion from the position of the Western world to one singing a lonely tune. It is hard to think the words of any previous American chief diplomat, a role traditionally considered supra-partisan to a degree, have carried less weight. Yet, in an administration of mediocrities, Mr Pompeo remains a substantial figure. He is one of its last significant talents. Even his critics note his smartsfamously displayed in a stellar record at West Point and Harvard Law Schooland policy seriousness. His articulation of an America First foreign policy that engages with the world consistently but sceptically is a fair stab at making Trumpism coherent. Since the sacking of John Bolton eight months ago, he has been the administrations foreign-policy tsar. Mark Esper and Robert OBrien, the Defence secretary and national security adviser, are nonentities by comparison.





(Is the Pandemic Chinas Sputnik Moment? What a Virus Reveals About Two Systems By Branko Milanovic May 12, 2020). Branco milanovich also compared the momentary Soviet surge in global influence following its successful sending of Sputnik into space. It was an inspiring feat for the Soviet Union in greater global influence but it was transitory in the evolution of human history. The Soviet camp was no less delighted but the Americans were not to be left behind. The US stole the march by putting a man on the moon despite Yuri Gagarins orbiting the earth before the US could even match the Soviet feat.





Similarly, Chinas control of coronavirus through Xi Jinpings draconian measures, Chinese data, disbelieved as these are globally, is likened to Soviet transient Sputnik feat of the yester years. In the ultimate analysis the longevity of a discovery, assuming a vaccine against coronavirus will be found in time to remove the global distress, may also seem Sputnik like Soviet victory as the Chinese claim of controlling the coronavirus forward march in heightening humanitys distress. In the quest for global influence some countries may emotionally embrace the saying of a friend in need is a friend indeed as the Italian Foreign Minister did in receiving prompt Chinese help. Such transient emotional expression do not have a long life as realpolitik slips in the fight for global influence.





The truest armor the West has is the consent of the people in framing the architecture of their fate which the alternative form of government cannot offer. (COVID-19 Tempts Would-Be AuthoritariansBut Exploiting a Pandemic Comes at a Cost By Ruth Ben-Ghiat May 5, 2020DEMOCRACY). Ruth Ben Ghiat points out the cooicidence of the appearance of coronavirus with a phase in our history with the rise of authoritarianism. Some how people in parts of the world were getting comfortable with strong leaders some of whom they felt were better suited to lead them out of the dystopian world where no end was in sight. Fortunately for us their number was small as the great majority still had not lost their faith in Jurgen Habermas communicative action where people could debate and reach results, if not consensus, on what needs to be done.





The strength of communicative action lay in discussions, and not in being forced to accept what a small minority of leaders felt was good for all. Granted the system was not Periclean in essence yet it gave the people to discuss and reach conclusion on what was best for all. Ruth Ben Ghats felt camaraderie with Taiwan based analyst Victor Lin Pu who described the Chinese governments chief goal during the early days of the epidemic was not to contain the virus but to maintain regime stability and social control.





For authoritarian leaders, staying in power nearly always trumps the publics welfare. The Chinese authoririties attempts to conceal the Wuhan debacle is common knowledge now. Yet many in the world would like to take account from the Chinese at a later date than now. The most important thing now is to survive and find a way out of this maze. This attitude is not one of surrender nor reflecting one of by gone be bygone but a practical one of survival. The people of the world is not looking at the menace with Voltaires Panglossian eyes ( Candide) but with a certainty that one day the fog will disappear and a new normal, in whatever shape it comes, will be embraced.





For South Asians India should prepare itself to be the beacon of light for the region. Despite differences, as differences must remain among neighbors, but similarities of history and tradition outrank the differences, and most importantly India is steeped in embracing a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic, multi-religious carpet for centuries and have provided shelter and voice to all. This what makes India great and acceptable to the region.





( The writer is Former Secretary and Ambassador- Bangladesh)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 15:03:41|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese companies have donated medical supplies to various countries to help fight COVID-19, including the U.S., the UK, France, etc.
Cyclones in the Pacific and pandemics tell us a lot about global inequality and highlight our futile pursuit of profit.

In the midst of economic shocks and border closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Pacific region has yet again been ravaged by a Category 5 cyclone that left a trail of destruction across four Pacific island countries in a span of four days from April 5 to 8.

The economic toll from Cyclone Harold and the response to the coronavirus pandemic to Pacific economies is yet to be determined, but they have for sure rolled backed significant economic gains in these countries.

The economic, social and environmental impacts of the pandemic, exacerbated by climate-induced disasters such as tropical Cyclone Harold, will reverberate well into the future for these countries.

COVID-19 and climate change have re-emphasised the fragility of Pacific economies and their acute vulnerability to global phenomena.

Oxfams report on the potential economic impact of the coronavirus  Dignity not Destitution  demonstrates that the scenario unfolding in the Pacific is a reality that most vulnerable and poor developing countries in the Global South could relate to in light of the current global precarity and uncertainty.

The Pacific double whammy brings us to an important moment for the world to reexamine our current approach to development, specifically the dominant economic model that prioritises profit over people and the environment.

Both COVID-19 and climate change continue to expose the failures in our economic structures and the need to change our approach to how our economies are governed.

Inequality  the common denominator

Inequality is perhaps the most obvious flaw of the current economic model. Both cyclones and pandemics exacerbate the persistent inequalities at different levels of our societies.

Those who are bound to suffer the most from the extreme effects of these two phenomena are the poorest and the have nots in societies.

In a global economy where the worlds richest one percent of people have more than twice as much wealth as 4.6 billion of the poorest people on earth, according to a report by Oxfam in 2020, the ability of the majority of the population right now to access the resources they need to holistically build their resilience and bounce back from global crisis is severely limited and in some cases non-existent.

Oxfams briefing, Dignity not Destitution, forecasts that half a billion more people are now likely to be pushed into poverty because of the pandemic without an urgent and a human-oriented emergency global rescue package that is compassionate towards the needs of worlds poorest and vulnerable countries.

What we need is a global rescue package that not only focuses on protecting small businesses but one that also provides safety nets to the most vulnerable populations.

Importantly, the pandemic and climate change have once again shone a harsh light on the persistent social gendered inequalities in our communities.

The plight of women and girls in all their diversity during times of crisis has again been laid bare. While different groups are affected differently during times of crisis, the economic burdens and hardships are disproportionately borne by women.

As the global economy is currently at a standstill, women are increasingly taking on more domestic and family workloads, exposing them to greater health and social risks.

This gendered inequality extends well beyond the informal care economy, now, into the formal labour market. The core labourers of the essential services that are now holding the very fabric of our society together are made up primarily of women.

Women account for the majority at the front line of the retail, agriculture and healthcare sectors - essential sectors that for so long have been underappreciated and overburdened.

Ironically, the very people we have so far neglected to invest in and empower are the very ones who are now working overtime, under stressful circumstances and poor labour conditions. They are the ones that we are now pinning our hopes on to carry us through these precarious times.

Building a different economy

The ongoing climate crisis and the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic remind us about the folly of turning our backs on the values that we hold dear in our societies. This crisis has brought to the fore the fact that what we turn to for safety, comfort and solace in hard times are our relationships, our kinship and our human connections and compassion.

The demand that we look after each other will always be our fall-back position. It is critical that these values are given more prominence in the new ways of governing our affairs as we try to both contain the impact of the crisis and, at the same time, map a pathway for economic recovery.

Governments need to heed the painful lessons of both the impacts of climate change and the pandemic. They need to act urgently towards transitioning our economic model towards one that is caring, humane and just, rather than just fuelling the endless pursuit of profit.

More importantly, it is also critical that we channel our investment priorities towards building and strengthening functioning social protection systems so that we are able to respond effectively to global crises like pandemics, or more localised disasters like Cyclone Harold.

Governments must reverse the past trend of shirking their responsibilities for providing essential services to their citizens, specifically in the provision of social protections, health, housing, water and other utilities, and instead selling them out to private corporations, which are driven solely by wealth creation, or relying on struggling charities.

In re-prioritising national economic strategies during the post-crisis situation, consideration of gender and class-based inequalities, as well as human rights, must become integral components to ensure that the economy will work for all of us, instead of a privileged few.

We are now approaching a crossroads; we can either continue with the business-as-usual way of development, or we can change: We transform the way we do things and build an economy that nurtures our people and our planet.

This is the political choice that is at stake. For our sake, and the sake of our children, we urge our leaders to choose the latter, because sticking with the status quo will only bring about more suffering and destruction to our world.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
17.05.2020 LISTEN

As Ghana continue to record cases of the Corona Virus spread, Infinite Research Institute rolled out the phase three of its campaign and sensitization programme at the Cemetery Zone of Zujun in the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region.

The organization was glad to receive support from HAMdex (A company that produces alcoholic base hand Sensitizers in Accra) as well as support by Mr. Abdul Hamid Inusah Fuseini (JB) to facilitate the activities of the Organization in its fight of the pandemic.

Phase three of the campaign and sensitization programme initiative was championed by targeting the cemetery zones in the metropolis.

A clear observation made by the organization through its research team embarked on a data collection at the locality revealed that they have been neglected by authorities in the provision of PPEs as well as soap, hand sanitizers, nose masks and veronica buckets.

It is against this background that the organization embarked on the Phase three of the initiative at the proposed location. The organization whiles creating the awareness on the spread of the virus at the Cemetery Zone distributed items such as hand Sensitizers, Nose Masks and liquid soaps to residents at the locality.

Speaking to residents at locality, one of the caretakers of the cemetery indicated that, they don't have the needed protective equipment to aid them in the burial process in times of the pandemic. They were however, excited that the Organization has extended support in its small way to support residents at the locality.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  An explosion Saturday at a hash oil manufacturer in downtown Los Angeles injured 11 firefighters who had gone inside and on the roof to try to knock down a fire and then had to run for their lives when a ball of flames shot out the building and scorched a fire truck across the street.

Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott said one significant explosion" shook the neighborhood around 6:30 p.m. Firefighters inside had to run through a wall of flames he estimated as 30 feet high and wide, and those on the roof scrambled down a ladder that was engulfed in fire.

READ ALSO: 'This is horrible': Massive fire erupts on South Padre Island, engulfing condominiums

Scott said people at the scene described the explosion as sounding like a freight train or jet engine. Some of the fleeing firefighters were on fire and tore off their protective equipment and left it on the sidewalk, along with melted helmets, Scott said.

The was one of the worst scenes Ive seen, he said.

All 11 firefighters suffered burns ranging from minor to serious. Three were listed as critical condition, and two of them were on ventilators. All were expected to survive.

The good news is everybodys going to make it," Mayor Eric Garcetti said at a news conference outside the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center where all the injured were treated.

Things could have been so much worse," said Los Angeles Fire Department Medical Director Dr. Marc Eckstein, who works at the hospital and helped treat the injured.

Firefighters were called to 327 East Boyd St. in the citys Toy District for a report of a fire at a one-story commercial building. There was light to moderate smoke when firefighters entered the building and went on the roof, normal procedures to try to quickly knock down any flames.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said one of the firefighters inside the building thought things didn't seem right  the pressure from the smoke and heat coming from the rear of the building were increasing. He directed everyone to get out, and as they quickly started exiting the building as it was rocked by the explosion.

Firefighters on the roof scrambled down ladders with their protective coats on fire. The wall of flames shot out the building and burned seats inside a fire truck across the street.

More than 200 firefighters rushed to the scene, and dozens of engines, trucks and rescue vehicles clogged the streets. The fire spread to several nearby buildings, but firefighters were able to douse it in about an hour.

The injured firefighters were rushed to the hospital. Those who remained at the scene, unaware of the seriousness of their colleagues' injuries, were traumatized by what had transpired, Terrazas said.

SURGE IN COVID-19 CASES: Texas reports massive jump in COVID-19 cases in single day

You can imagine the amount of emotional stress," he said.

Scott said the building was a warehouse for SmokeTokes, which he described as a maker of butane honey oil." Butane is an odorless gas that easily ignites, and it's used in the process to extract the high-inducing chemical THC from cannabis to create a highly potent concentrate also known as hash oil. The oil is used in vape pens, edibles, waxes and other products.

On its website, SmokeTokes advertises a variety of products including puff bars," pipes, dab" tools, vaporizers, torches and butane," and cartridges. The company says it is an international distributor and wholesaler of smoking and vaping products, and related accessories." Founded in 2009, it offers discounts to loyal customers, fast shipping, a huge catalog of products and customer service that is untouched."

The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The wearing of masks to protect against the coronavirus has become such a sensitive issue in the United States that airlines are struggling to impose the practice on defiant travelers in the enclosed environment of an airplane. Johannes Eisele, an AFP photographer, experienced the problem in person. He recently took his seat on an American Airlines flight from LaGuardia Airport in New York City -- then a coronavirus hot spot -- to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. He had a middle seat, wedged between two other passengers -- only one of whom was wearing a mask. As Eisele recounted it, "I asked him if he didnt have a mask. He said, 'Yes, I have.' And I asked him, 'Can you please wear it?'" "He said he feels more comfortable without the mask and he won't wear it." When Eisele told the man that "I feel more comfortable if you wear it," his seatmate replied, "Keep your fear to yourself." The flight was completely full, so Eisele was unable to change seats. The scene occurred early this month, shortly before US airlines imposed mask rules -- generally exempting only passengers with medical or religious excuses, or very young children -- to slow the spread of COVID-19. At the time of boarding, say officials at American Airlines and United Airlines, the rule is clear: no passenger can board a flight unless he or she has a mask on. The problem occurs after takeoff. Those airlines generally will, if necessary to avoid confrontation, allow people to remove masks while in flight. They are allowed to do so as well, of course, while eating or drinking. If a passenger's refusal to wear a face covering causes a disturbance, a United spokesman told AFP, "we've counseled our flight attendants to use their de-escalation skills." He added, "They do have the flexibility to re-seat customers on the aircraft," though that does not work on a sold-out flight. "Our employees are not expected to control the personal behaviors of customers," said a Southwest spokesman. The airline does provide masks in airports and onboard planes but will not "deny boarding based solely upon a customer not wearing a mask." - 'Do not escalate' - An internal advisory from American Airlines to its flight attendants explains how they are expected to handle mask-related problems. If a passenger declines to wear a mask for reasons other than medical or religious, it says, "please encourage them to comply, but do not escalate further." Similarly, if a customer is frustrated because a seatmate fails to wear a face covering, "please use situational awareness to de-escalate the situation." "During the pandemic, we must partly rely on common sense and responsible actions" by travelers, the Southwest spokesman said. In short, the airlines appear to have chosen the course of conciliation over confrontation with insistent and sometimes angry travelers -- even it means a greater health risk to others sitting nearby. The wearing of masks has to some extent been politicized by President Donald Trump, who has refused to wear one, in the face of virtually unanimous medical advice and even after some White House staff members have contracted the coronavirus. Scientists say the risk of infection is near its highest when people spend long periods in enclosed spaces -- like airplanes. Not to wear a mask on an airplane "is hugely irresponsible," said Jonathan Metzl, a professor of sociology and psychiatry at Vanderbilt University, in Tennessee. "I think if someone doesn't wear a mask on a plane, they should be arrested." - Mask as political symbol - Deciding not to wear a mask in one's own car is one thing, Metzl said, but refusing to do so while in public transport is a different matter. "I think that President Trump and the Republicans have successfully coded a mask as a political symbol," he added. "They're basically rallying their base by suggesting that wearing a mask is a sign of submission, or that people who wear masks are weak." Beth Redbird, a sociology professor at Northwestern University, has been studying Americans' behavior during the pandemic. "Republicans who are skeptical of Donald Trump support social distancing," including the wearing of masks, she said, while "independents who are supportive of Donald Trump are skeptical of social distancing." On Thursday, the chairman of the House transportation committee, Peter DeFazio, urged the airlines to "leave at least one seat-width of spacing between passengers." In a letter to a group representing the major airlines, he said they could "adjust fares as needed" to account for emptier planes.
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With aging, facial skin commences losing its natural hydration and flexibility, which help in supporting, shaping, and adding volume to face, thereby resulting into sagging of skin, deep lines, and wrinkles on face. Dermal fillers, used in non-invasive treatments for facial rejuvenation, are anti-ageing agents. They pump and lift up the skin for restoring lost collagen because of aging, and enable the body in generating its own collagen, which in turn provides youthful and natural facial appearance.

Dermal Filler Market Segmentation:

Based on product type - Absorbable or Biodegradable,

Non-Absorbable or Non-Biodegradable; Based on therapeutic area: Wrinkles, Deep Facial Lines,

Sagging Skin, Scars.

FDA-Approved Dermal Fillers capable of Moving with Facial Expressions

Recently, two FDA-approved filler options were introduced in the global market, guaranteeing more natural-appearing results. The two hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers, Restylane Refyne & Restylane Defyne, smoothen and soften laugh lines, and comprise next-generation technology for preventing a face from appearing fake, stiff, or injected.

Faces of humans are continuously moving with emotions, consciously as well as subconsciously. If any part of the face feels restricted from doing so, unnaturalness starts striking its look. Restylane Refyne & Restylane Defyne have been incorporated with unique XpresHAn Technology, which enables hyaluronic acid-based fillers to move with flexibility in coordination with natural expressions of a face. A special manufacturing process is employed for developing the XpresHAn Technology, which customizes the degree of cross-linking of hyaluronic acid within each product. This further results into formation of smooth gels comprising a wide range of flexibility & support, which is tailorable according to different requirements of patients.

Request for Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3164

Variations in Requirements of Support from Dermal Fillers

As different patients have different requirements of support from a dermal filler, along with variations in requirements on the basis of skin areas, patient-specific and treatment-specific fillers are used. However, the dermal fillers introduced by Restylane has provided doctors as well as patients with a choice of using dermal fillers based on product and application for natural-looking skin. For example  Restylane Refyne has been designed for being very flexible and subtle for patients having moderate-severe facial wrinkles & folds. On the other hand, Restylane Defyne has been designed for providing more support to patients with deeper facial wrinkles & folds. Restylane Refyne and Restylane Defyne are the only dermal fillers available in the market, which have been tested through clinical trials for helping maintain expressions and movements of facial skin.Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy for Reducing Wrinkles of Facial Skin.

Get Request for Table of Contents: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/requesttoc/3164

Nowadays people are shifting their focus from cosmetic surgeries to platelet rich plasma therapies, which is a minimally-invasive therapy. Eterna MedSpa & Laser Vein Center has offered the platelet rich plasma therapy, which utilises the clients blood plasma for reducing wrinkles and tightening skin in the neck and face. Platelet rich plasma therapy involves drawing blood and then spinning in Rich in platelets. Plasma then drawn out is re-injected into face and neck of the client. This treatment procedure helps the skin in producing more collagen, causing plumping of the skin. Patients adopting platelet rich plasma therapy have witnessed improvements in smoothness & texture, horizontal lines, pigmentation, folds, and scarring. For optimum results, this therapy can be used in combination with several other anti-ageing services, for example  Vollure dermal fillers Juvederm.

Global Dermal Filler Market to Experience Healthy Expansion

According to TMR report, the global market for dermal fillers is expected to experience a healthy expansion in the near future. North America is anticipated to remain dominant in the global dermal filler market, followed by Europe. Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Middle East & Africa (MEA) hold huge growth potential for dermal filler market, owing to rising geriatric population and growing number of beauty-conscious people in these regions.

Key Players:

Allergan, Inc., Galderma, Merz Aesthetics, Cynosure, Syneron, AQTIS Medical, Bioha Laboratories, Suneva Medical and Cytophil, Inc

Full View of Report Description: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/dermal-filler-market
A cyclonic storm brewing in the Bay of Bengal lay 1220 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal on Saturday and is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rain in the coastal districts of the state from May 19.

The state government has geared up for rescue and relief operations.

The system is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Sunday evening and move north-northwestwards till May 17, regional Met director G K Das said.

It is very likely to recurve north-northeastwards thereafter towards West Bengal coast from May 18 to 20, he said.

Under its impact, the coastal districts of Gangetic West Bengal, including North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, East and West Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly will experience heavy to very heavy rain on May 19 and 20, Das said.

West Bengal Home secretary Alapan Bandopdhyay said that the entire state machinery is prepared to deal with the situation.

Disaster management teams are being sent to cyclone shelters in the coastal areas and other places for rescue and relief operations, he said.

Bandopadhyay said that provisions have been made for maintaining social distancing norms at these shelters in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are also there for rescue and relief operations.

The state chief secretary held a meeting with concerned officials on Saturday evening to take stock of preparations and the movement of the cyclone, he said.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into North Bay of Bengal along and off West Bengal-Odisha coasts from May 18 to 21 and those who are out in the sea were asked to return to coasts by May 17.

Sea condition will be very high to phenomenal over north Bay of Bengal on May 19 and 20, the regional Met director said.

Wind speed along and off the coastal areas of West Bengal will reach 45 to 55 kmph with gusts of 65 kmph from May 19 afternoon and will gradually increase to 75 to 85 kmph with gusts upto 90 kmph from May 20 morning, the weatherman said.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has also prepared itself for maritime search and rescue operations.

All out efforts have been made in the maritime states of West Bengal and Odisha in co-ordination with the state administration and Fisheries department, the ICG has said.

The ICG ships and aircraft on patrol are directing fishing boats operating at sea to return to harbour for safety, it said.
Demonstrators rallied Saturday to demand the resignation of two Georgia prosecutors over the investigation into the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black man who was shot while out jogging, per a JUSTGeorgia Coalition statement.

Why it matters: President Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden both spoke out over Arbery's Feb. 23 death after cellphone video of his apparent shooting sparked a national outcry. The Justice Department is investigating whether the shooting was a hate crime.

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

Campaigners have raised concerns about the investigation, which took until May 7 for the arrest of the suspects, Gregory and Travis McMichael  a white father and son who told police they suspected Arbery had committed a burglary. They were charged with murder and aggravated assault.

Of note: Former President Obama referenced Arbery's death during a virtual commencement speech Saturday to seniors graduating from historically black colleges as an example of how the coronavirus is having a "disproportionate impact" on black communities.

"We see it when a black man goes for a jog, and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him if he doesnt submit to their questioning," he said.

The big picture: Hundreds gathered outside Glynn County courthouse to demand action against Brunswick Judicial Circuit district attorney Jackie Johnson, who recused herself from the probe as Gregory McMichael "was an investigator in Johnsons office before retiring last May," AP notes.

They're also calling for the resignation of Waycross circuit district attorney George Barnhill, who took over the case and decided not to press charges against the McMichaels because he deemed Arbery's killing "justifiable," per AJC.com.

Both prosecutors deny any wrongdoing.

Former Atlanta City Councilman Derrick Boazman, who joined the groups that traveled more than 300 miles from Atlanta for Saturday's protest, told ABC News the suspects' arrest was "not enough."

"We refuse to believe that the system that allowed this family to suffer without an arrest should remain intact. They system must be held accountable," he told the news outlet, in reference to the prosecutors.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with Obama's comments.
Christian groups sue NC Gov. Cooper over restrictions on indoor worship services

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Two congregations, a pastor and a conservative Christian group are suing North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper for a broader exemption to a state order banning indoor gatherings of more than 10 people.

Berean Baptist Church of Winston-Salem and Peoples Baptist Church in Greenville joined the Christian conservative mobilization network Return America in filing a complaint Thursday with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

The Christian groups are seeking injunctive relief from state executive orders aimed at combatting the spread of the coronavirus by limiting mass gatherings, including church services.

The congregations have been unable to hold in-person, indoor worship services since the governor first signed the orders.

According to the complaint, Coopers orders are unconstitutional both facially and as applied to Plaintiffs.

Governor Coopers Orders have been interpreted, applied, and enforced by his Office and local law enforcement authorities as prohibiting indoor gatherings for religious worship by more than 10 people, the lawsuit reads.

The Orders are not neutral laws of general applicability because they target Constitutionally protected activity, significantly burdening the Plaintiffs right to freedom of religion and assembly, establishing an orthodox form of religious exercise approved by the State, all the while providing broad exemptions for many other gatherings of more than 10 people that are not constitutionally protected.

Return America, a coalition of religious leaders and educators headed by Berean Baptist Pastor Ronnie Baity, held a rally in downtown Raleigh outside of the states legislative building on Thursday to announce the lawsuit and demand that the restrictions be lifted.

According to The Associated Press, the rally was attended by about 500 people.

Freedoms curbed eventually becomes no freedom at all, Baity was quoted as saying. If theres ever been a time our communities need the church, it is now.

Earlier this month, Cooper signed Executive Order 138 announcing the launch of phase one of the governments plan to gradually reopen the state.

According to a statement by the governors office, the phase-one order has no limit on attendance for worship services as long as they are held outdoors and follow proper social distancing guidelines as much as possible.

Indoor worship services and weddings are allowed for gatherings of 10 people or fewer in the same confined space, the statement adds.

However, nothing prevents an indoor worship service from being shifted to multiple services over a period of time, or held in different rooms, to meet the requirements of the Phase One Order.

The governor's office also noted that the limit on attendees can be lifted for a religious gathering in which it is not possible to conduct worship services outdoors or through other accommodations.

There may be situations in which particular religious beliefs dictate that some or all of a religious service must be held indoors and that more than 10 people must be in attendance, the statement from the governors office explains.

Baity told WRAL that the lawsuit centers around the concern that churchgoers "First Amendment rights have been squandered. Representing those plaintiffs in the lawsuit is lawyer and pastor David Gibbs, Jr. of the Christian Law Association.

"We have the ability to open our churches safely, with higher standards than they are asking us to do," Gibbs explained.

Cooper has defended the state's restrictions on indoor worship, explaining that "we don't want our churches to become hotspots for the virus."



When people are gathered together indoor, the virus has a significant chance to spread from one person to the next, Cooper said in a press conference this week.



Weve seen tragic consequences when thats the case. We hope congregations all across North Carolina will make good decisions about what is right to look after each other.

Churches will be allowed to hold indoor services as part of the second phase of the states reopening plan. Phase one is slated to expire on May 22. Under the second phase, churches will still need to limit their capacity for services.
Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a female university student over the alleged smuggling of stimulant drugs from the U.S., reports TBS News (May 15).

On May 7, a Tokyo Customs official at Haneda Airport discovered 90 tablets of kakuseizai, or stimulant drugs, inside a jar of peanut butter that arrived through the postal mail.

After swapping out the tablets, the package was then sent to intended address in the Hiroo area of Shibuya Ward. Police later arrested 22-year-old Emiri Kanazawa, a student at a university in Los Angeles.

Upon her arrest, Kanazawa denied the allegations. aIave done marijuana and cocaine for few years ago in the U.S. But, this time, [the drugs] came from my American boyfriend, and I did not know the content [of the package].a

Kanazawa attends a university in Los Angeles. She returned to Japan last month after the university closed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, police said.
The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on Taiwan's exclusion from the World Health Organization and ignited a diplomatic row between China and some Western powers.

Led by the United States, a growing number of countries are calling for Taiwan to either be allowed into the WHO, or be given observer status.

The spat is likely to worsen at next week's World Health Assembly -- the WHO's annual policy making meeting -- which is gathering virtually because of the virus outbreak.

Why is Taiwan shut out?

Taiwan -- officially the Republic of China -- was a founding member of the WHO when the global health body was created in 1948. But it was expelled in 1972 a year after losing the "China" seat at the United Nations to the People's Republic of China.

The two sides have been ruled separately since 1949 after the Nationalists lost a civil war to the Communists and fled to Taiwan to set up a rival government.

Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary. It balks at any international recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign nation and in recent years has ramped up economic, diplomatic and military pressure on the island.

Keeping it shut out of international bodies like the WHO is part of that campaign.

Was it always this way? No. Between 2009 and 2016 Beijing allowed Taiwan to attend the WHA as an observer under the name "Chinese Taipei".

At the time, relations between Taipei and Beijing were warmer. Things turned frosty with the election of current president Tsai Ing-wen in 2016.

She hails from a party that views Taiwan as a de facto independent nation and doesn't subscribe to Beijing's idea that it belongs to a "one China".

Taipei found little diplomatic support for its calls to be included but the coronavirus pandemic has dramatically changed that.

China has found itself scrutinised for its initial response to the outbreak and allegations its authoritarian government made the global spread worse.

In contrast, democratic Taiwan has been praised as a model for how to handle the outbreak -- with only seven deaths and 433 infections.

Why does Taiwan's exclusion matter? Taiwan and its supporters argue it is unfair to exclude 23 million Taiwanese from the world's health body, especially during such a huge health crisis. They also say global leaders and doctors could learn from the island's expertise in combatting the virus.

"No one should be treated as an orphan in the health network that the WHA should look after," Taiwan Vice President Chen Chien-jen, a US-trained epidemiologist, told reporters on Thursday.

"The WHO attaches too much importance to politics and forgets about its professionalism and neutrality," he added.

Taiwan's exclusion has also raised questions about Beijing's influence over the WHO. This week the Trump administration accused the WHO of opting to "choose politics over public health" by being overly deferential to China.

What does the WHO say?

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said Taiwan's participation can only be decided by member states with the consent of "the relevant government" -- a reference to Beijing.

He rejects the notion that the body has been too deferential to Beijing under his tenure.

WHO officials say they are in regular contact with Taiwan and that Taiwanese officials are often included in technical meetings. Taiwan has countered that it was previously invited to attend the WHA "at the discretion" of the then director general.

It says Tedros has a public health obligation to stand up to Beijing's blacklisting of the island. The WHO later said an invite can be given by Tedros if a consensus existed between member states, which it does not.

Will Taiwan have its way? It's highly unlikely.

Only 15 nations still recognise Taiwan over China, most of them economic minnows in Latin America and the Pacific.

Few of the 194 countries within the WHO will want to stoke Beijing's anger -- a 2007 bid by Taiwan to seek membership was comprehensively defeated.

But any recognition of Taiwan's de facto sovereign nation status is seen as a win for Taipei and a blow for Beijing.

And it is here that Taiwan has seen significant success during the coronavirus pandemic.

In the last few weeks Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand have joined the US in publicly calling for Taiwan to be given observer status at the WHA.

That has infuriated Beijing. It has accused Western governments of using Taiwan as a wedge issue to distract from their own shortcomings in fighting the outbreak.
Damayanti Dutta By

Even as countries and scientists fight against time to find the best and quickest solutions, the coronavirus crisis continues to outmanoeuvre the world. Will we find a magic bullet or will it take us on an exhausting journey to nowhere?

On April 3, a handful of army veterans fired off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With the coronavirus pandemic barrelling down, they claimed to have the panacea to save the world: Gangajal. River activists, they called for a probe into the holy waters for that special something in its depths that made it pure. In a world frozen by fear and foreboding, the news danced across headlines for a while, before sinking into the bottomless pit of viral pseudoscience, miracle cures and cow-urine parties, on an overdrive since the pandemic started. Its a mad, mad, mad, mad world.

A tiny virus has brought the planet to its knees and no one knows the way out of it. A race to find a solution has gripped all. Every day is a new surprise, as millions of eyeballs scan the news for a magic cure: from please-drink-hot-liquids messages on WhatsApp to the direct-sunlight-and-injected-disinfectants remedy of US President Donald Trump, to scientific jargonsrepurposed drugs, convalescent plasma, antibody cocktails, genetic vaccines. In a pandemic characterised by extreme uncertainty, the world is waiting with bated breath for an answer to that million-dollar question: What will cure Covid-19?

HUNT FOR A MAGIC BULLET

Scientists around the world are working around the clock to figure out new ways to beat the virus. Over 70 groups are at work, 100 vaccine candidates are in the pipeline, over 460 clinical trials are on. Research papers and preprints are being published at a furious pace every day: from 1,245 in the first 80 days of the year to a staggering 26,000-plus now, according to PubMed, a search engine for biomedical research. Countries, pharmaceutical makers, biotech innovators and academic laboratories are going neck-to-neck to produce a therapeutic, a vaccine, a prophylactic or a curative agent that will work. Never before, researchers say, have so many experts in so many countries focused simultaneously on a single topic and with such urgency. This is like a world war, writes Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder who has pledged has pledged $100 million toward containing the virus, in his blog post, Gates Notes. Except in this case, were all on the same side.

A striking feature of the war on Covid-19 is the diversity of platforms being developed by drug companies, researchers, medical institutes, universities and governments. From protein treatments to reduce inflammation and infection to gene therapies that disrupt viral replication, from combinations of repurposed drugsantivirals, anti-inflammatories, antimalarials, antiparasiticto shotgun technology, immunotherapy to Artificial Intelligenceall targeting the deadly pathogen. Some has backfired, with serious side effects in users: for instance, the antimalarial hydroxychloroquine advocated by Trump. Some are showing modest benefitsfor instance, Gilead Pharmaceuticals antiviral remdesivir, which has just entered into a licensing pact with five drug firms in India and Pakistan.

PROMISE OF ANTIBODIES

Indias apex body for biomedical research, ICMR, is expending all its energy on something elsesomething new, thats also something oldplasma antibody therapy, the countrys chosen way to confront and contain the raging pandemic. Will it work? The esoteric world of science is buzzing over this line of treatment where patients who have been infected and recovered hold the key to cure. And the gateway to recovery are the antibodiesprotective proteins in the immune systemthat patients typically develop in response to the virus. These are called neutralising antibodies, because they can target and neutralise the virus (SARS-CoV-2). The procedure involves infusing blood plasma from a Covid-19 patient who has recovered to another patient who is critically ill, says oncologist Dr Vishal Rao of HCG Cancer Centre, Bengaluru, whose team is leading one of Indias first plasma therapy clinical trials on Covid-19 patients, ever since the Drug Controller General of India gave the go-ahead on April 17.

Scientists call it a passive vaccine. In active immunisation you are injected with a weakened or dead form of a virus, which tricks your immune system into creating new protective antibodies, explains Rao. Here, no virus is injected into the patient. The science can be traced back to late 19th century, when German physiologist Emil von Behring used it for diphtheria treatment and won the Nobel Prize in 1901. Over the years, it has been identified as a potential therapy for a number of viral infections: the influenza pandemic of 1918-1920 to influenza, SARS to avian flu. The 2014 Ebola outbreak has turned the spotlight on its potential as a therapy in infectious diseases for which vaccines, drugs or cures are far off.

How dependable are they? Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Health, highlighted at a press briefing on April 28 that plasma therapy is an experimental therapy: So far there is no evidence to support it as a treatment. Yet neutralising antibodies have ignited hope. As vaccines and drugs are yet to come, plasma therapy is lining up as the first-choice treatment, says Rao. One-fourth of the 400 clinical trials running around the world involve plasma therapy, he adds. A host of antibody cocktails from global pharma giantsRegeneron, Sanofi, Roche, Eli Lillyare expected in June.

THE VACCINE rush

Nowhere is the race for cure as intense or evident as in the vaccine landscape. A striking feature is the range of vaccines that are being developed now: DNA, RNA, virus-like particles, peptides, viral vector, live attenuated virus, inactivated virus, to recombinant protein vaccines. Leading the race is a whole new type of vaccines, genetic vaccines, where the patient is given the genetic code needed to produce the virus. Explored so long in cancer gene therapy, the DNA and mRNA vaccines would be the first of

its type. No such vaccines have ever been used.

The vaccine race, however, has locked up countries in one-upmanship. Questions of national security, geopolitical crosscurrents, scientific pride and profit have led to a diplomatic breach between US and China. Tension is brewing between Germany and the US, over allegations that Trump tried to poach German biotech firm CureVac for its research on coronavirus vaccine. From week to week, one country or the other is leading the rush for a magic bullet against Covid-19. China, Europe, the US, Israel have all set off at a sprint. And everybody is saying: We are the first. Its the story of a world in deep crisis.

China is leading the race with 1,000 scientists and more vaccine candidates approved for human testing than any other country.

But with the Academy of Military Medical Sciences of China leading from the front, the vaccine has already been militarised. [We] will not be slower than other countries, China has declared. Trump has recently said, Were so far ahead of any vaccine ever in history. Israel has just claimed a significant breakthrough in developing the first vaccine. The project is under Israel Institute for Biological Research, the defence biological research institute that is controlled by the Prime Ministers Office, and often described as secretive or shadowy by the Israeli press. A day later, the same claim has been made by Italy. The quaintly named ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine by Oxford University scientists, has now shot ahead to become the most promising potential candidate, with British drug maker AstraZeneca pitching in to develop, produce and distribute it.

THE COVID-19 RIDDLE

What makes the race for cure particularly challenging is that Covid-19 is proving to be a disease of uncertainty. Coronaviruses are difficult to work with in a laboratory setting, hard to grow and isolate, clone or manipulate. There are very few virologists in the world who specialise in coronaviruses and the field has suffered from lack of funding for years. This explains why some of the most important questions about the current virus have been hard to pin down: why do some people get really sick, but others do not? Why do some mild cases turn into life-threatening emergencies? What explains the startlingly low blood oxygen in some patients who nonetheless are not gasping for breath? None of this variability really fits with any other disease.

Scientists are fitting together puzzle pieces, joining the dots and making all possible connections. New evidences are emerging, challenging the old. Here are the big takeaways: first, the virus does not only attack the lungs, it attacks the lining of blood vessels all over the bodyin the heart, brain, intestine, liver, kidney, everywhere. It can cause pneumonia without symptoms, until the blood oxygen levels drop dangerously low, increasing the chance of death. There have been substantial mutations in the virus, making it harder to create a long-lasting vaccine. A high rate of abnormal blood clotting in Covid-19 patients, leading to death and unexpected stroke among healthy younger people. None of this really fits with any other infectious diseases the world has seen.

DISEASE OF IMMUNE SYSTEM

The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded out a warning that having antibodies to the disease confers immunity. This has brought the whole issue of immune system at the front and centre of the Covid-19 dialogue. It is increasingly clear that SARS-CoV-2 is spreading by exploiting the human immune systemthe very defence mechanism of the body.

If you think of the immune system as an army, then its main troops are the T-Cells and B-cells, the ammunition consists of antibodies and the first line of defence is the signalling protein, interferon. Whenever viruses, bacteria, fungus, parasites, chemicals enter the body, the interferons mount alert. Antibodies arrive and neutralise pathogens, while killer T-cells eliminate infected cells. The immune system then winds down, but not before keeping a record of the microbe it has just defeated, so that you dont catch it again.

Using new sequencing methods, researchers have found that SARS-CoV-2 adopts surprising strategies to trick and avoid our immune system. And it does so by exploiting our own defence mechanism, explains a study by 49 researchers across the world, led by the Harvard Medical School and MIT (published in Cell, April 27).

Consider this: the nose is the main portal of initial infection. Here, a protein in the spikes of the virus masquerades as a glue (that binds cells) and misleads the chemical doorway of cells, unlocks and enters; once inside, it hijacks cell machinery, replicates and starts infecting new cells, transmitting more rapidly than the time taken for the immune response to emerge; it makes the first responder ineffective by entering more when it mounts alert; it infects with its spikes lying low, unlike most other pathogens, hiding effectively from antibodies; it can kill the powerful T cells that are supposed to kill the virus instead.

Scientists are worried, because the current coronavirus can sometimes behave like some of the most notorious viruses that directly attack the human immune system. Least understood is why some critically ill patients experience overreaction of the immune system, called cytokine storms, when the body attacks its own healthy cells. Or, whyas the WHO points outantibodies often do not seem to confer immunity, as some recovered Covid-19 patients suffer relapse. A team of researchers from Shanghai and New York have just found that SARS-CoV-2 can damage the immune system in ways that are similar to HIV patients.

REPURPOSED DRUGS

As the wait for a vaccine continues, a strategy of using drugs that are already approved or under investigation for some other medical indication is evolving, to bring down the severity of the pandemic. Scientists are focusing on three main lines of compounds: antivirals, anti-inflammatories and antibody-based treatments. Antivirals, to stop the virus from replicating; anti-inflammatories, to counteract the high inflammations that attack the body; and antibody treatments, to neutralise the pathogen and rev up the immune system.

Theres a buzz over antivirals, but they are not the resounding success many had hoped for, including the much talked-about remdesivir, Gilead Sciences Ebola drug. Although it is the first to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for emergency use in seriously ill Covid-19 patients, clinical trials show it reduces death rate and duration of the disease slightly. A report from Hong Kong (The Lancet, May 8) shows a combination of multiple antiviral drugs, including HIV drug lopinavir-ritonavir (Kaletra), to be more effective in patients with high viral load.Hope is running high over anti-inflammatories, too. The medical community now believes the worst effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection occur when the immune system goes into overdrive, damaging organs fatally. Six clinical trials are currently assessing anti-inflammatory agents. As governments seek urgent treatments for the new disease, there has been a global surge in demand for anti-malaria and anti-parasitic drugsHydroxychloroquine to Ivermectinalthough there is no definitive evidence they work on their own. There has also been reports of serious side effects.

A TOUGH CALL

The WHO is using its global reach to fast-track and scale up randomised clinical trials around the world to find a treatment for Covid-19, at a rate that aims to be 80 percent faster than any traditional trial. Through its Solidarity Clinical Trial, the WHO has enrolled an unprecedented number of patients across about 100 countriesto test four possible treatment options faster, with stronger evidenceas doctors around the world dedicate themselves full-time to the task.

These are the kinds of trials that are demanded now, says Dr Ambrish Mithal, chairman and head of endocrinology and diabetes at the Max Super Speciality Hospital at Saket, Delhi, and Gurugram. Right now, the world is holding on to hope, lockdowns and social distancing, while the global economy is on the verge of collapse. Unproven therapies and drugs are being touted as potential treatments for Covid-19. Half-baked studies are producing misleading results. The trade-off between scientific rigour and speed for the sake of a medical emergency is real. Administrators, too, are brushing away rules that otherwise would not be permitted. The race for cure is a race against time, says Mithal. People need to find some confidence somewhere.

the ticking clock

A magic bullet vaccine would undoubtedly be the best bet, but when will they come out? Vaccines take time10 years on an averagethe fastest-ever the world has seen is the mumps vaccine, developed over just four years. Given the pressing need for speed, the traditional vaccine development modalities will most likely give way to novel paradigms. In February, American biotech company Moderna clocked the fastest ever timeline for creating a Covid-19 RNA vaccine ready to be tested in humans in just 42 days. But how will it pan out ultimately?

Bill Gates is optimistic that a strong Covid-19 vaccine would be ready in as little as nine months or as long as two years. To Dr David Nabarro, envoy for the WHO on Covid-19 and professor of global health at Imperial College, London, the wait will be longerif a vaccine comes out at all: Dont expect a vaccine to come to the rescue in the short term. Some viruses are very, very difficult when it comes to vaccine development.

This is going to be a long haul, says Dr Jayaprakash Muliyil, former principal, Christian Medical College, Vellore and one of Indias leading epidemiologists. The pattern of the novel coronavirus is still not clear as yet. It is exploding in different places at a different pace. The virus is likely to come back. Thats what happens in the normal course of epidemics, until a vaccine develops or it runs its course. While the race for cure is on, let us keep the elderly safe. That will be half the battle won, he points out. Meanwhile, the message from the Union Ministry of Health in India is stark and clear: We will have to learn to live with this virus.

WHAT THE WORLD IS TALKING ABOUT

Front-running Phase II vaccines

mRNA COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna, likely to

come out in 2020, this kind of vaccine has never been approved for use or

manufactured at scale.

ChAdOx1, harmless viral vector, from Oxford University, can have million doses ready by September

Harmless viral vector, genetically tweaked, by CanSino Biologics, China

Convalescent plasma

Infusing blood plasma from

recovered patients; investigational; India has started clinical trials

Monoclonal antibodies

Mimic the immune-system response to the virus, develop neutralising antibodies that block the virus. Injections to dermal patches. At least 50 candidates in development.

Repurposed drugs

Already in use for something else. Antivirals like Remdesivir (Ebola), Favipiravir (influenza), Kaletra (HIV); anti-inflammatories like Actemra and Kevzaraboth anti-rheumatic drugs

Challenge trials of Covid-19 vaccine Deliberately infecting healthy volunteers with coronavirus, an infection with no cure, to accelerate research on vaccines, raises ethical questions; WHO has just issued a 19-page key criteria for the ethical acceptability of Covid-19 human challenge studies.
Samra Habib.  Yuula Benivolski

As Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan, Samra Habibs family faced frequent threats from extremists when she was a child. She was just 10 years old when they were forced to flee their home, resettling in Canada. In her acclaimed memoir, We Have Always Been Here, Samra navigates the struggles of being a young refugee in a new country, and documents her own personal journey as she discovers her true self.

As a queer Muslim, Samra writes of her struggles to find safety  and a sense of belonging  as she encounters homophobia, bullying and other significant challenges. Her memoir explores queer sexuality, and is a testament to the power of accepting oneself.

At the heart of this memoir is exploring the intersection of your identity: of being queer, a Muslim, a refugee, a Canadian, and more. We Have Always Been Here is a deeply personal debut book that reflects on this intersection and the obstacles you faced. What was it like having your debut novel be a memoir that deals with so many personal subjects and difficult issues?

It was helpful to write about the impact of all the trauma I had experienced in my life as a result of being a refugee, a person of colour. It helped me see myself for the first time and be kinder to myself.

Your photo project 'Just Me and Allah,' which you touch on in your memoir, captures portraits and stories of queer Muslims. How different was the experience of having to capture your own in a memoir?

Not easy. I prefer to be behind the camera and be an observer, documenting others stories. But I saw the benefit in telling mine because the stories of queer Muslims werent reflected in our culture.

On Twitter, youve said that moving to Canada as refugees was one of the most difficult experiences for me and my family. Can you describe what the journey from Pakistan to Canada was like for you?

I had to grow up incredibly fast. One of the things I think many dont realize about refugee kids is that they often lose their childhoods. I had to become the parent pretty quickly as my parents didnt speak English, so I had to accompany them at their doctors appointments to help with translation.

You came to Toronto with your family as a refugee at a young age. What struggles do refugee children face, and how can Canadians and their community support them?

I think it begins with creating systemic changes to ensure that supports are available to refugee children that recognize the specific kind of trauma and barriers they face as a result of their experiences of being uprooted.

May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, or IDAHOT, and the theme this year is Breaking the Silence. What is the importance of bringing these issues to the forefront of the conversation, especially for doubly vulnerable groups like refugees?

I think its important to bring the conversation to the forefront in order to create inclusive spaces and nurture a diverse range of perspectives. I think LGBTQ+ issues need to be universal issues and inform how we talk about inequity and access to opportunities. They need to help inform our lens on equality and creating a sense of belonging.

UNHCR works to support LGBTI refugees, ensuring that we are both protecting refugees and creating safe spaces for them. As an advocate for queer people, what kind of supports do you think are most important for LGBTI refugees?

Creating a sense of belonging and creating spaces where they feel validated and seen is pretty important. I think we often view LGBTQ+ refugees as the other but we need to create systemic shifts in our immediate surroundings to ensure that we are working alongside them as equity partners to create systemic changes and cultural shifts.

Your memoir has been selected as a 2020 Canada Reads contender. What has that experience been like so far? And what does it mean to you to have your book selected to represent what the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) says is one book to bring Canada into focus?

Its a huge honour to know that my queer Muslim memoir is chosen as a story that helps contribute to our collective Canadian experience. It makes me so happy to know that folks who otherwise wouldnt have known about the book are hearing about it because of the Canada Reads programme.

Nobody should have to flee their home because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Donate now to support LGBTI refugees.
Indian benchmark witnessed rangebound trade and ended lower for the week ended on May 15 amid stimulus package from the government, mixed global cues, earning from Indian Inc and concern over rising COVID-19 cases in the country.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been announcing details of the COVID-19 economic relief package. However, investors are looking for further details and new guidelines for the fourth phase of the nationwide lockdown before reacting.

Last week, BSE Sensex shed 544.97 points (1.7 percent) to close at 31,097.73. The Nifty50 was down 144.65 points (1.4 percent) to end at 9,136.85 levels.

The BSE Small-cap index was up 0.47 percent last week. Mahindra EPC Irrigation, Saurashtra Cement, Poly Medicure, Salasar Techno, Mahindra Holidays, Ruchi Soya Industries rose over 25 percent each, while Gayatri Projects, Jain Irrigation Systems, Future Enterprises and Cox & Kings lost over 20 percent.

BSE Mid-cap Index rose 0.7 percent helped by Jubilant Life, Edelweiss Financial Services, MphasiS, Alembic Pharma, REC, HUDCO, Escorts and Ramco Cements which gained over 10 percent. However, Indiabulls Ventures, Future Consumer, EIH, Mahindra CIE, L&T Technology were among losers.

The BSE Large-cap Index was down 1 percent last week, dragged by the Nestle India, Dr Reddys Laboratories, HDFC Life, GAIL India, Reliance Industries, IndusInd Bank and Tech Mahindra. However, gainers Vedanta, Vodafone Idea, Bharti Infratel, Hero MotoCorp, REC, Bajaj Auto and Hindustan Zinc. Disclaimer: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.

On the BSE Sensex, Maruti Suzuki India added the most in terms of market value, followed by Bharti Airtel, UltraTech Cement, ITC, Bajaj Auto and Larsen & Toubro in the past week. However, RIL lost the most in terms of market value.

On the sectoral front, Nifty Auto outperformed other indices with a gain of 5.5 percent followed by Nifty Metal Index (up 4 percent) and Nifty Media Index (up 3 percent). On the other hand, Nifty Bank and Pharma Index shed 2.6 percent each.

In the past week, the Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 5,951.15 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought equities worth of Rs 1,074.94 crore.
Two men shot dead two teenage girls in an 'honour-killing' because they appeared in a video that showed them with a young man.

Police have arrested two men on suspicion of their involvement in murdering the two girls, aged 16 and 18, at the border village, Shaam Plain Garyom, on the boundary of North and South Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

One man is the father of one of the victims and the second man is the brother of the other young girl.

An 'honour killing' is when someone murders their own family member because they have been perceived to bring dishonour to the family name.

Two teenage girls, aged 16 and 18, were shot by their own family members in an 'honour-killing' in a rural Pakistani village. Pictured: Pakistani human rights activists shouting slogans during a protest in Karachi over honour killing in 2008

The suspects said the victims were killed and buried in their native village, a Razmak police official told the Pakistani daily newspaper Dawn.

Reasons women and girls fall victim to 'honour killings': Refusing an arranged marriage

Being the victim of sexual violence

Having sex outside of marriage

Someone alleging they have had sex outside of marriage

Dressing 'inappropriately'

Behaving disobediently Advertisement

'Initial investigations show that the suspects opened fire on the victims over the video scandal,' he said.

The video that they were 'honour-killed' for showed a young man recording himself with them and another girl in a secluded area.

Police are investigating to try and find the third girl the young man who were also in the video to make sure they are safe.

The video was shot over a year ago but resurfaced on social media a few weeks ago before the murder took place on Thursday, police said.

The video that they were 'honour-killed' for showed a young man recording himself with them and another girl in a secluded area. Pictured: An Islamic Organisation protest against 'honour killings' of women in Lahore on November 21, 2008

'At the moment, our topmost priority is to secure the life of the third girl and the man before taking any action,' the officer said.

It is mostly women and girls who fall victim to honour killings in Pakistan, according to Amnesty International.

Pakistani activists estimate that between 900 and 1000 women and girls are murdered in 'honour-killings' each year.

Human Rights Watch lists Pakistan as a country with serious problems with gender-based violence.

Along with 'honour-killings' the country grapples with rape, acid attacks, domestic violence and forced marriage.
On-demand bus routes. Sensors to measure traffic speed, weather and air quality.

Homegrown innovations like these remain viable options for development at Quayside, even with Sidewalk Labs out of the picture and the COVID-19 pandemic a threat, say Canadian tech experts and entrepreneurs.

Driving the innovation economy for Canada, we think, is going to be an essential part of the rebuild and restart of the economy, said Alex Ryan, vice-president of Solutions Lab at the MaRS Discovery District. We think there is still a great opportunity for Canada to lead (at Quayside).

And the doubters who argue that only a company with the vision and financial resources of Sidewalk Labs, a subsidiary of Alphabet and sister firm of Google, could develop anything meaningful on the 12-acre site are wrong, Canadian tech experts say.

There will be a good opportunity for Canadian companies to work on whatever the next generation of that project is, said Ken Cartmill, vice-president of product development for LED Roadway Lighting, a Halifax-based company that produces sensors that fit atop street lights and capture information such as locations where drivers speed, local temperatures, traffic and air quality.

The firms products are similar to some of the smart city technology Sidewalk Labs wanted to use at Quayside.

LED Roadway Lighting had conversations with Sidewalk Labs over the years, before the latter dropped the Quayside endeavour this month, citing uncertainty in the real estate market as a result of COVID-19.

Meanwhile the next steps at Quayside are uncertain for Waterfront Toronto, the tri-government agency that had partnered with Sidewalk Labs and oversees the mostly publicly owned plot of land near Parliament and Queens Quay on Torontos eastern waterfront.

Waterfront Toronto declined to provide a timeline to the Star for when or if a new request for proposals (RFP) would be tendered for Quayside.

Building a next generation community is a key deliverable for Waterfront Toronto, said spokesperson Andrew Tumilty. While our long-term goal remains the same, we will take the time necessary to determine what our next steps will be to bring this valuable asset to market.

Earlier this month, Waterfront Toronto said it considered the $16 million it spent on Quayside an investment in innovative solutions on the waterfront.

If Quayside is to be revisited, decisions will need to be made around what technology belongs to Sidewalk Labs and what belongs to Waterfront Toronto.

The Plan Development Agreement (PDA) between Waterfront Toronto and Sidewalk Labs, written before the latter developed its master plan for Quayside, spelled out which rights and licences belonged to whom if the project didnt go forward.

The PDA says Waterfront Toronto will have rights and licences to certain site-specific intellectual property (IP) and co-created intellectual property, as agreed between the parties.

This means Waterfront Toronto will get the rights to use certain intellectual property that was developed or co-developed specifically for the master plan.

Sidewalk Labs declined this week to discuss the specific IP involved, saying it is part of ongoing discussions with Waterfront Toronto.

Jim Balsillie, former BlackBerry co-chief executive and an early critic of the Sidewalk proposal, advised Waterfront Toronto on rewriting intellectual property and data terms with Sidewalk Labs to make them more favourable to Waterfront Toronto.

He believes those new terms were behind Sidewalks departure.

When you cant hijack the data governance, you cant hijack the intellectual property. Whats left for an IP and data company? he said.

Balsillie called Sidewalks departure a great day for democracy and Canadian citizenship, but he also said it doesnt make sense to proceed with Quayside and smart cities until the provincial and federal governments approve digital policies to ensure residents, not foreign tech firms, benefit.

If the citizens want to go ahead with the (Quayside) project, and the government sets democratically determined rules they must be accountable for, perhaps you can use the domestic technology sector that is ready to be called up, he said. That way the economic benefits come into Toronto and Ontario, because we need prosperity to pay for our post-COVID costs.

Ryan at MaRS said the key to finding innovations for Quayside and other smart city initiatives will be the creation of a broad procurement marketplace.

There are lots of innovations we need and you want to make a fair and transparent process that can get the best solutions out. A lot of the innovation methods weve been experimenting with, rather than paying people to promise solutions, you actually get them to demonstrate the solutions before you make a procurement decision, said Ryan.

He said this approach reduces the risk for governments and public bodies. It means you pay for success, not for promises.

MaRS used this method to help match Guelph, London and Barrie with innovators. In Guelph, IRIS R&D, a GTA-area tech firm, helps the city detect potholes and cracks in roads.

Pantonium, a Toronto company that uses an algorithm to create an on-demand transportation service, also had conversations about using its tech at Quayside.

Pantonium had initially worked with Belleville to improve that citys night bus service by using its on-demand software, with customers booking night buses online or by phone, said Luke Mellor, director of marketing for Pantonium.

During COVID-19, the number of bus rides dropped significantly, so the city went fully on demand  including during the day.

Now the entire citys bus service runs on (artificial intelligence). No human intervention (except for bus drivers of course). A server doing calculations running the whole thing, said Mellor.

Mellor said the same service could be a low-cost solution for Quayside or other parts of Toronto. The company made a pitch to the TTC in April, though the commission said going to on-demand would be too big a change.

LED Roadways Cartmill said his company, a private firm that is 100 per cent Canadian owned and operated, already supplies lighting to the city of Toronto, and is interested in working at Quayside in the future.

Its sensors can measure pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, and provide detailed data that can, for instance, tell which intersections have problems with speeding drivers and at what time of the day.

Its sensors can also measure noise, which is of particular interest to cities when it comes to new transit projects that run near residential neighbourhoods, said Cartmill.

The company provides the hardware and connectivity and tailors reports so cities arent inundated with sheets of data to sift through and interpret, said Cartmill.

If Waterfront Toronto does go ahead with the Quayside project, the agency can set the vision for what type of tech belongs there, Matti Siemiatycki, an associate professor in U of Ts geography and planning department, said recently.

Waterfront Toronto can determine which (innovations) are sustainable, which are viable, which sit within privacy concerns and match the needs of the community and then contract directly with providers and monitor these themselves, ensuring public interests are met, said Siemiatycki.

Read more about:
So all the claims about the electoral college reflecting the wisdom of the Founders and what they had in mind are pure rubbish. The Founders design failed, which is why it was changed just 16 years after the Constitution was adopted. And the states shift to the popular vote for electors so fundamentally altered the original scheme that it amounted to creating a new system in the garb of the old one.
The cause of his death is still unknown, but sources at Government House Port Harcourt said Simeon may have died of cardiac arrest.
The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on how people around the world are finding love - with a natural rise in virtual dating.

Now, singles in one European country have been given the bizarre advise to arrange a sex buddy to fulfil basic needs during the remainder of the pandemic.

Single people in the Netherlands are being encouraged to find a "seksbuddy" (Getty Images)

Official guidance from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands is now encouraging men and women without permanent partners to choose a likeminded individual they can get intimate with in a mutually-beneficial arrangement.

However, they warn that those organising a seksbuddy need to be aware of the risks of spreading the virus.

Discuss how best to do this together, the RIVM recommend.

For example, meet with the same person to have physical or sexual contact (for example, a cuddle buddy or sex buddy), provided you are free of illness.

Make good arrangements with this person about how many other people you both see. The more people you see, the greater the chance of (spreading) the coronavirus.

Additionally, they advise against having sex with someone isolated because of suspected infection.

As a substitute, they suggest: Sex with yourself or with others at a distance is possible (think of telling erotic stories, masturbating together).

On March 23rd, the Netherlands - who have seen far fewer cases than other countries in Europe such as the UK and Italy - entered what it described as an intelligent lockdown, where up to three visitors are allowed into other peoples homes as long as they maintained a 1.5m distance at all times.

The RIVMs rules effectively made it impossible for those not in the same household to engage in sexual intercourse - something described by critics as a basic need.

Some have argued sex should be considered a 'basic need'. Photo: Getty

Writing for Dutch newspaper Het Parool, journalist Linda Duits - who specialises in gender issues - argued that: Proximity and physical contact are not a luxury, they are basic needs.

If we have learned anything from the Aids epidemic, it is that not having sex is not an option.

Story continues

Restrictions in Australia have also begun to ease as of this weekend with up to five adults now allowed to visit another household, and gatherings of up to 10 people allowed outdoors.

Dr Norman Swan, a journalist and medical professional, had previously said couples who dont live together could see each other if they are taking all the precautions  and those included no physical touch and keeping at least a 1.5m distance.

The problem here is youre not living with them so youre not quite sure what each others doing or who youve come in contact with. Thats the problem, he told ABCs Coronacast earlier this month.

The Department of Health also offered its views telling News.com.au it was a matter of common sense.

Limiting contact with an intimate partner who shares your home is really only necessary when a person is unwell. Otherwise, continuing good hand hygiene practices in the home is the recommendation, a spokesman told the publication.

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.
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, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. But the harsh reality is that very many loss making companies burn through all their cash and go bankrupt.

So, the natural question for MOGU (NYSE:MOGU) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. In this report, we will consider the company's annual negative free cash flow, henceforth referring to it as the 'cash burn'. Let's start with an examination of the business's cash, relative to its cash burn.

See our latest analysis for MOGU

How Long Is MOGU's Cash Runway?

A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. In December 2019, MOGU had CN1.2b in cash, and was debt-free. In the last year, its cash burn was CN267m. Therefore, from December 2019 it had 4.5 years of cash runway. A runway of this length affords the company the time and space it needs to develop the business. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time.

NYSE:MOGU Historical Debt May 17th 2020

How Well Is MOGU Growing?

We reckon the fact that MOGU managed to shrink its cash burn by 29% over the last year is rather encouraging. But the revenue dip of 11% in the same period was a bit concerning. Considering the factors above, the company doesnt fare badly when it comes to assessing how it is changing over time. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. For that reason, it makes a lot of sense to take a look at our analyst forecasts for the company.

Can MOGU Raise More Cash Easily?

We are certainly impressed with the progress MOGU has made over the last year, but it is also worth considering how costly it would be if it wanted to raise more cash to fund 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. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash to drive growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn.

Story continues

MOGU's cash burn of CN267m is about 34% of its CN798m market capitalisation. That's not insignificant, and if the company had to sell enough shares to fund another year's growth at the current share price, you'd likely witness fairly costly dilution.

So, Should We Worry About MOGU's Cash Burn?

On this analysis of MOGU's cash burn, we think its cash runway was reassuring, while its cash burn relative to its market cap has us a bit worried. Cash burning companies are always on the riskier side of things, but after considering all of the factors discussed in this short piece, we're not too worried about its rate of cash burn. Taking an in-depth view of risks, we've identified 2 warning signs for MOGU that you should be aware of before investing.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts)

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.
Ocean City Police Truck drives along the shore as families enjoy the weather on Saturday. Ocean City is one of few beachs doing a dry run to test capacity management this weekend in preparation for Memorial Day. Read more

Three more Jersey Shore beaches reopened on Saturday in a practice run for the coming Memorial Day weekend, with families and couples generally following the rules and staying apart from others. But thousands who crowded the Ocean City boardwalk ignored social-distancing safety protocols, standing close and even brushing against one another as the Shore readied for an uncertain summer season.

The glorious weather drew surging numbers onto the boardwalk, where few wore protective masks despite official guidance, a situation likely to become more common as summer temperatures make face coverings uncomfortable.

The state does not require wearing masks at beaches and boardwalks, though Gov. Phil Murphy has urged people to cover their faces, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends masks in public settings where its difficult to maintain social distancing.

There are too many idiots out here today, said Trish Cowan, who drove to Ocean City from Mays Landing. You cant change people, and unfortunately thats what needs to happen.

A week before the unofficial start of the Shore season, the boardwalk offered the summery allure of a Bruce Springsteen ballad  or some of it, anyway. Most souvenir shops, restaurants, and boutiques were shuttered, though some offered take-out service, and ice cream parlors and lemonade stands did brisk business.

People like Cowan worried for boardwalk workers, who face exposure to the deadly coronavirus in minimum-wage jobs, and doubted that anything would change this coming weekend, when all state beaches are set to reopen.

Some on the boardwalk seemed to try to move ahead or back to create gaps in the crowds, while others showed little caution. People brushed shoulders or stood close as they weaved in and out of lines.

 READ MORE: Jersey Shore beaches: Whats open, whats allowed, and what you need to know first

What Id like to see is people wearing masks, said Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron, whose city also hosts a popular boardwalk, where not everyone was wearing masks on Saturday.

Police officers have encouraged people to keep moving and stay spread out.

On Saturday, as sunshine reigned and the temperature broke 80, the Jersey Shore epitomized the conflict between public health and economic recovery in the midst of a pandemic that continues to sicken and kill.

While the speed of new infections seemed to be slowing in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the actual number of cases and deaths remained large and growing.

Pennsylvania reported 989 new cases on Saturday, for a total of 61,611, and 61 new deaths, for a toll of 4,403. In New Jersey, 145,089 have now tested positive, and an additional 115 have died, raising the loss of life to 10,249.

The Philadelphia Health Department reported 257 new cases for a total of 19,606. Ten new deaths were confirmed, for a sum of 1,031. About 55% of all deaths were in long-term care facilities.

 READ MORE: An Asian Heritage Month unlike any other, as communities resist racism with love

The numbers have increased even as some stay-at-home restrictions were relaxed, and as the United States continued to lead the world by a wide margin in infections and fatalities.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said 12 more Pennsylvania counties will move into the first phase of reopening on Friday. Boat rentals and fishing charters were to resume on Sunday in New Jersey. In Philadelphia, SEPTA prepared to restore regular schedules on most transit services on Sunday, but for essential travel only.

Randy Levchuk, the Ocean City owner of JiLLys Stores, which includes ice cream and candy shops, arcades, and retail, demanded to know why some companies can open and others cannot.

If someone can walk into a big-box store, why cant they walk into a small business? Levchuk asked. What makes them better than us?  The country cant be on lockdown forever.

Philadelphia officials reminded residents that a stay-at-home order is still in place, and that social distancing is crucial to stopping the spread of the virus. Mayor Jim Kenney said Friday he was concerned that some people are still gathering in groups and forgoing masks.

I dont have an answer for when someones too stubborn or is too unbelieving that this is a problem, Kenney said. I dont have an answer for fixing human nature.

Amid a devastating public-health crisis thats killed nearly 90,000 Americans, the nation has struggled to agree on basic, common facts, much less on the best course to follow.

The top U.S. infectious-disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned Congress that reopening schools and businesses too fast could have terrible consequences. President Donald Trump called that not an acceptable answer.

The president has pushed states like Pennsylvania to restart their economies quickly, while in Arkansas, the governor had to pause a second phase of reopening amid a rise in new cases and hospitalizations.

Those dueling priorities  open up, stay closed  break down along partisan lines, according to a new CNN poll. It found that 71% of Republicans believe the worst of the pandemic is over, while 74% of Democrats and 51% of independents say the worst is still ahead.

 READ MORE: Immigrant health-care workers fight the pandemic as possible deportation looms

On Saturday, Ocean City, Strathmere, and Sea Isle City had a chance to gauge the potential crowds on Memorial Day weekend, when most of the states beaches are reopened.

Strathmere locals like Mary Murray were thrilled they could venture back onto their home beach. The real estate agent was frustrated at first by the closure, because her beach generally doesnt get as crowded as those in Ocean City and Sea Isle City.

We naturally social distance anyway because we have so much space, she said. Its just nice to be back."

Wolf has extended the Pennsylvania stay-at-home orders through June 4, but in Ocean City on Saturday, there were plenty of cars with Pennsylvania license plates.

People dispersed across the beach as parting morning clouds revealed a bright blue sky. Larger crowds crept onto the sand as the day went on, but the wide beaches provided ample room for social distancing.

The boardwalk grew more crowded as bikers, runners, and walkers  most unmasked  soaked in the sun.

The boardwalk would be much less congested if you were allowed to walk in stores, said Wes Kazmarck, president of Ocean Citys Boardwalk Merchants Association.

Some businesses can operate through curbside pickup, but that doesnt work well in retail, Kazmarck said. Its just not how people want to shop.

Retail merchants can play a role in helping boardwalk businesses operate safely, he said, by requiring customers to wear masks, putting cashiers behind plastic screens, and compulsively cleaning shops.

One business, 3 Brothers Pizza, was giving away free masks to anyone who purchased a slice of pizza and a large drink.

You wont catch me without a mask amid all these people, said manager Selena Santiago. But most customers are trying to abide.

Marisa Edmund and Don Chierici of Haddonfield came to stay at their Ocean City home for the weekend with their six children. The family lounged on beach towels after a morning run on the boardwalk.

It feels great to get out here, said Edmund. I think were all well-educated about social distancing at this point. Its nice to get some freedom back.
Mission Vande Bharat was started by the government to bring back the Indians trapped abroad due to the lockdown implemented due to Coronavirus in the country. Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Saturday that more than 13,000 people have returned to India under the first phase of the Vande Bharat Mission.

South Central Railway makes this device to help health workers

On this matter, Puri wrote on Twitter that so far more than 13,000 people have already returned in various flights under Mission Vande Bharat. Today, 812 civilians have returned from Air India and Air India Express flights. The Vande Bharat Mission, which began on 7 May to bring back stranded Indian nationals from other countries, began its second phase of operations by sending three Air India flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi from Saturday (16 May).

Andra Pradesh: ONGC gas pipeline leaks

Under the second phase of Vande Bharat Mission, a total of 149 flights will be operated, including feeder flights, to bring back Indians from 40 countries. Of the 149 flights, 13 will come from the US, 11 from the United Arab Emirates, 10 from Canada, nine from Saudi Arabia and the UK, 8 each from Malaysia and Oman, 7 each from Kazakhstan and Australia.

UP Minister Udaybhan Singh gives controversial statement on labor crisis
The Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy group-: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has condemned as unwarranted and a primitive crime against humanity, the reported killings of three Fulani herdsmen by unidentified armed militia in Egume, Dekina local government area of Kogi State, at the weekend, following early morning invasion of a Fulani settlement.

HURIWA blames the escalating spectre of bloodshed and wanton violence to the inability and unwillingness of the Federal Government since the past five years to holistically confront the widening spectre of blood cuddling violence by armed Fulani herdsmen which have largely targeted farming communities leading to the killing of undetermined number of land owners who are usually displaced.

The Rights group said Nigeria stands the risks of witnessing large scale revenge killings targeting mostly innocent Fulani because of the illegality and the bloody violence unleashed on farming communities all over Nigeria without the Federal government doing anything under the law to arrest, prosecute and punish the armed Fulani herdsmen and their sponsors and supporters in and out of government circles.

HURIWA is therefore pleading with President Muhammadu Buhari to behave like the President of all of Nigeria and fish out all the mass killers and prosecute them in accordance with the rule of law just as the Rights group said the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu has in the past few months paraded many of these armed marauders and Fulani herdsmen responsible for the spate of killings but regrettably these suspects are not properly charged before the competent court of law in line with the constitutional stipulations.

HURIWA has also called on the governors of the 36 states of the Federation to ensure that the sanctity of the two week's ban on inter-state travels is maintained even as the Rights group said the influx of old men disguised as ALMAJIRAI from Northern states to the South is ominous particularly at a time when the Inter-State travels are banned by the Quarantine Act of 1926 as read out by President Muhammadu Buhari and gazzetted by the Federal government of Nigeria.

HURIWA believes that the influx of adults from some Northern states to the South is a game plan by haters of peace to plant instability in the South that has relatively remained insulated from the self destructive violence unleashed on innocent people in the North of Nigeria.

"These adults hiding in trailers and trucks being exported like goods to the South are trained bandits who are heading to the South to replicate the killings that innocent people are facing in such places like Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto. The Southern and Northern governors must stop this grave threats to national security. The real almajiris children displaced from streets of NORTHERN NIGERIA must be resettled and reintegrated with their biological parents because every almajiris child has a biological parents".

HURIWA citing a report by the Assistant Secretary of Mytti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, (MCBAN), Kogi State chapter, Mallam Ademu Abubakar, who spoke on behalf of the Associations Chairman, Wakili Yusuf Damina, disclosed that on the 14 of this month, which is on Thursday, at about 8am some gunmen heavily armed with guns and other dangerous weapons invaded Fulani community at Ofanwa Elubi in Egume and opened fire on the Fulani people and killed three persons on the spot while about nine cows were also killed during the deadly attack just as he noted that many people were injured in the attack which lasted for several minutes, stressing that this was among several attacks on his people.

In a media Statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf said that the recent killings of innocent Fulani in a part of Kogi State is unfortunate, and a dastardly crime against humanity by some armed cowards just as the Rights group said it is regrettable that innocent citizens are getting mauled to their untimely death in the most gruesome manner but both the state and federal governments charged with the constitutional and primary duty in section 14(2)(b) to prevent these premeditated attacks and violence of unfathomable dimensions have so far demonstrated an uncanny knack for irresponsibility and crass failure to do the needful and have equally failed spectacularly to arrest, prosecute and punish heavily, the killer herdsmen or other kinds of freelance armed hoodlums, armed ethnic militias and armed bandits who have killed and maimed thousands of citizens.

HURIWA commiserate with the families of the Kogi Fulani settlers whose loved ones were needlessly massacred and we charge the Kogi State governor and President Muhammadu Buhari to sit up and provide the leadership needed for the heads of the various security forces to rise to the occasion and meet with the Constitutional responsibility of preventing mass killings and arresting and prosecuting mass killers before the competent courts of law in line with section 6 of the Constitution. HURIWA said compliance with section 6 is sacrosanct because offenders if allowed to continue to unleash violence could be interpreted to mean that government permits impunity and lawlessness which are antithetical to constitutional democracy.

Specifically, Section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 provides as follows: "(1) The judicial powers of the Federation shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established for the Federation. (2) The judicial powers of a State shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established, subject as provided by this Constitution, for a State. (3) The courts to which this section relates, established by this Constitution for the Federation and for the States, specified in subsection (5) (a) to (1) of this section, shall be the only superior courts of record in Nigeria; and save as otherwise prescribed by the National Assembly or by the House of Assembly of a State, each court shall have all the powers of a superior court of record. (4) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be construed as precluding:- (a) the National Assembly or any House of Assembly from establishing courts, other than those to which this section relates, with subordinate jurisdiction to that of a High Court; (b) the National Assembly or any House of Assembly, which does not require it, from abolishing any court which it has power to establish or which it has brought into being. (5) This section relates to:- (a) the Supreme Court of Nigeria; (b) the Court of Appeal; (c) the Federal High Court; (d) the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; (e) a High Court of a State (f) the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; (g) a Sharia Court of Appeal of a State; (h) the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; (i) a Customary Court of Appeal of a State; (j) such other courts as may be authorised by law to exercise jurisdiction on matters with respect to which the National Assembly may make laws; and (k) such other court as may be authorised by law to exercise jurisdiction at first instance or on appeal on matters with respect to which a House of Assembly may make laws. (6) The judicial powers vested in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section - (a) shall extend, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this constitution, to all inherent powers and sanctions of a court of law (b) shall extend, to all matters between persons, or between government or authority and to any persons in Nigeria, and to all actions and proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any question as to the civil rights and obligations of that person; (c) shall not except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, extend to any issue or question as to whether any act of omission by any authority or person or as to whether any law or any judicial decision is in conformity with the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy set out in Chapter II of this Constitution; (d) shall not, as from the date when this section comes into force, extend to any action or proceedings relating to any existing law made on or after 15th January, 1966 for determining any issue or question as to the competence of any authority or person to make any such law.

Besides, the Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy group HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has condemned the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT of Nigeria and the ADAMAWA State government for standing by and watching as Six people were killed in ethnic violence in Adamawa state, without the police command, the Adamawa state command of the Directorate of State Services(DSS) and other Security forces not being able to forestall this deadly upheavals that lasted for hours as if Nigeria has entered a season of ABSOLUTE ANARCHY.

HURIWA said: " Big shame to the Adamawa State police command that It is now parroting the reason for the conflicts and has failed to deploy their skills, and resources to either stop It from happening or decisively bringing It to an end and arresting all the masterminds and sponsors of such a needless violence. Imagine that a Police Force established to enforce law and order is now busy telling tales about the conflicts that blew up in their very before and the police is only just stating that it was an ethnic violence which started following a disagreement between the Hausa community and the Chabo tribe, after a tricycle accident. What a scandal. The police command and all other Security forces on ground that allowed themselves to be overwhelmed by this inter ethnic conflict have lost their moral high ground to remain in offices in that state."

HURIWA has once more asked President Muhammadu Buhari to activate effective mechanisms for nipping in the bud these many wanton killings by armed hoodlums and armed Fulani herdsmen just as the Rights group said it was unacceptable that the spate of killings have become so widespread under the watch of the current administration and all that Nigerians kept hearing are empty rhetoric and theatrics from President Muhammadu Buhari even as the officials designated to prevent the killings and spearhead the prosecution of these mass killers are behaving like they are sacred cows who can't be sanctioned for failing to carry out their legal obligations to the good people of Nigeria.

"Why will the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu and the Director General of the Department of States Services still be doing in their respective offices when the incidence of mass killings keep escalating by the day and thousands of innocent Nigerians are killed?"
By AFP

JERUSALEM: The Chinese ambassador to Israel, Du Wei, was found dead at his residence on the outskirts of Tel Aviv on Sunday, police said.

The envoy, who had arrived in Israel in mid-February, was found dead in his Herzliya home, spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP, adding that police were investigating. Du's wife and son were not with him in Israel.

57-year-old Du, had previously served as ambassador to Ukraine, according to his biography on the embassy's website. The Haaretz daily said initial reports said staff had found Du dead in his bed and that there were no signs of violence.

It quoted a first aid service as saying the cause of death appeared to be a cardiac incident.
New Delhi, May 17 : Continuing the closure of red-light areas in India even after the lifting of the lockdown on May 17 can reduce the number of COVID-19 cases by 72 per cent in a period of 45-days; and delay the peak of cases by 17 days, says a finding by academicians from Yale School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School.

The study called 'Modelling the Effect of Continued Closure of Red-Light Areas on COVID-19 Transmission in India' finds that Indians are at a much lower risk of getting COVID-19 if red light areas are kept closed after the lockdown, until an effective treatment or vaccine for COVID-19 is developed. This intervention can help the Indian government significantly reduce the risk of citizens getting COVID-19.

The delay in the peak will provide the government more time and opportunities to plan and execute measures to protect public health and economy, as India moves in Lockdown 4.0. The study also states that there could be a 63 per cent reduction in the number of deaths in the first 60 days after the lockdown ends, if red-light areas are kept closed.

In India, there are close to 6,37,500 sex workers as per the National Aids Control Organization (NACO) and over 5 lakh customers visit the red-light areas on a daily basis. The study shows that if the red-light areas start operating, the disease will spread extremely quickly and infect a very high percentage of sex workers and customers. The high transmission rate is because social distancing is not possible during the act of sex. The infected customers could spread the disease to lakhs of other citizens.

Therefore, these red light areas have a combination of factors that can create a major hotspot. This hotspot can create a large percentage of the disease spread after lockdown ends. To protect citizens against this, the study recommends keeping red light areas closed indefinitely, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report highlights the impact of red-light areas across India and in five Indian cities which are currently in the red-zone and account for some of the largest red-light areas in the country with large numbers of sex workers.

As per the study, if red-light areas are kept closed following the lifting of lockdown, there can be a delay in the peak of COVID-19 cases by: Up to 12 days in Mumbai

Up to 17 days in New Delhi,

Up to 29 days in Pune,

Up to 30 days in Nagpur,

Up to 36 days in Kolkata

Further, it can reduce COVID-19 cases in a 45-day period by:

21 per cent in Mumbai,

27 per cent in Pune,

31 per cent in New Delhi,

56 per cent in Nagpur,

66 per cent in Kolkata

The report shows that closure of red-light areas can significantly reduce deaths by 63 per cent in India, 28 per cent in Mumbai, 38 per cent in New Delhi, 43 per cent in Pune, 61 per cent in Nagpur and 66 per cent in Kolkata in the first 60 days. These numbers are based on the prevalent reproduction number of 2.0. The numbers could vary depending on the Reproduction number, which is constantly changing with time in different locations.

Commenting on the report, co-author, Dr. Jefferey Townsend, Professor of Biostatistics, Yale School of Medicine said: "At the release of lockdown, there is a very high potential for the increase in the cases, and hence, a modulated approach is warranted. The actual scenario will depend on behaviour of individuals and our model does not predict how individuals will behave. The purpose of our modelling exercises in not to predict what will happen in the future, but to understand the effect of the intervention on the future. Our study findings show that there is a strong effect of the red-light area closures, especially immediately following the lockdown." Other countries have also implemented similar interventions. In Australia, brothels and strip clubs are the only businesses that are delineated as indefinitely closed in the country's reopening plan. Germany and the Netherlands have also closed their brothels to protect citizens from COVID-19. Japan did not close down red light areas in-time and saw an "explosion" in cases because of a red light area that left local hospitals "overwhelmed".

Speaking about the COVID-19 situation in India, co-author of the report, Dr. Sudhakar Nuti, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School said: "The Indian government's early measures to prevent the high growth in COVID-19 cases have flattened the curve in the country. The continued closure of red-light areas would build on the successes achieved by the government in lockdown. India gained around 40 days of delay in the peak through lockdown and can gain another 17 days of delay by keeping these places closed. Any effort in delaying the peak reduces the amount of stress on the medical system and potentially translates into lives saved. Preventing the potential surge in cases by red light areas reopening will protect gains made by the lockdown." The report has been co-authored by Prof. Jeffery Townsend, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, Prof. Alison Galvani, Director, Center for Infectious Disease Modelling & Analysis, Yale University, and Dr. Sudhakar Nuti, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

(Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
(Natural News) Gravediggers in Chiles capital of Santiago are digging 2,000 fresh graves as the country braces for a surge in Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and deaths, authorities confirmed Thursday.

The announcement comes after the countrys infection rate skyrocketed this week, prompting the government to declare a mandatory lockdown of Santiago on Friday.

More deaths expected after cases surge

Chile had previously recorded between 250 and 500 infections a day. On Wednesday, however, a surge of 2,600 infections was registered within a 24-hour period. The same numbers continued to be recorded Thursday.

We realize that this is a historical moment and that we may need more graves, because we see whats happened in other countries, Rashid Saud, director of Santiagos General Cemetery, told Agence Presse-France.

Unlike other countries, which have resorted to mass graves or stored corpses in refrigerated trucks, the General Cemetery is digging individual graves  2,000 of them  to prepare for the expected surge in deaths from the pandemic. Prior to this, the pandemic had claimed the lives of 368 people in Chile since March 3.

We have to contrast it with other countries that have resorted to mass graves, with countries which have had dead people on the streets and rotting corpses in trucks. That is what we want to avoid and hopefully we will not have to use them, stated Saud.

Bracing for a tough fight

The digging of the graves comes as the Chilean government braces for what may be its toughest month in its fight against the pandemic.

When he announced the citys quarantine, Health Minister Jaime Manalich stated that the month of May was proving very tough for our country.

Manalich stressed the importance of fighting the pandemic in the capital, stating that the battle for Santiago is THE crucial battle in the war against coronavirus.

He also assuaged fears that the countrys health system was collapsing, stating that essential equipment was being transferred to important hotspots.

Other countries have resorted to mass graves

With its gravedigging efforts, Santiago looks to try to avoid the issues experienced by other cities struggling with the pandemic. Other cities around the world have not been as fortunate.

New York City, one of the hardest-hit in America, has had to resort to mass graves as cemeteries, funeral homes and crematories get backed up due to the flood of dead bodies. Specifically, the city has been burying unclaimed bodies in Hart Island in the Bronx.

Under a new policy, New York Citys Office of the Chief Medical Examiner keeps bodies of coronavirus victims in storage for only 14 days before theyre given to prison laborers to bury on Hart Island.

Other measures that the city has implemented include allowing crematories to operate for 24 hours a day, or allowing people to be buried out of state.

London has also had to dig mass graves. The British capital had to start doing do after an outbreak hit Londons Muslim community  burials in Islam are usually required to take place 24 hours after death, and cremations are forbidden.

While Santiago does its best to avoid the situation in these other cities, some worry that other Chilean cities may not be able to handle the expected surge in deaths.

Luis Yevenes, head of the cemetery workers union, said that he was concerned that other cemeteries would not be able to handle the expected surge in deaths. He specifically mentioned a lack of capacity in cemeteries in Valparaiso and Vina del Mar in central Chile, and the cities of Conception and Talcahuano farther south.

Sources include:

France24.com

WSJ.com

Express.co.uk
Ohio coronavirus numbers released Thursday paint a shocking picture about rapidly rising coronavirus nursing home deaths. The 674 known coronavirus fatalities in Ohio long-term-care facilities now make up 44 percent of all coronavirus deaths in the state.

And both the number and their percentage of all COVID-19 deaths in Ohio appear to be going up quickly.

In the states prior weekly reporting May 6, there were 499 long-term-care deaths.

Thats a 35% jump in fatalities in just one week.

Further, its uncertain how accurate those numbers might be. Among other issues, the state has not mandated reporting on long-term-care coronavirus deaths prior to April 15.

The steep trajectory of these deaths should prompt immediate action by Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton to prioritize COVID-19 testing in all nursing homes in Ohio.

Long-term-care settings tend to house people uniquely susceptible to fatal cases of COVID-19, because of age, underlying conditions and reliance on staff assistance. Once a case gets into these high-risk congregate settings, it can spread rapidly -- and with deadly consequences.

And because of mounting evidence that asymptomatic spread is a key way COVID-19 wreaks its rampages, Ohios strategy of only surging COVID-19 testing and other resources until after there are signs of trouble in a nursing home is exactly the wrong strategy.

Testing would help in other ways, too, potentially allowing such homes to segregate those not infected and find a way to allow safe visitation  in turn, providing needed stimulation and family oversight for residents.

Yes, Ohio like other states is severely constrained by a shortage of test kits, personal protective equipment and other resources.

Shame on the White House coronavirus task force for calling for blanket testing in nursing homes nationally while failing to provide additional resources to do so.

But Ohio cannot wait for these long-promised federal resources. It must act. It must prioritize nursing home testing over prison testing, where the state has acted with admirable swiftness to test all inmates in some prisons, and where it has a superintendency responsibility for the lives of those prisoners.

Yet the dangers of death are clearly far more acute from coronavirus in long-term-care facilities.

Beyond that, Ohio has to cure the errors in its nursing-home coronavirus reporting. That requires efforts to fill in the blanks on nursing-home COVID-19 deaths before April 15. It also requires state officials to lean on all 113 local health departments in Ohio to make sure that all long-term-care facilities in their jurisdictions provide accurate, prompt and comprehensive corona reporting, and that vetted numbers then get to the state without delay.

Ohio, to its credit, is quickly ramping up testing capacity -- but it remains well short of where it needs to be.

Gov. DeWine needs to put pressure on the White House to help the state fix that critical deficiency, and keep doing what hes already been doing, in reaching out to private-sector partners for help.

Comprehensive testing in nursing homes will help save lives. But more testing generally is a critical requirement as Ohio reopens its economy, to learn where the trouble spots may lie, so the state can be nimble in responding.

Federal prison testing also must increase

Speaking of COVID-19 testing, why is so little apparently being done in federal prisons in Ohio and elsewhere?

The federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) reports daily on coronavirus cases, deaths and COVID-19 recoveries by prison, both among inmates and staff. But a federal judge in Cleveland has raised justifiable doubts regarding the accuracy of those numbers at the Elkton prison in Ohios Columbiana County -- No. 1 nationally in reported federal prison deaths, with nine deaths.

Whats more, the federal prison bureau is actively resisting U.S. District Judge James Gwins order to test more prisoners at the Elkton low-security prison, and to move vulnerable inmates to a safer location or to outright release. A list of 837 inmates eligible for such transfers or release includes imprisoned former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, 64.

As of May 14, Elkton, about 80 miles southeast of Cleveland, in Lisbon, Ohio, housed, in two adjacent facilities, more than 2,350 prisoners.

In his April 22 order granting a temporary injunction for a temporary prisoner release at Elkton, Gwin expressed doubt that the federal prison system is really as incapable of marshaling resources to test inmates as it claims.

The Ohio prisons virus response undercuts BOPs ability to argue that testing is either unavailable or is impossible, the judge wrote, as quoted by cleveland.com reporters Eric Heisig and Cory Shaffer. Why has the Justice Department allocated Elkton an entirely insignificant number of tests while Ohio has been able to pull off mass testing across not only Marion [prison], but at multiple institutions?

Even as the federal government moved to appeal Gwins order, Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio called on U.S. Attorney General William Barr and BOP Director Michael Carvajal to send more test kits to the Elkton prison.

Barr and Carvajal should do so, immediately.

About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization.

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Islamabad, May 17 : The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan has risen to 40,151 with 873 deaths, according to the country's Health Ministry on Sunday.

A total of 1,352 new cases and 39 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying in its latest update.

Overall, 27,937 patients are under treatment in different hospitals while 11,341 have recovered completely, which is 28.2 per cent of the total confirmed cases.

Sindh province is the worst affected region with 15,590 cases, followed by Punjab province with 14,584 cases.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province stands third with 5,847 cases with 305 deaths.

At least 2,544 cases have been reported in Balochistan province, 947 in the capital city Islamabad, and 527 in north Gilgit-Baltistan region.

The Pakistani government started to ease the lockdown from May 9, aiming at mitigating the influence of the COVID-19 outbreak and the lockdown on the labour class and the poor in the country.

The reopened industries and the Pakistani people have been asked to strictly follow the standard operating procedures formed by the government to avoid the spread of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has announced to extend the suspension of international flight operations till May 31 while resuming domestic flight operations partially.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
About 540 Vietnamese citizens stranded in the United States and Europe owing to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic were brought home on Friday and Saturday and quarantined upon arrival.

These passengers include children under the age of 18, the elderly, sick people, pregnant women, graduate students, stranded tourists, and people whose visas had expired but could not leave the countries, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Among them, more than 340 returned from multiple states in the U.S., with their flight taking off from Washington DC and landing at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

Passengers and crew members of the flight were brought to a local quarantine camp and had their health monitored following their arrival in the capital.

Nearly 200 other Vietnamese citizens were repatriated from several European nations.

The flight stopped at Frankfurt International Airport in Germany and Madrid Barajas International Airport in Spain for the passengers to board.

Vietnamese citizens queue for check-in at an airport in Spain before boarding their flight back to Vietnam. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

After landing at Da Nang International Airport in the namesake central city, the passengers and cabin crew members were provided with medical checkups and required to undergo a mandatory 14-day isolation period.

The embassies of Vietnam in the U.S. and European countries had closely cooperated with local authorities to help the Vietnamese nationals complete all required procedures and make their journey home safely.

Vietnam will continue arranging flights to bring home its citizens in the coming time, depending on the pandemic situation, the countrys quarantine capacity, and the demand for repatriation of Vietnamese citizens in foreign countries.

The number of COVID-19 patients in Vietnam is at 318 as of Sunday morning, with 260 having recovered. No death from the disease has been reported.

No infection in the community has been confirmed in the country in the past 31 days.

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A five-year-old girl has become the latest to contract the novel coronavirus disease in the Northern Region.

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

The victim, a resident of the Tamale Metropolis, is among some 13 new cases recorded in the Region between Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16.

The new cases have seen a jump of more than half in the case count for the region, from 19 to 32 on Saturday, May 16.

READ ALSO: 5 punishments to expect in Ghana if Cabinet approves community sentencing policy

Two hospital staff are also among the latest confirmed cases, the Northern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Eleeza John Bertson, told 3news.com.

The two staff have, however, not gotten in contact with any infected person.

The new medical staff cases are in self-isolation and they are actually on leave so they couldnt get in contact with any case under management.

Dr. Eleeza John Bertson has attributed the sudden jump in numbers to the late delivery of samples from the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR).

These results are samples of 200 contacts traced from some 12 cases and dispatched to the KCCR on 22 April. [The] results were received on May 15.

He admitted that the delay in receiving the result poses a threat to the Directorate.

READ ALSO: 294 more COVID-19 patients recover; total recoveries up to 1,754

The 12 new cases consist of nine males and three females.

The age range is five years to 51 years.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Ghana has recorded 786 new COVID-19 recoveries as against 108 new cases, health officials reveal.

This brings the total number of recoveries to 1,460 as of May 16, 2020, the Ghana Health Service said in its routine updates.

Ghanaians share their thoughts on the mandatory wearing of face mask | #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Greater Accra records more COVID-19 cases than 48 countries in Africa

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Source: YEN.com.gh
As member states of the World Health Organization gather tomorrow, May 17, 2020 in Geneva for the World Health Assembly, a global coalition of 31 think tanks today calls on governments to commit to open trade, collaboration and innovation in the fight against Covid-19.

The united declaration calls for a range of measures to safeguard supplies of essential medical goods and support innovation for future Covid-19 treatments and cures. Import tariffs are applied by many countries on medical supplies and personal protective equipment, driving up prices and reducing availability. These should be abolished permanently.

Governments should also commit to avoiding export bans, which are exacerbating global shortages of essential medical goods by disrupting global manufacturing supply chains. Customs red tape should be reviewed to keep goods crossing borders as quickly as possible, the declaration urges.

Innovation is crucial to finding a long-term solution to a newly identified disease like Covid-19. That includes the invention of new therapeutics and vaccines, but also their mass manufacture and rapid distribution throughout the world. The think tanks call on governments to support needed innovation by facilitating the cross-border flow of epidemiological and clinical data related to Covid-19.

They should also avoid pre-emptively removing intellectual property rights from any new vaccines or treatments that emerge. The world needs more companies to join the quest for new treatments and vaccines, not policies that send a strong signal to stay away. Intellectual property rights are vital to support coordinated mass manufacturing scale-up and global distribution.

We are concerned that many countries are looking to the failed ideas of the past to address the crisis. Barriers are being erected that are deepening shortages of medical supplies, undermining innovation and hampering efforts to beat the disease. The situation is compounded in relatively poor and poor countries, where health patients are being failed by the lack of investment in domestic health care infrastructure says Franklin Cudjoe, founding president of IMANI Africa.

Now is not the time for countries to look inwards. The crisis will only be resolved, and economies will only recover, if countries are allowed to trade and collaborate freely with each other Cudjoe concluded.

To download the report and see all the 31 think tanks endorsing it, please click here .
A Nigerian fraud ring has reportedly infiltrated US unemployment systems in a sophisticated attack that has already stolen millions of dollars in payments that were intended for out-of-work Americans and to prevent an economic crisis.

The vast and complicated network has stolen detailed identity information from citizens, such as social security numbers, to file false claims on behalf of workers who may not even have lost their jobs, The New York Times reported.

Investigators from the US Secret Service said they have information that suggests a well-organized Nigerian fraud ring is behind the scheme, which authorities believe could result in 'potential losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars'.

The agency believe Washington State is the primary target of the criminal enterprise, however there's also evidence of attacks in Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Wyoming.

The vast and complicated network has stolen detailed identity information from citizens, such as social security numbers, to file false claims on behalf of workers who may not even have lost their jobs.

They also warned that every state was vulnerable and could be easily be next, citing the attackers' apparent access to extensive personally identifiable information (PII).

Roy Dotson, a special agent at the Secret Service, told The Times that investigators were still trying to confirm the identity of the attackers and zero-in on where exactly they are operating.

'We are actively running down every lead we are getting,' Dotson said.

Investigators say it appears the operation is being aided by a substantial number of 'mules'  people in the US who are used as intermediaries for money laundering after making contact with the fraudsters online.

The attack has exploited state unemployment systems at a time when they're struggling to cope with the overwhelming numbers of claims during an unemployment crisis unseen since the Great Depression.

Rhode Island Police announced Monday that it had received 'numerous reports of suspected fraud' in relation to unemployment benefits.

Scott Jensen, the director of Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, noted the difficulty of distinguishing between a legitimate claim and a fraudulent one when the fraudsters are providing accurate and detailed information.

'Whoever it is seems to be fairly sophisticated and good at what they are doing,' Jensen said, adding the state is clamping down and looking more closely at claims involving specific banks and other trends.

The attack has exploited state unemployment systems at a time when they're straining under the crush of the overwhelming numbers of claims during an unemployment crisis unseen since the Great Depression

Meanwhile, in Washington, Suzi LeVine, the commissioner of Washington State's Employment Security Department, refused to put a specific number on the state's losses so far but said she believed it to be in the millions of dollars.

Confused workers and business owners in Washington State have been inundating authorities will calls about unemployment notifications they received, despite having never made a claim.

Some workplaces have been hit particularly hard. Among them is the Western Washington University, where more than 400 of its 2,500 person workforce has fallen victim to fraudulent claims.

Suzi LeVine described the ongoing scheme as a 'gut punch'.

Anna Zivarts, who works at the Seattle-based non-profit Disability Rights Washington, said she also received a number of unemployment letters through the post on May 8.

'I called my boss and said, 'Am I getting laid off and I just don't know about it?' Zivarts told The Times, but her boss assured her than she still was employed.

Zivarts said she called and emailed the state to flag the issue. Her employer has also notified the state.

Some workplaces have been hit particularly hard. Among them is the Western Washington University, where more than 400 of its 2,500 person workforce have fallen victim to fraudulent claims

Since the coronavirus pandemic began ravaging the United States, more than 36 million people have filed for unemployment within the last two months, with billions of dollars handed out in benefits.

States rushing to get payments to people who are out of work are likely to be most susceptible to the scheme. Many states have long opted for lengthy review periods to help identify fraudulent claims, however as more people become eligible and the need for payments becomes more urgent, some states have circumvented those safeguards.

In Washington, where one million people have lost their jobs since March, the state has reduced its typical weeklong review period to cater to the overwhelming demand.

'There's a dire need to get money out quickly,' LeVine said. 'This makes us an attractive target for fraudsters.'

U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran told The Times his Seattle office was working with other agencies to track down and prosecute the people submitting false claims. But he also said the state needed to 'address and fix vulnerabilities in their system.'

LeVine said the unemployment agency was monitoring trends and using them to help identify suspicious cases before payments were issued. The state has also implemented a two-day delay in payments to give workers more time to vet the claims.
BuzzFeed accused of ridiculing Welsh language in quiz which pokes fun at Wrexham place names

This article is old - Published: Sunday, May 17th, 2020

Online media firm BuzzFeed has been accused of ridiculing the Welsh language after publishing a quiz which pokes fun at the name of two villages in Wrexham.

The quiz invites users to guess whether a name is a real place in Wales or was created by the author by randomly mashing their keyboard.

It includes the names of Rhosllanerchrugog and Bwlchgwyn, which are both located within the county borough, as well as the made-up Posdjklddkfjdsnf.

The knowledge test has provoked a backlash on social media with BBC News broadcaster Huw Edwards accusing the platform of promoting contempt for minority cultures in a post on Twitter.

It has also been condemned by North Wales regional MS Llyr Gruffydd, who branded it as pathetic.

He said: Buzzfeed.com has a long and unfortunate track record of ridiculing the Welsh language.

The latest click bait effort asks whether Welsh placenames such as Bwlchgwyn and Rhosllannerchrugog are fake.

Im sure residents of both villages, with such unique and descriptive names, would raise an eyebrow at being told they live in fake villages.

Referring to the announcement this week that BuzzFeed would be withdrawing its UK news operation, the Plaid Cymru politician added: Its little wonder Buzzfeed has come to an end in the U.K. when its reduced to these kinds of pathetic articles. It wont be missed.

Following the criticism, the article titled Can You Guess Which Villages Are Real Places In Wales And Which Ones Are Fake? was later edited.

It resulted in references to mashing the keyboard and random letters being removed, although the quiz itself was left up.

In a note at the bottom of the post, Buzzfeed said it had been amended to reflect the companys editorial standards.

The US-based firm has also been asked to respond to the comments made by Mr Gruffydd.

By Liam Randall  BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme)
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Inside Hook

For those who have been following the spread of COVID-19 around the globe, the case of Italy stands out for a host of reasons. Earlier this spring, it was home to an unnerving number of cases  and over 31,000 people have lost their lives there as a result of the coronavirus. The number of cases has been dropping steadily over the last few weeks, however, and the Italian government recently announced a significant step in the nations recovery.

At The Washington Post, Chico Harlan has the news of an important milestone for Italy. Its government recently announced the easing of a number of travel restrictions. These changes, as of now, are set to go into effect on June 3.
Still, public health experts expect reopening to bring about increases in the numbers of coronavirus cases. On Saturday, Texas reported its largest singe-day spike during the pandemic, with 1,815 diagnoses. Officials attributed it to an outbreak in the Texas Panhandle and to increased testing. Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, let his stay-at-home order expire on April 30 and permitted retail stores, restaurants and other businesses to reopen this month.

Governors contend that they are better prepared now for possible increases in cases, with more testing capacity and stockpiles of protective equipment. Officials have also said that they can respond in a more focused way, zeroing in on hard-hit areas.

In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves moved last week to ease his safer-at-home order to allow the reopening of tattoo parlors and to lift a ban on fishing tournaments, while also adding restrictions in seven counties that had an unusually high rate of cases per capita.

The next phase, Mr. Reeves, a Republican, said in a recent news conference, is to take a surgical approach, rather than a sledgehammer, to this disease.

Each official move sets off dominoes of decisions for business owners, who are weighing whether to reopen, and for residents, who are unsure if they should venture out. And that has directed more attention to the figures for new cases and deaths that are reported by state officials.

In Colorado, some were raising concerns after officials there changed the way the state reports its figures. On Friday, they began drawing a distinction between deaths among Covid-19 cases and deaths due to Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Before then, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment had been including anyone who had Covid-19 at the time of death in the official total, a practice consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions counting criteria. By that reckoning, Colorado had 1,192 deaths as of Friday.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Do you ever miss the good ole days? We do, too!

We brought together some of the best shots from the Classic Staten Island Instagram page to help you reminisce! Take a look through 14 nostalgic shots, showing off what Staten Island used to be and what just looks a little different today.

Interested in more vintage Staten Island photos? Follow @ClassicStatenIsland on Instagram and on Facebook, and make sure to check out the Where Staten Island Eats page for all things food on S.I.!

Capt. John Jacksons Sandy Ground settlement in Rossville  the first recorded purchase of land by a black man in Richmond County  was a haven from persecution in an era when they were few and far between  even in the abolitionist North. During the early 1800s, a group of free African-Americans from the town of Snow Hill in Worcester County, Md., migrated to Sandy Ground. Along with Sandy Ground's original settlers, they worked as oysterers. That line of work flourished on the Island for about eight decades, until pollution from New Jersey factories closed the oyster beds. Today, it is a historic monument and home to an annual festival thats famous for the Sandy Ground Secret Sauce. Its important to preserve tradition  and this is one of the Islands traditions, says Sandy Ground Historical Society executive director Sylvia Moody DAlessandro, who is a descendant of original settlers. But make no mistake  this event is about more than mouth-watering soul food: The annual celebration draws one of the most-diverse crowds of any Staten Island event to the Sandy Ground Library and Museum. Museums exhibits include Sandy Ground Past and Present and Faces of the Underground Railroad. Never forget, says DAlessandro: Staten Island offered a safe place for African-Americans to build and be part of a community. Photo 1: Tanisha Ross, 4, and Shantel White, 4, hold an old wagon wheel forged by blacksmith Joe Bishop in Sandy Ground, Feb. 18, 1998. Photo 2: Joseph Bishop taken October 4, 1981 Bishop, lifelong resident died in 1986 is shown in his blacksmith shop housed in a 125-year-old wooden barn. Photo 3: Free black oyster fishermen from Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. Photo 4: Members of the Sandy Ground Historical Society hold historic photos of famous members from the past, during Black Family Heritage Day, Sept. 16, 2012.

Kids who were pushing stuck cars out of water frolic in the rain, weather, flooding Hylan Blvd. and Midland Avenue, circa 1988.

After two fires, only the sign gives a clue that this was once the New York Diner. The sight is anything but pleasant to the many drivers who travel along Bay Street in Tompkinsville daily, October 1964.

On Feb. 10, 1973, a chilly Saturday afternoon, a flash fire erupted in the cavernous interior of a smaller LNG tank in Bloomfield. Natural gas trapped inside fueled the fire and created a force that ripped the concrete dome from its anchors and sent it crashing onto workers more than 100 feet below. Forty men were killed. The incident stands as the borough's worst industrial accident ever.

The staff of Leonhard Weinmann's Bakery looked clean in their baker's whites; photo was taken soon after the shop which opened at 388 Van Duzer Street, 1918. Weinmann is at far right and his wife, Bertha, stands at center. The shop closed in 1968. Between 1969 and 2001, the place saw many uses, like the Art Network and the Studio Museum of Staten Island. The location was later home to the Muddy Cup Coffee House, the Full Cup and the HashTag Bar.

July 31,1976: Jackie "O" pilots the ferry! The former first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, JFK's widow, came to Staten Island to visit Snug Harbor Cultural Center and during her journey got to take the wheel of the Pvt. Joseph Merrell ferryboat.

A ship sails through the Narrows beneath the then-under-construction Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, circa December of 1963.

Postmen at National Association of Letter Carriers Meeting at the Colonial Inn on Staten Island, March 18, 1970. The Colonial Inn was located at 1559 Richmond Rd., Dongan Hills. and is now the home to Max's Es-Ca.

An Army parachuter sails past the Statue of Liberty on his way to a landing on Liberty Island during the 1978 July 4 festival.

April 24, 1970 - Far from its tropical habitat, this snake, believed to be a boa constrictor, is held on the end of a rod by Gene Reynolds of Great Kills, who discovered the dead snake under a blanket near the curb on Ridgewood Road, off Arthur Kill Road, in Eltingville. Where the huge serpent came from has baffled police and ASPCA investigators.

Circa 1940 - Sailors' Snug Harbor workers harvesting corn for silage.

The operating room in the U.S. Marine Hospital looked very different from the sterile rooms of today's hospitals. Note that the doctors and nurses were not wearing masks when this photograph was taken in 1917. The National Institutes of Health began as a single room Laboratory of Hygiene for bacteriological investigation established by the U.S, Marine Hospital Service at Stapleton, in 1887. From 1887 to 1891 the Laboratory was located in the attic of the Marine Hospital on Staten Island, which had been the Seaman's Retreat until leased by the Federal Government in 1883 and made part of the Marine Hospital Service. The building that housed the Laboratory still stands and is part of the Bayley Seton Hospital.

50 Cent performs for 200 fans at Illusions nightclub in Great Kills as part of a 5-borough-tour to promote his new album, Sept. 2007.
The Centre on Sunday agreed to raise the borrowing limit of states from 3 per cent of gross state domestic product (GSDP) to 5 per cent in 2020-21, to make available an extra of Rs 4.28 lakh crore.

Releasing the fifth and final tranche of the economic stimulus package, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Centre devolved Rs 46,038 crore of taxes in April to states even though actual revenue shows unprecedented decline from Budget Estimates.

Revenue deficit grants of Rs 12,390 crore were given to states on time in April and May despite the Centre's stressed resources, she said.

Also, advance release of the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) of Rs 11,092 crore happened in first week of April, she said adding that a release of over Rs 4,113 crore from the health ministry for direct anti-COVID activities was also released.

At the Centre's request, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased Ways and Means Advance limits of states by 60 per cent. Also, the number of days state can be in continuous overdraft has been increased from 14 days to 21 days and the number of days state can be in overdraft in a quarter has been increased from 32 to 50 days.

State net borrowing ceiling for 2020-21 is Rs 6.41 lakh crore (3 per cent of gross state domestic product).

States have so far borrowed only 14 per cent of the limit authorised. Eighty-six per cent of the authorised borrowing remains unutilised.

Despite this, states have been asking for special increase in borrowing from 3 per cent to 5 per cent.

"In view of the unprecedented situation, the Centre has decided to accede to request and increase borrowing limits of states from 3 per cent of GSDP to 5 per cent for 2020-21 only. This will give states extra resources of Rs 4.28 lakh crore," she added.

Sitharaman said part of the borrowing will be linked to specific reforms.

There will be unconditional increase of 0.50 per cent in borrowing limit. "1 per cent in 4 tranches of 0.25 per cent with each tranche linked to clearly specified, measurable and feasible reforms," she said. "Further, 0.50 per cent if milestones are achieved in at least three out of four reform areas.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Unlike President Harry Trumans comment, The Buck Stop Here. President Trump needs someone to blame for all of his failures! Trump will be known as the Pass the Buck, I Never Said That, and Obama Did It president.

The Chinese screwed up their responsibility to humanity with their self-centered response to the coronavirus epidemic. When they shutdown Wuhan, a city of 11 million people, they failed by not immediately shutting down the citys airport. They also attempted to hide and mishandle the epidemic that it became a pandemic because the officials making the citizens were in full cover-up mode.

Trumps blind hatred of Barrack Obama followed in the same, by allowing for the dismantling of our countrys early warning pandemic response team in 2018. This was compounded by Trumps decision to withdraw dozens of scientists stationed in China on the ground. Had Trump left both Obama safely unmolested, we would likely not have ever seen 1.5 million Americans infected with coronavirus, or 90,000 lose their lives to COVID-19.











The death count is going to climb steadily at an average of 1600 a day through this years, November 3rd election. That comes to a possible 362,000 Covid-19. Trump is desperate to divert attention from this inescapable reality of his incompetence and failure at handling the absolute worst crisis of his presidency.

Trump also has to divert attention from the 50 million people that will be unemployed if he allows the states and municipalities to fire police, fire, EMT, nurses, teachers, sanitation workers, and dozens of other state and city workers.

Trumps troubles require a smokescreen to divert attention away from his personal and public life continues when the Supreme Court hands over his financial and tax records to the Manhattan District Attorney, who could put Trump and his businesses in a world of hurt, publically.

Bottom line: Trump needs a villain to deflect attention away from his legal and more flaws. China seems to be his chosen scapegoat.

So far, thank God, the Chinese government has responded to Trumps reckless rhetoric by referring to President Trump 

Evil A Lunatic Shameless Sick and Twisted

Given about 54% of Americans would describe Trump is very much the same ways, the Chinese have been remarkably restrained.

The Chinese government has also shown restraint in the face of President Trump ordering some provocative U.S. Naval maneuvers in the South China seas and through the Taiwan Strait.

The Chinese realize Trump re-election isnt a certainty. They are calculating that if they restrain their response to Trumps hostility, theres a good chance hell destroy himself as Senator Joseph McCarthy did in the 1950s.

A war between China and the United States would cost trillions of dollars and hundreds of thousands, if not millions of lives on both sides. It could and would drag Russia in on Chinas side. The two have a military alliance and conduct maneuvers.

We dont need a war of any kind with China. There are moderates in China that would work with a Biden Administration in repairing our diplomatic relationship quickly, restore our scientific cooperation, and get a trade deal done that has major concessions from Beijing, with intelligence protections.

Beijing will give Biden out of sheer relief theyre rid of Trump and because they need full access to U.S. and European export markets to revive its economy.

Biden and Beijing talks wont happen until after Trump leaves office. Between now and then, Trump will demonize China as he said on a Fox Business interview on Thursday.

We could cut off the whole relationship.

In one sentence, Trump has told the Chinese what to expect until at least Election Day.

Trumps about to hit them with more tirades, accusations, tariffs, and the claim they defaulted on their first trade agreement promises as an election strategy. Trump is going to do this to rally Americans not smart enough to realize his real-life political skills are no more astute and strategic than George Orwells classic novel 1984 dark socio/political/economic fictional world.







Donald Trump threatens to cut ties with China






At least 11 people, including four from the same family, have been killed by torrential rains in Tanzanias eastern region of Morogoro, the police said on Saturday.

Wilbroad Mutafungwa, the Morogoro Regional Police Commander, said the four members of the same family were killed on Friday night after a landslide from nearby mountains pushed down the walls of their house.

The walls fell on the victims, including a five-year-old child, he told a news conference in Morogoro, adding that the grisly incident occurred in Matombo ward.

Mr Mutafungwa said another seven people, including five children, were also killed on Friday night after flash floods from Uluguru Mountains swept them away.

READ ALSO:

He added that the victims were living on the slopes of the mountains.

He urged the public to be extra vigilant as heavy rains continued to pound in different parts of the region referred to as a breadbasket.

(Xinhua/NAN)
(Bloomberg) -- One of Chinas best-performing stocks so far in 2020 is a little-known server maker that last year abruptly joined the same U.S. blacklist that threatens Huawei Technologies Co.s survival. Investors are betting that Beijings rapidly emerging plan to invest trillions in technology will outweigh the Trump administrations curbs.

Dawning Information Industry Co. has soared 60% since the start of the year, making it the third-best performer year to date on the benchmark CSI 300 index of Shanghai and Shenzhen stocks. Its now trading at about 56 times its projected 2020 earnings, above its average over the past three years -- yet some analysts think its uptrend is set to continue.

Dawnings among the Chinese companies at the center of efforts by Washington to stall the rapid rise of Chinas IT industry. The U.S. Commerce Department blacklisted the Beijing-based company a year ago, requiring its American suppliers to get a license from the U.S. government in order to sell their products. Also on the entity list was the companys advanced computing processor subsidiary, which operates American chip giant Advanced Mirco Devices Inc.s joint-venture in China.

China and the U.S. are most likely heading toward greater friction in technology, said Wang Chen, a Shanghai-based partner with XuFunds Investment Management Co. Companies that possess core technologies and good business models will benefit. Dawnings tech strength was demonstrated by its recent China Telecom procurement deal win, he added.

Beijings plan to invest heavily in the countrys IT infrastructure to reboot its virus-stricken economy could propel Dawnings business. The supercomputers, servers and storage equipment it makes are essential to Chinas ambitious new infrastructure initiative that has technologies such as large-scale data centers and next-generation telecom networks at its heart.

The business potential from the companys partnership deals with Loongson and Cambricon is not fully realized, Wang Jianhui, an analyst at Dongxing Securities said referring to two up-and-coming state-backed chip developers. The stock price should have more room to grow.

Story continues

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Israeli soldiers on Sunday shot and wounded a man who crossed from Lebanon into Israeli-held territory, the military said.

The Israeli military said the man was taken to an Israeli hospital. His identity and condition were not immediately known, and the army said it was investigating. A report in Lebanon said the man was a shepherd who had not crossed the frontier.

The army said the incident occurred after the man crossed from Lebanon into Shebaa Farms. The area is a disputed enclave along the frontier between Israel, Syria and Lebanon.

Israel says the enclave is part of the Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria in 1967 and later annexed. The U.S. is the only country to have recognized Israel's annexation of the Golan.

Lebanon and Syria say Shebaa Farms belong to Lebanon, while the United Nations says the area is part of Syria and that Damascus and Israel should negotiate its final status.

The Lebanese-Israeli frontier has seen tensions rise in recent weeks between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah.

Ali Shoeib, the correspondent for Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV in southern Lebanon, tweeted that the man was a Syrian shepherd who was herding hundreds of goats and not trying to cross the frontier. He said the man was near the Blue Line, the U.N.-demarcated frontier, and had not crossed it when he was shot.

Shoeib posted a photo of a blood-soaked shirt that he said belonged to the Syrian man, whom he said worked for a Lebanese shepherd.

In April, an Israeli drone fired on a truck carrying Hezbollah fighters in Syria near the border with Lebanon. No one was hurt. Two days later, Israel accused Hezbollah of provocative acts, including attempts to breach the border.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a 34-day war in 2006 to a stalemate. Earlier this month the Lebanese military detained five Sudanese citizens who had crossed into Israel.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Welcome to Money Diaries, where were tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. Were asking women how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period  and were tracking every last dollar.

Today: a furloughed retail employee who makes $52,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on Egyptian cotton sheets.

Occupation: Furloughed due to COVID-19

Industry: Retail

Age: 21

Location: New York, NY

Salary: Usually $52,000, right now $0

Net Worth: Less than $0 due to debt and lack of income right now, my income is all stimulus money at this point

Debt: $5,500

Paycheck Amount (Supposed to be once a week for unemployment): $0 (Havent received unemployment yet)

Pronouns: She/her



Monthly Expenses

Monthly Housing Costs: $1,400 a month. I share a 5-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment with 4 other women on the Upper West Side.

Monthly Loan Payments: $59 for student loans

All Other Monthly Expenses: Utilities: $30, Health Insurance: $170 (currently paid for through June), Internet: $15, Video Streaming: $19.16, Spotify: $15, Amazon: $15, Cell Phone: $140 (currently deferred), Donations: $15 to Environment Texas for Pollinator Conservation, Affirm: $81 for a previous vacation to see my grandmother, Credit Card Debt: $80 on my regular Credit Cards, $40 on my department store cards, Meal Kit: $61.00/week

Day One

11 a.m.  I wake up extremely tired this morning. The first thing I do every morning is check for my unemployment. It isnt there. I stayed up incredibly late last night talking to friends in an earlier timezone, but Im paying for it now. However, today is a very exciting day because Im getting a COVID test! I signed up over three weeks ago when I was first directly exposed and it took a while to get signed up, so I assume it will be negative but want to be safe. I go downtown to get my COVID test. The process was unusually easy and took about 3 minutes, I assume because this testing site just opened up this morning. On my walk back uptown, I cut through the park to avoid people. It feels odd being outside after a few weeks of mandatory isolation.

Story continues

1 p.m.  I order some White Claws for delivery. Before quarantine, I stopped drinking for a while, but I enjoy drinking now that I have nothing to do. It comes in 20 minutes and I enjoy a few in bed while watching 27 Dresses (my favorite movie) and eating a Turkey sandwich. $19

7 p.m.  I get up and make dinner, which consists of some pasta and meatballs that came in my Hello Fresh box this week. Its great! Ive been saving so much money by not getting takeout every day, so my membership is worth it.

7 p.m.  I clap for the healthcare workers.

11 p.m.  I have a Facetime happy hour with a few of my friends! Its nice to talk to people I havent for a while. I end up staying up late because the call lasts 5 hours.

Daily Total: $19

Day Two

11 a.m.  I check for my unemployment. It isnt there. I am also groggy and annoyed because its cloudy outside. I go to the kitchen and make coffee and an egg and sit at our table for an hour to help a friend with homework. Im grateful that Im not in school right now, otherwise, I think Id be going insane.

12 p.m.  I go up to the roof, even though its cold, because I have teletherapy and dont feel as comfortable doing it in the apartment with my roommates. I tell her about the testing experience and we talk about boys. I dont actually mind teletherapy, its almost more comfortable to be in your own space when talking about this stuff. She charges my co-pay to my account. $24.46

3 p.m.  I notice a few of my friends are on Houseparty so I crack open a White Claw and hop on to catch up with them. About 20 minutes later, I get a phone call and have to leave. Its my doctor  my COVID test came out positive. Im in complete shock and end up laughing on the phone. Im completely asymptomatic. But Im grateful that I have been so cautious and following all of the guidelines.

7 p.m.  I clap for the healthcare workers.

8 p.m.  I decide Id really not like to cook today and that I deserve a little treat to help me process my test results, so I order McDonalds for delivery. The 40-piece McNugget is only $3 more than the 10-piece, so I got that with the intention to freeze the rest. I end up eating 14 of them and a Big Mac  my body doesnt like that. $18.26

Daily Total: $42.72

Day Three

9 a.m.  I check for my unemployment. Its still not there. I look outside, and immediately thank God that its sunny out! I check the weather and its 60 degrees, so I decide its a roof day. Our roof is always empty and its painted silver so it absorbs sunlight, so its been the perfect place to tan. I hop in the shower and place a wine shop order for prosecco so I can make mimosas. I get eight bottles so I can get a discount, knowing Ill drink them all anyways. $111.15

12 p.m.  While on the roof, I check my bank account to see how much damage Ive done in the past few days. Lo and behold, Cuomo has sent out a $600 relief payment to people like me who have yet to receive their unemployment. I filed over 3 weeks ago at this point and am so happy I could cry. It might not be my real unemployment, but its something!

2 p.m.  I order a cheap swimsuit from J. Crew after realizing how bad my current one is for tan lines. Its a great deal and I just got unexpected money, so I feel okay about it. I might have been a little tipsy from the mimosas, too. $24.96

7 p.m.  I clap for the healthcare workers.

9 p.m.  For some reason, Im wiped out today. I take a melatonin gummy, put on my eye mask, and sleep.

Daily Total: $136.11

Day Four

8 a.m.  I check for my unemployment. Its still not there. I curse myself for going to bed so early because now my body clock is set to wake me up at 8. Its sunny outside again, but Ill have to wait until about 10 to go to the roof so it heats up. I make some coffee and work on some homework help for my friend again. Shes super stressed so Im helping edit and give feedback on her papers. It makes me feel productive.

12 p.m.  While on the roof, I call my job to update HR on my test results. I havent been at work for over a month, so theres a super low risk that I transmitted it, but I want to be responsible. I use my last slices of turkey to make a sandwich. Im out of mayo too. I need groceries but cant leave my house, so I check for delivery slots. There are none available but I know they reset at midnight so I set a reminder for 11:55 pm to remind me to snag one.

7 p.m.  I clap for the healthcare workers. On the roof.

8 p.m.  My next Hello Fresh box doesnt come until tomorrow and canned soup wont cut it tonight, so I order delivery from a local taco place. I feel bad getting fast food a lot so I try to support neighborhood businesses too. I get a margarita with my order and its phenomenal. $22.64

12 a.m.  I order groceries for the day after tomorrow. I get sandwich stuff, vegan yogurt (I eat dairy sometimes but its a lot better than regular yogurt), some produce, and essentials like olive oil and pepper. I actually find a $25 off of $50+ coupon, so I tip $20 instead of a normal 20%. $46.50

2 a.m.  I hop on Houseparty with some friends again. I drink a little too much wine and somehow end up spending some money on the Nordstrom app. I buy a lingerie set and some new sheets, both of which are ridiculously on sale and have been in my wishlist for months. Stimulus checks are supposed to help stimulate the economy, right? $226.90

Daily Total: $296.04

Day Five

10 a.m.  I check for my unemployment, its still not there. Why did I order lingerie and sheets last night? I drink my coffee with an overwhelming sense of self-hatred. As punishment, I make large payments on all of my credit cards. My main goal through quarantine is to use some of the extra money I get from the government to cut down my credit card debt. I pay $100 on two of my cards, and $75 on the other two. $350

1 p.m.  I take a shower and decide to do a self-care day since the weather isnt tanning-friendly. I take a long shower with eucalyptus oil, shave my entire body, and do a home facial with my nicer skincare that I save for special occasions. It makes me feel a little bit normal.

2 p.m.  My Hello Fresh box arrives and I realize I havent eaten today, so I make a green bean bowl with rice. Its a lot better than expected, which always happens with the healthy recipes.

7 p.m.  I clap for the healthcare workers.

10 p.m.  I eat the leftovers from my lunch and then watch a movie that was recommended by one of my group texts while I do a teeth whitening treatment.

Daily Total: $350

Day Six

10 a.m.  I check for my unemployment. Its still not there. Its been four weeks now and Im still pending. Im sick of looking at the number zero. After laying in bed depressed for two hours, I finally get up and make a coffee and an egg on toast. Some days are easy, this one is not.

1 p.m.  I facetime my best friend in the world for a few hours. Weve lived apart for a long time and are used to not seeing each other, but times like these make me want to give up city life and go live with her in a little house in a small town. I cry on the phone.

4 p.m.  A different friend and I are texting and she mentions how broke she is. I feel horrible and know that Im lucky for getting a stimulus check, so I send her $20. Its not much but I tell her that if theres any other way I can help, I will. $20

7 p.m.  I clap for the healthcare workers.

10 p.m.  My birthday is coming up and I have a Zoom birthday planned so I decide to send out paper invites. Its a cute idea and I have a Shutterfly coupon so I splurge. $30.15

Daily Total: $50.15

Day Seven

9 a.m.  I check for unemployment. Its not there and I am getting more upset by the day. This is my last day of mandatory isolation. Since Im asymptomatic, my doctor told me that a week is standard. However, I dont plan on going out for another week anyway, to be on the safe side. It lifts a little bit of weight off my shoulders regardless. After coffee, I quickly put on my swimsuit and head to the roof with a yogurt and my coffee. Do I put it on ice and spike it with Baileys? Maybe.

3 p.m.  I realize Mothers Day and my moms birthday are coming up and since shipping is delayed, I order presents for my mom and grandma now. For my mom, I get a nice fitting bra (I was a fitter for over 2 years) and a beautiful black dress that I know shell love. For my grandma, I get The Beauty Chef cookbook since I know shes weirdly obsessed with gut health. I make a flat payment on my Nordstrom card instead of using debit, so Ill cut down my balance a bit as well. $100

7 p.m.  I clap for the healthcare workers.

9 p.m.  I call my best friend again to help her with some homework. We end up chatting for a few hours. This always makes me feel a bit better about everything. At the very least, I have her.

Daily Total: $100

COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic. Go to the CDC website for the latest information on symptoms, prevention, and other resources.

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A Week In Copenhagen, Denmark On A $70,000 Salary

A Week In Tri-Cities, WA, On A $55,400 Salary

A Week In San Jose, CA, On A $135,000 Salary
BRIDGEPORT  To recognize National Skilled Nursing Care Week, Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz visited the Jewish Home and Seymour I. Hollander Apartments in Bridgeport to express appreciation to health care workers, caretakers, and other front-line personnel, and recognize the residents and patients who have been in isolation or recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bridgeports state legislative delegation and other local officials also took part.
(Newser)  Tropical Storm Arthur inched closer to the East Coast on Sunday and was expected to strengthen as it starts to impact North Carolina later in the day. Arthur formed off the coast of Florida on Saturday, reports the AP, making it the sixth straight year for a named storm to develop before the official June 1 start of the Atlantic hurricane season. The US National Hurricane Center in Miami issued a tropical storm warning for North Carolina's Outer Banks on Sunday. At 8am EDT, the storm's center was located about 355 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, NC. Arthur had top sustained winds of 40mph and was moving to the north-northeast at 9mph. Forecasts say Arthur will stay well offshore of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina on Sunday and then approach the North Carolina coast on Monday, where it will drop 1 to 3 inches of rain Sunday night and Monday.

story continues below

The National Weather Service said eastern North Carolina should prepare for localized flooding and dangerous marine conditions along the coast. Minor inundation from storm surge is possible for very low-lying areas adjacent to the ocean, sounds, and rivers, with overwash of dunes and flooding of properties and roadways possible, mainly north of Cape Lookout, the weather service said Sunday. While there may be a component of warming waters and climate change in other pre-June storms, Arthur is more of a subtropical storm system than a traditional named storm and its water is cooler than whats usually needed for storm formation, said Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. A lot of out-of-season storms are weak fleeting ones that meteorologists can see now because of satellites and better technology and would have been missed in earlier times, Klotzbach said. Like most earlier-than-usual storms, Arthur is likely to remain offshore.

(Read more hurricane season stories.)
Donald Trumps eldest son on Saturday posted a social media message suggesting Joe Biden was a paedophile, an incendiary and baseless charge that illustrates the tactics the president is turning to as he attempts to erase Mr Bidens early advantage in key state polls.

Donald Trump Jr, who is one of his fathers most prominent campaign surrogates, posted a picture on Instagram of Mr Biden saying: See you later, alligator alongside an image of an alligator saying: In a while, pedophile.

When a reporter shared the Instagram post online, the younger Trump, echoing one of his fathers tactics, wrote on Twitter that he was only joking around and noted that he had included emojis of a laughing face.

Yet in the same Twitter post, he also reprised his original insinuation. He accused the former vice president of unwanted touching alongside a collage of photographs of Mr Biden showing affection for children. The misleading images were mostly taken from public swearing-in ceremonies at the Capitol, where the former vice president warmly greeted politicians and their families.

Mr Biden has been accused by some adult women of inappropriate behaviour but he has never faced any suggestion of misconduct with a child. Mr Trump himself faces roughly two dozen accusations of sexual misconduct, and in the Access Hollywood tape from 2005 he bragged about sexually assaulting women and grabbing them by their private parts.

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

Mr Trump Jrs inflammatory and baseless claim, which he shared with his 2.8 million Instagram followers, comes as his father and the reelection campaign have sought to weaken Mr Biden and attack other perceived enemies with an onslaught of allegations and insinuations rarely seen in modern elections.

The 73-year-old president has, for example, purchased a series of Facebook ads openly accusing his 77-year-old Democratic rival of being old and out of it, as one of them puts it. And the president himself has said much the same, stating on Thursday that Mr Biden doesnt know hes alive.

Mr Trumps scorched earth campaign strategy comes as little surprise  he has broken an array of norms during his three years in office. But his offensive has taken on a new urgency as the country reels from the health and economic devastation wrought by the coronavirus, and Mr Biden enjoys a modest lead in the battleground states that will decide the election.

A spokesperson for the presidents campaign did not respond to an email message asking if they condone the younger Trumps message.

Andrew Bates, a spokesperson for Mr Biden, said: No repulsive, manipulative tactic will change the subject from how almost 90,000 Americans have paid for Donald Trumps coronavirus negligence with their lives and how the booming economy he inherited from the Obama-Biden administration is now suffering from Depression-level job losses.

Mr Trump Jr is affiliated with his familys real estate business. But he spends much of his time on his fathers political efforts and is ubiquitous on social media, where he often posts barbed memes about Democrats that can go beyond even the presidents accusations and insinuations. The eldest Trump son is also more of a dedicated conservative than his father and often gives voice to some of the more extreme elements of the right.

Further, Mr Trump Jr is something of an early warning system for Republican lines of attack. For months, he has been posting material questioning Mr Bidens mental acuity and accusing him of being creepy, as he wrote again on Saturday.

In an interview with Axios earlier this year, Trump Jr acknowledged his father sometimes calls him to tell him he is being too aggressive in his attacks.

But the younger Trump said with a smile that he tells his father he learned it by watching you and claimed the president often is more jealous than irritated. He just wanted the material. He was mad I beat him to the punch.

The New York Times
The Greater San Antonio Builders Association will kick off this years Spring Tour of Homes on May 23rd. The event, presented in partnership with CPS Energy and Keith Zars Pools, will feature 11 communities with more than 55 new homes. Houses on the tour will be open for viewing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays and Memorial Day. The event will run through May 31.

Among the featured builders is Mattern & FitzGerald Custom Builders, which is showcasing a house in The Canyons at Scenic Loop. The 4,985 square-foot house at 10110 Ivory Canyon has a classic Southern architectural design. Its priced as $1.2 million with features that include: a grand and spacious front porch, screened-in back porch, wood floors, barn door, shiplap walls, and a bonus room over the garage. Kevin FitzGerald, president of Mattern & FitzGerald Custom Builders, got the inspiration for this model after viewing what he describes as amazing architecture in Charleston, S.C. They have a particular style called the low country style which is what I would categorize this home's style as," FitzGerald said. "It actually has a front porch that you don't see much of anymore. FitzGerald said architecturally the porch acts as a welcome mat to the home.

The Hill Country neighborhood, a few minutes from Boerne Stage Road, has stunning panoramic views. Lot sizes at this gated community start at a half an acre.

FitzGerald said because of COVID-19, those wanting to view the model during the week should call the office for an appointment at 210-764-7373. Sales counselors wear masks and practice social distancing and only one family will be allowed to tour the home at a time. The builders regular office hours at The Canyons at Scenic Loop are noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

FitzGerald said they are currently working with numerous clients, but the pandemic has had some impact on business. For new clients there is a little bit of fear that has set in on some of them, he said. Instead of signing a contract to build a home today, they might wait another 60 to 90 days just because they want to make sure that their jobs are safe.

He said it generally takes 14 to 18 months to complete construction, including the planning process which can take three to four months.

Mattern & FitzGerald Custom Builders has been building custom homes in the Hill Country, San Antonio and surrounding areas since 2005. In that time, FitzGerald has seen architectural styles in the area change from traditional to more modern and contemporary. I remember just 10 years ago you did not see anything at all modern, he said. But now, theres a lot of people that like that look. FitzGerald also said there has been an increased desire for energy-efficient homes and smart tech features. For instance, we have apps now that control the irrigation for landscaping, apps that control the lighting, and air conditioning.

FitzGerald said they offer free assistance to clients during the plan and design process which often helps keep the project on budget.

For more information about Mattern & FitzGerald Custom Builders, go to https://matternandfitzgerald.com/

Sitterle Homes also is taking part in this years tour. Visitors to Kinder Ranch can view a model at 28832 Throssel Lane in Sunday Creek or 1639 Bunchberry in Settlers Ridge. Virtual tours of both homes are available on Sitterlehomes.com.

Kinder Ranch, a master-planned community of more than 1,000 acres, is located off Borgfeld Drive and Bulverde Road. It consists of several gated neighborhoods, along with Settlers Ridge and Sunday Creek, theres Prospect Creek and Hastings Ridge. The community has an elementary and middle school and a high school is being built. Home prices start in the mid $300s. Amenities in Prospect Creek include a Junior Olympic-size pool with a smaller pool attached with a mushroom for the kids, childrens play area and clubhouse. Similar amenities are found in the other communities.

Sitterle Homes sales professional Paul Cooper, who has been with the builder for about nine years, said models are sanitized and open for viewing and the employees will wear masks. Staff will also show inventory homes. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Cooper said it typically takes seven to eight months for a house to be built and despite COVID-19 there hasnt been much of a slowdown in construction. As far as lumber and air conditioning and things like that, we really havent seen any problems, he said.

When it comes to the interior, Cooper said home buyers are opting for open concept designs, farmhouse-style sinks and lighter cabinets. The new vinyl plank flooring and tile are popular with pet owners. Cooper said traditional fireplaces are still requested but more buyers are opting to have outdoor fireplaces built for those chilly Texas nights. Sitterle Homes will soon have more lots available in Sunday Creek, Prospect Creek and Settlers Ridge.

For more information about Sitterle Homes, go to www.sitterlehomes.com.

Lisa.harrison@express-news.net
Michael Gove today insisted he remains 'confident' the UK and EU can strike a post-Brexit trade deal by the end of the year but warned Brussels it needs to show more 'flexibility' during negotiations.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office said the bloc needed to accept Britain is now 'outside their club' and as a result will not agree to bind itself to EU rules.

He also suggested the UK will never give in to the bloc's demands to keep its existing access to Britain's fishing waters.

The UK's chief negotiator David Frost last week said 'very little progress' was being made in key areas as Michel Barnier blamed Britain for the stalemate.

The two sides are currently in a 'standstill' transition period which gives them until the end of the year to agree a comprehensive trade deal.

But with talks stalling there are growing calls for the Government to seek an extension to the transition period - something Downing Street has categorically ruled out.

Today Labour insisted ministers must seek a delay if they are unable to secure a 'good deal' by the close of 2020 in order to avoid the 'further shock' of a No Deal split after the current coronavirus disruption.

Michael Gove, pictured in Downing Street on February 11, today said he remains 'confident' a Brexit trade deal with the EU can be done by the end of the year

But shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves said the Government must seek to delay the deadline for talks with the EU beyond the end of 2020 if a 'good deal' cannot be struck

Mr Gove told Sky News: 'There is a difference of course between the UK's position and the EU's position.

'The EU want us to accept their rules even though we are outside their club and they want to have access to our fish even though we have left.

'We are making it clear to the EU that we can't do a deal on those terms but I am confident that a deal is there to be done, it just requires a degree of flexibility on the EU's side which I am sure that they will appreciate that they need to show.'

Mr Gove's Labour counterpart Rachel Reeves said there was no need to 'rush' the talks as she said delaying the deadline beyond December should be an option.

The shadow Cabinet Office minister said Labour 'absolutely do not want' the UK to exit the transition period in December without a deal.

She told Sky News: 'I would say to the Government the most important thing is we get a good deal, not any deal, but the best deal we can have.

'The last thing our country and our economy needs at the moment is a further shock that could put jobs and livelihoods at risk.

'So, don't rush this, all of the attention of Government at the moment is on fighting the coronavirus, that is the right thing, don't rush this, take the time that is needed.

'But at the moment the Government is saying we can still do this by the end of the year and we need to hold them to account to getting not just any deal, but the best deal we can, by the end of this year.'

Ms Reeves said the Government must outline a new timetable for talks if it cannot secure a good Brexit trade deal by the end of the year.

She added: 'We're saying they mustn't rush this and if they are not going to secure a deal, they mustn't crash out without a deal - so that means taking the time that is necessary but it's up to the Government to show they can deliver on the promises they've made to the British people.

'That is getting a good deal and a good deal by the end of this year, and if they're not in a position to do that they need to come back and explain a timetable.'

The terms of the Brexit divorce accord allow for an extension to the transition period of up to two years.

But such a move would require the agreement of both sides and a decision must be made by the end of June.

Downing Street has repeatedly said the transition period will not be extended. The EU warned even before the coronavirus outbreak that it did not believe there was enough time to strike a comprehensive deal.

The lack of progress during talks and the Government's insistence on sticking to the current deadline means the prospect of Britain and Brussels going their separate ways without an agreement at the end of the year appears to be growing.

Mr Frost is believed to have warned the Cabinet that the talks are heading for collapse and has put ministers on notice to prepare for No Deal.

He told Ministers to 'take the moral high ground' when speaking to their counterparts across the Channel in the face of stubbornness from Brussels.

But he has also urged them to step up their No Deal planning in case talks over a new trading arrangement do break down.

Downing Street is preparing to issue warnings that the UK is heading for an 'Australia-style deal' with the EU  which in reality means No Deal and tariffs on imported and exported goods under terms set by the World Trade Organisation.
Former England International John Barnes says that Manchester United need to recruit 'four world-class players' but admits their performances this season could make things difficult.

Barnes draws similarities between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side and Liverpool 10 years ago, suggesting their displays on the pitch could prove costly in the transfer market.

The Liverpool legend encouraged United to not make the same mistake they did by purchasing players that werent good for the long-term future of the club.

John Barnes believes that Manchester United need to recruit 'four world-class players

Barnes draws similarities between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side and Liverpool 10 years ago

Having experienced the direct impact performance can have on the recruitment market, Barnes highlights Uniteds current standings.

The Red Devils position in the Champions League could be more vital than first thought as Barnes believes their season, as it stands, will deter players from joining.

The 56-year-old told BonusCodeBets: 'With United, it is not about the number of players that they need to purchase, it is more about the quality of the players that they can bring in.

'For example, 10 years ago, Liverpool signed a load of players, but none of them made the Liverpool side any stronger, and they weren't good purchases for the long-term future of the club.

Barnes believes that United's dip in performance could prove costly in the transfer market

'Clubs will now resist the urge to just make signings just because they want to make signings, as in the long run, they won't improve the team.

'At the current stage that United are in, they aren't in the position to make the quality of signings they want, because those players won't want to go there.

'I can say that United need to sign four world-class players, but they won't get that, not with the club in its current position.'
At the first meeting of the World Health Organizations governing body since Covid-19 stormed the globe, China is set to be challenged on two of its most sensitive issues: The Communist Partys initial handling of the virus and the status of Taiwans participation.

While the U.S. has launched a daily barrage of attacks on China, including suggesting the virus escaped from a laboratory in the central city of Wuhan, the European Union and Australia are set to play a key role pushing for a probe into the viruss origin when the World Health Assembly -- the WHOs decision making body -- gathers on Monday for an annual meeting in Geneva.

A U.S.-backed bloc is also pushing for Taiwan, whose handling of the virus has been a rare success story, to attend the meeting as an observer. The move -- aimed at strengthening Taiwans official and unofficial diplomatic relationships -- has angered China, which views the island as a province and has long sought to isolate it on the world stage.

The showdown reflects a broader geopolitical struggle pitting the U.S. and its allies against China, whose authoritarian system has come under scrutiny in the wake of a pandemic that has killed about 300,000 people and devastated the global economy. The U.S. has suspended funding for the WHO, claiming its biased toward China, and even suggested setting up an alternative body.

Yet for all the noise, most analysts expect China to command support from a large swathe of the nearly 200 countries taking part in the assembly that need good relations with the worlds second-biggest economy to shore up domestic growth. And any effort to replace the WHO is also unlikely to gain traction.

As much as the WHO has struggled and been the subject of criticism in this crisis, any replacement would look remarkably similar to what we have today, said Natasha Kassam, a former Australian diplomat in China who is now a research fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. It is hard to imagine an effective global health institution that excluded China, and its hard to imagine the United States making Taiwans participation a red line.

Boycott Threats

Still, the anger in some parts of the world over Chinas response to the pandemic is still fresh, and will likely play out this week. Apart from an initial cover up, the world has become increasingly upset with Chinas heavy-handed response to any criticism.

Australia in particular has felt the heat from Beijing, which threatened a boycott of its goods and also suspended meat imports from four processing plants for technical reasons. The government in Canberra called the boycott threats economic coercion and hasnt backed down on its calls for a virus probe.

You cant let the trail go cold, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters on May 8. And I think Australia and the United States and the United Kingdom and countries all around the world would like to know what happened, because we dont want to see it happen again.

While the EU was still working out the wording of the proposal in the run-up to the assembly, the European Commission has said a draft resolution envisaged calling for an independent review on lessons learned from the international health response to the coronavirus.

Australia has said that could happen through the WHOs Health Emergencies Program, which was set up after the Ebola crisis in 2014, and the International Health Regulations Review Committee, which assessed the response to the H1N1 pandemic in 2009.

Red Line

The building acrimony has also made more countries willing to pressure China on Taiwan, which is a red line for authorities in Beijing. President Tsai Ing-wens government in Taipei has made a vocal pitch to be included in the proceedings this week, saying it needs access to firsthand information about the spread of the disease.

The WHO has said its Ethiopian director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has no mandate to offer Taiwan an invitation to the assembly because there is no clear support among member states. Tedros in April had accused Taiwan of being behind a racist campaign against him and Africans in general -- a charge that Taipei rejected as slander.

A proposal backed by 13 member states has called for the assembly to make a call on whether Taiwan can attend. China has blocked Taiwans participation in the organization since the independence-leaning Tsai was elected in 2016 and refused to accept that both sides belong to one China.

The U.S. is determined to see Taiwan participate in the meetings as an observer, with a spokesperson at the U.S. Mission in Geneva saying that lessons from its successful experience fighting Covid-19 would be of significant benefit to the rest of the world.

The Peoples Republic of China would rather that success not be shared, no doubt to avoid uncomfortable comparisons, the spokesperson said.

Blocking Taiwan

For its part, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said it firmly rejects countries proposal to invite Taiwan to attend the assembly, and has also blasted the call for an independent probe into the virus origin as political maneuvering.

Certain countries insisted on discussing proposals involving Taiwan to politicize a public health issue, Zhao said Friday. This consequence can only severely interfere with the progress of the conference and undermine international cooperation.

China is confident that the majority of countries wont allow Taiwan to participate as an observer, and Beijing would never allow an independent investigative team inside its borders, said Shi Yinhong, an adviser to Chinas cabinet and also a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing.

Its becoming clear that Chinas basic stance is to reject criticism, and focus on the efforts it has made in the global fight, Shi said. This is a position that China wont change, hence posing a sharp opposition to the voices of accusing its cover-up and claiming accountability.

Legally theres no provision in the WHOs constitution, resolutions or rules of procedure that would prevent Tedros from inviting Taiwan to the assembly as an observer, said Julian G. Ku, a distinguished professor of constitutional law at Hofstra University, who studies Chinas relationship with international law. Since nobody is asking the WHO to invite Taiwan as a member state or to recognize Taiwan as the representative of China, the bodys citation of a 1971 United Nations decision recognizing Beijing is irrelevant, he said.

Still, a majority of assembly members are likely to block Taiwans participation, according to Kharis Templeman, an adviser to the Project on Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution.

Its just a fact of international politics now that most countries arent willing to risk their relationship with the PRC to take symbolic actions in support of Taiwan, he said, referring to Chinas formal name. As long as Beijing makes countries choose between them, Taiwan is going to lose.

The U.S. can hardly complain about Chinas influence in the WHO given that it encouraged Beijing to play a greater role in international organizations for years, said Scott Kennedy, senior adviser and trustee chair in Chinese business and economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Now the U.S. is crying foul because it turns out Chinese interests dont align with its own and China is pretty darn good at playing this game, Kennedy said. If the U.S. doesnt want a Chinese-led international order, it needs to do a better job of fighting for its own vision within these organizations.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (File image: Reuters)

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on May 17 announced that the government will decriminalise most of the violations of the Companies Act which was approved by the Cabinet in the first week of March.

The Company Law Committee headed by Ministry of Corporate Affairs Secretary Injeti Srinivasan recommended 46 offences to compoundable category.

CLC recommended dealing of compoundable offence by in-house adjudication mechanism which is at the rank of Registrar of Companies level officer.

A source close to the development told Moneycontrol, "Mainly violations regarding handling investors money and Section 447 of the Companies Act which is used against fraud are not part of compoundable offence. Otherwise, most of the violations are part of the compoundable offence."

Section 447 of the Companies Act says, "Without prejudice to any liability including repayment of any debt under this Act or any other law for the time being in force, any person who is found to be guilty of fraud shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than the amount involved in the fraud, but which may extend to three times the amount involved in the fraud."

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Also Read: Defaults related to COVID-19 to be exempted from IBC for upto 1 year: FM Sitharaman

Easing of non-compliance burden will facilitate corporate India to focus on business revival without worrying about the regulatory compliance burden, said Rajesh Thakkar, Partner & Leader, Transaction Tax, BDO India.

However, this is not the first time such amendments have been made.

This is another important announcement in the series of decriminalisation of the provisions of Companies Act, 2013. This is not the first time. The Companies Act, 2013 has been earlier amended to remove criminal punishment for many procedural and trivial offences. This is being done to facilitate ease of doing business for corporate Lalit Kumar, Partner at J Sagar Associates.

A source close to the development told Moneycontrol, "CLC completed this report in less than two months and met only three times for completing this report which raises concerns over the quality of this report".

Sai Venkateshwaran, Partner and Head, CFO Advisory, KPMG India said that While larger companies are better equipped to deal with their statutory reporting and compliance requirements while working from home, many of the smaller companies continue to face challenges in compiling information, timely filing and so on. Therefore decriminalisation of procedural defaults will come as a great relief for many of these companies, especially those who are defaulting due to genuine hardship as differentiated from willful defaults.

Also Read: FM Nirmala Sitharaman press conference highlights: What the final tranche of Rs 20 lakh crore package includes

This reform reduces the strain on National Company Law Tribunal which is currently over-burdened. It will reduce timing compliance cost for smaller firms otherwise it takes years to get rid of minor violations.

The government is also increasing the benches of NCLT all over the country.

Dolphy, D'Souza Partner, SRBC and Co LLP feels that it is an overdue administrative reform, "Decriminalisation of minor and technical violations of the Company Law, is a good and long overdue administrative reform. In the past, the power to criminalize minor violations was being misused. An internal mechanism for compounding the offences will de-clog the criminal courts and NCLT, who are currently over-burdened".
Joey Barton's racist killer brother will make a bid for parole just days before the 15th anniversary of his axe pick murder of an 18-year-old student.

Michael Barton, 31, brother of the Fleetwood Town manager, murdered 'blameless young black man' Anthony Walker with his cousin Paul Taylor, 20.

Barton, from Huyton, Merseyside, has a parole hearing in July where he will apply for open jail after having his 18-year sentence cut in 2016.

He ambushed Anthony with his cousin in McGoldrick Park, Huyton, and drove an ice pick through his skull on July 30, 2005, before fleeing to Amsterdam.

Michael Barton, 31, brother of Fleetwood Town manager Joey Barton, murdered 'blameless young black man' Anthony Walker, 18, with his cousin Paul Taylor, 20, in McGoldrick Park, Huyton, on July 30, 2005, and will have a parole hearing days before the 15th anniversary of the murder

Joey Barton told his brother to turn himself in and he was escorted back to Liverpool by their parents and the police on August 3.

He was was found guilty of murder and jailed for what the trial judge called 'poisonous racist thuggery', having initiated the confrontation and supplied the axe.

A spokesman for the Parole Board confirmed Barton was listed for a hearing last night, report The Mirror.

A source said: 'His bid for freedom will open old wounds for Anthonys family.

'Theyve been very vocal about their feelings for their sons killers. This will be devastating.'

Joey Barton told his brother to turn himself in and he was escorted back to Liverpool by their parents and the police on August 3

When Barton first entered the prison system, his behaviour was atrocious, London's High Court heard in 2016.

Viewed as a 'high risk' prisoner, he was disciplined for fighting, stealing, making a model gun out of matchsticks and possessing illicit hooch.

His sentence was cut short in 2016 when he became a charity worker behind bars, but Anthony's mother, Gee, slammed the High Court's decision at the time.

She said at the time: 'I'm very disappointed and I feel deeply betrayed. We put our trust in the judges, in the law, and then they go and do this. It's just wrong.

'I will have to live with it, but what about the people who have not got a faith like me? Where does it leave them?

Gee Walker, Anthony's mother, said the decision to reduce Barton's sentence in 2016 sends out the wrong message to criminals

Anthony's sister, Dominique Walker, trained to become a police officer after the murder of her brother

'This sends completely the wrong message to criminals. It tells them that if the pretend to be good they will win.

'I don't believe what he has done in prison is anything more than pretence.'

The Parole Board said: ' An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Michael Barton.

'Decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent after release and whether that risk is manageable in the community.'
As a newly minted U.S. citizen, I sympathize with the predicament of the thousands of people stuck in citizenship limbo, as Catherine Rampell wrote in her May 15 op-ed, Let them be sworn in. I feel exceptionally lucky to have squeezed in just under the wire, after being sworn in on Presidents Day. This was just six weeks after my final interview, so I was struck by what seems to have been a long lag between Monique Akinpelus final interview in July 2019 and the scheduled swearing-in on March 20. Just as important was that I was able to register to vote immediately after the ceremony, so I am now an eligible voter, which is, as is frequently emphasized, one of the core rights and duties of citizenship.
I just want to let you all know that in the following article there will be mention of a Celtic sex goddess, breasts, fixation on the male member and fornication.

So now if you should want to continue reading, please do, and then phone a national radio station to complain if you see fit.

It's a highly charged time we are living through. People are on edge. They can have too much time to think. They are seeing too much of the people closest to them or not enough. The millennials can't do Tinder. So sexual tension is rising.

Wanting it and having to wait for it is, of course, sexy. The anticipation. Then a drama comes on the telly with two young people having sex and everyone is talking about it. I'm sure the makers of the drama couldn't believe their luck when Joe Duffy's switchboard lit up.

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The vast majority of people in today's Ireland didn't bat an eyelid at the 'sexual' content of the show but a few complaints can go a long way for the PR department. To hear the people on Joe Duffy using the word 'fornicator' was in fact, oddly quaint. There was something almost nostalgic about this fearful and negative attitude to sex.

It was like being back in the good old days when there'd be a fuss over a condom being sold in the Virgin megastore, or the mega virgin store as we used to call it.

The people complaining to Joe were like the last kick of a dying old animal. An animal that had once been all powerful and ruled the Irish countryside. The animal took guidance on all matters sexual from Rome. Now, the church does have a point that sex has been commodified by western capitalism for many years, but nevertheless the church's attitude to sex itself and especially female sexuality has always been utterly weird and hard to fathom.

Female sexuality has always been an enormous threat to not only the church but all male authority. Our own Celtic goddess Sheela-na-gig carved into temples and castles featured huge genitalia held apart by both hands and bent legs offering a fantasy of unlimited sexual licence. No wonder conquering tribes and Christian priests defaced and tried to scrape them away.

I remember being both terrified and turned on when I read my first account of unlimited sexual licence. There was a well-thumbed book of the porn classic Emmanuelle going around the lads at school. I took it home and felt a huge excitement but then a kind of shame and guilt at the explicit depiction of acts that up to then I didn't know existed. And it was only words on a page.

Imagine if I'd had access to the porn they have today. The hundreds of categories and all combinations thereof Sweet Jesus I would have combusted on the spot.

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The complaints over Normal People reminded me of a different TV age in Ireland. In 1978 there was huge uproar over a home-produced drama set in a tough inner-city school called The Spike. In episode five a life drawing class features the briefest glimpse of a middle-aged woman in the nude and RTE was inundated with irate letters and phone calls and county councils up and down the country passed motions for the axing of the programme. JB Murray, head of the League of Decency and a staunch campaigner against The Spike from the outset, suffered a heart attack while phoning the papers to complain about the nude scene.

In the end RTE bowed to this pressure and it was taken off the air. Jack Lynch, the then Taoiseach, supported the cancellation of the show - even though he hadn't seen it. People would get hot under the collar about long-running farming serial The Riordans from time to time, like when Benjy's wife Maggie asked her doctor for contraception, and there were many secret fantasies about Gabriel Byrne when he arrived on the scene. But you couldn't witness the sex act itself anywhere on the home channel.

There was one portal left, however, in the corner of the town square, where sin and carnality could get through. The Savoy Cinema in Edenderry. Most notably at the late shows on the Friday and Saturday night.

They were packed with people after the pub and courting couples. They usually featured low-brow English sex comedies like Confessions of a Window Cleaner or Rosie Dixon - Night Nurse.

The cinema manager had to dutifully use a marker to black out the offending breasts on the posters. It was against the law to have them on display. When I was in my teens I watched with bated breath expecting to see some of what I had only previously read about in the Emmanuelle book. But really they were quite tame. A lot of nudity OK but in the same school as the Carry Ons. Cheeky picture postcard humour but no actual sex.

Indeed the action in the back rows was probably more explicit then anything going on up on the screen. And then in 1982 came the massive phenomenon that swept Ireland. That was the low budget Canadian sex comedy Porky's.

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This was a huge hit all over the country. In Edenderry it ran for three weeks. This was unheard of. Not even Gandhi or ET would run that long. Everybody went to it. All strata of society. It was set in a high school with a group of guys trying to lose their virginity. Porky's was more risque than previous offerings, most notably a scene featuring a guy sticking his penis through a hole in the wall of the girls' shower room and it being grabbed by a butch female gym teacher and pulled until he turned blue. Indeed there was a lot of references to the male member and all its shapes and sizes. The main protagonist was called Pee Wee and another guy was called Meat. It was aimed squarely at 14-year-old boys but that's where Ireland was back then in terms of sex. We had all the emotional maturity of a 14-year-old boy so Porky's was perfect for us.

Sex could be sniggered at and not treated seriously. We could hide our real complicated sexual desires behind a wink and a nod. Bury them down deep.

So this is why the sex scenes in Normal People are a breath of fresh air. They are very real and a million miles away from the way sex used to be depicted in blockbuster Hollywood films. Sex in these movies was like the car chase or the explosion. A necessary ingredient but in itself utterly devoid of any meaning or nuance. Back lit with some awful pop song on the sound track.

The sex in Normal People is about sex. How two people connect with it. The focus is mostly on their faces. On the effect it is having on their psyches. And it manages to be sensuous as well as truthful and honest. So hats off to Lenny Abrahamson and his two brilliant actors and hats off to Mary O'Rourke and her positive support for the show, saying that it was only young people doing what comes natural to them.

Good woman! You can be an older Irish Catholic and still be positive about sex. You can grow with the times.
In the event that the GSEB website is down after GSEB Result 2020 for Class 12 science is released or if students face issues logging in, they can access alternative options to check their scores

GSEB Result 2020 | The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB or GSEB) declared the results of the Class 12 science stream examination today (17 May) on its official website gseb.org.

With lakhs students having appeared for the science and general stream examinations, the official website is likely to experience high volume of traffic today.

In the event that the GSEB website is down after the results are released or if students face issues logging in, they can access alternative options to check their scores.

Websites like examresults.net, results.nic.in and indiaresults.com will also display the GSEB HSC results.

On Saturday, the GSEB said in a release that students who appeared for the class 12 board exam held in March could access their results on official website, to be uploaded at 8 am on Sunday.

The Board would notify the dates for distribution of mark sheets, certificates and revaluation and re-verification to the students later, it said.

Students can check the GSEB HSC Result 2019 by following these steps:

Step 1: Go to the official website  gseb.org

Step 2: Click on the result tab at the bottom

Step 3: Click on HSC result 2019

Step 4: Login using required details

Step 5: Click on the Submit button

Step 6: Download or take a print out for future reference

The examinations were conducted between 5 and 21 March, but announcement of results has been delayed due to

the nationwide coronavirus-induced lockdown imposed after 24 March.

GSEB is a board of school education in the state of Gujarat. It was formed on the basis of The Gujarat Secondary Education Act 1972.

The primary function of the board is to prepare academic programmes and organise examination for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC).
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 21:26:45|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. aircraft dropped thermal balloons over agricultural lands in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah on Sunday, setting fire to wheat crops, state news agency SANA reported.

The targeted area was in agricultural lands in the countryside of the Shaddadi city in the southern countryside of Hasakah, said SANA, adding that the fire gutted 200 dunums (0.2 square km) of wheat fields.

The report said the U.S. planes fly on a low altitude very close to the people's homes in the agricultural fields, causing panic and fear among civilians.

SANA said that during its illegal presence, the U.S. forces established bases in several areas in northeastern Syria, supplying them with weapons and logistic equipment through the illegal crossings with Iraq to reinforce their presence, and steal Syrian oil, resources, and major crops.
Justin Amash, a Republican turned independent Michigan congressman, abandoned his big to seek the Libertarian nomination for president in 2020

Justin Amash announced Saturday that he will not seek the presidential nomination for the Libertarian Party  after launching an exploratory committee at the end of April.

The Michigan representative, a staunch critic of President Donald Trump, posted a lengthy Twitter explanation of his decision not to pursue the White House.

'Thanks for your support as I've been exploring a run for president as the potential nominee of the Libertarian Party,' he started in the 13-tweet thread. 'I've spent nearly three weeks assessing the race, appearing in media, talking to delegates and donors, watching the Libertarian Party's convention plan unfold, and gathering feedback from family, friends, and other advisers.'

'After much reflection, I've concluded that circumstances don't lend themselves to my success as a candidate for president this year, and therefore I will not be a candidate,' Amash shared after less than three weeks of consideration.

Amash left the GOP last year, and changed his Party affiliation to independent after he claimed he became disenfranchised by the current state of the Republican Party in the age of Donald Trump.

In his announcement that he was considering a run, and in several subsequent interviews, the high-profile Trump critic claimed he was running for president because voters wanted an alternative to voting for Trump or presumed Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

In a 13-tweet thread, Amash, who has represented Michigan's 3rd district on the House since 2011, explained his decision to no longer considering running after launching an exploratory committee less than three weeks ago

Amash claimed in the age of coronavirus it is even more difficult for third-party, and lesser-known candidates to garner enough traction to make a difference in the election

In deciding to drop out, he cited the challenges of trying to campaign as a third-party candidate during the coronavirus pandemic.

He also claimed that 'the new reality of social distancing levels the playing field among the candidates in many respects, but it also means lesser known candidates are more dependent on adequate media opportunities to reach people.'

Trump and Biden have essentially been grounded, forced to campaign through virtual events  with the president even holding a televised town hall at the Lincoln Memorial earlier this month.

Amash said he still thinks a third-party candidacy could still prove successful in the future.

'I continue to believe that a candidate from outside the old parties, offering a vision of government grounded in liberty and equality, can break through in the right environment,' he tweeted. 'But this environment presents extraordinary challenges.'

Amash would have faced nearly impossible odds of winning the presidency. But third-party campaigns can have unpredictable consequences for the Democratic and Republican candidates in the race.

In 2000, Ralph Naders Green Party presidential bid cost Democrat Al Gore crucial support and was a contributing factor in Republican George W. Bushs narrow victory. Democrat Hillary Clintons 2016 loss to Trump has been blamed in part on the support that Green Party candidate Jill Stein picked up in states such as Pennsylvania.

Amash gained an enemy in the president, and backlash from his community, after he decided to leave the Republican Party  with many constituents in Michigan's 3rd district asserting they voted for a Republican, not an independent to represent them in the House.

The congressman supported Trump's impeachment in the Democratic-led House at the end of last year.

Amash has been in his post in Michigan since 2011, and was reelected most recently as a Republican in 2018 with 54.4 per cent of the vote. He has not yet announced whether he is running for reelection for his House seat.

In announcing his intention in late April to seek the Libertarian nomination, Amash said he wanted to represent the millions of Americans who do not feel well represented by either major party.

When announcing he was considering a run for the White House, Amash said he was meeting the demand for a third option other than Donald Trump or presumed Democratic nominee Joe Biden

In is lengthy Twitter announcement Amash also urged people to join the Libertarian movement

Toward the end of his massive tweet announcement, Amash urged people to join him in supporting Libertarian Party candidates.

'I've been speaking directly to delegates about this opportunity for only a short time, but these conversations have solidified my belief that the Libertarian Party is well positioned to become a major and consistent contender to win elections at all levels of government,' he asserted.

'I remain invested in helping the party realize these possibilities and look forward to the successes ahead,' Amash continued. 'If you aren't already a member of the @LPNational, I encourage you to join me in becoming one so we can continue working together toward freedom, peace, and prosperity.'

Many Republicans in the U.S. describe themselves as Libertarian, which is usually a way to put emphasis on their beliefs in a small and limited power structure for the federal government, civil liberties, capitalism and non-interventionism  or a more nationalist foreign policy perspective.
The Odisha government has



released over 7,200 under-trial prisoners and convicts on bail and parole from prisons to decongest the jails in view of the coronavirus pandemic, a senior official said on Sunday.

At least 1,160 jail inmates have also been relocated to less congested prisons as part of precautionary measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, the official said.

"As many as 7,255 prisoners, including 389 convicts, have been released as a temporary measure to decongest the jails by following a thorough judicial process since the third week of March," he said.

While the convicts have been released through parole, the 6,866 undertrial prisoners were set free through bail allowed by the courts.

Mentioning that the move to decongest the jails by releasing some of the inmates started over 40 days ago, the official said that the district undertrial review committee, led by judges, took the decision to grant bail after going through the records of the inmates.

Those involved in cases inviting a maximum punishment of 10 years were given priority, he said.

Similarly the ones who have already served at least five years sentence were considered for parole.

The Supreme Court had in March issued a directive to the states to constitute high-level committees to consider releasing on parole or interim bail prisoners and under-trials for offences entailing up to a 7-year jail term to decongest jails in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Steps have also been taken to place new prisoners under quarantine for a stipulated period before allowing them to share jail cells with other inmates, a home department official said.

The prison directorate has also sanctioned fund for purchase of infrared thermometers to conduct thermal screening of jail employees as well as prisoners, he said.

All NGO activities in the jails have been suspended for the time being, while steps have been taken for arranging 'e-mulakats' (e-meetings) between the inmates and their family members, he said.

Jail officials and employees, including cooks, have been asked to maintain hygiene.

The state has 85 jails with a capacity to accomodate over 19,000 inmates. At present there are around 16,000 inmates.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In panning President Trumps response to the Wuhan coronavirus, Democrats and the mainstream media stress the fact that the U.S. has reported many more deaths from the virus than any other country (in absolute numbers, not per capita). Yet, Gov. Cuomo receives nearly universal praise from the same precincts even though New York state leads America by a wide margin in deaths from the virus (both in absolute numbers and per capita.) New York accounts for around 30 percent of all U.S. coronavirus deaths.

Im not inclined to blame any leader of a country or a state based solely on numbers. But Cuomos response to the virus has been deeply flawed from the start. I tried to demonstrate this here.

The most egregious aspect of Cuomos performance has received some attention  his order that nursing homes and rehabilitation centers admit and readmit patients sick with the coronavirus and that they be prohibited from requiring a hospitalized resident who is determined medically stable to be tested for COVID-19 prior to admission or readmission. Its likely that this piece of idiocy caused the death of thousands of elderly New Yorkers who, under a competent governor, would have been spared.

But theres plenty more to criticize in Cuomos response. To get a full sense of this, I recommend an expose by Pro Publica, which contrasts Cuomos actions to those of Gov. Newsom in California. It covers some of the same territory I did in my post, including the fact that Cuomo was clueless about this virus even as late as the beginning of March, but goes considerably deeper.

Ill provide a few excerpts. There is this:

New Yorks pandemic preparedness and response plan, first created in 2006 and running to hundreds of pages, predicted the states health care system would be overwhelmed in such a situation, and it highlighted two vital necessities: a robust and up-to-date state stockpile of emergency equipment and protective gear, and a mechanism for quickly expanding the number of hospital beds available. Despite repeated requests, New York state health officials would not say what was in the states stockpile at the start of 2020, but it clearly wasnt adequate. Cuomo publicly lamented the lack of such resources almost from the start of the crisis. One senior health executive said he recalled Cuomo being frustrated early on by the states stockpile, asking: Whats in it? Is it expired? As for expanding hospital capacity, it was not until March 16 that Cuomo designated a task force to engineer greater numbers of beds, demanding a 50% increase in capacity in 24 hours. . . . It took another two weeks before Cuomo announced he had created a command center that would get a handle on emergency supplies and available beds at hospitals across the state so that such resources could be directed at places of need. It had been a month since the states first case.

(Emphasis added)

And this:

While New Yorks formal pandemic response plan underscores the need for seamless communication between state and local officials, the state Health Department broke off routine sharing of information and strategy with its city counterpart in February, just as the size of the menace was becoming clearer, according to both a city official and a city employee. Radio silence, said the city official. To this day, the city employee said, the city cant always get basic data from the state, such as counts of ventilators at hospitals or nursing home staff. Its like they have been ordered not to talk to us, the person said. The city official also said that after the city had been assisting the state in identifying and responding to outbreaks in city nursing homes, the state two weeks ago abruptly told the city its help wasnt needed. More than 5,000 nursing home residents in New York have died of COVID-19. . . . The official said early on, the two departments had worked closely and in sync. They conducted joint webinars for health care providers to keep them informed and guide them in their preparations. There was an amazing trust, the city official said. Then, in late February, the switch flipped. All communication ended. We were left to work in a black box. City health officials were disinvited from subsequent planning meetings with health care providers. Calls and emails were ignored. Information sharing in the midst of a pandemic halted. The city official said city health workers asked their state counterparts what had caused the sudden lack of communication and cooperation. It was out of character for people the city had worked with intimately for years. Their counterparts would not or could not say, but the city official concluded it had been ordered from the governors office. In the coming weeks, the lack of a collaborative relationship between city and state officials played out in real ways. Nursing homes, all overseen by the state, had become scenes of misery and death as the virus swept through the aging populations. Initially, the state asked the citys help in identifying and then responding to the increasingly dire outbreaks. The city took on responsibility for monitoring 25 nursing homes and offered to help coordinate any interventions. And then, again, the partnership foundered. We were told our help wasnt needed, the city official said. A lot of switches being flipped. And all in the same direction.

As Pro Publica notes, Cuomo and de Blasio, each of whom has harbored national political ambitions, had engaged in a kind of intrastate cold war, a rivalry that to many often felt childish and counterproductive. In this pandemic, the rivalry was deadly.

The article is long, but worth reading in its entirety.
A long-planned public square in the heart of Sydney is at risk of remaining on the drawing board for at least another decade.

The City of Sydney is considering extending Woolworths' lease on a well-known building it has long occupied opposite Town Hall until late 2030, after receiving a "very good offer" from the supermarket giant.

It presents a conundrum for the council: decline the offer and a subsequent boost to its depleted coffers amid an economic slump or accept it and further delay a city-shaping project.

An artist's impression of the proposed Town Hall Square.

The long-term extension of the lease would put off the council realising a plan  first devised in the 1980s by then lord mayor Doug Sutherland  to demolish the Woolworths building and others it has purchased over the past three decades, and allow construction of the square.
Its not going to work, the exasperated Minister said, abandoning his defence of the Governments roll-out of its lockdown exit strategy.

A second Minister agreed. Boris is doing his best. But the No 10 comms team live in a different world. Theyve lost the room. Even a new, ultra-loyal Red-Wall Tory MP couldnt hide his concern.

The public mood is moving against us. My Facebook page hasnt been this negative since I was elected. Coming out of lockdown was never going to be easy  but Im worried if we dont act quickly and give a comprehensive explanation, the message is going to get lost.

In truth the message was lost long before Boris presented what he cautiously called his first sketch of a roadmap for reopening society.

A series of chaotic pre-briefings and reverses meant, by the time the PM delivered a perfectly competent address, his words had been lost in a clamour for detail and clarity.

Boris Johnson is pictured during his address to the nation from No10 Downing Street

When they came, the result was only more confusion. We could all now picnic, so long as we kept two metres from any stranger. But not in the presence of more than one person we actually knew.

We could now visit parents. But only at the sacred distance of two metres. And one at a time. With a ten-minute gap. Our children were to be allowed to return to nursery.

But only if they could be made to respect social distancing, stuck to a one-way system and made sure not to share their pens.

Anyone who couldnt work from home had to return. But not by public transport. To set foot on a Tube, bus or train would be nothing less than a dereliction of civic duty.

If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, last week was the moment the Government attempted to shelter the nation from Covid-19 by ushering it through the gates of Hades.

As one No 10 adviser told me: Im going to try and explain what the strategy has been, but youre going to have to bear with me, because Im basically making this up as we go along.

First there is the fundamental dichotomy of a government attempting to give clear guidance to a nation that essentially wants to hear two different messages.

The message Ministers will protect us all from the virus. And the message they will simultaneously allow us all to go back to our normal lives.

As one official explained: Take the issue of schools. All our private polling was showing people wanted the schools to go back. So we started briefing we were going to allow the schools back.

And suddenly the private polling showed people were getting scared at the idea of having to send their children back to school.

Prime Minister Mr Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds during the a national clap for carers to show thanks for the work of Britain's NHS

Then theres the concept of following the science. Ministers are haunted by the knowledge that in most previous pandemics the second wave proved far deadlier than the first. Hence the need for whats been called a step-by-step approach to ending lockdown.

But each delicate pigeon step, when taken in isolation, seems irrational to those of us yearning to run. The idea was wed open up gradually, said a Minister, so the thinking was, Right, weve said you cant see anyone outside your immediate family.

'So first well say, OK, now you can meet one person. Then well expand it to two. Then four, and so on. But when you actually say only one its like, Well, Ive got two parents. Or the three grandkids and the whole thing just looks mad.

And theres a third problem. A number of Ministers believe Boris and his No 10 advisers are now excessively in thrall to the R Number, basically the rate at which the virus is spreading through the population.

As one said: Weve got this new alert system based on it. And thats now the only metric were going to use to decide on how we end lockdown.

'Not mortality rates or hospital capacity or the economic cost or the impact on mental health or anything else. Just this new whizzy R Number.

Forget the snappy scientific jargon. And the charts, the graphs and the new slogan urging us all to Stay Alert. The reality is the Governments initial attempt to ease us out of lockdown has backfired. And its backfired for one simple reason  Boris and his Ministers are trying to achieve the impossible.

In 2020, in one of the worlds most mature liberal democracies, the State is actually attempting to stipulate  literally to within a matter of feet and metres  the proximity within which its citizens can interact.

It is effectively attempting to eradicate from our society the flu, a virus that has been ever-present since around 410BC, and doing so without a vaccine or cure or any significant form of natural immunity.

And it is attempting to stipulate who we can all meet, where we can meet them, how long we can meet them for, what we can do while were in their presence, how our meeting must be recorded and how the recording must be shared with the Government and others in the interests of health and safety.

This is an untenable position for a Government elected on a pledge to set Britain free. And for a Prime Minister defined above all else by his boundless can-do optimism.

The NHS Nightingale Hospital in London was placed on standby because it stopped taking in new patients

The cold reality is we face a binary proposition. We either have lockdown and mandatory social distancing. Or we have an end to lockdown and mandatory social distancing.

But what we cannot have is what is currently being proposed, which is the halfway house of a state-imposed lock-in. A situation where rather than be isolated on our homes, we attempt to isolate ourselves in our places of work.

Just think of your own average workday. Your journey in. Your work environment. Your lunch break. Your journey home.

Think about how practical it would be to go through all this and never stray within two metres of another human being.

Its so fantastically impractical, anyone who even stops to consider the idea for even half a minute can see the unsustainability of it.

Its time for Boris and his Ministers to invert the telescope.

Customers sitting outside Cafe & Konditorei Rothe in Schwerin, Germany, all wore straw hats with two swimming pool noddles taped to the top as the cafe makes sure they do not flout social distancing

Until now we have been thinking about how we can hide away from the virus. Now we have to start thinking about how we can live alongside coronavirus.

If it means massive investment in a raft of new Nightingale hospitals, so be it. Distribution of a national supply of effective PPE to every citizen. A 500,000 daily test network.

A state-of-the-art  with appropriate privacy guarantees  tracking and tracing network. Resources should be no barrier to these practical safeguards.

But we also have to go further, and shift responsibility for the fight against Covid-19 out of the hands of Ministers, and into the hands of the British people.

And as Boris himself said, let common sense prevail  over who we want to meet, when and where we want to meet them, and how much risk we wish to accept.

Because if we dont, the British people are going to seize that responsibility anyway. As one senior Tory said to me: The big mistake everyone is making is thinking lockdown has worked because Ministers advocated it.

It worked because people thought it was the sensible thing to do. And now that views changing.

On Thursday evening my high street was as busy as its ever been. So I spoke to my local police chief, and he said, Weve basically given up. 

The Governments lockdown of Britain has broadly been successful.

But the launch of its strategy to exit lockdown has not. Boris has momentarily and uncharacteristically lost the room. He must act quickly and decisively to recapture it.
Two undertrials in Haryana, who had come out on bail, have tested positive for coronavirus, officials said on Sunday.

They were arrested last week on rioting and other charges and subsequently released on bail from Bhondsi jail in Gurgaon.

A judge from Rewari before whom they were produced a day after their arrest and 13 others, including some court employees present during the hearing and the police officials who had escorted the undertrials, have been placed in homequarantine, the officials said.

The samples of the undertrials were collected by the health department on May 12, the day of their arrest and they were out on bail the next day. On Saturday, their report came positive.

The undertrials have been admitted to an isolation ward of civil hospital at Rewari. The jail authorities at Bhondsi have been informed.

Earlier, an undertrial kept in the Sonepat district jail's isolation ward was found infected with coronavirus. He was later admitted to the civil hospital.

A jail officialposted in Gurgaon district had also contracted the infection a month ago when he was on leave to his hometown in Bhiwani, officials said.

Haryana's Jail Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala on Sunday, however, said that there has been no case of virus outbreak in various jails in the state.

As such there is no case of any prisoner inside the jail testing positive for coronavirus. Even in the case of these undertrials, they are kept separate and not straightway lodged with other prisoners, he said.

The state has nearly 20,000 inmates in 19 jails, including three central prisons one in Ambala and two in Hisar.

He said in view of the prevailing pandemic situation, the Haryana government has made COVID test and 14- day quarantine mandatory for prisoners returning from interim bail, parole, furlough or remand from police to judicial custody.

COVID test has also been made mandatory for prison staff returning to jails after availing leave on emergent grounds, Chautala said.

Such prison staff will be allowed to join back his or her regular duties only on receipt of COVID negative test report and fitness report from the Medical Officer of the jail, he said.

The Haryana government had recently extended by another six weeks the duration of parole or interim bail granted to convicted prisoners in view of coronavirus.

As many as 3,817 prisoners were released last month on interim or regular bail, parole or extended parole. The state government decided to release convicted prisoners facing up to seven years of sentence and undertrials liable to get similar jail terms on conviction.

Foreign nationals, however, are not included in this. Also, prisoners convicted in cases like drug smuggling, rape, acid attack are not among those released.

Inview of the extraordinary circumstances prevailing due to the pandemic, reported increase in number of COVID infected persons across the country and the directions given by the Supreme Court, readmitting around 4,000 prisoners released on parole or interim bail back into jails at this stage is a huge risk and is likely to increase risk of infections to existing inmates," Chautala said.

"In this background it was decided that it would be appropriate to extend the parole period of the convicts for another six weeks from the date of their first surrender, he said. Thedecision to release the prisoners had been taken in accordance with the Supreme Court's directive to decongest crowded prisons to prevent them from becoming fertile ground for spread of the coronavirus. A high-powered committee under Justice Rajiv Sharma of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and comprising Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Haryana, Vijai Vardhan and DGP (prisons) K Selvraj in its recommendation had on May 5 stated that readmitting around 4,000 prisoners released on parole or interim bail back into the jails at this stage is a huge risk. The committee was formed on the directive of the Supreme Court.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
United Nations, May 17 : The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the "crucial role" of the United Nations and its agencies, said Volkan Bozkir, who is slated to lead the historic 75th session of the UN General Assembly which begins in September.

Bozkir outlined his priorities as president of the world's foremost multilateral forum, during a virtual interactive dialogue with UN member states held on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

"The outbreak has coincided with the 75th anniversary of the UN. This is a stark reminder of the importance of effective multilateralism and, particularly, the crucial role of the UN and its agencies," he said.

As the coronavirus does not see borders or discriminate, he stated that the fight to defeat it should not result in stigmatization, inequality or injustice.

"A world free of COVID-19 will require the most extensive public health and social recovery effort all over the world," he said.

Bozkir commended the prompt action undertaken so far by the United Nations in the face of the crisis, including the adoption of several General Assembly resolutions which stress solidarity and cooperation.

"I truly believe that the General Assembly with its universal membership and equal status of all its members, as well as its democratic credentials, is the most appropriate platform to provide political guidance in responding to the pandemic," he noted.

Bozkir, who has served with Turkey's foreign service for nearly 40 years, is the sole candidate for the presidency of the body that brings together all 193 UN member states.

He pledged to work toward consolidating trust and cohesion among countries, major groups at the United Nations, and international organizations, and to ensure that the world's most vulnerable people have a voice.

With countries embarking on a Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, he called for the world's least developed countries, landlocked developing nations and small island developing states to remain a top global priority.

"The needs of the African countries and their special circumstances, including the 2063 Agenda, will continue to receive your attention," he added, referring to the African Union's blueprint to transform the continent.

"Another cross-cutting priority is to improve the living standards and rights of women. Women's full and equal participation in all spheres of life, by strengthening their status within society, is an absolute must in all our endeavors." As president of the UN General Assembly, or PGA, he will be guided by efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and non-discrimination.

"Consensus building will be one of the core efforts during my tenure. I will use the extent possible, the moral authority and the soft power of the PGA. I will allow continuity with the work of the previous PGAs and make improvements where necessary," he said.

"The overall agenda of our organization requires close coordination among the UN decision-making bodies. I will try to address the gaps and duplications as they relate to the agenda of the General Assembly."
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Linkedin Maximilian de Courten, Barbora de Courten and Vasso Apostolopoulos (The Jakarta Post) -  Sun, May 17, 2020 11:07 612 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd894f2e 3 Health mask,gloves,COVID-19,coronavirus,pandemic,PPE Free

Many people in the community are wearing face masks and gloves in an attempt to protect themselves against the coronavirus.

They might put on these items to go to the shops, or perhaps when taking a walk through the neighborhood.

The evidence on whether these measures will actually protect against coronavirus is mixed and largely inconclusive.

But youre even less likely to get protection if you dont take care when putting on these items, while youre wearing them, and when you take them off.

Are masks recommended?

In Australia, the Department of Health states you dont need to wear a mask if youre well.

People self-isolating with symptoms suspected to be COVID-19 are advised to wear a surgical face mask when other members of their household are in the same room.

This is in line with recommendations from other countries and the World Health Organisation.

Some countries, particularly those with higher rates of COVID-19 than Australia, provide different advice. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States recommend the use of masks, or cloth face coverings, more widely.

In Hong Kong, face masks are obligatory for everyone taking public transport.

So do masks protect against COVID-19?

We should first separate the two distinct functions of a face mask: protecting others from being infected by a wearer, and protecting the wearer from infection.

SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, is transmitted via droplets that fly out of our mouths or nose: most commonly when when we cough or sneeze, but also when we speak.

Most of these particles range in size between 0.3-10 micrometers. They can be directly inhaled or land on a surface where we pick them up on our hands before touching our face.

The current thinking is face masks worn by an infected person can protect the people around them by filtering at least some of these particles, particularly larger ones. This constitutes the former of the two functions, and is known as source control.

Regarding the latter  protecting the wearer from infection  theres some research on this, but not for COVID-19 specifically.

Evidence has shown the use of masks among health-care workers can reduce their infection with various other coronaviruses  so masks are an important element of PPE.

But for people in the community who appear to be healthy, we need more research before we can draw firm conclusions on the benefits of masks.

Are you doing it wrong?

Whatever the state of the science, some people appear to be doing things that could defeat the purpose of wearing a mask. Examples include pulling the mask under their chin for a breather or to make a phone call; or touching the mask while wearing it.

Through these actions, you can transfer the virus directly from your hands or your mobile phone to your face, increasing your risk of being infected.

The WHO has published some dos and donts for wearing face masks, summarised here:

What about gloves?

Gloves prevent the transmission of germs if used properly, and are an integral part of PPE for health-care workers.

If youre suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 and youre isolating at home, Australian guidelines recommend anyone wanting to clean your room should put on a mask and gloves before entering.

However, gloves have not been recommended as a precautionary measure against COVID-19 for the average citizen. Thats largely because of the evidence we have about how the disease is, and isnt, transmitted.

The virus is not absorbed through skin, so you cant contract COVID-19 through touch alone. To acquire coronavirus through touch, you would have to touch a contaminated surface and then touch your face.

Although it is possible, scientists believe a much smaller proportion of infections happen this way, as compared to when an uninfected person inhales virus-carrying droplets emitted directly from an infected person.

In the US where there are much higher rates of COVID-19 than in Australia, the CDC also suggests the use of gloves only in two coronavirus-related scenarios:

if youre cleaning and disinfecting your home where a member of the household is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19

if youre a health-care worker treating someone who is a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient.

Wear them right

While theres no evidence to suggest wearing gloves in the community will protect you, if you do choose to wear them, there are some things you should consider.

Importantly, if you still touch your face with your gloved hands  or even touch your mobile phone  this renders the gloves useless.

And if youre not careful, you can also contaminate your hands when you put on or take off gloves.

So follow these steps when removing gloves to reduce the risk of contaminating your hands in the process.

---

Maximilian de Courten, Professor in Global Public Health, Victoria University; Barbora de Courten, Professor and Specialist Physcian, Monash University, and Vasso Apostolopoulos, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research Partnerships, Victoria University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
Egypt on Monday will give government employees a five-day paid holiday for Eid Al-Fitr, cabinet spokesman Nader Saad told Al Hadath TV.

The annual Islamic holiday, which is customary to be three days long, will be extended this year to five days. With two weekends either side of the holiday, government employees will be off from 22 to 29 May, he explained.

Egypt announced stricter measures during the religious feast, including extending its curfew hours and a full suspension of public transportation to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

The nationwide curfew will begin at 5 pm instead of the current 9 pm starting from Sunday  expected to be the first day of Eid  until Friday, Madbouly said in a televised briefing.

All shops, malls, beaches and parks will be completely shut, Madbouly said, adding that public transportation will be suspended throughout the six-day period, which runs until 29 May.

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Society

 About 540 Vietnamese citizens were repatriated from the United States and Europe on Friday and Saturday after they had been stranded in these countries due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. All of them were brought to quarantine camps following their arrival.

A British pilot who is in a critical condition due to COVID-19 has tested negative for the virus five times in a row, while his health has slightly improved as of Saturday. The patient still requires a lung transplant as 90 percent of his lungs have collapsed.

 Seven fishermen have been brought to safety after their boat capsized off the north-central province of Thua Thien  Hue on Saturday night, according to the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center.

 A 51-year-old man and his 24-year-old son were caught on CCTV hitting a security guard and a nurse after they had been asked not to speak loudly at a hospital in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

 Police in the south-central province of Binh Dinh are investigating a street brawl between two groups of men that occurred on Friday night, during which one of the men had his armed chopped off and eventually died of the serious injury.

 Trains that are outfitted with a bar and massage chairs are expected to be put into operation along the route between the central city of Da Nang and the south-central province of Binh Dinh in July.

Business

 While the COVID-19 epidemic has been controlled in Vietnam and business activities have resumed, the retail space market in Hanoi is still gloomy with rentals down by 20 to -30 percent.

 Authorities, seafood producers, and fishermen from 28 coastal cities and provinces in Vietnam gathered at a conference in the south-central province of Phu Yen on Saturday to seek ways to improve the effectiveness of fishing as well as seafood processing and distribution in 2020.

Lifestyle

 A musical and artistic program organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sport to mark the 130th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minhs birthday (May 19) will be broadcast live on HTV9 Channel at 9:30 pm on Tuesday.

World News

 The novel coronavirus has infected over 4.71 million people and killed more than 312,300 around the globe as of Sunday morning, according to statistics. More than 1.81 million patients have recovered from COVID-19.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio  The owner of the popular Lago East Bank restaurant in the Flats responded Sunday to pictures circulating online from Saturday that seemingly showed a crowded patio with little social distancing, saying that a photo represents just one point in time, though he questioned how much responsibility the restaurant may hold.

Lago took great care to implement every guideline that has been set by the State of Ohio, owner Fabio Salerno said in a written statement. There were times during our opening that tested those guidelines, and we took immediate measures to thin the crowded areas. The pictures are one moment, one angle, one second of time.

While Friday was the first day Ohio restaurants could resume outdoor dining, the sunny, warm weather Saturday drew out crowds in Northeast Ohio. The photos, posted on social media and spread quickly across platforms like Twitter, showed groups tightly gathered, with little to no social distancing in practice.

However, Salerno went on to say he does not believe it is necessarily our responsibility to control the restaurants patrons.

It proved to be largely unrealistic and exceedingly difficult. We are not an enforcement agency, Salerno said.

The restaurant owner said the staff remains committed to ensuring the safety of its community and employees, and it will continue to operate while making sure state guidelines are followed.

You can read Salernos full statement at the bottom of this post.

The photos of Lago and other spots open for patio service on the East Bank of the Flats were not the only ones under fire across the state. On Friday, photos from a popular Columbus restaurant/bar where patrons  very few wearing masks  appeared to be packed in.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union that the restaurant, Standard Hall in the citys Short North neighborhood, got control of [the situation] Saturday.

However, DeWine also said that the state will do whatever we have to do to enforce social distancing and other protective measures if bars and restaurants fail to restrain crowds as the state eases coronavirus measures.

DeWines press secretary Dan Tierney said operators of businesses disregarding safety guidelines are being irresponsible and need to understand that these guidelines will be enforced.

Ohio restaurants can resume indoor dining on Thursday, May 21.

Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.

Full statement from Lago East Bank:

"First off we want to say that we are humbled and so grateful for the overwhelming support that the community has shown Lago throughout this pandemic. We are so proud to be Clevelanders!

We have seen the pictures that have been posted and we certainly understand the concern accompanying those pictures. We also feel it is necessary to provide context.

Lago took great care to implement every guideline that has been set by the State of Ohio. All of our tables are properly spaced, and we have encouraged all of our guests to practice social distancing in line with state guidelines. There were times during our opening that tested those guidelines and we took immediate measures to thin the crowded areas. We believe we were able to provide a safe environment for all guests. The pictures are one moment, one angle, one second of time. It in no way accurately reflects the time, money & effort that was put into preparing our business in line with the state guidelines within a weeks time. We were operating at a limited capacity for two months and we were excited to welcome back our guests. The recent criticism certainly does not reflect the additional precautions that we implemented that go far beyond the Governors guidelines, but we understand and will continue to adjust as necessary.

With that being said, we do not believe it is necessarily our responsibility to control our guests. It proved to be largely unrealistic and exceedingly difficult. We are not an enforcement agency. If the state provides further mandates that we must follow, we will certainly enact and follow those mandates.

Let us be very clear, Lago is committed to ensure that the safety and welfare of our local community and staff is a top priority. We stand by that with our ongoing support of first responders through our Essential Meals program; delivering 1,000 meals a week currently. We will continue to provide our guests the best dining experience possible while making sure best practices and guidelines are followed. #LoveLago"

Related coronavirus coverage:

Nearly 28,000 Ohioans have been infected with coronavirus: Sunday update

Patios reopen in Ohio: Cleveland restaurants welcome diners to outdoor tables

Patio dining: Cleveland Flats East Bank outdoor dining opens
An Experimental Pathologist and Lecturer in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science of the University of Cape Coast has asserted that the Covid-19 virus has the ability to survive on stainless steel for two to three days.

He added that the virus can also survive on cardboards for 24 hours, copper for up to 4 hours and also suspend in the air for up to three hours. "For this reason I advise that it is very necessary for all Ghanaians to wear their nose mask and wash their hands regularly as directed by the president".

"We should also take the opportunity to teach our children how to wear a nose mask" he added.

He further stated that "every citizen must have at least two nose mask and wear them periodically.

He averred that, the above "factors might have contributed to our high cases since most of us are not aware of the dynamic of the virus".

The experimental pathologist continued that the other sources of infection of coronavirus are through blood, faeces and respiratory droplets but was quick to add that since the disease is new most of the issues raised are hypothesised and that people should rather interrogate claims rather than harsh condemnation of such issues.

Dr. David Simpong was speaking to D. C. Kwame Kwakye on GBC Radio Central's 'Centre Stage' today Saturday 16th May, 2020.

Responding to whether Lockdown can help stop coronavirus spread, Dr. David Simpong opined that, there is no research to support such a claim. "There are countries in Europe that did Lockdown but their coronavirus cases have still gone up and as such Lockdown should be done on case-by-case basis".

In explaining as to whether dead bodies can be infectious, the experimental pathologist explained that he has researched from the World Health Organization (WHO), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and that to date there is no evidence that persons can be infected when exposed to dead bodies of codvid-19 but was quick to add that "in my view since we don't understand entirely the pathogenesis of the virus, it is possible for one to get infected from dead bodies".

He admonished that based on this understanding mortuary attendants well-being should be prioritized.

Dr. Larbi Simpong further advised that irrespective of the potential infectious nature of the disease, we should avoid hasty disposal of coronavirus dead bodies and that "we should respect the dignity of the dead, their families, culture and religious traditions of people who have lost their lives to Covid-19."

When asked whether coronavirus was airborne based on the fact he had earlier posited that the virus can last in the air for 3 hours, Dr. David Larbi Simpong explained that there is mixed interpretation on that matter and it requires further interrogation to substantiate such claim.

In ending the discussion, the Experimental Pathologist cautioned all Ghanaians to be careful because the virus is real. "All of us should adhere to the safety protocols, desist from curiosity and uphold discipline in order to win the coronavirus fight."
The Eurovision Song Contest will return in May 2021 in Rotterdam, with the theme Open Up.

The news follows a cancelled 2020 event due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Martin Osterdahl, the new Executive Supervisor, said: We are extremely happy that we can now move forward. Its vitally important that the Eurovision Song Contest returns next year, and were pleased to have the necessary commitment from our Members in the Netherlands to bring this much-loved show back to audiences across the world.

I firmly believe that all of us involved in the Eurovision Song Contest will stand united through challenges and change to bring the Contest back stronger than ever, ensuring its longevity for decades to come.

Now more than ever it is important that we, as a public broadcaster, are committed to continuing this European tradition and are organising a great event that people can look forward to during these difficult times. We will do everything in our power to arrange a very special Contest, said NPO Chairman, Shula Rijxman.

Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer Event, added: Our team is proud and excited to look forward with renewed energy to organise a fantastic Eurovision Song Contest in 2021. Yes, with a sense of realism that fits with the times we live in, but also with ambition and creativity. We are looking forward to working with the entire Eurovision family to make it happen.

To honour the 2020 acts who were due to perform a special Eurovision: Shine a Light was broadcast, with guests including Johnny Logan, Mans Zelmerlow, Duncan Laurence, Marija Serifovic, Graham Norton and even Bjorn Ulvaeus. All 2020 acts performed 1997s Love Shine a Light by Katrina and the Waves.

18 of the artists planned for 2020 have confirmed that they will represent their country again in 2021, including Montaigne for Australia.

Junior Eurovision 2020 is planned to take place in Poland in November.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said the Railways is ready to run 'Shramik Special' trains from any district in the country, and asked district collectors to prepare a list of migrant workers stranded in their regions due to the coronavirus lockdown.

The district collectors have to coordinate with state nodal officers as well as nodal officers designated by the Railways, he said.

"To provide relief to migrant labour, Indian Railways is ready to run "Shramik Special" trains from any District in the Country. District Collectors should prepare lists of stranded labour and destination and apply to Railways through the State nodal officer," the Railways minister tweeted.

"Along with this, the District Collectors should give a list and destination to the State Nodal Officer of Railways," he said.

Over the last few days, Goyal has been appealing to state governments to approve more trains to ferry migrants to their home states.

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 appeal has gone out specially to states like Jharkhand, Rajasthan and West Bengal.
Beijing Urges US to Halt 'Unreasonable Suppression' of Huawei, Chinese Enterprises

Sputnik News

06:42 GMT 16.05.2020(updated 14:26 GMT 16.05.2020)

The US Commerce Department earlier introduced a new rule aimed at preventing Huawei from being able to "undermine", as it put it, the firm's status as a blacklisted company, requiring suppliers of sophisticated American-made technology seek additional US government licenses before any sales occur.

Beijing has urged the United States to draw a line under what it calls the "unreasonable suppression of Huawei and Chinese enterprises" following Washington's announcement of new export controls to restrict the tech giant's access to American semiconductor technology.

"The Chinese government will firmly uphold Chinese firms' legitimate and legal rights and interests", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Saturday, fuming that the Trump administration's actions "destroy global manufacturing, supply, and value chains".

The Trump administration on Friday announced that the US would block global chip supplies to blacklisted telecoms equipment giant Huawei Technologies, raising concerns of Chinese retaliation and cutting shares of US chipmakers, which have been relying heavily on deals with Huawei.

A new rule, unveiled by the Commerce Department and first reported by Reuters, further expands US authority to require licenses for sales to Huawei of semiconductors made abroad with US technology - US intellectual property, thereby jeopardising exports to the world's No. 2 smartphone manufacturer.

"This action puts America first, American companies first, and American national security first", a senior Commerce Department official told reporters in a telephone briefing on Friday.

Beijing reacted promptly, with a Friday report by China's Global Times suggesting that the country was ready to put US companies on an "unreliable entity list", as a countermeasure in response to the new constraints put on Huawei and its business.

Huawei was blacklisted by the Commerce Department last year over national security concerns, with Washington accusing the tech titan of violating US sanctions on Iran and leaving loopholes in its technology for spying on citizens allegedly at Beijing's behest. Huawei and the Chinese authorities have repeatedly denied the allegations, inviting outside checks into how they handle the technical aspect while manufacturing their high-tech products.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Former Richmond County Assistant District Attorney Michael Tannousis is calling on the state to allow Staten Island to open separately from the other four boroughs.

Tannousis, who is in the running for Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis seat, said Gov. Andrew Cuomo should consider opening Staten Island separately because of its many differences from other parts of the city.

It is no secret that Staten Island is different from the rest of the city in almost every way, said Tannousis. You can argue that our only commonality with other boroughs is our joining under the banner of New York City.

We do not have any public hospitals, nor any geographic or major transportation connections to the rest of the city. We should not be held to the same standards as areas with so many different variables," he added.

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

He cited the lack of a subway system as the major difference between the borough and the rest of New York City.

Staten Islanders would be the first to remind anyone of the difficulties of traveling to other boroughs for work or pleasure. While these issues are well documented, it also insulates us and allows us to be more independent. But it also means that our businesses rely on their neighbors more than anyone else, said Tannousis.

Since the pandemic began, New York City has been looked at by Cuomo as one region.

The governors office didnt immediately respond to comment about Tannousis proposal.

REOPENING REGIONS

New York City only meets four of the seven metric requirements needed to begin the phased reopening put in place by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The statewide PAUSE, an executive order issued by Cuomo that has banned all but essential business in New York since March 22, expired May 15.

The regions that met all seven of Cuomos metrics for reopening, and started phase one on Friday were: Central New York, North Country, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley Regions,

Gov. Cuomo announced on Sunday that the Capital Region and Western New York now qualify for reopening.

According to Cuomo, the two regions both are only lacking in tracing and testing abilities. However, Cuomo claims that these are administrative problems that will be resolved quickly, allowing the regions to enter phase one.

Working together with the regions, we can get this done, Gov. Cuomo said.

In order for a region to begin phase one of reopening, they must meet the following metrics:
Rigorous policing to



strictly impose lockdown restrictions has helped Andaman and Nicorbar islands become free of the killer coronavirus pandemic, its police chief Dependra Pathak said.

All the 33 COVID-19 patients have been cured and sent to their homes from hospitals a week ago and since then there has been no report of any new case of infection in the islands, Pathak said on Saturday.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a union territory comprising of a group of 572 islands of which 37 are inhabited at the juncture of Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.

Novel coronavirus was reported in the islands when nine participants of Delhi's Nizamuddin Tablighi Jamaat congregatoion returned here on March 24.

Two of the Jamaatis who had tested positive were swiftly moved to hospital from the airport here itself when they returned and the rest seven were sent to institutional quarantine, the director general of police said.

"It is during interrogation of these people that the details of the Tablighi Jamaat in mid-March meet came to light and accordingly we informed Delhi about it," Pathak, who had hiself served with the Delhi police for long, told PTI.

"We managed well the first wave of infection with the arrival of the Jamaatis, but unfortunately two others who had gone to Chennai tested positive for the virus on return", he said.

The two persons infected 24 others and the disease spread taking the count of coronavirus positive patients to 33 a week ago. "This forced us to go for the rigorous containment exercise," Pathak said.

Under the exercise the police strictly enforced the lockdown related restrictions which were promulgated by the Centre across the country.

The tough policing resulted in the arrest of 190 violators of lockdown rules till May 15, registration of 200 cases and realisation of Rs 30 lakh by way of penalty, the DGP said.

The police, which has its presence in all the inhabited islands of the union territory, meticulously implemented the shutdown norms and cracked the whip on the violators, he said.

As a part of the measure to contain COVID-19 the Andaman and Nicobar police also kept a close watch over any infiltration bid in the islands, which have borders with Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar, Pathak said.

Inter-islands movement was stopped since March 21 and the door was shut to tourists from March 16 onwards in view of the pandemic,he said.

With the improvement in the situation and in the backdrop of Union government's relaxations in lockdown-related curbs, the UT is giving one-time and one-way opportunity to the stranded people to return to their homes in the different islands.

The island adminstration is also making arrangements to send ships to Chennai and Kolkata ports soon to ferry its citizens stuck in different states during the lockdown triggered by the pandemic, Pathak said.

The administration is now gearing up to face the challenge to maintain the zero coronavirus status in future in view of these movements, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
press release

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the arrest and appearance of a police Sergeant and his accomplice in the Lichtenburg Magistrates' Court on Friday, 15 May 2020 for house robbery.

The accused's court appearance emanated from their apprehension on Thursday, 14 May 2020 in Lichtenburg for house robbery. It is alleged that the complainant was woken up by a strange noise on the roof of the house. Upon investigating, the intruder indicated that it was the police and ordered the complainant to open the door. The complainant then opened the door and saw a policeman in the company of another man. The duo allegedly demanded money from the complainant who told them that he did not have money. It was at that point that the accused took the victim's driver's licence and a set of keys before fleeing the scene. The suspects were later traced and arrested. The police also recovered property suspected to have been taken during the robbery.

The accused; Olebogeng Selemela, 35, and Edward Tekane, 24, were granted a bail of R500.00 respectively. They will reappear in court on Monday, 6 July 2020.

The Provincial Commissioner condemned in the strongest possible terms the conduct and involvement of the member in the commission of crime. Moreover, he indicated that unethical behaviour or corrupt activities by members cannot be tolerated as this undermines the rule of law and tarnishes the image of the Service.
Mumbai, May 17 : Television actor Adnan Khan, who is best known for his role as Mawlawi Kabeer Ahmed in "Ishq Subhan Allah", says he is happy that people are understanding the importance of lockdown while celebrating Ramzan.

"I'm very happy that we as responsible people are understanding the importance of this lockdown. Actually the observance of the festival has been much more prevalent and peaceful this year," Adnan said.

He says the experience of celebrating Ramzan this year has been different but good.

"Celebrating Ramzan in lockdown sadly means I won't be with my friends and family, but we aren't letting that get in the way of our beloved iftaars. The evening (post iftaar) is such a memorable time for us because that's when we could all get together and hang out. So not having that this year will be a new challenge and something that will most certainly be missed," he said.

Adnan urged to serve those who are affected by the pandemic.

"Honestly, I feel this year we need to be a little more social and helpful, and serve the unfortunate with food, fruits and juices. I think that this adds a new element to experiencing Ramzan and it will be really good," he said.

Latest updates on Eid al-Fitr 2020
The All India Bar Association on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to amend Section 86 of the Civil Procedure Code, which restricts the scope of a citizen to sue a foreign government, enabling the filing of lawsuits against China to seek damages for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Terming the pandemic a handiwork of China, President of the Association Adish C Aggarwala said the government should bring an ordinance to amend the CPC Section which will enable Indians to seek damages from China for the disease that has brought the economy to a grinding halt and claimed 2,752 lives.

The pandemic is the handiwork of The Peoples Republic of China. The virus is the creation of its laboratories under orders of the government which is now trying to cover its tracks, he alleged.

The virus, developed with a remarkable ability to mutate, spread and afflict, and with unprecedented rate of mortality, has been deliberately and consciously wreaked upon the world by the Government of China, as part of its design, he alleged in the letter.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Aggarwala, a senior Supreme Court lawyer and President of International Council of Jurists, said according to section 86 of CPC of India no foreign State may be sued in any court otherwise competent to try the suit except with the consent of the Central Government certified in writing by a Secretary to that Government.

It should be noted that above provision allows suits to enforce contractual obligations in respect of trade activity in which a government is engaged but not for damages for commission of tort. There is no logic underlying this distinction, he said.

A law which tends to take away, completely, the capacity of a person to canvass his rights, is itself a nullity, he said.

As the law stands today, there is no other remedy available to an individual against the State of China. An individual can also not approach, directly, the International Court of Justice for seeking damages, he said.

The Doctrine of State Immunity--countries enjoying protection from being sued in courts of other countries --applies on those who have signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and their Property (Convention).

He said India having signed the Convention on January 12, 2007 is yet to ratify it. China too is a signatory but did not ratify it, he said.

Aggarwala in the absence of ratification India is under no obligation to exempt China or any other country from being prosecuted or sued in India for any for any violations. Any citizen will be entitled to sue in India once CrPC is amended. At International level, anyone can approach only United Nations Human Rights Council. No other court or Tribunal for this purpose, he told PTI over phone.

When asked if verdict of Indian courts will be binding on China, he said, Yes. Once there is decree from Indian court, then China would be under obligation to pay. If China is not making payment of decree, then decree can be executed from the assets of China in India and the decrees can be transferred to Chinese courts for execution.
Eagle-eyed fan of Porsche will notice the references immediately. For example, the lightweight zip-neck sweater reveals subtle red detailing across the shoulders that recalls the 911's rear brake lighting. The Italian cotton tailored trousers, cut for more ergonomic movement, come with discrete functional side pockets that, while allowing extra storage for small personal effects such as keys, retain their sharp silhouette. Pricing remains within traditional Boss measurements, thankfully, and not the 911's, with polos going for $299 and the leather jacket at $1799.

The range presents menswear in its purest form, putting function first and letting the materials and construction do the rest. No surprises, really, when you discover the collection was inspired by the sleek lines of a Porsche sports car. "Our chief creator, Ingo Wilts, sat down with the chief designer from Porsche, Michael Mauer, and said "OK, what are the design elements when you think about a new 911?"," says BOSS CEO Mark Langer when we meet the next day in Manhattan's financial district. "We spent a lot of time bringing key design elements and colour stories together  it's very monochrome with a strong focus on core colours for Porsche and an expression of fashion to it."

On a stormy summer night, the city's fashion set rubbed shoulders with motorsport fans inside a vast warehouse space overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge on the eve of the FIA Formula E Championship. The 10-piece collection, which will be available in Australia from November, is an integration of precision tailoring and sportswear that includes a leather bomber jacket cut so sharply it works with denim or tailored trousers; a burgundy suit that can be broken into its parts; and elevated knitwear. It's the second collaboration to come from the two German brands, cementing a partnership which sees Boss designing the official uniforms of the Porsche racing teams.

Australian audiences will already be familiar with the official ambassador of the AW19 line, with former Porsche racer Mark Webber being named as face of the campaign. "I was buying Porsches before I was [driving] with Porsche and I was already wearing Boss in the late '90s," Webber says. "I think that the two brands, Boss and Porsche, linking together was obvious for me  because they're both incredibly trusted, they're elegant, they're sexy and they have a tremendous ability to continue to innovate and reinvent themselves," he adds.

This intersection of fashion and motorsport isn't new ground and Webber is joining a well-respected lineage. Aside from the glamour of the marquees and trackside antics that take place at some of the biggest meets around the world, there's a strong tradition of motorsport drivers as trend setters. Former F1 champion Nico Rosberg asserts that the history between fashion and racing is a long one. "This link is so obvious," says Rosberg, who at the age of 16 was one of the youngest brand ambassador selected by Boss. "Racing is stylish, all the way back to Steve McQueen and Jackie Stewart in the '70s with the big sunglasses. It was always fashionable and race car drivers have always been trend setters."

Rosberg would know. The 34-year-old is also a primary investor in the growing Formula E, motorsport using only electric cars. Rosberg, Langer, and Webber agree this is the natural direction in an industry that is increasingly cognisant of its environmental impact, something the fashion industry has slowly started to take stock of in recent years . There's clearly a push from both sectors to move forward in a way that presents the best solutions for the consumer, the environment, and of course the business. "It was a difficult call for us to move from the bigger stage of the F1 to the smaller stage of the FE," Langer says. "That's a question I'm asked a lot  why, when it is so niche? But in terms of technology and sustainability, I just say well maybe this new chapter is something that opens a new perspective to the customer."

There's no denying that at only 10 items the new Porsche x Boss capsule is an exercise in minimalism. But Boss as a brand has a more streamlined approach not just to their business model but also how they see the modern man dressing. Under the captaincy of Langer, the entire Boss brand has undergone a similar nip and tuck. One of Langer's biggest decisions, made shortly after his move from CFO to CEO, was to shut down the Boss Orange and Boss Green verticals, which saw an impact of approximately 450 million ($723 million) on revenue. But the risk paid off and the brand has regained its foothold in the menswear market.

The Porsche x Boss collaboration is about providing consumers with multipurpose garments that fit into the complex lives of the people who wear them. "There's no longer two (casual or formal) elements to menswear anymore. There's only one," explains Langer. "It [menswear] is now very much inspired by athleisurewear but it still has to have the quality used in our tailored suiting. This is an extremely interesting twist."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-17 14:42:31|Editor: huaxia

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U.S. President Donald Trump attends a press conference at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Feb. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Trump's decision "has accelerated his dangerous pattern of retaliation against the patriotic public servants charged with conducting oversight on behalf of the American people."

Such an action "may be an illegal act of retaliation," Eliot Engel, chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Senator Bob Menendez, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, wrote in a statement.

WASHINGTON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to fire Steve Linick, inspector general for the Department of State, is coming under bipartisan scrutiny.

In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi late Friday night, Trump said he is exercising his power to remove Linick, who began his tenure as the State Department's watchdog in 2013, from office, effective 30 days from Friday.

"It is vital that I have the fullest confidence in the appointees serving as Inspector General," Trump said. "That is no longer the case with regard to this Inspector General."

The announcement has sent shockwaves across Congress, triggering strong pushback, especially from Democrats.

Pelosi, in a statement on Friday, said that Trump's decision "has accelerated his dangerous pattern of retaliation against the patriotic public servants charged with conducting oversight on behalf of the American people."

The California Democrat warned that the action will set back the Office of Inspector General's duties to perform "critical audits, investigations and inspections of U.S. embassies and programs around the world" during the coronavirus pandemic.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks during a press conference on the Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the United States, on May 14, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

Eliot Engel, chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Senator Bob Menendez, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said Saturday that they have launched an investigation into the move, which they said was "politically-motivated."

Citing reports claiming that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "personally" made the recommendation to fire Linick, Engel and Menendez said in a statement that it is their understanding that the administration's top diplomat did so because the inspector general had opened an investigation into his alleged wrongdoing.

Such an action "may be an illegal act of retaliation," they wrote.

A White House official told NBC News on Saturday that Pompeo recommended the move and Trump agreed. A Democratic congressional aide told U.S. media outlets that Linick was looking into Pompeo's alleged misuse of a political appointee at the State Department to perform personal tasks for himself and his wife.

Pompeo, 56, became the Trump administration's second secretary of state in April 2018 after serving as director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Over the past weeks, Trump has moved to fire three other watchdogs from the federal government -- Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson, acting Pentagon Inspector General Glenn Fine, and Christi Grimm, principal deputy inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Walter Shaub, who resigned as director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics six months into Trump's presidency, tweeted Saturday that "Trump has waged war on oversight and accountability from day one, and this purge is a dangerous escalation."

"Downplaying Trump's assault on the primary internal integrity mechanism is a game of trying to look bipartisan or nonpartisan in defiance of the facts," he added.

Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said in a statement on Saturday that "inspectors general are crucial in correcting government failures."

"Congress requires written reasons justifying an IG (inspector general)'s removal," Grassley stressed. "A general lack of confidence simply is not sufficient detail to satisfy Congress."

"The firings of multiple Inspectors General is unprecedented," tweeted Senator Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican and 2012 Republican presidential nominee. "Doing so without good cause chills the independence essential to their purpose."

The State Department said Friday that its Director of the Office of Foreign Missions Stephen Akard, a former career foreign service officer, would replace Linick.

As inspector general, Linick was responsible for identifying operational risks within the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for Global Media, assessing the sufficiency of internal controls, and conducting administrative and criminal investigations of waste, fraud, mismanagement, and misconduct, according to his online biography. 
Elijah Wood and his partner Mette-Marie Kongsved have been seen for the first time with their young baby.

The Lord of the Rings actor, 39, and the Danish producer were walking in Los Angeles on Friday with their first child.

They were joined by Elijah's Middle Earth co-star Dominic Monaghan, who played fellow hobbit Merry in the epic adventure.

First outing: Elijah Wood has been seen for the first time with his new baby as he went for a walk with his partner Mette-Marie Kongsved and fellow Lord of the Rings actor Dominic Monaghan in Los Angeles on Friday

For the outing, Elijah cut a casual figure in jeans, a t-shirt and sunglasses, while covering his mouth and nose with a mask.

Meanwhile Mette-Marie looked stylish in a peach sun dress and a wide-rimmed hat.

The pair alternated duties carrying the baby whose birth was reported in February.

A source told UsWeekly at the time that the couple had welcomed their first child together, no other details were given.

New parents: The Lord Of The Rings star and his partner welcomed their first baby in February

Family: The Lord of the Rings actor, 39, and the Danish producer were walking in Los Angeles on Friday with their first child

Stroll: For the outing, Elijah cut a casual figure in jeans, a t-shirt and sunglasses, while covering his mouth and nose with a mask

Dominic, 43, opted for a pair of Manchester United tracksuits, a chain and a skull mask.

Elijah and Mette-Marie have been together for three years after the pair first worked together on I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore in 2017.

She was previously married to writer-producer Evan Louis Katz, but the couple went their separate ways in 2016.

Hobbit friends: Elijah (centre left) starred with Dominic (centre right) in the acclaimed trilogy

Wood previously dated Pamela Racine, 41, an American actress and musician for a renowned punk band called Gogol Bordello.

The couple called it quits in 2010 after five years together. Wood was later seen in 2012 with fellow Grand Piano co-star Kerry Bische.

The outing on Friday also allowed Elijah to catch up with his former Lord of the Rings costar Dominic.

The pair were best friends on screen with Dominic playing the happy-go-lucky prankster Merry as the pair made their way to Mordor with the Fellowship of the Ring.

Then and now: Elijah made a name for himself as Frodo Baggins in the hit film series, but has since opted for independent film roles
(Natural News) New documents released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in response to a lawsuit filed by the families of 9/11 victims have revealed bombshell information linking Saudi Arabia to the terrorist attacks.

In what these families are saying is a key victory for their cause, the FBI apparently failed to redact the name of a key Saudi official, which inadvertently exposed one of the federal governments most sensitive secrets pertaining to the events of September 11, 2001.

This giant screw-up, as the agency is calling it, revealed a mysterious Saudi Embassy official in Washington who agents suspected had directed crucial support of two of the al-Qaida hijackers, a Yahoo News exclusive explains.

The alleged mistake occurred after Attorney General William Barr and acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell had sought information about Saudi Arabias role in the attacks, which had previously been banned from public access due to its designation as state secrets.

The individual in question is named Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah, and he was an official diplomat with the Saudi foreign ministry and embassy in Washington, D.C., and oversaw Ministry of Islamic Affairs employees at various Saudi-funded mosques and Islamic centers throughout the United States between 1999 and 2000.

This Jarrah character is said to have been a key link between the Saudi government and a Los Angeles al-Qaeda terror cell that produced some of the 9/11 hijackers. As it turns out, he also maintained continued direct contact with this terror group throughout his tenure at the Saudi embassy.

While the names of two other Saudi individuals who assisted two of the terrorists who hijacked the American Airlines plane that allegedly flew into the Pentagon, Jarrahs identity as a third assistant has up until now been unknown.

The FBI has been trying to quash this whole investigation

For years, the families of the 9/11 victims pursuing this suit have had Jarrah on their radar because they suspected that he might have important information about the case. They have repeatedly tried to get information about him and a handful of others believed to be involved, but were not successful until now.

Based on what has now been revealed by this accident, the families have learned that Jarrah was, in fact, responsible for the placement of Ministry of Islamic Affairs employees known as guides and propagators posted to the United States, including Fahad al-Thumairy.

Thumairy is another Saudi agent who was reportedly tasked with assisting the hijackers prior to their hijacking. Along with a third individual, Omar al-Bayoumi, Thumairy helped to ensure that the attack occurred without a hitch.

The FBI believed that al-Jarrah was supporting and maintaining al-Thumairy during the 9/11 investigation, stated Catherine Hunt, a former FBI agent based in Los Angeles who has been assisting the families pursuing this case.

Speaking on behalf of the 9/11 families, Brett Eagleson also said that this revelation about Jarrah confirms the Saudi chain of command that pulled off 9/11, and that it all links back to the Saudi embassy in D.C. It is also important to keep in mind that Jarrah reported directly to Prince Bandar, who later became Saudi Arabias intelligence chief and the kingdoms national security council head.

It demonstrates there was a hierarchy of command thats coming from the Saudi embassy to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs [in Los Angeles] to the hijackers, Eagleson is quoted as saying.

While there is certainly much more evidence about the 9/11 terrorist attacks that is being kept under wraps by the government, this revelation represents yet another chip off the iceberg that will more than likely continue to unravel the official story for the world to see.

To learn more about the 9/11 deception, be sure to check out Propaganda.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

News.Yahoo.com

NaturalNews.com
Biden says Putin will pay 'dear price' if he invades Ukraine
The Delhi Police's crime branch has arrested a student of Jamia Millia Islamia in connection with the violence in the Jamia area during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in December last year, officials said on Sunday.

The police said Asif Iqbal Tanha, a resident of Abul Fazal Enclave in Shaheen Bagh, is a member of the Students Islamic Organization and was part of the Jamia Coordination Committee which spearheaded protests against the new citizenship law.

"He has been arrested in connection with a case which was registered at Jamia police station on December 16, 2019 in connection with riots in the Jamia area in which he was named an accused," a senior police officer said.

Asif, 24, is a third-year student of BA in Persian language.

On December 15 last year, protesters torched four public buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with police in New Friends' Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia during a demonstration against the amended Citizenship Act, leaving at least 40 people including students, policemen and fire fighters injured, officials had then said.

"Asif is a key member of the Jamia Coordination Committee and played an active role in organising protest and riots in Jamia in December 2019. He is a close associate of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider and Safoora Zargar who had been key organisers of anti-CAA protests and subsequent riots," the police officer said.

The Jamia student was produced before a metropolitan magistrate who remanded him in judicial custody till May 31, the police officer said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China has a fifth potential coronavirus vaccine in a human trial and more are on the way, a health official said Friday, as the world races to find a formula to stop the contagion in its tracks. So far there have been no "major adverse reactions" reported among the 2,575 volunteers participating in the five phase-two tests, said Zeng Yixin, deputy director of the National Health Commission. "According to the plan, if all goes well, the above projects will complete the second phase of clinical trials in July this year," Zeng said. More vaccine candidates are in the pipeline and awaiting approval for human trials, he added. China had previously said four human trials for possible vaccines were under way. Zeng did not say when the trials, which must complete three phases for the drug to be approved for use, might be finished. Scientists around the world are working at breakneck speed to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, which has killed more than 300,000 people and infected over 4.4 million. But China's success in largely taming the outbreak could pose a hurdle for its vaccine developers when they reach the final stage of testing. The drug must be administered to a group of volunteers and a placebo given to a control group in the same area where the virus is spreading to see if it works. Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech, which developed one of the vaccines being tested, has told AFP that it is looking to carry out the final stage of its trial abroad because China does not have a large enough coronavirus cluster. Experts say it will take at least 12 to 18 months to develop an effective vaccine, possibly even longer. Scientists around the world are working at breakneck speed to develop a vaccine for COVID-19
Drugs are a plague almost anywhere you go. Sadly, Twin Falls is a prime example of this. In many local schools marijuana, nicotine and alcohol are commonplace among students. They offer these substances to each other, and oftentimes become addicted to such substances. This essay will cover why this is an issue, what to do about it and what we can do to prevent the sale and use of abusive substances.

Students abusing illegal substances will face many issues in their futures. They will face medical issues such as lung cancer, liver failure and possible brain damage. The reason why the drinking age is at 21 is because that is when most brains stop majorly developing. If one were to use and abuse alcohol at a young age (or any age for that matter), they would most definitely damage their brain and liver. The results are much worse if they use and abuse nicotine, marijuana or harder drugs. Interestingly enough, the brain is one of the most important pieces of the human body. It controls motor functions, conscious and subconscious processes and much more. The brains value should not be underestimated, nor should ones personal health. On the adolescent level, drugs have been proved to really mess with development of the body, brain and hormones. Those are the three things that are majorly developing at ages 12-21. Drugs completely ruin your bodys chemistry and put your health out of balance. Besides the physical side effects, drugs also ruin students ability to make academic achievements. They quickly lose interest in pursuing a higher education, and often lose their will to do much of anything. I strongly believe that everyone has an incredible amount of potential and that should not be wasted. That is why it is so terribly tragic when a teenager engages in drug abuse. They are slowly killing their own potential and their future.

The teenager drug plague that is in Twin does not have to stay a problem. I think that there should be incentive programs put in place that will inspire young individuals to stop doing drugs. These systems could be ones based off of gift cards, extra credit points, etc. The main premise is maintaining a drug-free state or streak. The longer they keep drug free, the greater the reward. If they are drug-free from the start, they get a bonus per semester/trimester. This is one way to decrease the drug usage in Twin Falls. I believe that a reward-based system may be the best way to help get drugs out of teenagers systems. I would also say that having proper support structures set in place would be invaluable to this process. If a teen is struggling with drug abuse, they should have a team of people behind them, helping them make better decisions. Oftentimes drug abuse is a result of a deficit of adult attention. If the parent is hands-off, or the teachers for that matter, teens can start to disconnect. If they do disconnect they start to lose interest in putting effort into academics. With this loss of motivation, it will be quite easy to take the path of drugs. It allows them to, in a sense, bliss out and escape reality. Teenagers should not be driven to that point. They should have adequate support regardless of financial or familial complications. I suppose this goes on the premise of no child left behind but instead should be no child ignored or forgotten. It is very easy to try and ignore the annoying kid always blurting out and being a class distraction. But that kid has a future, that kid has a phenomenal amount of potential. Potential that should not be wasted. That is the challenge of education  trying to find a way to each different individual. There is no one size fits all solution to this problem.

The sale of abusive substances can be quite difficult to control. Often times trying to control it fails. Instead of attempting to control it, we need to find ways to prevent teens from wanting drugs in the first place. This task is daunting, but with enough conditioning very possible. Many teens are simply curious as to what happens when they ingest drugs. This curiosity can very easily be remedied by scientific observation. We can simply show them the statistics and facts about drugs and why they should not do them. If it were this simple, drugs would not be an issue. Most kids will not really care about the facts or observations. They need to see the long-term consequences. I would argue that we need to create a hands-on way to show the effects of drugs. I think the best avenue for this is actually virtual reality. I will refer to this as VR. VR headsets are quite commonplace these days. As potent as VR is, I think it would be a great idea to create a virtual reality experience based on the abuse of drugs. If kids can see this firsthand, and truly understand what effects drugs will have on them, they will not want to do them. They will not be curious about them, thus getting rid of the initial problem. The secondhand problem still stands; peer pressure and stress. As mentioned before, good support structures will remedy those issues.

I really wish it was as simple as saying: Hey dont do drugs, they are bad for you, but sadly it is not. In this essay, I have gone over several reasons as to why drugs are an issue, how we can fix this issue on a local scale, and how to fix this issue on a worldwide scale. I believe that my presented solutions are valid and do have merit. I wish to pursue them in my future in an effort to get rid of drug use and abuse among all teenagers.

Drake Folks is a senior at Xavier High School and the winner of the Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorney Drug Free Scholarship. This is his winning essay. He will receive a full tuition scholarship to the College of Southern Idaho for the 2020-21 school year. Essays were judged by Magistrate Judge Calvin Campbell, CSI Trustee Laird Stone and Times-News Editor Alison Smith.

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With 846 stores and 85,000 employees, J.C. Penney could be the largest symbol of what COVID-19 may mean for retailers already struggling for survival.

The department store chain filed for bankruptcy Friday and is asking a federal judge to authorize the rejection of 20 leases in the opening salvo of the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company said it plans to "accelerate" permanent store closings as part of its bankruptcy but declined to provide details on which locations it plans to shutter.

The move sets in motion the process of beginning permanent store closings as the retailer aims to stabilize its finances and avoid outright liquidation  a fate that chains such as Papyrus, Modells Sporting Goods and Art Van Furniture haven't been able to avoid.

J.C. Penney proposed a restructuring plan that would shed billions of dollars in debt and allow the company to emerge from bankruptcy as a financially sustainable company.

But U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Jones told J.C. Penney attorneys in a rare Saturday hearing that he has "concerns" that the company is not moving "fast enough."

"I do think there is a genuine hope that the turnaround efforts will proceed, but it is kind of hard when people are prohibited from coming into your store and you cant turn the lights on," Jones said.

Chapter 11 bankruptcy: J.C. Penney files for bankruptcy protection, plans some permanent store closings

Can these 13 retailers survive?: Permanent store closings, bankruptcies coming amid coronavirus chaos

He indicated, however, that he would like to help mitigate the effects of the bankruptcy on the company's workers. "Theres a special place in my heart for employees, more so in the current state of affairs in our country," Jones said.

Later, he added, "I want to keep everybodys eyes focused on saving the business. This is middle America, at least in my view."

Although the coronavirus came suddenly, J.C. Penney's troubles are far from new. And the company is not alone as shoppers' habits and tastes have changed and more consumers turn to online commerce. Fashion chain J. Crew Group and luxury department store retailer Neiman Marcus Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month as they faced mounting losses with their stores temporarily closed.

Story continues

U.S. retailers have announced more than 2,000 permanent closures this year, most of which were made public before the pandemic began, according to retail analytics firm Coresight Research, a global advisory and research firm.

J.C. Penney might have been able to stave off bankruptcy by closing more stores sooner, Deborah Weinswig, CEO and founder of Coresight Research, told USA TODAY.

If they had shed real estate and been more draconian, this moment might not have happened, but they would have been a shell of their former selves, she said. Perhaps this teaches us that Macys has been right all along with shuttering stores and trying to get to a more manageable online/offline formula with a right-sized store base.

While J.C. Penney hopes to survive bankruptcy by separating into a real estate investment trust and an operating company, analysts say the retailer is facing a serious risk of outright liquidation.

"We believe this process will give us the financial strength to weather the pandemic and evolve our business while also reducing our debt and increasing our flexibility to better position JCPenney for the future," CEO Jill Soltau said in a letter to customers. "This will allow us to better serve you, our valued customer."

J.C. Penney filed a motion late Friday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas Corpus Christi Division requesting permission to shed leases for 14 department stores, three home furnishings locations, two auto centers and one stockroom.

The company said in a court filing that it had "already vacated the premises associated with all but one" of the leases it proposed to reject.

J.C. Penney spokesperson Brooke Buchanan declined to provide further details.

Sucharita Kodali, a retail analyst at Forrester, believes COVID-19 has accelerated the inevitable for J.C. Penney and the other retailers who have recently filed for bankruptcy.

I think these are weak retailers that have been challenged for a long time and were going to see many more bankruptcies, she said, adding some retailers might have been able to hang on another year or two before filing if not for the pandemic.

Some other chains facing challenges going into the pandemic, according to analysts, are fashion retailers Forever 21; Ascena Retail Group, the owner of Lane Bryant, Justice and Ann Taylor; home furnishings chain Pier 1; bridal and formalwear seller David's Bridal; and vitamin and supplement retailer GNC Holdings.

The retailer had 846 stores as of Friday, including 387 that it owns, Chief Financial Officer Bill Wafford said in a court filing. Of those, 110 are operating on ground leases.

Most of the company's locations have been temporarily closed since late March amid the coronavirus pandemic.

But with some states gradually reopening after several weeks of shutdowns, J.C. Penney has fully reopened 41 stores and is offering curbside-only service at another seven.

A shopper carries a bag at a J.C. Penney store in the North Riverside Park Mall in North Riverside, Illinois on Feb. 1, 2012.

With nearly 85,000 employees, most of whom are furloughed, and a supply chain of almost 3,000 vendors, J.C. Penney remains a significant operation despite its struggles.

The company has gone from a small dry-goods store in Kemmerer, Wyoming, to a fixture in the shopping experience of the American middle class to the latest victim of the digital revolution.

Founded in Wyoming in 1902 by James Cash Penney with $500 in personal savings and a $1,500 promissory note from his local bank, J.C. Penney was first known by the name Golden Rule.

The company grew quickly. It had 175 stores by 1917, 500 by 1924 and 1,000 by 1929, according to a court filing.

J.C. Penney went public in 1929 less than a week before the stock market crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression.

"To weather the downturn at this inflection point in the Companys history, JCPenney proactively pared-back inventory, focused its merchandise on everyday goods, and identified lower-price suppliers, allowing for lower consumer prices and higher margins," Wofford said in a court filing.

In a way, that strategy mirrors what J.C. Penney has been trying to do in recent years. After taking over in late 2018, Soltau earned praise from analysts for refocusing the company on its core merchandise  namely, women's apparel and accessories  while ditching losing items like appliances and furniture.

But her strategy, they say, came too late for the company after it racked up nearly $5 billion in debt and failed to reinvent itself to take advantage of the digital age.

To be sure, the decline of the department store sector was virtually inescapable. Like archrival Sears, which filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late 2018, and luxury chain Neiman Marcus, which filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month, J.C. Penney has faced declining foot traffic to malls and the rise of nimbler physical competitors like T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.

Still, the company had a "substantial liquidity cushion" before the pandemic and "was improving its operations," Wofford said.

"Unfortunately, that progress was wiped out with the onset of COVID-19," he said.

In April, total sales fell by 88% compared with a year earlier. That included "nearly zero" sales in physical stores.

The company hopes to survive the restructuring process by shedding billions of dollars in debt and emerging as a more sustainable entity.

Greg Portell, lead partner in the global consumer practice of Kearney, a strategy and management consulting firm, said bankruptcy could help the company live on, but it must be determined not to return to business as usual.

Bankruptcy protection offers a fresh start. If companies use the time to commit to bold reinvention, the market is ripe for a success story, Portell said.

Forrester's Kodali said many of the 36 million Americans who are unemployed because of the pandemic overlap with J.C. Penneys shopper demographic.

I think that they would not be buying as much now in the best of circumstances, she said, noting there are other stores that sell similar merchandise. "It's a store that if it goes away I don't know that people would miss it tremendously.

She added, I don't think there's really salvaging J.C. Penney at this point."

Follow USA TODAY reporters Nathan Bomey and Kelly Tyko on Twitter @NathanBomey and @KellyTyko.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: J.C. Penney store closings 2020: Bankruptcy raises liquidation risk